cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theoretical Considerations Regarding the Optimization of Cardiac Assistance by lntraaortic Balloon Pumping

A lumped parameter model representing the effects of cardiac assistance by intraaortic balloon pumping was developed. The model permits closed-form calculations of important hemodynamic events in the system. The equations derived from the model were used to determine pumping parameters for optimum assistance. The model indicates that, in the ideal case, optimization of assistance requires instantaneous inflation of the balloon to maximum volume at end systole and instantaneous complete deflation at end diastole. Since an impulse flow rate is not realizable in practice, the model was used to investigate the effects of finite inflation/deflation periods. In general, it was found that fast inflation/deflation rates give higher benefits than slow rates. The optimal time to begin inflation is end systole. Timing of deflation was shown to involve a tradeoff between lower end diastolic pressure (achieved with early deflation) and increase of mean diastolic pressure and cardiac output (achieved with late deflation). The model's predictions were validated using a nonlinear distributed parameter digital computer model previously described. The lumped model results should make possible a quantitative as well as a simple approach to automatic control of in-series cardiac assistance.
Group Composition and Choice Shift: Implications for Administration

Recently several researchers have investigated the level of risk in group vs. individual decisions. This article presents an overview of this research and discusses possible managerial implications...
Unique and Interactive Effect of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms on Cognitive and Brain Function in Young and Older Adults

Objective: Depression and anxiety are associated with cognitive deficits and brain changes, especially in older adults. Despite the frequent co-occurrence of these conditions, cognitive neuroscience studies examining comorbid depression and anxiety are limited. The goal of the present study was to examine the unique and combined effect of depressive and anxiety symptoms on cognitive and brain functioning in young and older adults. Methods: Seventy-one healthy, community-dwelling adults between the ages of 18 and 81 were administered a neuropsychological battery and completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the trait form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T). A subset of 25 participants also underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning while completing the n-back working memory task. Results: Total depressive symptoms, depressed mood symptoms, and somatic symptoms were associated with deficits in speed, working memory and executive functions, especially in older adults. Symptoms of lack of well-being were not associated with any neuropsychological test. Anxiety was associated with better attention and working memory. Moreover, anxiety modified the relationship between depressive symptoms and executive functioning in older adults, as elevated depressive symptoms were associated with worse performance at low levels of anxiety, but not at higher anxiety levels. Similarly, analysis of fMRI data showed that total depressive symptoms and depressed mood symptoms were associated with decreased activity in the superior frontal gyrus at low anxiety levels, but not at high anxiety levels. Conclusion: Results confirm previous reports that subthreshold depression and anxiety impact cognitive and brain functioning and suggest that the interaction of depression and anxiety results in distinct cognitive and brain changes. Findings highlight the importance of assessing and controlling for symptoms of depression and studies of either condition.
The Case for End-to-End Solutions to Secure Routing in MANETs

Providing secure routing in MANETs is far more difficult than in wired networks or static wireless networks. Node mobility and the relative scarcity of bandwidth render prior solutions ineffective. Solutions based on securing link or path information do not work well in MANETs because the dynamic nature of links requires extensive use of flooding. On the other hand, solutions based on hop-by-hop exchanges of distance information are easily compromised. Furthermore, path discovery does not necessarily translate into data delivery. We argue that secure routing in MANETs must be based on the end- to-end verification of physical-path characteristics aided by the exploitation of path diversity to find secure paths. We apply this approach to the design of the Secure Routing through Diversity and Verification (SRDV) protocol, a secure routing protocol that we show to be as efficient as unsecure on-demand or proactive routing approaches in the absence of attacks.
Annual weed competitiveness as affected by preemergence herbicide in corn

Abstract Competitiveness of weeds that survive a PRE herbicide application (escaped weeds) might be altered because of herbicide injury. As a result, potential crop yield loss may be reduced. Field experiments were conducted at Ashland Bottoms, KS, in 2001 and 2002 and at Rossville, KS, in 2002. The objectives were to quantify corn growth and yield response to Palmer amaranth or velvetleaf competition, with or without isoxaflutole (0.03 kg ha−1) or flumetsulam (0.04 kg ha−1) application, and to determine seed production of Palmer amaranth or velvetleaf as affected by PRE herbicide. Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf densities ranged from 0 to 6 and 0 to 32 plants m−1 of corn row, respectively. At Ashland Bottoms in 2002, corn height at tasseling decreased with increasing Palmer amaranth (1.58 cm weed−1 m−1) and velvetleaf (1.32 cm weed−1 m−1) density when no herbicide was applied. With flumetsulam application, each increase in velvetleaf density reduced corn height by 0.4 cm. Escaped Palmer amaranth and velve...
Second Language Acquisition and Linguistic Theory: The Role of Language Transfer

The role of the native language (NL) in a second language (L2) context has been debated for over 2000 years. Most of the early debate centered around the value of using the native language in the classroom (cf. Kelly, 1976 for exemplification). However, throughout the debate, the existence of native language influence was not in dispute; rather, the issues centered around the appropriate role of the native language in a pedagogical setting.
Selective Loss of Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 4-Positive CD8+ T Cells Contributes to the Decreased Cytotoxic Cell Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective Engagement of signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 4 (SLAMF4; CD244, 2B4) by its ligand SLAMF2 (CD48) modulates the function and expansion of both natural killer cells and a subset of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. Because the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T lymphocytes isolated from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is known to be impaired, the aim of this study was to assess whether the expression and function of the checkpoint regulator SLAMF4 are altered on CD8+ T cells from patients with SLE. Methods The expression of SLAMF4 by T cells from healthy donors and patients with SLE was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry. T cells were activated with anti-CD3 antibody, and degranulation activity was monitored by the surface expression of lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP-1; CD107a). The SLAMF4+ and SLAMF4− CD8+ T cell subpopulations were characterized by LAMP-1, perforin, and granzyme B expression and viral peptide–induced proliferation. Results SLAMF4 gene and surface protein expression was down-regulated in CD8+ T cells from SLE patients compared with that in cells obtained from healthy donors. Importantly, SLE patients had significantly fewer SLAMF4+ CD8+ T cells compared with healthy donors. SLAMF4− CD8+ T cells from SLE patients had a decreased cytotoxic capacity and decreased proliferative responses to viral peptides. The loss of memory SLAMF4+ CD8+ T cells in SLE patients was linked to the fact that these cells have an increased propensity to lose CD8 expression and become double-negative T cells. Conclusion A selective loss of SLAMF4+ CD8+ T cells contributes to the compromised ability of T cells from patients with SLE to fight infection.
Kissinger's World: A Cautionary Tale Thorugh a Cold War Lens (Book Review of Henry Kissinger, Does America Need a Foreign Policy?)

This book review of Henry Kissinger, Does America Need a Foreign Policy? offers a critique and response to Kissenger's central assertion.
(Invited) A Metal Oxide Antifuse-Diode Device

A new type of high-k dielectric based device that has both antifuse and diode functions is reported. The device has a large "programmed" to "unprogrammed" leakage current ratio suitable for "one-time programmed" memory operation. It can limit the current flow direction, which is good for switching purpose. This metal-resistor-semiconductor device has the "gray-scale" capability similar to that of the MOSFET. The operation principle and parameters influencing the device performer have been discussed. There are many possible applications of this new type of device.
Magnetic Properties of Some Sm2−xRxCo17−yMny Intermetallic Compounds

Current military requirements are leading to the development of a new generation of microwave and millimeter wave tubes whose magnetic circuits need permanent magnets with the following properties: energy products in excess of 30 MGOe, low reversible temperature coefficients of magnetization, α, and linear demagnetization curves. Rothwarf, Leupold and Jasper (1) have discussed approaches to the design of such magnetic circuits and the synthesis of suitable permanent magnet materials. Some of our preliminary efforts to attain compounds with such properties were also recently reported (2, 3) and reviewed (4). In the present paper we review our earlier work and report new results on the use of heavy rare earth substituents for some samarium in an attempt to achieve intrinsically temperature compensated 2–17 magnets. Such an approach was first successfully applied to SmCo5 by Benz, Laforce and Martin (5). The systems being reported on are Sm2−xRxCo17−yMny, where R=Gd, Er and Dy. The manganese is being used since we had previously found (6) that its presence in the quaternary system Sm2Mn(Co,Fe)16 significantly enhanced the anisotropy fields HA over those measured for the corresponding compounds in the ternary system Sm2(Co,Fe)17. Also Nagel (7) found that using manganese or chromium substituents for cobalt in the Sm2Co17 and Sm2(Co,Fe)17 compounds significantly enhances their coercivities and energy products.
Patellar Prosthesis Design Needs to Be Optimized for Caucasian Female Patients

Introduction Patellar resurfacing during Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is controversial. Problems unique to patellar resurfacing may be influenced by available patellar component design. These issues include; over-stuffing (the creation of a composite patellar-prosthesis thickness greater than the native patella) that may contribute to reduced range of motion; and over-resection of the native patellar bone that may contribute to post-operative fracture. Prosthesis design may play a role in contributing to these problems. Component diameter and thickness are quite variable from one manufacturer to another and little information has been previously published about optimal component dimensions. This anatomic study was performed to define the native patellar anatomy of patients undergoing TKA, in order to guide future component design. Methods This retrospective, IRB approved study reviewed 797 Caucasian knees that underwent primary TKA by a single surgeon. Data recorded for each patient included: gender; patellar thickness before and after resurfacing, and the size of the component that provided the greatest patellar coverage without any overhang. The residual patellar bone thickness after resection was also calculated. Results Mean (SD) native patellar thickness was 25.24 mm (2.11) in males, versus 22.13 mm (1.89) in females (P = Conclusions These findings suggest that patellar component design can be improved for Caucasian female patients. Round components between 26 and 32 mm that measure no more than 7 mm thick would be required to avoid systematic over-stuffing or over-resection of the native patellar in female patients. Most contemporary knee systems do not meet these needs.
Structure-activity relationships in immunochemistry. III. Inhibition of complement by benzyl pyridinium ions.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship for benzyl pyridinium ions inhibiting complement has been formulated. The best equation describing the relationship is log 1/C=0.18π-1+0.46π-2+1.01σ+-1+0.72D-1+2.50 where C is the molar concentration causing 50% inhibition of complement, π-1 is the hydrophobic constant for substituents on the pyridine moiety and π-2 for substituents on the benzyl moiety, σ+-1 refers to the electronic effects of substituents on the pyridine ring, and the indicator variable D-1 refers to the SO2F function in the 2-position of the benzene ring. This expression correlates 69 derivatives with a correlation coefficient of 0.939 and a standard deviation of 0.198. The implications of this relationship for the design of inhibitors is discussed.
Group Cooperation and Onboard Controllers for Distributed Weapon Systems & ISR Platforms

[Abstract] With the DOD’s increasing emphasis on network-centric warfare (NCW), weapon systems and ISR systems are becoming more network-enabled. State-of-the-art collaborative systems technology enables improved military mission effectiveness and situational awareness. This paper discusses a collaborative onboard adaptive mission controller that will improve mission management for teams of semi-autonomous entities. The mission management model was designed to be adaptive to multiple types of missions involving m-on-n engagements such as: search-and-destroy, weapon-to-target assignment (WTA), and force protection system optimization. The controller automates path planning, performs weapon-target pairing, and optimizes task allocation in real-time; all with minimum human intervention. The intent is to reduce the resource management and mission planning burden on the battle commander by using adaptive onboard targeting maps to do dynamic planning in real-time. The planner architecture and design is based on the concepts of joint situational awareness, single integrated air pictures (SIAPs), and common operating pictures (COPs). The algorithms are designed to improve team performance in terms of measures of effectiveness (MOEs) with respect to function, time, and space. Each system in the group responds jointly to changes in the battle situation. The unmanned entities collaborate with each other to efficiently allocate tasks in realtime. Our simulations and analyses showed that the distributed, adaptive engagement manager (DAEM) improved overall mission effectiveness. Moreover, this algorithmic approach has been demonstrated to perform well over a wide ranging set of problems.
Scoring options for recall tests (SORT), Version 2.0: Updated to include false memory analyses, nominal group creation, and phenomenological measures

Scoring Options for Recall Tests (SORT) 2.0 was designed to make the entry and analysis of recall test data efficient and easy. SORT 1.0, its predecessor, computed a variety of analyses, including (1) measures of clustering and subjective organization, (2) descriptive measures, and (3) temporal analysis measures. SORT 2.0 includes all of these analyses, as well as a variety of new ones designed to reflect current trends in experimental research. Some of the new features include (1) the creation of nominal groups for comparison in collaborative recall studies, (2) false memory analysis measures using the Deese (1959)/Roediger and McDermott (1995) paradigm (e.g., output position of nonpresented items, item analysis, net false recall), and (3) phenomenological measures (e.g., confidence ratings or remember/know judgments). In addition, SORT 2.0 has an easy Windows interface, extensive error trapping, and on-line help; it allows for quick inspection of means and is fully compatible with projects created with SORT 1.0.
Comparative in-vitro activity of Sch 34343 for a wide spectrum of clinically significant anaerobic bacteria

One hundred and fifty strains of anaerobic bacteria including 45 bacteroides, 19 fusobacteria, 41 cocci, 34 clostridia, and 11 Gram-positive non-sporeforming rods were tested by agar dilution for their susceptibilities to cefoxitin, cefuroxime, latamoxef (moxalactam), penicillin G, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, metronidazole and Sch 34343. Excluding the 34 clostridia, 115 of the 116 remaining strains were inhibited by less than or equal to 1 mg/l of Sch 34343. One isolate of Bacteroides fragilis required 32 mg/l for inhibition. All of the 34 clostridia were inhibited by less than or equal to 8 mg/l of Sch 34343: 14 isolates of Clostridium difficile had an MIC50 and an MIC90 of 4 mg/l, whereas the remaining 20 species of clostridia had an MIC50 of 0.125 mg/l and an MIC90 of 2 mg/l. On a weight basis, Sch 34343 was generally more active than any of the seven other antimicrobial agents tested.
Epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of viral Hepatitis A

Objective To explicit the cause of this HAV outbreak.Method Using case-control study method,according to the results beforehand,designed a unified questionnaire and carried out for children under 14-years-old,meanwhile collecting their serum to detect the anti-HAV IgM.All anti-HAV IgM positive children were case group,the children with anti-HAV IgM negative and HAV-IgG negative were control group.Constructed a database with EPIDATA software and analyzed by SPSS13.0.Results 20 children were infected this disease,the epidemic curve was double peak.Analysis showed the risk factors of this disease were that often played in the kindergarten,ate and played with first case.Conclusions The outbreak of this disease was typical continuity transmit in crowd,the sicken children were infected by toys and led the HAV dissemination.The children without good health habits were contribute to the disease,for examples eat without washing one's hands,drink unboiled water and so on.
Speakers' intuitions and pragmatic theory.

L'A. rend compte du developpement du debat entre Gibbs et Moise d'une part et Nicolle et Clark d'autre part, sur la comprehension et l'interpretation de ce qui est dit dans les conversations, sur les intuitions et les implicatures construites par les locuteurs, sur ce que fait le locuteur en construisant un jugement pragmatico-linguistique sur ce qui a ete dit. Ce debat s'inscrit dans le cadre de la theorie de la pertinence
Microbial translocation and skeletal muscle in young and old vervet monkeys

Intestinal barrier dysfunction leads to microbial translocation (MT) and inflammation in vertebrate and invertebrate animal models. Age is recently recognized as a factor leading to MT, and in some human and animal model studies, MT was associated with physical function. We evaluated sarcopenia, inflammation, MT biomarkers, and muscle insulin sensitivity in healthy female vervet monkeys (6-27 years old). Monkeys were fed consistent diets and had large and varied environments to facilitate physical activity, and stable social conditions. Aging led to sarcopenia as indicated by reduced walking speeds and muscle mass, but general metabolic health was similar in older monkeys (n = 25) as compared to younger ones (n = 26). When older monkeys were physically active, their MT burden approximated that in young monkeys; however, when older monkeys were sedentary, MT burden was dramatically increased. MT levels were positively associated with inflammatory burden and negatively associated with skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. Time spent being active was positively associated with insulin sensitivity as expected, but this relationship was specifically modified by the individual monkey's MT, not inflammatory burden. Our data supports clinical observations that MT interacts with physical function as a factor in healthy aging.
Motivation, development and object play: comparative perspectives with lessons from dogs

Object play occurs in diverse animals in addition to birds and mammals. Although many carnivores engage in object play in a predatory context, many non-predators do so also. Conjectures over the years on the motivation to play are reviewed dealing with intrinsic, developmental, and stimulus factors. We then report on quantitative studies of the play of puppies from 6 litters (3 breeds) when given 5 different toys with different sensory and functional properties at half week intervals from 3 to 7 weeks of age. The propensity to engage with objects begins early, play complexity increases rapidly, the structure of the play is similar to adult object play, and breed differences were found. Object play with predatory characteristics appears before weaning, suggesting that hunger is not the primary motivation. Studying the development of object play in different dog breeds may be useful in addressing questions of domestication and play evolution.
Strategy and Tactics: Running a Successful Laboratory

Sketching out a grand scheme for your research may sound utterly daunting, but having a broad sense of your long-term general direction of research is extremely important. I would call this theme the strategy of your research. It would be the kind of thing you could describe in a so-called . It’s as if you walked into an elevator and someone you didn’t know asked you what you were researching and why, and you had to answer before one of you had reached your floor and had to exit. What would you say? How would you crystalize multiple ongoing projects in multiple directions into just a few neat sentences? Now of course, as your laboratory matures and you develop new collaborations that have very different focuses and your lab therefore may not have one clean common theme (and in fact it probably should not—see below on the Lean Laboratory). But to some extent those few major themes may all work off of one another in some complex and perhaps elegant way. If that is the case, so much the better. But understanding your general area of interest and focus is really critical, lest you lose sight of your long-term goals.
Endoscopist fatigue estimates and colonoscopic adenoma detection in a large community-based setting

Background and Aims Endoscopist fatigue may impact colonoscopy quality, but prior studies conflict, and minimal data exist from community-based practices where most colonoscopies are performed. Methods Within a large, community-based integrated healthcare system, we evaluated the associations among 4 measures of endoscopist fatigue and colonoscopic adenoma detection from 2010 to 2013. Fatigue measures included afternoon versus morning colonoscopy and the number of GI procedures performed before a given colonoscopy, including consideration of prior procedure complexity. Analyses were adjusted for potential confounders using multivariate logistic regression. Results We identified 126 gastroenterologists who performed 259,064 total GI procedures (median, 6 per day; range, 1-24), including 76,445 screening and surveillance colonoscopies. Compared with morning examinations, colonoscopies in the afternoon were not associated with lower adenoma detection for screening examinations, surveillance examinations, or their combination (OR for combination, .99; 95% CI, .96-1.03). The number of procedures performed before a given colonoscopy, with or without consideration of prior procedure complexity, was also not inversely associated with adenoma detection (OR for adenoma detection for colonoscopies in the fourth quartile of fatigue based on the number of prior procedures performed vs colonoscopies performed as the first procedure of the day, .99; 95% CI, .94-1.04). Conclusions In a large community-based setting, adenoma detection for screening and surveillance colonoscopies were not associated with either time of day or the number of prior procedures performed by the endoscopist, within the range of procedure volumes evaluated. The lack of association persisted after accounting for prior procedure complexity.
Pore functionalized PVDF membranes with in-situ synthesized metal nanoparticles: Material characterization, and toxic organic degradation

Abstract Functionalized PVDF membrane platforms were developed for environmentally benign in-situ nanostructured Fe/Pd synthesis and remediation of chlorinated organic compounds. To prevent leaching and aggregation, nanoparticle catalysts were integrated into membrane domains functionalized with poly (acrylic acid). Nanoparticles of 16–19 nm were observed inside the membrane pores by using focused ion beam (FIB). This technique prevents mechanical deformation of the membrane, compared to the normal SEM preparation methods, thus providing a clean, smooth surface for nanoparticles characterization. This allowed quantification of nanoparticle properties (size and distribution) versus depth underneath the membrane surface (0–20 µm). The results showed that nanoparticles were uniformly sized and evenly distributed inside the membrane pores. However, the size of nanoparticles inside the membrane pores was 13.9% smaller than those nanoparticles located on the membrane surface. Investigating nanoparticles inside membrane pores increases the accuracy of kinetic analysis and modeling aspects. Furthermore, the Fe/Pd immobilized membranes showed excellent performance in the degradation of chlorinated organics: Over 96% degradation of 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) was achieved in less than 15 s residence time in convective flow mode. The regeneration and reuse of this catalytic membrane system were also studied. Particles were examined in XRD upon formation, after deliberate oxidation, and after regeneration. The regenerated sample showed the same crystalline pattern as the original sample. Repeated degradation experiments demonstrated successful PCB 126 dechlorination with nanoparticles regenerated for four cycles with only a small loss in reactivity. It demonstrated that Fe/Pd immobilized membranes have the potential for large-scale remediation applications.
Two surgeons four-hand microneurosurgery with universal holder system: technical note

A new technique for collaborative performance of complex skull base and cerebrovascular procedures is described. The benefits of this approach for patient safety and surgical education are discussed.
Identification of Intermetallic Phases in an Automotive Grade Aluminum A319 Alloy

In this work, scanning electron microscopy, including energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and optical metallography techniques, were employed to identify and characterize most of the precipitated intermetallic phases developed in an Al-A319 alloy after casting and/or heat treating. This alloy is widely used in the automotive industry because of its inherent high-temperature mechanical properties for casting engine blocks. However, the alloying elements and impurities such as Fe contribute to the rather poor ductility exhibited by this alloy. The lack of appreciable elongation is intimately linked to a wide number of coarse and brittle intermetallic phases that are developed upon casting. In particular, the typical microstructures exhibited by this alloy are known as the “Chinese scripture,” and they contain numerous Fe, Si, Cu, and Mg complex coarse intermetallic phases. In this work, an effort is made to identify and characterize the various intermetallic phases formed in an Al-A319 alloy, including morphology, as well as some of the detrimental effects they have on the alloy's mechanical integrity.
Team Up for Collaborative Teaching

It’s a common dilemma: how can I add new skills to my writing class when I don’t necessarily feel comfortable with my level of knowledge and don’t necessarily want (or have time) to become an expert in this new skill? How can I expand my students’ learning experiences more efficiently? In response to these questions, collaborative teaching may be the answer. Collaborative teaching (or co-teaching) involves two or more faculty who regularly and purposefully share instructional responsibility for a single group of students. Collaborative teaching has been used in secondary education, special education, and undergraduate courses for quite some time, but has been slow to catch on in legal education — including in legal writing and other skills courses. There are numerous ways to incorporate the models of collaborative teaching into legal writing classrooms, whether for a single classroom exercise or an entire course, that take advantage of its vast potential while minimizing its possible downsides. This short article describes the primary models of collaborative teaching and each of their potential impacts on the classroom and then suggests ways to effectively use each model in legal writing classes.
Semi-blind Channel Estimation for Multiuser Massive MIMO Systems

Motivated by recent developments in time-division duplex massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, this paper investigates semi-blind channel estimation for multiuser MIMO systems. An expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is derived for semi-blind channel estimation and a tractable EM algorithm is obtained by assuming a Gaussian distribution for the unknown data symbols, which improves channel estimates even when the data symbols are drawn from a finite constellation, such as quadrature phase-shift keying. An alternate EM algorithm is also derived by employing suitable priors on the channel coefficients and it is shown to outperform the EM algorithm with no priors in the low signal-to-noise ratio regime. To analytically understand the performance of the semi-blind scheme, Cramer–Rao bounds (CRBs) for semi-blind channel estimation are derived for deterministic and stochastic (Gaussian) data symbol models. To get insight into the behavior of a massive MIMO system, the asymptotic behavior of the CRBs as the number of antennas at the base station grows is analyzed. The numerical results show the benefits of semi-blind estimation algorithm as measured by the mean squared error. In particular, the performance of the EM algorithm becomes closer to the genie-aided maximum likelihood estimator based on known data symbols as the number of antennas increases. This result is consistent with the asymptotic analysis of the two CRBs indicating that semi-blind channel estimation for massive MIMO systems is very promising.
Water assisted liquefaction of lignocellulose biomass by ReaxFF based molecular dynamic simulations

Abstract ReaxFF based molecular dynamics (MD) simulation provides opportunities for fundamentally understanding pyrolysis of lignocellulose biomass through precisely controlled reaction conditions and monitoring of reaction evolution processes. Despite demonstration of simulating the pyrolysis process of dry lignocellulose, MD investigation of this process assisted by water is yet to be performed. This is important considering that hydrothermal liquefaction could be promising to concentrate the energy of biocrude yielded from lignocellulose biomass. In this paper, roles of water on the pyrolysis process of the lignocellulose were investigated by ReaxFF MD simulation. In the simulation, both dry cellulose and lignin systems as well as their systems containing 33% and 66% water by weight were studied at a temperature range of 1250–2000 K at a time scale of 6 ns. Products were characterized by studying their phases, H/C, O/C ratios, and their higher heating values (HHV) that are used to evaluate their value as fuels. Time evolutions of water and other chemical products were investigated to determine the role of water in the reactions and to reveal the reaction mechanism. Compared with dry systems, pyrolysis of the cellulose in presence of water shows several interesting trends, including enhanced breakdown of the cellulose polymer, increased oxygenation of the products, and shift of the final products from char to oil. In contrast, lignin remains largely unaffected by water, and simulation has reproduced experimental results of lignin char formation at elevated temperature in liquefaction. Moreover, it is found that the temperature plays an important role in the reactions. As temperature increases the water’s oxygenating effects in the cellulose is decreased. These theoretical results provide solid evidence for unveiling the reaction mechanism of biomass pyrolysis, offering useful guidance for processing wet biomass to liquid fuels.
The Vector Space Interpretation of Quantum-Mechanical Systems

So far, we have specified the state of a quantum-mechanical system by the wave function, , i.e., by specifying the value of the scalar function, Ψ, for all values of x, y, z, at a particular time, t.
High performance work practice implementation and employee impressions of line manager leadership

Abstract Human resource management (HRM) research has documented the importance of high performance work practices (HPWPs) to organizations, and recent efforts have argued for increasing attention to the role of line manager implementation of HPWPs. To date, research in this area has focused largely on the organizational or employee implications of HPWP implementation, ignoring the process through which implementation affects outcomes. In this article, we use theory on impression formation to describe the perceptual process through which line manager implementation of HPWPs facilitates the formation of different employee impressions of manager leadership styles. We argue that this process is contingent upon employee attributions of implementation intent, which are influenced by the interaction of employee affective and attributional tendencies with line manager implementation style (i.e., political skill). Our conceptualization of this process contributes to HRM research by demonstrating the benefits of integrating it with leadership theory, as well as identifying the role of interpersonal perceptual processes in the effects of HPWPs.
Approaches to Studying the Target Enzymes of Anticarcinogenic Protease Inhibitors

Epidemiological studies suggest that dietary factors play an important role in the etiology of cancer at many different sites (Correa, 1981; Doll and Peto, 1981). For example, high levels of legumes in the diet have been associated with lower overall cancer rates and are inversely correlated with the incidence of breast, colon, pancreatic, and prostate cancer (Mills et al., 1988; Phillips, 1975). Legumes are known to contain high concentrations of protease inhibitors (Birk, 1975). Several laboratories have reported that protease inhibitors are effective suppressors of radiation- and chemical carcinogen-induced transformation in vitro and in vivo (reviewed by Kennedy and Billings, 1987; Troll et al., 1984). For example, the soybean-derived Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI) (Birk, 1985) has been shown to suppress DMH-induced colon and liver carcinogenesis in mice (Billings et al., 1990b; St. Clair et al., 1990; Weed et al., 1985) and DMBA-induced cheek pouch carcinogenesis in hamsters (Messadi et al., 1986). In addition, BBI as well as several other protease inhibitors will suppress chemical- and radiation-induced transformation of mouse embryo fibroblast cells in vitro (Baturay and Kennedy, 1986; Yavelow et al., 1985). Protease inhibitors have also been shown to inhibit the transformation of NIH 3T3 cells brought about by transfection of an activated ras gene (Garte et al., 1987). Although the mechanisms by which protease inhibitors suppress carcinogenesis are not fully understood, we believe that these compounds exert their anticarcinogenic effects by inhibiting one or more enzymatic activities involved in the induction and/or expression of the transformed phenotype (Billings et al., 1987a, 1988, 1990a). Consequently, in addition to being potent anticarcinogenic agents, protease inhibitors should be useful biochemical tools for identifying cellular enzymes involved in carcinogenesis. about by transfection of an activated ras gene (Garte et al., 1987). Although the mechanisms by which protease inhibitors suppress carcinogenesis are not fully understood, we believe that these compounds exert their anticarcinogenic effects by inhibiting one or more enzymatic activities involved in the induction and/or expression of the transformed phenotype (Billings et al., 1987a, 1988, 1990a). Consequently, in addition to being potent anticarcinogenic agents, protease inhibitors should be useful biochemical tools for identifying cellular enzymes involved in carcinogenesis.
DNA Damage and Replication Checkpoints in the Fission Yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Eukaryotic organisms have developed an array of mechanisms for minimizing the consequences of damage to their DNA molecules and the consequences of interference with their DNA replication. Among these mechanisms are the DNA damage and replication checkpoints, which inhibit passage from one cell cycle stage to the next when DNA is damaged or replication is incomplete. Studies of these checkpoints in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, complement studies in other organisms and provide valuable insight into the nature of the proteins responsible for these checkpoints and how such proteins may function.
On the Presentation of Christianity in the Qurʾān and the Many Aspects of Qur’anic Rhetoric

Many important western works on the Qurʾān are focused on the question of religious influences. The prototypical work of this genre is concerned with Judaism and the Qurʾān: Abraham’s Geiger’s 1833 Was hat Mohammed aus dem Judenthume aufgenommen, or “What Did Muhammad Acquire from Judaism?” In Geiger’s work – and the works of many who followed him – material in the Qurʾān is compared to similar material in Jewish or Christian literature in the hope of arriving at a better understanding of the Qurʾān’s origins.In the present article I argue that these sorts of studies often include a simplistic perspective on Qur’anic rhetoric. In order to pursue this argument I focus on a common feature of these works, namely a comparison between material in the Qurʾān on Christ and Christianity with reports on the teachings of Christian heretical groups. Behind this feature is a conviction that heretical Christian groups existed in the Arabian peninsula at the time of Islam’s origins and that these groups influenced the Prophet. I will argue that once the Qurʾān’s creative use of rhetorical strategies such as hyperbole is appreciated, the need to search for Christian heretics disappears entirely.
Recovery of the alternative oxidase dependent electron flow by fusion of membrane vesicles from Rhodobacter capsulatus mutant strains: an in vitro membrane-complementation study

Membranes from the facultative photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus can be fused by sonication in vitro to form hybrid membranes, some of which are vesicles. The organization of the redox complexes involved in alternative-oxidase dependent electron transport of R. capsulatus can be studied by testing for in vitro complementation of this activity lacking in membranes from genetic mutants. The results obtained in complementation tests between well characterized mutants support current models of organization of electron transport components in R. capsulatus and confirm the in situ existence of independent functional entities such as NADH-dehydrogenase, reaction center, bacteriochlorophyll light-harvesting complexes and alternative-oxidase (cyt. “o”). The demonstration that artefactual mixing between different membrane entities may only be induced by treatments such as ultrasonic irradiation promoting intervesicular recombination has been taken as evidence that photorespiratory processes truly reflect an in vivo situation.
HIV-Related Stigma, Motivation to Adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy, and Medication Adherence Among HIV-Positive Methadone-Maintained Patients.

Background:Opioid agonist therapies with methadone are associated with higher levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART); yet, no studies have explored factors associated with optimal ART levels in HIV-positive patients on methadone maintenance treatment, including explanatory pathways usin
Songs created by military service members in music therapy: A retrospective analysis

Abstract A successful transition to civilian life is challenging for many service members returning from deployment. Psychological and physical injuries may hamper successful reintegration into home life and communities and, as a result, many service members report feeling lonely, isolated and misunderstood. This study analyzed 14 songs written by 11 active-duty service members with post-traumatic stress disorder, mild traumatic brain injury, and psychological health conditions, who received music therapy services at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, a Directorate of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the United States of America. Service members wrote songs over the course of two or more individual music therapy sessions. Latent thematic analysis of the song lyrics yielded four main themes: (a) personal struggles and barriers to recovery, (b) moving forward, (c) relational challenges, and (d) positive relationships and support. The songs offer a window into service members’ lived experiences of military service, injury, recovery, homecoming, and transition from active-duty. Songwriting enabled service members to share their thoughts, emotions, fears and hopes with family, friends and other providers, often for the first time, and as such played an important role in their personal growth and recovery process. This is the first study to examine the therapeutic benefits of songwriting in a military population.
Murine astrocytes produce IL-24 and are susceptible to the immunosuppressive effects of this cytokine

Glia are key regulators of inflammatory responses within the central nervous system (CNS) following infection or trauma. We have previously demonstrated the ability of activated glia to rapidly produce pro-inflammatory mediators followed by a transition to an anti-inflammatory cytokine production profile that includes the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 and the closely related cytokine IL-19. IL-24, another member of the IL-10 family, has been studied in a number of inflammatory conditions in the periphery and is known to modulate immune cell activity. However, the ability of glia to produce IL-24 remains unclear and the effects of this pleiotropic cytokine on glial immune functions have not been investigated. In this study, we have assessed whether primary murine glia produce IL-24 following stimulation and evaluated the effect of this cytokine on the immune responses of such cells. We have utilized RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses to assess the expression of IL-24 and its cognate receptors by astrocytes following challenge with bacteria or their components. Furthermore, we have determined the effect of recombinant IL-24 on astrocyte immune signaling and responses to clinically relevant bacteria using RT-PCR and specific capture ELISAs. We demonstrate that astrocytes express IL-24 mRNA and release detectable amounts of this cytokine protein in a delayed manner following bacterial challenge. In addition, we have determined that glia constitutively express the cognate receptors for IL-24 and show that such expression can be increased in astrocytes following activation. Importantly, our results indicate that IL-24 exerts an immunosuppressive effect on astrocytes by elevating suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 expression and limiting IL-6 production following challenge. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that IL-24 can also augment the release of IL-10 by bacterially challenged astrocytes and can induce the expression of the potentially neuroprotective mediators, glutamate transporter 1, and cyclooxygenase 2. The expression of IL-24 and its cognate receptors by astrocytes following bacterial challenge, and the ability of this cytokine to limit inflammatory responses while promoting the expression of immunosuppressive and/or neuroprotective mediators, raises the intriguing possibility that IL-24 functions to regulate or resolve CNS inflammation following bacterial infection in order to limit neuronal damage.
Assessing the contribution of opioid- and dopamine-related genetic polymorphisms to the abuse liability of oxycodone.

Abstract Background Attempts to identify opioid users at increased risk of escalating to opioid use disorder have had limited success. Data from a variety of sources suggest that genetic variation may mediate the subjective response to opioid drugs, and therefore contribute to their abuse potential. The goal of the current study was to observe the relationship between select genetic polymorphisms and the subjective effects of oxycodone under controlled clinical laboratory conditions. Methods Non-dependent, volunteers with some history of prescription opioid exposure (N = 36) provided a blood sample for analyses of variations in the genes that encode for the μ-, κ- and δ-opioid receptors, and the dopamine metabolizing enzyme, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Participants then completed a single laboratory test session to evaluate the subjective and analgesic effects of oral oxycodone (0, 10, and 20 mg, cumulative dose = 30 mg). Results Oxycodone produced typical μ-opioid receptor agonist effects, such as miosis, and decreased pain perception. Oxycodone also produced dose-dependent increases in positive subjective responses such as: drug “Liking” and “Good Effect.” Genetic variants in the μ- (rs6848893) and δ-opioid receptor (rs581111) influenced the responses to oxycodone administration. Additionally, self-reported “Stimulated” effects of oxycodone varied significantly as a function of COMT rs4680 genotype. Discussion The current study shows that the euphoric and stimulating effects of oxycodone can vary as a function of genetic variation. Though the relationship between the stimulating effects of opioids and their abuse liability is not well established, we know that the ability of opioids to provide intense feelings of pleasure is a significant motivator for continued use. If replicated, specific genetic variants may be useful in predicting who is at increased risk of developing maladaptive patterns of use following medical exposure to opioid analgesics.
Written feedback in heritage Spanish classrooms: A national survey of students and instructors

Although feedback is a well-established and widespread technique in L1 and L2 writing, little is known about written feedback practices in Spanish heritage language (SHL) classrooms. This study examines how written feedback is used in SHL courses across the United States. Professors, instructors, graduate teaching assistants, program directors, and students who had taught, directed, or taken an SHL course completed online questionnaires about instructional practices and their perceptions of the feedback provided on writing assignments. Both instructors and students reported that written comments, correction codes, circles/underlines, and correct forms were frequently provided. Instructors indicated the most challenges when providing feedback on organization, grammar, and orthography. Nevertheless, students reported that every kind of feedback that they received was useful and comprehensible. Although further exploration of writing in the SHL classroom is needed to more concretely delineate best practices, the current findings suggest that several effective feedback practices are already in place. © John Benjamins Publishing Company.