cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discrete Ordinates Method for Transient Radiation Transfer in Cylindrical Enclosures

The Discrete Ordinates Method (DOM) for solving transient radiation transfer equation in cylindrical coordinates is developed for radiation heat transfer in participating turbid media in pico-scale time domain. The application problems addressed here are laser tissue welding and soldering. The novelty of this study lies with the use of ultrashort laser pulses as the irradiation source. The characteristics of transient radiation heat transfer in ultrafast laser tissue welding and soldering are studied with the DOM developed. The temporal distribution of radiative energy inside the tissue cylinder as well as the radiative heat flux on the tissue surface is obtained. Comparisons are performed between laser welding without use of solder and laser soldering with use of solder. The use of solder is found to have highly concentrated radiation energy deposition in the solder-stained region and reduce the surface radiative heat flux accordingly. Comparisons of transient radiation heat transfer between the spatially square-variance and Gaussian-variance laser inputs and between the temporally Gaussian and skewed input profiles are also conducted.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Static bow of shafts due to rubbing

Abstract When rotating shafts contact stationary components, part of the heat liberated due to friction enters the shaft and causes bow, if the distribution of the heat is not uniform. This situation is very common in turborotors rubbing against the steam packings and seals. In this paper, the shaft is modeled as a hollow cylinder of finite length. Uniform heat convection on both surfaces was assumed with arbitrary distribution of the frictional heat. The transient heat conduction equation was used in conjunction with Goodiers formula for the thermoelastic bow. The bow was calculated in closed form in terms of two parameters which were tabulated for a variety of boundary conditions.
Toward precision medicine in glioblastoma: the promise and the challenges

Integrated sequencing strategies have provided a broader understanding of the genomic landscape and molecular classifications of multiple cancer types and have identified various therapeutic opportunities across cancer subsets. Despite pivotal advances in the characterization of genomic alterations in glioblastoma, targeted agents have shown minimal efficacy in clinical trials to date, and patient survival remains poor. In this review, we highlight potential reasons why targeting single alterations has yielded limited clinical efficacy in glioblastoma, focusing on issues of tumor heterogeneity and pharmacokinetic failure. We outline strategies to address these challenges in applying precision medicine to glioblastoma and the rationale for applying targeted combination therapy approaches that match genomic alterations with compounds accessible to the central nervous system.
Type 4 sphingosine 1-phosphate G protein-coupled receptor (S1P4) transduces S1P effects on T cell proliferation and cytokine secretion without signaling migration.

SPECIFIC AIMSS1P4 is expressed principally by leukocytes of the immune system, but the nature and mechanisms of its T cell effects in immunity have not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time the functions of S1P transduced by S1P4 in T cells.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. S1P4 does not mediate S1P effect on T cell migrationWe used two model systems to investigate the cellular functions transduced by S1P4 in T cells. In the first model S1P4 was introduced into two mouse T cell lines termed D10G4.1 and EL-4.IL-2, which express only marginally detectable levels of endogenous S1P GPCRs. S1P4 mRNA and protein expression after transfection indicated that S1P4 became the major S1P GPCR and the expression level is similar to that in primary splenic CD4 T cells, without any change in the levels of S1P1 or any other S1P GPCRs. In the second model, CD4 T cells isolated from C57BL/6 mice were treated with 100 nM FTY720 for 16 h at 37°C. It had been demonstrated that under this condition S1...
Multisatellite observations of field-aligned current systems

Abstract We review observations of field aligned currents made simultaneously by more than one spacecraft, concentrating on observations made in the middle or outer magnetosphere. The Region 1/Region 2 current system, first detected in the Triad magnetometer data in low Earth orbit, has been detected in the middle magnetosphere. This signature is most clear on the dayside, but the classic Iijima and Potemra structure is seen only 25% of the time. Much of the time the current structure is more complicated, while during quiet times no currents are seen. The near earth nightside region is dominated by substorm currents. However in the more distant tail (10–20 R E ) the Region 1 currents have been detected embedded in the plasma sheet boundary layer. An oppositely directed current appears to flow on the very outermost boundary of the plasma sheet. The signatures of the field aligned current portion of the substorm current wedge, originally deduced from mid latitude magnetograms, is clear near geosynchronous orbit, provided the data is organized by the ground based signature of the currents. But at geosynchronous orbit the magnetic perturbations exhibit far more fine structure, are often shorter-lived, and usually cover a smaller longitudinal extent than at mid latitudes. All these observations suggest that the currents flow reasonably close to geosynchronous spacecraft, albeit on larger L shells. Too few observations have been made further down the tail to confirm whether the substorm current wedge pattern can be detected there.
Decontamination of Creutzfeldt- Jakob Disease and other transmissible agents

The bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic in cows, and the recent BSE-linked human infections, present new public health problems. More rigorous measures are needed to prevent additional transmissions. Tissue from established but undiagnosed human infections can contaminate medical supplies and instruments. We tested guanidine thiocyanate (GdnSCN) solutions and found them to be highly effective in disrupting the infectious agent, even in very complex tissues such as whole brain. It may be prudent now to use this reagent routinely in surgical and other relevant settings.
Effect of photoperiod and cold acclimation on survival of mice in cold.

Male albino mice (Swiss-Webster) were raised at 5 °C under short (8L:16D) and long (16L:8D) light periods. All mice were housed in groups of three to five individuals in plastic mouse cages (16 × 12 × 28 cm) until 42 days of age with food and water ad libitum and cold exposed to −40 °C between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm to determine survival time or time until loss of righting response occurred (CT min). Under short photo-periods, survival time was 49.3 ± 4.4 min and under long photoperiods it was 38.7 ± 1.9 min (P < 0.05). A second group of mice was maintained from birth at thermoneutral temperature (22 °C) under constant darkness, short day lengths (4L:20D), or constant light in the same fashion as mentioned above. When exposed to −20 °C survival time was found to be 80.0 ± 5.0 min for the animals kept in constant darkness, 61.1 ± 2.3 min for animals raised in short photo-periods (4L:20D) (P < 0.01), and 52.4 ± 2.3 min for mice raised in constant light (P < 0.05). After 30 min mean rectal temperature was 32.1 ± 0.47 °C for constant-darkness animals, 30.5 ± 0.43 °C for short-day animals (P < 0.02), and 28.5 ± 0.74 °C for animals raised in constant light (P < 0.05). After 60 min mean rectal temperatures for constant-dark, 4L:20D, and constant-light animals were compared and body temperature was found to be 23.7 ± 1.6, 17.3 ± 1.5 (P < 0.01), and 12.8 ± 0.87 °C (P < 0.05), respectively. From these data, it is obvious that photoperiod influences cold resistance at both cold and thermoneutral acclimation temperatures although when considered individually, cold acclimation enhances cold survival to a greater degree than does reduced light exposure.
An Experimental Study of the Effects of Inequality and Relative Deprivation on Trusting Behavior 1

Several non-experimental studies report that income inequality and other forms of population-based heterogeneity reduce levels of trust in society. However, recent work by Glaeser et al. (2000) calls into question the reliability of widely used survey-based measures of trust. Specifically, survey responses regarding trust attitudes did not reflect subjects’ actual behavior in a trust game. In this paper, we conduct a novel experimental test of the effects of inequality on trust and trustworthiness. Our experimental design induces inequality by varying the show-up fees paid to subjects, in contrast to previous experiments that focus on broad cultural or national differences in trust. We do not find robust support for the hypothesis that inequality per se dampens trusting behavior a mong all subjects; however, we do find some evidence that trust and trustworthiness are influenced by an individual’s relative position in the group. Finally, we confirm previous findings that common survey-based measures of social trust are not associated with actual trusting behavior.
In situ settling behavior of marine snow1

The settling velocities of undisturbed macroscopic aggregates known as marine snow were measured with SCUBA in surface waters off southern California and analyzed as a function of aggregate size, mass, and density. The mean settling velocity was 74f39 m d-l for aggregates ranging from 2.4 to 75 mm in maximum length. Sinking rates in the field varied exponentially with aggregate size and dry weight and were consistently up to four times slower than rates measured in the laboratory. The excess densities of the 80 aggregates examined were calculated from volume and dry weight and ranged over four orders of magnitude with a median of 1.4 x 1O-4 g cm-3. Aggregates of marine snow sank more slowly than predicted for either solid or porous spheres of equivalent volume and density, although their velocities were within the range expected for equivalent sinking prolate ellipsoids. No relationships between settling velocity and either excess density or particle shape were found. Drag coefficients of marine snow were also higher than predicted by theory for spheres of equivalent volume and density. These deviations from theoretical expectations may be partially explained by errors in the estimation of the excess densities of aggregates. Variability in the densities of the heterogeneous primary particles comprising marine snow (fecal pellets, claymineral particlcs, phytoplankton, molts, etc.) and the potential for buoyancy regulation by individual phytoplankton cells inhabiting aggregates make determination of excess density especially
Gender, Contingencies of Self-Worth, and Achievement Goals as Predictors of Academic Cheating in a Controlled Laboratory Setting

This study examined college students' cheating in a controlled laboratory setting in which a peer confederate invited participants to cheat on an academic test. Consistent with past findings, male students cheated more than female students. Moreover, predictors of cheating interacted with gender. For men, basing self-worth on competition and having performance-avoidance goals predicted more cheating, whereas basing self-worth on virtue predicted less cheating. For women, none of the contingencies and goals predicted cheating. In its utilization of a realistic, controlled laboratory setting, the study accounted for problems inherent in observational and self-report techniques.
Printed organic electronics with a high k nanocomposite dielectric gate insulator

High capacitance, solution processed nanocomposite dielectric material was demonstrated as a gate insulator for printed electronics applications. A nanocomposite consisting of cross-linked propylene glycol methyl ether acetate and barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles was developed and utilized as the gate insulator. The high relative permittivity (K=35), bimodal nanocomposite utilized had two different filler particle sizes 200 nm and 1000 nm diameter particles. Bottom contact organic field effect transistors (OFETs) were demonstrated using a combination of printing and spray coating technologies. A metal coated plastic film was used as the flexible gate substrate. An amorphous organic semiconductor was utilized as the active layer. OFETs with the solution processed nanocomposite dielectric had a high field-induced current and a low threshold voltage and thus a low operating voltage due to the high capacitance gate insulator. In this paper, we review the characteristics of the nanocomposite material and discuss the processing and performance of the printed organic devices.
SpoIVB and CtpB Are Both Forespore Signals in the Activation of the Sporulation Transcription Factor σK in Bacillus subtilis

The proteolytic activation of the mother cell transcription factor pro-sigma(K) is controlled by a signal transduction pathway during sporulation in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. The pro-sigma(K) processing enzyme SpoIVFB, a membrane-embedded metalloprotease, is held inactive by two other integral membrane proteins, SpoIVFA and BofA, in the mother cell membrane that surrounds the forespore. Two signaling serine proteases, SpoIVB and CtpB, trigger pro-sigma(K) processing by cleaving the regulatory protein SpoIVFA. The SpoIVB signal is absolutely required to activate pro-sigma(K) processing and is derived from the forespore compartment. CtpB is necessary for the proper timing of sigma(K) activation and was thought to be a mother cell signal. Here, we show that the ctpB gene is expressed in both the mother cell and forespore compartments but that synthesis in the forespore under the control of sigma(G) is both necessary and sufficient for the proper timing of pro-sigma(K) processing. We further show that SpoIVB cleaves CtpB in vitro and in vivo but that this cleavage does not appear to be necessary for CtpB activation. Thus, both signaling proteins are made in the forespore and independently target the same regulatory protein.
Spatio–Temporal Regularity Flow (SPREF): Its Estimation and Applications

Feature selection and extraction is a key operation in video analysis for achieving a higher level of abstraction. In this paper, we introduce a general framework to extract a new spatio-temporal feature that represents the directions in which a video is regular, i.e., the pixel appearances change the least. We propose to model the directions of regular variations with a 3-D vector field, which is referred to as spatio-temporal regularity flow (SPREF). SPREF vectors are designed to have three cross-sectional parallel components Fx, Fy , and Ft for convenient use in different applications. They are estimated using all the frames simultaneously by minimizing an energy functional formulated according to its definition. In this paper, we first introduce translational SPREF (T-SPREF) and then extend our framework to affine SPREF (A-SPREF). The successful use of SPREF in a few applications, including object removal, video inpainting, and video compression, is also demonstrated
A Study of the Response of Deep Tropical Clouds to Large-Scale Thermodynamic Forcings. Part I: Modeling Strategies and Simulations of TOGA COARE Convective Systems

Abstract Interactions between deep tropical clouds over the western Pacific warm pool and the larger-scale environment are key to understanding climate change. Cloud models are an extremely useful tool in simulating and providing statistical information on heat and moisture transfer processes between cloud systems and the environment, and can therefore be utilized to substantially improve cloud parameterizations in climate models. In this paper, the Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) cloud-resolving model is used in multiday simulations of deep tropical convective activity over the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE). Large-scale temperature and moisture advective tendencies, and horizontal momentum from the TOGA COARE Intensive Flux Array region, are applied to the GCE version that incorporates cyclical boundary conditions. Sensitivity experiments show that the horizontal extent (size) of the domain produces the largest response to domain-mean temperatur...
Oral Infection with Chicken Anemia Virus in 4-Wk Broiler Breeders: Lack of Effect of Major Histocompatibility B Complex Genotype

The pathologic consequences of chicken anemia virus (CAV) oral inoculation in 4-wk-old broiler breeders of different major histocompatibility B complex (MHC) genotypes were evaluated. MHC B complex was determined by hemagglutination and sequence-based typing. Clinical signs, serology, gross lesions, histopathologic analysis, and CAV genome quantification were used to evaluate disease progression. Clinical disease was not apparent in the inoculated broilers throughout the experimental period. At 14 days postinoculation, antibodies against CAV were detected in 26.4% (29/110) of the inoculated birds. The distribution of percent positive was 34.6% (9/26) and 32.3% (10/31) of the chickens with B A9/A9 and B A9/A4 MHC genotypes, respectively, and seroconversion in six other genotypes was 19% (10/53). These differences among MHC genotypes for specific seroconversion rate were not statistically significant. CAV genomes were detected in the thymus of 87.7% (93/110) of the inoculated birds with no statistically significant differences between MHC genotypes. Mild thymic lymphocytolysis, lymphedema, and medullary hemorrhage were observed in the inoculated chickens. Histomorphometric analysis showed that cortical lymphocyte-to-parenchyma ratios did not differ between inoculated and uninoculated groups or among MHC genotypes. Similar findings have been reported previously in white-leghorn chickens of similar age, suggesting that broilers show a similar resistance to the effects of CAV infection at this age. The absence of significant clinical and pathological changes in the orally inoculated broilers at this age contrasts with CAV-associated thymus damage seen frequently in condemned commercial broilers at harvest.
Theorems on the Regularity and Singularity of Minimal Surfaces and Harmonic Maps

These lectures are meant as an introduction to the analytic aspects of the study of regularity properties and singularities of minimal surfaces and harmonic maps.
Local Tangent Space Alignment

In this chapter, a dimensionality reduction embedding method, called local tangent space alignment (LTSA), is introduced. The method is based on the same geometric intuitions as LLE: If a data set is sampled from a smooth manifold, then the neighbors of each point remain nearby and similarly co-located in the low dimensional space. LTSA uses a different approach to the embedded space compared with LLE. In LLE, each point in the data set is linearly embedded into a locally linear patch of the manifold. Then low-dimensional data are constructed so that the locally linear relations of the original data are preserved. In LTSA, a locally linear patch is constructed by applying PCA on the neighbors. The patch then can be considered as an approximation of the tangent space at the point. Since the tangent place provides a coordinate representation of the neighbors, the coordinates give a low-dimensional representation of the patch. An alignment technique is introduced in LTSA to align the local representation to a global one. The chapter is organized as follows. In Section 11.1, we describe the method, paying more attention to the global alignment technique. In Section 11.2, the LTSA algorithm is developed. In Section 11.3, the experiments of LTSA are presented.
A Closer Look at New Pleading in the Litigation Marketplace

In this essay derived from a lecture delivered at the University of Genoa in 2013, I situate the New Pleading regime of Twombly and Iqbal in the American litigation marketplace. Courts and parties are undoubtedly affected by New Pleading. But, as rational actors, they also are responsive to it. Their responsive behaviors both mitigate the expected effects of New Pleading and cause unintended effects. Assessing New Pleading requires understanding and consideration of these market forces and reactive implications.
Comparison of Yb, Ho Upconversion Energy Transfer in Different Fluoride Crystals

A detailed spectroscopic comparison of the Yb, Ho upconversion energy transfer in BaY2F8, KYF4, and LiYF4 is presented. Yb, Ho:KYF4 is shown to be superior over the other two crystals and may have promise as a room temperature green upconversion laser.
HOSPITAL PERFORMANCE FOR ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION WITH THE NCDR ACTION REGISTRY-GWTG “ALL-OR-NONE COMPOSITE MEASURE”: MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

The NCDR ACTION Registry - GWTG (AR-G) uses an “all or none” composite quality score that encompasses key aspects of AMI care including timely provision of reperfusion, pharmacotherapy acutely and at discharge, as well as smoking cessation and cardiac rehabilitation referral. Little is known
Selling Insect Control

The American public today is the healthiest, best fed, and best clothed this world has ever seen. Never before has any people had so much food of such high quality at such reasonable prices.
Whole-Body Autoradiographic Studies on the Penetration of 14 C-Dieldrin in Susceptible and Resistant House Flies

Mechanisms of resistance to insecticides have been shown with differing degrees of success. Increased metabolism has accounted for resistance to DDT (Perry and Hoskins 1950, Sternberg et al. 1950), diazinon (Yang et al. 1971), and 3-isopropylphenyl N-methylcarbam ate (Georghiou and Metcalf 1961) in house flies. Other physiological mechanisms have included decreased sensitivity of nerves to DDT and dieldrin (Narahashi 1964) and changes in the target enzyme to organophosphates (Smissaert 1964). As a partial explanation for resistance, the difference between the rate of penetration into resistant (R) and susceptible (S) house flies has been offered for diazinon (Forgash et al. 1962). Less dramatic changes in penetration have been found in house flies resistant to dieldrin (Perry et al. 1964, Gerolt 1965, Sellers and Guthrie (1972). In the latter study, although penetration of dieldrin was slower in R than S house flies, there was no difference in distribution among the various body organs nor in metabolism. Recently Hoyer and Plapp (1971) reported a genetic factor for reduced penetration on chromosome 3 of house flies which, when incorporated by genetic marker techniques, enhanced resistance 3-fold for malathion, 20-fold for DDT, and 100-fold for dieldrin.
Controlling Underactuated Mechanical Systems: A Review and Open Problems

This chapter provides a short review on the popular yet still very important area of controlling underactuated mechanical systems. New solutions to the simultaneous stabilization and tracking problem are proposed for nonholonomic mobile robots using state and output feedback. Some open problems are discussed with a unique objective to solicit fundamentally novel techniques for the further development of modern nonlinear control theory.
MHealthInt: Healthcare intervention using mobile app and Google Cloud Messaging

Healthcare interventions enable healthcare providers to monitor vital parameters of their patients and instruct them to make changes in their daily routine to ensure a healthy life. Mobile phones and cloud computing offer new opportunities to improve the technologies used for healthcare interventions. We propose a system (MHealthInt [1]) that focuses on healthcare intervention and utilizes the existing features of a smart phone to make the intervention process more efficient. We use Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) to deliver the intervention. We automate the intervention process, wherein a provider can schedule the intervention messages at any time of the day/week across intervention and control groups. We conducted a feasibility study involving providers and have documented the results. The study lasted a week and was found to be an improvement over a previous study that was conducted using SMS/text messages.
Difference of Gap Before and After Posterior Cruciate Ligament Substitution During TKA

INTRODUCTION: In varus knee, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) release has been reported to result in the increase of the flexion gap without significant effect on the extension gap. However, the effect of release on gap angle is still obscure. On the other hand, gap angle and distance measured with the tension devices may vary due to different distraction forces. In this study, difference of gap angle and distance before and after PCL resection in knee extension and 90° flexion was inspected. Effect of different distraction force on gap was also assessed. OBJECTIVES: Fifty cases with medial osteoarthritis undergoing PS-TKA were included in the study. PCL of all the cases were identified intact before resection. METHODS: After distal femoral and proximal tibial cuts were initially performed and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was excised, joint gap angle and distance in full extension and at 90° flexion were obtained by means of a tensioning device, Balancer under 10, 20 and 30 inch-pounds distraction. The gap angle and distance were measured 3 times at each step. Then PCL was excised and the same measurement was performed. RESULTS: The gap distances significantly enlarged following the increased distraction forces in both knee extension and 90° flexion, before and after the PCL resection (p CONCLUSION: In this study, all the distances and angles had a correlation with the distraction powers of the tensioner. For the joint gap distance, the distance in extension was not influenced by the release of the PCL, but was enlarged at 90° flexion after the release. We found that the varus gap angles were decreased at both extension and flexion. Thirty inch-pounds seem to have more effect on the gap angle than 20 inch-pounds at 90° flexion after the release. It indicated that the evaluation of the joint gap might not be accurate if the distraction power of the tension device is not appropriate. Our study indicated that in varus deformity osteoarthritic knees, PCL resection may have influence on the correction of deformity. The means of modified gap control method and measured bone resection method, and the character of joint gap in CR, CS or PS TKA should be considered independently.
Abnormal Joint Moment Distributions and Functional Performance During Sit-to-Stand in Femoroacetabular Impingement Patients

Abstract Background Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a morphological abnormality of the hip joint that causes pain when performing a mechanically demanding activity of daily living such as the sit-to-stand (STS) task. Previous studies have assessed lower extremity joint mechanics during an STS task in various pathologies, yet the STS task has not been studied in FAI patients. Objective The objective of this study was to identify differences in joint kinetics and performance between FAI patients and healthy controls during a STS task. It was hypothesized that FAI patients would exhibit altered time needed to complete the STS task, as well as altered lower extremity biomechanics, when compared to healthy controls. Design This was a cross-sectional cohort study. Setting The study took place at a motion capture laboratory at an institutional orthopedic facility. Participants Biomechanical analysis was performed in 17 FAI patients and 31 age- and body mass index (BMI)−matched healthy controls during the STS task. Methods Sagittal plane joint moments, total support moment (TSM), joint contributions to the TSM, and functional measures during the STS task were compared between groups. Main Outcome Measurements Peak joint moments, TSM and joint contributions to the TSM were assessed during the STS task. In addition, the time to and value of the peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), limb symmetry index at peak vGRF, loading rate, and total time needed to perform the STS task were determined. Results Compared to the control participants, the FAI patients exhibited worse Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) pain and function subscores. No group differences were observed in peak sagittal joint moments during the STS task. However, when compared to controls, the FAI patients demonstrated reduced knee joint contributions to the TSM. In addition, the FAI patients exhibited increased time needed to perform the STS task, increased time to reach peak vGRF, and reduced lower extremity loading rate during the STS task. Conclusions FAI patients demonstrated abnormal joint contributions to TSM and altered functional performance during the STS task. These altered movement patterns during the STS task may be compensatory mechanisms used by the FAI patients to reduce pain and to improve function. Level of Evidence Not applicable.
Effective Transfer Function Models by Input, Output Variables Reduction

Abstract Transfer function models used for early stages of design are large dimension, contain all possible physical inputs, outputs, may be badly conditioned and possibly degenerate. The problem considered here is the selection of maximal cardinality subsets of the physical input, output sets, such as the resulting model is nondegenerate and satisfies additional properties such as controllability and observability and avoids the existence of high order infinite zeros. Conditions for characterisation of such properties are given. A selection procedure for natural subsets of inputs and outputs, which guarantee well conditioning in the above sense, may be based on these criteria.
Distributed energy storage system scheduling considering tariff structure, energy arbitrage and solar PV penetration

Abstract We develop a new convex optimization (CO)-based charge/discharge scheduling algorithm for distributed energy storage systems (ESSs) co-located with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The CO-based scheduling algorithm minimizes the monthly electricity expenses of a customer who owns an ESS and incorporates both a time-of-use volumetric tariff and a demand charge tariff. Further, we propose the novel idea of a “supply charge” tariff that incentivizes ESS customers to store excess solar PV generation that may otherwise result in reverse power flow in the distribution grid. By means of a case study we observe the CO-based daily charge/discharge schedules reduce (1) peak net demand (that is, load minus PV generation) of the customer, (2) power fluctuations in the customer net demand profile, and (3) the reliance of the customer on the grid by way of promoting energy self-consumption of local solar PV generation. Two alternate methods for behind-the-meter ESS scheduling are considered as benchmarks for cost minimization, peak net demand reduction, and mitigation of net demand fluctuations. The algorithm is tested using real 30-min interval residential load and solar data of 53 customers over 2-years. Results show that the CO-based scheduling algorithm provides mean peak net demand reductions between 46% and 64%, reduces mean net demand fluctuations by 25–49%, and increases the mean solar PV self-consumption between 24% and 39% when compared to a customer without an ESS. Introduction of a supply charge reduces the maximum solar PV power supply to the grid by 19% on average and does not financially impact ESS owners.
Emerging options in multiple myeloma: targeted, immune, and epigenetic therapies

Considerable progress has been made in the treatment of multiple myeloma in the past decade with median survival for the disease improving significantly. This has come through a combination of better understanding of the disease biology and coordinated research into new treatment approaches including better supportive care. However, patients eventually become refractory to available treatments and succumb to the disease, highlighting the need to develop new treatment approaches. The genetic heterogeneity in the disease and clonal evolution under treatment pressure underlie the development of resistance, underscoring the need to develop more effective therapies that can eradicate the disease at initial treatment as well as the need for new classes of drugs with varying mechanisms of action. To this end, there has been intense focus on exploring novel approaches to therapy including small-molecule inhibitors targeting specific abnormalities, immune therapies including monoclonal antibodies and adaptive T-cell therapy, as well as epigenetic approaches. Although many of these drugs are in the early stages of clinical development, the early data appear to be very promising. Many of these drugs can be safely and effectively combined with the current treatment classes such as proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs, further enhancing the treatment options for myeloma.
Telemedicine in Pediatric Gastroenterology: An Overview of Utility

Abstract Background: The availability of pediatric subspecialty services is a problem evident throughout the United States. Access to pediatric gastroenterology services, especially in rural areas, can be scarce. Telemedicine has been proposed as a tool capable of decreasing healthcare costs while extending medical care. Objective: The purpose of this article is to review available literature regarding the utility of telemedicine as it applies to pediatric gastroenterology, specifically its role in eliminating healthcare disparities. Methods: Research articles were identified through a PubMed search with key words focusing on telemedicine initiatives in pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric subspecialty, rural pediatric care, and adult gastroenterology. Studies were categorized based on the following areas of application: financial, time management, communication/community, and patient health and satisfaction. Results: We reached the conclusion that evidence-supported trends in available literature provid...
Global EDF-Based Scheduling of Multiple Independent Synchronous Dataflow Graphs

The global scheduling of systems that can be modeled as collections of multiple independent recurrent real-time tasks, each represented as a synchronous dataflow graph (SDFG), upon an identical multiprocessor platform is considered. An EDF-based scheduling algorithm is proved optimal under the speedup factor metric, and a speedup-optimal sufficient schedulability test is derived.
Topological and statistical analyses of gene regulatory networks reveal unifying yet quantitatively different emergent properties

Understanding complexity in physical, biological, social and information systems is predicated on describing interactions amongst different components. Advances in genomics are facilitating the high-throughput identification of molecular interactions, and graphs are emerging as indispensable tools in explaining how the connections in the network drive organismal phenotypic plasticity. Here, we describe the architectural organization and associated emergent topological properties of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that describe protein-DNA interactions (PDIs) in several model eukaryotes. By analyzing GRN connectivity, our results show that the anticipated scale-free network architectures are characterized by organism-specific power law scaling exponents. These exponents are independent of the fraction of the GRN experimentally sampled, enabling prediction of properties of the complete GRN for an organism. We further demonstrate that the exponents describe inequalities in transcription factor (TF)-target gene recognition across GRNs. These observations have the important biological implication that they predict the existence of an intrinsic organism-specific trans and/or cis regulatory landscape that constrains GRN topologies. Consequently, architectural GRN organization drives not only phenotypic plasticity within a species, but is also likely implicated in species-specific phenotype.
Pathophysiology of Chronic Pain

Acute pain hurts and most often is the result of tissue injury. Chronic pain also hurts. Although those who suffer from chronic pain also tend to associate the onset with an injury, illness, or surgical procedure; the root cause is far more complex. Chronic pain most often does not follow dermatomal distributions associated with any injury, disease or surgical procedure. And more often than not, chronic pain sufferers also suffer from various forms of depression and/or anxiety. The process of central sensitization resulting from tissue injury has been elucidated, as has many of the molecular changes within the brain that perpetuate chronic pain. Genetics, epigenetics, environmental stressors, and emotional stressors all play roles to varying degrees in the development of the chronic pain state. This article explores how synaptic memories form in the brain as a result of both physical and emotional traumas (multiple hits) resulting in progression to chronic pain, because of failure of the brain’s descending modulatory mechanisms to prevent or control “the pain”.
What is the best way to surgically eliminate the left atrial appendage

Surgery for atrial fibrillation has been performed now for more than 20 years. The Cox-Maze procedure was introduced in 1987 by Dr. James Cox at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. This procedure, which has since been used in various centers, has been successful at eliminating symptomatic atrial
Tools for immunization guideline knowledge maintenance: I.: automated generation of the logic “kernal” for immunization forecasting

Abstract IMM/Def is a prototype computer program designed to facilitate the building and maintenance of a rule-based program which performs childhood immunization forecasting. An immunization forecasting program takes as input a child's immunization history and produces recommendations as to which vaccinations are due and which should be scheduled next. A significant amount of the knowledge required for immunization forecasting can be expressed in tabular form, including the parameters that indicate the minimum age when each dose may be given and the minimum intervals between doses. The choice of which of these sets of parameters apply to a particular case depends upon additional clinical logic. To perform forecasting, this logic must be applied in three temporal contexts: (1) a dose is due now, (2) a dose is not yet due, and (3) a dose must be scheduled to follow a dose which is due now. Building and maintaining this logic by hand is a formidable challenge. IMM/Def demonstrates how this task can be simplified by first defining immunization “definition logic” which can be automatically translated into if-then rules for each of the three contexts. The approach has been applied successfully to the six childhood vaccination series which are routinely administered. A key advantage is that IMM/Def allows one to have two specifications of the logic that can be examined independently and that can be cross-checked to help assure completeness, consistency, and accuracy of the logic. The paper describes how IMM/Def performs its translation and discusses several design issues and lessons learned.
Oil Spill Response and the Challenges of Arctic Marine Shipping: An Assessment by the Arctic Council

The Arctic Council has committed to the conduct of an Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment. The state of Arctic climate change, the projections for ice coverage change and the nature of current marine vessel traffic in the Arctic Region indicate that there will be significant potential impacts on the marine environment from the anticipated growth of marine traffic. To address the potential impacts of this growth the Arctic Council has developed a comprehensive initiative to assess with stakeholder participation the growth and challenges to be expected from marine transportation. The Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment includes data acquisition, public and stake holder outreach, and expert analysis in relation to traffic growth, environmental challenges, risk analysis, socio-economic impacts and related matters.
1988 active Army physical fitness survey.

The U.S. Army Physical Fitness School (USAPFS) at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN was tasked with measuring the physical fitness of the active Army. Performance on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) was used to determine fitness levels. Data were collected at 14 U.S. Army installations CONUS-wide between October 1 and November 30, 1988. Five thousand three hundred forty-six male and 676 female active Army soldiers (N = 6.022) between the ages of 17-52 and in 60 military occupational specialties (MOSs) participated in the study. Generally, the results were favorable. Senior age groups performed well overall, especially females. Improvement in muscular strength and endurance conditioning since 1984 was also observed. However, concern was raised about poor performance in the youngest age group (17-21), where 16.6% of the males failed the 2-mile run event and 29.0% failed overall. Likewise, for females in the 17-21 year age group, 28.8% failed the 2-mile run and 36.0% failed overall. Several reasons are suggested for the poor performance of the younger age groups, including inadequate leadership in fitness training and low levels of self-motivation. This study suggest that many soldiers, especially young soldiers, may not possess sufficient levels of physical fitness to meet the physical demands of war.
Skills and Accuracy in Criminal Profiling

This chapter discusses the empirically derived conclusions of studies that sought to examine the accuracy and skills of various groups performing a profiling task. The conclusions provide some support for the contention that professional profilers can produce a more accurate prediction of an unknown offender in comparison with other studied groups. The results also give an indication of the type of skills required for proficient profiling.
Functional Connectivity of Chronic Cocaine Use Reveals Progressive Neuroadaptations in Neocortical, Striatal, and Limbic Networks

Abstract Brain imaging studies indicate that chronic cocaine users display altered functional connectivity between prefrontal cortical, thalamic, striatal, and limbic regions; however, the use of cross-sectional designs in these studies precludes measuring baseline brain activity prior to cocaine use. Animal studies can circumvent this limitation by comparing functional connectivity between baseline and various time points after chronic cocaine use. In the present study, adult male Long–Evans rats were trained to self-administer cocaine intravenously for 6 h sessions daily over 14 consecutive days. Two additional groups serving as controls underwent sucrose self-administration or exposure to the test chambers alone. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was conducted before self-administration and after 1 and 14 d of abstinence (1d and 14d Abs). After 1d Abs from cocaine, there were increased clustering coefficients in brain areas involved in reward seeking, learning, memory, and autonomic and affective processing, including amygdala, hypothalamus, striatum, hippocampus, and thalamus. Similar changes in clustering coefficient after 1d Abs from sucrose were evident in predominantly thalamic brain regions. Notably, there were no changes in strength of functional connectivity at 1 or 14 d after either cocaine or sucrose self-administration. The results suggest that cocaine and sucrose can change the arrangement of functional connectivity of brain regions involved in cognition and emotion, but that these changes dissipate across the early stages of abstinence. The study also emphasizes the importance of including baseline measures in longitudinal functional neuroimaging designs seeking to assess functional connectivity in the context of substance use.
Abstract WP88: Relationship Between Aneurysm Size and Distal Cerebral Hemodynamics

Introduction: The impact of aneurysms on distal cerebral hemodynamics is unknown. Here we examine the relationship between aneurysm size and distal hemodynamics prior to treatment. Methods: Patients seen at our institution between 2006-2015 with aneurysms within the cavernous or supraclinoid ICA segment (proximal to ICA terminus) were retrospectively reviewed. Only un-ruptured proximal anterior circulation aneurysms were included, patients with contralateral aneurysms were excluded. Patients were included if they had flow volume rate and flow velocities measured prior to any treatment using Quantitative MRA. Pulsatility index (PI) = [(systolic - diastolic flow velocity)/mean flow velocity] was calculated for ipsilateral and contralateral MCA and ICA. Hemodynamic parameters were analyzed with respect to aneurysm size. Results: 42 patients were included. Mean aneurysm size was 13.5 mm (range 2-40mm). There was significant correlation (Pearson’s) between aneurysm size and ipsilateral MCA PI ( P =0.006; r=0.441), MCA ipsilateral /ICA ipsilateral PI ratio ( P =0.003; r=0.57), and MCA ipsilateral /MCA contralateral PI ratio ( P =0.008; r=0.43). Conclusions: Larger aneurysm size is significantly associated with higher ipsilateral MCA PI, demonstrating that aneurysms change distal cerebral hemodynamics. Aneurysm treatment may thus acutely change those altered hemodynamics.
A bedside clinical tool using creatinine kinetics to predict worsening renal injury and early recovery.

Background Changing creatinine concentrations during acute renal failure are often confusing to clinicians to interpret and can cloud the patient's true current state of renal injury. By modifying the formula for kinetic estimate of glomerular filtration rate (KeGFR), a simple bedside clinical tool can be used to identify subtle changes in renal function. Methods The KeGFR was rewritten to instead calculate a predicted peak creatinine after renal injury. By comparing the changes in predicted peak creatinine at two or more subsequent time intervals, the patient's current state of renal injury can be determined: whether improving, worsening or unchanged from prior. Results Three case examples are provided using the equation for predicted peak creatinine. In each case, the creatinine concentration has continued to rise at three sequentially measured times. The change in predicted peak creatinine is analyzed for each case, demonstrating scenarios involving (i) improving renal injury, (ii) unchanged renal injury continued by unfavorable hemodynamics and (iii) worsening renal injury despite interventions. Conclusions The use of this model may provide clinicians with an easy bedside tool to assess a patient's state of acute kidney injury. Reassessment of how the creatinine is changing is already a nonquantitative part of a nephrologist's approach to acute kidney injury. Providing an assessment of the patient's changing renal function would be a useful addition to potentially detect early renal recovery or worsening renal injury and appropriately adjust treatment strategies.