cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of embryonic mesenchymal progenitor cell differentiation via control over pure mechanical modulus in electrospun nanofibers.

As the potential range of stem cell applications in tissue engineering continues to grow, the appropriate scaffolding choice is necessary to create tightly defined artificial microenvironments for each target organ. These microenvironments determine stem cell fate via control over differentiation. In this study we examined the specific effects of scaffold stiffness on embryonic mesenchymal progenitor cell behavior. Mechanically distinct scaffolds having identical microstructures and surface chemistries were produced utilizing core-shell electrospinning. The modulus of core-shell poly(ether sulfone)-poly(e-caprolactone) (PES-PCL) fibers (30.6 MPa) was more than four times that of pure PCL (7.1 MPa). The results for chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of progenitor cells on each scaffold indicate that the lower modulus PCL fibers provided more appropriate microenvironments for chondrogenesis, evident by a marked up-regulation of chondrocytic Sox9, collagen type 2, and aggrecan gene expression and chondrocyte-specific extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan production. In contrast, the stiffer core-shell PES-PCL fibers supported enhanced osteogenesis by promoting osteogenic Runx2, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin gene expression, as well as alkaline phosphatase activity. The findings demonstrate that the microstructural stiffness/modules of a scaffold and the pliability of individual fibers may play a critical role in controlling stem cell differentiation. Regulation of cytoskeletal organization may occur via a "dynamic scaffold" leading to the subsequent intracellular signaling events that control differentiation-specific gene expression.
Chance-Constrained Day-Ahead Scheduling in Stochastic Power System Operation

This paper proposes a day-ahead stochastic scheduling model in electricity markets. The model considers hourly forecast errors of system loads and variable renewable sources as well as random outages of power system components. A chance-constrained stochastic programming formulation with economic and reliability metrics is presented for the day-ahead scheduling. Reserve requirements and line flow limits are formulated as chance constraints in which power system reliability requirements are to be satisfied with a presumed level of high probability. The chance-constrained stochastic programming formulation is converted into a linear deterministic problem and a decomposition-based method is utilized to solve the day-ahead scheduling problem. Numerical tests are performed and the results are analyzed for a modified 31-bus system and an IEEE 118-bus system. The results show the viability of the proposed formulation for the day-ahead stochastic scheduling. Comparative evaluations of the proposed chance-constrained method and the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method are presented in the paper.
A New Species of Mentzelia (Loasaceae) from Mono County, California

Abstract A new species Mentzelia monoensis Brokaw and Hufford, endemic to Mono County, California, is described. Mentzelia monoensis, a hexaploid, is most similar to two widespread species, M. montana (Davidson) Davidson (tetraploid) and M. albicaulis (Douglas ex Hook.) Douglas ex Torr. & A. Gray (octoploid). The three species can be distinguished based on differences in floral bracts, fruits, and seeds. Mentzelia monoensis is commonly found in volcanic soils derived from the eruptions of Mono Craters and may exhibit edaphic specializations that limit its distribution.
On arriving at the destination of the centennial vision: navigational landmarks to guide occupational therapy education.

ABSTRACTThe Centennial Vision for occupational therapy in 2017 is like a topographical map for the profession. It holds up a destination toward which practitioners, educators, administrators, and researchers collectively travel. Arriving at the destination will require a careful read of the map to identify suppositions about learning it contains; then a careful selection of theory and instructional processes that are tightly aligned with those learning suppositions. This paper examines learning suppositions within the Vision and offers subject-centered and self-authorship as two conceptual landmarks tightly aligned to the Vision's destination on which educators can set their sights, and take steps toward, each day in the classroom.
The T1790A BRAF mutation (L597Q) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a functional oncogene

The T1790A BRAF mutation (L597Q) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a functional oncogene
Synthetic gecko foot-hairs from multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We report a fabrication process for constructing polymer surfaces with multiwalled carbon nanotube hairs, with strong nanometer-level adhesion forces that are 200 times higher than those observed for gecko foot-hairs.
Using the Global Arrays Toolkit to Reimplement NumPy for Distributed Computation

Global Arrays (GA) is a software system from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory that enables an efficient, portable, and parallel shared memory programming interface to manipulate distributed defense arrays. Using a combination of GA and NumPy, we have reimplemented NumPy as a distributed drop-in replacement called Global Arrays in NumPy (GAiN). Scalability studies will be presented showing the utility of developing serial NumPy codes which can later run on more capable clusters or supercomputers.
A dynamic line-termination circuit for multireceiver nets

In multidrop unterminated transmission line nets with one driver and many receiver circuits, the receiver located nearest to the driver switches last if it has to wait for the backward travelling wave reflected from the open end of the line. A lower driver impedance solves this problem but produces ringing due to multiple line reflections. In this paper, a dynamic termination circuit is presented that suppresses multiple reflections and ensures first incidence switching but does not have the power dissipation penalty incurred when a terminating resistor is used. >
A new you: health for every body: helping adults adopt a health-centered approach to well-being.

A New You: Health for Every Body is a health-focused, multimethod, experiential curriculum built around the principles of pleasurable and healthful eating, enjoyment of physically active living, and respect for body-size diversity. It creates a framework to help participants move away from unhealthy attitudes and behaviors in the areas of food and eating, physical activity, and body image and into a gentler, nondiet approach to well-being based on enjoyment of active living in a healthy body.The goal is for participants to develop new attitudes and gain new knowledge and skills to live and enjoy a healthy lifestyle (see the Program Philosophy sidebar). As shown in Table 1, the curriculum is organized into 10 1-hour sessions, with 1 supplemental lesson. However, there is flexibility for combining and adding lessons and activities, and guidance is provided for teaching the program in 4 2-hour sessions. The interactive lessons use a variety of audio/visual media, discussions, and small-group processes. Each lesson incorporates a physical activity break to get participants moving (Figures 1 and 2). “Words of wisdom” or WOW (quotations selected from WIN the Rockies qualitative research, which involved collection of people’s narratives or life stories) are incorporated into lessons and activities, adding context to and perspectives on the lesson topics.“On your own learning” activities provide opportunities for participants to practice the concepts taught after they leave the class and prepare for the next class. Educational and Theoretical Underpinnings
Pulmonary Nocardiosis in a Multiple Myeloma Patient Treated with Proteasome Inhibitors

Background The use of proteasome inhibitors like Bortezomib to treat multiple myeloma has been associated with increased rates of opportunistic infections, including Nocardia, especially when lymphopenia is present. The prevalence or association of such infections with newer agents like Carfilzomib is not known. Case report A 71-year-old man with multiple myeloma presented with a 6-week history of respiratory symptoms and cyclic fevers. He was undergoing chemotherapy with Carfilzomib. Work-up revealed severe lymphopenia and a CT chest showed multiple lung nodules and a mass-like consolidation. He underwent a bronchoscopy, and respiratory cultures grew Nocardia species. He responded well to intravenous antibiotics with resolution of symptoms and CT findings. Conclusions With the introduction of newer agents like Carfilzomib for the treatment of multiple myeloma, clinicians must maintain a high degree of suspicion for opportunistic infections to achieve early diagnosis and treatment.
An Overview of the Historical Context for Sustainable Business in the United States, 1960-2000

The concept of sustainable business is a powerful new perspective on creating value for multiple stakeholders. It links the previously conflicting interests of economic efficiency, social equity, and environmental protection. This technical note describes the historical background that has framed the transition from environmental battles to sustainable business, and adds context to the discussion of sustainable business practices in the note "The Path to Sustainable Business: Environmental Frameworks, Practices, and Related Tools" (UVA-ENT-0033) and other environmental cases.
Response to Eric Arnesen

Proliferation in recent years of a literature that seeks to examine the sources, content, and meanings of whiteness in American life stems from several factors. Among these are: (1) the sociology of academic trends; (2) the growth in recent decades of new academic specialties and interdisciplinary studies that accelerate the velocity of interpretive tendencies and problematiques; (3) reaction against a perceived retreat in civic and academic discussion, and national political life, during the 1980s and 1990s from acknowledgement of the historical and persisting force of racial stratification and inequality; and 4) the combination of atrophy of extramural Left politics and heightened perceptions of the political significance of academic debates. Most consequentially, as Professor Arnesen maintains, the turn to “whiteness studies” emerges from a version of the question crystallized more than a century ago by Werner Sombart, “Why is there no socialism in America?” The literature produced under this rubric is generally marred by conceptual ambiguities, ahistorical formulations, and lack of interpretive discipline. Particularly as it engages labor history and the work of labor historians, the whiteness literature is anchored in the hoary, and fundamentally miscast, debate over the centrality of racial versus class dynamics in shaping working-class experience and American politics.
Communication in Single-Parent Families

Single-parent households, also known as primary-parent households, include one adult and at least one child and are formed through death, divorce, out-of-wedlock births, single-parent adoption, technologically-assisted reproduction, and desertion. Single parents are faced with unique challenges that directly impact their communication with children, coparents, cohabitating partners, and social support network members. This entry details the major areas of interpersonal communication research on single-parent family communication. Keywords: divorce; family communication; single parents
Alexander, “Whose Courage Was Great”: Cult, Power, and Commemoration in Classical and Hellenistic Thessaly

An epitaph dating to ca. 217 BCE for Antigenes, a fallen soldier from Demetrias, refers to the tomb of Alexander, “whose courage was great.” This article first provides a reading of the epigram as a document that reflects a compressed civic and cultic map of a recent Hellenistic city foundation and grounds Antigenes’ heroic death in the wider ritual landscape of his patris . It then argues for the identification of one point of reference, the tomb of Alexander, with the infamous tyrant of Thessaly, Alexander of Pherai, and for the continued presence of a heroic cult of Alexander in the “new” polis of Demetrias. The commemorative dynamic at work in the epitaph provides insight into contemporary views of fourth-century tyranny, calling the traditional portrait of Alexander into question, and helps to reconstruct the Hellenistic reception of the recent past among civic bodies and individuals operating under dramatically changed political circumstances.
Production of Small Colony Variants of Staphylococcus aureus by the Action of Penicillin.

SummaryUnstable small colony variants were readily produced from nine out of ten strains of Staphylococcus aureus upon exposure to penicillin.
Abstract 3074: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin inhibits proliferation of human esophageal adenocarcinoma cells bothin vitroandin vivo

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a member of lipocalin family, is a 25-kDa secreted glycoprotein. NGAL modulates multiple biological functions including cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. NGAL is upregulated in multiple gastrointestinal cancers including colorectal, pancreatic, and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Our group recently showed that NGAL over-expression significantly blocked metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells [Cancer Research 68(15): 6100-6108, 2008]. However, the biological role of NGAL in EAC is not known. Aim: To examine the biological role of NGAL in human EAC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Methods and Results: We used OE33 (well-differentiated) and Flo-1 (poorly differentiated) EAC cell lines as our model system. We observed that OE33 cells have significantly higher levels of NGAL expression than Flo-1 cells both by qPCR and western blot analyses. To further study the biological role of NGAL in EAC, we created stable NGAL over-expression clones in Flo-1 (Flo1-NGAL) and NGAL under-expression clones in OE33 (OE33-shNGAL) using lentiviral system. We observed that under-expression of NGAL in OE33 significantly increased cell proliferation as determined by clonogenic assays. In contrast, NGAL over-expression in Flo-1 significantly suppressed cell proliferation. We also observed that NGAL under-expression increased cyclin D1 expression, a known cell cycle regulator. This, in part, explained increased EAC cell proliferation secondary to NGAL under-expression. In addition, NGAL over-expression potently suppressed and conversely, NGAL under-expression significantly increased invasion of EAC clones through MatrigelTM in vitro. Furthermore, to confirm our in vitro findings, we observed that OE33-shNGAL clones strikingly increased tumor volume in a subcutaneouos heterotopic xenograft model in nude mice. Conclusion: We demonstrated for the first time that NGAL under-expression increased cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, which could be in part secondary to regulation of cyclin D1 expression. NGAL under-expression also enhanced tumor growth in vivo. Thus, modulation of NGAL can be a novel therapeutic target in progression of EAC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3074.
Stability of La-Sr-Co-Fe oxide-carbonate dual-phase membranes for carbon dioxide separation at high temperatures

Dual-phase membranes consisting of a mixed ionic−electronic conducting ceramic phase and an ionically conductive molten carbonate phase have the ability to selectively separate CO2 at high temperature with or without the presence of O2. This study examines the stability of a dual-phase ceramic–carbonate membrane consisting of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ (LSCF) and an eutectic molten carbonate phase composed of Li2CO3, Na2CO3, and K2CO3. LSCF–carbonate membranes exposed to a CO2/N2 gradient at temperatures between 800 and 900 °C result in a drastic decrease in CO2 permeation before reaching steady-state after more than 60 h of exposure to the permeating gases due to a surface reaction between CO2 and the LSCF ceramic phase of the membrane, resulting in decomposition of the membrane surface. The introduction of O2 in the feed gas, however, helps maintain the LSCF ceramic phase structure and results in stable CO2 permeation flux at a much higher value due to a change in transport mechanism in the membrane. The ...
A component of substance P active in releasing ACTH.

SummarySubstance P. prepared from horse's intestine, is rich in a component which is highly active in releasing ACTH from pituitary glands in vitro. This factor is not P itself but is an accompanying material of unknown nature which can be separated from P by strong acid hydrolysis and shown to contain all of the ACTH-releasing activity. The hydrolysate also contains a potent histamine-like substance the activity of which, unlike that of P, is readily abolished by pyribenzamine. The releasing factor, provisionally designated as P1, is apparently identical with the ACTH-releasing agent known to occur in commercial pitressin.
Study of matrix modifiers for determination of cadmium content in soy sauce by GFAAS

Objective:To compare the effects of different matrix modifiers on elimination of salt matrix interference was eliminated by matrix modifier for determination of cadmium in soy sauce by GFAAS.Methods:Samples of soy sauce were digested by dry method,and Mg(NO3)2,La(NO3)3,PdCl2,NH4H2PO4,NH4NO3,tartaric acid,citric acid,VC and oxalic acid were used as matrix modifier in the determination of cadmium by GFAAS.The additive amount,ashing temperature,atomization temperature and its mechanism were studied.Results:The lower background absorption and the higher signal-to-background ratio can be gained when the matrix modifiers were used.Conclusion:It was concluded that matrix modifiers can eliminate salt matrix interference effectively.
Natural and Implicit Information-Seeking Cues in Responsive Technology

Publisher Summary Technologies are increasingly entering our physical environments, including retail shopping. In addition to the practical issues of deploying pervasive technology in physical spaces, designers of applications in this domain need to consider the information goals of shoppers as well as their social concerns. In today's world, there is a quest for moving and devising optimal strategies to seek maximal information. In this context, this chapter investigates the procedure to design effective information technologies to enhance the shopping experience in retail stores. It discusses the approach, an implicit interaction paradigm that interprets natural behavioral cues, and presents a case study of a prototype system called the Responsive Mirror. In this prototype, users need to understand the implicit interaction with the visual estimation of their orientation to the mirror to focus on the evaluation of the clothes rather than on explicitly controlling the information display. Having learned the system, some participants can want more control over what they could display. Designers must take care not to lose the benefit of natural and implicit interaction by introducing explicit interface controls that may be useful only occasionally. People have a wide variety of preferences, as exhibited from the breadth of user feedback about the Responsive Mirror prototype. The ultimate goal for designing natural and implicit interaction systems is to accommodate each person on an individual basis rather than most people in an aggregate sense. The challenges are immense and worth pursuing.
Photoprotective Functions of Carotenoids

photoprotection by carotenoid pigments is a widespread phenomenon observed in both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic organisms. Carotenoid photoprotection occurs naturally in some organisms and can be elicited through pigment administration in other organisms and experimental systems. Although a number of mechanisms have been proposed for carotenoid photoprotection1,2, the bulk of the evidence points to the quenching of photosensitizer triplets, oxygen singlets and other radical species. Details of the quenching reactions have been reviewed elsewhere3,4.
The Surma language group: A preliminary report

The Nilo-Saharan super-family is one of the four great African language phyla identified by Greenberg in his successful attempt to bring order out of the chaos of African linguistic classification (see especially [Greenberg 1966,1971]). In this paper, I will use "Sahelian" as an alternative name for "Nilo-Saharan", since it is nearly equivalent in a geographic sense and a bit more convenient. According to my reclassification [Bender 1976], Sahelian consists of nine families: Songay (Songhai), Saharan, Maba, Fur, East Sudanic, Central Sudanic, Berta, Kunama, and Koman.
Antibody-mediated regulation of the response to a protective cryptic epitope in rMOG-induced EAE (BA8P.166)

Multiple sclerosis is a Th1/Th17-mediated autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, in which B cells are involved. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the main animal model for MS. Previously we showed that B cell-deficient (B-/-) mice were resistant to rMOG-induced EAE. Further investigation revealed response to a cryptic epitope (MOG61-85) by lymph node (LN) T cells from rMOG-immunized B-/- mice but not WT mice. We investigated the immune response to MOG61-85 and the role of antibody in altering this response. EAE was ameliorated in B-/- mice when coimmunized with MOG35-55 and MOG61-85 compared with MOG35-55 alone. B-/- mice immunized with both peptides and injected with rabbit serum primed to MOG35-55 and MOG61-85 developed more severe EAE with earlier onset than mice receiving preimmune rabbit serum. Purified IgG from rMOG primed WT mice added to cultured LN T cells from co-immunized B-/- mice decreased T cell proliferation to MOG61-85, indicating that antibody inhibited the T cell response to MOG61-85. ELISA of culture supernatants from rMOG-primed WT LN cells demonstrated presence of TGF-β but not IL6 in response to MOG61-85; both cytokines were present in response to MOG35-55. B cell-/- LN cells cultured with MOG61-85 vs. MOG35-55 showed similar percentages of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cells, whereas CD8+CD25+ T cells were slightly increased in those cultured with MOG61-85. The characterization of this CD8+ population is still under investigation.
Inverting Steric Effects: Using "Attractive" Noncovalent Interactions To Direct Silver-Catalyzed Nitrene Transfer.

Nitrene transfer (NT) reactions represent powerful and direct methods to convert C–H bonds into amine groups that are prevalent in many commodity chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The importance of the C–N bond has stimulated the development of numerous transition-metal complexes to effect chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselective NT. An ongoing challenge is to understand how subtle interactions between catalyst and substrate influence the site-selectivity of the C–H amination event. In this work, we explore the underlying reasons why Ag(tpa)OTf (tpa = tris(pyridylmethyl)amine) prefers to activate α-conjugated C–H bonds over 3° alkyl C(sp3)–H bonds and apply these insights to reaction optimization and catalyst design. Experimental results suggest possible roles of noncovalent interactions (NCIs) in directing the NT; computational studies support the involvement of π···π and Ag···π interactions between catalyst and substrate, primarily by lowering the energy of the directed transition state and reaction conforme...
Snail-killing sciomyzid flies: biology of the aquatic species: With 2 figures in the text

(1964). Snail-killing sciomyzid flies: biology of the aquatic species. SIL Proceedings, 1922-2010: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 926-932.
Pulsed helium droplet beams

Abstract We report a systematic study of pulsed cryogenic expansion at temperatures ranging from 20 K down to 4.5 K, which enables us to span a large range of helium droplet sizes from ∼105 to ∼1011 He atoms, as obtained via titrations of the droplet beam with helium gas at room temperature. The measured peak flux is a factor of one thousand larger than in a continuous beam. Comparison with continuous nozzle results show similar droplet sizes at low T
Evaluating the Usability and Usefulness of a Mobile App for Atrial Fibrillation Using Qualitative Methods: Exploratory Pilot Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common form of heart arrhythmia and a potent risk factor for stroke. Nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are routinely prescribed to manage AFib stroke risk; however, nonadherence to treatment is a concern. Additional tools that support self-care and medication adherence may benefit patients with AFib. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceived usability and usefulness of a mobile app designed to support self-care and treatment adherence for AFib patients who are prescribed NOACs. Methods: A mobile app to support AFib patients was previously developed based on early stage interview and usability test data from clinicians and patients. An exploratory pilot study consisting of naturalistic app use, surveys, and semistructured interviews was then conducted to examine patients’ perceptions and everyday use of the app. Results: A total of 12 individuals with an existing diagnosis of nonvalvular AFib completed the 4-week study. The average age of participants was 59 years. All participants somewhat or strongly agreed that the app was easy to use, and 92% (11/12) reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the app. Participant feedback identified changes that may improve app usability and usefulness for patients with AFib. Areas of usability improvement were organized by three themes: app navigation, clarity of app instructions and design intent, and software bugs. Perceptions of app usefulness were grouped by three key variables: core needs of the patient segment, patient workflow while managing AFib, and the app’s ability to support the patient’s evolving needs. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that mobile tools that target self-care and treatment adherence may be helpful to AFib patients, particularly those who are newly diagnosed. Additionally, participant feedback provided insight into the varied needs and health experiences of AFib patients, which may improve the design and targeting of the intervention. Pilot studies that qualitatively examine patient perceptions of usability and usefulness are a valuable and often underutilized method for assessing the real-world acceptability of an intervention. Additional research evaluating the AFib Connect mobile app over a longer period, and including a larger, more diverse sample of AFib patients, will be helpful for understanding whether the app is perceived more broadly to be useful and effective in supporting patient self-care and medication adherence. [JMIR Hum Factors 2018;5(1):e13]
Unramified degree three invariants for reductive groups of type A

Abstract Let G be a reductive group over an algebraically closed field F of characteristic zero such that the Dynkin diagram of G is the disjoint union of diagrams of type A. We prove that the third unramified cohomology group of the classifying space of G with coefficients in Q / Z is trivial.
Proficiency-based cervical cancer brachytherapy training.

Abstract Purpose Although brachytherapy increases the local control rate for cervical cancer, there has been a progressive decline in its use. Furthermore, the training among residency programs for gynecologic brachytherapy varies considerably, with some residents receiving little to no training. This trend is especially concerning given the association between poor applicator placement and decline in local control. Considering the success of proficiency-based training in other procedural specialties, we developed and implemented a proficiency-based cervical brachytherapy training curriculum for our residents. Methods and Materials Each resident placed tandem and ovoid applicators with attending guidance and again alone 2 weeks later using a pelvic model that was modified to allow for cervical brachytherapy. Plain films were taken of the pelvic model, and applicator placement quality was evaluated. Other evaluated metrics included retention of key procedural details, the time taken for each procedure and presession and postsession surveys to assess confidence. Results During the initial session, residents on average met 4.5 of 5 placement criteria, which improved to 5 the second session. On average, residents were able to remember 7.6 of the 8 key procedural steps. Execution time decreased by an average of 10.5%. Resident confidence with the procedure improved dramatically, from 2.6 to 4.6 of 5. Residents who had previously never performed a tandem and ovoid procedure showed greater improvements in these criteria than those who had. All residents strongly agreed that the training was helpful and wanted to participate again the following year. Conclusions Residents participating in this simulation training had measurable improvements in the time to perform the procedure, applicator placement quality, and confidence. This curriculum is easy to implement and is of great value for training residents, and would be particularly beneficial in programs with low volume of cervical brachytherapy cases. Simulation programs could also be created for other technically challenging radiation oncology procedures.
Role of the Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Projection in Somatosensory Cortical Plasticity

Sachdev, Robert N. S., Shao-Ming Lu, Ron G. Wiley, and Ford F. Ebner. Role of the basal forebrain cholinergic projection in somatosensory cortical plasticity. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 3216–3228, 1998. ...
Vehicle grid integration for demand response with mixture user model and decentralized optimization

Abstract With the rapidly growing electric vehicle adoption rate and increasing number of public electric vehicle charging stations in recent years, electric vehicle becomes more and more critical in the demand response programs. Development in Vehicle to Grid technology has converted electric vehicle to distributed energy resources. Using the Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Infrastructures on UCLA campus and city of Santa Monica as testbeds, we have collected real-world datasets of electric vehicle usage, based on which, we proposed optimal bi-directional charging control strategies to integrate electric vehicle in commercial and public parking facilities into the power grid as distributed energy resources for demand response programs by two-stage distributed optimization and water-filling algorithm. Driver behavioral uncertainties have been considered in our approach. Specifically, electric vehicle users are clustered by their behavioral patterns using a modified Latent Semantic Analysis. The first-stage optimization is performed to minimize energy cost using day-ahead wholesale energy price with predictions on energy demand and electric vehicle availability which generated by a mixture user model. Decentralized optimization (second-stage) is carried out on the next day in real-time to control individual electric vehicle so that the aggregated load can follow the first-stage optimal profile. As an alternative, a fast converging water filling algorithm is proposed and compared with two-stage optimization. Extensive simulation results show that proposed charging controls can utilize electric vehicle as distributed energy resource to accommodate demand response program while satisfying electric vehicle energy demands and providing significant energy cost savings.
IHI ID 05 Boarding time is a game won in minutes

Background Rapid growth in patient volumes led to operating above 85% capacity with increased frequency. This growth strained antiquated patient flow processes that had not matured as patient demand increased. With limited options to increase physical capacity, a centralized effort to optimize patient throughput was prioritized at both the macro – and the microsystem level. Objectives Getting the patient to the right place, at the right time, meant instituting a measurement system and standardizing bed management practices across the organization. Targeting delays in patient progression led to defining hospital boarding time as the time when a patient meets medical criteria to transfer to another level of care to the time the patient is transferred. Methods Multiple plan-do-study-act cycles were completed during a pilot. An Xbar-S statistical process control chart assessed the impact of key interventions over time with a primary goal to reduce process variation to improve flow. Key interventions focused on process re-design, standardization of operational definitions, mistake proofing, and education for sustainability. Results Pilot results showed decreased process variation by 10% and reduced median boarding times by five minutes (statistically significant; p=0.0003), increasing capacity by over 1100 hours. Based on proof of concept, hospital boarding time became an organizational priority. Results showed median boarding time decreased from 140 min to 71 min (49%) and standard deviation decreased from 107 min to 70 min (35%) over a 7 month period. Conclusions Achieving efficient patient throughput is a complex process that impacts organizational operations. Establishing a measurement system allows for building upon a foundation for continuous improvement.
Fragmentation of Multi-charged Derivatized Lysine Using Nanospray CID Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

We demonstrate increasing the charge state of small molecules using derivatized lysine as our model system. Lysine is chemically tagged with three tertiary amines which enables efficient production of highly charged analytes. A +3 charge state is obtained from direct infusion nanoelectrospray conditions. Collisional activation of the +3 derivatized lysine yielded structurally informative product ions corresponding to cleavages across the analyte backbone and within the proton affinity tags. This suggests a role for multi-charging of metabolites in both targeted MRM analyses and untargeted analyses to help identify novel metabolites. Density functional calculations aid peak assignment and rationalization of structure-property relationships.
Results of a phase 2 trial of ribociclib and letrozole in patients with either relapsed estrogen receptor (ER)-positive ovarian cancers or relapsed ER-positive endometrial cancers.

5510Background: Single agent aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy is associated with limited clinical activity in ovarian cancer (OC) and endometrial cancers (EC). AI therapy was associated with a prog...
Pericyte Bridges in Homeostasis and Hyperglycemia: Reconsidering Pericyte Dropout and Microvascular Structures

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy threatens the vision of a third of diabetic patients. Progression of the disease is attributed to the dropout of pericytes, a cell type that enwraps and stabilizes the microvasculature. In tandem with this presumptive pericyte dropout, there is enriched formation of structures assumed to be remnants of collapsed or regressed vessels, previously classified as acellular capillaries, string vessels, and basement membrane bridges. Instead of endothelial cells, we show that pericytes colocalize with basement membrane bridges, and both bridging structures are enriched by cell-specific knockout of KLF4 and reversibly enriched with elevation of Ang-2, PDGF-BB, and blood sugar. Our data suggests that pericyte counts from retinal digests have misclassified pericyte bridges as endothelial structures and have exaggerated the role of pericyte loss in DR progression. In vivo imaging of corneal limbal vessels demonstrates pericyte migration off-vessel, implicating pericyte movement in formation of pericyte bridges and pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.
Wounds: Militarized nursing, feminist curiosity, and unending war:

Taking wartime nurses – and post-war nursing – seriously makes one think more politically about the wounds endured in wartime and what counts as a wartime ‘wound’. Thinking about wounds and the wou...
The Dissolution of the Criterion Association, 1934–1935: The Credinţa Scandal, Male Friendship, Sexuality and Freedom of the Press

Bejan offers a much-needed account of the disintegration and termination of the Criterion Association and publication. The popular explanation for Criterion’s end is the fermentation of extremist political allegiances. However, there is an additional explanation, which is difficult to find in the existing literature on Criterion. This is the scandal involving a Criterion event featuring the dancer Gabriel Negry, and the newspaper Credintṃa’s accusation that key Criterionists promoted homosexuality. The chapter also investigates the nature of male friendship in the period and how that could be interpreted as ‘homosexual.’ Criterion’s animator and Credintm․a’s main target, Comarnescu, had an ambiguous sexual life, and I explore the nature of his early pre-Criterion close friendship with Noica.
Clinical trial registry use in minimally invasive surgical oncology systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Publication bias can arise in systematic reviews when unpublished data are omitted and lead to inaccurate clinical decision making and adverse clinical outcomes. By conducting searches of clinical trial registries (CTRs), researchers can create more accurate systematic reviews and mitigate the risk of publication bias. The aims of this study are: to evaluate CTR use in systematic reviews and meta-analyses within the minimally invasive surgical oncology (MISO) literature; to conduct a search of ClinicalTrials.gov for a subset of reviews to determine if eligible trials exist that could have been used. This is a cross-sectional study of 197 systematic reviews and meta-analyses retrieved from PubMed. Of 137 included studies, 18 (13.1%) reported searching a CTR. Our ClinicalTrials.gov search revealed that of the 25 randomly selected systematic reviews that failed to conduct a trial registry search, 16 (64.0%) would have identified additional data sources. MISO systematic reviews and meta-analyses do not regularly use CTRs in their data collection, despite eligible trials being freely available.
Implementation of Heidegger’s Angst into Buddhist Problem of Suffering: On How Buddhist Discourse Engenders and Epistemological Problem and How to Approach to it with Western Ontology

Early Buddhist discourse recognizes the problem of dukkha (suffering) and argues that the cause of dukkha can be removed. This paper attempts to demonstrate how Buddhist claim that dukkha can be removed fails as it creates epistemological complications within the Buddhist discourse, and attempts to show how substituting Heidegger’s concept of Angst for Buddhist concept of dukkha could solve this problem. It is argued that the solution proposed by the four noble truths of early Buddhist tradition contradicts with the ontological and epistemological properties and implications of the concept of dukkha , and, accordingly, these properties of dukkha ought to be revised. As a solution to this problem, it is proposed that Angst addresses the problem of suffering more efficiently by not engendering such epistemological complications while also retaining the philosophy and worldview created by the Buddhist discourse as it accurately facilitates the Buddhist perspective.
L∞ Ill-Posedness for a Class of Equations Arising in Hydrodynamics

We give a new approach to studying norm inflation (in some critical spaces) for a wide class of equations arising in hydrodynamics. As an application, we prove strong ill-posedness of the n-dimensional Euler equations in the class $$C^1\cap L^2 (\Omega )$$ and also in $$C^k \cap L^2(\Omega )$$ where $$\Omega $$ can be the whole space, a smooth bounded domain, or the torus. We also apply our method to the Oldroyd B, surface quasi-geostrophic, and Boussinesq systems.
Chapter 11 – Animal Models

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the acute effects of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and Vasospasm (VSP), which obtained from animal models. The acute events are independent of chronic VSP and then there is no reason to require an acute increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) to occur in an animal model at the time of hemorrhage. If the acute events influence VSP, then some models, such as clot placement models, would miss this interaction. A review of the literature on the various nonhuman primate models shows that VSP produced by clot placement is more severe than that due to arterial rupture or blood injection in animals with a closed cranium. Clot placement models have been developed in dogs, pigs and monkeys. Allowing blood to clot before placement in the subarachnoid space overcomes the difficulty of rapid washout of the subarachnoid blood. It has been argued that these models are technically difficult, but these are routine technical exercises for the modern microneurosurgeon. There are important differences in the anatomy of the cerebral circulations of the species that have been used in SAH models. These need to be considered if one is attempting to produce delayed cerebral ischemia in addition to VSP of the larger cerebral arteries.
Collaborative Multi-Robot Localization in Natural Terrain *

This paper presents a novel filter architecture that allows a team of vehicles to collaboratively localize using Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN). The work explores several causes of measurement correlation that preclude the use of traditional estimators, and proposes an estimator structure that eliminates one source of measurement correlation while properly incorporating others through the use of Covariance Intersection. The result is a consistent estimator that is able to augment proven TRN techniques with multi-robot information, significantly improving localization for vehicles in uninformative terrain. The approach is demonstrated using field data from an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) navigating with TRN in Monterey Bay and simulated inter-vehicle range measurements. In addition, a Monte Carlo simulation was used to quantify the algorithm's performance on one example mission. Monte Carlo results show that a vehicle operating in uninformative terrain has 62% lower localization error when fusing range measurements to two converged AUVs than it would using standard TRN.
Low Regularity Primal-Dual Weak Galerkin Finite Element Methods for Ill-Posed Elliptic Cauchy Problems.

A new primal-dual weak Galerkin (PDWG) finite element method is introduced and analyzed for the ill-posed elliptic Cauchy problems with ultra-low regularity assumptions on the exact solution. The Euler-Lagrange formulation resulting from the PDWG scheme yields a system of equations involving both the primal equation and the adjoint (dual) equation. The optimal order error estimate for the primal variable in a low regularity assumption is established. A series of numerical experiments are illustrated to validate effectiveness of the developed theory.
A new frontier for mi familia.

With sleek black hair, finely arched eyebrows, and deep brown eyes that sparkle, my feisty, 5-foot-tall Abuelita (grandmother) is my last link to my ancestors, who spoke a unique dialect of New Mexican Spanish. As the last generation of a disappearing New Mexican lineage, whose guerita (light-skinned) appearance belies my heritage, I feel a responsibility to carry on the stories and traditions of my family; yet I feel ill-equipped to do them justice. Every life decision I make carries the weight of the unspoken question: How do I move forward and remember who I am when my family roots are being erased? Immersed in the aromas of her home-made tortillas and red or green chile, Abuelita teaches me her native language in our effort to preserve my identity. Never a homeowner, Abuelita lives in a run-down studio apartment in the center of “the warzone,” an impoverished area of Albuquerque adjacent to the heavily militarized Kirtland Air Force Base. “ No te preocupes, mi hijta ,” she tells me, motioning to the SWAT vehicles that are a regular sight. “The more police, the safer the place!” Local research proves this to be untrue. My childhood was filled with upheaval, and although school was always my refuge, I struggled to find where I belonged. My search came to an end with El Puente Research Fellowship, the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) scholars program, and the 2020 Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) conference. In these communities, I found diverse scientific research that could answer that ever-present question. I believe that solving the multifaceted issues facing my hometown, from mass incarceration to severe substance addiction, lies within biomedical health research. I hope one day to use scientific evidence to influence policy in these areas, giving families like mine a better chance of stability and allowing their stories to continue unbroken. Science is my pursuit of a new frontier for my family: one of identity, belonging, and community. My Abuelita is a free spirit whose unflinching resistance to discrimination is often misunderstood as truculence. As I pursue science to move myself and my family history forward together, it is my hope that I will someday come close to her humble survivorship and the resilience of the frontier generations that came before me.
Optical Anisotropy and Phase Transitions in Lead Halide Perovskites.

Optical anisotropy originates from crystalline structures with low symmetry and governs the polarization-dependent light propagation. Optical anisotropy is particularly important to lead halide perovskites that have been under intense investigation for optoelectronic and photonic applications, as this group of materials possesses rich structural phases that deviate from the high-symmetry cubic phase. Here we apply 2D optical Kerr effect spectroscopy to quantify the optical anisotropy in single-crystal methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3). We determine the strong photon energy dependence of optical anisotropy near the band gap and show the dramatic change in optical anisotropy across phase transitions. We correlate the optical anisotropy with the structural anisotropy and demonstrate the tuning of optical anisotropy by alloyed CsxMA1-xPbBr3 perovskite crystals.
Promiscuous molecules for smarter file operations in DNA-based data storage

DNA holds significant promise as a data storage medium due to its density, longevity, and resource and energy conservation. These advantages arise from the inherent biomolecular structure of DNA which differentiates it from conventional storage media. The unique molecular architecture of DNA storage also prompts important discussions on how data should be organized, accessed, and manipulated and what practical functionalities may be possible. Here we leverage thermodynamic tuning of biomolecular interactions to implement useful data access and organizational features. Specific sets of environmental conditions including distinct DNA concentrations and temperatures were screened for their ability to switchably access either all DNA strands encoding full image files from a GB-sized background database or subsets of those strands encoding low resolution, File Preview, versions. We demonstrate File Preview with four JPEG images and provide an argument for the substantial and practical economic benefit of this generalizable strategy to organize data.
Paradoxes of Belonging, Organizing, and Agency: Integrating and Differentiating Divergent Strategic Logics in Supported Social Enterprises

Supported social enterprises (SSEs) are organizations that rely on both public subsidies and commercial activities to support underserved individuals’ social and economic integrations. As such, SSE...