cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Static Finite Element Validation of a Flexible Micro Air Vehicle

The flexible-wing approach has proven to be a successful method for designing micro air vehicles. The wing’s passive deformation under wind loads can allow for gust rejection, delayed stall, or improved longitudinal stability. As such, an accurate structural model of the flexible wing can provide greater understanding of the aforementioned phenomena. This paper seeks to formulate a static finite element wing model, with a particular emphasis on accuracy. The wing is broken into three different types of elements: beams, plates, and membranes. Individual element types are characterized and validated by constructing simple structures from the appropriate material, and then comparing experimental and numerical deformation fields. Experimental results are found through a visual image correlation system. The elements are then combined to form the complete wing model, which is also validated through experiments. The resulting finite element model is found to be very accurate, able to predict the complicated structural response of a composite wing. Due to observations made during standard wind tunnel testing, the structural response of a typical membrane MAV wing in steady level pre-stall flight is thought to be quasi-static. As such, the finite element model formulated in this work will be indispensable towards future numerical static aeroelastic optimization research efforts aimed at improving the efficiency, agility, and sensitivity of practical micro air vehicles.
Miscible blends of poly(styrene‐co‐allyl alcohol) with poly‐ϵ‐caprolactone

Based on the single, composition-dependent glass transition criterion, poly-ϵ-caprolactone (PCL) was found to be miscible with each of four poly(styrene-co-allyl alcohol) (SAA) copolymers with hydroxyl contents between 1.3 and 7.7 wt %. Melting point depression of the PCL in the blends was used to evaluate the blend interaction parameter B for each miscible system. The parameter B was found to be negative and to vary with copolymer composition in a way that suggests that an optimum density of alcohol moieties in the copolymer exists for achieving maximum interaction with PCL.
Symmetry properties of multicharged instanton solutions

We consider a general form for the asymptotic Yang-Mills gauge potential in the four-dimensional Euclidean space. This form of the potential describes the vacuum configuration, and the Pontryagin index is the product of two arbitrary integers m and n, m denoting the covering through the four-dimensional polar angle and n specifying the covering through the three-dimensional azimuthal angle. Thus the asymptotic form is suitable to discuss multi-instanton solutions. We prove that this asymptotic form is spherically symmetric by finding explicitly a smooth gauge transformation that compensates any given arbitrary rotation. In the context of a class of symmetries of physical interest, we discuss a systematic procedure of starting forms or Ansatze for the gauge potentials which are smooth everywhere and which have the general asymptotic form. We prove that the simplest Ansatz in which the asymptotic form is multiplied by an apppropriate function of the four-dimensional distance gives a solution only when m = n = 1. The solution in this case is the well-known Belavin-Polyakov-Schwarz-Tyupkin solution and it is spherically symmetric. In order to explore the symmetry properties of solutions other than m = n = 1, we study Witten's multi-instanton solution. In particular, we examine his solution formore » two instantons when the position parameters of the two instantons coincide. The two scale parameters reduce to one in this case. Contrary to naive expectation, this solution which may be described as a doubly charged single instanton, is not spherically symmetric.« less
Intravenous self-administration of cocaine under concurrent VI schedules of reinforcement.

Under concurrent VI (conc VI) schedules of reinforcement, organisms match the proportion of responses to the proportion of reinforcers obtained from the available options. This result is the basis of the matching law, a major theoretical view of the control of choice between and among available reinforcers. The present experiment examined the extent to which IV cocaine self-administration by monkeys under conc VI schedules of reinforcement was predicted by the matching law. One group of rhesus monkeys (n=4) was prepared with chronic indwelling IV catheters and allowed to respond in a two-lever situation under conc VI schedules of reinforcement for cocaine injections. Three doses of cocaine (0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg per injection) were made available under various conc VI schedules with an average inter-injection interval of 3 min. The same injection was available for each response, the difference between the options being the schedule of reinforcement. Each dose and schedule condition was in effect for at least ten consecutive sessions and until responding was stable. In a second group of monkeys (n=3), a comparable experiment was conducted with responding maintained by the delivery of 1-g food pellets. Overall response rate maintained by cocaine was inversely related to dose. In addition, response rate decreased over the course of a session, apparently due to accumulation of cocaine. With regard to choice, more responding was maintained by the schedule that arranged more frequent injections. Choice was well predicted by the matching law, with a consistent tendency toward undermatching but no consistent bias toward one or the other option. Results were similar for behavior maintained by food, though two of three monkeys showed an unexplained bias toward the left lever. With regard to drug self-administration, these results demonstrate that in a choice situation, with all other variables being equal, injections that are available more frequently in time maintain behavior more strongly than less frequently available injections. Undermatching implies that the relative proportion of behavior maintained by the two options is somewhat less than the relative proportion of injections obtained. The finding that choice maintained by cocaine under conc VI schedules was comparable to choice maintained by food extends the generality of the conclusion that drugs and non-drug reinforcers control behavior by similar mechanisms.
Corporate restructuring and performance: An agency perspective on the complete buyout cycle

Abstract Leveraged buyouts are an accepted method of restructuring, but a substantial percentage of these privately held buyouts eventually return to public trading, thus defining a public–private–public cycle of ownership. Arguments supporting buyouts have pointed to positive performance changes that occur while the firm is privately held. Such improvements, according to agency theory, are the result of changes in ownership when the firm is bought out. Since ownership patterns change substantially over the buyout cycle, performance implications of the complete cycle of changes must be considered before the true value of the buyout phenomenon can be assessed. With agency theory as a foundation for hypothesis development, we examined the performance and restructuring of 39 firms over the complete buyout cycle and found that agency theory explanations of performance are generally valid throughout the buyout cycle; i.e., increased managerial ownership leads to better firm performance. Moreover, when firms reversed buyouts and returned to public trading, we again found support for agency theory explanations. Qualitative content analysis also supported the agency theory's prediction of restructuring emphases associated with a buyout. Overall, these results suggest that agency theory is an appropriate theoretical base for explaining managerial choices during the buyout cycle. Unexpectedly, however, agency costs that were eliminated or minimized during the private buyout period did not reappear immediately following a reverse buyout. It took several years for the predicted performance declines associated with the agency costs of public ownership to reemerge.
Does Self-control Predict Wealth Creation Among Young Baby Boomers?

Why similar people have different patterns of wealth accumulation is puzzling. The behavioral life-cycle hypothesis indicates self-control is an important aspect of household saving behavior. This study investigated if household wealth creation from 1994 to 2008 could be predicted by self-control among a sample of young baby boomers using National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) data. Variables that significantly predicted 2008 net worth included homeownership, 1994 net worth, income, bankruptcy filing, inheritance, education level, race, marital status, children, retirement planning activities, locus of control, and self-mastery. The addition of self-control predictors to a regression model improved the model’s ability to predict net worth by 1.3 % above and beyond the human capital, financial status, and demographic predictor variables. In total, the model explained 60 % of the variance in net worth. Findings indicated that individuals who invested in their human capital, were homeowners, and had higher self-control, accumulated more wealth.
Trapping of sustained turbidity currents by intraslope minibasins

Depositional turbidity currents have filled many intraslope minibasins with sediment creating targets for petroleum exploration. The dynamics of sustained turbidity currents and their depositional characteristics are investigated in a scaled physical model of a minibasin. Each turbidity current deposited a downstream thinning wedge of sediment near the inlet. Farther downstream the turbidity current was ponded by a barrier. The ponded part of the turbidity current was separated from the sediment-free water above by a relatively sharp, horizontal settling interface indicating highly Froude-subcritical flow. The very slow moving flow within the ponded zone created conditions for the passive rainout of suspended sediment onto the bed. In the lower part of the ponded zone, the concentration and mean grain-size of the sediment in suspension tended to be relatively uniform in both the vertical and streamwise directions. As a result, the deposit emplaced in the ponded zone showed only a weak tendency toward downstream fining and was passively draped over the bed in such a way that irregularities in the inerodible bed were accurately reflected. The discharge of suspended sediment overflowing the downstream end of the minibasin was significantly less than the inflow discharge, resulting in basin sediment trapping efficiencies >95%. A simple model is developed to predict the trapping of sediment within the basin based on the relative magnitudes of the input discharge of turbid water and the detrainment discharge of water across the settling interface. This model shows a limiting case in which an intraslope basin captures 100% of the sediment from a ponded turbidity current, even through a succession of sustained flow events, until sediment deposition raises the settling interface above the downstream lip of the minibasin. This same process defines one of the mechanisms for minibasin filling in nature, and, when this mechanism is operative, the trap efficiency of sediment can be expected to be high until the minibasin is substantially filled with sediment.
The influence of state and trait affect on HIV risk behaviors: a daily diary study of MSM.

Objective: To characterize the influence of state and trait affect on HIV risk behaviors. Design: Men who have sex with men (N = 155) completed reports of trait affect and daily reports of affect and sexual behaviors each night for up to 30 days. Main Outcome Measures: Analyses focused on the role of state and trait positive activation (PA), negative activation (NA), anxious arousal (AA), and sexual activation (SA) on sexual risk taking, operationalized as having a sex partner, a partner-related risk composite, and an HIV risk behavior composite. Results: State SA was positively associated with having a sex partner and HIV risk behaviors; trait SA was positively associated with partner-related risk. State AA was negatively associated with having a sex partner and positively associated with HIV risk behaviors. Trait AA had a negative association with partner-related risk and moderated the effects of state AA. State PA was negatively associated with HIV risk behaviors, and trait PA had a main effect on having a sex partner. NA had no significant trait or state effects. Conclusion: These data suggest a role for multiple affective states in sexual risk taking. Models of HIV risk-taking behaviors should be extended to include affective processes.
High-temperature sensors based on thermal radiation integrative waveguides

Blackbody radiation sensors are well known for measuring high temperature in harsh environments. Conventionally, these sensors require materials with high and stable emissivity. Any dimensional changes or shifts in the emissivity over the lifetime of the device would degrade sensor performance. This paper presents a new temperature sensing concept where thermal radiation is integrated over the length of an optical waveguide. Under some easily attainable conditions, it is shown that the new sensor output is independent of both the emissivity of the material and the length of the integrating waveguide.
Changes in esterase and cholinesterase isozymes in normally developing, animalized and radialized embryos of Arbacia punctulata.

Abstract The ontogeny of esterase and cholinesterase isozymes in normally developing, animalized, and radialized sea urchin embryos was studied using the technique of disc electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. Using the substrate alpha-naphthyl acetate, seven esterases, none of which was inhibited by preincubation with eserine sulfate, were present in the unfertilized egg. The pattern of non-specific esterases remained similar until after the blastula stage. The number of esterase isozymes increased in each of the gastrula, prism, and pluteus stages. No cholinesterase activity was observed until gastrula and prism stages. Five additional cholinesterase isozymes were unique to plutei. Animalized embryos exhibited a reduction in the number of esterase and cholinesterase isozymes as compared to controls. Pluteus-animalized larvae had the cholinesterase isozymes unique to the pluteus stage of normal development. It was suggested that these isozymes might be involved in ectodermal ciliary function. Missing esterase and cholinesterase bands in animalized embryos were correlated with: (a) lack of ciliary coordination, or (b) inability to gastrulate and differentiate the skeleton. Radialized embryos had similar isozyme patterns to controls. As these larvae contain structures formed from all three germ layers, it was suggested that this developmental abnormality might be due to quantitative, rather than qualitative, changes in enzymes.
Ecosystem managers can learn from past successes

Can ecosystem managers rely on mechanistic simulation models to guide their decisions? Regional ecosystem restoration efforts in the United States now resemble the large public works projects of past decades, with similar costs and requirements to foster broad public and political support. Because managers use simulation models to set priorities and regulate human activities, problems with implementing and maintaining these models can derail their best efforts. If the models are perceived as unreliable, the public can reasonably question the validity of these decisions. When problems with the models persist, confidence erodes in the science-based approach that is widely touted as the solution to increasingly complex and politically charged environmental issues.
Azithromycin effectiveness against intracellular infections of Francisella

Background Macrolide antibiotics are commonly administered for bacterial respiratory illnesses. Azithromycin (Az) is especially noted for extremely high intracellular concentrations achieved within macrophages which is far greater than the serum concentration. Clinical strains of Type B Francisella (F.) tularensis have been reported to be resistant to Az, however our laboratory Francisella strains were found to be sensitive. We hypothesized that different strains/species of Francisella (including Type A) may have different susceptibilities to Az, a widely used and well-tolerated antibiotic.
Brain plasticity induced by environment and pregnancy.

Histological studies of brains from rats experiencing enriched (EC) or impoverished (IQ environmental conditions were carried out. Cerebral cortical depth measurements, body weights and endocrine organ weights were taken from the following groups of animals: male rats in EC vs. IC, non-pregnant female rats in EC vs. IC, pregnant rats from EC and IC, and the offspring from EC and IC parents.Male and female rats lived separately in their EC and IC cages from 60 to 90 days of age. Then one EC male lived with one EC female, and one IC male with one IC female, in a small cage for five days. After mating, all animals were returned to their original conditions with slight alterations. After birth, the parents and offspring were weighed, anesthetized, and perfused with 10% formol-saline. Transverse sections from the frontal, somesthetic, and occipital cortex were takenA separate group of non-pregnant female rats was treated in a similar manner, except that instead of mating a male and female two females were plac...
Central neuropeptide y modulates binge-like ethanol drinking in C57BL/6J mice via Y1 and Y2 receptors

Frequent binge drinking has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and the development of ethanol dependence. Thus, identifying pharmaceutical targets to treat binge drinking is of paramount importance. Here we employed a mouse model of binge-like ethanol drinking to study the role of neuropeptide Y (NPY). To this end, the present set of studies utilized pharmacological manipulation of NPY signaling, immunoreactivity (IR) mapping of NPY and NPY receptors, and electrophysiological recordings from slice preparations of the amygdala. The results indicated that central infusion of NPY, a NPY Y1 receptor (Y1R) agonist, and a Y2R antagonist significantly blunted binge-like ethanol drinking in C57BL/6J mice (that achieved blood ethanol levels >80 mg/dl in control conditions). Binge-like ethanol drinking reduced NPY and Y1R IR in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), and 24 h of ethanol abstinence after a history of binge-like drinking promoted increases of Y1R and Y2R IR. Electrophysiological recordings of slice preparations from the CeA showed that binge-like ethanol drinking augmented the ability of NPY to inhibit GABAergic transmission. Thus, binge-like ethanol drinking in C57BL/6J mice promoted alterations of NPY signaling in the CeA, and administration of exogenous NPY compounds protected against binge-like drinking. The current data suggest that Y1R agonists and Y2R antagonists may be useful for curbing and/or preventing binge drinking, protecting vulnerable individuals from progressing to the point of ethanol dependence.
Imaging of pediatric ovarian neoplasms

We review the clinical and imaging characteristics of the most common ovarian neoplasms in children and adolescents. Because of the widespread use of diagnostic imaging, incidental ovarian neoplasms might be encountered during the evaluation of abdominal pain, trauma or other indications and might pose a diagnostic dilemma. Conducting adequate imaging studies under these conditions is important, as management strategies differ according to the size and appearance of the lesion as well as the age of the patient. US dominates in gynecological imaging because of its excellent visualization, absence of ionizing radiation and sedation risks and comparatively low cost. For further examination of indeterminate lesions found using US, MRI is being used more progressively in this field, particularly for the evaluation of complex pelvic masses with the aim of distinguishing benign and malignant conditions and conditions requiring surgical intervention. CT is reserved primarily for tumor staging and follow-up and for emergency situations.
Structure-function studies on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. III. Dependency of proteolysis on NAD+ concentration☆

Abstract Mild treatment of rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase with chymotrypsin, trypsin, subtilisin, or Pronase results in a substantial loss in enzymatic activity of the apoenzyme and not the holoenzyme. The products from proteolytic digestion differ in chemical and physical properties, suggesting that peptide bond cleavages have been introduced in quite different regions of the protein Particularly in the cases of chymotrypsin and trypsin binding of NAD + drastically reduces the susceptibility of all these bonds to hydrolysis. The degree of protection from inactivation is greatest in the case of all proteolyses when less than two coenzyme molecules are bound to a molecule of the tetrameric enzyme. These results are considered in terms of understanding the mechanism for the homotropic effects observed in coenzyme binding.
In vivo three-dimensional imaging of neovascular age-related macular degeneration using optical frequency domain imaging at 1050 nm.

PURPOSE. To assess the application of optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) at 1050 nm for the detection of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its response to treatment. Three patients presenting with blurred vision and exudative AMD were imaged before and after anti-VEGF treatment with ranibizumab. METHODS. The patients were imaged with OFDI, a swept-source-based, high-speed optical coherence tomography (OCT) system developed at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine. A center wavelength of 1050 nm was used that has been demonstrated to provide better imaging of the deeper structures of the retina below the RPE, such as the choroidal vasculature. Three-dimensional data sets were acquired in 2 to 4 seconds. RESULTS. En face images were compiled from cross-sectional OFDI data and correlated with color fundus photography (CF) and fluorescein angiograms (FAs). Cross-sectional images were coregistered with CF and FA to obtain depth-resolved information about CNV, CNV volume, retinal thickness, subretinal fluid volume and height of neurosensory detachment before and after treatment with ranibizumab. A band of reduced reflectivity below the RPE was identified in all three subjects that corresponded to areas of confirmed and suspected occult CNV on FA. After treatment, this band was reduced in volume in all patients. CONCLUSIONS. High-speed 3-D OFDI at 1050 nm is a promising technology for imaging the retina and choroid in neovascular AMD. The developed system at 1050 nm provides good contrast for occult (type 1) CNV and may have advantages compared with time domain and current state of the art spectral domain OCT systems (SD-OCT) at 850 nm. Copyright © Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Towards the formal verification of optical interconnects

Optical solutions have been proposed for on-die interconnect utilizing the speed-of-light signal propagation and the large bandwidth of the waveguides. However, the inability to efficiently analyze photonic devices, which are continuous in nature, using traditional analysis approaches somewhat limits their applications. In this paper, we present the formalization of two of the most widely used structuresin optical interconnect systems, i.e., the planar waveguide and Fabry-Perot cavity, using a higher-order-logic theorem prover. The proposed formalization can be utilized to precisely analyze many fundamental components of an optical interconnect system.
RADIOACTIVITIES PRODUCED IN COMMONLY USED MATERIALS BY PROTON AND DEUTERON BEAMS UP TO 10 MeV

Abstract Proton- and deuteron-induced nuclear reactions which produce radioactivities are surveyed. Reactions with up to 10-MeV protons or deuterons on carbon, aluminum (#6061), titanium-alloy, stainless steel (#304), and brass targets are identified. For each target material, the nuclear reaction, associated radioactivity, half-life, and decay products are tabulated. Measured cross sections from the published literature are used to determine reaction yields for producing radioactivities. Proton- and deuteron-induced reactions which emit the following products are considered: neutrons, protons, deuterons, tritons, 3 He, and α particles. For protons, thick-target yields are evaluated for ( p , n ) reactions on elements in these targets. For deuterons, thick-target yields are evaluated for ( d , n ), ( d , p ), and ( d , α) reactions on elements for which cross sections are reported in the literature. Graphs of thick-target yield as a function of incident ion energy are presented for the more abundant elements in these targets.
Age to Age: Resident Outcomes from a Kindergarten Classroom in the Nursing Home

Windsor Place, a nursing home in Coffeyville, Kansas, opened a kindergarten classroom in their facility in the fall of 2008. This study documents the process employed to bring the program to the home and the outcomes derived for residents based on their participation. Twenty-one residents identified by staff as highly involved with the kindergarten program were followed from September through May. They were matched with 21 residents who did not participate with the children. Minimum data set information was collected for measures of pain, activities of daily living, mood states, and weight. No significant changes have been identified, but qualitative data indicate an improvement in quality of life for the highly involved residents.
Mitochondrial changes, ion and water shifts in the cellular injury of ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Summary Cellular injury was produced in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by an inhibitor of the function of the cell membrane [10 -3 M parachloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS)] or by inhibitors of respiration (10 -4 M Antimycin A), glycolysis (10 -4 M, iodoacetic acid, IAA), oxidative phosphorylation (10 -4 M 2,4 dinitrophenol, DNP) or by combinations of these in a medium with or without glucose. The contents of Na + , K + , Ca ++ , Mg ++ and intracellular water in the treated cells and controls were correlated with the percentages of ultrastructural changes in the mitochondria of the cells. A moderate negative correlation (r = -0.66) was observed between K + content of the cells and the condensation of mitochondria in selected experiments where mitochondrial swelling had not yet started. A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.44) was observed between mitochondrial condensation and Na + content of the cells in the same experiments. K + and Mg ++ content of cells showed a moderate negative correlation (r = -0.58 and -0.65) with mitochondrial swelling in the material of all experiments and Ca ++ content a moderate positive one (r = 0.58), but the Na + content and intracellular water showed no correlation. The percentages of flocculent densities in mitochondria showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.43) with the Ca ++ content of the cells and a moderate negative correlation (r = -0.61) with the magnesium content of the cells.
Digital Position Estimation for the Modular Scintillation Camera

Digital implementation of position estimation for the modular scintillation camera is presented. The modular camera system, introduced at the 1983 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, comprises an array of small, mechanically and electronically independent, all-digital scintillation cameras. This paper addresses how to best determine the event position given the PMT signals. Two Bayesian estimators are investigated, namely maximum-likelihood (ML) and minimum-meansquare-error (MS) estimators. Both estimators performed similarly. The more important aspect of the estimation problem was found to be the shape of the detector responses as a function of position.
Tradeoffs between attentional effects of spatial cues and abrupt onsets

We determined the relative effectiveness and tradeoffs among central, peripheral, and abrupt onset cues in directing attention to a potential target character. Central cues were arrows located at the fixation point, whereas peripheral cues were arrows occurring about 3° away from fixation, near the location of a potential target. These were contrasted with the abrupt onset of an ambiguous part of a character, which later was filled in to reveal a target or a distractor item. Each trial included an arrow cue and an abrupt onset cue, and both expected cue validities and cue-character SOAs were varied factorially. The results showed that, in general, abrupt onsets captured attention more effectively than either central or peripheral arrow cues. However, tradeoffs among separate cue effects indicated that the power of abrupt onsets to capture attention automatically could be overridden by a high-validity spatial cue presented in advance of the onset character. Tradeoffs between the effects of central and abrupt onset cues were additive, indicating that endogenous and exogenous cues have their main effects at different levels in the visual attention system. Peripheral cues and abrupt onsets showed mainly interactive effects, however, consistent with the idea that both types of cues have exogenous components that affect a common pool of attentional resources.
It could have been better: The effects of counterfactual communication on impression formation

While research on counterfactuals has closely examined the psychological antecedents and consequences of thinking counterfactually (imagining alternatives to past events), little is known about the effects of counterfactual communication, and in particular, how such thoughts are interpreted by others. In this paper, I argue that counterfactual communication differentially affects impressions formed of speakers by receivers depending on the general content of the counterfactual. Findings from an archival study and a scenario study demonstrated convergent results: Individuals who communicated upward counterfactuals (thoughts of how things could have been better) were more positively perceived by receivers than were individuals who communicated downward counterfactuals (thoughts of how things could have been worse). This difference stemmed from an enhancement effect of upward counterfactuals. Further analysis revealed that the relationship between counterfactual communication and impression formation was mediated by receivers' perceptions of the extent to which speakers took responsibility for their actions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fluvastatin Interferes with Hepatitis C Virus Replication via Microtubule Bundling and a Doublecortin-like Kinase-Mediated Mechanism

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced alterations in lipid metabolism and cellular protein expression contribute to viral pathogenesis. The mechanism of pleiotropic actions of cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins, against HCV and multiple cancers are not well understood. We investigated effects of fluvastatin (FLV) on microtubule-associated and cancer stem cell marker (CSC), doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) during HCV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. HCV replication models, cancer cell lines and normal human hepatocytes were used to investigate the antiviral and antitumor effects of statins. FLV treatment resulted in induction of microtubule bundling, cell-cycle arrest and alterations in cellular DCLK1 distribution in HCV-expressing hepatoma cells. These events adversely affected the survival of liver-derived tumor cells without affecting normal human hepatocytes. FLV downregulated HCV replication in cell culture where the ATP pool and cell viability were not compromised. Pravastatin did not exhibit these effects on HCV replication, microtubules and cancer cells. The levels of miR-122 that regulates liver homeostasis and provides HCV genomic stability remained at steady state whereas DCLK1 mRNA levels were considerably reduced during FLV treatment. We further demonstrated that HCV replication was increased with DCLK1 overexpression. In conclusion, unique effects of FLV on microtubules and their binding partner DCLK1 are likely to contribute to its anti-HCV and antitumor activities in addition to its known inhibitory effects on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary-CoA reductase (HMGCR).
Some comments on the sensitivity to sensor location of inverse heat conduction problems using Beck's Method

Abstract It has been shown that two inverse heat conduction problems are not always identical despite the dimensionless time steps based on the distance from the heated surface to the sensor are the same. First, the sensitivity to measurement errors is twice for an interior sensor than for a sensor at the insulated surface even if both the dimensionless time steps based on sensor depth and the dimensionless measurement errors are equals. Now, considering an experiment where the dimensional random measurement errors are more likely to be the same for every sensor, the sensitivity to measurement errors is inversely proportional to the sensor depth for a constant dimensionless time step. But it is important to point out that the dimensional time steps are proportional to the square of the sensor depth. Thus the closer the sensor, the smaller the dimensional time step and then the largest the sensitivity to measurement errors. However, the best sensor location for a given dimensional time step and a given dimensional variance in the temperature measurements is near the heated surface. The results presented herein apply to all IHCP algorithms and are of interest for the comparison of IHCP methods. They are only valid when small dimensionless time steps are used which usually is required.
Effect of gradient composite structure in cofired bilayer composites of Pb(Zr0.56Ti0.44)O3–Ni0.6Zn0.2Cu0.2Fe2O4 system on magnetoelectric coefficient

This study investigates the ferroelectric, ferromagnetic, and magnetoelectric properties of the cofired bilayer composites consisting of piezoelectric phase with formulation 0.9 Pb(Zr0.56Ti0.44)O3–0.1 Pb[(Zn0.8/3Ni0.2/3)Nb2/3] + 2 (mol%) MnO2 and 40 mol% ferrite phase with formulation Ni0.6Zn0.2Cu0.2Fe2O4 (NCZF). A bulk composite of the same composition was also synthesized for comparison. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigation using quadrant back scattering detector (QBSD) shows migration of ferrite phases through the interface and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis with X-ray mapping clarifying these as Cu-rich phases. Improved piezoelectric (d33 ~ 80 pC/N), ferroelectric (polarization of 60 μC/cm2 and 0.1% strain), higher magnetization (25 emu/g) and lower coercive field (2.8 Oe) were recorded for bilayer composite. The results indicate that the gradient bilayer composites with tailored composition such that the fraction of the secondary phase is higher may lead to better magnetoelectric material.
Error estimation by series association for neural network systems

Estimation of confidence intervals for neural network outputs is important when the uncertainty of a neural network system must be addressed for safety or reliability. This paper presents a new approach for estimating confidence intervals, which can help users validate neural network outputs. The estimation of confidence intervals, called error estimation by series association, is performed by a supplementary neural network trained to predict the error of the main neural network using input features and the output of the main network. The accuracy of this approach is shown using a simple nonlinear mapping and more complicated, realistic nuclear power plant fault diagnosis problems. The results demonstrate that the approach performs confidence estimation successfully.
Neotraditional planning: A new strategy for building neighborhoods?

Abstract Neotraditional planning is an increasingly discussed strategy for building neighborhoods in the United States. To its proponents this urban design-based planning model corrects the flaws inherent in the conventional low density suburban planning that has dominated land use in the United States in the post-World War II era. Neotraditional planning proposes to foster neighborliness and community life through the re-creation of idealized small towns from the early twentieth century. Borrowing design and site planning standards, pedestrianism is encouraged and automobile travel discouraged. This paper presents an assessment of the neotraditional planning model and its effectiveness in creating functioning neighborhoods. The analysis finds serious deficiencies with the community building capacity of this planning paradigm. The progressive rhetoric of neotraditionalism does not match empirical application of the approach. Reasons for this failure are presented.
Physical characterization of cellulose xanthate in solution

The intrinsic viscosity of cellulose xanthate solutions was studied as a function of the electrolyte content of the solvent, and found to decrease sharply with increase in electrolyte concentration. All electrolytes tested except sodium and lithium hydroxides produced essentially the same reduction in intrinsic viscosity for solutions of equivalent ionic strenghts, indicating that the effect was largely one of interaction between the solvent ions and the charged xanthate groups. Hydroxides induced a greater viscosity reduction. The reason for this was not fully resolved; however, indications were obtained that the hydroxides, in addition to behaving as electrolytes toward the charged xanthate groups, also interact with the hydroxyl groups on the parent cellulose chain. Light scattering measurements, as well as data on the variation of the intrinsic viscosity with molecular weight in various solvents, showed that the change in intrinsic viscosity with electrolyte concentration could be accounted for by a change in configuration, or degree of coiling of the molecule. Calculations indicated that in pure water cellulose xanthate should approach a rigid rod configuration whereas in 6% caustic coiling occurs and the molecule resembles more a random configuration.
Correlation of Elastic Modulus and Permeability in Concrete Subjected to Elevated Temperatures

The laboratory testing of concrete has shown that elevated temperatures cause air permeability index (API) increase and elastic modulus E decrease. Indeed, the API response typically spans several orders of magnitude making it a sensitive indicator of elastic modulus reduction. However, the API versus E data has been historically assumed to be both event and concrete composition specific, thus limiting its applicability for predictive or modeling purposes. In response, a theoretical model is developed here by (1) establishing that the API is equivalent to the Darcy permeability; (2) developing a microcrack flow model accounting for tortuosity, crack density, and microcrack geometry; and (3) interpreting the Giordano and Colombo elastic modulus damage formulas in terms of the corresponding increase in permeability. The resulting general model depends on stress conditions (plane stress versus plane strain) and a single microcrack flow parameter. For materials with small Poisson's ratios, however, the model becomes independent of stress condition and both equations converge on the same simple solution. The model is verified with both field and laboratory data of concrete response to typical fire elevated temperatures and shown to be comparable in accuracy to previous empirical approaches requiring many more degrees of freedom. Moreover, the data on fire damaged concrete were found to collapse to a single curve suggesting that the microcrack flow parameter is sensitive to elevated temperature but insensitive to concrete composition. The success of the model implies certain limits to microcrack geometry and airflow turbulence in damaged concrete, both of which are discussed.
High-resolution 8-mm CCD image sensor with correlated clamp sample and hold charge detection circuit

This paper describes the performance of an optimally designed virtual-phase frame-transfer CCD image sensor having 774H × 488V elements and an 8-mm diagonal for the image-sensing area. The sensor employs electron-hole recombination antiblooming and achieves high performance by both maximizing the well capacity and reducing the reset noise using an on-chip correlated clamp sample and hold signal processing technique. The imager conforms to the NTSC standard and is intended for color camera applications. The details described include processing modifications, circuit optimization for maximum signal-to-noise performance, and various layout illustrations with emphasis on the design of the three serial registers that multiplex the signals into the three individual outputs. The minimal driving requirements characteristic of the virtual-phase CCD device have been preserved by interconnecting the serial registers with the gates of signal-processing transistors and by applying timing pulses that clock the registers as well as provide the appropriate signal-processing functions. Discussions presented in the paper are focused on comparisons of theoretical predictions of maximum attainable performance with measured results.
Mobility Criteria of Planar Single-Loop N-Bar Chains With Prismatic Joints

This paper presents the extension of the N-bar rotatability laws to N-bar chains containing prismatic joints. The extension is based on the principle that a prismatic joint may be regarded as a revolute joint located at infinity in the direction normal to the sliding path. The effects of long and short links, full rotatability, linkage classification, and formation of branches and sub-branches are discussed. The extension provides a consistent method to understand all aspects of linkage rotatability disregarding the existence of prismatic joints. The results are demonstrated by several examples.
The Relation Between the Protestant Work Ethic and Undergraduate Women's Perceived Identity Compatibility in Nontraditional Majors

We examined whether the Protestant work ethic (PWE), a fundamental, individually held belief associated with both sexist attitudes and personal striving, relates to undergraduate female science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors’ perceived identity compatibility (PIC) between being a woman and being in a STEM field and expectations of dropping out of their majors across the beginning of college. Using within-person analyses across six time points, PWE-Equalizer (suggesting hard work is a social equalizer) was positively associated with PIC and inversely associated with expectations of dropping out of one’s major; PWEJustifier (justifying disadvantage by blaming group members for not working hard enough) showed the opposite pattern. PIC mediated the relationship between PWE and expectations of dropping out. Implications for future directions in research, as well as for educational policy aimed at increasing the numbers of women in STEM fields, are discussed. Gender disparities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields are sizeable, pervasive, and occur at all levels of achievement (e.g., AAUW, 2004; NSF, 2009; Valian, 2005). The persistent underrepresentation of women who complete bachelor’s degrees in STEM and go on to have careers in STEM fields continues to be a societal problem examined by researchers and policy makers aiming to understand and ultimately increase women’s representation in STEM. Psychologists seeking to identify the causes of gender disparities in STEM fields have examined a variety of factors, but the most common explanations are
Medically directed at-home rehabilitation soon after clinically uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction: a new model for patient care.

Abstract Medically directed at-home rehabilitation was compared with group rehabilitation which began 3 weeks after clinically uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 127 men, mean age 53 ± 7 years. Between 3 and 26 weeks after AMI, adherence to individually prescribed exercise was equally high (at least 71%), the increase in functional capacity equally large (1.8 ± 1.0 METs) and nonfatal reinfarction and dropout rates equally low (both 3% or less) in the 66 men randomized to home training and the 61 men randomized to group training. No training-related complications occurred in either group. The low rate of reinfarction and death (5% and 1%, respectively) in the study as a whole, which included 34 patients with no training and 37 control patients, reflected a stepwise process of clinical evaluation, exercise testing at 3 weeks and frequent telephone surveillance of patients who underwent exercise training. Medically directed at-home rehabilitation has the potential to increase the availability and to decrease the cost of rehabilitating low-risk survivors of AMI.
Detecting/preventing information leakage on the memory bus due to malicious hardware

An increasing concern amongst designers and integrators of military and defense-related systems is the underlying security of the individual microprocessor components that make up these systems. Malicious circuitry can be inserted and hidden at several stages of the design process through the use of third-party Intellectual Property (IP), design tools, and manufacturing facilities. Such hardware Trojan circuitry has been shown to be capable of shutting down the main processor after a random number of cycles, broadcasting sensitive information over the bus, and bypassing software authentication mechanisms. In this work, we propose an architecture that can prevent information leakage due to such malicious hardware. Our technique is based on guaranteeing certain behavior in the memory system, which will be checked at an external guardian core that "approves" each memory request. By sitting between off-chip memory and the main core, the guardian core can monitor bus activity and verify the compiler-defined correctness of all memory writes. Experimental results on a conventional x86 platform demonstrate that application binaries can be statically re-instrumented to coordinate with the guardian core to monitor offchip access, resulting in less than 60% overhead for the majority of the studied benchmarks. 1
Interference suppression of asynchronous multi-user space-time block coded transmissions

We present a receiver design for joint interference suppression and equalization of asynchronous multi-user space-time block coded (STBC) systems. We describe the design of front end prefilters to synchronize the received blocks from all users. Simulation results show significant performance improvement for asynchronous transmissions.
Transport of gases in miscible polymer blends above and below the glass transition region

The study of diffusion and permeation of methane, nitrogen, and helium in miscible blends of poly(styrene-stat-acrylonitrile) (PSAN) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at 35–140°C shows that permeation coefficients (P) of helium followed the linear logarithmic mixing rule. Positive deviations from the linear logarithmic mixing rule were observed for permeation and diffusion coefficients (D) of methane and nitrogen below the glass transition temperature (Tg). The deviations decreased with increasing temperature and disappeared above Tg. The experimental results were analyzed by free volume and activated state theories. The Arrnenius plots of log D or log P vs. the reciprocal of temperature exhibited discontinuities in the glass transition region for all gases and blend compositions. The discontinuities are caused by large thermal expansion coefficient differences between the rubbery and glassy states of PSAN and PMMA. The sorption of methane in 50/50 PSAN/PMMA has dual-mode characteristics below Tg.