cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Melanoma brain metastasis: overview of current management and emerging targeted therapies

The high rate of brain metastasis in patients with advanced melanoma has been a clinical challenge for oncologists. Despite considerable progress made in the management of advanced melanoma over the past two decades, improvement in overall survival has been elusive. This is due to the high incidence of CNS metastases, which progress relentlessly and which are only anecdotally responsive to systemic therapies. Surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery and whole-brain radiotherapy with or without cytotoxic chemotherapy remain the mainstay of treatment. However, new drugs have been developed based on our improved understanding of the molecular signaling mechanisms responsible for host immune tolerance and for melanoma growth. In 2011, the US FDA approved two agents, one antagonizing each of these processes, for the treatment of advanced melanoma. The first is ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody that enhances cellular immunity and reduces tolerance to tumor-associated antigens. The second is vemurafenib, ...
Effect of Varying the Dietary Level of Calcium on Plasma and Tissue Lipids of Rabbits

A study was undertaken to determine the effect on blood and tissue lipids of rabbits fed a low fat diet containing three levels of calcium, <0.02%, 0.8%, and 1.6%. Plasma cholesterol and phospholipids were elevated in the group fed the calcium-deficient diet,whereasplasmatriglycerides appearedtobe unaffected by the level of calcium fed. Lipid levels of tissues also varied depending on the amount of calcium in the diet. In calcium deficiency, liver showed an elevation of cholesterol and phospholipid whereas lung showed decreased levels of these lipids. When the rabbits were fed the high calcium diet, heart, skeletal muscle, and adrenal gland showed signffi cant decreases in free cholesterol, but only skeletal muscle showed a decrease in total phospholipids with high calcium supplementation. Tissue triglycerides varied inde pendently of cholesterol and phospholipids. Increases in the levels of triglycerides of kidney, skeletal muscle, and adrenal gland were observed with increasing increments of dietary calcium. The role of calcium on tissue lipids appears widespread and warrants further investigation. J. Nutr. 104: 1165â€"1171, 1974.
Category Measure Spaces

It was shown in the last chapter that no one-to-one mapping of the line onto itself can map the nullsets onto the sets of first category and at the same time map the measurable sets onto the sets having the property of Baire. More generally, if (X, S, µ) is a measure space with 0 0.
A space-time coded transmitter diversity technique for frequency selective fading channels

A simple space-time coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmitter diversity technique for wireless communications over frequency selective fading channels is presented. The proposed technique utilizes OFDM to transform frequency selective fading channels into multiple flat fading subchannels on which space-time coding is applied. A two-branch transmitter diversity system is implemented without bandwidth expansion and with a small increase in complexity beyond that of a conventional OFDM system. Simulations verify that the two-branch transmitter diversity system achieves a diversity gain equivalent to that of the optimal maximal ratio combining (MRC) receiver diversity system.
A Client-Based Web-Cache Management System

Web cac hing is a commonly-used method to reduce access time for retrieving Web documents over the Internet. The tw o most commonly-used Web browsers, Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer, ho w ever, do not prvoide all the basic operations, i.e. add, delete, and update, for their users to manageWeb caches. Hence, the user cannot modify (un)desired cached documents, and as a result the availability of Web documents to be accessed decreases, e.g. the network may be down when the user tries to access the documents. In this paper, we present a client-based Web-cac he management that allo ws the user to have full control on managing cached documents.
Some variants of chi-square for testing uniformity on the circle

One of the basic problems in the analysis of circularly distributed data is to find whether a given set of observations on the circumference of the unit circle indicate any preferred direction or whether the data can be considered to have come from a uniform distribution on the circumference. We shall assume, throughout this discussion, that the observations are given in terms of angles measured with respect to some suitably chosen origin (or zero direction), taking say, the anticlockwise direction as positive. A "goodness of fit" problem on the circle then is to test whether a random sample (e~, ..., c~,) comes from a population with a completely specified distribution function Fo(e), 0<e_<2n. If the specified distribution function is continuous, then the points x~ = F 0 (c~i) may be considered as observations on the circle of unit circumference, where now, the problem is to test whether the observations (x~, ..., x,) come from a uniform distribution. Thus a goodness of fit problem on the circle can also be reduced to testing for uniformity on the circle and the two problems are canonically equivalent just as they are on the line. Broadly speaking, the test procedures available for this purpose on the line may be grouped into three categories viz., (i) the methods based o n )~2 (ii) the methods utilising the empirical distribution functions and (iii) those based on sample spacings, i.e., differences between successive order statistics. However, these methods are not, in general, directly applicable for observations on the circle because of special problems posed by the arbitrary choice of the zero direction. A test statistic should, clearly be independent of this arbitrary origin, in order that it can be meaningfully used with the circular data. In some cases, modifications of the usual test statistics on the line, so as to make them independent of the choice of origin, have been introduced for use with the circular data. For instance, when employing the methods based on empirical distribution functions, Kuiper [61 and Watson [111 suggested such modifications for the standard Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Cramer-von Mises tests respectively. On the other hand, if the Z 2 methods were to be exploited for testing uniformity, one can make the usual Z 2 test for uniformity invariant under choice of origin, by considering the maximum possible value of Z 2 (for a given number of class intervals) or by taking the average such Z 2. We obtain the asymptotic distribution of the latter in Section 2 by using methods similar to those in Watson
Toddlers' persistence when communication fails: Response motivation and goal substitution:

Communicative breakdowns were created in response to toddlers' single-word requests by means of two feedback conditions: one involving goal substitution, the other stating explicitly that the speaker was not understood (i.e., `I don't know what you mean'). Participants were 15 children, ages 17—25 months. Children typically abandoned their original requests in response to goal substitution but revised or repeated their requests when confronted with `I don't know what you mean.' Thus, in the early stages of language development, toddlers' response persistence appeared to depend in large part upon motivation for goal attainment.
Bacterial Resistance and the Optimal Use of Antibiotics

The increasing resistance of harmful biological organisms (bacteria, parasites, and pests) to selection pressure from the widespread use of control agents such as antibiotics, antimalarials, and pesticides is a serious problem in both medicine and agriculture. Modeling resistance —or, conversely, the effectiveness of these control agents as a biological resource—yields insights into how these agents should be optimally managed to maximize their economic benefit to society. This paper uses a model of evolution of bacterial resistance to antibiotics—in which resistance places an evolutionary disadvantage on the resistant organism—to develop a simple sequential algorithm of optimal antibiotic use. Although the solution to this problem follows the well-recognized rule of using resources in the order of increasing marginal cost, the unique ways in which these economic costs arise from differing biological traits distinguishes this problem from others in the natural resources arena. This paper also examines the option of periodically rotating between two or more antibiotics and characterizes the economic and biological criteria under which a cycling strategy is superior to simultaneous use of two or more antibiotics.
Late Tertiary history of the Antarctic ice sheet: Evidence from the Dry Valleys

Data from the Dry Valleys, Antarctica, suggest that outlet glaciers of a local ice cap carved primary valley systems on both flanks of the Transantarctic Mountains, while coeval alpine glaciers eroded exposed intervalley mountain ranges. Subsequently, a thick ice sheet overrode the Transantarctic Mountains at least twice, flowing northeastward across major pre-existing valleys. The youngest overriding episode postdated and the older episode antedated middle to early late Miocene time. We think that an extensive ice sheet covered East and West Antarctica during overriding episodes.
Proteome Discovery Pipeline for Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics

Overview We have developed the Proteome Discovery Pipeline, a stand-alone bioinformatics platform used for LC/MS data analysis and biomarker discovery. Data is processed in a series of self-contained analytical steps using modules that are controlled by a graphical user interface. The user interface was developed in Visual C++ 6.0 and provides a multi-threaded, tabbed user interface with each tab representing a step in the analysis process. Modules included are spectrum deconvolution, alignment, normalization, significance tests and pattern recognition. Modules consist of applications developed in C++ and the R scripting language, which are called as external processes from the GUI using inputted parameters. Molecular correlation analysis can be viewed interactively using SysNet. Figure 1 shows the architecture of the Proteome Discovery Pipeline.
Outdoor recreation and environmental concern: a reexamination of the Dunlap-Heffernan thesis.

The hypothesis proposed by Dunlap and Heffernan (1975) that involvement in outdoor recreational activities leads to greater concern with the natural environment is reassessed in this article. In contrast to earlier research, the findings suggest that recreationally active respondents do not differ greatly from inactives in levels of environmental concern. Tests of a multivariate model that included not only the recreational activity measure but also several other sociopersonal variables suggested by earlier research to be important predictors of environmental concern (including socioeconomic status, age, and place of residence) also proved disappointing. Not only were the total explained variances small, but the recreational activity variable proved to be one of the least powerful predictor variables in the model. The conclusions question the suggestion voiced by Dunlap and Heffernan (1975) that outdoor recreationalists may constitute a valuable constituency for efforts to stimulate public support for env...
Simulating nanoindentation and predicting dislocation nucleation using interatomic potential finite element method

Abstract Dislocation nucleation is central to our understanding of the onset of plasticity during nanoindentation. The shear stress in small volumes beneath the nanoindenter can achieve the theoretical limit of a perfect crystal. The ensuing nonlinear elastic instability can trigger homogenous dislocation nucleation inside the crystal. Here we employ the interatomic potential finite element method to simulate nanoindentation and predict dislocation nucleation. Simulations are performed for indentation on the (1 1 1), (1 1 0) and (1 0 0) surfaces of Al, Cu, Ni single crystals. We quantify the critical conditions of dislocation nucleation, including the indentation load of nucleation, location of nucleation site, nucleation stress and activated slip system. We find these conditions sensitively depend on indentation orientation, but are consistent for different crystals. The results highlight the critical role of hyperelasticity (the nonlinear elasticity caused by elastic softening at large strain) and crystallography in dislocation nucleation in small material volumes. Our study also reveals the deficiency of commonly used nucleation criterion such as the critical resolved shear stress.
DFA-Based Regular Expression Matching on Compressed Traffic

Many network security applications in today's networks are based on deep packet inspection, checking not only the header portion but also the payload portion of a packet. For example, traffic monitoring, layer-7 filtering, and network intrusion detection all require an accurate analysis of packet content in search for predefined patterns to identify specific classes of applications, viruses, attack signatures, etc. Regular expressions are often used to represent such patterns. They are implemented using finite automata, which take the payload of a packet as an input string. However, existing approaches, both non-deterministic finite automata (NFA) and deterministic finite automata (DFA), do not deal with compressed traffic, which becomes more and more popular in HTTP applications. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm for regular expression matching to implement deep packet inspection on compressed traffic. Based on the observations of DFA, we design a scheme to skip most of the matching process in the compressed parts of traffic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first effort to design an efficient regular expression matching on compressed traffic. We evaluate our algorithm using rule sets provided by Snort, a popular open-source intrusion detection system. The evaluation results show that our approach can reduce the number of state access in the DFA significantly.
p120 catenin regulates the actin cytoskeleton via Rho family GTPases.

Cadherins are calcium-dependent adhesion molecules responsible for the establishment of tight cell–cell contacts. p120 catenin (p120ctn) binds to the cytoplasmic domain of cadherins in the juxtamembrane region, which has been implicated in regulating cell motility. It has previously been shown that overexpression of p120ctn induces a dendritic morphology in fibroblasts (Reynolds, A.B., J. Daniel, Y. Mo, J. Wu, and Z. Zhang. 1996. Exp. Cell Res. 225:328–337.). We show here that this phenotype is suppressed by coexpression of cadherin constructs that contain the juxtamembrane region, but not by constructs lacking this domain. Overexpression of p120ctn disrupts stress fibers and focal adhesions and results in a decrease in RhoA activity. The p120ctn-induced phenotype is blocked by dominant negative Cdc42 and Rac1 and by constitutively active Rho-kinase, but is enhanced by dominant negative RhoA. p120ctn overexpression increased the activity of endogenous Cdc42 and Rac1. Exploring how p120ctn may regulate Rho family GTPases, we find that p120ctn binds the Rho family exchange factor Vav2. The behavior of p120ctn suggests that it is a vehicle for cross-talk between cell–cell junctions and the motile machinery of cells. We propose a model in which p120ctn can shuttle between a cadherin-bound state and a cytoplasmic pool in which it can interact with regulators of Rho family GTPases. Factors that perturb cell–cell junctions, such that the cytoplasmic pool of p120ctn is increased, are predicted to decrease RhoA activity but to elevate active Rac1 and Cdc42, thereby promoting cell migration.
Potential alternate beam source for proton therapy

Studies have been carried out to determine the suitability of the IUCF Cooler Injector Synchrotron (CIS) as a potential replacement or supplement to the Indiana University Cyclotron as a source of proton beams for the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute (MPRI). The primary modification to the synchrotron would be the development of a slow extraction system. An achromatic beam line connecting CIS and the MPRI beam trunk line has been designed and could use magnets from the recently decommissioned Cooler ring at IUCF. In addition to providing redundancy, this project would increase the proton energy to 240 MeV and could provide higher resolution beams to the radiation effects target stations.
Finite difference methods for ab initio electronic structure and quantum transport calculations of nanostructures

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses finite difference methods for ab initio electronic structure and quantum transport calculations of nanostructures. Among the numerical discretization methods used to solve the equations of densityfunctional theory (DFT), the most widely used are linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) - usually Gaussian-type orbitals (GTO) -, plane-waves (PW) and finite differences (FD). Of these three methods, FD is the most recent and less common. It discusses the method with an application to calculations of electronic structure and conductance of carbon nano-tube on a metallic contact. It highlights ab initio Density Functional Theory models, where no parameters are fitted to experimental data. In addition, advanced numerical methods like those presented in this chapter are useful only if they allow treating real problems in solid state physics or physical chemistry. Besides the foreseen improvement in performance for calculations of large scale systems, localized orbital adapted to their chemical environment offer the possibility of novel computational applications.
Biophysical characterization and modeling of lung surfactant components.

The present study characterizes the dynamic interfacial properties of calf lung surfactant (CLS) and samples reconstituted in a stepwise fashion from phospholipid (PL), hydrophobic apoprotein (HA),...
Amyloid fibrils activate B-1a lymphocytes to ameliorate inflammatory brain disease.

Amyloid fibrils composed of peptides as short as six amino acids are therapeutic in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), reducing paralysis and inflammation, while inducing several pathways of immune suppression. Intraperitoneal injection of fibrils selectively activates B-1a lymphocytes and two populations of resident macrophages (MΦs), increasing IL-10 production, and triggering their exodus from the peritoneum. The importance of IL-10–producing B-1a cells in this effective therapy was established in loss-of-function experiments where neither B-cell–deficient (μMT) nor IL10−/− mice with EAE responded to the fibrils. In gain-of-function experiments, B-1a cells, adoptively transferred to μMT mice with EAE, restored their therapeutic efficacy when Amylin 28–33 was administered. Stimulation of adoptively transferred bioluminescent MΦs and B-1a cells by amyloid fibrils resulted in rapid (within 60 min of injection) trafficking of both cell types to draining lymph nodes. Analysis of gene expression indicated that the fibrils activated the CD40/B-cell receptor pathway in B-1a cells and induced a set of immune-suppressive cell-surface proteins, including BTLA, IRF4, and Siglec G. Collectively, these data indicate that the fibrils activate B-1a cells and F4/80+ MΦs, resulting in their migration to the lymph nodes, where IL-10 and cell-surface receptors associated with immune-suppression limit antigen presentation and T-cell activation. These mechanisms culminate in reduction of paralytic signs of EAE.
Effect of Hay Feeding Methods on Cow Performance, Hay Waste, and Wintering Cost

A 3-yr investigation was conducted to determine the effect of hay feeding methods on cow wintering cost. A conventional method of rolling round bales out on the ground was compared with shredding round hay bales on the ground with a bale processor and with feeding hay in a tapered-cone round bale feeder. The cows used in the study were in the third trimester of pregnancy and were fed for an average of 59 d during the test period. Data recorded from the multipleyear study was then used to prepare an economic analysis model with operating budgets for 100- and 300-head reference herds. Feeding bales in a tapered-cone round bale feeder increased cow weight gain (P < 0.01), tended to increase rib fat depth (P = 0.06), reduced estimated hay consumption by an average of 10.2% compared with rolling bales out on the ground or using a bale processor to shred hay on the ground (P < 0.01), and reduced hay waste in the first 2 yr of the study when alfalfa-grass hay was fed, but not in the last year when oat hay was fed. The tapered-cone round bale feeder reduced waste, decreased the amount of hay required per cow, and decreased wintering cost per cow while maintaining body condition. Overall, for the 3 yr evaluation period, using the tapered-cone round bale feeder reduced wintering cost by 21.0% for a 100-cow reference herd and 17.6% for a 300-cow reference herd compared with feeding with a bale processor.
Quality control of compacted earthwork.

Quality control of compacted earthwork is the complete process by which the satisfactory construction of an earth structure is gained. There is a growing awareness of the random variation of pertinent soil properties in earthwork construction, such as water content and density, and considerable interest is being shown in the statistical evaluation of these variables. Many earth structures have been constructed in a satisfactory manner without the use of statistical analyses, but because of uncontrolled random variation, there is an element of unrealism in past practice of setting absolute minimum and maximum limits or both, on measured soil properties. Although statistical methods can be a valuable tool in evaluating earthwork compaction quality, they do not provide a complete method for quality control. Typical variations of soil properties that have been experienced in successfully constructed earth fills are presented. These variations are greater than have been thought acceptable by many engineers for satisfactory behavior of structures.
Neuronal Population Coding and the Elephant

We examine several ways to study representation of external events by a population of neurons. It is useful in the laboratory to consider this as a clustering problem, but it is not clear whether and how the brain accomplishes a similar result. In particular there is a problem in selecting which neurons are to be included in the population analysis.
Investigation of fatigue lives of spot friction welds in lap-shear specimens of aluminum 6111-T4 sheets based on fracture mechanics

The fatigue lives of spot friction welds in lap-shear specimens of aluminum 6111-T4 sheets are investigated here. The paths of fatigue cracks near spot friction welds are first discussed. A fatigue crack growth model based on the Paris law for crack propagation and the local stress intensity factors for kinked cracks is then adopted to predict the fatigue lives of spot friction welds. The global and local stress intensity factors based on a recent work of Wang and Pan for resistance spot welds in lap-shear specimens are used to estimate the local stress intensity factors of kinked cracks with experimentally determined kink angles. The results indicate that the fatigue life predictions based on the Paris law and the local stress intensity factors as functions of the kink length agree well with the experimental results.
A Woman's Tragedy: Catherine Bernard's 'Brutus'

Etude consacree a Catherine Bernard, auteur dramatique francais du XVII e siecle. L'A. analyse Brutus, l'une de ses pieces attribuees a Fontenelle, et traite en particulier de la representation de la figure feminine que l'on y trouve, et de ses rapports a la societe patriarcale dominante
Compatible Systems and Decision Models for Pest Management

A decision-tree approach to decision-making is described as one way to select the best available control-treatment alternative to suppress a forest insect pest. A systems model consisting of a set of differential equations is described as a way to organize available information and notions about the pest-host system into a format that will aid the decision-maker. A decision to control a gypsy moth infestation is presented as an example of one potential use for decision trees and compatible systems models.
Adult Neurogenesis and Psychiatric Disorders

Psychiatric disorders continue to be among the most challenging disorders to diagnose and treat because there is no single genetic or anatomical locus that is causative for the disease. Current treatments are often blunt tools used to ameliorate the most severe symptoms, at the risk of disrupting functional neural systems. There is a critical need to develop new therapeutic strategies that can target circumscribed functional or anatomical domains of pathology. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis may be one such domain. Here, we review the evidence suggesting that adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays a role in emotional regulation and forms of learning and memory that include temporal and spatial memory encoding and context discrimination, and that its dysregulation is associated with psychiatric disorders, such as affective disorders, schizophrenia, and drug addiction. Further, adult neurogenesis has proven to be an effective model to investigate basic processes of neuronal development and converging evidence suggests that aberrant neural development may be an etiological factor, even in late-onset diseases. Constitutive neurogenesis in the hippocampus of the mature brain reflects large-scale plasticity unique to this region and could be a potential hub for modulation of a subset of cognitive and affective behaviors that are affected by multiple psychiatric disorders.
Simple hydrazone building blocks for complicated functional materials.

ConspectusThe ability to selectively and effectively control various molecular processes via specific stimuli is a hallmark of the complexity of biological systems. The development of synthetic structures that can mimic such processes, even on the fundamental level, is one of the main goals of supramolecular chemistry. Having this in mind, there has been a foray of research in the past two decades aimed at developing molecular architectures, whose properties can be modulated using external inputs. In most cases, reversible conformational, configurational, or translational motions, as well as bond formation or cleavage reactions have been used in such modulations, which are usually initiated using inputs including, irradiation, metalation, or changes in pH. This research activity has led to the development of a diverse array of impressive adaptive systems that have been used in showcasing the potential of molecular switches and machines. That being said, there are still numerous obstacles to be tackled in ...
Chemoprevention research at the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

The use of specific chemicals to prevent the development or retard the progression of carcinogenesis--known as chemoprevention--is a rapidly growing area in cancer research. Developed through the integration of strong laboratory and epidemiologic evidence, chemoprevention research has moved successfully into the clinical research setting, with diverse agents being tested for their efficacy in individuals at high risk of developing certain cancers. The public health potential for reducing cancer incidence and mortality through chemical intervention provides a unique and promising opportunity, and continued support of this multidisciplinary approach to cancer prevention remains a high priority for the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
Late-Onset Complications after Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Carcinomas:

Acute complications from chemoradiation for head and neck cancers are relatively common. These can be minor or severe and can have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. The incidence of late-onset (>5 years after cancer cure) complications is unknown, but the effect on quality of life is just as severe as with acute problems. What makes matters worse is that many of these patients lived years without dysphagia or other issues and were able to resume a normal lifestyle before developing complications. We present 4 cases involving patients with late-onset complications and discuss the need to remain vigilant in follow-up and caring for patients with head and neck cancer.
Development of a safety management system (SMS) for drilling and servicing operations within OSHA jurisdiction area of Texas

Abstract Workers of oil and gas extraction industries are exposed to multiple safety hazards, resulting in high fatality rates. Texas has the highest employment and fatality of oil and gas industries. Current regulations that apply to the industries in Texas require no safety management system (SMS) and inadequately address the safety hazards associated with drilling and servicing operations. The objective of the study is to develop a SMS to improve safety performances of Texas drilling and servicing operations. First, current SMSs in the United States, i.e., Process Safety Management (PSM), and Safety and Environment Management Systems (SEMS) were studied to determine if they can be directly extended. According to analysis of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) incident data, development of a new SMS is a better solution rather than extension of the two SMSs. A new SMS has been proposed by identifying and categorizing causal factors of incidents. The SMS has been developed to integrate both process and personnel safety and was designed right for Texas drilling and servicing operations. Industries can use the management system as a framework to establish their safety programs.
Identity change between late adolescence and adulthood

Abstract Change in Identity status between age 18, age 22, and age 35 was studied. Longitudinal change in four identity statuses – Diffused, Foreclosed, Moratorium and Achieved – was examined using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM). The results indicated that the developmental level of identity generally progressed between age 18 and age 35. However, there was significant variability among the participants in the degree to which they had changed. Age 18 personality variables of Narcissism and Defense Mechanisms were found to predict both the direction and magnitude of change at age 35. However, these personality variables, when assessed at subsequent ages (22, 35), were not associated with identity change.
Selection and benchmarking of computer codes for research reactor core conversions

A group of computer codes has been selected and obtained from the Nuclear Energy Agency data bank in France for the core conversion study of highly enriched research reactors. The ANISN, WIMS-D4, MC/sup 2/, COBRA-3M, FEVER, THERMOS, GAM-2, CINDER, and EXTERMINATOR codes were selected for the study. For the final work, THERMOS, GAM-2, CINDER, and EXTERMINATOR were selected and used. A one-dimensional thermal-hydraulics code has also been used to calculate temperature distributions in the core. The THERMOS and CINDER codes have been modified to serve the purpose. Minor modifications have been made to GAM2 and EXTERMINATOR to improve their utilization. All of the codes have been debugged on both CDC and IBM computers at the University of Illinois. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 10-MW benchmark problem has been solved. Results of this work have been compared with the IAEA contributors' results. Agreement is very good for highly enriched uranium fuel. Deviations from the IAEA contributors' mean value for low enriched uranium fuel exist, but they are small enough in general. Deviation of k /SUB eff/ is about 0.5% for both enrichments at the beginning of life and at the end of life. Flux ratios deviate only about 1.5% frommore » the IAEA contributors' mean value.« less
Educational Technology Gap Theory

Using an adaptation of Oliver’s (1977, 1980) Expectation Confirmation Theory as a framework, we develop a “technology road map” as suggested by McKeen and Smith (2006) for a professional development college (referred to as “The College”) at a large federal university (“The University”) with the goal of providing a state-of-the-art learning environment. Survey responses and comments provided key results and a starting point for future research. The major finding from this study is an Educational Technology (ET) “way ahead” criterion list. Study results led to fiscal year-end purchasing decisions to enhance the learning environment at The College. Additional analysis is required to devise an action plan for increasing levels of faculty expertise in emerging education technologies to develop and maintain a “state of the art” learning environment.
Temperature-Staged Thermal Energy Storage Enabling Low Thermal Exergy Loss Reflux Boiling in Full Spectrum Solar Systems

The efficiency of solar power collection is increased by adding a thermal energy storage stage to a sunlight concentrator and thermodynamic power generator system. The thermal energy storage includes tubes or capsules made of a phase change material that stores thermal energy in different temperature stages through a working fluid. The stored thermal energy is directed to the thermodynamic generator during off-sun periods.
Operational Amplifiers and Circuits

This chapter examines the operational amplifiers and low-frequency operation amplifier circuits used for sensor amplification and conditioning. Voltage and trans-resistance amplifiers, analog comparators, Schmitt triggers, square waveform generators are included in this chapter.
Farm to Childcare: An Analysis of Social and Economic Values in Local Food Systems

Farm to institution is a component of the local food movement, representing the growing link between local producers and organizations like schools, prisons, and hospitals. These are organiza­tions that have concentrated buying power and thus a sizable influence on local food supply chains. Farm to childcare represents a next step in farm to institution, serving young children at the apex of their habit formation and biological devel­opment, and providing economic opportunities for local farmers. Using a qualitative case study meth­od­ology in one urban county in North Carolina, this paper asks the questions: (1) How do childcare centers, farmers, and distributors negotiate the tensions between social and financial values in the farm-to-childcare initiative? and (2) What strategies do these supply chain actors use to overcome bar­riers? Analyzing the perceptions of participation in a farm-to-child­care project of 11 childcare cen­ters, 11 farmers, and four distributors shows paral­lel values for children’s health and community con­nections to farmers actualized in the relation­ships and pur­chase of local foods. However, market-driven values and actions dominated the supply chain for all participants when business solvency seemed to be in opposition to central social com­mitments. Childcare centers and nonprofit distribu­tors sub­sidized local food purchases with inexpen­sive, nonlocal food and grant funding, respectively. Many farmers preferred expressing social values through noncommercial activities rather than sac­rificing economic viability to participate in socially oriented programs. This study suggests that achiev­ing the social goals of farm-to-childcare programs requires creative strategies, such as coordinating sales of smaller than Grade A produce, purchasing from multiple local sources, and aggregating demand from multiple centers. See the press release for this article.
The Relative Influence of Appropriation Subcommittees: Institutional Structure and Program Performance

Unlike previous analyses that evaluate the influence of the authorization committees on government agency management, we examine the US congressional appropriation subcommittees to see how their structural characteristics affect the performance of the programs that they fund. Specifically, we look at whether the competition for resources and member workload within subcommittees affects the effectiveness and efficiency of the programs under their purview. As part of the Congressional budget process, appropriation subcommittees are annually allocated new budgets from which they must fund a set of government programs. We find that the level of resources in a subcommittee affects program performance. Greater subcommittee resources are negatively correlated with program performance. We also find that workload mattersâ€”programs in subcommittees with fewer issue areas and programs per member are more effective and efficient. A subcommittee's capacity to focus on management problems and issue areas leads to better program performance.
The ethics of leadership

Introduction: Ethics And The Study Of Leadership. 1. THE MORAL CHALLENGES OF POWER AND SELF-INTEREST. Gary Yukl, Sources of Power and Influence". Plato, "Justice and the Leader". Case: Plato, "The Rings of Gyges." Thomas Hobbes, "Self-Interest and Human Nature". Niccolo Machiavelli, "The Qualities of Princes". Ayn Rand, "Why Self-Interest is Best". 2. VIRTUE AND THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MORALITY OF LEADERS. Aristotle, "Virtue Ethics". Case: "Sleazy or Stupid?" Buddha, "The First Sermon" and "The Synopsis of Truth". Case: "Does Personal Morality Matter?" Dean Ludwig and Clinton Longnecker, "The Bathsheba Syndrome: The Ethical Failure of Successful Leaders". Jonathan Bennett, "The Conscience of Huckleberry Finn". 3. DUTIES OF LEADERS AND FOLLOWERS. Introduction. Immanuel Kant, "Good Will, Duty and the Categorical Imperative". Case: "Innocent or Guilty? Case: "On Women and Girls". Bernard Williams, "Moral Luck". Case: "Is a Lie Always a Lie?" Case: "The Accused and Duties of Law-Abiding Citizen". Hanna Arendt, "The Accused and Duties of the Law-Abiding Citizens". Confucius, Selections from the Analects. 4. LEADERSHIP FOR THE GREATEST GOOD. Introduction. John Stuart Mill, "What Utilitarianism Is". Case: "Prejudice or Preference?" Case: "Corneas in the Congo". John Rawls, "Distributive Justice". Case" Ursula Le Guin, "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas". Friedrich Nietzsche, "Zarathustra''''s Prologue". Lao Tzu, "The Lao Tzu (Tao-Te-Ching)". 5. THE MORAL AND EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIP OF LEADERS AND FOLLOWERS. Introduction. Max Weber, "Legitimate Authority and Charisma". Case: "The Only God You''''ll Ever See: Jim Jones and the People''''s Temple," Charles Lindholm. Robert C. Solomon, "the Myth of Charisma". Robert Greenleaf, Selections from Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness. James MacGregor Burns, "The Structure of Moral Leadership". 6. MORAL LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE. Introduction. Ruth Benedict, "Anthropology and the Abnormal". Mary Midgley, "Trying Out One''''s New Sword". F.G. Bailey, "Values, Beliefs and Leadership". Case: "Diller''''s Dilemma". The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights from UN Web Page. Case: "The Oil Rig". Isaiah Berlin, "The Pursuit of the Ideal". Joshua cooper Ramo, "The Five Virtues of Kofi Annan"."
Cilostazol Attenuates Angiotensin II–Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms but Not Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Objective—Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a permanent dilation of the abdominal aorta associated with rupture, which frequently results in fatal consequences. AAA tissue is commonly characterize...
The “State” of Nonprofit Lobbying Research: Data, Definitions, and Directions for Future Study:

This article seeks to facilitate future nonprofit lobbying research by providing a clear definition of lobbying, reviewing Form 990 lobbying data, detailing new state-level lobbying information, an...
Attenuation Compensation and Estimation

Estimating the losses of ultrasound signal energy with propagation depth as a function of frequency is essential for quantifying tissue properties. Specifically, ultrasound attenuation is used to correct for spectral distortion prior to estimating quantitative ultrasound parameters to assess the tissue. Ultrasound attenuation can also be used independently to characterize the tissue. In this chapter, we review the primary algorithms for estimating both the local attenuation within a region of interest as well as the total attenuation between a region of interest and an ultrasound source. The strengths and weaknesses of each algorithm are also discussed.
Biological Role and Therapeutic Potential of IDH Mutations in Cancer

Hotspot mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) occur in a variety of myeloid malignancies and solid tumors. Mutant IDH proteins acquire a neomorphic enzyme activity to produce the putative oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate, which is thought to block cellular differentiation by competitively inhibiting α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases involved in histone and DNA demethylation. Small-molecule inhibitors of mutant IDH1 and IDH2 have been developed and are progressing through pre-clinical and clinical development. In this review, we provide an overview of mutant IDH-targeted therapy and discuss a number of important recent pre-clinical studies using models of IDH-mutant solid tumors.
Multigroup Fission Reactor Systems, Strongly Order-Preserving Systems

In sections 4.2 to 4.4, we will consider the application of reactiondiffusion systems to the study of neutron fission reactors. We also discuss some ecological mutualist species interactions whose equations sometimes has similar structure. For the fission reactor theory, we investigate multigroup neutron-flux equations describing fission, scattering and absorption for n energy groups. The reactor core is represented by a bounded domain Ω in Rd, d ≥ 2. The functions ui(x) or ũi(x,t), i=1,...,n,x=(x1,...,xd)ɛ Ω are the neutron flux of the ith energy group (decreasing energy for increasing i). T(x) is the core temperature above average coolant temperature.
Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Src Kinase for Cancer Therapy

Drug discovery for cancer therapy is making extraordinary progress within the realm of advancing noveloncogenic protein kinase inhibitor lead compounds of varying chemical structure and biological mechanism.About 30 years ago, the first oncogenic protein kinase, pp60src (Src), wasdiscovered and provided a prototype of the now-existing superfamily of Tyr, Ser/Thr and dual-specificityprotein kinases. This review highlights Src kinase with respect to its known genetic and signal transductionpathways. Furthermore, several key Src kinase inhibitors are highlighted with respect to structural biology,drug design, chemical diversity, and biological properties. Noteworthy are a few novel small moleculesthat have enabled preclinical proof-of-concept studies as well as providing promising clinical candidatesfor cancer therapy.
Using Robot and Electric Drive in Fall Prediction

The global aging phenomenon has motivated active research in human fall injuries. The fall prevention has hence become a popular topic in health informatics. An effective fall prevention paradigm could save millions of people from injury and avoid considerable casualties. Through comparison studies, detail-oriented simulations, and pragmatic field tests, an effective fall prediction method has been developed by authors. The finding is presented in this paper. Three techniques for fall prediction are discussed in this paper. A comparison technique to mimic the traditional stateless fall prediction techniques, along with an algorithm using artificial neural network, was first implemented in authors’ previous paper. Then a robotic scheme was developed to simulate human fall by transplanting a proven fall prediction paradigm for humanoid robots with controlled electric drive systems to human subjects. Due to its simulation nature far from the human fall scenarios in reality, the robotic paradigm has obvious limits in real world applications. It was also used more like a reference framework for our last scheme. Eventually we built the third approach that eliminated the above limitation. The third approach is elaborated in this paper. Our test and simulation have proved its pragmatic superiority over other two approaches, along with vast majority of traditional paradigms.
In-vitro and in-vivo comparison of radiation dose estimates between state-of-the-art interventional fluoroscopy systems.

The purpose of this study was to compare radiation dose estimates between state -of-the-art interventional fluoroscopy systems in vitro and in clinical cases. In vitro analysis included verifying system-reported air kerma rates (AKR; with a Radcal detector) and comparing AKR for simulated patient thicknesses (20-40cm) for different dose modes and clinical protocols on Philips 'AlluraClarity' (different generations) and Siemens 'Artis Q' systems (n=4). After IRB approval, system-reported radiation dose estimates i.e., cumulative air kerma (CAK) at the interventional reference point and kerma-area product (KAP), were extracted for interventional cases performed over a 16-month period from GE Centricity RIS and compared split by procedure type. Next, CAK and KAP for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma undergoing repeat chemo/immuno-embolization (potentially high radiation dose procedure) of the same liver lobe by the same physician on AlluraClarity and Artis Q were compared, accounting for differences in patient positioning, reference locations and digital acquisitions obtained from structured dose reports using DoseMetrix (Primordial) and CareAnalytics (Siemens). IBM's SPSS Statistics was used for parametric and non-parametric tests (with Bonferroni corrections for multiple comparisons ). In vitro analysis showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in verified AKR (25-45 mGy/min lower with AlluraClarity for thicknesses of 30-40 cm). Clinical data analysis comprised of 5113 cases; significant differences for CAK and KAP were seen for certain procedure (p < 0.05), with significantly lower values for AlluraClarity systems (differences in median: 34-61%). Subset analysis included 61 patients treated on both systems at different time points; accounting for differences in other parameters, CAK and KAP were significantly lower for AlluraClarity systems (p < 0.02; median for CAK lower by 44% and for KAP by 27%). Radiation dose differences observed in vitro between the AlluraClarity and Artis Q systems were reflected in clinical cases (even for same patients undergoing the same procedure). When the differences were significant, AlluraClarity systems showed relatively lower radiation utilization.