cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RAPID DIFFERENTIATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS AND MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS USING GLYCEROL SUSCEPTIBILITY AND QUANTITATIVE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

BACKGROUND The differentiation between Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and Mycobacterium bovis has significant epidemiological and therapeutic implications, such as their susceptibility to different drugs and the need for different approaches to patient isolation. However, currently this differentiation is based on laboratory methods that take 8 to 16 weeks. Simple qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can not differentiate between MTB and M bovis because of their genetic similarities. METHODS We evaluated the use of quantitative PCR (QPCR) and glycerol susceptibility to differentiate MTB from M bovis. Three patient isolates of M bovis and 5 patient isolates of MTB were suspended in 7H9 broth containing 0.0%, 0.2%, or 0.6% glycerol. These suspensions were inoculated on 7H11 plates and incubated at 37 degrees C and 5% CO2. QPCR was performed after 0, 3, and 6 days of incubation. RESULTS After 6 days of incubation for M bovis isolates, the mean DNA concentration decreased by one log in the presence of 0.6% glycerol while for MTB isolates, the mean DNA concentration increased by one log regardless of the glycerol concentration. CONCLUSION These data suggest that QPCR and glycerol susceptibility may be used to differentiate between MTB and M bovis within 1 week.
The geometric invariants $${\Omega^{n}}$$ of a product of groups

We compute the geometric invariants \({\Omega^{n}}\) of a product G × H of groups in terms of \({\Omega^{n}(G)}\) and \({\Omega^{n}(H)}\) . This gives a sufficient condition in terms of \({\Omega^{n}(G)}\) and \({\Omega^{n}(H)}\) for a normal subgroup of G × H with abelian quotient to be of type Fn. We give an example involving the direct product of the Baumslag–Solitar group BS1,2 with itself.
The Design of Waveguide-Fed Slot Arrays

Many different types of wave-guiding structures have found practical application in a variety of microwave devices. These guiding structures include the coaxial line, rectangular and circular waveguides, stripline, and microstrip. A characteristic of each of these structures is that it will support a set of modes, usually described as consisting of two subsets: TE (transverse electric) and TM (transverse magnetic). For the multiple-conductor structures (coaxial line, stripline, and microstrip) a TEM mode is also possible—indeed, is the dominant mode.
Deep phenotyping predicts Huntington's genotype.

Comprehensive phenotyping of Huntington's disease in mice yields phenotypic signatures of disease-causing genetic variants.
The enigma of the apparent disappearance of Eurasian highly pathogenic H5 clade 2.3.4.4 influenza A viruses in North American waterfowl

One of the major unresolved questions in influenza A virus (IAV) ecology is exemplified by the apparent disappearance of highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1, H5N2, and H5N8 (H5Nx) viruses containing the Eurasian hemagglutinin 2.3.4.4 clade from wild bird populations in North America. The introduction of Eurasian lineage HP H5 clade 2.3.4.4 H5N8 IAV and subsequent reassortment with low-pathogenic H?N2 and H?N1 North American wild bird-origin IAVs in late 2014 resulted in widespread HP H5Nx IAV infections and outbreaks in poultry and wild birds across two-thirds of North America starting in November 2014 and continuing through June 2015. Although the stamping out strategies adopted by the poultry industry and animal health authorities in Canada and the United States-which included culling, quarantining, increased biosecurity, and abstention from vaccine use-were successful in eradicating the HP H5Nx viruses from poultry, these activities do not explain the apparent disappearance of these viruses from migratory waterfowl. Here we examine current and historical aquatic bird IAV surveillance and outbreaks of HP H5Nx in poultry in the United States and Canada, providing additional evidence of unresolved mechanisms that restrict the emergence and perpetuation of HP avian influenza viruses in these natural reservoirs.
Exploring the Relationship Between Entrepreneurial Orientation, CEO Dual Values, and SME Performance in State‐Owned vs. Nonstate‐Owned Enterprises in China

Most entrepreneurial orientation (EO)–performance research focuses on identifying organizational–level contingent factors in developed countries. In this study, we advance EO research by examining ...
An Analysis of John Twelve in Stephen Crane's THE MONSTER

Stephen Crane's The Monster is a novella loaded with the names of minor characters who reside within the town of Whilomville. One of these numerous minor characters is John Twelve, who is presented...
Written on the heart: on the grounds of moral obligation in natural law theory

The extent to which God grounds normativity within natural law theory is analyzed. I examine Hugo Grotius’s understanding of natural law and human nature and show that Grotius makes few explicit me...
Ultrasound Stimulation of Insulin Release from Pancreatic Beta Cells as a Potential Novel Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disease that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and around the world. This disease is characterized by loss of insulin secretion and, eventually, destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Controlling type 2 diabetes is often difficult as pharmacological management routinely requires complex therapy with multiple medications, and loses its effectiveness over time. The objective of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a novel, non-pharmacological approach that uses the application of ultrasound energy to augment insulin release from rat INS 832/13 beta cells. The cells were exposed to unfocused ultrasound for 5 min at a peak intensity of 1 W/cm2 and frequencies of 400 kHz, 600 kHz, 800 kHz and 1 MHz. Insulin release was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and cell viability was assessed via the trypan blue dye exclusion test. A marked release (approximately 150 ng/106 cells, p < 0.05) of insulin was observed when beta cells were exposed to ultrasound at 400 and 600 kHz as compared with their initial control values; however, this release was accompanied by a substantial loss in cell viability. Ultrasound application at frequencies of 800 kHz resulted in 24 ng/106 cells released insulin (p < 0.05) as compared with its unstimulated base level, while retaining cell viability. Insulin release from beta cells caused by application of 800-kHz ultrasound was comparable to that reported by the secretagogue glucose, thus operating within physiological secretory capacity of these cells. Ultrasound has potential as a novel and alternative method to current approaches aimed at correcting secretory deficiencies in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Upper-Extremity Arterial Evaluations:

Upper-extremity ischemia is much less common than lower-extremity ischemia. There are diverse etiologies for upper-extremity ischemia, making the diagnosis challenging. A thorough history and physi...
Practical Matlab experience in lecture-based signals and systems courses

In this paper we report our efforts to streamline the curriculum of a lecture-based course on signals and systems with exercises using the Matlab computing environment. We use a computer framework to generate individualized variations of problems, which are assigned to teams of students as well as to individual students. Feedback from students revealed that the new components were helpful for better understanding of the materials and hold strong promise in our new approach to interactive and hands-on learning. Furthermore, we discuss an auto-grading system that will provide students with instantaneous feedback and ease the task of evaluating projects in the next offering of the course.
The Toxoplasma Cytoskeleton: Structures, Proteins and Processes

Abstract The Toxoplasma gondii cytoskeleton is critically important to parasite motility, host cell invasion, tensile strength, subcellular organization, vesicle trafficking, nuclear division, formation of daughter cells, and microgamete motility. It consists of microtubules, actin filaments, intermediate filament–like proteins, centrins, kinesin, dynein and myosin motor proteins, and diverse regulatory and adaptor proteins. The modified and repurposed properties of conserved cytoskeletal proteins illuminate the particular demands placed on these proteins during the evolutionary trajectory leading to parasitism by apicomplexan protozoa. Importantly, the nonconserved features of essential cytoskeletal constituents suggest that small molecule inhibitors of tubulin, actin, and myosin motors will be strong candidates for future antiparasitic drugs. This chapter summarizes our current understanding of the organization and regulation of the Toxoplasma cytoskeleton, enumerates properties of individual cytoskeletal proteins and describes how the cytoskeleton mediates key events in the parasite life cycle.
Using Entropy to Unify Mechanics and Thermodynamics

The field of classical mechanics is based on Sir Isaac Newton’s work in “The Principia,” published in 1687. In this work, Newton introduced the world to three universal laws of motion, which describe the relationships of any object, the forces acting upon it and the object’s resulting motion. It is these three laws that make up the foundation for classical mechanics, and all subsequent theories of mechanics are derived from them. But Newtonian mechanics still cannot account for the past, present or future of any aspect of a physical body or its governing equations. Around 1850, Rudolf Clausius and William Thomson (Kelvin) formulated both the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics. Because the field of thermodynamics governs the past, present and future of all physical bodies, the aging process and life span of any physical body can be modeled in accordance with the thermodynamics laws. Still, thermodynamics alone cannot convey the response of a physical body under an external force at any given moment – something classical mechanics equations are able to achieve. Being able to accurately predict the life span of physical bodies, both living and non-living, has been one of humankind’s eternal endeavors. Over the last 150 years, many unsuccessful attempts were made to unify the fields of classical mechanics and thermodynamics, in order to create a generalized and consistent theory of evolution of life-span of inorganic and organic systems. The objective has been to map out the aging process of a physical body using classical mechanics equilibrium equations while also predicting its life span. Most past attempts were based solely on the use of physical experiments, which would reveal the aging rate and life span of any physical body first. The experimental data is later be used to create a life-span expectancy model by curve fitting. Professor Basaran, will report a new unified mechanics theory that can now predict the aging and life span of any physical body based purely on mathematical calculations and without the need for any prior life-span degradation testing or curve fitting phenomenological damage mechanics models. Entropy generation rate is used as the metric for aging process and also as a link between Newtonian Mechanics and Thermodynamics.
Recent intrauterine device use and the risk of precancerous cervical lesions and cervical cancer.

Abstract Objective Understanding the effect of contraceptives on the development of precancerous lesions of the cervix and cervical cancer may provide information that is valuable to women in contraceptive decision-making. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between recent intrauterine device (IUD) use (by type) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2, 3, adenocarcinoma in situ or cancer (CIN2+ or CIN3+). Study Design Case-control study of 17,559 women age 18–49 with incident CIN2+ cases and 5:1 age-matched, incidence-density selected controls (N=87,378) who were members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California Healthcare System from 1996 to 2014. Recent IUD use, within 18 months prior to index, was the exposure of interest. Results We identified 1,657 IUD users among the cases and 7,925 IUD users among controls. After adjusting for sexually transmitted infection testing, smoking, HPV vaccination, hormonal contraceptive use, parity, race and number of outpatient healthcare system visits, IUD use was associated with an increased rate of CIN2+ [rate ratio (RR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (1.05–1.18), p Conclusion Recent IUD use had variable weak associations with CIN2+ but was not associated with increased risk of CIN3+. Implications Recent levonorgestrel-IUD use may be associated with CIN2, a lesion with a high rate of regression, but not CIN3, which is considered a true pre-cancerous lesion. The observed association between levonorgestrel-IUDs and CIN2+ was modest but warrants further investigation. It may have clinical importance for contraceptive counseling if this finding is shown to be consistent across other studies and other populations.
Rural Energy Strategy — Alternative Applications in Rural Pakistan

About one quarter of the world's population lives in rural areas in remote regions of the world. Conventional forms of energy are usually not available in these areas. The use of alternative sources of energy is the only hope that these regions have of modernizing their societies. Agriculture is the primary means of support and agricultural residues are available as an energy resource. These residues can be converted into biogas by anaerobic digestion. Biogas can be used as a source of heat for cooking and also to generate electricity. This paper describes the design of biogas units for remote villages in Pakistan. Systems to supply energy for a population of about 500 cost around $200,000 and deliver biogas for about $5-8 per million BTU and electricity for $.03-.05 per kwh. Considering the increased income from irrigation of crop land, the cost of these systems could be recovered in about five years.
DnaJ and DnaK Heat Shock Proteins Activate Sequence Specific DNA Binding by RepA

Two families of heat shock proteins, HSP60s and HSP70s, have been implicated in mediating the folding and unfolding of proteins and the assembly and disassembly of oligomeric protein structures (for review see Rothman, 1989). The mechanisms by which heat shock proteins (HSPs) catalyze these reactions have not been elucidated and are the object of great interest, particularly in view of their ubiquity and high conservation during evolution (for reviews see Neidhardt and Van Bogelen, 1987; Lindquist and Craig, 1988; Munro and Pelham, 1986). DnaK is the E. coli HSP70 homolog. It is involved in chromosome segregation at normal temperatures (Bukau and Walker, 1989) and is essential for growth (Itikawa and Ryu, 1979; Sato and Uchida, 1978) and DNA replication (Sakakibara, 1988) at high temperatures. It is also involved in replication of phage 1 and plasmids mini-F and mini- P1. Two other heat shock proteins, DnaJ and GrpE are also involved in the replication of these three replicons (Georgopoulos, 1977; Sunshine etal., 1977; Saito and Uchida, 1977; Zylicz etal., 1989; Mensa-Wilmot etal., 1989; Tilly and Yarmolinsky, 1989; Bukau and Walker, 1989; Wickner, 1990; Kawasaki etal., 1990; Ezaki etal., 1989).
Ferma quella maledetta emorragia

Nel 1989, nell’ambito di una relazione sui traumi epatici, Francis Carter Nance di New Orleans affermo quanto segue: Vorrei offrire a tutti voi la classificazione dei traumi secondo Nance, che non si basa sulla valutazione della lesione, bensi su quella del comportamento dello specializzando al tavolo operatorio… se la guarda, sbadiglia e lascia fare allo specializzando piu giovane, allora… tutto andra bene, il tasso di sopravvivenza sara alto. Se, invece, guarda la lesione e comincia a venirgli la bava alla bocca… questo significa che tocchera a lui darsi da fare e suturare un po’, impegnandosi al massimo per aiutare il paziente. Il tasso di sopravvivenza non sara altissimo, ma fara comunque bella figura nella riunione in cui si esamineranno le percentuali di morbilita e mortalita. Se suda… significa che dovra suturare un bel po’, dovra risolvere situazione complicate e nella riunione sulle percentuali di morbilita e mortalita si dovra difendere da un bel po’ di critiche che, probabilmente, saranno mosse al suo operato; se poi comincia a sbraitare e fa chiamare il capo equipe di turno… allora vuol dire che per il paziente le cose si mettono male.
Predicting costs of Veterans Affairs health care in Gulf War veterans with medically unexplained physical symptoms.

ABSTRACT Measures of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were used to predict Veterans Affairs outpatient treatment costs among Persian Gulf War veterans with medically unexplained physical symptoms. Patients (N = 206) enrolled in a Veterans Affairs primary care clinic for Persian Gulf War veterans completed study assessments at the initial appointment or at a proximal follow-up visit. Costs of care for mental health, medical, and pharmacy services for these veterans were computed for the subsequent 6-month period. Depression and PTSD symptoms explained a significant share of variance in costs of mental health care and pharmacy services, after adjustment for covariates. None of the mental status measures was significantly related to costs of medical care. Models using global measures of mental health status were as robust as models using disorder-specific measures of PTSD and depression in predicting mental health care and pharmacy costs. The implications of these findings for anticipatin...
Rastreio do cancro do colo do útero em mulheres homossexuais: que evidência?

Objetivo: Rever a evidencia sobre a relevância de rastrear para o cancro do colo do utero (CCU) mulheres saudaveis com comportamento homossexual, tendo em conta o risco da neoplasia nesta populacao. Fontes de dados : bases de dados MEDLINE, National Guideline Clearinghouse, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Canadian Medical Association Practice Guidelines Infobase, Cochrane Library, Bandolier, DARE e Trip Database. Metodos de Revisao : Revisao baseada na evidencia de artigos publicados nos ultimos cinco anos (de 1 de outubro de 2011 a 30 de setembro de 2016), nas linguas inglesa, espanhola e portuguesa. Foram utilizadas combinacoes dos termos MESH “ female homosexuality ”, “ mass screening ”, diagnosis , “ uterine cervical neoplasms ” e papillomaviridae , e o termo “ cervical cancer ”. Para avaliacao do Nivel de Evidencia (NE) e Forca de Recomendacao (FR) foi utilizada a escala Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) da American Family Physician . Resultados: Foram obtidos 88 artigos, dos quais seis cumpriam os criterios de inclusao: cinco normas de orientacao clinica (uma com FR A, duas com FR B e duas com FR C), e um estudo coorte prospetivo (NE 3). As normas internacionais apresentam algumas limitacoes e inconsistencias relativamente a indicacao do rastreio nas mulheres homossexuais, recomendando a maioria a sua inclusao. O estudo coorte encontrou alteracoes em citologias e testes de HPV de mulheres com comportamento homossexual, colocando-as em risco de desenvolver CCU. Conclusoes: Mulheres com comportamento homossexual podem estar em risco de infecao pelo HPV e de desenvolvimento de CCU, devendo assim ser incluidas no rastreio populacional com a mesma periodicidade das restantes mulheres (FR B). Sao no entanto necessarios mais estudos que reforcem esta evidencia. Dada a menor sensibilizacao deste grupo quanto ao beneficio do rastreio, sugere-se a implementacao de medidas educativas dirigidas visando aumentar a adesao. Sugere-se ainda revisao das normas nacionais, clarificando a indicacao do rastreio nesta populacao.
Sweep Jet Collection Laser-Induced Acoustic Desorption Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization for Lipid Analysis Applications.

Laser-induced acoustic desorption coupled to microplasma-based atmospheric pressure photoionization (LIAD-APPI) using a nebulized sweep jet to aid in dopant introduction and ion transmission has been applied to the analysis of model, apolar lipid compounds. Specifically, several sterols, sterol esters, and triacylglycerols were detected using dopants such as anisole and toluene. Additionally, several triacylglycerols, sterols, carboxylic acids, and hopanoids were detected from complex mixtures of olive oil and Australian shale rock extract as a first demonstration of the applicability of LIAD-APPI on real-world samples. Detection limits using a sweep jet configuration for α-tocopherol and cholesterol were found to be 609 ± 61 and 292 ± 29 fmol, respectively. For sterol esters and triacylglycerols with a large number of double bonds in the fatty acid chain, LIAD-APPI was shown to yield greater molecular ion or [M+NH4]+ abundances than those with saturated fatty acid chains. Dopants such as anisole and toluene, with ionization potentials (IPs) of 8.2 and 8.8 eV, respectively, were tested. A greater degree of fragmentation with several of the more labile test compounds was observed using toluene. Overall, LIAD-APPI with a nebulized sweep jet requires minimal sample preparation and is a generally useful and sensitive analysis technique for low-polarity mixtures of relevance to biochemical assays and geochemical profiling.
Where Demons Fear to Tread: Venturing into an Obscure Corner of the Doctrine of the Atonement Regarding the Un-fallen Angels

This essay consolidates, organizes, and contributes to the reflections of theologians throughout the history of the church concerning the inestimable benefits received by the un-fallen angels from Christ’s atoning death and resurrection, that we might better understand how the blood of Christ reconciles all things in heaven to God (Col. 1:20). Specifically, I explore five different ways in which the un-fallen angels are affected by the saving work of Christ, both in terms of salvation from the effects of sin, and salvation as the fulfillment of their being, while briefly considering the implications thereof for the church.
Selective asymmetric dihydroxylation of polyenes

Abstract The asymmetric dihydroxylation procedure (AD) is applied to a variety of polyenes. In many cases excellent regioselectivities are obtained. The observed selectivities are rationalized in terms of electronic and/or steric effects inherent to the substrate, superimposed on the substrate's favorable or unfavorable interactions with the binding pocket of the AD ligand. Surprisingly, for medium and large ring olefins with trans-double bonds outstanding enantioselectivities are realized using the pyrimidine ligands. A hexaol of D3 symmetry is prepared from all trans cyclododecatriene.
Posture prediction and physics-based human motion simulation

Abstract There have been many advances in the field of digital human modeling and simulation. Many tools are now available for modeling digital humans within virtual environments to facilitate designing products, evaluating capabilities, training workers and warfighters, predicting injuries, and simulating real-world scenarios. In this chapter, we introduce methods that allow a digital human to interact with objects and the environment in a realistic, scenario-specific manner. Human behavior changes in response to changes in the objects and environment that define the scenario. For instance, our walk is different when we carry a heavy backpack on our back than when we carry the same backpack in two hands in front of us. The same walk will be different if the backpack weight is changed or the speed at which we walk is changed. In addition, there is a limit, for backpack weight and for speed, beyond which we cannot walk while carrying the backpack. To realistically simulate these scenarios, we need physics-based models that account for human limitations, external loads, and environmental factors.
Tensor network approach to two-dimensional bosonization

We present a 2D bosonization duality using the language of tensor networks. Specifically, we construct a tensor network operator (TNO) that implements an exact 2D bosonization duality. The primary benefit of the TNO is that it allows for bosonization at the level of quantum states. Thus we use the TNO to provide an explicit algorithm for bosonizing fermionic projected entangled pair states (fPEPs). A key step in the algorithm is to account for a choice of spin structure, encoded in a set of bonds of the bosonized fPEPS. This enables our tensor network approach to bosonization to be applied to systems on arbitrary triangulations of orientable 2D manifolds.
Gallium Oxide Coated Flat Surface as Non-Wetting Surface for Actuation of Liquid Metal Droplets

Gallium-based liquid metals are eutectic alloys that are liquid phase at room temperature. A combination of material properties such as biocompatibility, high electrical and thermal conductivity, and infinite deformability makes gallium-based liquid metal alloys (e.g., eutectic gallium indium alloy and Galinstan) excellent materials to be utilized in myriads of applications. However, liquid metal is instantly oxidized in ambient air and wets almost any surface. We report gallium oxide coating as a method for converting almost any flat surface to be non-wetting surface against naturally oxidized gallium-based liquid metal alloys. Various materials including PDMS, bare silicon wafer, SU-8 on Si, SiO 2 layer on Si, and glass slides were tested for their contact angles, bouncing test, and rolling test. Pneumatic actuation liquid metal droplet on gallium oxide coated flat surfaces was carried out and the speed of movement of Galinstan droplet was found to be 1.45 ~ 3.07 cm/sec. This new method does not require any micro/nano fabrication or specific nanoscale surface topology. It is markedly simple yet powerful remedy for avoiding stiction of naturally oxidized gallium-based liquid metals and is readily applicable to common microfluidic substrates to unleash full potential of gallium-based liquid metal microfluidics in various applications.
The High-Rise City in the Digital Age

This paper engages readers with innovative research methods to learn about popular places in the city. Using locational data of Social Media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, along with participatory field visits and combining insights from architecture and urban design literature, this study reveals popular socio-spatial clusters in the City of Chicago. Locational data of photographs were visualized by using Geographic Information Systems and helped in producing heat maps that showed the spatial distribution of posted photographs. Geo-intensity of photographs illustrated areas that are most popular visited in the city. The study's results indicate that the city's skyscrapers along open spaces are major elements of image formation. Findings also elucidate that Social Media plays an important role in promoting places; and thereby, sustaining a greater interest and stream of visitors. Consequently, planners should tap into public's digital engagement in city places to improve tourism and economy [1].
The Experiences of Faculty of Color in Departments of Educational Leadership and Administration: The Role of Emotional and Social Intelligence in Navigating Promotion and Tenure to Achieve the Rank of Associate Professor:

This article presents the findings from a qualitative phenomenological study with 21 Faculty of Color in departments of educational leadership and administration who were tenured within the past 7 ...
Surgical Treatment and Its Prognosis for Extralobar Pulmonary Sequestration with Foregut Communication: Communicating Bronchopulmonary Foregut Malformation (CBPFM)

In 1968, Gerle introduced the term “bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (BPFM)” in connection with pulmonary sequestration with a communication with the esophagus or stomach. BPFM has recently been proposed to apply to all abnormalities of the tracheobronchial tree originating during development from the foregut. Communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (CBPFM) is defined by congenital communication between the esophagus or stomach and an isolated part of the airway.
Calibration of energy simulation using optimization for buildings with dynamic shading systems

Abstract Physics-based energy simulation methods are widely used for the prediction of building energy consumption and daylighting in commercial buildings. Such simulations are performed to evaluate the design of new buildings or to predict the benefits of various retrofits to the building’s performance. However, there are uncertainties in the results from such simulations, with higher uncertainty if the model used is not validated empirically. This study focuses on the co-simulation of daylight and energy modeling to evaluate the energy performance impacts of dynamic shading. The Generalized Pattern Search algorithm is used to minimize the root mean square error between measured and simulated data to perform the calibration of the baseline energy model while adjusting the building envelope material properties. Next, the results using three different modeling methods for windows and shading devices in EnergyPlus were compared to measured data. The results show that the use of the simple layered model to represent the dynamic shading system performed better than other two models, when compared to the experimental data. They also indicate that part of the difference between the model results and experimental data originates from sky model calculations and ground reflectance inputs. From the results it is also observed that using different modeling methods for the window and shading device can impact the coincidental energy consumption results from cooling and lighting by up to 20%.
Current FDA-Approved Therapies for High-Grade Malignant Gliomas

The standard of care (SOC) for high-grade gliomas (HGG) is maximally safe surgical resection, followed by concurrent radiation therapy (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ) for 6 weeks, then adjuvant TMZ for 6 months. Before this SOC was established, glioblastoma (GBM) patients typically lived for less than one year after diagnosis, and no adjuvant chemotherapy had demonstrated significant survival benefits compared with radiation alone. In 2005, the Stupp et al. randomized controlled trial (RCT) on newly diagnosed GBM patients concluded that RT plus TMZ compared to RT alone significantly improved overall survival (OS) (14.6 vs. 12.1 months) and progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months (PFS6) (53.9% vs. 36.4%). Outside of TMZ, there are four drugs and one device FDA-approved for the treatment of HGGs: lomustine, intravenous carmustine, carmustine wafer implants, bevacizumab (BVZ), and tumor treatment fields (TTFields). These treatments are now mainly used to treat recurrent HGGs and symptoms. TTFields is the only treatment that has been shown to improve OS (20.5 vs. 15.6 months) and PFS6 (56% vs. 37%) in comparison to the current SOC. TTFields is the newest addition to this list of FDA-approved treatments, but has not been universally accepted yet as part of SOC.
TSO-DSO Operational Planning Coordination through "$l_1$-Proximal" Surrogate Lagrangian Relaxation

The proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs), located at the Distribution System Operator (DSO) level, bring new opportunities as well as new challenges to the operations within the grid, specifically, when it comes to the interaction with the Transmission System Operator (TSO). To enable interoperability, while ensuring higher flexibility and cost-efficiency, DSOs and the TSO need to be efficiently coordinated. Difficulties behind creating such TSO-DSO coordination include the combinatorial nature of the operational planning problem involved at the transmission level as well as the nonlinearity of AC power flow within both systems. These considerations significantly increase the complexity even under the deterministic setting. In this paper, a deterministic TSO-DSO operational planning coordination problem is considered and a novel decomposition and coordination approach is developed. Within the new method, the problem is decomposed into TSO and DSO subproblems, which are efficiently coordinated by updating Lagrangian multipliers. The nonlinearities at the TSO level caused by AC power flow constraints are resolved through a dynamic linearization while guaranteeing feasibility through "$l_1$-proximal" terms. Numerical results based on the coordination of the 118-bus TSO system with up to 32 DSO 34-bus systems indicate that the method efficiently overcomes the computational difficulties of the problem.
This Is Us: An Analysis of Mediated Family Communication at End-of-Life.

Death is a ubiquitous theme in television dramas and we argued that mediated depictions of end-of-life experiences have the potential to provide glimpses into the ways in which characters experienc...
Optimal Simulator Selection

Computer simulators are widely used for the study of complex systems. In many applications, there are multiple simulators available with different scientific interpretations of the underlying mecha...
EGFR-driven profibrotic signals in AKI-to-CKD transition are blocked by TNF inhibition: Opportunities for etanercept treatment

Abstract Proximal-tubule-cell EGFR activation mediates tubule cell proliferation and repair early after kidney injury, while sustained EGFR activation causes kidney fibrosis. Inflammation is a key driver of AKI-to-CKD transition and fibrosis, but mechanisms of EGFR-driven profibrotic responses are not well understood. In a mouse model of AKI-to-CKD transition and CKD progression, we show that EGFR-inhibition significantly reduced kidney expression of many immunoregulatory molecules already by day two after injury, including the potent inflammatory cytokine tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF). Single nuclei RNA-sequencing analysis showed that macrophages were among the main early cellular sources of TNF in the injured kidney. In vitro, EGFR activation in macrophages increased macrophage TNF expression, while EGFR inhibition in vivo reduced kidney macrophage accumulation, as early as two days after injury. Thus, profibrotic EGFR signaling increases kidney TNF levels both directly and indirectly. TNF inhibition did not alter tubule EGFR activation and in contrast to EGFR inhibition did not reduce early macrophage accumulation in the kidney, suggesting that TNF does not promote early infiltration of immune cells in the kidney, but rather regulates profibrotic functions of kidney and/or immune cells. TNF inhibition with etanercept in vivo in AKI-injured mice downregulated a number of cytokines, including TNF itself. This cytokine downregulation overlapped with EGFR inhibition, and additional non-overlapping downregulated cytokines shared the same functions, predicting that TNF inhibition would prevent AKI-to-CKD transition like EGFR inhibition. Indeed, TNF-inhibition with etanercept reduced AKI-induced fibrosis to the same degree as the EGFR-inhibition, while the combination of both treatments showed no additive effect. In conclusion, our results identify TNF as a downstream effector of profibrotic EGFR activation and motivate the examination of TNF pathway inhibition in human AKI or CKD. Translational statement Proximal tubule epidermal-growth-factor (EGFR) activation in mice and likely also in humans drives inflammation in the kidney after acute-kidney-injury (AKI) and causes chronic-kidney-disease (CKD) with fibrosis in a process termed AKI-to-CKD transition. Recent retrospective data shows that patients treated with TNF inhibitors show decreased incidence and progression of CKD. Our current work shows that TNF inhibition in mice is equally as effective as EGFR inhibition in preventing AKI-to-CKD transition and fibrosis. Thus, our results have translational potential and may stimulate examination of short-term TNF inhibition in AKI to prevent AKI-to-CKD transition or possibly of longer-term TNF inhibition in CKD to prevent CKD progression.
Chapter 28. Inositol Trisphosphate Receptors

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes recent studies on the structure, function, and regulation of the inositol trisphosphate (IP 3 R) protein. IP 3 binding activity is present in high amounts in the Purkinje neuron of the cerebellum. The function of the protein requires that the recognition of IP 3 transmits information within the protein to gate a Ca 2+ channel, formed from the transmembrane domains. There are no extensive homologies between the IP3R and other known ion-channels. Some evidence that the C-terminal tail of the IP 3 R is involved in Ca 2+ channel function comes from the finding that a monoclonal antibody recognizing this region can inhibit Ca 2+ release at sub-optimal concentrations of IP 3 . Several alternatively spliced transcripts of the type I-IP 3 R messenger RNA (mRNA) have been detected. This diversity arises from the presence of more than one gene product, as well as the presence of alternatively spliced forms of IP 3 R mRNA. In addition, the receptor appears to be targeted to different membranes in different cells. The functional consequence of this diversity is not yet clear although it is apparent that neuronal and peripheral IP 3 receptors are differentially regulated by calcium and cAMP-mediated phosphorylation. There are clues in the literature that suggest that expression of the protein may also be regulated. For example, retinoic acid induced differentiation of HL-60 cells produces a large increase in IP 3 R protein, while chronic stimulation of muscarinic receptors decreases IP 3 binding sites in neuroblastoma cells. Much remains to be learnt regarding the biosynthesis, processing, targeting, and turnover of this protein. Future studies must be helpful to delineate the functional differences among IP 3 R isoforms and to unravel their role in the complex spatial and temporal patterns seen in Ca 2+ transients evoked by growth factors, neurotransmitters and hormones.
Sonochemistry: Science and Engineering

Sonochemistry offers a simple route to nanomaterial synthesis with the application of ultrasound. The tiny acoustic bubbles, produced by the propagating sound wave, enclose an incredible facility where matter interact among at energy as high as 13 eV to spark extraordinary chemical reactions. Within each period - formation, growth and collapse of bubbles, lies a coherent phase of material formation. This effective yet highly localized method has facilitated synthesis of various chemical and biological compounds featuring unique morphology and intrinsic property. The benign processing lends to synthesis without any discrimination towards a certain group of material, or the substrates where they are grown. As a result, new and improved applications have evolved to reach out various field of science and technology and helped engineer new and better devices. Along with the facile processing and notes on the essence of sonochemistry, in this comprehensive review, we discuss the individual and mutual effect of important input parameters on the nanomaterial synthesis process as a start to help understand the underlying mechanism. Secondly, an objective discussion of the diversely synthesized nanomaterial follows to divulge the easiness imparted by sonochemistry, which finally blends into the discussion of their applications and outreach.
Approximating Ropelength by Energy Functions

The ropelength of a knot is the quotient of its length by its thick- ness. We consider a family of energy functions R p for knots, depending on a power p, which approach ropelength as p increases. We describe a numerically computed trefoil knot which seems to be a local minimum for ropelength; there are nearby critical points for R p , which are evidently local minima for large enough p. 1. Thickness and ropelength We measure the ropelength of a knot as the quotient of its length by its thick- ness. The thickness is the radius of the largest embedded normal tube (called the thick tube) around the knot. Ropelength is a mathematical model of how much physical rope it would take to tie the knot. In (CKS01) we showed that in any knot or link type there is a ropelength minimizer, and that minimizers are necessarily C 1,1 curves. But still, explicit examples of tight (ropelength minimizing) links are
Comparison of Attitudes toward Intensive Competition for High School Girls

Abstract This study summarizes attitudes toward intensive athletic competition for high school girls as expressed by administrators, teachers, and parents. A 70-item attitude scale constructed by a combination of the Thurstone and Likert methods was submitted to the respondents. The study population was composed of respondents from (1) some Iowa communities which sponsor intensive athletic competition for high school girls; (2) some Iowa communities which do not sponsor such competition; and (3) some Illinois communities where team competition for girls on the inter-school basis is not sanctioned. In general, administrators and teachers in all three groups were much less favorable to intensive competition than were parents and coaches.
ICE CORE RECORDS | Africa

The six cores drilled on three ice fields across the Kibo caldera on top of Kilimanjaro range in age from a few hundred to over 11 ka. The longest record shows an early Holocene climate in equatorial East Africa that was warm and humid. Several abrupt climatic events occurred throughout the Holocene, the three largest include an extreme cold-weather event 5.2 ka, and two droughts 8.2 and 4.2 ka. The latter caused a dramatic reduction of what is currently the largest ice field. Like all other mountain glaciers in Africa, the ice fields on Kilimanjaro are rapidly disappearing, and if the current rate of retreat is maintained, the Furtwangler Glacier will disappear by 2018 and the remaining ice fields over the following decade, making the top of Kilimanjaro completely ice free for the first time in 11 ka.
Polyadenylic acid on poliovirus RNA IV. Poly(U) in replicative intermediate and double-stranded RNA.

Abstract The content and size of polyuridylic acid [poly(U)] on poliovirus double-stranded RNA and replicative intermediate RNA have been examined. Both RNA species contained T 1 ribonuclease-resistant stretches of poly(U) that could be purified using hydroxylapatite chromatography and analyzed by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. At 3 hr after infection, the poly(U) on the replicative intermediate RNA was 50 to over 200 nucleotides in length; much of this poly(U) was bigger than the polyadenylic acid [poly(A)] on viral 35 S RNA. At 6 hr after infection the average poly(U) was less than at 3 hr but was still slightly larger than the poly(A) on viral RNA. At all times, the double-stranded poliovirus RNA molecules had poly(U) of the same size as that found on the 6-hr replicative intermediate. The poly(U) stretches found are of sufficient length to code for the poly(A) found on the intracellular species of poliovirus RNA. Because most of the poly(U) is larger than the poly(A) on viral RNA, viral RNA molecules are probably released from the replicative intermediate before the poly(U) has been completely copied.
"Criminal Minded?": Mixtape DJs, The Piracy Paradox, and Lessons for the Recording Industry

For at least the past three years, leading American fashion designers have lobbied for passage of copyright-like protection for the design aspects of their apparel creations. For at least as long, the recorded music industry has been engaged in an aggressive campaign to enforce its copyrights in recorded music against a number of technology-enabled and/or culturally sympathetic alleged infringers, including "twelve year-olds" and "grandmothers." Although the record labels already have protection under the copyright law while the fashion houses seek it, they have at least one thing in common: some portion of the piracy that they seek to eradicate is more valuable to them than they publicly let on. In their recent article, "The Piracy Paradox: Innovation and Intellectual Property in Fashion Design", Kal Raustiala and Chris Sprigman explore the "low-IP equilibrium" of the fashion design industry, as well as the unexpected value created by a low-protection regime. This article examines a parallel, and potentially related, phenomenon in the record business: the economic value added to an intellectual property ("IP") asset by the technically infringing behavior of the mixtape DJ. One might ask whether there is anything wrong with chilling an unlawful activity such as large-scale copyright infringement. The article argues that there is something wrong with such a result, but that the owners of the copyright in the recordings either fail to appreciate the problem or fail to account for the problem in executing their enforcement strategy. Hip-hop mixtape DJs are engaged in productive infringement- infringing-activity or improper appropriation that adds value to the infringed asset, rather than leading to losses for the copyright owner. Dealing with such infringement requires an approach different from typical recording industry tactics. This article argues that, in order to preserve and enhance the value of their own assets, the record labels should practice strategic forbearance.
Priority refinement for dependent tasks in large embedded real-time software

In a large embedded real-time system, priority assignment can greatly affect the timing behavior - which can consequently affect the overall behavior - of the system. Thus, it is crucial for model-based design of a large embedded real-time system to be able to intelligently assign priorities such that tasks can meet their deadlines. In this paper, we propose a priority-refinement method for dependent tasks distributed throughout a heterogeneous multiprocessor environment. In this method, we refine an initial priority assignment iteratively using the simulated annealing technique with tasks' latest completion times (LCT). Our evaluations, based on randomly-generated models, have shown that the refinement method outperforms other priority-assignment schemes and scales well for large, complex, real-time systems. This method has been implemented in the Automatic Integration of Reusable Embedded Software (AIRES) toolkit and has been successfully applied to a vehicle system control application.
Fracture surface evolution and apparent delamination toughness in split composite beam specimens subjected to mixed mode I–III loading

Abstract The influence of specimen twisting during global anti-plane shear loading in composite split beam specimens is studied. Tests were conducted on specimens with different thicknesses and delamination lengths to produce different amounts of specimen twisting prior to fracture. It is shown that specimen twisting causes mode I stresses to develop, thereby producing mixed mode I–III conditions along the delamination front. This causes near-tip transverse cracks to initiate, prior to delamination advance, at an orientation related to the mode mix. Unlike in homogeneous materials, transverse crack extension is accompanied by planar delamination advance, and transverse crack rotation during extension is restricted by the laminate’s fibers. The overall fracture surface evolution is therefore strongly controlled by specimen geometry. The influence of these findings on the apparent delamination toughness as obtained from composite split beam and other types of mode III tests is discussed.