cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the MTF for a-Si: H imaging arrays

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon imaging arrays are being developed for numerous applications in medical imaging. Diagnostic and megavoltage images have previously been reported and a number of the intrinsic properties of the arrays have been investigated. This paper reports on the first attempt to characterize the intrinsic spatial resolution of the imaging pixels on a 450 micrometers pitch, n-i-p imaging array fabricated at Xerox P.A.R.C. The pre- sampled modulation transfer function was measured by scanning a approximately 25 micrometers wide slit of visible wavelength light across a pixel in both the DATA and FET directions. The results show that the response of the pixel in these orthogonal directions is well described by a simple model that accounts for asymmetries in the pixel response due to geometric aspects of the pixel design.
Multi-visceral resection of pancreatic VIPoma in a patient with sinistral portal hypertension

VIPomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors poorly described in the literature. Aggressive resection of patients with advanced VIPoma neuroendocrine tumors has rarely been reported. A 46 year old women presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea. A three-dimensional (3-D) pancreas protocol computed tomography scan revealed an 18 × 12 cm pancreatic VIPoma abutting the liver, stomach, spleen, left adrenal, colon that also invaded the distal duodenum – proximal jejunum at the ligament of Treitz in association with sinistral portal hypertension. Following preoperative proximal splenic artery embolization, the patient with underwent successful en bloc resection of the locally advanced VIPoma in conjunction with a diaphragmatic resection, total gastrectomy, splenectomy, left adrenalectomy, as well as small and large bowel resection. The estimated blood loss was 500 ml. All margins were negative (R0 resection). The patient is alive and disease-free. This case illustrates the role of aggressive resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and highlights several key technical points that allowed for successful resection.
Functional restoration for the stroke survivor: informing the efforts of engineers.

As bioengineers begin to notice the importance of therapy in the recovery from stroke and other brain injuries, new technologies will be increasingly conceived, adapted, and designed to improve the patient’s road to recovery. What is clear from engineering history, however, is that the best engineering efforts are often built on strong scientific foundations. In an effort to inform engineers with the necessary background on cutting edge research in the field of stroke and motor recovery, this article summarizes the views of several experts in the field as a result of a workshop held in 2006 on the topic. Here we elaborate on several areas relevant to this goal, including the pathophysiology of stroke and stroke recovery, the biomechanics, the secondary peripheral changes in muscle and other tissue, and the results of neuroimaging studies. One conclusion is that the current state of knowledge is now ripe for research using machines but that highly sophisticated robotic devices may not yet be needed. Instead, what may be needed is basic evidence that shows a difference in one
Neural drive estimation using the hypothesis of muscle synergies and the state-constrained Kalman filter

We explore the hypothesis of muscle synergies to estimate the neural drive (movement intent) for upper extremity myoelectric prosthesis using the surface myoelectric signals. Commonly employed pattern classification systems have certain limitations, like inherent discrete nature, finite movement classes and limited degrees-of-freedom. We propose a novel framework based on the state space modeling and the hypothesis of muscle synergies. The problem is formulated in the state space framework in a novel way, where the movement intent is modeled as the hidden state of the system. A continuous stream of the movement intent (the hidden state) is estimated using the state-constrained Kalman filter. Preliminary experimental results also confirm the applicability of the proposed framework for estimation of movement intent.
Developmental Dyslexia: An Update

Definitions Developmental dyslexia, also known as specific reading disability, is an unexpected difficulty in learning to read that occurs in the otherwise normal child. Rudel1 suggests it be defined by both exclusionary and inclusionary criteria. Her strict definition requires that five criteria be met: 1) The child must have no major neurologic abnormalities, such as overt cerebral palsy. Affected children may and often do have "soft" signs on neurologic examination, however. 2) The major sensory functions must be normal; the child cannot be blind or deaf. Practically speaking, children who are blind or deaf or who have cerebral palsy may be dyslexic if they have reading difficulties disproportionate to their other academic and intellectual abilities. 3) The child should have no major psychiatric problems. Problems with self-esteem are often, however, a reactive secondary issue in the child who has a learning disability. 4) Normal intelligence is required, using either a verbal or nonverbal measure. Children who have dyslexia often also have language problems. Hence, verbal intelligence scores may not reflect overall intellectual abilities accurately. 5) Finally, the dyslexic child must have been in a social and educational environment conducive to learning to read. Several studies of inner-city school children have demonstrated that enrichment programs help some nonreaders become readers, demonstrating the importance of teaching techniques.
Parallel test reduces cost of test more effectively than just a cheap tester

Today's manufacturers of high-volume consumer devices are under tremendous cost pressure and consequently under extreme pressure to reduce cost of test. Low-cost ATE has often been promoted as the obvious solution. Parallel test is another well-known approach, where multiple devices are tested in parallel (multi-site test) and/or multiple blocks within one device are tested in parallel (concurrent test). This paper shows quantitatively that parallel test is a much effective test cost reduction method than low-cost ATE, because it reduces all test cost contributors, not only capital cost of ATE. It also shows that the optimum number of sites is relatively insensitive to ATE capital cost, operating cost, yield, and various limiting factors, but the cost benefits diminish fast, if limited independent ATE resources reduce the degree of parallelism and force a partially sequential test.
Functional Recovery of a Patient With Anorexia Nervosa: Physical Therapist Management in the Acute Care Hospital Setting

Background and Purpose People with severe, long-standing anorexia nervosa (AN) often develop physical manifestations of medical starvation. Functional deficits are not well described, and little information is available to guide physical intervention. This case report describes the physical therapy clinical decision-making process and intervention provided to a patient with severe AN. Case Description The patient was a 48-year-old woman admitted to an acute care hospital with medical complications associated with AN and requiring medical stabilization. On admission, she was unable to complete basic functional activities (eg, bed mobility, transfers, ambulation). She was considered at risk for falls, with a score of 17 on the Performance-Oriented Motor Assessment (POMA) and a score of 19.27 seconds on the Timed “Up & Go” Test (TUG). Physical therapist examination and intervention focused on functional testing and training, strengthening, and postural stability training for return to independence. Outcomes In 9 weeks, the patient returned to independence in basic activities of daily living, as measured by 3 items from the motor domain (bed mobility, transfers, and ambulation) of the Functional Independence Measure, with improvements from 1 (“total assistance”) to 6 (“modified independence”) on each item. Postural stability improved to “low risk” for falls (POMA score of 24). Her TUG score improved to 11.00 seconds. Walking speed improved from 0.35 to 0.81 m/s. Once she attained medical stability, she was discharged home with her parents with outpatient services. Discussion Physical therapist management of this severely deconditioned patient hospitalized with severe AN focused on the restoration of functional activities, with intervention intensity being guided by physiologic responses. Traditional aerobic and endurance training were de-emphasized to minimize kilocalorie expenditure and tendencies toward exercise compulsion in this patient population.
Nr-CAM expression in the developing mouse nervous system: ventral midline structures, specific fiber tracts, and neuropilar regions.

Nr-CAM is a member of the L1 subfamily of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily. To explore the role of Nr-CAM in the developing nervous system, we prepared specific antibodies against both chick and mouse Nr-CAM using recombinant Fc fusion proteins of chick Nr-CAM and mouse Nr-CAM, respectively. First, we show the specificity of the new anti-chick Nr-CAM antibody compared with a previously employed antibody using the expression patterns of Nr-CAM in the chick spinal cord and floor plate and on commissural axons, where Nr-CAM has been implicated in axon guidance. Using the anti-mouse Nr-CAM antibody, we then studied the expression patterns of Nr-CAM in the developing mouse nervous system along with the patterns of two related CAMs, L1, which labels most growing axons, and TAG-1, which binds to Nr-CAM and has a more restricted distribution. Major sites that are positive for Nr-CAM are specialized glial formations in the ventral midline, including the floor plate in the spinal cord, the hindbrain and midbrain, the optic chiasm, and the median eminence in the forebrain. Similar to what is seen in the chick spinal cord, Nr-CAM is expressed on crossing fibers as they course through these areas. In addition, Nr-CAM is found in crossing fiber pathways, including the anterior commissure, corpus callosum, and posterior commissure, and in nondecussating pathways, such as the lateral olfactory tract and the habenulointerpeduncular tract. Nr-CAM, for the most part, is colocalized with TAG-1 in all of these systems. Based on in vitro studies indicating that the Nr-CAM-axonin-1/TAG-1 interaction is involved in peripheral axonal growth and guidance in the spinal cord [Lustig et al. (1999) Dev Biol 209:340–351; Fitzli et al. (2000) J Cell Biol 149:951–968], the expression patterns described herein implicate a role for this interaction in central nervous system axon growth and guidance, especially at points of decussation. Nr-CAM also is expressed in cortical regions, such as the olfactory bulb. In the hippocampus, however, TAG-1-positive areas are segregated from Nr-CAM-positive areas, suggesting that, in neuropilar regions, Nr-CAM interacts with molecules other than TAG-1. J. Comp. Neurol. 434:13–28, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Are Children Doomed by What They Eat and Drink

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the industrialized world. In parallel, the prevalence rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease have increased dramatically. Most unfortunately, these increases have not been limited to adults, because obesity and hypertension have also been found to have risen substantially in children and adolescents as well.1,2 It seems that the rate of increasing body mass is directly related to the occurrence of hypertension in the pediatric population, because secondary forms of hypertension have not been reported to have increased recently. It has long been recognized that a direct and continuous relationship exists between dietary sodium intake and blood pressure, as well as the prevalence of hypertension and associated cardiovascular disorders. However, this connection has generally been reported for adults but not demonstrated for the pediatric age group. A recent report suggests that such a relationship can even be found among individuals between the ages of 4 and 18 years.3 In addition, fluid consumption and, particularly, the consumption of sweetened beverages, have been linked to childhood obesity.4 In the present issue, He et al5 provide further evidence of a link between salt intake and soft-drink consumption in the …
Accuracy issues of the existing thermospheric wind models: can we rely on them in seeking solutions to wind-driven problems?

Abstract. We address the question of the ability of empirical and general circulation model neutral wind profiles in the lower thermosphere to reproduce the observed characteristics of the winds in that part of the atmosphere. The winds in that altitude range are critical for electrodynamic processes, but evaluations of the model winds are generally difficult because of the sparse observational data, which makes an evaluation of the wind predictions over large areas difficult or impossible. In this paper, we use a recently identified characteristic of the winds in the lower thermosphere, namely the enhanced winds and strong shears between 95 and 115 km altitude, as a test of the models, at least in a statistical sense. Our results show that the Horizontal Wind Model (HWM) significantly underestimates the maximum winds and shears in the lower thermosphere, although it has reasonable agreement with the average winds. The NCAR general circulation model used in this study also underestimates the maximum winds and shears significantly when run with standard resolution, as well as producing an unrealistic increase of the wind speed with height. The agreement between the model and the observations improves significantly however, in a statistical sense, when the altitude resolution is increased. The improved height resolution in the model appears to produce a greater improvement in the model predictions than any of the other factors that we examined, such as improving the geomagnetic forcing or the forcing at the lower boundary.
DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity associated with subviral particles of polyhedral cytoplasmic dexoyribovirus.

Polyhedral cytoplasmic deoxyribovirus virions contain a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase which catalyzes the incorporation of ribonucleotides into an acid-precipitable product. Treatment of virions with sodium deoxycholate and dithiothreitol resulted in the formation of subviral particles which could be separated from virions by rate zonal centrifugation in sucrose gradients. Subviral particles were RNA polymerase-positive and more active per unit mass of protein than virions. In vitro enzyme activity associated with subviral particles required addition of ribonucleotides, Mg2+, and exogenous denatured DNA template. Optimal enzyme activity occurred over a broad pH (7.2 to 8.8) and Mg2+ concentration (2 to 10 μmol) range. The specific activity of the RNA polymerase was maximal at 37 C. Addition of DNase or actinomycin D to the reaction mixture reduced the incorporation of [3H]UMP into an acid-precipitable product. The product of the reaction was sensitive to degradation by RNase but not to DNase or Pronase. These data suggest that the enzyme copies DNA into RNA.
Thermal diffuse scattering in sub-angstrom quantitative electron microscopy-phenomenon, effects and approaches.

This paper reviews the recent progress in the following areas. (1) In quantitative high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, the theoretically calculated images usually give better contrast than the experimentally observed ones although all of the factors have been accounted for. This discrepancy is suggested due to thermal diffusely scattered (TDS) electrons, which were not included in the image calculation. The contribution from TDS electrons is especially important if the image resolution is approaching 0.1 nm and beyond with the introduction of Cs corrected microscopes. A more rigorous multislice theory has been developed to account for this effect. (2) We proved that the off-axis holography is an ideal energy filter that even filters away the contribution made by TDS electrons in the electron wave function, but conventional high-resolution microscopy do contain the contribution made by phonon scattered electrons. (3) In electron scattering, most of the existing dynamical theories have been developed under the first order diffuse scattering approximation, thus, they are restricted to cases where the lattice distortion is small. A formal dynamical theory is presented for calculating diffuse scattering with the inclusion of multiple diffuse scattering. By inclusion of a complex potential in dynamical calculation, a rigorous proof is given to show that the high order diffuse scattering are fully recovered in the calculations using the equation derived under the distorted wave Born approximation, and more importantly, the statistical time and structure averages over the distorted crystal lattices are evaluated analytically prior numerical calculation. This conclusion establishes the basis for expanding the applications of the existing theories. (4) The ‘frozen lattice’ model is a semi-classical approach for calculating electron diffuse scattering in crystals arisen from thermal vibration of crystal atoms. Based on a rigorous quantum mechanical phonon excitation theory, we have proved that the frozen lattice mode is an excellent approximation and no detectable error would be possible under normal experimental conditions. q 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Composition and cycling of marine organic phosphorus

Using tangential-flow ultrafiltration and solid-state 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the dominant compound classes of marine high‐molecular weight (1‐100-nm size fraction) dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) have been characterized in 16 samples from the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the North Sea. NMR spectra of ultrafiltered dissolved organic matter (UDOM) from all sites and depths reveal that P esters (75%) and phosphonates (25%) are the major components of ultrafiltered DOP (UDOP). P esters and phosphonates are present in unchanging proportions throughout the ocean. The homogeneity of UDOP from different oceanic regions suggests that processes leading to this chemical composition are ubiquitous. Ultrafiltered particulate organic matter (UPOM; 0.1‐60-mm size fraction) samples from the Pacific Ocean and the North Sea were also analyzed using 31 P NMR. In these samples, P esters are the only P compound class measured. Differences in the observed chemical compound classes of UDOM versus UPOM may result from (1) less-reactive phosphonates accumulating relative to P esters as particulate organic matter (POM) decomposes to DOM or (2) phosphonates originating from another source. C : N : P ratios of UDOM are significantly higher than Redfield ratios for POM. In general, C : P and N : P ratios of UDOM double between surface waters and the deep ocean. Increasing C : P and N : P ratios suggest that P is preferentially remineralized from UDOM relative to C and N throughout the water column.
PULMONARY VASCULAR CHANGES FOLLOWING AIR EMBOLISM IN THE DOG

The effect of an intravenous injection of air in a dose of 1 ml/kg body weight was determined in 15 healthy mongrel dogs. In 4 control dogs the mean pulmonary artery pressure rose to 2-3 times the resting values at 30 seconds, and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity and pulmonary capillary blood volume decreased by half. In the animals pretreated either with heparin or with methysergide (antiserotonin group) the results were the same as in the control animals. In the vagotomized dogs, the rise in pulmonary artery pressure was not significant, and the decrease in pulmonary capillary blood volume was of lesser magnitude and shorter duration than in the control and the antiserotonin dogs. It is concluded that the intravenous injection of air in supine dogs causes a transient obstruction of small pulmonary arteries. Evidence is presented to implicate a vagal mechanism in both main aspects of the response, namely the pulmonary artery pressure rise, and the partial obstruction of the pulmonary capillary bed. These studies offer additional explanation of the symptoms of respiratory distress observed in rapid decompression.
Wind Dispersal of Artifical Fruits Varying in Mass, Area, and Morphology

We used a field experiment to quantify the independent effects of variation in several fruit characteristics and in wind speed on dispersal of the windblown samaras of the tropical tree, Tachigalia versicolor. On Barro Colorado Island, Panama, we simultaneously released 15 different types of artificial models of these fruits, varying in seed mass, fruit area, and basic morphology, from the top of a 40—m tower, dropping them under five different wind conditions. In general, the horizontal distance a model fruit moves from the base of the tower is proportional to the average wind speed to which it was subject during the whole of its descent, divided by the square root of its wing—loading (wing—loading is the force of gravity on the fruit divided by its projected surface area). This relation was observed for fruits with masses from 1.0 to 1.9 g, with areas from 9 to 76 cm², and with (wing—loading)¹ / ² from 15.3 to 30.6 mPa. Two separate changes in the design of the fruit, but with no change in the wing—loading value from that of T. versicolor, caused the models to have either a more rapid rate of descent despite the appropriate aerodynamic motion, or an improper aerodynamic motion resulting in a pronounced increase in rate of descent. Model fruits that had the lowest wing—loading (achieved by decreasing seed mass or increasing fruit area) or that were blown by the strongest mean winds were dispersed the greatest mean distances and were scattered most evenly and over the widest area. A change in wing—loading or wind speed changed dispersal distance the least and the evenness of the distribution the most. Variation in wind speed has the potential to override the effect of variation in mass or area on dispersal, unless the differences in mass or area among models are quite large.
Rocky Mountain “Spotless” Fever with an Erythema Migrans—Like Skin Lesion

We report a case of Rocky Mountain "spotless" fever with a localized rash at the site of the tick bite that resembled the erythema migrans rash of Lyme borreliosis. Physicians who practice in geographic areas where Rocky Mountain spotted fever occurs should be aware of this unusual presentation.
Seven barriers to a sustainable future

Taking stock of where we are, as a species, and what needs doing to bring about a sustainable future is vital; but not sufficient. Barriers standing in the way must be recognized and overcome. Here are seven I will explore: First, our universal, but now fatal, attraction to paths that promise minimal effort. Second, the desire to want and value more children than the biosphere can afford. Third, our predisposition not to connect what we do with its large scale impacts as hundreds of millions do just like we do. Fourth, the boiled frog syndrome. Human produced changes to the biosphere and the sociosphere are extremely rapid on a geological time scale. But, they are too slow to trigger inner alarms. Fifth, intense worldwide competition for an “edge” leaves little or no room for player choice. Sixth, addiction. We consign addiction to individuals, but, entire societies can become addicted as we have to oil. The seventh barrier wraps the rest. It's the tragedy of the commons. Unsustainable development is a tragedy of the global commons.
Farewell to Adaptationism: Unnatural Selection and the Politics of Biology

This article argues that human adaptation has lost its utility as a conceptual toolfor either biological or medical anthropology, despite the recent efforts of practitioners in these subdisciplines to rescue it by considering the influences of power, history, and global social processes. It draws on cases from diverse fields, including evolutionary studies, ethology, genetics, and epidemiology, to suggest new ways of conceptualizing the relationship between humans and their physical and biotic environments; environments that they, and to a lesser degree other species, are not so much "adapting to" as transforming, while being transformed themselves in the process. Central to this reconceptualization is an understanding of human behavior and environmental relationships in political-economic context. [human adaptation, human biology, political economy, critical medical anthropology] mong the lesser celebrated of the seminal and influential works of Charles Darwin, father of both modem biology and adaptationist thinking, is a book with the quaint but intriguing title The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms, with Observations on Their Habits (1881). In this text, whose abundant title no less than its content suggests the profound influence of society, Darwin sought to explain what some might consider a minor problem for such a prodigious mind, namely the marked increase in ground clover in rural England during the 19th century. In Darwin's engaging analysis, which is said to have provided him with more sheer delight than his troubled efforts to understand human evolution (Eiseley 1977), the great naturalist traced the expansion of clover to a significant improvement in the quality of soil due to a parallel increase in the earthworm population, as well as to enhanced opportunities for pollination occasioned by a synchronous growth in the number of bumblebees. Darwin tied these faunal changes to a drop in the number of predatory rodents, such as the dormouse, that was triggered by a rise in the number of rodent-eating domestic cats. Cats, he explained, had undergone a population boom of their own because of their senti
From sink to source: Regional variation in U.S. forest carbon futures

The sequestration of atmospheric carbon (C) in forests has partially offset C emissions in the United States (US) and might reduce overall costs of achieving emission targets, especially while transportation and energy sectors are transitioning to lower-carbon technologies. Using detailed forest inventory data for the conterminous US, we estimate forests’ current net sequestration of atmospheric C to be 173 Tg yr−1, offsetting 9.7% of C emissions from transportation and energy sources. Accounting for multiple driving variables, we project a gradual decline in the forest C emission sink over the next 25 years (to 112 Tg yr−1) with regional differences. Sequestration in eastern regions declines gradually while sequestration in the Rocky Mountain region declines rapidly and could become a source of atmospheric C due to disturbances such as fire and insect epidemics. C sequestration in the Pacific Coast region stabilizes as forests harvested in previous decades regrow. Scenarios simulating climate-induced productivity enhancement and afforestation policies increase sequestration rates, but would not fully offset declines from aging and forest disturbances. Separating C transfers associated with land use changes from sequestration clarifies forests’ role in reducing net emissions and demonstrates that retention of forest land is crucial for protecting or enhancing sink strength.
Dividend Policy and Firm Performance:Hotel REITs vs. Non-REIT Hotel Companies

Executive Summary. This article investigates whether the greater reliance of real estate investment trusts (REITs) relative to non-REIT corporations on external equity financing suggests greater ca...
Sum Product Networks for Activity Recognition

This paper addresses detection and localization of human activities in videos. We focus on activities that may have variable spatiotemporal arrangements of parts, and numbers of actors. Such activities are represented by a sum-product network (SPN). A product node in SPN represents a particular arrangement of parts, and a sum node represents alternative arrangements. The sums and products are hierarchically organized, and grounded onto space-time windows covering the video. The windows provide evidence about the activity classes based on the Counting Grid (CG) model of visual words. This evidence is propagated bottom-up and top-down to parse the SPN graph for the explanation of the video. The node connectivity and model parameters of SPN and CG are jointly learned under two settings, weakly supervised, and supervised. For evaluation, we use our new Volleyball dataset, along with the benchmark datasets VIRAT, UT-Interactions, KTH, and TRECVID MED 2011. Our video classification and activity localization are superior to those of the state of the art on these datasets.
Abstract 4368: Targeting of head and neck cancer stem cells using salinomycin

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Cancer stem cells are believed to play a crucial role in cancer recurrence due to their resistance to conventional chemotherapy and capacity for self-renewal. Gupta and colleagues recently reported that salinomycin, a livestock antibiotic, selectively targets breast cancer stem cells. In our study we sought to determine the effect of salinomycin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) stem cells. We observed that salinomycin inhibits self-renewal capacity in HNSCC stem cells, as shown by a dose-dependent decrease in sphere formation. In addition, treatment with salinomycin resulted in a decrease in mRNA expression of the stem cell markers CD44 and BMI-1, both of which are critical for maintaining tumorigenicity in HNSCC. In combination with the chemotherapeutic agents cisplatin and doxorubicin, salinomycin synergistically killed HNSCC cancer stem cells more effectively compared to either drug alone, as demonstrated by cell proliferation and TUNEL assays. High-throughput analysis revealed a set of differentially expressed microRNAs in salinomycin-treated HNSCC stem cells, warranting further investigation into the possibility of microRNA-mediated pathways that are regulated by salinomycin. Taken together, our findings indicate promise for using salinomycin or related derivatives as a novel treatment for HNSCC, although further studies are needed to confirm efficacy in vivo. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4368. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4368
Enabling coupled models to predict the business impact of weather on electric utilities

Efficient, resilient, and safe operation of an electric utility is dependent on the local weather conditions at the scale of its infrastructure. This sensitivity to weather includes such factors as damage to distribution or transmission systems due to relative extremes in precipitation or wind, determining electricity demand and load, and power generation from renewable facilities. Hence, the availability of highly focused weather predictions has the potential to enable proactive planning for the effect of weather on utility systems. Often, such information is simply unavailable. The initial step to address this gap is the application of state-of-the-art physical weather models at the spatial scale of the utility's infrastructure, calibrated to avoid this mismatch in predictability. The results of such a model are then coupled to a data-driven stochastic model to represent the weather impacts. The deployment of such methods requires an abstraction of the weather forecasting component to drive the model coupling.
Aciduric Organisms in Dental Caries.

SummaryAciduric, gram-positive, non-sporing, pleomorphicbacilli were isolated from the mouths of 21 of 24 individuals with extensive active caries, and from 7 patients in whom caries was arrested. Of 19 individuals who had never had any dental decay, the organisms were isolated from only 6; from 4 of these, organisms were obtained which had less acid-resistance than those from the carious mouths.
Networks Construction Scheme Based on WLAN Technology in Buildings And Its Analysis on Test of High Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation

A construction scheme based on the technology of WLAN in buildings was designed and the detail of the scheme was given,including five phases: spectrum analysis of the environment,layout design,construction installation,testing and acceptance.The design phase was focused on,the key technology of the design phase was discussed in depth,and the reasonable resolve scheme was given.The electromagnetic radiation of the high-frequency signals of WLAN has been studied through professional experiment,the results were compared with national standards,proving that it makes no influence to human health.
Investigation on alcohol drinking behavior of adolescent students in Tianjin city

Objective To study the prevalence of drinking behavior among adolescent students in Tianjin and to provide the basis for the intervention measures. Methods During 2011-2012,the questionnaire for health behavior of Chinese urban adolescents was used to investigate 10 800 students from 36 high schools and 6 universities in Tianjin. Results The attempted drinking rate and present drinking rate were 59.0% and 25.0% in adolescent students. The attempted drinking rates reported by female students and college male students were the highest,which were 55.0% and 63.7%,respectively(P0.01). Among the drinking students with drinking behavior,53.1% of students started drinking at ≤ 13 year old,the drinking proportion of students in key high schools was higher than that in ordinary high schools,the drinking proportion of students in grandparents families and reorganized families was the highest,the proportion of college students with drinking for ≥ 6 days in last 30 days was the highest(30.4%),the proportion of students with high frequent drinking(≥ 20 days) and heavy drinking in ordinary secondary schools was the highest. In last 12 months,the proportion of drunk was the highest in students from reorganized families. Conclusion The rates of attempted drinking and current drinking among adolescent students in Tianjin are higher. The drinking behavior among adolescent students is influenced by family factors. The education measures for adolescent students should be taken as early as possible to control the drinking behavior.
The true daylight illuminator (TDI): a less expensive source of illumination for color vision screening

This experiment was designed to examine the feasibility of using the True Daylight Illuminator (TDI) as an illumination option for conducting color vision screening with the Ishihara Test(s). The MacBeth Easel Lamp was designed to provide proper illumination for performing color vision screening with a variety of pseudoisochromatic (PIC) plate tests including the Ishihara. However, over the years, the MacBeth Lamp has become so expensive that many smaller programs cannot afford to purchase one. This problem has promoted the use of alternate light sources that have had a deleterious effect on test results and in some instances contributed to job discrimination. Recently the MacBeth Division of the Kollmorgan Corporation discontinued the manufacture of the MacBeth Lamp due to lack of demand. Thus, it is important to find an inexpensive illumination option for conducting color vision screening. Two groups of subjects were used to compare test results for the 24-plate edition of the Ishihara Test using both the MacBeth Lamp and the True Daylight Illuminator. The first group contained 45 subjects with inherited color defective vision. The second group was made up of 30 color normals. The Nagel anomaloscope was used to confirm the color vision status of the subjects in both groups. Statistics to test the significance of differences between group means clearly demonstrated that there were no significant differences between the mean error scores of the two groups for these two pieces of equipment. Thus, it was concluded that the TDI can be used in lieu of the MacBeth Easel Lamp for screening color vision with the Ishihara test.
Optimization of Outgassing Bake-Out Temperatures and Duration of Space Systems

Satellite components, e.g., solar panels, were subjected to bake-out tests to model outgassing characteristics and to identify methods for minimizing the bake-out time. Bake-out removes gases and particulates that are trapped at the surfaces of components during manufacture, storage, transit and handling. The tests covered temperatures from 45-85 C for up to 200 hr. Measurements of the mass loss rates were used to model the process as a function of the temperature, time and mass. Data sampling with a quartz crystal microbalance was found to be an effective means for ascertaining the mass loss rate and the activation energy of the release. The tests showed that the duration of the bake-out depends on the amount of material which must be removed and the type of outgassing which occurs. Materials which are resistant to high temperatures can be baked at the highest feasible temperatures to accelerate the outgassing process.
Predicting Phone Usage Behaviors with Sensory Data Using a Hierarchical Generative Model

Using a sizable set of sensory data and related usage records on Android devices, we are able to give a reasonable prediction of three imporant aspects of phone usage: messages, phone calls and cellular data. We solve the problem via an estimation of a user's daily routine, on which we can train a hierarchical generative model on phone usages in all time slots of a day. The model generates phone usage behaviors in terms of three kinds of data: the state of user-phone interaction, occurrence times of an activity and the duration of the activity in each occurrence. We apply the model on a dataset with 107 frequent users, and find the prediction error of generative model is the smallest when compare with several other baseline methods. In addition, CDF curves illustrate the availability of generative model for most users with the distribution of prediction error for all test cases. We also explore the effects of time slots in a day, as well as size of training and test sets. The results suggest several interesting directions for further research.
Is the nature of psychoanalytic thinking and practice (e.g., in regard to sexuality) determined by extra‐analytic, social and cultural developments?

It has been a conceit of Western society since the beginning the Enlightenment that we are engaged in a process of progress from ignorance, narrow‐mindedness, and superstition to a more rational an...
Advertising-Operations Interaction Effect on Promotion Success in the United States during the Early Stage of a Retailing Innovation

ABSTRACTIt has been shown that while promoting a retailing innovation, the stronger a retailer's operations capability, the more successful the retailer's promotion in its early stage. The current study is intended to be an empirical exploration of a new research question. While promoting a retailing innovation in the U.S.A., is it possible that the stronger a retailer's capability-based advertising efficiency, the stronger the positive effect of the capability-based operations efficiency on promotion success in the early stage of the innovation? Our results showed that the interaction between efficiency in advertising function and that in operations function did not appear to play any significant role towards success in the USA while promoting a retailing innovation.
PHYTOPLANKTON SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION IN SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO BAY: MESOSCALE AND SMALL-SCALE VARIABILITY

Abstract Horizontal transects of surface salinity and in-vivo fluorescence indicate the existence of three distinct spatial regimes in South San Francisco Bay. A mid-Bay region of low phytoplankton biomass with little small-scale variance is bounded to the north and south by water masses having higher in-vivo fluorescence and enhanced small-scale variability. Autocorrelation analyses demonstrate that the length scale of phytoplankton patchiness is longest in the mid-Bay region. The persistent discontinuities of in-vivo fluorescence and salinity are associated with topographic features—a large shoal to the north and a constriction to the south. The three spatial regimes are consistent with measured zooplankton distributions, existing current meter data, estimated longitudinal transports, and numerical simulations of residual circulations that show one (and perhaps two) large-scale gyre(s) bounded by the northern shoal and southern constriction. Topographic features are the most important physical factors controlling mesoscale (~ 10 km) variability of phytoplankton in South San Francisco Bay. We speculate that vertical current shear and salinity stratification (and their effects upon turbulence and diffusion) control small-scale patchiness, but quantitative estimates are needed to determine the influence of large-scale (and local) phytoplankton growth and loss processes.
Brain Damage Following Inflicted Head Injury

Detailed neuropathological studies, including immunocytochemistry for microscopic damage, are reported in 53 cases of non-accidental head injury in children examined by 2 neuropathologists at the Universities of London and Sheffield, UK.
Fusion of NPM to RARA in t(5;17) Disrupts Its Ability To Interact with YY1 Transcription Factor.

The transcription factor Ying-Yang 1 (YY1) can function either as a transcriptional activator or transcriptional repressor, depending on context. It has been reported that YY1 is a myeloid transforming gene interfering with neutrophilic differentiation. Further, it has been shown that the nucleolar phosphoprotein Nucleophosmin (NPM) directly interacts with YY1 in cells. As a consequence of NPM overexpression, YY1 repression is diminished. We previously reported the expression of an NPM fusion protein in the t(5;17)(q35;q21) variant of acute promyelocytic leukemia. The fusion protein encodes the N-terminal 118 amino acids of NPM fused to the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA). We previously showed that NPM-RAR inhibits myeloid differentiation in both U937 and transgenic model systems. We hypothesized that NPM-RAR might contribute to abnormal myeloid differentiation by altering YY1-mediated transcription pathways. To test this hypothesis, we sought to determine whether the NPM-RAR protein interacted with YY1 in the same manner as wild-type NPM. We generated a eukaryotic expression vector encoding FLAG-tagged YY1, and used it to transform COS cells. Full-length NPM, or NPM-RAR, were subcloned into a vector encoding the maltose binding protein (MBP), in the appropriate reading frame to generate MBP-fusions. The MBP proteins were expressed in bacteria, and purified by affinity chromatography. MBP, MPB-NPM, or MBP-NPM-RAR were incubated with YY1-COS lysates, and complexes were captured on amylose resin. The resin-complexes were washed, and the presence of YY1 was detected by immunoblotting using an anti-FLAG antibody. As expected, MBP-NPM pulled down FLAG-YY1 under these conditions. However, we were unable to detect association between MBP-NPM-RAR and FLAG-YY1. To determine whether this finding might be attributable to lack of post-translational modification of NPM-RAR in the bacterial system, we co-transfected expression vectors for FLAG-YY1 and NPM-RAR into COS cells. Lysates were subjected to immunoprecipitation using anti-RARA polyclonal antisera, and the presence of co-precipitating YY1 was detected by immunoblotting using an anti-FLAG antibody. Again, we were unable to detect direct interaction between the proteins. We conclude that NPM-RAR does not directly interact with YY1. This data does not exclude the possibility that YY1 activity could be altered in t(5;17) by decreased expression of wild-type NPM.
Coexistence of abnormal systolic motion of mitral valve in a consecutive group of 324 adult Tetralogy of Fallot patients assessed with echocardiography

Background The presence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients is not well described. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic CHD associated with overall good long-term survival after palliation. Since MVP is more often identified in adults and TOF patients are now surviving longer, we thus sought to perform this cohort study with a case–control design to (1) determine the prevalence of MVP and systolic displacement of mitral leaflets (SDML) in adult TOF patients, and (2) describe their clinical and imaging characteristics. Methods Retrospective interrogation of our echocardiography database identified 328 consecutive TOF patients ≥18 years from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2014. All images were reviewed to identify patients with concomitant MVP (prolapse >2 mm beyond the long-axis annular plane) or SDML ( Results 26 (8%) TOF patients fulfilled criteria for systolic mitral valve abnormality (SMVA) (15 MVP; 11 SDML). 2 had moderate to severe mitral regurgitation requiring repair. When compared with 52 TOF patients without SMVA, those with SMVA were more likely to be females (60.7% vs 33.9%, p=0.03), less likely to have transannular patch (52% vs 97.4%, p Conclusions In this series of adult TOF patients, we describe a novel finding of a high prevalence of systolic mitral valve abnormalities.
Delegation and Conflicts (of Law)

The Supreme Court's recent decision in Medellin rekindled a long-standing debate over delegation, which concerns the legal effect given to the decisions of foreign bodies (like the International Court of Justice) in the United States. Drawing on conflicts-of-law principles, this paper identifies and seeks to correct three distortions in the debate. First, it broadens the definition of delegation. Second, it advances a more nuanced system for classifying different types of delegations. Third, it wades into the normative debate over the desirability of various delegations. The closing section draws a parallel between the strategies employed in Medellin to those employed in the EC to expand the reach of European law in Member States.
Maternal Immune Activation Causes Behavioral Impairments and Altered Cerebellar Cytokine and Synaptic Protein Expression

Emerging epidemiology studies indicate that maternal immune activation (MIA) resulting from inflammatory stimuli such as viral or bacterial infections during pregnancy serves as a risk factor for multiple neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Although alterations in the cortex and hippocampus of MIA offspring have been described, less evidence exists on the impact on the cerebellum. Here, we report altered expression of cytokines and chemokines in the cerebellum of MIA offspring, including increase in the neuroinflammatory cytokine TNFα and its receptor TNFR1. We also report reduced expression of the synaptic organizing proteins cerebellin-1 and GluRδ2. These synaptic protein alterations are associated with a deficit in the ability of cerebellar neurons to form synapses and an increased number of dendritic spines that are not in contact with a presynaptic terminal. These impairments are likely contributing to the behavioral deficits in the MIA exposed offspring.