cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Profit-Oriented False Data Injection on Electricity Market: Reviews, Analyses, and Insights

The rapid evolution of sensor technologies and communication networks is tightly coupling the cyber and physical layers of power systems. Because a few power grids have fallen victim to cyber intrusions causing unexpected device failure and large-scale power outages, enhancing power system cybersecurity is the utmost focus of power grid development today. Financially, the deregulation of the electricity market opens the gate to profit-oriented cyberattacks. Real-time market auctions rely heavily on the accuracy of state estimation, which is susceptible to cyberattacks. Extensive reviews have been conducted on modern power system cybersecurity. However, the lack of a comprehensive and in-depth review of electricity market cyberattacks prevents independent system operators from systematically analyzing the financial consequences of cyberattacks and limits public awareness of the significant monetary loss. This article briefly summarizes previous review works and analyzes the two-settlement market design from a cybersecurity perspective. Then the current achievements of electricity market cyberattacks are discussed, and state-of-the-art works are analyzed based on their contributions. Additionally, a few possible improvements and future directions are presented.
Substance use disorders in the farming population: Scoping review.

PURPOSE The purpose of this scoping review is to summarize the current knowledge base in order to make recommendations for prevention and treatment of substance use disorders among the farming populations. METHODS We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed articles published between January 1989 and September 2019. The search yielded 3,426 citations and the final review was conducted on 42 articles. The full review was conducted by 4 authors to extract information about the target population, data collection methods, and main results. FINDINGS There were 21 articles on farmers and 21 articles on farmworkers. The majority of the articles were about alcohol. Overall, farmers had higher prevalence of risky alcohol consumption patterns than nonfarmers. The prevalence of risky alcohol consumption was also high among farmworkers compared to the general population. Risk factors for risky alcohol consumption included male gender, lower socioeconomic status, and psychological problems (eg, depression). Recommendations for prevention and intervention of alcohol disorders included policy development and implementation to curb alcohol access by taxation, screening of alcohol-related problems, and alternative means of recreation instead of alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS This review confirmed that alcohol-related problems are prevalent among farmers and farmworkers. More population-based research is called for to understand the additional risk factors of alcohol disorders and the prevalence of other substance-related disorders. Also, interventions should be tailored to the unique culture of farmers and farmworkers.
Topographic effects on soil microclimate and surface cover crop residue decomposition in rolling cropland

Abstract Rolling hill topography is common in agricultural land throughout the Southeastern United States. In areas of complex topography, downslope movement of soil nutrients and water can lead to nutrient losses and soil degradation, as well as spatial yield variability. Additionally, differences in the accumulation of water, slope aspect, and crop biomass production can lead to disparate conditions of soil moisture and soil temperature throughout a given field. Winter cover crops can reduce erosion and mitigate nutrient losses, while also potentially providing a source of nitrogen (N) to the subsequent cash crop as the cover crop residue decomposes. However, given that moisture and temperature at the soil surface are primary controls on residue decomposition, topographic heterogeneity may lead to variable rates of cover crop breakdown and N return to the system. We investigated the effect of landscape position on soil volumetric moisture and temperature at 5 cm depth, and the decomposition and N release rate of two cover crop residues, a sole-seeded cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop, and a cereal rye/crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) mixture over two maize (Zea mays L.) growing seasons in Lexington, KY. We found differences in soil moisture and soil temperature across landscape positions, with backslope positions tending to be the warmest and driest positions, and toeslope positions tending to be wettest. However, we did not observe significant differences in decomposition or residue N release rate among landscape positions or cover crop treatments. Our results emphasize the inherent variability present in abiotic factors in rolling hill cropland but indicate that cover crop residue persistence and N release are relatively consistent among landscape positions.
GRSTAPS: Graphically Recursive Simultaneous Task Allocation, Planning, and Scheduling:

Effective deployment of multi-robot teams requires solving several interdependent problems at varying levels of abstraction. Specifically, heterogeneous multi-robot systems must answer four importa...
Cerebral Embolization: The Cost of Doing Invasive Business.

Stroke is the third most common cause of death and the most common cause of disability in the United States, so therapies designed to prevent stroke are worthy of study. The road to stroke prevention crosses paths with many diseases, so prevention depends on identifying conditions associated with
Detection of JC Virus DNA in Human Tonsil Tissue: Evidence for Site of Initial Viral Infection

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a demyelinating disease of the human central nervous system that results from lytic infection of oligodendrocytes by the polyomavirus JC (JCV). Originally, JCV was thought to replicate exclusively in human glial cells, specifically oligodendrocytes. However, we have recently shown that JCV can replicate in cells of lymphoid origin such as hematopoietic precursor cells, B lymphocytes, and tonsillar stromal cells. To determine whether tonsils harbor JCV, we tested a total of 54 tonsils, 38 from children and 16 from adult donors. Nested PCRs with primer sets specific for the viral T protein and regulatory regions were used for the detection of JCV DNA. JCV DNA was detected in 21 of 54 tonsil tissues, or 39% (15 of 38 children and 6 of 16 adults) by using regulatory-region primers and in 19 of 54 tonsil tissues, or 35% (13 of 38 children and 6 of 16 adults) by using the T-protein primers. The DNA extracted from children’s nondissected tonsil tissue, isolated tonsillar lymphocytes, and isolated stromal cells that demonstrated PCR amplification of the JCV regulatory region underwent cloning and nucleotide sequencing. Of the regulatory-region sequences obtained, nearly all contained tandem repeat arrangements. Clones originating from nondissected tonsil tissue and tonsillar lymphocytes were found to have sequences predominantly of the Mad-1 prototype strain, whereas the majority of clones from the DNA of tonsillar stromal cells had sequences characteristic of the Mad-8br strain of JCV. A few clones demonstrated structures other than tandem repeats but were isolated only from tonsillar lymphocytes. These data provide the first evidence of the JCV genome in tonsil tissue and suggest that tonsils may serve as an initial site of viral infection.
Improvements in prenatal insurance coverage and utilization of care in California: an unsung public health victory.

Objective: To examine trends in prenatal insurance coverage and utilization of care in California over two decades in the context of expansions in Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid) and other public efforts to increase prenatal care utilization. Methods: Retrospective univariate and bivariate analysis of prenatal care coverage and utilization data from 10,192,165 California birth certificates, 1980–99; descriptive analysis of California poverty and unemployment data from the U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey; review of public health and social policy literature. Results: The proportion of mothers with Medi-Cal coverage for prenatal care increased from 28.2 to 47.5% between 1989 and 1994, and the proportion uninsured throughout pregnancy decreased from 13.2 to 3.2%. Since the mid-1990s, fewer than 3% of women have had no insurance coverage for prenatal care. Between 1989 and 1999, the proportion of women with first trimester initiation of prenatal care increased from 72.6 to 83.6%, reversing the previous decade's trend, and the proportion of women with adequate numbers of visits rose from 70.7 to 83.1%. Improvements in utilization measures were greater among disadvantaged social groups. Improvements in California during the 1990s coincided with a multifaceted public health effort to increase both prenatal care coverage and utilization, and do not appear to be explained by changes in the economy, maternal characteristics, the overall organization/delivery of health care, or other social policies. Conclusions: While this ecologic study cannot produce definitive conclusions regarding causality, these results suggest an important victory for public health in California.
Nocardia and other Aerobic Actinomycetes

1 Introduction 2 Taxonomic Relationships 3 Staining Properties 4 Isolation 5 Phenotypic Identification 6 Biochemicals 7 Susceptibility Testing 8 Cell-Wall and Cell-Membrane Composition 9 Molecular Identification 10 Strain Typing 11 Pathogenicity 12 Serologic Testing 13 Actinomadura 14 Amycolata and Amycolatopsis 15 Dermatophilus 16 Dietzia 17 Gordonia 18 Nocardia 19 Nocardiopsis 20 Pseudonocardia 21 Rhodococcus 22 Streptomyces 23 Thermophilic actinomycetes: saccharomonospora, saccharopolyspora, and thermoactinomyces 24 Tropheryma 25 Tsukamurella Keywords: Nocardia and other aerobic actinomycetes; aerobic actinomycetes-not comprising genetically closely related groups; phenotypic identification; aerial hyphae-frequently visualized macroscopically; Middlebrook opacification-ability of isolates of N. farcinica to opacify; aerobic actinomycetes and diaminopimelic acid (DAP); N. brasiliensis and other aerobic actinomycetes-cause of mycetoma; Rhodococcus equi-currently principal animal and human pathogen in genus
Developing Multiagent Systems with agentTool

The advent of multiagent systems has brought together many disciplines and given us a new way to look at intelligent, distributed systems. However, traditional ways of thinking about and designing software do not fit the multiagent paradigm. This paper describes the Multiagent Systems Engineering (MaSE) methodology and agentTool, a tool to support MaSE. MaSE guides a designer from an initial system specification to implementation by guiding the designer through a set of inter-related graphically based system models. The underlying formal syntax and semantics of clearly and unambiguously ties them together as envisioned by MaSE.
The Formation of Glutamine and Alanine in Skeletal Muscle

Abstract The formation of glutamine and alanine by skeletal muscle was studied in the isolated perfused rat hindquarter. When perfused with a semisynthetic medium, the hindquarter released the full spectrum of amino acids with glutamine and alanine accounting for 50 % of the amino acid appearing in the perfusate. The pattern of amino acid release was similar to that of the human forearm. Fasting for 48 hours caused a 55 % increase in the efflux of alanine but had little effect on the efflux of most other amino acids. Diabetes caused an increase in the efflux of nearly all amino acids; however, alanine and glutamine still accounted for half of the amino acid released. Perfusion with 10 mm leucine, lysine, and histidine increased the rates of release of both glutamine and alanine. This could not be explained by a washout of glutamine or alanine from tissue, suggesting that these amino acids were formed de novo. The release of alanine and glutamine was also increased by perfusion with 10 mm valine, glycine, or proline. Methionine sulfoximine, an irreversible inhibitor of glutamine synthetase, decreased the leucine-induced increase in glutamine efflux by 50 %. Alanine release was increased by the addition of lactate or lactate and pyruvate to the perfusate. Insulin had little effect on the release of glutamine and alanine by hindquarters of fed and fasted rats, but it depressed the very large release of these amino acids in diabetic rats. Glucagon had no effect on the release of either amino acid, nor did exercise induced by sciatic nerve stimulation at rates of 2 and 5 per s. The data indicate that the high rates of glutamine and alanine release by muscle can be accounted for by their synthesis within the muscle cell. They also indicate that muscle synthesizes glutamine, at least in part via glutamine synthetase, and it forms alanine via glutamic-pyruvic aminotransferase.
Conversational Dynamics in Deliberative Forums: The Use of Evidence and Logic

Critics of deliberative democracy argue that average people are either unable or unwilling to engage in thoughtful, reasoned discussion over policy issues. Through an analysis of conversational dynamics in 10 National Issues Forums, I found that deliberators typically gave reasons to support their arguments, most commonly with factual statements or examples drawn from personal experience. However, the logical connections between evidence and conclusions were often tenuous: even though the evidence presented was relevant, deliberators frequently neglected to explain how and why it supported their conclusions. Further, they rarely explored the premises underlying their arguments, assuming away key points of contention. These findings indicate that the obstacle to effective deliberation does not lie in citizens’ inability or reluctance to give reasons to support their opinions, as they routinely did so. Instead, a more significant barrier to effective deliberation lies in deliberators’ capacity (or willingness) to construct coherent arguments. These findings also indicate that the manner in which citizens engage in policy discussions can limit some of the beneficial outcomes hypothesized by deliberation proponents.
Troubleshooting: What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix it

Publisher Summary Keeping clinical systems running and available to users is difficult because systems are increasingly complex. As the number and complexity of clinical computing systems rises and the need to exchange information between them increases, the computing infrastructure also becomes more complex and, potentially, unstable. One of the most important roles of clinical computing operations staff is to rapidly respond to problems affecting key clinical computing systems. This chapter presents several examples of outages and their impact on clinicians within a medical center. The process of identifying potential incidents starts before a system ever goes into production, with the initial system design. Because of physical, technical, and monetary restrictions, not all systems are brought up in a perfectly “bulletproof” state. Experienced technical architects do their best to ensure that unnecessary system dependencies are kept to a minimum and that any required system dependencies are called out and monitored closely throughout the life span of the system. System administrators should also be keenly aware of all system dependencies and potential single points of failure, and should establish the necessary processes to monitor these areas closely, including the ability for the system to contact an administrator immediately should an established trouble threshold be reached on any number of different system metrics. Finally, all clinical systems should be tested thoroughly, using a well-defined, comprehensive library of repeatable test suites, before they are relied upon in a real-life setting.
Locally-exact homogenization theory for transversely isotropic unidirectional composites

Abstract The locally-exact homogenization theory for unidirectional composites with square periodicity and isotropic phases proposed by Drago and Pindera [18] is extended to architectures with hexagonal symmetry and transversely isotropic phases. The theory employs Fourier series representation for the displacement fields in the fiber and matrix phases in the cylindrical coordinate system that satisfies exactly the equilibrium equations and continuity conditions in the unit cell's interior. The inseparable exterior problem involves satisfaction of periodicity conditions for the hexagonal unit cell geometry demonstrated herein to be readily achievable using the previously introduced balanced variational principle for square geometries. This variational principle plays a key role in the employed unit cell solution, ensuring rapid convergence of the Fourier series coefficients with relatively few harmonic terms, yielding converged homogenized moduli and local stress fields with little computational effort. The solution's stability is illustrated using the dilute case which is shown to reduce to the Eshelby solution regardless of the employed number of harmonic terms. Comparison with published results and predictions of a finite-volume based homogenization in a wide fiber volume range and different fiber/matrix modulus contrast validates the approach's accuracy, and its utility is demonstrated through rapid local stress recovery in a multi-scale application. This extension completes the development of the theory for three important classes of unidirectional reinforcement arrays, thereby providing an efficient alternative to finite-element based homogenization techniques or approximate micromechanical schemes, as well as an efficient standard against which other methods may be compared.
Carbon balance, productivity, and water use of cold-winter desert shrub communities dominated by C3 and C4 species.

Common generalizations concerning the ecologic significance of C4 photosynthesis were tested in a study of plant gas exchange, productivity, carbon balance, and water use in monospecific communities of C3 and C4 salt desert shrubs. Contrary to expectations, few of the hypotheses concerning the performance of C4 species were supported. Like the C3 species, Ceratoides lanata, the C4 shrub, Atriplex confertifolia, initiated growth and photosynthetic activity in the cool spring months and also exhibited maximum photosynthetic rates at this time of year. To compete successfully with C3 species, Atriplex may have been forced to evolve the capacity for photosynthesis at low temperatures prevalent during the spring when moisture is most abundant. Maximum photosynthetic rates of Atriplex were lower than those of the C3 species. This was compensated by a prolonged period of low photosynthetic activity in the dry late summer months while Ceratoides became largely inactive. However, the annual photosynthetic carbon fixation per ground area was about the same in these two communities composed of C3 and C4 shrubs. The C4 species did not exhibit greater leaf diffusion resistance than the C3 species. The photosynthesis/transpiration ratios of the two species were about the same during the period of maximum photosynthetic rates in the spring. During the warm summer months the C4 species did have superior photosynthesis/transpiration ratios. Yet, since Ceratoides completed a somewhat greater proportion of its annual carbon fixation earlier in the season, the ratio of annual carbon fixation/transpiratory water loss in the two communities was about the same. Atriplex did incorporate a greater percentage of the annual carbon fixation into biomass production than did Ceratoides. However, this is considered to be a reflection of properties apart from the C4 photosynthetic pathway. Both species displayed a heavy commitment of carbon to the belowground system, and only about half of the annual moisture resource was utilized in both communities.
Availability and Metabolism of Various Substrates in Ruminants. II. Rate of Acetate Oxidation as Affected by Availability of Substrate

Summary The sodium and potassium salts of acetic acid were infused into the external jugular vein of a 455-kg. Holstein steer at a rate to supply 20.27, 45.00, and 65.00g. of free acetic acid per hour for a period of 7 hr. Acetate-1-C 14 of high specific activity and of the same salt form was mixed thoroughly with the carrier (unlabeled) acetate before being infused. The expired gases were measured, sampled, and analyzed for CO 2 content and their radioactivity determined. From the specific activity of the expired CO 2 and the total carbon dioxide output, the grams of infused acetate oxidized, as well as the rate of oxidation, was determined. Of the 142, 315, and 455g. of acetate administered during the low, medium, and high rates of infusion, 103, 188, and 333g., respectively, were oxidized to CO 2 and expired. The mean rates of acetate oxidation were calculated to be 15.46, 28.12, and 51.38 g/hr for the three rates of infusion, respectively. At the highest rate of oxidation (51.38 g/hr) acetate accounted for 34.2% of the total carbon in the expired CO 2 . The contribution of the oxidized acetate toward the maintenance energy requirement of the animal was estimated to be 37.4%. The technique used for the collection, measurement, and sampling of the expired gases is applicable to the study of factors affecting the oxidation of various metabolites to carbon dioxide. The simplicity of operation of the mechanical equipment and the normalcy of the animal under the experimental conditions make the technique extremely advantageous for studies of this type. The large size of the expired gas aliquot and the high counting efficiency of the C 14 O 2 permit the use of low levels of radioactivity, thereby reducing hazard from radiation exposure.
Taxonomic implications of Prototheca and Chlorella cell wall polysaccharide characterization.

Four polysaccharide fractions were obtained by acid and alkaline degradation of purified cell walls of Prototheca spp. and Chlorella spp. These fractions were further hydrolyzed and the component sugars identified. Five Prototheca strains and two Chlorella protothecoides strains have essentially similar polysaccharide compositions, which significantly differ from those of C. vulgaris and C. pyrenoidosa. This emphasizes the close affinity of C. protothecoides to Prototheca spp. not shared by other Chlorella spp.
Boundary Layer Transition on Slender Cones in Conventional and Low Disturbance Mach 6 Wind Tunnels

An experimental investigation was conducted on a 5-degree half-angle cone and a 5-degree half-angle flared cone in a conventional Mach 6 wind tunnel to examine the effects of facility noise on boundary layer transition. The influence of tunnel noise was inferred by comparing transition onset locations determined from the present test to that previously obtained in a Mach 6 low disturbance quiet tunnel. Together, the two sets of experiments are believed to represent the first direct comparison of transition onset between a conventional and a low disturbance wind tunnel using a common test model and transition detection technique. In the present conventional hypersonic tunnel experiment, separate measurements of heat transfer and adiabatic wall temperatures were obtained on the conical models at small angles of attack over a range of Reynolds numbers, which resulted in laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow. Smooth model turbulent heating distributions are compared to that obtained with transition forced via discrete surface roughness. The model nosetip radius was varied to examine the effects of bluntness on transition onset. Despite wall to total temperature differences between the transient heating measurements and the adiabatic wall temperature measurement, the two methods for determining sharp cone transition onset generally yielded equivalent locations. In the 'noisy' mode of the hypersonic low disturbance tunnel, transition onset occurred earlier than that measured in the conventional hypersonic tunnel, suggesting higher levels of freestream acoustic radiation relative to the conventional tunnel. At comparable freestream conditions, the transition onset Reynolds number under low disturbance conditions was a factor of 1.3 greater than that measured on flared cone in the LaRC conventional hypersonic tunnel and a factor of 1.6 greater that the flared cone run in the low disturbance tunnel run 'noisy'. Navier-Stokes mean flow computations and linear stability analysis were conducted to assess the experimental results and have indicated N factors associated with sharp flared cone transition onset to be approximately a factor of 2 lower than that inferred from the corresponding low disturbance tunnel measurements.
Calibration of a space thermal/epithermal neutron detector: The Mars Observer Gamma-Ray Spectrometer anticoincidence shield

Abstract Procedures used for, and results of, a calibration of the combined anticoincidence shield and neutron detector (A/C-N subsystem) of the Mars Observer Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (MOGRS) are reported. Pulsed energy-dispersed neutrons were generated by directing a chopped deuterium beam from the Los Alamos Van De Graaff accelerator onto a thick Be target enclosed within a specially designed neutron moderating assembly. Absolute energy and angle-dependent detection efficiencies were determined for energies in the range between 0.05 eV and 2 keV and for incident angles between 0° and 150°. A 6 Li glass detector and a uranium ion chamber were used as calibrated references for the absolute efficiency determination, which was checked at 0.05 eV using neutrons provided by a large graphite neutron pile, also at Los Alamos. The results are found to be close to those calculated using a Monte Carlo Neutral Particle transport code for an isolated plate of BC454 scintillator (the active sensor of the A/C-N subsystem) with two notable exceptions. First, the measured efficiency below about 0.5 eV is less than the simulated one; second, the measured efficiency decreases more slowly with increasing energy than does the simulated efficiency. Although the actual detector is too complicated to be simulated accurately, we speculate that the relative reduction in efficiency below 0.5 eV may be caused in part by (i) reduced neutron transmission through the material of the sensor head assembly outside of the BC454 pyramid, (ii) reduced effective sensor area because of poor light-collection efficiency around the perimeter of each of the trapezoid plates, and (iii) molecular binding effects of hydrogen in both the BC454 scintillator and in its 1-mm carbon-epoxy cover. We also speculate that the increase in efficiency at about 0.5 eV and the general enhancement of detection efficiency at all higher epithermal energies may be due to the multiple scattering of incident neutrons in materials present in the MOGRS sensor head.
DYNAMIC SLUG TRACKING SIMULATIONS FOR GAS-LIQUID FLOW IN PIPELINES

Abstract A Lagrangian slug tracking model for dynamic gas-liquid slug flow in pipelines of varying inclinations has been formulated and implemented in C + + using an object-oriented approach. Slugs and bubbles are discrete computational objects which are coupled by exchange of mass and momentum, and organized in linked lists The flow parameters are determined from dynamic integral mass and momentum balances on each slug and bubble. A subgrid is used in bubbles extending over pipe sections with different inclinations Slugs and bubbles are initiated at the pipe inlet, or at low points along a pipeline, and the propagation of individual slugs are tracked dynamically, and without numerical diffusion. Some sample cases demonstrate how the structure of the flow can be followed as it evolves from terrain effects, expansion and wake effects. These are effects that may in some instances cause slugs to disappear and merging of bubbles during simulations. Terrain slugging compulations compare well with some experime...
Shielding a streak camera from hard x rays

The targets used in the hot halfraum campaign at OMEGA create many hot electrons, which result in a large flux of hard x rays. The hard x rays produce a high background in the streak camera. The background was significantly reduced by wrapping the streak camera with a high-Z material; in this case, 1/8 in. of Pb. The large hard x-ray flux also adds noise to images from framing cameras which use charge-coupled devices.
The Legal High: Factors Affecting Young Consumers' Risk Perceptions and Abuse of Prescription Drugs

Over the past decade, adolescent prescription drug abuse (PDA) has become such a serious public health problem that it is now classified as an epidemic. In addition, people who abuse prescription drugs are also at greater risk for engaging in other maladaptive behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine some key adolescent perceptions toward PDA, the incremental role of nonlinear effects, and their interaction effects with demographic variables. Using regression-based techniques, the authors report results from survey response data from more than 1,000 13- to 18-year-olds from 40 geographically dispersed areas in the United States. The results show that the effects of adolescent anxiety, the need to be popular, being a “good teen,” and the use of other restricted substances have both nonlinear effects and interaction effects with demographic characteristics on PDA risk perceptions and PDA itself. Perceptions of the risk of PDA partially mediate these effects. The authors offer implications of the p...
Design sensitivity analysis of critical load factor for nonlinear structural systems

Abstract A continuum formulation of sizing design sensitivity analysis of the critical load factor is developed for nonlinear structural systems that are subject to conservative static loadings. Both geometric and material nonlinear effects are considered. Sizing design variables, such as thickness and cross-sectional areas of structural components, are treated. The total Lagrangian formulation for an incremental equilibrium equation and one- and two-point linearized eigenvalue problems are utilized to estimate the critical load factor. A distributed parameter approach and the adjoint variable method are used to obtain design sensitivity expressions in continuum mechanics formulation. A numerical method is presented to evaluate design sensitivity expressions using established finite element codes. The proposed method is tested using several examples. The numerical results show that the proposed method for design sensitivity of the critical load factor is accurate. It is found that, as the applied load approaches the critical load, the design sensitivity of the critical load factor does not converge to the design sensitivity of the actual critical load, even though the estimated critical load converges to the actual critical load and the design sensitivity of the critical load factor is correct.
Distributed relay node positioning for connectivity restoration in partitioned Wireless Sensor Networks

Due to limited battery life of sensors and harsh deployment environments where they are deployed, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can be subjected to node failures. This can split the network into partitions containing healthy but unreachable nodes by the rest of the network including the sink node. One possible solution to this problem is deploying relay nodes assuming that the damaged area, the number of partitions and the location of the partitions are known to a centralized party. However, depending on the application, some of this information may not always be available, requiring a distributed self-deployment placement strategy. Such a strategy should not only guarantee the network connectivity but also strive to minimize the movement overhead on the relay nodes assuming that they are also battery-operated. In this paper, we present a distributed relay node positioning approach to address the problem of connectivity restoration in partitioned WSNs. The approach exploits Game Theory among the relay nodes and the partitions. Relay nodes determine the partitions to connect based on the probability distribution function (pdf) of the partitions. If the partition has a higher pdf, it is recovered earlier and becomes the part of the connected network. The recovery process takes place until reaching the system-wide unique Nash equilibrium. Game Theoretic approach has been shown to outperform baseline approaches under all conditions.
Electromyographic activity of the lumbar and hip extensors during dynamic trunk extension exercise.

Abstract Clark BC, Manini TM, Mayer JM, Ploutz-Snyder LL, Graves JE. Electromyographic activity of the lumbar and hip extensors during dynamic trunk extension exercise. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002;83:1547-52. Objective: To evaluate the effects of exercise intensity and multiple sets on muscle activation patterns during trunk extension exercise. Design: Descriptive, repeated measures. Setting: University-based musculoskeletal research laboratory. Participants: Twenty volunteers recruited from a university setting. Intervention: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Electromyographic activity was recorded from the L3–4 paraspinal region, gluteus maximus, and biceps femoris muscles during multiple sets of trunk extension exercise at intensities representing 40%, 50%, and 70% of peak isometric force. Results: As exercise intensity increased, the electromyographic activity of the gluteus maximus increased to a greater extent than the activity of the paraspinal region. At the 50% intensity level, biceps femoris electromyographic activity was significantly greater than the paraspinal region electromyographic activity, whereas at the 70% intensity no differences were found between muscles. During multiple sets of exercise at the same intensity a muscle by set interaction was observed. This interaction revealed that with respect to other muscle groups, the electromyographic activity of the gluteus maximus increased between sets 1 and 2, whereas electromyographic decrements occurred in the paraspinal region. During exercise at the 40% intensity level, biceps femoris electromyographic activity increased to a greater extent between sets 1 and 2 when compared with the paraspinal region. Conclusion: Exercise intensity and multiple sets result in alterations in muscle recruitment patterns of the lumbar and hip extensor muscles. These findings raise questions as to the efficacy of added loading and multiple sets during trunk extension exercise. © 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Abstract 82: CYP3A4 promotes mammary carcinoma angiogenesis in a cell iIntrinsic fashion.

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) has been recently been implicated in breast cancer cell growth and survival, but the role of cell intrinsic CYP3A4 in breast cancer cell engraftment and angiogenesis is unknown. Previously, we have characterized CYP3A4 knock down lines in which CYP3A4 is stably suppressed [J Biol Chem. 2011 May 20;286(20):17543-59]. The CYP3A4 knock down lines exhibit reduced proliferation and clonogenicity in vitro. We therefore tested in an estradiol dependent nude mouse mammary fat pad xenograft model whether the MCF-7 3-18 line (CYP3A4 shRNA), in which CYP3A4 protein levels are suppressed by 60%, exhibits reduced growth compared to a non-target line MCF-7 NT2. Before implantation, the suppression of CYP3A4 mRNA in the shRNA compared to NT2 cells was confirmed by qPCR. After 46 days of monitored tumor growth, the MCF-7 NT2 tumors exhibited a median size of 27±3 mm3 (median±SEM) compared to 2±0.6 mm3 for the MCF-7 CYP3A4 shRNA tumors. Tumor growth was modeled by a Gompertzian method and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.0018). The mammary fat pads were removed after sacrifice at the end of the experiment, inked, oriented and subjected to z-sectioning. All mice exhibited tumors. The CYP3A4 shRNA tumors exhibited necrosis (5 of 6 evaluable mice) whereas the NT2 control tumors did not (0 of 6 evaluable mice) (P=0.0152; two tailed Fisher9s exact test). Angiogenesis was measured by CD31 immunohistochemical staining using an automated microvessel image analysis algorithm (Image Analysis Toolbox, Aperio Technologies) allowing measurement of percentage of area occupied by CD31 staining cells at the cortex of tumor nodules. Percent area occupied by CD31 positive cells was 2.69±0.46 vs. 0.67±0.64 (mean±SEM) (P=0.033). Together, these results suggest that cell intrinsic CYP3A4 is important for mammary carcinoma growth and angiogenesis in a xenograft model. Citation Format: Zhijun Guo, Beverly Norris, Jonathan Henriksen, Monique Morgan, Michael Maher, Robert Schumacher, Robin Bliss, Haitao Chu, Kalpna Gupta, Stephen Schmechel, David Potter. CYP3A4 promotes mammary carcinoma angiogenesis in a cell iIntrinsic fashion. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 82. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-82
TH‐C‐BRC‐05: A CMOS‐Based Digital Imager Integrated with An Orthovoltage X‐Ray Therapy Unit for Guidance of Precise Small Animal Irradiation

Purpose: Orthovoltage x‐ray units are commonly used in experimental irradiation of small animal models. However, the irradiation of targets that are deep‐seated within the animal is rather problematic without an image‐guidance system. This study was aimed at evaluating the use of a CMOS‐based portal‐imaging system to provide image‐guidance for small animal irradiation using an orthovoltage unit. Method and Materials: The imaging system consists of a CMOS‐based x‐ray sensor and a frame grabber connected to a PC. A fast frame rate (20 frame/sec, 50 ms/frame exposure, 96 m pixel size) was used to minimize image saturation due to the relatively high output of a typical therapeutic x‐ray unit (Phillips RT‐250). We first evaluated the imaging system with a contrast and resolution phantom. A pilot animal study with this system was then carried out for experimental thoracic irradiation of mice to induce pulmonary fibrosis. We used 75‐kVp beam for imaging, and 250‐kVp beam for the treatment, while keeping the same irradiation geometry setup. Based on image findings, radiation shields to protect the critical organs were custom‐made. Results: The 8‐mm diameter contrast discs in the testing phantom, with a minimum contrast of 0.9%, are all visible in the images. The spatial resolution based on bar‐pattern findings is at least 4.0 lp/mm. Mouse anatomical structures are clearly visible in the images. The portal images provided sufficient information for target localization and shield placement in the mice lung irradiation experiments. Conclusion: The CMOS‐based imaging system provides high quality images. It is convenient to use in comparison to the use of x‐ray films. We expect more accurate small animal irradiation results under the portal‐imaging guidance. Development of future applications of the imager may include multi‐directional imaging guidance and 3‐dimentional cone‐beam CT guidance for animal irradiation. (Acknowledgment: Rad‐icon Imaging Corp. graciously provided the Shod‐o‐box™ imager for evaluation.)
Cost Justifications for Multifrequency Tympanometry.

MFT has the potential to become the standard of care when dealing with possible middle ear pathologies. By applying those applications appropriate to the individual practice, and with a reasonable ...
Pavement texture from high-speed laser for pavement management system

The locked-wheel skid trailer (ASTM E274) is commonly used to estimate the skid resistance of pavements in the United States. However, this method is very expensive and disturbs the traffic flows during the test. Hence, a correlation was developed between skid resistance or skid number (SN40R) values obtained using skid tester and the texture data or mean profile depth (MPD), collected using a vehicle-mounted laser operating at highway speeds from nine highway test sections. This paper describes two field tests performed to validate the above-mentioned Skid Resistance versus MPD correlation and to also develop a rapid screening methodology for skid resistance of a network of pavements. In addition to the locked-wheel skid trailer and vehicle-mounted laser, several other tests such as the Dynamic Friction Test (DFT), circular texture meter (CTM) and sand patch tests were also performed. The MPD values obtained from the vehicle-mounted laser operating at highway speeds and cumulative daily traffic volumes f...
Sites Inferred by Metabolic Background Assertion Labeling (SIMBAL): adapting the Partial Phylogenetic Profiling algorithm to scan sequences for signatures that predict protein function

Comparative genomics methods such as phylogenetic profiling can mine powerful inferences from inherently noisy biological data sets. We introduce Sites Inferred by Metabolic Background Assertion Labeling (SIMBAL), a method that applies the Partial Phylogenetic Profiling (PPP) approach locally within a protein sequence to discover short sequence signatures associated with functional sites. The approach is based on the basic scoring mechanism employed by PPP, namely the use of binomial distribution statistics to optimize sequence similarity cutoffs during searches of partitioned training sets. Here we illustrate and validate the ability of the SIMBAL method to find functionally relevant short sequence signatures by application to two well-characterized protein families. In the first example, we partitioned a family of ABC permeases using a metabolic background property (urea utilization). Thus, the TRUE set for this family comprised members whose genome of origin encoded a urea utilization system. By moving a sliding window across the sequence of a permease, and searching each subsequence in turn against the full set of partitioned proteins, the method found which local sequence signatures best correlated with the urea utilization trait. Mapping of SIMBAL "hot spots" onto crystal structures of homologous permeases reveals that the significant sites are gating determinants on the cytosolic face rather than, say, docking sites for the substrate-binding protein on the extracellular face. In the second example, we partitioned a protein methyltransferase family using gene proximity as a criterion. In this case, the TRUE set comprised those methyltransferases encoded near the gene for the substrate RF-1. SIMBAL identifies sequence regions that map onto the substrate-binding interface while ignoring regions involved in the methyltransferase reaction mechanism in general. Neither method for training set construction requires any prior experimental characterization. SIMBAL shows that, in functionally divergent protein families, selected short sequences often significantly outperform their full-length parent sequence for making functional predictions by sequence similarity, suggesting avenues for improved functional classifiers. When combined with structural data, SIMBAL affords the ability to localize and model functional sites.
Function of mechanically lengthened jejunum after restoration into continuity

Abstract Purpose Distraction enterogenesis is a potential treatment for patients with short bowel syndrome. We previously demonstrated successful lengthening of jejunum using a degradable spring device in rats. Absorptive function of the lengthened jejunum after restoration into intestinal continuity needs to be determined. Methods Encapsulated polycaprolactone springs were placed into isolated jejunal segments in rats for four weeks. Lengthened segments of jejunum were subsequently restored into intestinal continuity. Absorption studies were performed by placing a mixture of a non-absorbable substrate and glucose into the lumen of the restored jejunum. Results Restored jejunal segments demonstrated visible peristalsis at specimen retrieval. Compared to normal jejunal controls, restored segments demonstrated equal water absorption and greater glucose absorption. Restored segments had thicker smooth muscle, increased villus height, increased crypt depth, and decreased sucrase activity compared to normal jejunum. The density of enteric ganglia increased after restoration to near normal levels in the submucosa and to normal levels in the myenteric plexus. Conclusion Jejunum lengthened with a degradable device demonstrates peristaltic and enzymatic activity as well as glucose and water absorption after restoration into intestinal continuity. Our findings further demonstrate the therapeutic potential of a degradable device.
An Alternative Route for Nuclear mRNP Export by Membrane Budding

In eukaryotes, the double membrane of the nuclear envelope protects and organizes the genetic information that is stored as DNA in the nucleus. To use this information, the DNA must be transcribed into mRNA, packaged with proteins into a messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complex, and transported to the cytoplasm, where the information contained within the mRNA is translated into the corresponding protein. Until now, nuclear export of mRNP particles was thought to occur solely through nuclear pore complexes (NPCs)—transport channels inserted into the nuclear envelope at fusion sites between the inner and outer nuclear membranes ( 1 ). However, new findings by Speese et al. ( 2 ) suggest an alternative and unexpected route for a cellular mRNP to exit the nucleus, by membrane budding.
Is the recurrence relation for orthogonal polynomials always stable

Attention is drawn to a phenomenon of “pseudostability” in connection with the three-term recurrence relation for discrete orthogonal polynomials. The computational implications of this phenomenon are illustrated in the case of discrete Legendre and Krawtchouk polynomials. The phenomenon also helps to explain a form of instability in Stieltjes's procedure for generating recursion coefficients of discrete orthogonal polynomials.
Growth and fabrication of high-performance GaN-based ultraviolet avalanche photodiodes

Wide-bandgap III-nitride-based photodetectors are excellent candidates for high-sensitivity and cost-effective detection of photons in the ultraviolet and near-UV spectral region. Owing to the superior intrinsic properties of III-nitride materials for the detection of photons with short wavelengths λ<340 nm, and the recent improvement of materials and device technologies, III-nitride photodetectors have great potential to be of practical and commercial importance for various sensing, monitoring, and control applications. In this paper, we describe various aspects of the design, materials growth, and device fabrication of GaN-based photodetectors and the recent advances in the development of high-quality photodetectors based on GaN UV detection, including the demonstration of Geiger-mode operation. Finally, we discuss some of the important areas needing to be developed further.
Multifocal osteomyelitis due to Mycobacterium szulgai in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Mycobacterium szulgai is a pathogenic organism that most frequently causes pulmonary infection and may rarely result in disseminated disease in immunocompromised individuals. We report a case of multifocal osteomyelitis and cutaneous lesions due to M. szulgai in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The successful treatment of multifocal osteomyelitis was accomplished using isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol.
Pinning points: a method providing quantitative constraints on relative sea-level history

Abstract Quantitative constraints on the history of relative sea level allow for a better understanding of the controls on depositional sequence development. The constraints are provided by “pinning point curves”, plots of ancient relative sea-level elevations (pinning points) versus time. Constructing a pinning point curve requires identification of ancient stratigraphic positions of sea level through interpretation of facies and surfaces formed at sea level. Then, their ancient relative elevations are determined through reconstructing aspects of ancient paleotopography. Upper Miocene strata from Las Negras, southeastern Spain preserve paleotopography, contain ancient surfaces of subaerial exposure, and contain facies deposited near sea level. The pinning point curve illustrates a complex relative sea-level history with large- and small-scale relative sea-level fluctuations defined by 31 pinning points.