cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetics and mechanisms of aqueous degradation of the anticancer agent, indicine N-oxide

Abstract The aqueous degradation of indicine N-oxide, an unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloid ester undergoing clinical testing as an anticancer agent, was studied as a function of pH, buffers and temperature using a colorimetric TLC assay. Isolation and identification of reaction products demonstrated that ester hydrolysis yielding retronecine N-oxide and trachelanthic acid represents the primary alkaline degradation pathway. No loss of indicine N-oxide could be detected in acidic conditions nor could any contribution from uncatalyzed water attack be observed. The pH-rate profiles in alkaline pH at several temperatures indicate that apparent first-order rate-constants may be defined as kabs = kOH-[OH−]. The energy of activation (16.1 kcal/mol) is relatively high for the aqueous hydrolysis of an ester. The kinetics of hydrolysis are discussed relative to other esters and both steric hindrance and β-hydroxyl intramolecular catalysis are proposed. NMR and mass spectral details for indicine N-oxide, retronecine N-oxide and trachelanthic acid are reported.
Somatic gene mutation and human disease other than cancer.

While the focus of much mutation research is on germ-line mutation, somatic mutation is being found to be important in human disease. Neurofibromatosis 1 and McCune-Albright are disorders which are detected in the skin and other systems. The skin manifestations were essential for the demonstration of somatic mosaicism in neurofibromatosis 1, while analysis of blood DNA demonstrated somatic mutation in neurofibromatosis 2. Incontinentia pigmenti is also a disorder seen in skin and other tissues, but here it is the rare variant of the disorder in males, where it is usually lethal, that involves somatic mosaicism. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a disorder of the blood and cell separation of blood elements allows the demonstration of the somatic mosaicism. This review also discusses disorders in which somatic mosaicism, for mutations probably incompatible with life if the mutation had been germ-line, are likely to be involved. These include the Proteus syndrome, which involves both vascular tissues and bones, and two disorders which might be thought of as representing two subtypes of Proteus: Klippel-Trenaunay, which involves vascular tissues, and Maffuci, which involves bones. Embryonic mutations, which create mosaicism for both the soma and germ-line, are being increasingly found in a number of disorders and are discussed more briefly. Finally, reverse mutations involving the soma have been recently found in several disorders and such revertant mutations are also examined. While the review focuses on the clinical importance of somatic mutations, many of the mutations found to date are tabulated. It is too early to see if there is a different pattern of somatic mutation as compared to germ-line mutation. Although the parameters to allow careful quantitation are not yet available, it seems that the frequency of gene mutation in embryonic cells is not markedly different than that in the germ-line.
Hot-spots, mantle plumes and a model for the origin of ultramafic xenoliths in alkali basalts

Abstract The Wilson-Morgan hypothesis of hot-spots, characterized by high heat flow, positive gravity anomaly and alkalic volcanism, assumes that such hot-spots are surface expressions of mantle plumes rising by thermal convection. Possible evidence of this mantle upwelling is shown here from textural, structural and chemical aspects of ultramafic xenoliths in alkalic basalts. The xenolith-bearing basalts are constanly associated with Wilson-Morgan hot-spots in the ocean basins and with their continental counterparts in the rift valleys which show extensional tectonics. Most of the xenoliths are considered to be accidental fragments of the lithosphere in the host basalts. One remarkable aspect of xenoliths from all parts of the world is their ubiquitous tectonite fabric. The microstructures of these xenoliths are due to plastic deformation. Some of the xenoliths from Baja California show characteristic deformational features which are also found in the marginal parts of diapirically intruded high-temperature peridotite massifs. A model is proposed for the origin of xenoliths in alkalic basalts by mantle upwelling in which the plastic deformation of the xenoliths reflects this dynamic uprise.
Vibrational spectra of molten and aqueous NaClO3 and KClO3

Abstract Raman spectra of molten NaClO3 and KClO3 and of aqueous solutions of these salts were measured over the frequency interval from 50 to 1200 cm−1|. Infrared emission spectra of the molten chlorates and of chlorate-nitrate mixtures were recorded, and absorption spectra of aqueous sodium and potassium chlorate also were determined. The ν3(e) and ν4(e) modes of ClO−3 were split in the molten salt and aqueous solution spectra, and a single, weak band was observed between ca. 80 and 200 cm− in the Raman spectra of molten NaClO3 and KClO3.
Age and weight effects on motor nerve conduction time measurements in an asymptomatic industrial population

Motor conduction delay has been demonstrated in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), however, there is also evidence that conduction slowing can be effected by other factors, e.g., the aging process. Recent development of the digital electroneurometer, a hand-held, battery-powered device for measuring motor nerve conduction time, has made this test available for CTS screening in industry. A cross-sectional study of 77 industrial workers was performed to determine the relationship between median motor nerve conduction time at the carpal tunnel and select personal factors. Motor nerve conduction time increased with age, length of employment, and weight. However, these variables accounted for only 20.3% of the variance in conduction time. The study indicates users of this device should be aware of these effects, and that other sources of variation must be identified and controlled if motor nerve conduction tests are to be used for CTS screening in industry.
The swift increase in alcohol metabolism (SIAM) in four inbred strains of mice

Ethanol metabolism increases two to three hours after the administration of ethanol. This phenomenon, called the Swift Increase in Alcohol Metabolism (SIAM), has been compared in four inbred strains of mice (DBA/2J; C3H/HeJ; AKR/J; C57BL/6J). Basal rates of ethanol elimination were determined in individual mice after intraperitoneal injections of ethanol. Little variability in this basal rate of ethanol elimination was observed within each strain. Mice were then exposed to ethanol vapor for 4 hours. In both injected and treated mice the dose of ethanol was varied to produce blood ethanol levels ranging from 50 to 250 mg%. Ethanol elimination increased maximally 1.5 to 4-fold in all four strains following 4 hours of vapor treatment at the same blood ethanol level; however, the dose at which the maximal increase occurred differed among the strains. DBA/2J mice exhibited a maximal increase in the rate of ethanol elimination when ethanol concentrations were in the range of 30 to 50 mg%; the increase was smaller as the dose was increased. In contrast, AKR/J and C57BL/6J mice required 100 to 150 mg% ethanol to activate SIAM. These data indicate clearly that the SIAM effect is a common phenomenon, and that dose-response relations differ in various inbred strains of mice.
Code Enforcement in Urban Renewal

The city of Los Angeles has used code enforcement since 1951 to rehabilitate decayed properties and to conserve older neighbourhoods. Analysis of the records from this programme provides an opportunity to examine the costs and the accomplishments of urban renewal based on building code enforcement. Quantification of the costs and benefits of the code enforcement programme indicate that measurable costs do outweigh measurable benefits but no satisfactory methods have yet been developed for measuring many kinds of important but unmeasurable costs and benefits.Code enforcements emerges as a useful supplement to large scale land clearance and as a possible substitute under some conditions. Enforcement is most effective in areas where properties have not been neglected for too long a period of time. In older neighbourhoods of neglected properties code enforcement usually results in a high rate of property demolition. Code enforcements do offer great promise of providing a less costly and somewhat more effectiv...
The DHHC palmitoyltransferase approximated regulates Fat signaling and Dachs localization and activity.

Summary Signaling via the large protocadherin Fat (Ft), regulated in part by its binding partner Dachsous (Ds) and the Golgi-resident kinase Four-jointed (Fj), is required for a variety of developmental functions in Drosophila . Ft and, to a lesser extent, Ds suppress overgrowth of the imaginal discs from which appendages develop and regulate the Hippo pathway [1–5] (reviewed in [6]). Ft, Ds, and Fj are also required for normal planar cell polarity (PCP) in the wing, abdomen, and eye and for the normal patterning of appendages, including the spacing of crossveins in the wing and the segmentation of the leg tarsus (reviewed in [7–9]). Ft signaling was recently shown to be negatively regulated by the atypical myosin Dachs [10, 11]. We identify here an additional negative regulator of Ft signaling in growth control, PCP, and appendage patterning, the Approximated (App) protein. We show that App encodes a member of the DHHC family, responsible for the palmitoylation of selected cytoplasmic proteins, and provide evidence that App acts by controlling the normal subcellular localization and activity of Dachs.
The reverse propensity score to detect selection bias and correct for baseline imbalances

The propensity score has been proposed, and for the most part accepted, as a tool to allow for the evaluation of medical interventions in the presence of baseline imbalances arising in the context of observational studies. The lack of an analogous tool to allow for the evaluation of medical interventions in the presence of potentially systematic baseline imbalances in randomized trials has required the use of ad hoc methods. This, in turn, leads to challenges to the conclusions. For example, much of the controversy surrounding recommendations for or against mammography for some age groups stems from the fact that all the randomized trials to study mammography had baseline imbalances, to some extent, in important prognostic covariates. While some of these trials used cluster randomization, baseline imbalances are prevalent also in individually randomized trials. We provide a systematic approach for evaluating medical interventions in the presence of potentially systematic baseline imbalances in individually randomized trials with allocation concealment. Specifically, we define the reverse propensity score as the probability, conditional on all previous allocations and the allocation procedure (restrictions on the randomization), that a given patient will receive a given treatment. We demonstrate how the reverse propensity score allows for both detection of and correction for selection bias, or systematic baseline imbalances.
DODD PARAMETERS AND λ-INDEXING OF EXTENDERS

We study generalizations of Dodd parameters and establish their fine structural properties in Jensen extender models with λ-indexing. These properties are one of the key tools in various combinatorial constructions, such as constructions of square sequences and morasses.
Deriving the size distribution of personal wealth from “the rich get richer, the poor get poorer”

The folk saying, “the rich get richer, the poor get poorer”, implies that wealth flows from poorer to richer hands, a concentrating diffusion. Its academic statement is the Surplus Theory of Social Stratification. Angle (1986) abstracted this theory as an interacting particle system model of wealth distribution, the Inequality Process. In it, random pairs continually compete for each other's wealth. The richer party has a greater chance of winning. The loser gives up a proportion of wealth. Angle (1986) found the equilibrium distribution of the Inequality Process numerically. This paper derives this distribution algebraically, showing that the Inequality Process implies that personal wealth is distributed as a mixture of negative binomial probability functions (NB pf s). The NB pf is closely related to the two parameter gamma probability density function (pdf), what Angle (1986) fitted to the equilibrium distribution of the process. The solution is given in terms of the parameters of the Inequality Proces...
Transepithelial water and urea permeabilities of isolated perfused Munich-Wistar rat inner medullary thin limbs of Henle's loop

To better understand the role that water and urea fluxes play in the urine concentrating mechanism, we determined transepithelial osmotic water permeability (Pf) and urea permeability (Purea) in is...
Hydrosalpinx fluid enhances human trophoblast viability and function in vitro: implications for embryonic implantation in assisted reproduction.

Objective: To assess the effects of hydrosalpinx fluid on human cytotrophoblast viability and function in vitro. Design: Human cytotrophoblasts obtained from third-trimester placentas were cultured in vitro with hydrosalpinx fluid, and cell viability and protein production were assayed. Setting: A university hospital. Patient(s): Ten hydrosalpinx fluid samples obtained from seven women with clearly diagnosed hydrosalpinges. Intervention(s): Recovery of hydrosalpinx fluid by transvaginal aspiration or at the time of surgery. Main Outcome Measure(s): Cell viability was assessed by the XTT assay. Secretion of trophoblast oncofetal fibronectin (tropho-uteronectin) and β -hCG by cultured trophoblasts was determined by Western blot and ELISA of the culture media. Result(s): With increasing concentrations of hydrosalpinx fluid from 0% to 20%, there was a significant increase in trophoblast cell viability (1.63-fold increase in 20% hydrosalpinx fluid). Likewise, both Western blot and ELISA assays demonstrated a significant increase in trophouteronectin production by trophoblasts with increasing hydrosalpinx fluid concentrations (3.76-fold increase in 20% hydrosalpinx fluid). β -Human chorionic gonadotropin production also increased significantly in the presence of hydrosalpinx fluid (3.31-fold increase in 20% hydrosalpinx fluid). Conclusion(s): These findings suggest that hydrosalpinx fluid improves human trophoblast viability in vitro and enhances the production of tropho-uteronectin and β -hCG by these cells.
Procesos constituyentes y cortes constitucionales: una perspectiva comparada

During the last third of the twentieth century, within a framework that could be labelled as ‘constitutionalism’s explosion,’ new constitutions were adopted in Spain, South Korea, and Colombia. It is noteworthy that all these new fundamental texts established Constitutional Courts. The comparative analysis of the constitutional processes which took place in these three countries, illustrates certain similarities and differences amongst them. Nevertheless, besides these similarities or differences, the argument is that at different places of the globe, far on location and somehow on time, and under specific circumstances of institutional crisis, three political societies and their leaders embraced the task of surpassing such crisis by the adoption of a new constitutional text or amendment of the existing one. In a particular way, the article tries to demonstrate that the establishment of constitutional courts in these countries implied the future validity of the constitutional consensus, as a way of success over the past crisis.
Vertical Velocity Turbulence Observed with FMCW Radar

Very fine space and time resolution observations of clear air reflectivity and vertical velocity were obtained in a day-time convective boundary layer by a frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar. Historically, most atmospheric FMCW radar investigations have focused on the extremely fine range resolution of which such radars are capable. When used in this mode, Doppler velocity information is usually lost due to the long integration time of the frequency sweep. That is, the effective pulse repetition frequency of the radar is so low that the Nyquist velocity interval is too narrow for useful measurements of atmospheric velocities. However, when configured for rapid profiling at the expense of either height coverage or spatial resolution, FMCW radars are capable of obtaining Doppler velocity timeseries from moderately sized resolution volumes at rates of several Hz. These are sufficient to resolve turbulent velocity variations in the inertial subrange down to timescales of approximately one second or less.
Cellulase production and ammonia metabolism in Trichoderma reesei on high levels of cellulose.

Trichoderma can be cultured in stirred-tank fermentors on high (8%)cellulose concentrations without increasing the salt concentration of the medium when NH4OH is used to control pH and as a nitrogen source. Approximation 90% of the ammonia consumed by the organism can be added as NH4OH. The advantage of using high concentrations of cellulose is that culture filtrates with greater cellulase activity are obtained. The advantage of a low salts medium is that unwanted solutes in the final enzyme preparation are reduced. The appearance of cellulase in the medium occurs later than net ammonia uptake so that only 20% of the final amount of cellulase has appeared when 80% of the maximum amount of ammonia has been consumed.
Lactate is a critical “sensed” variable in caudal hindbrain monitoring of CNS metabolic stasis

Caudal hindbrain “sensing” of glucoprivation activates central neural mechanisms that enhance systemic glucose availability, but the critical molecular variable(s) linked to detection of local meta...
Digital spectra of non-uniformly sampled signals: theories and applications. IV. Measuring clock/aperture jitter of an A/D system

Theories and applications of a digital spectrum analysis technique for a class of nonuniformly sampled signals are described. A method based on asynchronous spectral averaging is presented to measure the standard deviation of a clock/aperture jitter of an A/D (analog/digital) system. A sine wave with frequency f/sub 0/ is used as the input test signal to an A/D system. Spectral averaging is performed on many asynchronously acquired data records with length N. The jitter standard deviation is calculated from the measured signal-to-noise (S/N) floor ratio. The expression which relates the S/N to the standard deviation, sigma /sub r/, of the jitter, r, is derived in closed form. Graphs showing good agreement between the theoretical equation and the simulation results are presented. >
Implications of gate design on RF performance of sub-100 nm strained-Si/SiGe nMODFETs

The effects of gate structure design on RF performance of strained-Si/SiGe nMODFETs are studied using device simulation and experiments. It is found that while gate resistance only affects fringing gate capacitance can have a significant impact on both /sub fr/ and f/sub max/, indicating that the physical gate structure has to be optimized for any specific application. The experiments suggest that low-ic material is needed as sidewall spacer (if any) and passivation for reducing fringing gate capacitance. Furthermore, the simulations show that if low gate resistance can be achieved by using a multi-finger geometry, a rectangular-shaped gate should be used in order to reduce fringing gate capacitance. If not, a T-gate should be used to reduce gate resistance for high f/sub max/.
Data path synthesis in digital electronics. I. Memory allocation

A data path consists of memory elements (i.e., registers), data operators (i.e. ALUs) and interconnection units (i.e. buses) to control the data transfers in the digital system. Many approaches to hardware allocation for data path synthesis have been proposed in the literature; however, only single-port memory is considered for register allocation and no efficient synthesis approach for multiport memory synthesis. A novel design methodology for data path synthesis using multiport memories is proposed which can be applied to hardware allocation algorithms or to already synthesized data path as a postprocessor to achieve a better design. Illustrations of applying this method to different synthesis examples are presented. Results and improvements over previous techniques are demonstrated. Experiments on benchmarks show very promising results.
Aerodynamic drag characteristics and shape design of a radar antenna used for airport ground traffic control

Modern air traffic control systems in airports use high-speed ground tracking radars usually rotating at 60 rpm. The flow induced vibration and noise generation of the newly developed radar antennas are the two serious problems that jeopardise the successful deployment of the ground aircraft tracking systems. The present study is an attempt to understand the viscous flow characteristics around a typical radar antenna cross section via computations. After a steady-state validation of the computations, a parametric study of possible new shape designs for the antenna is discussed. Significant aerodynamic drag reductions via careful shape design of the antenna are possible.
A VLSI interconnection network router using a D-CAM with hidden refresh

A VLSI implementation of a programmable router scheme for parallel interconnection network architectures is presented in this paper. The router executes routing algorithms in 1.5 clock cycles, this being the fastest approach for flexible routers. To further increase throughput, the router operation has been made pipelined, achieving 1 routing decision per cycle. The implementation is based on a content addressable memory (CAM) that supports per entry unique bit masking. This programmable CAM requires few entries; this in turn makes it possible to implement a dynamic approach in order to reduce the transistor count. We have provided circuitry and arranged timing to achieve refreshing of the stored data in a hidden fashion. In addition to the CAM, we have incorporated a fast priority scheme that allows only one entry to be selected and a memory that stores the port assignment. The number of required CAM entries is extremely small; it is of the same order as the output ports.
Chronic ethanol alters network activity and endocannabinoid signaling in the prefrontal cortex

Chronic use of alcohol is associated with structural and functional alterations in brain areas that subserve cognitive processes. Of particular importance is the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that is involved in higher order behaviors such as decision making, risk assessment and judgment. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie alcohol’s effects on PFC function is important for developing strategies to overcome the cognitive deficits that may predispose individuals to relapse. Our previous studies showed that acutely applied ethanol inhibits network activity in slices of prefrontal cortex and that exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids modulate up-state dynamics. In the present study, we examined the effects of repeated alcohol exposure on cannabinoid regulation of up-states in slice cultures of the prefrontal cortex. Compared to controls, up-state duration, but not amplitude was enhanced when measured four days after a 10 day ethanol exposure (44 mM ethanol; equivalent to 0.2% blood ethanol). Administration of the CB1 agonist WIN 55,212-2 enhanced the amplitude of up-states in control cultures but not in those treated previously with ethanol. This lack of effect occurred in the absence of any noticeable change in CB1 receptor protein expression. Chronic ethanol treatment and withdrawal also blunted WIN’s inhibition of electrically evoked GABA IPSCs in layer II/III pyramidal neurons but not those in layer V/VI. WIN inhibited the amplitude of spontaneous GABA IPSCs in both layers and the magnitude of this effect was not altered by ethanol treatment. However, in layer V/VI neurons, WIN’s effect on sIPSC frequency was greater in ethanol treated cultures. WIN also inhibited electrically evoked NMDA EPSCs in both layer II/III and V/VI neurons but this action was unaffected by ethanol treatment and withdrawal. Overall, these results suggest that ethanol’s down-regulation of cannabinoid signaling results in altered network activity in the prefrontal cortex.
LA HIPÓTESIS DE DOMAR SOBRE LAS CAUSAS DE LA SERVIDUMBRE O LA ESCLAVITUD EN UNA COLONIA HISPANOAMERICANA: CONTRASTE Y REFORMULACION*

Segun Domar, las causas de la esclavitud o de la servidumbre pueden encontrarse en la escasez relativa de trabajo en relacion con la tierra y en la intervencion gubernamental que, entre 1550 y 1650, llevaron a la servidumbre al campesinado ruso, anteriormente libre. Formas similares de trabajo forzado y libre surgieron aproximadamente al mismo tiempo, aunque no en el mismo orden, en una serie de colonias perifericas, espanolas y portuguesas, en America, donde la tierra era igualmente abundante en relacion con el trabajo. Propongo, por lo tanto, contrastar la hipotesis de Domar verificando si sus predicciones son consistentes con la experiencia de una colonia periferica espanola bastante representativa, como es Paraguay. Resumire la hipotesis en la seccion 1, describire brevemente las formas de trabajo forzado y libre que surgieron en el caso de prueba de la seccion 2, contrastare las implicaciones de la hipotesis con la evidencia empirica en la seccion 3 y reformulare ciertos aspectos de la hipotesis para que sean consistentes con el caso estudiado en la seccion 4.
Paleosol record of Neogene climate change in the Australian outback.

Effects in Australia of a global spike of warm-wet climate during the middle Miocene (ca16 Ma) have been controversial, with one faction arguing for inland rain forest and the other faction for dry woodland. This question is here addressed using the Oligocene–Miocene sequence of fossil mammal localities at Lake Palankarinna, South Australia, which includes numerous paleosols that have been dated by paleomagnetism, palynology, biostratigraphy, and radiometric methods to straddle this paleoclimatic event. Paleosols of the Oligocene–Miocene Etadunna and Pliocene Tirari Formations formed in arid paleoclimates and include pedogenic gypsum. The Maralji paleosol, developed on early Miocene Etadunna Formation and overlain by late Miocene–Pliocene Mampuwordu Sands, is middle Miocene in age based on mammal fauna at correlative horizons in nearby Lake Ngapakaldi. The Maralji paleosol has shallow calcareous nodules and stout root traces suggesting vegetation like dry woodland (mallee). Mallee vegetation now grows no ...
Respiration control of multicellularity in Bacillus subtilis by a complex of the cytochrome chain with a membrane-embedded histidine kinase.

Bacillus subtilis forms organized multicellular communities known as biofilms wherein the individual cells are held together by a self-produced extracellular matrix. The environmental signals that promote matrix synthesis remain largely unknown. We discovered that one such signal is impaired respiration. Specifically, high oxygen levels suppressed synthesis of the extracellular matrix. In contrast, low oxygen levels, in the absence of an alternative electron acceptor, led to increased matrix production. The response to impaired respiration was blocked in a mutant lacking cytochromes caa3 and bc and markedly reduced in a mutant lacking kinase KinB. Mass spectrometry of proteins associated with KinB showed that the kinase was in a complex with multiple components of the aerobic respiratory chain. We propose that KinB is activated via a redox switch involving interaction of its second transmembrane segment with one or more cytochromes under conditions of reduced electron transport. In addition, a second kinase (KinA) contributes to the response to impaired respiration. Evidence suggests that KinA is activated by a decrease in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + )/NADH ratio via binding of NAD + to the kinase in
A blocking monoclonal antibody to endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM1).

ELAM1 is a leukocyte adhesion molecule induced on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by inflammatory cytokines. BalbC mice were immunized with COS cells transiently expressing cell-surface ELAM1 after transfection with ELAM1 cDNA. After fusion, ELAM1-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were identified by selective adhesion to ELAM1-expressing, but not control, CHO cells, and to cytokine-treated but not untreated HUVECs. One Mab, designated BB11, binds to and immunoprecipitates ELAM1 expressed on HUVECs, COS and CHO cells. BB11 blocks the interaction of ELAM1 with human PMN, the human myelomonocytic cell line HL60, and the human colon carcinoma line HT29.
Security in Wireless Local Area Networks

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) allow end users to wirelessly access Internet with great convenience at home, work, or in public places. WLANs are currently being widely deployed in our real life with great success. However, it is still in its infant stage as long as security is concerned. In this chapter, we briefly overview the security issues in the Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN). After a short introduction to the background of WLAN, we present WLAN security requirements and categories of current real-worldWLAN attacks. We then describe some details of several representative WLAN security protocols such as WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WAPI. We also survey security issues of the WLAN access points such as rogue access points and evil twin attacks. Finally, we overview other security mechanisms that can be used to enhance WLAN security, including Wireless Firewalls, Wireless VPN, and Wireless IDS.
Queue proportional scheduling via geometric programming in fading broadcast channels

For fading broadcast channels (BC), a throughput optimal scheduling policy called queue proportional scheduling (QPS) is presented via geometric programming (GP). QPS finds a data rate vector such that the expected rate vector over all fading states is proportional to the current queue state vector and is on the boundary of the ergodic capacity region of a fading BC. Utilizing the degradedness of BC for each fading state, QPS is formulated as a geometric program that can be solved with efficient algorithms. The GP formulation of QPS is also extended to orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems in a fading BC. The throughput optimality of QPS is proved, and it is shown that QPS can arbitrarily scale the ratio of each user's average queueing delay. Throughput, delay, and fairness properties of QPS are numerically evaluated in a fading BC and compared with other scheduling policies such as the well-known maximum weight matching scheduling (MWMS). Simulation results for Poisson packet arrivals and exponentially distributed packet lengths demonstrate that compared with MWMS, QPS provides a significant decrease in average queueing delay and has more desirable fairness properties
Aesop: A Tool for Automated Transistor Sizing

This work addresses the problem of automating the electrical optimization of combinatorial MOS circuits. Improvements to a circuit's speed, area and power consumption are sought through modifications to the transistor sizes in the circuit; no changes in the circuit structure, number of gates or clocking are introduced. Linear algorithms are presented for computing optimal transistor sizes to minimize delay, area or power. These algorithms are implemented in an interactive tool, Aesop. Aesop is a powerful and fast "what-if" tool that allows the designer to explore the space of designs having optimal transistor sizes. When compared to manual designs, the circuits produced by Aesop are typically faster or have substantially lower area and power consumption. Compared to untuned circuits, Aesop typically increases circuit speed by a factor of 2 to 4. Alternatively, power consumption and transistor area can be reduced by 25 -- 50% with no sacrifice in circuit speed. These improvements are computed interactively on a professional workstation for circuits containing thousands of transistors.
Adventures in Podcasting

It all started with a scheduling conflict. Because of a Model United Nations conference, one student let me know that she would need to miss our research methods class the coming week. As hands popped up around the room I realized I would be missing almost a third of my class. Unfortunately they were going to miss crucial lectures on measures of significance and measures of association, without which they could be considerably lost when it came to the semester research paper.
Effect of Preoperative Human Chorionic Gonadotropin on Intra-Abdominal Rat Testes Undergoing Standard and Fowler-Stephens Orchiopexy

AbstractPurpose: We attempted to determine whether preoperative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) improves fertility in intra-abdominal rat testes subjected to orchiopexy.Materials and Methods: Newborn male Sprague-Dawley rats were made cryptorchid by bilateral gubernaculum excision at age 14 days. Select rats served as controls and underwent sham operations. Half of the animals were injected with 10 international units HCG daily from days 14 to 28. On day 28 the animals were divided into group 1-6 that underwent sham operation with or without HCG, group 2-6 with cryptorchidism with or without HCG, group 3-22 that underwent standard orchiopexy with or without HCG and group 4-22 that underwent Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy with or without HCG. Contralateral orchiectomy was performed simultaneously. On day 65 each male rat was mated with 2 female rats for 3 ovulatory cycles.Results: Mean testicular weight was markedly decreased in cryptorchid compared to sham operated testes (87.2 versus 344 mg./100 gm. body ...
Direct and indirect effects of predation on the genetic structure of a Daphnia population

Communicating editor: K.J. Flynn The effects of fish predation on zooplankton communities are well documented, but relatively little is known about how predation structures the genetic composition of individual populations. This study illustrates how a perturbation in the timing and strength of predation by rainbow trout directly and indirectly altered the genetic composition of a Daphnia pulicaria population in a Minnesota (USA) lake. Trout were stocked in autumn in the first 2 years of the study and in spring in the second 2 years. In autumn stocking years, predation was highest over winter and in spring but relatively low during summer stratification. In contrast, in spring stocking years, predation was low over winter and high during summer stratification. In all years, the Daphnia population became genetically differentiated with respect to depth, as summer stratification became more pronounced. In addition, allozyme analyses of trout stomach contents revealed selective predation on Daphnia in the metalimnion. In spring stocking years, when trout were abundant during the summer, this directly caused a shift in the dominant clone type from a metalimnetic to a hypolimnetic specialist. The fisheries manipulation indirectly affected the genetic composition of the Daphnia population by altering the importance of recruitment from diapausing embryos in the sediment (the egg bank). In autumn stocking years, when the over-wintering population was small, genotype frequencies in early summer indicated the recent emergence of sexually derived individuals from the egg bank. Conversely, in spring stocking years when over-wintering populations of Daphnia were large, no emergence events were detected.
BEHAVIOR OF FEMALE DUNGENESS CRABS, CANCER MAGISTER, IN A GLACIAL SOUTHEAST ALASKA ESTUARY: HOMING, BROODING-SITE FIDELITY, SEASONAL MOVEMENTS, AND HABITAT USE

Abstract Aspects of the behavior of ovigerous Dungeness crabs (Cancer magister) were studied in Fritz Cove, Alaska. To test fidelity and homing ability of crabs to their brooding site, we ultrasonically tagged eight ovigerous crabs and transplanted them 1.4 km from their brooding site. Eight ultrasonically tagged control crabs were returned to the brooding site. Crab movements were subsequently monitored weekly from late February to October to determine activity patterns and seasonal shifts in depth distribution and habitat use. Seven females transplanted away from the brooding site homed back to that site within 13 to 20 d. Ovigerous female crabs showed fidelity to the head of the cove and ranged a maximum of 3.4 km. Crabs had distinct seasonal patterns of depth distribution, habitat use, and activity which were related to reproductive status. The general pattern for female crabs was: (1) a relatively inactive period during winter and early spring at depths greater than −16 m; ovigerous crabs were typica...
Development of Targeting Ligands for HER2 Receptor: Simplified Receptor Model Employed for Selecting Highly Specific Molecules

The interaction between Herceptin (Fab)-derived dimeric peptide and HER2-DIVMP, a synthetic peptide mimicking the subdomain IV of the receptor HER2, was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy method. The obtained results confirmed that the adopted mimetic receptor fragment represents a reliable model system to monitor the ability of selected ligands to bind the receptor target, avoiding the involvement of cells or cellular extracts in a preliminary binding assay. Moreover, HER2-DIVMP has the characteristics of being easily integrated in rapid, efficient and inexpensive screening method for optimizing small molecules as targeting ligands for the receptor-mediated anticancer therapy.
High-Resolution Core Level Study of the Co/Si(111) Interface

There has recently been considerable interest in the reaction between Co and a clean Si surface. This interest stems from the epitaxy of CoSi 2 and NiSi 2 on Si and its potential for the construction of reliable and stable metal-semiconductor structures. In fact, the fabrication of a Si/CoSi 2 /Si transistor has been recently reported.[l] On a more fundamental side, it has been possible to address the problem of the relation between Schottky barrier height and structure at the NiSi 2 /Ni interface, which exhibits both a rotated (B-type) and unrotated (A-type) geometry.[2] For CoSi 2 /Si only the 180° rotated, B-type disilicide is formed. By studying the room temperature interface, we have attempted to describe the nature and physical extent of reaction products; such knowledge is important to understand the formation of interface silicides which ultimately control the nature of the high temperature epitaxial interface.
Web-based virtual learning for digital manufacturing fundamentals for automotive workforce training

Automotive manufacturers are experiencing difficulties in hiring highly qualified workers with ability to adopt new technologies fast. This kind of ongoing need for training is slowing innovation. This problem is related to the difficulty in obtaining consistent training resources and services especially with lack of training for advanced manufacturing practices for specialised industry sectors. More and more occupations require degrees higher than secondary education because of the global need for so called ‘knowledge workers’. An example of an interactive learning programme, developed with the support of narrated presentation technology, podcasts and online access has been shown in this paper. Sixty nine online modules have been developed during the course of a project funded by Department of Labor for automotive sector. These online modules have been developed for lifelong learners to be used and accessed at any time (asynchronously from a website). Curriculum modules, developed for the Introduction to Digital Manufacturing are a part of a certificate programme which expands the pool of skilled workers, enhance the abilities of incumbent workers, and strengthen the entire advanced manufacturing sector.
NONVERBAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES

T he practice of nonverbal communication relies on a range of innate and developed foundational processes. One foundation underlying the use of nonverbal communication focuses on individual differences in the abilities to communicate nonverbally. This ability, or skill, approach is akin to a personality perspective in that it focuses on individual differences in the sending (encoding), receiving (decoding), and regulation (management) of nonverbal communication (for more on personality, see Gifford, this volume). In other words, people vary in their abilities to convey nonverbal messages to others accurately, “read” others’ nonverbal communications, and monitor and control their nonverbal displays. The skill approach to nonverbal communication was advanced in a 1979 book edited by Robert Rosenthal, Skill in Nonverbal Communication: Individual Differences, and by the work of Rosenthal and colleagues (1979) on the Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity (PONS), a measure of individual differences in the ability to decode nonverbal messages. In Rosenthal’s Skill volume, Friedman (1979) argued that the skill approach to nonverbal communication represented three important shifts in conceptualizing the study of human social interaction. The first was a shift from an emphasis on cognitive processes (e.g., attitudes, cognitive attributions) in interpersonal relations to a focus on emotional processes. The second shift moved the focus from abstract traits to more 5
The New Freedom Initiative—Transforming Mental Health Care

Abstract The United States mental health care system has a legacy of inadequate care that has consistently resulted in the lack of societal participation for persons with mental illnesses. Recent judicial decisions and executive actions offer the promise of community participation for persons with psychiatric disabilities. Most significant are the recommendations resulting from the New Freedom Initiative to transform the mental health care system to enable adults with mental illnesses and children with emotional disturbances to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. These recommendations can provide many opportunities for the development and implementation of innovative occupational therapy programs. However, the sociopolitical issues that influence mental health care must be understood, if the occupational therapy profession is to be at the table when actions are taken to implement this envisioned systemic transformation.
Therapeutic Effect of BCG Polysaccharide Nucleic Acid Combined with Anti-tuberculosis Drugs on Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis

Objective To analyze the effect of BCG polysaccharide nucleic acid on multidrug resistant tuberculosis,and to study the application of chemotherapy combined with immune therapy in multidrug resistant tuberculosis.Methods One hundred and three patients were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group.The control group was given chemotherapy alone,while the treatment group received additional BCG polysaccharide nucleic acid on the basis of chemotherapy for 18 months.Results At the end of 3,9,and 18 months,the sputum negative conversion rates of the treatment group were 53.8%,73.1%,and 84.6%,respectively,which were all significantly higher than those of the control group(P0.01).Lesions absorption rate and cavity closure and improvement rate of the treatment group were 80.8% and 71.2%,respectively,which were significantly higher than those of the control group(P0.01).No statistically significant difference was found in adverse reaction rates between the treatment group and the control group(P0.05).Conclusions BCG polysaccharide nucleic acid can significantly improve sputum conversion negative rate,lesions absorption rate,cavity closure and improvement rate.BCG polysaccharide nucleic acid is a good immune regulator,which can be used in immunotherapy for multidrug resistant tuberculosis.
Echocardiographic Predictors of Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in 2016: Can Quantitative Global Parameters Succeed Where Segmental Parameters of Dyssynchrony Have Fallen Short?

From almost the time of the initial randomized controlled trials demonstrating a benefit to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in the early 2000s,1,2 clinicians, investigators, and industry have all been drawn to the concept that quantitative parameters derived from echocardiographic images might be a powerful tool to enhance patient selection. The need for a tool was magnified by the early observation that approximately one third of patients remain nonresponders despite implantation of a CRT device—an observation that remains mostly unchanged today. See Article by Delgado-Montero et al The task seemed simple at first: because CRT is designed to resynchronize the mechanical motion of the left ventricular (LV) walls, all one needs is a tool that can measure the degree of dyssynchrony—the patients with the most dyssynchrony should have the most to gain. The high temporal resolution available through M-mode seemed well suited to the task of measuring differences in timing, and some of the earliest reports demonstrated that in patients with a left bundle branch block, a simple parasternal long-axis view with a septal to posterior delay of ≥ 130 ms on M-mode was associated with an improved likelihood of response to CRT.3 Around this same time, there were significant advances in echocardiographic technology with tissue Doppler that applied Doppler principles to the low velocity of the LV walls (tissue). These quantitative tools display the change in speed or distance over time, allow for simultaneous sampling of multiple sites, have high frame rates with excellent temporal resolution (although an order of magnitude less than M-mode), and some vendors even created specialized software that would color-code the timing of cardiac events allowing for a snapshot of synchrony or dyssynchrony (tissue synchronization index; GE). These factors converged to contribute to an exponential rise in published research because investigators raced …
Sensus Divinitatis and Proofs for the Knowledge of God

Milton portrays the angel Michael telling Adam that after the Fall true liberty has been lost. In the place of the use of reason to know what is clear about God, humans have turned to idolatry. The following chapter studies Hodge’s view of the sensus divinitatis, as well as how he sought to prove that God exists.