cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intermediate-Term Clinical Outcome Following Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization in Patients With Refractory Angina Pectoris

Background—This study was conducted to examine the intermediate-term clinical outcomes in patients with refractory angina pectoris treated with transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR) at our institution. TMR is an alternative surgical technique for the treatment of myocardial ischemia and angina pectoris not amenable to conventional percutaneous or surgical revascularization. Limited data exist evaluating the natural history and duration of clinical improvement in angina pectoris following TMR. Methods and Results—Thirty-four patients with severe coronary artery disease unsuitable for treatment with standard revascularization techniques underwent TMR in myocardial regions determined to be ischemic by preoperative SPECT 201Tl perfusion imaging following dipyridamole stress. Patients were assessed postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months for clinical outcomes including death, myocardial infarction, functional class of angina pectoris, and hospitalizations for unstable angina. Myocardial perfusion imagin...
Recent Trends in U.S. Social Welfare Policy Minor Retrenchment or Major Transformation

Many scholars have characterized the United States as a welfare state “laggard,” less generous than most other nations because of a peculiarly American set of historical circumstances and values. This article explores “American exceptionalism” in the context of welfare state reforms over the past two decades. The authors first describe recent social policy innovations in Western democracies, considering two competing views of welfare state change. The first asserts that welfare states have been fundamentally transformed into “enabling” states, characterized by efforts to promote work, privatize benefits and services, and target benefits to the most needy. The second holds that policy structures have remained essentially intact because of “path-dependent” processes that create institutional continuity. Although evidence for the United States is somewhat mixed, the general direction of policy decisions and current frameworks of policy debates is consistent with a transition toward an enabling state.
Origin of the hominidae : the record of African large hominoid evolution between 14 my and 4 my

The Hominidae probably originated in Africa sometime be- tween 14 my and 4 my ago. Unfortunately the fossil evidence from this time period and region is relatively poor. We regard only 11 specimens as unambig- uous hominoids, and none preserves a great amount of anatomy. They come from a very restricted geographical region. Two are from Ethiopia and the rest from Kenya, where most have been found in the Tugen Hills succession west of Lake Baringo. No unequivocal fossil evidence of ancestral Gorilla or Pan has yet been recognised. The oldest hominid yet known-in the sense used here-probably dates to greater than 5.6 my. One especially interesting question in the paleobiology of the hominoidea, as in other taxa, is the relation of extrinsic factors to speciation. To resolve this issue, diagnostic and well-dated specimens are necessary. However, they need not be anatomically spectacular. Fragmentary specimens, although imperfect anatomically, can be just as effective as more complete material in defining taxonomic branch- ing points. The origin of Hominidae, or at least bipedalism, has been conjec- turally associated with a regional environmental change from tropical forest to widespread grassland. Evidence accumulating from various parts of Africa, particularly the Tugen Hills, suggests this was not an abrupt transition. The pattern of habitats was probably patchy in space and time. This may have been a factor in the origin and development of the hominid clade. Much progress has recently been made, but further hominoid specimens, coupled with environmental information from well-calibrated sequences, is necessary to elucidate the nature and causes of cladistic branching within the superfamily . Some perennial problems in human evolution are the basic ones. Where did the first hominid species diverge from other hominoids? When did this event take place? What did the first hominid look like? And what were the proximate causes of the divergence and subsequent radiation of the Hominidae? It is easier to answer some of these questions than others, at least in a general way. With regard to the location of human evolution, selective quotation often attributes to Darwin the perception, now believed to be correct, that hominids evolved in Africa. In The Descent of Man (1871), having pointed out the general relation between extinct and extant species in each great region of the world, Darwin writes with typical caution: "It is therefore probable that Africa was formerly inhabited by extinct apes closely allied to the gorilla and chimpanzee; and as these two species
The Broad Street Pump Revisited

Smith C E [Department of Biometry, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston S C 29425, USA]. The Broadstreet pump revisited. Internationa/Journal of Epidemiology 1982,11: 99-100. This historical note examines the effect of population migration on the number of fatal cholera cases reported by John Snow in the Golden Square area of London during the fall of 1854. A method to correct for population migration is given and its relevance to present day epidemiological studies discussed.
Material Productivity in Food Manufacturing

Material prices have risen in food manufacturing, resulting in material productivity growth. This study estimates material productivity indexes for New Jersey's foodmanufacturing sector. A 21% material productivity growth is indicated for the 1964-84 period. The mechanism of material productivity growth is also investigated. Results suggest that greater material efficiency is encouraged by rising material prices, wage rates, and regulation, and by declining food prices. Short-run impacts on material productivity are caused by input substitution; beyond-the-short-run impacts are caused by material-saving technological change. In some food-manufacturing subsectors, higher material prices may bring lower revenues to material suppliers.
Interfacial mass and heat transfer during evaporation: II. Effect of monomolecular films on natural convection in water

The reduction in evaporation from a water substrate and the accompanying change in heat transport through the water induced by monolayers of cetyl alcohol and stearic acid are investigated. Evaporation resistance of the monolayer and Nusselt number in the water are determined at 2° to 22°C. The evaporation resistance increases with increasing surface pressure of the monolayer. In the presence of natural convection in the water, the Nusselt number decreases during monolayer compression. This reduction is larger than could be expected just from the lowered evaporative heat flux and the resulting reduction in the Rayleigh number. It may be due to a change in the surface hydrodynamic characteristics caused by the monolayer.
Variations on the theme of "twenty questions"

Summary form only given. One of the aims of computational complexity theory is to derive lower and upper bounds on the complexity of particular computational problems within particular models of computation. In many of these models computation can be viewed as the acquisition of information about an unknown object and elementary concepts from information theory, such as entropy and Kolmogorov complexity, naturally come into play.
Planar dual mode antenna for 2.4GHz and UWB

A circular disc monopole antenna is coupled with a parasitic element to generate a dual mode antenna system. The combination makes use of the broadband properties of the circular disc antenna to cover UWB operation, while introducing an L-shaped parasitic monopole to resonate at 2.4 GHz. The arrangement is rather compact in size where the parasitic is launch just 3.5 mm adjacent to the edge of the circular disc. Integration with cellular antenna was also investigated.
Lower pH of acid rain associated with lightning: evidence from sampling within 14 showers and storms in the Georgia Piedmont in summer 1996

Abstract Fourteen showers and storms in northeast Georgia were sampled at intervals as short as 90 s in the summer of 1996. The average pH of samples collected while thunder was heard was 3.63, significantly less than the average pH (4.05) of samples collected when no thunder was heard. That difference existed within rainfall events as well as across them. Of lesser but still considerable statistical significance was the difference between the average pH of samples collected during the day (3.62) and the average pH of samples taken at night (3.94). In addition, among samples collected when thunder was heard, those collected when wind blew from a relatively sparsely populated area to the east had a higher average pH than that of samples associated with winds from more densely populated and industrialized areas that include Atlanta. Previous work has focused on the role of solar-driven photochemical reactions in the generation of acid precipitation, but the greater acidity of rainwater associated with lightning suggests that oxidation of SO2 and NOx is also enhanced by oxidants produced by lightning.
Nucleation of Water and Methanol Droplets on Cations and Anions: The Sign Preference

The barrier height to cation- and anion-induced nucleation to produce water and methanol droplets are calculated by means of an umbrella-sampling Monte Carlo method. The computer simulation corroborates the century-old finding of Wilson that the anion is a better nucleator to produce water droplets than the cation having the same magnitude of charge, even without the presence of external electric field. The simulation also shows that the cation is a better nucleator to produce methanol droplets than the anion.
The Outcome of Treating Patients With Suspected Rebound Headache

Objective.—To prospectively document the outcome of patients suspected of having rebound headache. Background.—Previous publications on rebound headache have, for the most part, implied that the patients improve, but have failed to specify the percent who improved, the pattern of improvement, or the end point that is achieved. Methods.—This was a prospective study of 50 consecutive patients presenting with chronic daily headache of over 2 months' duration who were suspected of having rebound headache from the medications that they were using for pain relief, and who were eligible to follow our usual treatment protocol, ie, abrupt termination of the offending medications and use of subcutaneous injections of dihydroergotamine for excruciating headache. Results.—One year after the initial patient was enrolled and 8 months after the last patient was enrolled, 29 patients (58%) achieved the goal of 6 or more consecutive headache-free days; the mean time to achieve this goal was 84 days. Another 9 patients showed varying degrees of improvement; 1 continued to improve and achieved 5 consecutive headache-free days after having omitted her medications for 10 months. Eleven patients failed to stop their medications or stopped their medications for only a brief interval. One patient continued to have daily headaches after having essentially omitted all pain relief medications for 12 months and was the only true treatment failure in the group. Conclusions.—Most patients suspected of having rebound headache comply with the instructions to omit the offending agents and can be helped. This information might help other physicians who are treating patients suspected of having rebound headache.
Closed-loop job release control for VLSI circuit manufacturing

A closed-loop job release mechanism for job shops where the main source of randomness is due to machine failure and repair is introduced. The release policy adapts concepts of the reorder-point method of inventory control to the context of job-shop scheduling. The control mechanism, called starvation avoidance, is compared empirically with other input control mechanisms on several semiconductor wafer manufacturing job shops with favorable results. >
Tutorial 12: Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Design in Nanoscale CMOS

This tutorial reviews the challenges and opportunities of high-performance digital design in nanoscale CMOS technologies. The device structure evolution, material enhancement, and major design challenges are discussed. Examples of logic circuit and SRAM design techniques to overcome the challenges and to mitigate various performance/reliability constraints in conventional planar CMOS technology are given. Scaled/emerging technologies such as scaled PD/SOI, UT/SOI, strained-Si channel device, hybrid orientation technology, and multi-gate FinFET are addressed with particular emphases on the implications and impacts on circuit design. Finally, novel logic circuit, SRAM, and power-gating schemes exploiting unique structures and properties of emerging devices are discussed.
Physician reports of work-related asthma in California, 1993-1996.

Background Work-related asthma is a leading cause of occupational respiratory illness. Methods Work-related asthma was studied in California over a 36-month period, from March 1, 1993 to February 29, 1996. The surveillance system identified cases from Doctor's First Reports (DFRs), a mandated physician reporting system. Structured follow-up telephone interviews of DFR asthma cases were conducted to collect work history, exposure, and medical information. Statewide employment data was used to calculate disease rates among industry groups. Results Based on 945 cases of work-related asthma, the average annual reporting rate for work-related asthma in California was 25/million workers. We estimate that the actual rate is 78/million, adjusted for likely underreporting. Janitors and cleaners (625/million) and firefighters (300/million) had the highest reporting rates of work-related asthma. Half of all work-related asthma cases were associated with agents not known to be allergens. Conclusions A greater proportion of work-related asthma associated with irritant exposures was identified than has previously been reported. The surveillance data provide a very conservative estimate of the incidence of work-related asthma. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:72–83, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Wideband Agile Receiver: An Integrated Photonic Electronic Digital Receiver for RF Sensing

The Wideband Agile Receiver (WAR) merges advanced photonics and a high dynamic range digital receiver to create a novel hardware prototype for the sensing and communication systems that are the 'eyes and ears' of the war fighter. Unlike conventional receivers, WAR employs a photonics front end using an advanced electro-absorption modulator (EAM) developed at Lockheed Martin's Commercial Space Systems (CSS). A benefit of the photonics front end is the flexibility to decentralize radio frequency (RF) sensors on a mobile platform and to route the received signals via fiber optics to a central location for digital processing. In addition, WAR leverages an ultra-high frequency (UHF) sampling digital receiver developed under the DARPA Advanced Digital Receiver Technology program along with a new digital signal processing integrated circuits developed at Lockheed Martin's MS2. The integration of these enabling technologies opens the possibility for new RF receiver architectures that enhance the detection of RF signals of interest over a wider frequency spectrum crowded with strong RF energy or environmental interference.
Generalization Properties of Radial Basis Functions

We examine the ability of radial basis functions (RBFs) to generalize. We compare the performance of several types of RBFs. We use the inverse dynamics of an idealized two-joint arm as a test case. We find that without a proper choice of a norm for the inputs, RBFs have poor generalization properties. A simple global scaling of the input variables greatly improves performance. We suggest some efficient methods to approximate this distance metric.
The AIDS epidemic: professional and personal concerns of graduate social work students in field placement.

Social work educators and health care practitioners have been increasingly concerned about the cognitive and affective preparation of a graduate student for practice with AIDS-related issues. A pilot study of students from six graduate schools of social work was conducted in an effort to address these concerns. This article focuses on the affective experiences of students who worked with AIDS in field placement. The study questionnaire provided information about: (1) the concerns of students working with AIDS populations, (2) the nature and effectiveness of the help students required in coping with concerns, and (3) students' recommendations for future AIDS-related field placements. Study findings revealed that while the frequency of reported concerns was low overall, those concerns elicited revolved around clients' reactions, and knowledge and skills for practice. Students sought diverse resources for support in coping with their concerns, but other professionals and staff groups in field placement were ...
Collective Action in Common Pool Resource Management, Including Heterogeneity of Opportunities and Exit Options

The mechanism through which exit options and outside opportunities affect cooperation outcomes has not been well studied in the resource management literature, since a deep analysis of the concepts of “exit options” and “outside opportunities” is missing. This article analyzes these concepts across the common pool resource management literature, investigates the factors that underlie “opting out” decisions, and reviews potential ways to operationalize these concepts for empirical analysis. It also explores how the relationship of cooperation and exit options may be influenced by broad economic processes, such as economic integration.
Enhanced Bactericidal Activity of Rifampin and/or Pyrazinamide When Combined with PA-824 in a Murine Model of Tuberculosis

PA-824 is in phase II clinical testing to treat tuberculosis. At a dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight, it has demonstrated bactericidal activity during the initial and continuation phases of treatment in a murine model of tuberculosis. In a prior study, substitution of PA-824 for isoniazid in the first-line regimen of rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide resulted in significantly lower CFU counts at 2 months and shorter time to culture-negative conversion. However, the study design prevented a rigorous assessment of the relapse rate after completion of therapy. The current experiment was designed to assess (i) the extent of the beneficial effect of substituting PA-824 for isoniazid in the first-line regimen, (ii) the influence of the PA-824 dose on the same effect, and (iii) the activity of each one-, two-, and three-drug combination of rifampin, PA-824, and pyrazinamide. Mice were infected by the aerosol route and initiated on treatment 14 days later with more than 7 log10 CFU per lung. Treatment with rifampin and pyrazinamide was more effective than treatment with rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide at reducing the lung CFU count, consistent with past evidence of isoniazid's antagonism in this model. The addition of PA-824 at 12.5 and 25 mg/kg/day did not increase the activity of rifampin plus pyrazinamide, but the addition of PA-824 at 50 and 100 mg/kg/day did increase the activity in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of rifampin, PA-824 (100 mg/kg), and pyrazinamide rendered all mice culture negative after 2 months of treatment and free of relapse after 4 months of treatment, while some mice receiving rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide remained culture positive and 15% relapsed after completing 4 months of treatment. The two-drug combination of PA-824 and pyrazinamide displayed synergistic activity that was equivalent to that of the standard first-line regimen. Together, these results support the evaluation of regimens based on the combination of rifampin, PA-824, and pyrazinamide in phase II clinical trials while demonstrating several potential pitfalls in the evaluation of new drug combinations in a murine model of tuberculosis.
An Investigation of Extratropical Cyclone Development Using a Scale-Separation Technique

The explosive development phase of an extratropical cyclone (ETC) is examined using output generated by the fifth-generation PSU‐NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5). A full-physics run of MM5 with 60-km grid spacing was used to simulate the intensive observation period (IOP)-4 storm of 4‐5 January 1989 from the Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic (ERICA). A diagnosis of the simulated ETC is performed using the Zwack‐Okossi (Z‐O) equation to examine the forcing mechanisms influencing development. A secondorder Shapiro filter is used to partition the terms in the Z‐O equation into synoptic-scale and subsynoptic-scale contributions to the near-surface synoptic-scale geostrophic vorticity tendency. Results confirm that previous work using the Z‐O equation at coarser resolutions correctly identified synopticscale processes as the most important cyclone development mechanisms. However, the results also show that both adiabatic and diabatic subsynoptic thermal processes can make important contributions to synoptic-scale ETC development.
Determination of radioisotopes in complex saline matrices using extraction chromatography and liquid scintillation counting

The retention of 239Pu and 241Am on six commercially available extraction chromatographic resins was investigated to determine the effect of matrix constituents commonly found within sea and ocean water on their uptake. It was found that the retention of 239Pu and 241Am on almost all of the resins from either nitric acid or hydrochloric acid system was not significantly affected by matrix constituents in artificial ocean water. However, the retention of 241Am on DGA resin from nitric acid was found to be reduced by over two orders of magnitude in the presence of artificial ocean water.
Wild Fungus Derived Carbon Fibers and Hybrids as Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

We reported a facile synthesis of carbonaceous fibers directly from Tyromyces fissilis wild fungus through a controlled carbonization process. Electron micrograph observations revealed that as-prepared carbon fibers are composed of 40–60 μm long solid and tubular fibers mimicking their natural texture. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction indicated that these carbon fibers are possessing disordered carbon structure with larger interlayer spacing (0.386 nm) than graphite (0.335 nm). These carbon fibers delivered specific reversible capacity of 340 mAh/g at C/10 rate and 300 mAh/g at C/5 rate. Electrochemical performance of as-prepared carbon fibers was further improved by uniform decoration of cobalt oxide particles via solid state thermal processing. CoO–carbon fiber hybrid anode delivered higher reversible capacity, 530 mAh/g at C/10 rate with only 10 mol % of CoO loading. This improvement is attributed to the synergistic effect, namely conductive network of cross-linked carbon fibers and facile elec...
Spatio-temporal multi-scale PSE for shear layer dynamics and acoustic radiation

While the nonlinear Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE) have been shown to be a useful and ecien t tool in calculating the dynamics and acoustics of jets and shear layers, they are currently limited to harmonic forced o ws. In this study we extend the PSE to handle non-periodic ino w forcing with general phase shifts. In the spatio-temporal formulation of nonlinear PSE, we consider two additional time scales of the problem and express the solution as a multiple scale expansion. The phase conservation equations and adjoint PSE solution are used to close this set of equations. A model problem based on the Ginzburg-Landau equation is examined using this method. Finally, we apply the multiple scale PSE formulation to two dimensional supersonic and subsonic mixing layers, and we nd relatively good agreement with Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS).
A longitudinal study of the correlates of persistent smoking among sexual minority women.

INTRODUCTION We conducted a longitudinal evaluation of factors associated with persistent smoking behaviors among sexual minority women (SMW; lesbians and bisexual women). METHODS Structured interview data were collected as part of a larger longitudinal study of SMW's health: the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women study. We conducted multivariate analyses to evaluate the influence of 4 groups of predictor variables on smoking: (a) demographic, (b) childhood victimization, (c) other substance use, and (d) health variables. RESULTS At Wave 1, 30.9% (n = 138) of participants reported current smoking, with substance-use and demographic factors having the strongest relationships to smoking status. The majority (84.9%) of Wave 1 smokers were also smoking at Wave 2. Among demographic variables, level of education was inversely associated with continued smoking. With respect to substance use, hazardous drinking and cocaine/heroin use were significantly associated with continued smoking. None of the victimization or health variables predicted smoking status. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with previous studies, smoking rates in this sample of SMW were elevated. Despite intensive efforts to reduce smoking in the general population, 84% of SMW smokers continued smoking from Wave 1 to Wave 2. Findings suggest that the majority of SMW will continue to smoke over time. Additional research is needed to increase motivation and access to smoking cessation resources.
Improvement on Algorithm of Image Segmentation with the Biggest Variance Ratio——By Taking Image of Front Magnetic Curve for Example

Based on traditional method of image segmentation with the biggest variance ratio, a new method is proposed for image segmentation of front magnetic curve by taking front magnetic curve obtained from an oilfield for example. Seeing from the analysis of the image process effect, the new algorithm has much better segmentation effect than that of traditional image segmentation with the biggest variance ratio. The algorithm is not only effective for the image of front magnetic curve, also effective for image segmentation of other similar histograms.
Influence of damped material and the ship model of acoustic on the ship cabin noise

Numerical analysis of the 3-D ship acoustic model is built by using statistical energy analysis method.The results show that,if the engine room is laid by damping material,its noise would not be reduced,but and the other cabin noise would be reduced,and the effect of free damping material is better,as compared with constraint damping material.If the cabin where is not any exciting source is laid by damping material,its noise would be reduced in the acoustic space,and the constraint damping material works better than the free damping material.The calculation also displays that the acoustic excitation quite obviously affects the sound level of the cabin in which the acoustic excitation exists,and the structure excitation obviously impacts the cabin which is far from the structure excitation.There is only a little action on noise reduction by stiffened plate,and there is no action on noise reduction by the ballast water and ballast oil.
Health Shocks in Perspective - How Do Health Shocks Compare to Agricultural and Labor Market Shocks? Evidence from Rural China

The first aim of this paper is to compare health shocks with other (labor market and agricultural) shocks in terms of their incidence (preliminary results suggest that crop failure is more common than health shocks), the factors determining their incidence, their impacts on income (do health shocks have a larger and longer-lasting impact on income than, say, agricultural shocks?), their impacts on household consumption (controlling for the size of income effect, do households find it easier to smooth consumption in the face of a health shock because neighbors are more inclined to be sympathetic and offer cash and in-kind assistance?). We also examine the formal and informal risk-sharing mechanisms in place to reduce the impacts of different types of shocks, and the strategies that households employ to mitigate the effects of different types of shocks (including withdrawing children from school). Finally, we analyze the extent to which different formal and informal risk-sharing mechanisms help mitigate the effects of different types of shocks - for example, do health insurance and safety net programs reduce the impacts of health shocks? The data we use come from a social protection survey conducted in rural China, inquiring about different types of shocks and mechanisms households use to mitigate their effects. In analyzing the impacts of shocks on consumption, we employ matching methods, comparing households experiencing shocks with households that are similar in a number of relevant respects.
Design Space: The Final Frontier

One of the functions of a literature survey is to stimulate further research in the field. We intend the chapters on the seven algorithms to do this by presenting enough specific knowledge so that the algorithms might serve as “benchmarks” to guide the development and testing of future frameworks for design. In this final chapter we take a more general perspective, speculating on several issues in understanding the design space. The issues are divided into the general areas of goals, languages, derivation structure, implementations, and finally (an area that affected us most directly), presentation style.
A Reworked Clovis Point Near Chevelon Ruin, Arizona

ABSTRACTThis paper describes a nearly complete Clovis projectile point found near Chevelon Ruin, Arizona. The point was modified by s i de-notching. It is suggested that reworking was performed by subsequent Basketmaker Ill-Pueblo IV inhabitants of the Little Colorado Valley region and that the point was initially dropped by Clovis hunters around 11,000 years ago, not far from its place of discovery.
“Awareness is the first step”: An interprofessional course on mindfulness & mindful-movement for healthcare professionals and students

High levels of stress and related burnout in healthcare professionals (HCPs) are prevalent and costly conditions. Mindfulness training has received recent attention as a possible prevention/intervention strategy to enhance resilience to stress and reduce risk of burnout in HCPs. The purpose of this mixed-methods pilot study was to evaluate the preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an 8-week mindfulness curriculum for interprofessional HCPs and trainees (n = 27). Qualitative findings supported feasibility and acceptability of the course for a wide variety of HCP disciplines, including nursing, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, social work, mental health, and clinical research. Despite being limited by a small sample size, there were statistically significant reductions in perceived stress, anxiety, and specific aspects of burnout from pre-to post-intervention and there was a trend in an enhanced sense of personal accomplishment over time.
Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Using the Lariat : To Close, or Not to Close, That Is the Question∗

It has been almost 10 years since the Lariat device (SentreHeart, Inc., Redwood City, California) received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) intermediate risk clearance for use in “surgical applications where soft tissue is being approximated,” and 5 years since the first publications on
Optimal timing of transmission investments in electricity markets

Reliability is a growing problem in the deregulated electricity markets. This paper aims to study the incentives available to merchant investors; specifically, in the form of congestion rents. Given certain time windows, will the revenues be profitable over the transmission line cost? If so, we find the optimal time that maximizes this profit. We approach this problem by restricting the number of stochastic congestion events. Then, we extend it to include an infinite number of congestions. Using simulation, we explore the behavior of the optimal investment time with respect to the stationary demand model parameters; then extend the model to consider the variability of demand.
The Web as a Creative Thinking Partner

This article outlines the development and application of the "Theory of Web-Mediated Knowledge Synthesis." This theory, essentially the application of creative thinking to online learning and reading comprehension, provides a roadmap to enable learners to use the web in more creative ways. This is an important consideration in both schools and the workspace as access to information is less a competitive advantage than what is done with that information and what value can be added to it. In addition to chronicling the foundations of theory development, this article also reports on current efforts to use it to scaffold more creative thinking on the web with graduate students.
FGFR1 Is Required for and Elucidates Multiple Mechanisms of HSC Mobilization.

Abstract 2532 Poster Board II-509 Though fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) is known to be expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and FGF ligands can support their in vitro culture, the function of FGFR1 in HSCs in vivo has not been elucidated. We examined mouse models in which Fgfr1 is conditionally deleted in adult hematopoietic tissues. While they exhibit normal hematopoiesis, FGFR1-null HSCs fail to mobilize to peripheral tissues in response to 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and AMD3100; however, they mobilize at levels similar to control animals when treated with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Further investigation revealed that FGFR1-null HSCs cannot migrate in response to the CXCR4 ligand SDF-1 in vitro , and after 5FU treatment they display diminished expression of CXCR4 in bone marrow at time points prior to mobilization. Additionally, HSCs lacking FGFR1 cannot be expanded in culture, indicating they bear proliferation defects. Together, these data support a novel role for FGFR1 in mobilization of HSCs and indicate that activation of FGF signaling may distinguish stress-responsive HSC mobilization from more physiologic mechanisms triggered by cytokines such as G-CSF. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Feasibility of fabricating personalized 3D-printed bone grafts guided by high-resolution imaging

Current methods of bone graft treatment for critical size bone defects can give way to several clinical complications such as limited available bone for autografts, non-matching bone structure, lack of strength which can compromise a patient’s skeletal system, and sterilization processes that can prevent osteogenesis in the case of allografts. We intend to overcome these disadvantages by generating a patient-specific 3D printed bone graft guided by high-resolution medical imaging. Our synthetic model allows us to customize the graft for the patients’ macro- and microstructure and correct any structural deficiencies in the re-meshing process. These 3D-printed models can presumptively serve as the scaffolding for human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) engraftment in order to facilitate bone growth. We performed highresolution CT imaging of a cadaveric human proximal femur at 0.030-mm isotropic voxels. We used these images to generate a 3D computer model that mimics bone geometry from micro to macro scale represented by STereoLithography (STL) format. These models were then reformatted to a format that can be interpreted by the 3D printer. To assess how much of the microstructure was replicated, 3D-printed models were re-imaged using micro-CT at 0.025-mm isotropic voxels and compared to original high-resolution CT images used to generate the 3D model in 32 sub-regions. We found a strong correlation between 3D-printed bone volume and volume of bone in the original images used for 3D printing (R2 = 0.97). We expect to further refine our approach with additional testing to create a viable synthetic bone graft with clinical functionality.
Prevalence and Correlates of Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Chinese Older Adults: The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

Background Frailty is an age-related clinical syndrome of decreased resilience to stressors and is associated with numerous adverse outcomes. Although there is preponderance of literature on frailty in developed countries, limited investigations have been conducted in less developed regions including China—a country that has the world’s largest aging population. We examined frailty prevalence in China by sociodemographics and geographic region, and investigated correlates of frailty.
Constructing Immigrant “Illegality”: Critiques, Experiences, and Responses

With over 11 million persons living with undocumented status in the United States, “illegal” immigrants comprise a major underclass in American society. Constructing Immigrant “Illegality”: Critiqu...
Novel Molecular Tools for Metabolic Engineering to Improve Microalgae-Based Biofuel Production

Biofuels are derived from biological material. They are an environmentally friendly, low-cost, and renewable energy source, making them potential fuels to replace nonrenewable fossil fuel. Over time, biofuel production technology/methodology has gone through several generations, from the simplest means of production (conversion of simple sugars into biofuel) to the current, more complicated means of production (using novel plant biotechnology). The next generation of biofuel production will involve genetic engineering to improve yields, especially metabolic pathway engineering. Both macroalgae and microalgae sources offer an alternative to fossil-based fuels. Single-celled microalgae use carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce energy. They provide an attractive alternative, due to the significance of their lipid yield, which can be further processed into biofuels and valuable coproducts. The use of microalgae to produce biofuels reduces overall carbon emission without taking away the lands needed for food crops. Despite vigorous research, deployment of large-scale algae-based biofuel production still faces challenges, including high demands of input (water, nutrients, CO2, etc.) for algal growth. Genetic engineering of algal metabolic pathways holds potential for generating high lipid yields with minimal input. In this chapter, we discuss the use of modern molecular tools for metabolic engineering to improve microalgae-based biofuel production. These include multiple gene transformation, site-specific gene stacking, and precise gene/allele modification with currently developed genome-editing technology, such as CRISPR/Cas9 system.
FDA 2014 survey of eye area cosmetics for microbiological safety.

In an attempt to assess cosmetics containing 'nontraditional' preservatives, 93 eye area cosmetic products were selected based on labelled or marketed claims that these products were 'green', 'natural', 'paraben-free', 'preservative-free' or contained nontraditional preservatives (e.g. botanical extracts). Products were analysed for water activity, pH and microbiological content, which included enumeration of aerobic micro-organisms, detection of microbial growth after a 7-day enrichment and identification of microbial isolates. The survey found that 60% (56/93) of the eye area cosmetics were free of microbiological growth under test conditions, 32% (30/93) showed the presence of micro-organisms at low levels ( 100 CFU per ml or g). Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus and Staphylococcus were the dominant genera identified in these cosmetic products, whereas Gram-negative species were relatively uncommon. The survey found a positive association between lower water activity cosmetics and the presence of micro-organisms in these products. Similarly, colour cosmetics were more likely to contain micro-organisms than noncolour cosmetics. The most represented micro-organisms in the survey were from genus Bacillus, suggesting that the natural raw materials are the likely source of observed microbial loads. Significance and impact of the study In the United States, cosmetic products are regulated postmarket; therefore, surveillance programmes are one of FDA's most important tools for monitoring microbiological safety of cosmetics. 'Traditional' preservatives, such as parabens and formaldehyde releasers, are perceived unfavourably by some consumers, resulting in cosmetic manufacturers increasingly using 'nontraditional' preservatives. FDA conducted an analytical survey of eye area cosmetics that claimed to be free of traditional preservatives and determined microbiological loads in tested products. This study explores the association of microbial loads with the physical and chemical characteristics of the cosmetic products, and points to the limits of preservative activity in cosmetics.
The Role of S-Adenosylhomocysteine and S-Adenosylhomocysteine Hydrolase in the Control of Biological Methylations

S-Adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) (Fig. 1) was first identified as one of the products of the reactions that utilize S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) as a methyl donor by Scarano and Cantoni1 in 1954. Over the last 25 years, and especially in the last three or four years, AdoHcy has attracted increasing attention because it has become well established that AdoHcy is a competitive inhibitor of many, if not most, of the reactions in which AdoMet participates 2–13.
A Silicon and Aluminum Interaction in the Rat

Since beginning the work on establishing silicon’s essentiality and function in higher animals,1 all tissues analyzed for Si have been analyzed simultaneously for Al and a number of other elements which resulted in the establishment of a relationship between Si and Al.2
The Role of Cannabis within an Emerging Perspective on Schizophrenia

Background: Approximately 0.5% of the population is diagnosed with some form of schizophrenia, under the prevailing view that the pathology is best treated using pharmaceutical medications that act on monoamine receptors. Methods: We briefly review evidence on the impact of environmental forces, particularly the effect of autoimmune activity, in the expression of schizophrenic profiles and the role of Cannabis therapy for regulating immunological functioning. Results: A review of the literature shows that phytocannabinoid consumption may be a safe and effective treatment option for schizophrenia as a primary or adjunctive therapy. Conclusions: Emerging research suggests that Cannabis can be used as a treatment for schizophrenia within a broader etiological perspective that focuses on environmental, autoimmune, and neuroinflammatory causes of the disorder, offering a fresh start and newfound hope for those suffering from this debilitating and poorly understood disease.
Ending the Accounting-for-Intangibles Status Quo

The surge of corporate intangible investments is the hallmark of developed economies, radically transforming the business models, strategies, and performance of business enterprises. Accounting sta...
The Development of Face-to-Face Collaboration Technology for Young Children

Face-to-face communication and collaboration are important aspects of children's healthy development. With technology becoming ubiquitous in children's lives, we need to better understand how to best support face-to-face activities when they use technology. My dissertation research will support social physical activities for young children through interactive technologies, where the technology does not distract or impede the social and physical aspects of play. To obtain lessons from existing research, I conducted a content analysis of research design trends relating to face-to-face collaboration systems for children presented in publications between 1991 and 2017. I completed the initial stages of a system to classify collaborative technologies, and I created a system, StoryCarnival, which utilizes Voice User Interfaces (VUIs) to support high-quality, creative social play. My contributions are the design, development, and evaluation of technologies that best support social, collaboration activities through interactive technologies for children under five.
Ferumoxytol-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance detection of early stage acute myocarditis

The diagnostic utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is limited during the early stages of myocarditis. This study examined whether ferumoxytol-enhanced CMR (FE-CMR) could detect an earlier stage of acute myocarditis compared to gadolinium-enhanced CMR. Lewis rats were induced to develop autoimmune myocarditis. CMR (3 T, GE Signa) was performed at the early- (day 14, n = 7) and the peak-phase (day 21, n = 8) of myocardial inflammation. FE-CMR was evaluated as % myocardial dephasing signal loss on gradient echo images at 6 and 24 h (6 h- & 24 h-FE-CMR) following the administration of ferumoxytol (300μmolFe/kg). Pre- and post-contrast T2* mapping was also performed. Early (EGE) and late (LGE) gadolinium enhancement was obtained after the administration of gadolinium-DTPA (0.5 mmol/kg) on day 14 and 21. Healthy rats were used as control (n = 6). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was preserved at day 14 with inflammatory cells but no fibrosis seen on histology. EGE and LGE at day 14 both showed limited myocardial enhancement (EGE: 11.7 ± 15.5%; LGE: 8.7 ± 8.7%; both p = ns vs. controls). In contrast, 6 h-FE-CMR detected extensive myocardial signal loss (33.2 ± 15.0%, p = 0.02 vs. EGE and p < 0.01 vs. LGE). At day 21, LVEF became significantly decreased (47.4 ± 16.4% vs control: 66.2 ± 6.1%, p < 0.01) with now extensive myocardial involvement detected on EGE, LGE, and 6 h-FE-CMR (41.6 ± 18.2% of LV). T2* mapping also detected myocardial uptake of ferumoxytol both at day 14 (6 h R2* = 299 ± 112 s− 1vs control: 125 ± 26 s− 1, p < 0.01) and day 21 (564 ± 562 s− 1, p < 0.01 vs control). Notably, the myocardium at peak-phase myocarditis also showed significantly higher pre-contrast T2* (27 ± 5 ms vs control: 16 ± 1 ms, p < 0.001), and the extent of myocardial necrosis had a strong positive correlation with T2* (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). FE-CMR acquired at 6 h enhance detection of early stages of myocarditis before development of necrosis or fibrosis, which could potentially enable appropriate therapeutic intervention.
"Connection": The Integration of a Person-Centered Narrative Intervention into the Electronic Health Record: An Implementation Study.

Background: Incorporating patient narratives into the electronic health record (EHR) is an opportunity to integrate patients' values and beliefs into their care and improve patient-clinician communication. Objective: The study's aims were to (1) identify barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of a cocreated patient narrative intervention and (2) assess the acceptability/usability of the patient's narrative from the perspective of key stakeholders-the patient and acute care bedside nurse. Design: We used an implementation design using mixed methods. Setting/Subjects: Twenty patients and 18 nurses were enrolled from five units in an acute care hospital. Results: For patients, the narrative intervention provided an avenue to discuss and share how illness has impacted their life in psychological, social, and spiritual belief domains. For nurses, the ability to read the patient's narrative provided benefits that fostered improved communication and more connection with their patients. Despite successfully meeting recruitment targets, time was the largest barrier for patient and nurse participants. Overall, the nurse participants gave high ratings on most of the items on the System Usability Scale with one exception-EHR integration. The lack of EHR integration on the System Usability Survey corresponds with the nurses' stated desire for a prominent location of patient narratives in the EHR. Conclusions: The patient narrative intervention was acceptable and usable for hospitalized patients and nurse participants. Our study demonstrates that a cocreated patient narrative intervention provides avenues for patients and nurses to connect despite being in hectic acute care settings. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03391115.