cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An assessment of linkage disequilibrium in Holstein cattle using a Bayesian network

Summary Linkage disequilibrium (LD) is defined as a non-random association of the distributions of alleles at different loci within a population. This association between loci is valuable in prediction of quantitative traits in animals and plants and in genome-wide association studies. A question that arises is whether standard metrics such as D′ and r2 reflect complex associations in a genetic system properly. It seems reasonable to take the view that loci associate and interact together as a system or network, as opposed to in a simple pairwise manner. We used a Bayesian network (BN) as a representation of choice for an LD network. A BN is a graphical depiction of a probability distribution and can represent sets of conditional independencies. Moreover, it provides a visual display of the joint distribution of the set of random variables in question. The usefulness of BN for linkage disequilibrium was explored and illustrated using genetic marker loci found to have the strongest effects on milk protein in Holstein cattle based on three strategies for ranking marker effect estimates: posterior means, standardized posterior means and additive genetic variance. Two different algorithms, Tabu search (a local score–based algorithm) and incremental association Markov blanket (a constraint-based algorithm), coupled with the chi-square test, were used for learning the structure of the BN and were compared with the reference r2 metric represented as an LD heat map. The BN captured several genetic markers associated as clusters, implying that markers are inter-related in a complicated manner. Further, the BN detected conditionally dependent markers. The results confirm that LD relationships are of a multivariate nature and that r2 gives an incomplete description and understanding of LD. Use of an LD Bayesian network enables inferring associations between loci in a systems framework and provides a more accurate picture of LD than that resulting from the use of pairwise metrics.
Species-specificity of scent marking in hamsters

Scent marking behaviors of male and female golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were observed in response to conspecific or heterospecific (M. brandti) male odors. Flank marking by males and both vaginal and flank marking by females were more frequent in the presence of conspecifics' odors. These examples of mammalian scent marking thus appear to be similar in their species specificity to a wide variety of signaling behaviors in other animals.
Data access within the Information Warehouse framework

IBM's Information Warehouse™ framework provides a basis for satisfying enterprise requirements for effective use of business data resources. It includes an architecture that defines the structure and interfaces for integrated solutions and includes products and services that can be used to create solutions. This paper uses the Information Warehouse architecture as a context to describe software components that can be used for direct access to formatted business data in a heterogeneous systems environment. Concepts of independence between software components and how this independence can provide flexibility for change are discussed. The integration of software from multiple vendors to create effective solutions is a key emphasis of this paper.
The APOE4 genotype alters the response of microglia and macrophages to 17β-estradiol

The apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) gene is a well-known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurological disorders. Post-menopausal women with AD who express at least one APOE4 gene have more severe neuropathology and worsened cognitive scores than their non-expressing counterparts. Since 17β-estradiol down-regulates inflammation as part of its neuroprotective role, we examined the effect of 17β-estradiol on the response of microglia to immune activation as a function of APOE genotype. Our data show that the anti-inflammatory activity of 17β-estradiol is significantly reduced in APOE4 targeted replacement mice compared to APOE3 mice. A significant interaction between APOE genotype and the response to 17β-estradiol was observed for NO and cytokine production by immune activated microglia. The genotype specific effect was not restricted to brain macrophages since peritoneal macrophages from APOE4 ovariectomized mice also demonstrated a significant difference in 17β-estradiol responsiveness. ERβ protein levels in APOE4 microglia were higher than APOE3 microglia, suggesting a difference in post-translational protein regulation in the presence of the APOE4 gene. Overall, our data indicate that the APOE genotype may be a critical component in assessing the effectiveness of 17β-estradiol’s action and may impact the neuroprotective role of 17β-estradiol and of hormone replacement therapy on brain function when the APOE4 gene is expressed.
Base Composition Characteristics of Mammalian miRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA sequences that repress protein synthesis by either inhibiting the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) or increasing mRNA degradation. Endogenous miRNAs have been found in various organisms, including animals, plants, and viruses. Mammalian miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved, are scattered throughout chromosomes, and play an important role in the immune response and the onset of cancer. For this study, the author explored the base composition characteristics of miRNA genes from the six mammalian species that contain the largest number of known miRNAs. It was found that mammalian miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved and GU-rich. Interestingly, in the miRNA sequences investigated, A residues are clearly the most frequent occupants of positions 2 and 3 of the 5′ end of miRNAs. Unlike G and U residues that may pair with C/U and A/G, respectively, A residues can only pair with U residues of target mRNAs, which may augment the recognition specificity of the 5′ seed region.
The reactions of thiophene on Mo(110) and Mo(110)-p(2 × 2)-S

The reactions of thiophene and 2,5-dideuterothiophene on Mo(110) and Mo(110)-p(2×2)-S have been investigated under ultrahigh vacuum conditions using temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. Thiophene chemisorbed on Mo(110) decomposes during temperature programmed reaction to yield only gaseous dihydrogen, surface carbon, and surface sulfur. At low thiophene exposures, dihydrogen evolves from Mo(110) in a symmetric peak at 440 K. At saturation exposures, three dihydrogen peaks are detected at 360 K, at 420 K and at 565 K. Multilayers of thiophene desorb at 180 K. Temperature programmed reaction of 2,5-dideuterothiophene demonstrates that at high thiophene coverages, one of the α-C-H bonds (those nearest sulfur) breaks first. No bond breaking selectivity is observed at low thiophene exposures. The Mo(110)-p(2×2)-S surface is less active for thiophene decomposition. Thiophene adsorbed on Mo(110)-p(2×2)-S to low coverages decomposes to surface carbon surface sulfur, and hydrogen at 430 K. At reaction saturation, dihydrogen production is observed at 375 and 570 K. In addition, at moderate and high exposures, chemisorbed thiophene desorbs from Mo(110)-p(2×2)-S. At saturation the desorption temperature of the reversibly chemisorbed state is 215 K. Experiments with 2,5-dideuterothiophene demonstrate no surface selectivity for α-C-H bond breaking reactions on Mo(110)-p(2×2)-S. The decomposition mechanism and energetics of thiophene decomposition are proposed to be dependent on the coverage of thiophene. At low thiophene exposures, the ring is proposed to bond parallel to the surface. All C-H bonds in the parallel geometry are sterically available for activation by the surface, accounting for the lack of selectivity in C-H bond breaking. High thiophene coverages are suggested to result in perpendicularly bound thiophene which undergoes selective α-dehydrogenation to an α)-thiophenyl intermediate. The presence of sulfur leads to a high energy pathway for cleavage of C-H bonds in a thiophene derived intermediate. Carbon-hydrogen bonds survive on the surface up to temperatures of 650 K. Comparison of this study with work on Mo(100) demonstrates that the reaction of thiophene on molybdenum is relatively insensitive to the surface geometric structure.
Correspondence between clinical presentation and electrophysiological testing for potential carpal tunnel syndrome

The diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is often applied in the absence of objectively verifiable pathophysiology (i.e. electrophysiologically normal carpal tunnel syndrome). The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether depressive symptoms, heightened illness concern, and pain catastrophizing are associated with an absence of electrophysiological abnormalities. The secondary purpose was to examine the correspondence between the Levine scale, the CTS-6, and electrophysiological abnormalities. Ninety-eight participants completed validated questionnaires assessing psychosocial factors at the initial visit, and surgeons recorded clinical data and their confidence that the diagnosis was carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms and signs that are characteristic of carpal tunnel syndrome (e.g. the CTS-6 and Levine scale) significantly, but incompletely coincided with electrophysiological testing. Psychological factors did not help distinguish patients with normal and abnormal objective testing and it remains unclear if symptoms that do not coincide with abnormal tests represent very mild, immeasurable median nerve dysfunction or a different illness altogether. Future studies should address whether outcomes are superior and resource utilization is optimized when surgery is offered based on symptoms and signs (e.g. the CTS-6) or when surgery is offered on the basis of measurable pathophysiology.
The making of a quake: Some surprises from Loma Prieta

Two years after California's devastating Loma Prieta earthquake of October 17, 1989, some surprising results are emerging from the study of the faulting that created the earthquake. These surprises include a significant discrepancy between the two most reliable methods of locating the fault break, the very short duration of sliding on the fault in the earthquake, and the discovery of a magnitude 5 foreshock at the beginning of the event. The Loma Prieta earthquake marks an important watershed in the study of the earthquake source. Never before have such complete measurements been obtained for both the distortion of the Earth's surface and the strong shaking produced during one earthquake. As a result, detailed comparisons between models of the earthquake developed from independent observations permit geophysicists to test some of their fundamental assumptions about the nature of earthquakes and to evaluate the ability of different methods to decipher the earthquake.
The Performance Characteristics of a Hot Flowing Steamflood Production Well

The production of hot steamflood fluids as a low pressure vapor/liquid mixture driven by produced steam or by the flashing of hot liquids is studied using a numerical wellbore flow model. The effect of well depth, wellhead pressure, flow rate, tubing size, and wellbore heat loss on the performance of the flowing steamflood well is discussed. The wellbore model is also used to estimate the flowing production well bottom-hole history in a FAST process tar sand steamflood. The rate of noncondensible gas injection required for auxiliary lift in a cold well is determined. This study facilitates application of produced steam lift as a steamflood production technique.
Decentralization, local governance and ‘recentralization’ in Africa

Although many African states have pursued substantial decentralization reforms in the previous twenty years many of these reforms are still experiencing problems in bringing about effective local governance. Often these problems grow from the difficulty in translating general reform initiatives into specific working arrangements at the local level that are effective in several key processes and operations. Specifically these include planning and capital investment budgeting and fiscal management personnel systems and management and finance and revenue. A combination of central reluctance to relinquish authority in these key areas and the complexity of organizational redesign to support decentralization seem to explain these problems. (authors)
Protein kinase C activation disrupts epithelial apical junctions via ROCK-II dependent stimulation of actomyosin contractility

Disruption of epithelial cell-cell adhesions represents an early and important stage in tumor metastasis. This process can be modeled in vitro by exposing cells to chemical tumor promoters, phorbol esters and octylindolactam-V (OI-V), known to activate protein kinase C (PKC). However, molecular events mediating PKC-dependent disruption of epithelial cell-cell contact remain poorly understood. In the present study we investigate mechanisms by which PKC activation induces disassembly of tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs) in a model pancreatic epithelium. Exposure of HPAF-II human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell monolayers to either OI-V or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate caused rapid disruption and internalization of AJs and TJs. Activity of classical PKC isoenzymes was responsible for the loss of cell-cell contacts which was accompanied by cell rounding, phosphorylation and relocalization of the F-actin motor nonmuscle myosin (NM) II. The OI-V-induced disruption of AJs and TJs was prevented by either pharmacological inhibition of NM II with blebbistatin or by siRNA-mediated downregulation of NM IIA. Furthermore, AJ/TJ disassembly was attenuated by inhibition of Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) II, but was insensitive to blockage of MLCK, calmodulin, ERK1/2, caspases and RhoA GTPase. Our data suggest that stimulation of PKC disrupts epithelial apical junctions via ROCK-II dependent activation of NM II, which increases contractility of perijunctional actin filaments. This mechanism is likely to be important for cancer cell dissociation and tumor metastasis.
Ethnic federalism and its potential to dismember the Ethiopian state

The Horn of Africa has become the most fragmented post-colonial region in Africa. The largest state in the region, Ethiopia, with its unequalled demographic and resource power lost one of its provi...
Model of a Nonhomogeneous Medium Conducting Light

We consider a ray of light propagating within a system of infinitely many adjoining rectangles in a plane with passages between any pair of neighboring ones. The ray is assumed to be reflected by the sides of the rectangles, and is refracted while passing from one rectangle to its neighbor. We prove that if the sizes of the rectangles or the coefficients of refraction inside them are random, then with probability 1 the ray reaches arbitrarily remote rectangles.
A Profile of Giving Patterns and Donor Behavior at a Suburban Community College.

Community colleges have become increasingly reliant on diversifying their revenue sources, and turning to private fund raising has become a common strategy for many of them. Although fund raising has been a common practice in higher education since its inception, it has only emerged in the two-year college sector in the past several decades. The current study sought to identify donors at a case study, suburban community college, specifically exploring giving patterns over time and testing the conceptual framework of a pyramid of giving that overlays institutional involvement and commitment with giving levels. Major infrastructure inconsistencies prevented much of the framework testing, but data were capable of creating an initial donor and giving profile for a typical community college. This profile demonstrated that board members and employees were the most loyal and consistent in making contributions, but that these gifts often were stable over time and did not increase to become major gifts. Also, priv...
High-temperature condensates in chondrites and the environment in which they formed

Abstract Chemical compositions of melilitee and titaniferous pyroxenes in calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions in carbonaceous chondrites are consistent with their origin as hightemperature condensates from a gas of solar composition. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that the highest temperature minerals equilibrated with the gas at temperatures in excess of 1400°K. The lack of evidence for direct condensation of gas to liquid enables us to set an upper limit to the pressure when the inclusions formed which may be as low as 2.2 × 10−3atm. Glasses, which are commonly found in chondrules, are interpreted as quench products of liquids formed by secondary reheating of primary solid condensates. The high-temperature inclusions constitute evidence that accretion of grains to cm-sized objects occurred at a very early stage in the evolution of the solar nebula.
Melito of Sardis On Baptism

philosophical language. He wrote On the Subjection of the Senses to Faith, On the Unity of Soul and Body, 1 On Truth, On Faith, On Hospitality, and On the Corporeal God (Eusebius, I. E. iv. 26. 2). Some of these topics may take their texts from the epistle to the Hebrews (5.14 on the exercise of the senses, 13. 2 on hospitality, 12.29 God a fire). The first and the last, however, reflect contemporary Stoic thought, according to which the senses served the principal part of the soul, where tad-rtg, a "firm comprehension", took place (SVF III 548; cf. II 823-62), and according to which God was corporeal (SVF II 1028-48). In the StoicJewish IV Maccabees 2.22, it is the mind which controls the senses. 2
Derivatised α‐tocopherol as α CoQ10 carrier in a novel water‐soluble formulation

We have derivatised alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) to a water-soluble polyoxyethanyl-alpha - tocopheryl sebacate (PTS) and discovered that it formed a non-covalent complex with CoQ10 at a molar ratio of 2:1 (PTS-CoQ10). This complex was water-soluble and remained stable for extended periods of time. After oral delivery of the formulation into rats PTS was hydrolysed to vitamin E and elevated levels of both vitamin E and CoQ10 in blood plasma were detected within 1 h. Thus, this aqueous formulation contains a combination of two potent antioxidants. The formulation's efficacy was tested against ischemic brain damage caused by a transient (8 min) bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries in rats. The animals received PTS-CoQ10 by two intraperitoneal injections given immediately after ischemia and 3 h later and the brain damage was assessed up to 12 days post-ischemia. A significant neuroprotection was observed in the CA1 hippocampal region, for example at 12 days approximately 50% of CA1 neurons were still alive in the treated animals versus less than 5% in the non-treated group. Our data is consistent with previously published observations indicating the therapeutic potential of antioxidants for treatments of ischemia/reperfusion injuries and the formulation described here is particularly appropriate for the application in acute conditions, such as stroke or cardiac arrest.
Latin American immigrant women and intergenerational sex education

People of Latin American descent make up the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the USA. Rates of pregnancy, childbirth, and sexually transmitted infections among people of Latin American descent are higher than among other ethnic groups. This paper builds on research that suggests that among families of Latin American descent, mothers have a particularly strong influence on the sexual attitudes and behaviours of their children, yet that parents of Latin American descent communicate less with their children about sex than parents of other ethnic groups. It examines the messages about sex women received as children in their countries of origin, and how these messages and their views of the USA influence the sexual education women provide for their children. On the basis of data from focus groups, we suggest that, in spite of the persistence of sexual silence, some women's self-reflective analyses of their own sexual education as well as their views of the USA as a sexually more open society cont...
Visual Tracking and Existence Constancy in 5-Month-Old Infants.

Abstract Visual fixation and cardiac deceleration for 36 infants 20–24 weeks old were recorded during three kinds of events in which objects moving on a linear trajectory were temporarily occluded by a screen: (1) a familiar object appeared on both sides of the screen; (2) a novel object appeared on both sides of the screen; and (3) a novel object appeared to change to a familiar one behind the screen. Infant attention was related to novelty and familiarity of objects and there was no evidence of behavior reflecting the expectancy that a stable object continued to exist behind the screen. These findings are in conflict with those of previous tracking studies and the discussion focuses upon explanations for this discrepancy.
A Systematic Hierarchical Thermodynamic Analysis of Hydrogen Producing Iron−Chlorine Reaction Clusters

Here, we apply our systematic methodology for thermochemical cycle evaluation to the well-studied Fe−Cl system. Using an integer linear program, thermochemical cycles are identified from species co...
Molecular dynamics investigations of surface damage produced by kiloelectronvolt self-bombardment of solids

Abstract Molecular dynamics computer simulations were employed to study damage production mechanisms at solid surfaces during bombardment with kiloelectronvolt ions. Three separate mechanisms are identified: ballistic damage, viscous flow and microexplosions. Ballistic damage is created by the direct knock-on of atoms onto the surface as described within the binary collision approximation. Viscous flow refers to local melting and the forced flow of liquid onto the surface, and microexplosions occur when the high pressures in cascades lead to rupturing of the nearby surface. The relative importance of each mechanism depends on several parameters: atomic mass, melting temperature, atomic density, structure and atomic bonding of the target, and the mass and energy of the projectile. The simulations were performed for Pt. Au, Cu, Ni and Ge self-atom bombardment. Cascades in the interior of the targets were also examined to provide a comparison for the surface events. In addition several events of 4.5keV Ne an...
Ethics, society and occupational reproductive hazards: fetal consequences?

ABSTRACT Occupational exposures to agents such as lead can adversely affect fetal outcome. With the US Supreme Court decision in the Johnson Controls case regarding the legality of employer's fetal protection policies, increasing responsibility lies with women to make decisions regarding exposure to potentially hazardous agents in the workplace. What are some of the ethical issues that society needs to address with respect to this responsibility? This paper considers the ethical principles of respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and self interest from the perspectives of the potential mother and those concerned with protecting the fetus. Since the fetus cannot make decisions, the potential role of society in protecting fetal rights in the context of workplace exposures is explored.
Persistence of virus-specific immune responses in the central nervous system of mice after West Nile virus infection

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) persists in humans and several animal models. We previously demonstrated that WNV persists in the central nervous system (CNS) of mice for up to 6 months post-inoculation. We hypothesized that the CNS immune response is ineffective in clearing the virus. Results: Immunocompetent, adult mice were inoculated subcutaneously with WNV, and the CNS immune response was examined at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks post-inoculation (wpi). Characterization of lymphocyte phenotypes in the CNS revealed elevation of CD19 + B cells for 4 wpi, CD138 plasma cells at 12 wpi, and CD4 + and CD8 + T cells for at least 12 wpi. T cells recruited to the brain were activated, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) were present for at least 12 wpi. WNV-specific antibody secreting cells were detected in the brain from 2 to 16 wpi, and virus-specific CD8 + T cells directed against an immunodominant WNV epitope were detected in the brain from 1 to 16 wpi. Furthermore, these WNV-specific immune responses occurred in mice with and without acute clinical disease. Conclusions: Virus-specific immune cells persist in the CNS of mice after WNV infection for up to 16 wpi.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme from porcine plasma

Abstract Angiotensin-converting enzyme was purified from porcine plasma by (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 fractionation, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. These techniques combined to give a preparation which hydrolyzed 50 nmoles of substrate per mg per minute. This preparation is considerably more purified than previously reported preparations. The radioactive assay of Huggins was modified in that high voltage electrophoresis was used to separate histidylleucine from the substrate. The K m value for the enzyme was obtained as 4.2·10 −5 M. The enzyme reaction was inhibited by angiotensin II, but not by histidylleucine. The s 20 , w value (8.3) of the converting enzyme was obtained by the sucrose density gradient sedimentation technique and the molecular weight was estimated to be 155 000. The maximum activity of hog plasma is about 9 nmole per ml per minute. The calculated half time for the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in plasma is about 3 min. This slow rate suggests that there must be more to the “activation” of angiotensin than is immediately obvious and in this sense is consistent with the conclusion of Ng and Vane 4–6 that the lung, and not the blood, is the primary site of conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
Regulation of Embryonic Endochondral Ossification by Smurf2

Smurf2 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets TGF-beta receptor activated Smad2 and Smad3 for the proteasome in primary articular chondrocytes, thus stimulating their hypertrophic differentiation. Comparatively, how Smurf2 functions in growth plate chondrocytes in a developing long bone is an open question. In this study, we measured the mRNA levels of endogenous Smurf2 and type X collagen in chick growth plate at different embryonic stages to monitor the correlation between the level of Smurf2 expression and chondrocyte maturational stage. We found that high levels of Smurf2 were associated with the differentiative and proliferative stages, while Smurf2 levels were thereafter decreased as the chondrocytes matured toward hypertrophy. In addition, we injected Smurf2-RCAS into chick wing buds at HH stage 20-23 and examined how the ectopic overexpression of Smurf2 in condensing chondrogenic mesenchyme affects the subsequent process of chondrocyte maturation and ossification during embryonic development. Histological analysis showed that overexpression of Smurf2 in a developing wing bud accelerated chondrocyte maturation and endochondral ossification, which may result from a decrease in TGF-beta signaling in the infected chondrocytes with Smurf2-RCAS.
Crystallization of BaF2–ZnF2–YbF3–ThF4 glass

The crystallizing phases from a BaZn YbTh fluoride glass were a BaYbTh fluoride, ZnF2, and YbF3, as identified with x-ray diffraction and composition-enhanced scanning electron microscopy. Blocky BaYbTh fluoride crystallizes first, at about 450 °C, and ZnF2 excluded from this phase crystallizes at its surfaces. At higher temperatures the BaYbTh fluoride phase decomposes partially to BaThF6 and YbF3 phases. The kinetics and temperatures of crystallization were also followed with differential scanning calorimetry.
Impact of a change in antibacterial prophylaxis on bacteremia and hospitalization rates following outpatient autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma

Background Levofloxacin is routinely used for the prevention of invasive bacterial infections during autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). However, increasing rates of bacterial sepsis were noted at our institution among multiple myeloma (MM) patients undergoing outpatient APBSCT with melphalan-based chemotherapy and levofloxacin prophylaxis. We assessed the impact of a change in antibacterial prophylaxis from oral levofloxacin (Period 1) to sequential oral levofloxacin followed by ertapenem (Period 2). Methods Electronic medical records were reviewed to identify MM patients who underwent APBSCT in the outpatient clinic between October 2007 and April 2012. Results Over a 4.5-year period, 165 outpatient APBSCTs were eligible for the analysis. Fewer overall bacteremias occurred during Period 2 as compared with Period 1 (0.5 cases per 100 person-days vs. 2.4 cases per 100 person-days, P < 0.001). In addition, fewer patients were hospitalized for neutropenic fever while receiving sequential prophylaxis (45.7% vs. 75.7% of outpatient APBSCT recipients during Periods 2 and 1, respectively; P < 0.001). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, receipt of sequential prophylaxis (Period 2) was significantly associated with overall bacteremia-free survival within 30 days after the APBSCT (P < 0.001). No significant differences were seen in the number of patients developing Clostridium difficile infection or ertapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteremia between study periods. Conclusion In conclusion, sequential prophylaxis may effectively prevent episodes of bacteremia and hospitalizations in neutropenic MM outpatient APBSCT recipients. Prospective studies that involve larger numbers of MM patients with extended periods of follow-up are ultimately required to define the safety and efficacy of sequential antibacterial prophylaxis.
Design considerations for the symphony integrated multimedia file system

A multimedia file system supports diverse application classes that access data with heterogeneous characteristics. In this paper, we describe our experiences in the design and implementation of the Symphony multimedia file system. We first discuss various methodologies for designing multimedia file systems and examine their trade-offs. We examine the design requirements for such file systems and argue that to efficiently manage the heterogeneity in application requirements and data characteristics, a multimedia file system should enable the coexistence of multiple data-type-specific and application-specific techniques. We describe the architecture and novel features of Symphony and then demonstrate their efficacy through an experimental evaluation. Our results show that Symphony yields a factor of 1.9 improvement in text response time over conventional disk scheduling algorithms while continuing to meet the real-time requirements of video clients. Finally, we reflect upon the lessons learned from the Symphony project.
The clinical utility of parathyroid hormone-related peptide in the assessment of hypercalcemia

Abstract Background Hypercalcemia is a common clinical finding with primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy accounting for most cases. Measurement of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is often requested for patients with hypercalcemia before confirmation of hypercalcemia and/or determination of parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations. We determined a PTH cutoff to guide PTHrP testing in hypercalcemic patients. Methods Test results for total calcium, intact PTH, and PTHrP tests performed within 2 days of each other were recorded. Chart review determined the etiology of hypercalcemia. The PTH cutoff below which a PTHrP result might be useful was determined. Results Test results from 123 patients were included and 47 had hypercalcemia of malignancy, 15 of which had increased PTHrP. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 32% (95% CI = 19–47%) and 95% (95% CI = 85–99%), respectively. PTH concentrations were lowest in patients with increased PTHrP compared to those with no increase (25.6 ± 69.2 vs. 94.8 ± 332.8 ng/l, p 26 ng/l predicted a non-increased PTHrp result in 95% of the entire study population which increased to 100% when only patients with hypercalcemia were considered. Conclusions PTHrP testing is more appropriately performed after assessment of PTH. If the PTH is not low or low normal, testing for PTHrP is usually uninformative.
Winter storm-induced hydrodynamics and morphological response of a shallow transgressive shoal complex: Northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Using extended deployments during seasons of low and high discharge from the Atchafalaya River, meteorological, hydrodynamic and bottom boundary layer parameters were monitored from Tiger and Trinity Shoal complex, off Louisiana coast, USA. During winter storms, the surface current speed measured at both shoals exceeded 0.5 m/s and the entire water column followed the prevailing wind direction. The current speed close to the bottom exceeded 0.3 m/s during high energy northerly winds. The mean water level in the shoal complex increased during southerly winds and decreased during northerly winds, such that the difference between wind set-up and set-down exceeded 0.7 m in Tiger Shoal and 0.6 m in Trinity Shoal during high energy frontal passages. The swell height was inversely correlated with mean water level, and increased during pre-frontal phase and decreased during post-frontal phase of winter storms. The sea (short waves) height responded quickly to wind direction and speed; and within a few hours after the wind shifted and blowing from the north, the sea height increased during both deployments. Bimodal wave frequency spectrum was observed during wind veering from southerly to northerly, when both sea and swell intensities were significant. The Tiger Shoal bed sediment texture transformed drastically, from mud to shell and shell hash assemblage, within a period of two weeks during the December 2008 deployment. Backscatter signal intensity from a Pulse Coherent Acoustic Doppler Profiler (PCADP) and its velocity estimates were used to determine the vertical extend and timing of mud resuspension and their eventual flushing out from the shoal environment, when exposed to high energy winter storm passages. The computed time frame for a total transformation of bottom sediment texture (from muddy bottom to shell and shell hash assemblage) was supported by the combined wave and bottom current induced shear stress at shoal bed. The bed samples collected from Tiger Shoal before and after the deployment in spring 2009 consisted of more than 80% shell and shell hash, which again confirmed a stable bottom as predicted from the PCADP data. However, the fine sand and mud dominated bed at Trinity Shoal was highly dynamic and experienced a few cm of ephemeral sediment deposition during the passage of each cold front, as revealed from the analysis of acoustic backscatter data from the PCADP. Suspended sediment concentration estimated from Optical Backscatterance Sensors (OBS) and PCADP were in good agreement during low river discharge events in December 2008; but significantly diverged during the spring 2009 deployment, when a high suspended sediment load was discharged into the shelf from the Atchafalaya River, and subsequently pushed farther offshore into the deployment sites by wind-induced strong currents during the passage of cold fronts.
Solid Ice at High Temperatures

THE interesting results announced by Prof. Thomas Carnelley, of Firth College, Sheffield, in relation to the physical conditions under which ice persistently maintains its solid state when exposed to the influence of heat (NATURE, vol. xxii. p. 435), deserves some notice. When he speaks of obtaining “solid ice at temperatures so high that it was impossible to touch it without burning one's self,” it is evident that this burning quality appertains to the hot vessel containing the ice, and not to the solid ice itself. For it is obvious that under the given conditions the temperature of the surface of the ice is kept at least as low as 0° C. by the rapid vaporisation of it while in a solid state.
Persistence in the Perception of Barack Obama as a Muslim in the 2008 Presidential Campaign

A number of Americans persisted in believing a rumor during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign that Barack Obama was Muslim despite news stories, fact-checking Web sites, and Obama's self-professed Christian affiliation. Using a panel study in the last three months of the campaign, this study explores what factors predict who maintained this misperception and whether exposure to the news media, which often attempted to debunk the myth, influenced perceptions. While political and religious conservative beliefs predicted a belief in Obama as Muslim, exposure to the news media did little to moderate this effect.
Perspective on Educational Measurement

An important but usually neglected aspect of the training of teachers is instruction in the art of writing good classroom tests. Such training should emphasize various forms of objective items (e.g., multiple- choice, master list, matching, greater-less-same, best- worst answer, and matrix format). The proper formu lation and accurate grading of essay items should be included, as should the use of various types of free- answer items (e.g., the brief answer, interlinear, and "fill in the blanks in the following paragraph" forms). For courses involving laboratory work, such as sci ence, machine shop, and home economics, perfor mance and identification tests based on the laboratory work should be used.A second point is that organizations developing ap titude tests for nonacademic areas, such as police work, fire fighting, and licensing tests, should empha size the use by the client of a valid, reliable, and un biased criterion. Organizations developing academic aptitude tests should also (1) be alert to the ...
Advances in stress cardiac MRI and computed tomography

Stress cardiac MRI and stress computed tomography (CT) perfusion are relatively new, noninvasive cardiovascular stress-testing modalities. Both of these tests have undergone rapid technical improvements. Data from randomized controlled trials in stress cardiac MRI are becoming gradually incorporated into cardiovascular clinical practice, not only to assess physiological significance of coronary artery disease, but also to provide prognostic information. As CT perfusion protocols become more uniform with adequate handling of artifacts and decreasing radiation exposure with combined CT coronary angiography/CT perfusion imaging, it has the potential to become a comprehensive diagnostic test.
Toward a Right to Litigate Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

The Supreme Court's decisions in Martinez v. Ryan and Maples v. Thomas have been hailed as evidence of the Court's increasing willingness to grant some relevance to the competence of postconviction counsel. While this may be true, for the vast majority of defendants convicted of noncapital crimes, the rulings provide little in the way of immediate assistance because most such prisoners have no federal habeas counsel and therefore no means to take advantage of the procedural protections Martinez and Maples provide. In this Article, I argue that, in these cases, the Court has taken a step closer to recognizing not necessarily a broad right to postconviction counsel but rather a narrower yet critical right to raise a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel in at least one forum. At least with respect to claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, the Court appears to be moving toward recognition that the right to raise such claims is as important as the right to raise record-based claims typically brought by constitutionally required appellate counsel. My view is that this development is both far more significant than any signals the Court has sent with respect to the provision of postconviction counsel generally, and more likely to eventually vindicate the bedrock principle embodied in Gideon v. Wainwright.
Estrogen and progestin receptors in mouse vaginal epithelium and fibromascular wall

Abstract Both sodium molybdate and Percoll density gradient stabilize the hormone-binding capacities of the estrogen and progestin receptors and individually increase the recovery of these receptors in prepared cytosols of the separated mouse vaginal epithelium and fibromascular wall. Their effects are additive. The concentrations of estrogen receptors are similar in the epithelial and fibromuscular comparaments, whereas progestin receptor concentrations are higher in the epithelium.
A multicast problem with shared risk cost

In this paper, we study a minimum cost multicast problem on a network with shared risk link groups (SRLGs). Each SRLG contains a set of arcs with a common risk, and there is a cost associated with it. The objective of the problem is to find a multicast tree from the source to a set of destinations with minimum transmission cost and risk cost. We present a basic model for the multicast problem with shared risk cost (MCSR) based on the well-known multicommodity flow formulation for the Steiner tree problem (Goemans and Myung in Networks 1:19–28, 1993; Polzin and Daneshmand in Discrete Applied Mathematics 112(1–3): 241–261, 2001). We propose a set of strong valid inequalities to tighten the linear relaxation of the basic model. We also present a mathematical model for undirected MCSR. The computational results of real life test instances demonstrate that the new valid inequalities significantly improve the linear relaxation bounds of the basic model, and reduce the total computation time by half in average.
Photochemistry of benzisothiazoles in the presence of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

Abstract 1,2-Benzisothiazole gave upon irradiation in the presence of dimethy acetylenedicarboxylate a mixture of cis - and trans - substituted phenylthioalkenes (II) and 7-cyano-2,3-dicarboxybenzothiophene.
Are shorter courses of N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen poisoning efficacious? A review of the literature

Abstract The need for 72 hours of N -acetylcysteine treatment in all patients with acetaminophen overdose is unknown. Methodological issues preclude this question from being studied feasibly. Review of the existing literature suggests that shorter treatment courses are likely to be safe in a select group of patients. Risk factors for increased hepatoxicity from acetaminophen should be considered in the treatment decision.
Limited capacity for protein synthesis at zero degrees centigrade in Escherichia coli.

Abstract At 0 °C protein synthesis by Escherichia coli slows progressively and eventually stops. However, it is restored instantly to normal if the cells are warmed to 37 °C. The cause of the low-temperature defect appears to be an inability of free ribosomes to attach to messenger RNA. The evidence suggests that a ribosome has to be activated especially, once it has been released from the 3′ end of a messenger RNA strand, in order to permit its functional reattachment at the 5′-end of a new operon. This activation apparently proceeds too slowly at 0 °C to be effective in competition with inactivation processes. The low-temperature defect in protein synthesis could explain the well-known phenomenon of minimum growth temperature.
The impact of length of domestic violence treatment on the patterns of subsequent intimate partner violence

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have been used for several decades in criminal justice research to assess the benefits of interventions. RCTs have been employed with some frequency in evaluating batterer intervention programs (BIPs); between 1990 and 2005, there were five RCTs of BIPs. While most of these studies failed to find positive findings, one conducted in Brooklyn, New York, appeared to detect a positive effect of a BIP on domestic violence re-offending. Subsequent inspection of the data, however, revealed several complicating factors that led us to reanalyze these data. Our reanalysis focused on whether the intervention temporarily suppresses abusive behavior during the time that offenders are under court control, or whether the program produces lasting changes in offender behavior. With improved data analysis techniques, additional outcome data, and several alternative analytical models, we arrive at an alternative conclusion than is reported in the original publication. While we still find evidence of a reduction in the number of new incidents across a 15-month period due to treatment assignment, we now find that the effect of attending treatment does not likely persist beyond the treatment period once the treatment measure is specified as a time-dependent parameter rather than a fixed effect. This outcome is more consistent with a suppression/supervision explanation rather than a therapeutic outcome explanation. The implications of these results are discussed.
A low-voltage force-balanced barometric pressure sensor

In this paper we report the fabrication and initial testing of a low voltage force-balanced surface micromachined barometric pressure sensor. In this device, the force and deformation of a diaphragm induced by an external pressure are balanced using electrostatic forces. The design described here has a full scale pressure range of 1 atmosphere, a nominal capacitance of 0.34 pF and a full scale range of 70 fF. The pressure is balanced by voltages in the range of 15-25 volts, which proves the feasibility of developing a closed-loop pressure sensor using low-voltage electronics.
Rational Management Responses to External Effects

This paper is a discussion of the external or side effects of business and rational responses to these external effects for profit-maximizing firms.1 Some people would argue that the rational respo...
Predictors of agitation in critically ill adults.

Background Agitation in critically ill adults is a frequent complication of hospitalization and results in multiple adverse outcomes. Potential causes of agitation are numerous; however, data on factors predictive of agitation are limited. Objectives To identify predictors of agitation by examining demographic and clinical characteristics of critically ill patients. Methods A medical record review was performed. Documentation of agitation was indicated by scores on the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale or the use of an agitation keyword. Records of 200 patients from 1 medical and 1 surgical intensive care unit were used for the study. Risk factors were determined for 2 points in time: admission to the intensive care unit and within 24 hours before the first episode of agitation. Data on baseline demographics, preadmission risk factors, and clinical data were collected and were evaluated by using logistic multivariable regression to determine predictors of agitation. Results Predictors of agitation on admission to intensive care were history of use of illicit substances, height, respiratory and central nervous system subscores on the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and use of restraints. Predictors of agitation within 24 hours before the onset of agitation were history of psychiatric diagnosis, height, score on the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, ratio of Pao2 to fraction of inspired oxygen less than 200, serum pH, percentage of hours with restraints, percentage of hours of mechanical ventilation, pain, and presence of genitourinary catheters. Conclusions Predictors of agitation on admission and within 24 hours before the onset of agitation were primarily clinical variables.
Evaluation of primary pulmonary carcinoid tumors using FDG PET

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the spectrum of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) findings in patients who have primary pulmonary carcinoid tumors. CONCLUSION: On FDG PET imaging, pulmonary carcinoid tumors usually have lower FDG uptake than expected for malignant tumors. Biopsy or close radiologic follow-up is therefore recommended for solitary pulmonary nodules that are clinically suspected of being carcinoid tumors and that do not show increased metabolic activity on FDG PET images.