cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
World applications of gas-insulated modules (GIMs) to HV and EHV substations

Electric power transmission and distribution market changes have forced operators to look for economical, fast-to-implement, environment-friendly and easy-to-maintain high-voltage and extra high-voltage substations. This research has led to the use of gas-insulated modules (GIMs), which integrate several feeder functions in a compact way and are connected to air-insulated busbars, instead of traditional air-insulated or fully gas-insulated solutions. Then, GIM use has been extended to different categories of applications, and to the highest voltages of transmission networks. This paper intends to present, from a general point of view, these different categories of applications, their specific needs and impacts, and the specific solutions proposed for the equipment
Axisymmetric form of the material point method with applications to upsetting and Taylor impact problems

Abstract The material point method is an evolution of particle-in-cell methods which utilize two meshes, one a material or Lagrangian mesh defined over material of the body under consideration, and the second a spatial or Eulerian mesh defined over the computational domain. Although meshes are used, they have none of the negative aspects normally associated with conventional Eulerian or Lagrangian approaches. The advantages of both the Eulerian and Lagrangian methods are achieved by using the appropriate frame for each aspect of the computation, with a mapping between the two meshes that is performed at each step in the loading process. The numerical dissipation normally displayed by an Eulerian method because of advection is avoided by using a Lagrangian step; the mesh distortion associated with the Lagrangian method is prevented by mapping to a user-controlled mesh. Furthermore, explicit material points can be tracked through the process of deformation, thereby alleviating the need to map history variables. As a consequence, problems which have caused severe numerical difficulties with conventional methods are handled fairly routinely. Examples of such problems are the upsetting of billets and the Taylor problem of cylinders impacting a rigid wall. Numerical solutions to these problems are obtained with the material point method and where possible comparisons with experimental data and existing numerical solutions are presented.
Two-photon fluorescence and confocal reflected light imaging of thick tissue structures

The technology of two-photon excitation has opened a window of opportunity for developing non-invasive medical diagnostic tools capable of monitoring thick tissue biochemical states. Using cellular endogenous chromophores, (beta) -nicotinamide- adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NAD(P)H], the cellular metabolic rates in living human skin were determined. Although important functional information can be obtained from the fluorescence spectroscopy of endogenous chromophores, these chromophores are rather poor contrast enhancing agent for mapping cellular morphology. First, most endogenous chromophores are confined to the cellular cytoplasm which prevents the visualization of other cellular organelles. Second, there is significant variability in the distribution and the quantum yield of endogenous chromophores which depends on tissue biochemistry but prevents consistent comparison of cellular morphology. On the other hand, the deep tissue cellular morphology has been imaged with excellent resolution using reflected light confocal microscopy. In reflected light microscopy, the image contrast originates from the index of refraction differences of the cellular structures. The organelle boundaries with significant index differences such as the plasma membrane and the nucleus envelope can be consistently visualized. A combination of morphological and functional information is required for a thorough tissue study. This presentation describes the development of a new microscope which is capable of simultaneously collecting both two-photon fluorescence and confocal reflected light signals. Promising biomedical applications include the non-invasive diagnosis of skin cancer and the study of wound healing.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Excitation of a Giant Isoscalar Resonance by α Particles

The inelastic scattering of 115-MeV $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles from $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ shows an enhancement of the continuum at about 18.25 MeV excitation energy. This observation supports recent electron, proton, and $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ scattering analyses which ascribe similar enhancements at ${E}_{x}\ensuremath{\approx}\frac{63}{{A}^{\frac{1}{3}}}$ MeV to an isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance. Although contributions from a monopole excitation cannot be ruled out, attributing all observed yields to a giant quadrupole resonance exhausts only 32% of the energy-weighted sum rule.
Arterial-venous differences in potassium concentrations in serum in paramyotonia.

Top of pageAbstract Extract: A group of patients is described with paramyotonia congenita whose condition was marked by a negative arterial-venous (A-V) difference in potassium concentration in plasma under basal conditions. The means ± SEM for arteriolized capillary blood, venous blood, and the differences between them were 4.13 ± 0.13, 5.05 ± 0.10, and −0.48 ± 0.08 mEq/liter, respectively. The A-V potassium difference in plasma becomes positive during exacerbation of signs and symptoms. The corresponding means ± SEM were 4.74 ± 0.17, 4.66 ± 0.15, and +0.08 ± 0.03 mEq/liter. The symptoms are precipitable by either chilling or administering potassium. Attacks of either myotonia or paresis were not associated with spontaneous hyperkalemia. The muscles of these patients contain increased amounts of water and sodium and decreased amounts of potassium. Speculation: It is believed that the negative A-V potassium difference in plasma constitutes a marker that enables patients with paramyotonia congenita to be separated from patients with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis and myotonia. In the latter instance, myotonia is also precipitable by chilling and relieved by rest. There is a correlation between increased muscle water between attacks and the occurrence of myotonia in patients with the various forms of periodic paralysis. Keywords: Electromyography; hyperkalemic periodic paralysis; muscle; myotonia; paramyotonia; potassium; water, intracellular
Design issues for dynamic voltage scaling

Processors in portable electronic devices generally have a computational load which has time-varying performance requirements. Dynamic Voltage Scaling is a method to vary the processor's supply voltage so that it consumes the minimal amount of energy by operating at the minimum performance level required by the active software processes. A dynamically varying supply voltage has implications on the processor circuit design and design flow, but with some minimal constraints it is straightforward to design a processor with this capability.
The promise of open education

Education is notorious for its swings of the pendulum. Movements are born, backed, bombarded, and buried in relatively short periods of time. Those of us who espouse a view near an end-point of the pendulum's arc suffer special frustration: when our movement is "in," it is frequently misinterpreted and badly implemented; when it is "out," it is castigated for wrongs both earned and unearned. Indeed, educational movements are often so poorly understood and described that even professional educators do not recognize them when they reappear on the scene.
Metadata models for ad hoc queries on terabyte-scale scientific simulations

We present our approach to enabling approximate ad hoc queries on terabyte-scale mesh data generated from large scientific simulations through the extension and integration of database, statistical, and data mining techniques. There are several significant barriers to overcome in achieving this objective. First, large-scale simulation data is already at the multi-terabyte scale and growing quickly, thus rendering traditional forms of interactive data exploration and query processing untenable. Second, a priori knowledge of user queries is not available, making it impossible to tune special-purpose solutions. Third, the data has spatial and temporal aspects, as well as arbitrarily high dimensionality, which exacerbates the task of finding compact, accurate, and easy-to-compute data models. Our approach is to preprocess the mesh data to generate highly compressed, lossy models that are used in lieu of the original data to answer users' queries. This approach leads to interesting challenges. The model (equivalently, the content-oriented metadata) being generated must be smaller than the original data by at least an order of magnitude. Second, the metadata representation must contain enough information to support a broad class of queries. Finally, the accuracy and speed of the queries must be within the tolerances required by users. In this paper we give an overview of ongoing development efforts with an emphasis on extracting metadata and using it in query processing.
The RISC system/6000 SMP system

The IBM RISC System/6000 Symmetric Multiprocessor is a new addition to IBM's successful line of RISC-based commercial servers. It utilizes balanced system design principles and introduces new levels of function and scalability. This paper will focus on design issues and technical attributes pertinent to achieving these goals.
Durch einen [(salen)CoIII]-Komplex katalysierte regio- und enantioselektive Cyclisierung von Epoxyalkoholen

Mit exzellenter Regio-und Enantiokontrolle katalysieren [(salen)CoIII]-Komplexe die intramolekulare Cyclisierung von Epoxyalkoholen. Terminale Epoxyalkohole werden mit hoher endo-Selektivitat enantioselektiv cyclisiert [Gl. (a)]. Die Reaktion von meso-Substraten fuhrte in guten Ausbeuten zu neuartigen cyclischen und bicyclischen Ethern mit hoher Enantiomerenreinheit. TBME=tert-Butylmethylether.
Reasons Why Individuals Remain Uninsured Under the Affordable Care Act: Experiences of Patients at a Student-Run Free Clinic in Michigan, a Medicaid Expansion State

Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many people remain uninsured. While studies have examined this population, few have explored patients' experiences seeking insurance. To elucidate these individuals' perspectives, we surveyed patients (n = 80) at the University of Michigan Student-Run Free Clinic concerning their activity accessing insurance. Over half of respondents had sought insurance in the past 6 months; 57 % of respondents qualified for Medicaid by self-reported income (≤138 % FPL) and all but one were eligible for tax credits on the Health Insurance Marketplace. However, only 35 % of apparently Medicaid-eligible respondents had recently applied. There was no significant difference in the rate of applying for those above the income cutoff (p = 0.901). Perceived expense of plans and belief of ineligibility for Medicaid discouraged respondents from actively seeking insurance. Personalized outreach emphasizing new Medicaid eligibility requirements and tax credits may be needed to facilitate Medicaid enrollment for some uninsured persons under the ACA.
Intraoperative and postoperative diagnosis of anastomotic leak following colorectal resection

Anastomotic leak is one of the most feared complications following colorectal resection. A great deal of research has been done to identify which patients are at highest risk, as well as which technical considerations may have an impact on mitigating leak risk. Despite these efforts, many patients will still experience anastomotic dehiscence after colorectal resection. The focus of this article is to identify strategies to detect anastomotic leak using both intraoperative and postoperative criteria.
Nature, nurture and epigenetics

Abstract Real life by definition combines heritability (e.g., the legacy of exposures) and experience (e.g. stress during sensitive or ‘critical’ periods), but how to study or even model this interaction has proven difficult. The hoary concept of evaluating traits according to nature versus nurture continues to persist despite repeated demonstrations that it retards, rather than advances, our understanding of biological processes. Behavioral genetics has proven the obvious, that genes influence behavior and, vice versa, that behavior influences genes. The concept of Genes X Environment (G X E) and its modern variants was viewed as an improvement on nature-nurture but has proven that, except in rare instances, it is not possible to fractionate phenotypes into these constituent elements. The entanglement inherent in terms such as nature-nurture or G X E is a Gordian knot that cannot be dissected or even split. Given that the world today is not what it was less than a century ago, yet the arbitrator (differential survival and reproduction) has stayed constant, de novo principles and practices are needed to better predict what the future holds. Put simply, the transformation that is now occurring within and between individuals as a product of global endocrine disruption is quite independent of what has been regarded as evolution by selection. This new perspective should focus on how epigenetic modifications might revise approaches to understand how the phenotype and, in particular its components, is shaped. In this review we summarize the literature in this developing area, focusing on our research on the fungicide vinclozolin.
Intragroup conflict under the microscope: Micro‐conflicts in naturalistic team discussions.

We argue for the value of examining micro-conflicts, brief moment-by-moment disagreements in conversations, and present a test of a coding scheme for this construct. Conceptualized and measured as such, micro-conflicts are brief rather than long-lasting behaviors, observational rather than self-report, and do not rely on participant retrospection. Using video data from naturalistic multidisciplinary teams, we examined type of micro-conflicts, micro-conflict resolution, affect, and the effect of team characteristics. Logistic regression revealed that negative affect was uncommon for micro-conflicts but still negatively related to micro-conflict resolution. Process micro-conflicts were more prevalent early in teams’ life cycles and in groups that experienced more obstacles and frustrations. Future research using this micro-behavioral construct can link immediate cognitive and affective consequences and antecedents to these micro-disagreements. It is possible that micro-conflicts, as minute behaviors, may be less emotionally intense and more easily resolved and thus have different implications, predictors, and correlates than macro-, self-reported conflicts.
Characterization of human plasma proteome dynamics using deuterium oxide

Purpose High-throughput quantification of human protein turnover via in vivo administration of deuterium oxide (2H2O) is a powerful new approach to examine potential disease mechanisms. Its immediate clinical translation is contingent upon characterizations of the safety and hemodynamic effects of in vivo administration of 2H2O to human subjects. Experimental design We recruited ten healthy human subjects with a broad demographic variety to evaluate the safety, feasibility, efficacy, and reproducibility of 2H2O intake for studying protein dynamics. We designed a protocol where each subject orally consumed weight-adjusted doses of 70% 2H2O daily for 14 days to enrich body water and proteins with deuterium. Plasma proteome dynamics was measured using a high-resolution MS method we recently developed. Results This protocol was successfully applied in ten human subjects to characterize the endogenous turnover rates of 542 human plasma proteins, the largest such human dataset to-date. Throughout the study, we did not detect physiological effects or signs of discomfort from 2H2O consumption. Conclusions and clinical relevance Our investigation supports the utility of a 2H2O intake protocol that is safe, accessible, and effective for clinical investigations of large-scale human protein turnover dynamics. This workflow shows promising clinical translational value for examining plasma protein dynamics in human diseases.
Clinical Applications of Dynamic Optical Tomography In Vascular Disease

Vascular disease is a significant source of mortality and morbidity for many patient populations. While substantial strides in surgical therapeutics have been made in the past decade, our limited understanding of the microvascular processes, which are invisible to conventional imaging modalities and beyond the scope of our current physiologic paradigms, has slowed the advancement of medical therapeutic interventions. In this report we present data in support of an emerging body of work demonstrating that the method of dynamic optical tomography can yield critical insights into the underpinnings of microvascular pathophysiology in large tissue structures.
Selective polarization imager for contrast enhancements in remote scattering media

Conventional intensity imaging through turbid media suffers from rapid loss of image contrast due to light scattering from particles or random variations of refractive index. This paper features the development of an active imaging, snapshot, system design and postprocessing algorithms that differentiate between radiation that scatters or reflects from remote, obscured objects and the radiation from the scattering media itself through a combination of polarization difference imaging, channel blurring, and Fourier spatial filtering. The produced sensor acquires and processes image data in real time, yielding improved image contrasts by factors of 10 or greater for dense water vapor obscurants.
Inferior vena cava reconstruction for leiomyosarcoma of Zone I-III requiring complete hepatectomy and bilateral nephrectomy with autotransplantation

The inferior vena cava (IVC) is the most common site of leiomyosarcomas arising from a vascular origin. Leiomyosarcomas of the IVC are categorized by anatomical location. Zone I refers to the infrarenal portion of the IVC, Zone II from the hepatic veins to the renal veins, and Zone III from the right atrium to the hepatic veins. This is a rare presentation of a Zone I-III leiomyosarcoma. Fifty-two-years-old female with a medical history significant only for HTN was admitted to the hospital with bilateral lower extremity edema and dyspnea. Two-dimensional echo demonstrated a right atrial thrombus, extending into the IVC. On subsequent CT and MRI, a 15 cm mass was noted that began in the right atrium and extended into the IVC, with continuation below the renal veins to above the level of the confluence of the common iliac veins. The patient underwent a complete resection of the mass, replacement of the IVC with Dacron graft, total hepatectomy and bilateral nephrectomy, with liver and kidney autotransplantation. Pathology was consistent with a high grade spindle cell sarcoma of vena cava origin. Patient was readmitted approximately 4 weeks postoperatively to begin adjuvant chemotherapy. This case represents a zone I-III IVC leiomyosarcoma treated with surgical R0 resection. This included a hepatectomy, bilateral nephrectomy, and hepatic and left renal autotransplantation. These complex tumors should be treated with surgical resection, and require a multidisciplinary approach.
IL-12-independent LIGHT signaling enhances MHC class II disparate CD4+ T cell alloproliferation, IFN-γ responses, and intestinal graft-versus-host disease

Inhibition of LIGHT (a cellular ligand for herpes virus entry mediator and lymphotoxin receptor)/herpes simplex virus entry mediator (HVEM) and LIGHT/lymphotoxin beta receptor (LT beta R) interactions decreases mortality in MHC class I and II disparate graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). The present studies assessed the effects of these interactions on the generation of CD4+ T cell alloresponses in MHC class II-disparate MLC and GVHD. An inhibitor protein of LIGHT and LT alpha beta2 (LT beta R-Ig) and an inhibitor protein of LIGHT (HVEM-Ig) caused similar decreases in alloresponses of control B6 or B6.129S1-IL12rb2(tm1Jm) (B6.IL12R-/-) spleen cells (SpC) in a MHC class II-disparate MLC. GVHD-induced wasting disease in MHC class II-disparate recipients of B6 CD4+ SpC who received either the LT beta R-Ig-encoding adenovirus (LT beta R-Ig Adv; 13.1 +/- 10.9%; n = 10; p = 0.0004) or the HVEM-Ig-encoding adenovirus (HVEM-Ig Adv; 16.4 +/- 9.9%; n = 13; p = 0.0008) was significantly reduced compared with that in recipients of a control adenovirus (30.4 +/- 8.8%; n = 13). Furthermore, gut GVHD histologic scores of recipients of B6 CD4+ SpC who received the LT beta R-Ig Adv (0.8 +/- 0.8; n = 5; p = 0.0007) or the HVEM-Ig Adv (1.4 +/- 0.5; n = 5; p = 0.008) were reduced compared with scores of recipients of a control adenovirus (2.5 +/- 0.75; n = 11). In the intestine, both LT beta R-Ig Adv and HVEM-Ig Adv decreased CD4+ T cells (0.35 +/- 0.4 x 10(6) (n = 6) vs 0.36 +/- 0.02 x 10(6) (n = 9); p = 0.03 and p = 0.007) compared with control adenovirus (0.86 +/- 0.42 x 10(6); n = 9). LIGHT is critical for optimal CD4+ T cell alloresponses in MHC class II-disparate MLC and GVHD.
Science learning pathways for young children

Preschool Pathways to Science (PrePS © ) is a science and math program for pre-K children that has been developed by a team of developmental psychologists in full collaboration with preschool directors, teachers and other staff. The PrePS © approach is rooted in domain-specific theories of development, theories that assume that different areas of knowledge are organized into separate mental structures as opposed to domain-general ones like concrete operations. Features of this theoretical stance are outlined, and their implications for educational practice are illustrated using examples from classroom practice. Specific attention is paid to the importance of science process skills, the need to connect experiences using a central concept, and the roles of math, communication, and literacy in a science-based learning approach. Finally, the critical interdependence of basic research and classroom practice is discussed. © 2004 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Simulating fishery-induced evolution in chinook salmon: the role of gear, location, and genetic correlation among traits

Adaptation to human-modified ecosystems has been implicated in changing the life history of a number of wild animal populations, potentially contributing to their collapse. Fishing may be an important evolutionary force that can change the distribution of fitness-related traits; however, the magnitude and direction of the evolutionary response may be influenced by different management strategies. Most phenotypic traits subject to human-induced selection are simultaneously influenced by the environment and by genetic variation, and many traits are genetically correlated. Here, we evaluated the evolutionary outcomes of harvest activities on mean length and age at maturity in a fish population by coupling a multivariate quantitative genetic model with a Leslie life history matrix model. Lengths-at-ages were treated as genetically correlated characters parameterized from empirical data on chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) populations. Using simulations, we explored the outcomes of 100 years of harvest using gill nets, which impose disruptive selection, or longlines, which impose minimum size selection, that targeted immature individuals in the high seas or maturing individuals in terminal spawning areas. Response in mean length and age depended on selection differentials imposed by harvest (which depended in turn on fishing location, gear type, and proportion of the population harvested) and on the genetic correlations between traits. Mean length was strongly influenced by the selection differential of the most abundant age class. Large differences in response were observed between the high-seas fishery, where the most abundant age was the youngest age vulnerable to harvest, compared to the terminal area fishery, where an older age class was most abundant. We observed a substantial difference in response between gill nets and longlines in the terminal fishery only. The evolution of mean age of mature individuals was less predictable, but generally increased as length decreased and decreased as length increased. The model presented here has potential for incorporating empirical data into fisheries forecasting and therefore provides a powerful means of integrating evolutionary considerations into harvest management.
Fluorescence from RbF ionic excimers excited by laser-produced soft x rays

In an inner-shell ionization of RbF generated in a heat pipe by laser-produced soft x rays, continua in the XUV have been observed at 130.4 and 155 nm. These continua show the same properties as the analogous transitions in the rare-gas fluoride molecules. The 130.4-nm fluorescence is attributed to the B–X transition, and a discussion of the origin of the 155-nm fluorescence is provided.
Photonic band structure of a truncated, two-dimensional, periodic dielectric medium

We calculate the photonic band structure for the propagation of electromagnetic waves through a structure that consists of parallel, identical, dielectric rods of finite length, whose intersections with a perpendicular plane form a two-dimensional crystal. The rods are embedded in a medium with a different dielectric constant, and the composite system is confined between a pair of perfectly conducting plates that are perpendicular to the rods. The electromagnetic waves propagate in a plane perpendicular to the rods. The resulting photonic band structure can display absolute band gaps if the separation between the perfectly conducting plates is sufficiently large or sufficiently small.
XBRL And Its Potential Impact On Events Reporting

Financial accounting and reporting has been criticized for producing untimely, periodic, historical-ly-based, and highly-aggregated financial statements that fall far short of meeting the needs of the financial community. Especially recently, the accounting profession has been roundly criticized for its perceived role in highly publicized audit failures including Enron and WorldCom. Proponents of the events reporting paradigm assert that what is needed is an events reporting sys-tem that reports a wider range of relevant and disaggregated events that are free from the biased value judgments and allocations of management. This paper explores the possible role of Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) in the movement toward such an events reporting approach. The web-based XBRL reporting languages allow for the tagging of web-reported business information to provide meaning and context to the information. XBRL pro-vides a platform-independent vehicle for the efficient exchange of business information. Developing XBRL reporting taxonomies will facilitate multi-company financial comparisons and provide a mechanism for obtaining more detail through drill-down analysis.
Myocardial viability and prognosis in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

Left ventricular (LV) function is among the most important determinants of prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). It is well established that patients with impaired LV systolic function represent a high risk group with significantly greater annual mortality than those with
Verne Global: Building a Green Data Center in Iceland

Verne Global, a pioneering startup created to build the first large-scale data center in Iceland, faces critical challenges regarding its green strategy. Verne Co-Founder Isaac Kato is tasked with evaluating how the company can most successfully market and sell the green components of its service offering. Using only renewable energy in its data center facility, Verne can drastically reduce customers' carbon emissions, enabling customers to meet emerging government regulations and to capture the financial benefit of public goodwill arising from green initiatives. But how valuable are Verne's green benefits, and are they sufficient to compel customers to pay a premium for Verne services? Further, how can Verne best integrate its green strategy into its marketing and sales message? Finally, will Verne's green benefits enable the company to overcome obstacles in the sales process, or will they alternatively overcomplicate an already complex sales message? Kato's decision allows discussion of the emerging role of green marketing and sales and to help to identify how a product or service which is good for the environment can also be good for the bottom line.
Allozyme Differentiation between Pheromone Strains of the European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis,

Sympatric populations of 2 pheromone strains of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), from central Pennsylvania have significantly different allele frequencies at 4 genetic loci coding for soluble enzymes. These sympatric populations clearly do not represent a single panmictic unit. However, analysis of allele frequency differences does not reveal whether the 2 strains should be considered distinct species. Despite statistically significant differences in allele frequencies, the 2 strains exhibit remarkable genetic similarity at the loci examined.
STAINING OF ISOLATED ABNORMAL NEURONAL CYTOSOMES.

A modified thionin staining procedure was used to identify the pathologic cytoplasmic bodies of Tay-Sachs disease in situ and in cell-free preparations. This technic was used to follow these particles through an isolation procedure. Unfixed smears of tissue suspensions, or sections of plastic-embedded tissue or tissue fractions, were stained directly. The slide was flooded with Laskey's thionin solution and placed on a hot plate. The dye was allowed to steam for about 15 sec, the excess drained off, and the slide immersed in distilled water. After about a minute's washing, the slide was dried (on the hot plate) and the tissue covered with glycerol and a cover slip. In phase contrast, the cytoplasmic bodies were seen as discrete blue-green particles. Only nucleoli gave the same staining reaction. More general applicability of this technic was indicated.
Localizing College Retention Efforts: The Distance between Theoretical Orientation and Institution-Specific Needs

The study used a theoretically guided questionnaire to examine student experience in college and to gain a better understanding about how college environment affects student persistence. Data were collected from a single four-year institution; the findings suggest that institutional control over academic quality is the most critical factor in reducing students’ dropout intention along with their ability to pay for college education. The results highlight the inconsistency between the specific needs of students in their particular academic settings and the dominant theoretical frameworks that focus on academic and social engagement, and these results offer encouragement for localized retention interventions based on sufficient understanding of students’ experiences.
High-Performance Hybrid Key-Value Store on Modern Clusters with RDMA Interconnects and SSDs: Non-blocking Extensions, Designs, and Benefits

High-performance, distributed key-value store-based caching solutions, such as Memcached, have played a crucial role in enhancing the performance of many Online and Offline Big Data applications. The advent of high-performance storage (e.g. NVMe SSD) and interconnects (e.g. InfiniBand) on modern clusters has directed several efforts towards employing 'RAM+SSD' hybrid storagearchitectures for key-value stores running over RDMA, in order to achieve high data retention, while maintaining low latency and high throughput. In this paper, we first perform a detailed analysis of the behavior of hybrid Memcached designs, and identify two major bottlenecks: the client-side wait for request completion and the server-side SSD I/O overhead. Based on this analysis, we propose new non-blocking API extensions for Memcached Set and Get operations, to support high data retention while trying to achieve near in-memory speeds. We enhance the existing runtime designs on both the client and the server, and propose an adaptive slab manager with different I/O schemes for higher throughput. We demonstrate that Libmemcached-based applications can achieve high performance by exploiting the communication/computation overlap that is made possible by the proposed non-blocking API extensions, with either In-memory or SSD-assisted designs of RDMA-based Memcached. Performance evaluations show that the proposed extensions and designs can achieve up to 16x improvement for Memcached Set/Get latency over current hybrid design for RDMA-Memcached when all data does not fit in memory, and up to 3.6x improvement over pure in-memory design of default Memcached over 'IP-over-IB' when all data can fit in memory.
High-Throughput Assay of Secreted Phospholipases A 2 Inhibitors

Attempts to characterize, quantify, and/or modulate the activity of the secreted phospholipase A(2) family of enzymes result from the diversity of physiological roles for which these enzymes have been implicated. The 1-palmitoyl-2-(10-pyrenedecanoyl)-phosphatidylglycerol (pyrenePG)-based fluorometric assay is a sensitive and readily adaptable method for further elucidating phospholipase function under various experimental conditions, as well as a tool for screening chemical libraries for potent inhibitors of this enzymatic activity. This assay is based on the observed difference in fluorescent emission of pyrene aggregated in vesicles compared to sequestered in monomeric form by binding to bovine serum albumin after lipolytic activity, thus allowing direct quantification of hydrolyzed fatty acids by the measurement of the corresponding monomeric emission intensity. The assay can be carried out in multiwell plates for high-throughput screening of compound libraries.
Thin-Film Hydration Followed by Extrusion Method for Liposome Preparation

One of the simplest ways to prepare liposomes in a research laboratory is the thin-film hydration method followed by extrusion. This method involves making a thin lipid film in a round-bottom flask by the removal of organic solvent. Upon the addition and agitation of the dispersion medium, heterogeneous liposomes are formed. Finally, after extrusion through polycarbonate membranes, homogeneous small liposomes are obtained.
Preparing Teens for Success: Building 21st Century Skills through a 4-H Work-Based Learning Program

There is widespread concern that youth lack the skills essential for job success and are entering the workplace unprepared. To address issues of workforce preparation, Extension educators at an urban 4-H education center created the Job Experience and Training (JET) program, a work-based learning program for teens. JET is conducted over a six-month period, culminating in an eight-week summer work experience in collaboration with a local park district. Supervisors and teens completed a performance appraisal measure based on SCANS workforce skills at two points during the program. Both teens and supervisors provided written comments addressing teens’ strengths and areas for growth, as well as comments on their satisfaction with the program itself. Overall, the experience appears to have produced improvements in teens’ workforce skills, as evidenced by their own self-assessment and that of their supervisors. We conclude with implications for conducting work-based learning programs.
Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy in children

Abstract Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME) in children is a common condition associated with considerable controversy with reference to terminology, case definition, aetiology, treatment and prognosis. This frequently results in patients and families receiving mixed messages, and significant delay in establishing a diagnosis and receiving an appropriate management programme. We review current understanding and draw attention to the best practice approach to assessment, diagnosis and management of CFS/ME in children. This, we hope, will improve planning, organization and delivery of a patient-centred, optimized and clinically-effective multidisciplinary management strategy towards children with CFS/ME.
Quantifying Medical Student Education and Exposure to Otolaryngology

Objectives:Evaluate the educational and exposure opportunities provided to students by national otolaryngology organizations.Methods:Twenty-four otolaryngology organizations and subspecialty societ...
Space Weather Influence on Electromagnetic Geosynchronous Debris Perturbations Using Statistical Fluxes

Spacecraft can charge to negative 10's of kilo-Volts at Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) due to interactions with the space plasma. This raises spacecraft electronics or solar panel damage concerns. Spacecraft charging leads to perturbations which change the orbits of lightweight uncontrolled debris objects. A charged space object experiences a force from the convection electric field as well as the local magnetic field (i.e. Lorentz force v × B), as well as the associated Lorentz torque. If the object is tumbling the Eddy current torques provide a disturbance torque that reduces a spin rate relative to the magnetic field. Prior work assuming a constant “worst case" voltage shows that Lorentz and eddy torques cause significant orbital changes through the attitude dependent solar radiation pressure force. This paper investigates the effects of electromagnetic perturbations by using a charging model that uses measured flux distributions to better simulate natural charging and includes the convection electric field. This is done for a calm space weather case of KP=2−, a stormy case where KP= 8, and a worst possible case where the voltage is held at -30 kV the entire time. It is found that neglecting electromagnetic effects on lightweight Mylar debris can lead to 1000 kilometer displacements after only a few hours, and the covariances associated with such objects must be increased during periods of high charging.
Mathcad: A Tool for Engineers and Scientists + CD-ROM to accompany Mathcad

Mathcad: A Tool for Engineers and Scientists includes material related to the latest release of Mathcad 14, with the focus on the fundamentals. It is enriched with great motivating applications, and solid homework problems appealing to both engineers and scientists. Table of contents 1 What Is Mathcad? 2 Mathcad Basics 3 How to Numerically Solve Equations 4 Vectors, Matrices, and More 5 Symbolic Math and Calculus 6 Numerically Solving Differential Equations 7 Importing, Exporting, and Analyzing Data Appendix: Graphing
Proton therapy for prostate cancer: A review of the rationale, evidence, and current state

Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer have many curative treatment options including several different radiotherapeutic approaches. Proton radiation is one such radiation treatment modality and, due to its unique physical properties, offers the appealing potential of reduced side effects without sacrificing cancer control. In this review, we examine the intriguing dosimetric rationale and theoretical benefit of proton radiation for prostate cancer and highlight the results of preclinical modeling studies. We then discuss the current state of the clinical evidence for proton efficacy and toxicity, derived from both large claim-based datasets and prospective patient-reported data. The result is that the data are mixed, and clinical equipoise persists in this area. We place these studies into context by summarizing the economics of proton therapy and the changing practice patterns of prostate proton irradiation. Finally, we await the results of a large prospective randomized clinical trial currently accruing and also a large prospective pragmatic comparative study which will provide more rigorous evidence regarding the clinical and comparative effectiveness of proton therapy for prostate cancer.
Impact Of The Priority Review Voucher Program On Drug Development For Rare Pediatric Diseases

Only an estimated 5 percent of rare pediatric diseases have a treatment, although collectively they affect more than ten million children in the US. To stimulate drug development for rare pediatric...
Persistent increase of I.V. cocaine self-administration in a subgroup of C57BL/6J male mice after social defeat stress.

Stressful life experiences can persistently increase the motivation for, and consumption of, intensely rewarding stimuli, like cocaine, over time. In rodents, intermittent versus continuous exposure to social stress engenders opposing changes to reward-related behavior, as measured by consumption of sucrose and cocaine. The present study examines if the effects of intermittent versus continuous social stress on cocaine self-administration in mice parallel those seen in rats. Both forms of social stress involve a brief daily physical confrontation with an aggressive resident for 10 consecutive days. Continuous social stress involves constant visual and olfactory exposure to an aggressive resident via habitation in a protected portion of the resident’s home cage, while exposure to an aggressive resident during intermittent social stress is limited to a single, physical encounter per day. Implementing a femoral vein catheterization method for the first time in mice, we determined divergent changes to intravenous cocaine self-administration. Modestly increased cocaine self-administration after intermittent social stress was confirmed. In a subset of animals, continuous social stress in mice substantially increased cocaine self-administration and sucrose intake. By stark contrast, another subpopulation had substantial attenuation of cocaine self-administration and sucrose intake after continuous social stress. Bimodal divergence in responding for rewarding stimuli including cocaine after social stress experience likely reflects two opposing forms of coping to continuous social stress that promote either a sensitization or attenuation of reward-seeking.
Epitope-Specific Serological Assays for RSV: Conformation Matters.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes substantial morbidity and mortality in children and older adults. An effective vaccine must elicit neutralizing antibodies targeting the RSV fusion (F) protein, which exists in two major conformations, pre-fusion (pre-F) and post-fusion (post-F). Although 50% of the surface is shared, pre-F contains highly neutralization-sensitive antigenic sites not present on post-F. Recent advancement of several subunit F-based vaccine trials has spurred interest in quantifying and understanding the protective potential of antibodies directed to individual antigenic sites. Monoclonal antibody competition ELISAs are being used to measure these endpoints, but the impact of F conformation and competition from antibodies binding to adjacent antigenic sites has not been thoroughly investigated. Since this information is critical for interpreting clinical trial outcomes and defining serological correlates of protection, we optimized assays to evaluate D25-competing antibodies (DCA) to antigenic site O on pre-F, and compared readouts of palivizumab-competing antibodies (PCA) to site II on both pre-F and post-F. We show that antibodies to adjacent antigenic sites can contribute to DCA and PCA readouts, and that cross-competition from non-targeted sites is especially confounding when PCA is measured using a post-F substrate. While measuring DCA and PCA levels may be useful to delineate the role of antibodies targeting the apex and side of the F protein, respectively, the assay limitations and caveats should be considered when conducting immune monitoring during vaccine trials and defining correlates of protection.
Design and Evaluation of a Payload to Support Plant Growth onboard COMET 1

The paper describes the design and the operation principles of the Plant Module for Autonomous Space Support (P-MASS), designed to provide life support for a variety of plants, algae, and bacteria in low earth orbit during the maiden flight of COMET-1, scheduled for 1993. During flight (scheduled to continue for 30 days), both color video images and collected environmental data (including light intensity, temperature, relative humidity, CO2 and O2 concentrations, soil moisture, and nutrients released) will be downlinked to earth several times a day. These data will also be stored within the payload and retrieved from it after reentry and recovery.
Multi-scale Microstructure and Property-Based Statistically Equivalent RVEs for Modeling Nickel-Based Superalloys

This chapter discusses fundamental aspects of the development of statistically equivalent virtual microstructures (SEVMs) and microstructure and property-based statistically equivalent representative volume elements (M-SERVE and P-SERVE) of the Ni-based superalloy at multiple scales. The two specific scales considered for this development are the subgrain scale of intragranular γ − γ′ microstructures and the polycrystalline scale of grain ensembles with annealing twins. A comprehensive suite of computational methods that can translate microstructural data in experimental methods to optimally defined representative volumes for effective micromechanical modeling is the objective of this study. The framework involves a sequence of tasks, viz., serial sectioning, image processing, feature extraction, and statistical characterization, followed by micromechanical analysis and convergence tests for statistical functions. A principal motivation behind this paper is to translate high-fidelity microstructural image data into statistics of parametric descriptors in constitutive laws governing material performance.
Current Progress and Limitations in the Design, Construction, and Characterization of Synthetic Parts

The field of synthetic biology has grown multidimensionally that we now have a large collection of interchangeable input and output modules. Design and construction of new synthetic parts are no longer a challenging task. However, the performance of a synthetic part generally has a lower accuracy than the corresponding natural system. Characterization of synthetic parts poses the actual drawback as most of the times these modules are studied in isolation and are expected to produce the same result when put together as a part of a large circuit or transferred from one chassis organism to the other. It becomes necessary to develop robust mathematical models and conquer the quantitative aspect of the synthetic parts which could then help improve the performance of the synthetic circuit. In this review, we brief the status and limitations of the design, construction, and characterization of synthetic parts and use “oscillators” as a case study to emphasize the betterment of the abstraction of the synthetic part either in isolation or in combination. The simple “oscillator circuit” was improved over a decade from being a barely visible oscillator to the one that can oscillate for up to 15 generations. The oscillator circuit forms a stand-alone example for the need for the harmony of stochastic chemistry and synthetic biology to achieve the long-standing goal of well-characterized genetic parts analogous to the electronic circuit.
Aorto-Bifemoral Grafting for Infrarenal Aortic Occlusion

Aorto-bifemoral grafting was performed for infrarenal aortic occlusion with severe ischemic symptoms. Exposure of the pararenal aorta is described. At follow-up she has normal pedal pulses with ankle brachial index of 1.00 on both sides. Postoperative CTA shows patent aorto-bifemoral graft.
Breast cancer hyperthermia using a grid array applicator

In this paper, a technique for noninvasive microwave hyperthermia treatment of breast cancer is proposed. The system uses a wide band and compact microstrip grid antenna array to raise the temperature of a tumor to therapeutic values while maintaining the healthy tissues at normal body temperature. The proposed antenna array operates at a resonant frequency of 2.45 GHz and a reflector is used below the antenna array for gain enhancement purpose. The array is placed in front of a breast model and the required temperature rise for hyperthermia was attained within 10 minutes. Results for the power density distribution, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and thermal analysis in the breast are presented.