cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrical properties of CdTe/CdS AND CdTe/SnO2 solar cells studied with scanning kelvin probe microscopy

We measured the distribution of the electric potential and electric field on cross sections of working CdTe/CdS solar cells using SKPM. We analyzed the cells biased at different voltages (reverse and forward bias) and were able to identify different regions inside the devices. On standard cells, the main potential drop was around the CdTe/CdS junction and there was some drop inside the CdTe. As we increased the reverse bias, the region of the CdTe with the potential drop became wider, showing the expansion of the depletion region. The maximum of the electric field, which locates the p-n junction, occurred at the apparent CdTe/CdS interface. However, there was a sharp peak in the electric field at this location, which was correlated to an interdiffusion layer between CdTe and CdS. Results for cells without the CdS film were similar, but the strong electric field at the junction was not present. In this case, the maximum of the electric field was located at the CdTe/SnO 2 junction.
Ruminal Bacterial Community Composition in Dairy Cows Is Dynamic over the Course of Two Lactations and Correlates with Feed Efficiency.

ABSTRACT Fourteen Holstein cows of similar ages were monitored through their first two lactation cycles, during which ruminal solids and liquids, milk samples, production data, and feed consumption data were collected for each cow during early (76 to 82 days in milk [DIM]), middle (151 to 157 DIM), and late (251 to 257 DIM) lactation periods. The bacterial community of each ruminal sample was determined by sequencing the region from V6 to V8 of the 16S rRNA gene using 454 pyrosequencing. Gross feed efficiency (GFE) for each cow was calculated by dividing her energy-corrected milk by dry matter intake (ECM/DMI) for each period of both lactation cycles. Four pairs of cows were identified that differed in milk production efficiency, as defined by residual feed intake (RFI), at the same level of ECM production. The most abundant phyla detected for all cows were Bacteroidetes (49.42%), Firmicutes (39.32%), Proteobacteria (5.67%), and Tenericutes (2.17%), and the most abundant genera included Prevotella (40.15%), Butyrivibrio (2.38%), Ruminococcus (2.35%), Coprococcus (2.29%), and Succiniclasticum (2.28%). The bacterial microbiota between the first and second lactation cycles were highly similar, but with a significant correlation between total community composition by ruminal phase and specific bacteria whose relative sequence abundances displayed significant positive or negative correlation with GFE or RFI. These data suggest that the ruminal bacterial community is dynamic in terms of membership and diversity and that specific members are associated with high and low milk production efficiency over two lactation cycles.
Dummy rate analysis of buffer constrained chaum mix

Providing anonymity to network communication refers to the prevention of “networking information” retrieval, not only using the content of transmitted data packets but also from their timing information. Access to such timing information can reveal the source-destination pairs or path of data flow which is a violation of user privacy, and can further be used to jam a particular flow or create black holes. Chaum Mixes [1] are often used to obfuscate this timing information from malicious eavesdroppers. A Chaum Mix is a relay node or a proxy server that collects packets from different users, then uses layered encryption and packet padding to make outgoing packets appear indistinguishable to eavesdroppers. Furthermore, it also alters the timing information by reordering and batching together packets from different users, so that the probability of any outgoing packet belonging to a particular user is identical for all users, thus achieving perfect anonymity. A drawback of the ideal Chaum Mix is that if long data streams (eg. media streaming) are transmitted, then it may require a very large buffer capacity to work well. In fact, it has been proven that any batching strategy, under the constraint of a limited buffer size, would eventually reveal the source identities [2]. It is, however, possible to mask the actual pattern of traffic flow through the insertion of dummy traffic. For example, consider a network where all nodes transmit packets according to scheduled departure times. If an actual packet is unavailable for transmission at its time of departure, a dummy packet can be transmitted in its place and perfect anonymity is still maintained. But the extensive use of dummy packets can reduce network throughput, which leads to some interesting questions:
Analysis of Hydroxy Acids

The variety of hydroxy acids derived from arachidonic acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids that have been isolated from mammalian tissues is increasing rapidly. These hydroxy acids are products of metabolism initiated by several different enzymes. These include fatty acid cyclooxygenase [1–3], 5-lipoxygenase [4–24], 12lipoxygenase [25–31], 15-lipoxygenase [32–36], and thyroid iodide peroxidase [37–39]. In addition, hydroxy acids derived from arachidonic acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids have been isolated from mammalian tissues which may be products of enzymes that have not been classified [40–45]. In some instances, hydroxy acids isolated from mammalian tissues may be nonenzymatically formed oxygenation products of arachidonic acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids.
The Impact of Turnover on the Organization

This article updates Price's 1977 causal model regarding the impact of turnover on the organization. The model is first summarized. Post-1977 reviews which deal with this impact are then critically analyzed and incorporated into Price's model. An updated version of Price's model is presented, which incorporates the new information published since 1977.
The Computational Complexity and Parallel Scalability of Atmospheric Data Assimilation Algorithms

This paper quantifies the computational complexity and parallel scalability of two algorithms for four-dimensional data assimilation (4DDA) at NASA’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). The first, the Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System (GEOS DAS), uses an atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) and an observation-space-based analysis system, the Physical-Space Statistical Analysis System (PSAS). GEOS DAS is very similar to global meteorological weather forecasting data assimilation systems but is used at NASA for climate research. The second, the Kalman filter, uses a more consistent algorithm to determine the forecast error covariance matrix than does GEOS DAS. For atmospheric assimilation, the gridded dynamical fields typically have more than 106 variables; therefore, the full error covariance matrix may be in excess of a teraword. For the Kalman filter this problem will require petaflop s 21 computing to achieve effective throughput for scientific research.
Predictors of treatment attendance among adolescent substance abusing runaways: a comparison of family and individual therapy modalities

This study explored and compared predictors of session attendance among substance abusing runaway adolescents and their parents using three manual-driven interventions: ecologically-based family therapy (EBFT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and the community reinforcement approach (CRA). Individual and family-level variables, as well as time between intake and first session were used as predictors of session attendance. Adolescents (N=179) between the ages of 12–17 years old were recruited from the only runaway shelter in Columbus, Ohio. The findings showed that adolescents assigned to EBFT were more likely to attend at least one therapy session than those assigned to either CRA or MET. Fewer days between intake and the first therapy session were associated with higher family therapy attendance. Overall, individual and family factors predicted therapy attendance but these factors differed depending upon the treatment modality.
The Brownie Baker Case: Ingredients Of Success

This case study examines The Brownie Baker, which makes gourmet and specialty baked goods, from an operations management perspective. Its product line includes brownies, muffins, Danishes, cookies, cakes, and Hispanic pastries. Located in Fresno, California, the bakery distributes its products across much of the United States. The Brownie Baker was acquired by president and CEO, Dennis Perkins, in 1990. What started with four or five employees and $180,000 in annual sales has grown to 80 employees and more than 10 million dollars in sales in 2007. Perkins’ down-to-earth, receptive management style coupled with product innovations and productivity improvements have been key ingredients in the company’s successful growth. Perkins himself was named the Small Business Administration’s Central California Business Person of the Year in 1999, and The Brownie Baker was awarded the Small Business Administration’s Western Region Choice Award in 2004. This case details the operations strategies and management techniques that have led to these accomplishments.
Linking snowpack microphysics and albedo evolution

[1] Snow aging causes reflectance to vary significantly on timescales of days. This variability influences the strength of snow albedo feedback and can affect the timing of snowmelt. However, climate models have yet to incorporate important controls on snow aging and albedo evolution. We develop a physically based model that predicts evolution of dry, pure snow specific surface area, and apply aspherical ice particle theory to link these results with albedo evolution. This is the first theoretical study to quantify the relative roles of initial size distribution, vertical temperature gradient, and snow density in snow albedo evolution. Vapor diffusion caused by curvature differences causes rapid albedo decay in the first day following snowfall. Vertical temperature gradient generally dominates grain growth processes afterward but is modulated by snow density, irregularity in particle spacing, and temperature. These processes operate as a coupled system, which we uniquely represent without abrupt transitions between regimes. Model results agree very well with measurements of isothermal snow evolution and are within reasonable range of temperature gradient observations. We show that different snow state regimes cause albedo of nonmelting snow surfaces with identical initial albedo to vary by 0.12 or more after 14 days. Lack of quality observational data illuminates the need for well-controlled snow studies that simultaneously monitor specific surface area, temperature gradient, and albedo. Accounting for snow aging processes, especially temperature gradient, will improve understanding and assessment of snow albedo feedback and climate sensitivity. The modeling framework we develop will also be useful for air-snow chemistry studies that consider specific surface area.
A linearized integration technique for incremental constitutive equations

A numerical technique is proposed to obtain stress–strain response curves from rate-type and incremental constitutive equations during generalized loadings. The proposed method linearizes the loading constraints of laboratory experiments, links them to the constitutive relations, and forms a linear system of ordinary differential equations. It circumvents the difficulties associated with the non-uniqueness and bifurcation of boundary value problems. The method is illustrated for the elastoplastic von Mises and Roscoe and Burland models subjected to torsion, circular stress path, and undrained triaxial compression. The approach pertains to most stress–strain relationships and laboratory experiments of geomechanics. It is useful for research on material modelling, engineering practice and computational mechanics.
High efficiency CdTe solar cells by close spaced sublimation

High efficiency CdTe/CdS solar cells have been prepared on glass substrates. The CdS films are deposited on SnO/sub 2/ coated 7059 glass substrates by the chemical bath deposition process (CBD) to a thickness of 500-1200 /spl Aring/. The CdTe films are deposited by the close-spaced sublimation (CSS) technique to a thickness of 4-8 /spl mu/m. Doped-graphite paste is used as the ohmic contact to the CdTe. The substrate temperature used for the deposition of the CdTe films appears to be an important parameter for the junction formation process. It is believed to be critical in the formation of an interface Cd/sub x/S/sub 1-x/Te mixed crystal layer. The heat treatment of the CdS films in hydrogen is also an important processing step, and it must be modified as the thickness of the CdS films is decreased in order to maintain high fill factors. High photocurrents in conjunction with high open-circuit voltages and fill factors are achieved by properly adjusting the annealing conditions of thin CdS films. The open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and fill factor of the best device were 843 mV, 25.1 mA/cm/sup 2/, and 74.5% respectively, corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 15.8% as measured under AM1.5 conditions at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. >
Roton Bound States in Liquid 4He

The low lying excited states of liquid 4He are long lived “quasiparticle” excitations which are described by the familiar phonon-roton dispersion curve.1 Since the liquid is isotropic, the quasiparticle density of states is singular at the energy of the roton minimum ΔR (and also at the energy of the maximum in the dispersion curve). Scattering processes in which quasiparticles decay into roton pairs are enhanced by the singular density of states, leading to a splitting of the dispersion curve into two branches.2,3,4 The roton pair scattering amplitude is similarly enhanced, and an arbitrarily small attractive roton interaction is sufficient to form roton bound states.3
A community of practice to develop, teach, and disseminate learning in engineering design

This work-in-progress paper describes the initial efforts and findings from the development of a pedagogical approach to prepare pre-service teachers for teaching engineering and engaging with the community mediated through an online portal. This project incorporates the latest research on inverted classrooms and best practices for online learning in an effort to build the VILLA Community of Practice. VILLA has been designed in a manner that makes it unique in the area of instructional technology and web-based learning. This project recognizes the importance of engaging community in the teaching and learning of engineering-based content. Where VILLA is able to distinguish itself from other service-learning projects is the use of an inverted classroom format to facilitate instruction and the emphasis on modeling artifacts as a representation of student learning.
Computational Characterization of Redox Non-Innocence in Cobalt-Bis(Diaryldithiolene)-Catalyzed Proton Reduction

Localized orbital bonding analysis (LOBA) was employed to probe the oxidation state in cobalt-bis(diaryldithiolene)-catalyzed proton reduction in nonaqueous media. LOBA calculations provide both the oxidation state and chemically intuitive views of bonding in cobalt-bis(diaryldithiolene) species and therefore allow characterization of the role of the redox non-innocent dithiolene ligand. LOBA results show that the reduction of the monoanion species [1Br](-) is metal-centered and gives a cobalt(II) ion species, [1Br](2-), coordinated to two dianionic ene-1,2-dithiolates. This electronic configuration is in agreement with the solution magnetic moment observed for the analogous salt [1F](2-) (μeff = 2.39 μB). Protonation of [1Br](2-) yields the cobalt(III)-hydride [1Br(CoH)](-) species in which the Co-H bond is computed to be highly covalent (Lowdin populations close to 0.50 on cobalt and hydrogen atoms). Further reduction of [1Br(CoH)](-) forms a more basic cobalt(II)-H intermediate [1Br(CoH)](2-) (S = 0) from which protonation at sulfur gives a S-H bond syn to the Co-H bond. Formation of a cobalt-dihydrogen [1Br(CoH2)](-) intermediate is calculated to occur via a homocoupling (H(•) + H(•) → H2) step with a free energy of activation of 5.9 kcal/mol in solution (via C-PCM approach).
Interferon-β Modulates Inflammatory Response in Cerebral Ischemia.

Background Stroke is a leading cause of death in the world. In >80% of strokes, the initial acute phase of ischemic injury is due to the occlusion of a blood vessel resulting in severe focal hypoperfusion, excitotoxicity, and oxidative damage. Interferon‐β (IFNβ), a cytokine with immunomodulatory properties, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis for more than a decade. Its anti‐inflammatory properties and well‐characterized safety profile suggest that IFNβ has therapeutic potential for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Methods and Results We investigated the therapeutic effect of IFNβ in the mouse model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion. We found that IFNβ not only reduced infarct size in ischemic brains but also lessened neurological deficits in ischemic stroke animals. Further, multiple molecular mechanisms by which IFNβ modulates ischemic brain inflammation were identified. IFNβ reduced central nervous system infiltration of monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils, CD4+ T cells, and γδ T cells; inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators; suppressed the expression of adhesion molecules on brain endothelial cells; and repressed microglia activation in the ischemic brain. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that IFNβ exerts a protective effect against ischemic stroke through its anti‐inflammatory properties and suggest that IFNβ is a potential therapeutic agent, targeting the reperfusion damage subsequent to the treatment with tissue plasminogen activator.
Differential Cytotoxicity of Cord Blood and Bone Marrow–Derived Natural Killer Cells

Allogeneic cord blood is now being widely used as a source of stem cells for hematologic reconstitution after myeloablative therapy, with reported significantly lower levels of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) compared with the use of allogeneic bone marrow (BM). This study was undertaken to investigate biologic aspects of natural killer (NK) cell activity, as recognized effector cells of the GVHD and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) response, from cord blood and conventional BM. NK-cell activity levels of freshly isolated cells from cord blood and BM against K562 targets were comparable. Lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells from both hematopoietic cell sources were compared for their ability to kill target cells by necrotic or apoptotic mechanisms using specific target cell lines. Cord blood cells had significantly higher necrosis-mediated cytotoxic activity against Daudi target cells compared with BM-derived cells. Cord blood LAK cells had relatively high levels of apoptotic-mediated cytotoxicity against YAC-1 target cells, whereas BM-derived LAK cells were unable to induce apoptosis in these cells. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) induced significant granzyme B activity in cord cells in contrast to BM cells, in which very little activity was measured. Western blotting confirmed these findings, with IL-2 inducing granzyme B protein expression in cord cells but not detectable levels in BM cells. BM cells had significantly lower cell surface expression of IL-2R and prolonged culture in IL-2 was only partially able to restore their deficient apoptotic cytotoxic activity. Thus, major differences exist between cord blood-derived and BM-derived mononuclear cells with respect to their NK-cell–associated cytotoxic behavior. This could have important implications for stem cell transplantation phenomena, because it suggests that cord blood may have increased potential for a GVL effect.
Biology coming full circle: joining the whole and the parts.

The new cover of Experimental Biology and Medicine features the hermeneutic circle of biology, a concept we have adapted from the hermeneutic principle that one understands the whole only in terms ...
Mechanical and electronic properties of strained Ge nanowires using ab initio real-space pseudopotentials

Theoretical calculations with real-space pseudopotentials constructed within density-functional theory are employed to calculate mechanical and electronic properties for [100], [110], and [111] germanium nanowires up to 2.7 nm in diameter. Uniaxial strain is applied to wires within the range of $\ensuremath{-}5$ to 5$%$. The strain energy is used to calculate the Young's modulus for each wire, whose values are found to increase with diameter up to approximately the theoretical bulk values. Electronic band structures are calculated for each wire with respect to strain, and from these structures band gaps are obtained. The size and the nature (direct or indirect) of the band gaps are found to be influenced by the growth direction, wire size, and strain amount. Carrier effective masses are calculated from the band structures and may be discontinuous under certain amounts of strain owing to band crossing, which can correspond to sudden drops in carrier mobilities.
Effects of finite rate chemistry models on radiating nozzle flows

The two dimensional spatially elliptic NavierStokes equations have been used to numerically investigate the effect of radiative interactions in chemically reacting compressible flows of premixed hydrogen and air in expanding nozzles. The system of governing equations are solved using explicit, unsplit MacCormack predictor-corrector scheme. The chemistry source term is treated implicitly to alleviate stiffness associated with fast chemical reactions. Four different chemistry models are used to investigate the effect of finite rate chemical processes in expanding nozzles. The study identified a computationally efficient truncated version of one chemistry mode! which can be used in expanding nozzles. Radiative interactions are considered in al! cases.
Sequential changes in reticuloendothelial system function after acute hemorrhage.

SummaryExperiments were designed with rats to determine: (i) whether reticuloendothelial system (RES) phagocytic function undergoes quantitative, sequential changes after acute blood loss; and (ii) whether RES phagocytic indices (K values) are correlated with survival or death of the animals. The results indicate that: (i) RES phagocytic function does, indeed, undergo sequential, quantitative changes in animals subjected to various degrees of acute hemorrhagic shock. (ii) The greater the degree of hemorrhagic shock (as determined by mortality), the greater is the magnitude of early RES phagocytic depression. (iii) Animals which survive after various degrees of hemorrhagic shock not only show, with time, progressively improved RES phagocytic indices but exhibit hyperfunctional reticuloendothelial systems. (iv) Animals which succumb from these procedures fail to exhibit either progressively improved K values or hyperfunctional RE systems and thus continue to manifest RE systems which are markedly depressed ...
A Kind of Novel Blind Equalization Algorithm Based on Fractional Sampling Method

Blind equalization is an effective way to suppress the inter-symbol interference(ISI),which is caused by multipath fading communication channels.The super-exponential iteration(SEI) blind equalization algorithm has the advantage of good tracking capability of the time varying channel.However real channels are generally non-minimum phase systems,baud-spaced equalizers exhibit poor performance under this circumstance.Based on fractional sampling method,a new super-exponential iteration decision feedback blind equalization algorithm for severely nonlinear phase distortion channels was proposed.The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm with faster convergence rate acquires an improvement of about 7dB reduction in residual MSE as comparing with the MSE obtainable with the baud-spaced one.
Quality Enhancement Research Initiative for Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Framework and Plan

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) sees approximately equal to 17,000 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients each year, which makes it the largest provider of HIV care in the United States. HIV causes chronic progressive disease that leads to early death. Newer combination antiretro viral treatments are effective but expensive and difficult to use. The HIV Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (HIV-QUERI) uses the QUERI process to identify high-risk and high-volume populations (step 1), which includes those already under VHA care for HIV, those who do not know of their infection, and those at risk for HIV. In identifying best practices (step 2), the HIV-QUERI will benefit greatly from existing guidelines for the care of established HIV infection, but gaps in knowledge regarding adherence to medication regimens and cost-effective screening are large. To identify existing practice patterns (step 3), the HIV-QUERI will develop a clean analytic data set based on Immunology Case Registry files and expand it through a survey of veterans. Interventions to improve care (step 4) will include national, regional, and site-specific feedback on performance relative to quality standards, as well as patient-level and provider-level interventions to improve adherence and support medical decision-making. To document that best practices improve outcomes and quality of life (steps 5 and 6), HIV-QUERI will track indicators on an ongoing basis by use of the Immunology Case Registry database and possible future waves of the survey. In addition, we will require that these issues be addressed in evaluations of HIV-QUERI interventions. In the present article, we present these steps within a framework and plan.
Mechanistic Study of the Synergistic Antibacterial Activity of Combined Silver Nanoparticles and Common Antibiotics

A combination of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and an antibiotic can synergistically inhibit bacterial growth, especially against the drug-resistant bacteria Salmonella typhimurium. However, the mechanism for the synergistic activity is not known. This study chooses four classes of antibiotics, β-lactam (ampicillin and penicillin), quinolone (enoxacin), aminoglycoside (kanamycin and neomycin), and polykeptide (tetracycline) to explore their synergistic mechanism when combined with AgNPs against the multidrug-resistant bacterium Salmonella typhimurium DT 104. Enoxacin, kanamycin, neomycin, and tetracycline show synergistic growth inhibition against the Salmonella bacteria when combined with AgNPs, while ampicillin and penicillin do not. UV–vis and Raman spectroscopy studies reveal that all these four synergistic antibiotics can form complexes with AgNPs, while ampicillin and penicillin do not. The presence of tetracycline enhances the binding of Ag to Salmonella by 21% and Ag+ release by 26% in comparison t...
Energy use and carbon reduction potentials from residential ground source heat pumps considering spatial and economic barriers

Abstract Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are significantly more energy efficient than conventional heating and cooling systems, but they have suffered from low market penetration. This study analyzes the implications of and barriers to nation-wide GSHP retrofits in U.S. single-family houses based on national databases of housing units and home energy use. Our model estimates maximum annual savings of 1.26 quads (1.33 EJ) of energy, $7.1 billion in energy costs, and abatement of 64.8 million tons of CO2eq. Economics is the major barrier as typical GSHPs cost $164 less to operate annually but cost $8990 more to install than the conventional alternative HVAC systems. Spatial and economic constraints exclude 7.7% and 89% of homes respectively, leaving only 10% of homes suitable for retrofit. Applying these two constraints, savings reduce to 0.15 quads (0.16 EJ), $3.0 billion in energy costs, and abatement of 12.1 million tons of CO2eq. A 30% federal tax credit helps increase the percentage of GSHP-suitable homes from 10% to 30% while reducing the average payback period from 9.1 to 4.8 years among those homes. More effective policies to lower high cost premiums would be needed to promote large-scale GSHP implementations.
Graphene Oxide Membranes in Extreme Operating Environments: Concentration of Kraft Black Liquor by Lignin Retention

We report a detailed study of graphene oxide (GO) membranes for concentration of Kraft black liquor (BL), which is a caustic (pH ∼ 12), hot (80–95 °C), and high-volume (∼500 gal/min in a typical pulp mill) byproduct of the papermaking process. Membrane-based concentration of BL is attractive as an energy-efficient alternative to thermally driven evaporation processes but challenging due to the harsh operating conditions and high fouling potential of BL (15–18 wt % solids). We fabricate thin (<300 nm) GO membranes supported on macroporous poly(ethersulfone) (PES) supports by vacuum filtration techniques and discuss in detail their morphology, structure, thermomechanical stability, and chemical stability as characterized by several techniques. Furthermore, detailed permeation measurements at transmembrane pressures (TMPs) up to 50 bar and temperatures up to 85 °C show that the membranes have high performance in concentrating BL feeds containing high and low TS (total solids): high flux (in the range of 5–50...
Galloping Vibration of Nonlinear Cables Through a Two Degree-of-Freedom Oscillator

In this paper, galloping vibrations of a lightly iced transmission line are investigated through a two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) nonlinear oscillator. The 2-DOF nonlinear oscillator is used to describe the transverse and torsional motions of the galloping cables. The analytical solutions of periodic motions of galloping cables are presented through generalized harmonic balanced method. The analytical solutions of periodic motions for the galloping cable are compared with the numerical solutions, and the corresponding stability and bifurcation of periodic motions are analyzed by the eigenvalues analysis. To demonstrate the accuracy of the analytical solutions of periodic motions, the harmonic amplitudes are presented. This investigation will help one better understand galloping mechanism of iced transmission lines.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
HOXB13 mutations and binding partners in prostate development and cancer: Function, clinical significance, and future directions

The recent and exciting discovery of germline HOXB13 mutations in familial prostate cancer has brought HOX signaling to the forefront of prostate cancer research. An enhanced understanding of HOX signaling, and the co-factors regulating HOX protein specificity and transcriptional regulation, has the high potential to elucidate novel approaches to prevent, diagnose, stage, and treat prostate cancer. Toward our understanding of HOX biology in prostate development and prostate cancer, basic research in developmental model systems as well as other tumor sites provides a mechanistic framework to inform future studies in prostate biology. Here we describe our current understanding of HOX signaling in genitourinary development and cancer, current clinical data of HOXB13 mutations in multiple cancers including prostate cancer, and the role of HOX protein co-factors in development and cancer. These data highlight numerous gaps in our understanding of HOX function in the prostate, and present numerous potentially impactful mechanistic and clinical opportunities for future investigation.
Efficient Nonlinear Metasurface Based on Nonplanar Plasmonic Nanocavities

Since their discovery in the 1960s, nonlinear optical effects have revolutionized optical technologies and laser industry. Development of efficient nanoscale nonlinear sources will pave the way for new applications in photonic circuitry, quantum optics and biosensing. However, nonlinear signal generation at dimensions smaller than the wavelength of light brings new challenges. The fundamental difficulty of designing an efficient nonlinear source is that some of the contributing factors involved in nonlinear wave-mixing at the nanoscale are often hard to satisfy simultaneously. Here, we overcome these limitations by developing a new type of nonplanar plasmonic metasurfaces, which can greatly enhance the second harmonic generation (SHG) at visible frequencies and achieve conversion efficiency of ∼6 × 10–5 at a peak pump intensity of ∼0.5 GW/cm2. This is 4–5 orders of magnitude larger than the efficiencies observed for nonlinear thin films and doubly resonant plasmonic antennas. The proposed metasurface cons...
Emerging Drugs for the Treatment of Cancer Pain: A Review of Patent Literature in 2014.

Background: Pain in oncology patients may be related to underlying disease process, as well as a side effect of chemotherapy and radiation. More than half of all patients with a diagnosis of cancer experience pain, which is often poorly controlled. As such, the treatment of pain in oncology patients demonstrates a significant need to develop new treatment options. Objective: This review summarizes 35 patents on the treatment of pain among cancer patients. Method: A thorough literature review of all patents filed in 2014 was conducted using PubMed and http://ep.espacenet.com/ as sources identify new treatment options for cancer pain. Results: Our literature search returned 35 patents filed in 2014 related to the treatment of pain in cancer patients. Conclusion: In 2014, a number of patents were filed for the treatment of pain among oncology patients. The great variety of chemical compounds presented indicates that there is a great variety in current research for cancer-related pain. The development of novel treatment options will hopefully lead to more effective therapies in the treatment of cancer-related pain.
True North: Building Imaginary Worlds with the Revised Canadian (CADTH) Guidelines for Health Technology Assessment

In March 2017 the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) released the 4th edition of their Guidelines for the Economic Evaluation of Health Technologies: Canada. These guidelines, which were first published and revised for a 3rd edition in 2006 are intended to help decision makers, health systems leaders and policy makers make well-informed decisions. They are designed, apparently, to support best practice in conducting health technology assessments in Canada. The purpose of this commentary is to consider whether or not the evidence standards proposed and the consequent modeled claims for economic effectiveness meet the standards of normal science: are the CADTH standards capable of generating claims for competing products that are credible, evaluable and replicable? The review argues that the standards proposed by CADTH do not meet the standards expected in normal science. Technical sophistication in building reference case imaginary worlds is not a substitute for claims that are experimentally evaluable or capable of assessment through systematic observation. There is no way of judging whether imaginary claims are right or even if they are wrong. CADTH is not alone in setting standards that fail to meet the standards of normal science. Recent commentaries on formulary submission guidelines in a number of other countries, to include Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Australia, the UK and New Zealand conclude that they are subject to the same criticism. If the CADTH guidelines were never intended to support feedback to health system decision makers, then this should be made clear. If not, then consideration should be given to withdrawing the guidelines to ensure they conform to these standards. Hopefully, future versions of the CADTH guidelines will address this issue and focus on a rigorous research program of claims assessment and feedback and not the building of imaginary worlds. Type: Commentary
Optimization of self-interstitial clusters in 3C-SiC with genetic algorithm

Under irradiation, SiC develops damage commonly referred to as black spot defects, which are speculated to be self-interstitial atom clusters. To understand the evolution of these defect clusters and their impacts (e.g., through radiation induced swelling) on the performance of SiC in nuclear applications, it is important to identify the cluster composition, structure, and shape. In this work the genetic algorithm code StructOpt was utilized to identify groundstate cluster structures in 3C-SiC. The genetic algorithm was used to explore clusters of up to ∼30 interstitials of C-only, Si-only, and Si-C mixtures embedded in the SiC lattice. We performed the structure search using Hamiltonians from both density functional theory and empirical potentials. The thermodynamic stability of clusters was investigated in terms of their composition (with a focus on Si-only, C-only, and stoichiometric) and shape (spherical vs. planar), as a function of the cluster size (n). Our results suggest that large Si-only clusters are likely unstable, and clusters are predominantly C-only for n ≤ 10 and stoichiometric for n > 10. The results imply that there is an evolution of the shape of the most stable clusters, where small clusters are stable in more spherical geometries while larger clusters are stable in more planar configurations. We also provide an estimated energy vs. size relationship, E(n), for use in future analysis.
Staying In: The Moses-God Exchanges on the Passover

In this chapter, Lee brings the tendentious nature of reading/speaking to the fore in scrutinizing the God-Moses speeches in Exodus 11:1–13:16. Through the speeches, Lee traces the binary logic—Israelite/foreigner, inside(r)/outside(r), security/hazard, holy/profane—in defining exclusive, and excluded, categories from the Passover rites to the institution of firstfruits/firstling offerings. Lee demonstrates that, from the outset, Israel’s articulation of its boundaries is a contention of perspectives set in the very tissue of the text. Moses and God, in tandem, cast and expand the web of categories that define ‘Israel.’ Speaking/reading, therefore, is essentially interactive.
Coach Professional Development in the Urban Emergent Context

This article explicates the structure, content, and pedagogy of an urban district’s professional development for literacy coaches. To analyze qualitative data on a district’s yearlong coach profess...
User-centered design and usability testing of RxMAGIC: a prescription management and general inventory control system for free clinic dispensaries

To address challenges related to medication management in underserved settings, we developed a system for Prescription Management And General Inventory Control, or RxMAGIC, in collaboration with the Birmingham Free Clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. RxMAGIC is an interoperable, web-based medication management system designed to standardize and streamline the dispensing practice and improve inventory control in a free clinic setting. This manuscript describes the processes used to design, develop, and deploy RxMAGIC. We transformed data from previously performed mixed-methods needs assessment studies into functional user requirements using agile development methods. Requirements took the form of user stories that were prioritized to drive implementation of RxMAGIC as a web-application. A functional prototype was developed and tested to understand its perceived usefulness before developing a production system. Prior to deployment, we evaluated the usability of RxMAGIC with six users to diagnose potential interaction challenges that may be avoided through redesign. The results from this study were similarly prioritized and informed the final features of the production system. We developed 45 user stories that acted as functional requirements to incrementally build RxMAGIC. Integrating with the electronic health record at the clinic was a requirement for deployment. We utilized health data standards to communicate with the existing order entry system; an outgoing electronic prescribing framework was leveraged to send prescription data to RxMAGIC. The results of the usability study were positive, with all tested features receiving a mean score of four or five (i.e. somewhat easy or easy, respectively) on a five-point Likert scale assessing ease of completion, thus demonstrating the system’s simplicity and high learnability. RxMAGIC was deployed at the clinic in October 2016 over a two-week period. We built RxMAGIC, an open-source, pharmacist-facing dispensary management information system that augments the pharmacist’s ability to efficiently deliver medication services in a free clinic setting. RxMAGIC provides electronic dispensing and automated inventory management and alerting capabilities. We deployed RxMAGIC at the Birmingham Free Clinic and measured its usability with potential users. In future work, we plan to continue to measure the impact of RxMAGIC on pharmacist efficiency and satisfaction.
Lead in New York City Soils

Urban soil is a sink for anthropogenic lead (Pb) and the latter is a persistent threat to human health, especially to children and the gardening population. In the past decade, several organizations have tested soil samples for Pb in New York City. Here we summarize the available soil Pb data for New York City and create a spatial distribution map. The highest Pb levels were present in the oldest parts of the city, and mostly industrial and high traffic areas. There is overlap between high Pb areas with areas of high population density and high poverty rates. The analyses help delineate parts of the city that are most affected, possible sources of Pb, and where to prioritize resources for mitigation and remediation.
Using Life History Data to Examine Trade-Offs in Body Size and Reproductive Ability

Life history trade-offs provide an opportunity for students to learn about concepts in ecology, evolutionary biology, and natural history. Here I present a simple activity that I created to help students use data from museums and online life history databases to explore the relationship between body size and reproductive ability in birds. This activity, which guides students in hypothesis development and testing, data collection, and statistical analysis, is applicable to students at the high school and undergraduate levels. In addition, although I focused on birds, this activity can also be applied to other taxa where life history data are available.
Short-Range Forecasting for Energy

Short-range forecasts for periods on the order of hours to days and up to two weeks ahead are necessary to smoothly run transmission and distribution systems, plan maintenance, protect infrastructure and allocate units. In particular, forecasting the renewable energy resources on a day-to-day basis enables integration of increasing capacities of these variable resources. This chapter describes the basics of this short-range forecasting, beginning with the observation-based “nowcasting” of the first 15 minutes and ranging up to two weeks using numerical weather prediction. We discuss how blending multiple forecasts can increase accuracy and how probabilistic forecasts are being used to quantify the forecast uncertainty.
An approach for increasing the number of users in a multi-user direct-sequence spread spectrum system

In this paper, a novel approach is presented that provides for a significant increase in the number of users in multi-user DSSS systems. This technique is based on division of the DSSS channel into a number of overlapping equal bandwidth sub-channels. It is shown that this division yields an increase in the number of users by 41% when the number of sub-channels is 11. The analysis is confirmed by means of a computer simulation.
Scientific management and class relations

It has been the contention of this article that the true significance of the scientific management movement lies in what it can tell us about the engineering profession. Scientific management was not simply capitalist ideology, nor were the engineers who developed it simply the prisoners of capitalist ideology. Instead, scientific management was the product of the insertion of once-independent engineers into the complex, collective labor process in large corporations. It reflects both their inability to break loose fully from the dominant ideology and the fact that their interests as engineers were in conflict with the interests of their capitalist employers.
Laser Architectures for Space-Based Sodium Resonance Fluorescence Lidar

NASA GSFC is developing a space-based sodium resonance fluorescence lidar for the International Space Station (ISS). We discuss the technology, prototypes, risks and trades for two laser architectures - Raman laser and sum frequency generation.
The Influence of Ownership Type and the Affordable Care Act on Earnings Management in U.S. Hospitals

Using a comprehensive sample from 2011 through 2016, we examine variation in earnings management in U.S. hospitals by ownership type, and before and after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We expect managers’ reporting incentives to differ between ownership type (for-profit versus non-profit), resulting in differing uses of accrual and real earnings manipulations. First, we document that non-profit hospitals exhibit lower levels of both income-increasing and income-decreasing earnings manipulations than for-profit hospitals do. Second, we find that compared to non-profit hospitals, for-profit hospital managers use discretionary accruals (in particular) to create larger reserves when pre-managed earnings are high and to increase reported earnings more when pre-managed earnings are low. Together, these findings suggest that, relative to non-profit managers, for-profit managers have incentives to report higher and more consistent earnings. Third, we find that post-ACA, both non-profit and for-profit managers use real earnings management to report lower earnings, while only non-profit managers appear to use discretionary accruals to bolster earnings. Our findings also show that for-profit hospital administrators manage their earnings downwards using real earnings manipulations more so than non-profit administrators do. It is plausible that for-profit hospital managers are less willing to disclose any increased margins resulting from the ACA implementation than non-profit managers are.
CBPKI: Cloud Blockchain-based Public Key Infrastructure

This paper proposes a cloud based public key infrastructure utilizing blockchain technology model for replacing the currently outdated traditional variant. Environments such as Big Data and IoT ecosystems have scalable and resilient needs that current public key infrastructure cannot satisfy. Enhancements over past models include the use of blockchains to establish persistent access to certificate data and certificate revocation lists. Further improvements made were the decoupling of data from the certificate authority as well as hosting it on a cloud provider in order to tap into traffic security measures of said provider. This results in a smaller viable attack surface for the proposed model. Instead of holding data within the transaction data fields of blocks, certificate data and status were embedded into smart contracts. Our tests revealed a significant performance increase of our proposed model over that of both traditional and the version that stored data within blocks. Storing the certificate data within smart contracts reduced the size of data to be mined which in turn lowered the time to mine said data to 6.6% of the time used for the block data storage method. Also, the mining gas cost per certificate was consequently cut by a significant 87%. In summary, completely decoupling the certificate authority portion of a public key infrastructure and storing certificate data inside smart contracts yields a sizable performance boost while decreasing the attack surface.