cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of a CYP17 polymorphism in the regulation of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

We studied 259 consecutive unselected white patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 161 matched controls for a common polymorphism of CYP17, the gene encoding for P450c17α, and did not observe an important modulatory effect of this variant on circulating DHEAS. It does not appear that this common variant of CYP17, a T to C substitution in the 5′ promoter region, plays a significant role in the adrenal androgen excess of PCOS.
Energy Analysis of Machining and Machining Facilities Based on the Micro-Factory Concept

The micro-factory concept has gained wide support and acceptance based on the ability of small machine tools to accomplish the same tasks as traditionally sized machine tools while using a fraction of the space. Although it is frequently mentioned that a micro-factory is an energy saving endeavor, there is a dearth of hard data on how much energy is actually saved.The intent of this report is to quantify the difference in energy consumed in a micro-factory and a macro-factory though experimentation with a micro- and a macro-mill. This quantification allows for the potential of unit life cycle analyses to be performed in the future. A fluidic channel was machined in workpieces of aluminum and steel by both micro- and macro-mills under a variety of machining conditions and the recorded data has been analyzed to this end. The variables investigated were the spindle speed, the mill type, and the material the cutting process was performed on. The conclusions reached through experimentation were that the micro-mill used between 13.5% and 21.7% of the energy used for the macro-mill.Additionally the energy differences in climate control were investigated for comparable macro- and micro-factories. The mock macro-factory used for this analysis was three times the size of the micro-factory. Due to the larger size of the macro-building, the climate control energy usages were also about three times as high as in the micro-building.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Proxy-assisted multicasting of video streams over mobile wireless networks

This work addresses the challenge of providing seamless multimedia services to mobile users by proposing a proxy-assisted multicast architecture for delivery of video streams. We propose a hybrid system of streaming proxies, interconnected by an application-layer multicast tree, where each proxy acts as a cluster head to stream out content to its stationary and mobile users. The architecture is based on our previously proposed Enhanced-NICE protocol, which uses an application-layer multicast tree to deliver layered video streams to multiple heterogeneous receivers. We targeted the study on placements of streaming proxies to enable efficient delivery of live and on-demand video, supporting both stationary and mobile users. The simulation results are evaluated and compared with two other baseline scenarios: one with a centralized proxy system serving the entire population and one with mini-proxies each to serve its local users. The simulations are implemented using the J-SIM simulator. The results show that even though proxies in the hybrid scenario experienced a slightly longer delay, they had the lowest drop rate of video content. This finding illustrates the significance of task sharing in multiple proxies. The resulted load balancing among proxies has provided a better video quality delivered to a larger audience.
Analysis of the FePO4 to LiFePO4 phase transition

The electrochemical phase transformation of carbon coated nanophase (60–70 nm) FePO4 to LiFePO4 was investigated by use of the Avrami–Johnson–Mehl–Eroofev equation. The analysis at three temperatures showed an Avrami exponent equal to one. Based upon reinterpretation and in agreement with recent microstructural evidence, a two-dimensional growth mechanism for the phase transformation is proposed in which the new phase grows in a direction perpendicular to the direction of lithium ion transport. Furthermore, the relatively low value of the activation energy for the phase transformation of 13 kJ/mol suggests that the phase transition is controlled by lithium ion diffusion along the phase boundary.
The genus of the complete tripartite graph Kmn,n,n

Abstract The genus of the complete tripartite graph K mn,n,n is shown to be ( mn −2)( n −1)/2, for all natural numbers m and n .
Waste isolation pilot plant : Retrieving nuclear waste disposal information

Accessing documents pertaining to nuclear waste can be a complex process. This bibliographic essay examines the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico, as an example of the numerous publications which arise from one nuclear waste disposal project. This article examines the history of the WIPP, the government agencies and contractors that publish documents and dockets, and the indices, hotlines, and catalogs necessary for access.
Longitudinal dispersion and lateral circulation in the intertidal zone

[1] Field observations indicate that a tidal salinity front that is regenerated each lower low water is a prominent feature of intertidal zone flow during wet winter months. A strong longitudinal density gradient at the front influences flow dynamics through tidal straining and baroclinic forcing. During each inundation period the salinity gradient disperses as it advects across the intertidal zone. The average longitudinal dispersivity estimated from observations is about 10 m2 s−1. A three-dimensional numerical model yields comparable estimates of tidally averaged dispersivity for an idealized bathymetry with a subtidal channel and intertidal shoals. The instantaneous dispersivity through the tidal cycle depends on both vertical and lateral shear in along-channel velocity. Dispersion due to vertical shear is greatest during stratified ebbs and inversely depends on tidal forcing; dispersion due to lateral shear results from bathymetric variability between channel and shoal and increases with tidal amplitude. Similarly, the along-channel residual velocity is a combination of baroclinic and frictional processes. Frictional effects dominate the depth-averaged residual such that net flow is upstream on the shoals and downstream in the channel; however, the frictional pattern is moderated by baroclinic forcing at the front. Although along-channel dynamics dominate, differential advection of the salinity front establishes lateral baroclinic circulation between channel and shoals. Lateral residual circulation is flood dominant with dense water moving out of channel near the bed and convergence from the shoals at the surface. At times near the front the lateral salt flux can significantly affect the salinity budget in the channel.
The long and short of colicin action: the molecular basis for the biological activity of channel-forming colicins

Channel-forming colicins undergo a remarkable series of conformational gyrations during their voyage from the extracellular milieu to the periplasmic membrane. Crystal structures of the intact colicin la molecule and a channel-forming domain of colicin E1 illuminate relationships between the molecular structure and biological function of these voltage-dependent channel-forming toxins.
If a population crashes in prehistory, and there is no paleodemographer there to hear it, does it make a sound?

Catastrophic episodes (e.g., epidemics, natural disasters) strike with only limited regard for age. A large percentage of catastrophic mortality in a population can lead to a death distribution that resembles the living distribution, which includes greater numbers of older children, adoles- cents, and young adults than typical mortality profiles. This paper examines both the population implications of a large catastrophic mortality event, based on the Black Death as it ravaged medieval Europe, and its long-term effects on age-at-death distributions. An increased prevalence of epidemic disease is a common feature of reconstructions of the shift to agriculture and the rise of urban centers. The model begins with a hypothetical Medieval living population. This population is stable and characterized by slow growth. It has fertility and mortality rates consistent with a natural-fertility, agrar- ian population. The effects of catastrophic episodes are simulated by project- ing the model population and subjecting it to one large (30% mortality) catastrophic episode as part of a 100-year population projection. A pair of Leslie matrices forms the basis of the projection. The catastrophic episode has important, long-term effects on both the living population and the cumulative distribution of death. The living population fails to recover from plague losses; at the end of the projection, population is still less than 75% its pre-plague level. The age-at-death distribution takes on the juvenile-young adult-heavy profile characteristic of many archaeological samples. The cu- mulative death profile based on the projection differs from that produced by the stable model significantly (P , 0.05) for 25-50 years after the plague episode, depending on sample size. Am J Phys Anthropol 112:181-190, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Usefulness of Retrieval Practice and Review-Only Practice for Answering Conceptually Related Test Questions

In a simulated last-minute test preparation scenario, the authors examined the extent to which practice can influence accuracy of self-assessment, overall test performance, and memory of a familiar knowledge domain. They simulated test preparation by exposing students to practice questions, allegedly from a study guide. The test preparation consisted of either answering questions (retrieval practice) and then checking the correctness of the answers or reviewing questions along with their answers (review-only practice). Immediately after either form of practice, students took a test with questions whose content was conceptually related to the practice test questions. In this study, both forms of practice had a beneficial effect on self-assessment prior to the test and on overall test performance. When the authors examined specific memory responses, they found practice to benefit the frequency of correct responses that students defined as experiences of remembering and knowing. The effect of practice was not modulated by the recency of the acquisition of the domain being tested (at least within the time span of an academic semester).
Lithium-sensitive production of inositol phosphates during amphibian embryonic mesoderm induction

Mesoderm induction and body axis determination in frog (Xenopus) embryos are thought to involve growth factor-mediated cell-cell signaling, but the signal transduction pathways are unknown. Li+, which inhibits the polyphosphoinositide (PI) cycle signal transduction pathway in many cells, also disrupts axis determination and mesoderm induction. Amounts of the PI cycle-derived second messenger, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, increased during mesoderm induction in normal embryos; addition of Li+ inhibited the embryonic inositol monophosphatase and reversed this increase. Embryonic PI cycle activity thus shows characteristics that indicate it may function in mesoderm induction and axis determination.
Transportable infant incubator for developing countries

Premature infants make up 25% of all births in developing countries and are usually born outside of a hospital. The World Health Organization and Engineering World Health have stressed the need for a transportable infant incubator designed for use in developing countries. The goal of this project is to create a device which protects and incubates an infant while being transported to a hospital. The device needs to be economical, robust, and use easily replaceable parts. The heating mechanism will use computer fans, a humidifier, and car headlights to provide heat. The temperature will be automatically maintained by a proportional integrative derivative (PID) controller. Large temperature deviations and low battery charge will be announced through an audible alert. The base will be made of aluminum due to its low cost and durability. The bassinet cover will be polycarbonate due to its low thermal conductivity and strength. A theoretical MATLAB model of the preterm infant and incubator will be implemented to evaluate the performance of the design. Testing goals will include finding average power consumption, times to reach target temperature (33.5°C), and the safety of the device.
Viruses as anticancer drugs

Oncolytic viruses are being developed as anticancer drugs. They propagate selectively in tumor tissue and destroy it without causing excessive damage to normal non-cancerous tissues. When used as drugs, they must meet stringent criteria for safety and efficacy and be amenable to pharmacological study in human subjects. Specificity for neoplastic tissue is the key to safety, and this goal can be achieved through a variety of ingenious virus-engineering strategies. Antiviral immunity remains a significant barrier to the clinical efficacy of oncolytic viruses but this is being addressed by using novel immune-evasive delivery strategies and immunosuppressive drugs. Noninvasive pharmacokinetic monitoring is facilitated by engineering marker genes into the viral genome. Clinical data on the pharmacokinetics of oncolytic viruses will be the key to accelerating their development and approval as effective anticancer drugs. This review introduces concepts relevant to the use of viruses as anticancer drugs, emphasizing targeting mechanisms as well as safety and efficacy issues that are currently limiting their clinical success.
How does a traffic cop ticket a driverless car

Rapid technological prpogress means self-drving cars are in the fast lane to consumer reality. Is the law up to speed too, wonders US legal expert Bryant Walker Smith
Thermal stress birefringence in LCOS projection displays

Thermal stress birefringence affects the contrast uniformity of LCOS projection displays since they employ polarization-based image recovery. System architecture, material selection, lumen levels, and component mounting arrangements can all affect a system's susceptibility to image degradation resulting from thermal stress birefringence. Theoretical analyses can provide some insight into the origins and magnitude of the problem, but can be difficult to carry out except for idealized systems. This article presents an empirical approach to understanding thermal stress birefringence, and includes quantitative results of a specific material study. The results help the system designer select glasses with appropriate material properties to insure that stress birefringence effects are kept to a tolerable level for a given LCOS projection display system and application. A qualitative discussion of the system factors mentioned above is also included.
Radical HRM innovation and competitive advantage: The Moneyball story

Moneyball (Lewis, 2003), a New York Times bestseller, is a book about baseball. When read through a broader lens, however, Moneyball is also a book about innovation, resistance to change, competitive advantage, achieving excellence, and, of most relevance here, human resource management. While many would agree that the radical innovation described in Moneyball represents a “new vision of management” in baseball, this article describes how Moneyball lessons might contribute to a “new vision of HRM” in various types of organizations. The focus of the article is on what HR executives and scholars can learn from the Moneyball phenomenon. More specifically, the authors address a number questions related to the Moneyball story that have relevance to successfully implementing HRM innovations; these questions have to do with overcoming resistance to the implementation of radical innovation and how HRM innovation can contribute to sustainable competitive advantage. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Material Flow in Friction Stir Welds

Friction stir welding generates periodic features within the weld. These “onion ring” features are associated with variations in both texture and the orientation of that texture along the length of the weld. Analysis of an AA2195 friction stir weld reveals the presence of periodic oscillations between the dominant B and $$ \overline{\text{B}} $$ components of the ideal shear texture, suggesting a periodic reversal in the predominant shear orientation during welding that is inconsistent with current understandings of the friction stir welding process. Microstructural features present in the weld and machine force variations during welding indicate that these textures may arise from the oscillation of an off-centered tool. Such a tool oscillation can generate a periodic extrusion of material around the tool, giving rise to the observed flow features, machine force variations, and reversals of the local shear texture orientations. A new model of material flow during friction stir welding is proposed to explain the observed features.
The culture of power and science education: Learning from Miguel

In this paper we begin a discussion around the need for science educators to understand the relationship between cultural and socioeconomic issues and the science education of inner-city students. We refer to the works of critical scholars in science, education, and sociology in order to help us deconstruct the relationship between sociopolitical agendas and the lack of opportunity in science education for students from lower socioeconomic inner-city enclaves. Through our ethnographic case study of a homeless family in a major metropolitan area in the Northeast, we frame our analysis through the pedagogical questions of representation of science through culture, socioeconomic status, and ''culture capital.'' We use this analysis to raise questions for further research on the significance of understanding, accessing, and critiquing the ''culture of power'' in science education. fl 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 37: 871-889, 2000
Impaired Autophagy in Sporadic Inclusion-Body Myositis and in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Provoked Cultured Human Muscle Fibers

The hallmark pathologies of sporadic inclusion-body myositis (s-IBM) muscle fibers are autophagic vacuoles and accumulation of ubiquitin-positive multiprotein aggregates that contain amyloid-β or phosphorylated tau in a β-pleated sheet amyloid configuration. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and 26S proteasome inhibition, also associated with s-IBM, putatively aggrandize the accumulation of misfolded proteins. However, autophagosomal-lysosomal pathway formation and function, indicated by autophagosome maturation, have not been previously analyzed in this system. Here we studied the autophagosomal-lysosomal pathway using 14 s-IBM and 30 disease control and normal control muscle biopsy samples and our cultured human muscle fibers in a microenvironment modified to resemble aspects of s-IBM pathology. We report for the first time that in s-IBM, lysosomal enzyme activities of cathepsin D and B were decreased 60% (P < 0.01) and 40% (P < 0.05), respectively. We also detected two indicators of increased autophagosome maturation, the presence of LC3-II and decreased mammalian target of rapamycin-mediated phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase. Moreover, in cultured human muscle fibers, ERS induction significantly decreased activities of cathepsins D and B, increased levels of LC3-II, decreased phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase, and decreased expression of VMA21, a chaperone for assembly of lysosomal V-ATPase. We conclude that in s-IBM muscle, decreased lysosomal proteolytic activity might enhance accumulation of misfolded proteins, despite increased maturation of autophagosomes, and that ERS is a possible cause of s-IBM-impaired lysosomal function. Thus, unblocking protein degradation in s-IBM muscle fibers may be a desirable therapeutic strategy.
Technology and Cultural Convergence A Limited Empirical Test

Past research on individual modernity has concentrated on identification of the antecedents of more modern patterns of thinking, valuing, and behaving. The present study attempts to take a next step in this research tradition, to determine whether value modernization also implies cross-cultural value convergence. Data were obtained from samples at four levels of industry in each of three countries (Ghana, India, and Brazil) on 22 questions designed to assess modernity in values. Responses were submitted to a "points of view" and subsequent discriminant analysis. The findings provided no support for the convergence hypothesis. We did not find any greater cross-national similarity in values among workers in the more modern, capital-intensive technological settings than among workers in less modern, labor-intensive settings.
The Meaningful Critique: Responding to Art from Preschool to Postmodernism.

An investigation of art criticism was undertaken with studio artists, art therapists, college nonart majors, and clients receiving art therapy services. The method involved establishing aesthetic a...
Suppression of inflammation in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis using targeted lipase-labile fumagillin prodrug nanoparticles

Nanoparticle-based therapeutics are emerging technologies that have the potential to greatly impact the treatment of many human diseases. However, drug instability and premature release from the nanoparticles during circulation currently preclude clinical translation. Herein, we use a lipase-labile (Sn 2) fumagillin prodrug platform coupled with a unique lipid surface-to-surface targeted delivery mechanism, termed contact-facilitated drug delivery, to counter the premature drug release and overcome the inherent photo-instability of fumagillin, an established anti-angiogenic agent. We show that αvβ3-integrin targeted fumagillin prodrug nanoparticles, administered at 0.3 mg of fumagillin prodrug/kg of body weight suppress the clinical disease indices of KRN serum-mediated arthritis in a dose-dependent manner when compared to treatment with the control nanoparticles with no drug. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of this lipase-labile prodrug nanocarrier in a relevant preclinical model that approximates human rheumatoid arthritis. The lipase-labile prodrug paradigm offers a translatable approach that is broadly applicable to many targeted nanosystems and increases the translational potential of this platform for many diseases.
Developing a high-performance web server in Concurrent Haskell

Server applications, and in particular network-based server applications, place a unique combination of demands on a programming language: lightweight concurrency, high I&#002F;O throughput, and fault tolerance are all important. This paper describes a prototype web server written in Concurrent Haskell (with extensions), and presents two useful results: firstly, a conforming server could be written with minimal effort, leading to an implementation in less than 1500 lines of code, and secondly the naive implementation produced reasonable performance. Furthermore, making minor modifications to a few time-critical components improved performance to a level acceptable for anything but the most heavily loaded web servers.
Impedance design for multi-layered vias

This paper presents a methodology based on a semi-analytical scattering model to pre-design the characteristic impedance of multi-layered through hole vias by choosing appropriate via geometrical parameters, dielectric property, and the placement of ground vias. A linear model as a function of design parameters above is further applied to analyze the statistical variation of impedance for different tolerance specification.
Deep Environment of Volcanogenic Epithermal Mineralization: Proposed research drilling at Creede, Colorado

Proposed research drilling in the Creede mining district will constrain relations between epithermal veins and the deeper thermal, fluid flow, and volcanic structural environment. Major targets include a deep inferred heat source in the form of a concealed intrusion and possibly associated stacked porphyry-type mineralization; thermal, chemical, and hydrologic evolution of the fossil hydrothermal system in comparison with active geothermal environments; and temporal, structural, and petrologic relations between the mineralization and the hosting silicic caldera cluster.
Characterization of the cellulolytic and hydrogen‐producing activities of six mesophilic Clostridium species

Aims: To characterize cellulolytic, hydrogen-producing clostridia on a comparable basis. Methods and Results: H2 production from cellulose by six mesophilic clostridia was characterized in standardized batch experiments using MN301 cellulose, Avicel and cellobiose. Daily H2 production, substrate degradation, biomass production and the end-point distribution of soluble fermentation products varied with species and substrates. All species produced a significant amount of H2 from cellobiose, with Clostridium acetobutylicum achieving the highest H2 yield of 2AE3 mol H2 mol )1 hexose, but it did not degrade cellulose. Clostridium cellulolyticum and Clostridium populeti catalysed the highest H2 production from cellulose, with yields of 1AE7 and 1AE6 mol H2 mol )1 hexose from MN301 and 1AE6 and 1AE4 mol H2 mol )1 hexose from Avicel, respectively. These species also achieved 25‐100% higher H2 production rates from cellulose than the other species. Conclusions: These cellulolytic, hydrogen-producing clostridia varied in H2 production, with Cl. cellulolyticum and Cl. populeti achieving the highest H2 yields and cellulose degradation. Significance and Impact of the Study: The fermentation of cellulosic materials presents a means of H2 production from renewable resources. This standardized comparison provides a quantitative baseline for improving H2 production from cellulose through medium and process optimization and metabolic engineering.
Sleep-Dependent θ Oscillations in the Human Hippocampus and Neocortex

Hippocampal theta waves recorded during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep are thought to play a critical role in memory consolidation in lower mammals, but previous attempts to detect similar theta oscillations in the human hippocampus have been unsuccessful. Using subdural and depth recordings from epileptic patients, we now report the first evidence of state-dependent hippocampal theta waves (4-7 Hz) in humans. Unlike the continuous theta in rodents, however, these oscillations were consistently observed during REM sleep in short (approximately 1 sec) bursts and during transitions to wake in longer epochs. Theta waves were also observed in the basal temporal lobe and frontal cortex during transitions from sleep to wake and in quiet wakefulness but not in REM, and they were not coherent with hippocampal theta oscillations. The absence of functional coupling between neocortex and hippocampus during theta periods indicates that multiple theta generators exist in the human brain, and that they are dynamically regulated by brain state. Gamma oscillations were also present during REM theta bursts, but the fluctuations in gamma power were not associated with theta phase, pointing out another significant difference between rodent and human theta properties. Together, these findings suggest that the generation mechanisms of theta oscillations in humans might have evolved from tonic to phasic in hippocampus during REM sleep and extended from hippocampus to cortex, where they appear in certain wakefulness-related states.
Architecture of a three-probe MEMS nanomanipulator with nanoscale end-effectors

We report the development of a three-probe manipulator for handling and characterizing the properties of nanoscopic objects. The manipulator is realized using micromachining and nanofabrication techniques. It is powered using thermal bimetallic actuation principle. We developed nanoscale end-effectors to directly interface with nanoscopic objects. The end-effectors are mode using focused ion beam milling.
The dietary composition of Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtles) with special reference to the seeds of aquatic macrophytes.

Animals facilitate macrophyte seed dispersal in various ways despite spe- cializations of macrophytes for water dispersal. Previous diet analyses of freshwater aquatic turtles revealed that several North American turtle species consume a variety and abundance of seeds among other plant material and animal prey. We quantifi ed the dietary habits of Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle) in a Massa- chusetts lake to examine if these animals included hydrophyte seeds in their diet and evaluate their capacity as passive seed-dispersal agents. Fifty-four turtles were trapped and housed to collect feces. Examination of feces revealed a diverse diet with comparatively high frequencies of animal, plant, and algal matter. Eight hundred fi fty-seven seeds of at least nine plant species were egested (among 87% of turtles), with all but fi ve (99%) seeds visibly intact. Seeds of Nuphar (473) and Decodon (305) were most abundant in the feces. Life-history characteristics of both C. p. picta and Nuphar suggest an effective endozoochorous seed dispersal association.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Use of Intubation for Periviable Neonates

OBJECTIVE: Racial/ethnic minorities report preferences for resuscitative care at the end of life. The main objective of this study was to determine if there are racial/ethnic differences in use of intubation for periviable neonates. We hypothesized that infants born to black and Hispanic women are more likely to be resuscitated compared with infants born to white women. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of state-level maternal and infant hospital discharge data of women who delivered between 23.0 and 24.6 weeks9 gestation linked to birth and death certificate data for California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2005 (N = 9632). RESULTS: Overall, 78.9% of the population was aged 18 to 35 years, and almost half were nulliparous; 19.4% of the women were black, 36.6% were Hispanic, and 33.4% were white. Approximately 30% had less than a high school education, and 49.2% were federally insured. Overall, 44.7% of periviable neonates were intubated. In multivariable analyses adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, black and Hispanic race/ethnicity was significantly associated with neonatal intubation (odds ratios [ORs]: 1.14 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.29] and 1.22 [95% CI: 1.10–1.36], respectively). In models controlling for clustering at the level of the delivery hospital, black race remained a predictor of neonatal intubation (OR: 1.25 [95% CI: 1.07–1.46]), but differences among Hispanics dissipated (OR: 1.12 [95% CI: 0.98–1.27]). CONCLUSIONS: Racial/ethnic differences exist in patterns of periviable resuscitation, which may reflect underlying differences in patient preference. Alternatively, institutional practices or resources may account for these differences. These findings have important implications for patient care and institutional practice. Our results lay the foundation for additional work to investigate how social, cultural, and institutional factors influence patient–provider decision-making regarding periviable care.
On the implementation of a capacity estimator for wireless ad hoc networks

End-to-end capacity is a useful metric for network applications such as traffic engineering, QoS verification, peer-to-peer file distribution, video/audio streaming, admission control, etc. Although several tools have been developed to estimate end-to-end capacity and available bandwidth in wired networks, estimators for wireless ad-hoc networks are still to be developed. The paper briefly describes the model of a new capacity estimation tool for wireless ad-hoc networks. Then, it discusses two critical aspects in the implementation of any estimation tool: time stamping packets and clock synchronization. The paper details how to time stamp packets under the Linux and Windows operating systems, and a describes a regression-based mechanism that eliminates measurement errors due to clock drifts. The time stamping methods and the regression algorithm are implemented in the capacity estimator, which shows accurate capacity estimations.
Reactions of coordinated dinitrogen—XXII. Synthesis, characterization and reactions of hydrazido(2-) complexes of molybdenum. Crystal structures of two hydrazido(2-) complexes ☆

Abstract The reactions of anhydrous HX (X = Br, Cl) with trans-Mo(N2)2(triphos) (PPh3) (1) where triphos = PhP(CH2CH2PPh2)2, yield [MoX(NNH2)(triphos)(PPh3)]X as a mixture of isomers: 1A(X) and 1B(X). In solution, PPh3 dissociates rapidly from the B isomer. Addition of PPh3 to a mixture of 1A(X) and 1B(X) enabled the separation of the isomers by fractional crystallization. Addition of PPh2Me to a mixture of 1A(X) and 1B(X) led to the isolation of 1A(X) and [MoX(NNH2)(triphos)(PPh2Me)]X [2B(X)]. Amber 1A(Cl) crystallizes with one molecule of toluene in the monoclinic space group P21 with a = 13.714(2), b = 13.924(2), c = 14.279(3) A, β = 102.44(1)°, and Z = 2. Olive-green 2B(Cl) crystallizes with two molecules of salvation; one each of pentane and toluene, in the triclinic space group P 1 with a = 12.922(2), b = 13.552(3), c = 18.067(4) A, α = 106.04(1), β = 107.65(1), γ = 97.22(1)°, and Z = 2. Loss of PPh3 from 1B(X) is proposed to be due to steric factors. Yields of ammonia and hydrazine formed from all the nitrogen hydride complexes are summarized.
Enriched designs for assessing discriminatory performance--analysis of bias and variance.

In evaluating discriminatory performance of a new modality in a screening setting, a logistical constraint is that the prevalence of the disease of interest is typically very low. This implies that under a standard study design large numbers of subjects have to be evaluated using the new modality. However, if a predicate modality exists in clinical practice, one can base inclusion into the study of the new modality on the clinical results from the predicate to ‘enrich’ the population of diseased subjects in the study. If this enrichment is not accounted for when estimating sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve, these ‘naive’ estimates may be substantially biased compared with expected performance in the intended use population. We derive expressions for the magnitude of this bias in terms of correlations of modality scores. When such estimates are ‘corrected’ for the sampling weights using inverse probability weighting, the variances of the estimates of the above quantities are affected. We derive here analytic expressions for these variances. For a fixed number of diseased subjects, differential sampling increases the variance of the (corrected) estimates, all other things being equal. However, differential sampling also increases the number with disease for fixed total study size, which decreases the variance of the sensitivity and area under the ROC curve estimates, all other things being equal. The balance of these two effects determines the gain in efficiency when using enrichment and corrected estimates. These principles are illustrated with a simulation study motivated by the Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial study, a trial of digital versus screen film mammography. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A kinematic thumb model for the ACT hand

The thumb is essential to the hand's function in grasping and manipulating objects. Previous anthropomorphic robot hands have thumbs that are biologically-inspired but kinematically-simplified. In order to study the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of hand function, an anatomical robotic model of the human thumb is constructed for the anatomically-correct testbed (ACT) hand. This paper presents our ACT thumb kinematic model that unifies a number of studies from biomechanical literature. We also validate the functional consistency (i.e. the nonlinear moment arm values) between the cadaveric data and the ACT thumb. This functional consistency preserves the geometric relationship between muscle length and joint angles, which allows robotic actuators to imitate human muscle functionality
Bowel perforation associated with temsirolimus use in a recently irradiated patient.

Purpose A probable case of bowel perforation associated with temsirolimus use in a patient with uterine leiomyosarcoma is reported. Summary A 45-year-old Hispanic woman reported acute abdominal pain one day after receiving her third weekly i.v. infusion of temsirolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor increasingly used against a variety of cancers, including renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcomas. Temsirolimus had been initiated three weeks previously in an attempt to control retroperitoneal metastases of uterine leiomyosarcoma, which had progressed despite surgical resection, six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy, and pelvic irradiation. A computed tomography scan revealed a large pelvic mass with foci of gas, fluid collection, and other findings highly suggestive of an abscess due to bowel perforation. Application of the adverse drug reaction probability scale of Naranjo et al. in this case indicated a probable relationship between the bowel perforation and temsirolimus use; a literature search identified no other reported cases of temsirolimus-associated bowel perforation in association with uterine leiomyosarcoma. It is suspected that the patient’s recent course of pelvic radiotherapy may have played a role in predisposing her to bowel perforation during temsirolimus use. While the mechanism of bowel perforations associated with temsirolimus therapy remains unclear, it is possible that due to its inhibitory effects on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), temsirolimus use may result in gastrointestinal stresses and weaknesses similar to those attributed to bevacizumab, a VEGF-targeted angiogenesis inhibitor that has been linked to chemotherapy-induced bowel perforation. Conclusion A woman who recently received pelvic radiation experienced a bowel perforation after three infusions of temsirolimus for the treatment of metastatic leiomyosarcoma.
BIBO stability in 3-D digital filters

In this brief, we consider the problem of binary input binary output stability of three-dimensional linear shift-invariant filters, in the presence of nonessential singularities of the second kind. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for l/sub 1/ and l/sub 2/ stabilities of a function G=P/Q/sup n/, where P and Q are polynomials in the complex variable z.
Structural semiconductor-to-semimetal phase transition in two-dimensional materials induced by electrostatic gating

Dynamic control of conductivity and optical properties via atomic structure changes is of technological importance in information storage. Energy consumption considerations provide a driving force towards employing thin materials in devices. Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides are nearly atomically thin materials that can exist in multiple crystal structures, each with distinct electrical properties. By developing new density functional-based methods, we discover that electrostatic gating device configurations have the potential to drive structural semiconductor-to-semimetal phase transitions in some monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides. Here we show that the semiconductor-to-semimetal phase transition in monolayer MoTe2 can be driven by a gate voltage of several volts with appropriate choice of dielectric. We find that the transition gate voltage can be reduced arbitrarily by alloying, for example, for Mo(x)W(1-x)Te2 monolayers. Our findings identify a new physical mechanism, not existing in bulk materials, to dynamically control structural phase transitions in two-dimensional materials, enabling potential applications in phase-change electronic devices.
Simulation Study of Strain-Related Morphology in YBa2Cu3}−x(Al,Fe)xO7

A new simulation method which combines the merits of Monte Carlo simulation of a lattice gas model and the continuum elasticity theory is described. This method treats the elastic strain energy due to concentration fluctuation of interstitial as a perturbation of a lattice gas model Hamiltonian. We illustrate this method by calculating the diffuse scattering intensity of YBa2Cu3O7 systems doped with trivalent impurity atoms M such as Fe or Al. The oxygen concentration wave amplitudes cq were obtained from Monte Carlo simulations of an anisotropic lattice gas model which represents well the interaction between oxygen atoms in this system. These results are in turn used to calculate the diffuse X-ray scattering intensity caused by the displacement field using concentration wave/displacement wave approach. The results suggest that the small orthorhombic domains associated with the oxygen “cross-link” around impurity atoms M causes the diffuse scattering intensity to fall off with oxygen concentration wave vector q as 1/q2for small q and as 1/q4 for larger q. We also show that the size of such domain can be obtained from diffuse scattering data.
Special Projects in Undergraduate Human Factors Courses: Evaluation of Power Plant Boiler Control Interface

A special project involving a campus utility plant HMI evaluation was offered to a group of undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory human factors class. Fifteen out of 55 students enrolled in the course volunteered for the special project. Specific subtasks were created in collaboration with the plant management and allocated to subgroups of students. These subtasks were scheduled to coincide with corresponding topics in the course. Evaluated by both the educational outcomes and the usefulness of the project deliverables to the power plant, the project clearly represents a beneficial situation to both students and instructors. The value of hands-on experience with task analysis, control room design, and HMI design to the students is undisputable. This case is also exemplary in terms of providing a service to the University community as a byproduct of the academic pursuits.
Protein−Surface Interaction Maps for Ion-Exchange Chromatography

In this paper, protein-surface interaction maps were generated by performing coarse-grained protein-surface calculations. This approach allowed for the rapid determination of the protein-surface interaction energies at a range of orientations and distances. Interaction maps of lysozyme indicated that there was a contiguous series of orientations corresponding to several adjacent preferred binding regions on the protein surface. Examination of these orientations provided insight into the residues involved in surface interactions, which qualitatively agreed with the retention data for single-site mutants. Interaction maps of lysozyme single-site mutants were also generated and provided significant insight into why these variants exhibited significant differences in their chromatographic behavior. This approach was also employed to study the binding behavior of CspB and related mutants. The results indicated that, in addition to describing general trends in the data, these maps provided significant insight into retention data of the single-site mutants. In particular, subtle retention trends observed with the K12 and K13 mutants were well-described using this interaction map approach. Finally, the number of interaction points with energies stronger than -2 kcal/mol was shown to be able to semi-quantitatively predict the behavior of most of the mutants. This rapid approach for calculating protein-surface interaction maps is expected to facilitate future method development for separating closely related protein variants in ion-exchange systems.
Abstract 3546: Cucurbitacin B as a direct mTOR inhibitor synergizes with methotrexate for treatment of human osteosarcoma

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is one of the most important oncogenic pathways in cancer, and the upregulation of the mTOR pathway is frequently observed in human osteosarcoma (OS). In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that cucurbitacin B, a plant-derived tetracyclic triterpenoid, is a direct mTOR inhibitor in OS using drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) analysis. Binding of cucurbitacin B to mTOR resulted in the inhibition of mTOR phosphorylation in MG-63 and SAOS-2 human OS cells in vitro, which was further confirmed by the inhibition of ribosomal S6 protein kinase (S6K) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1). This finding led us to hypothesize the possible use of cucurbitacin B as a single agent as well as in combination with methotrexate (MTX) for OS treatment. Cucurbitacin B in combination with MTX synergistically inhibited OS cell growth in vitro such that combination index (CI) < 0.9. Murine xenografts treated with either low-dose cucurbitacin B (LD-CuB, 0.5 mg/kg body weight) or low-dose MTX (LD-MTX, 150 mg/kg) alone failed to decrease tumor size. However, combined therapy at identical concentrations inhibited tumor growth by 62% vs LD-CuB and 81% vs LD-MTX (p<0.001). The effect persisted even at a two-thirds decrease (50 mg/kg) in the MTX dose. In conclusion, cucurbitacin B is a direct inhibitor of mTOR, and the combined use of cucurbitacin B with MTX showed promising antiproliferative activity against human OS. The use of this combination should be explored further in clinical studies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3546. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3546
Motor Performance of Schizophrenics after Mellow and Frenetic Antecedent Music

Previous research has yielded an inconclusive picture of the effects of music on motor performance. Using a 3-factor within-subjects design [mellow/(4:4 time), frenetic/(2:8 time), and white noise music conditions], each of 19 schizophrenic inpatient volunteers performed a Purdue Pegboard and Finger Oscillation (Tapping) Test following 1-min. presentations of 3 types of music. Pegboard performance was higher after frenetic music but unaffected by mellow music; there was no effect on tapping.
Oilfield Injection Pipeline Network Optimization Design Based on Improved PSO

The water injection system is one of main ways of extracting oil on land oil field in our country,in the investment of oilfield ground project,the pipeline network of injection system take great proportion,and in order to save the cost,an improved PSO algorithm to solute the pipe network mathematical model is used and the optimal pipeline network layout is obtained.After judging whether to fall into local best through the standard deviation,the improved PSO algorithm is leading into the overlapping factor of genetic algorithm to increase the particle multiplicity,so,it can jump out the local best,speeds up the convergence rate.From the simulation result of realistic example,it indicated that compares with the basic PSO algorithm,the improved PSO algorithm is much better.
NEH Project: Computer Simulations in the Humanities

Simulation techniques have long sustained research in various domains of physical, biological, and social sciences. Currently, humanists are exploring the usefulness of simulations for addressing various research questions. The nature and challenges of this enterprise are presented here in respect to collaborative work, the relation of humanities to the sciences, the transformative nature of digital methods of research within the humanities. This article describes a coordinated attempt to pursue these issues via a Summer Institute funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and briefly notes the projects of three of the Institute’s participants. Their work is described in detail elsewhere within this volume.
Labeling of a protein with fluorophores using maleimide derivitization.

Abstract Maleimide derivitization of a protein is an essential tool for putting probes such as fluorescent labels at different sites within a polypeptide chain. This allows one to better understand protein–protein or protein–nucleic acid interactions using various biophysical approaches such as fluorescence anisotropy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).