cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of cortisone on experimental viral infection. V. Inhibition of influenza virus synthesis.

Cortisone is a highly potent inhibitor of influenza virus synthesis in the chick embryo, inducing manifest inhibition in doses of 0.1 to 1.0 µg/egg. Inhibition of viral synthesis is only temporarily manifest. As infection continues, the negation by cortisone of the self-limiting effects of viral autointerference obscures the coincident cortisone effect on synthesis. The inhibitory effect of cortisone may be induced late in the course of viral multiplication, after conclusion of the latent period. It is proposed that inhibition of viral synthesis with cortisone is a corollary of the steroid's inhibitory effects on growth and protein synthesis of the infected host. The role of adrenal corticoids in the regulation of infection with obligate intracellular parasites deserves continued investigation.
Developing Secure Products in the Age of Advanced Persistent Threats

Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are making technology providers reconsider their security assumptions for secure product development. This article suggests an industry roadmap for rethinking product security in the face of APTs. It also describes steps EMC has taken to implement this roadmap and strengthen its product development practices.
Vacuum constriction devices and theclinical urologist: An informed selection

Abstract The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists vacuumconstriction devices (VCD) as safe, nonsurgical therapy for erectile dysfunction. Our study compared the responses of 30 male (10 novice and 20 regular) VCD users of seven commercially available systems (Mentor Response, Mentor-Touch, Mentor-Piston, Dacomed Catalyst, Mission VED, Osbon ErecAid, and Pos-T-Vac). Variables evaluated included simplicity of instruction, ease of use, cost, instructional value of videotape, company follow-up, presence of a pressure-limitation gauge, and length of warranty. The results from our study show (1) 100 percent reported an additional cost to be of minor importance in determining choice of device, (2) 80 percent of novice and 95 percent of regular users stated the instructional videotape was essential, (3) 95 percent of the participants desired a twenty-four-hour hot-line, (4) 40 percent of novice users but only 25 percent of regular users wanted personalized company follow-up, (5) 100 percent of novice users preferred single-handed devices, while regulars showed no preference. (6) Regular users scored Mentor Response, Osbon ErecAid, and Mentor-Piston highest regarding ease of use. While the vacuum constriction devices are conceptually similar, there are subtle operational distinctions between the different brands. The clinical urologist should be aware of these nuances.
John Cage y la posibilidad de pensar el sonido como acontecimiento: Aproximaciones filosóficas a su obra

En una aproximacion filosofica a la obra musical de John Cage, se establecen ciertos motivos para afirmar un pensamiento del sonido como acontecimiento. Se trata de concebir el sonido mas alla de cualquier tramite significativo para luego, dialogando con Badiou, Derrida y Lyotard, respectivamente, concluir que puede ser pensado en tanto alteridad, vacio logico e instancia separada de la imagen. Esto supone una historia distante a la Idea y constituye un enigma que transforma a la escucha en una actividad que, mas alla de paradigmas y funciones visuales, puede abrir un nuevo espacio para el pensamiento y la reflexion cotidiana.
Improved linear ion trap physics package

The authors describes an improvement in the architecture of the physics package used in the linear ion trap (LIT) based frequency standard developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This new design is based on the observation that ions can be moved along the axis of an LIT by applied DC voltages. The state selection/interrogation region can be separated from the more critical microwave resonance region where the multiplied local-oscillator signal is compared to the stable atomic transition. This separation relaxes many of the design constraints of the present units. Improvements include increased frequency stability, and a substantial reduction in size, mass, and cost of the final frequency standard. >
Sequential magnetic resonance imaging analysis of the maxillary sinuses : implications for a model of gene therapy in cystic fibrosis

Serial maxillary sinus aminoglycoside lavage is an adjunctive technique increasingly employed in a variety of areas in cystic fibrosis (CF). It may be helpful in reducing revision rates for sinus surgery, in lowering rates of bronchial pseudomonal colonization after lung transplantation and in the evolving field of gene therapy for CF. The goal of this study was to assess the utility of the maxillary sinus as a model for gene transfer in cystic fibrosis. We performed serial maxillary sinus lavage, in accordance with published protocols, using tobramycin in a randomized series of five CF subjects. Lavage was performed for up to 10 days and sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were taken at zero, 10, 30, 60, 120 and 180 days. The 30 MRI scans were blindly scored by two examiners on the parameters of maxillary sinus aeration, averaged over the five time intervals, was significantly improved (p < 0.05) in the lavaged sinus. This study provides the first systematic image-based measure of efficacy of maxillary sinus aminoglycoside lavage, a major element of a number of clinical protocols used in the treatment of CF. The prolonged increase in aeration after lavage suggests that any further improvement potentially achievable after gene transfer would be difficult to detect, limiting the value of this system as a model of clinical efficacy of gene transfer in CF.
Yellow fever mosquito sterol carrier protein-2 gene structure and transcriptional regulation.

AeSCP-2, a sterol carrier protein, is involved in sterol trafficking in mosquitoes. The activity of the AeSCP-2 gene is important for mosquito development. An earlier study demonstrated that the transcription of this gene was up-regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) in cultured gut tissues. To investigate 20E-regulated transcription of AeSCP-2 gene we truncated the upstream flanking region of AeSCP-2 gene and linked it to a reporter gene. The mosquito Aag-2 cell line was transfected with these promoter/reporter constructs and treated with 20E at various concentrations. Expression vectors of different transcription factors such as HR3 and βFTZ-F1 were also co-transfected with the AeSCP-2 promoter/reporter constructs. The observed results demonstrated that varied combinations of transcription factors produce different promoter activities of the AeSCP-2 gene. This observation leads us to the conclusion that the partnership of transcription factors is crucial in regulating transcriptional activity of AeSCP-2 gene.
Mixed convection in vertical internal flow of a micropolar fluid

Abstract The theory of micropolar fluids due to Eringen is used to formulate a set of equations for the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the combined convection micropolar flow in vertical channels. It is found that the microstructure and substructure parameters have significant effects on the flow and thermal fields. By making the Newtonian solvent more and more micropolar, it is possible to obtain drag reduction as well as reduced heat transfer characteristics.
Radiation-Induced Epithelial-Submucosal Separation: An Electron and Light Microscopical Investigation

Irradiation injury of the mouse tongue was studied by electron and light microscopy. A specific lesion was found to be the result of edema. Epithelial compensation was seen in the form of proliferation of desmosomes and hemidesmosomes, elongation of rete ridges, and hypertrophy of cytoplasmic projections from basal cells.
Predictors of postoperative complications after trimodality therapy for esophageal cancer.

Summary While trimodality therapy for esophageal cancer has improved patient outcomes, surgical complication rates remain high. In our study, we identified radiation modality as a modifiable predictor of postoperative complications, with the use of advanced radiation technologies (intensity modulated radiation therapy and proton beam therapy) that significantly reduced pulmonary and gastrointestinal complication rates compared to those with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. Our study highlights the importance of Purpose: While trimodality therapy for esophageal cancer has improved patient outcomes, surgical complication rates remain high. The goal of this study was to identify modifiable factors associated with postoperative complications after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Methods and Materials: From 1998 to 2011, 444 patients were treated at our institution with surgical resection after chemoradiation. Postoperative (pulmonary, gastrointestinal [GI], cardiac, wound healing) complications were recorded up to 30 days postoperatively. Kruskal-Wallis tests and c 2 or Fisher exact tests were used to assess associations between continuous and categorical variables. Multivariate logistic regression tested the association between perioperative complications and patient or treatment factors that were significant on univariate analysis. Results: The most frequent postoperative complications after trimodality therapy were pulmonary (25%) and GI (23%). Lung capacity and the type of radiation modality used were independent predictors of pulmonary and GI complications. After adjusting for confounding factors, pulmonary and GI complications were increased in patients treated with 3dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) versus intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT; odds ratio [OR], 2.018; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.104-3.688; OR, 1.704; 95% CI, 1.03-2.82, respectively) and for patients treated with 3D-CRT versus proton beam therapy (PBT; OR, 3.154; 95% CI, 1.365-7.289; OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.78-3.08, respectively). Mean lung radiation dose (MLD) was strongly associated with pulmonary complications, and the differences in toxicities seen for the radiation modalities could be fully accounted for by the MLD delivered by each of the modalities.
Analysis of Environmental Effects on Leaf Temperature under Sunlight, High Pressure Sodium and Light Emitting Diodes

The use of LED technology is commonly assumed to result in significantly cooler leaf temperatures than high pressure sodium technology. To evaluate the magnitude of this effect, we measured radiation incident to and absorbed by a leaf under four radiation sources: clear sky sunlight in the field, sunlight in a glass greenhouse, and indoor plants under either high pressure sodium or light emitting diodes. We then applied a common mechanistic energy-balance model to compare leaf to air temperature difference among the radiation sources and environments. At equal photosynthetic photon flux, our results indicate that the effect of plant water status and leaf evaporative cooling is much larger than the effect of radiation source. If plants are not water stressed, leaves in all four radiation sources were typically within 2°C of air temperature. Under clear sky conditions, cool sky temperatures mean that leaves in the field are always cooler than greenhouse or indoor plants-when photosynthetic photon flux, stomatal conductance, wind speed, vapor pressure deficit, and leaf size are equivalent. As water stress increases and cooling via transpiration decreases, leaf temperatures can increase well above air temperature. In a near-worst case scenario of water stress and low wind, our model indicates that leaves would increase 6°, 8°, 10°, and 12°C above air temperature under field, LED, greenhouse, and HPS scenarios, respectively. Because LED fixtures emit much of their heat through convection rather than radiative cooling, they result in slightly cooler leaf temperatures than leaves in greenhouses and under HPS fixtures, but the effect of LED technology on leaf temperature is smaller than is often assumed. Quantifying the thermodynamic outputs of these lamps, and their physiological consequences, will allow both researchers and the horticulture industry to make informed decisions when employing these technologies.
Characterization of the isoform-specific differences in the gating of neuronal and muscle sodium channels.

Human heart (hH1), human skeletal muscle (hSkM1), and rat brain (rIIA) Na channels were expressed in cultured cells and the activation and inactivation of the whole-cell Na currents measured using ...
Using the physics of the fast fading to improve performance for mobile radio channels

The fading of wireless signals is not a random process, it is deterministic since it is the result of interference between signals following various paths to the receiver. We exploit this deterministic nature of the fading signals and propose a novel approach to communication over the fast fading channels. The key step in this communication system is the prediction of a future block of samples of the fading coefficient from previous observations. This prediction algorithm is closely tied to other important components: feedback from the receiver to the transmitter, transmitter signal optimization, and tracking at the receiver. The objective of this work is to anticipate "deep fades", which severely limit the performance of mobile radio systems. This capability will potentially result in reduced power requirements for wireless channels.
Bringing accommodation into focus: the several discoveries of the ciliary muscle.

Since at least the 16th century, many investigators have speculated on the presence of a specialized muscle in the front of the eye designed to somehow alter its disposition to bring about changes in focus. By the 1850s, when Hermann von Helmholtz offered the first plausible theory of accommodation, the anatomy of the ciliary muscle was well known. The credit for this knowledge is generally given to Ernst Brucke and William Bowman, who published their observations on the muscle independently in the 1840s. In fact, not only were Bowman and Brucke wrong about the role of the ciliary muscle in accommodation, and for different reasons, but they shared this distinction with at least 3 investigators who came before them. In the 3 decades before 1840, Philip Crampton, Robert Knox, and William Wallace had all zeroed in on the ciliary muscle, describing its anatomy in varying detail. If none understood its precise role in accommodation—all ignored the work of Thomas Young, who by 1800 had proved that the lens must somehow round up to achieve near vision—each deserves a share of the credit for its discovery.
Some remarks on the stability of Mamdani fuzzy control systems

This paper presents a passivity approach to the stability analysis of Mamdani fuzzy control systems. The main idea of the paper is that the fuzzy controller can be considered from an input-output viewpoint as a nonlinear dissipative operator. An input-output approach is provided by considering a dynamical dependency of inputs of the fuzzy controller. Then the passivity theory is applied in order to obtain conditions for absolute stability of the closed-loop control system.
WaMu's Option-ARM Strategy

ABSTRACT: At the end of 2007, Washington Mutual, Inc. (generally known as “WaMu”) was the largest savings and loan bank in the U.S., based on assets ($328 billion) and revenue ($25.5 billion). Less than nine months later, WaMu was seized by federal regulators and sold to JPMorgan Chase for $1.9 billion in a transaction facilitated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). During the worst recession since the Great Depression, WaMu became the largest U.S. bank failure in history. This case illustrates how a financial institution's business strategy affects risk and how these characteristics are revealed in the financial statements. Students assume the role of a financial analyst examining WaMu's 2007 10-K after its release in March 2008. In particular, they evaluate the quality of WaMu's loans and the adequacy of WaMu's estimates for loan losses, one of the most important discretionary accruals for financial institutions. Students gain insights into the consequences of WaMu's business strategy t...
Lexical Integrity, Checking, and the Mirror: A Checking Approach to Syntactic Word Formation

Admitting syntactic formation of morphologically complex words is commonly deemed to be an infringement on the Lexical Integrity Hypothesis. But syntactic word formation, if understood in terms of the checking of features of subparts of words in designated syntactic positions, is readily reconciled with strong lexicalism. This paper will argue that a checking approach to syntactic word formation, in tandem with a novel interpretation of the Mirror Principle of Baker (1985), yields a straightforward resolution of the otherwise problematic inflectional morphology of the Athapaskan languages, as well as of ‘bracketing paradoxes’ of the unhappier and ungrammaticality type. The syntactically complex structure of unhappier and ungrammaticality that underlies the checking approach to syntactic word formation is supported on the basis of evidence from polarity item licensing, adverbial modification, and so-anaphora.
Influence of dietary lipid on hapten‐specific UV‐induced immunosuppression

The influence of diets containing high (12%, w/w) and low (0.75%) levels of corn oil on hapten-specific antibody production to trinitrophenol-conjugated sheep red blood cells (TNP-SRBC) was examined in mice receiving 0, 3, 9, and 11 wk of UV radiation. Splenocytes from HRA HRII-c/+/Skh female hairless mice from the two dietary groups were incubated under a special atmosphere of low oxygen tension (7% O 2 , 10% CO 2 , and 83% N 2 ) with TNP-SRBC to generate hapten-specific T-suppressor cells that, in turn, influence the number of direct plaque forming cells (PFC) in the Cunnigham-Szenberg plaque assay. Chronic UV irradiation reduced the number of direct PFC in both groups. After 11 wk of UV, the number of PFC in the high dietary fat group was significantly lower (P<0.001) than that observed in the low fat group. These results suggest that dietary fat modulates UV-induced hapten-specific immunosuppression. Furthermore, the influence of dietary fat level, in this respect, was not realized until after 11 wk of UV, a time at which dietary fat has been shown to exert its influence on UV-carcinogenic expression.
Vinyl Laurate and Other Vinyl Esters

Vinyl laurate and other vinyl esters reactant: 206 g. (2.4 moles) of freshly distilled vinyl acetate reactant: 80 g. (0.4 mole) of lauric acid product: vinyl laurate product: Caproate product: Caprylate product: Pelargonate product: Caprate product: Myristate product: Palmitate (m.p. 26.7–27.1°) product: Stearate (m.p. 35–36°) product: 10-Hendecenoate product: Oleate reactant: caproic acid, b.p. 96°/8 mm., Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation, New York reactant: caprylic acid reactant: capric acid, b.p. 145–146°/8 mm., Armour and Company, Chicago, Illinois reactant: pelargonic acid, b.p. 176°/64 mm., Emery Industries, Cincinnati, Ohio reactant: 10-hendecenoic (undecylenic) acid, b.p. 177–180°/25 mm., Baker Castor Oil Company, New York Keywords: replacement reactions, alkoxy by oxygen; iodine number (Wijs titration); sulfuric acid, 100%, preparation of
In vivo longitudinal proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic rat brain injury – Neuroprotective effects of acetyl-L-carnitine

Purpose This study evaluated the longitudinal metabolic alterations after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in rats and tested the neuroprotective effect of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) using in vivo proton short-TE Point-RESolved Spectroscopy method. Methods Rice-Vannucci model was used on 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Data were acquired from contralateral and ipsilateral cortex and hippocampus, respectively at 4 time points (24-h, 72-h, 7-days, 28-days) post-HI. The effect of subcutaneous administration of ALCAR (100 mg/kg) immediately after HI, at 4-h, 24-h, and 48-h post-HI was determined. Results Significant reductions in glutathione (P < 0.005), myo-inositol (P < 0.002), taurine (P < 0.001), and total creatine (P < 0.005) were observed at 24-h postinjury compared with the control group in the ipsilateral hippocampus of the HI rat pups. ALCAR-treated-HI rats had lower levels of lactate and maintained total creatine at 24-h and had smaller lesion size compared with the HI only rats. Conclusion Severe oxidative, osmotic stress, impaired phosphorylation, and a preference for anaerobic glycolysis were found in the ipsilateral hippocampus in the HI pups at 24-h postinjury. ALCAR appeared to have a neuroprotective effect if administered early after HI by serving as an energy substrate and promote oxidative cerebral energy producing and minimize anaerobic glycolysis. Magn Reson Med 74:1530–1542, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A lower bound for the shortest path problem

We show that the shortest path problem cannot be solved in o(log n) time on an unbounded fan-in PRAM without bit operations using poly(n) processors even when the bit-lengths of the weights on the edges are restricted to be of size O(log/sup 3/ n). This shows that the matrix-based repeated squaring algorithm for the shortest path problem is optimal in the unbounded fan-in PRAM model without bit operations.
The ionization of the Earth's upper atmosphere

The development of the experimental technique of radio measurements of upper atmospheric ionization during the past few years has greatly enhanced our knowledge of this region of the Earth's atmosphere. This region is now commonly termed the ionosphere. The radio methods of observation are based upon the phenomenon of refraction of electromagnetic waves in a medium containing free charges. The index of refraction of such a medium to the electromagnetic wave is dependent upon the number of charges in the medium, their mass, and the frequency of the propagated wave. The medium is therefore dispersive, and the higher frequencies, which are less deflected, are more penetrating. If the angle of incidence at the medium and the total deflection of the wave is known, the numbers of charges of any given mass required to give this deviation can be calculated, and a numerical value of ionization can be thus obtained. This number is usually expressed in equivalent numbers of electrons, although it must be understood that if particles of greater mass are present, a greater number of such particles will give, in general, similar effects. If the motions of the particles in the Earth's magnetic field are considered, however, a limiting ratio of electrons to heavier particles can be determined. In this way it is also possible to ascertain information concerning the strength of the Earth's magnetic field in the ionized region.
Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Reliability Evaluation of Electric Power Systems

Every reliability analysis effort, in some way, involves searching the state space of the system for those states that represent the events of interest, typically failure of the system or a given node to meet the demand. This essentially translates into a search procedure to efficiently identify states to be examined and then using a mechanism to evaluate these states. Traditionally, reliability analysis methods are based either on an implicit or explicit enumeration process or Monte Carlo sampling. More recently, methods based on artificial intelligence have been investigated both as an alternative to Monte Carlo for the search process as well as state evaluation techniques in conjunction with the Monte Carlo methods. This paper will examine the conceptual basis of overall reliability evaluation process and explore the role of artificial intelligence methods in this context. It will also provide some examples of application to the reliability analysis of hybrid systems involving conventional and alternative energy sources.
Assessment of bone density using ultrasonic backscatter

The goal of this project was to investigate the utility of ultrasonic backscatter for the assessment of bone status. Ultrasound offers a low-cost, portable, nonionizing alternative or complement to common X-ray- or radioisotope (gamma ray)-based methods of bone densitometry. Ultrasonic backscatter may provide useful information not revealed by ultrasonic attenuation and sound-speed densitometers. Backscatter is sensitive to microstructural variations in acoustic impedance and should therefore provide information regarding architecture (which is related to fracture risk), as well as density. Ultrasonic backscatter at 2.25 MHz and CT bone densitometric data have been acquired from 10 healthy human volunteers. The degree of correlation between CT and ultrasonic backscatter is high (r = 0.87, p < 0.001). The envelope signal-to-noise ratio was 1.81 +/- 0.08 (mean +/- standard deviation). This suggests that the number of scatterers per resolution cell is large, the radiofrequency signal approximately obeys circular Gaussian statistics, and the envelope obeys Rayleigh statistics. These results indicate promise for ultrasonic backscatter as a substitute for or an adjunct to other ultrasonic measurements (attenuation and sound speed) and X-ray measurements for the assessment of bone status.
Cloud condensation nucleus activity of secondary organic aerosol particles mixed with sulfate

from 23 to 37 m gm � 3 . CCN analysis was performed for 80to 150-nm particles having variable organic-sulfate volume fractions, which were estimated from the diameter of the organic-sulfate particle relative to that of the seed as well as independently from mass spectra. Critical supersaturation, which increased for greater SOA volume fraction and �� ;
TRENDS IN LEGISLATION AND CASE LAW ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

The recognition of child abuse and neglect as a significant social problem in the United States is a relatively recent development. Although most states had passed specific child maltreatment laws by the early 1920s, it was not until publication of a 1962 article describing the “battered-child syndrome” (Kempe, Silverman, Steele, Droegenmuller, & Silverman, 1962) that legislators and health care professionals paid considerable attention to the problem of child abuse and neglect. Since then, there have been several waves of legislation and judicial activity that have been nearly universal in American jurisdictions but that seldom have had unequivocally positive effects.
10-Channel x 40Gb/s per Channel DQPSK Monolithically Integrated InP-Based Transmitter PIC

We report here the first demonstration of a large-scale monolithically integrated InP based 10 channel x 40Gb/s per channel transmitter photonic integrated circuit (PIC) employing differential quadrature phase-shift key (DQPSK) modulation.
Ecological similarity is related to phylogenetic distance between species in a cross-niche field transplant experiment.

To determine whether phylogenetic relatedness predicts ecological niche differences and community assembly in the field, we transplanted 16 focal plant species into field niches of species of increasing phylogenetic relatedness, manipulated the presence of plant neighbors, and measured environmental covariates. We found that plant survivorship declined with increasing phylogenetic distance in the presence of neighbors, but with neighbor removal, reached a low point in field niches occupied by species diverged at 63 My, the maximum age of confamilials in our study, and then increased again in the sites of distant relatives. Plant biomass was similarly nonlinear, and niche differences increased with neighbor removal. Competitive response showed a linear decline with relatedness. We compared our experimental results to natural community composition, finding that conspecifics and distant relatives were more likely to co-occur at smaller spatial scales, as predicted by our measures of performance.
Nicorandil, a Nitric Oxide Donor and ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channel Opener, Protects Against Dystrophin-Deficient Cardiomyopathy.

Background:Dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy is a growing clinical problem without targeted treatments. We investigated whether nicorandil promotes cardioprotection in human dystrophin-deficient ...
Thrombopathy. Identification and distribution.

The identification, occurrence, and bleeding symptoms of a qualitative disorder, thrombopathy, were studied. The abnormality was reliably identified by the prothrombin consumption time and by an ADP-induced platelet factor 3 release method. Diagnosis of thrombopathy was reproducible in all cases studied. This disorder was easily differentiated from von Willebrand’s disease. Platelet aggregation with ADP and epinephrine was normal in all cases. Thrombopathy was the most common bleeding syndrome encountered. It was frequently associated with underlying disease states, and no evidence was found to implicate any drug in its development. Aspirin was found to increase bleeding in these patients. The bleeding tendency was mild, with easy bruising, epistaxis, menorrhagia, and gastrointestinal bleeding the most common manifestations in all patients studied.
Carbon Nanotube Assisted Electrical Treeing for Vascular Network Synthesis

Electrical treeing (ET) is a stepwise dielectric breakdown process that generates a branched, hollow network of tubules in the dielectric between the electrode and ground. In this study, the controlled growth of electrical trees (ETs) in epoxies is demonstrated as a technique for fabricating synthetic vascular systems in engineering materials. A number of experimental conditions are explored, including AC versus DC voltage and geometric arrangement of the electrode and ground. AC growth tends to induce highly branched, “bush-like” trees while DC growth tends to produce lower-order branched structures. In addition, treating electrode surfaces with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is shown to promote ET initiation, most likely due to enhancements in the local electric field intensity. The utility of these structures for vascular applications is demonstrated by filling the channels with dyed liquids.
Test and Analysis of Electrical Energy Quality Test Method in Photovoltaic Grid System

According to the technical rule of electrical energy quality in Q/GDW 617—2011 "Technical Rule for Photovoltaic Power Station Connected to Power Grid" and the test procedures of electrical energy quality in Q/GDW 618—2011 "Test Procedures for Photovoltaic Power Station Connected to Power Grid",the results of the electrical energy quality lest in different test environments were compared,which the inverter is in laboratory or in photovoltaic station.By contrast,the causes of the difference were analyzed.In addition,the improvement of inverter test was suggested in this paper.
Abstract 929: Tunneling nanotube conduits facilitate the bystander effect after oncolytic viral infection

Background: Oncolytic viruses have come to the forefront of cancer therapeutics following FDA approval for treatment of metastatic melanoma in 2015. Efficacy of viral therapy is enhanced by the bystander effect, a cellular phenomenon that amplifies the effects of the virus following activation of the prodrug ganciclovir (GCV) by virally-expressed thymidine kinase (TK) and intercellular spread of GCV via gap junctions. In the complex and stroma-rich tumor microenvironment, gap junctions may not completely account for cell-to-cell communication. Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are a novel and recently characterized alternative form of direct cell-to-cell communication in the tumor matrix. TNTs are fine, long, F actin-based cell extensions that serve as short and long-range conduits for efficient transfer of cellular cargo. Here, we investigate the ability of TNTs to mediate a TK-based bystander effect after oncolytic viral infection and administration of GCV. Methods: We infected 3 mesothelioma cell lines with NV1066, a mutant replication-competent strain of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) that encodes viral eGFP and viral TK. Confocal microscopy and time-lapse imaging were performed 12-36 hours later. A modified Transwell assay was used to separate infected cells from uninfected cells to assess TNT propagation of eGFP-tagged NV1066. GCV was added to infected cells in the top chamber to assess TNT propagation of TK-activated GCV. Apoptosis was measured using TUNEL assay in the bottom chamber to quantify the extent of the bystander effect. Results: Confocal microscopy demonstrated effective intercellular transfer of GFP-tagged virus between cells via TNTs prior to oncolysis. Quantification of TUNEL-positive cells at 48 hours indicated that addition of NV1066 to the top chamber resulted in 33% of the initially uninfected cells in the bottom chamber dying by 48 hours. The addition of GCV to virally infected cells in the top chamber significantly increased apoptosis in recipient cells in the bottom chamber, from 33% to 71%, producing a 2.3-fold increase in cell killing attributed to TNT transfer of viral TK-activated GCV (p = 0.007). Thus, TNTs were shown to transfer viral TK-activated GCV to non-infected cells, leading to cell death via a long-range form of the bystander effect. Conclusions: Here we demonstrate that TNTs provide a previously unknown and alternative mechanism for the bystander effect in which viral TK-activated GCV is transferred via TNTs and induces apoptosis in non-infected recipient cells. Citation Format: Emil Lou, Justin Ady, Venugopal Thayanithy, Kelly Mojica, Joshua Carson, Prassanna Rao, Yuman Fong. Tunneling nanotube conduits facilitate the bystander effect after oncolytic viral infection. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 929.
Integrating self-concept into the relationship between drive for muscularity, and disordered eating and depression, among men.

Research on men’s health has increasingly recognized the importance of depression and eating disorders among men. The present study sought to extend extant work on self-concept and depression to men, incorporating muscularity-related attitudes and behaviors, and also incorporating risk for disordered eating. Two samples, one of 204 heterosexual college men and one of 197 gay and bisexual men sampled online, were recruited. Participants completed measures of drive for muscularity, self-concept, depression symptoms, and eating disorder symptoms. Data were analyzed using a structural equation model in which the relationships between drive for muscularity attitudes and behaviors, and depression and eating disorder symptoms, were mediated by physical self-concept, global physical self-concept, and self-esteem. The model was supported for the gay and bisexual men sample, but not for the college men sample. Implications for future research with men, and integration of body-related variables into therapy with men, are discussed.
Patient-specific detection of ventricular tachycardia in remote continuous health devices

Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) is a dangerous arrhythmic event which can lead to sudden cardiac death if not detected and taken care of in time. This work uses non-linear features derived from Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) along with Kolmogorov complexity, by analyzing the ECG signals, to train a classifier which can predict VT prior to their onset in remote continuous health devices. Compressed ECG signal along with amplitude ranges extracted from the ECG signal are used as features to strengthen the classifier. Stacked Denoising Autoencoders (SDAE) are used for the purpose of feature extraction and compression of signals, and their performance is compared with other works that detect VT for different window sizes. Softmax Regression is used as the classifier in this work. The proposed method is tested against MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database, MIT-BIH Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmia Database (VFDB) and Creighton University Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia Database (CUDB). A total of 96.52% accuracy with 96.18% sensitivity is obtained after testing the proposed method on all test records.
Now, More Than Ever, Proteomics Needs Better Chromatography

From plant research to biomedicine, proteome analysis plays a critical role in many areas of biological inquiry. Steady improvement in mass spectrometer (MS) technology has transformed the speed and depth of proteome analysis. Proteomes of simple organisms can now be sequenced to near completion in just over an hour. Comparable coverage of mammalian proteomes, however, still requires hours or even days of analysis. Here we ask why current technology fails to achieve comprehensive and rapid analysis of the more complex mammalian proteomes. We propose that further advancements in MS technology alone are unlikely to solve this problem and suggest that concomitant improvements in peptide separation technology will be critical.
The importance of budget in efficient utility design

Networked control systems can often be viewed through a game theoretic lens with each agent responding to a local utility function. In this paper, we focus on the question of how to design agent utility functions to ensure that the resulting system-wide behavior is desirable. While recent research has identified all utility design methodologies that ensure the existence of a (pure) Nash equilibrium in networked resource allocation problems, it remains on open question as to what utility design optimizes the efficiency of the resulting equilibria. Our first result focuses on the recently introduced concept of smoothness and provides a characterization of how a budget anomaly, which we define as a measure of the difference between the sum of the agents' payoffs and the value of the global objective, impacts the efficiency of the resulting Nash equilibria. Using this characterization, we then propose a new methodology for utility design that is accompanied by automatic efficiency guarantees. Lastly, we illustrate the effectiveness of this methodology on a class of resource allocation problems.
Low-energy inelastic response in the superconducting phases of PrOs 4 Sb 12

Recent ac susceptibility and polar Kerr effect measurements in the skutterudite superconductor ${\mathrm{PrOs}}_{4}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{12}$ (POS) (E. M. Levenson-Falk, E. R. Schemm, M. B. Maple, and A. Kapitulnik, arXiv:1609.07535) uncovered the nature of the superconducting double transition from a high-temperature, high-field, time-reversal symmetric phase (or the A phase) to a low-temperature, low-field, time-reversal symmetry-broken phase (or the B phase). Starting from a microscopic model, we derive a Ginzburg-Landau expansion relevant to POS that describes this entrance into the time-reversal symmetry-broken phase along the temperature axis. We also provide a study of the low-energy inelastic (Raman) response in both the A and B phases of POS, and seek additional signatures which could help reveal the exact form of the gap functions previously proposed in these phases. By appropriately manipulating the incoming and scattered light geometries, along with additional subtraction procedures and suitable assumptions, we show that one can access the various irreducible representations contained in the point group describing POS. We demonstrate how to use this technique on example order parameters proposed in POS. Depending on whether there exist nodes along the $c$ axis, we find additional low-energy spectral weight within the superconducting gap in the ${E}_{g}$ geometry, a feature that could pinpoint the location of nodes on the Fermi surface.
Novel biomarkers in acute coronary syndromes: new molecules, new concepts, but what about new treatment strategies?

The field of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is rapidly changing. Besides new drugs, the evolution is mainly driven by the introduction of novel biomarkers in an effort to respond to the partly unmet need for better diagnosis, prognostication, and management of patients. Novel biomarkers may improve
Photoluminescence Origin of Au38(SR)24 and Au22(SR)18 Nanoparticles: A Theoretical Perspective

Photoluminescence of metal nanoparticles has drawn considerable research interest due to their potential fundamental and industrial applications in optoelectronics and biomedicine. However, the origin and underlying mechanism of photoluminescence in these clusters still need to be explored. Herein, the geometrical and electronic structural changes upon photoexcitation in the Au38(SH)24 and Au22(SH)18 nanoclusters are discussed using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods. Geometric relaxations in the Au23 core of Au38(SH)24 up to a maximum of 0.05 A lead to slight electronic structure changes in the optimized singlet excited states with different state symmetries. The observed geometric and electronic structure variations upon photoexcitation are minor compared to the previously studied Au25(SH)18– nanoparticle. These small distortions can be correlated with small Stokes shifts calculated in the range of 0.06–0.09 eV in comparison to 0.49 eV for the Au25(SH)18– nanoparticle. Compared to...
Elastic Multi-stage Decision Rules for Infrequent Class

Typically, decision trees are used to represent knowledge by rule generation. To have a better understanding of the rules, it is sometimes necessary to minimize the number of nodes by minimizing the depth of the tree. This study optimizes the depth of the tree by minimizing the number of nodes. Rules that are generated using either decision trees or class association mining are from the major class of the dataset. To enable rules to be created for the infrequent class, this study uses an elastic method, Elastic Multi-Stage Decision Methodology (EMSDM), to create rules for the infrequent group. EMSDM is elastic in that it expands and contracts to accommodate the characteristics of the dataset. In addition, the data analysis occurs in stages: clustering, minimizing the depth of the decision tree, and association mining, to increase the ability of EMSDM to find infrequent class rules. EMSDM shows promise to find infrequent class rules with increased accuracy.
Preferred Names, Preferred Pronouns, and Gender Identity in the Electronic Medical Record and Laboratory Information System: Is Pathology Ready?

Background: Electronic medical records (EMRs) and laboratory information systems (LISs) commonly utilize patient identifiers such as legal name, sex, medical record number, and date of birth. There have been recommendations from some EMR working groups (e.g., the World Professional Association for Transgender Health) to include preferred name, pronoun preference, assigned sex at birth, and gender identity in the EMR. These practices are currently uncommon in the United States. There has been little published on the potential impact of these changes on pathology and LISs. Methods: We review the available literature and guidelines on the use of preferred name and gender identity on pathology, including data on changes in laboratory testing following gender transition treatments. We also describe pathology and clinical laboratory challenges in the implementation of preferred name at our institution. Results: Preferred name, pronoun preference, and gender identity have the most immediate impact on the areas of pathology with direct patient contact such as phlebotomy and transfusion medicine, both in terms of interaction with patients and policies for patient identification. Gender identity affects the regulation and policies within transfusion medicine including blood donor risk assessment and eligibility. There are limited studies on the impact of gender transition treatments on laboratory tests, but multiple studies have demonstrated complex changes in chemistry and hematology tests. A broader challenge is that, even as EMRs add functionality, pathology computer systems (e.g., LIS, middleware, reference laboratory, and outreach interfaces) may not have functionality to store or display preferred name and gender identity. Conclusions: Implementation of preferred name, pronoun preference, and gender identity presents multiple challenges and opportunities for pathology.
Seven habits of unsustainable budget building: A state policy perspective

The magnitude and immediacy of threats to the sustainability of state government programs call for significant changes in how we think about and make policies that influence the public budget. The Great Recession's prolonged battering of state budgets exhausted cutback strategies and has left policy makers with few options, producing a decision gridlock that is inescapable using traditional functional and line-item budget perspectives and embedded practices. Transforming state budgets requires an uncommon view. This paper identifies and describes seven overarching and pervasive habits in state policy making that contribute to unsustainable budgets. Although the applicability and commonness of each habit will vary by state, both individually and as a set the seven habits impart important handles for gaining greater control over a state's fiscal directions and fortunes.
A qualitative study examining methods of accessing and identifying research relevant to clinical practice among rehabilitation clinicians.

Purpose Research examining the utilization of evidence-based practice (EBP) specifically among rehabilitation clinicians is limited. The objective of this study was to examine how various rehabilitative clinicians including physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation counselors, and physiatrists are gaining access to literature and whether they are able to implement the available research into practice. Methods A total of 21 total clinicians were interviewed via telephone. Using NVivo, a qualitative analysis of the responses was performed. Results There were similarities found with respect to the information-seeking behaviors and translation of research across the different clinician types. Lack of time was reported to be a barrier for both access to literature and implementation of research across all clinician types. The majority of clinicians who reported having difficulty with utilizing the published literature indicated that the literature was not applicable to their practice, the research was not specific enough to be put into practice, or the research found was too outdated to be relevant. In addition, having a supportive work environment aided in the search and utilization of research through providing resources central to assisting clinicians in gaining access to health information. Conclusion Our study identified several barriers that affect EBP for rehabilitation clinicians. The findings suggest the need for researchers to ensure that their work is applicable and specific to clinical practice for implementation to occur.
An HTML5 Browser Application for Modeling and Teaching Linked Lists: (Abstract Only)

It is often difficult to teach dynamic data structures such as linked lists by modeling them on a static medium such as a white board or slides. This lightning talk introduces Dynamic Data Structures-Linked List (DDS-LL), an HTML5 browser application that allows the user to build and manipulate graphical models of linked lists. DDS-LL is not an algorithm visualization tool. Instead the user models their data using only actions that are consistent with a language such as Java. Nodes must be instantiated and linked together. Lists must be traversed to access a node. Reference assignment is modeled by dragging links. DDS-LL removes the old links, keeping the model accurate. With the wrong reference assignment, garbage can be created. Though still under development, DDS-LL has been used in an introductory data structures course to motivate linked lists, trace algorithms, and model scenarios. Its use provided several benefits. Scenarios can be prepared ahead of time. Models can be manipulated without drawing/erasing the white board. Scenarios can be quickly reloaded in response to student questions. Since the original intent of this tool was to assist the instructor with modeling linked lists, no attempt was made at this time to measure the impact on student engagement or learning. After a quick introduction to DDS-LL, this talk discusses the instructor's experience using it in the classroom, and presents some possible enhancements, including features to allow the tool to be used for student assignments. Handouts and links to online resources will be provided at the talk.