cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of distributed PV generation on California’s distribution system, part 2: Economic analysis

Abstract The economic value of distributed photovoltaic (PV) electricity is affected both by its correlation with transmission level energy prices and by a host of effects it may have on distribution systems. In this study we combine detailed physical simulation of distribution circuits with budgetary information provided by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to estimate PV’s value with respect to avoided wholesale energy expenditures, avoided distribution system capacity upgrades, and increased expenditures to manage voltage magnitudes. We find that favorable timing of generation and the potential to defer capacity investments both increase PV’s value on average by a small amount. We use circuit-level loading and load growth data to show that distribution circuit capacity value is very heterogeneous: PV shows very little capacity value on most circuits but substantial (over $60/kW-year, nearly half of the near-term target for the cost of distributed PV) on 1% of circuits at low penetrations. We examine some other distribution system impacts of PV, including voltage regulator operations and voltage quality, and find that they are also likely to be very small on average, with the caveat that there are some impacts (such as the effect of reverse power flow on protection equipment) that we have insufficient data to assess. In much the same way that dynamic pricing tariffs capture PV’s value in time, our results point toward the importance of tariffs that recognize the heterogeneity of PV’s impacts on distribution systems across different locations.
Liquid-Metal MHD Power Conversion

Abstract The liquid-metal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) powerplant is a nonrotating system usable with liquid-metal cooled reactors. In this system, a liquid metal is accelerated by vapor in a two-phase nozzle, extracted from the vapor in a high-velocity separator, decelerated by the production of electric power in an MHD generator, and returned through a diffuser to the nozzle via the reactor. The vapor is condensed in the radiator and pumped back to the nozzle. In the experimental investigation, nozzle, separator, and diffuser tests were performed with water and nitrogen, and generator tests were performed with NaK. The nozzle delivered 90% of isentropic exit velocity, the separator achieved about 1% liquid loss and 20% velocity loss, the diffuser had about 75% efficiency, and the generator operated at about 50% efficiency. Extrapolation of the results to a 2000°F space powerplant indicated that an unshielded specific weight of 30 to 45 lb/kw is attainable. Lifetime limitations due to erosion and insulator loss were investigated in water-flow and lithium capsule tests, and results indicated negligible material loss up to at least 1000 hr.
A phase I pharmacokinetics study comparing PF-06439535 (a potential biosimilar) with bevacizumab in healthy male volunteers

This study compared the pharmacokinetics of PF-06439535, a potential bevacizumab biosimilar, to bevacizumab sourced from the European Union (bevacizumab-EU) and USA (bevacizumab-US), and of bevacizumab-EU to bevacizumab-US. In this double-blind study, 102 healthy males, aged 21–55 years, were randomized 1:1:1 to receive a single 5 mg/kg intravenous dose of PF-06439535, bevacizumab-EU, or bevacizumab-US. Pharmacokinetic assessments were conducted for 71 days, with additional safety and immunogenicity assessments until day 100. Pharmacokinetic similarity was achieved if 90 % confidence intervals (CIs) for the test-to-reference ratios of the maximum serum concentration (C max), area under the serum concentration–time curve from zero to infinity (AUC0–∞), and from zero to time of last quantifiable concentration (AUC0–t ) were within the 80.00–125.00 % bioequivalence acceptance window. The three study drugs exhibited similar pharmacokinetic properties. For the comparisons of PF-06439535 to bevacizumab-EU or bevacizumab-US, and of bevacizumab-EU to bevacizumab-US, the 90 % CIs for the ratios of C max, AUC0–t , and AUC0–∞ were all within 80.00–125.00 %. Two, one, and two subjects treated with PF-06439535, bevacizumab-EU, and bevacizumab-US, respectively, tested positive for antidrug antibodies, none of whom tested positive for neutralizing antibodies. Treatment-related adverse events were reported in 15.2, 25.7, and 18.2 % of subjects in the PF-06439535, bevacizumab-EU, and bevacizumab-US treatment arms, respectively. This study demonstrated the pharmacokinetic similarity of PF-06439535 to both bevacizumab-EU and bevacizumab-US, and of bevacizumab-EU to bevacizumab-US. The safety profile (including immunogenicity) was similar in the three treatment groups, with no significant safety findings reported.
Endometrial Carcinoma of the Prostatic Utricle

The seventh case of endometrial carcinoma of the prostatic utricle is reported. The differential diagnosis of this condition, particularly from papillary adenocarcinoma of the prostate, is important.
Push-pull macrocycles: donor-acceptor compounds with paired linearly conjugated or cross-conjugated pathways.

Two-dimensional π-systems are of current interest in the design of functional organic molecules, exhibiting unique behavior for applications in organic electronics, single-molecule devices, and sensing. Here we describe the synthesis and characterization of “push–pull macrocycles”: electron-rich and electron-poor moieties linked by a pair of (matched) conjugated bridges. We have developed a two-component macrocyclization strategy that allows these structures to be synthesized with efficiencies comparable to acyclic donor–bridge–acceptor systems. Compounds with both cross-conjugated (m-phenylene) and linearly conjugated (2,5-thiophene) bridges have been prepared. As expected, the compounds undergo excitation to locally excited states followed by fluorescence from charge-transfer states. The m-phenylene-based systems exhibit slower charge-recombination rates presumably due to reduced electronic coupling through the cross-conjugated bridges. Interestingly, pairing the linearly conjugated 2,5-thiophene bridge...
Open traumatic brain injury by nail gun resulting in a persistent vegetative state

A 64-year-old man presented to the trauma bay with metallic objects protruding from his right scalp following presumed assault. Clinical examination demonstrated an unresponsive, moderately hypertensive patient with reactive pupils, intact corneal and gag reflexes, and no movement to noxious stimuli (Glasgow Coma Scale1 3T). Neuroimaging demonstrated multiple linear metallic foreign bodies extending deep into the bilateral thalami and brain parenchyma (figure 1). The patient underwent a right decompressive hemicraniectomy and removal of seven 10-inch nails through the skull via the right frontal and temporal cortices (figure 2). The patient recovered and remains in a persistent vegetative state, likely from his diencephalic injury.2
Pitfalls in Ambulatory Treatment of Inguinal Hernias in Adults

Careful patient selection and preparation for ambulatory inguinal herniorrhaphy combined with monitored local anesthesia result in a safe procedure with excellent patient acceptance. Factors contributing to early and late complications are presented, and the common methods of their treatment are reviewed.
The Legacy of Native Languages: Tracing the Path of the Cherokee Language

The status of native languages is an issue currently being raised among Native American tribes. With the rise of cultural awareness has come the need to encourage the usage of a tribe’s language. By studying a specific native language I hope to understand its evolution and current status. The Cherokee people have an incredibly rich history that is linked with Anglo-Americans. Cherokee language preservation can be traced back to the 19th century with the creation of the alphabet. The Cherokee tribe was the first to create a native alphabet. It was produced by a Cherokee man named Sequoyah who could neither read nor write. What followed this remarkable foundation was a constant struggle to tamp down and revive the language by Anglo-Americans and Cherokees themselves. The Cherokee frequently conformed to the culture of Anglo-Americans which included intermarriage. This contributed to loss of their native language. Anglos introduced boarding schools to force the English language. The 20th century saw the rise of the civil rights along with the Red Power Movement. This encouraged pride in tribal culture and heritage. Despite this movement, usage of a native tongue is still not widely encouraged in the 21st century. Through the analysis of documents over this timeline I will study what the Cherokee language has overcome. Scholars in the history of native groups here in the United States emphasized the atrocities committed to them. Yet despite these struggles they survived and parts of their cultural persisted. The Cherokee experience matters because of its 200 year history of preservation and loss. I hope to demonstrate to others the value of recognizing the memories of language and culture. 1 Roman-Luevanos: The Legacy of Native Languages Published by Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC, 2015
Role of C-Reactive Protein in Cancer

Low-grade chronic inflammation is a proposed mechanism linking excess body weight with cancer development. Adipocytes, particularly visceral fat cells, regularly release pro-inflammatory cytokines likely due to hypoxic and necrotic conditions in conglomerated fat tissue in obese individuals. C-reactive protein (CRP), a long-established acute-phase reactant, is triggered primarily by the cytokine Interleukin-6, as part of the innate immune system apparatus to resolve acute infection, injury, and inflammation. Some but not all epidemiologic studies suggest that low-grade circulating CRP levels predict cancer development, particularly for lung and colon cancers. Evidence as a prognostic factor, however, is more convincing, but whether or not elevated CRP reflects inflammation associated with large, aggressive neoplasms or solely serves as a general marker of mortality risk needs clarification.
Transport of the Neurotrauma Patient

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common problem in both civilian and military settings. While the initial injury can be devastating, additional physiologic insults are well known to potentiate the initial injury and worsen outcomes. New evidence suggests that the hypobaric environment of aeromedical transport can independently increase inflammation, cerebral edema, and alterations in the cerebral metabolic rate. Field responders and transport teams are instrumental in limiting physiologic second hits and minimizing subsequent injury. Although patient movement may be absolutely mandatory, transport should be approached as a high-risk procedure: patient selection and preprocedural planning are paramount to minimizing transport-related complications. Conditions to avoid for improved outcome include: hypotension, hypoxia, hypocarbia, hypercarbia, hypothermia, hyperthermia, intracerebral pressure elevations, and delays in transport. Emphasis should be on maintenance of the airway, protection of the cervical spine, transport to the definitive location when possible, and the qualifications and capabilities of the transport members. While ground transport by itself can introduce risk, air transport of the acute neurotrauma patient introduces additional complexity. The air transport environment is physiologically hostile. Environmental stressors include hypobarism, hypoxemia, gravitational and acceleration forces, noise, vibration, and decreased humidity. Depending on the distance to be traveled, the austerity of the transport environment can also have a profound effect on ability to diagnose and treat the deteriorating patient. Each of these environmental stressors can potentially exacerbate TBI and must be ameliorated. Ideally, neurocritical care principles and practice should be extended to the care of the patient during all phases of transport .
Teacher Leadership and Organizational Structure

Traditional models of school organization favor peaked hierarchies that concentrate power and leadership responsibility on the office of the principal. As these models struggle to effectively meet the needs of education in the new millennium, leadership structures that distribute leadership influence and empower teachers to play a greater role in the leadership of the school, are slowly being implemented. This study examines the restructuring of school leadership at a school making the transition from a traditional elementary school to an Edison charter school and investigates the impact the new organizational structure had on teacher leadership. Qualitative data were collected over a four-year period during annual visits to conduct over 50 interviews with district administrators, school administrators, teachers, and the school support staff. The research findings indicate that the structure implemented at the Edison school differed greatly from traditional school leadership structures, as it successfully distributed leadership influence and enhanced the nature and scope of teacher leadership.
Noninfertility Scrotal Microsurgery

The use of microsurgical techniques for noninfertility urologic surgery is growing. Urologic literature published over the past three decades describes the use of microsurgery for a variety of penile, scrotal, and upper urinary tract reconstructive procedures, testicular autotransplantation for cryptorchidism, testis-sparing surgery for testis tumors, spermatic cord denervation for chronic pain, as well as routine urologic procedures such as hernia repair, hydrocelectomy, spermatocelectomy. In the hands of skilled microsurgeons, superior outcomes have been reported following these procedures. With further improvements in microsurgical technology, and training of dedicated microsurgeons, the role for microsurgery will only continue to grow.
NEW RENTS ECONOMY - U.S. INEQUALITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Nos Estados Unidos da America, as rendas hoje constituem uma fracao significante e crescente da renda nacional. De fato, os EUA pos-industrial estao ficando mais parecidos com a Arabia Saudita na medida em que essas novas formas de rendas surgem de forma mais concentrada. Em vista disso, as politicas se veem agora obrigadas a focar mais na distribuicao ao inves de na producao e na eficiencia, como se fazia tradicionalmente. O crescente impacto do comercio e da tecnologia agora se combina a producao cada vez maior de "bens baseados em conhecimento" para aumentar de forma vertiginosa a desigualdade de renda. Neste artigo, argumenta-se que a principal causa da desigualdade reside na proliferacao de novas formas de rendas em forte contraste com o foco de Piketty na acumulacao de capital no contexto neoclassico. Uma vez que as rendas ultrapassam determinado limite (dado pela participacao na renda nacional), nao se pode mais permitir a manutencao do pressuposto neoclassico que negligencia isso. Logo, as implicacoes de politica sao cruciais - ate mesmo revolucionarias - no que diz respeito a redistribuicao, educacao superior, incentivos e taxacao de capital.
Studies of the decomposition of the ethylene hydrophenylation catalyst TpRu(CO)(NCMe)Ph

Abstract TpRu(CO)(NCMe)Ph is a catalyst for the conversion of benzene and ethylene to ethylbenzene. Previously, the formation of ethylbenzene has been shown to occur through a pathway that involves ethylene coordination to Ru, insertion of ethylene into the Ru–phenyl bond and Ru–mediated benzene C–H activation. The effect of ethylene pressure and catalyst concentration (between 0.2 and 0.01 mol % based on benzene) on the decomposition of TpRu(CO)(NCMe)Ph was examined. Studies have shown that there are two competing catalyst deactivation pathways. At higher concentrations of TpRu(CO)(NCMe)Ph, the dominant deactivation pathway is likely initiated by a binuclear reaction of two Ru complexes that leads to formation of unidentified paramagnetic species. Kinetic studies reveal that this pathway for catalyst decomposition occurs with a second-order rate of 0.007 (1) M −1 s −1 . At lower Ru concentrations, ethylene C–H activation to form the allyl complex TpRu(CO)(η 3 -C 4 H 7 ) is the predominant deactivation pathway. The effect of ethylene pressure on catalyst decomposition was also examined. At higher ethylene pressure nearly quantitative formation of TpRu(CO)(η 3 -C 4 H 7 ) was observed.
Case 2: Acute Onset of Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, and Constipation in an 18-month-old Girl.

1. Anya Kleinman, MD* 1. *Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH An 18-month-old girl presents to the emergency department with a 4-day history of postprandial emesis. The patient was seen 2 days earlier for the vomiting episodes and was discharged from a community emergency department after a normal saline bolus. The mother returns with the patient because of continued episodes of nonbloody, nonbilious emesis with decreased fluid intake and decreased urine output. The patient has also been complaining intermittently of abdominal pain and has had no bowel movement for the past 5 days. She has been afebrile throughout. Her medical history is notable for prematurity of 33 weeks, with a 1-month NICU hospitalization for feeding difficulties, with no known abdominal complications of prematurity. There is no medical history of constipation. On presentation, she is afebrile and tachycardic to 150 beats/min. Other vital signs are appropriate for age. The patient has dry mucus membranes with preserved skin turgor, and capillary refill is less than 3 seconds. Abdominal examination reveals substantial abdominal tenderness, especially in the right lower quadrant and suprapubic region, with no rebound and voluntary guarding. There are no peritoneal signs. There are no palpable masses, but marked diffuse distention is present in the lower quadrants bilaterally. Bowel sounds are hypoactive. External genitalia are normal, and findings from the rectal examination are normal. …
“It was at the library; therefore it must be credible”: Mapping patterns of undergraduate heuristic decision-making

ABSTRACTIn this study, we explore the heuristic decision-making skills of undergraduate students as they incorporate information into their persuasive speeches. We interviewed 26 students enrolled in an introductory communication course to ascertain their information literacy for vetting sources for their public speeches. From their responses, we generated four patterns in students’ heuristic decision-making when they made appeals to justify or legitimize their selection of evidence within their persuasive public speech. We conclude by discussing our findings in the context of information literacy scholarship and providing pedagogical advice for instructors who teach public speaking in the introductory communication course.
THE USE OF COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS IN THE OPTIMIZATION OF AIR-IMPEDANCE ELECTROSPUN STRUCTURES FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING

Electrospinning is a viable method for dermal tissue engineering scaffold fabrication. Grafts using air-impedance electrospinning possess the ability to significantly increase cellular infiltration. However, current air-impedance methods lack precise control over flow properties through the collecting mandrel and are unable to accurately control fiber deposition in an organized and well-distributed manner. This study focusses on the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and its application to air-impedance structures to optimize the deposition of the resulting dermal graft. Air-impedance structures were created from a range of air pressures to determine the optimal pressure for fiber collection. Initial results showed a pressure of 11psi (1.3scfm), which led to increased cellular penetration, but created uneven structures. This inlet flow rate was implemented as the primary boundary condition for CFD simulations. CFD software was used to gather data on fluid flow characteristics for a variety of mandr...
A single arm phase II study of rucaparib maintenance in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma and a known deleterious BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2 mutation who have achieved stability on platinum therapy.

TPS531Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with a median overall survival of < 1 year. A subset of PDAC is characterized by a homologous recombination d...
Towards Human Affect Modeling: A Comparative Analysis of Discrete Affect and Valence-Arousal Labeling

There is still considerable disagreement on key aspects of affective computing - including even how affect itself is conceptualized. Using a multi-modal student dataset collected while students were watching instructional videos and answering questions on a learning platform, we investigated the two key paradigms of how affect is represented through a comparative approach: (1) Affect as a set of discrete states and (2) Affect as a combination of a two-dimensional space of attributes. We specifically examined a set of discrete learning-related affects (Satisfied, Confused, and Bored) that are hypothesized to map to specific locations within the Valence-Arousal dimensions of Circumplex Model of Emotion. For each of the key paradigms, we had five human experts label student affect on the dataset. We investigated two major research questions using their labels: (1) Whether the hypothesized mappings between discrete affects and Valence-Arousal are valid and (2) whether affect labeling is more reliable with discrete affect or Valence-Arousal. Contrary to the expected, the results show that discrete labels did not directly map to Valence-Arousal quadrants in Circumplex Model of Emotion. This indicates that the experts perceived and labeled these two relatively differently. On the other side, the inter-rater agreement results show that the experts moderately agreed with each other within both paradigms. These results imply that researchers and practitioners should consider how affect information would operationally be used in an intelligent system when choosing from the two key paradigms of affect.
Chromosomal mosaicism in chorionic villus sampling.

The observation of multiple, chromosomally distinct cell lines in chorionic villus samples is not an unusual finding and occurs in 1 per 100 samples. This frequency is ten times greater than the level of mosaicism observed in newborn surveys and, thus, must reflect phenomenon other than true fetal mosaicism. Indeed, only 23% of mosaicism detected at CVS is confirmed in the fetus (2.3 per 1,000 CVS), which is much closer to the newborn rate (1 per 1,000). This indicates that most mosaicism encountered in CVS is unrelated to the fetal karyotype and as such is an inaccurate prediction of the fetal genotype, the purpose of prenatal diagnosis. Most of the mosaicism detected in CVS is due to confined placental mosaicism. Either as a result of error-prone cell division generating an excess of abnormal cells in extraembryonic tissues or reduced selection against aneuploid cells in these tissues allowing their persistence, chorionic villi and placenta appear to show much higher levels of mosaicism than seen in fetuses. This explains the more frequent finding of multiple cell lines in CVS than in amniocentesis or liveborn individuals. The discrepancy between levels of mosaicism present in chorionic villi and fetal tissues means that most instances of mosaicism detected in CVS are not associated with a fetal abnormality and should be evaluated by further prenatal testing, i.e., amniocentesis or fetal blood sampling. Because of the frequency of chromosomal mosaicism in CVS and its attendant need for further testing, a discussion of mosaicism should be included in counseling prior to CVS. The higher frequency of discrepant results in direct CVS preparation emphasizes the prudence of delaying decision making until the results of the CVS culture have been obtained. Although the observation of mosaicism clearly complicates genetic counseling and decision making, it does not appear to be associated with an adverse fetal outcome. Whereas most of the mosaicism observed in CVS is the result of confined placental mosaicism, other types of discrepancies also occur. Maternal cell contamination occurs in about 1% of cases, but is easily evaluated by examining the direct preparation and analyzing chromosome polymorphism. The incidence of pseudomosaicism in CVS cultures is unclear but probably low. Interestingly, CVS analysis has suggested that twinning may be a more common phenomenon at conception than reported at birth and that some discrepancies may reflect the nonviability of twins with abnormal karyotypes. Chorionic villi sampling remains a viable alternative to amniocentesis for early prenatal diagnosis. An understanding of the origins of mosaicism in CVS is necessary for
Preliminary data from a field trial of the PFA-100 system.

The PFA-100™ system *(Dade International Inc., Miami, FL) is a platelet function anaIyzer, the design of which is based on the technology of the Thrombostat 4000 VDG, Seeon, Germany. † It was developed to measure primary, platelet dependent hemostasis in citrated whole blood in vitro. A first pilot study was conducted with the instrument to assess performance characteristics. Healthy subjects (normals) who had not ingested any medications, and patients (abnormals) with primary, platelet-related hemostasis defects, which included users of aspirin, were studied with two test cartridges; collagen/ADP and collagen/epinephrine. Before the study certain variables were tested that ascertained that blood drawn into either 3.8% or 3.2% sodium citrate containing vacutainers (rather than syringes) could be used for testing. Tests must be performed within a five-hour time span from drawing to testing, and blood must be kept at room temperature. Normal reference values were 77–133 seconds closure times for collagen/ADP and 98-185 seconds for collagen/ epinephrine. Precision testing revealed a CV of >10% for within-day and between-day (five days) analyses on collagen/ADP cartridges and a CV of 5–14% for both runs on the collagen/epinephrine cartridges. No clinically important differences were found between measurements in the two positions of the instrument, although one follows the other. Tests on 99 normals and 70 abnormals were performed and data expressed as receiver/operator characteristics (ROC) curves that assess the combined sensitivity and specificity of a procedure. An area under the curve of 1.0 means that all samples (normals + abnormals) were accurately identified; a value of 0.5 indicates that the test is noninformative. Using collagen/ADP cartridges a value of 0.76 was found when testing 99 normals and 52 abnormals. All aspirin users had been omitted from the abnormals. With the collagen/epinephrine cartridges, evaluating 99 normals and 70 abnormals, a value of 0.89 was obtained. This analysis entailed also aspirin users. Of 24 known aspirin users the collagen/epinephrine cartridges identified 20 that had normal closure times with the collagen/ADP cartridges. Three aspirin users had abnormal values with both cartridges, one subject was normal with both. When the traditional Ivy bleeding times were plotted as an ROC curve, an area under the curve of 0.698 was found. The data suggest that the PFA-100™ system identifies normals and abnormals (subjects with primary, platelet related hemostasis defects) with greater sensitivity and specificity than the present widely used bleeding time. The instrument is easy to use and could be adapted to routine laboratory use. The data presented are preliminary and need to be confirmed by additional testing. †Not commercially available in the U.S.A.
Study of Acoustic Surface Waveguides on Reinforced Concrete Slabs

This paper describes the development of a two-dimensional acoustic surface waveguide system to enhance the transmission of Acoustic Emission (AE) signals in high attenuation concrete materials. The design of the surface waveguide system and the AE source location results are described. In this study, steel wires were selected as a waveguide material and were attached on the surface area of reinforced concrete structures. AE sensors were mounted at the end of the waveguides. The waveguides were connected to a concrete slab at joints with small contact areas using epoxy. This minimizes the amount of AE energy that could dissipate back to concrete. Thus, AE signals can be transmitted a longer distance. Experiments using standard pencil-lead breaks were conducted at 49 locations on a surface of a reinforced concrete floor slab to provide artificial AE signals. High transmission efficiencies were experimentally determined for the epoxy joints developed to attach the waveguides on the concrete surface. Results confirm that the use of the two-dimensional surface waveguides can significantly increase the AE monitoring range. A multi-layer Neural Network (NN) system was employed to predict locations of the AE sources. Four data sets of AE parameters and their corresponding 49 source locations in each data set were used to train the NN system. A testing data set was then used to demonstrate the ability of the NN in identifying the locations of the AE sources. Satisfactory prediction results from the NN were obtained.
INTEGRAL REACTION RATE DETERMINATIONS. PART I. TAILORED REACTOR SPECTRUM PREPARATION AND MEASUREMENT.

Four different epicadmium neutron flux spectra were produced by boron filter insertion in a beam port of the Cornell University 100-kW TRIGA reactor. The first spectrum was the unaltered (except fo...
Rheumatoid cyst causing extradural compression. A case report.

A fifty-two-year-old woman with chronic rheumatoid arthritis came to us with Pain in the left lower extremity and a subcutaneous mass in the lumbar region. A rheumatoid cyst extended from the joint between the articular processes of the third lumbar vertebra on the left into the epidural space, compressed the cauda equina, and extended posteriorly into the subcutaneous tissue.
Using a motion-tracking device to facilitate motion control in children with ASD for neuroimaging

ABSTRACTPurpose: Conducting neurological scans of children with disabilities is difficult because participants exhibit excessive motion. We examined whether a motion-tracking system that combined r...
Exclusion of Trunk Region Reduces Biological Error but Increases Technical Error of DXA Lean Soft Tissue Estimates From Nonfasted Assessments

Implementation of an overnight fast is a pervasive recommendation prior to body composition assessment, but this is not always feasible. Previous research has indicated that for dual-energy X-ray a...
Eye Care Utilization Among Insured People With Diabetes in the U.S., 2010-2014.

OBJECTIVE Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults, and although screening with eye exams is effective, screening rates are low. We evaluated eye exam visits over a 5-year period in a large population of insured patients 10–64 years of age with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used claims data from IBM Watson Health to identify patients with diabetes and continuous insurance coverage from 2010 to 2014. Diabetes and DR were defined using ICD-9 Clinical Modification codes. We calculated eye exam visit frequency by diabetes type over a 5-year period and estimated period prevalence and cumulative incidence of DR among those receiving an eye exam. RESULTS Among the 298,383 insured patients with type 2 and no diagnosed DR, almost half had no eye exam visits over the 5-year period and only 15.3% met the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendations for annual or biennial eye exams. For the 2,949 patients with type 1 diabetes, one-third had no eye exam visits and 26.3% met ADA recommendations. The 5-year period prevalence and cumulative incidence of DR was 24.4% and 15.8% for patients with type 2 diabetes, respectively, and 54.0% and 33.4% for patients with type 1 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS The frequency of eye exams was alarmingly low, adding to the abundant literature that systemic changes in health care may be needed to detect and prevent vision-threatening eye disease among people with diabetes.
Improved Global Sensitivity Analysis for Critical Factor Analysis with Intercorrelated Inputs: Power Plant Cost Example

AbstractGiven the importance of early conceptual cost estimating, it is important for the estimators to identify the most critical factors at the early phase of a project that drive the final cost....
Innovation Districts As A Strategy for Urban Economic Development: A Comparison of Four Cases

This study investigates the urban economic development strategy of innovation districts. As the phenomenon of innovation districts currently is flourishing and expanding across the nation, it commands rigorous attention from those interested in understanding economic development in the United States. Researching the design, opportunities, and pitfalls associated with the economic development strategy will be valuable to policymakers. By studying innovation districts, we aim to provide practical guidance to governments, nonprofit organizations, and other interested actors as they consider devoting substantial effort and resources toward improving their local and regional economies. Because innovation districts are relatively new, this research does not claim to provide definitive empirical knowledge or results. Moreover, it is too early in the application of innovation districts to conduct widespread empirical evaluation. Instead, our approach focuses on examining four cases of innovation districts that present contrasting settings and policies. We assess the economic development efforts as they have progressed so far by drawing on existing theories of regional economic development and by relating the design and implementation of innovation district actions to stated and normative goals. In conducting this research relatively early in terms of innovation district applications, we anticipate the information to be opportune for the consideration of local economic development policymakers and stakeholders.
Indications for Neurotoxins: Lower Face and Neck

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) smooths out wrinkles in the upper face by relaxing the underlying muscles and thereby creating a more refreshed, alert appearance. The effects of BoNT/A on the lower face typically have a different purpose in addition to the above and is used to rejuvenate the face through lengthening the upper lip (gummy smile), smoothing the chin, reversing a down-turned mouth, softening upper and/or lower lip lines, or relaxing neck bands. Although the effects are temporary, lasting approximately 3–4 months, consistent use can lead to longer term benefits such as enhanced muscle memory and prevention of additional lines.
Enhancing total fracture surface area in naturally fractured unconventional reservoirs via model predictive control

Abstract In naturally fractured unconventional reservoirs, naturally present fractures will interact with hydraulic fractures, and divert fracture propagation. Because of complex fracture growth, the ultimate goal of hydraulic fracturing operation in naturally fractured unconventional reservoirs should be changed from achieving the desired fracture geometry to maximizing the total fracture surface area (TFSA) for given fracturing resources, as it will allow more drainage area available for oil recovery. Unfortunately, there are no such techniques available to develop pumping schedules to maximize TFSA for given fracturing resources in naturally fractured unconventional reservoirs. Motivated by this, in this work, we will develop a new model-based pumping schedule by utilizing a recently developed unconventional complex fracture propagation model called Mangrove as our virtual experiment describing complex fracture networks by accounting for the interaction between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures. Initially, using the simulation data from Mangrove, a reduced-order model (ROM) is constructed, which is then used to develop a Kalman filter utilizing the available measurement to estimate the unmeasurable ROM states. Then, we propose a model-based feedback control system to determine the fracturing fluid pumping schedule that maximizes TFSA, which will lead to an enhanced oil production rate from naturally fractured unconventional reservoirs. We demonstrate that by using the proposed control scheme, TFSA can be greatly enhanced which will lead to an oil production rate greater than those of existing pumping schedules which were developed without considering natural fractures.
Do Judgments of Learning Directly Enhance Learning of Educational Materials

When people make judgments of learning (JOLs) after studying paired associates, the process they engage in to monitor their learning can directly enhance learning for some types of material (Soderstrom et al. 2015). The current experiments investigated whether JOLs directly enhance learning educationally relevant texts. Across 5 experiments (N = 703), people read several sections of an educational textbook with or without JOLs embedded between each section. We manipulated whether JOLs queried one’s understanding of the text at the aggregate level (Experiment 1) or for specific concepts in the text (Experiment 2a, 2b, 3, and 4). We also manipulated whether JOLs were framed to afford covert retrieval practice by prompting judgments with either the target information present or absent (Experiment 3). In most cases, instructing students to make JOLs did not improve comprehension above and beyond just reading the text. However, when people were instructed to retrieve information prior to making JOLs (Experiment 4), large learning gains occurred. These results indicate that JOLs in their standard form are unlikely to produce educational benefits to text comprehension in part because learners do not spontaneously retrieve criterial information when making metacomprehension judgments.
The Effects of Accountable Care Organizations Forming Preferred Skilled Nursing Facility Networks on Market Share, Patient Composition, and Outcomes.

Background Through participation in payment reforms such as bundled payment and accountable care organizations (ACOs), hospitals are increasingly financially responsible for health care use and adverse health events occurring after hospital discharge. To improve management and coordination of postdischarge care, ACO hospitals are establishing a closer relationship with skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) through the formation of preferred SNF networks. Research design We evaluated the effects of preferred SNF network formation on care patterns and outcomes. We included 10 ACOs that established preferred SNF networks between 2014 and 2015 in the sample. We first investigated whether hospitals "steer" patients to preferred SNFs by examining the percentage of patients sent to preferred SNFs within each hospital before and after network formation. We then used a difference-in-difference model with SNF fixed effects to evaluate the changes in patient composition and outcomes of preferred SNF patients from ACO hospitals after network formation relative to patients from other hospitals. Results We found that preferred network formation was not associated with higher market share or better outcomes for preferred SNF patients from ACO hospitals. However, we found a small increase in the average number of Elixhauser comorbidities for patients from ACO hospitals after network formation, relative to patients from non-ACO hospitals. Conclusions After preferred SNF network formation, there is some evidence that ACO hospitals sent more complex patients to preferred SNFs, but there was no change in the volume of patients received by these SNFs. Furthermore, preferred network formation was not associated with improvement in patient outcomes.
Friction and wear properties of biomass-derived oils via thermochemical conversion processes

Abstract Tribological properties of biomass-derived oils (bio-oils) were experimentally investigated, and the properties were compared with that of standard mineral oils used for lubrication purposes. Bio-oils were obtained from fast pyrolysis (using poultry and pine), gasification (“gasitar” using pine) and hydrothermal liquefaction processes (using Scenedesmus and Nannocholoropsis). The friction and wear tests were conducted using a ball on the disk tribometer test. The results showed that the coefficient of friction (COF) were around 0.02 for both gasitar and Scenedesmus bio-oil; whereas, catalytic and non-catalytic pyrolysis oils had a COF around 0.1. The wear measurements showed that catalytic fast pyrolysis bio-oils had lower wear followed by non-catalytic bio-oil and “gasitar”. Nannocholoropsis bio-oil had the highest amount of wear, and algal bio-oils showed higher wear compared to other oils. The bio-oil chemical analysis indicated that catalytic and non-catalytic fast pyrolysis bio-oil had higher oxygen content, while algal bio-oil had higher nitrogenates. Gasitar had higher hydrocarbon content with lower oxygen and nitrogenates making it a favorable lubricating oil.
Methylated circulating tumor DNA biomarkers for the blood-based detection of cancer signals

Abstract Circulating tumor DNAs (ctDNAs) are acellular fragments of tumor-derived DNA that have been shed by cancer cells into the bloodstream via secretion, apoptosis, and necrosis. In cancer patients, these ctDNAs join the pool of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) shed by dying normal cells to form a fraction of the total cfDNA content in blood plasma. CtDNAs retain the genetic mutational spectrum and DNA methylation profiles of the originating tumor, thereby providing a source of blood-based biomarkers for cancer detection and for monitoring cancer activity over time. Various ctDNA detection, quantification, and profiling technologies have been applied across multiple cancer settings, including population-based screening for cancer detection, “liquid biopsy” of tumors that are inaccessible to repeat tissue-based biopsy, measures of response to treatment, and the detection of molecular residual disease or relapse in patients undergoing treatment, to name a few. DNA loci that are frequently and specifically differentially methylated in particular cancer types provide advantageous biomarkers, particularly as applied to population-based screening, because they allow for cheap targeted tests for the detection of individual cancer types, as well as broader ctDNA profiling to detect and locate the tissue-of-origin of cancer where this is unknown. The methylated SEPTIN9 biomarker now serves as a clinically approved ctDNA-based real-time PCR test for the detection of colorectal cancer. The Galleri test by GRAIL, Inc., which is based on broader next-generation bisulfite sequencing, is poised for implementation as a multi-cancer detection test to both detect and locate cancers that are frequent in the population or for which no population-based clinical screening test is available.
A Right to Discriminate?: How the Case of Boy Scouts of America v. James Dale Warped the Law of Free Association

Should the Boy Scouts of America and other noncommercial associations have a right to discriminate when selecting their members? Does the state have a legitimate interest in regulating the membership practices of private associations? These questions-- raised by Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the Scouts had a right to expel gay members-- are at the core of this provocative book, an in-depth exploration of the tension between freedom of association and antidiscrimination law. The book demonstrates that the "right" to discriminate has a long and unpleasant history. Andrew Koppelman and Tobias Wolff bring together legal history, constitutional theory, and political philosophy to analyze how the law ought to deal with discriminatory private organizations.
Device Trials in Chronic Heart Failure: Implications of Trial Design

Device therapy in the treatment of patients with heart failure may add incremental therapeutic benefits on a background of optimal medical treatment. Improvements in quality of life and survival observed in clinical trials (efficacy) in patients with heart failure have led to increasing utilization of these devices in clinical practice (effectiveness). Clinical trials define the patient population in whom the device is likely to be effective, the magnitude of the expected degree of improvement, and the balance between risk and benefit. It is, therefore, essential that clinicians understand the basic elements of trial design and how they apply specifically to trials of device therapy in patients with heart failure.
Do Synesthetic Colors Grab Attention in Visual Search

Recent research on synesthesia has focused on how the condition may depend on selective attention, but there is a lack of consensus on whether selective attention is required to bind colors to their grapheme inducers. In the present study, we used a novel change detection paradigm to examine whether synesthetic colors guide the subject’s attention to the location of the inducer or whether selective attention is required to act as a unique feature during visual search. If synesthetic experiences are elicited by inducers (e.g., digits) without selective attention, then a target that is distinct from the distractors by virtue of its unique synesthetic color should capture attention. This should lead to efficiency in the search that is analogous to the efficiency in searches involving unique display colors (e.g., a display of red digits among black). If, however, an inducer does not elicit a synesthetic color until the subject selectively attends to it, then the search should be as inefficient as for control subjects. We found that, not only does synesthesia not provide an advantage in complicated visual search tasks, it offers a slight disadvantage, supporting the re-entrant processing hypothesis about the mechanism underlying synesthesia.
Modeling Minneapolis Skyway Network

Adopting an agent-based approach, this paper explores the topological evolution of the Minneapolis Skyway System from a microscopic perspective. Under a decentralized decision-making mechanism, skyway segments are built by self-interested building owners. We measure the accessibility for the blocks from 1962 to 2002 using the size of office space in each block as an indicator of business opportunities. By building skyway segments, building owners desire to increase their buildings' value of accessibility, and thus potential business revenue. The skyway network in equilibrium generated from the agent model displays similarity to the actual skyway system. The network topology is evaluated by multiple centrality measures (e.g., degree centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality) and a measure of road contiguity, roadness. Sensitivity tests such parameters as distance decay parameter and construction cost per unit length of segments are performed. Our results disclose that the accessibility-based agent model can provide unique insights for the dynamics of the skyway network growth.
Race and Cultural Flexibility among Students in Different Multiracial Schools

Background/ContextOne of the most critical functions of a well-integrated school is the development of “culturally flexible” students who, over the course of their social development, effectively n...