cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of gaseous and particulate pollutants from gasification-based improved cookstoves

Abstract Cookstove studies have reported pollutant concentrations (mainly PM 2.5 , black carbon and CO) without routinely associating it with the design and operating principles of the stoves. Extensive characterization of pollutants from cookstoves and the effect of different operating conditions are required for a better understanding of the mechanisms of pollutant formation. In this study, a forced draft (FD) and a natural draft (ND) gasification-based improved cookstove were tested under controlled conditions. Real-time pollutant concentrations, both particulate (PM 2.5 , lung-deposited surface area and particle number size distribution) and gaseous (CO, CO 2 and NO x ), from these stoves using three types of fuel (applewood chips and chunks, cowdung cake and coal) along with different cookstove operating conditions (airflow rates and with or without a cooking pot) were measured and compared. The FD cookstove tended to exhibit higher concentrations of emissions compared to the ND cookstove. Increasing airflow through the FD stove decreased flame length and the residence time of VOCs inside the flame zone, which in turn increased pollutant concentrations. An optimum airflow producing the lowest particulate matter (PM) concentrations was established for the FD cookstove. The CO–CO 2 ratio, an indicator of combustion efficiency, demonstrated strong correlations with PM 2.5 ( r = 0.857), particle geometric mean diameter ( r = 0.900) and the total surface area concentration ( r = 0.908) indicating that CO–CO 2 ratio may be used as a proxy for these PM metrics. Results reported in this study will facilitate further improvements in the design of future cookstoves.
Weight-loss talks: what works (and what doesn't).

BACKGROUND In primary care encounters, it is unknown whether physician advice on weight-related matters leads to patient weight loss. To examine this issue, we analyzed physician weight loss advice and measured corresponding changes in patients' dietary intake, physical activity, and weight. METHODS Using audio-recorded primary care encounters between 40 physicians and 461 of their overweight or obese patients, we coded weight-related advice as nonspecific, specific nutritional, specific exercise, or specific weight. Physicians and patients were told the study was about preventive health, not weight. We used mixed models (SAS ProcMixed), controlled for physician clustering and baseline covariates, to assess changes in diet, exercise, and measured weight, both pre-encounter and 3 months post-encounter. RESULTS When discussing weight, physicians typically provided a combination of specific weight, nutrition, and physical activity advice to their patients (34%). Combined advice resulted in patients reducing their dietary fat intake (P=.02). However, when physicians provided physical activity advice only, patients were significantly (P=.02) more likely to gain weight (+1.41 kg) compared with those who received no advice. CONCLUSION When giving weight-related advice, most physicians provided a combination of lifestyle recommendations. Combining advice may help patients reduce their fat intake. Physical activity advice alone may not be particularly helpful.
A comparison of computer-aided surgery registration methods for endoscopic sinus surgery.

BackgroundStereotactic computer-aided surgery has provided the surgeon with a means to navigate more safely through diseased or surgically altered sinus anatomy. Accurate registration is vital to s...
Effect of Clothing Layers on Mass Transfer of Methyl Salicylate Vapor Through CBRN Materials in a Cylinder Test

The testing of protective clothing materials against chemical and biological (CB) hazards is usually done at either a swatch of fabric or at the systems level. In this paper, a cylinder test method was developed in combination with a MethylSalicylate (MeS) Simulant test (variant to the MIST test) to study the effect of air-permeable and membrane clothing systems and specifically the effects of layering on protection. Three fabrics, material A air permeable absorptive, material B air impermeable, non-absorptive (membrane) and material C air permeable non-absorptive were tested on the cylinder alone and in combinations at 1 m/s and 10 m/s wind speeds. At high wind speeds, the MeS vapor penetrated all three materials and protection factors (PF) were lower than 10. At the lower wind speed much higher protection was found, PF(material A) = 36, PF(material B) = 29, PF(material C) = 2, and material B showed a significant decrease in protection with a leakage added (PF = 2), which did not occur with material A (PF = 29). When materials A and C were combined the combination of any layer to material A increased protection, especially with material A close to the cylinder: PF = 983 with material A twice, and PF = 765 with material C outside and material A inside. With material C on both layers, essentially no protection was obtained (PF = 2) and with material A outside and material C inside PF was 55, slightly higher than material A alone. In conclusion, the cylinder method provided very useful information in the development of protective clothing systems, especially at the lower wind speed of 1 m/s, and may provide a reliable quick and efficient way to obtain information on protection of air permeable absorptive fabrics. The method provides much more realistic data than current standard swatch tests on such materials and is cheaper and faster than a whole system MIST test.
A Summary of Failures Caused by Residual Stresses

Residual stress (RS) is often implicated in the failure of parts or assemblies, but there has not been any quantification or statistics collected on RS induced failures. Using the ASM Failure Analysis Database™, 147 individual case histories of failure analysis involving residual stress were identified and categorized based on various criteria. Information about the type of failure, material, processing, severity, date and other pertinent facts were extracted from the failure write-ups and the statistics on date of publication, material type, and failure type are compiled here. This information is used in conjunction with other compiled information on residual stress induced failures to estimate the impact of various residual stress induced problems in manufacturing and industry.
Computational Experiments on Sampling Methods for Uncertainty Propagation and the Implications for Simulation-Based Optimization

Abstract The paper investigates the impact of different sampling methods on the quality and the computational cost of simulation-based optimization (SIMOPT) for solving stochastic programs with endogenous and exogenous uncertainty. Our computational studies reveal that SIMOPT requires more samples to reach the same statistical significance when the underlying system has high levels of nonlinearity with respect to uncertain parameters than high numbers of uncertain parameters. Our results suggest that Halton sampling may reduce the required sample size by 50% compared to random sampling.
Switching Characteristics of Gallium Nitride Transistors: System-Level Issues

The use of gallium nitride devices is gathering momentum, with a number of recent market introductions for a wide range of applications such as point-of-load (POL) converters, off-line switching power supplies, battery chargers, and motor drives. GaN devices have a much lower gate charge and lower output capacitance than silicon MOSFETs and, therefore, are capable of operating at a switching frequency 10 times greater. This can significantly impact the power density of power converters, their form factor, and even current design and manufacturing practices. To realize the benefits of GaN devices resulting from significantly higher operating frequencies, a number of issues have to be addressed, such as converter topology, magnetics, control, packaging , and thermal management. This chapter studies the switching characteristics of high-voltage GaN devices including some specific issues related to the cascode GaN. An evaluation is presented of the cascode GaN based on a buck converter in hard-switching and soft-switching modes, which shows the necessity of soft switching for cascode GaN devices at high frequencies. High dv/dt- and di/dt-related gate drive issues associated with the higher switching speed of GaN devices are addressed, and many important design considerations are presented. Additionally, this chapter illustrates the utilization of GaN in a wide range of emerging applications.
Adaptive Transformation of Positive Valued Continuous Outcomes

This chapter presents analyses of several data sets with positive valued univariate or multivariate continuous outcomes addressing the need for power transformation of those outcomes along with power transformation of predictors for those outcomes. The outcome variables include those analyzed in Chaps. 2– 5 as well as a new data set on plasma levels of beta-carotene in humans in terms of their fiber intake and vitamin usage. The chapter also provides a formulation for power-adjusted likelihood cross-validation (LCV) scores that can be maximized to choose a real valued power for transforming an outcome.
An Evolutionary Algorithm for Spatial Discretization Optimization

Abstract A novel evolutionary algorithm for spatial discretization meshing using a Cartesian grid for radiation transport simulations is proposed. The generated Cartesian grid is used by ADVANTG to generate weight windows for MCNP. The algorithm was tested on the Ueki-35 benchmark and obtained a figure of merit 2.68, 3.39, and 2.25 times higher in the average, best, and worst cases respectively than the reference mesh provided with ADVANTG for the benchmark. The algorithm produced counter-intuitive solutions from a neutron shielding perspective that outperformed the reference mesh in all 15 trials. Additionally, the algorithm revealed that from the adjoint perspective, accurate geometric representation of the polyethylene collimator was more significant that then shield itself when generating optimal weight windows.
Mentoring Hispanic Students: A Literature Review.

The notion of mentoring can be understood as a one-to-one relationship between a mentor and a protege. A more contemporary perspective of the term argued it as a collaborative environment where the...
Stand-alone low-cost wave energy generation with energy storage integration

Ocean wave energy is an emerging renewable source of energy which can be used for generation of electricity for sustainable development. In this work, a wave energy generation system for the paddle type of wave energy converter in standalone system, is discussed. The wave energy is generated by a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) with low cost power architecture. To smooth the oscillating output power from the generator a hybrid energy storage system comprising of battery and super-capacitor is proposed. Smooth dc power can be directly fed to the load or can be controverted to ac to supply to the ac load. The system control is simulated and experimentally validated with an emulated wave energy converter in experimental setup. The driving speed for the WEC emulator is chosen to be a sinusoidal wave with dominant frequency of actual sea-wave.
DNA damage-induced ATM- and Rad-3-related (ATR) kinase activation in non-replicating cells is regulated by the XPB subunit of transcription factor IIH (TFIIH)

The role of the DNA damage response protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM)- and Rad-3-related (ATR) in the cellular response to DNA damage during the replicative phase of the cell cycle has been extensively studied. However, little is known about ATR kinase function in cells that are not actively replicating DNA and that constitute most cells in the human body. Using small-molecule inhibitors of ATR kinase and overexpression of a kinase-inactive form of the enzyme, I show here that ATR promotes cell death in non-replicating/non-cycling cultured human cells exposed to N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (NA-AAF), which generates bulky DNA adducts that block RNA polymerase movement. Immunoblot analyses of soluble protein extracts revealed that ATR and other cellular proteins containing SQ motifs become rapidly and robustly phosphorylated in non-cycling cells exposed to NA-AAF in a manner largely dependent on ATR kinase activity but independent of the essential nucleotide excision repair factor XPA. Although the topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin also activated ATR in non-cycling cells, other transcription inhibitors that do not directly damage DNA failed to do so. Interestingly, genetic and pharmacological inhibition of the XPB subunit of transcription factor IIH prevented the accumulation of the single-stranded DNA binding protein replication protein A (RPA) on damaged chromatin and severely abrogated ATR signaling in response to NA-AAF and camptothecin. Together, these results reveal a previously unknown role for transcription factor IIH in ATR kinase activation in non-replicating, non-cycling cells.
Abstract 615: Association Between Multiple Modifiable Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension in a Rural Population of the United States

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) that afflicts one-third of the population in United States (US). This study examined the association between multiple modifiable risk factors for HTN in a rural hard-to-reach population. Methods: During January 2011 and December 2012, 1629 community-dwelling asymptomatic individuals from central Appalachia participated in screening for subclinical atherosclerosis, during which the participants were asked to report whether a physician or health worker has informed them that they had HTN (yes/no). Additionally, baseline data consisting of two non-modifiable risk factors (sex, age) and 5 modifiable risk factors (obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle) were collected. Descriptive statistics involving prevalence of risk factors and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine the strength of association between hypertension and the number of risk factors were conducted. Results: Of the 1629 study participants, about half (49.8%) had hypertension. Among hypertensive patients, 31.4% were obese and 62.3% having hypercholesterolemia. Overall, having 2 risk factors consisted the largest group of participants with HTN. After adjusting for the non-modifiable risk factors (sex, age), obesity and diabetes increased the odds of having HTN by more than two folds ([OR=2.02, CI=1.57-2.60] and [OR=2.30, CI=1.66-3.18], respectively) and hypercholesterolemia and sedentary lifestyle increased the odds for HTN by more than one fold ([OR=1.26, CI=1.02-1.56) and [OR=1.38, CI=1.12-1.70], respectively). Compared to those without HTN, having 2, 3, and 4 or 5 modifiable risk factors were significantly associated with increased odds of having HTN by about two-folds [OR=1.72, CI=1.21-2.44], two and half folds [OR=2.55, 1.74-3.74], and six folds [OR=5.96, 3.42-10.41], respectively. Conclusion: The study suggests that odds of having HTN increases with the number of modifiable risk factors for CVD. Hence, by implementing an integrated CVD program for treating and controlling modifiable risk factors of HTN would decrease the future risk of CVD and help to achieve the 2020 Impact Goal of the American Health Association.
Offshore CO2 Storage Resource Assessment of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Research programs recognize the need to further develop offshore storage resources for successful global deployment of CCUS. The inner continental shelf of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico is especially prospective because it has abundant available geologic data accumulated from decades of hydrocarbon exploration near many large point sources of industrial CO2. An ongoing study on the upper Texas coast to Vermilion Bay (western Louisiana) assesses prospective geologic storage resources for the approximately 8,000 square mile study area. The study, encompassing state and federal waters, utilizes 1) existing rock samples (e.g., whole cores), 2) well logs, and other data from existing or P&A wells and 3) available 2D, a convention regional 3D and a high resolution 3D seismic surveys to assess storage resources (e.g., faults, reservoir and seal units, etc.). The study utilizes the available geologic data resources to 1) assess the CO2 storage capacity of depleted oil and natural gas reservoirs, and 2) assess the ability of saline formations in the region to safely and permanently store nationally-significant amounts of anthropogenic CO2. The study also seeks to identify at least one specific site with potential to store at least 30 million metric tons of CO2 that could be further considered in the future for a commercial or integrated demonstration project.
Gating mechanisms of acid-sensing ion channels

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are trimeric, proton-gated and sodium-selective members of the epithelial sodium channel/degenerin (ENaC/DEG) superfamily of ion channels and are expressed throughout vertebrate central and peripheral nervous systems. Gating of ASICs occurs on a millisecond time scale and the mechanism involves three conformational states: high pH resting, low pH open and low pH desensitized. Existing X-ray structures of ASIC1a describe the conformations of the open and desensitized states, but the structure of the high pH resting state and detailed mechanisms of the activation and desensitization of the channel have remained elusive. Here we present structures of the high pH resting state of homotrimeric chicken (Gallus gallus) ASIC1a, determined by X-ray crystallography and single particle cryo-electron microscopy, and present a comprehensive molecular mechanism for proton-dependent gating in ASICs. In the resting state, the position of the thumb domain is further from the three-fold molecular axis, thereby expanding the 'acidic pocket' in comparison to the open and desensitized states. Activation therefore involves 'closure' of the thumb into the acidic pocket, expansion of the lower palm domain and an iris-like opening of the channel gate. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the β11-β12 linkers that demarcate the upper and lower palm domains serve as a molecular 'clutch', and undergo a simple rearrangement to permit rapid desensitization.
A Year of Living Actively: Hybrid PBL in a Community College CS Curriculum (Abstract Only)

In 2015, it became apparent that the traditional lecture/lab courses were not working for the Computer Science/Software Engineering students at our community college. The students wanted more out of the class, and the lecture model was, frankly, boring for all of us. This began a four-year long project to convert the three major programming courses from standard lecture to a variation on project based learning. In each course, the project would be slowly introduced and appropriately scaffolded, with each new skill tied to the text and lectures. At the end of the term, students presented their work, as a written and oral report, to faculty and staff they did not know. While this project started out as a grand experiment, students were overwhelmingly positive about not only the project, but how much they learned that wasn/t in the text or lectures, and just as important, how much they learned about themselves. The growth in student confidence was clear. The poster will display information about two current projects, typical student artifacts, and an assortment of student comments from their final presentations. We will also discuss how the project idea was scaffolded to balance formal and informal student learning in the classroom.
COPPER TRANSPORT AND CERULOPLASMIN DURING LACTATION AND PREGNANCY

It is well known that several trace elements, and particularly copper and iron, accumulate in the liver of the fetus during the last part of pregnancy (Figure 1) (Linder and Munro, 1974; Linder, 1991). Indeed, at the time of birth, the concentrations of these elements are at much higher levels than at any other time in the normal course of life (Table 1). These trace element accumulations seem to be important for the first part of life during which the newborn’ only food is the milk. Concentrations of copper (and particularly iron) in milk are relatively low, in comparison to what is present in other foodstuffs: about 0.3–0.6 ug Cu/ml in cow and human milk versus about 0.7–2.2 ug Cu/g in meats, fish, vegetables and fruits, and much higher levels in whole grains (in the range of 2.8–20 ug Cu/g) (Linder, 1991). Moreover, liver concentrations of copper (as well as iron and zinc) fall dramatically during the suckling period (Figure 1; Table 1), indicating that these prenatal stores are used in support of the growth of the suckling infant.
Verteilung der molekularen Dichte und des Saugvermögens innerhalb grosser, mit Kryopumpen ausgerüsteter, Vakuumkammern

Die Verwendung von Kryoflachen zur Erzeugung von Vakuum im Gebiet der Molekularstromung, zB in Raumsimulationskammern, fuhrt zu einer uneinheitlichen Gastemperatur, ferner zu einer ungleichmassigen Verteilung der molekularen Dichte und des Saugvermogens uber die einzelnen Flachenelemente der Kammer. Unter gewissen Voraussetzungen wird diese Verteilung von Dichte und Saugvermogen in ganz allgemeiner Weise berechnet. Die theoretischen Ergebnisse werden dann angewendet auf zwei typische, experimentell untersuchte Kryogeometrien: (a) Eine Messanordnung zur Bestimmung der Haftwahrscheinlichkeit und (b) eine grosse Raumsimulationskammer.
Electrochemical Atomic Force Microscopy and First-Principles Calculations of Ferriprotoporphyrin Adsorption and Polymerization

The adsorption and subsequent electrooxidative polymerization of ferriprotoporphyrin IX chloride (hemin; FePPCl) was investigated on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite, glassy carbon, and polycrystalline Pt electrodes using electrochemical atomic force microscopy, first-principles calculations, and cyclic voltammetry. Hemin was shown to readily adsorb to all three surfaces; however, it was more continuous over the carbon surfaces compared to the Pt surface. This disparity in adsorption appears to be a major contributing factor to differences observed between the electrodes following hemin electropolymerization. Despite differences in roughness and morphology, hemin polymerized as a continuous layer over each electrode surface. Periodic density functional theory calculations were used to model FePP (without Cl) on both the Pt(111) and graphite surfaces using the vdW-DF-optPBE functional to account for the dispersion interactions. Our calculations suggest that the FePP molecule chemisorbs to the Pt surface w...
Division-I Student-Athletes’ Affective and Cognitive Responses to Receiving Confirmation From Their Head Coach:

Coach confirmation—a behavior that encompasses coaches’ recognition, endorsement, and acknowledgment of athletes—has been forwarded as an effective coaching behavior that redresses ineffective and ...
Age-friendly communities and perceived disconnectedness: the role of built environment and social engagement:

Objective: To examine the effect of access to outdoor space and buildings and social or community events on elders’ perceived disconnectedness. Method: Data were from a representative survey conduc...
Does Socio-structural Context Matter? A Multilevel Test of Sexual Minority Stigma and Depressive Symptoms in Four Asia-Pacific Countries

In the Asia-Pacific region, individual sexual stigma contributes to elevated rates of depression among sexual minority men. Less well understood is the role of socio-structural sexual stigma despite evidence that social context influences the experience of stigma. We use data from the United Nations Multi-country Study on Men and Violence to conduct a multilevel test of associations between individual- and cluster unit-level indicators of sexual stigma and depressive symptoms among sexual minority men (n = 562). In the full model, individual-level sexual stigma is not associated with depressive symptoms, although there is significant variation in the association between individual stigma and depressive symptoms across clusters. Contrary to expectation, at the community level, homophobic injunctive norms are negatively associated with depressive symptoms. We discuss the implications for policies, programs, and future research to improve mental health among sexual minority men in the region.
Association of neutrophil, platelet, and lymphocyte ratios with prognosis in metastatic pancreatic cancer.

767Background: High mortality associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) warrants research into prognostic factors. We examined the relationship between the daily rate of change of CA19...
Trends in Place of Death for Cardiovascular Mortality Related to Heart Failure in the United States From 2003 to 2017.

Background: The location of death is an important component of end-of-life care. However, contemporary trends in the location of death for cardiovascular deaths related to heart failure (CV-HF) and...
Development of a benchtop photon counting cone-beam CT system with a translate-rotate geometry

X-ray photon counting is a novel imaging technology gaining increasing academic and industrial interest due to its potential for high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and spectral CT. These photon-counting detector systems could have numerous benefits in medical imaging because they provide a substantial increase in the amount of available raw imaging information (e.g., multi-energy information). However, new algorithms are needed for using this information to increase the accuracy of diagnostic decisions. In this work, we focused on addressing technical challenges to consider when designing and building a laboratory benchtop for photon counting CT systems. We developed a photon counting cone-beam CT system containing a photon counting detector with a small detective area based on a translate-rotate geometry and a step-and-shoot acquisition mode. To control and synchronize the CT system components, we developed a desktop computer program with a user-friendly graphical user interface. Furthermore, we established a fully automated method for estimating some of the parameters that describe the geometry of the cone-beam CT system. This method is based on an iterative optimization technique in which the reconstructed image of a small sphere is evaluated to find the required geometrical parameters for better image reconstruction. Finally, we used images reconstructed from different scans to confirm the methodology used in the study.
Laparoscopic Left Hepatectomy

This chapter discusses technical aspects of laparoscopic left hepatectomy, including instrumentation and equipment, patient positioning and trocar placement, and surgical steps. The authors also offer pearls and pitfalls.
Automatic Labeling of Cortical Sulci Using Spherical Convolutional Neural Networks in a Developmental Cohort

In this paper, we present the automatic labeling framework for sulci in the human lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC). We adapt an existing spherical U -Net architecture with our recent surface data augmentation technique to improve the sulcal labeling accuracy in a developmental cohort. Specifically, our framework consists of the following key components: (1) augmented geometrical features being generated during cortical surface registration, (2) spherical U -Net architecture to efficiently fit the augmented features, and (3) post-refinement of sulcal labeling by optimizing spatial coherence via a graph cut technique. We validate our method on 30 healthy subjects with manual labeling of sulcal regions within PFC. In the experiments, we demonstrate significantly improved labeling performance (0.7749) in mean Dice overlap compared to that of multi-atlas (0.6410) and standard spherical U-Net (0.7011) approaches, respectively (p < 0.05). Additionally, the proposed method achieves a full set of sulcal labels in 20 seconds in this developmental cohort.
Exploring the Spatial Relationships Between Real and Virtual Experiences: What Transfers and What Doesn't

Virtual environments are commonly used to assess spatial cognition in humans. For the past few decades, researchers have used virtual environments to investigate how people navigate, learn, and remember their surrounding environment. In combination with tools such as electroencephalogram, neuroimaging, and electrophysiology, these virtual environments have proven invaluable in their ability to help elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms of spatial learning and memory in humans. However, a critical assumption that is made whenever using virtual experiences is that the spatial abilities used in the navigation of these virtual environments accurately represents the spatial abilities used in the real-world. The aim of the current study is to investigate the spatial relationships between real and virtual environments to better understand how well the virtual experiences parallel the same experiences in the real-world. Here, we performed three independent experiments to examine whether spatial information about object location, environment layout, and navigation strategy transfers between parallel real-world and virtual-world experiences. We show that while general spatial information does transfer between real and virtual environments, there are several limitations of the virtual experience. Compared to the real-world, the use of information in the virtual-world is less flexible, especially when testing spatial memory from a novel location, and the way in which we navigate these experiences are different as the perceptual and proprioceptive feedback gained from the real-world experience can influence navigation strategy
Error Exponents and α-Mutual Information

Over the last six decades, the representation of error exponent functions for data transmission through noisy channels at rates below capacity has seen three distinct approaches: (1) Through Gallager’s E0 functions (with and without cost constraints); (2) large deviations form, in terms of conditional relative entropy and mutual information; (3) through the α-mutual information and the Augustin–Csiszar mutual information of order α derived from the Renyi divergence. While a fairly complete picture has emerged in the absence of cost constraints, there have remained gaps in the interrelationships between the three approaches in the general case of cost-constrained encoding. Furthermore, no systematic approach has been proposed to solve the attendant optimization problems by exploiting the specific structure of the information functions. This paper closes those gaps and proposes a simple method to maximize Augustin–Csiszar mutual information of order α under cost constraints by means of the maximization of the α-mutual information subject to an exponential average constraint.
Forecasting of Wind Resources Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Software

The renewable sources particularly wind resources are highly intermittent in nature. The WRF is the state-of-the-art mesoscale software to predict wind resources. In this study, the prediction skills of WRF forecasting software is tested for the wind speed of the wind farm in Pakistan. The WRF excellently interpolated the weather data to the terrain description of the wind farm's area, which lies in the complex terrain of the Jhimpir wind corridor. Wind speed predicted by the WRF is then compared with the observed speed of the met mast in the wind farm. The WRF predicts wind speed with the quite precision, for June the mean bias error of −0.85 ms−1, mean absolute error of 1.30 ms−1, and root mean square value of 1.63 ms−1, for July mean bias error of −0.85 ms−1 and root mean square error is 1.66 ms−1, for the January errors were high, the mean absolute error of 1.87 ms−1, mean bias error is −0.15 ms−1 and root mean square error of 2.42 ms−1 is observed. Wind direction is also predicted with great accuracy, with the mean error in the wind direction of 33°. Overall, the WRF overestimate the wind speeds when mean speeds are high.
A CTDNEP 1-Lipin 1-mTOR Regulatory Network Restricts ER Membrane Biogenesis to Enable Chromosome Motions Necessary for Mitotic Fidelity

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dramatically restructures in open mitosis to become excluded from the mitotic spindle; however, the significance of ER reorganization to mitotic progression is not known. Here, we demonstrate that limiting ER membrane biogenesis enables mitotic chromosome movements necessary for chromosome biorientation and prevention of micronuclei formation. Aberrantly expanded ER membranes increase the effective viscosity of the mitotic cytoplasm to physically restrict chromosome dynamics – slowed chromosome motions impede correction of mitotic errors induced by transient disassembly, leading to severe micronucleation. We define the mechanistic link between regulation of ER membrane biogenesis and mitotic fidelity by demonstrating that a CTDNEP1-lipin 1-mTOR regulatory network limits ER lipid synthesis to prevent chromosome missegregation. Together, this work shows that ER membranes reorganize in mitosis to enable chromosome movements necessary for mitotic error correction and reveal dysregulated lipid metabolism as a potential source of aneuploidy in cancer cells. ﻿
Bilateral symmetric Merkel cell carcinomas of the dorsal hands: multiple primary tumors or early metastasis?

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive and uncommon neuroendocrine tumor which clinically presents as a rapidly growing solitary nodule or plaque located in sun exposed areas on the head, neck, and extremities. Merkel cell carcinomas can be UV-induced or result from viral infection with the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). We present a unique case of bilateral symmetric Merkel cell carcinomas located on the dorsal hands and briefly discuss options for genomic investigation to delineate if the tumors are multiple primary tumors or result of metastatic disease.
HNF4A defines tissue-specific circadian rhythms by beaconing BMAL1::CLOCK chromatin binding and shaping the rhythmic chromatin landscape.

Transcription modulated by the circadian clock is diverse across cell types, underlying circadian control of peripheral metabolism and its observed perturbation in human diseases. We report that knockout of the lineage-specifying Hnf4a gene in mouse liver causes associated reductions in the genome-wide distribution of core clock component BMAL1 and accessible chromatin marks (H3K4me1 and H3K27ac). Ectopically expressing HNF4A remodels chromatin landscape and nucleates distinct tissue-specific BMAL1 chromatin binding events, predominantly in enhancer regions. Circadian rhythms are disturbed in Hnf4a knockout liver and HNF4A-MODY diabetic model cells. Additionally, the epigenetic state and accessibility of the liver genome dynamically change throughout the day, synchronized with chromatin occupancy of HNF4A and clustered expression of circadian outputs. Lastly, Bmal1 knockout attenuates HNF4A genome-wide binding in the liver, likely due to downregulated Hnf4a transcription. Our results may provide a general mechanism for establishing circadian rhythm heterogeneity during development and disease progression, governed by chromatin structure.
Dimensions of Literacy: A Conceptual Base for Teaching Reading and Writing in School Settings

Preface Third Edition Introduction Acknowledgments Part 1- Introduction CHAPTER 1- A Multidimensional View of Reading and Writing Part 2- The Linguistic Dimension of Literacy CHAPTER 2- The Nature of Language and Other Sign Systems CHAPTER 3- Oral and Written Language Relationships CHAPTER 4- Language Variation PART 3- The Cognitive Dimension of Literacy CHAPTER 5- The Constructive Nature of Perception CHAPTER 6- The Reading Process CHAPTER 7- Understanding Written Discourse CHAPTER 8- The Writing Process PART 4- The Sociocultural Dimension of Literacy CHAPTER 9- Understanding Literacy as Social Practices CHAPTER 10- The Authority of Written Discourse PART 5- The Developmental Dimension of Literacy CHAPTER 11- Constructing the Written Language System PART 6- The Educational Dimension of Literacy CHAPTER 12- The Dimensions of Literacy: Implications for Reading and Writing Instruction References Author Index Subject Index
Transient simulation of nonuniform transmission lines by asymptotic waveform evaluation

A method for computing the moments of a nonuniformly distributed RLGC element is presented. A recursive formula for the evaluation of moments of hybrid parameters, characterizing the distributed element, is derived from the spectral method solution of a system of ordinary differential equations. >
Fed Cattle Profit Determinants Under Grid Pricing

This study determines the relative effects of price, cattle quality, and feeding performance factors on profit per head for fed cattle marketed via a grid structure. Two different data sets of cattle that were marketed in two different grid pricing systems are used in the analysis with comparisons of results made between grids. Grid base price and feeder cattle price are the most important determinants of profit over time in both grids. However, considering only nonprice variables, the cumulative quality of cattle in a pen is also an important profit determinant.
Retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency in mice exacerbates gastrointestinal candidiasis

Dysfunction of neutrophils in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus is at least partly responsible for secondary microbial diseases in these individuals, including invasive gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis. Immunoregulatory disturbances associated with the development of AIDS in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients exacerbates Candida albicans infection of the upper GI tract and frequently leads to oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. In this article, we present the first report of a murine model of invasive GI candidiasis associated with an AIDS-related murine immunodeficiency syndrome that results from infection of C57BL/6 mice with a previously described retrovirus complex (LP-BM5). Mice of the inbred strain were infected with C. albicans by oral-intragastric inoculation as infants and with the retrovirus by the intraperitoneal route 30 days later. Control mice of the same strain were infected with C. albicans as above and subsequently infected with the avirulent, ecotropic helper virus (MBI-5). Animals were killed 90 days after retroviral challenge. Total and differential blood cell counts, CD4+ T-cell counts in the spleen, and the histopathology of the gastric mucosa of experimental and control animals were determined. The virulent LP-BM5-infected animals developed murine AIDS and showed eruptive and suppurative lesions, with associated C. albicans mainly in regions of the cardial-atrium fold of the stomach. Well-defined abscesses with entrapped C. albicans hyphae were observed in the region of the cardial-atrium fold of control mice. A significant increase in the number of C. albicans CFU in homogenized and plated segments of the GI tract was recognized in mice with murine AIDS versus the control animals. The murine model of GI candidiasis reported here permits examination of the nature of C. albicans interaction with the gastric mucosa both in the immunocompetent host under conditions in which the yeast exists predominantly as a commensal organism and in the immunosuppressed host during progressive stages of AIDS induced by a retroviral infection.
Effect of pressure on structure and extinction of near-limit hydrogen counterflow diffusion flames

Abstract Results of measurements of critical conditions for extinction and of temperature profiles in counterflow diffusion flames are reported. The fuel was a hydrogen–nitrogen mixture with 14 mole percent hydrogen, and the oxidizer was air. Pressures ranged from 0.1 MPa to 1.5 MPa; measurements were made in a facility especially constructed for carrying out counterflow combustion experiments at high pressures. With increasing pressure, the strain rate at extinction first increases and then decreases, in qualitative agreement with predictions, but there are observable quantitative differences. Temperature profiles, obtained employing an R-type thermocouple at a fixed strain rate of 100/s, agree well with predictions, within experimental uncertainty. The results may help to improve knowledge of underlying chemical-kinetic and transport parameters at elevated pressures.
Nonaqueous synthesis of a selectively modified, highly anionic sulfopropyl ether derivative of cyclomaltoheptaose (β-cyclodextrin) in the presence of 18-crown-6

Abstract A highly anionic cyclomaltooligosaccharide (cyclodextrin, CD) derivative containing sulfopropyl functional groups on the primary face of the CD was synthesized. Heptakis(2,3-di- O -methyl)cyclomaltoheptaose [heptakis(2,3-di- O -methyl)-β-cyclodextrin] was reacted with 1,3-propane sultone and potassium hydride (KH) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran in the presence of 18-crown-6 to yield highly substituted potassium heptakis(2,3-di- O -methyl-6- O -sulfopropyl)cyclomaltoheptaose [heptakis(KSPDM)-β-CD] with an average degree of substitution (DS CE ) of 6.9 as determined by inverse detection capillary electrophoresis (CE). The principal species in the product is the fully substituted heptakis(KSPDM)-β-CD. Complete NMR assignments of the hydrogen and carbon atoms are made using a combination of gCOSY and gHSQC. In the absence of 18-crown-6, the reaction generates a mixture of multiply charged derivatives with average DS CE of 4.1. The possible roles of the crown ether in the reaction are discussed. The ROESY NMR spectrum of the inclusion complex that forms between heptakis(KSPDM)-β-CD and 2-naphthoic acid in D 2 O reveals that 2-naphthoic acid inserts with the carboxyl group toward the derivatized primary rim of the cyclodextrin.
Subcellular Distribution of Proteolytic Activities Degrading Bioactive Peptides and Analogues in the Rat Small Intestinal and Colonic Enterocytes

The objective of this study was to compare, in rat small intestinal and colonic enterocytes, subcellular distributions of activities degrading the large peptides, neurotensin, acetylneurotensin (8-13), GRF(1-29)NH2 (human growth hormone releasing factor fragment), (desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15)-GRF(1-29)NH2, insulin, and insulin B-chain. Proteolytic activities degrading individual peptides in the 10,000-g pellet, rich in intracellular organelles, 27,000-g pellet, rich in brush-border membrane, 100,000-g pellet, and 100,000-g supernatant, rich in cytosol, were determined and compared for both the small intestine and colon. In colonic fractions, the cytosol had highest activity (g protein)-1 degrading three out of four peptides tested, while in small intestinal fractions, the 27,000-g pellet had the highest activity (g protein)-1, degrading four out of five peptides tested. In both small intestine and colon, the cytosol had a higher percentage of total proteolytic activity degrading each of the above polypeptides and the highest insulin-degrading activity (g protein)-1. The results suggest that at pH 7.5, proteolytic activities (g protein)-1 in the fraction of subcellular organelles are much lower than those in cytosol and that cytosolic proteolytic activities degrading polypeptides and analogues are significant.
Effects of chronic feeding of 2-acetylaminofluorene on nuclear populations in rat liver

Abstract Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 0.04% 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) in the diet for 6 weeks. At weekly intervals, rats were killed and liver nuclei were separated into two fractions, one sedimenting through 2.3 m sucrose (class N-I nuclei), and the second sedimenting through 1.6 m sucrose but not 2.3 m sucrose (class N-II nuclei). During AAF administration, the percentage of DNA found in class N-I nuclei decreased from the control value of 86% to 68% at 2 weeks and dropped to 1.4% by 3 weeks, then fluctuated between 10–40% at 4–6 weeks. There were corresponding increases in the amounts of DNA recovered in the class N-II nuclei. The early change in the distribution of DNA between the two nuclear fractions occurred in the absence of any appreciable change in net liver DNA content. In order to study the ploidy of nuclei in these two liver fractions, it was necessary to modify the fractionation procedure somewhat. Two classes of rat liver nuclei were again isolated, one pelleting in 2.3 m sucrose (H nuclei) and the second class sedimenting through 1.6 m and 1.8 m sucrose and banding at the 1.8 m –2.3 m sucrose interface (L nuclei). In normal adult rat liver, the H and L nuclear fractions appeared to be equivalent to the class N-I and N-II nuclei, respectively. However, in younger animals, the L nuclear fraction was the major fraction and the percentage of nuclei found in the L fraction decreased as the animals grew. Both the H and L nuclear fractions contained diploid, tetraploid, and octaploid nuclei but the degree of polyploidy was greater in the H fraction. Concomitant with the change in distribution of nuclei between the H and L fractions with increasing age, there was a progressive increase in the degree of polyploidy in the H fraction. These observations suggested that the shift of liver nuclei from the L fraction to the H fraction was associated with the maturation of hepatocytes. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 0.04% AAF and killed at weekly intervals for 12 weeks. The percent distribution of the number of nuclei found in the H and L fractions of livers from control male rats was 75% and 25% respectively, and these values dropped to 3% and 97%, respectively, by 6 weeks of AAF feeding. The degree of polyploidy in the livers of male rats ingesting 0.04% AAF decreased progressively during the initial 6 weeks, going from control values of 40–50% polyploid nuclei to about 20% polyploid nuclei by 6 weeks. Alterations in nuclear populations in livers of the AAF-fed female rats, which are resistant to the induction of liver cancer with AAF, were minimal. The possible basis for alterations in nuclear populations of rat liver during AAF feeding is discussed.
Zosteriform metastatic transitional cell carcinoma.

Presentation of metastatic nodules in a dermatomal distribution is very rare. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with zosteriform metastasis secondary to transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Possible mechanisms of dissemination are discussed.
Marriage and family therapy research with ethnic minorities: Current status

Abstract This study involved a 10-year review of the major marriage and family therapy related journals for articles involving racial and ethnic minorities. Despite an awareness of the importance of such scholarship, fewer than 5% of published articles focused on racial and ethnic minority populations and issues. This review of the marriage and family therapy professional literature provides a benchmark against which future publication rates can be measured.
Comparison of the aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide conjugating activities of two bacterially expressed alpha class glutathione S-transferase isozymes from mouse and rat.

The complementary DNAs of rat glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) Ycl and of mouse Yc were expressed from a prokaryotic expression vector in E. coli. The purified proteins were analyzed for their activity toward aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide (AFBO), the reactive intermediate of the fungal mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB). The mouse Yc isozyme had about 50-fold higher conjugating activity toward AFBO than the rat Yc1 isozyme (144 nmol/mg/min versus 3.3 nmol/mg/min). The rat Yc1 isozyme had specific activities toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, cumene hydroperoxide and ethacrynic acid of 10.7, 0.98 and 0.92 μmol/mg/min, respectively, whereas the mouse Yc isozyme had specific activities of 5.7, 2.1 and 0.1 μmol/mg/min for these substrates, respectively. These data provide further support for the hypothesis that the constitutive presence of the alpha class GST Yc isozyme in mouse liver protects mice from the hepatoearcinogenic effects of aflatoxin B1.