cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ERK-Associated Changes of AP-1 Proteins During Fear Extinction

Extensive research has unraveled the molecular basis of learning processes underlying contextual fear conditioning, but the mechanisms of fear extinction remain less known. Contextual fear extinction occurs when an aversive stimulus that initially caused fear is no longer present and depends on the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), among other molecules. Here we investigated how ERK signaling triggered by extinction affects its downstream targets belonging to the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor family. We found that extinction, when compared to conditioning of fear, markedly enhanced the interactions of active, phospho-ERK (pERK ) with c-Jun causing alterations of its phosphorylation state. The AP-1 binding of c-Jun was decreased whereas AP-1 binding of JunD, Jun dimerization protein 2 (JDP2) and ERK were significantly enhanced. The increased AP-1 binding of the inhibitory JunD and JDP2 transcription factors was paralleled by decreased levels of the AP-1 regulated proteins c-Fos and GluR2. These changes were specific for extinction and were MEK-dependent. Overall, fear extinction involves ERK/Jun interactions and a decrease of a subset of AP-1-regulated proteins that are typically required for fear conditioning. Facilitating the formation of inhibitory AP-1 complexes may thus facilitate the reduction of fear.
Toward a Classification of Compact Nilmanifolds with Symplectic Structures

In this paper, we obtain an inductive process to classify all the compact nilmanifolds with symplectic structures. As a consequence, we give a counter-example to a many years question that any compact nilmanifold with a symplectic structure has a nilpotent Lie group as its universal covering such that as a solvable Lie group it has at most two steps.
LSST detector module and raft assembly metrology concepts

The LSST camera focal plane array will consist of individual Si sensor modules, each 42×42mm 2 in size, that are assembled into 3×3 "raft" structures, which are then assembled into the final focal plane array. It is our responsibility at Brookhaven National Lab (BNL) to insure that the individual sensors provided by the manufacturer meet the flatness requirement of 5 μm PV and that the assembled raft structure be within the 6.5 μm PV flatness tolerance. These tolerances must be measured with the detectors operating in a cryogenic environment at -100C in a face-down configuration. Conventional interferometric techniques for flatness testing are inadequate to insure that edge discontinuities between detector elements are within the tolerances because of the quarter-wave phase ambiguity problem. For this reason we have chosen a combination of metrology techniques to solve the discontinuity ambiguity problem that include both a full aperture interferometer and a scanning confocal distance microscope. We will discuss concepts for performing flatness metrology testing with these instruments under these conditions and will present preliminary results of measurement sensitivity and repeatability from tests performed on step height artifacts.
SINGLE-CRYSTAL, SOLID-STATE, AND SOLUTION 113CD AND 77SE NMR AND X-RAY SINGLE-CRYSTAL STUDY OF A CD(SER)2(N-DONOR)2 COMPLEX

[Cd(Se-2,4,6-i-Pr3-C6H2)2(bpy)] (1) has been characterized by X-ray crystallography and studied by solution and solid-state 113Cd and 77Se NMR to serve as an analog for biologically occurring [M(S-Cys)2(His)2] centers. The unit cell parameters for 1 are as follows: a = 21.99(2) A, b = 21.43(4) A, c = 16.72(3) A, V = 7881.3(4) A3, Z = 8, orthorhombic space group, Pccn. Two chemically inequivalent cadmiums and seleniums are found per unit cell. The principal values of the cadmium chemical shift tensors are (δ11 = 752 ppm, δ22 = 570 ppm, δ33 = 93 ppm) and (δ11= 733 ppm, δ22 = 547 ppm, δ33 = 100 ppm) with respect to 0.1 M aq. Cd(ClO4)2. Those for selenium are (δ11 = −950 ppm, δ22 = −1040 ppm, δ33 = −1599 ppm) and (δ11 = −933 ppm, δ22 = −1069 ppm, δ33 = −1586 ppm) with respect to solid (NH4)2SeO4. The orientation of the cadmium chemical shift tensor is similar to that of the previously published sulfur analog.
Variations in water vapor continuum radiative transfer with atmospheric conditions

[1] A newly formulated empirical water vapor continuum (the “BPS continuum”) is employed, in conjunction with ERA-40 data, to advance the understanding of how variations in the water vapor profile can alter the impact of the continuum on the Earth's clear-sky radiation budget. Three metrics are investigated: outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), Longwave surface downwelling radiation (SDR) and shortwave absorption (SWA). We have also performed a detailed geographical analysis on the impact of the BPS continuum upon these metrics and compared the results to those predicted by the commonly used MT CKD model. The globally averaged differences in these metrics when calculated with MT CKD 2.5 versus BPS were found to be 0.1%, 0.4% and 0.8% for OLR, SDR and SWA respectively. Furthermore, the impact of uncertainty upon these calculations is explored using the uncertainty estimates of the BPS model. The radiative response of the continuum to global changes in atmospheric temperature and water vapor content are also investigated. For the latter, the continuum accounts for up to 35% of the change in OLR and 65% of the change in SDR, brought about by an increase in water vapor in the tropics.
Field-Specific Fertilizer Nitrogen Requirements for First-Year Corn following Alfalfa

Current fertilizer N guidelines in the midwestern and northeastern United States may not adequately account for variable N supply to corn (Zea mays L.) grown after alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.). Nitrogen supplied by alfalfa often is adequate for optimum grain yield of the subsequent corn crop, but fertilizer N sometimes is needed. Using 259 site-years of data from midwestern and northeastern United States literature and multiple logistic regression analysis, we successfully identified binary response categories (statistically significant or nonsignificant) to fertilizer N in first-year corn following alfalfa in 89 to 97% of the cases on fine-textured soils and on medium-textured soils with spring-terminated alfalfa, and in 73 to 90% of the cases on mediumtextured soils with fall-terminated alfalfa. Only 1 of 11 site-years on coarse-textured soils did not require fertilizer N, preventing separation of responsive and nonresponsive site-years. Using multiple linear regression analysis, ≥68% of the variation in actual economically optimum nitrogen rate (EONR) across a range of price ratios (PRs) (4.48–11.2 as US$ kg –1 N/US$ kg –1 grain) was explained on fine-, medium-, and coarse-textured soils by simple predictors—alfalfa termination time, alfalfa stand age, and weather conditions from October through spring. Although independent data are needed to validate the equations, this approach to field-specific fertilizer N guidelines for first-year corn following alfalfa appears, in many cases, to identify when no N is needed and provide improved rate estimates when N response is expected. This approach to fertilizer N recommendation may prove effective for other rotations.
Automatic segmentation of prostate boundaries in transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) imaging

An automatic segmentation method for detecting the prostate boundary in transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) images was developed. The TRUS images were preprocessed by using an adaptive directional filtering and an automatic attenuation compensation for noise removal and contrast enhancement. A directional search strategy was used to locate key-points on the prostate boundary. The prostate contour was interpolated from the key-points under the supervision of a morphological prostate boundary model, which had been trained from prior manual segmentation of a large number of TRUS images. A new prostate center was calculated based on the intermediate segmentation result. The algorithm is reiterated until the prostate boundary and center reach a stable state. The overall performance of the method was compared to manual segmentation of an expert radiologist. About 78% out of 282 TRUS images (excluding base and apex slices) from three types of ultrasound machine (Acuson, Siemens, and B&K) were correctly delineated. The segmentation error was 0.9 mm averaged on 30 selected images, 10 for each type of machine. The computation time for a typical series of TRUS images is approximately 1 minute on a Pentium-II computer.
Multiple Management Modalities in Esophageal Cancer: Epidemiology, Presentation and Progression, Work-up, and Surgical Approaches

Annually, approximately 13,200 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with esophageal cancer and 12,500 die of this malignancy. Of new cases, 9,900 occur in men and 3,300 occur in women. In part I of this two-part series, we explore the epidemiology, presentation and progression, work-up, and surgical approaches for esophageal cancer. In the 1960s, squamous cell cancers made up greater than 90% of all esophageal tumors. The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinomas has risen considerably over the past two decades, such that they are now more prevalent than squamous cell cancer in the western hemisphere. Despite advances in therapeutic modalities for this disease, half the patients are incurable at presentation, and overall survival after diagnosis is grim. Evolving knowledge regarding the etiology of esophageal carcinoma may lead to better preventive methods and treatment options for early stage superficial cancers of the esophagus. The use of endoscopic ultrasound and the developing role of positron emission tomography have led to better diagnostic accuracy in this disease. For years, the standard of care for esophageal cancer has been surgery; there are several variants of the surgical approach. We will discuss combined modality approaches in part II of this series.
Optimization of DGGE community fingerprinting for characterizing Escherichia coli communities associated with fecal pollution

We evaluated the use of DGGE fingerprinting to differentiate communities of Escherichia coli from animal and geographic sources. An initial screening of 15 gene candidates revealed the ability of three target genes (mdh, phoE and uidA-4) to effectively differentiate E. coli communities originating in horses, pigs, geese and goats. Cluster and jackknife analyses performed on the communities from a more extensive number of hosts (n=150) including humans (via raw sewage), horses, pigs, geese and cows revealed that the internal accuracy of classification of E. coli community fingerprints to their origin was similar for each of the three genes (85-86%). Each of the three genes were tested for their ability to associate E. coli source- and sink communities in two settings featuring contaminated water; (i) a stream receiving municipal wastewater effluent and (ii) a pond inhabited by geese. For each gene, DGGE fingerprints effectively matched effluent- and downstream E. coli communities (98-100% similarity) and excluded upstream communities, while communities from goose fecal material were 77-79% similar to communities in pond water, indicating fecal inputs from geese. Furthermore, each gene discriminated against E. coli communities from hosts non-indigenous to either setting. DGGE analysis of E. coli communities appears to be a promising tool to augment existing efforts aiming to address the dynamics of bacteria pollution in complex, natural environments.
Psychological aspects of obesity and very-low-calorie diets

This paper selectively reviews available evidence concerning psychological characteristics associated with obesity, psychological changes accompanying very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs), and the influence of certain psychological factors on response to VLCD treatment. The obese population as a whole does not show an elevated incidence of psychopathology. Treatment-seeking obese do show more psychiatric disturbance, at a level comparable to other medical/surgical patients. There appear to be no global personality traits or profiles that are associated with obesity. However, obese people differ from non-obese groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies. Binge eating appears rather common among obese groups. VLCDs have generally neutral to positive effects on hunger, depression, and anxiety. New data on body image suggest that VLCDs are associated with post-treatment underestimation of body size. Finally, recent data on possible psychological and behavioral correlates of VLCDs outcome are presented.
Statistical and Regulatory Considerations for Multiple Measures in Bioequivalence Testing

AbstractRegulations for approval of new generic pharmaceutical products often involve multiple requirements. for example, most countries include requirements for both total and peak exposures to the drug (AUC and CMAX) to be approved, the new product must satisfy all requirements. This is a “joint decision rule.” the statistical properties of a joint decision rule depend on the nature of the criteria associated with the individual requirements. the effect of a joint rule may be to reduce the consumer risk below the nominal (and typically quoted) 5% that applies to each requirement on its own. the focus of this paper is on the issues related to the development of joint decision rules for bioequivalence that constrain the consumer risk while minimizing the producer risk.
UNETHICAL DECISIONS AND ATTRIBUTIONS: GAINS, LOSSES, AND CONCENTRATION OF EFFECTS

74 MBA students and 82 graduates read a vignette describing a manager pressured to falsify information either to obtain or retain a sales contract. Unethical behavior was judged more unfavorably when intended to obtain a gain than to avoid a Joss. Also, unethical behavior was judged more unfavorably when a given total effect was concentrated among a few victims than when distributed more widely. Respondents attributed a manager's lying more to situational forces and less to personality than they did refusing to lie. It is suggested that training in ethics and decision making go hand-in-hand.
A QUEST FOR ERYTHROPOIETIN OVER NINE DECADES

The major research accomplishments of the author are described from the time of his PhD thesis work on the mechanism of cobalt polycythemia to the present day. His early work on the quest for the cell that produces erythropoietin (Epo) to his current work on oxygen sensing and signal transduction pathways involved in erythropoietin gene expression are reported. He describes his main research interest in the mechanism of cobalt polycythemia between 1954 and 1962 and his research on how hormones such as the glucocorticoids function in the regulation of erythropoiesis (1956-1962). His major findings during this period were the discovery that hydrocortisone and corticosterone stimulated erythropoiesis (1958) and that cobalt increased erythropoietin production in the isolated perfused dog kidney (1961). He describes how he was led astray in some of his early studies on the cells in the kidney that produce erythropoietin, because of the less-developed technology available to him at that time; and how in situ hybridization and other molecular biology techniques enabled him to confirm some of the earlier work in mice by other investigators that interstitial cells in the kidney were the site of production of erythropoietin in the primate. His work in the controversial area of the mechanism of the anemia of end-stage renal disease is described in detail, as it pertains to Epo deficiency and suppressed erythroid progenitor cell response to Epo. He also discusses his recent work on signal transduction pathways (hypoxia, nitric oxide, adenosine, and C kinase) in oxygen sensing and Epo gene expression.
Role of the Tricuspid Annulus and the Eustachian Valve/Ridge on Atrial Flutter Relevance to Catheter Ablation of the Septal Isthmus and a New Technique for Rapid Identification of Ablation Success

Background Typical atrial flutter (AFL) results from right atrial reentry by propagation through an isthmus between the inferior vena cava (IVC) and tricuspid annulus (TA). We postulated that the eustachian valve and ridge (EVR) forms a line of conduction block between the IVC and coronary sinus (CS) ostium and forms a second isthmus (septal isthmus) between the TA and CS ostium. Methods and Results Endocardial mapping in 30 patients with AFL demonstrated atrial activation around the TA in the counterclockwise direction (left anterior oblique projection). Double atrial potentials were recorded along the EVR in all patients during AFL. Pacing either side of the EVR during sinus rhythm also produced double potentials, which indicated fixed anatomic block across EVR. Entrainment pacing at the septal isthmus and multiple sites around the TA produced a Δ return interval ≤8 ms in 14 of 15 patients tested. Catheter ablation eliminated AFL in all patients by ablation of the septal isthmus in 26 patients and the p...
Accuracy of residential geocoding in the Agricultural Health Study

Background: Environmental exposure assessments often require a study participant’s residential location, but the positional accuracy of geocoding varies by method and the rural status of an address. We evaluated geocoding error in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS), a cohort of pesticide applicators and their spouses in Iowa and North Carolina, U.S.A. Methods: For 5,064 AHS addresses in Iowa, we compared rooftop coordinates as a gold standard to two alternate locations: 1) E911 locations (intersection of the private and public road), and 2) geocodes generated by matching addresses to a commercial street database (NAVTEQ) or placed manually. Positional error (distance in meters (m) from the rooftop) was assessed overall and separately for addresses inside (non-rural) or outside town boundaries (rural). We estimated the sensitivity and specificity of proximity-based exposures (crops, animal feeding operations (AFOs)) and the attenuation in odds ratios (ORs) for a hypothetical nested case–control study. We also evaluated geocoding errors within two AHS subcohorts in Iowa and North Carolina by comparing them to GPS points taken at residences. Results: Nearly two-thirds of the addresses represented rural locations. Compared to the rooftop gold standard, E911 locations were more accurate overall than address-matched geocodes (median error 39 and 90 m, respectively). Rural addresses generally had greater error than non-rural addresses, although errors were smaller for E911 locations. For highly prevalent crops within 500 m (>97% of homes), sensitivity was >95% using both data sources; however, lower specificities with address-matched geocodes (more common for rural addresses) led to substantial attenuation of ORs (e.g., corn <500 m ORobs = 1.47 vs. ORtrue = 2.0). Error in the address-matched geocodes resulted in even greater ORobs attenuation for AFO exposures. Errors for North Carolina addresses were generally smaller than those in Iowa. Conclusions: Geocoding error can be minimized when known coordinates are available to test alternative data and methods. Our assessment suggests that where E911 locations are available, they offer an improvement upon address-matched geocodes for rural addresses. Exposure misclassification resulting from positional error is dependent on the geographic database, geocoding method, and the prevalence of exposure.
High performance and reliable NIC-based multicast over Myrinet/GM-2

Multicast is an important collective operation for parallel programs. Some network interface cards (NICs), such as Myrinet, have programmable processors that can be programmed to support multicast. We propose a high performance and reliable NIC-based multicast scheme, in which a NIC-based multisend mechanism is used to send multiple replicas of a message to different destinations, and a NIC-based forwarding mechanism to forward the received packets without intermediate host involvement. We have explored different design alternatives and implemented the proposed scheme with the set of best alternatives over Myrinet/GM-2. MPICH-GM has also been modified to take advantage of this scheme. At the GM-level, the NIC-based multicast improves the multicast latency by a factor up to 1.48 for messages les 512 bytes, and a factor up to 1.86 for 16KB messages over 16 nodes compared to the traditional host-based multicast. Similar improvements are also achieved at the MPI level. In addition, it is demonstrated that NIC-based multicast is tolerant to process skew and has significant benefits for large systems
Which Side Are You On? Bias, Credibility, and Mediation

Mediators are often thought to be more effective if they are unbiased or have no preferences over the issue in dispute. This article presents a game theoretic model of mediation drawing on the theory of “cheap talk” which highlights a contrary logic. Conflict arises in bargaining games because of uncertainty about the resolve of the parties. A mediator can reduce the likelihood of conflict by providing information on this score. For a mediator to be effective, however, the parties must believe that the mediator is telling the truth, especially if the mediator counsels one side to make a concession because their opponent has high resolve and will fight. An unbiased mediator who is simply interested in minimizing the probability of conflict will have a strong incentive to make such statements even if they are not true, hence the parties will not find the mediator credible. Only mediators who are effectively “on your side” will be believed if they counsel restraint.
A test of laboratory based rheological parameters of olivine from an analysis of late Cenozoic convective removal of mantle lithosphere beneath the Sierra Nevada, California, USA

SUMMARY We use the apparent change in mantle structure beneath the Sierra Nevada since ca. 10 Ma, which suggests convective removal of eclogite-rich mantle lithosphere, and scaling laws developed for Rayleigh–Taylor instability to place constraints on the average viscosity coefficient of the mantle lithosphere. By treating the lithosphere as a non-Newtonian fluid obeying power-law creep with an exponent of n= 3.5, we may compare the inferred values of viscosity coefficient with those obtained from laboratory experiments on olivine and eclogite. The values that we obtain overlap those predicted by laboratory-based flow laws for the range of geotherms implied by heat flux measurements within the Sierra Nevada and by metamorphic geothermometry and geobarometry of xenoliths in volcanic rock erupted in the Sierra Nevada at ca. 10 Ma. Thus, this comparison offers support for laboratory-derived flow laws, and specifically for the high stress limit suggested by Evans & Goetze (1979). Conversely, this agreement shows that the high strength of cold mantle minerals does not prohibit its removal by convective instability.
12th Annual Meeting of the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Bladder Cancer Sessions I and II summary report

Abstract Health care reform with the Affordable Care Act aims to control health care costs, in part, through the use of comparative effectiveness research and quality of care measures. Bladder cancer is one of the most expensive malignancies to manage as related to the need for continuous monitoring and the treatment of recurrence. The use of clinical practice guidelines relying on evidence based medicine in the management of patients with bladder cancer will help to ensure quality of care and cost containment. The goal of session I was to provide a thorough discussion of the quality of care and cost issues related to bladder cancer including an examination of levels of evidence, implementation and compliance with clinical practice guidelines, the use of standardized reporting methodologies, and comparative effectiveness research. Bladder cancer is a common malignancy with a variable biology and natural history. Although the majority of patients are diagnosed with non-invasive disease, approximately 20–40% of patients either present with or develop more advanced disease. The 5-year survival for patients with lymph node involvement at the time of surgery is 20–30% and patients with metastatic disease treated with chemotherapy have a median survival of only 15 months. Novel approaches for the management of patients with bladder cancer are desperately needed. The goal of session II was to review the current state of translational research in bladder cancer as related to both early and late stage disease including a discussion of novel molecular targets and targeted therapeutics, pharmacogenomics to predict response to therapy, and exploring the role for agents targeting angiogenesis.
Feed models for coax-driven monopole and dipole antennas

A method is presented for accurately modeling a monopole or dipole antenna fed by a coaxial line. The base of the monopole is attached to a conducting plane through which the coaxial feed line extends to the feed. The feed structures considered are easily adaptable to physically rugged forms and are simple to construct. Equivalent models for the three regions of the structure are devised and coupled integral equations for aperture fields and surface currents are formulated to enforce the boundary conditions. Three variations of the feed configuration are discussed and the reflection coefficient of the antenna feed is determined from the data obtained from the solutions of the coupled integral equations. Computed reflection coefficient values are shown to agree well with values measured on laboratory models
An Inverse Problem Approach for Elasticity Imaging through Vibroacoustics

A methodology for estimating the spatial distribution of elastic moduli using the steady-state dynamic response of solids immersed in fluids is presented. The technique relies on the ensuing acoustic field from a remotely excited solid to inversely estimate the spatial distribution of Young's modulus of biological structures (e.g., breast tissue). This work proposes the use of Gaussian radial basis functions (GRBF) to represent the spatial variation of elastic moduli. GRBF are shown to possess the advantage of representing smooth functions with quasi-compact support and can efficiently represent elastic moduli distributions such as those that occur in soft biological tissue in the presence of unhealthy tissue (e.g., tumors and calcifications). The direct problem consists of a coupled acoustic-structure interaction boundary-value problem solved in the frequency domain using the finite element method. The inverse problem is cast as an optimization problem in which the error functional is defined as a measure of discrepancy between an experimentally measured response and a finite element representation of the system. Nongradient based optimization algorithms are used to solve the resulting optimization problem. The feasibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated through a series of simulations and an experiment. For comparison purposes, the surface velocity response was also used for the inverse characterization as the measured response in place of the acoustic pressure.
An Investigation of Cross-Cultural Differences on the Impact of Productivity Interventions: The Example of ProMES

The success of a productivity intervention may depend on the fit between the intervention and the country in which it is implemented. In particular, a country's horizontal collectivism may influence the intervention's effectiveness. Results based on a database of 90 organizational units from seven different countries in which ProMES, a productivity intervention, was implemented indicated that in general, ProMES is more successful in some European countries than in the United States. Furthermore, results indicate that this effect may be due to an interaction between power distance and social collectivism. The degree of collectivism plays an important role in predicting whether ProMES succeeds in countries with relatively low power distance. In countries that score relatively high in power distance, the intervention succeeds regardless of the degree of collectivism. Lastly, whether a country's level of uncertainty avoidance has implications for the success of ProMES is also explored. Implications are discussed.
The Ability of Spiderlings of the Widow Spider Latrodectus hesperus (Araneae: Theridiidae) to Pass Through Different Size Mesh Screen: Implications for Exclusion From Air Intake Ducts and Greenhouses

Experiments tested the ability of newly emerged spiderlings of a black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin & Ivie (Araneae: Theridiidae), to crawl through brass screen of various mesh size. The purpose was to determine whether immatures of these medically important spiders could be excluded from buildings. In horizontal orientation, black widow spiderlings were able to easily pass through mesh with openings of 0.83 mm and were prevented from passing in four of five tests with mesh of 0.59-mm openings. Spiderlings also readily pass through 0.83-mm mesh in vertical orientation. Our laboratory studies indicate that the mesh size sufficient for exclusion is too small for practical use in most cases, although there are some specialized situations where such small mesh might be useful. The results are discussed in regard to actual conditions found in typical commercial building situations.
Expanding Methodologies to Account for Expansive Views of Learning: A Commentary on Part II

The chapters in this section collectively contribute to a body of work defined by its renewed focus on understanding the contextual and contingent nature of learning—work that also calls for, directly or by implication, a new model of interventionist research designed to improve the educational circumstance of underserved youth, notably students from nondominant communities. I will say more about this point shortly. Of significance, I believe these chapters address conceptual and methodological challenges encountered in carrying out thoughtful empirical work on learning across spaces and contexts.
Toward evidence-based health care delivery reform.

American Heart Journal - Sous presse. Epreuves corrigees par l'auteur. Disponible en ligne depuis le mardi 19 janvier 2016
Tutorial V: Privacy and security augmented smart grid and microgrid optimization and communications

The energy sector worldwide has embarked on a transformational process to modernize the over-a-century-old power grid under an umbrella term of the Smart Grid (SG). This vast infrastructural upgrade and operational change involves integration of a variety of advanced digital computing, communications and industrial control technologies. The overarching goal of this tutorial is to present the emerging communications optimization problems and formulations within the smart grid/microgrid research areas in light of the security and privacy perspectives and constraints. The existing literature has mostly taken a silo approach to the communications optimization and security/privacy separately. We introduce the Smart Grid paradigm, extend it with the conceptualization of the microgrids as a new low-voltage distribution system enhanced with distributed generation, renewables, and storage. We provide optimization formulations for various problems in microgrid scheduling, communications, data collection, and control, including optimization of deployment, power consumption, integration of distributed energy sources with a particular attention given to the security and privacy dimensions and aspects.
Using interactive models to support content learning through scientific reasoning

This work examines how students learn scientific concepts related to the greenhouse effect by participating in scientific reasoning activities with an interactive model. A longstanding issue in science education research is the tension between teaching scientific content vs. scientific process or reasoning. Following instruction and experience, students are able to engage in valid scientific reasoning in familiar or simple contexts (Chen & Klahr, 1999, Kuhn & Angelev, 1976). However, there is still concern about overtaxing students' cognitive resources when they are required to engage in activities that involve using scientific reasoning strategies to learn new scientific content. Models are "dynamic representations and provide a visual explanation of the underlying causal mechanisms and processes underlying scientific phenomena which are not directly observable because of their scale" (Gobert, 2005). Using interactive models to teach science can help address the content versus process issue by allowing students to practice reasoning about scientific phenomena in rich contexts. In this study, students use an interactive model to learn about the greenhouse effect. Instruction prompts them to use a control variables strategy as they conduct multiple experiments with the model. The main goal of this work is to measure changes in students' content knowledge and scientific reasoning skills following a model based instruction experience.
Compound Development and Analytical Studies

For Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) to become a useful clinical modality for treating solid tumors for which current therapies are of marginal utility, it is of crucial importance that effective compounds be designed, synthesized, and evaluated. The two compounds that are being used clinically or are undergoing clinical pharmacokinetic studies are Na2B12H11SH (BSH) and p-boronophenylalanine (BPA). Both of these compounds are more than 30 years old; and, while that per se is not a negative factor in the clinical use of a compound, it is pertinent to determine whether either possesses the requisite minimal requirements and to elucidate the biochemical factors by which tissue localization and persistence may be achieved. The two critical requirements for useful compounds in BNCT are: (1) the attainment of selectivity for and persistence within malignant cells compared with that in blood and contiguous normal tissues, and (2) the achieving of tissue concentrations, in the case of boron-10 as the capture agent, of 109 boron atoms per cancer cell or approximately 30 micrograms of boron per gram of tumor. Since the mean free path of these high LET particles is very short, it would be optimal if the capture reaction were to occur near the tumor cell nucleus, but for B-10, this is not a sine qua non. However, such a location may reduce by at least twofold the necessary concentration in the malignant cell. A key question is what degree of tumor specificity must be obtained? In essence, what is the minimal requirement for a useful compound? This is not a simple question with an obvious answer. There can be a marked heterogeneity among tumor cells from: (1) a histological and biochemical standpoint; (2) their cell cycle status and; (3) the degree of hypoxia influenced by the variability of the blood supply to different parts of the tumor. Also, many compounds that have been synthesized were not specifically designed for BNCT but were determined pragmatically to possess potential, but only now are their subcellular concentrations being examined. The lack of this information has greatly limited the ability to make meaningful radiobiological calculations at the cellular level. Obviously, the higher the differential between tumor and normal tissue the better, but what is the minimal ratio and the necessary concentration in tumor below which BNCT will be of questionable utility? Also, the capture agent must localize in all viable tumor cells, both proliferating and non-proliferating, since the latter may be in a quiescent stage but still retain the potential for replication under appropriate biological conditions. Compound localization in necrotic debris is not useful since delivering radiation to such areas would not appear to contribute to tumor control. Finally, even if subcellular distribution of compounds were known, the RBE value of the capture reaction remains a point of contention.
Gel-Infused Slippery Surface with Enhanced Longevity and Thermally Controllable Sliding Properties

Smart surfaces with stimuli responsive wetting behavior can potentially be important materials in a number of applications. Demonstrated here is a novel method to fabricate a gel-infused slippery surface by impregnating a nanostructured surface with a gelator containing lubricant, in this case 12-hydroxystearic acid in mineral oil. The resulting surface exhibits temperature-dependent and gelator-concentration-dependent water drop sliding properties. In some cases, this means temperature-dependent transition from water pinning to water sliding surfaces. These water drop sliding properties are shown to correlate with the temperature sensitive rheology of the gelled oil. The robustness of the lubricant layer against wash, a big concern for slippery liquid-infused surfaces, is proved to be enhanced by the addition of gelator, and an optimal 0.5 wt% concentration of gelator in mineral oil is found to best preserve the surface properties under a moderate shear flow.
The promise of Janus kinase inhibitors in the treatment of hematological malignancies

The Janus kinases (JAK) are a family of kinases that play an essential role in cytokine signaling and are implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and hematological malignancies. As a result, the JAKs have become attractive therapeutic targets. The discovery of a JAK2 point mutation (JAK2 V617F) as the main cause of polycythemia vera lead to the development and FDA approval of a JAK1/2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, in 2011. This review focuses on the various JAK and associated components aberrations implicated in myeloproliferative neoplasms, leukemias, and lymphomas. In addition to ruxolitinib, other JAK inhibitors are currently being evaluated in clinical trials for treating hematological malignancies. The use of JAK inhibitors alone or in combination therapy should be considered as a way to deliver targeted therapy to patients.
The k(GV)-problem revisited

Suppose that the finite group G acts faithfully and irreducibly on the finite G-module V of characteristic p not dividing |G|. The well-known k(GV)-problem states that in this situation, if k(G V) is the number of conjugacy classes of the semidirect product GV, then k(GV) ≤ |V|. For p—solvable groups, this is equivalent to Brauer's famous k(B)-problem. In 1996, Robinson and Thompson proved the k(GV) problem for large p. This ultimately led to a complete proof of the k(GV)-problem. In this paper, we present a new proof of the k(G V)-problem for large p.
PUSH, PULL, AND POPULATION SIZE EFFECTS IN STRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT: LONG-RUN TRADE-OFFS

The process of structural transformation from the farm to a nonfarm sector is accompanied by technological change in both sectors and massive population growth. We investigate the effects of increasing population size (the population effect) and sector-specific productivity (the push and pull effects), both factor-neutral and factor-biased, in a parsimonious general equilibrium model under general forms of utility and production functions. All three effects may co-exist and interact in important ways. Generalizing the agricultural sector production function to CES is crucial for the population growth effect. Our analysis highlights how the relative importance of the three effects changes as the country develops and production and consumption conditions become more flexible.
Religion in the Oval Office: The Religious Lives of American Presidents Gary Scott Smith. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Religion in the Oval Office: The Religious Lives of American Presidents Gary Scott Smith. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.Gary Scott Smith, Chair of the History Department at Grove City College, is the author of numerous books on history and religion, including Faith and the Presidency: From George Washington to George W. Bush (2006). This book and the one under review serve as bookends, of sorts. Faith and the Presidency explores the religious thought of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight David Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and John F. Kennedy, the first president to have to publicly defend his Catholic religion as he did in September 1960 before the Greater Houston Ministerial Association in Houston, Texas. Shades of Barack Obama, who, almost fifty years later, had to defend himself against persistent charges that he was a Muslim!Now, in Religion in the Oval Office, Smith takes on eleven more chief executives: John Adams, James Madison, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William McKinley, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Drawing on a wide range of sources, Smith pays close attention to historical context and America's shifting social and moral values; examines their religious beliefs, commitments, affiliations, and practices; and scrutinizes their relationships with religious leaders and communities. The result is a fascinating account of the ways in which religion has helped shape the course of our history, including such recent events as Harry Truman's decision to recognize Israel, Bill Clinton's promotion of religious liberty and welfare reform, and Barack Obama's policies on poverty and gay rights.In the wake of the 2004 election, pundits were shocked at exit polling that showed that twenty-two percent of voters thought "moral values" was the most important issue at stake. People on both sides of the political divide believed this was the key to victory for George W. Bush, who professes a deep and abiding faith in God. In fact, the author proves that none of this is new, as religion has been a major component of the presidency since George Washington's first inaugural address. Yet, Americans actually know remarkably little about the faith of the person they elect to the nation's highest office. Questions abound: Was Thomas Jefferson an atheist, as his political opponents charged? What role did Lincoln's religious views play in his handling of slavery and the Civil War? How did born-again Southern Baptist Jimmy Carter lose the support of many evangelicals? Is George W. Bush, as his critics often claim, a captive of the religious right? The author makes his topic quite relevant to American culture as he shows through his individual chapters on each president's personal and political challenges how strongly religious commitments have affected US policy from the presidency of John Adams (1797-1801) to the present. …
Exploring problem definition in student global humanitarian design project cases in the literature

Engineering student involvement in community-based global humanitarian development has increased in recent decades. While engineers are trained problem-solvers, it has been argued that that more traditional engineering problem solving is not sufficient for tackling the "wicked" types of problems common to community-based development projects. The ways in which problems are defined has been identified as having significant impact on design outcomes when facing wicked problems. Initial literature review demonstrated a need to examine existing empirically based global humanitarian development cases published in the literature to better understand currently practiced ways of defining problems. This study, therefore, analyzed the problem definition processes across a set of water-related global development project cases published in the literature. Qualitative data analysis utilized a problem-scoping framework from design literature as well as the main author's personal experiences in similar projects to enhance the analysis. These preliminary findings demonstrated that while student design teams are achieving considerable breadth in their problem scoping efforts, there are still important aspects of problems that do not seem to be considered. This may be contributing to under-informed solution creation in the examined projects and ultimately may be affecting design outcomes. Limitations of the study and future work are also discussed.
The impact of urban speed reduction programmes on health system cost and utilities

Background Vehicle speed changes impact the probability of injuring a pedestrian in ways that differ from the way that it impacts the probability of a collision or of death. Therefore, return on investment in speed reduction programmes has complex and unpredictable manifests. The objective of this study is to analyse the impact of motor vehicle speed reduction on the collision-related morbidity and mortality rates of urban pedestrians. Methods and Findings We created a simple way to estimate the public health impacts of traffic speed changes using a Markov model. Our outcome measures include the cost of injury, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained and probability of death and injury due to a road traffic collision. Our two-way sensitivity analysis of speed, both before the implementation of a speed reduction programme and after, shows that, due to key differences in the probability of injury compared with the probability of death, speed reduction programmes may decrease the probability of death while leaving the probability of injury unchanged. The net result of this difference may lead to an increase in injury costs due to the implementation of a speed reduction programme. We find that even small investments in speed reductions have the potential to produce gains in QALYs. Conclusions Our reported costs, effects and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios may assist urban governments and stakeholders to rethink the value of local traffic calming programmes and to implement speed limits that would shift the trade-off to become between minor injuries and no injuries, rather than severe injuries and fatalities.