cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pharmacogenomics of microRNA: a miRSNP towards individualized therapy

Joseph R Bertino1†, Debabrata Banerjee2 & Prasun J Mishra3 †Author for correspondence 1The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 195, Little Albany Street, Room 3033, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA Tel.: +1 732 235 8510; Fax: +1 732 235 8181; E-mail: bertinoj@umdnj.edu 2GSBS, Department of Pharmacology, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, UMDNJ, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA 3Department of Pharmacology and Medicine, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, UMDNJ, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA ‘The understanding of how an individual’s genetic inheritance of miRSNPs/polymorphisms affects the body’s response to certain drugs will be key to creating drugs with greater efficacy and safety.’
Simultaneous genetic alteration of Neurospora malate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase

Abstract Mutations of either of two nonlinked genes in Neurospora crassa lead to functional and structural alterations of both malate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase. The coincidence of the properties of malate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase in mutation, thermal inactivation, pH activity, and sedimentation experiments indicates that these activities may be associated with the same protein.
The effects of maxillary quad-helix appliance expansion on cephalometric measurements in growing orthodontic patients

This study was conducted to examine the effects of maxillary quad-helix expansion on frontal and lateral cephalometric measurements in growing orthodontic patients. Twenty subjects, nine girls and eleven boys (x age = 10 years 3 months), each exhibiting at least a unilateral posterior lingual cross-bite that had been treated with a maxillary quad-helix appliance, were selected for this study. Posteroanterior and lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken at the beginning of treatment (T1), when the appliance was removed (Tprog, x time = 9 months), and at retention (T2) and subsequently traced. The T1 and T2 dental casts were also measured as supplements to the cephalometric measurements. Significant orthodontic changes, as seen on the frontal radiographs from T1 to Tprog, included a mean increase in maxillary intermolar width of 5.88 mm, a mean increase in average frontal molar relation of 2.95 mm., and a mean increase in maxillary intercanine width of 2.74 mm. The orthopedic changes, as evidenced radiographically, included a mean increase in maxillary width of 0.92 mm. and an increase in average maxillomandibular width of 0.89 mm. From the above data, a 6:1 ratio of orthodontic movement to orthopedic movement was determined. No significant change in mandibular intermolar width was observed from the cephalometric data or from the cast measurements. The most stable cases after expansion had normal nasal widths and narrow maxillary widths. No correlation was shown between the age of the patients and the orthopedic expansion recorded or between the amount of orthodontic/orthopedic expansion and facial type. It was concluded that all expansion changes showed little relapse from Tprog to T2 and that moderate orthopedic expansion is possible with the quad-helix, but only slight orthopedic expansion was consistently demonstrated.
Contrasting party dynamics: A three decade analysis of the representation of Democratic versus Republican women state legislators

Abstract This research explores the partisan dynamics characterizing women's representation in state legislatures over time, a dynamic that is obscured when focusing on women as a single group undifferentiated by party. The realignment of the parties ideologically, and over the appropriate role for women in particular, has impacted their respective abilities to recruit, support, and elect women. As the Republican party became more conservative over the past three decades, gains among Republican women legislators stalled, and in some cases reversed. Republican women have faced their biggest obstacles in conservative states dominated by Republicans and made their biggest gains in states trending Democratic, where Republican seats are arguably less valuable. In contrast, the Democratic party's comparatively stronger support for gender equality, as well as its alliance with feminist groups focused on electing more women to office, has made it a more welcoming home for women seeking political careers. The Democratic party has effectively tapped into the growing pool of working women to facilitate a steady increase in Democratic women legislators in all regions of the country. These differing party dynamics have implications for women's descriptive and substantive representation, the prospects for women in higher office, and the image and future viability of the two parties.
Antiepileptic effect of antiepilepsirine in pentylenetetrazol and amygdala kindled rats.

Abstract Antiepilepsirine (AES) is a new antiepileptic drug developed in China. Anticonvulsant effects of AES were studied in both pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, n = 20) and amygdala kindled (n = 10) rats. AES was given once per day by oral gavage for 4 weeks. On days 7, 14, 21 and 28, all rats were tested 2 h after daily AES administration: PTZand amygdala kindled rats were given a PTZ injection (30 mg/kg, i.p.) or amygdala stimulation (400 μA, 1 s), respectively. Behavior was observed, and seizures were graded. AES (300 or 500 mg/kg) produced sustained, dose dependent, protective effects against PTZ induced seizures in PTZ kindled rats, while AES (500 mg/kg) had no effects in amygdala kindled rats.
Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Shaped Single Crystals

In this paper we shall review techniques for the growth of single crystal, mostly of insulating material, which are shaped during the growth process. In particular, we shall focus on the growth of single-crystal fibers of optically activated materials; the emphasis will be placed on the so-called Laser Heated Pedestal Growth (LHPG) method of pulling crystalline fibers. LHPG offers a number of logistical advantages which can be exploited as a tool for materials research. Progress in the synthesis of materials using LHPG is described, as are spectroscopic techniques which are employed in characterizing the optical and physical properties of the crystal fibers obtained by this method.
Creating a CD-ROM from scratch: a case study

Technology has moved us to the point where creating a CD-ROM as an alternative to paper volumes is not only cost effective, but also provides an opportunity to add significant value to the information presented, both in terms of quantity and usefulness. The past year has been a pivotal one in terms of access to simple and cost-effective tools and technologies that push “personal publishing” of CD-ROMs closer to reality for a whole range of publishers and information providers. This paper will review the development cycle of SPIE's first CD-ROM product, the Electronic Imaging '93 Proceedings on CD-ROM, a hybrid Windows/Macintosh disc that was created without the use of any of the proprietary (and often expensive) software royalty-based contracts that have been the established turn-key solution until now. The intent of this paper is to provide a first-hand look at the developmental, technical, and financial issues involved in creating a CD-ROM publication.
Contribution of direct and maternal genetic effects to life-history evolution

Summary • Maternal effects are ubiquitous in nature. In plants, most work has focused on the effects of maternal environments on offspring trait expression. Less is known about the prevalence of genetic maternal effects and how they influence adaptive evolution. Here, we used multivariate genetic models to estimate the contributions of maternal and direct genetic (co)variance, the cross-generation direct-maternal covariance, and M, the matrix of maternal effect coefficients, for life-history traits in Campanulastrum americanum, a monocarpic herb. • Following a three-generation breeding design, we grew paternal half-sib families with full-sib relatives of each parent and measured juvenile and adult traits. • Seed size was influenced exclusively by maternal environmental effects, whereas maternal genetic effects influenced traits throughout the life cycle, including strong direct and maternal additive genetic correlations within and between generations for phenological and size traits. Examination of M suggested that both juvenile and adult traits in maternal plants influenced the expression of offspring traits. • This study reveals substantial potential for genetic maternal effects to contribute to adaptive evolution including cross-generation direct-maternal correlations that may slow selection response, maternal effects on phenology that reinforce genetic correlations, and within- and between-generation genetic correlations that may influence life-history polymorphism.
“Unscheduled” DNA synthesis in lens epithelium following ultraviolet irradiation

Abstract Agents which damage DNA (e.g. X-rays, psoralen) can also cause cataracts. DNA repair may, therefore, play an important homeostatic role in maintaining normal differentiation and function in the lens. This report demonstrates the existence of repair of lens epithelial DNA following ultraviolet irradiation damage.
A remarkable new armored archosaur from the Upper Triassic of Virginia

ABSTRACT An unusual new archosaurian reptile, Euscolosuchus olseni, gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Tomahawk Creek Member of the Turkey Branch Formation of the Richmond basin (Newark Supergroup; Upper Triassic: Carnian) in east-central Virginia. Its distinctive, narrow carapace comprises paired, sharply angulated paramedian osteoderms that bear much enlarged lateral spines and have crocodile-like external ornamentation. Euscolosuchus is referable to the Crurotarsi and closely resembles basal Crocodyliformes in the structure of its dorsal dermal armor.
Grand challenges in condensed matter physics: from knowledge to innovation

Condensed Matter Physics (CMP) explores the fundamental properties of matter and their origins resulting from the interactions of a large number of atoms and electrons. The intricate nature of these interactions results in properties and associated phenomena that often hint at a rich vein of underlying physics. Although the perspective is changing constantly with new discoveries, the basic challenges in CMP are to predict and observe new phenomena and elucidate novel properties of materials often pushing at the frontiers of quantum mechanics [1]. CMP is also a field which stimulates
W(h)ither the Golgi during mitosis

During mitosis, the entire content of the cell must be divided equally between two daughter cells before karyo- and cytokinesis are completed. How is this complex process accomplished? In the case of the Golgi, it was found many years ago in tissue culture cells that the characteristic stack-like
Comparison of dose determinations for 15-MeV neutrons

Absorbed dose in A-150 plastic irradiated by 15-MeV neutrons was measured using three dosimetric methods: an A-150 plastic calorimeter, A-150 ionization chambers, and activation of gold foils. The dose determinations by the calorimeter and ionization chambers agreed to better than 1%, while the activation method yielded a 3.5% lower dose. The agreement between the methods is within the experimental uncertainties.
Comparison of biomass allocation in ectomycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal Douglas fir seedlings of similar nutrition and overall size

Biomass allocation in 6-month-old ectomycorrhizal Douglas fir seedlings was compared to that in nonmycorrhizal seedlings of the same age, nutrient status and total biomass. Seedlings colonized by Rhizopogon vinicolor had the same distribution of biomass between roots, stems and needles, but only 56% of the total length of roots (including mycorrhizal branches) compared to nonmycorrhizal seedlings. Laccaria laccata had no effect on distribution of biomass or root length of seedlings. The results for Rhizopogon provide direct evidence that the process of ectomycorrhizal colonization can significantly affect plant biomass allocation by one or more mechanisms not directly related to altered nutrition or overall plant size.
Effectiveness of reverse body bias for leakage control in scaled dual Vt CMOS ICs

Examines the effectiveness of opportunistic use of reverse body bias (RBB) to reduce leakage power during active operation, burn-in, and standby in 0.18 /spl mu/m single-V/sub t/ and 0.13 /spl mu/m dual-V/sub t/ logic process technologies. Investigates its dependencies on channel length, target V/sub t/, temperature and technology generation. Shows that RBB becomes less effective for leakage reduction at shorter channel lengths and lower V/sub t/ at both high and room temperatures, especially when target intrinsic leakage currents are high. RBB effectiveness also diminishes with technology scaling primarily because of worsening short-channel effects (SCE), particularly when target V/sub t/ values are low. A model is given that relates different transistor leakage components to full-chip leakage current, and is validated through test-chip measurements across a range of RBB values.
Longitudinal Study of Emotional, Social, and Physical Changes after Traumatic Brain Injury

Understanding the nature and course of personality alterations following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is needed for rational planning and effective management of TBI patients' many behavioral and social problems. Therefore, levels of emotional and social adjustment and socially relevant aspects of physical status during the first 5 years posttrauma were documented for 39 male TBI patients at six time intervals using the Portland Adaptability Inventory (PAI), an instrument developed for this study. Responses to 21 items (seven dealing with Temperament and personality, eight with Activities of Social Behavior, and six with Physical Competence) were analyzed for evidence of moderate to severe impairment. Three types of problem areas were identified: (a) those which represented persistent difficulty for many patients throughout the 5-year follow-up period; (b) those in which there was significant improvement that was sustained over time; and (c) those in which there was slight or variable improvement. At 5 ye...
Prefledging Diet is Correlated with Individual Growth in Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

ABSTRACT. The period of growth prior to fledging is a critical life stage for most birds, and shifts in diet during ontogeny may affect growth and development. We used nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes in feather tissue to quantify dietary composition and evaluate the relationship between diet and growth in prefledging Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Sequential sampling of δ15N from feather tissue that was synthesized throughout growth allowed us to evaluate changes in plant versus invertebrate contributions to chick diet during the first 28 days posthatch. Feathers became depleted in δ15N throughout growth, and Bayesian mixing models suggested that the proportional contribution of invertebrate nitrogen declined with chick age. We estimate that invertebrate contributions to the protein in chick diets decreased from 39% at 1 week to 23% at 4 weeks of age, which is consistent with previous research on sage-grouse that used traditional diet-sampling methods. Chicks with feather δ15N values tha...
Does “Making a Difference” Still Make a Difference?: A Textbook Author’s Reflections

Drawing on my experiences with teaching Psychology of Women and writing three editions of a textbook across two decades starting in 1990, I reflect on the core feminist call to make the personal political. By tracing the chronology and interplay of my textbook writing with my teaching, research, and editing, I speculate about an apparent disconnection between my experiences and research with students (who embrace the feminist call to make a difference) and the textbook market to veer toward less women-centeredness and activism in the pursuit of gender studies. I make my case that the activist goal of making a difference continues to make a difference in individual women’s lives, in women’s relationships, and in a social justice agenda.
Dialogics of Understanding Self/Culture

Historically, the definition of culture has been a much debated issue for anthropologists. The issues at stake are many, ranging from the "what about" and "how about" of culture to "why," as scholars, we need to pay careful attention to this highly enigmatic concept. What is culture? Is it collective memory, collective consciousness, shared knowledge and meaning systems, as Geertz (1973) posited, or is it a mediating factor in understanding ourselves (Rosaldo 1984; Shweder and Bourne 1984) and our emotions (Levy 1984)? Is it a conceptual tool in our cognitive processes (Cole et al. 1971; Cole and Scribner 1974), a guiding factor in making moral judgments (Much and Shweder 1978), or a "variable" that becomes useful in doing cross-cultural research (Dasen 1976; Dasen and Berry 1974; Price-Williams 1975)? In recent years, many scholars have argued that the definition of culture itself is subjected to cultural and historical processes in all their complexities and contradictions (Crapanzano 1992; Rabinow 1986; Tyler 1992). Such a critical view has opened up communications between various disciplines and has given birth to a new field called "cultural psychology" (Cole 1990; Fabbri and Munari 1990; Fuhrer 1991; Stigler et al. 1990), in which the cognizing, emoting, experiencing, and evaluating individual is seen as emerging from, operating within, and transacting with a complex set of social relations-an ongoing play between culturally defined realities and reality-defining selves. Amid these debates on the definition of culture, the
Verb and sentence production and comprehension in aphasia: Northwestern Assessment of Verbs and Sentences (NAVS).

Background: Verbs and sentences are often impaired in individuals with aphasia, and differential impairment patterns are associated with different types of aphasia. With currently available test batteries, however, it is challenging to provide a comprehensive profile of aphasic language impairments because they do not examine syntactically important properties of verbs and sentences. Aims: This study presents data derived from the Northwestern Assessment of Verbs and Sentences (NAVS; Thompson, 2011), a new test battery designed to examine syntactic deficits in aphasia. The NAVS includes tests for verb naming and comprehension, and production of verb argument structure in simple active sentences, with each examining the effects of the number and optionality of arguments. The NAVS also tests production and comprehension of canonical and non-canonical sentences. Methods & Procedures: A total of 59 aphasic participants (35 agrammatic and 24 anomic) were tested using a set of action pictures. Participants prod...
How a cigarette is smoked determines blood nicotine levels

Indirect evidence suggests that smoking low-tar and nicotine cigarettes does not necessarily reduce exposure to these substances. Puff volume, duration and number, interpuff interval, and volume and duration of inhalation were measured while 11 subjects smoked two or four tobacco cigarettes. Nicotine blood levels and breath CO were measured before and after smoking. The machine-determined nicotine yields of the cigarettes correlated (r = 0.52) with the increase in nicotine blood levels after smoking but, when individual differences in smoking behavior were taken into account along with the nicotine yield, there was a stronger correlation with nicotine blood levels (r = 0.84 to 0.93). Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1983) 33, 84–90; doi:10.1038/clpt.1983.12
Simulation Studies of a Prototype EMA Controller for Time-Varying Linear and Nonlinear Systems

Due to the lack of a general mathematical theory for linear time-varying (LTV) dynamical systems, the control of LTV systems has been a difficult task. Recently, a unified linear system theory has been developed for the class of LTV systems of the form: y(n) + a n (t)y(n-1) +...+ a 2 (t)? + a 1 (t)y = b n+1 (t)u(n) + b n (t)u(n-1) +... + b 2 (t)? + b 1 (t)u, based on a unified time-varying eigenvalue concept [6]-[10]. Using that theory, a novel controller design technique, called EMA control, has also been developed for LTV systems [11]. In this paper three simulation case studies of the EMA controller are presented to exemplify its applications in time-varying linear and nonlinear control systems found in aerospace industries. The nonlinear systems in these simulation studies were treated either by local linearization, or simply as a time-varying linear system whose coefficients ? i (t) are dependent on the states y(k)(t), k = 0,1,...,n-1. The success of the EMA control technique presented in this paper demonstrates its usefulness.
Giant Orbital Hydrocystoma in Children: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

ABSTRACTObjective: To describe the clinical features, ancillary diagnostic studies, and treatment outcomes in a cohort of pediatric patients with giant orbital hydrocystomas.Design: Retrospective case series.Participants: Pediatric patients with giant orbital hydrocystomas treated in the practice of one surgeon (PDL).Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical charts of pediatric patients with orbital hydrocystoma was performed and diagnostic information collected. Results were reviewed and compared with reported clinical data in the literature.Main Outcome Measures: Clinical presentation and histopathological findings of pediatric orbital hydrocystomas.Results: Three pediatric cases of giant orbital hydrocystoma were encountered, each with an unusual feature, including deep orbital location, occurrence following trauma, and eccrine pathology.Conclusion: Giant orbital hydrocystomas may present in the pediatric population. Ophthalmologists should be cognizant of this entity when evaluating a child with...
Avian tumor viruses.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses on the term leukosis virus, which will be used to designate any avian tumor virus strain that causes neoplastic disorders originating predominantly in the hematopoietic system. The majority of all avian tumor viruses belong in this category. Most of the remaining strains cause primarily solid tumors of connective tissue origin and may be classed as avian sarcoma viruses. The experimental work during the past few years has focused on a few prototypes, notably, Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), Rous associated virus (RAV), avian myeloblastosis virus strain BAI A (AMV), strain R erythroblastosis virus, and strain RPL 12 avian leukosis virus. The basic anatomy of avian tumor viruses is well established, and to a certain degree morphology has become correlated with function, mainly by the differentiation of coat and core properties in defective RSV. The geometrical as well as chemical architecture of the nucleocapsid needs further study. An immediate question in the chapter concerns the size and uniformity of viral RNA molecules, and whether the nucleocapsid contains one or several of such molecules. The central and most fundamental problem of the avian tumor virus field is doubtlessly the mechanism of virus-induced malignant transformation. Although the past few years have seen impressive progress in the anatomy and multiplication of avian tumor viruses, advances in the understanding of viral carcinogenesis have been slow; perhaps the main finding in this respect is the lack of an absolute link between virus synthesis and cellular transformation. Malignant cellular behavior and unrestricted growth cannot be separated from differentiation and normal control.
A liter-scale microbial capacitive deionization system for the treatment of shale gas wastewater

Sustainable wastewater management is among the biggest challenges in shale oil and gas exploration and production. Here we present the first prototype microbial capacitive deionization (MCD) system for both organic carbon and total dissolved solids (TDS) removal from wastewater with simultaneous electricity production. The 2.2 liter spiral wound reactor was operated continuously for nearly 2 years using actual flow back and produced water, and it was equipped with 11 electrical sensors for real time water quality monitoring. The system was capable of generating 89–131 W m−3 power while removing up to 10.2 g TDS L−1 per day and 75% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD). Additionally, the influence of electrical potential applied to a capacitive deionization assembly on microbial electron transfer was characterized for the first time. The MCD system is inexpensive to operate ($0.10 per barrel) with an additional advantage of extra water production due to the use of sodium percarbonate as an electron acceptor. The MCD technology presents a new process for water and energy positive produced water treatment.
Structural changes in the meat wholesaling industry

F UNDAMENTAL and deep-rooted structural and organizational changes are in evidence in the processing and marketing sectors of the nation's agricultural economy as well as at the producer level. Judging, however, from the nature and results of agricultural economic studies made in recent years, the structural changes in the processing and distributive industries appear to have been largely ignored by research technicians. There are several possible reasons for this apparent indifference. Some researchers, the institutionalists particularly, seem to have been content after calculation of a few concentration ratios to toss all questions arising from structural changes into the political arena. Others have sagely dismissed them with the observation that the structural changes which have come about appear to have been accompanied by improvements in operational efficiency and little, if any, degeneration in pricing efficiency.' Still another group, it appears, avoids studies of industry structure for the reason that the reseach techniques and tools available are inadequate. It is difficult to believe that the obstacles to study of market structure, although formidable, are insurmountable. In addition, the economic effects of changes in the structure of processing and distributing industries are of primary concern, today, to producers, business concerns, trade associations, other industry leaders, and legislators. Accordingly, an expanded program of research on market structure appears defensible. First, however, we need to know the nature and extent of structural changes under way and this, as related to a particular industry, is the principal task undertaken in this paper. Second, and involved here is a challenge to theoreticians and econometricians, principles are needed which explain (1) expected effects of various factors or conditions on market structure, and (2) the effects of market structure on such factors as prices, costs and output. The principles, when provided, can be used to adjust for inapplicabilities of presently available models to study of structural change.2 They can be used either to develop new models or to modify
Glycoalkaloids of the Solanaceae

Glycoalkaloids are nitrogenous steroidal glycosides that are found in most Solanum species. Defosses, in 1820,1 reported that the active principle of morel (S. nigrum) was an organic base which he named solanine. Baup2 reported the presence of solanine in potatoes and concluded it “will find a use in medicine…” More than a century later, Solanum glycoalkaloids have become important starting compounds for the commercial preparation of steroidal hormone intermediates. Glycoalkaloid research has not been restricted to chemical studies; the biological activity of these compounds has been extensively investigated, primarily in the context of plant resistance to pests and microorganisms and of human toxicity. The presence of glycoalkaloids in foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant has always been of great concern; understandably, this concern has generated much research activity.
Hysteresis and mode transitions in plasma sheath collapse due to secondary electron emission

In this experiment, hysteresis is observed in the floating potential of wall material samples immersed in a low-temperature plasma as the energy of a prevalent non-thermal electron population is varied from 30–180 eV. It is indicated that the hysteresis is due to secondary electron emission from the wall material surface. Measurements are performed in a filament discharge in argon gas pressure 10−4 Torr of order 107 cm−3 plasma number density. The primary ionizing electrons from the discharge filament make up 1%–10% of the overall plasma number density, depending on discharge voltage. Immersed LaB6-coated steel and roughened boron nitride (BN) wall material samples are mounted on the face of a radiative heater, and the wall temperature is controlled from 50–400 °C such that thermionic emission from the LaB6-coated sample is not significant. The energy of the primary plasma electrons from the discharge filament is varied and the floating potentials of the material samples are monitored. The floating potent...
A remote Lewis acid trigger dramatically accelerates biaryl reductive elimination from a platinum complex.

A strategy for the control of electron density at a metal center is reported, which uses a remote chemical switch involving second-sphere Lewis acid binding that modulates electron density in the first coordination sphere. Binding of the Lewis acid B(C6F5)3 at remote nitrogen positions of a bipyrazine–diarylplatinum(II) complex accelerates biaryl reductive elimination by a factor of 64,000.
Adaptive Soldiers: Overcoming Obstacles Imposed by New Technology

The Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) is the principal digital command and control (C2) system for the Army at echelons below brigade. It integrates communications, weapons, and sensor systems to disseminate C2 messages and provides a visual display of a common operational picture. Thirty Soldiers returning from recent deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq participated in user testing that integrated several conventional user feedback techniques into a single test session, which is referred to as a RECON test. Soldiers demonstrated how they had used the system by “RECONstructing” activities that they had performed in a combat environment, while answering questions chosen to reveal environmental, situational, and operational factors at play. They also completed questionnaires and responded to system-directed interview questions. Data analysis revealed that lack of training and a host of usability issues were overcome by developing adaptive behaviors. These behaviors provide insight into how ...
Optimal Strategy for Economic Operation of Electric Bus Battery Swapping Station

The reserved battery number and the charging duration are main factors to affect the energy supply capacity of electric bus battery swapping station.Based on the analysis of vehicle flow,two formulas are presented to describe required battery amount and charged battery amount respectively.Moreover,with analyzing the relation between the two formulas,a charging control method for the peak period is provided.According to the field test data and statistical results of the electric bus swapping station for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,the procedures of optimal strategy for economic operation have been given.Then a computer simulation program is prepared to verify the strategy.Simulation results show that the proposed strategy can reduce power consumption of peak periods and electricity costs markedly while it meets the condition at swapping demand.In addition,the algorithm and boundary conditions are very clear,and it is easy to be embedded into a charging management system to implement economic optimization for bus battery swapping stations.
Recognition of diamond with phage display peptides

We show for the first time the identification of diamond-binding peptide motifs for diamond with phage display. Our approach is based on a comprehensive screening of specific peptides from a phage display library, along with novel micropatterning methods. These results could open up significant opportunities for the development of a variety of diamond-based electronic devices ranging from sensors to energy storage devices.
Analysis of Wireless Sensor Network and Its Application in Target Tracking

As a new next network, the wireless sensor network is a front hot researching area which is a concerned, multi-discipline, knowledge highly integrated filed. This paper introduces briefly the wireless sensor network's architecture. Its characteristics and support technologies such as node localization, time synchronism and so on are discussed. Finally the wireless sensor networks' application in the target tracking are Elaborated.
Study on the relationship between infectious diseases and dietary behavior of children in kindergartens

Objective: To understand the prevalence of infectious diseases in kindergartens of Tai'an city,explore the relationship between infectious diseases and dietary behavior of children,and provide a basis for making preventive and control countermeasures. Methods: Cluster random sampling method was used to investigate nine kindergartens in Tai'an city. Results: The prevalence rate of infectious diseases among children in kindergartens was 29. 8%; the prevalence rates of infectious diseases among boys and girls were 28. 8% and 31. 1%,respectively. Statistical analysis results showed that there were statistically significant differences in prevalence rate of infectious diseases among children in kindergartens among different county( city,district) and different age groups( χ2= 14. 293-31. 821,P 0. 05). There were statistically significant differences in prevalence rate of infectious diseases among children in kindergartens whether washing their hands before meals and after defecating,overeating,dining out,eating leftovers,location for eating lunch,physical exercise situation,swimming,the laundry frequency( χ2= 6. 036-23. 248,P 0. 05). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of infectious diseases among children in kindergartens is high; to prevent infectious diseases,it is suggested to strengthen health education,pay more attention to nursing and reasonable feeding of children,cultivate their good habits of dietary behavior health,enhance physical exercise,strengthen the body resistance and immunity.
Progress in the direct catalytic conversion of methane to fuels and chemicals

Abstract This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in catalytic processes to convert methane (a major component of natural gas) to more valuable hydrocarbons as fuels or chemicals. The scope is restricted to “direct” conversion, meaning that processes involving synthesis gas as an intermediate are not considered. Oxygenated products (e.g., alcohols) are also not considered. In all cases, the processes are concerned with catalytic dehydrogenation. The two most widely studied processes are oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) and methane dehydroaromatization (MDA). After reviewing the relevant catalysis literature, the paper goes on to review reactor implementations. Hydrogen- and/or oxygen-permeable membranes can potentially play valuable roles in improving methane conversion and product yields. Despite over 30 years of research, there are still no direct-conversion processes that can compete commercially with methane reforming followed by processes such as Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. Thus, the future practical development and deployment of OCM and MDA will rely on the research and development of advanced catalysts and innovative processes. The present review helps to document the foundation on which the needed development can build.
Post-transplant malignancies in minority populations.

Post-transplant malignancy (PTM), is emerging as an important cause of early morbidity and mortality following transplantation (TX). Unfortunately its prevalence in minorities (African-Americans, AA; Native Americans, NA; Asian Pacific Islanders, AP; American Indians, AI; Latino-Hispanics, LH) in the United States, though important, remains unknown. Published reports of prevalence rates by different centers, including the Cincinnati Transplant Tumor Registry (CITTR) of about 4%-18% though informative, remain of little help. These reports erroneously assume a homogeneity in population, uniformity in the impact and spread of the determinants of this disease, and equal access to health for all patients. Data from AA, the only minority group studied by the Howard University Hospital Transplant Center (HUHTC) group, in Washington, D.C.; revealed a cancer occurrence of 3% in 339 TX patients. It is important to note that unlike the CITTR data base, the HUHTC cancer database is smaller. Nevertheless, a comparative analysis was revealing. Skin/lymphoid cancers had a lower occurrence (20% versus 54%), while head and neck tumors had a higher occurrence (30% versus 3%) as were genitourinary cancers (30% versus 8%) in AA as compared to the general population. Since minorities as a group are prone to higher cancer prevalence and mortality rates, and because patterns of PTM may differ among groups, studies to analyze PTM and other factors that may further escalate cancer rates in minorities deserve greater impetus.
McNair Scholars: Overcoming the Obstacles of Underrepresented Students

Previous research identifies agents of socialization that reinforce stereotypes about underrepresented populations’ abilities and how these biases create obstacles for underrepresented students in academia, but lacks in understanding how underrepresented students combat biases in higher education. Using qualitative methodology, this study identifies obstacles faced by students underrepresented in academia (i.e., first-generation, low income, race/ethnic and gender minorities) participating in a high impact program, and how they maintain self-efficacy while combating obstacles. Studying students engaged in a high impact program adds a new dimension to understanding the relationship between underserved populations in academia, self-efficacy and student success. Preliminary findings based on interviews with 9 students suggest financial stability, lack of inclusion and awareness of resources are the biggest obstacles for students. While universities are implementing first year seminar courses for underrepresented students, this population needs more attention from administration and faculty; they are unaware of the opportunities that campuses have to offer. 1 Smell: McNair Scholars: Overcoming the Obstacles of Underrepresented Students Published by Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC, 2015
Reliability management — The central enabler for advanced Technologies in Automotive

Abstract Mobility is in a transition phase from individual human controlled to assisted and autonomous driving. Also, new roles add to car manufacturers being now forced to adapt to digital service providers as cars become the ultimate mobile office. Today, functional automotive requirements start to exceed on what's on the market accompanied with huge reliability assurance process gaps along the supply chain. Standards are out dated, research data unavailable and activities to change this strongly bound to market dynamics and mass volume requirements. This is why reliability engineering and management becomes a leading role in product design and business model formation. Transparency about technological gaps and how they are being handled determine market positions. To create industry awareness, we demonstrate two examples out of an OEM driven study on mechanical induced parametric deviations which relate to corresponding product verification/validation issues that can end up in real, but which are mostly classified as no fault found (NFF) issues.
Using the Deal Price for Determining ‘Fair Value’ in Appraisal Proceedings

This Essay presents new data on appraisal litigation and appraisal outs. I find that appraisal claims have not meaningfully declined in 2016, and that perceived appraisal risk, as measured by the incidence of appraisal outs, has increased since the Dell appraisal in May 2016. After reviewing current Delaware appraisal doctrine, this Essay proposes a synthesizing principle: if the deal process involves an adequate market canvass, meaningful price discovery, and an arms-length negotiation, then there should be a strong presumption that the deal price represents fair value in an appraisal proceeding; but if the deal process does not have these features, deal price should receive no weight. This approach would represent a middle-ground between the competing approaches advanced by twenty-nine law, economics, and finance professors in the DFC Global appraisal, currently on appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court.
Unifying mechanism for different fibrotic diseases

Fibrotic diseases are not well-understood. They represent a number of different diseases that are characterized by the development of severe organ fibrosis without any obvious cause, such as the devastating diseases idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and scleroderma. These diseases have a poor prognosis comparable with endstage cancer and are uncurable. Given the phenotypic differences, it was assumed that the different fibrotic diseases also have different pathomechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that many endstage fibrotic diseases, including IPF; scleroderma; myelofibrosis; kidney-, pancreas-, and heart-fibrosis; and nonalcoholic steatohepatosis converge in the activation of the AP1 transcription factor c-JUN in the pathologic fibroblasts. Expression of the related AP1 transcription factor FRA2 was restricted to pulmonary artery hypertension. Induction of c-Jun in mice was sufficient to induce severe fibrosis in multiple organs and steatohepatosis, which was dependent on sustained c-Jun expression. Single cell mass cytometry revealed that c-Jun activates multiple signaling pathways in mice, including pAkt and CD47, which were also induced in human disease. αCD47 antibody treatment and VEGF or PI3K inhibition reversed various organ c-Jun-mediated fibroses in vivo. These data suggest that c-JUN is a central molecular mediator of most fibrotic conditions.
Conditional, Genetically Encoded, Small Molecule-Regulated Inhibition of NFκB Signaling in RPE Cells

Purpose Nuclear factor κB (NFκB) is a ubiquitously expressed, proinflammatory transcription factor that controls the expression of genes involved in cell survival, angiogenesis, complement activation, and inflammation. Studies have implicated NFκB-dependent cytokines or complement-related factors as being detrimentally involved in retinal diseases, thus making inhibition of NFκB signaling a potential therapeutic target. We sought to develop a conditional and reversible method that could regulate pathogenic NFκB signaling by the addition of a small molecule. Methods We developed a genetically based, trimethoprim (TMP)-regulated approach that conditionally inhibits NFκB signaling by fusing a destabilized dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) domain to an inhibitor of NFκB, IκBα, in ARPE-19 cells. We then challenged ARPE-19 cells with a number of stimuli that have been demonstrated to trigger NFκB signaling, including LPS, TNFα, IL-1α, and A2E. Western blotting, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, quantitative PCR, ELISA, and NFκB reporter assays were used to evaluate the effectiveness of this DHFR-IκBα approach. Results This destabilized domain approach, coupled with doxycycline-inducibility, allowed for accurate control over the abundance of DHFR-IκBα. Stabilization of DHFR-IκBα with TMP prevented IL-1α-, A2E-, LPS-, and TNFα-induced NFκB-mediated upregulation and release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 from ARPE-19 cells (by as much as 93%). This strategy is dosable, completely reversible, and can be cycled "on" or "off" within the same cell population repeatedly to confer protection at desired time points. Conclusions These studies lay the groundwork for the use of destabilized domains in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in vivo and in this context, demonstrate their utility for preventing inflammatory signaling.
W(h)ither the community in community land trusts

Community land trusts (CLTs) began as a model for community control over land in the late 1960s. The model allows for individual ownership of improvements to land while the land is owned by the CLT...
The Equity Risk Premium: A Contextual Literature Review

Research into the equity risk premium, often considered the most important number in finance, falls into three broad groupings. First, researchers have measured the margin by which equity total returns have exceeded fixed-income or cash returns over long historical periods and have projected this measure of the equity risk premium into the future. Second, the dividend discount model—or a variant of it, such as an earnings discount model—is used to estimate the future return on an equity index, and the fixed-income or cash yield is then subtracted to arrive at an equity risk premium expectation or forecast. Third, academics have used macroeconomic techniques to estimate what premium investors might rationally require for taking the risk of equities. Current thinking emphasizes the second, or dividend discount, approach and projects an equity risk premium centered on 3½% to 4%.
Diesel, Spark-Ignition, and Turboprop Engines for Long-Duration Unmanned Air Flights

Comparisons are made for propulsion systems for unmanned flights with several hundred kilowatts of propulsive power at moderate subsonic speeds up to 50 h in duration. Gas-turbine engines (turbofan...
Ascites and Pleural Effusion

When an underlying derangement in fluid balance occurs, fluid will accumulate in potential spaces including the thoracic cavity and abdominal cavity. These fluid collections are referred to as a pleural effusion in the pleural space or ascites in the peritoneal cavity. Mechanisms underlying pleural effusion and ascites include abnormalities in hydrostatic pressure, oncotic pressure, vascular permeability, or lymphatics. Treatment is aimed at the underlying etiology. Depending on the clinical scenario, a diagnostic fluid sample may be necessary to determine the cause of an abnormal fluid collection. Percutaneous image-guided procedures, such as thoracentesis for drainage of pleural fluid or paracentesis for drainage of ascites, are safe and effective techniques to obtain fluid for diagnostic purposes and have become standard of care. In cases where fluid reaccumulates, these procedures can be performed for symptomatic relief. Image-guided thoracentesis and paracentesis are more cost-effective and result in lower morbidity and mortality compared to non-image-guided invasive alternate diagnostic techniques.
From the Minds of Jazz Musicians: Conversations with the Creative and Inspired

From the Minds of Jazz Musicians: Conversations with the Creative and Inspired celebrates contemporary jazz artists who have toiled, struggled and succeeded in finding their creative space. The volume was developed through transcribing and editing selected interviews with 35 jazz artists, conducted by the author between 2009 and 2012 in New York City, with a historical essay on each artist to provide context. The interviews feature musicians from a broad range of musical styles and experiences, ranging from Gerald Wilson, born in 1918, to Chris Potter, born in 1971. Topics range from biographical life histories to artists’ descriptions of mentor relationships, revealing the important life lessons they learned along the way. With the goal to discover the person behind the persona, the author elicits conversations that speak volumes on the creative process, mining the individualistic perspectives of seminal artists who witnessed history in the making. The interviews present the artists’ candid and direct opinions on music and how they have succeeded in pursuing their unique and creative lives.