cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed control based on tie-set graph theory for smart grid networks

This paper introduces tie-set graph theory and its application to smart grid networks. Tie-sets stand for loop structure in a network. Tie-set graph theory, which aims to realize distributed control in local units, provides the theoretical nature of loops. In mesh topological networks, all the nodes and links are covered with a fundamental system of tie-sets, which is created by a tree defined by graph theory. If tie-sets are used as local management units in a network, an entire network can be controlled in an orderly fashion due to the graph theoretical basis. Distributed control based on tie-sets has some merit such as easy communication and reduction of electricity loss. In this paper, we propose the unique graph theory on tie-sets, its relationship with smart grid networks, and autonomous configurations based on tie-sets. In addition, we suggest distributed algorithms for an electricity distribution problem as a conceivable issue, and basic simulations and experiments are also conducted.
Further studies in the electrochemical/mechanical strength of printed microbatteries

Flexible electronics require flexible energy storage, and electrochemical batteries are currently the strongest option for such devices. We further our previous investigation, beginning to add quantitative analysis to the composite mechanical/electrochemical performance of printed electrodes. The presented work will explain the principles of microfluidic stress analysis and how it provides insight into the operating conditions of real microbatteries.
Modification of the sequential multiple autoanalyzer (SMA-12/30) for use in animal research studies

Summary 1. The survey model Sequential Multiple AutoAnalyzer (SMA-12/30) was modified for the purpose of conducting routine analyses of laboratory and domestic animal serums. 2. Phosphorus concentrations, as well as lactic dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities, which are much greater than levels found in human serum, necessitated changes in methods used. 3. Creatinine analysis was substituted for albumin, and chloride substituted for uric acid.
Disc Nucleus Cellular Response to Dynamic Pressures at Critical Frequencies: A Pig Model

Disc degeneration is a multifactor phenomenon. It has been found that intervertebral disc (IVD) cells respond to such factors as pH, osmotic pressure, genetic factors, and mechanical loading (Guilak, 1999). During daily activities the human intervertebral disc is exposed to oscillatory hydrostatic loads that produce pressures >2MPa in vivo (Nachemson, 1964 and 1979). It is known that dynamic loads with critical frequencies close to that of the in vivo human spine resonant frequency (4–5 Hz) have a destructive effect on disc tissue properties (Pope, 1993). Whether this destructive effect is purely mechanical, due to loading magnification, or biological, affecting cell metabolism, is unknown. Previous work (Merryman, 2002) showed that there was no significant effect upon monolayer IVD cells loaded at 15Hz, while lower frequencies (1 and 8Hz) altered collagen synthesis compared to control. To address this issue, we developed a mechanically active culture system capable of delivering a wide range of loading frequencies and amplitudes of hydrostatic pressure to cultures of disc cells. Nucleus pulposus cells of pig discs were isolated and suspended in alginate beads. Alginate cultures were divided into 6 groups; five groups were exposed to cyclic pressures of frequencies 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10Hz with the same amplitude of 1MPa, and group 6 was the control group (no loading). Cultures of different groups were loaded for 3 days (30 minutes daily) in a hydraulic chamber filled with culture media. The effect of loading frequency on collagen metabolism among different groups was compared by measuring incorporated [3 H]-proline into collagen for medium and total extracts. The results indicated a poor synthesis rate and more degradation near the 5Hz frequency.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
The Interactive Effects of Recruitment Practices and Product Awareness on Job Seekers’ Employer Knowledge and Application Behaviors

In this article, the author draws on research from the literature on marketing and recruitment to identify how recruitment practices and company product awareness are related to job seekers' application behaviors through 3 aspects of job seekers' employer knowledge. Based on results from a within-subject design with data from 123 recruiting companies and 456 student job seekers, the author's findings suggest that the relationships between recruitment strategies and application intentions and decisions are moderated by product awareness. Specifically, low-information recruitment practices are significantly and positively related to application behaviors through employer familiarity and employer reputation when product awareness is low. In contrast, high-information recruitment practices are related to job seekers' application behaviors through employer reputation and job information when product awareness is high.
Sources of β-cells for human cell-based therapies for diabetes

Recent progress in islet transplantation coupled with the extremely limited supply of primary human islets has spurred the search for alternative sources of β-cells for transplantation therapy in treating diabetes. Many potential sources of cells are being explored, including embryonic and adult stem cells, identification of intrapancreatic precursor cells, and human β-cell lines. Here, we review the promise and problems with those cell sources, focusing on our studies in developing functional human β-cell lines. Those efforts involve a two-step process in which the first is to introduce growth stimulatory genes that induce human β-cells to enter the cell cycle. Immortalization can then be achieved by expressing the hTERT telomerase subunit. The second step is to induce differentiation. This involves a complex set of manipulations, including the expression of the important β-cell transcription factor PDX-1. Although PDX-1 is critical for promoting β-cell differentiation, we do not find increased expression of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, a gene that has been reported to be induced by PDX-1. Further understanding of the factors governing β-cell development are likely to be required before a robust cell-based therapy is available for the treatment of diabetes.
Starting Envelope of the Subdetonative Ram Accelerator

An experimental investigation has been undertaken to explore the effects of propellant composition, entrance Mach number, and projectile throat area variation on the subdetonative ram accelerator starting process. Upper and lower limits on these parameters provide bounding conditions under which a supersonic projectile can successfully initiate and stabilize the combustion-supported shock system on the projectile necessary for acceleration. Relatively energetic propellant combinedwith high entrance Mach number are observed to push the shock system ahead of the projectile, whereas low energy release together with low entrance Mach number are conducive to the shock system falling behind. Decreasing entrance Mach number also causes the shock system to propagate ahead of the projectile under some circumstances, suggesting that fundamentally different start failure mechanisms are responsible. Increasing the  ow area at the throat lowers the Mach number for choking the diffuser, but causes dif culty in containing the combustion-supported shock system unless the Mach number is increased or the propellant energy release is decreased. Trends observed in this investigation and prior research are used to develop a generalized starting envelope, illustrating where the success and failure boundaries lie in relation to one another on the propellant energy release vs Mach number plane.
Ultrafast Tool Servos for Diamond Turning

Abstract This paper presents the design, implementation and control of a new class of fast tool servos, based on a novel ultrafast motor concept. A prototype ultrafast tool servo with a stroke of 30 |im is described. Experimental results demonstrate that the ultrafast tool servo achieves 23 kHz closed-loop bandwidth, as low as 1.7 nm RMS error, 500 G peak acceleration at 10 kHz open-loop operation, and 2.1 nm (0.04%) error in tracking a 3 kHz sinusoid of 16 |im p-v. A 1 kW linear power amplifier and a 1 MHz sampling rate high-speed real-time computer are designed to drive and control this ultrafast tool servo. A digital controller including loop shaping and adaptive feedforward cancellation is designed to control the tool motion.
Nitric oxide nanoparticles: Pre-clinical utility as a therapeutic for intramuscular abscesses

Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical component of host defense against invading pathogens; however, its therapeutic utility is limited due to a lack of practical delivery systems. Recently, a NO-releasing nanoparticulate platform (NO-np) was shown to have in vitro broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and in vivo pre-clinical efficacy in a dermal abscess model. To extend these findings, both topical (TP) and intralesional (IL) NO-np administration was evaluated in a MRSA intramuscular murine abscess model and compared with vancomycin. All treatment arms accelerated abscess clearance clinically, histologically, and by microbiological assays on both days 4 and 7 following infection. However, abscesses treated with NO-np via either route demonstrated a more substantial, statistically significant decrease in bacterial survival based on colony forming unit assays and histologically revealed less inflammatory cell infiltration and preserved muscular architecture. These data suggest that the NO-np may be an effective addition to our armament for deep soft tissue infections.
Compressive Sensing on Manifolds Using a Nonparametric Mixture of Factor Analyzers: Algorithm and Performance Bounds

Nonparametric Bayesian methods are employed to constitute a mixture of low-rank Gaussians, for data x ∈ RN that are of high dimension N but are constrained to reside in a low-dimensional subregion of RN. The number of mixture components and their rank are inferred automatically from the data. The resulting algorithm can be used for learning manifolds and for reconstructing signals from manifolds, based on compressive sensing (CS) projection measurements. The statistical CS inversion is performed analytically. We derive the required number of CS random measurements needed for successful reconstruction, based on easily-computed quantities, drawing on block-sparsity properties. The proposed methodology is validated on several synthetic and real datasets.
Clinical Issues in the Use of the DSM-III-R With African American Children: A Diagnostic Paradigm

Diagnosis assumes an important role in the delivery of mental health services for African American children. In addition, diagnosis has implications for emotional and cognitive development as well as for racial socialization. To no surprise, understanding family and community processes is also relevant. This article first reviews the history of concerns related to diagnosis, specifically application of DSM-IH-R principles to African Americans. Clinician-related barriers common to diagnosis are then discussed, and an alternative diagnostic paradigm is provided. Finally, recommendations are offeredfor enhancing the diagnostic process with African American children.
Atomic-Level Protein Structure Refinement Using Fragment-Guided Molecular Dynamics Conformation Sampling

One of critical difficulties of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in protein structure refinement is that the physics-based energy landscape lacks a middle-range funnel to guide nonnative conformations toward near-native states. We propose to use the target model as a probe to identify fragmental analogs from PDB. The distance maps are then used to reshape the MD energy funnel. The protocol was tested on 181 benchmarking and 26 CASP targets. It was found that structure models of correct folds with TM-score >0.5 can be often pulled closer to native with higher GDT-HA score, but improvement for the models of incorrect folds (TM-score <0.5) are much less pronounced. These data indicate that template-based fragmental distance maps essentially reshaped the MD energy landscape from golf-course-like to funnel-like ones in the successfully refined targets with a radius of TM-score ∼0.5. These results demonstrate a new avenue to improve high-resolution structures by combining knowledge-based template information with physics-based MD simulations.
NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINE MERGERS: STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO IMPERFECTLY COMPETITIVE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

The wave of domestic mergers among North American airlines during the late 1980s and the subsequent reduction in competition increased the risk of higher domestic prices for airline tickets. Why then have the North American governments allowed this consolidation to occur? Research to date has focused on these mergers as a domestic phenomenon, but they occurred in response to imperfectly competitive international aviation markets as well. The North American nations and their international airlines could garner the lion's share of the supranormal profits to be had in these imperfectly competitive markets by cutting the costs of their international carriers. Matching international routes with domestic-route networks and establishing a global hub-and-spoke system lower the cost of providing international flight service. Domestic airline mergers are a means to creating significant domestic-route networks, cutting costs, and allowing international carriers to increase profit shares in international markets. Economic incentive for airline mergers is established and provides a basis for consideration of the political sphere; findings indicate that these mergers are beneficial to private interests and are also in the public welfare. Private interest and public-welfare political rationales are often in opposition both in political literature and in practice, but in this case they coincide. Empirical tests support domestic airline consolidation in North America as a contributing factor in competitive gains in international markets for both the nations and the airlines.
The Visual Evoked Potential is independent of surface alpha rhythm phase

A Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) is an electrical signal picked up by a surface electrode in response to the activation of visual cortex by a visual stimulus. Because the VEP is typically much smaller in magnitude than the ongoing spontaneous EEG signal, the VEP is derived by averaging a large number of responses time-locked to stimulus presentation. Standard theory has it that the VEP is independent of the ongoing EEG, however, there has long been a competing view that the VEP is caused by a partial phase reset of the spontaneous alpha rhythm. We calculated the VEP where stimuli were presented at four different phases of the ongoing alpha rhythm, and subtracted away the responses to null trials synchronized to the same alpha rhythm phases, creating estimates of the VEP as a function of ongoing alpha rhythm phase. For some subjects there was evidence of an interaction between the VEP and the phase of the ongoing alpha rhythm, but this was idiosyncratic between subjects and conditions, and mostly evident in a later period when the VEP magnitude was very small. However, in general the VEP is independent of the phase of the ongoing alpha rhythm, and hence cannot be primarily caused by a partial phase resetting of the spontaneous EEG. It is possible that the VEP is either a phase-reset of an ongoing oscillation, or an oscillation induced by the sudden onset of a stimulus, but it cannot be the same oscillation as the surface alpha.
Resource management for continuous multimedia database applications

The uniqueness of continuous multimedia database applications lies in the fact that they require system support steady flow of media access data. In this paper we address the problem of system resource management for such applications. We introduce a session-based scheduling paradigm that, unlike traditional task scheduling, enables scheduling of all processing entities (threads, I/O processes, and buffers) across multiple system resources for guarantee of steady mediaflow. Under this paradigm, we develop an approach to on-line generation of session resource requirements based on resource allocation tradeoffs. Further, we develop a multidimensional "bin-packing" approach to allocation and scheduling of multiple resources for concurrent sessions. The goal is to minimize resource overheads and maximize the number of concurrent sessions while meeting session timing constraints and resource capacity constraints. >
Effectiveness of "teaching the teachers" initiative for ultrasound training in Africa.

Rationale and Objectives To determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive educational program that trained a group of physicians in diagnostic ultrasound (US), so that they would return to their respective countries to train others with the intent of helping to standardize knowledge and improve the quality of US in Africa. Additionally, to compare the effectiveness of this program to that of a similar, but larger, program. Materials and Methods Twelve physicians from sub-Saharan Africa were selected for an intensive 3-month training program sponsored by Radiological Society of North America Research and Education Foundation Grant in all aspects of diagnostic US. A 100-item open-ended test was used to assess learning and retention of knowledge by administration of the same test at three points: at entry into the program, at completion, and 6-month follow-up. Findings were compared with the previously published results of a larger study. Results Mean test scores increased significantly from a mean of 58.4% at entry to 76.8% at end-of-program. The mean 6-month follow-up test score (79.1%) was slightly higher than posttest and approached significance, similar to the larger group. Nine of the 12 physicians were selected to establish affiliated ultrasound training programs. Conclusion The results of this testing process are both statistically and clinically significant, because they document an increase in knowledge at the end of an intensive 3-month training program, similar to the results reported for a larger group. There was retention and even slight improvement in the physicians' knowledge at 6-month follow-up, a time during which they were teaching others in their home countries in Africa.
Adaptation of the Oxygen Transport System to Hypoxia in the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus

Among the oxygen carrying proteins, two groups are known to adapt to environmental challenges in the adult stage. Both vertebrate hemoglobins and arthropod hemocyanins adapt to chronic hypoxia by responding to the actions of allosteric co-factors. The design strategy, however, differs fundamentally in the two groups. Even within the arthropods, chelicerate and crustacean hemocyanins respond to co-factors very differently. Only in the crustaceans does the oxygen carrier adapt by shifts in intrinsic molecular properties. In hypoxic blue crabs, increases in the ratio of the primitive 1 × 6-meric oligomer bring about a higher oxygen affinity relative to that in normoxic animals, in which greater proportions of the derived 2 × 6-meric oligomer are responsible for a lower oxygen affinity
C5a-induced gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

The endothelium plays a critical role in the inflammatory process. The complement activation product, C5a, is known to have proinflammatory effects on the endothelium, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We have used cDNA microarray analysis to assess gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that were stimulated with human C5a in vitro. Chip analyses were confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and by Western blot analysis. Gene activation responses were remarkably similar to gene expression patterns of HUVECs stimulated with human tumor necrosis factor-α or bacterial lipopolysaccharide. HUVECs stimulated with C5a showed progressive increases in gene expression for cell adhesion molecules (eg, E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1), cytokines/chemokines, and related receptors (eg, VEGFC, IL-6, IL-18R). Surprisingly, HUVECs showed little evidence for up-regulation of complement-related genes. There were transient increases in gene expression associated with broad functional activities. The three agonists used also caused down-regulation of genes that regulate angiogenesis and drug metabolism. With a single exception, C5a caused little evidence of activation of complement-related genes. These studies indicate that endothelial cells respond robustly to C5a by activation of genes related to progressive expression of cell adherence molecules, and cytokines and chemokines in a manner similar to responses induced by tumor necrosis factor-α and lipopolysaccharide.
Metastatic Complications of Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients

Bacteremia is a common infectious complication in hemodialysis patients. Metastatic sites of infection including infective endocarditis, vertebral osteomyelitis, spinal epidural abscess, and septic arthritis occur relatively frequently. These complications are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Early clinical recognition and appropriate management of these infections are necessary, and strategies to reduce the occurrence of bacteremia in this patient population are warranted.
On the nonlinear resonances and dynamic pull-in of electrostatically actuated resonators

We present modeling, analysis and experimental investigation for nonlinear resonances and the dynamic pull-in instability in electrostatically actuated resonators. These phenomena are induced by exciting a microstructure with nonlinear forcing composed of a dc parallel-plate electrostatic load superimposed on an ac harmonic load. Nonlinear phenomena are investigated experimentally and theoretically including primary resonance, superharmonic and subharmonic resonances, dynamic pull-in and the escape-from-potential-well phenomenon. As a case study, a capacitive sensor made up of two cantilever beams with a proof mass attached to their tips is studied. A nonlinear spring‐mass‐damper model is utilized accounting for squeeze-film damping and the parallel-plate electrostatic force. Long-time integration and a global dynamic analysis are conducted using a finite-difference method combined with the Floquet theory to capture periodic orbits and analyze their stability. The domains of attraction (basins of attraction) for data points on the frequency‐response curve are calculated numerically. Dover cliff integrity curves are calculated and the erosion of the safe basin of attraction is investigated as the frequency of excitation is swept passing primary resonance and dynamic pull-in. Conclusions are presented regarding the safety and integrity of MEMS resonators based on the simulated basin of attraction and the observed experimental data. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
Evaluation of Quality of Life Following Placement of Self-Expanding Plastic Stents as a Bridge to Surgery in Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Therapy for Esophageal Cancer

Purpose.To determine whether self-expanding plastic stent (SEPS) placement significantly improves quality of life and maintains optimal nutrition while allowing full-dose neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in patients with esophageal cancer. PatientsandMethods. Aprospective,dual-institution,singlearm, phase II (http://ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00727376) evaluation of esophageal cancer patients undergoing NAT prior to resection. All patients had a self-expanding polymer stent placed prior to NAT. The European Organisation for ResearchandTreatmentofCancerQLQ-C30andQLQ-OG25, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Anorexia, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General surveys were administered prior to stenting, within 1 week post-stent placement, and at the completion of neoadjuvant therapy. Results. Fifty-two patients were enrolled; 3 (5.8%) had stent migrations requiring replacement.There wereno instances of esophageal erosion or perforation. All patients received some form of neoadjuvant therapy.Thirty-six (69%) received chemoradiation;34(93%)ofthesepatientsreceivedtheplanneddose ofchemotherapy,and27(75%)receivedthefullplanneddoseof radiotherapy. There were 16 (31%) patients receiving chemotherapyalone;12 (74%) ofpatients in thechemotherapy-alone group completed the planned dose of therapy. Conclusion. Placement of SEPS appears to provide significant improvement in qualityof life relatedtodysphagia andeating restriction in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. Consideration of SEPS instead of percutaneous feeding tube should be initiated as a first line in dysphagia palliation and NAT nutritional support. The Oncologist 2014;19:1–7
Cosmopolites enracinés et militants transnationaux

Les cosmopolites enracines forment aujourd’hui une partie importante des groupes et des individus impliques dans le militantisme social. S’appuyant sur les changements technologiques, l’integration economique et les reseaux culturels, ce phenomene trouve son expression la plus frappante dans la mobilisation de jeunes militants a des manifestations organisees hors de leur propre pays, ce qu’on nomme le militantisme transnational. A partir de la definition relationnelle (et non cognitive) du cosmopolitisme, plusieurs figures du « cosmopolitisme enracine » sont presentees, qui correspondent a autant de formes distinctes de militantisme transnational.
Spatial resolution and heterogeneity of local field potentials in the globus pallidus

Local field potentials (LFPs) are thought to be promising feedback signals for implementation in closed-loop deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems. However, little is known about how spectral properties of bipolar LFPs recorded along a DBS lead depend on electrode size and spacing. In this study, we recorded LFPs from two different DBS lead designs spanning the external globus pallidus (GPe) and internal globus pallidus (GPi) in two non-human primates. Bipolar electrode recording montages were progressively grouped to investigate spatial heterogeneity of oscillatory activity in the beta (10-30 Hz) and high gamma (>70 Hz) frequencies. For both DBS leads, the data showed that the highest ratio of beta to gamma activity within the GPi. The stronger ratio of beta to gamma was found for a bipolar electrode pitch of 750 μm compared to 1000 μm, while a larger inter-electrode spacing of 1.5-3 mm with one contact in the GPe and the other in the GPi produced the strongest activity. Finally, oscillatory activity recorded within the same region of globus pallidus with a bipolar electrode montage oriented longitudinally versus radially did not differ significantly. Together, these data provide important guidelines for the design of recording electrodes for use with closed-loop DBS leads in the globus pallidus.
Gravitational Effects on and of Vacuum Decay

It is possible for a classical field theory to have two stable homogeneous ground states, only one of which is an absolute energy minimum. In the quantum version of the theory, the ground state of higher energy is a false vacuum, rendered unstable by barrier penetration. There exists a well-established semiclassical theory of the decay of such false vacuums. In this paper, we extend this theory to include the effects of gravitation. Contrary to naive expectation, these are not always negligible, and may sometimes be of critical importance, especially in the late stages of the decay process.
High-performance design techniques in nanometer integrated circuits

A key enabler of lifestyle technologies that are expected to be pervasive in the next decade will be due to the increased performance of integrated circuits. This next generation of circuits will have to overcome a significantly different set of issues from conventional technologies, and this tutorial provides the attendee with an appreciation for and an introduction to techniques used to solve these problems. The analysis and design of future generations of integrated circuits operating at frequencies in excess of 10 GHr faces major challenges that will severely impact commonly used circuit design techniques and CAD tools. A conventional definition of high-performance that places paramount importance on high speed is no longer viable, and the paradigm will change significantly in the future as other factors must be considered. Next-generation design techniques will also be impacted by trends in technology scaling that seriously impact circuit styles and CAD tools, such as lower resistivity interconnect (such as copper), low K dielectrics, faster devices (such as SO1 and SiGe technologies), improved cooling techniques, and wider busses. This tutorial addresses design and CAD techniques to be used in nanometer technologies, where feature sizes will be below 100nm. Today’s high-end designs are already entering this regime, with designs entering the 90nm technology node at target frequencies of 5 GHz. In such an environment, high-performance design will imply the simultaneous optimization of delay, power dissipation, signal integrity, and circuit reliability. Moreover, design will have to be carried out in an environment where process variations will see larger changes within-die and across-die than in current technologies.
Adoption Notices to Genetic Fathers: No to Scarlet Letters, Yes to Good Faith Cooperation

American courts and legislatures have struggled to define the participation rights of genetic fathers in governmental adoption schemes for infants born to unwed mothers as a result of consensual sexual intercourse. Federal constitutional privacy interests in both paternity opportunity and childrearing compel a certain level of genetic father participation. However, excessive levels of participation undermine the goals of swift, final, and inexpensive adoptions, as well as deny some maternal preferences. The difficulties in balancing genetic father participation with competing interests are well illustrated by recent developments in Florida. There, the so-called "Scarlet Letter" law of 2001 (effectively branding women as promiscuous and unfit parents for little reason) was rather quickly replaced by a "Putative Father Registry" law in 2003. Unfortunately, neither law strikes a proper balance. Scarlet Letter laws are unwarranted (as well as unconstitutional), while putative father registries confer inadequate participation rights for unwed fathers. The most appropriate course of action would be for Florida, and other states, to incorporate a good-faith cooperation responsibility for most genetic mothers during newborn adoptions, under which mothers would have greater duties in naming or helping to name the genetic fathers of newborns who are placed for adoption.
Comparision of luteal estradiol patch and oral contraceptive pills in antagonist cycles for pretreatment of the normal responder

respectively with the patient friendly protocol (corifollitropin alpha+GnRHagonist-triggering) as compared with the conventional protocol (recFSH+hCGtriggering) (from 1low, to 5 severe). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to compare two different stimulation regimens in the same donor to avoid inter-patient variation. Taking into account the low risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), the lower degree of physical distress during the luteal phase as well as the similar pregnancy rates and efficacy, the use of corifollitropin alpha combined with GnRH-agonist for triggering appears to be the ideal standard in oocyte donors.
WAYS OF REDUCING RADIATION EXPOSURE IN A FUTURE NUCLEAR POWER ECONOMY

Publisher Summary Proponents of the nuclear power industry make a serious mistake when they compare exposures from the operation of a nuclear power facility with the dose received by the population from natural background radiation. This is because natural background radiation is unavoidable for practical reasons, is not beneficial, and with best estimates, accounts for a considerable amount of suffering and death. The exposure in a future energy economy must be reduced and kept as low as practicable (ALAP) because at present there is a preponderance of evidence that there is no threshold dose of ionizing radiation so low that it is safe or that the risk of damage is zero. Experimental evidence strongly suggests that the probability of most types of chronic radiation damage increases monotonically with the accumulated dose. The radiation exposure that must be reduced and kept ALAP in an acceptable future nuclear power economy includes both exposure of the occupational worker and of members of the public, and it must include exposure from all stages of the industry.
Economic development, cultural differences and FDI

ABSTRACTThe literature has long analysed the effects of national cultural distance on the volume of cross-border FDIs. Considering the increase in significance of FDI originating from developing countries, this study compares the effect of cultural differences on the stock of FDI from and to countries of various levels of economic development to explain how economic development affects the impact of cultural distance on FDI. Results suggest that the cultural differences tend to be bigger barriers for multinationals from developing countries, but they also learn quickly how to deal with such differences.
Engineering Subunit and Nonsense Suppression Stoichiometry in Potassium Channels

Multi-subunit membrane proteins employ chemically diverse inter- and intramolecular contacts to regulate their function. Potassium channel slow inactivation relies on a hydrogen bond network around the selectivity filter which supports an internal timing mechanism to control the transition between conducting and non-conducting conformations. Previously we used targeted replacement of W434 with the isosteric non-canonical amino acid 2-amino-3-indol-1-yl-propionic acid (Ind) to highlight the importance of the indole H-bond of this highly conserved Trp residue. However, these experiments were unable to nuance the specific contributions of individual channel subunits to channel inactivation. We therefore designed an engineered protein approach whereby complementary intein sequences are incorporated into the N- or C- termini of Shaker monomers, respectively, flanked by previously identified endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signals. The data shows that functional channels composed of monomeric ER-intein subunits are restricted from the surface membrane. However, co-expression of complementary ER-intein monomers results in robust expression of functional K+ channels through intein ligation and excision of both the ER retention signals and intein sequences. This technique was used to express Shaker channels with two W434Ind monomers within a single tetramer, producing an intermediate inactivation rate, consistent with the breakage of multiple H-bonds required for full inactivation. In addition, the fidelity of the stoichiometric assembly was assayed by TEA block of channels with zero, two or four T449F mutations. The development of this approach allows for regulation of subunit stoichiometry in multimeric complexes and advances the use of nonsense suppression by demonstrating a solution to incorporate multiple non-canonical amino acids into a single peptide and multimeric complexes. Specifically, the reduction of overall protein expression that is normally compounded at the second suppression site is effectively abrogated because two transcripts are suppressed independently then ligated as proteins.
Cytoprotection and Stress Ulceration

The stomach possesses many mechanisms for protection against stress ulceration. The gastric microcirculation, prostaglandins, mucus secretion, epithelial cell renewal, and muscle tone are factors involved in gastric cytoprotection. Therapy is partially directed at augmenting these natural physiologic defense mechanisms to prevent and promote healing of stress ulceration. Drugs such as sucralfate, carbenoxalone, colloidal bismuth, and prostaglandins are used. Stress ulceration is an important cause of upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage in postoperative and critically ill patients in the intensive care unit setting. Preventive therapy includes neutralization of gastric acid by antacids, suppression of gastric acid secretion by H2-receptor blockers, administration of cytoprotective agents, and correction of the underlying stress state. Active bleeding requires accurate diagnosis by gastroscopy. Additional therapy may be necessary, including intra-arterial administration of vasopressin and occasionally surgery. Dieulafoy's lesion is an unusual stress-related cause for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The area of mucosal injury is minute but underneath lies a large submucosal gastric artery. It can cause massive bleeding and is often missed at initial gastroscopy. The pathogenesis of Dieulafoy's lesion is complex and the mainstay of therapy has been surgical. Ligation of the vessel, wedge resection, or proximal gastric resection is performed. Therapeutic endoscopy with endoscopic cauterization or injection has changed the approach to this lesion.
Low Temperature Formation of β-SiC by C60Deposition on Silicon

By deposition of C60 on silicon at moderate temperatures (800°C... 900°C) the formation of thin epitaxial β-SiC-films on Si could be proved. C60-molecules were deposited onto Si(001) and Si(111) in high-vacuum at constant deposition rates for some hours. The thickness and the composition of the formed layers are determined by Rutherford-Backscattering (RBS). The thickness of the layers varied between about 50nm and 200nm in dependence of the deposition parameters. From the shape of the RBS-spectra only β-SiC can be identified. SiC-grains with a mean size of about 500 nm have been observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) pole figure measurements demonstrate the heteroepitaxial growth of β-SiC on Si. It can be shown by XRD that only the cubic structure (β-SiC) of the different polytypes of SiC was formed during the carbonization process. The formation of growth defects (twins) can be observed.
Theoretical Investigation of the Reaction Mechanism of the Decarboxylation and Decarbonylation of Propanoic Acid on Pd (111) Model Surfaces

Conversion of biomass into fuels or chemicals often requires a processing step limited by hydrodeoxygenation of organic acids. Various pathways have been proposed for the deoxygenation of these acids into hydrocarbons, with the decarboxylation and decarbonylation requiring less hydrogen than the reductive deoxygenation without C–C bond cleavage. In this paper, we present the reaction mechanism for the decarboxylation and decarbonylation of propanoic acid over Pd(111) model surfaces determined by first-principles electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory. Our calculations suggest that the most significant decarbonylation pathways proceed via a dehydroxylation of the acid to produce propanoyl (CH3CH2CO) followed by either full α-carbon dehydrogenation and CH3C–CO bond scission to produce CH3C and CO, or first α-carbon dehydrogenation followed by β-carbon dehydrogenation and CH2CH–CO bond scission to produce CH2CH and CO. The decarboxylation mechanism starts with O–H bond cleavage ...
Studies on development of characteristic databases in China

The key and interest of recent studies on characteristic databases in China were summarized and evaluated by investigating and analyzing recent studies on characteristic databases in China from 1996 to 2009 and their future tendency was predicated
THE EFFECT OF SURFACE COOLING ON HEAT PENETRATION IN EXPERIMENTAL BURNS.

THERE NO longer exists much doubt that progressive changes disproportionate to the amount of heat penetration follow the infliction of thermal injury to living tissue. Along with other workers, we have been investigating ways in which the course of these changes can be beneficially modified. We have found increasing evidence in experimental animals that early cooling of burn surfaces, both large and small, can materially alter the end result of controlled thermal injuries both in terms of capillary permeability and edema formation with consequent local wound morbidity 4 and in terms of overall mortality. 5 While most evidence supports the hypothesis that surface cooling improves the course of burns by inhibiting capillary permeability and consequently diminishing the amount of edema formation, 6 the question has been raised that the improvement might be expected purely on the basis of caloric exchange taking place in the early cooling of "hot" fresh burned
A Study of Network Domains Used in Android Applications

Numerous Android applications use the Internet to share and exchange data. Such data can range from posting simple status updates to private sensitive information such as the users’ location or business contacts. Popular Android applications from Google Play have been identified leaking private data to remote third party servers. Existing works focuses on protecting sensitive information from leaving the smartphone, or detecting which applications leak information based on API calls or the permission requests in their Manifest file. In this work, we propose to leverage the combination of static analysis and dynamic analysis to understand ultimately the network domain to which the Android applications are interacting. Network graphs are constructed and demonstrate implicitly the relation of application developers and the network domains used in the applications.
Ventricular Septal Defect: Indications for Therapy in Infants

Consideration of the etiology, clinical physiology, and clinical features seen between birth and six months of age provides the basis for planning diagnostic tests and treatment.
Evaluation of Turmeric Powder Adulterated with Metanil Yellow Using FT-Raman and FT-IR Spectroscopy

Turmeric powder (Curcuma longa L.) is valued both for its medicinal properties and for its popular culinary use, such as being a component in curry powder. Due to its high demand in international trade, turmeric powder has been subject to economically driven, hazardous chemical adulteration. This study utilized Fourier Transform-Raman (FT-Raman) and Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy as separate but complementary methods for detecting metanil yellow adulteration of turmeric powder. Sample mixtures of turmeric powder and metanil yellow were prepared at concentrations of 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 1%, and 0.01% (w/w). FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra were acquired for these mixture samples as well as for pure samples of turmeric powder and metanil yellow. Spectral analysis showed that the FT-IR method in this study could detect the metanil yellow at the 5% concentration, while the FT-Raman method appeared to be more sensitive and could detect the metanil yellow at the 1% concentration. Relationships between metanil yellow spectral peak intensities and metanil yellow concentration were established using representative peaks at FT-Raman 1406 cm−1 and FT-IR 1140 cm−1 with correlation coefficients of 0.93 and 0.95, respectively.
FOREPOST: a tool for detecting performance problems with feedback-driven learning software testing

A goal of performance testing is to find situations when applications unexpectedly exhibit worsened characteristics for certain combinations of input values. A fundamental question of performance testing is how to select a manageable subset of the input data faster to find performance problems in applications automatically. We present a novel tool, FOREPOST, for finding performance problems in applications automatically using black-box software testing. In this paper, we demonstrate how FOREPOST extracts rules from execution traces of applications by using machine learning algorithms, and then uses these rules to select test input data automatically to steer applications towards computationally intensive paths and to find performance problems. FOREPOST is available in our online appendix (http://www.cs.wm.edu/semeru/data/ICSE16-FOREPOST), which contains the tool, source code and demo video.
Vacuolar H+-ATPase is down-regulated by the angiogenesis-inhibitory pigment epithelium-derived factor in metastatic prostate cancer cells.

The Vacuolar H+-ATPases (V-ATPases), a multi-subunits nanomotor present in all eukaryotic cells resides in the endomembranes of exocytotic and endocytotic pathways. Plasmalemmal V-ATPases have been shown to be involved in tumor cell metastasis. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a potent endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, is down-regulated in prostate cancer cells. We hypothesized that the transduction of PEDF in prostate cancer cells will down-regulate V-ATPase function; that in turn will decrease the expression of the V-ATPase accessory protein ATP6ap2 and a-subunit isoforms that target V-ATPase to the cell surface. To test these hypotheses, we used the human androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells LNCaP, and its castration-refractory-derivative CL1 that were engineered to stably co-express the DsRed Express Fluorescent Protein with or without PEDF. To determine if PEDF down-regulates the function of V-ATPase, we measured the rate of proton fluxes (JH+) of the cytosolic and endosome/lysosome compartments. The mRNA levels for subunit-a isoforms and the ATP6ap2 were measured using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The results showed that PEDF expression decreased the rate of JH+ in metastatic CL1 cells without affecting JH+ in non-metastatic LNCaP cells, when studying pHcyt. Interestingly, PEDF did not affect JH+ in endosomes/lysosomes either in metastatic cells or in non-metastatic cells. We also showed that PEDF significantly decreases the levels of a4 isoform and ATP6ap2 in metastatic CL1 cells, without affecting the levels of a4 isoform in the non-metastatic LNCaP cells. These data identify PEDF as a novel regulator of V-ATPase suggesting a new way by which PEDF may inhibit prostate tumor growth.
Holocene mammalian change in the central Columbia Basin of eastern Washington state, USA

Abstract Predictions of changes in the Holocene mammalian fauna of the central Columbia Basin in eastern Washington (USA) based on environmental changes are largely met. Taxonomic richness is greatest during periods of cool-moist climate. Rates of input of faunal remains to the paleozoological record may suggest greater mammalian biomass during periods of greater moisture but are difficult to interpret without data on sampling intensity in the form of volume of sediment excavated. Abundances of leporids and grazing ungulates fluctuate in concert with abundance of grass. Several biogeographic records are tantalizing but require additional study and data before being accepted as valid. Records of red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) indicate this species was present in the central basin during the Holocene contrary to historic records and recent suggestions modern foxes there are escapees from fur farms. Bison ( Bison bison ) and bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis ) underwent diminution of body size during the Holocene. Modern efforts to conserve the Columbia Basin ecosystem are advised to consider the Holocene record as indicative of what may happen to that ecosystem in the future.
‘Natural Law’ and Reasons in Ethics

I do not understand the relation between lex naturalis and lex divina in St Thomas. But I have supposed that he spoke, sometimes anyway, of the lex naturalis as a law which men could know by the lumen naturale— for the knowledge or understanding of which we do not need the lumen divinum. And I thought Fr. R. wanted to say that because it is a law of reason, therefore it can be known and understood by all men. (And conversely: If you cannot understand or recognize it, then you are not a man. Here ‘man’ is clearly not a biological term, but an expression of value. Cf. ‘be a man!’ etc. But it is also an expression of value when he speaks of ‘reflection on the nature of man’. And writers might — and do — differ on ‘what it means to be a man’. This difference cannot be settled by any discussion on biology. If you say it can be settled at all, does this mean that there is some further natural law, found by reflection on…? regressus ad inf.