cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling of dilute nitride cascaded quantum well solar cells for high efficiency photovoltaics

III-V Dilute Nitride multi-quantum well structures are currently promising candidates to achieve 1 sun efficiencies of <40% with multi-junction design (InGaP/ GaAs/ GaAsN/ Ge). Previously under the assumption of complete carrier collection from wells, we have shown that III-V Dilute Nitride GaAsN multi-quantum well (MQW) structures included in the intrinsic region of the third cell in a 4 junction configuration could yield 1 sun efficiencies greater than 40%. However for a conventional deep well design the characteristic carrier escape times could exceed that of radiative recombination hence limiting the current output of the cell, as has been indicated by prior experiments. In order to increase the current extraction here we evaluate the performance of a cascaded quantum well design whereby a thermally assisted resonant tunneling process is used to accelerate the carrier escape process (<30ps lifetime) and hence improve the photo generated carrier collection efficiency. The quantum efficiency of a p-i-n subcell where a periodic sequence of quantum wells with well and barrier thicknesses adjusted for the sequential extraction operation is calculated using a 2D drift diffusion model and taking into account absorption properties of resulting MQWs. The calculation also accounts for the E-field induced modifications of absorption properties and quantization in quantum wells. The results are then accounted for to calculate efficiencies for the proposed 4 junction design, and indicate potential for reaching efficiencies in excess of this structure is above 42% (1 sun) and above 50% (500 sun) AM1.5.
Decomposition of a visual scene into three-dimensional bodies

We consider visual scenes composed by the optical image of a group of bodies. When such a scene is "seen" by a computer through a film spot scanner, image dissector, or similar device, it can be treated as a two-dimensional array of numbers, or as a function of two variables.
The fertility of young adolescents

This paper is a demographic analysis of trends and patterns in fertility behavior of adolescents under age 16 in the United States. Trends in numbers and rates of births are presented with particular attention to parity, race, and marital status. The sexual and contraceptive behavior of these women is discussed along with abortion behavior.
Recompose: direct and gestural interaction with an actuated surface

We present Recompose, a new system for manipulation of an actuated surface. By collectively utilizing the body as a tool for direct manipulation alongside gestural input for functional manipulation, we show how a user is afforded unprecedented control over an actuated surface. Our invention consists of the actuated surface and the interaction technique utilizing free-hand and touch gestures to manipulate the 3D geometry of the pin array, thus changing the of shape of the virtual object.
Sleep Habit Among Elementary School Children in South Texas

SESSION TITLE: PediatricsSESSION TYPE: Slide PresentationsPRESENTED ON: Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 12:15 PM - 01:15 PMPURPOSE: Forming a healthy sleep habit is a significant challenge amongst developed society, and children are not immune to it either. We undertook this study to assess the prevalence of healthy sleep habits among Elementary school children in our community, and used a Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ). METHODS: After obtaining permission from the appropriate school district and committee, children in 4th and 5th grade in two Elementary schools were surveyed by using CSHQ (validated tool). CSHQ assessed the children besides baseline in the domain of bedtime resistance, sleep onset and duration, sleep anxiety, nighttime awakening, and daytime sleepiness. RESULTS: 264 students were surveyed. 55.56% of children had difficulty in sleeping. Only 29.1% of children go to bed at the same time and only 23.48% of children are ready to sleep at their usual bedtime. 41.2% of children stay up late when parents think they are asleep. Only 31% of children fall asleep within 20 minutes. Almost 50% of children had some sleep anxiety. More than 50% of children wake up at night and have trouble falling asleep after waking up. Surprisingly 53% of children complain of waking up due to some type of pain. Only 20.5% of children usually have trouble waking up in the morning, whereas 33% of children stated that they feel refreshed after a night's sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disturbance starts at an early age. Attempts on sleep education need to be made at every level. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Future studies to look at the sleep disturbances at an early age and design the education programs keeping in view of these disturbances may be helpful. DISCLOSURE: The following authors have nothing to disclose: Salim Surani, Amina Khimani, Sara Surani, Sreevidya Rao, Shyam SubramanianNo Product/Research Disclosure Information. Language: en
A theory of membrane permeability: I

As a first approximation, a membrane is considered as a potential barrier or potential well for the molecules which diffuse through it. Making some simple assumptions about the form of that potential barrier or well, the author sets up and integrates the differential equation for the diffusion of the molecules through the membrane under the influence of the potential field.
Design of a first metatarsophalangeal joint simulator.

Background: The use of total first metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) arthroplasty to treat patients in which the pain, due to a pathological joint, has not been relieved with a conservative method or for which the disease or disorder is at an advanced stage, is popular. Although meta-analysis of clinical results indicates that this surgical option is efficacious, there are problems with implant failure due to wear of the components. Although there is a plethora of designs of this type of implant in clinical use, there are no literature reports on total first MPJ simulators, which may be used to evaluate, for example, the wear rate of a total first MPJ implant. Methods: We designed such a simulator, guided by the biomechanics of the joint. Thus, for example, the implant under test will be articulated at least 40° dorsiflexion, under a 600 N loading, at 1 Hz. Furthermore, the testing stations will be configured to allow testing of any type of first MPJ implant. We also performed a finite element analysis (FEA...
A retrospective comparison of two definitive impression techniques and their associated postinsertion adjustments in complete denture prosthodontics.

Purpose To compare the number of postinsertion adjustment visits required by edentulous patients whose dentures were made from border-molded definitive impressions using modeling plastic impression compound (traditional technique) with patients whose dentures were made from border-molded definitive impressions using heavy-body vinyl polysiloxane impression material. Materials and methods In this retrospective clinical study, 78 patients were treated with the traditional technique (custom impression trays border molded with gray modeling plastic impression compound) and 78 were treated with the modified technique (custom impression trays border molded with heavy-body vinyl polysiloxane impression material). In both techniques, definitive wash impressions were made with light-body vinyl polysiloxane impression material. Postinsertion visits were quantified for 1 year after the dentures were inserted. Results The average number of adjustment visits for patients treated with the traditional technique was 2.68. The average number of adjustment visits for patients treated with the modified technique was 2.68. The data were compared using Student t tests. There was no significant difference in the number of adjustments required for patients whose dentures were made with either technique (t = 0.000, p = 1.00). There was no significant difference in the number of post-insertion visits required by patients from either population. Conclusions Within the limitations of this clinical study, border-molding custom denture impression trays with vinyl polysiloxane impression material provided similar results in terms of postinsertion visits for one year as compared to dentures made from impressions border molded with modeling plastic impression compound.
Clusters, knowledge spillovers and new venture performance: An empirical examination

Abstract Firms in geographic regions with industry clustering have been hypothesized to possess performance advantages due to superior access to knowledge spillovers. Yet, no prior studies have directly examined the relationship between a firm's location within a cluster, knowledge spillovers and firm performance. In this study, we examine whether technological spillovers explain the performance of new ventures in cluster regions. We find that ventures located within geographic clusters absorb more knowledge from the local environment and have higher growth and innovation performance, but contrary to conventional wisdom, technological spillovers are not the contributing cause of higher performance observed for these firms.
Salicylate reduces serum insulin concentrations in the rat.

Abstract Administration of sodium salicylate (50–500 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced serum insulin concentrations in nonfasted rats. This treatment also suppressed the rise in serum insulin that followed oral administration of glucose (by stomach tube) to fasted rats; this effect is only partly attributable to the blunted increase in serum glucose concentrations.
Numerical simulation of transient hypersonic flow using the essentially nonoscillatory schemes

Numerical simulation of transient hypersonic flows involving shock-wave-freestream-disturbance interactions is presented using the essentially nonoscillatory (ENO) schemes. The ENO schemes were chosen for transient-flow simulations because they have high-order accuracy at extrema as well as in other parts of smooth solutions. First, the accuracy of the ENO schemes was tested numerically by applying them to the computations of a one-dimensional linear model equation and to an oscillating plate problem using the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. Then, the third-order ENO scheme was used to compute the unsteady interaction of a freestream acoustic wave with a bow shock in hypersonic flow past a cylinder. The numerical results along the stagnation line were compared with linearized analytical solutions. The results show that the disturbance waves generated behind the bow shock are significantly amplified by the back-and-forth interactions and reflections of the acoustic waves. These results on the bow-shock-disturbance interactions will be useful in understanding the effects of the bow shock wave on the receptivity of hypersonic boundary layers to freestream disturbances.
A new technique for solving nonlinear differential equations encountered in modeling of neuroreceptor-binding ligands

For assessing neuroreceptor density with positron-emission tomography (PET), nonlinear differential equations consisting of products of the tracer concentrations are needed to describe the tracer kinetics of receptor-binding ligands. The authors have investigated an iterative solution technique for this type of nonlinear differential equation. The technique involves solving iteratively a sequence of linear differential equations that is related to the original nonlinear differential equation. The sequence of solution of these linear differential equations converges to the solution of the nonlinear differential equation. The technique is faster and more accurate than Runge-Kutta numerical integration technique. The solution technique can facilitate the investigation of the tracer kinetic characteristics of neuroreceptor-binding ligands and the estimation of neuroreceptor density from PET-collected kinetics of receptor-binding ligands. >
Modeling Socioeconomic Discontinuity in Southern Alta California

Abstract The archaeological record in prehistoric southern California exhibits discontinuous socioeconomic change. In the Santa Barbara region over the last 3500 years, archaeological assemblages exhibit high degrees of investment in subsistence technology that increases after the arrival of the bow and arrow at approximately cal A.D. 500, and again during a period of intensification after cal A.D. 1350. the increases in formality are consistent with expectations of an energy maximizing economy. In contrast, archaeological assemblages in the San Diego region over the last 3500 years are characterized by low tool formality; technological investment decreases after the bow arrives and after cal A.D. 1400 during intensification. The San Diego pattern is consistent with expectations of a time minimizing economy. However, several habitation sites appear in the San Diego region from cal A.D. 1400-1700 that have much higher assemblage formality and an apparent focus on high cost, high return resources, consist...
Interatomic potentials between noble gas and Ag atoms from axial surface channeling

Abstract He, Ne, and Ar atoms with energies from 3 keV to 60 keV are scattered from a Ag(1 1 1) surface under axial surface channeling conditions. From peaked structures in the angular distributions owing to “rainbow-scattering” we derive effective scattering potentials. We compare the observed rainbow angles with results from computer simulations using different types of established interatomic potentials and focus on a detailed discussion for potential energies larger than 10 eV. It turns out that an approximation proposed by O’Connor and Biersack using a Moliere potential with an adjustment of the screening length [D.J. O’Connor, J.P. Biersack, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B 15 (1986) 14) is in good agreement with the experimental data. In our simulations we investigate the sensitivity of the rainbow angles on a variation of the interatomic potential.
Economics of first-contact email advertising

Since the advent of the Internet, email has emerged as an important new form of personal communication. The focus of this research is on commercial advertising through the email channel. We analyze the underlying economics of a business model termed admediation that facilitates effective first-contact email advertising. Admediary is a trusted third party that facilitates a mutually desirable communication between buyers and sellers via email, and operates under the 'opt-in' mode widely supported by the consumer advocacy groups. Our analytical model examines the incentive structures for all participating entities, and derives pricing strategies, profit implications and characteristics of the email lists. We develop and model a form of price discrimination we term sequential elimination price discrimination that can be practiced via email. Our results indicate that the transactions facilitated by the admediary can create significant value whereby every participating entity realizes increased benefits. These findings underscore the potential of admediation to restore email as an effective communication media for online advertising.
Urethrocutaneous fistula due to a retained ring of condom

Hidden foreign bodies have been described as a rare cause of both strangulation of the glans penis and urethrocutaneous fistula. We present the case of a 30-year-old man who developed a urethrocutaneous fistula and penile shaft necrosis after a condom broke during intercourse. Neither the patient nor several physicians could identify the retained ring of condom, which had been buried under newly epithelialized skin. He underwent removal of the foreign body under general anesthesia, followed 5 months later by a formal urethrocutaneous fistula repair.
Peroxisome‐proliferator‐activated‐receptor gamma (PPARγ) independent induction of CD36 in THP‐1 monocytes by retinoic acid

Retinoic acid (RA) has been shown to regulate cellular growth and differentiation of a variety of cell types, including cells of the myelomonocytic lineage. We used the monocytic leukaemia cell line THP-1, which differentiates to macrophages in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), to investigate the regulation by RA of genes in the scavenger receptor type B family (CD36) in human monocyte/macrophages. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry demonstrated that, like PMA and the natural peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) ligand 15d-PGJ2, RA induced CD36 gene expression in these cells. Moreover, RA plus 15d-PGJ2 further enhanced CD36 protein and mRNA levels over that seen with the RA or PPARgamma compounds alone. The PPARgamma antagonist GW9662 was shown to block completely PPARgamma-ligand induction of CD36 gene expression, but had little effect on the action of RA. Our data indicated that RXR- and RAR-specific ligands (LG153 and TTNPB, respectively) were each alone able to increase CD36 mRNA and surface protein levels. By using calphostin C, a specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, we demonstrated that induction of CD36 by PMA, as well as by PPARgamma and RXR ligands were dependent upon PKC activation. In contrast, activation of CD36 through the RAR pathway was not affected by inhibition of PKC activity. Taken together, these data demonstrate that RA can up-regulate CD36 expression in human monocytes/macrophages. This regulation appears to be predominantly mediated through the RAR/RXR pathway of action and, unlike previously described methods of CD36 modulation, is independent of PPARgamma and PKC signalling. This study suggests a possible role for RA in physiological processes involving the scavenger receptor function in cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage.
Management of hay fever in children, with special emphasis on immunization (desensitization).

Summary 1. Hay fever is concerned with the acquisition of pollen sensitivity and may be related to the amount of exposure to particular pollens. 2. The diagnosis of hay fever should be made early so that proper treatment can be instituted in order to avoid the development of the more serious asthma. 3. The importance of nasal eosinophilia is emphasized in differentiating hay fever from infectious rhinitis. 4. Specific allergenic sensitivity must be determined in order to arrive at an adequate program for specific therapy. 5. Specific therapy must include all the positive reacting pollens. 6. Supportive therapy and adjuvant measures are discussed. 7. The perennial method of treatment is the one of choice. 8. Small dosage therapy is advocated. 9. In order to achieve a satisfactory immunologic resistance to the sensitizing pollens, treatment must be continued over a number of years. 10. The immunization procedure, if conscientiously and comprehensively pursued, is effective in reducing or actually preventing the symptomatology of hay fever, and has the noteworthy added virtue of preventing pollen asthma.
Making sense of global sensitivity analyses

This study presents improved understanding of sensitivity analysis methods through a comparison of the local sensitivity and two global sensitivity analysis methods: the Morris and Sobol'/Saltelli methods. We re-interpret the variance-based sensitivity indices from the Sobol'/Saltelli method as difference-based measures. It suggests that the difference-based local and Morris methods provide the effect of each parameter including its interaction with others, similar to the total sensitivity index from the Sobol'/Saltelli method. We also develop an alternative approximation method to efficiently compute the Sobol' index, using one-dimensional fitting of system responses from a Monte-Carlo simulation. For illustration, we conduct a sensitivity analysis of pressure propagation induced by fluid injection and leakage in a reservoir-aquitard-aquifer system. The results show that the three methods provide consistent parameter importance rankings in this system. Our study also reveals that the three methods can provide additional information to improve system understanding.
Isoperformance: Analysis and design of complex systems with desired outcomes

The design of technical systems such as automobiles and spacecraft has traditionally focused exclusively on performance maximization. Many organizations now realize that such an approach must be balanced against competing objectives of cost, risk, and other criteria. If one is willing to give up some amount of performance relative to the best achievable performance level, one introduces slack into system design. This slack can be invested in creating better outcomes overall. One way to achieve this is to balance the requirements among contributing subsystems such that the number of active constraints is minimized, while still achieving the desired system performance. This paper introduces a methodology called “isoperformance” as a means of identifying and evaluating a performance-invariant set of design solutions, which are efficient in terms of other criteria such as cost, risk, and lifecycle properties. Isoperformance is an inverse design method that starts from a desired vector of performance requirements and works backwards to identify acceptable solutions in the design space. To achieve this, gradient-based contour following is implemented as a multivariable search algorithm that manipulates the null set of the Jacobian matrix. Use of the method is illustrated with two examples from spacecraft design and human performance in sports. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 9: 45–61, 2006This work was partially supported by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center under Contracts No. NAG5-6079 and No. NAG5-7839 and by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory under Contract No. JPL 961123.
Ephrin-A5 inhibits growth of embryonic sensory neurons

EphA-ephrin signaling has recently been implicated in the establishment of motor innervation patterns, in particular in determining whether motor axons project into dorsal versus ventral nerve trunks in the limb. We investigated whether sensory axons, which grow out together with and can be guided by motor axons, are also influenced by Eph-ephrin signaling. We show that multiple EphA receptors are expressed in DRGs when limb innervation is being established, and EphA receptors are present on growth cones of both NGF-dependent (predominantly cutaneous) and NT3-dependent (predominantly proprioceptive) afferents. Both soluble and membrane-attached ephrin-A5 inhibited growth of approximately half of each population of sensory axons in vitro. On average, growth cones that collapsed in response to soluble ephrin-A5 extended more slowly than those that did not, and ephrin-A5 significantly slowed the extension of NGF-dependent growth cones that did not collapse. Finally, we show that ectopic expression of ephrin-A5 in ovo reduced arborization of cutaneous axons in skin on the limb. Together these results suggest that sensory neurons respond directly to A-class ephrins in the limb. Thus, ephrins appear to pattern sensory axon growth in two ways-both directly, and indirectly via their inhibitory effects on neighboring motor axons.
Activation of early gene transcription in polyomavirus BK by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat.

Polyomavirus BK (BKV) is a serious problem for immunocompromised patients, where latent virus can enter into the lytic cycle causing cytolytic destruction of host cells. BKV infects >80 % of the population worldwide during childhood and then remains in a latent state in the kidney. In the context of immunosuppression in kidney transplant patients, reactivation of the viral early promoter (BKVE) results in production of T antigen, enabling virus replication and transition from latency to the lytic phase, causing polyomavirus-associated nephropathy. Reactivation of BKV can also cause complications such as nephritis, atypical retinitis and haemorrhagic cystitis in AIDS patients. Here, the effects of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proteins Tat and Vpr on BKV transcription were investigated and it was demonstrated that Tat dramatically stimulated BKVE. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis of potential Tat-responsive transcriptional motifs complemented by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that Tat activated BKVE by inducing binding of the NF-κB p65 subunit to a κB motif near the 3′ end of BKVE. In addition, a sequence within the 5′ UTR of BKVE transcripts (BKVE-TAR) was identified that is identical to the HIV-1 transactivation response (TAR) element. The BKVE-TAR sequence bound TAT in RNA EMSA assays and deletion of the BKVE-TAR sequence eliminated Tat transactivation of BKVE transcription. Thus, Tat positively affected BKVE transcription by a dual mechanism and this may be important in diseases involving BKV reactivation in AIDS patients.
Wishful Thinking about the Future: Does Desire Impact Optimism?

The notion that desire for an outcome inflates optimism about that outcome has been dubbed the desirability bias or wishful thinking. In this paper, we discuss the importance of distinguishing wishful thinking from the more general concept of motivated reasoning, and we explain why documenting overoptimism or correla- tions between preferences and optimism is not sufficient to infer a desirability bias. Then, we discuss results from a review and meta-analysis of the experimental litera- ture on wishful thinking. These findings, in conjunction with more recent work, not only highlight important moderators and mediators of the desirability bias but also point out limitations of the empirical research on the bias. These results also reveal an important difference between how likelihood judgments and discrete outcome predictions respond to desirability of outcomes. We conclude by presenting avenues for future research useful for understanding wishful thinking's manifesta- tion in everyday environments and its integration with related phenomena.
Comparison of the 2004 Supplement to the IECC to the Current New York Energy Conservation Code - Residential Buildings

The New York State Department of State requested the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to prepare a report consisting of two components. The first component is an analysis comparing the effects on energy usage as a result of implementation of the 2004 Supplement to the IECC with the current New York code. The second component is an engineering analysis to determine whether additional costs of compliance with the proposal would be equal to or less than the present value of anticipated energy savings over a 10-year period. Under DOE's direction, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) completed the requested assessment of the potential code upgrade.
The combination of stem cell factor and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor for chronic stroke treatment in aged animals

Stroke occurs more frequently in the elderly population and presents the number one leading cause of persistent disability worldwide. Lack of effective treatment to enhance brain repair and improve functional restoration in chronic stroke, the recovery phase of stroke, is a challenging medical problem to be solved in stroke research. Our early study has revealed the therapeutic effects of stem cell factor (SCF) in combination with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (SCF+G-CSF) on chronic stroke in young animals. However, whether this treatment is effective and safe to the aged population remains to be determined. Cortical brain ischemia was produced in aged C57BL mice or aged spontaneously hypertensive rats. SCF+G-CSF or equal volume of vehicle solution was subcutaneously injected for 7 days beginning at 3–4 months after induction of cortical brain ischemia. Using the approaches of biochemistry assays, flow cytometry, pathology, and evaluation of functional outcome, several doses of SCF+G-CSF have been examined for their safety and efficiency on chronic stroke in aged animals. All tested doses did not show acute or chronic toxicity in the aged animals. Additionally, SCF+G-CSF treatment in chronic stroke of aged animals mobilized bone marrow stem cells and improved functional outcome in a dose-dependent manner. SCF+G-CSF treatment is a safe and effective approach to chronic stroke in the aged condition. This study provides important information needed for developing a new therapeutic strategy to improve the health of older adults with chronic stroke.
Histone Sprocket Arginine Residues Are Important for Gene Expression, DNA Repair, and Cell Viability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A critical feature of the intermolecular contacts that bind DNA to the histone octamer is the series of histone arginine residues that insert into the DNA minor groove at each superhelical location where the minor groove faces the histone octamer. One of these "sprocket" arginine residues, histone H4 R45, significantly affects chromatin structure in vivo and is lethal when mutated to alanine or cysteine in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast). However, the roles of the remaining sprocket arginine residues (H3 R63, H3 R83, H2A R43, H2B R36, H2A R78, H3 R49) in chromatin structure and other cellular processes have not been well characterized. We have genetically characterized mutations in each of these histone residues when introduced either singly or in combination to yeast cells. We find that pairs of arginine residues that bind DNA adjacent to the DNA exit/entry sites in the nucleosome are lethal in yeast when mutated in combination and cause a defect in histone occupancy. Furthermore, mutations in individual residues compromise repair of UV-induced DNA lesions and affect gene expression and cryptic transcription. This study reveals simple rules for how the location and structural mode of DNA binding influence the biological function of each histone sprocket arginine residue.
Prognostic factors for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the R(X)CHOP era

BACKGROUND The introduction of rituximab (R) to conventional CHOP chemotherapy for newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) led to an unequivocal improvement in survival, establishing RCHOP as the standard of care. Still, nearly 40% of DLBCL patients will eventually die of relapsed disease. Efforts to improve outcomes by addition of new biologic agents (X) to the RCHOP backbone are underway. In this era of R(X)CHOP, it is imperative to develop prognostic and predictive markers, not only to identify patients who will suffer a particularly aggressive course, but also to accurately select patients for clinical trials from which they will most benefit. DESIGN The following review was undertaken to describe prognostic factors in DLBCL, with emphasis on markers that are accurate, relatively available, and clinically applicable in 2014. RESULTS The International Prognostic Index retains its validity in the era of RCHOP, although with limited ability to predict those with <50% chance of long-term survival. Gene expression profiling has provided novel insights into the biology of DLBCL and led to the development of immunohistochemistry (IHC) algorithms that are in routine practice. Identification of a 'double-hit' (DH) lymphoma by fluorescent in situ hybridization with aberrations involving MYC and/or BCL2 and BCL6 genes has important implications due to its extremely dismal prognosis with RCHOP. Other markers such as the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), serum immunoglobulin free light chains, vitamin D levels, serum cytokines/chemokines, and imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) have all shown promise as future predictive/prognostic tests. CONCLUSIONS The future for new treatment options in DLBCL is promising with current clinical trials testing novel targeted agents such as bortezomib, lenalidomide, and ibrutinib as the 'X' in R(X)CHOP. Predictive factors are required to select and randomize patients appropriately for these trials. We envision the day when 'X' will be chosen based on the biological characteristics of the tumor.
Collaboration personas: a new approach to designing workplace collaboration tools

The success of social computing has generated a host of workplace collaboration tools. However, adoption of these tools by entire groups is a major problem. One reason for the adoption problem is a lack of methods for considering collaborative groups in technology design. Even when designing collaboration tools, designers often employ methods that focus on individuals. This leads to tools that are not well targeted at the groups who will use them. To solve this problem, we propose the notion of collaboration personas, which are empirically derived descriptions of hypothetical groups, including details that inform the design of collaboration tools. Collaboration personas differ from individual personas in having (1) multiple, inter-related individuals playing specific roles; (2) a focus on collective goals and elaboration of individual goals that affect the collective goal; and (3) new attributes that characterize collaborative aspects of the group's work. We contrast collaboration personas with other design approaches and provide examples of how they can be used to design new collaborative tools that better meet the needs of typical groups.
Trapping-A control phenomenon of spinning drag-free satellites

A drag-free satellite contains a proof mass in an internal cavity and is controlled in translation so that it never touches the proof mass. The satellite shields the proof mass from external forces, thus allowing the proof mass to follow a drag-free orbit. Spinning the satellite is desirable because it attenuates the effect of proof mass disturbing forces and simplifiies the attitude control. The design of a translation controller for a spinning drag-free satellite typically includes a deadspace to eliminate chatter. This design feature and the inability to locate precisely the mass center give rise to a phenomenon called trapping that potentially could waste significant amounts of propellant. A theory is developed and experimentally verified that explains the role of these factors and provides insight into the effect of other control parameters. An analog application of estimation theory to observe the center-of-mass location was evaluated and found to be a practical method to eliminate mass center uncertainties as a cause of trapping and its associated propellant wastage. It is further concluded that, by proper selection of control parameters and deadspace shape, translation control of a spinning satellite is quite feasible.
Nuclear-Magnetic-Rosonance Study of Thulium Aluminum Garnet

The ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{169}$ and the ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}$ nuclear magnetic resonance have been studied in cubic thulium aluminum garnet. The ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{169}$ results at 1.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K give magnetic-susceptibility tensor components of ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{1}=0.014$, ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{2}=0.551$, and and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{3}=0.030$ emu/g ion, which show much more anisotropy than found previously for thulium gallium garnet. The measured ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}$ paramagnetic shifts at 1.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K agree quite well with values calculated from ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}$-ion dipole sums. The ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}$ paramagnetic shifts from 1.5 to 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K are used to calculate the approximate temperature dependence of the ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{2+}$-ion susceptibility components. The room-temperature ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}$ quadrupolar coupling constants $|\frac{{e}^{2}\mathrm{qQ}}{h}|$ for the axially symmetric $a$ and $d$ sites are 0.892\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 and 6.155\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 MHz, respectively. The unshielded electric field gradients are calculated and compared with corresponding values for other aluminum garnets and for ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{57}$ sites in several iron garnets. These field gradients agree quite well with values calculated using a point-charge model.
Electro-optical applications of liquid crystals

Abstract The unique properties of thermotropic liquid crystals have led to the development of many new electro-optical devices, particularly for display applications. Basic properties and surface alignments of liquid crystals are reviewed with regard to these applications. Electro-optical effects based on conductivity and field effect alignment are described for both nematic and cholesteric materials. Three applications of nematics are selected for more detailed discussion: a flat panel television display using dynamic scattering activated by a semiconductor matrix, a watch display using polarization modulation of twisted nematic cells on transparent segment electrodes, and a large screen projection system using tunable birefringence in a photoactivated light valve.
Selection of a Forwarding Area for Contention-Based Geographic Forwarding in Wireless Multi-Hop Networks

Contention-based geographic forwarding (CGF) is a state-free forwarding technique. In this paper, we develop a general analytical framework to evaluate the performance of CGF with different forwarding areas in wireless multi-hop networks. In particular, we compare the performance of CGF for three typical forwarding areas, analytically and by extensive simulations. We further investigate the impact of several important assumptions on our analytical results. Our study provides guidelines regarding the selection of a specific forwarding area during the design phase of a CGF protocol. It also serves as a general performance evaluation framework for CGF protocols as well as traditional geographic forwarding protocols.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in the rare clonal plant, Spiraea virginiana (Rosaceae).

UNLABELLED PREMISE OF THE STUDY Microsatellite markers were developed in Spiraea virginiana, a federally threatened native shrub found along stream banks, to identify clonal genotypes and measure population genetic variability. • METHODS AND RESULTS Eleven primer sets were developed using a non-radioactive protocol. These revealed a moderate level of genetic variation, as indicated by the number of alleles per locus (range = 1-4) and an average observed heterozygosity of 0.595. Select loci also amplified successfully in the related species Spiraea japonica. • CONCLUSION Development of the markers described here is critical for the genetic identification of clonal plants as a first step in demographic analyses, and is necessary for the future conservation of this rare species. Amplification of the markers in S. japonica suggests their potential utility in research regarding this species.
Porous calcium aluminate ceramics for bone-graft applications

Calcium aluminate scaffolds with controlled porosity were processed for bone-graft applications. Indirect fused deposition process was used to fabricate these structures. Phase analyses were done using x-ray diffraction technique on powdered samples of calcium aluminates at different compositions. Hg porosimetry was used to determine the pore sizes and the pore volumes present in these controlled porosity structures at different calcium aluminate compositions. Cylindrical samples were tested under uniaxial compressive loading as a function of composition and volume fraction porosity (VFP). Samples of 29% and 44% VFP (designed) with average pore size of 300 μm showed compressive strength between 2 and 24 MPa. Cytotoxicity and cell proliferation studies were conducted with a modified human osteoblast cell line (HOB). These materials showed good cell attachment and a steady cell growth behavior with HOB cells during the first three weeks of in vitro analyses.
Inclusion of noise in iterated firing time maps based on the PRC

Methods using the phase response curves (PRCs) of component neurons to predict network activity suffer from biological variability intrinsic to the studied neural oscillators, often described as noise. To make analytical predictions, researchers minimize this noise either by averaging the measured PRC or by controlling the period of oscillation. Here, we present an alternate method that incorporates measured noise into PRCs. In a hybrid network of two bursting neural oscillators coupled via synaptic excitation (tsyn ≈ 10 ms), we found that this method could accurately predict phase locking in the presence of variability in the intrinsic period of 10%.
Constraints driven optimal actuation policies for diffusion processes with collocated actuators and sensors

This work introduces modal model predictive control (MMPC) design methodology in the framework of optimal actuation policies which arise due to the presence of input and state constraints for a class of distributed parameter systems modeled by parabolic PDEs. The predictive control law accounts for input and state constraints and with respect to actuator/sensor position placement it generates an optimal actuation policy that switches applied control action among available pre-specified actuator locations. The proposed constrained predictive control law utilizes a low order modal representation in the optimization functional while higher modes are included only in the PDE state constraints. Accordingly, the proposed control law is formulated by the minimization algorithm whereby optimization is performed over all available preset collocated actuator/sensor positions. In this sense, the minimizing algorithm provides a control law that chooses among best collocated actuator/sensor positions available with respect to the lowest optimal cost among these positions. An example of a diffusion-reaction process, with spatially-uniform unstable steady state, subject to flux boundary conditions is considered.
The Role of Growth Factors in Tissue Repair III

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was first described by Gospodarowicz and co-workers as an activity derived from bovine brain or pituitary tissue (Gospodarowicz, 1974). As the name suggests, FGF was found to be mitogenic for fibroblasts in culture as well as endothelial cells and several other types of mesoderm-derived cells. It was first believed that FGF resulted from the degradation of myelin basic protein (Westall et al., 1978), but this was later found not to be the case (Thomas et al., 1980). Further characterization of the activity revealed that the primary mitogen from brain was different than that isolated from pituitary. These two factors were named acidic and basic FGF because they had similar if not identical biologic activities but differed in their iso-electric points.
States are Decoupling from the Federal Qualified Production Activities Income Deduction

The authors say that 18 states and the District of Columbia have decoupled from the federal qualified production activities income (QPAI) deduction and suggest that other states should do the same to avoid revenues losses. The QPAI deduction is unlikely to protect or create state jobs, the authors say, because corporations can claim the deduction for out-of-state production activity.
Computing dynamic output feedback laws with pieri homotopies on a parallel computer

The output feedback pole placement problem asks to find laws to feed the output of a plant governed by a linear system of differential equations back to the input of the plant, so that the resulting closed-loop system has a desired set of eigenvalues. In 1981, R. W. Brocket and C. I. Byrnes published the theoretical relations between the static output feedback pole placement problem and enumerative geometry problem. In 1996, M. S. Ravi, J. Rosenthal, and X. Wang generalized the theory to solve the dynamic output feedback pole placement problem for general Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) systems. The output feedback pole placement problem was still stated as an open problem at this time, since there was no algorithm to solve it. In 1998, B. Huber, F. Sottile, and B. Sturmfels proposed “numerical Schubert calculus”, which led to an efficient homotopy algorithm to solve the enumerative geometry problem. In this thesis, we present symbolic-numeric algorithms to turn the solutions of the homotopies to the output feedback laws of the pole placement problem. Despite the wider application range of the dynamic output feedback laws, the realization of the output of the numerical homotopies as a machine to control the plant in the time domain has not been addressed before. Since the numeric calculation of the Smith normal form is essential for minimal realization of the output feedback laws and the inverse of a polynomial matrix, an original algorithm through computing the extended GCD of two polynomials with the root matching method is implemented. To efficiently solve high dimensional problems with a very large number of solutions, a parallel Pieri homotopy algorithm is designed and implemented. We successfully applied our numerical approach for solving the output feedback pole placement problem to several applications from the literature. Both the realization algorithm and parallel Pieri homotopies are implemented in PHCpack (ACM TOMS 795), a publicly available software package for solving polynomial system with homotopy methods.
Design and implementation of long-distance training systems based on IP/TV for power staff

The restructuring of power enterprises sets new requirements for staff training modes, and challenges the traditional training method. The feasibility of the long-distance training system based on IP/TV is analyzed, and the working principle, features of the system are presented, as well as its application effects in power enterprises.
Numerical Simulation of Cold Flow Character in Ethylene Pyrolyzing Furnace

The in-furnace fluid flow of an ethylene pyrolyzing furnace is simulated.And the distribution of the cold aerodynamic field in the firebox is obtained.The results show that a large circumfluence in the bottom of furnace thus resulted in uniform distribution of temperature;the influence on aerodynamic field of side burners is not obvious.
Abstract IA27: Advances in oligonucleotide chemistry for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and brain tumors

RNA interference has revolutionized human functional genomics and therapeutics, but its impact on the development of new therapies for cancer has been surprisingly limited, due mainly to the lack of simple and efficient methods to deliver oligonucleotides to tumors, especially those located in the brain. Our research shows that many cell types, including tumor, glial and neuronal, rapidly internalize fully stabilized, hydrophobically modified siRNAs (hsiRNAs) added directly to the culture medium and that hsiRNAs induce potent and long-lasting silencing in vitro. A single injection of unformulated hsiRNA (cholesterol-conjugated) into mouse brain silences locally with great potency and longevity in primary tumor, glial and neuronal cells. Limited distribution from the site of administration interferes with addressing metastasis, thus limiting the clinical utility to treatment of primary tumors only. Using fully chemically modified siRNA scaffolds, we systematically screened a wide range of bioactive conjugates and demonstrated that the chemical nature of the conjugation modality has a major impact on brain tissue retention, distribution and selectivity of cellular uptake. We have identified several novel chemical classes of conjugates that demonstrate markedly improved brain distribution and robust in vivo efficacy, with some showing selective tumor, glia or neuronal uptake. Direct conjugation of a fully chemically modified siRNA to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the most abundant poly-unsaturated fatty acid in the brain, results in improved tissue retention with wide distribution and robust efficacy in the striatum and cortex after a single injection. Most importantly, DHA-hsiRNA conjugates do not induce neural cell death or measurable innate immune activation following the administration of concentrations 20-fold over the efficacious dose. Interestingly, variants of DHA-based conjugates support preferential delivery to glia cells, establishing a new approach toward targeted development of RNAi-based therapeutics for glioblastomas and other glia-associated cancers. Citation Format: Anastasia Khvorova. Advances in oligonucleotide chemistry for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and brain tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Noncoding RNAs and Cancer: Mechanisms to Medicines ; 2015 Dec 4-7; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(6 Suppl):Abstract nr IA27.