cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forced Selling of Fallen Angels

What happens when investment grade bonds are downgraded to junk status? The received wisdom is that these fallen angels are sold by fixed income investors who, by regulation, are prohibited from investing substantial portions of their portfolios in speculative grade bonds. We investigate insurance company sales of bonds that were downgraded to junk in order to document the extent of forced selling of fallen angels. We document substantially greater selling activity in fallen angel bonds around the time of the downgrade than in comparable bonds that are not downgraded. However, we also find that the level of bond trading activity is sufficiently low that a relatively small number of trades could result in a statistically significant effect. When we consider the overall magnitude of fallen angel sales activity relative to insurance company holdings, we conclude that regulatory pressure does not result in the wholesale liquidation of fallen angel holdings.
Use of 3H-labeled triether, a nonabsorbable oil-phase marker, to estimate fat absorption in rats with cholestyramine-induced steatorrhea

A tritium-labeled glycerol triether was tested as a nonabsorbable oil-phase marker in studies of fat absorp- tion in normal rats and in rats with steatorrhea induced by various doses of cholestyramine. Animals were fed a test meal containing 3H-labeled triether and l4C-labeled trilinolein. Fat absorption was estimated in the following three ways: (a) by isotope ratios (the change in 3H/14C in the test meal and in feces); (b) by isotope recovery (the total fecal excretion of 14C radioactivity) ; and (c) by chemical recovery (the total fecal fat excretion). Absorption calculated from isotope ratios agreed well with that calculated from isotope recovery over a range of fat absorption of SCrlOO%, thus validating the use of this lipid marker under these conditions of fat malabsorption. Absorption calculated from chemical recovery was consistently poorer than that calculated from isotope ratios or isotope recovery, thus suggesting that cholestyramine increased the excretion of nondietary (endogenous) fat. Triether may be of value for studying the absorption of compounds present predominantly in the oil phase during digestion and may have significant advantages over other proposed lipid markers.
A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Emergency Department Care for Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Objective:�Todeterminewhetheraqualityimprove- ment�(QI)�initiativewouldresultinmoretimelyassess- mentandtreatmentofacutesicklecell-relatedpain� forpediatricpatientswithsicklecelldisease�(SCD)� treatedintheemergencydepartment�(ED).� •� Methods:�Wecreatedandimplementedaprotocolfor� SCDpainmanagementintheEDwiththegoalsof� improving�(1)�meantimefromtriagetofirstanalgesic� dose;�(2)�percentageofpatientsthatreceivedtheir� firstanalgesicdosewithin�30�minutesoftriage,�and� (3)�percentageofpatientswhohadpainassessment� performedwithin�30�minutesoftriageandwhowere� re-assessedwithin�30�minutesafterthefirstanalgesic� dose.� •� Results:� Significantimprovementswereachieved� betweenbaseline�(55�patientvisits)�andpostorder� setimplementation�(165�visits)�intimefromtriageto� administrationoffirstanalgesic�(decreasedfrom�89.9� ±�50.5�to�35.2�±�22.8�minutes,�P�<�0.001);�percentage� ofpatientvisitsreceivingpainmedicationswithin�30� minutesoftriage�(from�7%�to�53%,�P�<�0.001);�per- centageofpatientvisitsassessedwithin�30�minutes� oftriage�(from�64%�to�99.4%,�P <�0.001);�andpercent- ageofpatientvisitsre-assessedwithin�30�minutesof� initialanalgesic�(from�54%�to�86%,�P�<�0.001).� •� Conclusions:�ImplementationofaQIinitiativeinthe� EDledtoexpeditiouscareforpediatricpatientswith� SCDpresentingwithpain.�AQIframeworkprovided� uswithuniquechallengesbutalsoinvaluablelessons� asweaddressourobjectiveofdecreasingthequality� gapinSCDmedicalcare.
Towards general models of effective science inquiry in virtual performance assessments

Recent interest in online assessment of scientific inquiry has led to several new online systems that attempt to assess these skills, but producing models that detect when students are successfully practising these skills can be challenging. In this paper, we study models that assess student inquiry in an immersive virtual environment, where a student navigates an avatar around a world, speaking to in-game characters, collecting samples and conducting scientific tests with those samples in the virtual laboratory. To this goal, we leverage log file data from nearly 2000 middle school students using virtual performance assessment VPA, a software system where students practice inquiry skills in different virtual scenarios. We develop models of student interaction within VPA that predict whether a student will successfully conduct scientific inquiry. Specifically, we identify behaviours that lead to distinguishing causal from non-causal factors to identify a correct final conclusion and to design a causal explanation about these conclusions. We then demonstrate that these models can be adapted with minimal effort between VPA scenarios. We conclude with discussions of how these models serve as a tool for better understanding scientific inquiry in virtual environments and as a platform for the future design of evidence-based interventions.
Self-Ownership, Freedom, and Autonomy

The libertarian view of freedom has attracted considerable attention in the past three decades. It has also been subjected to numerous criticisms regarding its nature and effects on society. G. A. Cohen's recent book, Self-Ownership, Freedom and Equality, continues this attack by linking libertarian views on freedom to their view of self-ownership. This paper formulates and evaluates Cohen's major arguments against libertarian freedom and self-ownership. It contends that his arguments against the libertarian rights definition of freedom are inadequate and need modification. Similarly, Cohen's defense of restrictions on self-ownership on behalf of autonomy are also found wanting. Finally, I argue that the thesis of self-ownership (whether in its full or partial version) ought to be rejected.
Vicente, F. L. (Org.) (2014). O Império da Visão: Fotografia no Contexto Colonial Português (1860-1960). Lisboa: Edições 70.

O volume O Imperio da Visao: Fotografia no Contexto Colonial Portugues (1860-1960) resultou de um projeto de investigacao intitulado...
Respiratory and Pulmonary Disorders

Rehabilitation approaches have become recognized as a key component to the effective management of respiratory and pulmonary disorders. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) represents a team-based approach that utilizes knowledge and expertise of multiple disciplines in order to assist individuals in adapting to chronic lung dysfunction of varying etiologies. Common respiratory and pulmonary disorders may be caused by spinal cord injury (SCI), neuromuscular disorders (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy), or genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis. However, the most common diagnosis in this category is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This chapter will primarily focus on the clinical characteristics of COPD, general PR approaches, psychosocial aspects of COPD, and cognitive-behavioral interventions as applied to persons with respiratory failure. Though the following will focus on COPD in more detail, special considerations for other diagnoses with respiratory or pulmonary implications, namely, SCI and cystic fibrosis, will be briefly described.
NT1721, a novel epidithiodiketopiperazine, exhibits potent in vitro and in vivo efficacy against acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by heterogeneous genetic and epigenetic changes in hematopoietic progenitors that lead to abnormal self-renewal and proliferation. Despite high initial remission rates, prognosis remains poor for most AML patients, especially for those harboring internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations in the fms-related tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3). Here, we report that a novel epidithiodiketopiperazine, NT1721, potently decreased the cell viability of FLT3-ITD+ AML cell lines, displaying IC50 values in the low nanomolar range, while leaving normal CD34+ bone marrow cells largely unaffected. The IC50 values for NT1721 were significantly lower than those for clinically used AML drugs (i.e. cytarabine, sorafenib) in all tested AML cell lines regardless of their FLT3 mutation status. Moreover, combinations of NT1721 with sorafenib or cytarabine showed better antileukemic effects than the single agents in vitro. Combining cytarabine with NT1721 also attenuated the cytarabine-induced FLT3 ligand surge that has been linked to resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Mechanistically, NT1721 depleted DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) protein levels, leading to the re-expression of silenced tumor suppressor genes and apoptosis induction. NT1721 concomitantly decreased the expression of EZH2 and BMI1, two genes that are associated with the maintenance of leukemic stem/progenitor cells. In a systemic FLT3-ITD+ AML mouse model, treatment with NT1721 reduced tumor burdens by > 95% compared to the control and significantly increased survival times. Taken together, our results suggest that NT1721 may represent a promising novel agent for the treatment of AML.
Operational modal analysis of a steel-frame, low-rise building with L-shaped construction

The Goodwin Hall Smart Infrastructure facility at Virginia Tech is a five-story “smart building" with an integrated network of 213 wired accelerometers. We utilize a subset of 68 sensors to perform high-resolution Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) of the structure under windy conditions. The low-rise, L-shaped construction and high mass, high stiffness properties of Goodwin Hall provide a unique case study in comparison to typical cases of building OMA in literature, which generally feature high-rise buildings with rectangular architectures. Our work focuses on data acquisition and feature extraction, which are two critical steps within a complete structural health monitoring approach. Our detailed methodology establishes guidelines for sensor selection and data processing applicable to this and more general cases. Modal parameters extraction using Stochastic Subspace Identification shows the first four natural frequencies, damping values, participation factors and mode shapes of the building. We hypothesize that high damping values and large differences in the participation of fundamental modes are related to the nature of the wind excitation.
Sampling-based control synthesis for multi-robot systems under global temporal specifications

This paper proposes a sampling-based algorithm for multi-robot control synthesis under global Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) formulas. Robot mobility is captured by transition systems whose states represent regions in the environment that satisfy atomic propositions. Existing planning approaches under global temporal goals rely on graph search techniques applied to a synchronous product automaton constructed among the robots. As the number of robots increases, the state-space of the product automaton grows exponentially and, as a result, graph search techniques become intractable. In this paper, we propose a new sampling-based algorithm that builds incrementally a directed tree that approximates the state-space and transitions of the synchronous product automaton. By approximating the product automaton by a tree rather than representing it explicitly, we require much fewer resources to store it and motion plans can be found by tracing the sequence of parent nodes from the leaves back to the root without the need for sophisticated graph search techniques. This significantly increases scalability of our algorithm compared to existing model-checking methods. We also show that our algorithm is probabilistically complete and asymptotically optimal and present numerical experiments that show that it can be used to model-check product automata with billions of states, which was not possible using an off-the-shelf model checker.
Integrity Testing and Workers’ Compensation: Accounting for Job Tenure and Time at Work

Research has shown that pre-hire screening of job applicants with integrity tests may reduce the incidence and size of workers’ compensation claims within an organization. However, we identify two ...
Predicting NK cell subsets using gene expression levels in peripheral blood and endometrial biopsy specimens.

Problem In molecular analysis of tissue biopsy specimens, one crucial aspect is characterization of immune cell populations. This is especially important for evaluation of uterine receptivity by assessing levels of lymphocyte populations including CD56bright CD16- uterine NK cells and CD56dim CD16+ conventional NK cells. Our objective was to investigate whether measuring total RNA transcripts from a tissue specimen would accurately reflect immune cell levels and be a new technique to assess immune cell subsets. Method of Study Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and endometrial tissues were used. Flow cytometry was utilized for the analysis of lymphocyte subsets in PBMCs, and RT-qPCR was applied to quantify RNA transcripts indicative of lymphocyte and granulocyte populations. Results In PBMC specimens, there were significant correlations between gene expression levels and cell subsets. NK cells correlated with CD16A, NKp46, and CD56 transcripts, B cells correlated with EBF1, and CD8+ T cells correlated with CD8β. Finally, endometrial tissues displayed high CD56 expression and very low CD3e, CD16A, and NKp30, reflecting the characteristic endometrial NK cell subsets. Conclusion Strong correlations between RT-qPCR data and levels of lymphocyte subsets indicate that gene expression analysis will be a useful technique for characterizing levels of CD56+ cells in endometrial tissues.
Relapse of an acute leukemia of mixed lineage as an isolated orbital mass.

![Figure][1] A 65-year-old woman with a clinical history of right eye proptosis and conjunctival hyperemia was found to have a 2.8-cm orbital mass involving the right lacrimal gland (panel A), clinically thought to be an epithelial tumor. A biopsy demonstrated dense infiltration of small- to
(Un-)bewusste Markenbildung im Tourismus?

Der Artikel beleuchtet jungste Phanomene der touristischen Inszenierung der kubanischen Revolution, eingebettet in die Eigenheiten Kubas und seine voranschreitende Etablierung als internationale Urlaubsdestination. Dabei wird aufgezeigt, wie, durch wen und auf Basis welcher Motive diese Inszenierung vollzogen wird. Zudem werden Chancen und Risiken der Inszenierung herausgearbeitet.
Generating a Hypothesis for an Oncology Study

Choosing a relevant and useful research question is fundamental for successfully conducting clinical research. Frequently, the formulation of an interesting, feasible, and innovative question is a challenge to investigators, regardless of their scope of action. Finding the balance of having internal validity (which is essential), while at the same time maintaining external validity and taking into account the risks involved, are some of the main requirements when planning a research study. Some useful tools that may guide researchers throughout this process are the FINER (Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, and Relevant) criteria and the PICOT (Population of interest, Intervention, by describing the Comparison group, Outcome of interest, and the Time required to assess the outcome) format. By using these tools, investigators are able to develop an adequate research question and, as a consequence, formulate hypotheses that have a scientific impact. In oncology, owing to the complex mechanisms of cancer, the difficulty lies in finding a research question that is simultaneously feasible and interesting. This chapter discusses the thinking processes required to define a research question in the field of oncology, the framework on which to build the question, its potential risks, and the main aspects of strong hypotheses in this field.
The Droplets Produced by Individual Bubbles Bursting on a Sea Water Surface

This chapter, as the title indicates, is mostly about the generation of droplets by individual bubbles bursting on a seawater surface. Some who come to this chapter may wonder why this is a topic worthy of study. Why not just skip onto the next chapter? Well, because the bursting of a bubble is a violent, complex and fascinating event which has important consequences for all of us. One wouldn’t ordinarily think that the bursting of a bubble could be at all violent, for example, but consider the following points. Item: Microorganisms are known to be killed by bursting bubbles. The smaller the bubble, the more lethal. Item: The centripetal acceleration of the opening cap of, say, a 1 mm-diameter bubble is about 58, 500 g’s! The caps of smaller bubbles, which constitute the majority of the ocean’s bubbles, are subjected to even larger accelerations. Is it any wonder, then, that some unfortunate single celled creatures have a hard time of it when exposed to a bubbling environment? Item: Some droplets created by bursting bubbles fly off at speeds of nearly 20 ms-1. Violent? Indeed. Complex and fascinating? Read on.
Eine unsichtbare, wechselvolle Welt

Die Sonne ist also eigentlich ein riesiger leuchtender Gasball, der sich unendlich weit ausdehnt. Das Gas ist in der Sonnenmitte zusammenge-prest und wird nach ausen hin immer dunner. Die auserste sichtbare Schicht, die Photosphare, beispielsweise ist etwa zehntausendmal weniger dicht als die Luft, die wir auf der Erde atmen. Die Gase, die die Photosphare einhullen, sind so dunn, das wir genau wie durch die Luft der Erde geradewegs durch sie hindurchsehen konnen.
Water Does Not Flow Up Hill: Determinants Of Willingness To Pay For Water Conservation Measures In The Mountains Of Western North Carolina

Even in historically water-rich areas, population growth and drought put pressure on water supplies. Understanding public attitudes about water management and, especially water conservation, may become increasingly salient as even humid regions attempt to shift to demand side management. Using the contingent valuation method we estimate the willingness to pay for water conservation measures. Our analysis finds that younger individuals, individuals with higher education and higher income are more likely to say they are willing to pay for these measures. We also find that valuations depend on how the water source is managed. People who are on municipal water or a shared well are willing to pay more for public water conservation measures than individuals who have their own well or access to a spring. In addition we find that older individuals and respondents who have ancestors in the area are less willing to pay for water conservation methods. Lastly, using bivariate probit analysis that focuses on averting behavior and our contingent valuation question, we find that there are some unmeasured characteristics of respondents that make them more likely to participate in private averting behavior and increase their willingness to pay for public water conservation measures.
God's Country in Black and Blue: How Christian Nationalism Shapes Americans' Views about Police (Mis)treatment of Blacks

Research shows that Americans who hold strongly to a myth about America’s Christian heritage—what is called “Christian nationalism”—tend to draw rigid boundaries around ethnic and national group me...
Abstract 43: Rehabilitation Evaluation at 12 Hours Post-tPA

The current national standard of care after IV Alteplase (tPA) for stroke is bedrest for 24 hours. Because of this, rehabilitation assessments are delayed, which causes downstream delays in the pat...
Settling characteristics and separation features in a CrossFlow separator for fine coal beneficiation

An in-depth analysis of the separation features in a CrossFlow Separator was performed with reference to fine coal (1.4 x 0.1 mm) beneficiation. How various particle sizes respond to the separation...
Toll-like receptor 2 stimulation augments esophageal barrier integrity.

Background Germline-encoded innate immune pattern recognition receptors (PRR) are expressed at epithelial surfaces and modulate epithelial defenses. Evidence suggests that stimulation of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family of PRR may regulate epithelial barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction (TJ) complex protein expression, but it is not known whether this mechanism is utilized in esophageal epithelial cells. TJ complex proteins maintain intact barrier function and are dysregulated in atopic disorders including eosinophilic esophagitis. Methods Pattern recognition receptors expression was assessed in EoE and control primary esophageal epithelial cells, demonstrating robust expression of TLR2 and TLR3. The three-dimensional air-liquid interface culture (ALI) model was used to test whether TLR2 or TLR3 stimulation alters epithelial barrier function using an in vitro model of human epithelium. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and FITC-Dextran permeability were evaluated to assess membrane permeability. ALI cultures were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Results TLR3 stimulation did not change TEER in the ALI model. TLR2 stimulation increased TEER (1.28- to 1.31-fold) and decreased paracellular permeability to FITC-Dextran, and this effect was abolished by treatment with anti-TLR2 blocking antibody. TJ complex proteins claudin-1 and zonula occludens-1 were upregulated following TLR2 stimulation, and ChIP assay demonstrated altered histone 4 acetyl binding at the TJP1 enhancer and CLDN1 enhancer and promoter following zymosan treatment, implying the occurrence of durable chromatin changes. Conclusions Our findings implicate the TLR2 pathway as a potential regulator of esophageal epithelial barrier function and suggest that downstream chromatin modifications are associated with this effect.
Pre-Treatment Steady-State Rheology Predicts Response to Hydroxyurea in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract Background: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have altered blood rheology due to erythrocyte abnormalities, such as increased aggregation and RBC density. The hematocrit to viscosity ratio (HVR) is a measure of RBC oxygen carrying capacity, and is reduced in SCD. Higher percent dense red blood cells (%DRBC) and lower HVR have been associated with higher rates of disease related complications. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of hydroxyurea (HU), fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and transfusion therapy (TF) on the rheology of patients with SCD. Methods: We measured whole blood viscosity of samples from children with SCD at low shear (45 s-1) and high shear (225 s-1) using a Brookfield cone and plate viscometer under oxygenated conditions. Venous blood samples in EDTA were analyzed within 4 hours of phlebotomy. Laboratory values were obtained with a Siemens ADVIA120 Hematology System; Hb profiles by high performance liquid chromatography. Samples were collected at routine clinic visits from SCD patients prior to initiation of therapy (n=105 for HbSS, n=77 for HbSC), then on HU at MTD, (n=30 for HbSS, n=13 for HbSC), or at least one week after TF (n=32). A paired T-test was used to assess treatment changes; correlation/trend tests were used to test association of hematological and rheology parameters. Results: Blood viscosities at low and high shear rates were significantly higher in untreated patients with HbSC compared to untreated patients with HbSS (p For HbSS patients treated with either HU or TF, a baseline HVR (at either shear rate) below the group mean experienced a greater rise in HVR, while a baseline HVR above the mean experienced a decline (p Patients with HbSC had significantly higher %DRBC compared to patients with HbSS (p Conclusions: In HbSS patients, high endogenous HbF levels were significantly associated with higher HVR at high shear and with lower %DRBC, but not in HbSC patients. In HbSS patients, HU and TF therapy improved HVR at high shear rates but not low shear, possibly indicating persistent red cell adhesion at low shear rates. This improvement correlated with HbF levels in HU treated patients, and HbS levels in TF treated patients. Patients with SCD and greater than average impairment of whole blood rheology at pre-treatment steady-state experienced greater rheological improvement, demonstrated clinically by a reduction in %DRBC or a rise in HVR on HU. A cohort of 13 HbSC patients treated prospectively with HU did not demonstrate statistically significant rheological improvement, either a result of small sample size or the minimal rise in HbF despite HU therapy. Download : Download high-res image (79KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Targeted Apoptosis Of Ductular Reactive Cells Reduces Hepatic Fibrosis In A Mouse Model of Cholestasis.

Background and aims In cholestatic liver diseases, ductular reactive (DR) cells extend into the hepatic parenchyma and promote inflammation and fibrosis. We have previously observed that multidrug-resistant 2 (Mdr2-/- ) double knockout (DKO) mice lacking tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor (Tr-/- ) display a more extensive ductular reaction and hepatic fibrosis compared to Mdr2-/- mice. This observation suggests that the magnitude of the DR-cell population may be regulated by apoptosis. Approach and results To examine this concept, we cultured epithelial cell adhesion molecule-positive reactive cholangioids (ERCs) obtained from wild-type (WT), Tr-/- , Mdr2-/- and DKO mice. Single-cell transcriptomics and immunostaining of both WT and DKO ERCs confirmed their DR-cell phenotype. Moreover, DKO ERCs displayed a unique translational cluster with expression of chemokines, indicating a reactive state. Incubation with the myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL1) inhibitor S63845, a proapoptotic BH3-mimetic therapy, significantly decreased DKO and Mdr2-/- ERC viability compared to WT. Intravenous administration of S63845 significantly reduced the DR-cell population and markers of inflammation and liver fibrosis in Mdr2-/- and DKO mice. Furthermore, DKO mice treated with S63845 displayed a significant decrease in hepatic B lymphocytes compared to untreated mice as assessed by high-definition mass cytometry by time-of-flight. Coculture of bone marrow-derived macrophages with ERCs from DKO mouse livers up-regulated expression of the B cell-directed chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5. Finally, DR cells were noted to be primed for apoptosis with Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer activation in vitro and in vivo in primary sclerosing cholangitis liver specimens. Conclusions DR cells appear to play a key role in recruiting immune cells to the liver to actively create an inflammatory and profibrogenic microenvironment. Pharmacologic targeting of MCL1 in a mouse model of chronic cholestasis reduces DR-cell and B-cell populations and hepatic fibrosis.
Controlled Delivery of Bile Acids to the Colon.

Introduction Bile acids, such as chenodeoxycholic acid, play an important role in digestion but are also involved in intestinal motility, fluid homeostasis, and humoral activity. Colonic delivery of sodium chenodeoxycholate (CDC) has demonstrated clinical efficacy in treating irritable bowel syndrome with constipation but was associated with a high frequency of abdominal pain. We hypothesized that these adverse effects were triggered by local super-physiological CDC levels caused by an unfavorable pharmacokinetic profile of the delayed release formulation. Methods We developed novel release matrix systems based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) for sustained release of CDC. These included standard HPMC formulations as well as bi-layered formulations to account for potential delivery failures due to low colonic fluid in constipated patients. We evaluated CDC release profiles in silico (pharmacokinetic modeling), in vitro and in vivo in swine (pharmacokinetics, rectal manometry). Results For the delayed release formulation in vitro release studies demonstrated pH triggered dose dumping which was associated with giant colonic contractions in vivo. Release from the bi-layered HPMC systems provided controlled release of CDC while minimizing the frequency of giant contractions and providing enhanced exposure as compared to standard HPMC formulations in vivo. Discussion Bi-phasic CDC release could help treat constipation while mitigating abdominal pain observed in previous clinical trials. Further studies are necessary to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of these systems in humans.
Service Guarantees Countering Renewable Generation Uncertainty in Multi-microgrids

With increased penetration of Renewable Energy Systems (RES), the conventional distribution grid is advancing towards Interconnected multi-microgrid systems (IMMG) supervised by a Distribution Network Operator (DNO). However, the inherent uncertainty of RES poses a challenge in meeting the power demand of critical infrastructures in the microgrids unless sufficient battery storage is maintained. Yet, maintaining expensive battery storage increases the operating cost. In this article, we propose a dynamic energy resource allocation strategy to optimize the battery reserve requirement while ensuring that critical demand is met with a provable guarantee. Our solution is built upon stochastic control techniques. Under our proposed scheme, the DNO responds to the evolving uncertainty by dynamically balancing the RES and battery resources and eliminates the risk of over or underproduction. We derive battery reserve allocation strategy for multi-microgrid systems in two settings: when microgrids can (interconnected) and, cannot (individualized) share power amongst each other. We present numerical simulations under different scenarios with detailed comparison of the performance of the proposed algorithm for individualized and shared settings. The simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of our algorithm. In particular, it quantifies value of connecting microgrids through savings in battery requirements under IMMG over individualized microgrids.
Nullify, Postpone, Suspend, Stay, and Replace: The Trump Administration and the Methane Waste Prevention Rule

The words nullify, postpone, suspend, stay, and replace encapsulate the actions taken during the first two years of the Trump Administration to reverse existing environment and energy policies. Although President Trump’s policy initiatives have touched on a variety of issues, such as coal, wetlands, air quality, and public lands, this article focuses on one particular rule promulgated during the Obama Administration: the 2016 methane waste prevention rule (MWPR). To provide context, Part I briefly reviews how the executive branch can act to change existing laws, regulations, and policies. Parts II and III describe the 2016 methane waste prevention rule and efforts of the Trump Administration to nullify, postpone, suspend, stay, and replace the rule. While efforts to suspend or delay “Obama rules” have achieved mixed results, in most instances the courts have not yet determined whether President Trump’s replacement regulations will be upheld under the “arbitrary and capricious” standard of review set forth in the Administrative Procedure Act. Part IV discusses whether the Bureau of Land Management’s 2018 rule, which replaces the 2016 MWPR, is a lawful agency action. Part IV also looks at Indigenous Environmental Network v. United States Department of State, a federal district court decision that held the State Department engaged in unlawful agency action when it disregarded prior factual findings and reversed course regarding the Keystone XL pipeline project. Indigenous Environmental Network could be a harbinger of future court decisions that will likewise strike down attempts by the Trump Administration to reverse and replace environmental and energy policies.
Multi-time scale coordinated optimal control method for ADN considering source load prediction error

With the transition from traditional distribution networks to active distribution networks, renewable energy sources represented by wind and photovoltaics are connected to the system on a large scale. However, due to the randomness and intermittentness of their output, the peak shaving of the distribution network Competence presents a huge challenge. In this paper, considering the forecast errors on both sides of the source and load and the limited power purchase of the grid and the output of distributed power sources, through flexible scheduling of interruptible loads on the demand side and distributed power sources, an optimization scenario suitable for each typical operation is proposed. The multi-time scale coordinated optimization strategy with multiple time scales and multiple optimization objectives is used to coordinate and optimize the dispatch of distributed power sources and interruptible loads in the distribution network from three time scales: day-ahead, intra-day rolling, and real-time. After simulation verification, the multi-time scale coordinated and optimized dispatching method of active distribution network proposed in this paper can effectively suppress the impact of the uncertainty of renewable energy output on the distribution network, and alleviate the voltage over-limit, Problems such as line overload.
Morphology and Physical Structure of the Interstellar Medium

The morphology of the interstellar medium (ISM) is dependent on the wavelength at which observations are made. Morphologies at different wavelengths reveal interstellar gas components in different physical conditions, thus allow us to probe the physical structure of the ISM. The global structure of the ISM is determined by the gravitational effects of the host galaxy itself and the environment. On scales from a few parsecs to 103 parsecs, the physical structure of the ISM is largely determined by the energy feedback from massive stars. Interactions between massive stars and the ISM not only shape the ISM but also produce the multiple phases of the ISM. Multi-wavelength observations are needed to study the structure and evolution of a multi-phase ISM. The ISM of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is used to illustrate the environmental effects and the energy feedback from massive stars. The energy feedback is more complex than any recipe can describe.
Acid mine drainage contaminates groundwater of a Tennessee watershed

Water samples were collected from 18 natural springs within the West Fork of the Obey River watershed. Overton County, Tennessee, to determine if groundwater was adversely affected by runoff from abandoned surface coal mines Six springs were found to be affected severely and deemed unfit as a source of potable water Water quality of the remaining springs was essentially unaffected it appeared that proximity to surface mines, elevation at the outflow, and geology of the surrounding strata determined the quality of the groundwater
Seeking tools for the war on terror: A critical assessment of emerging technologies in law enforcement

As the war on terrorism escalates, police agencies are using technologies that electronically scan individuals, structures, and vehicles to identify things hidden from public scrutiny. These machines create new socio‐technical systems for police and citizens. Public policy gaps evolve when new systems give police sensory capabilities that fall outside existing procedural standards such as probable cause and reasonable suspicion. Mobile digital terminals are now common, but are also abused by police officers who run queries on vehicles without articulate suspicions. New technologies such as passive millimeter imaging that permit “X‐ray”‐like examination of individuals and structures create more potential for abuse. As these new technologies diffuse among police agencies, policies should be guided by questions about whether technologies work as designed, whether they are effective, and whether they accomplish anti‐terrorist and crime control objectives. Traditional rules for wiretapping can offer models for operating policies for the new scanning and imaging technologies.
Fatigue Behavior of Polymers

Polymers and polymer-based composites are increasingly displacing more traditional materials in a wide variety of engineering applications, and as such characterization of their fatigue behavior is of utmost importance. This article presents a general overview of the fatigue behavior of polymers. After a brief introduction that includes general terminology, the effects of test conditions (sample geometry, loading frequency, etc) are discussed. The effects of these conditions are also discussed in relevance to both the high cycle and low cycle fatigue behavior. Current models for predicting fatigue life are also reviewed, including cumulative damage theories and fatigue crack propagation models. Morphological and environmental effects are then discussed over a broad range of semicrystalline, amorphous, and modified polymer systems. Keywords: fatigue; fatigue crack propagation; cumulative damage; damage initiation
Detecting Security Threats Using Mobile Devices

In our previous work [1], we presented a study of using performance escalation to automatic detect Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) types of attacks. We propose to enhance the work of security threat detection by using mobile phones as the detector to identify outliers of normal traffic patterns as threats. The mobile solution makes detection portable to any services. This paper also shows that the same detection method works for advanced persistent threats.
Workers' Risk Tolerance and Occupational Injuries.

This study explores the relationship between individuals' risk tolerance and occupational injuries. We analyze data from a national representative survey of U.S. workers that includes information about injuries, risk tolerance, cognitive and noncognitive attributes, and risky behaviors. We measure risk tolerance through questions regarding individuals' willingness to gamble on their lifetime income. We estimate zero-inflated count models to assess the role played by such measures on workers' recurrent injuries. We discuss some implications of our results for future research and occupational safety policies. Our results highlight the concurrent and changing role played by individual, work, and environmental factors in explaining recurrent incidents. They show that risk tolerance affects recurrent injuries, although not in the direction that proponents of the concept of proneness would expect. Our measure of risk aversion shows that individuals who are somewhat more risk tolerant have fewer recurrent injuries than those who are risk averse. But the estimated relationship is U-shaped, not monotonic and, therefore, not easy to predict. At the same time, we find that individuals' "revealed risk preferences"-specific risky behaviors-are related to higher injury probabilities. Demanding working conditions, measures of socioeconomic status, health, and safety problems experienced by workers during their youth remain among the most important factors explaining the phenomena of recurrent injuries. So our results contribute also to the important debate about the relationship between health and socioeconomic status. Language: en
THEORY OF SINGLE PION PRODUCTION IN PROTON-PROTON COLLISIONS

Simple pion production in nucleon-nucleon collisions in the Bev energy region is studied by means of the picture due to Weisz\"acker-Williams (peripheral interaction model) and in the ($\frac{3}{2}, \frac{3}{2}$) resonance approximation for the final state pion-nucleon interaction. The excitation curve for the reaction $p+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p+n+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$, nucleon momentum distributions, and $Q$-value distributions in the center-of-mass system are calculated and compared with the published experimental data as well as with the work of Lindenbaum and Sternheimer. Agreement is reasonable with both, thus indicating that these particular distributions are insensitive to the isobar production mechanism (single pion exchange), though more recent experiments seem to have indicated clearly a preference for the theory developed here.
Oscillatory interlayer magnetic coupling of wedged Co/Cu/Co sandwiches grown on Cu(100) by molecular beam epitaxy.

Co/Cu/Co sandwiches were grown by molecular beam epitaxy onto a Cu(100) crystal with the intervening Cu layer fabricated to be wedge shaped. Electron diffraction was used to monitor the layer-by-layer growth. Films with 8, 14, and 20 monolayer- (ML) thick Co layers were investigated in situ by means of the magneto-optic Kerr effect. Characteristic hysteresis loops along the wedges, as a function of Cu thickness, unambiguously identify the oscillatory behavior in the sign of the exchange coupling between the two Co films. The oscillation periodicity (5.5 ML's of Cu) and, most importantly, the coupling strength are shown to be independent of the Co-layer thickness.
Hydrolysis of arginine by soluble enzymes of Streptococcus faecalis.

Abstract The hydrolysis of arginine by cell-free extracts of S. faecalis has been found to proceed as follows: (a) arginine + H2O → citrulline + NH3; (b) citrulline + H2O → ornithine + NH3 + CO2. The terms arginine desimidase and citrulline ureidase are proposed for the enzymes concerned. Reaction (a) in dialyzed extracts did not require the addition of any organic or inorganic substances. Approximately 21 μmoles citrulline/ hr./mg. enzyme N was formed at pH 5.8 and 37 °C. Aspartic acid did not affect the rate of the reaction. Reaction (b) required inorganic phosphate, and either muscle adenylic acid, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Adenosine 5-phosphate and ADP maintained a higher rate of reaction than did ATP. Adenine, guanine, guanylic acid, adenosine, hypoxanthine, and yeast adenylic acid were unable to substitute for the adenosine phosphates. Neither l -glutamic acid nor carbamyl- l -glutamic acid had any effect on the rate of reaction (b) in dialyzed extracts. Reaction (b) also required bivalent ions (Mg++, Mn++, Co++, or Zn++). The optimum pH ranged between 5.8 – 6.0. Sodium fluoride (1.7 × 10−3M) produced an inhibition of 90%. Iodoacetate, arsenite, and 2,4-dinitrophenol were without effect. Cell-free extracts attacked only arginine and citrulline. Closely related guanidine compounds were inactive.
Are older adults prepared to ensure food safety during extended power outages and other emergencies?: Findings from a national survey

Natural disasters and other emergencies can cause an increased risk of foodborne illness. We conducted a nationally representative survey to understand consumers’ knowledge and use of recommended practices during/after extended power outages and other emergencies. Because older adults are at an increased risk for foodborne illness, this paper presents findings from a sample of older adults (n = 290). Only 17% of respondents reported they are fully prepared to keep food safe during an extended power outage. Respondents identified lack of cogitation (42%), storage space (19%), and concern (27%) as barriers to not being fully prepared. Of those who had experienced a recent power outage, less than 40% followed the recommended practices of discarding frozen foods that had thawed and discarding refrigerated, perishable foods. Additionally, 21% to 36% of respondents reported they tasted food to determine whether it was safe to eat. Awareness and likelihood of following recommended practices were higher among wom...
Periplasmic binding proteins: a versatile superfamily for protein engineering

The diversity of biological function, ligand binding, conformational changes and structural adaptability of the periplasmic binding protein superfamily have been exploited to engineer biosensors, allosteric control elements, biologically active receptors and enzymes using a combination of techniques, including computational design. Extensively redesigned periplasmic binding proteins have been re-introduced into bacteria to function in synthetic signal transduction pathways that respond to extracellular ligands and as biologically active enzymes.
Ion surface interactions during vapor phase crystal growth by sputtering, MBE, and plasma-enhanced CVD: Applications to semiconductors

The effects of low‐energy particle bombardment of growing films during vapor phase epitaxy are considered in some detail. Ion bombardment plays an important and sometimes dominant role in controlling the growth kinetics and physical properties of films deposited by glow discharge and ion beam sputter deposition, molecular beam epitaxy using accelerated dopants, and plasma‐ assisted chemical vapor deposition. Ion–surface interaction effects, including trapping, sputtering, preferential sputtering, and collisional mixing, are used to interpret and model experimental results concerning the effects of low‐energy particle bombardment on nucleation, film growth, enhanced diffusion at interfaces, and elemental incorporation probabilities. Finally, recent results on the growth of unique single‐crystal metastable semiconducting alloys are discussed.
The association between substance use disorders and early and combined use of alcohol and marijuana in two American Indian populations.

Objective: To study the relationships between early and combined use of alcohol and marijuana with diagnoses of alcohol and marijuana use disorders in two American Indian (AI) populations.Method: Data were drawn from a psychiatric epidemiologic study of 3084 AIs living on or near two reservations. We analysed data for adults aged 18–54 years at the time of interview (n = 2739). Logistic regression models were estimated to examine associations between early and combined use of alcohol and marijuana with lifetime diagnoses of abuse and dependence.Results: Overall, younger AIs (18–29 years old) were more likely than older AIs (40–54 years old) to initiate substance use early and initiate use with marijuana, with or without alcohol. Persons who initiated alcohol use before age 14 were more than twice as likely as those who initiated use at older ages to meet criteria for alcohol or marijuana use disorders (p < 0.01). The odds of abuse or dependence were two to five times higher among persons who reported comb...
Transport in graphene on boron nitride

Graphene has become of great interest in recent years for its unique band structure and prospective importance in both microwave and logic devices. Recently, the use of a boron nitride layer between the graphene and the silicon dioxide substrate has shown enhanced mobilities due to displacing the disorder charge, typical on the oxide, further from the graphene material.1,2 On the other hand, like the oxide, boron nitride has polar optical modes which can interact with the carriers in graphene to lower their mobility. We have used an ensemble Monte Carlo (EMC technique to study the transport in graphene on a boron nitride layer. Scattering by the intrinsic phonons of graphene,3 as well as by the flexural modes of the rippled layer, and the remote polar mode of boron nitride has been included. The flexural modes are described by the model of Castro et al.4 While the EMC uses the simple Dirac band structure, coupling constants for the intrinsic phonon modes are taken by fitting to scattering rates determined from firstJprinciples calculations.5 We find that, at low temperatures, the mobility is dominated primarily by the intrinsic graphene phonons and the flexural modes. This arises as the interfacial polar mode of boron nitride lies at an energy of 200 meV, which is largely too high to interact well with the majority of the carriers in graphene. On the other hand, at room temperature, the mobility begins to be dominated by the remote polar mode of the boron nitride. Nevertheless, the prospects of reaching a high velocity, needed for device performance particularly at microwave frequencies, remains very good.