cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracellular ATP Stimulates NO Production in Rat Thick Ascending Limb

NO produced by NO synthase (NOS) 3 acts as an autacoid to regulate NaCl absorption in the thick ascending limb. ATP induces NO production by NOS 3 in endothelial cells. We hypothesized that extracellular ATP activates NOS in thick ascending limbs through P2 receptors. To test this, we measured intracellular NO production using the NO-selective fluorescent dye DAF-2 in suspensions of rat medullary thick ascending limbs. We found that ATP increased DAF-2 fluorescence in a concentration-dependent manner, reaching saturation at &200 μmol/L with an EC 50 of 37 μmol/L. The increase was blunted by 74% by the nonselective NOS inhibitor l-ω-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester (2 mmol/L; 60±7 versus 16±6 arbitrary fluorescence units; P n =5). In the presence of the P2 receptor antagonist suramin (300 μmol/L), ATP-induced NO production was reduced by 64% (101±11 versus 37±5 arbitrary fluorescence units; P n =5). Blocking ATP hydrolysis with a 5′-ectonucleotidase inhibitor, ARL67156 (30 μmol/L) enhanced the response to ATP and shifted the EC 50 to 0.8 μmol/L. In the presence of ARL67156, the EC 50 of the P2X-selective agonist β,γ-methylene-adenosine 5′-triphosphate was 4.8 μmol/L and the EC 50 for the P2Y–selective agonist UTP was 40.4 μmol/L. The maximal responses for both agonists were similar. Taken together, these data indicate that ATP stimulates NO production in the thick ascending limb primarily through P2X receptor activation and that ATP hydrolysis may regulate NO production.
Attitudes Toward Dysfunctional Audit Behavior: The Effects Of Locus Of Control, Organizational Commitment, and Position

Dysfunctional audit behavior (DAB) is associated with decreased audit quality (Public Oversight Board 2000). While recent studies suggest that dysfunctional audit behavior is a widespread problem (Smith 1995; Otley and Pierce 1995), extant research fails to adequately explain the causes or determinants of this form of deviant behavior. This study develops and tests a theoretical model that identifies locus of control, position, and organizational commitment as antecedents of attitudes toward DAB. Using a cross-organizational design and a path analysis technique, survey results from 113 auditors support the theoretical model.
Supporting Students' Technical Innovation in Capstone Design: Insights into the Human Connection*

Educating and guiding undergraduate engineering design teams that perform at a high technical level in innovative design projects can be accomplished by using a hierarchical coaching model. The coaching model discussed in this paper incorporates the use of graduate students as coaches to mentor successful design teams. This paper discusses the results of a study performed on undergraduate engineering design teams and their graduate student coaches during two consecutive years of a capstone design course. The results of this study reveal two underlying themes that can be attributed to the successful execution of this model. One theme is the development of human connections between the coach and undergraduate design team. Another theme that arose was the need for mentorship of the graduate student coach, especially on technical management skills. Both themes enable the design team and coaches to become involved in the design project for reasons beyond that of just understanding fundamental engineering concepts and solving complex problems.
Identification of a novel-estrogen regulated gene (EIG121) that is over-expressed in type I but down-regulated in type II endometrial cancer

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 1651 BACKGROUND: The positive association of endometrial hyperplasia / endometrioid adenocarcinoma and prolonged excessive estrogen stimulation has been well established, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. It is generally believed that estrogens are not genotoxic themselves and thus the effects of estrogen on the endometrium are likely mediated by an array of downstream genes whose expression may be regulated by estrogen. The identification of such genes and pathways that are affected by estrogenization may shed light on the mechanisms of estrogen action. DESIGN: Two pools of endometrial RNA, each from 20 postmenopausal women receiving either placebo or estrogen replacement therapy with a mixture of estrone and equilin sulfates (EES) for three months, were subjected to cDNA microarray analysis. A novel gene identified by this approach was EIG121. The expression level of this transcript was then measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in more normal endometrial biopsies from both postmenopausal (n=30) and premenopausal women (n=15). The expression of EIG121 was also measured in 95 endometrioid adenocarcinoma samples, 12 uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) samples, and 10 malignant mixed mullerian tumor (MMMT) samples. A polyclonal antibody was raised against the EIG121 C-terminal peptide and was used to detect EIG121 protein by immunochemistry. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: In the postmenopausal endometrium, we have confirmed that the expression of EIG121 was significantly induced by both forms of ERT. Premarin and EES induced the expression of EIG121 by 2- and 3-fold respectively. In pre-menopausal endometrium, the expression of EIG121 was significantly higher in the estrogen-dominated proliferative phase than the secretory phase (P< 0.01). In endometrial hyperplasia and type I endometrial carcinomas, two diseases that are usually associated with a hyperestrogenic state, the expression of EIG121 was significantly elevated (on average 2-fold and 5-fold, respectively). By immunochemistry, EIG121 protein was found to be predominately expressed in the endometrial epithelial cells, especially in the apical aspect of the glandular lumens. Compared with normal endometrium, both the number of EIG121-postive cells and the intensity of EIG121 staining in individual cells were significantly increased in type I endometrial carcinomas. Although the level of EIG121 mRNA expression was still significantly higher in grade 3 endometriod carcinomas, the EIG121 level tended to decline with increasing tumor grade. In sharp contrast, EIG121 expression was significantly suppressed in both UPSC and MMMT endometrial cancer samples, to only less than 5% of the average level in normal endometria. Taken together, EIG121 appeared to be a good biomarker associated with the hyperestrogenic state and type I endometrial adenocarcinoma.
Nonprofessional Investors' Framework for Understanding Earnings Quality

The central goal of this article is to provide nonprofessional investors with a deeper understanding of the impact of accrual accounting on earnings quality. Improving nonprofessional investors’ understanding of earnings quality is essential to the capital market, as they have been found to own nearly one-third of all outstanding stock (Bogle 2005), a number which anecdotally has increased due to employer-directed compensation plans and online stock trading platforms. Following a presentation of the importance of accruals in the earnings process, the framework discusses various earnings management practices that nonprofessional investors should consider when evaluating earnings quality.
“Stuttering” after minor head trauma

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as impairment in brain function as a result of mechanical force. It is classified based on clinical findings using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Mild TBI is defined as GCS 14-15; moderate, 9-13; and severe, 3-8. Patients with the same TBI classification may have very different underlying pathology. In moderate to severe TBI, the primary pathology may include contusions, hemorrhage, diffuse axonal injury, direct cellular damage, "tearing and shearing of the tissues, loss of the blood-brain barrier, disruption of the neurochemical homeostasis and loss of the electrochemical function". Although the primary pathology associated with mild TBI may be milder versions of the same pathology associated with moderate and severe TBI, it is generally a metabolic injury. However, it is reported that 15% of patients with mild TBI and a GCS score of 14 or 15 will have an intracranial lesion; less than 1% of these require neurosurgical intervention. Although patients with mild TBI may have intracranial lesions, it is rare that the presenting and only physical examination finding is an isolated neurologic finding. Here we present a case of isolated head trauma with a single physical examination finding--expressive aphasia.
Pathologic quiz case: a 41-year-old woman with bilateral nodular breasts.

A woman with no family history of breast cancer, but with a long history of bilateral nodular breasts, complained of increasing breast size. Three previous breast biopsies (the right breast in 1973 and 1983 and the left in 1992) were all reported as benign fibrocystic changes. Physical examination showed pendulous but symmetrical breasts with no noted skin changes. Palpation revealed multiple, discrete, large, firm, and mobile breast masses bilaterally. No axillary adenopathy was detected. Mammography revealed multiple homogeneously dense well-circumscribed masses present in both breasts (Figure 1), which were compatible with giant fibroadenomata or multiple phyllodes tumors. Ultrasonography showed multiple well-demarcated masses with focal cystic change. Ultrasound-guided 14-gauge needle core biopsy of the right and left breast was performed, and microscopic examination of the biopsied tissue revealed dense stromal fibrosis and a few epithelial ducts. The fibrotic areas showed thick bundles of dense collagen admixed with a complex arrangement of cleftlike spaces resembling lymphovascular structures lined by flattened spindle cells, but without red blood cells in the spaces. No atypical epithelial hyperplasia or carcinoma was identified. A diagnosis was suggested. Two weeks later, resection of the bilateral masses along with reduction mammoplasty of both breasts was performed. On the right side, 13 white-pink well-circumscribed nodules with a total weight of 748 g (range: 4 to 382 g) were resected. The nodules had a smooth external surface and ranged in size from 3 to 17 cm in greatest dimension (Figure 2). On the left side, 10 white-pink wellcircumscribed nodules with a total weight of 214 g (range: 2 to 84 g) were resected. Morphologically, the nodules were similar to those seen in the right breast and ranged in size from 1.5 to 11 cm in greatest dimension. The cut surfaces of the nodules showed a generally homogeneous white fibrous parenchyma with occasional cystic spaces. No hemorrhage or necrosis was noted grossly. Microscopically, the breast nodules showed histopathologic changes similar to those seen in the needle core biopsies, showing large areas of dense stromal fibrosis containing numerous cleftlike spaces, often in a complex arrangement (Figure 3). In some areas, the cleftlike spaces and flattened spindle cells were concentrically arranged around breast lobules. The cleftlike spaces did not contain red blood cells. The adjacent breast parenchyma showed focal fibrocystic changes (sclerosing
Child-Focused Public Expenditure Measurement: A Compendium of Country Initiatives

This working paper surveys initiatives that involve child-focused public expenditure measurement (C-PEM), which is defined as the identification and routine reporting of public investments in children by government stakeholders. The study was based on a desk review of publicly available information along with interviews with select United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) country offices. The overall objective is to document relevant experiences and lessons to inform the development of a global methodological framework for C-PEM.A key finding is that an increasing number of governments has taken deliberate efforts to measure and monitor their investments in children. Although initially taking root in Latin America, C-PEM initiatives are now observed across all regions and in very diverse country contexts. This momentum is likely to intensify. With children featuring prominently across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework, coupled with the demographic growth occurring in many regions, governments will be increasingly concerned about the size and performance of their spending on children.The growing demand for C-PEM means that developing a global methodology is a priority. This study shows that country level criteria and practices vary widely, as do the institutional contexts in which C-PEM operates. As a result, such a methodology should incorporate flexible design options so that it can be easily adapted to different levels of public financial management (PFM) capacity as well as different budget classification systems. At the same time, however, it will also be desirable to have a set of core definitions and indicators that allow for some degree of financial benchmarking of different thematic areas across countries.Once operational, it is also important to maximize the potential impact of C-PEM. Some of the key emerging lessons include anchoring C-PEM to the right policy “hook,” embedding C-PEM within existing PFM processes and minimizing reporting time. As in many of the ongoing C-PEM initiatives, UNICEF can continue to play an important role to both introduce and improve its application. At the global level, UNICEF is leading efforts to develop a global methodology for C-PEM, which is being informed by these findings. The annexes present 13 case studies, including: Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Honduras, India, Mexico, Peru, Uganda, Wales and Yemen.
An exotic invasive plant selects for increased competitive tolerance, but not competitive suppression, in a native grass

Exotic invasive plants can exert strong selective pressure for increased competitive ability in native plants. There are two fundamental components of competitive ability: suppression and tolerance, and the current paradigm that these components have equal influences on a species' overall competitive ability has been recently questioned. If these components do not have equal influences on overall ability, then selection on competitive tolerance and suppression may be disproportionate. We used naturally invaded communities to study the effects of selection caused by an invasive forb, Centaurea stoebe, on a native grass, Pseudoroegneria spicata. P. spicata plants were harvested from within dense C. stoebe patches and from nearby uninvaded areas, divided clonally into replicates, then transplanted into a common garden where they grew alone or competed with C. stoebe. We found that P. spicata plants collected from within C. stoebe patches were significantly more tolerant of competition with C. stoebe than P. spicata plants collected from uninvaded areas, but plants from inside invaded patches were not superior at suppressing C. stoebe. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that strong competitors may select for tolerance to competition more than for the ability to suppress neighbors. This has important implications for how native plant communities may respond to invasion over time, and how invasive and native species may ultimately coexist.
La-Activated Bicyclo-oligomerization of Acetylene to Naphthalene

We report the first example of metal-mediated acetylene bicyclopentamerization to form naphthalene in the gas phase. The bicyclic aromatic compound was observed in a complex with La. The La(naphthalene) complex was formed by the reaction of laser-ablated La atoms with acetylene molecules in a molecular beam source and was characterized by mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy. The bicyclo-oligomerization reaction occurs through sequential acetylene additions coupled with dehydrogenation. Three intermediates in the reaction have been identified: lanthanacyclopropene [La(C2H2)], La(cyclobut-1-en-3-yne) [La(C4H2)], and La(benzyne) [(La(C6H4)]. The metal-ligand bonding in the three intermediates is considerably different from that in the La(naphthalene) complex, as suggested by accurately measured adiabatic ionization energies.
Comparative study of typical defects in III-nitride thin films and their alloys

The microstructure and typical defects in GaN and GaN/GaAlN thin film heterostructures grown on (0001)α-A1 2 O 3 were investigated using different transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques including diffraction contrast analysis, multiple dark field imaging, and highresolution TEM. The films were grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technique. All of the films exhibited good electrical/optical properties. Yet, films were found to be of two distinctive types in terms of the microstructure. Films of the first type (A) were found to contain high, up to the 10 9 cm 2 , density of inversion domains (IDs) as well as pure edge (b=l/3[11 20]), screw and mixed type dislocations with the average density of 10 9 - 10 10 cm −2 . Smoother surface of the film, absence of IDs, and low (down to 10 7 cm −2 in the device quality layers) density of screw and mixed type dislocations were found to be characteristic for the second type (B) microstructure. The majority of defects present in these B-type GaN and GaN/GaA1N thin films were found to be threading pure edge dislocations associated with low angle tilt sub-grain boundaries. Despite the 10 10 cm −2 density of the edge dislocations, the films displayed the devicequality electrical characteristics. Type A and type B microstructure can be obtained by the variation of growth conditions. The correlation between the optical and structural properties are discussed.
A comparison of the food intake suppression produced by giving amphetamine as an aversion treatment versus as an anorexic treatment

Separate groups of rats were given either 1 or 2 mg/kg injections of amphetamine 30 min before or after eating a preferred high-fat food. When given before eating as an anorexic treatment, amphetamine initially suppressed intake almost completely, but with repeated injections tolerance developed. In contrast, amphetamine given after eating as an aversion treatment initially had little effect on intake, but with repeated injections it suppressed intake almost completely in rats receiving the higher dose.
Structure of the Borate Transporter Bor1p by cryo-EM

Boron is an essential micronutrient for plants and animals. Transport of boron regulates uptake and protects against high levels of boron in plants and yeast. The yeast boron transporter Bor1p belongs to the SLC4 Anion Exchanger family of transporters that also includes the human chloride/bicarbonate exchanger. We have overexpressed and purified the Bor1p orthologue from Saccharomyces mikatae using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a host. Helical crystals were produced by reconstituting the transporter together with cardiolipin and electron micrographs of frozen-hydrated tubes were recorded with a field emission gun at 200 kV using a direct electron detector. Crystals adopted two different helical symmetries from which two independent reconstructions were produced from 75 particles at a resolution of ∼7 A using a Fourier-Bessel approach. In order to interpret the dimeric densities revealed by the reconstructions, we built a homology model for Bor1p based on the crystal structure of the uracil transporter (UraA), which is the closest relative to Anion Exchangers within the APC superfamily of transporters. Initial homology models were produced from 10 alternative alignments of these distantly related proteins. The alignments were refined by mapping sequence conservation onto these 3D structures. The best model was then fitted to the cryo-EM map by adjusting the position of individual helices and the resulting structure was equilibrated in a lipid bilayer for 200 ns using molecular dynamics. The resulting structure suggests conformational changes relative to UraA in which helices at the dimer interface are tilted relative to the transporter domain, thus providing access to the substrate binding site from the extracellular side of the membrane. Comparison of our Bor1p structure with that from UraA are likely to reflect the structural changes that accompany the alternating access mechanism employed by this family of transporters.
The New Characteristics and Influence of Population Aging in China

According to the census in China in past years, especially 2010 the sixth census data, compared with other countries, the tendency of aging population in China has such new features as rapid growth rate, large growth in scale, large elderly aging and uneven distribution. This is one of the basic conditions of 21cn. The trend of population aging will have important influence on the rate of growth of China’ s economy, the social production structure, industry structure and the construction of socialist harmonious society. Seriously studying the characteristics of Chinese population aging and the influence, adopting a variety of measures have very important strategic significance on ensuring the sustainable development of China’ s social economy, maintain social stability and harmony.
Levels of the antibody to swine-origin influenza A(H1N1) virus in the population under 18 years in Henan Province

Objective To detect levels of the antibody to swine-origin influenza A(H1N1) virus in the population under 18 years in Henan Province,and to provide data for a new preventive policy on swine-origin influenza A(H1N1) virus.Methods A total of 2020 residents under 18 years,involved in a research program of the Ministry of Health named as "Cross-sectional study of swine-origin influenza A(H1N1) influenza infection situation",were surveyed and a blood test with routine micro-hem agglutination inhibition test was done.Results The positive rate of the antibody in the population under 18 years was 29.60%,and the rates in the three age groups were 45.70%(13-18 years),25.67%(7-12 years) and 23.71%(0-6 years),respectively.There were statistically significant differences among the three groups(χ2=80.07,P0.01).Positive rates of the antibody in the three areas showed differences(35.47% in the provincial capital,36.00% in other cities and 23.67% in the rural area).The positive rate of the antibody in the vaccinated population(63.89%) was significantly higher than in the unvaccinated population(25.91%)(χ2=117.18,P0.01).There was no significant difference between people with symptoms of influenza-like illness(ILI) and people without(χ2=0.75,P0.01).Conclusion Levels of the antibody to swine-origin influenza A(H1N1) virus are low in the population under 18 years in Henan Province.Strengthening vaccination and improving treatment of children are recommended strategies for swine-origin influenza A(H1N1) virus control and prevention.
Trends in hospitalizations of pregnant HIV-infected women in the United States: 2004 through 2011

Background With the development and widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected women live longer, healthier lives. Previous research has shown that, since the adoption of combination antiretroviral therapy in the United States, rates of morbidity and adverse obstetric outcomes remained higher for HIV-infected pregnant women compared with HIV-uninfected pregnant women. Monitoring trends in the outcomes these women experience is essential, as recommendations for this special population continue to evolve with the progress of HIV treatment and prevention options. Objective We conducted an analysis comparing rates of hospitalizations and associated outcomes among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected pregnant women in the United States from 2004 through 2011. Study Design We used cross-sectional hospital discharge data for girls and women age 15–49 from the 2004, 2007, and 2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a nationally representative sample of US hospital discharges. Demographic characteristics, morbidity outcomes, and time trends were compared using χ 2 tests and multivariate logistic regression. Analyses were weighted to produce national estimates. Results In 2011, there were 4751 estimated pregnancy hospitalizations and 3855 delivery hospitalizations for HIV-infected pregnant women; neither increased since 2004. Compared with those of HIV-uninfected women, pregnancy hospitalizations of HIV-infected women were more likely to be longer, be in the South and Northeast, be covered by public insurance, and incur higher charges (all P Conclusion The numbers of hospitalizations during pregnancy and delivery have not increased for HIV-infected women since 2004, a departure from previously estimated trends. Pregnancy hospitalizations of HIV-infected women remain more medically complex than those of HIV-uninfected women. An increasing trend in infections among the delivery hospitalizations of HIV-infected pregnant women warrant further attention.
O(αs2) corrections to semileptonic decay b→clν¯l

Abstract We compute the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD corrections to b → c l ν ¯ l decay rate at a fully differential level. Arbitrary cuts on kinematic variables of the decay products can be imposed. Our computation can be used to study the NNLO QCD corrections to the total decay rate as well as to the lepton energy, hadronic invariant mass and hadronic energy moments and to incorporate those corrections into global fits of inclusive semileptonic B-decays.
Small signal stability analysis of controlled voltage source converter model for positive sequence time domain simulations

In this paper, a small signal stability analysis of a recently developed controlled voltage source converter model, for use in large scale positive sequence time domain simulations, has been conducted. The state space model has first been developed at the device level and subsequently, the state space model of the system has been obtained. Further, the performance of the model to varying short circuit ratio at the point of connection has been investigated. The three machine nine bus WSCC equivalent system and a single converter infinite bus equivalent of the 18205 bus WECC system have been used to analyze the model stability.
Shifting from ‘Consent’ to Advice: Reimagining the Role of the Senate in Foreign Affairs

The United States' Foreign Relations Posture has been severely weakened in the wake of the "Iran Deal", which demonstrated just how effective the Senate is in using the bully pulpit, but how ineffective it is in taking action vis a vis the President. This Note proposes a new framework, based on a strict reading of Article II, Section 2 of the United States' Constitution, for resolving these issues by looking to mediation for a solution.
The Relationship Between Acute Malnutrition, Hygiene Practices, Water and Livestock, and Their Program Implications in Eastern Chad.

Background:The causes of acute malnutrition are complex and time and geography variant and need to be better understood in order to both design more effective nutrition programs and evaluate them. ...
Crocodile Tears: Affective Fallacies Old and New

Criticism once promoted a denigration of affect, the affective fallacy. Now, attention to affect is inescapable. At the intersection of the turn to affect and the animal turn emerge new fallacies rendered particularly apparent in the proverbial Crocodili lacrimae. Crocodile tears appear widely in Renaissance texts, denoting an entanglement of human and animal desires and affects—guile, compassion, and predation. These figures distill three fallacies: the ethical fallacy, presuming an affirmation of nonhuman affect necessarily constitutes an ethical stance; the fallacy of inclusion, presuming interrelation or interconnectedness among creatures necessarily overturns hierarchies of life forms; and the fallacy of sentience, fantasizing an escape from the burdens and complicities of human reason and speech into sensuous and affectively vibrant animality.
Maternal life stress and health during the first 3 years postpartum

Health problems may occur in mothers and can persist during the postpartum. Life event stress (LES) is a risk factor for poor maternal health. We examined the relations of LES and rise in LES over time to maternal health during the first three years postpartum. We used data from 1,364 mothers obtained between 1991 and 2007 in the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Information on maternal sociodemographics and early postpartum health was collected 1 month after childbirth. Maternal reports on health status and LES were obtained at 6, 15, 24, and 36 months postpartum. Latent growth curve analyses were performed, with maternal sociodemographics and early postpartum health as covariates for which statistical adjustment was made. Maternal health declined steadily in a linear pattern with marked individual differences, whereas maternal LES increased gradually in a linear pattern. Moreover, faster maternal health decline was associated with poorer early health at 1 month postpartum, greater exposure to LES at 6 months postpartum, and faster rise in LES exposure over time. Decline in maternal health may be explained at least in part by the deleterious effects of exposure to stressful life events.
Deep dive into DDR3 interface jitter contributors

This paper presents a case study of DDR3 interface timing jitter of a DDR subsystem on an evaluation module. The total jitter was separated into various Signal Integrity (SI) and Power Integrity (PI) effects, including signal crosstalk, impedance discontinuities, simultaneous switching noise (SSN), and inter-symbol interference (ISI). Good correlation was achieved between the simulation environment and silicon measurements. The paper also discusses how the study helped guide the package selection for a family of SoC designs.
Commercial Aircraft Protection

This report summarizes the results of theoretical research performed during 3 years of P371 Project implementation. In results of such research a new scientific conceptual technology of quasi-passive individual infrared protection of heat-generating objects – Spatial Displacement of Thermal Image (SDTI technology) was developed. Theoretical substantiation and description of working processes of civil aircraft individual IR-protection system were conducted. The mathematical models and methodology were presented, there were obtained the analytical dependencies which allow performing theoretical research of the affect of intentionally arranged dynamic field of the artificial thermal interferences with variable contrast onto main parameters of optic-electronic tracking and homing systems.
Solar plus: Optimization of distributed solar PV through battery storage and dispatchable load in residential buildings

Abstract As utility electricity rates evolve, pairing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery storage has potential to ensure the value proposition of residential solar by mitigating economic uncertainty. In addition to batteries, load control technologies can reshape customer load profiles to optimize PV system use. The combination of PV, energy storage, and load control provides an integrated approach to PV deployment, which we call “solar plus”. The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Renewable Energy Optimization (REopt) model is utilized to evaluate cost-optimal technology selection, sizing, and dispatch in residential buildings under a variety of rate structures and locations. The REopt model is extended to include a controllable or “smart” domestic hot water heater model and smart air conditioner model. We find that the solar plus approach improves end user economics across a variety of rate structures – especially those that are challenging for PV – including lower grid export rates, non-coincident time-of-use structures, and demand charges.
Monogenic Diabetes in Children and Adolescents: Recognition and Treatment Options.

We provide a review of monogenic diabetes in young children and adolescents with a focus on recognition, management, and pharmacological treatment. Monogenic forms of diabetes account for approximately 1–2% of diabetes in children and adolescents, and its incidence has increased in recent years due to greater awareness and wider availability of genetic testing. Monogenic diabetes is due to single gene defects that primarily affect beta cell function with more than 30 different genes reported. Children with antibody-negative, C-peptide-positive diabetes should be evaluated and genetically tested for monogenic diabetes. Accurate genetic diagnosis impacts treatment in the most common types of monogenic diabetes, including the use of sulfonylureas in place of insulin or other glucose-lowering agents or discontinuing pharmacologic treatment altogether. Diagnosis of monogenic diabetes can significantly improve patient care by enabling prediction of the disease course and guiding appropriate management and treatment.
Honeypot: A Socializing App to Promote Train Commuters' Wellbeing

The number of commuters has been increasing for many years and the negative effects on wellbeing are therefore affecting more and more people. Following a user centered design process that focuses on known wellbeing determinants, such as relatedness and empathy, we developed the Honeypot socializing app. The app allows commuters to find other travelers to chat with and meet in person to enhance their wellbeing through fostering meaningful and contextual social interactions. First, we describe the development of the idea and the design of the app. Then, we report on a field study with 16 participants, which we carried out on trains. The study results show that the app helps to get in contact with fellow travelers and that it has the potential to promote the wellbeing of commuters in the long term.
Quantitative Analysis of Neuronal Dendritic Arborization Complexity in Drosophila

Dendrites are the branched projections of a neuron, and dendritic morphology reflects synaptic organization during the development of the nervous system. Drosophila larval neuronal dendritic arborization (da) is an ideal model for studying morphogenesis of neural dendrites and gene function in the development of nervous system. There are four classes of da neurons. Class IV is the most complex with a branching pattern that covers almost the entire area of the larval body wall. We have previously characterized the effect of silencing the Drosophila ortholog of SOX5 on class IV neuronal dendritic arborization complexity (NDAC) using four parameters: the length of dendrites, the surface area of dendrite coverage, the total number of branches, and the branching structure. This protocol presents the workflow of NDAC quantitative analysis, consisting of larval dissection, confocal microscopy, and image analysis procedures using ImageJ software. Further insight into da neuronal development and its underlying mechanisms will improve the understanding of neuronal function and provide clues about the fundamental causes of neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Immersive Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy for Upper Limb Recovery After Stroke: A Pilot Study

Objective This study was designed to examine the feasibility of immersive virtual reality mirror therapy for upper limb paresis after stroke using a head-mounted display and provide preliminary evidence of efficacy. Design Ten outpatients with chronic stroke, upper limb hemiparesis, and a low predisposition for motion sickness completed a 12-session program of 30 mins each of immersive virtual reality mirror therapy. The virtual reality system provided the illusion of movement in the hemiparetic upper limb while suppressing the visual representation of the nonparetic side. Feasibility was assessed via patient compliance, adverse event tracking, the System Usability Scale, and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire. Preliminary efficacy was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity and Action Research Arm Test. Results Immersive virtual reality mirror therapy for patients with chronic stroke was safe, well-tolerated, and without adverse events, such as simulator sickness. Motor outcomes revealed a small improvement for the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity from 21.7 (SD = 8.68) to 22.8 (SD = 9.19) that did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.084). Conclusions Four weeks of immersive virtual reality mirror therapy was well-tolerated by chronic stroke patients. Our findings support further clinical trials of immersive virtual reality technologies and visually enhanced mirror therapies for stroke survivors.
Education of Archivists in Hungary at the Beginning of the 21st Century

Between 1867 and 1948 Hungary did not have any archivist education. Research positions existed only in the National Archives, either legal degree, or university degree, and later doctorate level, as well as passing the professional exam defined by the minister were the requirements for their fulfilment. The organisation of a course preparing for the exam was proposed several times during the era, however it was never realised. The archivist education started on the Faculty of Humanities of ELTE in 1949. First those history students were allowed to apply for the studies that wanted to learn archival studies from the third year of their education as their secondary subject, then it was organised into a four-year and then five-year education. The curriculum was continuously shaped upon the experiences and proposals of the teachers, students and the archivists. The 21st century archivist education basic feature is its continuous change; first the introduction of the credit system and then the Bologna system caused difficulties in the education. Currently the archivist education is mainly supplied by the MA education, however, the knowledge that had to be obtained in 6-8-10 semesters earlier, has to be taught within 4 semesters. The example subject syllabi reflect on the depth of knowledge provided by the education.
Entering the Global Hispanophone: an introduction

This double special issue of the Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies has been conceived as an invitation to encompass, in our respective spaces of knowledge circulation, the wide and divergent hist...
Electrical properties and interface abruptness of AlSiO gate dielectric grown on 000 1 ¯ N-polar and (0001) Ga-polar GaN

The electrical properties and the interface abruptness of aluminum silicon oxide (AlSiO) dielectric grown in situ on 000 1 ¯ N-polar and (0001) Ga-polar GaN by metal organic chemical vapor deposition were studied by means of capacitance-voltage (CV) and atom probe tomography (APT) measurements. The growth of AlSiO on N-polar GaN resulted in a positive flatband voltage shift of 2.27 V with respect to that on Ga-polar GaN, which exemplifies the influence of the GaN surface polarization charge on the electrical properties of GaN-based metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices. The AlSiO/GaN(N-polar) interface was sharp, which resulted in nondispersive CV characteristics and a relatively low density of interface states (Dit) of 1.48 × 1012 cm−2. An intermixed layer of AlGaSiO was present at the interface between AlSiO and Ga-polar GaN, which contributed to the measured dispersive CV characteristics and resulted in an ∼2× higher Dit than that on N-polar GaN. The superior properties of the N-polar AlSiO MOS devices are promising for further advancement of N-polar GaN-based high electron mobility transistors for high-frequency and power electronics applications.
Cost or revenue: is diabetes prevention doomed due to misalignment of incentives?

Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose. Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions.[1 2][1] The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in the USA in 2016 is 23 million people, of which 91% were type 2 diabetes.[1][1] The strategy of screening for and
Wittgenstein, Peirce, and Paradoxes of Mathematical Proof

Wittgenstein's paradoxical theses that unproved propositions are meaningless, proofs form new concepts and rules, and contradictions are of limited concern, led to a variety of interpretations, most of them centered on rule-following skepticism. We argue, with the help of C. S. Peirce's distinction between corollarial and theorematic proofs, that his intuitions are better explained by resistance to what we call conceptual omniscience, treating meaning as fixed content specified in advance. We interpret the distinction in the context of modern epistemic logic and semantic information theory, and show how removing conceptual omniscience helps resolve Wittgenstein's paradoxes and explain the puzzle of deduction, its ability to generate new knowledge and meaning.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF LIPOPROTEIN(A) AND ASSOCIATION WITH MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND STROKE IN A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE COHORT

The epidemiology and associations of lipoprotein(a) (lp(a)) with cardiovascular events in the general US population are unknown. We used data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-94), a cross-sectional cohort. Lp(a) was compared across demographics. Associations
TREATING REFRACTORY VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA: REVISITING AN OLD FRIEND

Quinidine is an antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) previously used to treat ventricular arrhythmias (VT/VF). Over time, it's use has declined in favor of safer and effective AADs such as amiodarone, lidocaine, procainamide and beta-blockers. In patients refractory to these medications, the use of quinidine
Research on numerical cognition in Mexico (Investigación sobre cognición numérica en México)

In Mexico, by the end of compulsory education, half of the junior high school students attain the lowest level in international maths assessments. To reach a better understanding of how people lear...
Strengthening the Power of Evidence-Based Prevention in Cooperative Extension: A Capacity-Building Framework for Translation Science-Driven Behavioral Health

Translation science entails application of information gained through scientific research to practices intended to improve prevention and public health. The outreach arm of Land-Grant Universities—the Cooperative Extension System—is uniquely poised to facilitate this translation process and contribute to resolution of current substance misuse and other behavioral health issues. This paper summarizes selected literatures that guided the conceptualization of a framework for building Extension’s capacity to enhance the translation process, in order to better address substance misuse and other behavioral health issues. Peer-reviewed literature was obtained from journals representing varied disciplines including medicine, public health, education, and psychology. Journals for Extension professionals were a prominent source of relevant literature. The literature review informed the identification of relevant practice gaps, barriers in addressing those gaps, and the development of a capacity-building framework. The framework described highlights opportunities for building Cooperative Extension’s capacity to address goals in four key domains. These goals include (1) catalyzing Extension’s organizational development to support science-driven practices, (2) bolstering prevention and behavioral health-oriented professional development for Extension faculty and staff, (3) creating a stronger culture of behavioral health in Extension, and (4) strengthening Extension’s financing of prevention-oriented behavioral health efforts. Addressing the capacity-related goals identified in this paper could be a major catalyst for enhancing the power of proven, prevention-oriented behavioral health and, thereby, the well-being of our families, communities and nation.
Oxidative cross-linking of fibronectin confers protease resistance and inhibits cellular migration

The oxidation of tyrosine residues to generate o,o'-dityrosine cross-links in extracellular proteins is necessary for the proper function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in various contexts in invertebrates. Tyrosine oxidation is also required for the biosynthesis of thyroid hormone in vertebrates, and there is evidence for oxidative cross-linking reactions occurring in extracellular proteins secreted by myofibroblasts. The ECM protein fibronectin circulates in the blood as a globular protein that dimerizes through disulfide bridges generated by cysteine oxidation. We found that cellular (fibrillar) fibronectin on the surface of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-activated human myofibroblasts underwent multimerization by o,o'-dityrosine cross-linking under reducing conditions that disrupt disulfide bridges, but soluble fibronectin did not. This reaction on tyrosine residues required both the TGF-β1-dependent production of hydrogen peroxide and the presence of myeloperoxidase (MPO) derived from inflammatory cells, which are active participants in wound healing and fibrogenic processes. Oxidative cross-linking of matrix fibronectin attenuated both epithelial and fibroblast migration and conferred resistance to proteolysis by multiple proteases. The abundance of circulating o,o'-dityrosine-modified fibronectin was increased in a murine model of lung fibrosis and in human subjects with interstitial lung disease compared to that in control healthy subjects. These studies indicate that tyrosine can undergo stable, covalent linkages in fibrillar fibronectin under inflammatory conditions and that this modification affects the migratory behavior of cells on such modified matrices, suggesting that this modification may play a role in both physiologic and pathophysiologic tissue repair.
Outcomes of Foci on Breast MRI: Features Associated With Malignancy

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to determine the outcomes of foci seen on breast MRI and to evaluate imaging features associated with malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In this institutional review board-approved retrospective study, we reviewed 200 eligible foci in 179 patients that were assigned BI-RADS category of 3 or 4 from December 2004 to August 2018. Clinical and imaging features of all eligible foci were collected, and associations with malignant outcomes were evaluated. Malignancy rates were also calculated. RESULTS. Of 200 eligible foci, 64 were assigned BI-RADS category 3 and 136 were assigned BI-RADS category 4. The malignancy rate was 1.6% (1/64) among BI-RADS 3 foci and 17.6% (24/136) for BI-RADS 4 foci. The majority of malignant foci represented invasive breast cancer (68.0%, 17/25). Focus size and washout kinetics were significantly associated with malignant outcome (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION. Despite the high prevalence of foci on breast MRI, data are limited to guide their management. Foci should not be disregarded, because foci undergoing biopsy had a malignancy rate of 17.6%, with the majority of malignant foci representing invasive cancer. Larger size and washout kinetics were associated with malignancy in our study and should raise the suspicion level for a focus on breast MRI.
The ABCs of Sterol Transport

Cholesterol homeostasis and trafficking are critical to the maintenance of the asymmetric plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells. Disruption or dysfunction of cholesterol trafficking leads to numerous human diseases. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters play several critical roles in this process, and mutations in these sterol transporters lead to disorders such as Tangier disease and sitosterolemia. Biochemical and structural information on ABC sterol transporters is beginning to emerge, with published structures of ABCA1 and ABCG5/G8; these two proteins function in the reverse cholesterol transport pathway and mediate the efflux of cholesterol and xenosterols to high-density lipoprotein and bile salt micelles, respectively. Although both of these transporters belong to the ABC family and mediate the efflux of a sterol substrate, they have many distinct differences. Here, we summarize the current understanding of sterol transport driven by ABC transporters, with an emphasis on these two extensively characterized transporters.