cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical modeling of CO2 injection into a typical US Gulf Coast anticline structure

This paper summarizes recent numerical modeling activities investigating geological CO2 sequestration project at the Cranfield field, Mississippi, USA, performed with the commercial compositional flow simulator CMG-GEM. The oilfield was produced from the 1940’s to the 1960’s but has been the recent recipient of an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) CO2 flood. The subset of actual site operations of interest to the BEG consists of (1) an early phase, object of this paper, in which CO2 is injected into the oil-bearing reservoir (the so-called Phase II) and (2) a second phase (started on December 1, 2009) in which CO2 is injected at a high rate (>100 kt/yr for several years) in the saline aquifer down dip of the reservoir (Phase III). We present the modeling efforts related to the early phase of injection (Phase II, started in July 2008) in which CO2 is injected into the oil-bearing reservoir. The objectives of the modeling effort are to (i) to gain insights on how to approach CO2 injection modeling at the site, (ii) to match recent pressure measurements at several wells including a dedicated observation well, and (iii) to vindicate the necessity of monitoring of reservoir pressure. Its intent is not necessarily to do a full-fledged history match of the historical production period (1940’s–1960’s). We conducted numerous repeat simulation runs to modify boundary conditions, fluid properties, and reservoir properties to match observed fluid responses to production and to injection. A good understanding of subsurface heterogeneities, and composition of the oil and gas components, and boundary conditions of the reservoir is the key to successful history matching. However, allocating the correct distribution of rock properties based on historical geophysical logs remained an area of uncertainty even as additional new data were obtained during characterization because of the complex interplay between depositional environment and strong overprint of diagenetic events. Parameters of utmost importance for a correct description of a flow field, in particular the relationship between porosity and permeability and the nature of permeability spatial variations remain uncertain as well as boundary conditions. The uncertainty was dealt with through sensitivity analyses. Ultimately, the constructed model shows a reasonable match with the data.
Height, Fibroplasia, and Renovascular Hypertension

To the Editor.— The significance of observations by Goldman et al (221:378, 1972) regarding the occurrence of renovascular hypertension in unusually tall women, as noted by Straus and Choi (223:440, 1973), deserves further comment. The exact incidence and pathogenesis of renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia remains unknown, but lesions in which medial fibroplasia predominates are most common. Histologic study of these lesions reveals medial thinning and mural aneurysms alternating with constricting areas of fibrous tissue that are consistent with an end-stage nonspecific medial "injury." The apparent predilection of medial fibroplasia for renal arteries, the right renal artery in particular, has never been explained. It is a reasonable speculation that intermittent stretching of the renal arteries, when associated with ptotic kidneys, may alter the vessel wall directly or indirectly by disrupting the vasa vasorum. Renovascular hypertension is often associated with renal ptosis. In the past this has led to nephropexy in many
Studies on the conversion of folic acid to citrovorum factor by developing chick embryo.

Abstract The components required for the optimal conversion of PGA to CF by chick embryo homogenate include PGA, serine, homocysteine, DPN and ATP. The chick embryos possess maximum capacity to convert PGA to CF at 2.5 and 6.5 days during the incubation period of 1.5 to 11 days. The conversion of PGA to CF by chick embryo liver homogenate is optimal at 13 and 16 days during 12 to 21 days of incubation. Under the experimental conditions described here, 9000 r X-radiation to 2.5, 6, 7, and 8 days old chick embryos does not alter their capacity to convert PGA to CF.
The Depth of Correlation in Micro-PIV for High Numerical Aperture and Immersion Objectives

The analytical model for the depth of correlation (measurement depth) of a microscopic particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) experiment derived by Olsen and Adrian has been modified to be applicable to experiments using high numerical aperture optics. A series of measurements are presented that experimentally quantify the depth of correlation of micro-PIV velocity measurements which employ high numerical aperture and magnification optics. These measurements demonstrate that the modified analytical model is quite accurate in estimating the depth of correlation in micro-PIV measurements using this class of optics
The role of the nominal tax system in the common stock returns/expected inflation relationship

Abstract Recent empirical evidence suggests that common stock returns and expected inflation are negatively related. This paper focuses on one explanation of this relationship, a nominal tax approach. According to this theory, in countries with specific nominal tax components to their tax systems, inflation increases the effective tax rate, thereby lowering after-tax returns. Analyzing monthly data for Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the U.S. for the period 1960–1981, and annual data for the U.K. and U.S. for the period 1870–1980, I find little empirical support for the nominal tax approach.
The nature of the biochemical lesion in avian renal riboflavinuria. I. Effect of genotype on renal riboflavin metabolism.

1. 1. A strain of Single Comb White Leghorn chickens bearing the recessive riboflavinuria alleles (rdrd) was compared with the normal genotype (RdRd) in an effort to ascertain the specific effects of the mutant gene. 2. 2. The effect of genotype on the ability of kidney slices to transport riboflavin and p-aminohippuric acid against a concentration gradient was measured. 3. 3. The kidney tissue of both genotypes was assayed for phosphatase, phosphotransferase, flavokinase and FAD pyrophosphorylase. 4. 4. Neither of these lines of investigation revealed any differences between the RdRd and rdrd reproductively active females. 5. 5. On this basis, the reported etiology of riboflavinuria as a renal tubular transport failure is questioned.
Absence of a deleterious effect of calcium channel blockers in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction: The SAVE study experience

Abstract Background As a result of randomized controlled trials with calcium channel blockers after myocardial infarction, concern has developed that these agents are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, particularly in the presence of left ventricular dysfunction. Methods To test the hypothesis that calcium channel blockers increase cardiovascular events in such patients, the incidence of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, severe heart failure, and recurrent infarction was examined in 940 patients taking calcium channel blockers and 1180 not taking them 24 hours before randomization to placebo or captopril in the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) Trial. All patients had an ejection fraction ≤40%. Relative risks for calcium channel blocker users versus nonusers and the 95% confidence intervals were computed with univariate and multivariate Cox regressions. Adjustments were made for differences in baseline covariates. Results For all causes of mortality, the relative risk for calcium channel blocker users versus nonusers was 0.96, with the 95% confidence interval of 0.78 to 1.17. In the SAVE placebo and captopril groups, the relative risks for the development of severe heart failure among the calcium channel block users versus nonusers were 0.95 and 1.23, with the 95% confidence interval of 0.72 to 1.25 and 0.88 to 1.71, respectively. A similar neutral result held for patients with and without a history of hypertension. Furthermore, calcium channel blockers did not alter the benefit of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. Conclusions This analysis of the nonrandomized clinical use of calcium channel blockers in the postmyocardial infarction population with left ventricular dysfunction did not identify either a clinical deterioration or improvement with respect to subsequent cardiovascular events. (Am Heart J 1998;135:406-13.)
Programmable imaging using a digital micromirror array

We introduce the notion of a programmable imaging system. Such an imaging system provides a human user or a vision system significant control over the radiometric and geometric characteristics of the system. This flexibility is achieved using a programmable array of micro-mirrors. The orientations of the mirrors of the array can be controlled with high precision over space and time. This enables the system to select and modulate rays from the light field based on the needs of the application at hand. We have implemented a programmable imaging system that uses a digital micro-mirror device (DMD), which is used in digital light processing. Although the mirrors of this device can only be positioned in one of two states, we show that our system can be used to implement a wide variety of imaging functions, including, high dynamic range imaging, feature detection, and object recognition. We conclude with a discussion on how a micro-mirror array can be used to efficiently control field of view without the use of moving parts.
Chemie und Biologie natürlicher Diels‐Alder‐Reaktionen

Seit kurzem ist bekannt, dass Diels-Alder-Cycloadditionen zum Reaktionsrepertoir lebender Systeme gehoren. Es gibt auch Anzeichen fur eine vermittelnde Wirkung von Enzymen in Diels-Alder-Reaktionen bei der Biosynthese von Sekundarmetaboliten. 2002 jahrte sich der Geburtstag von Alder zum 100. Mal und waren 75 Jahre seit der Entdeckung der Diels-Alder-Reaktion vergangen. Es scheint, als ob lebende Systeme schon vor Aonen diese uberaus vielseitige und nutzliche Ringschlussreaktion entdeckt hatten und seitdem zum Aufbau komplexer Naturstoffe nutzen. Wir geben hier einen Uberblick uber Naturstoffe verschiedener Verbindungsklassen (Polyketide, Isoprenoide, Phenylpropanoide, Alkaloide), bei deren Biosynthese eine Beteiligung von Diels-Alder-Reaktionen, katalysiert oder unkatalysiert, vermutet wird.
Hot flush symptom-free days with bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens in postmenopausal women

ABSTRACTObjective The aim of this study was to examine the number of hot flush symptom-free days in symptomatic postmenopausal women treated with bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens (BZA/CE).Methods In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase-3 study, 322 postmenopausal women aged 40–65 years with an intact uterus who had ≥ seven moderate-to-severe daily hot flushes (or ≥ 50 per week) were randomized to BZA 20 mg/CE 0.45 or 0.625 mg or placebo. Subjects recorded the incidence and severity of hot flushes on daily diary cards. In this secondary analysis, the number of days per week without hot flushes from baseline to week 12 was determined. The percentage of women who experienced no hot flushes at week 12 was also evaluated.Results From baseline to week 12, the number of days per week without moderate-to-severe hot flushes or without any hot flushes steadily increased for women treated with BZA 20 mg/CE 0.45 or 0.625 mg versus placebo. In addition, the rate of increase in days per we...
Positive feedback effects of estrogen in amenorrheic women

Abstract The positive feedback effect of estradiol on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is believed to initiate the periovulatory sequence of circulating hormone changes. This study was designed to investigate the temporal relationships between elevated serum estradiol levels and the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Six amenorrheic women received a single intramuscular injection of estradiol benzoate (EB) in a dose of 50 μg per kilogram, and subsequent blood levels of estradiol (E 2 ), LH, and FSH were followed at six-hour intervals. All patients demonstrated a positive gonadotropin response, mainly LH, at a varaible time after EB administration. There was a latent period of 12 to 40 hours after the first estrogen peak before the increase in gonadotropin secretion. Augmented gonadotropin release appears to result from falling levels of circulating estradiol and elevated levels of estradiol appear to inhibit release of LH from the pituitary gland.
Developing a remote controlled vehicle for environmental studies

Water quality data collection in shallow water areas can be a challenging task. Obstacles encountered in such environments include difficulty in covering large territories and the presence of inaccessible areas due to a variety of reasons such as a soft bottom or contamination. There is also a high chance of disturbing the test area while placing the sensors. This paper describes a NASA-funded project, which has had a great deal of student involvement and is currently in the test phase, to develop a remote-controlled, shallow-draft vehicle designed as a supplemental tool for our studies of the South Texas Coastal waters. The system transmits environmental data wirelessly via a radio to a docking and control station in real-time.
Complementing the Genome with an “Exposome”: The Outstanding Challenge of Environmental Exposure Measurement in Molecular Epidemiology

The sequencing and mapping of the human genome provides a foundation for the elucidation of gene expression and protein function, and the identification of the biochemical pathways implicated in the natural history of chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and vascular and neurodegenerative
An enhanced approach to determine a small forward node set based on multipoint relays

Multipoint relays (MPR) (A. Qayyum et al., 2002) provide a localized and optimized way of determining a small forward node set for broadcasting messages in an ad hoc network. Using 2-hop neighborhood information, each node determines a small set of forward neighbors to relay messages. Selected forward nodes form a connected dominating set (CDS) to ensure full coverage. Recently, Adjih, Jacquet, and Viennot [Ref. 1] proposed a novel localized algorithm to construct a small forward node set based on MPR. In this paper, we provide a further extension to generate a smaller forward node set without additional cost. The effectiveness of our approach is confirmed through a simulation study.
Thermal history of Colorado Plateau lithosphere from Sm-Nd mineral geochronology of xenoliths

The thermal history of the lower crust and upper mantle of the Colorado Plateau region is reconstructed on the basis of Nd and Sr isotopes in minerals and whole rock xenoliths hosted by Tertiary minette and kimberlite. The mineral data (garnet and clinopyroxene) indicate that lower crustal granulite and amphibolite (equilibration depth ≈ 25 km; equilibration temperature ≈ 700 °C) were last equilibrated on a mineral scale at 1345 ± 10 Ma; a Sm-Nd garnet-whole rock age for a granitoid xenolith is also 1345 ± 10 Ma. Whole rock data indicate that the crustal rocks were extracted from the mantle at ca. 1900 Ma. The mineral ages, which are 30–100 m.y. younger than crystallization ages of Proterozoic “anorogenic” granitoids from regions bordering the Colorado Plateau, are interpreted as cooling ages set following the crustal thermal maximum at 1380–1440 Ma. The granulites and amphibolites have remained at temperatures below ≈450 °C since 1350 Ma. Two eclogite xenoliths (equilibration depth ≈45–60 km; equilibration temperature ≈600 °C), which are inferred to be Precambrian as well, yield Sm-Nd garnet-clinopyroxene ages of 21.6 ± 1.2 and 21.0 ± 0.8 Ma. The eclogite mineral ages are probably the ages of the host Garnet Ridge and Moses Rock diatremes, and require that Nd isotopes were maintained in equilibrium right up to the time of entrainment. The isotopic data and the mineral textures suggest that the eclogites were undergoing active recrystallization at 21 Ma. The contrast in mineral ages between granulite and eclogite xenoliths indicates that the equilibration temperatures of the two rock types reflect different times of equilibration, and therefore cannot be considered as evidence for a negative thermal gradient at depth. The Rb-Sr mineral data from the xenoliths give variable early Paleozoic and Proterozoic ages that cannot easily be assigned to geologic events.
Lateral Motion of an Axially Moving Tape on a Cylindrical Guide Surface

The lateral motion of a tape moving axially over a cylindrical guide surface is investigated. The effects of lateral bending stiffness and friction force are studied and the attenuation of lateral tape motion as a function of the guide radius and friction coefficient is determined. Good agreement between numerical predictions and experimental results is observed.
Using Ants, Animal Behavior & the Learning Cycle to Investigate Scientific Processes

Abstract The behavior of animals is an intrinsically fascinating topic for students from a wide array of backgrounds. We describe a learning experience using animal behavior that we created for middle school students as part of a graduate-student outreach program, Graduate Partners in Science Education, at Arizona State University in collaboration with a K—8 public school. This activity capitalizes on the interest that animal behavior can generate to introduce and reinforce student understanding of the scientific method. Specifically, our activity highlights the general utility of the scientific method and uses this method to examine ant social behavior, with emphasis on generating and testing hypotheses. Furthermore, this activity introduces the idea of animal societies and encourages students to apply the concepts they learn to other species, including humans. By collecting ants locally, from schoolyards or nearby habitats, this experience situates learning in the context of students' own communities. W...
Fractional windows revisited: improved signed-digit representations for efficient exponentiation

This paper extends results concerning efficient exponentiation in groups where inversion is easy (e.g. in elliptic curve cryptography). It examines the right-to-left and left-to-right signed fractional window (RL-SFW and LR-SFW) techniques and shows that both RL-SFW and LR-SFW representations have minimal weight among all signed-digit representations with digit set {±1, ±3, ..., ±m, 0}.(Fractional windows generalize earlier sliding-window techniques, providing more flexibility for exponentiation algorithms in order to make best use of the memory that is available for storing intermediate results.) Then it considers the length of representations: LR-SFW representations are an improvement over RL-SFW representations in that they tend to be shorter; further length improvements are possible by post-processing the representations.
Constructive controllability algorithms for motion planning and optimization

Presents algorithms for planning feasible and minimum energy paths. The algorithms rely on series expansions to characterize planning problems for polynomial control systems. The resulting inversion problem is solved through an iterative contraction or a power series inversion. While the design methodology is general, our focus is on a class of polynomial control systems for which we provide explicit convergence guarantees. We demonstrate performance and numerical characteristics using one dimensional and six dimensional systems.
Multiscale Modeling of Fracture Network in a Carbonate Reservoir

Discrete Fracture Networks (DFN) models have long been used to represent heterogeneity associated with fracture networks. Realistic representation of DFN in field scale models have been impossible due to two reasons: First because the representation of extremely large number of fractures requires significant computational capability and second, because of the inability to represent fractures on a simulation grid, due to extreme aspect ratio between fracture length and aperture. This paper presents a hierarchal approach for fracture modeling and a novel particle tracking algorithm to upscale the fracture permeability. The modeling approach entails developing effective flow characteristics of discrete fractures at micro- and macrofracture scales without explicitly representing the fractures on a grid. A particle tracking algorithm is used that moves particles along implicit fractures honoring the intersection characteristics of the fracture network. The permeabilities of the microfractures are then used as base matrix permeabilities for particle tracking simulation of macrofractures.
Blended local planning for generating safe and feasible paths

Many planning approaches adhere to the two-tiered architecture consisting of a long-range, low fidelity global planner and a short-range high fidelity local planner. While this architecture works well in general, it fails in highly constrained environments where the available paths are limited. These situations amplify mismatches between the global and local plans due to the smaller set of feasible actions. We present an approach that dynamically blends local plans online to match the field of global paths. Our blended local planner generates paths from control commands to ensure the safety of the robot as well as achieve the goal. Blending also results in more complete plans than an equivalent unblended planner when navigating cluttered environments. These properties enable the blended local planner to utilize a smaller control set while achieving more efficient planning time. We demonstrate the advantages of blending in simulation using a kinematic car model navigating through maps containing tunnels, cul-de-sacs, and random obstacles.
Multifaceted approach to reducing occurrence of severe hypoglycemia in a large healthcare system

Purpose Substantial reductions in inpatient episodes of severe hypoglycemia achieved by a large healthcare system through enhanced use of technology and sustained quality-improvement initiatives are described. Summary After internal data collection and analysis revealed that severe hypoglycemia accounted for 75% of all systematically monitored adverse drug events in its hospital network, St. Louis–based BJC HealthCare designed and executed a multifaceted approach to reducing hypoglycemia events. Initiated by a pharmacist-led task force, the project entailed (1) automated event detection and creation of dashboards for comparing hypoglycemia rates among at-risk patients at 11 BJC facilities, (2) implementation of evidence-based and internal best practices in use at BJC’s top-performing hospitals, (3) development of an online “Hypoglycemic Event Analysis Tool” (HEAT) to support event investigation and collection of data on causative factors, and (4) the assembly of targeted interventions at a “Hypoglycemia Facility Strategy Tracking” (H-FaST) intranet site. As a result of the launch of the HEAT and H-FaST tools and associated provider education activities, the systemwide rate of hypoglycemia events in the specified at-risk patient population declined from 6.45 per 1000 patient-days during a preimplementation baseline period (July–December 2009) to 1.32 per 1000 patient-days during a designated postimplementation period (January–June 2014), an 80% overall reduction in hypoglycemia ( p < 0.01); reductions in severe hypoglycemia events ranging from 70% to 100% were observed at all 11 hospitals. Conclusion A multifaceted, evidence-based, data-driven approach enabled a large healthcare system to markedly reduce the frequency of severe hypoglycemia events.
The Value of Antitakeover Provisions in the Post-SOX Era

Motivated by regulatory and institutional changes in governance mechanisms, I re-examine the value of antitakeover provisions by combining regression discontinuity (RD) techniques with a novel instrumental variable. The instrument makes use of a phenomenon known as "overvoting" by which securities lending practices generate extra illegitimate proxy votes. Because passing an antitakeover provision requires armative votes from a majority of outstanding shares, as opposed to a majority of shares voted, these additional "over-votes" bias outcomes in favor of passage. Baseline RD estimates indicate that adopting antitakeover provisions increases shareholder value by approximately 5%. However, RD estimates may be subject to bias if parties can manipulate the outcome of close votes. Incorporating the over-voting instrument addresses this concern and reduces estimates to approximately 3%.
Membrane Circuit Connector

We are considering automotive modules using membrane circuits to meet demands for reduction in size, weight and cost. Membranes are used for sensors and switch electrodes because their manufacturing process is simple and the cost of their materials is low. However, the miniaturization of connectors and the coexistence of a smaller pitch and a multi-face connection have been major challenges in the development of membrane circuits. We have developed a membrane circuit connector that is compatible with an automotive standard-type connector and achieved a multi-face connection.
Calcium retention estimated from indicators of skeletal status in adolescent girls and young women

To determine clinically useful predictors of calcium retention during postpubertal growth, calcium balance, bio-chemical markers of bone turnover, and anthropometric variables were determined in 14 girls aged 11-14 y and in 11 young women aged 19-30 y. Subjects participated in a 3-wk calcium-balance study with a calcium intake of 1332 mg/d. Biochemical markers of bone turnover (serum osteocalcin, total alkaline phosphatase, bone alkaline phosphatase, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and urinary cross-linked N-teleopeptides of type I collagen and hydroxyproline as the creatinine ratios) were measured in fasting samples. Total-body bone mineral density and total-body calcium content were significantly higher in adults than in adolescents (1.17 compared with 1.05 g/cm2 and 1019 compared with 791 g, respectively). At the observed retention of 326 mg/d, adolescents would require 2 y to reach the total bone calcium of the young adults. All biomarkers of bone turnover were strikingly higher in adolescents than in adults and were strongly correlated with calcium retention. A multiple-regression model using a biochemical marker of bone turnover (serum osteocalcin) and postmenarcheal age (a measure of sexual maturation) described 75% of the variability in calcium retention.
Abstract 200: Inhibition of TNFa-Induced ICAM-1 Expression by AT2 Activation Involves ACE2

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a coordinated hormonal cascade involved in cardiovascular control, with angiotensin II (Ang II) as the main effector peptide. Both Ang II type 2 receptor (AT2) and angiotensin I-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) are important in RAS system, and counteract the vasoconstrictor and pro-inflammatory effects of Ang II. Recent studies have suggested a link between AT2 and ACE2. However, the role of ACE2 in mediating the anti-inflammatory effects of AT2 has not been established. Tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) is a cytokine involved in Ang II signaling and promotes the inflammatory response via NF-kB. We hypothesized that activation of AT2 prevents TNFα stimulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCREC) through ACE2. Cultured HCREC were pretreated with AT2 antagonists PD123319 (10 μM) or ACE2 antagonist DX 600 (1 μM) for 30 min, then AT2 agonist CGP42112A (0.1 μM) for 30 min and then stimulated with TNFα (0.5 ng/ml). ICAM-1 and p -IkB expression were measured by Western Blot. ACE2 mRNA was measured by real-time RT-PCR. ICAM-1 expression was very low in untreated cells and greatly increased by TNFα treatment. Pretreatment with AT2 agonist CGP42112A inhibited TNFα-induced ICAM-1 expression by 47% ± 5% ( p p p -IKB expression by 7.46 ± 0.51 fold ( p
Designing SmartSignPlay: An Interactive and Intelligent American Sign Language App for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and their Families

This paper describes an interactive mobile application that aims to assist children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) and their families to learn and practice American Sign Language (ASL). Approximately 95% of D/HH children are born to hearing parents. Research indicates that the lack of common communication tools between the parent and child often results in delayed development in the child's language and social skills. Benefiting from the interactive advantages and popularity of touchscreen mobile devices, we created SmartSignPlay, an app to teach D/HH children and their families everyday ASL vocabulary and phrases. Vocabulary is arranged into context-based lessons where the vocabulary is frequently used. After watching the sign demonstrated by an animated avatar, the user performed the sign by drawing the trajectory of the hand movement and selecting the correct handshape. While the app is still under iterative development, preliminary results on the usability are provided.
Process Integration and Optimization of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell System

This paper presents a framework for the system integration and optimization of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) working under stationary conditions using process integration. Here, the analysis is focused on two systems in terms of the efficiency and process requirements: (i) an MCFC system alone and (ii) an MCFC system integrated with the steam turbine cycle, now onwards referred to as fuel cell combined cycle system for electric power generation. In the first system, a steady state direct internal reforming MCFC system is being simulated using desulphurized natural gas. A heat exchanger network is developed using process integration so that a minimum amount of external thermal energy is provided to the fuel cell system for electric power generation. In the second analysis, a steam turbine system is added to the first (fuel cell) one to form a fuel cell combined cycle system. The procedure for developing a network of heat exchangers and proper integration of the steam turbine system with an optimized minimum temperature difference is discussed. The results of the study elucidate the advantages of properly designed fuel cell combined cycle system to reach power demand with 17% higher efficiency as compared with the system without a combined cycle.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Atomic Layer Deposition of Tantalum Nitride Using A Novel Precursor

We use B3LYP hybrid density functional theory to investigate atomistic mechanisms for the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of tantalum nitride (TaN) grown using tert-butylimidotris(diethylamido)tantalum [(tBuN)(NEt2)3Ta, TBTDET], and ammonia (NH3) as precursors. Our calculations examine various possible mechanisms for TaN growth by ALD and metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). In particular, we identify low barrier (10.6 and 27.6 kcal/mol) ligand exchange mechanisms with NH3 that lead to incorporation of NH3’s nitrogen into the film. Ligand exchange with NH3 is thermodynamically and kinetically favored over competing mechanisms that incorporate nitrogen from the metal precursor including: β-hydrogen elimination of isobutene or ethene; and NH3 catalyzed β-hydrogen elimination of isobutene or ethene. β-hydrogen elimination of isobutene or ethene is found to proceed through a barrier of 76.0 kcal/mol. However, our results indicate that ammonia or diethylamine produced by precursor reaction with surfa...
Multiple mutations contribute to the oncogenicity of the retroviral oncoprotein v-Rel.

The avian Rev-T retrovirus encodes the v-Rel oncoprotein, which is a member of the Rel/NF-κB transcription factor family. v-Rel induces a rapidly fatal lymphoma/leukemia in young birds, and v-Rel can transform and immortalize a variety of avian cell types in vitro. Although Rel/NF-κB transcription factors have been associated with oncogenesis in mammals, v-Rel is the only member of this family that is frankly oncogenic in animal model systems. The potent oncogenicity of v-Rel is the consequence of a number of mutations that have altered its activity and regulation: for example, certain mutations decrease its ability to be regulated by IκBα, change its DNA-binding site specificity, and endow it with new transactivation properties. The study of v-Rel will continue to increase our knowledge of how cellular Rel proteins contribute to oncogenesis by affecting cell growth, altering cell-cycle regulation, and blocking apoptosis. This review will discuss biological and molecular activities of v-Rel, with particular attention to how these activities relate to structure – function aspects of the Rel/NF-κB transcription factors.
Koch's Metrical Theory and Mozart's Music: A Corpus Study

Mirka (2009) has recently argued that the 18th-century metrical theories of Heinrich Christoph Koch can be revelatory for a reconstruction of contemporary ways of hearing Viennese high classicism. Koch’s claims revolve around interactions between the metrical placement of cadences and the articulation of specific beat levels, and these claims are most specific and testable for common time and 6/8. This paper reports two statistical surveys of works by Mozart that were designed to gauge the fit between the corpus and Koch’s theory. In the works examined, the theory was strongly supported for common time, strongly disconfirmed for 6/8, and weakly supported for the other meters encountered. It is argued that these results point toward caution regarding the use of Koch’s theories but not toward their outright rejection, and that unexpected statistical contrasts within the corpus indicate the need for a fine-grained approach to meter in music of the later 18th century.
Understanding and predicting stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in hot water

Abstract Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a complex phenomenon that involves at least five disciplines and is affected by 20–50 or more variables—far too many to be tackled by a purely empirical approach. Design and evaluation codes address overload and fatigue, and have made some attempt to incorporate environmental effects on fatigue, but they do not address static load or SCC other than to insist that designs preclude its occurrence. This has put the onus on laboratory experiments to define conditions of immunity to SCC, and simple, short-term tests are inadequate to ensure that SCC will not occur over plant operating lifetimes of 40 or more years. This chapter summarizes efforts to improve the sensitivity and relevance of laboratory experiments, with particular emphasis on the crack growth rate response. The data show that immunity to crack growth is rare, and perhaps nonexistent (clearly, at sufficiently low stress, a design can be immune to crack initiation , but such low-stress conditions do not exist everywhere on large, complex, welded components). What has seemed to be a threshold in corrosion potential, water purity, temperature, stress intensity factor, and so on has been shown to be a well-behaved continuum of response, with growth rates decreasing to values that are more difficult to measure. In honoring Coriou and his career, this chapter also shares his view that good laboratory data foretell vulnerabilities in plant components. As longer lives are targeted, a lower “threshold” condition must be used. The well-behaved continuum of response and the similarity in the effects of parameters across various materials (eg, stainless steels and nickel alloys) and water chemistries (eg, boiling and pressurized water reactors) suggest that the underlying processes and mechanisms of crack advance are similar. This chapter summarizes the common and distinctive elements of SCC in stainless steel and nickel alloys in boiling and pressurized water reactor environments, including the effects of corrosion potential, water chemistry, cold work, stress intensity factor, temperature, sensitization, Si, and grain boundary particles. The processes and mechanisms responsible for SCC are briefly described, along with their integration into a prediction methodology.
Effect of Teledermatology on Access to Dermatology Care Among Medicaid Enrollees

Importance Access to specialists such as dermatologists is often limited for Medicaid enrollees. Teledermatology has been promoted as a potential solution; however, its effect on access to care at the population level has rarely been assessed. Objectives To evaluate the effect of teledermatology on the number of Medicaid enrollees who received dermatology care and to describe which patients were most likely to be referred to teledermatology. Design, Setting, and Participants Claims data from a large California Medicaid managed care plan that began offering teledermatology as a covered service in April 2012 were analyzed. The plan enrolled 382 801 patients in California’s Central Valley, including 108 480 newly enrolled patients who obtained coverage after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Rates of dermatology visits by patients affiliated with primary care practices that referred patients to teledermatology and those that did not were compared. Data were collected from April 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014, and assessed from March 1 to October 15, 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures The percentage of patients with at least 1 visit to a dermatologist (including in-person and teledermatology visits) and total visits with dermatologists (including in-person and teledermatology visits) per 1000 patients. Results Of the 382 801 patients enrolled for at least 1 day from 2012 to 2014, 8614 (2.2%) had 1 or more visits with a dermatologist. Of all patients who visited a dermatologist, 48.5% received care via teledermatology. Among the patients newly enrolled in Medicaid, 75.7% (1474 of 1947) of those who visited a dermatologist received care via teledermatology. Primary care practices that engaged in teledermatology had a 63.8% increase in the fraction of patients visiting a dermatologist (vs 20.5% in other practices; P P Conclusions and Relevance The offering of teledermatology appeared to improve access to dermatology care among Medicaid enrollees and played an especially important role for the newly enrolled.
Correlation between estrogen receptor-related receptor α and estrogen receptor α pathway

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship of ERRαwith the the ERαclassic pathway.METHODS:After MCF-7cells was treated with E2,ICI182,780and XCT790,ERRα,ERαand TFF1expression in MCF-7cells were determined using Western bloting and quantitative PCR.RESULTS:After induced with E2,the expression rate of ERαincreased from(100.0±0.0)% to(240.0±27.0)%,the rate of ERRαincreased from(100.0±0.0)% to(244.2±35.9)%,the rate of TFF1mRNA increased from(100.0±0.0)%to(201.7±21.6)%.The expression rate of ERαprotein increased from(100.0±0.0)% to(128.4±5.3)%,the rate of ERRαprotein increased from(100.0±0.0)% to(157.3±5.6)%,and the rate of TFF1protein increased from(100.0±0.0)%to(133.2±7.1)%.The results indicated that E2upregulate the expression rate of ERα,ERRαand TFF1.ICI182,780reduced the expression rate of mRNA to(133.6±6.9)%,(168.1±26.8)%and(138.9±12.9)%respectively.The expression rate of protein reduced to(84.2±5.0)%,(100.0±7.5)%and(84.9±5.7)%respectively,which indicated that ICI182,780inhibited the increasing effect of E2.After exposed to XCT790for 48hours,the expression rate of ERRαand TFF1mRNA reduced to(136.8±28.2)%and(140.4±11.4)%.The expression rate of ERα,ERRαand TFF1protein reduced to(76.4±5.3)%,(90.7±6.9)%and(76.3±6.6)%respectively,which indicated that ICI182,780and XCT790inhibited the increasing effect of E2.Combined XCT790and ICI182,780treatment for 48hours,the expression rate of mRNA was(98.4±17.2)%,(108.7±8.8)% and(95.1±21.6)% respectively.The expression rate of protein was(58.2±6.7)%,(63.2±6.0)% and(57.1±5.9)%respectively.The Synergistic effects of ICI182,780and XCT790were greater than that treatd with themselves.CONCLUSION:The effect of E2on ERRαis mediated by ER;Combined application of ERRαand ERαas biomarker and target may have clinical signification to the implement of breast cancer endocrine therapy strategies.
Ethics and Human Resource Management

Human Resource practitioners face decisions involving ethics on a regular basis. The author provides examples from personal experience of three kinds of challenges: discerning what is right, fulfilling agency responsibilities, and avoiding conflicts of interest. She suggests ongoing reading, reflection, and education to build one’s capacity for real-time decision-making. To assist in discerning what is right, she suggests considering others’ perspectives, identifying unintended consequences, and engaging in continuing education. While the author identifies ways to navigate many ethical challenges within the role of HR professional, she recognizes that some may require a willingness to leave a job.
A privacy preserving framework for RFID based healthcare systems

Abstract RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) is anticipated to be a core technology that will be used in many practical applications of our life in near future. It has received considerable attention within the healthcare for almost a decade now. The technology’s promise to efficiently track hospital supplies, medical equipment, medications and patients is an attractive proposition to the healthcare industry. However, the prospect of wide spread use of RFID tags in the healthcare area has also triggered discussions regarding privacy, particularly because RFID data in transit may easily be intercepted and can be send to track its user (owner). In a nutshell, this technology has not really seen its true potential in healthcare industry since privacy concerns raised by the tag bearers are not properly addressed by existing identification techniques. There are two major types of privacy preservation techniques that are required in an RFID based healthcare system—(1) a privacy preserving authentication protocol is required while sensing RFID tags for different identification and monitoring purposes, and (2) a privacy preserving access control mechanism is required to restrict unauthorized access of private information while providing healthcare services using the tag ID. In this paper, we propose a framework (PriSens-HSAC) that makes an effort to address the above mentioned two privacy issues. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first framework to provide increased privacy in RFID based healthcare systems, using RFID authentication along with access control technique.
When children move: Behavior and achievement outcomes during elementary school

ABSTRACTSchool moves are common during elementary school in the United States. The authors address whether changing schools and residences affects the academic and behavioral development of young students. Utilizing data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, the regression analyses show that, after controlling for prior achievement and behavior, students who experience nonroutine school changes, especially coupled with residential changes, are more likely to develop internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, are less engaged in classroom activities, and have slower reading growth compared to stable students.
Strain heterogeneity in the injured lung: cause or consequence?

ventilation heterogeneity is an established marker of pulmonary dysfunction in asthma and other conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The nonuniform delivery of inspired gas leads to regional over- and under-ventilation causing a
Independent variability of microtubule perturbations associated with dystrophinopathy

Absence of the protein dystrophin causes Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Dystrophin directly binds to microtubules in vitro, and its absence in vivo correlates with disorganization of the subsarcolemmal microtubule lattice, increased detyrosination of α-tubulin, and altered redox signaling. We previously demonstrated that the dystrophin homologue utrophin neither binds microtubules in vitro nor rescues microtubule lattice organization when overexpressed in muscles of dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. Here, we fine-mapped the dystrophin domain necessary for microtubule binding to spectrin-like repeats 20–22. We show that transgenic mdx mice expressing a full-length dystrophin/utrophin chimera completely lacking microtubule binding activity are surprisingly rescued for all measured dystrophic phenotypes, including full restoration of microtubule lattice organization. Conversely, despite the presence of dystrophin at the sarcolemma, β-sarcoglycan-deficient skeletal muscle presents with a disorganized and densified microtubule lattice. Finally, we show that the levels of α-tubulin detyrosination remain significantly elevated to that of mdx levels in transgenic mdx mice expressing nearly full-length dystrophin. Our results demonstrate that the microtubule-associated perturbations of mdx muscle are distinct, separable, and can vary independently from other parameters previously ascribed to dystrophin deficiency.
Understanding Design Preferences and Expectations on Wearable Monitoring Systems for Diabetes

The purpose of this research was to understand preferences and expectations on wearable e-nose system designs to develop a wearable monitoring system integrated into clothing to measure breath and skin gases from wearers for real-time health monitoring. The results of this research are expected to be beneficial for apparel designers and engineers when developing these wearable monitoring systems.
Barrett's metaplasia develops from cellular reprograming of esophageal squamous epithelium due to gastroesophageal reflux

This study provides evidence of the origins of Barrett’s metaplasia from lineage transcommitment of resident esophageal cells after chronic exposure to gastroesophageal refluxate. The preterminal p...
Judge Richard A. Posner's Critique of Testimony by Vocational Experts at Social Security Disability Hearings and How It Affects Disability Claimants in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin

Millions of persons annually file claims for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. If their claims are denied, the claimants can pursue appeal hearings before administrative law judges. The key issue before the administrative law judges is frequently whether there are a significant number of jobs in the national economy that the claimants can perform, despite their medical problems. To answer this question in an individual case, the administrative law judge often elicits testimony from a vocational expert who, inter alia, estimates the numbers of particular jobs that exist in the economy. If an ALJ determines that there are a significant number of jobs that the claimant can perform, the denial of the disability claim will be affirmed. The claimant can ultimately appeal the denial of the disability claim by the administrative law judge in the federal court system. Judge Richard A. Posner is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit which hears appeals from federal district courts in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. In a series of appeals decisions involving Social Security disability claims from 2014 through 2016, Judge Posner criticized the reliability of the testimony of vocational experts when they estimate the numbers of particular jobs that exist in the economy. However, federal district court judges and magistrate judges in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin have generally interpreted Judge Posner’s critique to be non-precedential and have not relied on it to reverse the denial of disability claims before them. The purpose of this article is to describe Judge Posner’s critique of the testimony of vocational experts at Social Security disability hearings and to examine why this critique has had a limited effect on the decisions on disability claims in district courts in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.