cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EDMAC: An enhanced directional medium access control protocol for 60 GHz networks

Recent technology advances are poised to enable low-cost, low-power communications in the 7 GHz of unlicensed spectrum at 60 GHz millimeter wave (mmW) frequencies. In 60 GHz networks, transmitters and receivers employ directional antennas and point their main beams toward each other to overcome high propagation losses and achieve high data rates. However, CSMA based directional MAC (DMAC) protocols suffer from the "deafness" problem which causes unfairness and low channel utilization. This paper examines the deafness problem from a new perspective and shows that unfairness and low channel utilization are caused by the exponential backoff mechanism. We propose an enhanced DMAC (EDMAC) protocol that does not use an exponential backoff mechanism, instead employing a low control overhead protocol that enables receivers to adaptively tune senders' contention window sizes. NS-2 simulation results are given to demonstrate that EDMAC compares favorably to DMAC, achieving similar capacity and lower delay jitter in single hop networks, and significantly higher capacity in multi-hop ad hoc network scenarios.
Double water and double ammonia proton complexations studied with ab initio and density functional theory methods

Abstract The geometries and energies for the double water and double ammonia proton complexations were computed using ab initio and DFT methods. The ab initio methods, HF, MP2, QCISD(D), G1, and G2 were applied. Several different DFT methods (hybrid, nonlocal, exchange functional only, and local) were used. All of the studies were performed with the 6-311 + G(2d,2p) basis set. The DFT and ab initio results were compared with values generated by G2 computations. The reliability of the computed values and the suitability of the DFT methods to reproduce G2 data were discussed. DFF methods which should be able to compute reliable results for similar molecular systems were suggested.
Frontiers in photovoltaic materials and devices

Abstract A growing number of semiconductors materials and devices are emerging as strong contenders for photovoltaic applications, but silicon still dominates the market. Ultrahigh-efficiency solar cells fabricated from gallium arsenide and its ternary alloys are finding immediate applications in space exploration. Various thin film technologies, such as hydrogenated amorphous silicon, copper indium diselenide, and cadmium telluride, hold promise for significant cost reduction. Some exciting possibilities exist for new materials and devices.
Financial planning, managers, and college students

Reports that few Americans plan financially for their retirement and outlines the possible strategies for doing so, referring to relevant research, e.g. company sponsored pension plans, individual retirement accounts and dependence on social security. Surveys students before and after financial planning instruction to identify any attitude changes. Finds that many had no idea of how to calculate the funds needed to meet their expectations initially, but that after their finance course they became more realistic about their requirements. Concludes that more training in retirement planning is needed for the general public, urges workers, employers and acacdemics to respond to calls for further research.
Influence of adhesive spew in bonded single-lap joints

Adhesively bonded lap joints involve dissimilar material junctions and sharp changes in geometry, possibly leading to premature failure. Although the finite element method is well suited to model the bonded lap joints, traditional finite elements are incapable of correctly resolving the stress state at junctions of dissimilar materials because of the unbounded nature of the stresses. In order to facilitate the use of bonded lap joints in future structures, this study presents a finite element technique utilizing a global (special) element coupled with traditional elements. The global element includes the singular behavior at the junction of dissimilar materials with or without traction-free surfaces.
Gain, cost, and event probability as determiners of choice behavior

Differential gain, cost, and event probability were varied in a two-choice situation. Increases in the gain associated with a correct response, increases in the probability of being correct, and decreases in the cost of an incorrect response all result in increases in the probability of that response. Gain had a greater effect than cost, but both variables became less effective as event probability increased. Changes in these relationships were noted as a function of trials.
Excitation-contraction coupling and electrical events in two types of vascular smooth muscle.

Abstract The maximal depolarization of rabbit mesenteric veins by norepinephrine was significantly greater than that produced by serotonin, paralleling the previously reported inequality of the contractile effects of these drugs. It is suggested that the unequal effects of drugs on the ion-permeability of the membrane, if they also involved Ca, would account for their unequal efficiency of pharmacomechanical coupling. Very fast action potentials (rise time The dose-dependent, graded depolarization of rabbit main pulmonary arteries, usually without action potentials, was verified by intracellular records. The effects of intracellular polarizing and depolarizing currents on action potentials of mesenteric veins were determined. Hyperpolarization increased the height and the rate of rise of action potentials, depolarization had the opposite effect. The differences between spike-generating and electrically gradedly responsive vascular smooth muscles (rate of relaxation of K, Ca-contractures, depression by Dibenamine, permeability to Ca) persisted after the depletion of endogenous catecholamine stores with reserpine. Procaine reversibly relaxed the K, Ca-contractures of both types of vascular smooth muscle.
Obliteration of the ductus reuniens.

The ductus reuniens was successfully obliterated in 52 guinea pig ears. Histopathological study showed that a majority of these specimens demonstrated cochlear hydrops, saccular collapse and normal...
Changes in left ventricular function during recovery from upright bicycle exercise in normal persons and patients with coronary artery disease.

Abstract To characterize the hemodynamic changes during recovery after upright bicycle exercise, 56 normal subjects (group I) and 30 patients with documented myocardial ischemia (group II) were studied. Heart rate, blood pressure and radionuclide angiographically determined absolute left ventricular (LV) volumes were measured at baseline, peak exercise and 2 to 4.5 minutes and 4.5 to 7 minutes after upright bicycle exercise. Whereas ejection fraction and end-systolic volume responses at peak exercise differed between groups I and II, these parameters showed similar trends in both groups during recovery. Mean ejection fraction increased during 2 to 4.5 minutes in both groups, but remained elevated during 4.5 to 7 minutes only in normal subjects (group I)- Elevation of cardiac output after exercise was accounted for predominantly by increased heart rate rather than increased stroke volume. Despite significantly decreased end-diastolic volume during recovery, stroke volume was maintained in both groups by a substantial decrease in end-systolic volume, suggesting the impact of decreased afterload or increased sympathetic tone during recovery. Thus, the Frank-Starling mechanism does not appear to be playing a major role during recovery after upright bicycle exercise, whereas enhanced contractility is evident in both normal subjects and patients with documented myocardial ischemia.
Measuring welfare loss caused by air pollution in Europe: A CGE analysis

Abstract To evaluate the socio-economic impacts of air pollution, we develop an integrated approach based on computable general equilibrium (CGE). Applying our approach to 18 western European countries shows that even there, where air quality is relatively high compared with other parts of the world, health-related damages caused by air pollution may be substantial. We estimate that as of 2005, Europe experienced an annual loss in consumption of about 220 billion Euro in year 2000 prices (about 3% of total consumption) with a range based on 95% high and low epidemiological response functions of 107–335 billion Euro and a total welfare loss of about 370 billion Euro (range of 209–550) including both consumption and broader welfare losses (around 2% of welfare level) due to the accumulated effects of three decades of air pollution in Europe. In addition, we estimate that a set of air quality improvement policy scenarios as proposed in the 2005 CAFE program would bring 18 European countries as a whole a welfare gain of 37–49 billion Euro (year 2000 prices) in year 2020 alone.
Overexpression of the PepF Oligopeptidase Inhibits Sporulation Initiation in Bacillus subtilis

The yjbG gene encoding the homologue of the PepF1 and PepF2 oligoendopeptidases of Lactococcus lactis (Monnet et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:32070-32076, 1994; Nardi et al., J. Bacteriol. 179:4164-4171, 1997) has been identified in Bacillus subtilis as an inhibitor of sporulation initiation when present in the cells on a multicopy plasmid. Genetic analysis suggested that the inhibitory effect is due to hydrolysis of the PhrA peptide in a form as small as the pentapeptide (ARNQT). Inactivation of PhrA results in deregulation of the RapA phosphatase and thus dephosphorylation of the Spo0F approximately P response regulator component of the phosphorelay for sporulation initiation. When overexpressed, the B. subtilis PepF is most likely hydrolyzing additional peptides of the Phr family, as is the case for PhrC involved in control of competence development. Chromosomal inactivation of the yjbG/pepF gene did not give rise to any detectable phenotype. The function of PepF in B. subtilis remains unknown. Limited experiments with a yjbG paralogue called yusX indicated that a frameshift is present, making the corresponding gene product inactive.
Diagnostic implications of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in BAL fluid of patients with pulmonary infiltrates in the ICU.

Objective Prospective single-center study to determine whether the presence of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) has diagnostic utility in patients with pulmonary infiltrates receiving mechanical ventilation and undergoing BAL. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a 1,200-bed urban teaching hospital. Patients Adult patients with acute respiratory failure undergoing BAL for pulmonary infiltrates. Interventions BAL fluid measurement of sTREM-1 concentration using a Quantikine Human TREM-1 Immunoassay (RD Minneapolis, MN). Measurements and main results A total of 105 consecutive patients receiving mechanical ventilation and undergoing BAL were enrolled. Of those, 19 patients (18.1%) met definite microbiologic criteria for bacterial or fungal ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Though the mean sTREM-1 concentration was greater in patients with definite VAP (n = 19; 171.9 ± 158.7 pg/mL) than in patients with definite absence of VAP (n = 21; 96.7 ± 76.2 pg/mL), this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.06). A cutoff value for sTREM-1 > 200 pg/mL yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 42.1% and a specificity of 75.6% for definite VAP. Patients with alveolar hemorrhage had the greatest values for sTREM-1 concentration (n = 9; 555 ± 440 pg/mL). Receiver operating curve analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that measurement of sTREM-1 was inferior to clinical parameters for the diagnosis of VAP. Conclusions Measurement of sTREM-1 in BAL fluid appears to have minimal diagnostic value for VAP.
Substance use treatment outcomes in a sample of male serious juvenile offenders

This study examined drug-treatment-related reductions in alcohol and marijuana use, cigarette smoking, and nondrug offending among male adolescents who had been adjudicated of a serious (almost exclusively felony) offense. Results indicated that the "real-world" drug treatments that these adolescents experienced had significant effects on substance use, which could not be explained solely by incarceration in controlled environments. However, effects on cigarette smoking and criminal offending were found only for treatments that included family involvement. Results suggest that involving families in adolescents' treatment may be useful for promoting desistence from criminal offending in this population.
CT of complicated inflammatory bowel disease in children

Most children with inflammatory bowel disease do not need a CT scan. However, when the course becomes complicated it often is necessary to evaluate what is happening outside the bowel lumen. CT is the examination of choice for that evaluation. With CT, the presence and extent of an abscess can be diagnosed and followed; fistulae can be detected; bowel wall and mesenteric thickening can generally be differentiated from an abscess.
Pictures of an Invasion: English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) in a Semi-Natural Pacific Northwest Forest

Abstract English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is an increasingly common invader of west-side Pacific Northwest forests, but little sitescale information exists about the pattern and processes of this invasion. We comprehensively surveyed English holly in an 8.4 ha area of invaded forest at St. Edward State Park (WA), a largely native forest in the Seattle metropolitan area. We measured, mapped, aged, and removed all holly ≥ 1 cm basal diameter or > 1 m from the nearest sampled holly, and used these data to characterize the invading population and the course of the invasion. Holly in our sample (n = 466 known-age plants; 55.5 stems ha-1) ranged in age from 1 to 46 years. Trees ≥10 years old appeared to have very low mortality rates and exhibited accelerating rates of size increase and biomass accumulation with age. Native vegetation was greatly reduced under holly canopy. Our spatial and age data indicate that holly is proliferating and spreading rapidly at two scales: contiguous, primarily vegetative, expansio...
Azathioprine in dermatology: The past, the present, and the future

For several decades, dermatologists have utilized azathioprine to treat numerous debilitating skin diseases. This synthetic purine analog is derived from 6-mercaptopurine. It is thought to act by disrupting nucleic acid synthesis and has recently been found to interfere with T-cell activation. The most recognized uses of azathioprine in dermatology are for immunobullous diseases, generalized eczematous disorders, and photodermatoses. In this comprehensive review, the authors present recent advancements in the understanding of azathioprine and address aspects not covered in prior reviews. They (1) summarize the history of azathioprine; (2) discuss metabolism, integrating information from recent publications; (3) review the mechanism of action with attention paid to the activities of azathioprine not mediated by its 6-mercaptopurine metabolites and review new data about inhibition by azathioprine of the CD28 signal transduction pathway; (4) thoroughly examine thiopurine s-methyltransferase genetics, its clinical relevance, and interethnic variations; (5) review prior uses of azathioprine in the field of dermatology and grade the level of evidence; (6) discuss the use of azathioprine in pregnancy and pediatrics; review (7) key drug interactions and (8) adverse effects; (9) suggest a dosing and monitoring approach different from prior recommendations; and (10) explore the future of azathioprine, focusing on laboratory considerations and therapeutic application.
Analysis of formaldehyde and glyoxylic acid

Abstract 1. 1. The precipitation of dicumarol is quantitative when the compound is formed in the presence of an excess of 4-hydroxycoumarin. 2. 2. The reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin with formaldehyde may be used for the quantitative analysis of formaldehyde. 3. 3. The precipitation of dicumarol is not quantitative in the presence of an excess of formaldehyde. 4. 4. The most favorable condition for the formation of di(4-hydroxycoumarinyl) acetic acid is an excess of 4-hydroxycoumarin in an acidic media. 5. 5. An excess of glyoxylic acid lowers the yield of di(4-hydroxycoumarinyl) acetic acid in the reaction with 4-hydroxycoumarin. 6. 6. Oxidation with Tollen's reagent may be used for the quantitative analysis of glyoxylic acid. 7. 7. Oxidation with basic silver nitrate and triethylamine may be used for the quantitative analysis of formaldehyde.
Survival of Foul-Hooked Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

ABSTRACT We conducted a field experiment to determine the survival rate of foul-hooked (hooked external to the oral cavity) largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) caught and released by recreational anglers. Of 42 largemouth bass caught with hard-plastic baits containing three treble hooks, 15 were hooked only within the mouth and 27 had at least one hook penetrating the external surface of the fish (i.e., foul-hooked). There was no difference in survival of mouth-hooked (100%), foul-hooked (100%), or control (100%) largemouth bass.
13. HIV-1 infection.

Abstract This review is intended to provide a fundamental perspective on the dynamic interplay between HIV-1 and the immune system, an essential aspect in defining the pathogenesis and treatment of AIDS. HIV-1 infection, the cause of AIDS, is a worldwide pandemic with enormous adverse heath and economic implications, particularly in the developing world. This bloodborne and sexually transmitted disease, which evolved from simian immunodeficiency virus, infects and replicates in helper T cells and macrophages and utilizes CD4 and a chemokine coreceptor for entry. Immune deficiency occurs as a result of virally induced attrition of CD4 T cells, resulting in the development of opportunistic infections and malignancy. Prophylaxis against opportunistic infections is required according to the extent of immune deficiency. HIV-specific immunity can control viral replication and delay disease progression but does not clear infection. Antiretroviral treatment consists of inhibitors that target for viral entry, reverse transcriptase, and viral protease. Therapy can control viral replication, restore immunity, and delay disease progression, but it cannot eliminate infection. Thus chronic infection persists even in treated patients. Antiretroviral drugs have been highly effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission and for postexposure prophylaxis. Several novel vaccines in development hold promise for either effective infection prevention or attenuation of disease progression. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;111:S582-92.)
Sodium Butyrate Induces Tyrosine Phosphorylation and Activation of MAP Kinase (ERK-1) in Human K562 Cells

Abstract Butyrate is a naturally occuring 4-carbon fatty acid. Biologically, butyrate has been shown to affect the morphology and growth rate of mammalian cells, as well as induce gene expression. Moreover, butyrate has been proven to serve as an anticancer agent, which unlike others (methotrexate and hydroxyurea), is a nontoxic, safe alternative to cancer treatment. It also induces erythroid differentiation in K562 cells. However, its mechanism of action has yet to be determined. In this study we investigated the effects of sodium butyrate (NaB) on tyrosine phosphorylation in K562 erythroleukemic cells. We demonstrate that NaB induces both dose and time-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, the effects of which were blocked by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Furthermore, NaB induces tyrosine phosphorylation and rapid activation of MAP kinase (ERK-1). These findings provide the first evidence that the signal transduction mechanism of NaB involves rapid tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinase.
Characteristics of the energy-transducing NADH-quinone oxidoreductase of Paracoccus denitrificans as revealed by biochemical, biophysical, and molecular biological approaches.

A comparison of the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase and the energy-transducing NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (NDH-1) ofParacoccus denitrificans revealed that both systems have similar electron-transfer and energy-transduction pathways. In addition, both complexes are sensitive to the same inhibitors and contain similar electron carriers, suggesting that theParacoccus NDH-1 may serve as a useful model system for the study of the human enzyme complex. The gene cluster encoding theParacoccus NDH-1 has been cloned and sequenced. It is composed of 18,106 base pairs and contains 14 structural genes and six unidentified reading frames (URFs). The structural genes, URFs, and their polypeptides have been characterized. We also discuss nucleotide sequences which are believed to play a role in the regulation of the NDH-1 gene cluster andParacoccus NDH-1 subunits which may contain the binding sites of substrates and/or electron carriers.
Use of Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) with Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Abstract We report the use of solid phase microextraction (SPME) combined with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) for sampling, screening and identification of organic compounds that are readily detected by IMS. This is a new SPME application. SPME has emerged recently as an excellent sample preparation technique for gas chromatography (GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We have found that SPME can be used very conveniently with IMS. An example of SPME-IMS is described using SPME headspace sampling at room temperature with 0.1 mL vials containing 1.0 microgram or less of either cocaine freebase or cocaine hydrochloride. This is followed by analysis using IMS. A hole, drilled in the IMS sample ticket holder, serves as the SPME-IMS interface. ∗Presented in part at the SPIE (The International Society for Optical Engineering) Conference 2937, Chemistry- and Biology-Based Technologies for Contraband Detection, Boston, MA, November 1996.
Real -Time adaptive Digital Image Watermarking

In this paper we present real-time system for embedding of digital watermark in images. The production and distribution of multimedia data in digital format, raises the intellectual property rights (IPR) protection problem, since the digital data can be easily copied without quality degradation. With digital watermarking, information containing origin, status, and/or destination of the data, can be imperceptibly and robustly embedded in the host data. As a consequence, the watermark should survive against unintentional attacks such as common image processing and/or hostile intentional attacks which may occur to destroy the watermark. This paper describes an efficient watermarking algorithm using spatial domain technique. Descriptions of watermark insertion-verification 'C code and a real-time implementation of the insertion mechanism, running on TITMS320C6711 DSP are given. The paper is organized as follows: after this short introduction, the algorithm steps are presented, followed by special consideration regarding the real-time implementation on TI's TMS320C6711 DSP. Applications of watermarking process in real-time are also described.
Interactive Boundary Computation of Boolean Combinations of Sculptured Solids

We present algorithms and systems for interactive boundary computation of Boolean combinations of sculptured solids. The algorithm is applicable to all spline solids and computes an accurate boundary representation. To speed up the computation, the algorithm exploits parallelism at all stages. It has been implemented on a multi-processor SGI and takes one second on average per boolean operation to compute the boundary of high degree primitives. The system has also been integrated with an immersive design and manipulation environment. The resulting system is able to interactively evaluate boundaries of the models, display them for model validation and place them at appropriate position using collision detection algorithms.
An Investigation Into Relaying of Creeping Waves for Reliable Low-Power Body Sensor Networking

We investigate the use of relaying of creeping waves in the industrial scientific medical frequency bands of 434 MHz, 915 MHz, and 2.4 GHz. The investigation includes generic analysis and experimental setups. For generic analysis, a link budget model is derived based solely on the creeping wave component of the transmitted signal while marginalizing for other effects, such as reflections from the surrounding environment. Closed-form expressions of the gains in network lifetime and energy per bit are derived for a system covering the entire body using relays compared to a reference system offering the same level of reliability without relaying. The experimental setups are used to gather measurements in the 2.4-GHz band with a body sensor network development platform in a nonreflective open-space environment and in a reflective residential environment. The measurements are used to validate the link budget model and evaluate performance of practical systems. Analysis and experimentation demonstrate that relaying of creeping waves offers considerable performance gains in all frequency bands. For example, using a single relay on either side of the body in 2.4 GHz can potentially increase network-lifetime times 40 and decrease energy per bit by 48 dB. Part of this potential is achieved in experimental setups where relaying was shown to increase network lifetime times 13, decrease energy per bit by 13 dB and provide the ability to compensate for a wider fading margin.
Plasma fatty acids, prostaglandin F2alpha metabolite, and reproductive response in postpartum heifers fed rumen bypass fat.

An experiment was conducted to determine whether feeding rumen-protected fatty acids (FA) to postpartum heifers would increase plasma concentrations of linoleic acid and PGF2, metabolite (PGFM), shorten the interval from calving to first increase in plasma concentrations of progesterone (P4), and increase pregnancy rate relative to controls. Hereford x Angus heifers (346 kg) were assigned randomly to treatments containing either lipid or barley supplemented diets for the first 30 d postpartum. Lipid was .23 kg.heifer(-1).d(-1) of calcium salts of FA (CSFA; n = 20), and an isocaloric amount of barley served as the control (n = 19). Supplements, with .23 kg of barley as a vehicle, and a basal diet of meadow and alfalfa hays were pen fed to heifers (5/pen). Heifers were bled on alternate days (d1 to 30) and twice weekly (d 30 to 2 wk after first estrus) for RIA of plasma PGFM and P4, respectively. Weight percentage of major FA in plasma on d1 and 7 was determined with gas chromatography. First behavioral estrus was detected by use of intact bulls and confirmed by an increase in plasma P4. On d 7, but not d 1, plasma from heifers fed CSFA had altered proportions of major FA (P < .01), including an increase in linoleic acid compared with those of controls (29.1 vs 25.6% of total FA; SE = .75; P < .01). Analysis of variance of contrast variables revealed an effect of treatment on direction of change in PGFM from d 3 to 5 (P < .01). By d 7 and on d 9, plasma concentrations of PGFM were greater in heifers fed CSFA than in controls (P = .02 and P = .06, respectively). There was no difference in plasma concentration of PGFM between treatments on d 1, 3, 5, 11, 13, and 15 postpartum (P = .80, .17, .52, .82, .46, and .77, respectively). Days to first estrus with ovulation, pregnancy rate, and calving interval were not affected by treatments (P = .58, .52, and .24, respectively). Although supplemental lipid fed to primiparous beef heifers increased plasma levels of linoleic acid and production of PGFM in the early postpartum period, it did not improve the fertility of these heifers in the subsequent breeding season.
We Live Forwards But Understand Backwards: Linguistic Practices and Future Behavior

Ascriptions of content are sensitive not only to our physical and social environment, but also to unforeseeable developments in the subsequent usage of our terms. The paper argues that the problems that may seem to come from endorsing such ‘temporally sensitive’ ascriptions either already follow from accepting the socially and historically sensitive ascriptions Burge and Kripke appeal to, or disappear when the view is developed in detail. If one accepts that one’s society's past and current usage contributes to what one’s terms mean, there is little reason not to let its future usage to do so as well.
Response of reperfusion-salvaged, stunned myocardium to inotropic stimulation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether myocardium salvaged by reperfusion following coronary occlusion could respond to inotropic stimulation by dopamine. Mongrel dogs underwent a 2-hour occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by reperfusion for 5 or 28 hours. Dopamine (5 to 10 μg/kg/min) or dextrose was administered 1 hour or 24 hours after the onset of reperfusion. Serial, computer-assisted, two-dimensional echocardiographic determination of percentage of systolic wall thickening (%SWT) and coross-sectional ejection fraction (% Δ area) were used to evaluate the response to treatment. Myocardium in the region of central ischemia contracted poorly after 1 hour of reperfusion (mean %SWT = 1.3 ± 13.3% [mean ± SD] compared to preocclusion value of 43.6 ± 18.5%, p < 0.001) and tended to thin at 24 hours of reperfusion (mean %SWT = −6.0 ± 12.3%, p < 0.001). After 1 hour of reperfusion, dopamine produced a greater than fourfold improvement in %SWT within the reperfused zone (to 15.3 ± 7.3%, p < 0.05). After 24 hours of reperfusion, dopamine again produced an improvement in %SWT (to 5.8 ± 12.5%, p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in %SWT with dextrose infusion. Thus, dopamine stimulates the reperfusion-salvaged but noncontracting (stunned) myocardium to contract as early as 1 hour after reperfusion.
Preserved Specimens of the Extinct Golden Toad of Monteverde (Cranopsis periglenes) Tested Negative for the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis)

Abstract The Golden Toad of Monteverde (Cranopsis periglenes), Costa Rica is arguably the “poster child” for the global amphibian decline crisis. Of the known drivers of amphibian declines, it has been hypothesized that the emerging infectious disease, chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, led to the toad's extinction. The aim of this study was to test whether the last collected and curated C. periglenes specimens were infected with B. dendrobatidis. Fifteen preserved C. periglenes were swabbed for the presence of B. dendrobatidis, three of which were the last ever collected (April 1982). All skin swabs were tested for B. dendrobatidis with a specific qPCR assay and found negative for B. dendrobatidis. Either the zoospore loads from the specimens fell below detection limits, or the tested specimens were not exposed to B. dendrobatidis at the time of collection. This study highlights the importance of collecting noninvasive, field swabs from living amphibians even...
Front-Line Therapy for Advanced Colorectal Cancer: Emphasis on Chemotherapy

For four decades, 5-fluorouracil was the only option available for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. It provided a response rate of 15% to 20%, with a median survival of approximately 1 year. In the past 5 years, remarkable progress has been made in colorectal cancer research with the approval of irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Most recently, targeted therapies including bevacizumab and cetuximab were added to the armamentarium. Use of two to three lines of combination therapies has raised the median survival to almost 2 years. New and promising targeted and cytotoxic therapies are currently being studied and will ideally continue to extend the median survival as well as improve the quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer.
Interactions among GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms, cruciferous vegetable intake and breast cancer risk

Isothiocyanates are anticarcinogenic phytochemicals found in cruciferous vegetables that both induce and are substrates for the gluthatione S-transferases (GSTs). The GSTs are phase II metabolizing enzymes involved in metabolism of various bioactive compounds. Functional polymorphisms in GST genes have been identified and may interact with cruciferous vegetable intake to affect cancer risk. We examined this hypothesis using data from the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project, a population-based case-control study conducted in Long Island, NY, from 1996 to 1997. Cruciferous vegetable intake in the previous year was assessed via modified Block food frequency questionnaire. DNA was extracted from blood samples (n = 1052 cases and n = 1098 controls) and genotyped for GSTM1 deletion, GSTT1 deletion and GSTP1 Ile105Val using multiplex polymerase chain reaction and Taqman assays. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We found an 86% increase in the OR for breast cancer among carriers of the GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and GSTP 105Ile/Ile genotypes (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.12, 3.08) and a 36% decrease in the OR among carriers of GSTM1 present, GSTT1 null and GSTP1 105Ile/Val + Val/Val genotypes (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.42, 0.97) compared with GSTM1 present, GSTT1 present and GSTP1 105Ile/Ile carriers. We found no joint effects among GST polymorphisms and cruciferous vegetable intake and breast cancer risk. In conclusion, we found associations between specific combinations of three GST gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk but these did not modify the association between cruciferous vegetable intake and breast cancer. Additional studies are needed to confirm the associations observed.
Optimization for enzyme-retting of flax with pectate lyase

Abstract Flax ( Linum usitatissimum L.) is an important commercial crop that supplies both linseed and bast fibers for multiple applications. Retting, which is a microbial process, separates industrially useful bast fibers from non-fiber stem tissues. While several methods (i.e., water- and dew-retting) are used to ret flax, more recently enzymes have been evaluated to replace methods used currently. Alkaline pectate lyase (PL) from the commercial product BioPrep 3000 and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) from Mayoquest 200 as a calcium chelator were used in various formulations to ret flax stems. Retted stems were then mechanically cleaned through the USDA Flax Fiber Pilot Plant and passed through the Shirley Analyzer. The PL and chelator effectively retted flax from both fiber flax and linseed stems, and the use of enzyme plus chelator retted flax stems better than either component alone. Fiber yield and strength were greater than retting with a mixed-enzyme product that contained cellulases. Retting with PL and chelator was optimized based on fine-fiber yield, remaining shive content, and fiber properties. PL at levels of about 2% of the commercial product for 1 h at 55 °C followed by treatment with 18 mM EDTA for 23–24 h at 55 °C provided the best fibers based on these criteria. Yield and fiber properties determined by these tests were not improved with PL levels of 5% of the commercial product.
Discovery of nitrophenols as GPR35 agonists

GPR35 is a family A orphan G protein-coupled receptor whose biological functions are largely unknown. Identification of novel GPR35 ligands is essential to elucidate the biology and pathophysiology of GPR35. Here we report the discovery of nitrophenol compounds to be a novel chemical class of GPR35 agonists. Both endogenously and stably expressed GPR35 were found to be activated by a number of nitrophenol analogues including 2-amino-4,6-dinitrophenol, tolcapone and nitecapone. Among them, 4,4′-(2,2-dichloroethene-1,1-diyl)bis(2,6-dinitrophenol) was found to be the most potent GPR35 agonist.
A Clinical Orthodontist Looks at Statistics

Abstract Statistics is a tool that can help the practitioner judge the clinical importance of patient-centered studies. Statistical tools have both strengths and limitations. This article endeavors to clarify for the clinician the role of statistical analyses in facilitating the application of the outcomes of clinical studies to the management of individual patients.
Kernel-based variance component estimation and whole-genome prediction of pre-corrected phenotypes and progeny tests for dairy cow health traits

Prediction of complex trait phenotypes in the presence of unknown gene action is an ongoing challenge in animals, plants, and humans. Development of flexible predictive models that perform well irrespective of genetic and environmental architectures is desirable. Methods that can address non-additive variation in a non-explicit manner are gaining attention for this purpose and, in particular, semi-parametric kernel-based methods have been applied to diverse datasets, mostly providing encouraging results. On the other hand, the gains obtained from these methods have been smaller when smoothed values such as estimated breeding value (EBV) have been used as response variables. However, less emphasis has been placed on the choice of phenotypes to be used in kernel-based whole-genome prediction. This study aimed to evaluate differences between semi-parametric and parametric approaches using two types of response variables and molecular markers as inputs. Pre-corrected phenotypes (PCP) and EBV obtained for dairy cow health traits were used for this comparison. We observed that non-additive genetic variances were major contributors to total genetic variances in PCP, whereas additivity was the largest contributor to variability of EBV, as expected. Within the kernels evaluated, non-parametric methods yielded slightly better predictive performance across traits relative to their additive counterparts regardless of the type of response variable used. This reinforces the view that non-parametric kernels aiming to capture non-linear relationships between a panel of SNPs and phenotypes are appealing for complex trait prediction. However, like past studies, the gain in predictive correlation was not large for either PCP or EBV. We conclude that capturing non-additive genetic variation, especially epistatic variation, in a cross-validation framework remains a significant challenge even when it is important, as seems to be the case for health traits in dairy cows.
Modeling (almost) periodic moving average processes using cyclic statistics

Estimating parameters of almost cyclostationary non-Gaussian moving average (MA) processes using noisy output-only data is considered. It is shown that second-order cyclic correlations of the output are generally insufficient in uniquely characterizing almost periodically time-varying MA(q) models, while third-order and higher order cumulants can be used to estimate their model parameters within a scale factor. Both linear and nonlinear identification algorithms for fixed and time-varying order q(t) are presented. Statistical model order determination procedures are also derived. Implementation issues are discussed and resistance to noise is claimed when the signal of interest has cycles distinct from the additive noise. Simulations are performed to verify the theoretical results.
Immune biomarkers of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy

The tumor antigen (TA)-targeted monoclonal antibodies (mAb) cetuximab and panitumumab target the human epidermal growth factor receptor and have been integrated into treatment regimens for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The therapeutic efficacy of these mAbs has been found to be enhanced when combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, clinical trials indicate that these findings are limited to fewer than 20% of treated patients. Therefore, identifying patients who are likely to benefit from these agents is crucial to improving therapeutic strategies. Interestingly, it has been noted that TA-targeted mAbs mediate their effects by contributing to cell-mediated cytotoxicity in addition to inhibition of downstream signaling pathways. Here, we describe the potential immunogenic mechanisms underlying these clinical findings, their role in the varied clinical response and identify the putative biomarkers of antitumor activity. We review potential immunological biomarkers that affect mAb therapy in SCCHN patients, the implications of these findings and how they translate to the clinical scenario, which are critical to improving patient selection and ultimately outcomes for patients undergoing therapy.
Supply chain transformation based on business process management

Supply chain transformation is to fundamentally rethink and radically redesign supply chain strategy, organization, processes and IT system(s) with the target of improving supply chain performance. This paper presents an integrated platform and a comprehensive methodology IBM Supply Chain Process Modeler (SCPM) for process-centric supply chain transformation. In the this methodology, the supply chain transformation is progressing along with the life cycle of business process management, from business process modeling, analyzing to optimizing or restructuring. The other contribution of the paper is the seamless integration of business process management tool and process execution IT system. Based on the integration, the huge gap between process model and execution system is closed and supply chain transformation decisions are realized in operation.
Field Performance of Aliphatic-aromatic Copolyester Biodegradable Mulch Films in a Fresh Market Tomato Production System

. Removal and disposal of polyethylene mulch in vegetable productionrepresents a high economic and environmental cost to society. This study wasconducted in 2006 and 2007 at Michigan State University to test the ﬁeldperformance of new biodegradable mulches using ‘Mountain Fresh Plus’ tomato(Solanum lycopersicum) as a model crop. Treatments included two biodegradablemulches (black and white), each with two thicknesses (35 and 25 mm). A conven-tional low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch of 25 mm was included as a control(a mulch commonly used by vegetable growers). Data loggers were installed 2 cminto the soil under the various mulches to record soil temperature. The experimentused a randomized complete block design with four replications. The mulches wereused on a raised bed, drip irrigation system. Mulch degradation, soil temperature,tomato growth, weed density, and biomass were assessed during the seasons.Tomatoes were harvested at maturity and were fruit graded according to marketspeciﬁcations. Results indicate that soil temperature under the biodegradablemulches was greater than that under the LPDE mulch during the ﬁrst week.Starting the second week, soil temperature dropped gradually under all thebiodegradablemulches.Thedropintemperaturewasgreatestwiththewhitemulch.Due to premature breakdown of the white mulches, weed pressure was high,resulting in smaller plants with low yield in 2007. Tomato growth, yield, and fruitquality from the black mulch was equivalent to that in the LDPE mulch. Futurestudies will optimize biodegradability of the mulches and test mechanical layingof the black mulch under commercial production.
RAIL PASSENGER EQUIPMENT COLLISION TESTS: ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURAL MEASUREMENTS

A two-car full-scale collision test was conducted on April 4, 2000. Two coupled rail passenger cars impacted a rigid wall at 26 mph. The cars were instrumented with strain gauges, accelerometers, and string potentiometers, to measure the deformation of critical structural elements, the longitudinal, vertical, and lateral car body accelerations, and the displacements of the truck suspensions. Instrumented crash test dummies were also tested in several seat configurations, with and without lap and shoulder belts. The objectives of the two-car test were to measure the gross motions of the car, to measure the force/crush characteristic, to observe the car-to-car interaction, to observe failure modes of the major structural components, and to evaluate selected occupant protection strategies. The measurements taken during the test were used to refine and validate existing computer models of conventional passenger rail vehicles. This test was the second in a series of collision tests designed to characterize the collision behavior of rail vehicles.
Safety of creatine supplementation.

The literature on creatine supplementation supporting its efficacy has grown rapidly and has included studies in both healthy volunteers and patient populations. However, the first rule in the development of therapeutic agents is safety. Creatine is well-tolerated in most individuals in short-term studies. However, isolated reports suggest creatine may be associated with various side effects affecting several organ systems including skeletal muscle, the kidney and the gastrointestinal tract. The majority of clinical studies fail to find an increased incidence of side effects with creatine supplementation. To date, studies have not found clinically significant deviations from normal values in renal, hepatic, cardiac or muscle function. Few data are available on the long-term consequences of creatine supplementation
The deployment and operation of fiber to the Cell Site

As wireless service providers begin to migrate from 2.5 and 3G wireless technologies to 4G systems, the bandwidth required at cell sites greatly increases. At the heart of this transition are initiatives coined Ethernet to the Cell Site. These initiatives are a means to provide increased bandwidth, improved reliability, and survivability to the 4G wireless networks.
Volatilization of Organic Compounds from Streams

Mass-transfer coefficients for the volatilization of ethylene and propane were correlated with the hydraulic and geometric properties of seven streams, and predictive equations were developed. The equations were evaluated using a normalized root-mean-square error as the criterion of comparison. The two best equations were a two-variable equation containing the energy dissipated per unit mass per unit time and the average depth of flow and a three-variable equation containing the average velocity, the average depth of flow, and the slope of the stream. Procedures for adjusting the ethylene and propane coefficients for other organic compounds were evaluated. These procedures are based on molecular diffusivity, molecular diameter, or molecular weight. Because of limited data, none of these procedures have been extensively verified. Therefore, until additional data become available, it is suggested that the mass-transfer coefficient be assumed to be inversely proportional to the square root of the molecular weight.
Energy Savings Potential of GaN LEDs for Energy Efficient Lighting and Future Research Directions

LEDs fabricated from gallium nitride have lead to the realization of high-efficiency white solid-state lighting. At UCSB’s Solid State Lighting and Energy Center we have fabricated advanced GaN white LEDs structures which exhibit luminous efficacy greater than 170 lm/Watt, and external quantum efficiencies higher than 50%. This has helped enabled LEDs lighting to compete with traditional lighting technologies such as incandescent and CFL. A review of the energy savings potential of LED based lighting compared to traditional technologies will be addressed. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that in 2030 the energy savings from LED lighting in the U.S. alone would amount to over $250 billion in energy savings.