cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION, DESENSITIZATION, AND RECOVERY OF RESPONSES TO THYROTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE AFTER INHIBITION OF RECEPTOR INTERNALIZATION

Three independent methods were used to block internalization of the TRH receptor: cells were infected with vaccinia virus encoding a dominant negative dynamin, incubated in hypertonic sucrose, or stably transfected with a receptor lacking the C-terminal tail. Internalization was blocked in all three paradigms as judged by microscopy using a fluorescently labeled TRH agonist and biochemically. The initial inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and Ca2+ responses to TRH were normal when internalization was inhibited. The IP3 increase was sustained rather than transient, however, in cells expressing the truncated TRH receptor, implying that the C-terminal tail of the receptor may be important for uncoupling from phospholipase C. After withdrawal of TRH, cells were refractory to TRH until both ligand dissociation and resensitization of the receptor had occurred. When surface-bound TRH was removed by a mild acid wash, which did not impair receptor function, neither wild-type nor truncated receptors were able to generate...
Contractile protein phosphorylation predicts human heart disease phenotypes

Human heart failure has been associated with a low level of thin-filament protein phosphorylation and an increase in calcium sensitivity of contraction relative to both “control” human heart tissue and tissue from small animal models. However, diverse strategies of human tissue procurement and the reliance on tissue obtained from subjects with end-stage heart failure suggest this may be an incomplete characterization. Therefore, we evaluated cardiac left ventricular (LV) biopsy samples from patients with aortic stenosis undergoing valve replacement who presented either with LV hypertrophy and preserved systolic function (Hyp) or with LV dilation and reduced ejection fraction (Dil). In Hyp, total troponin I (TnI) phosphorylation was markedly increased and myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) phosphorylation was unchanged relative to a control group of patients with normal LV function. Conversely, in Dil, total TnI phosphorylation was significantly reduced compared with control subjects and MLC2 phosphorylation was increased. Site-specific analysis of TnI phosphorylation revealed phenotype-specific differences such that Hyp samples demonstrated significant increases in phosphorylation at serine 22/23 and Dil samples had significant decreases at serine 43. The ratio of phosphorylation at the two sites was biased toward serine 22/23 in Hyp and toward serine 43/45 in Dil. Western blot analysis showed that protein phosphatase-1 was reduced in Hyp and protein phosphatase-2 was reduced in Dil. These data suggest that posttranslational modifications of sarcomeric proteins, both singly and in combination, are stage specific. Defining these changes in progressive heart disease may provide important diagnostic and treatment information.
Residual injection risk behavior, HIV infection, and the evaluation of syringe exchange programs.

This study assessed relationships between residual risk behavior (risk behavior among persons participating in effective HIV prevention programs) and HIV infection. Structured interviews and HIV tests were obtained from participants in six large U.S. syringe exchange programs. Program characteristics were obtained through interviews with the directors. Findings indicated that injection risk behaviors varied significantly across the six programs—from 10% to 27% of the participants at each program reported receptive sharing of needles and syringes in the 30 days prior to the interview. HIV prevalence ranged from 2.5% to 22.2% across the six programs. HIV prevalence among new injectors was strongly related to HIV prevalence among long–term injectors across the programs (r = .869). There was a consistent pattern of negative relationships between injection risk behaviors and HIV infection across the six programs (higher rates of risk behavior at a program associated with lower HIV infection). As a result, appr...
CdSe nanowire solar cells

Cadmium selenide nanowire solar cells with copper-doped zinc telluride window layers were designed and fabricated. I-V characterization was conducted in the dark and under illumination by a halogen lamp. Open-circuit voltages as high as 188 mV were obtained, though short-circuit currents were on the order of nA. The low currents are attributed to the small fraction of nanowires which protrude from the isolation layer and contribute to the device output. These devices also showed significant shunting, which is attributed to Cu migration through the ZnTe layer, as well as series resistance. The maximum open-circuit voltage of 188 mV was on the order of similar film-based cells in literature. Future applications in spectrum-splitting solar cells based on spatially composition-graded alloy nanowires in the CdxPb1-xSySe1-y materials system will be discussed.
WdStuAp, an APSES transcription factor, is a regulator of yeast-hyphal transitions in Wangiella (Exophiala) dermatitidis.

APSES transcription factors are well-known regulators of fungal cellular development and differentiation. To study the function of an APSES protein in the fungus Wangiella dermatitidis, a conidiogenous and polymorphic agent of human phaeohyphomycosis with yeast predominance, the APSES transcription factor gene WdSTUA was cloned, sequenced, disrupted, and overexpressed. Analysis showed that its derived protein was most similar to the APSES proteins of other conidiogenous molds and had its APSES DNA-binding domain located in the amino-terminal half. Deletion of WdSTUA in W. dermatitidis induced convoluted instead of normal smooth colony surface growth on the rich yeast maintenance agar medium yeast extract-peptone-dextrose agar (YPDA) at 37°C. Additionally, deletion of WdSTUA repressed aerial hyphal growth, conidiation, and invasive hyphal growth on the nitrogen-poor, hypha-inducing agar medium potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C. Ectopic overexpression of WdSTUA repressed the convoluted colony surface growth on YPDA at 37°C, and also strongly repressed hyphal growth on PDA at 25°C and 37°C. These new results provide additional insights into the diverse roles played by APSES factors in fungi. They also suggest that the transcription factor encoded by WdSTUA is both a positive and negative morphotype regulator in W. dermatitidis and possibly other of the numerous human pathogenic, conidiogenous fungi capable of yeast growth.
Study of form birefringence in waveguide devices using the semivectorial beam propagation method

Waveguide devices based on nonbirefringent substrates may still have form birefringence if index discontinuities exist. It is demonstrated that the semivectorial beam propagation method can be used to study the polarization dependence in waveguide devices. It is shown that the calculated coupling lengths of planar directional couplers match within 3.5% of analytical solutions. Results on polarization dependencies of coupling lengths and bending losses of rib waveguide devices are presented. Results of rib waveguide directional couplers indicate that the form birefringence can be significant. Losses of S-shaped bends are weakly polarization dependent in the low-loss regime. >
Results of Metal-on-Metal Hybrid Hip Resurfacing for Crowe Type-I and II Developmental Dysplasia

Background: Modern hip resurfacing implants may increase stability and preserve more bone than conventional total hip arthroplasty. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the mid-term results in a consecutive series of middle-aged patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip treated with hybrid resurfacing joint arthroplasty. Methods: Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing was performed in fifty-one patients (fifty-nine hips), forty-two of whom were female and nine of whom were male. The average age at the time of surgery was 43.7 years. Radiographic and clinical data were collected at six weeks, at three months, and at yearly follow-up visits. Seven hips had Crowe type-II developmental dysplasia of the hip and fifty-two had type-I. Results: The follow-up period ranged from 4.2 to 9.5 years (average, 6.0 years). Initial stability was achieved in all but three hips. The clinical outcomes, as rated with the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) hip score, improved significantly compared with the preoperative ratings. On the average, the pain rating improved from 3.2 to 9.3 points; the score for walking, from 6.0 to 9.7 points; the score for function, from 5.7 to 9.6 points; and the score for activity, from 4.6 to 7.3 points (all p = 0.0001). The mean Short Form-12 (SF-12) mental score increased from 46.6 to 53.5 points, and the mean SF-12 physical score increased from 31.7 to 51.4 points (both p < 0.0001). The mean postoperative Harris hip score was 92.5 points. On the average, the range of flexion improved from 106° to 129.6°; the abduction-adduction arc, from 41.9° to 76.9°; and the rotation arc in extension, from 32.1° to 84.8° (all p = 0.0001). Four patients delivered a total of six healthy babies since the time of implantation of the prosthesis. Radiographic analysis showed a decrease in the mean body weight lever arm from 118.5 mm preoperatively to 103.9 mm postoperatively (p = 0.007). There were five femoral failures requiring conversion to a total hip arthroplasty. One hip showed a radiolucency around the metaphyseal femoral stem. There were no complete acetabular radiolucencies, and all sockets remained well fixed. Conclusions: The mid-term results of metal-on-metal resurfacing in patients with Crowe type-I or II developmental dysplasia of the hip were disappointing with respect to the durability of the femoral component. However, the fixation of the porous-coated acetabular components without adjuvant fixation was excellent despite incomplete lateral acetabular coverage of the socket. More rigorous patient selection and especially meticulous bone preparation are essential to minimize femoral neck fractures and loosening after this procedure. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
A Wrapper-Based Approach to Sustained Time Synchronization in Wireless Sensor Networks

Time synchronization is an important service for wireless sensor network applications. Nodes in the network stay synchronized by exchanging periodic messages that carry local timestamps. Several algorithms have been proposed in the literature that are suited to different kinds of application scenarios. A common problem across these time synchronization algorithms is that the energy cost of message exchange is high. In fact, the cost of radio communication far outstrips the cost of performing local operations on the processor. If the message exchanges were stopped, nodes will fall out of sync, and may no longer be able to meet application requirements. In this paper, we present a wrapper-based approach to sustained time synchronization for wireless sensor networks. As such, our solution will act as a wrapper around a given time synchronization protocol, and will apply local corrector operations to extend the time duration between two message exchanges between nodes. Our wrapper performs at least as good as the original protocol provided, reduces the number of message exchanges on average, and consequently the energy consumed, significantly. We present an implementation of our wrapper for TinyOS and evaluate it on XSM motes in conjunction with TPSN, a popular time synchronization protocol for sensor networks.
AN ISLAMIC APPRAISAL OF MINDING THE GAP

The neglect of psycho-spiritual needs of patients as they traverse the modern healthcare system has been a featured theme in medical literature over the past decade. This literature, which often highlights in-patient palliative care, as well as acute and critical care settings, influences practice guidelines and protocols of doctors and nurses. In this essay, I review some of the pertinent issues raised in the literature and examine the validity of placing an ethical perspective on this issue. I also compare Islamic theocentric perspectives with secular, non-theistic perspectives on restoring psycho-spiritual care for patients. I then develop a framework for pastoral intervention based on aspects of the Islamic tradition and elaborate this framework by addressing clinical contexts and cases. The essay is an exposition based upon a review of the modern medical literature, an analysis of some of the traditional Islamic written sources, and the observations of the investigator, a practicing physician and an American Muslim.
Stress Transfer to the Denali and Other Regional Faults from the M 9.2 Alaska Earthquake of 1964

Stress transfer from the great 1964 Prince William Sound earthquake is modeled on the Denali fault, including the Denali-Totschunda fault segments that ruptured in 2002, and on other regional fault systems where M 7.5 and larger earth- quakes have occurred since 1900. The results indicate that analysis of Coulomb stress transfer from the dominant earthquake in a region is a potentially powerful tool in assessing time-varying earthquake hazard. Modeled Coulomb stress increases on the northern Denali and Totschunda faults from the great 1964 earthquake coincide with zones that ruptured in the 2002 Denali fault earthquake, although stress on the Susitna Glacier thrust plane, where the 2002 event initiated, was decreased. A southeasterly- trending Coulomb stress transect along the right-lateral Totschunda-Fairweather- Queen Charlotte trend shows stress transfer from the 1964 event advancing slip on the Totschunda, Fairweather, and Queen Charlotte segments, including the southern Fairweather segment that ruptured in 1972. Stress transfer retarding right-lateral strike slip was observed from the southern part of the Totschunda fault to the northern end of the Fairweather fault (1958 rupture). This region encompasses a gap with shallow thrust faulting but with little evidence of strike-slip faulting connecting the segments to the northwest and southeast. Stress transfer toward failure was computed on the north-south trending right-lateral strike-slip faults in the Gulf of Alaska that ruptured in 1987 and 1988, with inhibitory stress changes at the northern end of the northernmost (1987) rupture. The northern Denali and Totschunda faults, including the zones that ruptured in the 2002 earthquakes, follow very closely (within 3%), for about 90, an arc of a circle of radius 375 km. The center of this circle is within a few kilometers of the intersection at depth of the Patton Bay fault with the Alaskan megathrust. This inferred asperity edge may be the pole of counterclockwise rotation of the block south of the Denali fault. These observations suggest that the asperity and its recurrent rupture in great earthquakes as in 1964 may have influenced the tectonics of the region during the later stages of evolution of the Denali strike-slip fault system.
Effect of prior hepatitis B virus exposure on long‐term risk of liver‐related events after liver transplantation

Objective To characterize the risk of liver-related events and death in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-exposed liver transplantation (LT) recipients. Methods Retrospective review was performed in all adults who underwent LT between January 1995 through December 2010 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Recipients with graft failure or death within 14 d of LT or missing HBV status were excluded, leaving 575 individuals for analysis. Patients were classified according to HBV exposure status: Unexposed, Resolved HBV, Chronic HBV, or hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) seropositive liver donor. Results Compared with HBV-unexposed patients, the relative hazard of combined liver-related events (rejection, cirrhosis, re-transplantation) and death after LT was not increased in patients with a baseline history of resolved HBV infection or chronic hepatitis B. Using anti-HBc seropositive donors also did not increase the risk of liver-related events, death, or composite events (all p ≥ 0.05). However, hepatitis C was associated with liver-related events [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.59; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-2.52], and blacks had a higher risk of death (aHR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.01-2.22). Conclusion LT of patients with prior HBV exposure or use of anti-HBc seropositive donors is not associated with increased risk of liver-related events or death.
Marital disruption is associated with shorter salivary telomere length in a probability sample of older adults.

This research was supported by grants from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, United States and the National Institute on Aging (grant R03AG045301). The HRS 2008 Telomere data set is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (grant U01AG009740) and was conducted by the University of Michigan.
In Situ Growth of PbZrxTi1-xO3 Thin Films by Pulsed Laser Deposition

We have investigated the composition and structure of thin films of PbZrxTi1-xO3 (x-0.54) produced in situ by pulsed excimer laser deposition from a stoichiometric pressed oxide target. Thin films were deposited onto (100) MgO and SrTiO3 substrates as a function of substrate temperature between room temperature and 750 °C, and oxygen background pressures between vacuum and 300 mtorr. The deposited films were very smooth with particulates covering less than 0.5% of the surface. Elastic backscattering spectroscopy was used to determine the relative atomic fractions. In the deposited films, the Pb stoichiometry was found to be very sensitive to both the substrate temperature and the O2 background pressure. Above ∼600 °C, the Pb content dropped rapidly with increasing substrate temperature for a 50 mtorr 02 background. At 550 °C the Pb content was near-stoichiometric for O2 background pressures between 200 and 300 mtorr but dropped monotonically to ∼20% of the expected value for depositions in a vacuum (i.e., no O2 background). Over this entire range of pressures and temperatures the Ti/Zr stoichiometry ratio was relatively uneffected. The structure and orientation of the deposited films, as determined by x-ray diffraction, followed the Pb deficiency via the production of other phases and orientations. Crystallation of the deposited film was observed at temperatures as low as 400 °C for 200 mtorr O2 background. At 550 °C and 200–300 mtorr, (100) oriented PbZrxTi1-xO3 was observed on SrTiO3 substrates.
Dark-Field Microscopy in the Study of Fungi

During a monographic study of the monilioid species of Sclerotinia, by the senior writer, it became desirable to photograph certain microscopic structures such as asci, ascospores and paraphyses. In all species of this group studied, these structures appear hyaline or nearly so and for this reason present a problem quite distinct from that of similar dark colored structures. Where color is present in the object contrast is readily secured with the bright-field microscope. Hyaline objects are not so readily visible, and to enhance their visibility it is necessary to greatly reduce the amount of light transmitted through them. Even by a reduction of light in the bright-field, certain details of hyaline objects are not visible or are not so distinct as in the dark-field. The adaptability of dark-field illumination to the study of living hyaline unstained material as is illustrated in this paper is one of its advantages over the bright-field. Beck and Gage (1925: 428) firmly maintain not only that the dark-field microscope makes objects visible but also that the maximum resolution may be obtained. In fact Beck is quoted (Gage, 1925: 428) as saying, "Anything that can be resolved by transmitted illumination can be resolved by dark-ground illumination, and in general with much greater brilliancy, because of the increased contrast between different parts of the structure." So far as the writers are aware, dark-field microscopy has not been applied to the study and photography of the morphological structures of the higher fungi. Atkinson (1900) in photographing gross characters of the Agaricaceae and other fungi, Dickson and Fisher (1923) in photographing spore-clouds arising from dis-
Patient care delivery and integration: Stimulating advancement of ambulatory care pharmacy practice in an era of healthcare reform

Purpose This article discusses how to plan and implement an ambulatory care pharmacist service, how to integrate a hospital- or health-system-based service with the mission and operations of the institution, and how to help the institution meet its challenges related to quality improvement, continuity of care, and financial sustainability. Summary The steps in implementing an ambulatory care pharmacist service include (1) conducting a needs assessment, (2) aligning plans for the service with the mission and goals of the parent institution, (3) collaborating with patients and physicians, (4) standardizing the patient care process, (5) proposing the service, (6) attaining the necessary resources, (7) identifying stakeholders, (8) identifying applicable quality standards, (9) defining competency standards, (10) planning for service payment, and (11) monitoring outcomes. Ambulatory care pharmacists have current opportunities to become engaged with patient-centered medical homes, accountable care organizations, preventive and wellness programs, and continuity of care initiatives. Common barriers to the advancement of ambulatory care pharmacist services include lack of complete access to patient information, inadequate information technology, and lack of payment. Conclusion Ambulatory care pharmacy practitioners must assertively promote appropriate medication use, provide patient-centered care, pursue integration with the patient care team, and seek appropriate recognition and compensation for the services they provide.
Podiatric medicine and disaster response: a survey of the professional leadership.

Background: We surveyed the podiatric medicine professional and academic leadership concerning podiatric medicine professionals as disaster surge responders. Methods: All US podiatric medical school deans and state society presidents were mailed a self-administered structured questionnaire. The leaders were asked to complete the questionnaire and return it by mail; two repeated mailings were made. Descriptive statistics were produced, and differences between deans and society presidents were tested by the Fisher exact test. Results: The response rate was 100% for the deans and 53% for the society presidents. All of the respondents agreed that podiatric physicians have skills applicable to catastrophe response, are ethically obligated to help, and should receive additional training in catastrophe response. Deans and society presidents agreed with the statements that podiatric physicians should provide basic first aid and place sutures, obtain medical histories, and assist with maintaining infection control...
Therapeutic effects of benthiacthiactzine against circulatory failure induced by tabun and cardiogenic shock by procainamide in dogs

Aim To investigate the therapeutic effects of benthiactzine against circulatory failure induced by tabun and cardiogenic shock by procainamide in dogs.Methods Tabun was used to induce circulatory failure shock model. 3 healthy male dogs,weighing 12~18 g,were treated with tabun (im.) to induce circulatory failure shock in which the mean blood pressure (MBP) decreased to 5.98 kPa.Procainamide was used to induce shock model. 4 healthy male dogs,weighing 12~15 g,were treated with procainamide (iv) 100 mg·kg-1to induce circulatory failure shock,then these dogs were treated with benthiactzine 0.1 mg·kg-1(im).The changes of hemodynamic parameters and cardiograms were observed.Result In circulatory failure dogs,SBP,DBP,MBP,HR,LVDP,+dp/dtmax,-dp/dtmaxand Vpm changed dramatically(P0.01).The hemodynamic parameters and results of cardiograms were improved within 1 min treatment of benthiactzine in tabun-induced circulatory failure shock model. In procainamide-induced circulatory failure shock model,the hemodynamic parameters were markedly improved,while the effect on cardiograms showed 60 min later. Conclusions Benthiactzine could be a more favourable medicine against circulatory failure induced by tabun instead of procain amide to save time for other clinic treatments.
Abstract A74: Differential Wnt signaling in African American and Caucasian women with triple-negative breast cancer

In the U.S., breast cancer (BC) incidences among African American (AA) and Caucasian (CA) women are similar, however, AA have a significantly higher mortality rate (20%). In addition, AA women often present with tumors at a younger age, with a higher grade/later stage, and are more likely to be diagnosed with the highly aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype. Although multiple factors may contribute to the observed health disparities in TNBC, it is essential that we identify the molecular characteristics and underlying biological differences between CA and AA TNBC. We initially conducted a gene expression study using archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples obtained from CA and AA women diagnosed with Node 0 TNBC. Briefly; total RNA was isolated from 10 μm scrolls from each FFPE block, cDNA synthesis, and each sample was hybridized to a breast-enriched gene expression array (Affymetrix, BC DSA Research Tool). Expression analysis was conducted using GeneSpring 12.1 analytical software. PCA analysis revealed that the samples clustered well with respect to ethnicity and unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis resulted in distinct subgroups based on ethnicity. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) from each cohort were selected using ANOVA analysis (fold change > 2.0, p value Citation Format: Julie E. Getz, Davyd B. Teoh, Sara Nasser, Tembe Waibhav, Legendre R. Christophe, Venkata Yellapantula, Mary Ellen Ahearn, Carmen R. Gomez, Merce Jorda, Mark D. Pegram, John D. Carpten, Lisa L. Baumbach. Differential Wnt signaling in African American and Caucasian women with triple-negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A74.
Analytische Methoden des Nachweises von Drogen und Giftstoffen

Die Zunahme der Rauschgiftdelikte und das breite Spektrum von Stoffen rnit Rauschgiftwirkung, akute Intoxikationsf~ille und Doping, verlangen von der forensisch-toxikologischen Seite und yon der Sportmedizin rationelle analytische Verfahren, um die Art der Probe zu erkennen und eine quantitative Bewertung der Wirksubstanzen zu erhalten. Dartiber hinaus ist die Ermittlung der Provenienz von Rauschgiftproben fiir Beh6rden von Interesse. Die Methoden des analytischen Nachweises sollen zur Erkennung illegaler Handelsware, ffir den Suchtnachweis, die Suchtiiberwachung, die Bestimmungen therapeutischer Dosen bei verkehrsmedizinischen F~tlIen und zur Feststellung des Intoxikationsgrades geeignet sein. Einige illegal im Handel befindliche Drogen, die mit chromatographischen Analysenmethoden im Screening erfal3t werden, sind :
Qué es una intervención positiva? Perspectivas Teóricas, Empiricas y Vivenciales

El presente trabajo sigue tres hilos de investigacion interconectados -teorico, empirico, y vivencial- para contestar una pregunta fundamental: ?Que es una intervencion positiva? La primer parte, propone una definicion teorica del termino “intervencion positiva”, y una hipotesis de como funcionan las intervenciones positivas. La segunda parte, presenta un sistema de clasificacion basado en la investigacion empirica, valor relevante para la longevidad de la Psicologia Positiva como una disciplina academica. En la tercera parte, dos intervenciones positivas son exploradas vivencialmente, y relacionadas con el modelo teorico propuesto y la clasificacion empirica de las intervenciones positivas. El entretejido de estos hilos provee una comprension mas profunda acerca de las intervenciones positivas, lo que permite su aplicacion mas efectiva y asegura la duracion de la Psicologia Positiva como un campo de esfuerzo cientifico previniendo su declinacion en una moda pasajera de auto-ayuda.
General Introduction to Neutron Physics and Instrumentation

This chapter provides a simple overview of the properties, production, and interactions of neutron beams as they may be applied for the study of cultural heritage and related artifacts. The content is deliberately brief and provides background information for the subsequent chapters. Excellent introductions to Neutron Scattering Theory and the Instrumentation can be found on the website of this book series (Liang et al. in Neutron applications in earth, energy and environmental sciences, neutron scattering applications and techniques. Springer, 2009).
A single phase transformerless string inverter with large voltage swing of half-bridge capacitors for active power decoupling

The transformerless single phase inverters are becoming common due to its advantages of reduced volume, lower cost, and higher efficiency but it has two implementation challenges-high frequency capacitive ground current and decoupling of double line frequency power. This paper proposes an optimized power decoupling topology for a single phase string inverter which addresses both the challenges as well as minimizes capacitance required to decouple the ripple power. Unlike conventional power decoupling techniques in full bridge converters, the proposed technique does not significantly increase the voltage stress on the devices. The combination of a half-bridge inverter and a buck boost converter ensure the complete elimination of high frequency capacitive coupled ground currents. The proposed technique requires only 40 μF/kW at 600 V for power decoupling. A closed loop controller design for the converter is detailed and the experimental results at 1 kW, 120 V, 60 Hz output for closed loop operation are provided.
Cancer patients' answers to surveys: Incorporation into the electronic health record (EHR) can decrease manual data entry and increase patient-centered information.

130Background: Delivery of value-based cancer care has centered on the use of EHR’s and how these applications can document health information, including patient reported outcomes (PRO’s), (1-4). Survey information must be incorporated into the medical record with minimal staff intervention. Our institution, and many cancer centers are currently using “EPIC” as their EHR platform. Although this is a data driven platform, and data can be extracted and reported as desired, certain things need to be done prior to going live in order to ensure this occurs. Surveys must be built using standardized “smart data elements” (SDE’s). If patient data is gathered, but not integrated correctly into the EHR, one will find themselves manually entering data. The goal is to allow patients to answer questions about their health history 1 time, validate answers, incorporate into the EHR, and report data. Methods: We engaged our technology team prior to “go-live” to build patient survey questionnaires. 40 survey questions, we...
Toward wearable sensors: optical sensor for detection of ammonium nitrate-based explosives, ANFO and ANNM

Increasing security needs require compact and portable detection tools for the rapid and reliable identification of explosives used in improvised explosive devices (IEDs). We report of an easy-to-use optical sensor for both vapour-phase and solution-phase identification of explosive mixtures that uses a cross-reactive fluorimetric sensor array comprising chemically responsive fluorimetric indicators composed of aromatic aldehydes and polyethyleneimine. Ammonium nitrate-nitromethane (ANNM) was analyzed by paper microzone arrays and nanofiber sensor mats. Progress toward wearable sensors based on electrospun nanofiber mats is outlined.
On the Coexistence of Intermeshed Hostile Populations

From its inception, the field of computational mechanics has primarily been focussed on engineering applications involving solid and fluid mechanics. As we enter the 21st century, it is apparent that we enter a different period in human civilization where, perhaps, computational methods can also start to play a significant and constructive role. The recent dramatic increase in computational power available for mathematical modeling and simulation raises the possibility that numerical methods can play a significant predictive role in the analysis of populations. This fact has motivated the work that will be presented. As a model problem, the objective of this work is to begin the development of robust computational procedures to investigate the behavior of initially intermeshed hostile, potentially human, populations. The applications are numerous, stemming from human civil wars on the macroscale to cellular-level conflicts, for example, between cancer and healthy cells, on the microscale. Classical modeling approaches attempt to develop continuum type field equations, usually making somewhat unrealistic assumptions in order to obtain tractable partial differential equations. For example, when dealing with small populations, or populations which become quite small and heterogeneously dispersed during the time-history of interaction, the assumptions behind regularization techniques leading to continuum models, may not apply. With these issues in mind, and due to the dramatic increase in desktop computing, we develop a discrete interaction approach where one can easily modify “rules of engagement”, population sizes, reproductive rates, etc, to provide quantitative spatial and temporal information. A robust inverse algorithm is also developed to determine “parity points”, i.e. multiple parameter sets which yield population coexistence. For sufficiently complex models of population interaction, the determination of parity points falls within the category of non-convex, non-differential optimization, with constraints. Accordingly, a general approach, based on a stochastic genetic algorithm, is developed and applied to a sufficient complex model for two interacting populations in order to illustrate the overall method.
Identification, Characterization, and Structure of Tm16 from Trichuris muris.

Trichuriasis is a disease of poverty for which excretory and secretory (ES) products that induce the protective immunity are being investigated as candidate vaccines antigens. In this study, ES products of T. muris and immune sera were produced. The immune sera recognized more than 20 proteins on a 2D-gel of ES products of T. muris adult worms. Tm16 was one of the proteins identified by mass spectrometry. Tm16 shares 57% sequence identity with Ov16, an immunodominant diagnostic antigen from Onchocerca volvulus. Recombinant Tm16 with a carboxyl terminal hexahistidine was produced using Pichia pastoris. Polyclonal antibodies against rTm16 were generated by one-prime and two-boost immunization of three female Balb/c mice with 25 μg of recombinant Tm16 emulsified with ISA720 adjuvant. These polyclonal antibodies confirmed that Tm16 is localized to the ES products and the soluble fraction of the adult worm. Additionally, the high-resolution crystal structure of Tm16 was solved by molecular replacement. Tm16 belongs to the phosphatidylethanolamine-binding-like protein (PEBP1) family and this is the first structure of a PEBP1 from a parasite.
What Is the Contribution of City-Scale Actions to the Overall Food System's Environmental Impacts?: Assessing Water, Greenhouse Gas, and Land Impacts of Future Urban Food Scenarios.

This paper develops a methodology for individual cities to analyze the in- and trans-boundary water, greenhouse gas (GHG) and land impacts of city-scale food system actions. Applied to Delhi, India, the analysis demonstrates that city-scale action can rival trans-boundary action, though no single city-scale action can rival in all three environmental impacts. Particularly improved food waste management within the city (7% system-wide GHG reduction) matches the GHG impact of pre-consumer trans-boundary food waste reduction. The systems approach is particularly useful in illustrating key tradeoffs/co-benefits. For instance, multiple diet shifts achieving GHG reduction are accompanied by an increase in water and/or land impacts. Vertical farming technology (VFT) with current application for fruits and vegetables can provide modest system-wide water (4%) and land reductions (3%), though implementation within the city may raise questions of constraints in water stressed cities—with such a shift in Delhi increa...
Angle Jungle: An Educational Game about Angles

Angle Jungle is an iPad game designed as an educational supplement for fourth to sixth grade students learning about angles. The game asks players to solve puzzles using angles, and incorporates research in numeric-spatial learning, scaffolding tools, and puzzle design to reinforce the intended experience. We describe the game's development from concept to release. Angle Jungle is available as a standalone game on the Apple App Store allowing for both single player and collaborative play inside and outside the classroom.
Physical Behavior of Triblock Copolymer Thermoplastic Elastomers Containing Sustainable Rosin-Derived Polymethacrylate End Blocks

A rosin-derived polymethacrylate, poly(dehydroabietic ethyl methacrylate) (PDAEMA), was evaluated as a sustainable end block in triblock copolymer-based thermoplastic elastomers. Triblock copolymers containing glassy PDAEMA end blocks and a rubbery poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA) midblock were synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization. The volume fraction of PDAEMA in the triblock copolymer was varied at constant midblock molecular weight. At lower PDAEMA content, the triblock copolymers exhibited microphase separated morphologies lacking long-range order, which transitioned to a well-defined cylindrical morphology as the PDAEMA content was increased. Observed thermal properties were consistent with the presence of distinct PDAEMA and PnBA domains. The order–disorder transition temperature increased with increasing PDAEMA content in the block copolymer, and the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter of PDAEMA/PnBA was strongly temperature-dependent yet small in value. The triblock copolymers exh...
Parallelizing knowledge mining in a cognitive agent for autonomous decision making

Cognitive computing can enable automatic decision making, thus enabling the design of more intelligent and autonomous systems. An autonomous cognitive decision support architecture, Cognitively Enhanced Complex Event Processing (CECEP), was developed at United States Air Force Research Laboratory to enable agent-based decision-making. CECEP has several components, which allow cognitive agents to make automatic decision without any human interaction. One of the key components, Cognitive Domain Ontologies (CDO) are a knowledge repository for CECEP agents. The knowledge mining process from CDOs in the CECEP architecture is analogous to solving a constraint-satisfaction problem (CSP). Cognitive agents are more capable when they are able to process or mine larger volume of information to make more informed and intelligent decisions. This means that the CDOs need to process large knowledge bases. Cognitive agents need to consider environmental inputs and make decisions at runtime. Hence CDOs with large knowledge bases need to be accelerated for real time cognitive agents. This study introduces an accelerated CDO solver with multiple optimizations for generating and ranking solutions for an autonomous cognitive agent. As CDOs typically generate all equally weighted valid solutions, it is impossible to find the best one from this solution set without imposing some relative importance of certain criteria. This study implemented several optimization conditions through objective functions and processed them as Multiple Constraint Optimization Problems (MCOPs) to rank solutions on a GPGPU. It achieved a speedup of 85–100 times over existing solvers for ranking the solutions.
Liquid Silicon: A Data-Centric Reconfigurable Architecture Enabled by RRAM Technology

This paper presents a data-centric reconfigurable architecture, namely Liquid Silicon, enabled by emerging non-volatile memory, i.e., RRAM. Compared to the heterogeneous architecture of commercial FPGAs, Liquid Silicon is inherently a homogeneous architecture comprising a two-dimensional (2D) array of identical 'tiles'. Each tile can be configured into one or a combination of four modes: TCAM, logic, interconnect, and memory. Such flexibility allows users to partition resources based on applications? needs, in contrast to the fixed hardware design using dedicated hard IP blocks in FPGAs. In addition to better resource usage, its 'memory friendly' architecture effectively addresses the limitations of commercial FPGAs i.e., scarce on-chip memory resources, making it an effective complement to FPGAs. Moreover, its coarse-grained logic implementation results in shallower logic depth, less inter-tile routing overhead, and thus smaller area and better performance, compared with its FPGA counterpart. Our study shows that, on average, for both traditional and emerging applications, we achieve 62% area reduction, 27% speedup and 31% improvement in energy efficiency when mapping applications onto Liquid Silicon instead of FPGAs.
The Visual Culture of Planning

Over the course of the twentieth century, American planners deployed an array of visual techniques to analyze, represent, and promote the American city. Early planners looked to maps of poverty, di...
Anchusa officinalis : Production of Rosmarinic Acid in Perfusion Cell Cultures

Anchusa belongs to the family Boraginaceae. There are 30 species in the genus Anchusa found in Europe and Asia, several growing in open fields and waste places. Anchusa officinalis (Fig. 1) is a perennial herb; its stems are about 20–80 (− 170) cm, long-lanceolate-shaped leaves are about 50–120 × 10–20 mm. It has several dense cymes. Pedicels are very short. Bracts are equal to or shorter than calyx. The calyx is 5–7 mm, up to 10 mm in fruit, divided to half way or almost to the base into lanceolate, acute lobes. The corolla is violet or reddish. Tubes are 5–7 mm, equalling or up to 1.5 times as long as calyx. Limb is 7–15 mm in diameter. Stamens are inserted in the upper half of the tube and reach or partly overlap the scales. Nutlets are about 2 × 4 mm, obliquely ovoid. Anchusa officinalis is native to the Mediterranean region, but is now found in much of Europe, such as France, Holland, Germany, Denmark, south Norway, and south Sweden. It is also present in west Asia Blarney and Grey-Wilson 1989.
Intraocular Penetration of Periocular Ketorolac and Efficacy in Experimental Uveitis

Purpose. To determine in rabbits whether periocular injection of ketorolac tromethamine effectively delivers the drug to the eye and, if so, whether this is efficacious in the treatment of experimental uveitis. Methods. Ketorolac was administered by anterior subconjunctival injection, posterior periocular injection, intramuscular injection, or topical eye drops. The aqueous and vitreous were assayed for ketorolac. Anterior subconjunctival and topical ketorolac were compared to control as well as topical and anterior subconjunctival steroid treatments in uveitis induced by the intravitreal injection of tumor necrosis factor. Results. Anterior subconjunctival injection led to high, though short-lived, levels of drug in the aqueous and vitreous. Posterior periocular injection led to much lower levels. Topical dosing led to relatively low aqueous and undetectable vitreous levels. No ocular levels were detected after intramuscular dosing. All tested antiinflammatory treatments were similarly effective in controlling uveitis. Conclusions. Anterior subconjunctival injection of ketorolac produced high intraocular concentrations of drug and was beneficial in controlling the inflammation in this animal model of uveitis
Litter Decomposition in Yellowstone Grasslands: The Roles of Large Herbivores, Litter Quality, and Climate

Plant litter decomposition is a key process that influences carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Litter decomposition is controlled by a number of factors such as temperature, moisture, litter quality, and the composition of soil microbial communities. Large herbivores can affect litter decomposition by modifying each of these factors. The goal of this study was to examine the contribution of herbivores in determining decomposition rates across an ecosystem with a steep climatic gradient. We examined the effect of migratory grazing ungulates (primarily elk) on litter decomposition by comparing rates of mass loss over 1.5 years inside and outside fenced exclosures at 10 grassland sites that spanned gradients of temperature, precipitation, plant community composition, and grazing intensity in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Based on previous studies indicating positive feedbacks of herbivory on soil carbon and nutrient processes in grazed YNP grasslands, we predicted that YNP grazers should also improve litter quality and stimulate litter decomposition. Instead, we found that variation in precipitation was the predominant driver of litter decomposition across the ecosystem. Grazing decreased litter lignin:nitrogen ratio (improved quality), but did not affect decomposition rates. Our results suggest that while grazers can influence the quality of litter, climate is a more important driver of litter decomposition across the YNP ecosystem.
Tensor Network Renormalization as an Ultra-calculus for Complex System Dynamics

In this chapter, following the previous one, we briefly present the modern approach to real-space renormalization group (RG) theory based on tensor network formulations which was developed during the last two decades. The aim of this sequel is to suggest a novel framework based on tensor networks in order to find the fixed points of complex systems via coarse-graining. The main result of RG is that it provides a systematic way to study the collective dynamics of a large ensemble of elements that interact according to a complex underlying network topology. RG explicitly seeks the fixed points of the complex system in the space of interactions and unravels the universality class of the complex system as well as calculates a plethora of important observables. We hope that tensor networks can particularly pave the way for better understanding of the sustainable interdependent networks (Amini et al., Sustainable interdependent networks: from theory to application, 2018) through proposing efficient computational strategies and discovering insightful features of the network behaviors.
The What and the Why of Modeling

I begin with reflections on the meanings and purposes of mathematical modeling. Central concerns are what it means to engage meaningfully in mathematical modeling and why some kinds of mathematical models – the ones that are explanatory in nature – are preferable for educational research to the kinds of taxonomic or statistical models that describe components of a system but fail to say how they work. I then turn to the Teaching for Robust Understanding (TRU) Framework, which highlights five essential dimensions of classroom practice. A key dimension of TRU, “Agency, Ownership, and Identity,” asks what opportunities students have to develop the sense that they are willing to and capable of engaging with the content (agency), to make the content their own, above and beyond “ingesting” content defined by others (ownership), and see themselves as “math people” (identity). This dimension in particular provides a way of re-examining issues of affect. The balance of the chapter is devoted to using the TRU framework to examine and in some cases reframe the inquiries into affect and modeling found in the chapters by Goldin, Gomez-Chacon and De La Fuente, Weizel, Middleton and Jansen, and Shahbari, Tabach, and Heyd-Meyzuyamim.