cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Promotion of Preconception Care Among Adolescents and Young Adults by Conversational Agent.

Abstract Purpose Preconception care is important for all women to improve infant and maternal health outcomes and may be especially important for adolescents and young adults. This study assesses the acceptance, usability, and use of an automated intervention to screen women on 108 preconception care risks and address them over the course of a year via a Web-based virtual animated health counselor and compares these measures for the adolescent and young adult users aged 18–25 years with those of users aged 26–34 years. We hypothesize that the younger cohort will have significantly greater use of and satisfaction with the online intervention. Methods A randomized controlled trial involving a national sample of 528 women was conducted. We present a secondary data analysis on the system use and self-reported usability and satisfaction of the 79 women aged 18–25 years randomized to the intervention group, compared with the 183 women aged 26–34 years in the intervention group. Participants were required to self-identify as female, black or African American, aged 18–34 years, not pregnant, and English-speaking and were recruited through a variety of advertisements and outreach activities. Results Of the adolescent and young adult participants (aged 18–25 years) enrolled and randomized to the intervention, 20.25% of participants accessed the system 0 times; 29.11%, 1–3 times; and 50.63%, >3 times over the course of a year. At the end of the year, almost all (96.4%) indicated they had either acted on recommendations made by the agent or planned to. Most (75.0%) said they would recommend the system to someone they knew. There were no significant differences between the two age groups on intervention use or satisfaction. Conclusions Web-based conversational agents are a viable medium for delivering longitudinal preconception care counseling to adolescents and young adults.
Parallel Write-Efficient Algorithms and Data Structures for Computational Geometry

In this paper, we design parallel write-efficient geometric algorithms that perform asymptotically fewer writes than standard algorithms for the same problem. This is motivated by emerging non-volatile memory technologies with read performance being close to that of random access memory but writes being significantly more expensive in terms of energy and latency. We design algorithms for planar Delaunay triangulation, k -d trees, and static and dynamic augmented trees. Our algorithms are designed in the recently introduced Asymmetric Nested-Parallel Model, which captures the parallel setting in which there is a small symmetric memory where reads and writes are unit cost as well as a large asymmetric memory where writes are $omega$ times more expensive than reads. In designing these algorithms, we introduce several techniques for obtaining write-efficiency, including DAG tracing, prefix doubling, and α-labeling, which we believe will be useful for designing other parallel write-efficient algorithms.
Mechanical stiffness augments ligand-dependent progesterone receptor B activation via MEK 1/2 and Rho/ROCK-dependent signaling pathways in uterine fibroid cells.

Objective To test whether mechanical substrate stiffness would influence progesterone receptor B (PRB) signaling in fibroid cells. Uterine fibroids feature an excessive extracellular matrix, increased stiffness, and altered mechanical signaling. Fibroid growth is stimulated by progestins and opposed by anti-progestins, but a functional interaction between progesterone action and mechanical signaling has not been evaluated. Design Laboratory studies. Setting Translational science laboratory. Patient(s)/Animal(s) Human fibroid cell lines and patient-matched fibroid and myometrial cell lines. Intervention(s) Progesterone receptor B–dependent reporter assays and messenger RNA quantitation in cells cultured on stiff polystyrene plates (3GPa) or soft silicone plates (930KPa). Pharmacologic inhibitors of extracellular signal-related protein kinase (ERK) kinase 1/2 (MEK 1/2; PD98059), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (SB202190), receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs; nintedanib), RhoA (A13), and Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK; Y27632). Main Outcome Measure(s) Progesterone-responsive reporter activation. Result(s) Fibroid cells exhibited higher PRB-dependent reporter activity with progesterone (P4) in cells cultured on stiff vs. soft plates. Mechanically induced PRB activation with P4 was decreased 62% by PD98059, 78% by nintedanib, 38% by A13, and 50% by Y27632. Overexpression of the Rho-guanine nucleotide exchange factor (Rho-GEF), AKAP13, significantly increased PRB-dependent reporter activity. Collagen 1 messenger RNA levels were higher in fibroid cells grown on stiff vs. soft plates with P4. Conclusion(s) Cells cultured on mechanically stiff substrates had enhanced PRB activation via a mechanism that required MEK 1/2 and AKAP13/RhoA/ROCK signaling pathways. These studies provide a framework to explore the mechanisms by which mechanical stiffness affects progesterone receptor activation.
Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) gene expression in primary breast cancer.

The interaction of the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells downregulates anti-tumor immunity. This study evaluated associations between PD-1 and PD-L1 expression in primary breast cancer, clinical characteristics, and patient outcomes. Microarray data from the Investigation of Serial Studies to predict your therapeutic response with imaging and molecular analysis (I-SPY 1) study (n = 149) was used to evaluate PD-1 and PD-L1 expression. Associations with clinical features and chemotherapy response were determined using Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon rank sum tests, respectively. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) associations were determined with the Cox proportional hazard model. Associations of PD-1 and PD-L1 and selected genes associated with breast cancer, as well as a predictor of olaparib response (PARPi-7), were determined in I-SPY 1 and 2 other datasets: METABRIC (n = 1992) and TCGA (n = 817), using Pearson correlations. In I-SPY 1, PD-1 expression was higher in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and HER2 + breast cancer (p = 0.003), and grade 2/3 tumors (p = 0.043), and was associated with pathologic complete response (p = 0.006). PD-L1 expression in the lowest quintile was associated with worse RFS, even after subtype adjustment (HR 2.33, p = 0.01). PD-1 and PD-L1 gene expression correlated with the expression of immune-related genes and PARPi-7. PD-1 expression is higher in breast cancers with aggressive features such as TNBC. Low PD-L1 expression may be an adverse prognostic factor. PD-1 and PD-L1 gene expression correlates with the expression of immune-related and DNA damage repair genes.
The Corpse: Time for Another Look A Review of the Culture of Embalming, Viewing and the Social Construction:

Embalming of the dead is more common in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Battles far from home during the Civil War with concern for contagion from dead bodies being shipped home ...
Experimental evaluation of cone index gradient as a metric for the prediction of wheel performance in reduced gravity

Abstract Traversing granular regolith in reduced gravity remains a challenge for wheeled rovers. Earth-based testing cannot fully predict rover mobility as it precludes gravity’s effects on the soil. The simulant GRC-1 was designed to account for this by matching cone penetrometer readings from Apollo; the assumption is that replicating the cone penetrometer response of lunar soil will also replicate its response to vehicle loading. Cone penetrations were performed in GRC-1 at three densities in 1-g and 1/6-g aboard parabolic flights producing effective lunar-g. A fourfold decrease in cone index gradient (G) was seen in 1/6-g, indicating significantly reduced shear strength. Wheel experiments in GRC-1 in 1/6-g at one density and two slip values were compared to 1-g experiments at a lower density producing the same G value. In 1-g, drawbar pull was 44% higher and sinkage was 13.5% lower, indicating that the assumption made during the creation of GRC-1 was not quite correct, and that caution should be exercised when interpreting results obtained with this simulant. At the loosest possible density in 1-g, drawbar pull was still 24% higher than in lunar-g; sinkage was 76% higher. Future experiments utilizing a stronger simulant in lunar-g are outlined to elaborate upon these findings.
PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF MONO-PULSE BRAKING HAPTIC DISPLAYS FOR REAR-END COLLISION WARNING

This paper summarizes two studies of mono-pulse braking for rear-end collision avoidance applications. The first study was a single-vehicle parameter-setting study without a lead vehicle that produced recommended pulse braking display duration and jerk rate. However, results also indicated that pulse braking display magnitude influenced the magnitude of driver braking behavior. A second study examined the impact of this driver interface concept both when a lead vehicle was braking to a stop and when the display came on even though the lead vehicle was not slowing down. The results indicated that in the first case drivers modulated their response according to the constraints of the situation rather than the magnitude of the haptic display. On approximately one-third of false positive trials, brief and mild inappropriate braking responses were recorded.
A Noise-Robust System for NIST 2012 Speaker Recognition Evaluation

Abstract : The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 2012 speaker recognition evaluation posed several new challenges including noisy data, varying test-sample length and number of enrollment samples, and a new metric. Target speakers were known during system development and could be used for model training and score normalization. For the evaluation, SRI International (SRI) submitted a system consisting of six subsystems that use different low- and high-level features, some specifically designed for noise robustness, fused at the score and iVector levels. This paper presents SRI s submission along with a careful analysis of the approaches that provided gains for this challenging evaluation including a multiclass voice-activity detection system, the use of noisy data in system training, and the fusion of subsystems using acoustic characterization metadata.
One Step at a Time: The Effects of an Early Literacy Text Messaging Program for Parents of Preschoolers

Large systematic differences in young children's home learning experiences have long-term economic consequences. Many parenting programs place significant demands on parents' time and inundate parents with information. This study evaluates the effects of READY4K!, an eight-month-long text-messaging intervention for parents of preschoolers that targets the behavioral barriers to engaged parenting. We find that READY4K! increased parental involvement at home and school by 0.15 to 0.29 standard deviations, leading to child gains in early literacy of about 0.11 standard deviations. The results point to the salience of behavioral barriers to parenting and the potential for low-cost interventions to reduce these barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Balancing Integration Obligations and Welfare Rights: An Examination of Membership Policy in Three European Countries

Immigration has had an incomparable impact across policy planes in European nation-states, of which immigrant integration and social policy stand out. While a burgeoning literature has explored the widespread “civic turn,” most-different states have adopted mandatory language and country knowledge requirements as a way to regulate access to legal status, less attention has been focused on comparable shifts in social policy. This paper examines the overlaps of and changes to civic integration and social policy as part of a critical rethinking of membership policies in the contemporary welfare state. We argue and find evidence to show that change in civic integration and social policy is not merely contemporaneous but interrelated. Moreover, while Western European states experience similar trends of integration promotion and benefit narrowing, they pursue policy design as part of different membership goals. An examination of policy developments in Britain, Germany, and Spain maps unique changes in civic integration policy alongside benefit access. We account for variation in membership policy by highlighting three interrelated factors: citizenship policy legacies, welfare state model, and the dynamics of party competition.
A Convenient Thermal Performance Evaluating Method for Unitary AC (DX) Units

Abstract For most light commercial buildings and residential houses, the thermal energy system is usually a unitary air system and only rated as standard-satisfied during the initial installation and commission phase, regardless of the performance during the whole life cycle. Further, the thermal energy system is normally equipped with low initial cost and simple controller, usually one thermostat, which results in the poor maintenance since no specific diagnostic sensors were installed. The maintenance is required only when the system capacity is degraded and no longer satisfied, which already results in large amount of energy wasting. Existing evaluation methods for building thermal energy system have two major limitations. Firstly, they mainly work for those with advanced building automation system (BAS) control, which is extremely costly and usually adopted for large commercial building. Secondly, advanced specific knowledge is required, which is relatively complicated for average residents. This study developed a convenient method for the thermal performance evaluation of these DX or Unitary AC units: provide one simple and convenient method to quantify the thermal performance and continuously monitor thermal performance during the whole life-cycle period; present a building thermal performance rating procedure; implement the proposed method through either field data or standard compliant as-built simulation.
New EPEAT® standards for computer servers: A review of new green procurement criteria for servers

This paper reviews newly proposed product standards for Computer Servers in the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT®) program. A brief overview of the program in place for other information technology products is presented and followed with a status and details on the standard writing for the new product group — Computer Servers. Two standards organizations are each writing their own unique standard for Computer Servers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). The proposed criteria and status of each draft standard, as available at the time of writing, will be presented and reviewed.
On noise-tolerant learning of sparse parities and related problems

We consider the problem of learning sparse parities in the presence of noise. For learning parities on r out of n variables, we give an algorithm that runs in time poly (log 1/δ, 1/1-2η)n(1+(2η)2+o(1))r/2 and uses only r log(n/δ)ω(1)/(1-2η)2 samples in the random noise setting under the uniform distribution, where η is the noise rate and δ is the confidence parameter. From previously known results this algorithm also works for adversarial noise and generalizes to arbitrary distributions. Even though efficient algorithms for learning sparse parities in the presence of noise would have major implications to learning other hypothesis classes, our work is the first to give a bound better than the brute-force O(nr). As a consequence, we obtain the first nontrivial bound for learning r-juntas in the presence of noise, and also a small improvement in the complexity of learning DNF, under the uniform distribution.
Efficient Generation of Cardiac Purkinje Cells from ESCs by Activating cAMP Signaling

Dysfunction of the specialized cardiac conduction system (CCS) is associated with life-threatening arrhythmias. Strategies to derive CCS cells, including rare Purkinje cells (PCs), would facilitate models for mechanistic studies and drug discovery and also provide new cellular materials for regenerative therapies. A high-throughput chemical screen using CCS:lacz and Contactin2:egfp (Cntn2:egfp) reporter embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines was used to discover a small molecule, sodium nitroprusside (SN), that efficiently promotes the generation of cardiac cells that express gene profiles and generate action potentials of PC-like cells. Imaging and mechanistic studies suggest that SN promotes the generation of PCs from cardiac progenitors initially expressing cardiac myosin heavy chain and that it does so by activating cyclic AMP signaling. These findings provide a strategy to derive scalable PCs, along with insight into the ontogeny of CCS development.
Thermionic and Surface Properties of Tungsten Crystals

A plateau-like surface structure was found on single crystals grown in tungsten wire. Plateaus were observed on the surface normal to the (110), (112), and (001) directions. A "shingle" structure was observed superimposed upon the plateaus. A wire subjected to only mild heat treatment showed both types of structure, indicating that evaporation cannot be the only mechanism involved. All wires were heated by ac exclusively to avoid the "dc etch."New values of the thermionic constants for different crystal directions were measured on a crystal having a minimum of shingling. Measurements were made in the tube previously used by Nichols, modified to eliminate an anomalous effect. The modification did not appreciably alter the emission constants for the (111), (112), (116), and (001) directions, which constants are in reasonable agreement with Nichols' values. A second anomalous effect contributed to currents measured in the low emission (110) direction, rendering normally obtained (110) values erroneous (including those of Nichols). Although the true (110) constants could not be obtained, an upper limit for the emission is characterized by ${\ensuremath{\phi}}^{**}=4.72$, ${A}^{**}=9.7$ and two estimates of about 5.3 v are deduced for ${\ensuremath{\phi}}^{**}$. There was no evidence in general for patchiness of the single crystal surfaces investigated; however, the usual tests cannot conclusively deny the existence of patchiness.
Inpatient CT and MRI Utilization: Trends in the Academic Hospital Setting

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine trends in the utilization of inpatient CT and MRI at academic medical centers. Methods Surveys requesting inpatient CT volumes, inpatient MRI volumes, discharges excluding newborns, and case-adjusted mix index from 2002 to 2007 were e-mailed to all 123 members of the Society of Chairmen of Academic Radiology Departments. CT and MRI studies per discharge were adjusted using the case mix index (CMI) provided by each hospital to adjust for the differences in patient mix at participating institutions. Trends in adjusted inpatient imaging utilization were compared over time and across responding institutions. Results Twenty-two of 123 chairs (17.9%) of academic radiology departments, representing all geographic regions and a wide variability in National Institutes of Health research funding ranking, provided responses to our survey. Between 2002 and 2007, there was an increase in median CMI-adjusted CT studies per discharge of 28.0% and an increase in median CMI-adjusted MRI studies per discharge of 19.8%. The largest annual percentage increase in CT utilization (20.2%) occurred from 2003 to 2004, and there was negative growth between 2006 and 2007 of −3.74%. The largest annual percentage increase in MRI utilization (13.9%) occurred from 2006 to 2007, with 3 years of negative growth from 2002 to 2003, 2004 to 2005, and 2005 to 2006. In 2007, there was a wide range in CMI-adjusted CT studies per discharge between institutions from 0.16 to 0.75, with a mean of 0.40 ± 0.18, with a corresponding wide range in CMI-adjusted MRI studies per discharge of 0.04 to 0.16, with a mean of 0.09 ± 0.03. Conclusion There has been large growth in inpatient CT and MRI utilization at academic medical centers. This growth is variable over time and between institutions. Practice leaders can use this information to compare themselves with their peers and to monitor the impact of programmatic improvements on inpatient imaging utilization and in discussions with health system leaders who would like to improve system profitability by decreasing costly inpatient imaging procedures.
Reappraisal of Oklahomaichnus, a supposed amphibian trackway from the Pennsylvanian of Oklahoma, USA

Oklahomaichnus millsii Sarjeant, from the Pennsylvanian (Missourian) Nellie Bly Formation of Oklahoma, is not the trackway of a lepospondyl amphibian, as originally proposed. Instead, it is the undertrack of an arthropod.
The Role of Response Efficiency in the Reduction of Problem Behaviors through Functional Equivalence Training: A Case Study:

This study describes the results of a functional analysis of aggressive behaviors with a 14-year-old boy with moderate mental retardation. An initial analysis showed that aggression occurred during instruction on difficult tasks, but was less likely to occur when extra teacher assistance was provided. We interpreted the initial analysis as indicating that aggression and teacher assistance both served the function of escaping from difficult tasks (either by avoiding the task altogether, or by making it easier to perform). We subsequently taught the student and compared the effects of two response alternatives for requesting assistance: a high effort/low efficiency response of typing “help please” on an electronic communication device, and a low effort/high efficiency response of pressing a single key that produced the same message. Use of the low efficiency response did not result in a durable reduction of aggression. The high efficiency response, once trained, occurred frequently, and was associated with ...
Determination of the antimitotic agents N-desacetylcolchicine, demecolcine and colchicine in serum and urine.

In an effort to characterize the pharmacokinetic behavior of the antimitotic agent N-desacetylcolchicine a selective, sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of N-desacetylcolchicine, demecolcine and colchicine in serum or urine. To 0.5 ml of serum or 0.1 ml of urine diluted to 0.5 ml were added 50 μl demecolcine (2 μg/ml) which serves as the internal standard. The sample was extracted using a C2 reversed-phase solid extraction column. N-Desacetyl-colchicine, colchicine and the internal standard were eluted from the column with methanol. The combined eluates were evaporated to dryness and the residue was reconstituted with water. The reconstituted sample was injected into a C18 reversed-phase column and eluted using a mobile phase consisting of 0.1 M potassium dihydrogenphosphate, 5 mM 1-pentanesulfonic acid in methanol and acetonitrile with a final pH of 6.0, at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min. N-Desacetylcolchicine, colchicine and the internal standard were detected using a variable-wavelength ultraviolet detector at 254 nm. The limit of detection was 0.4 ng/ml for desacetylcolchicine and 4.0 ng/ml for colchicine. The method is linear over a concentration range of 1.0–200 ng/ml. The method has been shown to be a rapid, reliable method to monitor N-desacetylcolchicine levels in clinical trials in cancer patients.
A 14N NMR study of tetraalkylammonium compounds in the solid state

Abstract The 14N NMR powder patterns of various quaternary ammonium salts have been measured over the temperature region 155 to 273°K. Some of the spectra are dominated by motion, while others appear to arise from a rigid lattice; from the latter, values of the quadrupole coupling constant (e2gQ) and the asymmetry parameter η are determined. The quadrupole coupling constants fall in the range commonly observed for deuterium, while the asymmetry parameters take on virtually all possible values from 0 to 1. For some compounds the parameters appear to derive completely from lattice (crystalline field) effects, while for others there is probably a combination of lattice and intramolecular effects.
Childhood Epilepsy With Occipital Paroxysms: Difficulties in Distinct Segregation Into Either the Early-Onset or Late-Onset Epilepsy Subtypes

The Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy Childhood rigidly segregated epilepsy with occipital paroxysms into 2 separate syndromes with different predominant seizure types: early-onset seizure susceptibility type consisting of prolonged infrequent, nocturnal autonomic seizures and accompanied by eye deviation and ictal vomiting and late onset with short diurnal frequent seizures and visual ictal manifestations along with throbbing headaches. Epileptic clinical manifestations and electroencephalographic data were analyzed in 28 patients with suspected occipital lobe epilepsy in an attempt to segregate them into either the early or late forms according to the International League Against Epilepsy classification. Electroencephalography in 25 children demonstrated occipital epileptiform paroxysms compatible with the suspected epileptic syndrome. Only 14 (50%) children complied with the rigid criteria of either early-onset or late-onset presentations. The other 14 (50%) children presented with mixed diverse epileptic phenomena such as short-lived seizures in infancy or prolonged seizures during childhood, not complying with either rigid syndrome (ie, short-lived epileptic blindness at an early age or vomiting during later childhood). Despite present attempts to rigidly segregate childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms into 2 distinct epileptic syndromes, a high percentage of children still present with various mixed clinical phenomena. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of possible unique and unusual presentations of occipital lobe epilepsy at various ages.
Stability of Higher Dimensional Einstein {Yang-Mills} Theories on Symmetric Spaces

Abstract We study (4 + d)-dimensional Einstein-Yang-Mills theories with arbitrary gauge groups, GYM. The theory is compactified on a d-dimensional symmetric coset space G H with a symmetric, topologically non-trivial classical gauge field, embedded in an H-subgroup of the Yang-Mills group. These theories are known to be classically stabilized by gravity if GYM = H, G H is a sphere and d ≠ 3. We study classical instabilities caused by embedding H in a larger gauge group. The small fluctuation spectrum is completely calculable, and leads to a stability condition. For two-dimensional spheres this condition is precisely the Brandt-Neri stability condition for non-abelian monopole fields. For four-spheres we find stability for SU(2) instantons embedded in arbitrary gauge groups and we reproduce the fluctuation spectrum around instantons. For higher-dimensional spheres the stable solutions of this type are completely classified, and occur only for d = 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 16. The results show a remarkable agreement with expected topological stability. We also give a few examples with other symmetric spaces, such as CPn, where the stability criterion appears less restrictive.
Coping with the 1996 Tornado in Tangail, Bangladesh: An Analysis of Field Data

On May 13, 1996, a disastrous tornado hit the Tangail district of Bangladesh, killing more than 700 people and causing extensive damage to homes, crops, and livestock. This paper explores and analyzes how tornado victims adjusted to this destruction. Data collected from two study sites show that victims received emergency assistance from people both in neighboring areas and from more distant areas, as well as from government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). At both sites, NGOs played the leading role in minimizing the hardships of victims through extraordinary disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts. Because of the extensive support received, the tornado victims were able to return to their “normal” lives very quickly. This study concludes with several recommendations to help cope with future tornado disasters.
Housing Demand in a Transitional Market: Moscow

This report uses data collected for Moscow several years after the legalization of market-based housing transfers to test for evidence of market behavior. A 1994 survey of Moscow households was used to compare characteristics of two groups of families: those that have privatized their units or engaged in housing market transfers and those families that have maintained state ownership of their residences. Next, recent movers who obtained their new units through market purchases and exchanges were studied to estimate a conventional housing demand function. The use of per-capita living space as a proxy for market value is also evaluated.
Dual‐band/dual‐polarized microstrip patch antenna for dual‐band heterodyne retrodirective array

This article presents a dual-band/dual-polarized microstrip patch antenna.For a dual-band retrodirective array system, the dual-band/dual-polarized microstrip patch antenna operating at 11 and 12.2 GHz is designed and tested. The antenna consists of one rectangular microstrip patch and a square ring outside of the patch. Two different feeding locations are used for vertical and horizontal polarizations. The vertical polarization is used for a receiving mode and the horizontal polarization for a transmitting mode. The antenna shows a measured gain of 5.2 and 6.8 dBi at 10.9 and 12.2 GHz. The isolation between the two feeding ports is measured to be greater than 15 dB at each center frequency. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:2781–2784, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.27217
Enhancing hydropower modeling in variable generation integration studies

The integration of large amounts of variable renewable generation can increase the demand on flexible resources in the power system. Conventional hydropower can be an important asset for managing variability and uncertainty in the power system, but multi-purpose reservoirs are often limited by non-power constraints. Previous large-scale variable generation integration studies have simulated the operation of the electric system under different penetration levels but often with simplified representations of hydropower to avoid complex non-power constraints. This paper illustrates the value of bridging the gap between power system models and detailed hydropower models with a demonstration case. The United States Western Interconnection is modeled with PLEXOS, and ten large reservoirs on the Columbia River are modeled with RiverWare. The results show the effect of detailed hydropower modeling on the power system and its benefits to the power system, such as the decrease in overall production cost and the reduction of variable generation curtailment.
T4 phage and T4 ghosts inhibit f2 phage replication by different mechanisms.

Abstract Both T4 phage and DNA-free ghosts inhibit replication of RNA phage f2. Most but not all of the effects by T4 upon f2 growth can be blocked by the addition of rifampicin prior to T4 superinfection; by contrast, the inhibition of f2 synthesis by T4 ghosts cannot be blocked by rifampicin. This indicates that inhibition by intact T4 requires gene function, while inhibition by ghosts does not. There is a small, multiplicity-dependent inhibition by viable T4 on f2 growth in the presence of rifampicin which may be similar to the gene function-independent inhibition by T4 ghosts. With one viable T4 per cell, there appears to be no effect by viable T4 upon f2 growth which does not require T4 gene action. Moreover, increasing multiplicities of viable T4 appear to inhibit T4 replication as well. In the absence of rifampicin, pre-existing f2 single and double-stranded RNA are degraded after superinfection by viable T4, but remain stable after superinfection by ghosts. However, no new f2 RNA is synthesized after superinfection with either. In the presence of rifampicin, f2-specific protein synthesis is largely unaffected by viable T4, but is completely inhibited by ghosts. Both Escherichia coli , as well as f2-speciflc polysomes disappear in the presence of ghosts. We conclude that, at low multiplicities, T4 phage and T4 ghosts inhibit replication of f2 phage, and presumably host syntheses, by different mechanisms.
The effect of agonist concentration, membrane voltage and calcium on n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor desensitization

The effects of agonist concentration, transmembrane voltage and calcium on the glycine-independent desensitization of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors were examined in voltage-clamped postnatal rat hippocampal neurons. In the presence of 1 micron glycine and 1 mM calcium, both the time-course and degree of N-methyl-D-aspartate desensitization were dependent on agonist concentration. Transmembrane voltage influenced both the rate and degree of desensitization with a more rapid rate and greater degree at negative holding potentials. Both the time-course and the degree of desensitization were influenced by extracellular calcium in a dose-dependent manner. N-Methyl-D-aspartate desensitization is not augmented by activation of voltage-gated calcium currents and is more pronounced in the presence of intracellular calcium chelators, suggesting that the site of action of calcium in promoting desensitization is extracellular. Although a physiological role for N-methyl-D-aspartate desensitization has not been demonstrated, the process is observed over a range of agonist concentrations, is prominent near resting membrane potential and is regulated by physiologic concentrations of calcium. Thus desensitization could be an important neuroprotective mechanism during periods of prolonged glutamate exposure.
CRT-611 Poor Outcome in Patients Requiring Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Reinsertion in Cardiogenic Shock

Intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) is the most frequently utilized form of temporary mechanical support in cardiogenic shock. Withdrawal of IABP support occasionally precipitates hemodynamic compromise or collapse such that IABP reinsertion is considered or performed. The outcome of patients
Medical information on the Internet : A study of an electronic bulletin board

Objective To assess medical information provided in a medically oriented Internet discussion group, in terms of the professional status of the individuals providing information, the consistency of the information with standard medical practice, and the nature of the evidence cited in support of specific claims or recommendations.
Effect of hydrogen exchange on diffusion and evolution in hydrogenated amorphous silicon

Abstract Evidence is presented showing that the H emission rate during exposure to an external atomic D source has the same activation energy (0.6–0.8 eV) as diffusion under the same circumstances, a result similar to the layer diffusion case. This result as well as H exchange with the sample during deuteration and the results indicating a narrow H emission distribution can be explained in terms of an exchange mechanism whereby a mobile D exchanges places with a bound H with no significant barrier. We also show through analysis of H evolution curves that the H chemical potential is pinned as H is lost from the sample, a result consistent with the negative U model for H bonding and H clustering.
Gateways to Discovery: Cyberinfrastructure for the Long Tail of Science

NSF-funded computing centers have primarily focused on delivering high-performance computing resources to academic researchers with the most computationally demanding applications. But now that computational science is so pervasive, there is a need for infrastructure that can serve more researchers and disciplines than just those at the peak of the HPC pyramid. Here we describe SDSC's Comet system, which is scheduled for production in January 2015 and was designed to address the needs of a much larger and more expansive science community-- the "long tail of science". Comet will have a peak performance of 2 petaflop/s, mostly delivered using Intel's next generation Xeon processor. It will include some large-memory and GPU-accelerated nodes, node-local flash memory, 7 PB of Performance Storage, and 6 PB of Durable Storage. These features, together with the availability of high performance virtualization, will enable users to run complex, heterogeneous workloads on a single integrated resource.
A neural model for perceptual organization of 3D surfaces

Perceptual organization is the process by which the visual scene is structured into coherent units suitable for further processing and selection. Having been primarily studied in 2D, here we present a neural model for perceptual organization of 3D surfaces. We demonstrate that our model is able to reproduce several key psychophysical results, including the spread of visual attention across 3D surfaces.
Solvolysis of p-nitrophenyl esters catalyzed by oligo-4(5)-vinylimidazoles

Abstract The preparation of low molecular weight poly-4(5)-vinylimidazole is described. Oligomer fractions with molecular weight ranges from a few hundred to two thousand, five hundred were obtained by fractionation through a Sephadex LH-20 column. The apparent dissociation constant of the imidazolium ion in oligo-4(5)-vinylimidazole decreases rapidly as the average molecular weight increases from 390 to 626. At an average molecular weight greater than 626, the apparent dissociation-constant value plateaus. The imidazole group in oligo-4(5)-vinylimidazole with ca. 5 imidazole units per oligomer molecule shows 71% of the solvolytic rate of the imidazole groups which are located in the oligomer with an average molecular weight of 2460 during the solvolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate. The results indicate that short-range imidazole groups are interacting with each other to catalyze the solvolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate. Solvolysis of p-nitrophenyl heptanoate catalyzed by oligomer fractions in 21% ( v v ) n-propanol-water solutions indicates that the solvolysis rate of p-nitrophenyl heptanoate increases with an increase of oligomer's molecular weight.
Improving measurement of injection drug risk behavior using item response theory.

AbstractBackground: Recent research highlights the multiple steps to preparing and injecting drugs and the resultant viral threats faced by drug users. This research suggests that more sensitive measurement of injection drug HIV risk behavior is required. In addition, growing evidence suggests there are gender differences in injection risk behavior. However, the potential for differential item functioning between genders has not been explored. Objectives: To explore item response theory as an improved measurement modeling technique that provides empirically justified scaling of injection risk behavior and to examine for potential gender-based differential item functioning. Methods: Data is used from three studies in the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies. A two-parameter item response theory model was used to scale injection risk behavior and logistic regression was used to examine for differential item functioning. Results: Item fit statistics suggest that it...
Relationship between demographic variables, nonformal education, and the infection control practitioner's knowledge of surveillance

Abstract Since methods used for surveillance have not been standardized, infection control practitioners choose a method based on peer-teaching, on-the-job training, or nonformal education programs. However, results of a previous study showed that 63% of ICPs were unsatisfied with their method of surveillance but did not know how to proceed with an alternative method. The purpose of this descriptive developmental study was to investigate the relationship between surveillance knowledge and the demographic profiles of ICPs and evaluate how this knowledge was affected by a nonformal education process (seminar). Results showed that the surveillance knowledge of ICPs was significantly (p
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Lesions of the Spine and Paraspinal Regions

Purpose To describe our experience and clinical strategy for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) of spinal lesions. Methods and Materials Thirty-two patients with 33 spinal lesions underwent computed tomography–based simulation while free breathing. Gross/clinical target volumes included involved portions of the vertebral body and paravertebral/epidural tumor. Planning target volume (PTV) expansion was 6 mm axially and 3 mm radially; the cord was excluded from the PTV. Biologic equivalent dose was calculated using the linear quadratic model with α/β = 3 Gy. Treatment was linear accelerator based with on-board imaging; dose was adjusted to maintain cord dose within tolerance. Survival, local control, pain, and neurologic status were monitored. Results Twenty-one patients are alive at 1 year (median survival, 14 months). Median follow-up is 6 months for all patients (7 months for survivors). Mean previous radiotherapy dose to 22 patients was 35 Gy, and median interval was 17 months. Renal (31%), breast, and lung (19% each) were the most common histologic sites. Three SBRT fractions (range, one to four fractions) of 7 Gy (range, 5–16 Gy) were delivered. Median cord and target biologic equivalent doses were 70 Gy 3 and 34.3 Gy 10 , respectively. Thirteen patients reported complete and 17 patients reported partial pain relief at 1 month. There were four failures (mean, 5.8 months) with magnetic resonance imaging evidence of in-field progression. No dosimetric parameters predictive of failure were identified. No treatment-related toxicity was seen. Conclusions Spinal SBRT is effective in the palliative/re-treatment setting. Volume expansion must ensure optimal PTV coverage while avoiding spinal cord toxicity. The long-term safety of spinal SBRT and the applicability of the linear-quadratic model in this setting remain to be determined, particularly the time-adjusted impact of prior radiotherapy.
Tick paralysis in children

Summary 1. Two cases of tick paralysis occurring in children from Kentucky are reported. 2. The flaccid paralysis that was produced in both patients disappearedrapidly after removal of the ticks. 3. In Case 1 the tick was identified as Dermacentor variabilis Say and its eggs were injected into a mouse producing its death. 4. In Case 2 the tick was not identified.
Isoprenoids: Remarkable diversity of form and function

The isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway is the source of a wide array of products. The pathway has been highly conserved throughout evolution, and isoprenoids are some of the most ancient biomolecules ever identified, playing key roles in many life forms. In this review we focus on C-10 mono-, C-15 sesqui-, and C-20 diterpenes. Evidence for interconversion between the pathway intermediates farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranly pyrophosphate and their respective metabolites is examined. The diverse functions of these molecules are discussed in detail, including their ability to regulate expression of the β-HMG-CoA reductase and Ras-related proteins. Additional topics include the mechanisms underlying the apoptotic effects of select isoprenoids, antiulcer activities, and the disposition and degradation of isoprenoids in the environment. Finally, the significance of pharmacological manipulation of the isoprenoid pathway and clinical correlations are discussed.
Comparative analysis of Type-1 and Type-2 fuzzy control in context of learning behaviors for mobile robotics

Dynamic uncertainties, manifested as input noise or variable environment conditions, are an inherent part of most real world control applications. Recently, several researchers demonstrated that Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Controllers (T2 FLC) are able to cope with such uncertainty and reduce its negative effects. However, the design and optimization of T2 FLC and its subsequent unbiased comparison to T1 FLC are still an open question. This paper presents a comparative analysis of interval T2 (IT2) and T1 FLCs in the context of learning behaviors for mobile robotics. First, a T1 FLC is optimized using the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm to mimic a wall-following behavior performed by an operator. Next, an IT2 FLC is constructed by symmetrically blurring the fuzzy sets of the original T1 FLC. The performance of the fuzzy controllers is compared using a wall-following sonar-equipped mobile robot in both noise-free and noisy environments. It is experimentally demonstrated that the IT2 FLC can cope better with dynamic uncertainties in the sensory inputs due to the softening and smoothing of the output control surface by the IT2 fuzzy sets. However, the IT2 FLC is outperformed by the T1 FLC when sudden and fast response of the controller is required, such as in the case of turning around corners. Those results suggest the difficulties of symmetrical blurring of T1 FLC (although commonly used) as a design methodology for obtaining the architecture of an IT2 FLC.
Abstract 3179: Redox signaling to nuclear respiratory factor-1 proteins by reactive oxygen species contributes to the estrogen-induced breast tumor development

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA We have investigated the molecular mechanisms by which reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated redox signaling regulates estrogen-dependent growth of breast tumorigenesis and prospects for targeting these signaling pathways for therapeutic prevention and control of tumor growth. We present here for the first time that ROS generated by E2 exposure were responsible for in vitro MCF-7 cell tumor formation. This is evident from the inhibition of E2-induced ROS formation by ROS scavengers. H2O2 and O2•− seem to play important role in estrogen-mediated tumor growth redox signaling by inactivation of PTPs, such as, CDC25A, PTEN to prolong signaling through kinases, such as ERK and AKT. We observed a novel link between ROS-generated by estrogen, redox regulation of ERK and AKT-mediated signaling to nuclear regulatory protein, nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) and ERα responsive gene expression in breast cancer cells and their involvement in the growth of estrogen-dependent breast tumor. NRF-1 serves as a nucleating factor to recruit signaling proteins involved in regulating estrogen-responsive cell cycle genes, and oxidative stress regulatable proteins. Findings of this study not only identify the new redox signaling pathway critical to the estrogen-dependent growth of breast tumors; but also provides important information for the design of redox signaling based therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Citation Format: Deodutta Roy, Quentin Felty, Victor Okoh. Redox signaling to nuclear respiratory factor-1 proteins by reactive oxygen species contributes to the estrogen-induced breast tumor development. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3179. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3179
Deriving SCC Initiation Times and Growth Rates from Posttest Fractrographic Analysis

Abstract This exploratory effort demonstrates the feasibility of determining crack initiation times and growth rates by posttest analysis of the fracture surfaces of stress corrosion cracking (SCC)...
Partially Hydrolyzed Alkoxysilanes as Precursors for Silica Aerogels

The classical sol-gel process for synthesizing SiO2 aerogels involves the hydrolysis/condensation of tetraethyoxysilane (TEOS) and/or teramethyoxysilane (TMOS) to produce a gel which can then be super-critically extracted to a low density, highly porous aerogel glass. Controlled hydrolysis of TEOS and TMOS leads to partially hydrolyzed compounds that can be subsequently water processed to form silica aerogels in the density range from .020 to .500 gms/cc. The partially hydrolyzed compounds are stable when sealed from moist air and can be stored for future use. We discuss the controlled conditions used to obtain these compounds and present data that characterize their structure. We detail the procedures for preparing the wide range of aerogel densities. We also report on their use as an adhesive.