cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal studies of experimental otitis media with Haemophilus influenzae in the gerbil

Summary Haemophilus influenzae non-typable strain 119 was found to cause severe otitis media with sequellae when inoculated into the middle ear cavities of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus . Acute inflammation was followed by the development of highly vascular granulation tissue and formation of new bone within the middle ear bulla. These changes persisted throughout the 14-week study in the untreated animals. The gerbil was variably susceptible to otitis media caused by inoculating 30–3000 bacterial cells and 100% susceptible to greater than 3000 cells. The susceptibility of the gerbil to common etiological agents of otitis media allows its use as an appropriate model of the disease.
Differential turnover of axonally transported glycoproteins.

Metabolic turnover of axonally transported glycoproteins has been examined in membranous and soluble subfractions of goldfish optic tectum following intraocular injection of [3H]fucose. Radioactivity in total transported glycoproteins reached a maximum in the tectum after 24–30 hr, then declined with a half-life of approximately 20 days. Radioactivity in the total membranous subfraction declined with a similar half-life of 20–21 days while radioactivity in the soluble fraction showed a significantly shorter half-life of approximately seven days. Various sized glycopeptides derived from the membranous subfraction showed differential rates of loss of radioactivity with the lower molecular weight nondialyzable molecules displaying the most rapid turnover. In contrast, the glycopeptides derived from the soluble fraction showed relatively uniform rates of turnover. The results are discussed in the context of metabolic compartmentalization between membranous and soluble glycoproteins and among the carbohydrate chains of the membranous molecules.
Fructose ingestion acutely stimulates circulating FGF21 levels in humans

Objective Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hormone with pleiotropic metabolic activities which, in rodents, is robustly regulated by fasting and ketogenic diets. In contrast, similar dietary interventions have either no or minimal effects on circulating FGF21 in humans. Moreover, no intervention or dietary challenge has been shown to acutely stimulate circulating FGF21 in either humans or animals. Recent animal data suggest that the transcription factor Carbohydrate Responsive-Element Binding Protein (ChREBP) stimulates hepatic FGF21 expression and that fructose may activate hepatic ChREBP more robustly than glucose. Here, we examined whether fructose ingestion can acutely stimulate FGF21 in humans.
Nine-year trends and racial and ethnic disparities in women's awareness of heart disease and stroke: an American Heart Association national study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in women's awareness, knowledge, and perceptions related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) since 1997, when the American Heart Association initiated a national campaign for women. Methods and Results: A nationally representative sample of 1,005 women identified through random digit dialing (mean age 50 years, 71% white) was surveyed in 2006, and results were compared with results of similar surveys conducted in 2003, 2000, and 1997. Awareness, knowledge, and perceptions related to CVD were evaluated using a standardized interviewer-assisted questionnaire. In 2006, awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death among women was 57%; significantly higher than in prior surveys (p < 0.001). Awareness was lower among black and Hispanic women compared with white women (31% and 29% vs. 68%, p < 0.05), and the racial/ethnic difference has not appreciably changed over time. More than twice as many women felt uninformed about stroke compared to hea...
Site of foot-and-mouth disease virus-ribonucleic acid synthesis and some properties of its double-stranded ribonucleic acid

Abstract Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) RNA is synthesized in the cytoplasm of the baby hamster kidney cell. This conclusion is based on the distribution within the subcellular fractions of [3H]uridine pulse-labeled virus-specific RNA, and of FMDV-induced RNA polymerase activity. Three classes of virus-specific RNA are defined by sedimentation rate in sucrose gradients: a 37-S viral RNA, a 20-S ribonuclease-resistant RNA, and a heterogeneous RNA (peak sedimentation rate between 18 and 28-S ribosomal RNA). All three classes were isolated from the cytoplasm. The 20 S and 37 S are infectious. The 20-S RNA has properties of double-stranded RNA since its resistance to ribonuclease is dependent on salt concentration and is destroyed by boiling at 100°. The ratio of double-stranded RNA to single-stranded RNA increases during the replication cycle. In accord with this, FMDV polymerase from cells harvested late in the replication cycle catalyzes the cell-free synthesis of relatively less 37-S viral RNA and more double-stranded RNA (and heterogeneous RNA) than FMDV polymerase preparations from cells harvested early in the cycle.
The ventromedial ventral pallidum subregion is necessary for outcome-specific Pavlovian-instrumental transfer.

Learned environmental stimuli influence everyday reward and safety-seeking behaviors. During pathological conditions, such as drug addiction and obesity, learned cues influence maladaptive reward-seeking behaviors. One model of investigating the influence of learned cues upon reward-seeking behavior
Insights into the catalytic activity and surface modification of MoO3 during the hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived model compounds into aromatic hydrocarbons under low hydrogen pressures

MoO3 is an effective catalyst for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of lignin-derived oxygenates to generate high yields of aromatic hydrocarbons without ring-saturated products. The catalyst is selective for the C–O bond cleavage under low H2 pressures (≤1 bar) and temperatures ranging from 593 to 623 K. A bond-dissociation energy analysis of relevant phenolic C–O bonds indicates that the bond strengths follow an order of Ph–OH > Ph–OMe > Ph–O–Ph > Ph–O–Me. However, for all model compounds investigated, the MoO3 catalyst preferentially cleaves phenolic Ph–OMe bonds over weaker aliphatic Ph–O–Me bonds. Characterisation studies reveal that the catalyst surface undergoes partial carburisation as evidenced by the presence of oxycarbide- and oxycarbohydride-containing phases (i.e., MoOxCyHz). The transformation of bulk phases and the surface modification of MoO3 by carbon–H2 are investigated to understand the role of surface carbon in the stabilisation and enhanced activity of the partially reduced MoO3 surface.
The numerical stability of the lattice algorithm for least squares linear prediction problems

The numerical stability of the lattice algorithm for least-squares linear prediction problems is analysed. The lattice algorithm is an orthogonalization method for solving such problems and as such is in principle to be preferred to normal equations approaches. By performing a first-order analysis of the method and comparing the results with perturbation bounds available for least-squares problems, it is argued that the lattice algorithm is stable and in fact comparable in accuracy to other known stable but less efficient methods for least-squares problems.
Shear band formation in thermal viscoplastic materials

Abstract Shear strain localization at high strain rates is investigated through the analysis of a one-dimensional model for simple shearing deformation of thermal viscoplastic materials. Analytical investigations of shear band formation are reviewed. Understanding of the thermo-mechanical instability mechanism is developed through an exact solution for an idealized case, linear stability analysis, and numerical solutions of the fully nonlinear system of partial differential equations which govern the deformation. Several different material models are examined as well as several types of inhomogeneity. Parametric studies are presented to illustrate the effects of strain rate sensitivity, thermal softening, strain hardening, wave length of initial imperfections, inertia and surface texture on the onset of shear localization. From this investigation it is concluded that the vanishing of the slope of the adiabatic stress-strain curve, while a necessary condition for instability, does not adequately characterize the critical strain at which strong localization occurs in thermal viscoplastic materials. Inclusion of the effects of strain rate sensitivity and the strength of the initial nonuniformity are important for a satisfactory description of the onset of severe localization. For the class of high strain rate problems considered, which are representative of experiments on specimens with lengths of millimeters or more deformed at strain rates of 103 s–1 to 104 s–1, the effects of elasticity and heat conduction on the initiation of localization are shown to be negligible. Finally, a localization damage parameter is introduced and shown to be effective in characterizing the onset of severe localization.
Evidence for a Bipolar Geometry in R Coronae Borealis

The R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars produce dust at irregular intervals, but the distribution of the circumstellar material is not known. We report spectropolarimetry of R Coronae Borealis (R CrB) itself, obtained in a deep decline with the Wisconsin-Indiana-Yale-NOAO telescope. The continuum is polarized ~1% in the red, rising to ~2% in the blue. There are significant polarization variations across the emission lines. The polarization of the Na I D lines indicates that light from the emission-line region is scattered but at a different angle from the stellar continuum. The position angle of the continuum polarization is almost constant from 1 μm to 7000 A but then changes rapidly, rotating by ~60° between 7000 and 4000 A. This behavior is strikingly similar to that produced in post-asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars having an obscuring torus and bipolar dust lobes. These new data strengthen the earlier suggestion that there is a preferred direction to the dust ejections in R CrB. Dust ejections seem to occur predominantly along two roughly orthogonal directions consistent with a bipolar geometry. If confirmed, this finding will reinforce the relationship between the RCB stars and other post-AGB stars.
Afterdepolarizations as a mechanism for the long QT syndrome: Electrophysiologic studies of a case

A young woman with palpitation and syncope was found to have ventricular tachyarrhythmia and a congenital long QT interval. The QT interval was shortened and the arrhythmia suppressed by propranolol. Electrograms recorded at various sites in both ventricles revealed a distinct diastolic slow wave that followed the T wave and measured 1.1 mV. Epinephrine infusion and emotion augumented this diastolic wave and induced ventricular ectopic complexes arising from this potential. Similar endocardial recordings in eight patients without a long QT interval showed diastolic slow waves that never exceeded 0.28 mV. In normal canine myocardium, afterdepolarizations can be induced by norepinephrine and blocked by propranolol. These findings suggest that the long QT syndrome is associated with abnormally large afterdepolarizations in ventricular myocardial cells, which are enhanced by beta-adrenergic stimulation to attain threshold and produce firing.
Dynamic crack propagation in elastic-perfectly plastic solids under plane stress conditions

the phenomenon of steady-state dynamic crack propagation in elastic-perfectly plastic solids under mode I plane stress, small-scale yielding conditions is investigated numerically. An Eulerian finite element scheme is employed. The materials are assumed to obey the von Mises yield criterion and the associated flow rule. The ratio of the crack tip plastic zone size to that of the element nearest to the crack tip is of the order of 1.6 × 104. Two subjects of general interest are discussed. These are the asymptotic structure of the crack tip stress and deformation fields, and the appropriateness of a crack growth fracture criterion based on the far-field dynamic stress intensity factor. The crack-line solution by achenbach and li (Report NU-SML-TR-No. 84-1, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60201, 1984a; in Fundamentals of Deformation and Fracture (edited by B.A. Brilby et al.). Cambridge University Press, 1984b) is discussed and compared to the numerical solution. The results of this study strongly indicate that the crack tip strain and velocity fields possess logarithmic singularities, which is consistent with the assumptions in the asymptotic analysis by Gao (Int. J. Fracture 34, 111, 1987). However, it is revealed that the crack tip field variations in Gao's solution present features often contrary to the numerical findings. To this end, a preliminary asymptotic analysis is performed in an effort to resolve certain issues. Finally, the critical plastic strain criterion (mcclintock and irwin, in Fracture Toughness Testing and Its Applications, ASTM STP 381, p. 84, 1964) is adopted to obtain theoretical relations between the critical dynamic stress intensity factor and the crack propagation speed. These relations are found to agree well with experimental measurements by Rosakis et al. (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 32, 443, 1984) and by zehnder and rosakis (Int. J. Fracture, to appear 1990), performed on thin 4340 steel plates whose material characteristics match those of the calculation. The results seem to support the existence of a one-to-one relationship between the dynamic fracture toughness of the material and the crack propagation speed, for materials which fail in a locally ductile manner.
Attempts to reduce NOx exhaust emissions by using reformulated biodiesel

Biodiesel is a renewable, domestically produced fuel that has been shown to reduce particulate, hydrocarbon, and carbon monoxide emissions from diesel engines. Under some conditions, however, biodiesel produced from certain feedstocks has been shown to cause an increase in nitrogen oxides (NOx). This is of special concern in urban areas that are subject to strict environmental regulations. Although soy-based biodiesel may increase the emission of nitrogen oxides, it is the most easily accessible in North America. We investigated two routes to reformulate soy-based biodiesel in an effort to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. In one of these, soy-oil methyl esters were modified by conversion of a proportion of the cis bonds in the fatty acid chains of its methyl esters to their trans isomers. In the other approach, polyol derivatives of soybean oil were transesterified to form soy methyl polyol fatty acid esters. The NOx emissions of these modified biodiesels were then examined, using a Yanmar L100 single cylinder, four stroke, naturally aspirated, air cooled, direct injection diesel engine. Using either isomerized methyl oleate or isomerized soy biodiesel, at 20% blend level in petroleum diesel (‘B20’), nitrogen oxide emissions were elevated by between 1.5 and 3 percentage points relative to the combustion of a B20 blend of commercial biodiesel. Nitrogen oxide emissions were reduced in proportion to blend level during the combustion of polyol biodiesel, with a 20% blend in petrodiesel resulting in a reduction of about 4.5 percentage points relative to the emissions of a comparable blend of commercial soy biodiesel.
The right to refuse treatment: What the research reveals

This review encompasses all published and many unpublished studies of refusal of antipsychotic medication by psychiatric inpatients. Many of the extant studies in this area have methodologic flaws in the means employed to gather or analyze data; where relevant to the points being considered, these flaws are noted. The review is broken down into five sections: frequency of refusal, characteristics of medication refusers, reasons for refusal, the natural history of medication refusal, and responses to refusal. A final section summarizes the extent of our knowledge today and points to future areas of investigation.
Bounds on natural frequencies of composite circular membranes: Integral equation methods

This paper is concerned with finding upper and lower bounds for the natural frequencies of vibration of a circular membrane with stepped radial density. Such problems, involving discontinuous coefficients in the differential equation, may be treated by using classical variational methods. However, it is shown here that eigenvalue estimation techniques based on an integral equation formulation are more effective. Integral equation methods provide more accurate upper bounds, for a comparable amount of effort, and supply improvable lower bounds as well.
Joint ICI cancellation for superchannel coherent optical systems in nonlinear transmission regimes

A joint-DSP strategy for superchannel coherent optical systems is described and demonstrated. The proposed joint inter-channel interference cancellation algorithm is shown to be effective in the nonlinear transmission regime, yielding 5dB OSNR improvement.
A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF ENZYMATIC PORPHYRIN SYNTHESIS IN SOME TISSUES OF THE HIBERNATING BAT.

Summary and conclusions1. A quantitative study was undertaken to determine if porphyrin producing enzymes were present in the liver, muscle, kidney, brain and thyroid and parathyroid glands of the hibernating bat, Myotis lucifugus lucifugus. 2. Porphyrin producing enzymes were found to be present in the liver, muscle, kidney, brain and thyroid-parathyroid glands of the hibernating bat, Myotis lucifugus lucifugus. 3. The degree of enzymatic porphyrin activity was greatest in the liver with a successive decrease in activity found in muscle, kidney, brain and thyroid-parathyroid tissue. 4. The variations noted in the amount of porphyrin produced during different incubation times were not statistically significant. 5. A comparison was made between the amounts of porphyrin production by tissues of the hibernating bat and by that produced in non-hibernating animals. No conclusion was made concerning the significance of this comparison.
Cross-national reports of housework: An investigation of the gender empowerment measure

Abstract This paper analyses the relationship between country-level gender empowerment and individual-level divisions of housework. Pairing the 2004 United Nations gender empowerment measure (GEM) with individual-level ( n = 18,560) data from the 2004 European Social Survey, the author compares the relationship between a country’s GEM score, both as an index and as disaggregated measures, and respondents’ housework hours and housework proportions. The GEM index has a positive and linear relationship with men’s housework hours and a positive and non-linear relationship with men and women’s housework proportions and with women’s housework hours. For the disaggregated GEM measures, women’s representation in parliament is positively associated with men’s housework hours and proportions and women’s housework hours. Women’s labor market status, including the percent of women in professional positions and female–male wage ratios, is negatively associated with women’s housework hours and proportions. Finally, the cross-level interactions demonstrate theoretically important relationships to the housework literature.
Ionic tracer movement through highly weathered sediments

Abstract A highly-weathered, sandy aquifer material from the Upper Coastal Plain region of the southeastern U.S.A. (Aiken, South Carolina) was used to determine the impact of ionic strength and solution composition on the determination of physical transport parameters using ionic tracers. The mineralogy of the clay fraction consisted primarily of kaolinite, goethite and mica. Repacked saturated columns (bulk density ∼ 1.5 g cm−3) were leached at a constant rate (∼ 0.25 cm min−1) with a given tracer solution. For comparison, tritium (∼ 200 pCi mL−1) was included in leachate of selected columns and several of the experiments were replicated in columns of acid-washed sand. Pore volume estimates based on tritium breakthrough were consistent with those calculated from the bulk density of the repacked matrix. In contrast, solute breakthrough for the sandy geologic material was dependent on concentration, as well as cation and anion type. At low ionic strenghts (0.0005–0.010 M) that are analogous to conditions that may be encountered ins field-scale transport experiments, neither the cation nor the anion acted conservatively, yielding systematically high estimates of column porosity or low estimates of flow velocity. At the higher ionic strengths (∼ 0.10 M), solute breakthrough was essentially conservative regardless of ionic composition. The impact of cation valence and concentration on Br− breakthrough was determined using MgBr2 and KBr solutions of varying concentrations (0.001–0.1 N). Bromide breakthrough was substantially delayed for concentrations below 0.10 M and was delayed to a greater extent in the presence of a divalent cation (Mg2+) than in the presence of a monovalent cation (K+). Failure to recognize these interactions in the field could lead to a false interpretation of Br displacement in terms of physical interactions, i.e. flow velocity, dispersivity, etc.
Radionuclide angiocardiographic measurement of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction.

In recent years a number of different radionuclidic techniques have been developed to measure left ventricular volume and ejection fraction. Area-measurement concepts have been applied to static and electrocardiographically gated radionuclidic images which have resulted in accurate measurement of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and ejection fraction (LVEF). Gated (end-diastolic and end-systolic) image analysis has also proven capable of detecting regional left ventricular wall-motion abnormalities in patients with coronary disease. Time-activity curves can be extracted from left ventricular images, and several dynamic techniques have been developed and have also resulted in accurate measurement of LVEDV and LVEF. Radionuclide methods are currently available which are accurate and atraumatic and consequently applicable to the serial study of patients with heart disease. In particular, several of these radionuclide methods are relatively inexpensive and should be able to be performed in most hospitals.
Synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties of metal-coordination polymers with benzenepentacarboxylate linkers.

Three hybrid organic−inorganic coordination polymers with benzenepentacarboxylate (BPCA) linkers, [Co3(C6H(COO)5)(OH)(H2O)3] (1-Co), [Zn3(C6H(COO)5)(OH)(H2O)3] (2-Zn), and [Co5(C6H(COO)5)2(H2O)12]·(H2O)12 (3-Co), were synthesized hydrothermally and were characterized structurally and magnetically. 1-Co and 2-Zn are isostructural [C2/c; Z = 8; 1-Co, a = 19.5350(6) A, b = 10.4494(4) A, and c = 13.2353(5) A, β = 97.2768(8)°; 2-Zn, a = 19.5418(9) A, b = 10.3220(10) A, and c = 13.4660(10) A, β = 98.455(10)°] with three-dimensional structures that contain [M6] secondary building units bridged by BPCA ligands. A different cobalt-based compound, 3-Co, forms at lower pH and lower reaction temperature. Its structure [P21/c; Z = 2; a = 12.6162(2) A, b = 11.3768(2) A, and c = 15.3401(3) A, β = 91.539(1)°] is a more loosely packed framework with free (noncoordinated) carboxylic groups pointing at water-filled cavities in the framework. The magnetic phase diagram of 1-Co established through detailed magnetic measuremen...
Gene targeting comes to top-down drug screens.

Abstract With very few exceptions, cancer drug screening has been stuck with the multiple variable approach. While those of us working with model genetic systems would regard with horror experiments using non-isogenic strains or outbred lines, cells that differ from common human tumor cells by simple and/or defined genetic traits are generally not available. A recent paper published by Torrance et al . takes an important step towards a more rational and controlled approach in the area of cancer drug screening.
Nitrogen fixation in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide

Thalli of Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm., a nitrogen-fixing epiphyte common in mesic temperate forests, were collected in a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco) forest near Corvallis, Oregon, and maintained for 20 to 40 days in controlled-environment chambers with atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 374 and 700 μll-1. Nitrogenase activity, which was assayed by the acetylene reduction method, was approximately doubled in the lichen maintained in elevated CO2. Increases in nitrogen fixation by lichens may be an important part of the integrated ecosystem response to rising CO2.
Congenital erythropoietic porphyria associated with myelodysplasia presenting in a 72-year-old man: report of a case and review of the literature

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) is a rare autosomal recessive disease owing to the deficient activity of uroporphyrinogen III synthase, the fourth enzyme in the porphyrin-haem synthetic pathway. Of the porphyrias, it is the most mutilating type, usually presenting early in life. To date, 12 documented cases of adult onset CEP have been reported. We report the second oldest documented patient with late onset CEP with incidental findings of thrombocytopenia and myelodysplasia with bone-marrow sideroblasts. We further discuss several current and future treatment options for this therapeutically challenging disease.
Topology Control to Simultaneously Achieve Near-Optimal Node Degree and Low Path Stretch in Ad hoc Networks

Our objective in this paper is to design topology control algorithms such that (i) nodes have low degree and (ii) paths in the network have few hops. Low node degree is desirable in networks equipped with smart antennas and to reduce access contention. Short paths are desirable for minimizing communication delays and for better robustness to channel impairments and to mobility. Given any arbitrary unit-disc graph G representing all feasible links, our algorithms find a sparse subgraph G' having a maximum node degree of six and, for each pair of vertices u, v, having hopsG'(u, v) = O(hopsG(u,v) + logDelta), where Delta is the maximum node degree in G and hops G(u, v) denotes the shortest path length from u to v in G. This result is near-optimal: (i) there is a connected UDG G in which no connected subgraph has degree less than five, and (ii) for any graph G, any bounded-degree subgraph G' must have hopsG'(u, v) = Omega(hopsG(u, v) + logDelta) for some u, v. Our distributed algorithm scales, preserves link symmetry, does not need node synchronization, and requires only O(n) messages. We perform extensive simulations that quantify the performance of our algorithm in realistic scenarios
Safely reducing length of stay after open radical retropubic prostatectomy under the guidance of a clinical care pathway.

BACKGROUND Collaborative care pathways have proven to be a safe and effective method of decreasing length of hospital stay (LOS) and costs after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). In the current study, the authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of a pathway transitioning from a 3-day to a 2-day LOS. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective chart review of 994 patients who underwent RRP at the study institution between July 1994 and December 2001. A total of 561 patients were managed on a 3-day LOS pathway, 172 were managed during the transition period from 3 to 2 days, and 261 were managed on a 2-day LOS pathway. Statistical analysis was performed comparing preoperative variables and complications among the three groups. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were found in comparisons of preoperative and demographic variables including age, race, medical comorbidities, preoperative prostate-specific antigen level, clinical stage of disease at presentation, and biopsy Gleason score. Forty-nine of the 561 patients (8.7%) remained longer than their targeted 3-day LOS, whereas 14 of 261 patients (5.4%) were hospitalized for longer than their targeted 2-day LOS, a difference that approached statistical significance (P = 0.058). During the transition period, 99 of 172 patients (57.6%) were discharged on postoperative Day 2 and 73 patients (42.4%) were discharged on postoperative Day 3. Complication rates were found to be significantly lower (P = 0.013) in the 2-day LOS group (2.3%) compared with the 3-day LOS group (7.0%) and the transition group (8.1%). The rate of readmission remained constant at 3% during this time period. CONCLUSIONS Overall, greater than 90% of patients were discharged within 2–3 days of surgery with acceptable complication rates, suggesting that in a consistent patient population, the transition from a 3-day LOS to a 2-day LOS can be done successfully without compromising patient safety. Evaluation currently is ongoing with regard to a 1-day LOS. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Short-Term Prediction of Wind Farm Power: A Data Mining Approach

This paper examines time series models for predicting the power of a wind farm at different time scales, i.e., 10-min and hour-long intervals. The time series models are built with data mining algorithms. Five different data mining algorithms have been tested on various wind farm datasets. Two of the five algorithms performed particularly well. The support vector machine regression algorithm provides accurate predictions of wind power and wind speed at 10-min intervals up to 1 h into the future, while the multilayer perceptron algorithm is accurate in predicting power over hour-long intervals up to 4 h ahead. Wind speed can be predicted fairly accurately based on its historical values; however, the power cannot be accurately determined given a power curve model and the predicted wind speed. Test computational results of all time series models and data mining algorithms are discussed. The tests were performed on data generated at a wind farm of 100 turbines. Suggestions for future research are provided.
Adaptive Feedback Canceller: Entrainment

This paper explains the chaotic artifact (Entrainment [1]) observed when correlated input signals are presented to an adaptive feedback canceller. When an adaptive feedback canceller is being entrained, a few intermittent new frequency components are manifested while keeping the system near the boundary of instability. By applying Mean Square Error (MSE) surface concepts to a simplified feedback canceller, we demonstrate the fundamental cause for the phenomenon and show that this is inherent to a feedback canceller structure.
Simultaneous suppression of the MAP kinase and NF-κB pathways provides a robust therapeutic potential for thyroid cancer

The MAP kinase and NF-κB signaling pathways play an important role in thyroid cancer tumorigenesis. We aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of dually targeting the two pathways using AZD6244 and Bortezomib in combination. We evaluated their effects on cell proliferation, cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, cell migration assay, and the activation of the MAPK pathway in vitro and the in vivo using tumor size and immunohistochemical changes of Ki67 and ppRB. We found inhibition of cell growth rate by 10%, 20%, and 56% (p <0.05), migration to 55%, 61%, and 29% (p <0.05), and induction of apoptosis to 10%, 15%, and 38% (p <0.05) with AZD6244, Bortezomib, or combination, respectively. Induction of cell cycle arrest occurred only with drug combination. Dual drug treatment in the xenograft model caused a 94% reduction in tumor size (p <0.05) versus 15% with AZD6244 and 34% with Bortezomib (p < 0.05) and also reduced proliferative marker Ki67, and increased pRb dephosphorylation. Our results demonstrate a robust therapeutic potential of combining AZD6244 and Bortezomib as an effective strategy to overcome drug resistance encountered in monotherapy in the treatment of thyroid cancer, strongly supporting clinical trials to further test this strategy.
The off-label use of altrenogest in stallions

Within the equine industry, overly aggressive stallion behavior related to various factors including genetics, dominance, or mating can create a dangerous environment and present several training challenges. In attempt to reduce this behavior, some performance trainers are administering altrenogest, an oral synthetic progestogen (Regu-Mate®, Intervet Inc, Millsboro, Del) in an off-label use. Regu-Mate® is commonly used in the equine industry to suppress estrus in performance mares and to synchronize estrous cycles for breeding. Although several articles have been published concerning the possible negative effects of this off-label use of altrenogest in stallions on spermatogenesis and steroid production with varying behavioral effects, the use within the industry continues. However, there are currently no known estimates of the extent to which this exogenous hormone is being utilized in stallions. Our objective was to survey the rate of Regu-Mate use in Quarter horse stallions during 2002. Two hundred questionnaires were sent to Quarter horse stallion owners, trainers, and exhibitors in the United States. The answers presented give a type reference of the equine facilities that responded, as well as details concerning those that administered Regu-Mate®. Sixty-three of the surveys were competed and returned (32%), with ReguMate® use occurring in stallions identified by 18 of 63 facilities (29%). Most of the stallions receiving ReguMate® were not used for breeding at the time of dosing; however most were intended for breeding at a later point. The primary use of altrenogest given to stallions 2
Gold catalysis for organic synthesis.

Two years have now passed since the publication of the first Thematic Series on gold catalysis for organic synthesis in the Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry. In the intervening time, the pace of progress and discovery in the field has continued unabated. Many of these advancements are exemplified in the more than twenty contributions that have been collected in this second Thematic Series. Many of the early examples of homogeneous gold-catalysis focused on the ability of cationic gold complexes to activate π-bonds towards attack of nucleophiles. This reactivity platform, examples of which can be found in this Thematic Series, continues to provide a fruitful basis for the discovery of important new transformations. This includes the development of a tandem or domino process that can be employed for the synthesis of complex polycyclic structures. These articles demonstrate the power of gold catalysis for the construction of complex structures, including the development of tandem processes, the expedient synthesis of heterocyclic structures, and applications to the synthesis of complex natural products. The field has also witnessed growth through the discovery of other modes of reactivity. For example, gold-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions, examples of which are found in this Thematic Series, have featured prominently. Additionally, enantioselective catalysis with gold has seen notable advancements and is highlighted in several articles. The remarkable breakthroughs in oxidative transformations catalyzed by gold complexes, including those employing N-oxides as stoichiometric oxidants, have featured prominently in many recent innovations. Taken together, these articles present an outstanding overview of the state of the field from many of its top practitioners. They foreshadow the many additional reactions, reactivity modes, and catalysts based on gold that remain to be uncovered. I am grateful to the authors for their excellent contribution and making this second Thematic Series as successful as the first. F. Dean Toste Berkeley, October 2013
Dynamic load balancing for I/O-intensive applications on clusters

Load balancing for clusters has been investigated extensively, mainly focusing on the effective usage of global CPU and memory resources. However, previous CPU- or memory-centric load balancing schemes suffer significant performance drop under I/O-intensive workloads due to the imbalance of I/O load. To solve this problem, we propose two simple yet effective I/O-aware load-balancing schemes for two types of clusters: (1) homogeneous clusters where nodes are identical and (2) heterogeneous clusters, which are comprised of a variety of nodes with different performance characteristics in computing power, memory capacity, and disk speed. In addition to assigning I/O-intensive sequential and parallel jobs to nodes with light I/O loads, the proposed schemes judiciously take into account both CPU and memory load sharing in the system. Therefore, our schemes are able to maintain high performance for a wide spectrum of workloads. We develop analytic models to study mean slowdowns, task arrival, and transfer processes in system levels. Using a set of real I/O-intensive parallel applications and synthetic parallel jobs with various I/O characteristics, we show that our proposed schemes consistently improve the performance over existing non-I/O-aware load-balancing schemes, including CPU- and Memory-aware schemes and a PBS-like batch scheduler for parallel and sequential jobs, for a diverse set of workload conditions. Importantly, this performance improvement becomes much more pronounced when the applications are I/O-intensive. For example, the proposed approaches deliver 23.6--88.0 p performance improvements for I/O-intensive applications such as LU decomposition, Sparse Cholesky, Titan, Parallel text searching, and Data Mining. When I/O load is low or well balanced, the proposed schemes are capable of maintaining the same level of performance as the existing non-I/O-aware schemes.
Electrocardiogram of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: the significance of the various "scores".

Abstract The Electrocardiogram has extensively been used for evaluation and triage of patients with acute chest pain. The clinician admitting a patient with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction should be able to estimate the size and location of the ischemic area at risk, how much of the ischemic myocardium has already undergone irreversible necrosis by the time of presentation, and the “severity of ischemia” (or what is the rate of progression of necrosis as long as ischemia continues). The electrocardiographic variables that are used to make these estimates are the initial portion of the QRS (Q and R waves), the terminal portion of the QRS (the S waves and the J-point), the ST segment, and the configuration of the T waves. This editorial discuss the ability to predict each of the “physiological” parameters using the above mentioned electrocardiographic variables.
Evaluating new media systems

The diffusion and the characteristics of new communication media provide evaluation research with opportunities and challenges.
Simultaneous Acquisition of Gradient-Echo and Asymmetric Spin-Echo for Single-Shot Z-Shim: Z-SAGA

This article describes the Z-SAGA pulse sequence, a technique for recovering susceptibility losses in EPI images for neuroimaging applications. The pulse sequence is based on an asymmetric spin echo EPI sequence and acquires a gradient echo image and an asymmetric spin echo image in a single shot. For one of the images, a z-shim gradient pulse is applied to compensate for susceptibility-related field distortions. The two images are combined to form an image with reduced signal loss. This sequence is simple to implement and experimentally demonstrated to be effective for BOLD imaging.
Comparison of radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of appendicular osteosarcoma in dogs.

Objective—To determine which imaging modality best determines the microscopic extent of primary appendicular osteosarcoma in amputated limbs in dogs. Design—Case series. Animals—10 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma. Procedure—10 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma that did not receive neoadjuvent chemotherapy were treated by use of limb amputation. Amputated limbs were imaged by use of radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and examined microscopically to determine longitudinal extent of neoplastic cell involvement and length of associated intramedullary fibrosis. Changes detected by use of the various imaging studies were compared with the actual tumor length determined microscopically. Data were analyzed to determine which imaging technique most closely predicted tumor length. Results—Measurements obtained by use of craniocaudal radiographic views were most accurate at predicting tumor length but underestimated tumor length substantially in 1 limb and slightly in a...
Weakly non-local solitary wave solutions of a singularly perturbed Boussinesq equation

We study the singularly perturbed (sixth-order) Boussinesq equation recently introduced by Daripa and Hua [Appl. Math. Comput. 101 (1999) 159]. This equation describes the bi-directional propagation of small amplitude and long capillary-gravity waves on the surface of shallow water for bond number less than but very close to 1/3. On the basis of far-field analyses and heuristic arguments, we show that the traveling wave solutions of this equation are weakly non-local solitary waves characterized by small amplitude fast oscillations in the far-field. Using various analytical and numerical methods originally devised to obtain this type of weakly non-local solitary wave solutions of the singularly perturbed (fifth-order) KdV equation, we obtain weakly non-local solitary wave solutions of the singularly perturbed (sixth-order) Boussinesq equation and provide estimates of the amplitude of oscillations which persist in the far-field.
Two-dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopy: Global phase angles for specific analytical systems

In this paper we discuss further properties of 2D correlation spectroscopy using the global phase angle intensity normalization method. The 2D global phase angle analysis method has been shown to discriminate against arbitrary signal amplitude changes not related to real correlation intensities. We have confirmed that the positive or negative sign of a global phase angle 2D correlation peak is a direct expression of the sequential order of signal intensity changes. We have derived analytical solutions for 2D correlation algorithms using the global phase angle based on sinusoidal, exponential decay, and Lorentzian model functions. These derivations show that the experimental determination of the global phase angle can provide a quantitative measurement of sequential order when using these specific analytical models.
Incidence and Risk Factors for Pneumonia After Posterior Lumbar Fusion Procedures: An ACS-NSQIP Study.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study of data collected prospectively by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence and risk factors for development of pneumonia after posterior lumbar fusion (PLF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Postoperative pneumonia has important clinical consequences for patients and the health care system. Few studies have examined pneumonia after spinal fusion procedures. METHODS Patients in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who underwent PLF during 2005 to 2013 were included. The primary outcome was a diagnosis of pneumonia within the first 30 postoperative days. Independent risk factors for the development of postoperative pneumonia were identified using multivariate regression. Rates of sepsis and mortality were compared between patients who did and did not develop pneumonia using multivariate regression that adjusted for all demographic, comorbidity, and procedural characteristics. RESULTS A total of 12,428 patients undergoing PLF were identified. The incidence of pneumonia was 0.59%. Independent risk factors for the development of pneumonia were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (relative risk [RR] = 2.7, P = 0.006), steroid use (RR = 2.6, P = 0.017), non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM) (RR = 2.4, P = 0.003), insulin-dependent DM (RR = 2.9, P = 0.005), and greater number of operative levels (two level: RR = 1.7, P = 0.033; three level: RR = 2.7, P = 0.007). Patients who developed pneumonia had a higher rate of sepsis (15.1% vs. 0.8%, adjusted RR = 14.5, P < 0.001) and mortality (2.7% versus 0.1%, adjusted RR = 27.0, P < 0.001) than other patients. Of all sepsis cases and postoperative mortalities, 10.5% and 18.2% occurred in patients who had developed pneumonia, respectively. CONCLUSION Pneumonia occurs in approximately 1 in 200 patients after PLF. Pneumonia plays a significant role in the development of sepsis and mortality, with 10% of sepsis and 20% of mortality cases occurring in patients who had developed pneumonia. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, steroid use, DM, and a greater number of operative levels are at greater risk. These patients should be counseled, monitored, and targeted with preventative interventions accordingly. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
The Intergenerational Correlation in Afdc Participation: Welfare Trap or Poverty Trap?

Several recent studies have shown that daughters whose mothers have participated in the welfare program Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) are themselves more likely to participate in AFDC when they head their own household. Other studies have shown that the earnings of parents and their children are highly correlated across generations. This suggests that any variable correlated with income, such as AFDC participation, will also be correlated across generations. This paper uses data from the original and youth cohorts of the National Longitudinal Surveys to investigate the question of whether the link in mother-daughter welfare participation is a causal relationship or whether it can be explained by the expected intergenerational correlation in earnings. Several reduced-form probit equations are estimated, and attention is directed to the potential endogeneity of key explanatory variables. The empirical findings suggest that much of the observed correlation in AFDC participation across generations can be explained by the intergenerational correlation of income and other family characteristics.
Contrasting and Corroborating Citations in Journal Articles

Automatic recognition of CORROBORATE and CONTRAST relations between citations may enhance citation analysis. We describe a system that identifies these citation relations using predicate/argument and discourse structures.
Five-Year ALARA Review of Dosimetry Results 1 January 2010 through 31 December 2014.

A review of dosimetry results from 1 January 2010 through 31 December 2014 was conducted to demonstrate that radiation protection methods used are compliant with regulatory limits and conform to the philosophy to keep exposures to radiation As Low As is Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). This included a review and evaluation of personnel dosimetry (external and internal) results at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico as well as at Sandia National Laboratories, California. Additionally, results of environmental monitoring efforts at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico were reviewed. ALARA is a philosophical approach to radiation protection by managing and controlling radiation exposures (individual and collective) to the work force and to the general public to levels that are As Low As is Reasonably Achievable taking social, technical, economic, practical, and public policy considerations into account. ALARA is not a dose limit but a process which has the objective of attaining doses as far below applicable dose limits As Low As is Reasonably Achievable.
The Impact of Chemical Probes in Drug Discovery: A Pharmaceutical Industry Perspective

Chemical probes represent an important component of both academic and pharmaceutical drug discovery research. As a complement to prior reviews that have defined this scientific field, we aim to provide an industry perspective on the value of having high-quality chemical probes throughout the course of preclinical research. By studying examples from the internal Merck pipeline, we recognize that these probes require significant collaborative investment to realize their potential impact in clarifying the tractability and translation of a given therapeutic target. This perspective concludes with recommendations for chemical probe discovery aimed toward maximizing their potential to identify targets that result in the successful delivery of novel therapeutics.