cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-Time Microgrid Simulation for Power Consumption and Energy Sources Optimization

For Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) or a household, investing in a renewable energy power sources or battery system is not an easy decision. Cost efficiency, payback period and overall suitability of investment are often unknown and hard to estimate as well as choosing the right technologies and the optimal amount is difficult. To be able to provide educated estimate, the system for real-time virtual simulation of microgrid based on secondary measurements and online smart-meter data inputs was created.
Can a brief, digital skill training intervention help undergraduates “learn to learn” and improve their STEM achievement?

Students who drop out of their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors commonly report that they lack skills critical to STEM learning and career pursuits. Many training programs exist to develop students’ learning skills and they typically achieve small to medium effects on behaviors and performance. However, these programs require large investments of students’ and instructors’ time and effort, which limits their applicability to large lecture course formats commonly employed in early undergraduate STEM coursework. This study examined whether brief, digital training modules designed to help students apply learning strategies and self-regulated learning principles effectively in their STEM courses can impact students’ behaviors and performance in a large biology lecture course. Results indicate that a 2-hr Science of Learning to Learn training had significant effects on students’ use of resources for planning, monitoring, and strategy use, and improved scores on quizzes and exams. These findings indicate that a brief, self-guided, online training can increase desirable learning behaviors and improve STEM performance with minimal cost to learners or instructors. Implications for future design of interventions and their provision to students in need of support are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)
Interfaces with the peripheral nervous system for the control of a neuroprosthetic limb: a review.

The field of prosthetics has been evolving and advancing over the past decade, as patients with missing extremities are expecting to control their prostheses in as normal a way as possible. Scientists have attempted to satisfy this expectation by designing a connection between the nervous system of the patient and the prosthetic limb, creating the field of neuroprosthetics. In this paper, we broadly review the techniques used to bridge the patient’s peripheral nervous system to a prosthetic limb. First, we describe the electrical methods including myoelectric systems, surgical innovations and the role of nerve electrodes. We then describe non-electrical methods used alone or in combination with electrical methods. Design concerns from an engineering point of view are explored, and novel improvements to obtain a more stable interface are described. Finally, a critique of the methods with respect to their long-term impacts is provided. In this review, nerve electrodes are found to be one of the most promising interfaces in the future for intuitive user control. Clinical trials with larger patient populations, and for longer periods of time for certain interfaces, will help to evaluate the clinical application of nerve electrodes.
Does stimulating ground arthropods enhance nutrient cycling in conventionally managed corn fields

Abstract Exploring ways to reduce high-nutrient agricultural runoff is imperative, considering how such runoff reduces water quality and has the potential to cause harmful algal blooms. Ground arthropod communities, particularly detritivores (i.e. consume dead plant or animal tissue matter), are largely ignored as a possible avenue for reducing nutrient runoff. However, stimulating these organisms may help maintain nutrient availability with decreased fertilizer application rates, thereby increasing application efficiency while reducing nutrient runoff potential. With the aim of stimulating the detrital community and soil microbes to ultimately enhance nutrient availability, we added a labile substrate and nutrient source (carcasses of Hexagenia spp. (mayflies), as well as a recalcitrant substrate and nutrient source (Zea mays corn stover), both separately and in combination, to plots on four conventionally managed corn fields in northwest Ohio, U.S.A. Over the seven-week study period, we found that detritivores increased with mayfly additions with or without stover, but arthropods that prey on detritivores only increased with mayfly and corn additions in combination. Soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities did not respond to any treatments, but when mayflies were added microbial respiration increased. Respiration was positively correlated with arthropod abundance. Mayfly additions initially boosted water-soluble ammonium, and, in plots without stover, increased phosphate throughout the experiment. Overall, our results are consistent with other findings of generally low levels of biotic activity on conventional corn fields, making it difficult to stimulate further activity over short time-scales, like the seven-week one in this study. However, our results also indicate that additions of labile detritus enhance detritivores and nutrient availability. Adding labile detritus in combination with recalcitrant detritus, which promotes detritivore predators, may further enhance nutrient cycling rates. Thus, the potential for these amendments to stimulate soil biota to help maintain nutrient availability with decreased fertilizer application rates compels further study on conventional corn fields over longer periods of time or in organic fields with higher baseline activity.
The timing of spawning and egg production as constraints on male mating success in a simultaneously hermaphroditic fish

The evolutionary stability of simultaneous hermaphroditism depends in part on the existence of constraints on the potential for male mating success. In the seabasses (Serranidae), several species of simultaneous hermaphrodites divide each day's clutch of eggs into parcels that are spawned sequentially and alternately with a partner. This behavior is thought to be one source of constraint on male mating success. A possible related source is the pattern of egg production. A study was therefore performed on the chalk bass,Serranus tortugarum, to examine this pattern. The results indicate that eggs are readied for spawning gradually over the course of the daily spawning period. The pattern of egg production acts jointly with spawning behavior in constraining male mating success. This pattern may be a pre-existing state to which the mating system has been adjusted, or it may have co-evolved with the mating system.
E-062 Impact of angiographic appearance of proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion on first pass reperfusion

Background and Purpose The first pass effect (FPE) is a key predictor of clinical outcome after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS). We aim to study the impact of initial angiographic appearance of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion on FPE. Methods A prospectively maintained MT database from January 2018 to December 2019 was reviewed. Patients with M1 segment MCA occlusion were included. FPE was defined as complete reperfusion (mTICI2c-3) after a single pass thrombectomy. Occlusion site angiographic appearance was classified into two categories; regular, when the occlusion is smooth stump with abrupt cut off and irregular which included all other types of occlusion. The primary outcomes were the rates of FPE and functional independence (90-day mRS 0–2). Uni- and multivariable analyses were performed to identify predictors of FPE. A secondary analysis was the interaction between the first line MT technique and the shape of occlusion on the FPE. Results A total of 319 were included in the analysis, the mean age was 65.1 years, 168 (52.7%) were females. Median [IQR] baseline NIHSS score was 17 [12–21] and ASPECTS was 8 [7–9]. Patients with the regular shape of occlusion had a significantly higher frequency of smoking (28.5% vs. 18.5%, p=0.037). Cardioembolic strokes were more frequently presented with the regular shape of occlusion (53.1% vs. 43.9%). Conversely, intracranial atherosclerosis was significantly associated with irregular shape of occlusion (13.2% vs. 6%), p=0.04. Irregular occlusion shape had significantly lower median number of MT passes to achieve successful reperfusion (1 [1–2] vs. 2 [1–3], p=0.01 and higher rates of FPE 46% vs. 34.6%, p=0.04) and a trend to lower rates of parenchymal hematoma type 2 (2.6% vs. 6.9%, p=0.067). There was no significant interaction between first-line MT technique and the shape of occlusion on FPE. Functional independence and 90-day mortality were similar between the two groups. On multivariable analysis, the irregular shape of occlusion was an independent predictor of FPE (OR 1.756; 95% CI[1.049–2.940], p=0.03). Conclusions The angiographic shape of M1 occlusion is a predictor of FPE. Large prospective multicenter studies are warranted for a better understanding of whether the occlusion appearance guides the selection of the MT techniques and hence potentially increase the chance of FPE. Disclosures M. Mohammaden: None. D. Haussen: 2; C; Stryker, Vesalio. 4; C; Viz.AI. L. Pisani: None. A. Al-Bayati: None. S. Belagaje: None. N. Bhatt: None. M. Frankel: None. R. Nogueira: 2; C; Phenox, Anaconda, Genentech, Brainomix, Viz-AI
Forging a Relationship between Drug Abuse Epidemiology and Drug Abuse Prevention

The marriage of epidemiology and prevention has long been recognized and encouraged in public health. This marriage took place in the 18th and 19th centuries with observations such as those of Bernoulli, who determined the long-term effects of smallpox inoculation; Snow, who associated the outbreak of cholera in London with the use of a particular water pump; Louis, whose studies on bloodletting altered medical practice; and Simmelweis, who pointed out the relationship between puerperal fever and the fact that medical staff did not wash their hands with soap or disinfectant between performing autopsies and delivering babies (Lilienfeld & Lilienfeld, 1980). The marriage of epidemiology and prevention of drug abuse had also been proposed but was never fully consummated until the 1970s with the funding of general-population surveys and longitudinal studies that followed youngsters through their high risk-years into early adulthood. Such studies led to the development of causal hypotheses and theories about the etiology of drugabusing behaviors to guide prevention programming and research, but large gaps remain in our knowledge of drug-abuse epidemiology and drug abuse prevention. The goal of this chapter is to establish a link between drug abuse epidemiology and drug abuse prevention and show what contributions epidemiology has made to the field of prevention research and practice. It provides examples from past and current research and offers recommendations for further research. The emphasis is on research, however, and how this research can be translated for, and to, prevention practitioners.
Changes in interoception after alcohol administration correlate with expectancies and subjective effects

Interoceptive signals give rise to subjective feeling states that can drive motivational and behavioural responses. In the context of alcohol use behaviours, interoceptive signals may shape subjective alcohol experiences and thereby support biobehavioural mechanisms of drinking behaviour change. This study examined the acute effects of alcohol on participants' interoceptive abilities and determined whether pharmacologically induced changes in heart beat detection correlate with subjective alcohol effects, craving and expectancies. Participants completed a two-session, double-blind placebo controlled experiment (n = 27). Participants consumed a beverage containing 0.4 g/kg of alcohol or a placebo. They also completed measurements of alcohol expectancies at baseline, and alcohol-induced changes in mood, craving and light-headedness. Interoceptive ability was measured using the heartbeat discrimination task prior to and following beverage administration, yielding indices of interoceptive accuracy, confidence and meta-cognition. Alcohol administration increased interoceptive accuracy compared with baseline and placebo; and those changes in interoception negatively correlated with negative alcohol expectancies. Further, changes in interoception positively correlated with perceived light-headedness and positive mood after alcohol administration, whereas null effects were found for craving. In the placebo condition, null results were obtained. Alcohol is well established to change bodily states, and here, we find that the extent to which alcohol increases participants' sensitivity to bodily states correlates with their subjective drinking experiences. This was observed in relation to mood, light-headedness and prospective alcohol expectancies. We posit that over successive alcohol experiences, changes in bodily states may feed into the development of alcohol expectancies that could in turn predict future drinking behaviours.
Contributions of natural signal statistics to spectral context effects in consonant categorization

Speech perception, like all perception, takes place in context. Recognition of a given speech sound is influenced by the acoustic properties of surrounding sounds. When the spectral composition of earlier (context) sounds (e.g., a sentence with more energy at lower third formant [F3] frequencies) differs from that of a later (target) sound (e.g., consonant with intermediate F3 onset frequency), the auditory system magnifies this difference, biasing target categorization (e.g., towards higher-F3-onset /d/). Historically, these studies used filters to force context stimuli to possess certain spectral compositions. Recently, these effects were produced using unfiltered context sounds that already possessed the desired spectral compositions (Stilp & Assgari, 2019, Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 81, 2037–2052). Here, this natural signal statistics approach is extended to consonant categorization (/g/–/d/). Context sentences were either unfiltered (already possessing the desired spectral composition) or filtered (to imbue specific spectral characteristics). Long-term spectral characteristics of unfiltered contexts were poor predictors of shifts in consonant categorization, but short-term characteristics (last 475 ms) were excellent predictors. This diverges from vowel data, where long-term and shorter-term intervals (last 1,000 ms) were equally strong predictors. Thus, time scale plays a critical role in how listeners attune to signal statistics in the acoustic environment.
Impulsivity or Discounting? Evaluating the Influence of Individual Differences in Temporal Orientation on Offending

Few studies have evaluated Nagin and Pogarsky’s (2004) proposed distinction between impulsivity and discounting. This study evaluates and expands upon their framework to consider distinct discounting rationales, perceived age-at-death (PAAD) and expected social value (ESV), and whether impulsivity conditions the effects of these discounting rationales on offending; both in the short-term and over time. Negative binomial and group-based trajectory modeling strategies are used in conjunction with a sample of high-risk males from the Pathways to Desistance Study to assess Nagin and Pogarsky’s framework. In the negative binomial models, impulsivity and PAAD influence offending, while ESV does not. Impulsivity level also does not condition the effects of discounting. In the trajectory models, PAAD and impulsivity influence offending, while ESV does not. Here, impulsivity level moderates the effect of ESV, but not PAAD. Findings support Nagin and Pogarsky’s general framework of inter-temporal choice but also encourage scholars to focus more closely on the diverse rationales for temporal-orientation. Further, consideration of these mechanisms within a developmental perspective is necessary. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.
Differential Regulation of Transcription Factor T-Bet Induction During NK Cell Development and Th1 Cell Differentiation

Adaptive CD4 T helper cells and their innate counterparts, innate lymphoid cells, utilize an identical set of lineage-determining transcription factors (LDTFs) for their differentiation and functions. However, similarities and differences in the induction of LDTFs in these lymphocytes are still elusive. Here we show that type 1 T helper (Th1) cells and natural killer (NK) cells displayed distinct epigenomes at the Tbx21 locus, which encodes T-bet, the LDTF for type 1 lymphocytes. The initial induction of T-bet in NK precursors was dependent on the NK-specific DNase I hypersensitive site Tbx21-CNS-3 and the expression of IL-18 receptor; IL-18 induced T-bet expression through RUNX3, which bound to Tbx21-CNS-3 . By contrast, STAT-binding motifs within Tbx21-CNS-12 were critical for IL-12-induced T-bet expression during Th1 cell differentiation both in vitro and in vivo . Thus, type 1 innate and adaptive lymphocytes utilize distinct enhancer elements for their development and differentiation.
Efficient information-theoretic model input selection

Of fundamental importance to proper system identification and virtual sensing is the determination and assessment of an optimal set of input signals independent of the final model form. If the system is causal and deterministic, it is possible to efficiently compute an information-theoretic optimal input set for a desired uniform accuracy of the target estimate and maximal dimension of the candidate input set. A branch and bound combinatorial optimization algorithm based on an estimate of joint mutual information is presented as part of a total coherent methodology of input selection.
The Capstone Course in Business Programs: Teaching the Application of International Business Research Skills.

ABSTRACT An empirically based international business research project as a component in the capstone course in undergraduate business program can serve as an effective and integrative learning and teaching tool. Initiated and supervised by the instructor, conducted and completed by the students, the research project enables students working collaboratively to apply their statistical skills to understand how international business knowledge is created and evaluated. A prototype research project is presented to illustrate this approach. Pedagogical implications are discussed in terms of course rigor, effective use of classroom time, and applicability in other settings.
α4β7 integrin is required for the inflammatory recruitment of mast cell progenitors to the lung

Abstract Rationale Phenotypically heterogeneous populations of mast cells (MCs) originate from a single bone marrow derived precursor (MCp) that lacks distinctive granules. Although allergic or helminth induced mucosal inflammation involves reactive MC hyperplasia, the responsible mechanisms are incompletely studied. Methods Using a limiting dilution and MC colony formation assay, we evaluated changes in MCp number in the lung due to T-helper Class 2 polarized immune responses. As mature MC are increased during inflammation, we wished to test the hypothesis that this increase was due to an influx of MCp. We induced pulmonary inflammation by ip sensitization of mice with ovalbumin in alum, followed by aerosolized ovalbumin challenge. Results A ∼5 fold increase in MCp concentration was detectable in the lung after 3 days of challenge in sensitized BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice. Continued challenge enhanced the MCp yield and resulted in the appearance of mature MC in the lung. Although β7-integrin deficient mice had normal numbers of baseline MCp in their lung, these mice exhibited a 65% reduction in ovalbumin induced pulmonary MCp recruitment which was not apparent in either their +/+ controls or αϵ-deficient mice. Conclusions Taken together, these findings demonstrate distinct integrin requirements for basal and inflammation induced MCp recruitment to the lung, and specifically implicate the α4β7 integrin heterodimer as a requirement for the inflammatory recruitment of MCp to the lung.
Detecting and debugging insecure information flows

A new approach to dynamic information flow analysis is presented that can be used to detect and debug insecure flows in programs. It can be applied offline to validate and debug a program against an information flow policy, or, when fast response is not critical, it can be applied online to prevent illegal flows in deployed programs. Since dynamic analysis alone is inherently unable to detect implicit information flows, our approach incorporates a static preprocessing phase that permits detection of most implicit flows at runtime, in addition to explicit ones. To support interactive debugging of insecure flows, it also incorporates a new forward computing algorithm for dynamic slicing, which is more precise than previous forward computing algorithms and is not restricted to programs with structured control flow. A prototype tool implementing the proposed approach has been developed for Java byte code programs. Case studies in which this tool was applied to several subject programs are described.
Accelerated single-column procedure for automated measurement of amino acids in physiological fluids.

This automated analytical procedure involves a single 27 cm x 0.9 cm column of UR-40 resin and a stepwise elution with sodium citrate buffers. In one sequential run more than 35 acidic, neutral, and basic amino acids can be measured in physiological fluids in 6 h. Thus, a minimum of three runs can be performed per 24 h, during which the analysis can be unattended. Increased sensitivity allows the use of small samples (such as 0.2 ml of plasma ultrafiltrate). Picric, sulfosalicylic, or perchloric acids are not required for sample preparation. Ultrafiltration under nitrogen pressure is used instead and gives a clear solution containing the free amino acids. Ultrafiltration rate is 1 ml per 1.5 h; 10 samples can be processed simultaneously.
Pulsations in short gamma ray bursts from black hole-neutron star mergers

The precise of short gamma ray bursts (SGRBs) remains an important open question in relativistic astrophysics. Increasingly, observational evidence suggests the merger of a binary compact object system as the source for most SGRBs, but it is currently unclear how to distinguish observationally between a binary neutron star progenitor and a black hole-neutron star progenitor. We suggest the quasiperiodic signal of jet precession as an observational signature of SGRBs originating in mixed binary systems, and quantify both the fraction of mixed binaries capable of producing SGRBs and the distributions of precession amplitudes and periods. The difficulty inherent in disrupting a neutron star outside the horizon of a stellar mass black hole biases the jet precession signal towards low amplitude and high frequency. Precession periods of $\ensuremath{\sim}0.01--0.1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{s}$ and disk-black hole spin misalignments $\ensuremath{\sim}10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ are generally expected, although sufficiently high viscosity may prevent the accumulation of multiple precession periods during the SGRB. The precessing jet will naturally cover a larger solid angle in the sky than would standard SGRB jets, enhancing observability for both prompt emission and optical afterglows.
Evidence for differential cellular adhesion as the mechanism of sorting-out of various cellular slime mold species

Various authors have shown previously that if the amoebae of two species of slime molds are mixed they have the ability to sort themselves out. In the work reported here, the sortingout of cells of several slime mold species was examined in clumps of cells in suspension. Cells of four species, Dictyostelium discoideum (Dd), D. mucoroides (Dm), D. purpureum (Dp), and Polysphondylium violaceum (Pv), were mixed in pairs in suspension and clumps of cells formed. Dd and Pv cells sorted out completely and formed separate clumps, each of single species. Both Dd and Dm, when mixed separately with Dp, formed clumps containing both species. Sorting-out took place in these clumps such that the cells of Dd and Dm partially enveloped the Dp cells. Finally, in the Dd-Dm mixtures, the Dm cells always sorted out such that they surrounded the Dd cells. When mixed in a 1:2 ratio (Dd:Dm) the Dm cells formed a complete shell around a sphere of Dd cells. Sorting-out of cells in clumps in suspension can occur by either of two possible mechanisms: response of cells to a chemotactic gradient or differences in cell surface strengths of adhesion (Steinberg, 1964). Mixing of two species in a clump of cells and observing the process of sorting-out permits one to distinguish between these two mechanisms (Steinberg, 1964). By such an analysis it was found that the sorting-out observed in mixtures of Dd and Dm is consistent with the mechanism of differential cellular adhesion. The major reasons for this are (1) when the adhesive properties of the cells are known to change the Dd cells began to move inside the clumps, (2) the Dd cells coalesced into islands rather than streaming inward independently, and (3) the Dd cells and cell masses did not lie at the center of the clumps but rather lay randomly within the clumps. The partial envelopment observed in the Dd-Dp and Dm-Dp mixtures and the separate clumps formedby the Dd-Pv mixtures are also consistent with differential cellular adhesion. They represent cases in whichthe interspecific strengths of adhesion are low (Dd-Dp and Dm-Dp) and near zero (Dd-Pv).
Mobile communications anytime, anywhere: The impact on work-life balance and stress

Mobile communication technologies have fundamentally altered the concept of going to work. Work has been transformed from a place you go to a function you perform, whenever and wherever you are. Laptops, smartphones, and tablets enable users to transition seamlessly between work and personal activities anytime and anywhere. The effect of this capability on an individual's ability to balance their work and personal life and manage personal stress remains under study. One thing is clear. Modern societies are still in the early stages of this transformation. While 88% of Americans have cell phones, only 46% have Smartphones and just 19% have Tablet PCs. These devices are fast, powerful, and quickly become integrated into our lives as constant companions. This paper presents the results of a survey of engineering and technology students at a Midwestern university. No significant relationship between laptop use and personal stress was found and work-life balance was only negatively impacted when usage exceeded 3 hours on days off. While significant percentages of smartphone users reported increased stress, similar percentages felt the accessibility of the smartphone reduced their stress levels. Users overwhelmingly responded that smartphones improve their ability to balance their work and personal life.
Cardio-respiratory synchrony in anuran larvae (Xenopus laevis, pachymedusa dacnicolor, and Rana berlandieri)

Abstract 1. 1. Heart rate and branchial irrigation rate (respiratory rate) were measured in larvae of Xenopus laevis, Pachymedusa ducnicolor , and Rana berlandieri . Although rates fluctuate considerably for undisturbed individuals in normoxic water, heart rate and respiratory rate are typically synchronous. 2. 2. Minor mechanical disturbance disrupts cardio-respiratory synchrony in Xenopus laevis ; recovery can be slow (>90min). Asynchrony is characterized by a slower respiratory rate and tachycardia. 3. 3. Rana larvae depart from cardio-respiratory synchrony when subjected to aquatic hypoxia (74 Torr Po 2 ). Asynchrony here is characterized by faster respiratory rates and bradycardia. 4. 4. Cardio-respiratory synchrony includes phase locking, with ventricular contraction initiated during the mouth-closing phase of the respiratory cycle. Cardio-respiratory synchrony may facilitate branchial and systemic perfusion in tadpoles. 5. 5. The taxonomic and morphological diversity of these larvae suggests that the phenomenon of cardio-respiratory synchrony may be widespread in tadpoles.
Mutation studies with Drosophila melanogaster exposed to four fluorinated hydrocarbon gases

Abstract Four fluorinated hydrocarbon gases, Freon C-318, perfluorobutene-2, Genetron-23, and Genetron-152A were administered to research stocks of Drosophila melanogaster to determine if each gas would be mutagenic under the experimental conditions delineated. All data were subjected to statistical treatment using t -test analysis and/or Steven's ( J. Genetics 43, 301, 1942) test. The fluorinated hydrocarbons were found to significantly increase mutation rates in progeny Drosophila over control levels. Genetron-23 appears to be the most mutagenic of the gases. For each gas studied, pronounced phenotypic effects were observed among progeny of exposed males. While most of the deviant phenotypes found had been previously described in the literature, the fused medial “unicorn” antenna phenotype and two tumors were not described by Lindsley and Grell (Carnegie Institute of Washington, Publ. no. 627, 1967). Whether or not these phenotypes have a genetic origin was not determined. Although varying effects from each gas were noted, it is recognized that an undetermined part of the observed mutagenic effects of gases may be due to anoxia and this aspect warrants further investigation. The production of lethal mutations in the F 2 generation and the increase of melanotic tumors in gas exposed Drosophila strains would be more than sufficient reason to expand these studies to other gases, to other forms of living organisms, and to the establishment of further research in the field of mutagenic gas ecology.
Microporous Ultrafiltration of Skim Milk

Membranes with porosities of 100 and 200 nm were used to obtain a 4:1 milk volume reduction. Average micelle diameters determined from electron micrographs were 46 nm (permeate) and 52 nm (permeate) for the 100-nm-pore fractions and 46 and 55 nm for the 200-nm-pore fractions. The calculated average micellar volumes of the retentate fractions were about twice those of the corresponding permeate fractions. Casein-whey ratios were 0.7-0.9 in the permeates and 5.0-7.7 in the retentates. Higher αs2- and lower β-casein contents were found in the permeate micelles than in the retentates.
Class of stochastic optimal-control problems under conflict of interest

Necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for a class of differential games which are a deterministic representation of a stochastic optimal-control problem. The stochastic disturbance is assumed to be a 2nd-order process. The degrading effects due to the stochastic disturbance are approximated using its first two moments. An example is included
STM capacity for Chinese words and idioms: Chunking and acoustical loop hypotheses

The capacity of short-term memory (STM) for verbal materials depends both upon the number of familiar chunks and upon the average complexity (number of syllables) of the chunks. A model that predicts STM capacity well was built, incorporating these two factors, for a number of experiments that used both Chinese and English language materials. One experiment, which used Chinese homophones, showed that STM has a nonacoustical (visual or semantic) component as well as an acoustical one. STM capacity for material encoded nonphonologically appears to be no greater than three chunks, whereas acoustical STM has a capacity of up to seven chunks. This result was confirmed by an experiment using chunks (radicals) that do not possess highly familiar one-syllable names.
Gulf war depleted uranium risks

US and British forces used depleted uranium (DU) in armor-piercing rounds to disable enemy tanks during the Gulf and Balkan Wars. Uranium particulate is generated by DU shell impact and particulate entrained in air may be inhaled or ingested by troops and nearby civilian populations. As uranium is slightly radioactive and chemically toxic, a number of critics have asserted that DU exposure has resulted in a variety of adverse health effects for exposed veterans and nearby civilian populations. The study described in this paper used mathematical modeling to estimate health risks from exposure to DU during the 1991 Gulf War for both US troops and nearby Iraqi civilians. The analysis found that the risks of DU-induced leukemia or birth defects are far too small to result in an observable increase in these health effects among exposed veterans or Iraqi civilians. The analysis indicated that only a few ( approximately 5) US veterans in vehicles accidentally targeted by US tanks received significant exposure levels, resulting in about a 1.4% lifetime risk of DU radiation-induced fatal cancer (compared with about a 24% risk of a fatal cancer from all other causes). These veterans may have also experienced temporary kidney damage. Iraqi children playing for 500 h in DU-destroyed vehicles are predicted to incur a cancer risk of about 0.4%. In vitro and animal tests suggest the possibility of chemically induced health effects from DU internalization, such as immune system impairment. Further study is needed to determine the applicability of these findings for Gulf War exposure to DU. Veterans and civilians who did not occupy DU-contaminated vehicles are unlikely to have internalized quantities of DU significantly in excess of normal internalization of natural uranium from the environment.
Video Game Violence and the Female Game Player: Self‐ and Opponent Gender Effects on Presence and Aggressive Thoughts

Adding depth and breadth to the general aggression model, this paper presents three experiments that test the relationships among user and opponent gender representation, opponent type, presence, and aggressive thoughts from violent video game play. Studies I and 2 suggest that females experience greater presence and more aggressive thoughts from game play when a gender match between self and game character exists. Studies 2 and 3 indicate that playing against a human opponent (rather than a computer) increases aggressive thoughts. Finally, although Studies 1, 2, and 3 indicate that playing as a female against a male opponent increases aggressive thoughts, Studies 1 and 2 suggest that playing as a male against a female opponent consistently and significantly decreases aggressive thoughts.
MyPDL: a web-based personal digital library

In recent years we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the volume of electronic and digital information that has been produced and as a result we feel increasingly overwhelmed by the amount of digital information that needs to be managed. This paper describes a Web-based personal digital library system, myPDL, which was designed and developed to allow individual users to create, store, organize, and retrieve their own personal digital information collections. The major distinctions between the developed tool and digital libraries in general were that major considerations were put on the functionalities of user customization and user personalization.
Abstract 3509: Overexpression of 14-3-3γ contributes to chromosomal instability in human lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths, and nearly all lung cancers exhibit genomic instability which results in an abnormal number of chromosomes known as aneuploidy. In many lung cancers, 14-3-3 proteins have been shown to be aberrantly activated or suppressed, which implies that these proteins have potential roles in tumorigenesis. Our lab has demonstrated that over expression of one 14-3-3 family member, 14-3-3γ, in a non-small cell lung cancer cell line leads to an increase in the number of cells that exhibit polyploidy, suggesting that this 14-3-3 protein can disrupt normal chromosome segregation. Additionally, overexpression of 14-3-3γ leads to atypical DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Further evaluation of the polyploid population induced by overexpressing 14-3-3γ revealed that a majority of the cells were multinucleated, often with two or more nuclei of unequal size and morphology. Live cell microscopy shows that this nonlinear marked increase in nuclear content is due to unequal distribution of DNA to the daughter cells upon cellular division, promoting chromosomal instability. Our data indicates that 14-3-3γ may play an important role in maintaining normal diploidy, but when overexpressed, as seen in many lung cancers, can lead to increased levels of chromosomal instability and progression into aneuploidy. Citation Format: Cecil J. Gomes, Sara Centuori, Jesse D. Martinez. Overexpression of 14-3-3γ contributes to chromosomal instability in human lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3509. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3509
Potential for ill-posedness in several second-order formulations of the Einstein equations

Second-order formulations of the 3+1 Einstein equations obtained by eliminating the extrinsic curvature in terms of the time derivative of the metric are examined with the aim of establishing whether they are well posed, in cases of somewhat wide interest, such as ADM, BSSN and generalized Einstein-Christoffel. The criterion for well-posedness of second-order systems employed is due to Kreiss and Ortiz. By this criterion, none of the three cases are strongly hyperbolic, but some of them are weakly hyperbolic, which means that they may yet be well posed but only under very restrictive conditions for the terms of order lower than second in the equations (which are not studied here). As a result, intuitive transferences of the property of well-posedness from first-order reductions of the Einstein equations to their originating second-order versions are unwarranted if not false.
Boussinesq solution for solitary waves in uniform channels with sloping side walls

The analytical solution to the Boussinesq equations for solitary waves travelling in uniform water channels with sloping side walls is presented. Quantitative effects of channel cross-sectional geometry and channel side-wall slope at the waterline on the wave profile and wave speed, as well as the criteria for positive solitary waves to exist, are discussed. The new Boussinesq solution is also compared with the existing Korteweg-de Vries solution obtained by Peregrine. It is found that the two solutions are consistent for small amplitude waves while, for relatively large waves, the Boussinesq solution gives different predictions for wave speed and for the criteria for solitary waves to exist.
Innate and Learned Predator Recognition Mediated by Chemical Signals in Eurycea nana

Effective and efficient predator recognition and avoidance are essential for the persistence of prey populations, especially in habitats where non-native predators have been introduced. Predator recognition studies are commonly couched within a learned or innate dichotomous framework; however, characteristics of some systems or species could favor innate recognition combined with the ability to alter avoidance responses based on experience with predators. Eurycea nana is a fully aquatic salamander inhabiting a system with a diverse, yet temporally stable, community of native and non-native opportunistically foraging fish predators. To examine predator recognition, we examined avoidance responses (decreased activity) of predator-naive (first-generation, captive-reared) and predator-experienced (recently collected) E. nana to the chemical cues of a native predator, a non-native predator, a non-predator, and a blank control. Both predator-naive and predator-experienced E. nana significantly lowered activity in response to the native fish predator when compared with a blank control. Interestingly, predator-naive E. nana decreased activity in response to the non-native fish predator while predator-experienced E. nana did not. These results indicate that while there is an innate component to predator recognition in E. nana, experience and risk assessment may also be important.
A base change in the catalytic core of the hairpin ribozyme perturbs function but not domain docking.

The hairpin ribozyme is a small endonucleolytic RNA motif with potential for targeted RNA inactivation. It optimally cleaves substrates containing the sequence 5‘-GU-3‘ immediately 5‘ of G. Previou...
Corrigendum to “Inhibition and biotransformation potential of naphthenic acids under different electron accepting conditions” [Water Res. 47 (1) (January 2013) 406–418]

1. All citations referring to Misiti et al., 2012 in the text should be Misiti et al., 2013. 2. In the reference Misiti, T., Tezel, U., Pavlostathis, S., 2012. Fate and effect of naphthenic acids on oil refinery activated sludge wastewater treatment systems. Water Research 47 (1), 449e460, the year should be 2013 instead of 2012. 3. A systematic calculation error occurred in the data given in Table 2. However, the discussion and conclusions reachedwith the old data are not affected. The correct table is given below.
Suppression of insulin oversecretion by subcutaneous recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I in children with congenital hyperinsulinism due to defective beta-cell sulfonylurea receptor.

Congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia in infants under 1 yr of age. HI is most often due to defective glucose-insulin coupling by the beta-cell sulfonylurea receptor (SUR1) or glutamate dehydrogenase. HI-induced hypoglycemia carries significant morbidity, and current therapies are suboptimal. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) decreases insulin secretion in vitro and in healthy adults in vivo. We postulated that recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) could benefit children with HI and hypoglycemia by decreasing insulin levels and improving fasting tolerance. We enrolled nine subjects in an open label trial of rhIGF-I: eight children, ages 1 month to 11 yr, with HI due to identified mutations of SUR1 (n = 5) or clinically unresponsive to diazoxide, which acts via the SUR (n = 3), and one adult, age 32 yr, with HI due to defective glutamate dehydrogenase-1. All had suboptimal glycemic control and served as their own controls. Subjects underwent 24-h glucose monitoring under their home regimens, followed by a supervised fasting study. The controlled fast was terminated when the subject became hypoglycemic (blood glucose, <50 mg/dL) or developed symptoms consistent with hypoglycemia. The fast was repeated 2 days later with administration of rhIGF-I at 40 microg/kg, s.c., every 12 h. At the start of fasting rhIGF-I lowered the mean serum insulin level by 70% (21.0 +/- 11.1 vs. 6.3 +/- 2.2 microIU/mL; P < 0.04) and lowered the mean serum C peptide level by 43% (2.1 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.6 ng/mL; P < 0.04). rhIGF-I suppression of insulin and C peptide persisted throughout the fast. The duration of fasting did not change significantly with rhIGF-I treatment. We have directly demonstrated that rhIGF-I inhibits insulin oversecretion in children with HI due to defective SUR1. Our data suggest that IGF inhibition of insulin secretion does not require an intact SUR. rhIGF-I is unlikely to be effective monotherapy for HI, but may provide synergy to inhibit insulin secretion when combined with agents acting via IGF-independent mechanisms.
Prospective trial of endoscopic clips versus combination therapy in upper GI bleeding (PROTECCT--UGI bleeding).

Prospective Trial of Endoscopic Clips Versus Combination Therapy in Upper GI Bleeding (PROTECCT—UGI Bleeding)
A hospital-based digital computer system for research and clinical applications

Abstract A computer system is described that has been designed for use in both a research and a clinical environment. The system utilizes a small computer (PDP/8) capable of being used autonomously, but also able to function as a satellite of a larger, more fully equipped machine (IBM 1800). Such a system has the advantage of making available to the inexperienced user a small relatively simple to use machine, while at the same time providing access to a more sophisticated system when the need arises. The low cost of the satellite computer makes it possible for each investigator to have his own computer (eliminating scheduling problems) and makes it economically feasible to commit a computer to a single, routine clinical task.
The elasticities of spread monolayers of bovine serum albumin and of ovalbumin.

Abstract The elasticities of monolayers of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and of ovalbumin (OA) have been measured directly by determining the changes in surface tension caused by sinusoidal compression-expansion cycles of small amplitude. Below a surface pressure (π) of about 5 dynes/cm, the initial elasticities of both monolayers agree with the values determined from the slope of the BSA surface pressure-area isotherm. At higher pressures, the measurements are erratic, although they are still in the same range as the results from the isotherm. Continued deformation at small amplitude of both BSA and OA monolayers results in no changes in elasticity for films below π = 5 dynes/cm, whereas above this pressure the elasticity of BSA increases and that of OA decreases. Deformation at higher amplitude of BSA monolayers causes the elasticity to increase more markedly as a function of time, at all surface pressures. The presence of (0.1%) 1-butanol in the subphase results in a decrease of the elasticity of BSA films at all pressures. These results provide new evidence regarding intermolecular interactions in protein films, specifically with regard to the questions of reversibility and collapse.
Internal structure and stability of carbon nanoclusters: arc discharge preparation versus CO disproportionation

Abstract Carbon nanoclusters prepared at high temperature by arc discharge, and at low temperature by CO disproportionation with and without hydrogen present, were compared in their morphology, internal structures, and stability. Electron microscopy shows similar external morphology in the three different sample types, with the internal structures different depending on the preparation conditions. These differences result in different stabilities. Nanotubes of cylindrical structure are stable to annealing at 1000°C in both helium and hydrogen atmosphere. Two-minute electron bombardment disordered tubes slightly. However, filaments of conical fishbon structure deposited in the presence of hydrogen, significantly deform under the same conditions.
Effects of Ara‐C on neutral sphingomyelinase and mitogen‐and stress‐activated protein kinases in T‐lymphocyte cell lines

Neutral sphingomyelinase (SMase)1 can be activated by extracellular signals to produce ceramide, which may affect mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities. Neutral SMase activity was assessed in membranes from Jurkat, a human T-cell line, and EL4, a murine T-cell line. Ara-C activated SMase within 10 minutes in both Jurkat and EL4 cells, while phorbol ester (PMA) had no effect. PMA, but not Ara-C or ceramides, activated ERK MAPKs in Jurkat and EL4. PMA acted synergistically with ionomycin to activate JNK MAPKs in Jurkat and EL4 within 10 minutes. Ara-C activated JNKs only after prolonged incubation (90-120 minutes). Thus, ceramide is not a positive signal for ERK activation in T-cell lines. The effects of Ara-C on JNK activity may be mediated through secondary response pathways.