cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Genomic Stability at the Coding Regions of the Multidrug Transporter Gene ABCB1: Insights into the Development of Alternative Drug Resistance Mechanisms in Human Leukemia Cells

Despite considerable efforts in reversing clinical multidrug resistance (MDR), targeting the predominant multidrug transporter ABCB1/P-glycoprotein (P-gp) based on small molecule inhibitors has been hindered. This may be due to the emergence of alternative drug resistance mechanisms. However, the non-specific P-gp inhibitor cyclosporine (CsA) showed significant clinical benefits in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which likely represents the only proof-of-principle clinical trial using several generations of MDR inhibitors. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that underlie this successful MDR modulation by CsA are not elucidated because of the absence of CsA-relevant cellular models. In this study, we report the development of two erythroleukemia variants, RVC and RDC, which were derived by step-wise co-selection of K562/R7 drug-resistant leukemia cells with the etoposide-CsA and doxorubicin-CsA drug combinations, respectively. Interestingly, both RVC and RDC, which retained P-gp expression, showed altered MDR phenotypes that were resistant to cyclosporine modulation. The ABCB1 coding regions were genetically stable even under long-term stringent drug selection. Genomically, ABCB1 is likely the most stable ABC transporter gene when comparing with several ABC superfamily members (such as ABCA1, ABCC1, CFTR, and ABCG2). Our findings suggested that non-P-gp mechanisms were likely responsible for the resistance to CsA modulation in both RVC and RDC cells. Moreover, we found that CsA played a role in undermining the selection of highly drug-resistant cells via induction of low level and unstable drug resistance, thus shedding some light on the benefits of CsA in treating certain types of AML patients.
Higher Education Check-Ins: Exploring the User Experience of Hybrid Location Sensing

A large body of literature is dedicated to understanding people's check-in behavior when they use location sharing services to pair their location with a venue, e.g., a restaurant, a park, etc. Check-in behavior in higher education settings, e.g., where students and instructors have academic purposes for check-ins, is under-studied. In this work, we explore how university students apply two different mechanisms, i.e., automatic and manual location-sharing services, to conduct check-ins for an academic purpose (i.e., students sharing their class attendance with their instructor). More specifically, a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon-based technology is applied to enable automatic class check-ins. We conducted two field trials with a total of 141 university students. Our findings showed that several social, technological, and psychological factors impacted the use of auto and manual check-ins. Feedback from the student participants suggested that future higher education check-in systems may need to consider the integration of check-ins for a variety of purposes.
Bottlebrush polymers in the melt and polyelectrolytes in solution share common structural features

Uncharged bottlebrush polymer melts and highly charged polyelectrolytes in solution exhibit correlation peaks in scattering measurements and simulations. Given the striking superficial similarities of these scattering features, there may be a deeper structural interrelationship in these chemically different classes of materials. Correspondingly, we constructed a library of isotopically labeled bottlebrush molecules and measured the bottlebrush correlation peak position q * = 2 π / ξ by neutron scattering and in simulations. We find that the correlation length scales with the backbone concentration, ξ ∼ c B B − 0.47 , in striking accord with the scaling of ξ with polymer concentration cP in semidilute polyelectrolyte solutions ( ξ ∼ c P − 1 / 2 ) . The bottlebrush correlation peak broadens with decreasing grafting density, similar to increasing salt concentration in polyelectrolyte solutions. ξ also scales with sidechain length to a power in the range of 0.35–0.44, suggesting that the sidechains are relatively collapsed in comparison to the bristlelike configurations often imagined for bottlebrush polymers.
Team Performance and Triangle Approach: A Longitudinal Study

The literature on information systems development appears to be fragmented into three main categories: one that uses a knowledge management perspective, another one that considers social aspects of...
Dynamic Spectrum Access with Reinforcement Learning for Unlicensed Access in 5G and Beyond

Dynamic spectrum access (DSA) to achieve spectrum sharing in unlicensed bands is a promising approach for meeting the growing demands of forthcoming and deployed wireless networks, such as long-term evolution license-assisted access (LTE-LAA) and IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi systems. In this paper, we consider a coexistence scenario where multiple LAA and Wi-Fi links compete for spectrum sharing subchannel access. We introduce a reinforcement-learning-based subchannel selection technique which allows access points (APs) and eNBs to select best subchannel distributively considering their medium access control (MAC) channel access protocols along with the physical layer parameters. The performance of this scheme is investigated through simulations, including the convergence property and sum throughput. Numerical results show that the proposed reinforcement-learning scheme converges fast and the sum throughput of the LAA and Wi-Fi systems is reasonably close to the result based on exhaustive search.
What Fluorine Can Do in CO2 Chemistry: Applications from Homogeneous to Heterogeneous Systems.

CO2 chemistry including capture and fixation has attracted great attention towards the aim of reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere. "CO2 -philic" materials are required to achieve good performance owing to the intrinsic properties of the CO2 molecule, that is, thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness. In this respect, fluorinated materials have been deployed in CO2 capture (physical and chemical pathway) or fixation (thermo- and electrocatalytic procedure) with good performances, including homogeneous (e. g., ionic liquids and small organic molecules) and heterogeneous counterparts (e. g., carbons, porous organic polymers, covalent triazine frameworks, metal-organic frameworks, and membranes). In this Minireview, these works are summarized and analyzed from the aspects of (1) the strategy used for fluorine introduction, (2) characterization of the targeted materials, (3) performance of the fluorinated systems in CO2 chemistry, and comparison with the nonfluorinated counterparts, (4) the role of fluorinated functionalities in the working procedure, and (5) the relationship between performance and structural/electronic properties of the materials. The systematic summary in this Minireview will open new opportunities in guiding the design of "CO2 -philic" materials and pave the way to stimulate further progress in this field.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's Response to the Opioid Epidemic.

Background The United States is in the midst of an unprecedented opioid crisis with increasing injection drug use (IDU)-related human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreaks, particularly in rural areas. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)'s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) is well positioned to integrate treatment for IDU-associated HIV infections with treatment for drug use disorders. These activities will be crucial for the "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America" (EHE) initiative, in which 7 southern states were identified with rural HIV epidemics. Methods The RWHAP Services Report data were used to assess the IDU population and substance use services utilization among RWHAP clients in 2017, nationally and in the 7 EHE-identified states. THe HRSA held a 1-day Technical Expert Panel (TEP) to explore how RWHAP can best respond to the growing opioid crisis. Results During the TEP, 8 key themes emerged and 11 best practices were identified to address opioid use disorder (OUD) among people with HIV. In 2017, among RWHAP clients with reported age and transmission category, 6.7% (31 683) had HIV attributed to IDU; among IDU clients, 6.3% (1988) accessed substance use services. Conclusions The TEP results and RWHAP data were used to develop implementation science projects that focus on addressing OUD and integrating behavioral health in primary care. These activities are critical to ending the HIV epidemic.
Learning More About Ways to Improve Adolescent HPV Coverage

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines have been available for use in the United States since 2006 for girls and 2009 for boys.1 Vaccination uptake levels among adolescents, the preferred age for vaccination, have been examined annually through several different mechanisms and found to be continually well below national goals.2 The repetition of these findings is now, sadly, “old news.” So you may be asking yourself, “Do we need yet another study on adolescent HPV vaccination coverage in the United States?” Based on the findings of the study by Chen et al3 presented in this issue of Pediatrics the answer is a definitive “yes!” In this study, the authors provide some new and valuable insights regarding HPV vaccine uptake in the United States. Like researchers in many other studies, these researchers used a nationwide, population-based database to examine HPV vaccination initiation and completion by age, sex, and geographic location. With >7 million children included, researchers in the study were well powered to examine differences in vaccination coverage by these and other factors. And, like in many other studies, Chen et al3 demonstrated increasing vaccination levels over … Address correspondence to Amanda F. Dempsey, MD, PhD, MPH, University of Colorado Denver, 13199 East Montview Blvd, Suite 300, Aurora, CO 80045. E-mail: amanda.dempsey{at}cuanschutz.edu
Pericardial Tamponade and Other Cardiac Complications in POEMS Syndrome.

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) is a multiorgan syndrome with rare and heterogenous cardiac manifestations. We present the case of a man with pericardial effusion complicated by cardiac tamponade, new onset atrial fibrillation, and high-degree atrioventricular block leading to a diagnosis of POEMS syndrome. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).
Electrophysiological Examination of Feedback-Based Learning in 8–11-Year-Old Children

The study aimed at evaluating the extent to which the feedback related negativity (FRN), an ERP component associated with feedback processing, is related to learning in school-age children. Eighty typically developing children between the ages of 8 and 11 years completed a declarative learning task while their EEG was recorded. The study evaluated the predictive value of the FRN on learning retention as measured by accuracy on a follow-up test a day after the session. The FRN elicited by positive feedback was found to be predictive of learning retention in children. The relationship between the FRN and learning was moderated by age. The P3a was also found to be associated with learning, such that larger P3a to negative feedback was associated with better learning retention in children.
Spatial Technology Applications

This chapter presents an overview of the various spatial technologies that are utilized by law enforcement agencies to document evidence for the preservation of crime scenes which can be used for further investigations or as evidence during trial. The first technology presented is remote sensing . Four of the more common types of remote sensing are discussed: aerial photography , satellite imagery , ground-penetrating radar , and thermal imaging . The chapter continues with a discussion of geographic information systems and their application for crime mapping and analysis as well as geographic profiling . A review of the innovative uses of laser scanning technologies to document crime and accident scenes concludes the discussion.
Jacobi load flow accelerator using FPGA

Full-AC load flow is a crucial task in power system analysis. Solving full-AC load flow utilizes iterative numerical methods such as Jacobi, Gauss-Seidel or Newton-Raphson. Newton-Raphson is currently the preferred solver used in industrial applications such as power world and PSS/E due to it faster convergence than either Jacobi or Gauss-Seidel. In this paper, we reexamine the Jacobi method for use in a fully pipelined hardware implementation using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an alternative to Newton-Raphson. Using benchmark data from representative power systems, we compare the operation counts of Newton-Raphson software to the proposed Jacobi FPGA hardware. Our studies show that Jacobi method implemented in an FPGA for a sufficiently large power system has the potential to be a state of the art full-AC load flow engine.
A Comparative Study of Fatigue Behavior and Life Predictions of Forged Steel and PM Connecting Rods

This study investigates and compares fatigue behavior of forged steel and powder metal connecting rods. The experiments included strain-controlled specimen testing, with specimens obtained from the connecting rods, as well as load-controlled connecting rod bench testing. Monotonic and cyclic deformation behaviors, as well as strain-controlled fatigue properties of the two materials are evaluated and compared. Experimental S-N curves of the two connecting rods from the bench tests obtained under R = -1.25 constant amplitude loading conditions are also evaluated and compared. Fatigue properties obtained from specimen testing are then used in life predictions of the connecting rods, using the S-N approach. The predicted lives are compared with bench test results and include the effects of stress concentration, surface finish, and mean stress. The stress concentration factors were obtained from FEA, and the modified Goodman equation was used to account for the mean stress effect. Fractography of the connecting fracture surfaces were also conducted to investigate the failure mechanisms. A discussion of manufacturing cost comparison and recent developments in “crackable” forged steel connecting rods are also included.
Socialization in Small Groups: Temporal Changes in Individual-Group Relations1

Publisher Summary In this chapter, a model of socialization in small groups is described. The model assumes that groups and individuals exert reciprocal influence on one another and experience important temporal changes during their relationship together. Three major psychological processes, each of which can be viewed from the perspectives of both the group and the individual, operate within the model. The group and the individual engage in an ongoing evaluation of the rewardingness of their own and alternative relationships. On the basis of these evaluations, the feelings of commitment develop between the group and the individual. The levels of commitment change in systematic ways over time, rising or falling to previously established decision criteria. When a decision criterion is reached, a role transition takes place. The individual enters a new phase of group membership, and the relationship between the group and the individual changes. Evaluation proceeds, often along different dimensions, producing further changes in commitment and subsequent role transitions. In this way, the individual passes through five consecutive phases of group membership (investigation, socialization, maintenance, resocialization, remembrance), separated by four role transitions (entry, acceptance, divergence, exit). In formulating the model, small, autonomous, and voluntary groups are focused upon, because these groups are quite common and have been studied extensively by social psychologists. The model has several advantages as a means of conceptualizing group processes.
Linearized Stability of Traveling Cell Solutions Arising from a Moving Boundary Problem

In 2003, Mogilner and Verzi proposed a one-dimensional model on the crawling movement of a nematode sperm cell. Under certain conditions, the model can be reduced to a moving boundary problem for a single equation involving the length density of the bundled filaments inside the cell. It follows from the results of Choi, Lee and Lui (2004) that this simpler model possesses traveling cell solutions. In this paper, we show that the spectrum of the linear operator, obtained from linearizing the evolution equation about the traveling cell solution, consists only of eigenvalues and there exists s> 0 such that if λ is a real eigenvalue, then λ< -μ. We also provide strong numerical evidence that this operator has no complex eigenvalue.
Digital orbit feedback control for SPEAR

A digital orbit feedback system is being developed for SPEAR to improve electron beam stability at photon beam sourcepoints. The first phase implementation of this system operates at 1 minute intervals and stabilizes the horizontal and vertical orbit position to 50 /spl mu/m RMS at beam position monitors. The vertical global system works in tandem with local 50 Hz analog photon beam steering systems to stabilize photon beam position and angle. We are now developing the second phase system which will execute a unified global/local, 30-50 Hz vertical orbit feedback algorithm digitally. In this paper, we discuss design and performance of orbit monitoring, signal processing, and orbit correction components for the digital feedback systems.
Software architectural specification for optimal object distribution

Software architectural design is essential for complex distributed applications. Architectural specifications need to define the key aspects of the application, including its intended functions, interfaces, interoperability requirements, distributability; scalability, extensibility, target platforms and networks, and required middleware services. The authors present an architectural extension for specifying distributable components of the application and for quantifying their interaction patterns. The goal of the specification is to serve as the basis for obtaining optimal distributions of the application components over a target network that minimizes remote communication among the components. The optimal distributions are obtained by using the architectural specification to derive a BIP (binary integer programming) model and solving the resulting system. They formalize the object-oriented architectural style using the Z specification language. This style defines the detailed information necessary to derive optimal distributions using the BIP model.
Medical indexing outside the National Library of Medicine.

The National Library of Medicine's (NLM's) success with Web offerings of MEDLINE has brought Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) indexing, once familiar mostly to librarians and researchers, to an entire community of students, teachers, researchers, and practitioners in the life sciences and medicine as well as to the general public. The emergence of MeSH as the accepted standard, however, creates dilemmas for indexers outside NLM. Conflicts between MeSH and subject terms suggested in text may be ignored or resolved with cross-references in indexing textbooks and monographs, but indexers dealing with periodical literature consisting of articles from many different authors depart from MeSH only advisedly, especially when indexing for a readership of frequent MEDLINE users. Professional researchers may regard cross-referencing to appropriate MeSH terms as a minimum functionality in any system for searching the medical literature, their expectations set by their experience with popular MEDLINE interfaces that automatically map keywords to MeSH. In a recent review of reference-management software in JAMA, for example, Satya-Murti, citing the search of MEDLINE as “an irreducible step” in medical research, faults the products under consideration for the lack of MeSH cross-referencing, concluding that “concepts such as continuous glucose monitoring or stool test may produce variable and irrelevant results. To aid in specificity, mapping a free-text term to MeSH vocabulary is critical” [1].
Software Module Risk Analysis

Estimating the quality of software modules provides a practical way to assess their potential risk. A software quality estimation can be used to provide a targeted software quality improvement initiative. The aim is to provide the management team with a practical quality assessment of software modules for a cost-effective utilization of software quality improvement resources. In our previous and ongoing research, we have empirically investigated three different kinds of software quality models that are built using software measurement data—software quality classification, software fault prediction, and module-order modeling. The classification model predicts the class membership of software modules into the fault-prone and not fault-prone classes. The fault prediction model estimates the number of faults expected in the modules. A module-order model predicts the ranking of the modules with respect to their relative software quality. The preference among the three software quality models depends on the software quality improvement goals of the given software project team. We present the useful principles and a detailed overview of the three software quality estimation models, using a case study of a large-scale telecommunications software system. The classification model is built using the logistic regression technique, whereas the fault prediction model is built using the multiple linear regression technique. The module-order model is built using the estimations of the fault prediction model for ranking the software modules. We summarize our work with suggestions for software tools that can be used to build software quality estimation models. Keywords: software quality; software measurements; software faults; software quality estimation; software quality improvement
Information for vowels in formant transitions

Abstract Target theories of vowel perception assume that the primary information for vowels is their canonical “target” formant frequencies, which vary with speaker identity and are subject to “undershoot” when vowels are coarticulated with consonants in running speech. This article reviews the research of Strange and her colleagues, which has demonstrated that time-varying information for vowel identity, specified by the formant transitions into and out of the vowel nucleus of consonant-vowel-consonant syllables, is used by perceivers in disambiguating coarticulated vowels. These results have led to a dynamic specification model of vowel perception in which vowels are characterized as gestures having intrinsic timing characteristics, the acoustic consequences of which are perceptually relevant.
Office management of the young child with cerebral palsy and difficulty in growing

All infants and young children need adequate caloric intake for optimal growth and development. This is true for children with cerebral palsy, who are at increased risk for nutritional problems. When appropriate weight gain is difficult to attain, professionals must carefully evaluate the child's diet, feeding skills, and neurodevelopmental function; assess parenting behaviors; and look for complications of the child's cerebral palsy that could further impede intake and retention of calories. A number of therapeutic recommendations can be given to families to improve potential weight gain. The opportunity to influence the overall growth of young children with cerebral palsy begins when early and timely interventions are provided to the family.
DNA Damage Induced Hyperphosphorylation of Replication Protein A. 2. Characterization of DNA Binding Activity, Protein Interactions, and Activity in DNA Replication and Repair†

Replication protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein consisting of 70-, 34-, and 14- kDa subunits that is required for many DNA metabolic processes including DNA replication and DNA repair. Using a purified hyperphosphorylated form of RPA protein prepared in vitro, we have addressed the effects of hyperphosphorylation on steady-state and pre-steady-state DNA binding activity, the ability to support DNA repair and replication reactions, and the effect on the interaction with partner proteins. Equilibrium DNA binding activity measured by fluorescence polarization reveals no difference in ssDNA binding to pyrimidine-rich DNA sequences. However, RPA hyperphosphorylation results in a decreased affinity for purine-rich ssDNA and duplex DNA substrates. Pre-steady-state kinetic analysis is consistent with the equilibrium DNA binding and demonstrates a contribution from both the k(on) and k(off) to achieve these differences. The hyperphosphorylated form of RPA retains damage-specific DNA binding, and, importantly, the affinity of hyperphosphorylated RPA for damaged duplex DNA is 3-fold greater than the affinity of unmodified RPA for undamaged duplex DNA. The ability of hyperphosphorylated RPA to support DNA repair showed minor differences in the ability to support nucleotide excision repair (NER). Interestingly, under reaction conditions in which RPA is maintained in a hyperphosphorylated form, we also observed inhibition of in vitro DNA replication. Analyses of protein-protein interactions bear out the effects of hyperphosphorylated RPA on DNA metabolic pathways. Specifically, phosphorylation of RPA disrupts the interaction with DNA polymerase alpha but has no significant effect on the interaction with XPA. These results demonstrate that the effects of DNA damage induced hyperphosphorylation of RPA on DNA replication and DNA repair are mediated through alterations in DNA binding activity and protein-protein interactions.
Concurrent Alcohol Use or Heavier Use of Alcohol and Cigarette Smoking Among Women of Childbearing Age with Accessible Health Care

This study was conducted to provide nationally representative findings on the prevalence and distribution of concurrent alcohol use or heavier use of alcohol and cigarette smoking among women of childbearing age with accessible health care. For the years 2003–2005, a total of 20,912 women 18–44 years of age who participated in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) reported that during the study period, there was a place where they would usually go for health care when sick or in need of advice about their health. The prevalence and distribution of concurrent alcohol use or heavier use of alcohol and cigarette smoking reported by such women was calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the “most often visited health care place” among concurrent users who reported having seen or talked to a health care provider during the previous 12 months. Among surveyed women with accessible health care, 12.3% reported concurrent alcohol use and cigarette smoking, and 1.9% reported concurrent heavier use of alcohol and cigarette smoking during the study period. Of women who reported either type of concurrent use, at least 84.4% also indicated having seen or talked to one or more health care providers during the previous 12 months. Such women were more likely than non-concurrent users to indicate that the “most often visited health care place” was a “hospital emergency room or outpatient department or some other place” or a “clinic or health center,” as opposed to an “HMO or doctor’s office.” Concurrent alcohol use or heavier use of alcohol and cigarette smoking among women of childbearing age is an important public health concern in the United States. The findings of this study highlight the importance of screening and behavioral counseling interventions for excessive drinking and cigarette smoking by health care providers in both primary care and emergency department settings.
Information theoretic approach to address delay and reliability in long on-chip interconnects

With shrinking feature size and growing integration density in the Deep Sub-Micron technologies, the global buses are fast becoming the "weakest-links" in VLSI design. They have large delays and are error-prone. Especially, in system-on-chip (SoC) designs, where parallel interconnects run over large distances, the effects of crosstalk are detrimental to the overall system performance due to the large delays and un-reliability involved. This paper presents an information theoretic approach to address delay and reliability in long interconnects. A framework to calculate the capacity of a physical wire is laid out herein. The results for 8-bit wide buses of varying lengths in 0.1μm technology are also presented. The wires are modeled based on their calculated parasitic (R, L, C) values and the coupling (C, L) parameters. Using this model, results are obtained for the data transfer capacity of long interconnects. It is seen that for wide buses, the signal delay distribution has a long tail, meaning that most signals arrive at the output much faster than the worst case delay. Using communication-theory, these "good" signals arriving early can be used to predict/correct the "few" signals arriving late. Further, results show that for every bus configuration, there exists an optimal frequency of transmission that will result in the maximum data transfer rate. Also, this optimal frequency is higher than the pessimistic worst case delay based clock design.
Effects of magnesium oxide on the lipid profile of healthy volunteers

Elevated serum cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary artery disease. Magnesium has been reported to decrease total serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein, and increase high density lipoprotein. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was completed to determine if supplemented magnesium, in the form of magnesium oxide, would produce changes in the lipid profile. Fifty normal volunteers received placebo or magnesium oxide, 400 mg capsules, twice a day for 60 days, then switched to the alternate treatment. Weight, height, blood pressure, serum potassium, serum magnesium, and a lipid profile were determined initially and after each treatment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), comparing the mean of each component of the lipid profile at baseline and after each treatment, showed no significant difference. In conclusion, supplemental magnesium oxide did not produce statistically significant changes in the lipid profile in this group of healthy volunteers.
Parkinsonian patients' self-reports of levodopa effects on cognitive and memory changes.

Of 34 parkinsonian patients who began levodopa therapy between July 1969 and February 1970, 29 completed the questionnaire. Four patients did not complete it because levodopa medication was either temporarily or permanently discontinued; one patient refused to complete the psychological testing. Descriptively, the parkinsonian patients were a relatively homogeneous group. On the average, they were middle-aged, intellectually scoring at the 75th percentile of the general population in verbal intelligence, well educated, and with mild to moderate motor symptoms. Levodopa medication levels ranged from 2 to 9 grams per day (average 4.38 grams) at the time they filled out the questionnaire. For descriptive characteristics, see Table I.
Building energy management using learning-from-signals

ORNL recently applied its “learning-from-signals” (LFS) techniques to evaluating and improving the energy efficiency of buildings at military installations. LFS is a term coined by ORNL to describe the machine learning algorithms that it has developed for mining, processing, and classifying signals either purposefully or inadvertently being picked up from infrastructure or individual devices. For this particular application, ORNL provided technical support to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Service Chiefs Program for disaggregating electrical power consumption at the device level in a military residential dormitory at Fort Meyer in Washington, DC. The ORNL researchers showed that patterns of device utilization could be monitored on a building's power infrastructure. These devices included cooling/heating water pumps, lighting, washers, dryers, refrigerators, and stoves. This paper discusses the process and initial results of the research effort, as well as the path forward for similar industrial, commercial, and government undertakings.
Bovine Semen Frozen in Liquid Nitrogen Vapor

Summary Laboratory studies employing the split-ejaculate technique from eight mature bulls were used to evaluate the effects of per cent glycerol levels of 6, 7, 9, and 11 and equilibration time of 6, 8, 12, and 18 hr frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor (LNV). Highly significant differences (P In the fertility study, split ejaculates from seven mature bulls (two Jersey, three Holstein, one Guernsey, and one Angus) were used to study the effects of freezing semen in LNV and dry ice and alcohol. The mean prefreezing and post-thawing motility values were essentially the same for both treatments. Also, differences between treatments after 3 wk storage were not significantly different (P>0.05). Fertility based on 60- to 90-day nonreturns for 824 first services was 76.1% for the semen frozen in LNV, as compared to 75.5% for 853 first services for the control. These differences were not significantly different (P>0.05). A significant (P
Auxiliary liver transplantation for acute liver failure

In summary, the following principles are worth reiterating: 1. In the treatment of acute liver failure, protection of the native liver in anticipation that it will recover, but positioning of the allograft in a manner that optimizes its function for both the short and long term (in the event that the native liver does not recover) are important goals. Therefore, orthotopic positioning offers advantages over the heterotopic position in most cases. Development of better techniques for predicting native liver recovery might remove any of these advantages of the orthotopic position. 2. Other than the presence of fibrosis, the performance of a native liver biopsy does not appear to predict native liver recovery. The decision of whether to attempt auxiliary grafting must be based on an understanding of the natural history of the disease causing the acute liver failure. 3. The heterotopic position has the advantage of not requiring partial native hepatectomy in order to accommodate the allograft. However, except for the recent experience of Terpstra et al, this technique has carried a higher risk of venous outflow obstruction. It also requires additional space within the abdomen, usually mandating the use of prosthetic abdominal wall closures and the construction of venous conduits for portal venous inflow to the liver. There is the additional theoretical concern about competition for portal venous flow leading to eventual atrophy of the allograft liver. 4. Common events that follow liver transplantation result in changes in portal venous resistance within the liver, events that therefore alter the relative distribution of portal venous inflow between native and auxiliary livers. These events include reperfusion injury, allograft rejection, allograft viral infection (e.g., cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, recurrent viral hepatitis), and native liver regeneration. Attempts to control portal venous flow to favor one liver over the other must account for the effect of these factors. 5. In general terms, auxiliary transplantation is not indicated for diseases in which the residual native liver either represents an ongoing threat to the recipient or is incapable of supporting life alone. This may be the case in both metabolic disorders and in cirrhosis. Most of the alleged difficulties of native hepatectomy are no longer relevant. Therefore, auxiliary transplantation is rarely if ever indicated for chronic liver disease and may not be of any additional benefit over total transplantation in the treatment of many metabolic disorders. 6. In the treatment of acute liver failure, the value of an auxiliary transplant over total transplant is obtained when the native liver recovers and the patient is withdrawn from immunosuppression. If further experience shows the effectiveness of this option, total liver transplantation with the requirement for life-long immunosuppression will no longer be appropriate for the treatment of patients with acute liver disease.
Doppler echocardiographic index for assessment of global right ventricular function

Abstract Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function remains difficult and challenging. However, there is considerable clinical need for a simple, reproducible, and reliable parameter of right ventricular function in patients with right-sided heart disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical value of a Doppler-derived index, combining systolic and diastolic intervals of the right cycle, in assessing global right ventricular function in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. The study population comprised 26 consecutive patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and 37 age-matched normal subjects. The sum of right ventricular isovolumetric contraction time and isovolumetric relaxation time was obtained by subtracting right ventricular ejection time from the interval between cessation and onset of the tricuspid inflow velocities with pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography. An index of combined right ventricular systolic and diastolic function was obtained by dividing the sum of both isovolumetric intervals by ejection time. The index was compared with available parameters of systolic or diastolic function, clinical symptoms, and survival. Right ventricular isovolumetric contraction time and isovolumetric relaxation time were prolonged significantly in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (85 ± 41 msec and 135 ± 43 msec) compared with normal subjects (38 ± 7 msec and 49 ± 9 msec, respectively; p p p
ENHANCED LONG-CHAIN FATTY ACID METABOLISM BY INTESTINE IN THE SUCKLING RAT.|[utrif]| 1838

The newborn infant depends on breast milk lipids as a major source of energy. Increased lipid utilization is reflected by enhanced ketogenesis in the developing liver. We hypothesize that the intestine provides an additional locus for the newborn to metabolize milk-borne lipids and thus augment hepatic fat oxidation. To evaluate long-chain fatty acid oxidation by the small intestine during development, we assayed the in vitro production of CO2, and, as an index of ketogenesis, acid-soluble aqueous products from oleic acid by intestinal slices of suckling (12-14 day old) and weanling(30 day old) rats. Animals were fasted overnight, killed by decapitation and samples of proximal and distal intestine were removed, cut into slices, and incubated in Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer with 8 mM taurocholate and 0.2 mM(carboxyl-14C) oleic acid for 7.5, 15, 22, 30 and 45 min. Evolved CO2 was trapped using hyamine hydroxide and reactions were terminated with 15% perchloric acid. Aqueous and lipid phases were separated in chloroform:methanol and radioactivity in each phase and in trapped CO2 was quantitated by liquid scintillation spectrophotometry. Results, expressed as nmol oleic acid oxidized per gram wet tissue at 15 min, are shown below.Table
Mechanical design of a lidar system for space applications - LITE

The Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE) is a Shuttle experiment that will demonstrate the first use of a lidar system in space. Its design process must take into account not only the system design but also the unique design requirements for spaceborne experiment.
Scavenging and Other Feeding Habits of Lysianassid Amphipods (Orchomene spp.) from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

The distribution and scavenging habits of the two most abundant lysianassid amphipods in McMurdo Sound differ markedly. Orchomene plebs lives primarily in deep water (>100 m), where planktonic and benthic food is sparser and scavenging events are less common and predictable than in shallower water. Orchomene plebs is common in shallow areas (<100 m) only under the Ross Ice Shelf and along the western McMurdo Sound. Here Weddell seals frequent tidal cracks in which they discard carrion and defecate; otherwise food is scarce. Orchomene pinguides lives on shallow (<10 m) wave-cut benches that are rich in food along the eastern McMurdo Sound. They, along with other omnivorous invertebrates which scavenge the food-rich eastern sound benches, are rare from shallow water along the western sound. The eastern benches are bathed by dense plankton blooms and harbor a high biomass of benthic diatoms and invertebrates. Scavenging events there were observed throughout the year. Orchomene plebs is larger and more motile, and came to laboratory carrion and baited field traps more rapidly and in greater numbers than O. pinguides. The crop contents of O. plebs contained only amorphous organic matter that suggested a scavenging habit. Crops of O. pinguides contained not only amorphous organic matter but also invertebrate prey, especially planktonic copepods that impact the bottom during winter.
Incentive Contracting Based Upon Consumer Indifference

In contract purchasing, price is often negotiated, given a reliability specification. Prior to procurement a sample is taken to determine if the product meets the reliability specification. This paper considers an alternative approach in which the contract price reflects actual field performance for an item subject to two types of failures. A consumer indifference curve that specifies the predicted break-even point between price and reliability is used to establish the initial purchase price. The actual purchase price is determined by estimating the break-even point based upon a sample of failures. Both the vendor and consumer agree upon the statistical methods for revising the price at purchase time. In this manner, more reliable products yield higher prices than less reliable products, thus resulting in a quantifiable incentive contract.
Islets for all

A reversibly immortalized human β-cell line may find applications in diabetes therapy and drug screening.
Thermodynamics of gas phase species in the Si–O–H system

Abstract The transpiration method was used to study the reaction of SiO 2 (cristobalite) with water vapor. Measurements were made between T = (1073 and 1728) K with water vapor contents from (0.05 to 0.6) by volume fraction in argon. From the results, the thermodynamic parameters for Si(OH) 4 (g) and SiO(OH) 2 (g) were determined. At T = (1073 to 1373) K, Si(OH) 4 is the primary vapor species and second law measurements lead to Δ f H ∘ (1200 K) = (−1344.6 ± 2.7) kJ · mol −1 and S ∘ (1200 K) = (544.4 ± 2.1) J · mol −1 · K −1 . Third law measurements lead to Δ f H ∘ (298 K) = (−1351.3 ± 1.7) kJ · mol −1 . These are in very good agreement with previous measurements and previous ab initio calculations. At T = (1673 and 1728) K, there is evidence of a second vapor species, SiO(OH) 2 (g). By subtracting the extrapolated Si(OH) 4 (g) pressure, it was possible to do a third law analysis and obtain a Δ f H ∘ (298 K) for SiO(OH) 2 (g) of (−836 ± 40) kJ · mol −1 . Previous measurements and ab initio calculations are within this range.
Energy: Industrial energy control: The computer takes charge: Limited intelligence will suffice for local control, but computers are needed for overall system control

Discusses benefits offered by computer-based energy management which include: on-line control, global optimisation, overall plant data monitoring and plant management. Energy flow in a pulp and paper plant is illustrated as an example. Three levels of increasingly complex control are outlined: the control of individual energy sources or sinks; group control of similar units; and an overall supervisory system insuring that the whole production process is optimal.
FTY720 Induces Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through Activation of Protein Kinase C δ Signaling

This study was aimed at elucidating the mechanism by which FTY720, a synthetic sphingosine immunosuppressant, mediated antitumor effects in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The three HCC cell lines examined, Hep3B, Huh7, and PLC5, exhibited differential susceptibility to FTY720-mediated suppression of cell viability, with IC(50) values of 4.5, 6.3, and 11 mumol/L, respectively. Although FTY720 altered the phosphorylation state of protein kinase B and p38, our data refuted the role of these two signaling kinases in FTY720-mediated apoptosis. Evidence indicates that the antitumor effect of FTY720 was attributable to its ability to stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which culminated in protein kinase C (PKC)delta activation and subsequent caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. We showed that FTY720 activated PKC delta through two distinct mechanisms: phosphorylation and caspase-3-dependent cleavage. Cotreatment with the caspase-3 inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK abrogated the effect of FTY720 on facilitating PKC delta proteolysis. Equally important, pharmacologic inhibition or shRNA-mediated knockdown of PKC delta protected FTY720-treated Huh7 cells from caspase-3 activation. Moreover, FTY720 induced ROS production to different extents among the three cell lines, in the order of Hep3B > Huh7 >> PLC5, which inversely correlated with the respective glutathione S-transferase pi expression levels. The low level of ROS generation might underlie the resistant phenotype of PLC5 cells to the apoptotic effects of FTY720. Blockade of ROS production by an NADPH oxidase inhibitor protected Huh7 cells from FTY720-induced PKC delta activation and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. Together, this study provides a rationale to use FTY720 as a scaffold to develop potent PKC delta-activating agents for HCC therapy.
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Secondary to Klebsiella oxytoca: A New Cause of Humidifier Lung

A 30-year-old woman developed recurrent episodes of fever, dyspnea, and nonproductive cough after repeated exposure to a home humidifier. The diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis was confirmed by detection of serum-binding antibodies at significant titer to Klebsiella oxytoca colonizing the humidifier water but not to other potential antigens. This represents a newly recognized cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis related to exposure to K oxytoca contaminating a commercially available ultrasonic cold air home humidifier. The potential role for these frequently used home humidifier devices in unexplained pulmonary illness is emphasized.
Role of Left Ventricular Biopsy in the Management of Heart Disease

More than 50 years after the first description of transvenous endomyocardial heart biopsy (EMB),1 the role of EMB remains controversial. EMB is often essential for the diagnosis of allograft rejection and specific forms of native myocardial disease, including amyloidosis and giant cell myocarditis,2 yet expert consensus for the utility of EMB in more common scenarios is lacking. For example, a 2013 position statement from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases recommends heart biopsy be performed for all cases of suspected myocarditis, including most acute and chronic dilated cardiomyopathy.3 In contrast, the “2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure” recommends that “endomyocardial biopsy should not be performed in the routine evaluation of patients with heart failure.” (class of recommendation III).4 The European Society of Cardiology Working Group and the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association recommendations are both based on expert opinion (level of evidence C). Article see p 1531 Most authorities in the field agree on the unique ability of EMB to diagnose specific viral heart infections and distinguish prognostically valuable histological patterns such as sarcoidosis or lymphocytic myocarditis.5,6 Lymphocytic myocarditis is a histological biomarker that predicts both successful bridging to recovery after left ventricular (LV) assist device placement in adults7 …
Nonspecific ulcers of the colon

Two cases of nonspecific cecal ulceration are presented. The lesions tend to occur in the right colon, produce pain or bleeding, and generally are best managed surgically. Etiology of the ulcers is unknown, but a vascular theory of origin is favored.