cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elasticity, strength, and refractive index of argon at high pressures

High-pressure Brillouin spectroscopy of polycrystalline argon, measured using two scattering angles ($180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ and $70\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$), determines the isotropic elastic moduli, shear strength, equation of state, and refractive index of face-centered-cubic argon from 1.3 to 30 GPa at room temperature. The index of refraction $n=1.33--1.67$ over this pressure range. An Eulerian finite-strain analysis (Birch-Murnaghan equation of state) yields an isothermal bulk modulus and pressure derivative ${K}_{T}=15.1(\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.1)\text{ }\text{GPa}$ and ${K}_{T}^{\ensuremath{'}}=5.4(\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3)$ at 2 GPa. The resulting equation of state agrees well with previous x-ray diffraction measurements, illustrating the suitability of high-pressure Brillouin scattering for characterizing the elasticity and strength of polycrystalline materials.
Slide Mode and Fuzzy Logic Based Powertrain Controller for the Energy Management and Battery Lifetime Extension of Series Hybrid Electric Vehicles

A control strategy was developed to improve fuel economy, enhance engine efficiency as well as extend battery cycle life in the series hybrid electric vehicle (SHEV) powertrain. The controller was based on fuzzy logic, fixedboundary-layer sliding mode controllers (FBLSMCs) and an optimized battery charge scenario. The fuzzy logic based energy management controller is developed to determine the engine power based on two inputs, battery state-of-charge (SOC) and vehicle power demand. The goal of the fuzzy logic based controller is to enhance the engine and battery operation efficiency and at the mean time, extend battery life. An appropriate battery charge scenario is designed to remove surge charge current, and avoid persistently-high charge power, which are positive factors to the battery lifetime extension. Besides, two robust FBLSMCs against uncertain disturbances are configured in the powertrain control system, responsible for engine speed control and engine torque control, respectively. Simulation results are obtained for comparison between the proposed and conventional powertrain control schemes. Through these simulations, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed powertrain control strategy are validated.
Embryonic origins of mammalian hematopoiesis

Abstract Hematopoiesis and vasculogenesis in the mammalian embryo begin in the blood islands of the yolk sac and continue, somewhat later, within the embryo proper. A subset of the first endothelial and hematopoietic cells of the yolk sac arise in close spatial and temporal association, apparently from a common mesodermal progenitor, the "hemangioblast." The mechanisms that control formation of hemangioblast and embryonic hematopoietic and endothelial (angioblastic) stem/progenitor cells are still not well understood. Formation of these cell types from nascent mesoderm requires signals from an adjacent outer layer of primitive (visceral) endoderm. Indian hedgehog (Ihh), a member of the hedgehog family of extracellular morphogens, is secreted by visceral endoderm and alone is sufficient to induce hematopoiesis and vasculogenesis in explanted embryos. While gene targeting studies in mice support a role for hedgehog signaling in these processes in vivo, they also suggest that additional molecules (perhaps, for example, Wnt proteins) are required for induction and patterning of hematopoietic and vascular mesoderm. Indian hedgehog likely functions through upregulation of genes encoding other signaling molecules, such as bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp)-4, in the target tissue. This review will focus on hematopoietic and vascular development in the early mouse embryo and will discuss potential implications of recent studies for stem cell transplantation in humans.
Constraints on dust production in the Edgeworth‐Kuiper Belt from Pioneer 10 and New Horizons measurements

[1] Impact ejecta and collisional debris from the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt are the dominant source of micron-sized grains in the outer solar system, as they slowly migrate inwards through the outer solar system before most grains are ejected during close encounters with Jupiter. These grains drive several phenomena in the outer solar system, including the generation of impact ejecta clouds at airless bodies, the formation of ionospheric layers and neutral gases in the atmospheres of the giant planets due to meteoric ablation, the generation of tenuous outer planetary ring systems and the spatial and compositional alteration of Saturn's main rings. Previous analyses have offered estimates of the net mass production rate from the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt both theoretically and observationally. In order to improve upon these estimates, we compare measurements of the interplanetary dust density in the outer solar system by both the Pioneer 10 meteoroid detector and the New Horizons Student Dust Counter with a dynamical dust grain tracing model. Our best estimates for the net mass production rate and the ejecta mass distribution power law exponent are (8.9 ± 0.5) × 105 g/s and 3.02 ± 0.04, respectively.
Managing dependencies-a key problem in fault-tolerant distributed algorithms

As computing environments become increasingly distributed and modular, fault-tolerance algorithms have to catch up with the consequences. In particular, they often have to deal with the management of dynamically evolving dependencies. In this paper, we identify this as a basic problem for the design of fault-tolerance algorithms. Our approach to cope with this problem is the specification and realization of a distributed dependency-management system. Realized as a generic software tool, it can be used as a customizable component that eases the design and implementation of existing and future algorithms. Our approach comprises all relevant issues for the subject, which encompasses modeling, consistency considerations, a generic interface, algorithms, and implementation.
Implementation and experimental results of a three-transmitter three-receiver OFDM/BLAST testbed

A three-transmitter three-receiver orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing Bell Laboratories layered space-time testbed is set up, which achieves a peak data rate of 281.25 Mb/s and a spectral efficiency of 14.4 b/Hz/s. The transmitter of the testbed consists of three signal generators transmitting three independent OFDM signals at 25 Msamples/s synchronously. Three synchronized receiving links are used, each of which includes an RF receiver, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital downconverter, and a PowerPC processor for baseband processing. The performance and complexity of three typical BLAST detection techniques (linear detection, ordered decision feedback detection, and partial decision detection) are evaluated and compared using the data from the experiments conducted in both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight indoor environments.
Strengthening the Supply of Routinely Recommended Vaccines in the United States: A Perspective from the American Medical Association

Influenza virus vaccine shortages and delays in distribution require continued collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that Healthy People 2010 goals are met. Problems with supplies of other vaccines jeopardize at-risk populations. The American Medical Association recommends that the US Department of Health and Human Services establish a task force to explore the causes of vaccine shortages and maldistribution. The task force should commission an appropriate body of experts to identify solutions for breakdowns in vaccine manufacturing and distribution systems. Potential areas for improvement include earlier notification of shortages to the US Food and Drug Administration, improved communication to physicians, financial incentives to market medically necessary but unprofitable products, and a national stockpile of certain vaccines. The American Medical Association believes that the strategies proposed by the National Vaccine Program Office (i.e., increasing financial incentives, streamlining the regulatory process, establishing government-directed programs, creating and maintaining vaccine stockpiles, and increasing liability protection) could improve vaccine availability; however, increasing vaccine stockpiles is the most promising strategy.
Traffic-based Load Balance for Scalable Network Emulation

Load balance is critical to achieving scalability for large network emulation studies, which are of compelling interest for emerging Grid, Peer to Peer, and other distributed applications and middleware. Achieving load balance in emulation is difficult because of irregular network structure and unpredictable network traffic. We formulate load balance as a graph partitioning problem and apply classical graph partitioning algorithms to it. The primary challenge in this approach is how to extract useful information from the network emulation and present it to the graph partitioning algorithms in a way that reflects the load balance requirement in the original emulation problem. Using a large-scale network emulation system called MaSSF, we explore three approaches for partitioning, based on purely static topology information (TOP), combining topology and application placement information (PLACE), and combining topology and application profile data (PROFILE). These studies show that exploiting static topology and application placement information can achieve reasonable load balance, but a profile-based approach further improves load balance for even large scale network emulation. In our experiments, PROFILE improves load balance by 50% to 66% and emulation time is reduced up to 50% compared to purely static topology-based approaches.
Influences of microbiota on intestinal immune system development

The normal colonization of the mammalian intestine with commensal microbes is hypothesized to drive the development of the humoral and cellular mucosal immune systems during neonatal life and to maintain the physiologically normal steady state of inflammation in the gut throughout life. Neonatal conventionally reared mice and germ-free, deliberately colonized adult mice (gnotobiotic mice) were used to examine the efficacy of certain intestinal microbes.
Adaptive regulation of cascade systems with nonlinear parameterization

This article provides a solution to the problem of global adaptive regulation, for a class of nonlinearly parameterized cascade systems including feedback linearizable and minimum-phase systems with nonlinear parameterization. The solution is derived by using a novel parameter separation technique combined with a feedback domination design. We remove all the restrictive conditions previously imposed on the unknown parameters, such as linear parameterization or convex/concave parameterization conditions, which have been commonly assumed so far in the literature of nonlinear adaptive control. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An interactive distribution load forecasting methodology for minicomputer use based upon a Markov-type process

An efficient comprehensive methodology is described that allows interactive forecasting of distribution-substation load growth and load sharing, with application to the determination of an economically feasible timing schedule for adding substation capacity. A BASIC-language implementation illustrating some of its capabilities is discussed. Load growth is expressed by a Gompertz model using parameters evaluated from historical data; however, other load-growth models can be easily implemented. Load transfer, which can be set to begin at any percentage of the substation capacity, is accomplished stochastically in the algorithm by means of a quasi-Markov process. Default load transfer threshold, load transfer flags, and other parameters are under direct control of the user and can be set to conform to individual base-case and historical data. The implementation of this algorithm for minicomputer use as an interactive planning and instructional tool is discussed, and an example is presented. >
Renal medullary hypoxia during experimental cardiopulmonary bypass: a pilot study.

Objectives: To determine the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on renal medullary oxygenation.Design: Observational.Setting: Laboratory.Participants: Pigs (n=3).Interventions: Following induction of general anesthesia, a Paratrend™ blood gas probe was placed directly into the left renal medulla. Two animals were subjected to 90 min of CPB, while a third served as a non-CPB control. A probe was also placed in the left renal pelvis of one (CPB) animal to allow direct urine PO2measurements.Measurements and main results: Medullary hypoxia (PO2B < 65 mmHg) was evident prior to CPB. With the onset of CPB, medullary PO2 further declined to nearly unmeasurable levels; PCO2 and pH were unchanged. Brief circulatory arrest during CPB in one animal resulted in rapid additional PCO2 rise and pH decline that corrected with reperfusion. Following the cessation of CPB, medullary PO2 gradually increased, but remained lower than pre-CPB levels. No changes in medullary PO2 were observed in the sham animal. Renal pelvis...
Effects of Mechanical Cleaning on Cotton Fibers Part I: Ginning

Smooth leaf and hairy leaf Midsouth cottons were processed through minimum, two intermediate, and maximum gin cleanings. Based on fiber measurements after mill cleaning, minimum gin cleaning yielded the best fiber quality (i.e., length, low short fiber content). Fiber damage as a result of maximum gin cleaning was evident through all levels of mill cleaning. There were also differences in nonlint content as a result of cleaning machinery and cotton varieties.
Patient Safety and Engagement at the Frontlines of Healthcare

Since the release of the seminal work To Err Is Human in 1999, there has been widespread acknowledgement of the need to change our approach to patient safety in North America. Specifically, healthcare organizations must adopt a systems approach to patient safety, in which organizations take a comprehensive approach aimed at building resilient barriers and ensuring a culture of open communication and learning. Here in Canada, the patient safety movement gained momentum following the publication of the Canadian Adverse Events Study in 2004, which concluded that close to 40% of all hospital-associated adverse events were potentially preventable. Baker et al. (2004) argued for the need to modify the work environment of healthcare professionals to better ensure barriers were in place, as well as the need to improve communication and coordination among healthcare providers. The changes proposed a decade ago required greater healthcare worker engagement in patient safety and the creation of a culture of patient safety.
Plant mating system transitions drive the macroevolution of defense strategies.

Understanding the factors that shape macroevolutionary patterns in functional traits is a central goal of evolutionary biology. Alternative strategies of sexual reproduction (inbreeding vs. outcrossing) have divergent effects on population genetic structure and could thereby broadly influence trait evolution. However, the broader evolutionary consequences of mating system transitions remain poorly understood, with the exception of traits related to reproduction itself (e.g., pollination). Across a phylogeny of 56 wild species of Solanaceae (nightshades), we show here that the repeated, unidirectional transition from ancestral self-incompatibility (obligate outcrossing) to self-compatibility (increased inbreeding) leads to the evolution of an inducible (vs. constitutive) strategy of plant resistance to herbivores. We demonstrate that inducible and constitutive defense strategies represent evolutionary alternatives and that the magnitude of the resulting macroevolutionary tradeoff is dependent on the mating system. Loss of self-incompatibility is also associated with the evolution of increased specificity in induced plant resistance. We conclude that the evolution of sexual reproductive variation may have profound effects on plant–herbivore interactions, suggesting a new hypothesis for the evolution of two primary strategies of plant defense.
Intimate Partner Violence and Rural Public Health Nursing Practice: Challenges and Opportunities

Health care providers of all disciplines encounter victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in all practice settings. However, few studies have examined the role of public health nurses (PHNs) who visit the homes of families where IPV is occurring, and none have focused on the unique aspects of rural PHN practice with these families. This research, derived from a larger descriptive phenomenology study, describes the unique challenges and opportunities experienced by rural home-visiting PHNs when working with families where IPV was occurring. The rural PHNs described unique opportunities in their abilities to establish and maintain relationships with families, to assess for IPV, to advocate for victims with other community providers, and to keep perspective about their work. However, living and practicing in rural areas also created unique challenges related to barriers to disclosure of IPV, maintaining confidentiality, helping victims access resources, getting support for themselves, and establishing and maintaining professional-personal boundaries.
Pathophysiology and Treatment of Septic Shock in Neonates

Neonatal septic shock is a devastating condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Definitions for the sepsis continuum and treatment algorithms specific for premature neonates are needed to improve studies of septic shock and assess benefit from clinical interventions. Unique features of the immature immune system and pathophysiologic responses to sepsis, particularly those of extremely preterm infants, necessitate that clinical trials consider them as a separate group. Keen clinical suspicion and knowledge of risk factors will help to identify those neonates at greatest risk for development of septic shock. Genomic and proteomic approaches, particularly those that use very small sample volumes, will increase our understanding of the pathophysiology and direct the development of novel agents for prevention and treatment of severe sepsis and shock in the neonate. Although at present antimicrobial therapy and supportive care remain the foundation of treatment, in the future immunomodulatory agents are likely to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.
The Impact of Cancer Treatments on Aging

Aging is a major risk factor for cancer, which may contribute to an even greater number of cancers as the population lives longer. At the same time, early diagnosis, improved treatment, and better supportive care have improved cancer survival rates in the US. These important trends underscore the need to not only identify more effective cancer treatments but also develop therapies which minimize the cellular and organ damage that accelerates aging and promotes secondary diseases
Bi-dimensional Neural Equalizer Applied to Optical Receiver

Optical fibers are commonly used in communications today, mainly because that the data transmission rates of those systems are faster than those in any other digital communication system. Despite this great advantage, some problems prevent the full use of optical connection: by increasing transmission rates over longer distances, the data is affected by non-linear inter-symbol interference caused by the dispersion phenomena in the fiber. Adaptive equalizers can be used to compensate for the effects caused by channel non-linear responses, restoring the originally transmitted signal. The present study discusses a proposal based on artificial neural networks, a neural equalizer. The proposal is validated through a simulated optic channel and the comparison with other adaptive equalization techniques.
A Rearing Technique for the Colonization of Chironomid Midges

A satisfactory technique for colonization of chironomids, ( Chironomus sp. #51, C. monochronomus van der Wulp, C. fulvipilus Rempel, Pentaneura pilosella Loew, Tanypus grodhausi Sublette, Micropsectra nigripilus Johannsen) has been developed. Plastic rearing units are aerated and larvae are fed Dog Kisses ® (Hartz Mountain Products Corp.). Temperature has a major influence on the developmental rate.
In Situ Potentiodynamic Analysis of the Electrolyte/Silicon Electrodes Interface Reactions - A Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy Study

The key factor in long-term use of batteries is the formation of an electrically insulating solid layer that allows lithium ion transport but stops further electrolyte redox reactions on the electrode surface, hence solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). We have studied a common electrolyte, 1.0 M LiPF6/ethylene carbonate (EC)/diethyl carbonate (DEC), reduction products on crystalline silicon (Si) electrodes in a lithium (Li) half-cell system under reaction conditions. We employed in situ sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS) with interface sensitivity in order to probe the molecular composition of the SEI surface species under various applied potentials where electrolyte reduction is expected. We found that, with a Si(100)-hydrogen terminated wafer, a Si-ethoxy (Si-OC2H5) surface intermediate forms due to DEC decomposition. Our results suggest that the SEI surface composition varies depending on the termination of Si surface, i.e., the acidity of the Si surface. We provide the evidence of specific chemical composition of the SEI on the anode surface under reaction conditions. This supports an electrochemical electrolyte reduction mechanism in which the reduction of the DEC molecule to an ethoxy moiety plays a key role. These findings shed new light on the formation mechanism of SEI on Si anodes in particular and on SEI formation in general.
Numerical Calculation of Grounding Parameters of Grounding Grid by Fast Multipole Boundary Method

In the solution of grounding parameters of a certain large-scale grounding grids by traditional boundary element method(BEM),the required memory space for this task far exceeds the memory space of the common computer,so that this problem cannot be solved.It is proposed to solve grounding parameters of grounding grid by fast multipole BEM,and quadtree memory structure is utilized to replace traditional storage schema based on coefficient matrix,thus the memory capacity for the calculation is reduced and the computational efficiency is improved.Taking the solution of grounding parameters of grounding grid with relatively small scale by traditional BEM and fast multipole BEM respectively as example,the computational results comparison shows that the maximum error of grounding resistance calculated by fast multipole BEM and that by CDEGS software are less than 2%,so it shows that the proposed method is effective.Applying the proposed method to engineering case,which cannot be solved by both CDEGS software and traditional BEM,the obtained related grounding parameters can preliminarily meet the engineering requirement.
Wind Turbine Control System Research Based on dSPACE Simulation Platform

The optimized performance of wind turbine control system has become the research key point in the wind power domain. Through the field test optimization control system,the way has the big shortcoming of high risk.Test platform is built through the dSPACE simulation,and the operational condition and scene environment of wind turbine is simulated.The design and algorithm for wind turbine control system are researched on the test platform.Based on test platform of dSPACE,the reliability of safe chain circuit and brake chain circuit,the validity of yaw control program and wind turbine logic protect procedure will be tested,and moreover,the test result is given.On the base,the control algorithms of power or torque reference and pitch angle reference is thoroughly researched. In this research,generator acceleration variable is introduced in variable element control.The dynamic test of wind speed sudden change is carried on through the method of variable element control with pitch control to coordinate mutually.The test result indicates that this algorithm may enhance wind turbine to suppress the gust ability and dynamic response ability,besides strengthened wind turbine security.
Deciphering the Dipole Anisotropy of Galactic Cosmic Rays.

Recent measurements of the dipole anisotropy in the arrival directions of Galactic cosmic rays (CRs) indicate a strong energy dependence of the dipole amplitude and phase in the TeV--PeV range. We argue here that these observations can be well understood within standard diffusion theory as a combined effect of (i) one or more local sources at Galactic longitude $120\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{\lesssim}l\ensuremath{\lesssim}300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ dominating the CR gradient below 0.1--0.3 PeV, (ii) the presence of a strong ordered magnetic field in our local environment, (iii) the relative motion of the solar system, and (iv) the limited reconstruction capabilities of ground-based observatories. We show that an excellent candidate of the local CR source responsible for the dipole anisotropy at 1--100 TeV is the Vela supernova remnant.
Cerebral palsy. I.

Spasticity, rigidity, or the infant's inability to nurse or swallow should make the physician suspicious of cerebral palsy. Early diagnosis and intelligence testing are important in planning a child's care. Although incurable, the disability is amenable to treatment and training. A team approach is probably the best method to evaluate the child's disability and training requirements.
Abstract 220: Role of ECM Stiffness in Microvascular Inflammation

Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a critical regulator of inflammation as it inhibits leukocyte adhesion to vessel endothelium. Notably, reduced eNOS activity/NO bioavailability and chronic inflammation are key features, and often major determinants, of atherosclerosis and diabetic cardiovascular complications. Past approaches aimed at normalizing eNOS activity have focused primarily on the role of soluble, genetic or shear stress-mediated physical factors. However, extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanics also plays a crucial role in endothelial cell (EC) activation and function. Importantly, tissue mechanics is altered in both atherosclerosis and diabetes that are marked by chronic inflammation and impaired eNOS activity. Thus, we investigated whether there exists a causal relationship between ECM stiffness and eNOS/NO-dependent endothelial inflammation. To test this hypothesis, we cultured ECs on fibronectin-coated elastic substrates of varying stiffness (220 Pa/soft, 1000 Pa/intermediate and 4000 Pa/stiff). EC mechanosensitivity was first confirmed by quantifying the density of actin cytoskeletal filaments, which increased with increasing ECM stiffness. EC-leukocyte adhesion (inflammation) on these substrates, however, followed a biphasic trend where ECs on both 220 Pa (soft) and 4000 Pa (stiff) substrates exhibited greater leukocyte adhesion than those cultured on intermediate 1000 Pa substrates. This biphasic effect of ECM stiffness on endothelial inflammation correlated inversely with levels of eNOS-activation and NO production on these substrates. Consistent with these data, NF-kB activation was enhanced on 220 Pa and 4000 Pa while being suppressed on 1000 Pa substrates. Preliminary data implicate differential levels of calcium influx via mechanosensitive calcium ion channels in this ECM stiffness-dependent eNOS activation and endothelial inflammation. These new findings can potentially lead to superior cardiovascular disease management as they identify ECM stiffness both as a novel therapeutic target for immunomodulatory strategies as well as a key physical design criterion for the development of instructive biomaterials for cardiovascular tissue engineering.
DISCRETE EVENT SIMULATION PROGRAMMING

This chapter reviews discrete event simulation models. Discrete event simulation models are used to study performance characteristics of simple waiting line systems and of more complex queuing systems. All discrete event simulation models describe the way by which customers or entities flow through a system over time. A basic premise that applies to such models is that all changes in the state of a system are instantaneous changes at specific points in time. Such changes are discrete as opposed to continuous, and the occasion of such a change can be termed as an event, thereby, explaining the term discrete event simulation. The two main advantages of adopting a discrete event philosophy when a complex system is to be modeled, studied, and analyzed are (1) that all discrete event models can be synthesized from a set of basic building blocks or components and (2) that computer languages are available to allow the analyst to put together simulation models based on these building blocks. Several different special purpose computer simulation languages such as GPSS or SIMSCRIPT are available. Such languages are particularly useful to describe certain classes of simulation problems. However, they lack the versatility of general purpose languages such as FORTRAN.
Estimation of Position Specific Energy as a Feature of Protein Residues from Sequence Alone for Structural Classification

A set of features computed from the primary amino acid sequence of proteins, is crucial in the process of inducing a machine learning model that is capable of accurately predicting three-dimensional protein structures. Solutions for existing protein structure prediction problems are in need of features that can capture the complexity of molecular level interactions. With a view to this, we propose a novel approach to estimate position specific estimated energy (PSEE) of a residue using contact energy and predicted relative solvent accessibility (RSA). Furthermore, we demonstrate PSEE can be reasonably estimated based on sequence information alone. PSEE is useful in identifying the structured as well as unstructured or, intrinsically disordered region of a protein by computing favorable and unfavorable energy respectively, characterized by appropriate threshold. The most intriguing finding, verified empirically, is the indication that the PSEE feature can effectively classify disorder versus ordered residues and can segregate different secondary structure type residues by computing the constituent energies. PSEE values for each amino acid strongly correlate with the hydrophobicity value of the corresponding amino acid. Further, PSEE can be used to detect the existence of critical binding regions that essentially undergo disorder-to-order transitions to perform crucial biological functions. Towards an application of disorder prediction using the PSEE feature, we have rigorously tested and found that a support vector machine model informed by a set of features including PSEE consistently outperforms a model with an identical set of features with PSEE removed. In addition, the new disorder predictor, DisPredict2, shows competitive performance in predicting protein disorder when compared with six existing disordered protein predictors.
Effects of Ethanol on Cellular Composition and Network Excitability of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons

Background Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in animal models results in excitatory–inhibitory (E/I) imbalance in neocortex due to alterations in the GABAergic interneuron (IN) differentiation and migration. Thus, E/I imbalance is a potential cause for intellectual disability in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), but whether ethanol (EtOH) changes glutamatergic and GABAergic IN specification during human development remains unknown. Here, we created a human cellular model of PAE/FASD and tested the hypothesis that EtOH exposure during differentiation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons (hPSNs) would cause the aberrant production of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, resulting in E/I imbalance. Methods We applied 50 mM EtOH daily to differentiating hPSNs for 50 days to model chronic first-trimester exposure. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunocytochemical, and electrophysiological analysis to examine the effects of EtOH on hPSN specification and functional E/I balance. Results We found that EtOH did not alter neural induction nor general forebrain patterning and had no effect on the expression of markers of excitatory cortical pyramidal neurons. In contrast, our data revealed highly significant changes to levels of transcripts involved with IN precursor development (e.g., GSX2, DLX1/2/5/6, NR2F2) as well as mature IN specification (e.g., SST, NPY). Interestingly, EtOH did not affect the number of GABAergic neurons generated nor the frequency or amplitude of miniature excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents. Conclusions Similar to in vivo rodent studies, EtOH significantly and specifically altered the expression of genes involved with IN specification from hPSNs, but did not cause imbalances of synaptic excitation–inhibition. Thus, our findings corroborate previous studies pointing to aberrant neuronal differentiation as an underlying mechanism of intellectual disability in FASD. However, in contrast to rodent binge models, our chronic exposure model suggests possible compensatory mechanisms that may cause more subtle defects of network processing rather than gross alterations in total E/I balance.
Calculation of activation energies using the sinusoidally modulated temperature

Activation energy is calculated from a single curve of a derivative of mass loss perturbed by a sinusoidal modulation of a temperature-time relationship. The method is based on a prediction of a hypothetical derivative of mass loss that corresponds to the absence of this modulation (perturbation). Simple considerations show that the unperturbed derivative coincides with the modulated derivative at inflection points of the modulated temperature–time relationship. The ratio of the perturbed and unperturbed derivatives at the points of time corresponding to maxima and minima of the sinusoidal component of the modulated temperature immediately leads to activation energy. Accuracy of the method grows with decreasing in the amplitude of the modulation. All illustrations are prepared numerically. It makes possible to objectively test the method and to investigate its errors. Two-stage decomposition kinetics with two independent (parallel) reactions is considered as an example. The kinetic parameters are chosen so that the derivative of mass loss would represent two overlapping peaks. The errors are introduced into the modulated derivative by the random-number generator with the normal distribution. Standard deviation for the random allocation of errors is selected with respect to maximum of the derivative. If the maximum of the derivative is observed within the region from 200 to 600°C and the amplitude of the temperature modulation is equal to 5°C, the error in the derivative 0.5% leads to the error in activation energy being equal to 2–6 kJ mol –1 . As the derivative vanishes, the error grows and tends to infinity in the regions of the start and end of decomposition. With the absolute error 0.5% evaluations of activation energy are impossible beyond the region from 5 to 95% of mass loss.
Abstract 19: Pericardial Fat Volume is Associated with Incident Atrial Fibrillation: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and the Jackson Heart Study

Introduction: Obesity is associated with higher risk of incident AF, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Increased pericardial fat deposition may lead to atrial fibrosis and reni...
Logistics: The Key to e-Retail Success

Beyond all the fancy Web sites and 24-hour, in-your-pajamas shopping convenience, it is excellence in distribution, transportation, and inventory management that leads to Internet retailing success. With store-related costs gone, logistics expenses have become an even larger part of the retailer's cost structure. To better understand the influence of logistics in e-retailing, a detailed experiment is designed and managed that used phantom shopper techniques for purchasing and tracking purchases of music CDs. The research turned up three key areas in which logistics managers can add tremendous value: 1. network design, 2. search and inventory management, and 3. physical delivery.
On Zeros of Defining Functions for some Hilbert Spaces of Polynomials

Finite-dimensional examples are given about the location and the simplicity of zeros of the defining polynomials for certain reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces of polynomials. These examples are related to de Branges’ theory of the Riemann zeta function and Dirichlet L -functions [2] [3] [4].
Estimating Reproductive Costs with Multi-State Mark-Recapture Models, Multiple Observable States, and Temporary Emigration

Multi-state mark-recapture models have seen increased use in recent years for studies of reproductive costs. When individuals in both breeding and non-breeding states can be observed, multi-state models can be used to directly estimate reproductive costs by comparing state-specific estimates of survival and breeding probabilities. The method assumes that each state that an animal occupies is observable, an assumption that is violated if some animals are absent for one or more breeding seasons and are thus, unobservable due to temporary emigration. Previous research on the case of a single observable state and a single unobservable state has shown that non-random (Markovian) temporary emigration can, if not accounted for, bias estimates of survival. Here, simulation is used to study effects of non-random (Markovian) temporary emigration on estimates of survival and breeding probabilities for the case of two observable states and one unobservable state. Results clearly show that temporary emigration can cause estimates of survival and breeding probability to be biased if the unobservable state is ignored. Bias was either positive or negative depending on circumstances, and was sometimes severe (percent relative bias was as high as 67% for estimates of breeding probability). Accordingly, the strengths and limitations of including an unobservable state in analyses are also considered. For some situations, simply including an unobservable state will be an adequate solution. But, for those studies particularly interested in temporal variation in costs of reproduction, it will be necessary to collect other information to avoid problems of parameter constraints. Additional information can consist of data from sub-sampling during primary sampling occasions, radio telemetry, or ring recoveries.
The use of adipose progenitor cells in urology

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells within human adipose tissue are easily procured in abundant quantities, exhibit multilineage differentiation, and can be readily transplanted into an autologous host. Referred to as adipose-derived stem cells, these cells have a characteristic molecular profile and phenotype. Lacking the ethical and political limitations associated with embryonic stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells represent a promising stem cell source for the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This chapter reviews the current state-of-the-art knowledge with respect to the use of adipose-derived stem cells for tissue engineering with a particular focus on applications within the field of urology.
Pyrolysis of human feces: Gas yield analysis and kinetic modeling

Abstract Pyrolysis of human feces renders the waste free of pathogens and is a potential method of treating fecal sludge waste collected from non-sewered systems. Slow pyrolysis experiments were conducted on human feces and the char yield and gas evolution quantified at 1–10 °C/min heating rates. Char yield ranged from 35.1 to 35.8% (dry mass basis), while the gas yield ranged from 17.2 to 29.6% (dry mass basis). The pyrolysis gases detected were CO, CO2, CH4, C2H6, and H2. These non-condensable gases contained a higher heating value (HHV) ranging from 7.2 to 22.8 MJ/Nm3. Kinetic analysis was done by a pyrolysis reaction model free method (Isoconversional) as well as a DAEM (Distributed Activated Energy Model) method that assumes many irreversible first order reactions. Both yielded very close values for activation energy ranging from 141 kJ/mol to 409 kJ/mol, with half of the biomass conversion happening at 241.5 ± 2.9 kJ/mol. The findings of the research provide useful technical information that can guide the design of a pyrolysis system to treat fecal waste. Social acceptance and scale-up issues need to be addressed through further research.
Barriers to treatment of chronic hepatitis C with direct acting antivirals in an urban clinic.

Abstract Introduction and aim Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents are highly effective for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) yet access to treatment remains a serious challenge. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to treatment initiation with DAA-containing regimens in an urban clinic setting. Materials and methods A retrospective cohort of all chronic HCV patients seen in an urban academic practice in Jacksonville, FL, USA from 1/2014 to 1/2017 was analyzed. Baseline characteristics were recorded and a review of medical records was performed to identify barriers to treatment initiation and overall success rates. Results Two-hundred and forty patients with chronic HCV were analyzed. Fifty-six percent of patients were African-American and 63% were insured through Medicaid/county programs or uninsured. Sixty-nine percent had barriers to initiating antiviral therapy categorized as psychosocial (n = 112), provider (n = 26), medical (n = 20), and insurance-related factors (n = 7). The most commonly encountered psychosocial barriers included failure to keep appointments (79/240, 33%), active substance abuse (18/240, 8%), and failure to obtain laboratory testing (11/240, 5%). Overall, only 27% of patients evaluated were initiated on DAA-containing regimens with 18% reaching SVR12 within the 36-month study period. Conclusion In conclusion, only 27% of patients who presented to an urban academic practice with chronic HCV received DAA-containing regimens over a 36-month period. Psychosocial issues were the major barriers to antiviral therapy. These findings illustrate the need for an integrated approach that addresses psychosocial factors as well as comorbidities and adherence to care in order to increase rates of HCV treatment in at risk patients.
Fault monitoring and classification of rotating machine based on PCA and KNN

Due to the complicated structure of most rotating machines, and the high dimension and strong correlation of process variables, this paper presents a multiple fault classification method of rotating machine based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and K Nearest Neighbor (KNN). Firstly, the dimensionality reduction model is established by using the normal historical data, which ensures a small memory footprint and computational consumption in fault classification. After combining different fault types data of rotating machine, PCA model is used to project them to low-dimension space. The KNN function is adopted to classify the training data after dimensionality reduction. The alternative data is utilized for online monitoring simulation by using SPE (Square Prediction Error) and T2 statistic, and then KNN training model is used to identify fault types from the abnormal data. The experiment result shows that the proposed method is accurate and effective in multiple faults identification.
Genomic landscape of adult mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL).

7023Background: MPAL is a rare subgroup of acute leukemia characterized by both myeloid and lymphoid phenotypes. Genetic basis of MPAL is not well understood. Methods: We studied 31 patients (pts) ...
An Approach for Modelling Tachyons with Gravitation

This work expands previous efforts, within the classical theories of Special and General Relativity, to include tachyons (faster-than-light particles) along with ordinary (slower-than-light) particles at any energy. The objective here is to construct a Hamiltonian that includes both the particles and the gravitational field that they produce. We do this with a linear approximation for the Einstein field equations; and we also assume a time-independent gravitational metric implied by a static picture of the particles' motion. The resulting formula will allow serious modelling to test the idea that cosmic background neutrinos may be tachyons, which can produce the observed gravitational effects now ascribed to some mysterious Dark Matter.
Pruning the Convolution Neural Network (SqueezeNet) based on L 2 Normalization of Activation Maps

In recent years, deep learning models have become popular in real-time embedded application, but there are many complexities for the hardware deployment because of limited resources such as memory, computational power, and energy. Network pruning is one of the promising technique to solve these problems. This paper presents an approach to prune the Convolution Neural Network (SqueezeNet) based on L 2 nor-malization of activation maps on the CIFAR-10 dataset without introducing the network sparsity in the pruned model. Results show that proposed approach reduces the SqueezeNet model by 67% without a significant drop in the accuracy of the model (optimal pruning efficiency result)
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the transplant pancreas in the post-operative setting.

Background/objectives Vascular thrombosis is the most common cause of early graft loss after transplantation. Routine grayscale and Doppler ultrasound frequently fail to adequately visualize vascular compromise. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a novel approach to identifying these complications. Methods This was a prospective study of 22 consecutive patients who received pancreas transplant at our institution between 2017 and 2018. All allografts were implanted with systemic venous and enteric exocrine drainage. Perfusion was assessed in the immediate post-operative period using grayscale, Doppler, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Imaging findings were compared between those who required surgical re-intervention and those who did not in order to evaluate for differences in perfusion. Results Of the 22 transplants, 15 did not require surgical re-intervention and were considered normal. These allografts demonstrated prompt and uniform enhancement, with washout usually by 90 seconds. All patients who had abnormal CEUS underwent re-exploration. Perfusion was acceptable or restored in all cases. Two patients ultimately required allograft pancreatectomy. Two patients had normal glands, and the remaining 3 grafts were salvaged following intervention. Conclusions Contrast-enhanced ultrasound provides rapid evaluation of allograft perfusion following pancreas transplantation. The differences in perfusion provide a novel way of evaluating for complications in the immediate post-transplant period.