cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Ochratoxin, Aflatoxin, and T-2 Toxin for Their Effects on Selected Parameters Related to Digestion and Evidence for Specific Metabolism of Carotenoids in Chickens

Aflatoxicosis, ochratoxicosis, and T-2 toxicosis were produced by feeding diets containing graded concentration of the appropriate toxin to broiler chicks from hatching unit 3 weeks of age. Aflatoxin, even at levels not growth inhibitory, produced a malabsorption syndrome characterized by steatorrhea, hypocarotenoidemia, and decreased concentrations of bile salts and pancreatic lipase, trypsin, amylase, and RNase. The T-2 toxin at concentrations higher than required to inhibit growth produced a mild malabsorption syndrome characterized by steatorrhea and decreased levels of pancreatic lipase, trypsin, amylase, and RNase. The only suggestion of malabsorption during ochratoxicosis was a severe hypocarotenoidemia. The following observations indicated a lack of correlation between lipid malabsorption and hypocarotenoidemia. The T-2 toxicosis exhibited lipid malabsorption in the absence of hypocarotenoidemia, ochratoxicosis exhibited hypocarotenoidemia in the absence of lipid malabsorption, and aflatoxicosis exhibited both symptoms. These findings imply that carotenoids are physiologically active compounds with specific metabolic processes and are not inert substances swept along with lipids as is commonly assumed from the ability to grow apparently healthy birds free of carotenoids. The current findings also indicate that great specificities exist in mycotoxicoses despite superficial similarities.
The Epistemic Status of Auxiliary Hypotheses: A Reply to Douven

I have previously argued that anti-realism cannot use the claim that theories have empirically equivalent rivals (EE) to establish that theories are underdetermined by evidence (UD). Douven objects that the auxiliary hypotheses needed to generate observational equivalence need not as I claimed be themselves underdetermined if (EE) is true, because they may be either compatible with observation or acceptable in the constructive-empiricist sense. I reply that these conditions are not strong enough to establish (EE): the auxiliaries have to be epistemically warranted if they are to fix a theory's observational commitments unambiguously. The support they require need not presuppose their respective observational consequences, because there are more holistic sources of warrant.
Learning Deep Features for Scene Recognition using Places Database

Scene recognition is one of the hallmark tasks of computer vision, allowing definition of a context for object recognition. Whereas the tremendous recent progress in object recognition tasks is due to the availability of large datasets like ImageNet and the rise of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for learning high-level features, performance at scene recognition has not attained the same level of success. This may be because current deep features trained from ImageNet are not competitive enough for such tasks. Here, we introduce a new scene-centric database called Places with over 7 million labeled pictures of scenes. We propose new methods to compare the density and diversity of image datasets and show that Places is as dense as other scene datasets and has more diversity. Using CNN, we learn deep features for scene recognition tasks, and establish new state-of-the-art results on several scene-centric datasets. A visualization of the CNN layers' responses allows us to show differences in the internal representations of object-centric and scene-centric networks.
The utility of erythrocyte sedimentation rate values and white blood cell counts after spinal deformity surgery in the early (£3 months) post-operative period

Purpose The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and white blood cell (WBC) count are frequently obtained in the work-up of post-operative fever. However, their diagnostic utility depends upon comparison with normative peri-operative trends which have not yet been described. The purpose of this study is to define a range of erythrocyte sedimentation rates and white blood cell counts following spinal instrumentation and fusion in non-infected patients.
Identification and Characterization of a Pro-tumor Necrosis Factor-α-processing Enzyme from the ADAM Family of Zinc Metalloproteases

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) is initially expressed as a 26-kDa membrane-bound precusor protein (pro-TNF) that is shed proteolytically from the cell surface, releasing soluble 17-kDa TNF. We have identified human ADAM 10 (HuAD10) from THP-1 membrane extracts as a metalloprotease that specifically clips a peptide substrate spanning the authentic cleavage site between Ala76 and Val77 in pro-TNF. To confirm that HuAD10 has TNF processing activity, we cloned, expressed, and purified an active, truncated form of HuAD10. Characterization of recombinant HuAD10 (rHuAD10) suggests that this enzyme has many of the properties (i.e. substrate specificity, metalloprotease activity, cellular location) expected for a physiologically relevant TNF-processing enzyme.
Electrocardiographic ST segment elevation: a comparison of AMI and non-AMI ECG syndromes.

Chest pain (CP) patients presenting to the ED may manifest electrocardiographic ST segment elevation (STE). AMI (acute myocardial infarction) is a less frequent cause of such abnormality and one of many patterns responsible for ST segment elevation in ED CP patients. We performed a retrospective comparative review of the electrocardiographic features of various STE syndromes, focusing on differences between AMI and non-AMI syndromes. The electrocardiograms (ECGs) of consecutive ED adult CP patients (with 3 serial troponin I determinations) were interpreted by 3 attending emergency physicians. These ECGs with STE represented the study population used for analysis. Various electrocardiographic features such as STE, ST segment depression (STD), STE morphology, anatomic distribution of STE, and the number of leads with STE were recorded; derived values such as total STE, total ST segment deviation, and average STE per lead were calculated. Interobserver reliability concerning STE morphology was determined. AMI was diagnosed by abnormal serum troponin I values (>0.1 mg/dL) followed by a rise and fall of the serum marker; STE diagnoses of non-AMI causes were determined by medical record review. Five hundred ninety-nine CP patients were entered in the study with 212 (35%) individuals showing STE, 55 (26%) with electrocardiographic AMI and 157 (74%) with non-AMI electrocardiographic syndromes. Anatomic location within the AMI group included 32 inferior and inferior variants, 18 anterior and anterior variants, and 5 lateral; non-AMI anatomic locations included 56 inferior and inferior variants, 98 anterior and anterior variants, and 3 lateral; anterior STE occurred significantly more often in non-AMI syndromes. Total STE was 15.3 mm in AMI patients and 7.4 mm in non-AMI patients (P =.0004). The number of leads with STE was not significantly different between the two groups, 3.4 mm in AMI and 4.1 in non-AMI syndromes. ST segment elevation per lead was not significantly different in the 2 groups, 4.4 mm in AMI versus 1.8 mm in non-AMI syndromes. Total ST segment deviation (sum of STE and STD) was significantly greater in AMI syndromes, 17.8 mm in AMI compared with 10.5 mm in non-AMI syndromes (P =.00009). The presence of STD occurred at statistically similar rates in both groups. The morphology of the STE occurred in significantly different rates between AMI and non-AMI patterns, concave more often in non-AMI patterns (P <.00001) and nonconcave more often in AMI (P <.00001). Non-AMI causes of STE account for the majority of electrocardiographic syndromes encountered in ED chest pain patients. These findings alone are not adequate to determine the electrocardiographic cause of the ST segment elevation in chest pain patients. When determining AMI versus non-AMI with the ECG, these various findings should be used in the consideration of the overall clinical picture (history, examination, and electrocardiogram) in chest pain patients with ST segment elevation.
Accumulation of Inositol Phosphates Induced by Chlorpromazine in C6 Glioma Cells

: Chlorpromazine, a cationic amphiphilic drug known to affect phospholipid metabolism, greatly increases the generation of inositol phosphates in C6 glioma cells. When a pulse-chase protocol with myo-[2-3H]inositol as the radioactive precursor was used, the peak increase in radioactivity of inositol phosphates was observed at 20 min. The drug decreased inositol tetrakisphosphate labeling as a percentage of inositol trisphosphate in a dose-dependent manner. It also increased the labeling of the inositol-containing phospholipids, the precursors of the inositol phosphates. The increase in radioactivity of both phospholipids and inositol phosphates was dose-dependent, but appeared also to be a function of the time of exposure of the cultures to the drug, suggesting that the concentration of chlorpromazine in the cell, and not that in the medium, is the critical factor. The optimum concentration for maximum phospholipid labeling was lower than that eliciting maximum generation of inositol phosphates. The data suggest that the mechanism probably does not involve cell-surface receptors, but rather may consist of a direct effect of chlorpromazine on phosphoinositidase C and possibly other enzymatic reactions concerned with the metabolism of inositol phosphates.
Fabrication of diffractive optics by use of slow tool servo diamond turning process

In recent years, it has become possible to fabricate complicated optical surfaces using multi-axis ultraprecision machines. Two diffractive optical designs were fabricated using an ultraprecision diamond turning machine equipped with four independent axes. Unlike the conventional clean-room-based micromachining process, this research demonstrates the development of two innovative diamond tool trajectories that allow the entire diffractive pattern to be machined in a single operation directly, without going through multiple steps, as commonly used in conventional lithography processes. The machined diffractive optical elements were measured for curve geometry and surface roughness. In addition, the optical performance was also evaluated. Finally, a simple welding test setup was utilized to test the 256-level diffractive optical elements (DOEs). Compared to conventional approaches where feature indexing is difficult and unreliable, the slow tool servo (STS) process can be utilized to produce DOEs with accurate geometry and optical surface finish; therefore, the process may be called non-clean-room or maskless micromachining. Unlike its predecessors, this micromachining process which is based on ultraprecision diamond machining can be used to produce true three-dimensional (3D) features in a single operation, thus making it a promising technology for micro-optical, electromechanical component fabrication. Moreover, the 3D micro features can be readily applied to a freeform substrate, making this process a unique approach for fabrication of complicated micro-optical devices.
CpG DNA rescues B cells from apoptosis by activating NFκB and preventing mitochondrial membrane potential disruption via a chloroquine-sensitive pathway

Isolated murine splenic B cells gradually undergo spontaneous apoptosis while WEHI-231 B lymphoma cells undergo activation-induced apoptosis. Unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in a particular sequence context (CpG motif) in bacterial DNA or in synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG DNA) rescue both splenic B cells and WEHI-231 cells from apoptosis, an effect which could potentially contribute to autoimmune disease. Chloroquine has been used as an effective therapeutic agent for some autoimmune diseases, although the mechanism of action is not clearly understood. Low concentrations of chloroquine (<5 microM) selectively abolished CpG DNA-mediated protection against spontaneous apoptosis of splenic B cells and against anti-IgM-induced apoptosis of WEHI-231 cells without affecting anti-apoptotic activities of anti-CD40 or lipopolsaccharide. CpG DNA effectively prevented mitochondrial membrane potential disruption through a chloroquine-sensitive pathway in splenic B cells. Apoptosis protection by CpG DNA was also associated with increased expression of several proto-oncogenes and oncoproteins directly and/or indirectly through a rapid and sustained activation of NFkappaB in splenic B cells and WEHI-231 cells. These effects were also suppressed by chloroquine. Our results suggest that despite the difference in maturation phenotype of splenic B cells and WEHI-231 cells, CpG DNA rescues both from apoptosis by similar pathway, which is blocked at an early step by chloroquine.
Summary of Session I Processing of Growth Hormone

Applications of recombinant DNA techniques have elucidated the nucleotide sequence and organization of the human growth hormone (hGH or GH1) gene. This information, while of general interest, has only provided a start in identifying sequences or elements that are important in effecting the tissue-specific expression of GH1 and its transcription, processing, and translational regulation.
Data Supply Chains

As data moves between actors and organizations, what emerges is a data supply chain. Unlike manufacturing supply chains, transferred data is often duplicated in the process, challenging the essence of ownership. What does ethical data labor look like? How are the various stakeholders held accountable for being good data guardians? What does clean data transfer look like? What kinds of best practices can business and government put into place? What upstream rights to data providers have over downstream commercialization of their data?
Geographic variations in spring and autumn phenology of white ash in a common garden

Geographic variations in plant phenology are known to be affected by climatic differences over space, but the role of adaptation variability of plant populations is less well understood. In this study, I examined the geographic variations in spring and autumn phenology of white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) in a common garden and related observations over a 2-year period (2013 and 2014) to climatic and geographic factors of their provenances. Spring leaf-out of trees with northern provenances occurred later in 2013, but slightly earlier in 2014, than those with southern provenances. This difference was potentially caused by the counterbalancing effect of chilling and forcing in response to interannual temperature fluctuations. In both years, leaf senescence of white ash occurred significantly earlier for trees with northern than southern provenances, reflecting strong adaptation to a photoperiod gradient. The growing season length for white ash, therefore, is constrained by spring and fall phenology through...
Managing the Urban Environment of Manila

This article brings the contemporary thinking and practice of Urban Environmental Management (UEM) to the solution of real problems in a major city of a developing country in Southeast Asia. Such cities confront more pressing problems than those in the developed world and have fewer resources to deal with them. The study first considers urban issues, poverty alleviation, industry, transportation, energy, water, sewage and sanitation, and finance, and then proposes a 5-year plan to help solve the urban environmental problems of Metro Manila, the Philippines, an environmentally complex, sprawling metropolitan region with over 24 million inhabitants.
Androgen receptor (AR) in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are still the highest leading cause of death worldwide. Several risk factors have been linked to CVDs, including smoking, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and gender among others. Sex hormones, especially the androgen and its receptor, androgen receptor (AR), have been linked to many diseases with a clear gender difference. Here, we summarize the effects of androgen/AR on CVDs, including hypertension, stroke, atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), myocardial hypertrophy, and heart failure, as well as the metabolic syndrome/diabetes and their impacts on CVDs. Androgen/AR signaling exacerbates hypertension, and anti-androgens may suppress hypertension. Androgen/AR signaling plays dual roles in strokes, depending on different kinds of factors; however, generally males have a higher incidence of strokes than females. Androgen and AR differentially modulate atherosclerosis. Androgen deficiency causes elevated lipid accumulation to enhance atherosclerosis; however, targeting AR in selective cells without altering serum androgen levels would suppress atherosclerosis progression. Androgen/AR signaling is crucial in AAA development and progression, and targeting androgen/AR profoundly restricts AAA progression. Men have increased cardiac hypertrophy compared with age-matched women that may be due to androgens. Finally, androgen/AR plays important roles in contributing to obesity and insulin/leptin resistance to increase the metabolic syndrome.
A Duty Cycle Approach to Power Management in Self- Reliant Robots

Traditional electronic devices are designed to receive power from batteries or the electrical grid. By renouncing a cumbersome power tether or frequent trips to a recharging station, a robot could operate more efficiently and in remote areas. Our goal was to build a robot that could function continuously, harvesting its energy from the environment and operating independent of human interaction. We successfully built both a wheeled and a legged platform for such a robot. Furthermore, the energy storage circuit, a solar panel, and a microprocessor were installed on the robot. Employing a duty cycle control approach, we successfully programmed the robot to function autonomously, while continuously maintaining awareness of its level of remaining charge. Once a critical level of remaining energy was reached, the robot paused to recharge, and then resumed its operations, thus making the robot self-reliant.
The metallurgy and processing science of metal additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM), widely known as 3D printing, is a method of manufacturing that forms parts from powder, wire or sheets in a process that proceeds layer by layer. Many techniques (using many different names) have been developed to accomplish this via melting or solid-state joining. In this review, these techniques for producing metal parts are explored, with a focus on the science of metal AM: processing defects, heat transfer, solidification, solid-state precipitation, mechanical properties and post-processing metallurgy. The various metal AM techniques are compared, with analysis of the strengths and limitations of each. Only a few alloys have been developed for commercial production, but recent efforts are presented as a path for the ongoing development of new materials for AM processes.
Fair and Efficient Coexistence of Heterogeneous Channel Widths in Next-Generation Wireless LANs

To meet the diverse traffic demands of different applications, emerging WLAN standards have been incorporating a variety of channel widths ranging from 5 to 160 MHz. The coexistence of variable-width channels imposes a new challenge to the 802.11 protocols, since the 802.11 MAC is agnostic of, and thus incapable of, adapting to the PHY-layer spectrum heterogeneity. To address this challenge, we uncover the cause and effect of variable-width channel coexistence, and develop a MAC-layer scheme, called Fine-grained Spectrum Sharing (FSS), that solves the general problem of fair and efficient spectrum sharing among users with heterogeneous channel-widths. Instead of deeming its spectrum band as an atomic block, an FSS user divides the spectrum into chunks, and adapts its chunk usage on a per-packet basis. FSS's spectrum adaptation is driven by a decentralized optimization framework. It preserves the 802.11 CSMA/CA primitives while allowing users to contend for each spectrum chunk, and can opportunistically split a wide-band channel or bond multiple (discontiguous) chunks to ensure fair and efficient access to available spectrum. In making such adaptation decisions, it balances the benefit from discontiguous chunks and the cost of guardband – a unique tradeoff in WLANs with heterogeneous channel-widths. Our in-depth evaluation demonstrates that FSS can improve throughput by multiple folds, while maintaining fairness of spectrum sharing for heterogeneous WLANs.
Investigation of the Infection Situation of Brucellosis among the Population in a Pasture at Baqiao District of Xi'an

[Objective] To investigate the infection situation of brucellosis among the population in a pasture through the investigation of 2 brucellosis milch cows.[Methods]The investigation was carried out according to Shanxi Project for Brucellosis Surveillance;serum was collected from the people who had close contact with brucellosis cows;RBPT and SAT tests were applied to screen the infection situation of brucellosis;the cases was judged according to GB 15988-1995.[Results] The RBPT positive rate of brucellosis were 65.0%(13/20),which was significantly different from that of the surveillance spots in Xi'an(1.0%)(P0.01);the SAT test showed that 6 cases(30.0%)had antibody titer of above 1∶100,2 cases had anybody titer between 1∶200 and 1∶400,they were diagnosed as current infected patients,the difference was significant compared with that of the surveillance spot(0.25%)(χ2=85.2525,P0.01).[Conclusion] The infection rate among this population is proved to be significantly higher than that of other occupational populations;the non clinical symptoms of cow-type brucellosis should be put into greater emphasis;the high infection rate among the occupational population is expected to be taken into close surveillance.
Radiation Exposure Dose in Staff Involving Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Imaging in Medical Institutions of Shanghai

[Objective] To collect information about radiation exposure in positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT) related medical staff in Shanghai.[Methods]Basic information of PET/CT staff was collected in Shanghai.Air absorbed dose rates from γ radiation in selected workplaces and individual cumulative doses from external exposures were monitored and estimated.[Results]By the end of 2011,there were 13 sets of PET/CT and 153 related medical staff in Shanghai.The radiation doses to a body part varied with repacking and injecting methods of radiopharmaceutical: the highest air absorbed dose rate from γ radiation was found in eyes(exclude hands) if repacking without ventilation facility,the maximum value reached 613.6μSv/h,which was 62 times the value of repacking with ventilation.The air absorbed dose rate from γ radiation reached the maximum of 391.8μSv/h in chest(exclude hands) if injection with mobile protection cart.Hands were the body part with highest exposure dose rate regardless of repacking or injection methods,and the maximum value were 4407.0μSv/h and 2211.3μSv/h respectively.In addition,individual cumulative doses varied with staffs’ job titles,leading by nurses,technicians,and doctors.The bimonthly maximum dose reached 3946.6μSv in the nurse group.[Conclusion]In Shanghai,the overall PET/CT protection levels meet national standards.However,the exposure levels can be further reduced to as low as possible.
Distributive characteristics of flea population in Longlin County

Objective To master the distribution of fleas population and provide with the evidences for the policy making in Longlin County of Guangxi Province.Methods Fleas were collected from rodents captured by cage traps,and free flea on room floor were also investigated with sticky paper method.Results Totally 5 783 fleas were captured,Six species belonging to 6 genera,three families of siphonaptera were found in this area.Xenopsylla Cheopis was dominant species in the flea community.The average rodents infected with flea,index of fleas,index of Xenopsylla Cheopis and free flea on room floor were 27.99%,0.980,0.780 and 0.045.The seasonal variation tendency of average monthly rodents infected with flea and X.Cheopis index was similar,there were only one peak,and two peaks in the seasonal variation curve of index of fleas,it's March and July.Conclusion The results show that Xenopsylla Cheopis is the targeted subjects in the control of plague,and the important surveillance period is form February to October according to the population distribution of parastitical fleas and its seasonal variation in Longlin County.
Zebrafish Models of Human Leukemia: Technological Advances and Mechanistic Insights

Insights concerning leukemic pathophysiology have been acquired in various animal models and further efforts to understand the mechanisms underlying leukemic treatment resistance and disease relapse promise to improve therapeutic strategies. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a vertebrate organism with a conserved hematopoietic program and unique experimental strengths suiting it for the investigation of human leukemia. Recent technological advances in zebrafish research including efficient transgenesis, precise genome editing, and straightforward transplantation techniques have led to the generation of a number of leukemia models. The transparency of the zebrafish when coupled with improved lineage-tracing and imaging techniques has revealed exquisite details of leukemic initiation, progression, and regression. With these advantages, the zebrafish represents a unique experimental system for leukemic research and additionally, advances in zebrafish-based high-throughput drug screening promise to hasten the discovery of novel leukemia therapeutics. To date, investigators have accumulated knowledge of the genetic underpinnings critical to leukemic transformation and treatment resistance and without doubt, zebrafish are rapidly expanding our understanding of disease mechanisms and helping to shape therapeutic strategies for improved outcomes in leukemic patients.
Distributed optimal technology networks: a concept and strategy for potable water sustainability

Viable strategies for ensuring adequate supplies of potable water are essential to long-term societal sustainability. The steadily increasing necessity for multiple reuse of water in urban societies is even now taxing our technical and financial abilities to meet ongoing needs for water suitable for human consumption. As a consequence, the current practice of treating the entire water demands of urban communities to the increasingly stringent standards required for drinking water is becoming an unsustainable practice, and thus a questionable strategy for planning and development of urban water systems. An innovative technology-based concept for implementation of a more sustainable strategy and practice for potable water is developed here. The concept is predicated on the inherent advantages of flexibility and responsiveness associated with decentralization of complex functions and operations. Specifically, it calls for strategic dispersal of flexible advanced treatment and control technologies throughout urban water transport and storage networks. This is in direct contradistinction to current strategies and practices of centralized and inflexible monolithic facilities. By integrating use-related satellite systems with critical components of existing systems and infrastructures, the concept can enable and facilitate optimal cost-effective applications of highly sophisticated advanced treatment and on-line monitoring and control technologies to in-place infrastructures in a holistic and sustainable manner.
Coal Consumption and Economic Growth Nexus: Evidence from Bootstrap Panel Granger Causality Test

This paper explores the causal relationship between coal consumption and economic growth for a panel of 15 African countries using bootstrap panel Granger causality test. Specifically, this paper uses the Phillips-Perron unit root test to ascertain the order of integration for the coal consumption and economic growth series. A bootstrap panel Granger causality test is employed to determine the direction of causality between coal consumption and economic growth. The results provide evidence of unidirectional causality from economic growth to coal consumption. This finding implies that coal conservation measures may be implemented with little or no adverse impact on economic growth for the sample countries as a group. Key words: Coal consumption, Economic growth, Panel causality test.JEL: Q30, Q40, Q50. U radu se ispituje uzrocna veza između potrosnje uglja i ekonomskog rasta na osnovu analize 15 africkih zemalja upotrebom Grangerovog bootstrap panelnog testa uzrocnosti. U radu se koristi Phillips-Perronov test jedinicnog korena za određivanje nivoa integrisanosti serij apotrosnje uglja i ekonomskog rasta. Grangerov bootstrap panelni test uzrocnosti se koristi za određivanje smera uzrocnosti između potrosnje uglja i ekonomskog rasta. Rezultati pružaju dokaz o jednosmernoj uzrocnosti od ekonomskog rasta ka potrosnji uglja. Nalazi upucuju da mere konzervacije uglja mogu biti implementirane sa malo ili bez stetnog uticaja na ekonomski rast za grupu zemalja iz uzorka. Kljucne reci: Potrosnja uglja, Ekonomski rast, Panelni test uzrocnosti.
A Study of Rainfall Over Oahu

The surface synoptic patterns near Hawaii have been classified into eight types and the frequency and variability of these types and their relation to annual, monthly, and daily rainfall over Oahu have been studied. It is found that trade wind circulation types are the most frequent during most of the year, that the trades contribute much more rain to the Islands than previously believed, and that the great annual and seasonal variability of precipitation is due primarily to variability of rainfall falling from the trade winds.
Patterns of pollen and nectar foraging specialization by bumblebees over multiple timescales using RFID

University of Arizona Graduate & Professional Student Council; University of Arizona Center for Insect Science; National Science Foundation [IOS-0921280]
Future Role of the Control Center in the Emergency State Control of the Power System

Abstract The emerging hierarchy of a Control Center and other computers and microprocessors on the large interconnected power system opens up new approaches to operation. Computer control in emergencies to prevent blackouts is one such possibility. It is discussed here in the context of an overall Decision and Control (Zaborszky, 1980a) operation of the system. The paper deals mainly with viability crises that is conditions of mismatched generation, load and transmission. Viability crisis is defined and three consecutive tasks are identified for the viabilizing control. Algorithms based on newly defined objectives such as the least disruptive control incorporating new concepts such as clustering are defined and developed.
DC and RF Performance of AlGaN/GaN/SiC MOSHEMTs With Deep Sub-Micron T-Gates and Atomic Layer Epitaxy MgCaO as Gate Dielectric

In this letter, we report on the dc and RF performance of AlGaN/GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor high-electron mobility transistors (MOSHEMTs) with various gate lengths ( ${L}_{\mathsf {G}}$ ) from 90 to 500 nm using atomic-layer-epitaxy single crystalline Mg0.25Ca0.75O as gate dielectric. The 90-nm T-gate MOSHEMT simultaneously demonstrates a ft/fmax of 113/160 GHz with high on/off ratio of $5\times 10^{8}$ . The on/off ratio increases to $2\times 10^{11}$ at ${L}_{\mathsf {G}}=350$ nm by reducing short channel effects. The gate leakage current is around 10−11 A/mm at off-state and 10−5 A/mm at on-state. A 160 nm ${L}_{\mathsf {G}}$ MOSHEMT also exhibits an output power density of 4.18 W/mm at ${f} = 35$ GHz and ${V}_{\mathsf {DS}}=20$ V. MgCaO demonstrates to be a promising dielectric for GaN MOS technology in serving as the surface passivation layer and reducing the gate leakage current while maintaining high RF performances for high-power applications.
Outcomes of a Clinical Pathway for Pleural Disease Management: "Pleural Pathway".

Background and Objectives. Clinical pathways are evidence based multidisciplinary team approaches to optimize patient care. Pleural diseases are common and accounted for 3.4 billion US $ in 2014 US inpatient aggregate charges (HCUPnet data). An institutional clinical pathway (“pleural pathway”) was implemented in conjunction with a dedicated pleural service. Design, implementation, and outcomes of the pleural pathway (from August 1, 2014, to July 31, 2015) in comparison to a previous era (from August 1, 2013, to July 31, 2014) are described. Methods. Tuality Healthcare is a 215-bed community healthcare system in Hillsboro, OR, USA. With the objective of standardizing pleural disease care, locally adapted British Thoracic Society guidelines and a centralized pleural service were implemented in the “pathway” era. System-wide consensus regarding institutional guidelines for care of pleural disease was achieved. Preimplementation activities included training, acquisition of ultrasound equipment, and system-wide education. An audit database was set up with the intent of prospective audits. An administrative database was used for harvesting outcomes data and comparing them with the “prior to pathway” era. Results. 54 unique consults were performed. A total of 55 ultrasound examinations and 60 pleural procedures were performed. All-cause inpatient pleural admissions were lower in the “pathway” era compared to the “prior to pathway” era . Gains in average case charges (21,737$ versus 18,818.2$/case) and average length of stay (3.65 versus 2.78 days/case) were seen in the “pathway” era. Conclusion. A “pleural pathway” and a centralized pleural service are associated with reduction in case charges, inpatient admissions, and length of stay for pleural conditions.
Atmospheric OH Oxidation of Three Chlorinated Aromatic Herbicides.

Chlorinated phenoxy acids are a widely used class of herbicides and have been found in remote regions far from sources. However, the atmospheric chemistry of these compounds is poorly understood. We use an oxidative flow reactor coupled to chemical ionization mass spectrometry to investigate OH oxidation of two chlorinated phenoxyacid herbicides (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and mecoprop-p) and one chlorinated pyridine herbicide (triclopyr). OH radicals add to the aromatic rings of the three herbicides, produce peroxides via hydrogen abstraction, or fragment at the ether bond. OH oxidation of MCPA produced two potentially toxic compounds: chlorosalicylaldehyde and chlorosalicylic acid. We use standards to validate the detection of these oxidation products by acetate CIMS and quantify the reaction rate. Oxidation of triclopyr produced a known endocrine disruptor, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol. Thus, while some OH oxidation products are less toxic than the parent molecules (e.g., C1-5 carboxylic...
Stationary reference frame based current control structure with improved disturbance rejection for grid connected converters

A proportional resonant (PR) controller is commonly used for tracking the reference current with zero steady state error in the stationary reference frame (abc or αβ) for the voltage source converter. Such a structure suffers from poor disturbance rejection capability when the grid voltages contain harmonic components. This results in higher harmonic distortion in the grid currents which is not desirable. This paper introduces a virtual loop based current control structure for improving the voltage and the current disturbance rejection capability. The virtual loop based current control structure also decouples the reference tracking and disturbance rejection leading to simpler controller designs. Frequency domain plots and analysis have been provided to validate the presented control structure. Detailed circuit simulation results have been used to verify the presented analysis.
Predicting spatial factors associated with cattle depredations by the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) with recommendations for depredation risk modeling

Abstract Aim Predation on livestock is one of the primary concerns for Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) recovery because it causes economic losses and negative attitudes toward wolves. Our objectives were to develop a spatial risk model of cattle depredation by Mexican wolves in the USA portion of their recovery area to help reduce the potential for future depredations. Location Arizona and New Mexico, USA. Methods We used a presence-only maximum entropy modeling approach (Maxent) to develop a risk model based on confirmed depredation incidents on public lands. In addition to landscape and human variables, we developed a model for annual livestock density using linear regression analysis of Animal Unit Month (AUM), and models for abundance of elk (Cervus canadensis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginiana) using Maxent, to include them as biotic variables in the risk model. We followed current recommendations for controlling model complexity and other sources of bias. Results The primary factors associated with increased risk of depredation by Mexican wolf were higher canopy cover variation and higher relative abundance of elk. Additional factors with increased risk but smaller effect were gentle and open terrain, and greater distances from roads and developed areas. Main conclusions The risk map revealed areas with relatively high potential for cattle depredations that can inform future expansion of Mexican wolf distribution (e.g., by avoiding hotspots) and prioritize areas for depredation risk mitigation including the implementation of active non-lethal methods in depredation hotspots. We suggest that livestock be better protected in or moved from potential hotspots, especially during periods when they are vulnerable to depredation (e.g. calving season). Our approach to create natural prey and livestock abundance variables can facilitate the process of spatial risk modeling when limitations in availability of abundance data are a challenge, especially in large-scale studies.
Platinum II Acetylide Photophysics

The photophysics of PtII acetylide chromophores represents an important emergent area of research and development. The present review exclusively deals with photophysical processes in square planar PtII complexes of the general formulae: Pt(N^N)(C≡CR)2, [Pt(N^N^N)(C≡CR)]+, Pt(N^N^C)(C≡CR), trans-Pt(PR3)2(C≡CR)2, and cis-Pt(P^P)(C≡CR)2, where N^N is a bidentate 2,2’-bipyridine, N^N^N and N^N^C are tridentate polypyridines, PR3 is a monodentate phosphine and P^P is a bidentate phosphine ligand. These molecules exhibit a range of photophysical attributes depending upon the nature of the lowest electronic triplet excited state(s) which are either charge-transfer, ligand-localized, or an admixture of the two. Under special circumstances, intermolecular interactions further complicate the electronic structures of the ground and excited states and the resulting spectroscopy. Recent computational approaches emphasizing the successful application of DFT and TD-DFT methods towards understanding the absorption and emission processes of these chromophores are also presented.
Continuous-Time Systems

A system consists of interrelated components or parts, called subsystems, organized to accomplish certain goals or objectives. For instance, a single-input-single-output (SISO) system carries out its objectives by transforming the incoming signal or input into a suitable output signal or response. The transformation process usually implies manipulation of the incoming information by performing mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, differentiation and integration.
Developing the MeV potential of DUNE: Detailed considerations of muon-induced spallation and other backgrounds

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) could be revolutionary for MeV neutrino astrophysics, because of its huge detector volume, unique event reconstruction capabilities, and excellent sensitivity to the ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}$ flavor. However, its backgrounds are not yet known. A major background is expected due to muon spallation of argon, which produces unstable isotopes that later $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay. We present the first comprehensive study of MeV spallation backgrounds in argon, detailing isotope production mechanisms and decay properties, analyzing $\ensuremath{\beta}$ energy and time distributions, and proposing experimental cuts. We show that above a nominal detection threshold of 5-MeV electron energy, the most important backgrounds are---surprisingly---due to low-$A$ isotopes, such as Li, Be, and B, even though high-$A$ isotopes near argon are abundantly produced. We show that spallation backgrounds can be powerfully rejected by simple cuts, with clear paths for improvements. We compare these background rates to rates of possible MeV astrophysical neutrino signals in DUNE, including solar neutrinos (detailed in a companion paper [Capozzi et al. arXiv:1808.08232 [hep-ph]], supernova burst neutrinos, and the diffuse supernova neutrino background. Further, to aid trigger strategies, in the Appendixes we quantify the rates of single and multiple MeV events due to spallation, radiogenic neutron capture, and other backgrounds, including through pileup. Our overall conclusion is that DUNE has high potential for MeV neutrino astrophysics, but reaching this potential requires new experimental initiatives.
A Pilot Study of a Standardized Smoking Cessation Intervention for Patients with Vascular Disease

Background The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention performed by a vascular surgery provider compared with current smoking cessation practices. Methods Patients with peripheral arterial and aneurysmal disease who presented to the vascular surgery service at a tertiary care center over a 9-month period were randomized to either control or intervention group. Both control and intervention groups received 2 weeks of free nicotine patches and referral to an outpatient smoking-cessation program. The intervention group additionally received a brief presentation by a vascular surgeon regarding the benefits of smoking cessation, with a focus on vascular complications. At enrollment and at follow-up, patients underwent carbon monoxide breath testing and completed a survey. The primary outcome was smoking cessation or reduction among control and intervention groups in patients who underwent medical management, endovascular procedures, or open surgical procedures. Fisher's exact test was used to assess the primary outcome among groups. Results Fifty-nine patients were enrolled in the trial initially, but 55 had 1-month follow-up (control n = 28, intervention n = 27) and 52 had long-term follow-up (control n = 28, intervention n = 24). By long-term follow-up, 40 patients (77%) had reduced smoking by at least 50% and 16 patients (31%) had quit completely. At long-term follow-up, 88% of patients in the intervention group and 68% of patients in the control group reduced smoking (P = 0.1). Conclusions A large proportion of vascular patients who received 2 weeks of nicotine replacement with or without the addition of brief smoking cessation counseling delivered by a vascular surgery provider were able to reduce smoking and maintain reduction after 6 months. Delivery of a brief standardized smoking cessation counseling session by a vascular surgery provider is safe and feasible. Additional randomized controlled trials with large enrollment periods and long follow-up are needed to determine the efficacy of this intervention in comparison to standard care.
Robust Synthetic Aperture Imaging of Marine Controlled-Source Electromagnetic Data

The synthetic aperture (SA) method has recently found applications in the analysis of the low-frequency marine controlled-source electromagnetic (MCSEM) data. It has been shown that this method can enhance the response from an anomalous target. However, in a SA method, anomalous EM fields and the noise will be equally steered and focused, leading to amplifying the noise and introducing artifacts into the images. In addition, the current realizations of the SA method are very sensitive to the noise in the data and the parameters of the SA. In this article, we address these difficulties by introducing a robust SA (RSA) method. The RSA method consists of three steps, namely, robust smoothing of the background field, robust interpolation of EM fields from the real receiver positions to the virtual receiver positions, and estimating the SA weights with a robust optimization scheme. The synthetic model studies show that this method is stable to noise and has a relatively high spatial resolution. We have also applied this method to the towed streamer data collected in the Barents Sea. The generated pseudo-3-D images accurately reveal the locations of the salt domes and fault structures known from the seismic data.
Altering the rhythm of target and background talkers differentially affects speech understanding.

Three experiments investigated listeners’ ability to use speech rhythm to attend selectively to a single target talker presented in multi-talker babble (Experiments 1 and 2) and in speech-shaped noise (Experiment 3). Participants listened to spoken sentences of the form “Ready [Call sign] go to [Color] [Number] now” and reported the Color and Number spoken by a target talker (cued by the Call sign “Baron”). Experiment 1 altered the natural rhythm of the target talker and background talkers for two-talker and six-talker backgrounds. Experiment 2 considered parametric rhythm alterations over a wider range, altering the rhythm of either the target or the background talkers. Experiments 1 and 2 revealed that altering the rhythm of the target talker, while keeping the rhythm of the background intact, reduced listeners’ ability to report the Color and Number spoken by the target talker. Conversely, altering the rhythm of the background talkers, while keeping the target rhythm intact, improved listeners ability to report the Color and Number spoken by the target talker. Experiment 3, which embedded the target talker in speech-shaped noise rather than multi-talker babble, similarly reduced recognition of the target sentence with increased alteration of the target rhythm. This pattern of results favors a dynamic-attending theory-based selective-entrainment hypothesis over a disparity-based segregation hypothesis and an increased salience hypothesis.
Early Word-Learning Skills: A Missing Link in Understanding the Vocabulary Gap?.

Socioeconomic status (SES) has been repeatedly linked to the developmental trajectory of vocabulary acquisition in young children. However, the nature of this relationship remains underspecified. In particular, despite an extensive literature documenting young children's reliance on a host of skills and strategies to learn new words, little attention has been paid to whether and how these skills relate to measures of SES and vocabulary acquisition. To evaluate these relationships, we conducted two studies. In Study 1, 205 2.5- to 3.5-year old children from widely varying socioeconomic backgrounds were tested on a broad range of word-learning skills that tap their ability to resolve cases of ambiguous reference and to extend words appropriately. Children's executive functioning and phonological memory skills were also assessed. In Study 2, 77 of those children returned for a follow-up session several months later, at which time two additional measures of vocabulary were obtained. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and multivariate regression, we provide evidence of the mediating role of word-learning skills on the relationship between SES and vocabulary skill over the course of early development.