cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A demand response game and its robust price of anarchy

Increased variability in power generation due to large scale integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power is a significant technical challenge in power systems operations and control. In addition, there is a compelling value in reducing the peak demand since it occurs only for a small fraction of time, while the power system is designed to reliably satisfy the peak demand. One promising approach to reduce variability of renewable generation and peak demand is to harness the inherent flexibility of electric power loads of consumers. Efficient control techniques are required to manage flexibility in consumer demands. Advancements in sensing, communications and computational technologies infused into the power system resulting in the cyber-physical-social electric grid, are creating opportunities for novel control solutions. In this paper, we first formulate a centralized demand side management approach. Next, we consider a decentralized approach for controlling the loads where the flexible load consumers play a non-cooperative game among each other. We show that Nash equilibria exist for this game. Our main technical result is that the demand response game in decentralized approach has the property of being a valid monotone utility game. This in turn leads to robust lower bounds on the price of anarchy (POA) for our game.
PIXE spectrometry as an archaeometric tool

Abstract The first part of this paper describes the physical processes of PIXE that underlie its advantages as an analytical tool in the study of ancient artifacts, and the practical limitations met in the compositional patterning of bronzes, irons and glasses. Emphasis here is laid upon how a controlled variation of the proton beam's energy, and the use of selective filters in the detection system, allow certain background effects from the X-ray output of the dominant matrix element to be significantly reduced. The second part outlines current plans for the modification of the Bartol PIXE facility to provide a tightly-focused proton beam (typically 20 μm across) coupled to a laser-based optical system that will allow precise definition of the activated area of the artifact's surface. Such a configuration will much increase the range of applicability of the PIXE method, to encompass several inhomogeneous materials of archaeological interest, such as metal residues trapped in smelting slag, solder joins in Classical jewelry, and bronze (or iron) artifacts in which only islands of metal survive in a heavily developed matrix of corrosion products.
Dependable Service-Oriented Computing

Distributed computing, in which an application runs over multiple independent computing nodes, has a higher risk of one or more nodes failing than a centralized, single-node environment. On the other hand, distributed computing can also make an overall system more dependable by detecting those faulty nodes - whether they're due to an underlying hardware or software failure or to compromised security through malicious attacks and then redistributing application components or coordinating them via predefined protocols to avoid such problems. So, traditional dependability studies focus on fault detection, protocols for redistributing application components and coordinating them across nodes, and even failure estimation using system and component characterization.
Gγ Subunit-selective G Protein ॆ5Mutant Defines Regulators of G Protein Signaling Protein Binding Requirement for Nuclear Localization *

The signal transducing function of G5 in brain is unknown. When studied in vitro G5 is the only heterotrimeric G subunit known to interact with both Gγ subunits and regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins. When tested with Gγ, G5interacts with other classical components of heterotrimeric G protein signaling pathways such as Gα and phospholipase C-. We recently demonstrated nuclear expression of G5 in neurons and brain (Zhang, J. H., Barr, V. A., Mo, Y., Rojkova, A. M., Liu, S., and Simonds, W. F. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 10284–10289). To gain further insight into the mechanism of G5 nuclear localization, we generated a G5 mutant deficient in its ability to interact with RGS7 while retaining its ability to bind Gγ, and we compared its properties to the wild-type G5. In HEK-293 cells co-transfection of RGS7 but not Gγ2 supported expression in the nuclear fraction of transfected wild-type G5. In contrast the Gγ-preferring G5 mutant was not expressed in the HEK-293 cell nuclear fraction with either co-transfectant. The Gγ-selective G5 mutant was also excluded from the cell nucleus of transfected PC12 cells analyzed by laser confocal microscopy. These results define a requirement for RGS protein binding for G5 nuclear expression.
On the thermal stability of alpha-crystallin: a new insight from infrared spectroscopy

alpha-Crystallin is a major structural protein of the vertebrate lens which shows structural and functional similarities to small heat shock proteins. The structure and the thermal stability of bovine alpha-crystallin were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and differential scanning calorimetry. Infrared spectroscopic data provide evidence which corroborates the view that the secondary structure of alpha-crystallin is highly ordered and consists predominantly of beta-sheets. However, the present results fail to support the widespread notion of an extremely high thermal stability of the protein. All three experimental approaches used in this study show that alpha-crystallin undergoes a major thermotropic transition with a midpoint at 60-62 degrees C. Furthermore, Fourier-transform infrared spectra provide evidence that this conformational transition is associated with a massive loss of the native beta-sheet structure. These results shed new light on structural properties of alpha-crystallin and have important implications for understanding the mechanism of the chaperone-like action of this protein.
THE ADVERB AÚN

ONE of the points of Spanish usage that even a small amount of reading brings to one's attention is the use of the adverbs aun and ain. Available grammatical material fails to account satisfactorily for the difference that exists between the two forms. Elementary texts in more or less common use vary all the way from giving the distinction expressed, incidentally, as it were, by the Spanish Academy, to attempting to distinguish between the words through a difference in meaning. If one is not satisfied with these texts and seeks more pretentious authority in our own language, one finds in Ramsey's Text-book of Modern Spanish merely the distinction made by the Academy, expressed in these words:1 "When aun follows the verb it is pronounced as two syllables and is so accented. Secondarily aun has the meaning of even." Obviously the exceptions are so numerous that the rule is practically valueless. Of the Spanish authorities, the Academy grammar lists aun among the adverbs of time2 and, in a subsequent comment, has this to say: "No denota a veces idea de tiempo, sino encarecimiento en sentido afirmativo o negativo; v. gr.: te dare los cien reales que me pides, y aun doscientos si los necesitas; no tengo yo tanto, ni aun la mitad." In the chapter on accents, near the end of the book, one finds this additional statement:3 "El adverbio aun precediendo al verbo no se acentua, porque en este caso forman diptongo las dos vocales; pero se acentuara cuando vaya despues del verbo, porque entonces se pronuncia como voz aguda bisilaba: dAUN no ha venido? -No ha venido AtN." It may be of interest to note that the edition of 19044 has aun in the list of temporal adverbs, and that of 19165
The diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma

The increased incidence of prostatic carcinoma is the result of several factors including increased awareness among clinicians and the public of the significance of carcinoma of the prostate, the aging of the American population, and improvements in diagnostic methods. Most patients in whom prostatic cancer currently is diagnosed are evaluated because of symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction or abnormalities found by digital rectal examination (DRE). Incidentally detected carcinoma of the prostate on simple prostatectomy specimens (transurethral resection or open) occurs in 10-20% of patients
Pretraining a compound conditioned stimulus reduces unblocking

Rats perceived pairings of a light + tone compound conditioned stimulus (CS) with either a high- or low-value food unconditioned stimulus (US). Conditioning to the tone was blocked if the light had previously been paired with the same-value US. Considerable conditioning occurred to the tone if the light had been paired with the other-value US before compound conditioning. However, if after conditioning of the light, the compound was first paired with the same-value US, then subsequent pairings of the compound with the other-value US generated little conditioning to the tone. These results supported theories of blocking and unblocking that emphasize changes in the processing of the CS.
Examination of selected synthesis parameters for typical wood adhesive‐type urea–formaldehyde resins by 13C NMR spectroscopy. I

Selected synthesis parameters of typical wood adhesive-type urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins were examined using the 13 C NMR spectroscopy. The monomeric hydroxymethylureas and methylene-ether derivatives formed in the initial alkaline reaction polymerize in the subsequent acidic reaction by forming methylene bonds and cleaving some hydroxymethyl groups as formaldehyde. For typical resin syntheses at F/U ratio of 2.10, the resulting UF polymer is found to be a number-averaged pentamer having 3.25 polymer chain branches with about 80% of chain ends bonded to hydroxymethyl groups and the rest being free amide groups. When the second urea is added during the cooling period, about 67% of hydroxymethyl groups cleave from the UF polymeric components and the freed formaldehyde reacts with second urea to form monomeric hydroxymethylureas. This hydroxymethyl group move is suppressed when the second urea is added at low temperatures, suggesting that wood adhesive-type UF resins are composed of monomeric and polymeric UF components having hydroxymethyl functional groups in varying proportions.
Group Size and Population Density in the Probability of Joining or Leaving Free-Forming Groups

Transactions of free-forming groups (entries into and exits from these groups) were sampled in a conversation lounge to test the model proposed by Coleman and James. The data supported their assumptions for groups of size two or more. As predicted, exit probabilities increased as group size increased, and entry probabilities were independent of group size. The present study also attempted to replicate Tucker and Friedman's finding that group size was inversely related to population density. No such relation was found. Population density also had no effect on probability of entry or exit.
Microfluidic devices for the analysis of single cells: leaving no protein uncounted.

Microfluidic devices are revolutionizing bioanalysis, and designs capable of detecting single protein molecules are now available. Two recently described microfluidic devices provide information on...
Californium purification and electrodeposition

The staff at the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center, located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, produced a 6.3 ± 0.4 GBq (1.7 ± 0.1 Ci) 252Cf source for the Californium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) project at Argonne National Laboratory’s Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System. The source was produced by electrodeposition of a 252Cf sample onto a stainless steel substrate, which required material free from excess mass for efficient deposition. The resulting deposition was the largest reported 252Cf electrodeposition source ever produced. Several different chromatographic purification methods were investigated to determine which would be most effective for final purification of the feed material used for the CARIBU source. The separation of lanthanides from the Cf was of special concern. The separation, using 145Sm, 153Gd, and 249Cf as tracers, was investigated using BioRad AG 50X8 in α-hydroxyisobutyric acid, Eichrom LN resin in both HNO3 and HCl, and Eichrom TEVA resin in NH4SCN. The TEVA NH4SCN system was found to completely separate 145Sm and 153Gd from 249Cf and was adopted into the purification process used in purifying the 252Cf.
The effect of high-index liquids on PS-OCT imaging of dental caries

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high refractive index liquids on PS-OCT imaging of dental enamel. Several biocompatible agents such as propylene glycol and glycerol that have been proposed or utilized for soft tissue OCT experiments (skin and GI mucosa) were applied to the occlusal surfaces of sound and carious teeth. This study determined that the application of high refractive index liquids increased penetration depth in sound enamel to a greater degree than dried or water moistened samples. The results also demonstrated that image contrast between sound and carious enamel is dependent on the viscosity of the liquid and the degree of porosity of the carious lesion. The use of liquid agents with different viscositites in PS-OCT imaging may help determine the severity and depth of caries lesions in the occlusal pits and fissures.
The challenge of consulting with track and field athletes at the Olympic Games

Abstract The authors of this article served as sport psychology consultants for the 2000 USA Olympic track and field team that competed in Sydney, Australia. In this capacity they provided sport psychology services for the staff (coaches and managers) and athletes of the team not only during the Olympics but throughout the quadrennium (1997–2000) that preceded the Games. This article provides both an overview and the practical applications of various aspects of the service delivery framework that was utilized during this period, including research foundations; coping with physical bankruptcy, illness, and injury; drug testing; staff stress and strain; and mental skills training/interventions for elite track and field athletes. The article is presented in a case report format that illustrates the application of sport psychology strategies, techniques, and services to a variety of performance issues and circumstances that emerged during the track and field competition of the 2000 Olympic Games
10 6 -particle molecular-dynamics study of homogeneous nucleation of crystals in a supercooled atomic liquid

Application de la dynamique moleculaire a l'etude de l'etablissement du processus de cristallisation dans un liquide de Lennard-Jones en surfusion. Les resultats sont coherents avec la presence d'une barriere d'energie libre a la cristallisation, decrite precedemment par la theorie de nucleation classique, incluant l'existence d'une taille critique du noyau
The effect of cholesterol on the turnover of lecithin, cephalin and sphingomyelin in the rabbit.

Abstract The turnover of lecithin, sphingomyelin, and non-choline-containing phospholipides in the aorta, plasma, and liver of control and cholesterolfed rabbits was studied with the aid of radioactive phosphorus. In the cholesterol-fed animals, aortic lecithin and sphingomyelin, as well as plasma cephalins, lecithin, and sphingomyelin showed highly significant increases in concentration and rate of synthesis. The fact that in the greater proportion of the cholesterol-fed animals the specific activities of individual aortic phosphatides exceeded those of the corresponding lipides in plasma is presented as further evidence that the aortic phospholipides are synthesized in the aorta itself rather than derived from the plasma by deposition.
Bacterioplankton community diversity in a series of thermally stratified lakes

The dominant members of the bacterioplankton community in a set of 10 small, thermally stratified lakes in northeastern Indiana were determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of a polymerase chain reaction amplified fragment of 16S rDNA. The variability in community composition was analyzed as function of vertical stratification (epilimnion vs metalimnion), time (July vs August samples), and geographical location. In 58 discrete samples, a range of 8–23 bands were detected (mean = 14, s.d. = 4). For all variables, sample pairs shared about 40–70% of bands. In comparisons between depth strata, pairs of oxic samples shared more bands than an oxic–anoxic pair. There was no obvious relationship between the geographical location of lakes (or their physical connection) and band sharing.
Ion transport in a human lens epithelial cell line exposed to hyposmotic and apoptotic stress.

Membrane transport changes in human lens epithelial (HLE-B3) cells under hyposmotic and apoptotic stress were compared. Cell potassium content, Ki, uptake of the K congener rubidium, Rbi, and water content were measured after hyposmotic stress induced by hypotonicity, and apoptotic stress by the protein-kinase inhibitor staurosporine (STP). Cell water increased in hyposmotic (150 mOsm) as compared to isosmotic (300 mOsm) balanced salt solution (BSS) by >2-fold at 5 min and decreased within 15 min to baseline values accompanied by a 40% Ki loss commensurate with cell swelling and subsequent cell shrinkage likely due to regulatory volume decrease (RVD). Loss of Ki, and accompanying water, and Rbi uptake in hyposmotic BSS were prevented by clotrimazole (CTZ) suggesting water shifts associated with K and Rb flux via intermediate conductance K (IK) channels, also detected at the mRNA and protein level. In contrast, 2 h after 2 µM STP exposure, the cells lost ∼40% water and ∼60% Ki, respectively, consistent with apoptotic volume decrease (AVD). Indeed, water and Ki loss was at least fivefold greater after hyposmotic than after apoptotic stress. High extracellular K and 2 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) but not CTZ significantly reduced apoptosis. Annexin labeling phosphatidylserine (PS) at 15 min suggested loss of lipid asymmetry. Quantitative PCR revealed significant IK channel expression during prolonged hyposmotic stress. Results suggest in HLE-B3 cells, IK channels likely partook in and were down regulated after RVD, whereas pro-apoptotic STP-activation of 4-AP-sensitive voltage-gated K channels preceded or accompanied PS externalization before subsequent apoptosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 223: 110–122, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The double burden household in sub-Saharan Africa: maternal overweight and obesity and childhood undernutrition from the year 2000: results from World Health Organization Data (WHO) and Demographic Health Surveys (DHS)

Previous studies have characterized an increasing trend of double burden households, or households with individuals experiencing both undernutrition and obesity, in countries undergoing a nutrition transition. Although most prior studies indicate the prevalence of double burden households is highest in middle-income countries, there is some support for an increase in double burden households in sub-Saharan African countries as well. Using data from the Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of double burden households in sub-Saharan African countries was calculated and the associations between prevalence of overweight/obese adults and underweight, stunted and wasted children were evaluated at the country and household (DHS only) levels. Restricted analyses and frequencies were calculated using urban-only datasets. Surveys from 28 African countries were available using WHO data and 26 from the DHS surveys. Only surveys that were conducted after 2000 were included in analyses. Using the WHO datasets, there were inverse associations between the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults and underweight, stunting and wasting in children. Correspondingly, there were positive associations between adult underweight and child underweight, stunting and wasting. These associations were not significant in a smaller sample size using urban-only surveys. The prevalence of double burden households in DHS datasets was low: under 5 percent for obese mothers and underweight, stunted or wasted child pairs with a slightly higher percentage for overweight mothers and children with undernutrition. Restricting the analysis to urban only populations did not increase the frequencies of double burden households significantly. There was a low prevalence of double burden households in recent data from sub-Saharan Africa. Countries that have a high prevalence of child undernutrition correspondingly have a high prevalence of adult underweight and low prevalence of adult overweight and obesity.
Programmed Cell Death in Neurons: Focus on the Pathway of Nerve Growth Factor Deprivation-Induced Death of Sympathetic Neurons

Extensive programmed cell death (PCD) occurs in the developing nervous system. Neuronal death occurs, at least in part, because neurons are produced in excess during development and compete with each other for the limited amounts of the survival-promoting trophic factors secreted by target tissues. Neuronal death is apoptotic and utilizes components that are conserved in other PCD pathways. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of trophic factor-dependent neuronal cell death by focusing on the pathway of nerve growth factor (NGF) deprivation-induced sympathetic neuronal death. We describe the biochemical and genetic events that occur in NGF-deprived sympathetic neurons undergoing PCD. Participation of the Bcl-2 family of proteins and the interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme family of proteases (caspases) in this and other models of neuronal death is also examined. The order and importance of these components during NGF deprivation-induced sympathetic neuronal death are discussed.
Fully-Integrated CMOS Power Regulator for Telemetry-Powered Implantable Biomedical Microsystems

This paper reports a fully-integrated multi-output CMOS power regulator designed for telemetry-powered implantable microsystems. It is comprised of a CMOS full-wave bridge rectifier, a wide-range multi-output voltage reference and DC level shifter circuits, and three linear voltage regulators. The power regulator fabricated in a 1.5mum standard CMOS process, provides 5V, 3V, and 1.5V regulated outputs, exhibits load regulation factor of as low as 5% when delivering up to 17.3mA load current, and demonstrates line regulation factor of as low as 0.3%/V over 1.8-V input amplitude variation
Modeling Small Area Economic Change in Conjunction with a Multiregional CGE Model

Regional economic projections are often made at the level of spatial aggregation that is most convenient from political, data and computational perspectives. For example, in the US projections are often made at the level of 50 states. From a policy perspective this makes some sense since disbursements of federal funds for infrastructure are generally made to state governments and sub-state governments have little political representation at the federal level. Economic data is much richer at the state level than at any sub-state level. Also, for many models a larger number of regions than the 50 implies excessive computational burden.
How will we know millennium development results when we see them? Building a results-based monitoring and evaluation system to give us the answer

Results based monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is a powerful public management tool to help policy makers track progress and demonstrate the outcomes and impacts of a given policy, program, or project. In the context of MDG's having results based M&E system is important to assess whether governments are effectively using resources and making appropriate policy choices to achieve progress towards MDG achievement. Developing countries need as good as or better information than the more affluent countries to make decisions for they can least afford to put in place strategies that have weak implementation, have no discernible results, or are unfocused. Thus, the information and analysis that can come from a results-based M&E system goes to the heart of the matter for poorer countries-how will they know results when they seem them and how can they gather sufficient information to continually ensure they are using their scarce resources most appropriately in pursuit of their MDG's. The introduction of results based M&E strategies in developing countries is still in its infancy. As these governments move forward with their own strategies, they are trying new and innovative approaches that are enriching the pool of data and experiences. There is no blue print for moving forward and the challenges faced by developing countries are many. This paper discusses some approaches tried in a number of countries to build MDG results based M&E systems and some of the challenges encountered along the way.
Satisfiability modulo abstraction for separation logic with linked lists

Separation logic is an expressive logic for reasoning about heap structures in programs. This paper presents a semi-decision procedure for checking unsatisfiability of formulas in a fragment of separation logic that includes points-to assertions (x |-> y), acyclic-list-segment assertions (ls(x,y)), logical-and, logical-or, separating conjunction, and septraction (the DeMorgan-dual of separating implication). The fragment that we consider allows negation at leaves, and includes formulas that lie outside other separation-logic fragments considered in the literature. The semi-decision procedure is designed using concepts from abstract interpretation. The procedure uses an abstract domain of shape graphs to represent a set of heap structures, and computes an abstraction that over-approximates the set of satisfying models of a given formula. If the over-approximation is empty, then the formula is unsatisfiable. We have implemented the method, and evaluated it on a set of formulas taken from the literature. The implementation is able to establish the unsatisfiability of formulas that cannot be handled by previous approaches.
REACTIONS OF RABBITS TO INTRACUTANEOUS INJECTIONS OF PNEUMOCOCCI AND THEIR PRODUCTS : I. THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE.

1. Sixty rabbits were immunized by the repeated injections into the skin of small doses of suspensions of heat-killed Type I pneumococci. In 53 of the rabbits no type-specific antibodies appeared in the serum, and in the remaining seven the titre of these antibodies in the serum was very low. In all cases, however, the sera possessed a high titre of species-specific antibodies. 2. Forty-five rabbits similarly immunized by injections of heat-killed Type III pneumococci also failed to form type-specific antibodies but did form species-specific antibodies. 3. Suspensions of heat-killed R pneumococci and solutions of bacterial substances when injected into the skin stimulated the production of species-specific antibodies, although they failed to stimulate the production of any type-specific antibodies. 4. Animals which had been immunized by intracutaneous injections still possessed the ability to form type-specific antibodies when they were subsequently given intravenous inoculations of type-specific pneumococci.
Fabrication improvements for thermoset polyester (TPE) microfluidic devices

Thermoset polyester (TPE) microfluidic devices were previously developed as an alternative to poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) devices, fabricated similarly by replica molding, yet offering stable surface properties and good chemical compatibility with some organics that are incompatible with PDMS. This paper describes a number of improvements in the fabrication of TPE chips. Specifically, we describe methods to form TPE devices with a thin bottom layer for use with high numerical aperture (NA) objectives for sensitive fluorescence detection and optical manipulation. We also describe plasma-bonding of TPE to glass to create hybrid TPE–glass devices. We further present a simple master-pretreatment method to replace our original technique that required the use of specialized equipment.
Sensory and Chemical Effects of Cross-Flow Filtration on White and Red Wines

Cross-flow filtration is an increasingly common postfermentation process in the wine industry. Our hypothesis was that cross-flow filtration would not have a significant impact on the sensory or chemical properties of white or red wines because of the nature of the membranes used in this process. To investigate this, a California white wine blend and a California red wine blend were filtered in three 570 L lots using a Bucher Vaslin cross-flow unit with a nominal 0.22-micron polyethersulfone membrane. The unfiltered control was sent directly to the bottling line without filtration. Panelists evaluated the wines nine times during an eight-month descriptive analysis panel with replicated tasting at each time point. UV-vis spectrophotometry and the Adams–Harbertson assay were used to determine color and phenolic content of the filtered and unfiltered wines, respectively. The effect of filtration was significant for one sensory attribute out of 16 total measured in the white wine. Similar analysis indicated that six sensory attributes were significantly different out of 16 total in the red wine. Unfiltered red wines were higher in earthy, grassy, oak, and smoke aromas compared to filtered wines and lower in mixed berry and stone fruit aromas compared to the filtered wines, but only after two months in bottle. Cross-flow filtration was found to have a stabilizing effect on the sensory profile of both wines. For both wines there were significant changes in color and phenolic profile with filtration, but it is not clear, especially for red wines, whether the changes in phenolic compound concentration were great enough to be detected sensorially.
Governing Diversity: The Impact of Social Heterogeneity on Human Service Delivery

The social environment in which government is embedded has wide implications for public administration. The increasing social heterogeneity in the United States poses various puzzles for the governance structure in public human service programs. Apart from major political and policy changes, contracting out service delivery is considered to be a more appropriate managerial response. Therefore, social heterogeneity in a jurisdiction would be positively associated with the use of contractual networks in service delivery. Using data from a national survey of human service contracting, this study finds that states with higher degrees of social heterogeneity use service contractual networks more often. This further highlights the imperative of capacity building for public administrators when using contractual networks.
Isolation Precautions for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Electronic Surveillance to Monitor Adherence

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated guidelines for isolation precautions and added specific recommendations for the management of multidrug-resistant organisms. However, the extent to which these recommendations are followed is unknown. Although the recommendations are based on studies with high internal validity, the effectiveness of these interventions in clinical practice also is unknown. Evidence of the effectiveness of isolation precautions for preventing transmission of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms in acute care settings, with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as an example, was reviewed. Despite a lack of experimental data, numerous descriptive and correlational studies and a sound theoretical rationale strongly suggest that barrier precautions play an important role in the prevention of transmission of infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms. Two major problems, however, still exist. First, staff members' adherence to national recommendations on isolation precautions, although insufficiently described, appears to be inadequate. Second, efficient, reproducible methods for ongoing surveillance of practices such as isolation precautions are not readily available. Automated surveillance systems that provide support for making decisions are promising for this purpose, are likely to result in cost savings, and therefore warrant more widespread development, testing, and implementation.
The Process Information Space: The Importance of Data Flow in Robotic Systems

Data flow describes the motion of information through a robotic system. As this work investigates, data flow can also provide system-critical information about the robot that is useful for failure recognition, fault recovery and improved robot dependability. The approach developed in this paper applies a planning formulation to the observation and control of data flow through the reconfiguration of robot process connections. Simulated results are presented and a subterranean robot application is discussed
Separation of system dynamics and line spectra via sparse representation

The purpose of this work is to explore the use of sparse representation in the context of system identification and, in particular, to address the important problem of identifying spectral lines in the presence of colored noise. To this end we formulate an l 1 optimization problem, similar to Lasso, to incorporate an AR-model that accounts for the noise-color dynamics with contribution of sinusoids drawn out of an over-complete basis (dictionary). A suitable generalization for correlated time series sharing common components is also considered.
Auto Bias Control Technique Based on Asymmetric Bias Dithering for Optical QPSK Modulation

This paper describes a simple and highly sensitive auto bias control (ABC) technique based on asymmetric bias dithering for optical quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation and QPSK variants. Using our asymmetric bias dithering proposal, the required bandwidth of the ABC circuit is only dc ~ 2fd, where fd is the frequency of dithering, fd <; 1 kHz. Thus, the circuit can be constructed without using high-speed components, and bias control performance is not limited by the signal bit rate. In this paper, we detail the concept of asymmetric bias dithering. We describe experiments that confirm bias monitoring and ABC operation, using a 20-64 Gbit/s optical QPSK signal. Its typical penalty is 0.1 dB, and Q factor fluctuation is negligible over 6 h of operation.
Object instrumentation for distributed applications management

The development of complex distributed applications running on heterogeneous computer networks raises the strong demand for effective observation and control, i.e., for the management of the entire system behavior. Distributed systems create a new class of requirements especially in the areas of installation, consistent configuration, fault detection, and management exceeding what is necessary for stand-alone applications. In this context more flexibility and generality is required for both the management system and the instrumentation of the application components than that provided by existing network management systems. This paper proposes a method to support the development of manageable distributed applications based on a formal management interface definition and an instrumentation library. This method is also applicable to already existing components of distributed applications provided their source code is available.
Protein Footprinting by Carbenes on a Fast Photochemical Oxidation of Proteins (FPOP) Platform

Protein footprinting combined with mass spectrometry provides a method to study protein structures and interactions. To improve further current protein footprinting methods, we adapted the fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP) platform to utilize carbenes as the footprinting reagent. A Nd-YAG laser provides 355 nm laser for carbene generation in situ from photoleucine as the carbene precursor in a flow system with calmodulin as the test protein. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is appropriate to analyze the modifications produced in this footprinting. By comparing the modification extent of apo and holo calmodulin on the peptide level, we can resolve different structural domains of the protein. Carbene footprinting in a flow system is promising.
A novel method to induce nicotine dependence by intermittent drug delivery using osmotic minipumps

Although osmotic minipumps are a reliable method for inducing nicotine dependence in rodents, continuous nicotine administration does not accurately model the intermittent pattern of nicotine intake in cigarette smokers. Our objectives, therefore, were to investigate whether intermittent nicotine delivery via osmotic minipumps could induce dependence in rats, and to compare the magnitude and duration of withdrawal following forced abstinence from intermittent nicotine to that induced by continuous nicotine administration. In order to administer nicotine intermittently, rats were surgically implanted with saline-filled osmotic minipumps attached to polyethylene tubing that contained hourly unit doses of nicotine alternating with mineral oil to mimic "injections". Three doses of nicotine (1.2, 2.4, and 4.8mg/kg/day) and saline were administered for 14days using this method. In order to compare our intermittent delivery method with the more traditional continuous nicotine delivery, a second group of rats was implanted with minipumps attached to tubing that delivered continuous nicotine for 14days. Rats were administered a 1.5mg/kg subcutaneous (SC) mecamylamine challenge and observed for somatic signs of withdrawal on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 following minipump implantation. Fifteen somatic withdrawal signs were summed within a 50-minute observation period to obtain a composite Dependence Score. A generalized linear mixed-effects model revealed a significant Day×Dose×Method interaction. Amongst continuously-treated rats, only 4.8mg/kg/d nicotine resulted in dependence scores significantly greater than those of controls at 14days of exposure. In contrast, all intermittent nicotine groups showed significantly higher scores beginning at 7days of exposure and persisting beyond 7days of abstinence. In general, intermittent delivery produced a more robust withdrawal syndrome than continuous delivery, and did so at a lower dose threshold and with greater persistence after forced abstinence.
Influence of oxidative homeostasis on bacterial density and cost of infection in Drosophila–Wolbachia symbioses

The evolution of symbioses along the continuum between parasitism and mutualism can be influenced by the oxidative homeostasis, that is the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant molecules. Indeed, ROS can contribute to the host immune defence to regulate symbiont populations, but are also toxic. This interplay between ROS and symbiosis is notably exemplified by recent results in arthropod-Wolbachia interactions. Wolbachia are symbiotic bacteria involved in a wide range of interactions with their arthropods hosts, from facultative, parasitic associations to obligatory, mutualistic ones. In this study, we used Drosophila-Wolbachia associations to determine whether the oxidative homeostasis plays a role in explaining the differences between phenotypically distinct arthropod-Wolbachia symbioses. We used Drosophila lines with different Wolbachia infections and measured the effects of pro-oxidant (paraquat) and antioxidant (glutathione) treatments on the Wolbachia density and the host survival. We show that experimental manipulations of the oxidative homeostasis can reduce the cost of the infection through its effect on Wolbachia density. We discuss the implication of this result from an evolutionary perspective and argue that the oxidative homeostasis could underlie the evolution of tolerance and dependence on Wolbachia.
Restricted ankle dorsiflexion self-mobilization

SUMMARYJOINT MOBILIZATIONS ARE INDICATED WHEN AN IMPAIRMENT IN JOINT CAPSULAR MOBILITY IS IDENTIFIED. THE ABILITY FOR THE CLIENT OR PATIENT TO PERFORM A SELF-MOBILIZATION OF THE ANKLE MAY HELP MAXIMIZE OUTCOMES. SELF-MOBILIZATION TECHNIQUES OF THE ANKLE CAN BE PERFORMED WITHOUT THE AID OF A CLINICIA
Competitive conditioned reinforcement during differential reinforcement of low rates

Three pigeons were exposed to an FR-10 conditioned reinforcement probe superimposed over baselines generated by DRL schedules. Response rates increased when the probes were introduced.
Building Peace in Mali: Calling for a Second Miracle from Civil Society, Inspired by the 1996 Peace of Timbuktu

The Republic of Mali collapsed in March 2012, under the weight of government mismanagement, a vast trans-continental network of cocaine smuggling, and the unexpectedly heavy fall-out of NATO's destruction of the Gadafy regime in Libya. Social Capital has bound Mali's diverse peoples together for generations, in webs of economic interdependency and through a complex system of 'cousinage' called 'sanunkuya' in Bambara (each of Mali's ten national languages has its own appellation for these 'joking relationships'). Under the stress of cocaine and drought, with the additional toxin of jihadist fanaticism and personal ambition that have divided the Saharan Tuareg communities of Kidal, will the nation's social fabric be strong enough to heal the wounds of war and drive out the new signs of racism that have infected the discourse of angry politicians North and South? The Peace of Timbuktu, that healed the wounds of the 1990 Tuareg revolt, was put together by Malian civil society (including women) under wise political leadership from Bamako. Is there any sign that similar ingredients will be able to produce another recipe for peace in Mali? The lessons learned from the 1996 Timbuktu Flame of Peace are presented in our 1998 book A PEACE OF TIMBUKTU. Mali has shown positive progress since French and Chadian troops drove the jihadists out of northern Mali in OPERATION SERVAL, during January and February 2013. But the Malian army has fallen to pieces, with green berets shooting red berets and all of them being accused by the UN and other observers of killing unarmed civilians and being guilty of rape. Is it possible to reform the Malian army? Without doing that, will it be possible to convince the Northerners (Fulani and Sonrai, as well as Tuareg and Arab) that they should 'buy into the new Mali'? Has the breakdown of social capital and the famous 'cousinly relationships' known as 'sununkuya' reached breaking point between ethnic groups? These are the biggest challenge facing Mali's newly elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (known as 'IBK'), whose name recalls the glory days of the Mali Empire founded in the year 1235 by IBK's illustrious predecessor Mansa Sunjata Keita, the Lion King. Mali's legislative elections will be taking place almost as the ASA conference meets in November, so we will be looking at a fluid and unstable and exciting period in Mali's history.
Research about How to Use MFC in the Second Development of UG

UG/Open API and UG/Open MenuScript were introduced,based on the difficulty of UG development,a way to use MFC in UG/Open API was suggested,and a whole example was given to explain how to use UG/Open API,MFC and MenuScript to develop UG.
Investigation on Condition of City Neighborhood Sports in Zhejiang Province

Through using the method of questionnaire and mathematical statistics, this paper makes investigation on condition of community sports for 161 neighborhoods in Zhejiang province. The result shows that leader structure is complete and leaders who in charge of community sports are very serious. Community sports propaganda is not enough. Per-capita sports financing for neighborhood people is shortage,and source of financing is single. Sports facility in community is shortage while the sports facility in schools and work units are idle. The construction of Social sports instructors and adult physical testing station are lag behind. It is good to organize single and complex sports activity in neighborhoods.
Ultrasound medical image enhancement and segmentation using adaptive homomorphic filtering and histogram thresholding

Ultrasound images, though easy to obtain, have inherent flaws due to low frequency tissue image aberrations such as poor contrast caused by the presence of the granular speckle noise. The proposed algorithm aims to improve the ability to differentiate between healthy and malignant conditions via the use of homomorphic filtering and Otsu's gray-level histogram thresholding. The characteristics of the Gaussian window function are adaptively changed based on the input ultrasound image samples taken from different medical ultrasonography scans. A cost estimation function helps establish the adaptability of the filter by means of calculating the mean and variance of local windows and correspondingly evaluate the most discriminative part of the image sample in process. Signal to noise ratio is adopted as an image quality measure of the enhancement operation. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the homomorphic filtering and the robustness of the overall system as a useful diagnostic tool.
Estimating uncertainty in respondent-driven sampling using a tree bootstrap method

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a network-based form of chain-referral sampling used to estimate attributes of populations that are difficult to access using standard survey tools. Although it has grown quickly in popularity since its introduction, the statistical properties of RDS estimates remain elusive. In particular, the sampling variability of these estimates has been shown to be much higher than previously acknowledged, and even methods designed to account for RDS result in misleadingly narrow confidence intervals. In this paper, we introduce a tree bootstrap method for estimating uncertainty in RDS estimates based on resampling recruitment trees. We use simulations from known social networks to show that the tree bootstrap method not only outperforms existing methods but also captures the high variability of RDS, even in extreme cases with high design effects. We also apply the method to data from injecting drug users in Ukraine. Unlike other methods, the tree bootstrap depends only on the structure of the sampled recruitment trees, not on the attributes being measured on the respondents, so correlations between attributes can be estimated as well as variability. Our results suggest that it is possible to accurately assess the high level of uncertainty inherent in RDS.
Predicting Home and Community Walking Activity Poststroke

Background and Purpose—Walking ability poststroke is commonly assessed using gait speed categories developed by Perry et al. The purpose of this study was to reexamine factors that predict home and...
Racial disparities in prostate cancer outcome among prostate-specific antigen screening eligible populations in the United States.

18Background: In 2012, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening, despite evidence that Black men are at a higher risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM). We evaluated whether Black men of potentially screening-eligible age (55-69) are at a disproportionally high risk of poor outcomes. Methods: The SEER database was used to study 390,259 men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States between 2004-2011. Multivariable logistic regression modeled the association between Black race and stage of presentation, while Fine-Gray competing risks regression modeled the association between Black race and PCSM, both as a function of screening eligibility (age 55-69 vs not). Results: Black men were more likely to present with metastatic disease (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.65; 1.58-1.72; P< 0.001) and were at a higher risk of PCSM (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 1.36; 1.27-1.46; P< 0.001) compared to Non-Black men. There were ...