cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Internal structure of the San Jacinto fault zone at Jackass Flat from data recorded by a dense linear array

The internal structure of the Clark fault in the trifurcation area of the San Jacinto fault zone is imaged using seismograms recorded by a dense linear array (Jackass Flat, JF) crossing the surface trace of the fault and an adjacent array (TR) to the SW. Delay times between phase arrivals associated with ∼3500 local earthquakes and nine teleseismic events are used to estimate velocity variations within the arrays. The teleseismic P waves travel faster beneath the TR than the JF array, in contrast to larger scale tomographic results. Statistical analysis of local P-wave delay times indicates that the entire JF array, with an aperture of ∼400 m, is inside a low-velocity damage zone. This low-velocity zone is bounded on the NE side by a shallow bimaterial interface generating fault zone head waves, and it contains an inner zone of more intense damage generating fault zone trapped waves. The P-wave velocity contrast across the local bounding bimaterial interface is 10–15 per cent. The trapping structure is associated with a width of ∼200 m, S-wave velocity reduction of ∼35 per cent with respect to the surrounding rock, Q-value of ∼20 and depth of ∼3.5 km. The imaging results suggest that the main seismogenic fault is near the SW end of the JF array, in agreement with a prominent geomorphologic feature. The existence of intense local damage on the crustal block with faster larger scale velocity at depth is consistent with common propagation of earthquake ruptures in the area to the NW.
How to Read a Legal Opinion: A Guide for New Law Students

This essay is designed to help new law students prepare for the first few weeks of class. It explains what judicial opinions are, how they are structured, and what law students should look for when reading them.
Hole-selective molybdenum oxide as a full-area rear contact to crystalline p-type Si solar cells

We examine thermally evaporated MoO x films as a full-area rear contact to crystalline p-type Si solar cells for efficient hole-selective contacts. Prior to front- and rear-metallization, the implied open-circuit voltage (iV oc) is evaluated to be 646 mV with implied fill factor (iFF) of 82.5% for the tunnel SiO x /MoO x rear contacted cell structure with the passivated emitter on the textured surface, showing it is possible to achieve an implied 1-sun efficiency of 20.8%. Numerical simulation reveals that the electron affinity (χ) of the MoO x material strongly influences the performance of the MoO x contacted p-Si cell. Simulated band diagrams show that the values in χ of the MoO x layer must be sufficiently high in order to lower junction recombination, indicating that the highest efficiency of 21.1% is achievable for a high χ of 5.6 eV of MoO x films and back surface recombination velocity of <100 cm/s at p-Si/MoO x .
Molecular Modeling by Computer

The history and development of the computer has long been intertwined with the development of calculations of the energies, wave functions and charge distributions of atoms and molecules. This type of calculation is characterized by the need for massive “number crunching” techniques and because of this has contributed significantly to the evolution of large machines well matched to this type of problem. More recent developments in computers have led to more subtle uses where the interaction with the environment or with the operator plays a greater role than mere computational power of the computer alone. In this situation the computer acts not as a slave but more as an aid or intelligence amplifier to the operator, expanding his view and aiding his visualization of complex phenomena. This can be accomplished by various forms of interactive graphic displays which do not need the huge computational power of the large machines but which can be operated with the new generation of minicomputers. I will discuss this aspect of computation as it applies to the design and visualization of large molecules and molecular complexes. It is a more subtle problem than numerical calculation and as such is less amenable to an analytical solution.
Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy due to Advanced Gastric Cancer with Virchow's Node Metastasis

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a fatal cancer-related complication characterized by severe progressive pulmonary hypertension. Antemortem diagnosis is difficult owing to the rapid progression of the condition, especially when the patient has no known malignancies and initially presents with pulmonary hypertension. Here we report a case of PTTM due to occult gastric cancer with metastasis in the left supraclavicular lymph node, also known as Virchow's node. Enlarged Virchow's node is an important indicator of advanced gastric cancer. In patients with progressive pulmonary hypertension of unknown origin, enlarged Virchow's node can be an important indicator for the diagnosis of PTTM.
Signal processing in continuous time using asynchronous techniques

This paper reviews previous work on continuous-time digital signal processing systems. The operations of these systems avoid the use of a clock and can closely track the input activity. The two major building blocks, continuous-time analog-to-digital converter (CT ADC) and continuous-time digital signal processor (CT DSP) are discussed in detail, with several examples presented.
Munich Theses of Ergonomics

The dichotomy “Ergonomics vs. Engineering”, often mentioned in the 60s, is no longer valid. Many ergonomists are now educated (at least in the USA) as engineers, mostly in Industrial Engineering Departments. Hence, many engineers have general or even indepth knowledge of ergonomics. Or, conversely, many human factors/ergonomics people are in fact engineers (Fig. 1).
The King Solomon Role in Public-Sector Technology Commercialization

Since 1980, U.S. legislation has been regularly enacted to facilitate the transfer and commercialization of federally-sponsored technology. For example, the 1989 National Competitiveness Technology Transfer Act created an official technology transfer mission for the federal laboratories previously excluded—the Department of Energy (DOE) Defense Program laboratories. Since then, DOE and the contractors operating its laboratories have been modifying the management and operating contracts, defining policy, and beginning implementation of the technology commercialization activities. The objective of all this activity is to improve significantly the global competitiveness of U.S. industry.
Founder’s Lectures

The First Founders’ Lectures was in memory of John Caffey, M. D., by Edward B. D. Neuhauser, M.D.: “The Split Notochord Syndrome and Its Skeletal Manifestations.” September 26, 1981, Madrid, Spain.
Parameterized schematics

This paper presents a design capture system that allows parameterized schematics and code to be intermixed freely to produce annotated net lists. A key feature of the system is its extensibility. It provides a small set of powerful abstractions for design description that can easily be extended by users. The system also allows convenient graphical specification of layout generators, and has been used to produce several large VLSI chips.
Reactivity of the Polyamide Membrane Monomer with Free Chlorine: Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms, and the Role of Chloride.

Aromatic polyamide thin-film composite membranes are widely used in reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) due to their high water permeability and selectivity. However, these membranes under...
Adolescent stress contributes to aberrant dopamine signaling in a heritable rodent model of susceptibility.

Abstract Evidence suggests that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of schizophrenia. Rodent models of the disorder have been developed that model either genetic or environment factors to recapitulate various aspects of the disease; however, the examination of gene by environment interactions requires a model of susceptibility. We have previously demonstrated that a proportion of the F2 generation of MAM-treated rats display a schizophrenia-like phenotype, defined as an increase in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neuron population activity. Here we use this model to examine the consequence of adolescent stress (AS), a known risk factor for psychiatric disease, on dopamine neuron activity in the VTA. Specifically, F2 MAM rats were exposed to predator odor, a stressor of high ethological relevance, intermittently over 10 days throughout the adolescent period and VTA dopamine neuron activity was evaluated in adulthood. Both saline and MAM F2 rats exposed to AS displayed significant increases in population activity; however, the proportion of F2 MAM rats exhibiting this increase was significantly greater (approximately 70%) compared to their respective controls. Given that we have previously demonstrated that the augmented dopamine neuron activity in rodent models of psychosis is directly attributable to aberrant activity in the ventral hippocampus (vHipp), we examined whether AS altered activity within the vHipp. Indeed, there was a positive correlation between dopamine neuron activity and hippocampal firing rates, such that those rats that displayed increases in population activity also had increases in the firing rates of vHipp putative pyramidal neurons. Taken together, these data further demonstrate a role for AS as a risk factor for psychosis, particularly in those with a heritable predisposition.
Pharmacologic Management of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Using a Protocol.

Background:The opioid epidemic in the United States has reached unprecedented proportions with far-reaching impacts on the most vulnerable population. The number of neonates born addicted to opioids has grown exponentially over the last several decades, leading to increased neonatal intensive care u
A Multimodal Robot-Driven Meeting Facilitation System for Group Decision-Making Sessions

Group meetings are ubiquitous, with millions of meetings held across the world every day. However, meeting quality, group performance, and outcomes are challenged by a variety of dysfunctional behaviors, unproductive social dynamics, and lack of experience in conducting efficient and productive meetings. Previous studies have shown that meeting facilitators can be advantageous in helping groups reach their goals more effectively, but many groups do not have access to human facilitators due to a lack of resources or other barriers. In this paper, we describe the development of a multimodal robotic meeting facilitator that can improve the quality of small group decision-making meetings. This automated group facilitation system uses multimodal sensor inputs (user gaze, speech, prosody, and proxemics), as well as inputs from a tablet application, to intelligently enforce meeting structure, promote time management, balance group participation, and facilitate group decision-making processes. Results of a between-subject study of 20 user groups (N=40) showed that the robot facilitator is accepted by group members, is effective in enforcing meeting structure, and users found it helpful in balancing group participation. We also report design implications derived from the findings of our study.
Social Stratification in Higher Education

Background/ContextOver the past half century, scholars in a variety of fields have contributed to our understanding of the relationship between higher education and social stratification. We review...
Pause Postures: The relationship between articulation and cognitive processes during pauses

Studies examining articulatory characteristics of pauses have identified language-specific postures of the vocal tract in inter-utterance pauses and different articulatory patterns in grammatical and non-grammatical pauses. Pause postures-specific articulatory movements that occur during pauses at strong prosodic boundaries-have been identified for Greek and German. However, the cognitive function of these articulations has not been examined so far. We start addressing this question by investigating the effect of 1) utterance type and 2) planning on pause posture occurrence and properties in American English. We first examine whether pause postures exist in American English. In an electromagnetic articulometry study, seven participants produced sentences varying in linguistic structure (stress, boundary, sentence type). To determine the presence of pause postures, as well as to lay the groundwork for their future automatic annotation and detection, a Support Vector Machine Classifier was built to identify pause postures. Results show that pause postures exist for all speakers in this study but that the frequency of occurrence is speaker dependent. Across participants, we find that there is a stable relationship between the pause posture and other events (boundary tones and vowels) at prosodic boundaries, parallel to previous work in Greek. We find that the occurrence of pause postures is not systematically related to utterance type. Lastly, pause postures increase in frequency and duration as utterance length increases, suggesting that pause postures are at least partially related to speech planning processes.
Control of Shaped Charge Jets Through Non-uniform Confinement

Abstract The shaped charge jet device has provided an efficient means of accelerating mass in hypervelocity studies for a broad variety of research and applications. This effort extends traditional 1-dimensional liner collapse to 2-dimentional manipulation and energy control of the jetting mechanism. Various confinement conditions were explored to induce non-concentric liner collapse conditions and produce planar jet structures. Symmetric, but non-uniform confinement produced 2-dimensional ‘spreading jets’ that have utility in cutting metal plates, pipe cutting, demolition and/or demilitarization of outdated or hazardous ordnance scenarios. First, parametric studies were numerically conducted to scope confinement thickness, confinement material, and the uniformity in circumferential coverage. Then, configurations were selected to best cover the design space and physical experiments were carried out with dual- orthogonal flash radiography. Lastly, the results were compared to the numerical simulations and analysis was conducted to examine the mechanism for mass re-distribution and extraction of the physics from explosive loading, its reflections off the non-uniform case, and liner collapse and jetting process. Three shots were conducted using the Viper liner and the steel thickness of 5.5 mm since it provided the maximum confinement effect. The three shots examined the following gap sizes of 30°, 60°, and 90°, and confirmed the numerical predictions of increasing radial expansion with gap size. The integrated approach of numerical modeling and experimental validation resulted in a higher fidelity insight into the complex jetting mechanism for improved future designs.
Early Surgical Intervention for Symptomatic Renal and Ureteral Stones is Associated With Reduced Narcotic Requirement Relative to Trial of Passage.

Objectives To evaluate if trial of passage (TOP) or initial surgical intervention resulted in less narcotic analgesia utilization in patients with acute renal colic due to stone disease. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 135 patients with acute renal colic due to nephroureterolithiasis managed by a single surgeon. Patients were standardly offered TOP or surgical intervention with ureteroscopy (URS). A subset of patients were stented with delayed URS due to presence of infection, pain, or a nonaccommodating ureter. Our standard practice is narcotic-free URS, prescribing a stent cocktail including non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. We compared rates of narcotic prescription over the entire treatment course for patients electing TOP vs surgery (primary or delayed URS). We secondarily analyzed rates of surgical intervention among initial TOP. Results We included 135 patients, with 69 (51.1%) TOP as initial treatment, 39 (28.9%) stent with delayed URS, and 27 (20.0%) primary URS. Thirty-nine (56.5%) TOP patients underwent URS at a median time of 18 days (IQR 6-31 days) from diagnosis. More TOP patients required a narcotic prescription (60.9% vs 35.9% vs 33.3%, respectively; P = .010) compared to patients undergoing initial stent or URS. However, when an opioid prescription was provided, the total morphine milligram equivalents prescribed among each group was not statistically significant. Conclusion Patients electing initial treatment with TOP for renal colic due to stone disease were more likely to require narcotic prescriptions than patients electing initial surgical intervention.
Toward an inclusive art history

Fifty years after Linda Nochlin published her revolutionary article, ‘Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?’, art historians are still grappling with the canon. Part Research Article and part...
407. Utilization of Blood Cultures, Risk factors and Outcomes of Bloodstream Infections in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surge, there was a sharp increase of blood cultures (BC) performed at Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) However, the epidemiology and outcomes of bloodstream infections (BSI) in COVID-19 patients (pts) remains undefined We report the utilization of blood cultures, risk factors and mortality associated with BSI in a large cohort of COVID-19 pts Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all COVID-19 pts that had BC performed during hospitalization at HFHS, a 5-hospital system in southeast Michigan BSI was defined using NHSN criteria Demographics, comorbidities, severity of illness, and outcome of pts with and without BSI were compared Results: From 3/10/2020 to 4/28/2020, 2541 pts were hospitalized with lab-confirmed COVID-19 1393 (55%) of these pts had BC performed and 80 (5 74%) met criteria for BSI Of the 84 pathogens identified, Staphylococcus aureus was most common (Figure 1) As compared to 1313 COVID-19 pts without BSI, those with BSI were older (70 1 vs 64 5 years, P = 0 0024) Other factors significantly associated with BSI included chronic kidney disease, higher mSOFA score, ICU stay and mechanical ventilation (all P < 0 0001) (Table 1) Multivariate analysis revealed age (OR, 1 07 CI [1 06-1 08]), ICU stay (OR, 7 91 [CI: 5 75-10 87]) and mSOFA score (OR, 1 29 [CI: 1 13-1 47]) were independent risk factors associated with mortality BSI was not associated with increased mortality (Table 3) Conclusion: Although more than half of hospitalized COVID-19 pts had BC done, the number of BSI were low suggesting overutilization of BC BSI was associated with older age and disease severity Mortality was not affected by BSI but was primarily driven by age and severity of illness (Table Presented)
Evaluating Organizational Effectiveness of Special Service Departments: Comparison of Two Models

The Goals Model and the Systems Model for evaluating organizational effectiveness of departments of special services in public schools are compared with respect to central purpose, underlying assum...
Solid Polymer Electrolytes of Lithium Salts and Polyethylene Glycols Cross-Linked with a Siloxane-Based Tetraisocyanate

Solvent free polymer electrolytes were synthesized by dissolving lithium Perchlorate and lithium triflate in networks or polyethylene glycols (MW 200–6,000) and a tetrafunctional aliphatic isocyanate. Thermal and conducting properties of the materials were determined as a function of temperature, salt concentration and polar additives. Swelling of the salt-free networks was also studied.
The Effect of Soy-Dairy Protein Blend Supplementation during Resistance Exercise Training

Soy-dairy protein blend (PB) ingestion prolongs the muscle protein synthesis response to a bout of resistance exercise. The efficacy of PB supplementation with resistance exercise training (RET) ha...
Formal model of uncertainty for possibilistic rules

Given a universe of discourse X--a domain of possible outcomes--an experiment may consist of selecting one of its elements, subject to the operation of chance, or of observing the elements, subject to imprecision. A priori uncertainty about the actual result of the experiment may be quantified, representing either the likelihood of the choice of x ∈ X or the degree to which any such x ∈ X would be suitable as a description of the outcome. The former case corresponds to a probability distribution, while the latter gives a possibility assignment on X.
Reworking non-applicable tests in a customer's test suite

Acceptance testing is a crucial stage of software development process. Results of acceptance testing define customer's perception of the software product and, as such, overall success of the project. Due to importance of acceptance testing, some projects even use acceptance test suites for their internal system testing. Customers often share a common acceptance test suite between several similar projects. Each project may then use just a subset of the generic test suite. Choice of this subset is subject to negotiation. Eventually, some test cases are negotiated as not applicable. Some tests, although declared as not applicable, may still have input conditions which are valid for the system under test. System output for these test cases, although different to initial customer's expectations, must still conform to some pre-defined rule. A good example is a Java method which, if unsupported, must throw some valid exception. The article describes an approach to reworking a large set of not applicable manual acceptance tests into a smaller and automated test suite. This approach allowed for drastic test cycle time improvement while keeping quality of testing at the same level.
Dual Storage Formats of Linguistic Knowledge? An Untestable “Explanation”

0 First, I would like to thank Guy Modica for his thoughtful commentary. In this response, I examine whether his proposal truly provides a scientific solution to the problem. Since some of the crucial underlying assumptions of his argument are not explicitly stated, I will clarify them first. In particular, Modica's argument is entirely based on a dichotomy of dual storage formats of linguistic knowledge: One is encoded in terms of parameters and the other is not. The following discussion will center around the scientific validity of this assumption.
CW Field Interactions

This chapter uses the density matrix methods of Chap. 4 to find the polarization induced by one or two continuous (cw) plane waves in two-level media. The density matrix is extended in a form known as the population matrix, which treats collections of atomic responses simply. Section 5-1 deals with homogeneously-broadened media, while Sec. 5-2 includes inhomogeneous broadening. The induced polarization is used as a source in the slowly-varying Maxwell equations to yield a nonlinear Beer’s law for propagation. The population matrix equations of motion are solved in the important rate equation approximation, which assumes that the dipole lifetime T 2 is short compared to times for which the field envelope or population difference vary appreciably. The concepts of power-broadening and spectral hole burning are developed.
When path dependencies collide: the evolution of innovation policy in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The concept of ‘path dependency’ is transferred from the analysis of competing technologies to alternative S&T policies. This analysis was developed in the context of Rio de Janeiro, which is the confluence of two historical and economic trajectories. These differences and their effects on S&T policy led to the formulation of an analysis of competing path dependencies and the way synthesis emerges. This process is especially clear-cut in Rio since the opposing elements represent socio-political path dependencies that gained increasing weight over time. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
ACE Observations of Magnetic Waves Arising from Newborn Interstellar Pickup Helium Ions

We report low-frequency magnetic waves that were observed by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft on day-of-year (DOY) 180 of 1999 with characteristics consistent with the predictions of waves excited by newborn interstellar pickup He+ ions. This event was found by examining daily spectrograms of MAG data, a new data product that is now available to the community via the ACE Science Center. The event shown here is one of approximately 20 similar events that will be analyzed in future studies. This event is fairly typical of those we have found so far. The waves exist at spacecraft-frame frequencies between the He+ cyclotron frequency and approximately twice the H+ cyclotron frequency. Fluctuations are transverse to the mean magnetic field, are non-compressive, circularly polarized, have field-aligned minimum variance directions, and are left-hand polarized in the spacecraft frame as predicted by theory. The event lasts for just under one hour.
Bringing Democracy to a Country Near You

Determinants of Democratization: Explaining Regime Change in the World, 1972–2006. By Jan Teorell. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010. 220 pp., $29.99 paperback (ISBN 978-0-521-13968-7). Here is a book that speaks directly to the literatures on what causes transitions toward and away from democracy. Covering 3,795 annual observations, this study by Jan Teorell exploits panel regression analysis on an impressive data set of “third wave” democratizations (1972–2006) to test prominent theories in the democratization literature. Methodologically, it combines an inductive logic with deductive approaches based on statistics and case studies. In terms of substantive findings, the major empirical determinants of democratization unearthed in the book can be divided into long-term, medium-term, and short-term factors. Over the long term, symptoms of socioeconomic modernization, especially economic prosperity and media proliferation (measured by radios, televisions, and newspapers per population), were conducive to democracy but mainly by preventing de-democratization. Statistically significant obstacles to democracy included trade dependency, Arab population, natural resource wealth, and (large) country size. The most important medium-term factor was the type of authoritarian regime in place. More prone to democratization were military dictatorships and “multi-party autocracies,” elsewhere known as “competitive authoritarian” regimes (Levitsy and Way 2010). Less likely to democratize were single-party regimes and monarchies. International factors also …
NextGen® Home Sperm Banking Kit: Outcomes of Offsite vs Onsite Collection—Preliminary Findings

Objective To compare cryosurvival rates between remote collections with NextGen kit (offsite) and onsite collection of semen samples from infertile men and those with cancer. Methods Prefreeze and post-thaw sperm motility, total motile sperm, and percent cryosurvival rates were compared between samples collected from infertile men onsite at the Andrology Center (n = 10) and samples collected from infertile patients at home (offsite; n = 9), which were shipped by NextGen to our laboratory. A second group (n = 17) consisted of 10 semen samples from cancer patients collected onsite, which were compared with 7 semen samples from cancer patients shipped by the NextGen. All semen samples were assessed within 18 hours of collection. Results In the infertile men, percent cryosurvival rates were similar with NextGen compared with those of onsite collection (53.14 ± 28.9% vs 61.90 ± 20.46%; P = .51). Similarly, in the cancer patients, all 4 parameters were comparable between the onsite and NextGen. Cryosurvival rates were also similar between NextGen compared with those of onsite collection (52.71 ± 20.37% vs 58.90 ± 22.68%; P = .46). Conclusion Cancer patients can bank sperm as effectively as men banking for infertility reasons using the NextGen kit.
Absence of Prohibitin Gene Mutations in Human Epithelial Ovarian Tumors

Multiple loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies of ovarian cancers have found a high incidence of chromosome 17 loss in these tumors. Several authors have suggested that the region commonly deleted encompasses 17q12-21. In addition, this region has recently been reported to be linked to the familial breast/ovarian cancer syndrome. Recently the human prohibitin gene was mapped to region 17q12-22. Prohibitin causes arrest of DNA synthesis by fibroblast and HeLa cells and prohibitin shows significant homology to a gene (Cc) thought to be important for the regulation of development of Drosophila melanogaster. These findings have led many to consider the prohibitin gene a potential tumor suppressor gene. In addition, sequence analysis of exon 4 of human prohibitin gene revealed mutations in 4 of 23 sporadic breast carcinomas. Because of the proposed function for prohibitin, its alterations in breast cancers, and the fact that its location on 17q falls within a commonly deleted region in ovarian cancers, we have undertaken an analysis of the sequence of prohibitin in epithelial ovarian cancers. Using several polymorphic DNA probes, we identified 20 epithelial ovarian tumors which demonstrated LOH for the region that contains the prohibitin gene. To evaluate whether mutations of prohibitin may be important in ovarian carcinogenesis, we have sequenced exons 4 and 5 of this gene using the technique of genomic amplification with transcript sequencing. Only normal exon 4 and 5 sequence was observed among the 20 tumors screened. These results demonstrate that this region of the prohibitin gene is not mutated in epithelial ovarian cancers and suggest that the prohibitin gene does not play a role in ovarian carcinogenesis. Sequencing of further exons and introns are needed to confirm this latter hypothesis.
Management of the patient after heart transplant

Cardiac transplantation is a highly effective therapy for selected patients with end-stage cardiac disease. The management of the patient after heart transplant involves three main strategies: optimization of immunosuppressive therapy, prevention of complications resulting from the transplant or the immunosuppressive agents, and treatment of those complications when they arise. For most patients, optimal current immunosuppression in the first year after transplantation consists of combination therapy with a calcineurin inhibitor (eg, cyclosporine or tacrolimus), corticosteroids, and an antimetabolite agent (eg, azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil). Ideally, the corticosteroid is weaned and discontinued 1 to 2 years following transplantation and the patient is managed chronically with a two-drug immunosuppressive regimen. The major complications that occur following cardiac transplantation include infection, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, osteoporosis, graft coronary disease, renal insufficiency, and malignancy. Preventive efforts focused on infection, osteoporosis, renal insufficiency, and malignancy include minimization of immunosuppression. Once established, treatment of any of the above conditions generally relies on standard pharmacologic therapies; however, an understanding of potential drug interactions is critical. In addition, although standard nonpharmacologic therapies may be used to treat several of these conditions, one must be cognizant of special issues related to the post-transplant state.
Eukaryotic Lagging Strand DNA Replication Employs A Multi-Pathway Mechanism That Protects Genome Integrity

In eukaryotic nuclear DNA replication, one strand of DNA is synthesized continuously, but the other is made as Okazaki fragments that are later joined. Discontinuous synthesis is inherently more complex, and fragmented intermediates create risks for disruptions of genome integrity. Genetic analyses and biochemical reconstitutions indicate that several parallel pathways evolved to ensure that the fragments are made and joined with integrity. An RNA primer is removed from each fragment before joining by a process involving polymerase-dependent displacement into a single-stranded flap. Evidence in vitro suggests that, with most fragments, short flaps are displaced and efficiently cleaved. Some flaps can become long, but these are also removed to allow joining. Rarely, a flap can form structure, necessitating displacement of the entire fragment. There is now evidence that post-translational protein modification regulates the flow through the pathways to favor protection of genomic information in regions of actively transcribed chromatin.
Fermion mass hierarchy without flavor symmetry

We discuss a supersymmetric grand unified model which has the gauge group $\mathrm{SU}(5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{SU}(5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{SU}(5),$ with matter fields transforming asymmetrically under different gauge SU(5) groups. We observe that the gauge structure of the model leads to approximate texture zero structures in fermion mass matrices and a natural hierarchy in the Yukawa couplings. The proton lifetime is estimated to be larger than ${10}^{34}\mathrm{yr}$ in this model. As in more conventional supersymmetric grand unified theory models with product gauge groups, this model possesses no tensor fields with rank higher than 2, so that it might arise from a level 1 string construction.
Physical stigmergy for decentralized constrained optimization: an intelligent lighting example

Conventional distributed solutions for optimization problems with inseparable constraints require significant coordination between agents. Here, a novel numerical approach is described that achieves coordination via stigmergy -- agents communicate indirectly through modifications of the environment. This approach is designed for optimal resource allocation problems where every solution exists on a constraint boundary; these boundaries provide the environmental cues that guide the collective motion of the distributed actuators without formal communication between them. Theoretical and experimental results validate this approach for an intelligent lighting example; despite the lack of direct coordination, Pareto-optimal allocations are stabilized. The general approach of using physical stigmergic memory may be useful in many other cyber-physical systems.
Neuropharmacodynamic evaluation of the centrally active thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogue [Leu2]TRH and its chemical brain-targeting system.

Abstract The centrally active thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analogue pGlu–Leu–Pro–NH 2 ([Leu 2 ]TRH) showed a significant increase in the extracellular acetylcholine concentration during its perfusion to the hippocampus in rats, and this effect was manifested upon the delivery of the analogue in much smaller quantities compared to TRH when measured by in vivo intracranial microdialysis. The neuropharmacodynamic efficacy of [Leu 2 ]TRH upon intravenous administration was augmented by the use of a brain-targeting derivative in which the progenitor sequence of the mature peptide was embedded in a molecular architecture that promoted enhanced brain delivery, retention and in situ generation of the pharmacologically active molecule. Compared to the unmodified peptide, the targeting system significantly improved the cumulative effect of the treatment on extracellular acetylcholine levels in rats.
Computational transport methodology based on decomposition of a problem domain into transport and diffusive subdomains

A large class of radiative transfer and particle transport problems contain highly diffusive regions. It is possible to reduce computational costs by solving a diffusion problem in diffusive subdomains instead of the transport equation. This enables one to decrease the dimensionality of the transport problem. In this paper we present a methodology for decomposition of a spatial domain of a transport problem into transport and diffusion subregions. We develop methods for solving one-group problems in 1D slab geometry. To identify and locate diffusive regions, we develop metrics for measuring transport effects that are based on the quasidiffusion (Eddington) factor. We present the results of test problems that demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed methodology.
An analogy between vortical and thermal fields subject to the large pressure gradient

Local thermal disturbances generated by a small confined mechanical forcing on the curved surface are under consideration within the framework of the interacting boundary layer in the limit of large Reynolds number. The variations of the self-induced pressure and temperature are found to be explicitly related, and an analytic solution of a linear perturbation analysis is presented. The heat flux associated with the self-induced pressure may attain values comparable with the heat flux existing in the oncoming boundary layer. The analogy between the normal-to-wall vorticity and spanwise derivative of temperature is rigorously derived to supersede locally the well-known analogy by Reynolds. Heavily increased thermal loads can cause severe damage to the engine in operation.
Decreased expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 messenger RNA in select regions of Alzheimer brain

An antisense oligonucleotide probe was used to examine the expression of gene encoding the obligatory NMDAR1 subunit of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor in the hippocampus and adjacent cortical areas (entorhinal and perirhinal cortices) of seven Alzheimer patients and in the same brain regions of seven control individuals. Both groups were matched according to age, sex, cause of death, post mortem delay, and tissue storage time. Densitometric analysis of in situ hybridization autoradiograms revealed a 34% (P<0.05) decrease in NMDAR1 messenger RNA levels in layer III of the entorhinal cortex in Alzheimer brains. Similar deficits, although statistically not significant, were observed in layers II and IV–VI of the entorhinal cortex, and in granule cells of the dentate gyrus. Reduced levels of NMDAR1 messenger RNA were also found in layers II–VI of the perirhinal cortex (41–53% decrease, P<0.02). There were no changes in NMDAR1 messenger RNA expression in the CA1, hilus, or subiculum. Both Alzheimer and control group show substantial intersubject variation in levels of NMDAR1 messenger RNA. The analysis of emulsion-dipped tissue revealed a trend toward a decrease in the number of silver grains overlying individual neurons in the CA1, entorhinal cortex, and granule cell layer of some Alzheimer patients. No significant relationship was detected between the levels of NMDAR1 messenger RNA and post mortem delay, tissue storage, age of the subjects, or mini mental state exam score either in control or Alzheimer individuals. In contrast, a strong inverse correlation between NMDAR1 expression and disease duration was found. These data suggest that reduction in expression of the NMDAR1 gene observed in certain regions of Alzheimer hippocampus and adjacent cortical regions is specific for the disease itself. We postulate that reduced transcript levels may reflect either regional cell loss or anomalies in glutamatergic input to the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in Alzheimer's disease. When followed by changes at the receptor subunit protein level, altered expression of the NMDAR1 gene in Alzheimer brain may contribute, through the formation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors with different properties, to the previously reported modified N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor ligand binding, abnormal vulnerability of select neuronal populations to excitotoxic insult, and may also be involved in learning and memory deficits.
Rate of radial transport of plasma in Saturn's inner magnetosphere

[1] In the inner part of a rapidly rotating magnetosphere such as that of Saturn, the major observable signature of radial plasma convection is a series of longitudinally localized injections and simultaneous drift dispersions of hot tenuous plasma from the outer magnetosphere. The Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) and the Cassini Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) have observed signatures of these processes frequently, thus providing direct evidence for Saturn's magnetospheric convective motions, in which the radial transport of plasma comprises hot, tenuous plasma moving inward and cooler, denser plasma moving outward. On the basis of an extended statistical sample of these injection/dispersion events, we find that the inflow channels occupy only a small fraction (∼7%) of the total available longitudinal space, indicating that the inflow speed is much larger than the outflow speed. We assume that the plasma is largely confined to a thin equatorial sheet and calculate its thickness by deriving the centrifugal scale height profile based on the CAPS observations. We also present the radial and longitudinal dependences of flux tube mass content as well as the total ion mass between 5 and 10 Saturn radii. Combining these results, we estimate a global plasma mass outflow rate ∼280 kg/s.
Combined MTOR and autophagy inhibition: Phase I trial of hydroxychloroquine and temsirolimus in patients with advanced solid tumors and melanoma

The combination of temsirolimus (TEM), an MTOR inhibitor, and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an autophagy inhibitor, augments cell death in preclinical models. This phase 1 dose-escalation study evaluated the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, preliminary activity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of HCQ in combination with TEM in cancer patients. In the dose escalation portion, 27 patients with advanced solid malignancies were enrolled, followed by a cohort expansion at the top dose level in 12 patients with metastatic melanoma. The combination of HCQ and TEM was well tolerated, and grade 3 or 4 toxicity was limited to anorexia (7%), fatigue (7%), and nausea (7%). An MTD was not reached for HCQ, and the recommended phase II dose was HCQ 600 mg twice daily in combination with TEM 25 mg weekly. Other common grade 1 or 2 toxicities included fatigue, anorexia, nausea, stomatitis, rash, and weight loss. No responses were observed; however, 14/21 (67%) patients in the dose escalation and 14/19 (74%) patients with melanoma achieved stable disease. The median progression-free survival in 13 melanoma patients treated with HCQ 1200mg/d in combination with TEM was 3.5 mo. Novel 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) measurements predicted clinical outcome and provided further evidence that the addition of HCQ to TEM produced metabolic stress on tumors in patients that experienced clinical benefit. Pharmacodynamic evidence of autophagy inhibition was evident in serial PBMC and tumor biopsies only in patients treated with 1200 mg daily HCQ. This study indicates that TEM and HCQ is safe and tolerable, modulates autophagy in patients, and has significant antitumor activity. Further studies combining MTOR and autophagy inhibitors in cancer patients are warranted.
Sorting pathway and molecular targeting signals for the Arabidopsis peroxin 3

Peroxin 3 (Pex3p) has been identified and characterized as a peroxisomal membrane protein in yeasts and mammals. We identified two putative homologs in Arabidopsis (AtPex3p, forms 1 and 2), both with an identical cluster of positively charged amino acid residues (RKHRRK) immediately preceding one of the two predicted transmembrane domains (TMD1). In transiently transformed Arabidopsis and tobacco BY-2 suspension-cultured cells, epitope-tagged AtPex3p (form 2) sorted post-translationally from the cytosol directly to peroxisomes, the first sorting pathway described for any peroxin in plants. TMD1 and RKHRRK were necessary for targeting form 2 to peroxisomes and sufficient for directing chloramphenicol acetyltransferase to peroxisomes in both cell types. The N and C termini of AtPex3p (form 2) extend into the peroxisomal matrix, different from mammal and yeast Pex3 proteins. Thus, two authentic peroxisomal membrane-bound Pex3p homologs possessing a membrane peroxisomal targeting signal, the first one defined for a plant peroxin and for any Pex3p homolog, exist in plant cells.
Some notes on valuation theory in linear systems

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the pole-zero structure of multivariable sytems, at both finite and infinite frequencies. However, in most present approaches there is a certain asymmetry (which we shall elaborate below) in the treatment of the finite and infinite points. In this paper, we shall indicate how the language of valuation theory can be used to give a more uniform treatment of finite and infinite frequencies and more generally of polynomial and rational matrices.
Surface smoothing effects of thin film deposition

Deposition of 0.2–0.5-μm thick Cu thin films onto a polished Cu substrate causes a reduction of scatter due to high spatial frequency microroughness by as much as a factor of 10 and a reduction in total integrated scattering by as much as a factor of 4.
Simulated Acid Rain Effects on Acidification of a Lexington Silt Loam

Intact soil cores were collected to a depth of 15 cm from a Lexington silt loam. Simulated precipitation with adjusted pH values of 3.7, 4.7 and 5.7 (control), was applied to the cores in increments of 500 mL day until totals which approximated 10, 20, 40, and 80 yr of effective rainfall in Louisiana were reached. The exchangeable acidity and A1 and H2O and KCl pH were measured from 2.5 cm sections of the cores after treatment. Only the 3.7 treatment at the 80 yr volume significantly affected the soil pH and exchangeable acidity and Al.
Bifurcation Analysis for Singularities on a Tangent Space for Quadratic Penalty-Barrier and Multipliers Methods for Solving Constrained Optimization Problems, Part I

The structure and persistence of critical point solutions obtained from solving constrained optimization problem by the quadratic penalty, the logarithmic-barrier functions, and the multiplier methods are analyzed. This analysis is mainly concerned with singularities due to the Hessian of the Lagrangian being singular on a tangent space. Formulation of the first order conditions of optimality into an algebraic system of equations is first established. The singularities of this system are then classified and solutions are investigated at singularities of codimensions zero and one in terms of the bifurcation behavior and persistence of the curve of critical points.
Fine structure of the vertebrate Z-disc.

The fine structure of Z-discs from frog, chameleon, rabbit, rat and human muscles was studied. Our data lead us to conclude that the basket-weave (woven) lattice represents the fundamental en face pattern of the vertebrate Z-disc, regardless of the manner of fixation, and we suggest that the large and small-“square” lattices are fixation artifacts. We also find that the woven lattice pattern remains essentially unchanged throughout physiological ranges of resting sarcomere length, and is not detectably altered by active contraction. A model of the vertebrate Z-line, based on anatomical and possible functional considerations, is presented. It presumes that a thin filament, as it enters the Z-line, is continuous with three curved strands which unite with other I-filaments of the same sarcomere. The I-filaments and extending strands from the opposite sarcomere are proposed to be similarly arranged, with the main Z-line substance consisting of the two sets of strands from adjacent sarcomeres. The anatomical features of the Z-line and the phenomenon of “Z-line splitting” are explained by the proposed model. In addition, a potential hexagonal structural arrangement of the Z-line is retained so that a consistent geometrical organization persists throughout the entire sarcomere. Thus, the model also presents a means of understanding the recently suggested role of the Z-line in forming new sarcomeres.