cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
State-of-Charge Determination in Lithium-Ion Battery Packs Based on Two-Point Measurements in Life

The state-of-charge (SOC) estimation is of extreme importance for the reliability and safety of battery operation. How to estimate SOC for an assembly of cells in a battery pack remains a subject of great interest. Here a viable method for SOC determination and tracking for multi-cell assemblies is proposed and validated. Using 3S1P (three in series and one in parallel) strings as an example, an inference of SOC is illustrated in a battery assembly based on a correct open pack voltage (OPV) versus SOC (i.e. OPV = ƒ(SOC)) function. The proposed method only requires the measurements of the rest cell voltages of the single cells at two distinct occasions. This accurate SOC estimation approach shall facilitate reliable battery control and management.
Subunit asymmetry and roles of conformational switching in the hexameric AAA+ ring of ClpX

The hexameric ClpX AAA+ ATPase requires subunit asymmetry and switching between nucleotide-loadable and nucleotide-unloadable conformations for cooperative ATP hydrolysis and efficient substrate binding, unfolding and degradation.
Overlapping and Distinct Molecular Determinants Dictating the Antiviral Activities of TRIM56 against Flaviviruses and Coronavirus

The tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) proteins have emerged as a new class of host antiviral restriction factors, with several demonstrating roles in regulating innate antiviral responses. Of >70 known TRIMs, TRIM56 inhibits replication of bovine viral diarrhea virus, a ruminant pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae, but has no appreciable effect on vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a rhabdovirus. Yet the antiviral spectrum of TRIM56 remains undefined. In particular, how TRIM56 impacts human-pathogenic viruses is unknown. Also unclear are the molecular determinants governing the antiviral activities of TRIM56. Herein, we show that TRIM56 poses a barrier to infections by yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2), and human coronavirus virus (HCoV) OC43 but not encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). Moreover, by engineering cell lines conditionally expressing various TRIM56 mutants, we demonstrated that TRIM56's antiflavivirus effects required both the E3 ligase activity that lies in the N-terminal RING domain and the integrity of its C-terminal portion, while the restriction of HCoV-OC43 relied upon the TRIM56 E3 ligase activity alone. Furthermore, TRIM56 was revealed to impair YFV and DENV2 propagation by suppressing intracellular viral RNA accumulation but to compromise HCoV-OC43 infection at a later step in the viral life cycle, suggesting that distinct TRIM56 domains accommodate differing antiviral mechanisms. Altogether, TRIM56 is a versatile antiviral host factor that confers resistance to YFV, DENV2, and HCoV-OC43 through overlapping and distinct molecular determinants. Importance We previously reported tripartite motif protein 56 (TRIM56) as a host restriction factor of bovine viral diarrhea virus, a ruminant pathogen. However, the impact of TRIM56 on human-pathogenic RNA viruses is unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that TRIM56 restricts two medically important flaviviruses, yellow fever virus (YFV) and dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2), and a human coronavirus, HCoV-OC43, but not encephalomyocarditis virus, a picornavirus. Further, we show that TRIM56-mediated inhibition of HCoV-OC43 multiplication depends solely on its E3 ligase activity, whereas its restriction of YFV and DENV2 requires both the E3 ligase activity and integrity of the C-terminal portion. The differing molecular determinants appear to accommodate distinct antiviral mechanisms TRIM56 adopts to target different families of viruses; while TRIM56 curbs intracellular YFV/DENV2 RNA replication, it acts at a later step in HCoV-OC43 life cycle. These novel findings illuminate the molecular basis of the versatility and specificity of TRIM56's antiviral activities against positive-strand RNA viruses.
Using scaffolded, integrated, and reflexive analysis (SIRA) of cases in a cyber-enabled learning infrastructure to develop moral reasoning in engineering students

Each year thousands of new engineers join the workforce and face novel issues raised by radical technological advances. Concurrently, changing societal responses to new technologies introduce novel conflicts in research and development that challenge the scope of established professional codes of ethics. These issues create a critical demand for new approaches for developing moral reasoning for ethical decision-making. Our multidisciplinary team of engineering, communication, and ethics educators has developed and tested a novel pedagogical framework of Scaffolded, Integrated, and Reflexive Analysis (SIRA) of ethics cases to enhance development of moral reasoning that extends beyond case-based analyses. Implemented as a series of two-week cyber-enabled learning modules, with cases from several engineering disciplines, this theory-based, data-driven, cyber-enabled framework for ethics education has applicability across a broad spectrum of disciplines and provides engineering educators with limited ethics training a tested framework and set of resources and modules to adapt and use in their own disciplines. In this paper, we discuss our work in progress on the SIRA framework, its implementation, and our assessment of changes in moral reasoning and student satisfaction when utilizing this model.
Therapeutic Factors in Guidance versus Counseling Sessions of Domestic Violence Groups

Group leaders randomly employed a counseling leadership approach for one session in place of the guidance leadership approach typically used in six ongoing domestic violence offender groups. Group members completed the Critical Incident Questionnaire to assess therapeutic factors and the Group Experience Rating Form to assess if the leadership approaches were worthwhile. Results suggested more participants experienced hope and information during the guidance sessions, and universality, cohesion, and interpersonal learning during the counseling sessions. Existential factors were more prevalent during the guidance sessions. There was no significant difference in the extent to which members believed the two approaches were worthwhile.
Asymmetric synthesis of all eight seven-carbon dipropionate stereotetrads.

Enantiopure cycloheptadienyl sulfones 6 and 7 are diastereoselectively epoxidized to yield epoxyvinyl sulfones 8, 9, 14, and 16 in high yields and diastereomeric ratios. Syn and anti methylation of epoxides 8, 9, 14, and 16 enables access to all eight possible diastereomeric stereotetrads, seven of which are commonly found in polypropionate natural products. Anti methylations of the above epoxides are possible by either the reaction of methyl organometallics promoted by copper(I), or via reaction with trimethylaluminum to yield stereotetrads 11, 12, 22, and 24. Syn methylations are achieved via Lawton SN2‘ reaction in the case of stereotetrads 10, 15, and 38, while stereotetrad 13 is accessed by an oxidation/reduction alcohol inversion sequence from stereotetrad 11. All stereotetrads were obtained in high diastereomeric ratios and yields, and their relative stereochemistry was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Oxidative cleavage of the cyclic stereotetrads yields termini-differentiated acyclic heptanyl ...
Efficacy of fuzzy c-means cluster analysis of naturally occurring radioisotope datasets for improved groundwater resource management under the continued risk of climate change.

Global change is recognized as a n additional potential stressor on already over -tapped groundwater systems. Mitigation of impacts due to global change requires planning for sustainable use of groundwater systems. Identifying and developing mitigation plans for sustainable use of groundwater resources require detailed knowledge of aquifer dynamics and temporal behavior for a higher level of certainty on which decisions can be made by a knowledgeable group of stakeholders. The principal hypothesis of this study was that a robust set of u ranium (
Selective x-irradiation of the cartilage at the regenerating margin of rabbit ear holes.

X-rays in doses of 3000r inhibit the regeneration which normally occurs from the margins of full thickness rabbit ear holes. Irradiated ears containing unirradiated cartilaginous sheets regenerate new tissue, including cartilage, nearly as well as controls. Selective irradiation of the cartilaginous layer in an otherwise unirradiated ear also permits in-growth, but no chondrogenes is occurs.
Assessing the Development of Young Children in Child Care: A Survey of Formal Assessment Practices in One State.

With the current emphasis on program accountability and appreciation of the importance of early learning and timely identification of delays, early childhood developmental assessment in child care centers is crucial. In Florida, a state that supports local control of child assessment decisions, counties were surveyed to determine the specific tools and formal assessment procedures for children birth to 5 in subsidized child care. Sixty-one counties responded for a 91% return rate. Survey results were examined according to experts’ recommendations for best practices in child assessment. Most counties used multiple tools to assess multiple domains of child development with age-appropriate instruments. Many did not involve parents in the assessment process or use tools connected to the child care curriculum. The survey results underscore the complexity of implementing assessment systems for young children in child care.
L-Carnitine Supplementation: A New Paradigm for its Role in Exercise

Early research investigating the effects of L-carnitine supplementation has examined its role in substrate metabolism and in acute exercise performance. These studies have yielded equivocal findings, partially due to difficulties in increasing muscle carnitine concentrations. However, recent studies have proposed that L-carnitine may play a different role in exercise physiology, and preliminary results have been encouraging. Current investigations have theorized that L-carnitine supplementation facilitates exercise recovery. Proposed mechanism is as follows: 1) increased serum carnitine concentration enhances capillary endothelial function; 2) increased blood flow and reduced hypoxia mitigate the cascade of ensuing, destructive chemical events following exercise; 3) thus allowing reduced structural damage of skeletal muscle mediated by more intact receptors in muscle needed for improved protein signaling. This paradigm explains decreased markers of purine catabolism, free radical formation, and muscle tissue disruption after resistance exercise and the increased repair of muscle proteins following long-term L-carnitine supplementation.
Glycated hemoglobin and albumin reflect nestling growth and condition in American kestrels

Blood chemistry can be used to assess physiological state and condition. Levels of glycated hemoglobin (GHb), which integrates blood glucose levels over a period of weeks, may provide a way to assess resource intake. I tested whether GHb reflects offspring quality by comparing growth rates of nestling American kestrels (Falco sparverius) with GHb levels at 24 days of age. Nestlings that gained structural size faster had higher levels of GHb than did slower growing nestlings. There was no difference in GHb levels between males and females, although females are larger. In addition, I tested whether albumin levels, a measure of protein storage, were correlated with nestling growth and body condition (reflected in residual body mass). Larger individuals, measured by both absolute body mass and by residual body mass, had larger levels of albumin. This was due in part to females having higher albumin levels. Interestingly, there was no correlation between GHb and albumin, suggesting that both measures are necessary to assess physical condition in nestling kestrels. These results suggest that blood chemistry can reflect offspring condition measures and may provide a way to assess offspring quality that reflects conditions experienced by offspring over longer periods through measurements at a single time point.
The Radio Sonde

The radio sonde has been developed in recent years as a practical instrument for transmitting information from the stratosphere. This paper discusses some of the problems connected with the application of the radio-sonde principle to the radio meteorograph and also to the cosmic-ray radio sonde.
High pressure hermetic compression seals for embedding elastomeric membrane microvalves in polymer microfluidic devices

The application of elastomeric membrane microvalves with polymeric microfluidic devices is currently impeded by bonding methods which limit operating pressures. A novel compression sealing approach is presented for embedding elastomeric membranes between polymeric microchannel laminae through the use of sealing bosses. Sealing bosses are used effectively to concentrate clamping forces producing compression seals with higher operating pressures. The technique is capable of integrating elastomeric membrane microvalves within a wider variety of materials. Further, compression seals allow devices to be disassembled allowing for cleaning and analysis. Finite element methods are used to investigate the effects of sealing boss size and location on valve deformation as a function of clamping pressure. Experimental results are in good agreement with the model and show that the device can be configured to withstand operating pressure beyond 689 kPa.
The Antioxidant Transcription Factor Nrf2 Negatively Regulates Autophagy and Growth Arrest Induced by the Anticancer Redox Agent Mitoquinone

Mitoquinone (MitoQ) is a synthetically modified, redox-active ubiquinone compound that accumulates predominantly in mitochondria. We found that MitoQ is 30-fold more cytotoxic to breast cancer cells than to healthy mammary cells. MitoQ treatment led to irreversible inhibition of clonogenic growth of breast cancer cells through a combination of autophagy and apoptotic cell death mechanisms. Relatively limited cytotoxicity was seen with the parent ubiquinone coenzyme Q10. Inhibition of cancer cell growth by MitoQ was associated with G1/S cell cycle arrest and phosphorylation of the checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Chk2. The possible role of oxidative stress in MitoQ activity was investigated by measuring the products of hydroethidine oxidation. Increases in ethidium and dihydroethidium levels, markers of one-electron oxidation of hydroethidine, were observed at cytotoxic concentrations of MitoQ. Keap1, an oxidative stress sensor protein that regulates the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2, underwent oxidation, degradation, and dissociation from Nrf2 in MitoQ-treated cells. Nrf2 protein levels, nuclear localization, and transcriptional activity also increased following MitoQ treatment. Knockdown of Nrf2 caused a 2-fold increase in autophagy and an increase in G1 cell cycle arrest in response to MitoQ but had no apparent effect on apoptosis. The Nrf2-regulated enzyme NQO1 is partly responsible for controlling the level of autophagy. Keap1 and Nrf2 act as redox sensors for oxidative perturbations that lead to autophagy. MitoQ and similar compounds should be further evaluated for novel anticancer activity.
Minced Urothelium to Create Epithelialized Subcutaneous Conduits

Purpose: We used in vivo cell expansion to create 3-dimensional subcutaneous conduits lined with an inner layer of autologous urothelial mucosa.Materials and Methods: Laparotomy and excision of a fifth of the bladder were done in 5 female Yorkshire pigs (Parsons Farm, Westhampton, Massachusetts) under general anesthesia. After mechanical removal of the detrusor muscle the bladder mucosa was minced to obtain 0.2 × 0.8 × 0.8 mm particles, which were attached to the outer surface of latex tubes using a thin layer of fibrin glue. Seven to 10 tubes were placed in the abdominal wall subcutaneous tissue in each original donor pig with tubes lacking particles serving as controls. Biopsy was done 1 to 4 weeks after transplantation for histological evaluation.Results: One week after transplantation particles were still present in the granulation tissue. At 2 weeks the epithelium was differentiated with transitional uroepithelium facing the lumen, ie toward the tube. No epithelium was detected around control tubes.C...
Distinct mechanisms mediate naïve and memory CD8 T-cell tolerance

Peripheral tolerance to developmentally regulated antigens is necessary to sustain tissue homeostasis. We have now devised an inducible and reversible system that allows interrogation of T-cell tolerance induction in endogenous naive and memory CD8 T cells. Our data show that peripheral CD8 T-cell tolerance can be preserved through two distinct mechanisms, antigen addiction leading to anergy for naive T cells and ignorance for memory T cells. Induction of antigen in dendritic cells resulted in substantial expansion and maintenance of endogenous antigen-specific CD8 T cells. The self-reactive cells initially exhibited effector activity but eventually became unresponsive. Upon antigen removal, the antigen-specific population waned, resulting in development of a self-specific memory subset that recalled to subsequent challenge. In striking contrast to naive CD8 T cells, preexisting antigen-specific memory CD8 T cells failed to expand after antigen induction and essentially ignored the antigen despite widespread expression by dendritic cells. The inclusion of inflammatory signals partially overcame memory CD8 T-cell ignorance of self-antigen. Thus, peripheral CD8 T-cell tolerance for naive CD8 T cells depended on the continuous presence of antigen, whereas memory CD8 T cells were prohibited from autoreactivity in the absence of inflammation.
Convergence analyses and comparisons of Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms in digital communications

Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods have been applied to the design of blind Bayesian receivers in a number of digital communications applications. The salient features of these MCMC receivers include the following: (a) they are optimal in the sense of achieving minimum symbol error rate; (b) they do not require knowledge of the channel states, nor do they explicitly estimate the channel by employing training signals or decision-feedback; and (c) they are well suited for iterative (turbo) processing in coded systems. We investigate the convergence behavior of several MCMC algorithms (both existing and new ones) in digital communication applications. The geometric convergence property of these algorithms is established by considering only the chains or the marginal chains corresponding to the transmitted digital symbols, which take values from a finite discrete set. We then focus on three specific applications, namely, the MCMC decoders in AWGN channels, ISI channels, and CDMA channels. The convergence rates for these algorithms are computed for small simulated datasets. Different convergence behaviors are observed. It is seen that differential encoding, parameter constraining, collapsing, and grouping are efficient ways of accelerating the convergence of the MCMC algorithms, especially in the presence of channel phase ambiguity.
Using response surfaces and expected improvement to optimize snake robot gait parameters

Several categories of optimization problems suffer from expensive objective function evaluation, driving the need for smart selection of subsequent experiments. One such category of problems involves physical robotic systems, which often require significant time, effort, and monetary expenditure in order to run tests. To assist in the selection of the next experiment, there has been a focus on the idea of response surfaces in recent years. These surfaces interpolate the existing data and provide a measure of confidence in their error, serving as a low-fidelity surrogate function that can be used to more intelligently choose the next experiment. In this paper, we robustly implement a previous algorithm based on the response surface methodology with an expected improvement criteria. We apply this technique to optimize open-loop gait parameters for snake robots, and demonstrate improved locomotive capabilities.
iMatch: A retention index tool for analysis of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data

A method was developed to employ National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 2008 retention index database information for molecular retention matching via constructing a set of empirical distribution functions (DFs) of the absolute retention index deviation to its mean value. The effects of different experimental parameters on the molecules' retention indices were first assessed. The column class, the column type, and the data type have significant effects on the retention index values acquired on capillary columns. However, the normal alkane retention index (I(norm)) with the ramp condition is similar to the linear retention index (I(T)), while the I(norm) with the isothermal condition is similar to the Kovats retention index (I). As for the I(norm) with the complex condition, these data should be treated as an additional group, because the mean I(norm) value of the polar column is significantly different from the I(T). Based on this analysis, nine DFs were generated from the grouped retention index data. The DF information was further implemented into a software program called iMatch. The performance of iMatch was evaluated using experimental data of a mixture of standards and metabolite extract of rat plasma with spiked-in standards. About 19% of the molecules identified by ChromaTOF were filtered out by iMatch from the identification list of electron ionization (EI) mass spectral matching, while all of the spiked-in standards were preserved. The analysis results demonstrate that using the retention index values, via constructing a set of DFs, can improve the spectral matching-based identifications by reducing a significant portion of false-positives.
C-Reactive Protein—Undervalued, Underutilized

Tissue injury or infection leads to an increase in the serum concentration of a number of analytes, and to a decrease in the serum concentration of several others (1)(2). The change in concentration is referred to as the acute-phase response. Serum analytes that increase in concentration include C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, copper, interleukin-6, polypeptide-specific antigen, neopterin, and ferritin (3)(4)(5)(6). Analytes that decrease in concentration include transferrin and iron (6). CRP is a noteworthy member of this group because of the speed and degree to which its concentration increases after a variety of inflammatory states or injuries to tissues—including myocardial injury or infarction (2). CRP was discovered in 1930 by William Tillet and Thomas Francis at the Rockefeller Institute (7). They extracted a protein from the sera of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia that coprecipitated with the C polysaccharide derived from the cell wall of the pneumococcus. Because the reaction between the protein and the polysaccharide was so specific they named the protein C-reactive protein. The original test was a simple precipitin test, usually in …
Multiscale Modelling of Relationships between Protein Classes and Drug Behavior Across all Diseases Using the CANDO Platform

We have examined the effect of eight different protein classes (channels, GPCRs, kinases, ligases, nuclear receptors, proteases, phosphatases, transporters) on the benchmarking performance of the CANDO drug discovery and repurposing platform (http://protinfo.org/cando). The first version of the CANDO platform utilizes a matrix of predicted interactions between 48278 proteins and 3733 human ingestible compounds (including FDA approved drugs and supplements) that map to 2030 indications/diseases using a hierarchical chem and bio-informatic fragment based docking with dynamics protocol (> one billion predicted interactions considered). The platform uses similarity of compound-proteome interaction signatures as indicative of similar functional behavior and benchmarking accuracy is calculated across 1439 indications/diseases with more than one approved drug. The CANDO platform yields a significant correlation (0.99, p-value < 0.0001) between the number of proteins considered and benchmarking accuracy obtained indicating the importance of multitargeting for drug discovery. Average benchmarking accuracies range from 6.2 % to 7.6 % for the eight classes when the top 10 ranked compounds are considered, in contrast to a range of 5.5 % to 11.7 % obtained for the comparison/control sets consisting of 10, 100, 1000, and 10000 single best performing proteins. These results are generally two orders of magnitude better than the average accuracy of 0.2% obtained when randomly generated (fully scrambled) matrices are used. Different indications perform well when different classes are used but the best accuracies (up to 11.7% for the top 10 ranked compounds) are achieved when a combination of classes are used containing the broadest distribution of protein folds. Our results illustrate the utility of the CANDO approach and the consideration of different protein classes for devising indication specific protocols for drug repurposing as well as drug discovery.
Analytical Theory of Graphene Nanoribbon Transistors

Graphene has emerged as one of the most promising materials to address scaling challenges in the post silicon era. A simple model for graphene nanoribbon field-effect transistors (GNRFETs) is developed for treating the effects of edge bond relaxation, the third nearest neighbor interaction, and edge scattering, all of which are pronounced in GNRFETs, but not in carbon nanotube FETs.
Impact of fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery training during medical school on performance by first year surgical residents.

Background Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) certification is a high stakes examination. The best training methods to enable successful certification are undetermined. We hypothesized that first year surgical residents (R01s) who had been pretrained as medical students would perform better during skills training than previously un-trained R01s. Methods This is an IRB-approved, retrospective review of FLS training data generated from a single surgical skills laboratory from July 2007 through June 2010. During the study period, there were 24 R01s with no previous FLS exposure (NOVICE group) and seven R01s who had undergone FLS task training while medical students (MS4 group). All R01s practiced the FLS skill tasks weekly for portions of the training sessions with informal feedback and teaching. Performance goals were proposed for each task based on local and national proficiency figures. The performance outcome measure was task completion time (TCT). Pretraining performance was designated iTCT and post-training fTCT. Results The MS4 group began with iTCTs for all four tasks that were significantly lower than the NOVICE iTCTs. At completion of the 16-wk training period, the MS4 group continued to demonstrate mean fTCTs that were lower for all four FLS skill tasks but only significantly for PEG, CIRCLE, and INTRA skill tasks. Both NOVICE and MS4 groups showed significant improvement for all four skill tasks (P Conclusions In the current milieu of work-hour limitations, the integration of FLS skill training into medical school curriculum provided a durable advantage to the pretrained R01s, which was associated with higher levels of final performance.
Therapeutic anticoagulation can be safely accomplished in selected patients with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage

Introduction Therapeutic anticoagulation is an important treatment of thromboembolic complications, such as DVT, PE, and blunt cerebrovascular injury. Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage has traditionally been considered to be a contraindication to anticoagulation.
A GPU-tailored approach for training kernelized SVMs

We present a method for efficiently training binary and multiclass kernelized SVMs on a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Our methods apply to a broad range of kernels, including the popular Gaus- sian kernel, on datasets as large as the amount of available memory on the graphics card. Our approach is distinguished from earlier work in that it cleanly and efficiently handles sparse datasets through the use of a novel clustering technique. Our optimization algorithm is also specifically designed to take advantage of the graphics hardware. This leads to different algorithmic choices then those preferred in serial implementations. Our easy-to-use library is orders of magnitude faster then existing CPU libraries, and several times faster than prior GPU approaches.
Evidence of clonal budding in a radial cluster of Paraconularia crustula (White) (Pennsylvanian: ?Cnidaria)

Monospecific conulariid clusters have been interpreted as products of gregarious behavior or as clonal colonies, with members of a colony originally inclined at a high angle to the substrate and connected to each other at their apices. However. individuals in all previously documented clusters are preserved parallel, or nearly parallel, to bedding, and their apices are not preserved. We describe a cluster of three Paraconularia crustula (White) (Pennsylvanian of Missouri, USA) in which the individual specimens exhibit an original steeply inclined orientation. The individuals in this cluster converge adapically on an extremely thin. crumpled sheet of apatitic material that is similar to conulariid test material. The conulariids and associated sheet bear a striking resemblance to regenerated, clonal colonies of polypoid coronatid scyphozoans. Such colonies arise from a thin, periderm-covered sheet of non-differentiated soft tissue, produced following severance of a single parent polyp. We suggest that the conulariid cluster originated through a similar process. Should this interpretation be corroborated by the discovery of better preserved conulariid clusters, it would provide strong additional evidence for the hypothesis of a scyphoroan affinity for conulariids
Pricing and Costing in Fee-Based Information Services

SUMMARY Setting prices in fee-based information services presents many challenges. Each service and its parent institution have a different definition of “cost recovery” and a different set of local accounting rules and procedures. The manager assesses the organizational goals and strategies, and then reviews the standard pricing models to determine which one best matches local objectives. This paper explores cost accounting methodology to illustrate one method of costing services and determining prices to cover those costs.
Nonorthogonal decomposition of binary matrices for bounded-error data compression and analysis

This article presents the design and implementation of a software tool, PROXIMUS, for error-bounded approximation of high-dimensional binary attributed datasets based on nonorthogonal decomposition of binary matrices. This tool can be used for analyzing data arising in a variety of domains ranging from commercial to scientific applications. Using a combination of innovative algorithms, novel data structures, and efficient implementation, PROXIMUS demonstrates excellent accuracy, performance, and scalability to large datasets. We experimentally demonstrate these on diverse applications in association rule mining and DNA microarray analysis. In limited beta release, PROXIMUS currently has over 300 installations in over 10 countries.
Microsubthalamotomy improves sleep in patients affected by advanced Parkinson’s disease

Abstract Background Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) improves sleep in patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD). Since microsubthalamotomy (mSTN) shows positive effects on motor symptoms, it could improve sleep in PD patients. Our goals were: to assess the effects of mSTN on sleep in patients affected by advanced PD; and to look for a correlation between sleep and motor features after the neurosurgical procedure. Methods Fifteen patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS were enrolled. Subjective sleep evaluation was assessed using the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS). Data on sleep schedule and presence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) were obtained. Objective sleep features were investigated by polysomnography (PSG). To evaluate the mSTN effect, we compared motor state and sleep features before and after the neurosurgical procedure, before the programmable pulse generator was switched on. Results mSTN had beneficial effects on motor state and sleep features. After the surgery, the mean total PDSS score increased from 84.0±25.2 to 115.2±16.6 ( P Conclusions mSTN improves sleep quality and ameliorates several sleep complaints, as well as motor symptoms, in advanced PD patients who have undergone STN-DBS.
Analytical Investigation of Vibration Attenuation With a Nonlinear Tuned Mass Damper

Vibration attenuation devices are used to reduce the vibrations of various mechanical systems and structures. In this work, an analytical method is proposed to provide the means to investigate the influence of system parameters on the dynamic response of a system. The method of multiple scales is used to calculate an approximate broadband solution for a two degree-of-freedom system consisting of a linear primary structure and a nonlinear tuned mass damper. The model is decoupled, approximate analytical solutions are calculated, and then they are combined to produce the desired frequency-response information. The approach is initially applied to a linear two degree-of-freedom system in order to verify its performance. The approach is then applied to the nonlinear system in order to study how varying the values of parameters associated with the nonlinear absorber affect its ability to attenuate the response of the primary structure.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Arakelian's approximation theorem

(1989). Arakelian's Approximation Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 96, No. 5, pp. 432-434.
FOOD MANIPULATION AND TRANSPORT BY A CARNIVOROUS LAND SNAIL, HAPLOTREMA CONCAVUM

When offered an egg of the land snail Anguispira alternata, the carnivorous land snail Haplotrema concavum manipulates it, rotating the egg with its foot and rubbing its mouth on the surface of the egg shell. After -24 minutes of such manipulation, the egg is transported by the carnivore to a covered location where it is consumed. Transport is accomplished by a repetition of the following steps: disengagement and movement away from the egg, turning back toward the egg, extension of the body from the shell toward the egg, contact with the egg, and retrieval of the egg by pulling back toward the shell. Consumption of young hatchlings of other snail species involves a similar manipulation and transport of the prey. Additional key words: behavior, food-transport The existence of simple, stable, and stereotypical behaviors among marine, freshwater, and terrestrial gastropods has made many of these snails and slugs model organisms for the study of the cellular basis of behavior (Getting 1985). Among the behaviors that have been the recent focus of attention is the exhibition of food preferences (Teyke 1995; Atkinson & Balaban 1997). The analysis of food preference in terrestrial gastropods has been primarily concerned with optimal foraging theory (Pearce & Gaertner, 1996) or the phenomenon of associative conditioning (Teyke 1995). The ability of these animals to distinguish between potential food items suggests that food preference studies may help reveal the sensory capabilities of these animals and eventually elucidate how such sensory input is processed and appropriate motor response produced. The study reported here is a consequence of an analysis of the process of food choice in the carnivorous land snail Haplotrema concavum SAY 1821. Atkinson & Balaban (1997) have shown that H. concavum prefers the eggs and hatchlings of the herbivorous snail Anguispira alternata to conspecifics, although it occasionally engages in cannibalism. While investigating the means by which these snails distinguish between their own eggs and those of others, it was discovered that these snails manipulate and frequently transport their food to a covered location before consuming it. Since such behavior has never been reported for a land snail, a detailed investigation of this behavior has been a E-mail: atkinso9@pilot.msu.edu undertaken. A basic description of this behavior is pre-
Photonically Sintered PZT Energy Harvester

This paper reports an Aerosol-Jet printed micro scale Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) energy harvester directly sintered on a low melting point substrate in less than 1 msec using photonic sintering technology. To improve the output signal, d33 piezoelectric mode was employed by patterning silver electrodes as an interdigitated structure on top of a PZT film. The size of the device is 15.5 mm × 13.5 mm × 0.2 mm. Up to 2.4 V was measured at 145 MPa tensile bending stress level in the device after poling at 180 °C for 2 hours with an electric field of 30 kV/cm. Using an oscillating stress (∼2.5 Hz) of approximately 145 MPa, the power as a function of load was determined by connecting the device with various series resistive loads. A maximal power of 0.1 μW was generated when driving into a 10 MΩ load. A PZT energy harvester, for the first time, is demonstrated which has been directly printed and sintered on a low melting temperature flexible substrate without a film transfer processes. This not only dramatically simplifies the fabrication process, but expands the possible substrate materials for PZT energy harvesters.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Diagnosis and reporting of the hepatitis B case in hospitals in Anyang City

Objective To study the current situation of hepatitis B diagnostic reports among the medical institutions in Anyang City,and to provide the evidence for improving the diagnostic report quality. Methods Reported cases in2012,which were randomly selected from medical institutions at different type in urban and county,were verified according to the Hepatitis monitoring project technical solutions in 2012 by Chinese Center for Disease Control;A questionnaires with knowledge about the diagnostic reports of hepatitis B was conducted among medical personnel.Results Diagnostic accuracy was 60.04 %,report accuracy was 43.71%,misdiagnosis rate was 39.96 %,false alarm rate was 56.29 %. There are differences(x2=40.851,P0.05;x2=70.742,P0.05)level diagnostic report hospitals,secondary hospitals,tertiary hospitals and specialist hospitals,However,no differences in the primary and secondary hospitals Hospital(x2=0.021,P 0.05;x2=0.024,P 0.05). Conclusions The accuracy of the hepatitis B cases diagnostic reports of medical institutions was not good. It is necessary to strengthen the professional training,technical guidance and administrative oversight.
Unitarized Chiral Perturbation Theory and Rare Decay of Mesons

In the following three lectures I would like to discuss the following topics: 1 What is the Chiral Perturbation Theory? 2 Is it a reliable theory? 3 What is its role in the calculation of the rare decays of π, η,η1 → γe+e-; η,η1 → γγπ, πe+e- and also in K L → γγπ,K L → πe+e-? 4 What are experiments to be done in η,η1 and K decays, and what type of physics that we can learn from them?
Predator–Prey Models

A predator is an organism that eats another organism. A prey is an organism that a predator eats. In ecology, a predation is a biological interaction where a predator feeds on a prey. Predation occurs in a wide variety of scenarios, for instance in wild life interactions (lions hunting zebras, foxes hunting rabbits), in herbivore–plant interactions (cows grazing), and in parasite–host interactions.
Meeting the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals Using Backward Design

The mission of public health programs is to prepare competent public health professionals for a dynamic workforce. One way to accomplish this mission is to design curricula that support learners’ c...
Tuberous Sclerosis and Neonatal Astrocytoma

The relative value of neural imaging studies in the diagnosis of a neonatal astrocytoma associated with tuberous sclerosis is reported from the Departments of Neurosciences, Pediatrics, and Pathology, University of California, San Diego, CA.
IRDrop analysis in power delivery network design

This paper introduces a process that allows customers to do IRDrop analysis on the package/SiP and PCB level. The component information such as the package model, power consumption and voltage regulator module (VRM) as well as power delivery network circuit can be used at the package and board level to perform static IRDrop analysis. The power consumption is used to obtain the current excitation while the VRM pins are used to provide the power supply. For the complicated package and PCB geometry structure, the progressive mesh scheme is used to extract the DC circuit model for their power delivery network. In order to meet the tolerance of current and voltage drop, the required VRM and IC components locations as well as stackup can be optimized according to the voltage drop in DC domain. The user can also view the voltage drop, current and temperature rise.
Social aspects of conformables

Wearable devices promise to help us perform our tasks more efficiently and more enjoyably. Advances in technology will make these devices smarter, smaller, and easier to use. At the same time, the use of these devices will raise several social and cultural issues. Some of the potential social benefits of wearables have already been discussed. For example, Steve Mann has discussed their potential for empowering the user in terms of privacy and access to information. This paper discusses issues in the use of a specific class of wearable devices called conformables. These issues involve social conventions, user's feelings regarding wearable technology incorporated into their possessions and in personal spaces including the home, and the concerns with becoming overly dependent on and loosing control over wearable systems. Failure to resolve these issues could significantly prevent people from utilizing these devices to their full potential.
A Simple Experiment Demonstrating Hormonal Control of Cutaneous Drinking in Toads

Abstract Simple teaching experiments demonstrating endocrinological concepts are difficult to come by. I discuss a simple experiment demonstrating control of cutaneous drinking by the hormone angiotensin II in terrestrial toads, designed after methods published in the primary literature and presented herein to make this exercise more widely accessible to ABT readers. This experiment is notable in that it (1) permits students to quantify both a physiological and a behavioral response to exogenous hormone administration; (2) can be implemented in relatively small class sizes; (3) does not require animal euthanasia; and (4) can be accomplished in one class period. Furthermore, data collection can be easily carried out by students using common laboratory supplies, and analysis and interpretation of the collected data are straightforward. Finally, in demonstrating the function of the highly conserved renin-angiotensinaldosterone system, this hands-on experiment has obvious clinical connections relevant to huma...
Fish assemblages in Iowa's nonwadeable rivers: historic changes in assemblage structure and relationships with natural and anthropogenic environmental characteristics

Historic change in fish assemblage structure was evaluated in the mainstems of the Des Moines, Iowa, Cedar, Wapsipinicon, and Maquoketa rivers, in Iowa. Fish occurrence data were compared in each river between historic and recent time periods to characterize temporal changes among 126 species distributions and assess spatiotemporal patterns in faunal similarity. A resampling procedure was used to estimate species occurrences in rivers during each assessment period and changes in species occurrence were summarized. Shifts in species composition were analyzed at the river and river section scale using cluster analysis, species turnover, and analysis of multivariate beta dispersion. The majority of species exhibited either increases or declines in distribution in all rivers with the exception of several “unknown” or inconclusive trends exhibited by species in the Maquoketa River. Cluster analysis identified temporal patterns of similarity among fish assemblages in the Des Corresponding author: tpark765@gmail.com Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University 6
Learning to Program in LISP1

We have gathered protocols of subjects in their first 30 hours of learning LISP. The processes by which subjects write LISP functions to meet problem specifications has been modeled in a simulation program called GRAPES (Goal Restricted Production System). The GRAPES system embodies the goal-restricted architecture for production systems as specified in the ACT* theory (Anderson, 1983). We compare our simulation to human protocols on a number of problems. GRAPES simulates the top-down, depth-first flow of control exhibited by subjects and produces code very similar to subject code. Special attention is given to modeling student solutions by analogy, how students learn from doing, and how failures of working memory affect the course of problem-solving. Of major concern is the process by which GRAPES compiles operators in solving one problem to facilitate the solution of later problems.
Coase Lecture—Taxes, Targets and the Social Cost of Carbon

In environmental economics, the marginal external cost of emitting a pollutant determines the optimal abatement policy, which might take the form of an emissions tax. But the marginal external cost is often difficult to estimate. This is especially the case when it comes to climate change; estimates of the social cost of carbon (SCC) range from around $10 per metric ton to well over $200 per metric ton, and there has been little or no movement toward a consensus number. Partly as a result, rather than an SCC-based carbon tax, climate policy has focused on a set of targets that would put limits on temperature increases or atmospheric CO2 concentrations, which in turn imply targets for emission reductions. Economics, however, can tell us little about whether such targets are socially optimal. I discuss the trade-off between taxes versus targets as the focus of policy, explain why it has been so difficult to estimate a marginal SCC, and suggest an approach to estimating an average SCC through the use of expert elicitation. I argue that such an approach could serve as the basis for a harmonized carbon tax.