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Cooperation in an open dynamic system fundamentally depends upon information distributed across its components. Yet in an environment with rapidly evolving complexity, this information may need to change adaptively to enable cooperative interactions. Combining the methods of evolutionary game theory, agent-based simulation, and statistical physics, we develop a model of the evolution of cooperation in an ageing population of artificial decision makers playing spatial tag-mediated prisoner’s dilemma games with their ingroup neighbors and with genetically unrelated immigrant agents. We introduce the concept of time-varying tags such that the phenotypic features of ‘new’ agents can change into ‘approved’ following variable approval times. In the standard 4-strategy model with fixed tags, we identified a critical cost [Formula: see text] above which cooperation transitioned abruptly into the phase of pure defection. In our generalized 6-strategy model with time-varying tags, the maintenance of elevated cooperation was observed for a much wider region of the parameter space, peaking at intermediate approval times and cost values above [Formula: see text]. Our findings reveal the existence of optimal approval times leading to high levels of cooperation if a fraction of the population adopts the strategy with an egalitarian generosity directed towards both native and approved agents, regardless of their actual origin.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of melt films of poly(alkyl methacrylate)s (PAMAs) with methyl, ethyl, and n-butyl substituents, respectively, have been performed using an all-atom model to investigate their surface and thin film properties. The applied all-atom force fields predict the bulk densities of PAMAs in good agreement with experiments. Moreover, predictions of the surface tensions of PMMA, PEMA, and Pn-BMA melts are in reasonably good agreement with experiments. The density profiles and orientational-order parameters of chain segments show atomic-scale characteristics in the air/polymer interfacial region. In the surface region, the backbone segments of PAMAs form a well-defined layer structure with the chain vectors oriented parallel to the surface, while the ester side-chains strongly segregate to the surface region and show perpendicular orientation to the surface, with the most pronounced surface segregation noted for Pn-BMA. Such surface segregations of chain segments make it difficult to apply a simple relationship between the cohesive energy density and the surface tension of polymers, for example, and should be taken into account in relating the surface/thin film characteristics to the bulk properties of polymers in general.

We study the coordination game with an aspiration-driven update rule in regular graphs and scale-free networks. We prove that the model coincides exactly with the Ising model and shows a phase transition at the critical selection noise when the aspiration level is zero. It is found that the critical selection noise decreases with clustering in random regular graphs. With a non-zero aspiration level, the model also exhibits a phase transition as long as the aspiration level is smaller than the degree of graphs. We also show that the critical exponents are independent of clustering and aspiration level to confirm that the coordination game belongs to the Ising universality class. As for scale-free networks, the effect of aspiration level on the order parameter at a low selection noise is examined. In model networks (Barab\'{a}si-Albert network and Holme-Kim network), the order parameter abruptly decreases when the aspiration level is the same as the average degree of the network. In real-world networks, in contrast, the order parameter decreases gradually. We explain this difference by proposing the concepts of hub centrality and local hub. The histogram of hub centrality of real-world networks separates into two parts unlike model networks, and local hubs exist only in real-world networks. We conclude that the difference of network structures in model and real-world networks induces qualitatively different behavior in the coordination game., Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures

We propose a method to make a highly clustered complex network within the configuration model. Using this method, we generated highly clustered random regular networks and analyzed the properties of them. We show that highly clustered random regular networks with appropriate parameters satisfy all the conditions of the small-world network: connectedness, high clustering coefficient, and small-world effect. We also study how clustering affects the percolation threshold in random regular networks. In addition, the prisoner's dilemma game is studied and the effects of clustering and degree heterogeneity on the cooperation level are discussed., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures

We present results of the prisoner's dilemma game on complex networks that have population change. We introduce a death process with minimum requirements and show that it induces a highly cooperative society. We also study the effects of immigration on the society. We show that the acceptable number of immigrants of the society is determined by the population of the society, the ratio of cooperator among immigrants, and the immigration interval. In addition, if immigrants have a preferential attachment link, the acceptable number of immigrants increases., 7 pages, 5 figures

We provide a simple dynamical model of a hair cell with an afferent neuron where the spectral and the temporal responses are controlled by the hair bundle’s criticality and the neuron’s excitability. To demonstrate that these parameters, indeed, specify the resolution of the sound encoding, we fabricate a neuromorphic device that models the hair cell bundle and its afferent neuron. Then, we show that the neural response of the biomimetic system encodes sounds with either high temporal or spectral resolution or with a combination of both resolutions. Our results suggest that the hair cells may easily specialize to fulfil various roles in spite of their similar physiological structures.

Table S1. Serological, virological, and biochemical responses at week 48 by baseline HBeAg-positivity. Table S2. Serological, virological, and biochemical responses at week 48 by status of liver cirrhosis. Table S3. Serological, virological, and biochemical responses at week 48 by gender. Table S4. Characteristics of the patients at virologic breakthrough. (DOCX 51 kb)

High molecular weight poly(e-caprolactone)s (PCL) were synthesized via zwitterionic polymerization of e-caprolactone initiated with N-heterocyclic carbenes. Ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone (1 M) with carbenes 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (1) or 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene (3) affords cyclic PCL with molecular weights up to Mn = 114 000 g/mol. Crystallization of the cyclic PCL was investigated by synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering experiments and differential scanning calorimetry. High molecular weight cyclic poly(e-caprolactone) crystallizes with a similar lamellar thickness and long period spacing as linear poly(e-caprolactone), but the crystallization of cyclic poly(e-caprolactone) is faster than that of linear poly(e-caprolactone) for molecular weights greater than 75 000 g/mol. These results imply that the polymer topology does not have a significant influence on the crystal structure or morphology but can have a significant influence on the rate of crys...

The zwitterionic ring-opening polymerization of lactide initiated by N-heterocyclic carbenes generates cyclic polylactides with well-defined molecular weights between M(n) = 5000 and 30,000 g/mol with narrow polydispersities (M(w)/M(n) < or = 1.31). These zwitterionic polymerizations are extremely rapid (k(p) = 48.7 M(-1) s(-1)), but also exhibit exceptional control of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. The unusual kinetic features of these zwitterionic polymerizations are illuminated with kinetic and mechanistic investigations, which implicate a mechanism that involves a slow initiation step (second order in [M]), a propagation step (first order in [M]) that is much faster than initiation (k(i) = 0.274 M(-2) s(-1)), cyclization (k(c) = 0.0575 s(-1)), and depropagation (k(d) = 0.208 s(-1)). Numerical and stochastic simulations of the kinetic data provide a kinetic rationale for the evolution of molecular weight with monomer conversion: the molecular weights increase with increasing monomer conversion, exhibit a nonzero intercept near 0% monomer conversion, and are relatively insensitive to the initial monomer-to-initiator ratio. The observed narrow molecular weight distributions are due to a high rate of propagation relative to cyclization and chain transfer. Kinetic simulations define the kinetic criteria under which the active zwitterions remain in solution; these simulations were substantiated by chain-extension experiments, which provide experimental evidence for chain extension of the zwitterions and reinitiation by the N-heterocyclic carbenes liberated upon macrocyclization. The kinetic model rationalizes some of the unique features of zwitterionic ring-opening polymerization and provides a useful mechanistic framework to optimize these polymerizations as a strategy to generate well-defined cyclic polyesters.

We report the synthesis of poly(e-caprolactone) utilizing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysts. Sterically unencumbered NHCs were found to be highly effective for the living ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone under mild conditions. The NHCs were able to produce poly(e-caprolactone)s with controlled molecular weights, low polydispersities, and well-defined end groups derived from the alcohol initiator. Star-shaped poly(e-caprolactone)s with three and four arms were prepared using NHC organocatalysts and characterized by 1H NMR and GPC.

A systematic investigation of the microstructure of ethylene copolymers has been carried out as a function of the comonomer type and content, employing small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments to study the lamellar structure, and solid-state NMR to study the local conformational freedom. The SAXS results clearly show that the major consequence of incorporating commonomers (butene and octene) is the absence of lamellar thickening during the crystallization. From solid-state NMR study, applying the rotor-encoded rotational echo double resonance technique (REREDOR), it is found that the extent of the orientational order in the noncrystalline region of semicrystalline polyethylene is substantial but this order is not significantly affected by the incorporation of comonomer units. Therefore, the major cause for the significant improvements of mechanical properties observed for ethylene copolymers is not a change in the thermodynamic state of the noncrystalline region, but most likely a significant change in the intermolecular topological structure due to the blocking of disentanglement processes required by the lamellar thickening step during crystallization.

In this paper, a structural damage identification method (SDIM) is developed for cylindrical shells and the numerically simulated damage identification tests are conducted to study the feasibility of the proposed SDIM. The SDIM is derived from the frequency response function solved from the structural dynamic equations of damaged cylindrical shells. A damage distribution function is used to represent the distribution and magnitudes of the local damages within a cylindrical shell. In contrast with most existing modal parameters-based SDIMs which require the modal parameters measured in both intact and damaged states, the present SDIM requires only the FRF-data measured in the damaged state. By virtue of utilizing FRF-data, one is able to make the inverse problem of damage identification well-posed by choosing as many sets of excitation frequency and FRF measurement point as needed to obtain a sufficient number of equations.

Lithium-ion batteries are lightweight power sources with high recuperation capability, which could be a potent battery technology for emerging low-voltage hybrid markets. Based on lithium-ion battery technology, automotive manufacturers have investigated various 12V and 48V systems with different dimension and performance requirements. Depending on their needs for a pack location and system design, OEMs’ interest in cell chemistry varies from conventional carbonaceous anode-based battery to LTO anode-based one to LFP cathode-based one. In this talk, current lithium-ion battery solutions to various low-voltage needs will be discussed with a focus on technical challenges in cell design. Also, we will explore future lithium-ion battery technology required for 12V and 48V lithium-ion batteries.

Nature has selected and fine-tuned the physical and chemical properties of natural objects, such as size, shape, mechanical properties and surface chemistry, at the molecular level in order to modulate biological functions. A new particle fabrication process, particle replication in nonwetting templates (PRINT®), has recently begun to attempt to emulate nature’s ability to control those physical and chemical traits. The PRINT technology, which combines modern soft lithography with the unique properties of perfluoropolyether molds, enables the production of nanoparticles with unprecedented control of size, shape, chemical composition, deformability and surface functionality. This scalable ‘top-down’ fabrication process allows for the generation of well-defined nanostructures without the need for molecular assembly. The ability to flexibly engineer various matrix materials offers unique opportunities for the development of nanomedicines with desired functionality. The strength and versatility of PRINT makes it a powerful platform in nanomedicine for elucidating the role of physical and chemical properties of nanodelivery vehicles on the behavior and fate at the cellular, tissue and whole organism level. Utilizing the PRINT technology, we are generating well-defined nanomedicines with tailored properties for preclinical studies against a variety of human diseases.

We previously reported on a rheological study of Langmuir films of poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (PtBMA), and this work describes further studies on this system. Here, surface pressure-area (Pi-A) isotherms and interfacial shear rheology experiments are performed to better understand the effects of two modifications: varying the temperature between 5 and 40 degrees C and introducing small amounts of carboxylic acid groups by partially hydrolyzing the polymer. Increased temperature produced isotherms with lower plateau surface pressures, Pip, and Pi values shifted to lower areas above Pip. Film properties transition from being primarily viscous to being dominated by elasticity as Pip is crossed for all temperatures studied, even as the value of Pip changes. Increasing the hydrolysis fraction leads to isotherms shifted to lower areas throughout the curve and higher Pip values. Both temperature variation and chemical modification are believed to affect the relative importance of polymer-polymer and polymer-subphase interactions.

Though have been many efforts to make the inverse problem of damage identification small by reducing its finite element degrees-of-freedom, there have been few efforts to make it small by reducing its spa- tial domain of problem. Thus, as the extension of the author's previous work in which the damage identifi- cation algorithm was formulated from the dynamic stiffness equation of motion, the present study intro- duces a spectral element model (SEM)-based re- duced-domain method (RDM) of damage identifica- tion. In the present RDM, a three-steps process is used to reduce the domain of problem by iteratively searching out and removing damage-free parts of structure in the course of the damage identification analysis. To validate the present RDM, numerically simulated damage identification tests are conducted. The experimental tests for a damaged cantilevered beam specimen show that the present RDM can fairly well locates and quantifies all local damages (i.e., slots) placed along the beam specimen.

We report spirocyclic imidazolidines derived from N-heterocyclic carbenes and β-lactones. These spirocycles are initiators for the zwitterionic ring-expansion polymerization of β-lactones to generate cyclic polyesters of well-defined molecular weight. The zwitterionic strategy based on the equilibrium between the zwitterionic intermediates and spiro macrocyclics enables the controlled synthesis of cyclic poly(β-lactone)s

Background Telbivudine has been suggested to induce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decline to the similar degree as pegylated interferon. We aimed to investigate whether telbivudine could further decrease HBsAg titer in patients who maintain undetectable serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA after initial entecavir treatment. Methods In this open-label trial, patients who had serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels ≥1,000 IU/mL and 0.5 log10 IU/mL. Eleven patients (23.4%) in the telbivudine group, but none in the entecavir group, experienced virologic breakthrough (P