cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Capacity Expansion in the Integrated Supply Network for an Electricity Market

Constraints in fuel supply, electricity generation, and transmission interact to affect the welfare of strategic generators and price-sensitive consumers. We consider a mixed integer bilevel programming model in which the leader makes capacity expansion decisions in the fuel transportation, generation, and transmission infrastructure of the electricity supply network to maximize social welfare less investment cost. Based on the leader's expansion decisions, the multiple followers including the fuel suppliers, ISO, and generation companies simultaneously optimize their respective objectives of cost, social welfare, and profit. The bilevel program is formulated as a mathematical program with complementarity constraints. The computational challenge posed by the discrete character of transmission expansions has been managed by multiple model reformulations. A lower bound provided by a nonlinear programming reformulation increases the efficiency of solving a binary variable reformulation to global optimality. A single-level optimization relaxation serves as a competitive benchmark to assess the effect of generator strategic operational behavior on the optimal capacity configuration.
Cultural Coproduction of Four States of Knowledge

In States of Knowledge (2004), Sheila Jasanoff argues that we gain explanatory power by thinking of natural and social orders as being produced together, but she and her volume contributors do not ...
Prospects of Wind Power and Wind Energy in Louisiana

In recent years, many nations have been creating newer, more efficient forms of energy and appropriate legislation with which to drive these new economic frontiers. Countries in Europe, parts of Asia, and the Americas, such as the U.S., China, and Germany, are in the forefront of this technological and environmental revolution, and, as a result, have seen large support and success in the endeavor for cleaner energy. Modern variable-axis wind turbines have been and are continuing to be very popular and moderately efficient forms of this clean energy. Changes in American energy policy have facilitated the transition towards new energy systems, including wind energy; however, Louisiana-which is largely an oil and gas state-is not showing much, if any, initiative to capitalize and integrate towards these energy sources. An outline of the economic growth of Europe, China, and the whole U.S.A will show that this industry, supported by manufacturers and labor sources, is a viable and profitable form of clean energy.
Don't Put Your Leg in Your Mouth: Transfer in the Acquisition of Idioms in a Second Language.

The study reported in this article investigated whether second language learners use knowledge of their first language to comprehend and produce idioms in the second language. Subjects were 12 Venezuelan advanced learners of English. Comprehension of 45 English idioms—15 identical in form and meaning to their Spanish equivalents, 15 similar to their Spanish equivalents, and 15 different from the corresponding Spanish idioms—was tested with a multiple-choice test and a definition test. Production of the same 45 idioms was tested with a discourse-completion test and a translation test. Results showed identical idioms were the easiest to comprehend and produce. Similar idioms were comprehended almost as well but showed interference from Spanish. Different idioms were the most difficult to comprehend and produce but showed less interference than similar idioms. Subjects used both inter- and intralingual strategies to produce idioms they did not know. Within each type, the idioms that were comprehended and produced most correctly were those which were frequently used and transparent and which had simple vocabulary and structure.
Using decision trees to study the convergence of phylogenetic analyses

In this paper, we explore the novel use of decision trees to study the convergence properties of phylogenetic analyses. A decision learning tree is constructed from the evolutionary relationships (or bipartitions) found in the evolutionary trees returned from a phylogenetic analysis. We treat evolutionary trees returned from multiple runs of a phylogenetic analysis as different classes. Then, we use the depth of a decision tree as a technique to measure how distinct the runs are from each other. Decision trees with shallow depth reflect non-convergence since the evolutionary trees can be classified with little information. Deep decision tree depths reflect convergence. We study Bayesian and maximum parsimony phylogenetic analyses consisting of thousands of trees. For some datasets studied here, a single distinguishing bipartition can classify the entire tree collection suggesting non-convergence of the underlying phylogenetic analysis. Thus, we believe that decision trees lead to new insights with the potential for helping biologists reconstruct more robust evolutionary trees.
Hypersensitivity Vasculitis with Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis Associated with Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor

Prolastin is a commercially available form of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) that is derived from pooled human plasma and used for treatment of severe alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). We describe a patient with AATD who developed presumed hypersensitivity vasculitis (HV) following a Prolastin infusion. Hypersensitivity vasculitis (HV), or cutaneous vasculitis, is characterized by inflammation of the small vessels of the skin with resultant ischemia to the distally supplied areas. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of presumed hypersensitivity vasculitis following Prolastin infusion.
Application accuracy study of a semipermanent fiducial system for frameless stereotaxis.

The accuracy of a semipermanent fiducial marker system developed at Wayne State University in collaboration with Fisher-Leibinger (Freiburg, Germany) was compared with reference to a standard stereotactic frame (Zamorano-Dujovny Localizing Unit; Fisher-Leibinger). For each patient in our study, 10 semipermanent markers were placed on the skull through a small incision and a pilot hole drilled for the marker; five markers were used for registration, and five were used for comparison. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was performed, and, upon registration using both ring and fiducial markers, 184 random points were collected by infrared digitization. All three-dimensional measurements (x, y, z) were converted into distance values correlating each value to the origin by the formula dij = SQRT (xij2 + yij2 + zij2). The mean difference of fiducial coordinates vs. absolute image coordinates was 1.72 +/- 0.42 mm (P = .0001), implying no significant difference. The mean difference in dij of the stereotactic ring coordinates vs. the absolute image coordinates was 3.35 +/- 0.59 mm (P = .00011). The mean difference in the fiducial markers vs. the stereotactic ring coordinates was 2.95 +/- 0.45 mm (P = .0001). All tests were declared significant at alpha = .016. The combination of interactive guidance with semipermanent fiducial markers allows for accurate localization of intracranial targets (as accurate or even more accurate than the stereotactic frame). Semipermanent fiducial markers facilitate the procedure logistically, allow for staged procedures (i.e., at the skull base or in epilepsy), and provide access for combined supra- and infratentorial approaches. We believe that the semipermanent fiducial markers system might represent an important development leading toward widespread use of interactive image guidance in conventional neurosurgery.
Sensitivity of spinal neurons to GABA and glycine during voluntary movement in behaving monkeys.

GABAergic and glycinergic inhibition play key roles in the function of spinal motor pathways. However, there is little direct information on the extent to which inhibition controls the activity of spinal neurons during behavior or the relative effectiveness of GABA and glycine on cell activity under normal conditions. These issues were investigated in three macaque monkeys trained to perform voluntary ramp-and-hold wrist movements and grip. Pipettes with an extracellular recording electrode and iontophoresis barrels were used to eject GABA, glycine, and/or their respective antagonists, bicuculline and strychnine, as the activity of single neurons was recorded in the C6–T1 spinal segments during hand movements. The firing rate of the vast majority of neurons decreased when an inhibitory neurotransmitter was ejected from the electrode, suggesting that most movement-related spinal neurons are sensitive to both GABA and glycine. Most movement-related neurons exhibited increased activity during iontophoresis of an antagonist, suggesting that both GABAergic and glycinergic inhibition actively regulate the majority of spinal neurons during movement. These conclusions were supported by the responses of neurons tested with both agonists or both antagonists. Bicuculline and strychnine produced the largest increases in firing rate during dynamic movements (ramp phase), smaller increases during maintained torque/force (hold phase), and the smallest increase during the rest period. Since excitatory inputs also tend to increase progressively from rest to static to dynamic muscle contractions, this result is consistent with coupled excitatory and inhibitory inputs to spinal neurons during movement.
Simple Codes for Fading Circuits

Four relatively simple, redundantly-coded, binary communication systems are considered under certain limiting conditions of signal fading. White noise is assumed to be the only source of errors. A nonredundant, synchronous teletype system is used as a standard of comparison, and all systems are constrained to operate at the same average output data rate. The results indicate that the redundant systems offer significant gains under most of the assumed conditions, but that additional propagation research is required before general codes can be developed for turbulent channels.
FACULTATIVE TORPOR IN FREE-RANGING BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOGS (CYNOMYS LUDOVICIANUS)

Although facultative torpor has been observed in laboratory populations of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), it is widely believed that these animals remain normothermic throughout winter in the field. We monitored body temperatures (T b) of 5 blacktailed prairie dogs in the field for about 100 days during winter and spring 1998‐1999. All animals entered torpor during this period. Major torpor bouts averaged 140.5 h 6 2.4 SD (range 5 77.6‐214.4) with a minimum Tb of 19.0 6 3.68C. Minor torpor bouts averaged 46.2 6 20.9 h (9.5‐98.5), with minimum Tb reaching 30.3 6 2.38C. There was no distinct relationship between ambient air temperature (Ta) and entry into torpor. All torpor bouts occurred following a sudden reduction in Ta, but not all sudden reductions in Ta induced torpor. Precipitation was not associated with entry into or arousal from torpor. Our study demonstrates that facultative torpor occurs in free-ranging black-tailed prairie dogs in the field.
Pathophysiology: Clinical Spectrum and Current Management

The noted biological and medical writer Lewis Thomas mused in his 1983 essay, entitled ‘The Artificial Heart:
Anaerobic rat heart. Effects of glucose and tricarboxylic acid-cycle metabolites on metabolism and physiological performance

1. The ability of tricarboxylic acid-cycle metabolites to influence the physiological performance of the perfused anaerobic rat heart was investigated. Energy expenditure/h [(beats/min)x60xsystolic pressure/g of protein] for various anoxic conditions compared with oxygenated control hearts were: 5mm-glucose, 4.5%; 20mm- or 40mm-glucose, 10%; 20mm-glucose plus fumerate+malate+glutamate, 29%; 20mm-glucose plus oxaloacetate and alpha-oxoglutarate, 31%. 2. The energy expenditure/lactate production ratio was increased by the tricarboxylic acid-cycle metabolites, indicating that alterations in anaerobic physiological performance did not result from changes in glycolysis. 3. Analysis of tissue constituents provided further indication of an enhanced energy status for fumarate+malate+glutamate- and oxaloacetate+alpha-oxoglutarate-perfused hearts; tissue concentrations of both glycogen and ATP were higher than in the 20mm-glucose-perfused groups. 4. A marked increase in the accumulation of succinate in tissues perfused with oxaloacetate+alpha-oxoglutarate or fumarate+malate+glutamate provided further evidence that these metabolites were stimulating mitochondrial energy production under anoxia. 5. These studies indicate that mitochondrial ATP production can be stimulated in an isolated mammalian tissue perfused under anaerobiosis with a resulting enhancement of cell function.
Phthalates and Related Plasticizers

Plasticizers are chemicals which are used primarily as additives to a large variety of commercial products. Plasticizers are added to impart flexibility to a plastic resin or polymer, to facilitate processing of various resins, or to otherwise develop improved properties not present in the original material. There are numerous applications of plasticizer com-pounds, such as: floor coverings, wire insulation, adhesives, upholstery, automotive trim, food wraps, foamed carpet backing, rubber moldings, insect repellants, cosmetics, and floor waxes. Plasticizer additives are found in nitrocellulose, polyvinyl chloride, methacrylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polyurethanes, and other synthetic applications.
Finding Shangri-La: Limiting the Impact of Senescence on Aging

Senescence plays an important role in the age-associated decline of tissue functions. Recent studies now show that targeting senescent cells can enhance the functions of stem/progenitor cells in aged mice and extend lifespan.
Structure Calculation and Reconstruction of Discrete-State Dynamics from Residual Dipolar Couplings

Residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) acquired by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are an indispensable source of information in investigation of molecular structures and dynamics. Here, we present a comprehensive strategy for structure calculation and reconstruction of discrete-state dynamics from RDC data that is based on the singular value decomposition (SVD) method of order tensor estimation. In addition to structure determination, we provide a mechanism of producing an ensemble of conformations for the dynamical regions of a protein from RDC data. The developed methodology has been tested on simulated RDC data with ±1 Hz of error from an 83 residue α protein (PDB ID 1A1Z) and a 213 residue α/β protein DGCR8 (PDB ID 2YT4). In nearly all instances, our method reproduced the structure of the protein including the conformational ensemble to within less than 2 A. On the basis of our investigations, arc motions with more than 30° of rotation are identified as internal dynamics and are reconstructe...
Central thalamic deep brain stimulation to support anterior forebrain mesocircuit function in the severely injured brain

This integrative review frames a general rationale for the use of central thalamic deep brain stimulation (CT-DBS) to support arousal regulation mechanisms in the severely injured brain. The organizing role of the anterior forebrain mesocircuit in recovery mechanisms following widespread deafferentation produced by multi-focal structural brain injuries is emphasized. The mesocircuit model provides the conceptual foundation for the key role of the central thalamus as a privileged node for neuromodulation to support forebrain arousal regulation. In this context, cellular mechanisms arising at the neocortical, striatal, and thalamic population level are considered in the assessment of an individual patient's capacity for harboring underlying reserve that could be recruited for further recovery. Recent preclinical studies and pilot clinical results are compared to frame the detailed rationale for CT-DBS. Application of CT-DBS across the range of outcomes following severe-to-moderate brain injuries is discussed with the aim of improving consciousness and cognition in patients with non-progressive brain injuries.
Thermodynamic studies of studtite thermal decomposition pathways via amorphous intermediates UO3, U2O7, and UO4

The thermal decomposition of studtite (UO2)O2(H2O)2·2H2O results in a series of intermediate X-ray amorphous materials with general composition UO3+x (x = 0, 0.5, 1). As an extension of a structural study on U2O7, this work provides detailed calorimetric data on these amorphous oxygen-rich materials since their energetics and thermal stability are unknown. These were characterized in situ by thermogravimetry, and mass spectrometry. Ex situ X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy characterized their chemical bonding and local structures. This detailed characterization formed the basis for obtaining formation enthalpies by high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry. The thermodynamic data demonstrate the metastability of the amorphous UO3+x materials, and explain their irreversible and spontaneous reactions to generate oxygen and form metaschoepite. Thus, formation of studtite in the nuclear fuel cycle, followed by heat treatment, can produce metastable amorphous UO3+x materials that pose the risk of significant O2 gas. Quantitative knowledge of the energy landscape of amorphous UO3+x was provided for stability analysis and assessment of conditions for decomposition.
Pulsed squeezed light with an incoherent pump: theoretical analysis

We present a theoretical study of the generation and detection of incoherent squeezed light via optical parametric downconversion of a frequency doubled Q-switched multimode Nd:YAG laser.1 Our analysis begins by writing the plane-polarized output field of a Q-switched multimode laser as.
Multi-stakeholder microgrids for resilience and sustainability

ABSTRACTThe electricity grid is susceptible to numerous threats, especially severe weather events that have the potential to cause large-scale power outages. This has resulted in an increased emphasis on resilience against these events. Microgrids, small standalone power grids that have the ability to function independently from the greater electricity grid, have significant potential to improve response to environmental and anthropogenic crises. The vast majority of extant microgrids are generally small in scale, and operated under a conventional model of single operator, owner, and user. We argue that the ultimate potential of this approach will be in the development of multi-stakeholder microgrids which can combine a diversity of renewable and conventional power resources to respond to environmental hazards. The addition of stakeholders allows for increased diversification of generation sources, economies of scale, and other increased operational benefits and opportunities. However, there are significa...
The resolvent of singular integral equations

The investigation reported is concerned with the construction of the resolvent for any given kernel function. In problems with ill-behaved inhomogeneous terms as, for instance, in the aerodynamic problem of flow over a flapped airfoil, direct numerical methods become very difficult. A description is presented of a solution method by resolvent which can be employed in such problems.
Aerosol indirect effect dictated by liquid clouds

Anthropogenic aerosols have been shown to enhance the solar reflection from warm liquid clouds and mask part of the warming due to the buildup of greenhouse gases. However, very little is known about the effects of aerosol on mixed-phase stratiform clouds as well as other cloud regimes including cumulus, altocumulus, nimbostratus, deep convection, and anvil cirrus. These additional cloud categories are ubiquitous and typically overlooked in satellite-based assessments of the global aerosol indirect forcing. Here we provide their contribution to the aerosol indirect forcing estimate using satellite data collected from several colocated sensors in the A-train for the period 2006–2010. Cloud type is determined according to the 2B-CLDCLASS-LIDAR CloudSat product, and the observations are matched to the radiative flux measurements from CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System) and aerosol retrievals from MODIS (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer). The oceanic mean aerosol indirect forcing is estimated to be −0.20 ± 0.31 W m−2 with warm low-level cloud largely dictating the strength of the response (−0.36 ± 0.21 W m−2) due to their abundance and strong cloud albedo effect. Contributions from mixed-phase low-level cloud (0.01 ± 0.06 W m−2) and convective cloud (0.15 ± 0.23 W m−2) are positive and buffer the system due to strong aerosol-cloud feedbacks that reduce the cloud albedo effect and/or lead to convective invigoration causing a countering positive longwave warming response. By combining all major cloud categories together, aerosol indirect forcing decreases and now contains positive values in the uncertainty estimate.
The Strange Case of CDK4/6 Inhibitors: Mechanisms, Resistance, and Combination Strategies.

Inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) 4/6 have emerged as a powerful class of agents with clinical activity in several malignancies. Targeting the cell cycle represents a core attack on a defining feature of cancer. However, the mechanisms of action of agents selectively targeting CDK4/6 have few parallels in the current pharmaceutical armamentarium against cancer. Notably, CDK4/6 inhibitors act downstream of most mitogenic signaling cascades, and this has implications for both clinical efficacy and resistance. Core knowledge of cell-cycle processes has provided insights into the mechanisms of intrinsic resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors; however, the basis of acquired resistance versus durable response is only beginning to emerge. This review focuses on the mechanism of action of CDK4/6 inhibitors as well as on biomarkers to direct their precision use in rationally developed combination therapies.
Intrinsic alignment in redMaPPer clusters – II. Radial alignment of satellites towards cluster centres

We study the orientations of satellite galaxies in redMaPPer clusters constructed from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey at $0.1<z<0.35$ to determine whether there is any preferential tendency for satellites to point radially toward cluster centers. We analyze the satellite alignment (SA) signal based on three shape measurement methods (re-Gaussianization, de Vaucouleurs, and isophotal shapes), which trace galaxy light profiles at different radii. The measured SA signal depends on these shape measurement methods. We detect the strongest SA signal in isophotal shapes, followed by de Vaucouleurs shapes. While no net SA signal is detected using re-Gaussianization shapes across the entire sample, the observed SA signal reaches a statistically significant level when limiting to a subsample of higher luminosity satellites. We further investigate the impact of noise, systematics, and real physical isophotal twisting effects in the comparison between the SA signal detected via different shape measurement methods. Unlike previous studies, which only consider the dependence of SA on a few parameters, here we explore a total of 17 galaxy and cluster properties, using a statistical model averaging technique to naturally account for parameter correlations and identify significant SA predictors. We find that the measured SA signal is strongest for satellites with the following characteristics: higher luminosity, smaller distance to the cluster center, rounder in shape, higher bulge fraction, and distributed preferentially along the major axis directions of their centrals. Finally, we provide physical explanations for the identified dependences, and discuss the connection to theories of SA.
Representations of homelessness, home environments, and authority in the context of runaway behaviors reported by foster care youth residing in an emergency shelter

ABSTRACTBetween 31 and 46% of youth with histories of foster care placement were homeless at least once. Studies of the incidence of runaway behavior have identified a host of risk factors associated with running away from foster care placement, but less is known about the internalized processes of these individuals at risk for running away or the contextual experience surrounding it. This study is designed to investigate the representations made by individuals who have engaged in running away to uncover and explore thematic patterns. Accordingly, a secondary analysis was performed on data from four group interviews (n = 15) collected from youth under the care of one child protective services (CPS) agency-operated emergency shelter setting, using thematic content analysis by two independent reviewers. Codes were networked and themes that emerged were discussed through a framework of power dynamics. Themes around the participants’ perceptions of homelessness, lack of control, and their resistance to author...
The October FBI Bombshell and Comey’s Intervention

On Friday, October 29, 2016, FBI Director James Comey dropped a bombshell that is perhaps the most stunning and, for many, outrageous, intervention in a presidential election by a top official of the judicial branch of the government in U.S. presidential history. Director Comey released a letter to 12 Congressmen saying that the FBI had received a collection of emails that the FBI would review to determine if they improperly contained classified information, and that the emails “appeared to pertain” to Hillary Clinton’s email investigation.
Zero-Tolerance Policies

as r h ly s. te . n d “Zero Tolerance” is a catch-all-phrase meant to deno a practice of not tolerating undesirable behavior b imposing automatic and often severe penalties f first offenses. In the United States, zero tolerance po icies emerged as part of a series of efforts to comb what became known as a drug epidemic and a war o drugs during the 1980s. Their popularity caught o quickly and soon the approach was used to addre a variety of social problems, ranging from s offending, environmental pollution, homelessnes sexual harassment, trespassing, and skateboardin (see Molsbee 2008). Eventually, the federal governme recognized that the approach lacked effectivenes which led to a retrenchment and a phasing out of th most dramatic and admittedly draconian laws. Despite recognition that the laws were not as effe tive as hoped in addressing ingrained social problem school districts embarked on a rapid expansion of ze tolerance laws as they used them to combat schoo violence. That expansion was fueled, in part, by feder laws mandating the enactment of zero tolerance po cies relating to weapons brought to schools. These ne policies were meant to foster close relationships amon schools, police departments, and juvenile justice sy tems and to make students fear discipline for miscon duct. Given federal mandates, most public schoo in the United States eventually adopted zero toleran policies meant to address gun violence, and the reach those policies expanded to much wider types of beha iors, such as drug use, and to suspensions for bringin paperclips and aspirins to school (see Molsbee 2008 As a result, students were subjected to predetermine consequences, typically punitive such as out of scho
Quickly Finding the Best Linear Model in High Dimensions.

We study the problem of finding the best linear model that can minimize least-squares loss given a data-set. While this problem is trivial in the low dimensional regime, it becomes more interesting in high dimensions where the population minimizer is assumed to lie on a manifold such as sparse vectors. We propose projected gradient descent (PGD) algorithm to estimate the population minimizer in the finite sample regime. We establish linear convergence rate and data dependent estimation error bounds for PGD. Our contributions include: 1) The results are established for heavier tailed sub-exponential distributions besides sub-gaussian. 2) We directly analyze the empirical risk minimization and do not require a realizable model that connects input data and labels. 3) Our PGD algorithm is augmented to learn the bias terms which boosts the performance. The numerical experiments validate our theoretical results.
Translating Pharmacology into Therapeutics to Fight the Opioid Crisis

The opioid crisis challenges the health care system in North America. Overdose deaths due to opioid use were estimated to reach 47,600 in 2017 ([Scholl et al., 2019][1]); more than the number of deaths due to gun violence. In addition to this frighteningly high number of overdose deaths, over 2
Toward operationalizing deficient emotional self-regulation in newly referred adults with ADHD: A receiver operator characteristic curve analysis.

Background.A growing body of research suggests that deficient emotional self-regulation (DESR) is common and morbid among attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. The main aim of the present study was to assess whether high and low levels of DESR in adult ADHD patients can be operationalized and whether they are clinically useful.Methods.A total of 441 newly referred 18- to 55-year-old adults of both sexes with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fifth Edition (DSM-5) ADHD completed self-reported rating scales. We operationalized DESR using items from the Barkley Current Behavior Scale. We used receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves to identify the optimal cut-off on the Barkley Emotional Dysregulation (ED) Scale to categorize patients as having high- versus low-level DESR and compared demographic and clinical characteristics between the groups.Results.We averaged the optimal Barkley ED Scale cut-points from the ROC curve analyses across all subscales and categorized ADHD patients as having high- (N = 191) or low-level (N = 250) DESR (total Barkley ED Scale score ≥8 or <8, respectively). Those with high-level DESR had significantly more severe symptoms of ADHD, executive dysfunction, autistic traits, levels of psychopathology, and worse quality of life compared with those with low-level DESR. There were no major differences in outcomes among medicated and unmedicated patients.Conclusions.High levels of DESR are common in adults with ADHD and when present represent a burdensome source of added morbidity and disability worthy of further clinical and scientific attention.
Low-cost Smart Home Energy Management System based on Decentralized Real-Time Pricing

With ever increasing DERs and the associated volatility, top-down and centralized architectures fail. Reliance on communication systems drastically drops the resiliency of the system and exposes the systems to single points of failure. Demand management and smart load scheduling is key to managing wide variations in supply-demand ratios. Smart home devices often react to real-time prices performing arbitrage, demand optimization and smart scheduling. However, these devices rely on pricing mechanisms that need heavy centralized computation and low-latency communication infrastructure. The resulting smart home devices become quite expensive and unable to work in remote locations without connectivity. This paper proposes a first true integration of a low-cost hardware platform capable of edge intelligence, full AMI functionality and a decentralized transactional architecture that allows real-time prices to be generated locally based on system frequency. The smart home energy devices work with intermittent connectivity, by using mobile ad-hoc networks. The proposed platform shows great potential for consumer savings while implementing a highly resilient and fractal architecture.
Diversity in NAFLD: A Review of Manifestations of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Different Ethnicities Globally

Globally, the rise in prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome as a whole has been linked to increased access to processed foods, such as refined sugars and saturated fats. Consequently, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is on the rise in both developed and developing nations. However, much is still unknown on the NAFLD phenotype with regards to the effect of ethnic diversity. Despite similarities in dietary habits, it appears that certain ethnicities are more protected against NAFLD than others. However, manifestations of the same genetic polymorphisms in different groups of people increase those individuals' predisposition to NAFLD. Diets from different regions have been associated with a lower prevalence of NAFLD and have even been linked to regression of hepatic steatosis. Socioeconomic variations amongst different regions of the world also contribute to NAFLD prevalence and associated complications. Thus, a thorough understanding of ethnic variability in NAFLD is essential to tailoring treatment recommendations to patients of different backgrounds.
Creating a cancer genomics curriculum for pediatric hematology-oncology fellows: A national needs assessment.

BACKGROUND With the advent of next generation sequencing, tumor and germline genomic testing are increasingly being used in the management of pediatric cancer patients. Despite this increase in testing, many pediatric hematology-oncology (PHO) providers are not confident interpreting or utilizing tumor or germline genomic results to care for their patients. METHODS We developed and delivered a needs assessment survey to PHO program directors, attendings, and fellows in the United States to understand this deficiency, gather data on existing cancer genomics educational initiatives, and query preferences for creating a future curriculum. RESULTS The survey includes 31 (41%) of 74 invited PHO program directors, 110 (11%) of 1032 invited attendings, and 79 fellows. The majority of attending physicians and fellows responding to the survey agree that understanding tumor (95% attending physicians; 95% fellows) and germline (86% attending physicians; 94% fellows) genomic information is essential for their practice. However, only 9 of 31 (29%) responding programs report that they have an existing cancer genomics curriculum. Most program directors indicated that the ideal genomics curriculum would occur during the first year of fellowship and incorporate direct patient care, online modules, and problem-based learning. Attending physicians and fellows identified that addressing indications for ordering tumor and germline genomic testing, counseling about the risks and benefits of such testing, and interpreting and individualizing clinical management based on tumor and germline results should be included in a future curriculum. CONCLUSION The results of this study reveal a great need to develop a curriculum that can be offered across PHO fellowship programs to expand knowledge in the area of cancer genomics.
Developmental Concerns in Children Coming to the United States as Refugees.

Nearly 80 million people are estimated to have been forcibly displaced from their homes worldwide. The magnitude is staggering, accounting for nearly 1 in 100 people alive today.1 Twenty-six million of these have crossed a national border and undergone formal registration processes to become refugees, defined as “someone who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him[or her]self of the protection of that country…”2 Children now account for almost one-half of all refugees worldwide, reaching an estimated 30 to 34 million displaced, and are, also, frequently affected by internal displacement, constituting >60% of internally displaced persons in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Burkina Faso.1 In addition to physical threats to their well-being,3 refugee children may face additional stress … Address correspondence to Rebecca J. Scharf, MD, MPH, Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics, University of Virginia Children’s Hospital, 1204 West Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22903. E-mail: rebeccascharf{at}virginia.edu
The cAMP Responsive Element Binding Protein H Links Metabolic Inflammation with Hyperlipidemia in Hepatic Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistant is commonly associated with both increased circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and hepatic overproduction of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). The cA...
Two-Dimensional Kinetics of Rigid Bodies: Force and Acceleration

Automobile and aircraft manufacturers perform windtunnel tests to determine resisting forces applied by the air to their models. Recent developments may enable engineers to replace wind tunnels with computer simulation packages similar to the one shown on the cover page of this chapter. The substantial saving in time and money make simulation an attractive alternative to traditional wind tunnel testing. This fact reflects the incredible evolution of the engineering fields and manifests the relentless efforts and genius of engineers from years past. Future engineers need to be exposed to, and learn more about, emerging technologies.
Regulation of N‐acetylaspartate and N‐acetylaspartylglutamate biosynthesis by protein kinase activators

The neuronal dipeptide N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) is thought to be synthesized enzymatically from N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and glutamate. We used radiolabeled precursors to examine NAA and NAAG biosynthesis in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells stimulated with activators of protein kinase A (dbcAMP; N6,2¢-O-dibutyryl cAMP) and protein kinase C (PMA; phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate). Differentiation over the course of several days with dbcAMP resulted in increased endogenous NAA levels and NAAG synthesis from L-[ 3 H]glutamine, whereas PMA-induced differentiation reduced both. Exogenously applied NAA caused dose dependent increases in intracellular NAA levels, and NAAG biosynthesis from L-[ 3 H]glutamine, suggesting precursor– product and mass–action relationships between NAA and NAAG. Incorporation of L-[ 3 H]aspartate into NAA and NAAG occurred sequentially, appearing in NAA by 1 h, but not in NAAG until between 6 and 24 h. Synthesis of NAAG from L-[ 3 H]aspartate was increased by dbcAMP and decreased by PMA at 24 h. The effects of PMA on L-[ 3 H]aspartate incorporation into NAA were temporally biphasic. Using short incubation times (1 and 6 h), PMA increased L-[ 3 H]aspartate incorporation into NAA, but with longer incubation (24 h), incorporation was significantly reduced. These results suggest that, while the neuronal production of NAA and NAAG are biochemically related, significant differences exist in the regulatory mechanisms controlling their biosynthesis.
A Shot Across the Bow: How to Write an Effective Demand Letter

Litigators should give the opposing party options by which it can avoid a full-scale legal battle. Such options are provided through the pre-litigation process of negotiated settlement. It is curious why so much time, training and effort goes into teaching law students and lawyers how to litigate, and so little into how to efficiently achieve as much of a client's goal as possible through the process of negotiated settlement. The process of dispute resolution through effective negotiated settlement involves carefully crafted strategies. What's more, settlement negotiations typically begin with a strategy that is the legal equivalent of a shot across the bow - a demand letter. In this article, I argue that writing an effective Shot Across the Bow letter requires the attorney to engage in specific analytical writing, and tactical strategies. I also propose a methodology for the preparation and execution of such a letter. By breaking down the steps and providing an example, I contend that a well-conceived, well-written, and well-sent Shot Across the Bow letter can increase the likelihood of a prompt, efficient, and satisfactory end to a civil dispute.
Specificity-determining Regions of a Lepidopteran-specific Insecticidal Protein Produced by Bacillus thuringiensis*

The lepidopteran-specific, insecticidal crystal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis vary in toxicity to different species of lepidopteran larvae. We report studies of CryIA(a) and CryIA(c), two related proteins that have different degrees of toxicity to Heliothis virescens yet very similar degrees of toxicity to Manduca sexta. The amino acid differences between these proteins are located primarily between residues 280 and 722. We have constructed a series of chimeric proteins and determined their toxicities to both insects. The most significant findings arise from the replacement of three segments of the cryIA(c) gene with homologous portions of the cryIA(a) gene: codons 332-428, 429-447, and 448-722. Each of these segments contributed substantially and largely additively toward efficacy for H. virescens. However, replacement of the 429-447 segment of cryIA(c) gene with the cryIA(a) sequence resulted in a 27-50-fold reduction in toxicity toward M. sexta whereas the reduction in toxicity to H. virescens was only 3-4-fold. Subdivision of the 429-447 segment and replacements involving residues within this segment reduced toxicity to M. sexta by 5- to more than 2000-fold whereas toxicity to H. virescens was only reduced 3-10-fold. These observations indicate that: 1) different but overlapping regions of the cryIA(c) gene determine specificity to each of the two test insects; 2) some of the examined gene segments interact in determining specificity; and 3) different sequences in the cryIA(a) and cryIA(c) genes are required for maximal toxicity to M. sexta.
Influence of environmental stress on biomass partitioning in transgenic tobacco plants expressing the movement protein of tobacco mosaic virus

The influence of various environmental factors on biomass partitioning between shoots and roots in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants expressing the movement protein (MP) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was investigated. TMV-MP-expressing transgenic plants exhibited a root-to-shoot ratio that was approximately 40% below that of transgenic vector control plants. When transgenic plants expressing the TMV-MP were subjected to water-stress conditions, the root-to-shoot ratio was increased to a value comparable to that of control plants subjected to the same water-stress treatment. Although the root-to-shoot ratio was increased by N or P deficiencies, the TMV-MP-induced alteration in biomass partitioning was not overcome. Surprisingly, under K+-deficient growth conditions, both TMV-MP-expressing and control plants exhibited reduced root-to-shoot ratios when compared with plants grown in the presence of sufficient K+. Furthermore, plant growth under K+-deficient conditions did not alleviate the influence of the TMV-MP over resource allocation to the roots. These results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms by which stress signals could cause an alteration in biomass partitioning between shoots and roots in control and transgenic tobacco plants expressing the TMV-MP.
Protein self-association of N-terminal domain of β-1,3-glucan recognition protein upon binding to β-1,3-glucan stimulates the prophenoloxidase activation in Manduca sexta (1007.4)

Insect β-glucan recognition protein (βGRP), a pathogen recognition receptor for innate immune responses, detects β-1,3-glucan on fungal surfaces via its N-terminal carbohydrate binding domain (N-βGRP) and triggers serine protease cascades leading to the activation of prophenoloxidase (proPO) or Toll pathway. Here we use biochemical and biophysical techniques to probe the molecular interaction of N-βGRP from Manduca sexta with laminarin, soluble β-1,3-glucan. Intriguingly, the carbohydrate binding induces the formation of two types of protein self-association of N-βGRPs depending on the molar ratio of carbohydrate to protein (C/P). Insoluble aggregation occurs at the lower molar ratio (C/P ~1), and a soluble oligomer, likely containing at least six N-βGRP molecules, forms at the higher molar ratio (C/P >5). Further, the PO activation is significantly enhanced in the naive plasma supplemented with the insoluble aggregate of N-βGRP. The soluble complex formed in plasma with laminarin also stimulates the PO a...
High-Resolution Optical Observations of Interstellar Absorption Lines

We briefly note several current topics concerning the properties of interstellar clouds for which high-resolution optical spectra play a significant role: (1) the recognition and characterization of small-scale (sub-pc) structure in both atomic and molecular gas; (2) the discovery of variations in the 7 Li/ 6 Li isotopic ratio in the nearby Galactic ISM; (3) the determination of atomic and molecular abundances and physical conditions for heavily reddened (“translucent”) Galactic sightlines; and (4) studies of interstellar clouds in the LMC and SMC.
Chemotherapy Resistance in Diffuse-Type Gastric Adenocarcinoma Is Mediated by RhoA Activation in Cancer Stem-Like Cells.

Purpose: The Lauren diffuse type of gastric adenocarcinoma (DGA), as opposed to the intestinal type (IGA), often harbor mutations in RHOA but little is known about the role of RhoA in DGA. Experimental Design: We examined RhoA activity and RhoA pathway inhibition in DGA cell lines and in two mouse xenograft models. RhoA activity was also assessed in patient tumor samples. Results: RhoA activity was higher in DGA compared to IGA cell lines, and was further increased when grown as spheroids to enrich for cancer stem-like cells (CSC) or when sorted using the gastric CSC marker CD44. RhoA shRNA or the RhoA inhibitor Rhosin decreased expression of the stem cell transcription factor, Sox2, and decreased spheroid formation by 78-81%. DGA spheroid cells had 3-5 fold greater migration and invasion than monolayer cells, and this activity was Rho-dependent. Diffuse GA spheroid cells were resistant in a cytotoxicity assay to 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin chemotherapy, and this resistance could be reversed with RhoA pathway inhibition. In two xenograft models, cisplatin inhibited tumor growth by 40-50%, RhoA inhibition by 32-60%, and the combination by 77-83%. In 288 patient tumors, increased RhoA activity correlated with worse OS in DGA patients (p=0.017) but not in IGA patients (p=0.612). Conclusions: RhoA signaling promotes CSC phenotypes in DGA cells. Increased RhoA activity is correlated with worse OS in DGA patients and RhoA inhibition can reverse chemotherapy resistance in DGA CSC and in tumor xenografts. Thus the RhoA pathway is a promising new target in DGA patients.
Normative Perceptions, Substance Use, Age of Substance Use Initiation, and Gender as Predictors of HIV‐Risky Sexual Behavior in a College Student Sample1

College students’ personal substance use, age of substance use initiation, and perceptions of their peers’ HIV-risky sexual behavior were assessed as predictors of personal HIV-risky sexual behavior. In addition to examining the variables separately by gender, these predictors were evaluated under two different contextual conditions: “drunk or high” and “not drunk or high.” Results indicated that frequency of recent alcohol use for females, frequency of marijuana use for both genders, and frequency of binge drinking for males positively predicted HIV-risky behavior. In addition, exaggerated perceptions of peer HIV-risky sexual behavior predicted personal HIV-risky sexual behavior for both males and females. Finally, later age of marijuana use initiation predicted HIV-risky sexual behavior for females.
Source Water Protection: Microbiology of Source Water

Pathogen Sources Factors Affecting the Transport of Fecal Pathogens to Surface Water Environmental Factors in Pathogen Survival in Ambient Waters Pathogen Occurrence in Surface Waters Groundwater Indicators of Source Water Quality Nonmicrobial Indicators of Fecal Contamination Laws and Regulations Protecting Drinking Water Sources Keywords: drinking water; indicators of water quality; protection of source water; pathogen survival in aquatic environmnents; regulations for drinking water; souce water, microbiology of; transport of pathogens in surface waters