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The complexity of modern power grids, caused by integrating renewable energy sources, especially inverter-based resources, presents a significant challenge to grid operation and planning, since linear models are unable to capture the complex nonlinear dynamics of power systems with coupled muti-scale dynamics, and it necessitate an alternative approach utilizing more advanced and data-driven algorithms to improve modeling accuracy and system optimization. This study employs the sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics method by leveraging compressed sensing and sparse modeling principles, offering robustness and the potential for generalization, allowing for identifying key dynamical features with relatively few measurements, and providing deeper theoretical understanding in the field of power system analysis. Taking advantage of the this method in recognizing the active terms (first and high order) in the system's governing equation, this paper also introduces the novel Volterra-based nonlinearity index to characterize system-level nonlinearity. The distinction of dynamics into first-order linearizable terms, second-order nonlinear dynamics, and third-order noise is adopted to clearly show the intricacy of power systems. The findings demonstrate a fundamental shift in system dynamics as power sources transit to inverter-based resources, revealing system-level (second-order) nonlinearity compared to module-level (first order) nonlinearity in conventional synchronous generators. The proposed index quantifies nonlinear-to-linear relationships, enriching our comprehension of power system behavior and offering a tool for distinguishing between different nonlinearities and visualizing their distinct patterns through the profile of the proposed index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The Hospital Price Transparency Final Rule, effective January 1, 2021, requires hospitals to post online a machine-readable file that includes payer-specific negotiated commercial prices for all services. The regulation aims to improve the affordability of hospital care by promoting price competition. However, a low compliance level among hospitals would compromise the operational effectiveness of this regulation. Understanding hospitals' compliance status to the regulation has important implications for its enforcement effort and effectiveness assessment. OBJECTIVE: To analyze nationwide hospitals' compliance status to the Hospital Price Transparency Rule. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3558 Medicare-certified general acute-care hospitals were examined. MAIN MEASURES: A binary compliance rating was generated by using data collected by Turquoise Health. "Noncompliance" means that no machine-readable file was posted or the posted file contains no commercial negotiated prices. "Compliance" means that a machine-readable file was posted with commercial negotiated prices for at least one insurance plan. KEY RESULTS: As of June 1, 2021, 55% of the 3558 Medicare-certified general acute-care hospitals we examined had not posted a machine-readable file containing commercial negotiated prices. Wide variations of compliance existed across states and hospital referral regions. A hospital's compliance status is strongly associated with the average compliance status of peer hospitals in the same market. Hospitals with greater IT preparedness, for-profit hospitals, system-affiliated hospitals, large hospitals, and non-urban hospitals had greater compliance. More concentrated hospital markets had greater average compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals take into consideration the behavior of their peers in the same market when making price disclosure decisions. Compliant hospitals are likely to have better IT preparedness, more financial resources and personnel expertise to mitigate the cost required for the implementation of the Price Transparency Rule. The compliance cost, therefore, might be a barrier for some hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Median negotiated price with a given insurance company in a hospital is the median value among all negotiated prices across different plans administered by the insurance company within a hospital. In this study, using pricing data disclosed by US hospitals under the Hospital Price Transparency Rule, we examined price variations paid by commercial payers for hospital COVID-19 PCR tests within each major insurance company and within the same hospital. Among 1435 hospitals that disclosed both cash price and commercial negotiated price, 693 hospitals (48%) set a lower cash price than their median negotiated commercial price. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Identifying and tracking somatic mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) by next-generation sequencing (NGS) has the potential to transform the clinical management of subjects with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods: Baseline tumor tissue (n = 47) and longitudinal plasma (n = 445) were collected from 71 NSCLC subjects treated with chemotherapy. cfDNA was enriched using a targeted-capture NGS kit containing 197 genes. Clinical responses to treatment were determined using RECIST v1.1 and correlations between changes in plasma somatic variant allele frequencies and disease progression were assessed.Results: Somatic variants were detected in 89.4% (42/47) of tissue and 91.5% (407/445) of plasma samples. The most commonly mutated genes in tissue were TP53 (42.6%), KRAS (25.5%), and KEAP1 (19.1%). In some subjects, the allele frequencies of mutations detected in plasma increased 3-5 months prior to disease progression. In other cases, the allele frequencies of detected mutations declined or decreased to undetectable levels, indicating clinical response. Subjects with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels above background had significantly shorter progression-free survival (median: 5.6 vs 8.9 months, respectively; log-rank p = 0.0183).Conclusion: Longitudinal monitoring of mutational changes in plasma has the potential to predict disease progression early. The presence of ctDNA mutations during first-line treatment is a risk factor for earlier disease progression in advanced NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total transient energy accumulated during the fault period is an important factor affecting power system dynamics. In this paper, we present a study of the total transient energy. First, we analyze the characteristics of energy interchange during the fault period. Then, an expression is developed based on characteristics analysis to estimate the total transient energy. Such an expression allows us to study how a fault, in terms of its magnitude, clearing time, and location, affects the total transient energy. Especially, the distribution factors of the total transient energy are defined based upon the expression to analyze the impact of fault location. It is found that for a fault with the given magnitude and clearing time, the total amount of total transient energy mainly depends on the difference in the distribution factors. Furthermore, it is found that the distribution factors can be applied to the identification of potential critical fault locations, the identification of coherent generators, and the identification of critical generators. The analysis results and their applications are demonstrated in the IEEE 9-bus system and the IEEE 39-bus system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two photon microscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are two standard methods for measuring flow speeds of red blood cells in microvessels, particularly in animal models. However, traditional two photon microscopy lacks the depth of field to adequately capture the full volumetric complexity of the cerebral microvasculature and OCT lacks the specificity offered by fluorescent labeling. In addition, the traditional raster scanning technique utilized in both modalities requires a balance of image frame rate and field of view, which severely limits the study of RBC velocities in the microvascular network. Here, we overcome this by using a custom two photon system with an axicon based Bessel beam to obtain volumetric images of the microvascular network with fluorescent specificity. We combine this with a novel scan pattern that generates pairs of frames with short time delay sufficient for tracking red blood cell flow in capillaries. We track RBC flow speeds in 10 or more capillaries simultaneously at 1 Hz in a 237 µm × 237 µm × 120 µm volume and quantified both their spatial and temporal variability in speed. We also demonstrate the ability to track flow speed changes around stalls in capillary flow and measure to 300 µm in depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing level of harmonics in the power grid, driven by a substantial presence of coupled inverter-based energy resources (IBRs), poses a new challenge to power grid transient stability. This paper presents the findings from experiments and analytical studies on the impact of the topological configuration of coupled IBRs on the level of power flow harmonics in a distribution grid: (i) our findings report that the impact of grid topology on harmonics is nonlinear, which is in contrast to the common perception that the power grid operates as a large linear low-pass filter for harmonics; (ii) importantly, this study highlights that the influence of the topological configuration of inverters on the reduction of system-level harmonics is more substantial than the effect of line impedance, emphasizing the significance of grid topological configuration; (iii) furthermore, the observed reduction in harmonics is attributed to a harmonic cancellation effect achieved through self-compensation by all the coupled inverters without affecting the active power flow in the power grid. These findings propose a new approach to limit the penetration of complex IBR harmonics in the power grid from a system-wide perspective. This approach significantly differs from the component-level or localized solutions used today, such as inverter control, power filtering, and transformer tap changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of a hydrodynamically relevant endothelial glycocalyx has been established in capillaries, venules, and arterioles in vivo. The glycocalyx is thought to consist primarily of membrane-bound proteoglycans with glycosaminoglycan side-chains, membrane-bound glypicans, and adsorbed plasma proteins. The proteoglycans found on the luminal surface of endothelial cells are syndecans-1, -2, and -4, and glypican-1. The extent to which any of these proteins might serve to anchor the glycocalyx to the endothelium has not yet been determined. To test whether syndecan-1, in particular, is an essential anchoring protein, we performed experiments to determine the hydrodynamically relevant glycocalyx thickness in syndecan-1 deficient (Sdc1−/−) mice. Micro-particle image velocimetry data were collected using a previously described method. Microviscometric analysis of these data consistently revealed the existence of a hydrodynamically relevant endothelial glycocalyx in Sdc1−/− mice in vivo. The mean glycocalyx thickness found in Sdc1−/− mice was 0.45±0.10μm (N =15), as compared with 0.54±0.12μm (N =11) in wild-type (WT) mice (p =0.03). The slightly thinner glycocalyx observed in Sdc1−/− mice relative to WT mice may be due to the absence of syndecan-1. These findings show that healthy Sdc1−/− mice are able to synthesize and maintain a hydrodynamically relevant glycocalyx, which indicates that syndecan-1 is not an essential anchoring protein for the glycocalyx in Sdc1−/− mice. This may also be the case for WT mice; however, Sdc1−/− mice might adapt to the lack of syndecan-1 by increasing the expression of other proteoglycans. In any case, syndecan-1 does not appear to be a prerequisite for the existence of an endothelial glycocalyx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I Background: i In March 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed a rule to support access, exchange, and use of electronic health information ([1]). Given that several types of PHI can be compromised in a breach, the 186 breaches involving sensitive financial information and the 964 breaches involving sensitive demographic information represented 1042 unique breaches. [Extracted from the article]

Odor intensity reveals a dose-effect relationship between inhaled odor and perceived odor sensation by the receptors, while odor concentration reflects the odor strength at the emission sources. The study reports significant improvements in experimental procedures in establishing the odor concentration-intensity (OCI) relationships using a newly developed digital olfactometer. The improvements in experimental procedures have been made to meet the requirements of both the VDI guideline 3882.1 and the European standard (EN13725). Several areas which could affect the reliability of the results have been identified in some similar studies. The latest digital olfactometer was calibrated automatically to ensure accurate and repeatable dilution ratios. Cross contamination has been eliminated through the instrument design and extensive cleaning procedures, making random presentation possible. Stringent panelist screening and continuous performance monitoring ensures consistent sensitivity of the panel. The extension of odor intensity category to temperature sensation gives a reference to assist judgments of perceived odor sensation. The Dyna-Scent calculation method has simplified odor intensity calculation and can be applied to many odor samples. A total of 38 odor samples from three alumina refinery sites and two sewage treatment plants were collected for analysis. The results have confirmed the efficiency of the olfactometer. Distinct Odor Concentrations (DOCs) were calculated for each sample using both VDI and DynaScent methods. A student t test on two major odor types con- firmed that there are no significant differences between two methods. The study has shown the DOCs for refinery odor and wastewater odor are in the range of 3.8-15.4 and 4.2-15.6 odor unit (OU)/m³ respectively. The study demonstrated that the improvements are critical in achieving reliable odor intensity measurement. This can lead to the setup of quantitative odor impact criteria for different industries and sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing penetration of renewable resources such as wind and solar into the electric power grid through power electronic inverters is challenging grid protection. Due to the advanced inverter control algorithms, the inverter-based resources present fault responses different from conventional generators, which can fundamentally affect the way that the power grid is protected. This paper studied solar inverter dynamics focused on negative-sequence quantities during the restoration period following a grid disturbance by using a real-time digital simulator. It was found that solar inverters can act as negative-sequence sources to inject negative-sequence currents into the grid during the restoration period. The negative-sequence current can be affected by different operating conditions such as the number of inverters in service, grid strength, and grid fault types. Such negative-sequence responses can adversely impact the performance of protection schemes based on negative-sequence components and potentially cause relay maloperations during the grid restoration period, thus making system protection less secure and reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bringing a concept that is familiar from the mortgage industry into the power sector could do much to lower utilities’ cost of capital while integrating them more fully into the broader capital markets. But getting there will require significant regulatory, legal, financial and engineering innovation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reliability constraints may have been underestimated in recent economic studies, limiting the extension of theoretical and empirical knowledge and slowing the advance of electricity restructuring. Shedding greater light on the economic characteristics of reliability constraints should contribute to advances in many important areas of power system economics, including design principles and broader energy policy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The cerebral cortex is organized in cortical layers that differ in their cellular density, composition, and wiring. Cortical laminar architecture is also readily revealed by staining for cytochrome oxidase—the last enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It has been hypothesized that a high-density band of cytochrome oxidase in cortical layer IV reflects higher oxygen consumption under baseline (unstimulated) conditions. Here, we tested the above hypothesis using direct measurements of the partial pressure of O2 (pO2) in cortical tissue by means of 2-photon phosphorescence lifetime microscopy (2PLM). We revisited our previously developed method for extraction of the cerebral metabolic rate of O2 (CMRO2) based on 2-photon pO2 measurements around diving arterioles and applied this method to estimate baseline CMRO2 in awake mice across cortical layers. To our surprise, our results revealed a decrease in baseline CMRO2 from layer I to layer IV. This decrease of CMRO2 with cortical depth was paralleled by an increase in tissue oxygenation. Higher baseline oxygenation and cytochrome density in layer IV may serve as an O2 reserve during surges of neuronal activity or certain metabolically active brain states rather than reflecting baseline energy needs. Our study provides to our knowledge the first quantification of microscopically resolved CMRO2 across cortical layers as a step towards better understanding of brain energy metabolism. The high density of cytochrome oxidase in cortical layer IV has been hypothesized to reflect higher basal oxygen consumption, but is this true? This study uses two-photon oxygen imaging technology and modeling to measure basal oxygen metabolism across cortical layers in awake mice; surprisingly, basal oxygen consumption decreases from layer I to layer IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors present an approach to validate the voltage schedule for operation of generation fleet within a balancing area managed by Independent System Operators/Regional Transmission Organizations or a balancing authority. An appropriate voltage schedule is an important requirement for the generator operators to maintain adequate VAR reserves and ensure the voltage stability. Based on current industry requirements, an empirical approach is developed to validate the voltage schedule following significant variations in generation pattern and load pattern, as possible results of integration of power generation from variable renewable resources or responsive demand. The approach can validate voltage schedule of generator fleet and transfer buses connected to the generator buses while monitoring the ranges of set‐point voltages and VAR levels of the generators. Moreover, they use the approach to investigate the impact of variations in the generation and load patterns on the voltage schedule in a real power grid. The findings are useful for an improved management of voltage stability, voltage schedule validation, and estimation of reactive power adequacy for operation support of future power grid with high penetration of renewables and responsive demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: Functional performance tests are the gold standard to assess disease progression and treatment effects in neuromuscular disorders. These tests can be confounded by motivation, pain, fatigue, and learning effects, increasing variability and decreasing sensitivity to disease progression, limiting efficacy assessment in clinical trials with small sample sizes. We aimed to develop and validate a quantitative and objective method to measure skeletal muscle volume and fat content based on whole‐body fat‐referenced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for use in multisite clinical trials. Methods: Subjects aged 18 to 65 years, genetically confirmed facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 1 (FSHD1), clinical severity 2 to 4 (Ricci's scale, range 0–5), were enrolled at six sites and imaged twice 4–12 weeks apart with T1‐weighted two‐point Dixon MRI covering the torso and upper and lower extremities. Thirty‐six muscles were volumetrically segmented using semi‐automatic multi‐atlas‐based segmentation. Muscle fat fraction (MFF), muscle fat infiltration (MFI), and lean muscle volume (LMV) were quantified for each muscle using fat‐referenced quantification. Results: Seventeen patients (mean age ± SD, 49.4 years ±13.02; 12 men) were enrolled. Within‐patient SD ranged from 1.00% to 3.51% for MFF and 0.40% to 1.48% for MFI in individual muscles. For LMV, coefficients of variation ranged from 2.7% to 11.7%. For the composite score average of all muscles, observed SDs were 0.70% and 0.32% for MFF and MFI, respectively; composite LMV coefficient of variation was 2.0%. Discussion: We developed and validated a method for measuring skeletal muscle volume and fat content for use in multisite clinical trials of neuromuscular disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our goal is to develop a closed-loop system for automatically regulating BG in type 1 diabetes using dual subcutaneous (SC) infusion of insulin and glucagon. The control algorithm we have developed utilizes model-predictive control (MPC) in conjunction with a recursively adaptive empirical subject model. The MPC objective function was augmented with a formulation that keeps online track of the accumulation of SC insulin, in order to simultaneously minimize the latter and avoid excessive insulin dosing. The novel algorithm was tested in ambulatory diabetic pigs, whereby a central line inserted into the vena cava was used to sample BG. The control algorithm only requires the subject weight for initialization and operates online solely based on BG data without any feed-forward information, such as timing and carbohydrate content of meals as well as subject activity. We have conducted experiments in a separate study (El Khatib et al., Diabetes Technol. Ther., vol. 9(2), 2007) in ambulatory diabetic pigs that verified that the pharmacodynamics and stability of SC glucagon, stored at room temperature, render it a practical counter-regulatory agent in the context of closed-loop BG control. Closed-loop control results in ambulatory diabetic pigs showed successful BG regulation to euglycemic range, with no incidences of hypoglycemia, in response to multiple successive oral carbohydrate intakes in 12- and 24-hour closed-loop control experiments. Results also demonstrated the potency of SC glucagon in staving off potential episodic hypoglycemia, and revealed the control algorithm's efficacy in coping with a two-fold variation in subject weights, while simultaneously overlooking erratic blood-glucose fluctuations. In 24-hour closed-loop control experiments, the controller achieved an average BG of ∼140 mg/dl (corresponding to a mean HbA1c of ∼6.5) and regulated breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals (300, 200, and 250 g of carbohydrates, respectively) over the 24-hour period. Results establish the plausibility and practicality of closed-loop BG control using SC insulin and glucagon infusion in type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of an endothelial surface layer (ESL) that selectively excludes macromolecules and retards plasma flow within 500 nm of the endothelium in microvessels of wild-type mouse is well established under normal physiologic conditions. Since all complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are derived from vascular disease arising from hyperglycemia, and since the ESL is situated as the first line of defense against vascular damage, we seek to establish the effects of hyperglycemia on the ESL. To test the effects of hyperglycemia on the ESL, we collected micro-particle image velocimetry (µ-PIV) data from post-capillary venules (20-50 µm diameter) in the cremaster muscle of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice after chronic exposure to hyperglycemia and then again after regulation to euglycemic range with intraveneous insulin administration. Using microviscometric analysis of these µ-PIV data, fluid velocity profiles were inferred and used to estimate the hydrodynamically relevant thickness of the ESL. Before and after blood-glucose regulation with insulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY In this paper, an improved micro-particle swarm optimization ( μPSO) algorithm is proposed and applied to the development of a computational method for solving Transient Stability Constrained Optimal Power Flow (TSCOPF) problem. The improvement includes two novel intelligent strategies: the dynamic space adjustment and the selective re-initialization. The first strategy is designed to accelerate the convergence speed by confining the search in a reduced space, while the second strategy is to reduce the possible overabundance by re-initializing the particles only in a non-overlapping space. The simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the improved μPSO algorithm over both the original μPSO algorithm and the standard PSO algorithm. The proposed method is validated through case studies for solving TSCOPF problems on IEEE 39-bus system and IEEE 162-bus system. The results show that the algorithm can utilize a small population to obtain an equally good or better optimization outcomes compared to those of the original μPSO algorithm and the standard PSO algorithm. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have recently attracted attention due to their potential as prognostic and predictive markers for the clinical management of metastatic breast cancer patients. The isolation of CTCs from patients may enable the molecular characterization of these cells, which may help establish a minimally invasive assay for the prediction of metastasis and further optimization of treatment. Molecular markers of proven clinical value may therefore be useful in predicting disease aggressiveness and response to treatment. In our earlier study, we identified a gene signature in breast cancer that appears to be significantly associated with bone metastasis. Among the genes that constitute this signature, trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) was identified as the most differentially expressed gene associated with bone metastasis. In this study, we investigated 25 candidate gene markers in the CTCs of metastatic breast cancer patients with different metastatic sites. The panel of the 25 markers was investigated in 80 baseline samples (first blood draw of CTCs) and 30 follow-up samples. In addition, 40 healthy blood donors (HBDs) were analyzed as controls. The assay was performed using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) with RNA extracted from CTCs captured by the CellSearch system. Our study indicated that 12 of the genes were uniquely expressed in CTCs and 10 were highly expressed in the CTCs obtained from patients compared to those obtained from HBDs. Among these genes, the expression of keratin 19 was highly correlated with the CTC count. The TFF1 expression in CTCs was a strong predictor of bone metastasis and the patients with a high expression of estrogen receptor β in CTCs exhibited a better response to hormonal treatment. Molecular characterization of these genes in CTCs may provide a better understanding of the mechanism underlying tumor metastasis and identify gene markers in CTCs for predicting disease progression and response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This phase 1, open-label, single-arm clinical trial evaluated pharmacokinetics, safety, and biomarker activity of palbociclib-letrozole as first-line treatment for estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC) in postmenopausal Chinese women to support palbociclib approval in China.Methods: Patients received palbociclib 125 mg once daily (3/1 schedule) plus letrozole 2.5 mg once daily. Blood samples were collected predose and ≤ 120 h after single and multiple doses of palbociclib. The incidence and severity of adverse events were reported. Skin biopsy tissues and blood samples were collected for biomarker assessments.Results: By 31 July 2018, 26 patients were enrolled. After single and multiple dosing, palbociclib maximum plasma concentration was 82.14 and 139.7 ng/mL, apparent clearance was 52.40 and 49.97 L/h, AUCτ was 1217 and 2501 ng∙h/mL, and t½ was 23.46 and 27.26 h, respectively. Levels of Ki67, retinoblastoma protein, and thymidine kinase decreased after palbociclib treatment. A similar safety profile as previously reported was observed.Conclusions: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of palbociclib were well characterized in Chinese patients with ABC. Despite higher exposure, pharmacokinetic parameters were similar to those of a previously studied non-Asian population. No palbociclib dose adjustment based on Chinese ethnicity is needed. Palbociclib-letrozole had a manageable safety profile.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02499146. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ribonucleotide reductase M1 ( RRM1) is an important molecule in different types of cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive roles of RRM1 in the survival of patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma who received treatment with gemcitabine or nongemcitabine adjuvant therapy. METHODS: In total, 122 patients underwent tumor resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma at the authors' institution from October 1999 to December 2007. Total RNA was isolated from microdissected, paraffin-embedded tumors. RRM1 expression levels were measured using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and were dichotomized using recursive partitioning analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival and progression-free survival, and the predictive value of RRM1 expression on survival was examined using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: RRM1 expression did not have significant prognostic value in the entire cohort regarding overall survival ( P = .2) or progression-free survival ( P = .7). In the subgroup of 44 patients who received adjuvant gemcitabine, patients who had low RRM1 expression had longer overall survival (median, 47.8 months vs 14.1 months; P = .005) and a trend toward longer progression-free survival (median not reached vs 12.9 months; P = .06). In contrast, in the subgroup of 35 patients who received nongemcitabine adjuvant therapy, patients who had high RRM1 expression had significantly longer overall survival (median, 41.9 months vs 19.8 months; P = .01) and progression-free survival (median, 70.0 months vs 11.8 months; P = .04). These results were confirmed in Cox proportional hazards multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma, low RRM1 expression in the tumor predicted an overall survival benefit of adjuvant gemcitabine; and high RRM1 expression predicted the survival benefit of nongemcitabine adjuvant therapy. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine common molecular markers between endometriosis and ovarian cancer. Methods: Patients included women who underwent laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometriotic lesions ( n = 7), healthy non-pregnant women with normal pelvises, who underwent excision of normal peritoneum ( n = 7). Two epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cell lines were also utilized. Expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), estrogen receptor (ER)-1α, progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), and aromatase was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. Results: Endometriosis and EOC cells manifested significantly higher mRNA levels of TGF-β1, COX-2, VEGF, ER-1α, AR, and aromatase, while they expressed significantly lower mRNA levels of PR. Conclusions: Increased TGF-β1, COX-2, VEGF, ER-1α, AR, and aromatase and decreased PR in endometriotic as well as EOC cells suggests a potential association between these two disease processes. This association is important, as it may reveal common mechanisms for both diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) is formulated to enhance the rate and extent of fentanyl absorption across the buccal mucosa. FBT is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain (a transient flare of pain on a background of chronic pain otherwise controlled by treatment with opioids) in patients with cancer who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain. This study assessed the bioequivalence of a single 400-μg dose of FBT following buccal (i.e. above a molar tooth between the upper gum and cheek) and sublingual (i.e. placed under the tongue) placement in order to provide an alternative option to patients. METHODS: Healthy subjects were randomized to receive one FBT 400 μg buccally and sublingually (with naltrexone to minimize opioid effects) in an open-label, crossover design. Bioequivalence, as determined from the maximum plasma drug concentration (Cmax) and the area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC∞), was established if the 90% confidence interval (CI) for the ratio of the means of sublingual/buccal values fell within the range of 0.80 to 1.25. RESULTS: Ninety subjects were enrolled (67 men, 23 women; median age 24 years), and 78 completed the study. The criteria for bioequivalence were met for both Cmax and AUC∞ for the two sites of tablet placement: sublingual/buccal ratio for Cmax = 0.868 (90% CI 0.815, 0.924); sublingual/buccal ratio for AUC∞ = 0.947 (90% CI 0.901, 0.995). Buccal and sublingual placement resulted in similar values for both AUC from time 0 to tmax′ (AUCtmax′), where tmax′ is the median time to Cmax of a single 400-μg dose of FBT administered buccally (mean [SD]: 0.35 [0.16] ng • h/mL buccal; 0.35 [0.16] ng • h/mL sublingual) and for time to Cmax (median [range]: 0.75 [0.33–3.13] hours buccal; 0.78 [0.17–3.00] hours sublingual). FBT was generally well tolerated following placement at both sites in healthy volunteers administered naltrexone. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support sublingual FBT placement as a viable alternative to buccal placement in patients who may require an alternate administration site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Analyze the challenges for weakness analysis based on grid strength assessment in a realistic power grid. • Analyze the impact of power network structure on grid strength. • Propose a method for fast weakness analysis in a realistic power grid. • Verify the method in a realistic power grid. Abstract The increasing penetration of renewable energy resources (RERs) is challenging power grid planning and operation in maintaining grid reliability. Potential power grid reliability and stability issues may arise when large-scale RERs are connected to a weak power grid. These issues may become more significant due to the mutual interactions among RERs that are interconnected electrically close through a power network. Weakness analysis based on grid strength assessment is useful for identifying the potential weak grid issues. However, when taking into account the impact of the interactions among RERs, the weakness analysis becomes computationally challenging. Different combinations of points of interconnections (POIs) of RERs may have different impacts on grid strength at each POI. Due to the combination nature, such weakness analysis may be time-consuming when identifying the weakest combination of POIs from a large number of potential candidates in realistic power grids. To address this concern, the impact of the power network structure on grid strength is analyzed in this paper. It is found that the impact mainly depends on the impedance ratios at POIs. The findings can be summarized as two criteria to develop a recursive method for fast identification of the weakest combination in this paper. The efficacy of the proposed method is demonstrated through case studies on the IEEE 39-bus system and a realistic power grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the clinical virology and pathogenesis of SARS. Evidence that SARS is caused by a novel coronavirus, called the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV); Sequencing of the genome of SARS-CoV; Probability that SARS-CoV was an animal virus that adapted to human-human transmission; Ability of second generation reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays to detect SARS-CoV in nasopharyngeal aspirates; Lack of information about the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of SARS.

Graphical abstract Abstract N -substituted azaindoles were discovered as promising pan-PIM inhibitors. Lead optimization is described en route toward the identification of a clinical candidate. Modulation of physico-chemical properties allowed to solve inherent hERG and permeability liabilities. Compound 17 showed tumor growth inhibition in a KG1 tumor-bearing mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Improved lung function and fewer pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) were observed with lumacaftor/ivacaftor (LUM/IVA) in patients with cystic fibrosis homozygous for F508del. It is unknown whether PEx reduction extends to patients without early lung function improvement. Methods Post hoc analyses of pooled phase 3 data (NCT01807923 , NCT01807949) categorized LUM/IVA-treated patients by percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (ppFEV 1) change from baseline to day 15 into threshold categories (absolute change ≤0 vs >0; relative change <5% vs ≥5%) and compared PEx rates vs placebo. Results LUM (400 mg q12h)/IVA (250 mg q12h)–treated patients (n = 369) experienced significantly fewer PEx vs placebo, regardless of threshold category. With LUM/IVA, PEx rate per patient per year was 0.60 for those with absolute change in ppFEV 1 > 0 and 0.85 for those with absolute change ≤0 (respective rate ratios vs placebo [95% CI]: 0.53 [0.40–0.69; P <.0001], 0.74 [0.55–0.99; P =.04]). Conclusions LUM/IVA significantly reduced PEx, even in patients without early lung function improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wastewater from the world's largest antimony mine (Hunan, China) contains high level of metal and metalloid contaminants (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Se, and Sb). We tested the effectiveness of low-cost local industrial by-products [coal fly ash (CFA) and Ca-Si slag from the metals industry] and traditional agents [limestone, diatomaceous earth (DE), and zeolite] to treat the wastewater. Their relative effectiveness ranked: CFA > Ca-Si slag > DE > limestone > zeolite. CFA and Ca-Si slag removed 9.9-85.5% of the As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Se, and Sb from the wastewater. The CFA and Ca-Si slag could be used as commercial filters or biogeochemical barriers to protect surface water and groundwater. A similar approach could be used at other mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number and locations of transmission lines that are likely to get simultaneously congested are useful information for analysis of power market. In this paper, we present a study that demonstrates the number of simultaneously congested transmission lines is very limited, as well as an algorithm for identifying a small set of transmission lines that may become simultaneously congested based on the current states of the system and market. To this end, we first investigate the maximum number of simultaneously congested lines. Then, a novel algorithm is developed to identify a smaller set using two scientific criteria – one is concerned with the absolute impact of generation dispatch decisions, and the other, the relative sensitivities of line flows with respect to the changes of generation outputs. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through two simulation studies, one based on IEEE 39-bus for illustration of concepts, and the other based on a large-scale, real-world power system for showing the practical application and significance of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze the impacts of major electrical properties, including node constraints, line limits, and flow direction, on vulnerability assessment of power grid using several types of electrical betweenness measures. Specifically, we first propose a set of new electrical betweenness measures, which takes into account flow direction in power grids. Then, the impacts of major electrical properties on vulnerability assessment of power grid are analyzed by comparing the identification results of critical components based on the proposed electrical betweenness measures with those based on the other two types of electrical betweenness measures reported in the literature, which take into consideration node constraints and line limits, respectively. Analysis results show the important impact of flow direction on the identification of critical components. The results lead us to introduce a set of combined electrical betweenness measures that take into account node constraints, line limits, and flow direction together. Simulation results on the IEEE 300-bus system and the Italian power grid show that the combined electrical betweenness measures are superior in identifying critical components and more useful in assessing power grid vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce an approach for a fast assessment of the dynamic characteristics of system frequency during the period of cold load pickup following a large-scale blackout. The approach is developed based on a load model and a model of generation control system: the load model considers the unique time-dependent characteristic of inrush power surges during the period of cold load pickup, while the model of generation control system mimics the characteristics of various governors that are crucial to the determination of the key variables including initial rate of frequency change, frequency nadir and settling frequency. With the proposed linearization and estimation methods, the model of generation control system can be quickly constructed to offer a great amount of flexibility and simplicity for the study of the impact of cold load on frequency response. The proposed approach allows system operators to quickly evaluate many different options for system restoration. The application of the proposed approach is demonstrated in a case study based on the IEEE 39-bus system. The differences between the results obtained using the proposed approach and those obtained from complete PSS/E simulation are very small, which suggests that the linearized model of generation control system is fast, and accurate enough to address the major concerns of cold load pickup in system restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Heavy metal mining includes several procedures producing water and solid wastes. These wastes may have high content of heavy metals and other pollutants. Usually, traditional technologies for purification of solid and liquid wastes are expensive and require a lot of special constructions. Recent investigations have shown that some Si-rich substances enable to regulate the mobility of pollutants in soil and water and enhance the plant resistance to its toxicity. Based on these findings, new way for purification of waste-waters and detoxification of pollutants can be elaborated. Laboratory test was conducted with contaminated solid and liquid wastes from Xikuangshan mine. In column and incubation tests, the contents and mobility of the following pollutants were evaluated in Si-treated and untreated samples: As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni and Zn. The investigations have shown that the Si-rich substances can be used for filtration of contaminated waste-water. The concentrations of soluble pollutants were reduced by 5–10 times and more. The incubation tests with solid wastes and Si-rich compounds have demonstrated that some Si-based substances reduced the contaminant mobility by 2–4 times. The efficiency of tested substances depended on their solubility on Si. The data has demonstrated that some types of local materials including industrial wastes can be used for purification of waste-waters and detoxification of solid wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many important issues of power system dynamics are often studied by looking at the dynamic responses of generators connected through the power grid, taking their interactions into consideration. In this paper, we present a specific study on the significant impact of grid structure on the power system dynamics with quantitative evidence. Specifically, it is found that the impact of grid structure heavily depends on two types of grid-structure-related variables: 1) electrical distances among the generator internal buses, and 2) electrical distances between the generator internal buses and the faulted bus. Furthermore, with the examples of coherency identification problem, the significance of grid structure is demonstrated by the strong agreement of identification results between using a set of criteria that only takes into account the grid-structure-related variables and dynamic simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

OBJECTIVE--To test whether safe and effective glycemic control could be achieved in type 1 diabetes using a bihormonal bionic endocrine pancreas driven by a continuous glucose monitor in experiments lasting more than two days and including six high-carbohydrate meals and exercise as challenges to glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Six subjects with type 1 diabetes and no endogenous insulin secretion participated in two 51-h experiments. Blood glucose was managed with a bionic endocrine pancreas controlling subcutaneous delivery of insulin and glucagon with insulin pumps. A partialmeal-priming bolus of insulin (0.035 units/kg/meal, then 0.05 units/kg/meal in repeat experiments) was administered at the beginning of each meal (on average 78 ± 12 g of carbohydrates per meal were consumed). Plasma glucose (PG) control was evaluated with a reference quality measurement on venous blood every 15 min. RESULTS--The overall mean PG was 158 mg/dL, with 68% of PG values in the range of 70-180 mg/dL. There were no significant differences in mean PG between larger and smaller meal-priming bolus experiments. Hypoglycemia (PG ,70 mg/dL) was rare, with eight incidents during 576 h of closed-loop control (0.7% of total time). During 192 h of nighttime control, mean PG was 123 mg/dL, with 93% of PG values in the range of 70-180 mg/dL and only one episode of mild hypoglycemia (minimum PG 62 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS--A bihormonal bionic endocrine pancreas achieved excellent glycemic control with minimal hypoglycemia over the course of two days of continuous use despite highcarbohydrate meals and exercise. A trial testing a wearable version of the system under free-living conditions is justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a malignancy with a dismal prognosis. Previous studies have suggested that in pancreatic cancer, human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT-1) and ribonucleoside reductase subunit M1 (RRM1) expression may have prognostic value as well as predictive value with sensitivity to gemcitabine. This study investigated the prognostic value of hENT-1 and RRM1 expression in resected pancreatic cancer.Methods: Eighty-four patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy from 2000 to 2005 were included in this study. Patients were followed for a median of 60 months (range, 44-110). Total RNA was isolated from macrodissected paraffin-embedded tumors. hENT-1 and RRM1 expression levels in tumors were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR), normalized to 2 reference genes, and expressed as ΔCt (low ΔCt means high expression). Univariate and multivariable prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were identified via Cox proportional hazards analysis.Results: Univariate analysis identified hENT-1, overall stage, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and adjuvant therapy as prognostic factors for both PFS and OS. Multivariate analysis confirmed the association of low expression of hENT-1 (ΔCt > 0.2027) (P = .007), perineural invasion (P = .021), and lack of adjuvant treatment (P < 0.001) with worse OS. Multivariate analysis also confirmed the association of low expression of hENT-1 (ΔCt > 0.5391) with worse PFS (P = .016) in addition to overall stage (P = .013), perineural invasion (P = .042), and lack of adjuvant treatment (hazard ratio 2.31, P = .029). RRM1 expression was not associated with OS or PFS in the current cohort.Conclusions: Low expression of hENT-1 was associated with worse OS and PFS in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma independent of gemcitabine therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with cancer, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, may develop oral mucositis. This is the first study to investigate the absorption profile of fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) – an effervescent formulation of fentanyl indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant cancer patients – in patients with or without oral mucositis. METHODS: In this open-label study, patients with or without oral mucositis self-administered a single 200μg dose of FBT by placing the tablet between the upper gum and cheek above a molar tooth. Venous blood samples for measurement of plasma fentanyl concentrations were collected at regular intervals up to 8 hours following FBT administration. Parameters of interest included maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), time to reach Cmax (tmax), area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 8 hours (AUC8), and AUC from time zero to the median tmax (AUCtmax′). Adverse events were monitored throughout the study. Oral mucosal examinations and measurements of vital signs were performed at intervals up to 8 hours following FBT administration. RESULTS: Sixteen patients, 8 with and 8 without oral mucositis, received FBT and completed the study. The severity of oral mucositis was mild in the patients exhibiting this condition. Median Cmax values were comparable: 1.14 ng/mL (range 0.26–2.69 ng/mL) in patients with mucositis, and 1.21 ng/mL (range 0.21–2.34 ng/mL) in patients without mucositis. The tmax was not significantly different in the two groups: median tmax was 25.0 min (range 15–45 min) in patients with mucositis and 22.5 min (range 10–121 min) in patients without mucositis. Median AUCtmax′ values were 0.17ng · h/mL (range 0.04–0.52 ng · h/mL) in patients with mucositis, and 0.20 ng · h/mL (range 0.00–0.65 ng · h/mL) in patients without mucositis. The corresponding AUC8 values were 2.05 ng · h/mL (range 1.16–3.83 ng · h/mL) and 1.55 ng · h/mL (range 0.74–3.07 ng · h/mL), respectively. FBT was generally well tolerated in this small group. No application site adverse events or changes in oral mucosal assessments were reported. CONCLUSION: The absorption profile of a single dose of FBT 200μg was similar in patients with or without mild oral mucositis. The compound was generally well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) is designed to enhance the rate and extent of fentanyl absorption through the buccal mucosa.Aim: To evaluate the bioequivalence of microg-equivalent doses of FBT administered as single and multiple tablets and assess differences in the arterial and venous pharmacokinetics of FBT in healthy volunteers.Methods: Twenty-seven healthy adults, aged 19-45 years, participated in the randomised, open-label, three-period, crossover study. In the first two periods, FBT was administered as four 100 microg tablets simultaneously or one FBT 400 microg to assess bioequivalence. Venous blood samples were obtained over a 72-hour period to measure plasma fentanyl concentrations. In the third period, arterial and venous blood samples were obtained simultaneously from before administration of one FBT 400 microg through 4 hours after administration to evaluate the impact of arterial versus venous sampling on the pharmacokinetic profile. As subjects were not opioid tolerant, naltrexone was administered to block opioid receptor-mediated effects of fentanyl. Adverse events were recorded throughout.Results: Maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC(infinity)) on average were approximately 12% and 13% higher, respectively, for FBT administered as four 100 microg tablets simultaneously compared with one FBT 400 microg. Maximum plasma concentrations in the arterial circulation were approximately 60% higher and occurred 15 minutes earlier than those measured from the venous circulation. No serious adverse events were reported during the study.Conclusion: Despite small differences in C(max) and AUC(infinity) (on average 12% and 13%, respectively), FBT administered as four 100 microg tablets simultaneously compared with one 400 microg tablet did not meet the criteria for bioequivalence. An increased surface area exposure with four tablets compared with one tablet may account for the slightly higher maximum concentrations observed with four 100 microg tablets. A substantially higher C(max) was reached earlier in the arterial than in the venous circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of modafinil in children and adolescents, ages 7 to 17, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Method: In this 9-week, double-blind, flexible-dose study, patients were randomized to once-daily modafinil (170-425 mg) or placebo. Assessments included ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) School and Home Versions and Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) scale.Results: Two hundred patients were randomized. Modafinil produced significant reductions in ADHD-RS-IV total scores at school (n = 128; mean change +/- SD: -17.5 +/- 13.1 points) compared with placebo (n = 66; -9.7 +/- 10.3 points; p < .0001). Similarly, modafinil reduced ADHD-RS-IV total scores at home compared with placebo (-17.6 +/- 13.3 versus -7.5 +/- 11.8 points; p < .0001). Fifty-two percent of patients randomized to modafinil and 18% of those randomized to placebo met prestudy criteria for responder on the CGI-I (p < .0001). Randomization to modafinil was associated with significantly more insomnia, headache, decreased appetite, and weight loss than randomization to placebo, but discontinuation attributed to adverse events did not differ statistically between treatment groups (modafinil, 5%; placebo, 6%).Conclusion: Modafinil was well tolerated and reduced ADHD symptoms at school and home compared with placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The fentanyl effervescent buccal tablet (FEBT) is designed to enhance the rate and extent of the absorption of fentanyl, an opioid, through the buccal mucosa. Objectives: The purposes of this study were to assess the dose proportionality of FEBT in healthy volunteers over the potential therapeutic dose range (100–800 μg) and characterize the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of 4 doses (100, 200, 400, and 800 μg) of FEBT. Methods: This Phase I, randomized, open-label, 4-period crossover study was conducted at Radiant Research, Honolulu, Hawaii. Healthy adult volunteers with intolerance to opioids were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 single-dose sequences of FEBT: 100, 200, 400, and 800 μg (selected to encompass the anticipated therapeutic dose range), with each successive administration separated by a washout period of ≥7 days. Naltrexone hydrochloride (50-mg tablet) was administered-15 and 3 hours before and 9 hours after FEBT administration to block opioid receptor-mediated effects of fentanyl. Plasma fentanyl concentrations were measured from venous samples obtained over 72 hours after FEBT administration. Early fentanyl exposure was assessed using AUC from time 0 to 0.75 hour (the median Tmax of the reference dose [100 μg]) (AUC0-Tmax′). Adverse events (AEs) were monitored and recorded throughout the study by medically qualified personnel. Results: Thirty-two subjects (26 men, 6 women; mean [SD] age, 29.3 [7.2] years [range, 19–44 years]; mean [SD] weight, 74.7 [10.7] kg) were enrolled. Median T was between 35 and 45 minutes after FEBT administration. AUC0−∞ and Cmax increased approximately linearly with increasing doses of FEBT. Mean plasma fentanyl concentrations decreased from Cmax in a biexponential manner at the 100- and 200-μg doses and decreased in a triexponential manner at the 800-μg dose. Despite the triexponential decrease in the mean profile observed with the 400-μg dose, a biexponential decrease was observed in approximately half of the individual profiles. AUC0−Tmax′ ranged from 0.09 ng · h/mL with the 100-μg dose to 0.52 ng · h/mL with the 800-μg dose. The most commonly reported AEs in the 100-, 200-, 400-, and 800-μg dose groups were as follows: application-site erythema, 3, 3, 4, and 3 subjects, respectively; nausea, 3, 2, 5, and 4 subjects; somnolence, 3, 2, 3, and 2 subjects; and headache, 3, 2, 1, and 4 subjects. None of the AEs were serious. Conclusions: In this study of the dose proportionality of FEBT in healthy volunteers, the PK profile of FEBT was characterized by a high early systemic exposure of fentanyl (0.09–0.52 ng · h/mL). Dose-dependent parameters (Cmax and AUC) increased in an approximately dose-proportional manner from 100 to 800 μg FEBT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on a study which examined the efficacy and tolerability of fixed-dose titration with subsequent abrupt discontinuation of modafinil film-coated tablets in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Results show that modafinil was effective and well tolerated in treating ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents.

Optimal restoration of a real-time power system following a disruption is a complex process. In view of that and with increase in frequency and severity of power system outages across the US and their impact on consumers and utilities, North American Electric Reliability Corporation elevated the standard of compliance for power system restoration. While several utilities have proposed solutions addressing the elevated standards based on dynamic programming, they could not address the issues for large-scale power systems and real-time operations including those using steady-state and transient analysis due to the curses of dimensionality. In this paper, we introduce a restoration process based on approximate dynamic programming integrated with solution space reduction methodology. The main theoretical foundations of the methodology and key algorithms used in this restoration process include the knowledge of power system engineering, complex network science, concepts of graph theory, and dynamic programming in operation research. We first use the proposed method to demonstrate an optimal restoration process on the IEEE 118-bus test system and then on a 2000-bus synthetic test system. This method addresses the concerns related to the curses of dimensionality and simplifies the solution space and thus can be applied to various complex real-time operation settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this paper, we study the significance of the impact of grid structure on first swing dynamics. Particularly, the dynamics are characterized with the total transient energy injected into the power system during the fault period. Two methods are used to evaluate the total transient energy. One method is to use the representation of the total transient energy in terms of grid‐structure‐related variables, and the other method is to use time domain simulations. In a real power system, we investigate the correlation between the total transient energy predicted using the structural representation and the one evaluated using time domain simulation with various scenarios taking into account different generator models, load models, and operating conditions. It is found that there is a strong correlation between the evaluation results using the two methods, and the strong correlation does not change significantly with generator models, load modes, and operating conditions. Moreover, we further quantitatively analyze the discrepancy of the evaluation results obtained by the two methods. It is found that the discrepancy is small for most critical fault locations. The structural representation is useful for fast screening potential critical fault locations in large‐scale power systems. The findings can be considered as a manifestation of the significant role of grid structure in characterizing first swing dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown that acupuncture can alleviate postmenopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, but few studies have assessed symptoms during the menopausal transition (MT) period. Thus, the effect of acupuncture upon MT symptoms is unclear. We designed a large-scale trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy of electroacupuncture for MT symptoms compared with sham electroacupuncture and at observing the safety of electroacupuncture.Methods/design: In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, 360 women will be randomized to either an electroacupuncture group or a sham electroacupuncture group. During the 8-week-long treatment, a menopause rating scale, average 24-hour hot flash score, Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire score, and level of female hormones will be observed. Follow-ups at the 20th and 32nd week will be made.Discussion: Though there is no completely inert placebo acupuncture and blinding is difficult in acupuncture trials, the placebo effect of EA can still be partially excluded in this study. For the placebo control, we use non-points and a tailor-made sham needle. This needle is different from a retractable needle, which is usually used for sham acupuncture. The needle in this trial is more simply constructed and more acceptable to Chinese people. We expect to evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture for MT symptoms and clarify its effect on these symptoms.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01849172 (Date of registration: 05/05/2013). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article evaluates a formulation of modafinil, modafinil film-coated tablets, in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Results reveal that modafinil film-coated tablets improved ADHD symptoms at school and home as evaluated by clinicians, teachers, and parents. In general, treatment with once-a-day modafinil was well tolerated, with few discontinuations due to adverse events.