cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minimizing Wireless Delay with a High-Throughput Side Channel

Performance of modern cognitive and interactive mobile applications highly depends on the transmission delay in the wireless link that is vital to supporting real-time wireless traffic. To eliminate wireless network congestion caused by large amounts of concurrent network traffic and minimize such transmission delay, traditional schemes adopt various flow control and QoS-aware traffic scheduling techniques, but fail when the amount of network traffic further increases. In this paper, we present a novel design of high-throughput wireless side channel, which operates concurrently with the existing wireless network channel over the same spectrum but dedicates to real-time traffic. Our key idea of realizing such a side channel is to exploit the excessive SNR margin in the wireless network to encode data as patterned interference. We design such patterned interference in the form of energy erasure over specific subcarriers in an OFDM-based wireless network, and achieve a data rate of 1.25 Mbps in the side channel without affecting the existing wireless network links. Experimental results over both software-defined radios and custom wireless hardware demonstrate the effectiveness of our side channel design in reducing the latency of real-time wireless traffic, while providing a sufficient data throughput for such traffic.
Moral Injury Among Professionals in K–12 Education:

This article presents the quantitative portion of a mixed methods study of moral injury among professionals in K–12 public education. Using a cross-sectional correlational survey design, 218 licens...
Dr. J vs. the bird: Java IDE's one-on-one

An important decision facing instructors of introductory programming courses is the choice of supporting software development tools. Usually this involves selecting an integrated development environment (IDE). BlueJ has received widespread adoption for first year courses that use the Java programming language; however, DrJava is emerging as an alternative. This paper features a comparison of the pedagogical approaches used by BlueJ and DrJava as a guideline for selecting the tool best suited to the teaching style used in the introductory course.
Improving instructional practice through peer observation and feedback

The Every Student Succeeds Act provides an opportunity for policymakers and researchers to revisit what is known about effective teacher evaluation practices to make better-informed decisions moving forward. Principals—responsible for implementing new teacher evaluation reforms and accommodating the demands to spend more time observing and providing feedback to teachers—are overworked. They have little time to provide high-quality feedback, and may lack important content-based expertise. With these considerations in mind, we explore the role of peer observation and feedback as a vehicle to move beyond high-stakes evaluation and re-center efforts on instructional improvement. Our systematic review of extant literature ( n = 38 documents, 92% peer-reviewed empirical articles) indicates that peer observation and feedback is a promising practice for instructional improvement, but one that lacks sufficient evidence. Policy, thus, can encourage innovation and research around this practice so that peer observation and feedback models can be piloted and the most effective established, as well as strategies to tackle the biggest barriers schools, particularly U.S. schools face in implementing such a practice—time.
ProteoViz: a tool for the analysis and interactive visualization of phosphoproteomics data.

Quantitative proteomics generates large datasets with increasing depth and quantitative information. With the advance of mass spectrometry and increasingly larger data sets, streamlined methodologies and tools for analysis and visualization of phosphoproteomics are needed both at the protein and modified peptide levels. To assist in addressing this need, we developed ProteoViz, which includes a set of R scripts that perform normalization and differential expression analysis of both the proteins and enriched phosphorylated peptides, and identify sequence motifs, kinases, and gene set enrichment pathways. The tool generates interactive visualization plots that allow users to interact with the phosphoproteomics results and quickly identify proteins and phosphorylated peptides of interest for their biological study. The tool also links significant phosphosites with sequence motifs and pathways that will help explain the experimental conditions and guide future experiments. Here, we present the workflow and demonstrate its functionality by analyzing a phosphoproteomic data set from two lymphoma cell lines treated with kinase inhibitors. The scripts and data are freely available at https://github.com/ByrumLab/ProteoViz and via the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD015606.
Chapter 12 – Game Theory

The twelfth chapter on game theory covers two-person zero-sum games. This chapter covers the matrix game, strictly determine games, games with mixed strategies, and instructions on how to reduce matrix games to linear programming.
MY COVID-19 DIARY, PART 2

Written in weekly instalments, Michelle Munyikwa's Covid-19 diary reflects upon the experience of an unfolding pandemic from her dual role as a medical trainee and anthropologist living in the United States. In this second instalment of her diary Covid-19 dairy, the author reflects upon ethics, risk, pandemic futures and the murder of George Floyd as the crisis continues in the United States.
Controller Hardware in the Loop Testing of an IEC 61850 GOOSE Based Control for Seamless Transition of a Microgrid Between Island and Grid Connected Modes

This article demonstrates development of a controller hardware-in-the-loop test system for validating microgrid control schemes. The investigation also proposes and analyzes the performance of an IEC 61850 generic object-oriented substation event protocol (GOOSE) based control strategy for managing the transition of a microgrid test model from grid-connected mode to islanded mode. The test model contains a single inverter-interfaced distributed energy resource (DER). The inverter controls allow the DER to regulate its output during grid-connected operation and regulate the microgrid voltage and frequency when separated from the Area electric power system. The test model, inverter, and microgrid controllers are simulated using RTDS Technologies’ real-time digital simulator. A digital protection relay is used in the hardware loop to provide I/O to the simulated controllers via GOOSE messaging. The results of the investigation illustrate the benefits of IEC 61850 standard for integration of controller hardware in a microgrid control scheme as well as the suitability of GOOSE messaging for seamless transitioning between microgrid operating modes.
Abstract P101: Sympathetic Transduction In Young Adults With A Family History Of Hypertension

Exaggerated sympathetic transduction (i.e., the vascular response to a burst of muscle sympathetic nerve activity; MSNA) has recently been demonstrated in certain populations of young adults at ris...
When POTS is the tip of the iceberg: Rare cases of dysautonomia as a possible manifestation of another disorder.

BackgroundPostural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a heterogenous disorder of the autonomic nervous system that is commonly associated with small fiber neuropathy, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and autoimm...
Heat transfer from a particle in laminar flows of a variable thermal conductivity fluid

Abstract We revisit the classical problem of steady-state heat transfer from a single particle in a uniform laminar flow with the assumption that the thermal conductivity of the fluid changes linearly with the temperature. We use a combination of asymptotic and scaling analyses to derive approximate expressions for the dimensionless heat transfer coefficient, i.e., the Nusselt number Nu , of arbitrarily shaped particles. The results cover the entire range of the Peclet number Pe . We find that, for a constant temperature boundary condition and fixed geometry, the Nusselt number is essentially equal to the product of two terms, one of which is only a function of Pe while the other one is nearly independent of Pe and mainly depends on the proportionality constant of the conductivity-temperature relation. We also show that, in contrast, when a uniform heat flux is imposed on the surface of the particle, Nu can be estimated as a summation of a Pe -dependent piece and one that solely varies with the proportionality constant.
Multi-turbine Associative Model for Wind Turbine Performance Monitoring

Comparing the performance parameters of a set of wind turbines in a single region will provide insights that prevent raising unnecessary alarm, while confirming actual faults. Wind turbines operating in a wind farm experience similar operating and environmental conditions that could indicate either normality for that group or failures that manifest in those conditions. These norms and failures are an orthogonal set of data rich in information that can be utilized in performance monitoring algorithms to supply better prediction accuracy and low false positives. In this paper, we describe the use of an associative model (AM) for fault detection in a population. An associative model maps system parameters to an identical set of virtual parameters. The AM-based approach can be used to capture the underlying correlation of an observable system, such as performance parameters of a set of wind turbines in a wind farm. The residuals between the model output and the input can then be used to detect anomalies and isolate faults.
Assume It Will Break: Parental Perspectives on Negative Communication Experiences in Pediatric Oncology.

PURPOSE:Communication breakdowns in pediatric oncology can have negative consequences for patients and families. A detailed analysis of these negative encounters will support clinicians in anticipa...
Using Educational Institutional Archives to Unsettle and Rectify Racial Pasts

This article offers a pedagogical response to the growing demand that institutions of higher education must contend with their racial pasts. Drawing upon concepts from the literature on collective ...
Clinical Outcomes between Stand-Alone Zero-Profile Spacers and Cervical Plate with Cage Fixation for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Retrospective Analysis of 166 Patients.

Stand-alone (SA) zero-profile implants are an alternative to cervical plating (CP) in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). In this study, we investigate differences in surgical outcomes between SA and CP in ACDF. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 166 patients with myelopathy and/or radiculopathy who had ACDF with SA or CP from Jan 2013–Dec 2016. We measured surgical outcomes including Bazaz dysphagia score at 3 months, Nurick grade at last follow-up, and length of hospital stay. 166 patients (92F/74M) were reviewed. 92 presented with radiculopathy (55%), 37 with myelopathy (22%), and 37 with myeloradiculopathy (22%). The average operative time with CP was longer than SA (194 ± 69 vs. 126 ± 46 min) (p < 0.001), as was the average length of hospital stay (2.1 ± 2 vs. 1.5 ± 1 days) (p = 0.006). At 3 months, 82 patients (49.4%) had a follow-up for dysphagia, with 3 patients reporting mild dysphagia and none reporting moderate or severe dysphagia. Nurick grade at last follow-up for the myelopathy and myeloradiculopathy cohorts improved in 63 patients (85%). Prolonged length of stay was associated with reduced odds of having an optimal outcome by 0.50 (CI = 0.35–0.85, p = 0.003). Overall, we demonstrate that there is no significant difference in neurological outcome or rates of dysphagia between SA and CP, and that both lead to overall improvement of symptoms based on Nurick grading. However, we also show that the SA group has shorter length of hospital stay and operative time compared to CP.
Effects of Ankle Support on Time To Stabilization of Subjects with Stable Ankles

EFFECTS OF ANKLE SUPPORT ON TIME TO STABILIZATION OF SUBJECTS WITH STABLE ANKLES By Raquel Elise Martin A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007 Major Director: Dr. Scott Ross Assistant Professor Department of Health & Human Performance The purpose of this study was to determine if prophylactic ankle tape and/or ankle braces improve dynamic stability in TTS measure. All subjects were healthy and had no prior history of ankle injuries. Data collection consisted of each subject performing a single leg jump-landing with ankle tape, ankle brace, combination of the two, and control (no tape or brace) conditions. Dynamic stability was assessed with time to stabilization force plate measure. Significant plane by ankle tape interaction (p=0.045) was found. No significant plane by ankle tape by ankle brace interaction (p=0.637), no significant ankle tape by ankle brace interaction (p=0.483), or plane by
Hypolipidemic Effect of a Blue-Green Alga (Nostoc commune) Is Attributed to Its Nonlipid Fraction by Decreasing Intestinal Cholesterol Absorption in C57BL/6J Mice.

We previously demonstrated that Nostoc commune var. sphaeroids Kutzing (NO), a blue-green alga (BGA), exerts a hypolipidemic effect in vivo and its lipid extract regulates the expression of genes involved in cholesterol and lipid metabolism in vitro. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the hypolipidemic effect of NO is attributed to an algal lipid or a delipidated fraction in vivo compared with Spirulina platensis (SP). Male C57BL/6J mice were fed an AIN-93M diet containing 2.5% or 5% of BGA (w/w) or a lipid extract equivalent to 5% of BGA for 4 weeks to measure plasma and liver lipids, hepatic gene expression, intestinal cholesterol absorption, and fecal sterol excretion. Plasma total cholesterol (TC) was significantly lower in 2.5% and 5% NO-fed groups, while plasma triglyceride (TG) levels were decreased in the 5% NO group compared with controls. However, neither NO organic extract (NOE) nor SP-fed groups altered plasma lipids. Hepatic mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1α, and acyl-CoA oxidase 1 were induced in 5% NO-fed mice, while there were no significant changes in hepatic lipogenic gene expression between groups. NO, but not NOE and SP groups, significantly decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption. When HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes were incubated with NOE and SP organic extract (SPE), there were marked decreases in protein levels of HMGR, low-density lipoprotein receptor, and fatty acid synthase. In conclusion, the nonlipid fraction of NO exerts TC and TG-lowering effects primarily by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption and by increasing hepatic fatty acid oxidation, respectively.
Higher Quality Requirements: Supporting Joint Application Development with the Nominal Group Technique

Miscommunication among systems developers and users has plagued systems requirements determination under conventional approaches and has contributed to several systems failures. Joint Application Development (JAD) was introduced to alleviate this problem by bringing together developers, users, and managers in face-to-face workshops designed to produce higher quality requirements. However, JAD sessions are conducted under the freely interacting group structure, which makes them susceptible to many of the classical problems commonly encountered during group deliberations. In this paper we present a case for integrating JAD and the nominal group technique (NGT), a group protocol that was designed to solve problems similar to those encountered in JAD. We tested our proposition in a laboratory experiment consisting of 24 group sessions, in which professional JAD facilitators led a diverse group of business professionals, managers, and advanced business students in specifying high-level requirements (under JAD and with the integrated techniques) for a simulated IS problem. The neutral and objective measures of their effects on the quality of the resulting requirements indicate that the combination of these group process structures seems to neutralize the negative impacts of group dynamics often experienced in JAD sessions, and contributes to improvements in the quality of the requirements.
Randomized distributed multi-antenna systems in multi-path channels

A great deal of research on MIMO systems is now trying to focus on distributed designs to bring the advantages of co-located antenna systems to nodes with a single RF front end, by leveraging on the other nodes resources. Yet, most schemes that are considered assume that the nodes encode their signals in a fashion that requires at least the knowledge of the number of nodes involved and in many cases the specific encoding rule to use. Hence, while the hardware resources are distributed, the protocols that are proposed are not. Recently we have proposed schemes that are totally decentralized and using random matrix theory we have studied the diversity attainable through these schemes in flat fading channels. The goal of this paper is to show that our general randomized designs are suitable to work in frequency selective channels and can easily be adapted to block space-time precoding schemes that are known to harvest diversity not only from the multiple antennas but also from the multi-path.
Pseudo dynamic metrics [software metrics]

Summary form only given. Software metrics have become an integral part of software development and are used during every phase of the software development life cycle. Research in the area of software metrics tends to focus predominantly on static metrics that are obtained by static analysis of the software artifact. But software quality attributes such as performance and reliability depend on the dynamic behavior of the software artifact. Estimating software quality attributes based on dynamic metrics for the software system are more accurate and realistic. The research presented in this paper attempts to narrow the gap between static metrics and dynamic metrics, and lay the foundation for a more systematic approach to estimate the dynamic behavior of a software system early in the software development cycle. Focusing on coupling metrics, we present an empirical study to analyze the relationship between static and dynamic coupling metrics and propose the concept of pseudo dynamic metrics to estimate the dynamic behavior early in the software development lifecycle.
The formation and reactions of a nonphosphorylated high energy form of succinyl coenzyme A synthetase.

Abstract Succinyl coenzyme A synthetase from Escherichia coli, upon exposure to succinyl-CoA or to ATP and CoA, is converted to a "high energy" form capable of reacting with orthophosphate to give a phosphorylated enzyme (E-P) or with Pi and ADP to give ATP. The high energy form has been obtained by several independent routes in milligram quantities with highly purified enzyme and shown to be demonstrably free from any succinyl, phosphoryl, or adenosine diphosphoryl derivatives formed from substrates. The high energy form contains bound CoA and is designated as ∼E·CoA. The over-all reaction can be demonstrated in independent steps involving E-P and ∼E·CoA starting with either ATP or succinyl-CoA as energy donors. The free enzyme, the phosphorylated form, and the high energy form all have equivalent catalytic activity. A succinate independent Pi ⇄ ATP exchange and the Pi-independent succinate ⇄ succinyl-CoA exchange, as well as other partial reactions, are in harmony with the participation of ∼E·CoA as a catalytic intermediate. The ∼E·CoA is not sensitive to hydroxylamine. 18O, derived from Pi-18O when ∼E·CoA forms E-P, does not remain with the isolated enzyme. Similarly, oxygens of CoA of the reaction medium do not readily interchange with Pi and succinate oxygens.
Fighting Fire with Common Sense

Wildfire. A Century of Failed Forest Policy. George Wuerthner, Ed.. Foundation for Deep Ecology, Sausalito, CA, in association with Island Press, Washington, DC, 2006. 352 pp. $75. ISBN 1-59726-069-X. Paper, $45. ISBN 1-59726-070-3. The contributors to the large-format, photo-rich volume discuss the ecology of fire landscapes of the western United States along with the effects of the policies and practices of fire suppression, prescribed burns, salvage logging, and land-use planning.
The Effect of Triiodothyronine on Leucine Incorporation into Tail and Other Tadpole Tissues

Abstract The incorporation of 3H-leucine into the proteins of seven tadpole tissues was studied in vivo. After 6 to 48 hours, triiodothyronine induced a marked reduction in leucine uptake into the proteins of the gills, intestine, kidney, and tail. No significant effect of triiodothyronine on the leucine uptake was observed in the lungs or heart but a cyclic effect was noted in the liver. The possibility that this effect in vivo was due to changes in the specific activity of the amino acid pool was excluded. It was concluded that there is a decrease in vivo in the biosynthesis of tail proteins after triiodothyronine injection during the period before regression even though certain specific enzyme proteins of the tail increase during this time. The possibility of a similar mechanism in gill, intestine, and kidney tissue is discussed.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Aspartate Transaminase: A 19F AND 1H INVESTIGATION OF THE BINDING OF DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS TO VARIOUS FORMS OF EACH ISOENZYME

Abstract The binding of succinate and perfluorosuccinate to the supernatant and mitochondrial isoenzymes of aspartate transaminase has been studied using 1H and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as probes. The binding was measured for the pyridoxal (El) and pyridoxamine (Em) forms of the holoenzyme, the apoenzyme, and the pyridoxal form after reduction of the internal Schiff's base with NaBH4 (reduced holoenzyme). The NMR parameters studied were band broadening or chemical shift changes upon dicarboxylic acid binding to the enzyme. The dissociation constant values of succinate and perfluorosuccinate for the active forms of each isozyme, El and Em, are in the 1 to 4 mm range. Kd values of the inactive forms of the supernatant transaminase for perfluorosuccinate are 18.3 mm, reduced form, and 12.0 mm, apoenzyme form. Anions are competitive with dicarboxylic acid binding and, because of mutual exclusion, do not alter the correlation time, τc of bound succinate. This competition allows for the calculation of the chloride affinity of the pyridoxal, Kd = 9 mm (supernatant), 3 mm (mitochondrial), and pyridoxamine forms, Kd = 5 mm (supernatant), 1.6 mm (mitochondrial), of each isoenzyme. Because amino acids and glutarate also compete with perfluorosuccinate binding in the El, Em, and apoenzyme forms, it is concluded that dicarboxylic acids bind to these forms of the enzyme and that amino acids can form complexes with the pyridoxamine form. The correlation time of bound dicarboxylic acid shows an increase, i.e. more restricted segmental motion of succinate, with decreasing pH and is particularly critical in the pH 5 and pH 8 regions. The fastest correlation time of perfluorosuccinate (greatest segmental motion) corresponds to that bound to the reduced holoenzyme. The above effects agree with the competition-pH dependence between dicarboxylic acids and anions. Since there is evidence of the active center histidyl residue as the anion binding site (Cheng, S., and Martinez-Carrion, M. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 6597–6602) and of the Schiff's base nitrogen as the low pH ligand of a carboxyl group in glutaric acid (Jenkins, W. T., and D'Ari, L. (1966) J. Biol. Chem. 241, 5667), a proposal for the binding of dicarboxylic acids is made. Dicarboxylic acids inhibit because they form a bridge between the active center histidyl residue and the pyridoxal phosphate internal aldimine with the e-amino group of a lysyl residue. Thus, the binding subsites for a competitive inhibitor such as succinate, although structurally similar to the substrates, differ from the productive mode of binding of the amino or keto acids which form covalent enzyme-substrate complexes.
Recent Developments in the Cathode-Ray Oscilloscope

Publisher Summary This chapter presents developments in the cathode-ray oscilloscope. The development and improvement of the cathode-ray oscilloscope encompasses a number of problems that are not strictly circuit-design exercises. The electrical analog of the unknown phenomena is called a “signal”, and is the entity on which the oscilloscope operates. The tremendous range of signals handled by the oscilloscope is typified by the few microvolts of fluctuation of a stimulated brain cell and the several-hundred-kilovolt surge of a high-tension impulse generator. The time during which the electron is in the deflecting field is determined by its initial velocity and length of the deflecting plates. The intensity of the deflecting field is determined solely by the spacing of the plates. It is suggested to isolate the input to the multivibrator from the start of the cycle till the circuit has completely relaxed at the end of the cycle. In this way, identical conditions of operation are established for each cycle of sweep operation, and one more factor leading to instability is removed. It is found that the coupling between the multivibrator and the sweep generator in the Ropiequet circuit is accomplished by means of a cathode-follower pentode clamp tube.
Phase I Trial of Escalating Doses of Paclitaxel Plus Doxorubicin and Dexrazoxane in Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum-tolerable dose (MTD) of paclitaxel given as a 3-hour intravenous (IV) infusion that could be used in conjunction with doxorubicin and dexrazoxane, and to determine the effect of dexrazoxane on the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel and doxorubicin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with advanced breast cancer received dexrazoxane (600 mg/m2 by IV infusion over 15 minutes), followed 15 minutes later by doxorubicin (60 mg/m2 IV), followed 15 minutes later by paclitaxel (150 or 175 mg/m2 by IV infusion over 3 hours) in cohorts of three to six patients using a standard phase I design without (group A) and with (group B) granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Treatment continued until there was a substantial decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), congestive heart failure, progressive disease, or physician discretion to discontinue. RESULTS: The MTD of paclitaxel was 150 mg/m2, and adjunctive therapy with G-CSF was required to prevent febrile ne...
Association of a Guardian's Report of a Child Acting Abnormally With Traumatic Brain Injury After Minor Blunt Head Trauma

Importance Increased use of computed tomography (CT) in children is concerning owing to the cancer risk from ionizing radiation, particularly in children younger than 2 years. A guardian report that a child is acting abnormally is a risk factor for clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) and may be a driving factor for CT use in the emergency department. Objective To determine the prevalence of ciTBIs and TBIs in children younger than 2 years with minor blunt head trauma and a guardian report of acting abnormally with (1) no other findings or (2) other concerning findings for TBI. Design, Setting, and Participants Secondary analysis of a large, prospective, multicenter cohort study that included 43 399 children younger than 18 years with minor blunt head trauma evaluated in 25 emergency departments. The study was conducted on data obtained between June 2004 and September 2006. Data analysis was performed between August 21, 2014, and March 9, 2015. Exposures A guardian report that the child was acting abnormally after minor blunt head trauma. Main Outcomes and Measures The prevalence of ciTBI (defined as death, neurosurgery, intubation for >24 hours, or hospitalization for ≥2 nights in association with TBI on CT imaging) and TBI on CT imaging in children with a guardian report of acting abnormally with (1) no other findings and (2) other concerning findings for TBI. Results Of 43 399 children in the cohort study, a total of 1297 children had reports of acting abnormally, of whom 411 (31.7%) had this report as their only finding. Reported as percentage (95% CI), 1 of 411 (0.2% [0-1.3%]) had a ciTBI, and 4 TBIs were noted on the CT scans in 185 children who underwent imaging (2.2% [0.6%-5.4%]). In children with reports of acting abnormally and other concerning findings for TBI, 29 of 886 (3.3% [2.2%-4.7%]) had ciTBIs and 66 of 674 (9.8% [7.7%-12.3%]) had TBIs on CT. Conclusions and Relevance Clinically important TBIs are very uncommon, and TBIs noted on CT are uncommon in children younger than 2 years with minor blunt head trauma and guardian reports of the child acting abnormally with no other clinical findings suspicious for TBI. Computed tomographic scans are generally not indicated in these children although observation in the emergency department may be warranted.
Effects of high‐sulphur water on hepatic gene expression of steers fed fibre‐based diets

Summary Sulphur-induced polioencephalomalacia (sPEM), a neurological disorder affecting ruminants, is frequently associated with the consumption of high-sulphur (S) water and subsequent poor performance. Currently, there is no economical method for S removal from surface water sources, and alternative water sources are typically neither readily available nor cost-effective. Determination of genes differentially expressed in response to high-S water consumption may provide a better understanding of the physiology corresponding to high dietary S and ultimately lead to the development of treatment and prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to determine changes in gene expression in the liver, an organ important for S metabolism, of fibre-fed steers consuming high-S water. For this study, liver tissues were collected on the final day of a trial from yearling steers randomly assigned to low-S water control (566 mg/kg SO4; n = 24), high-S water (3651 mg/kg SO4; n = 24) or high-S water plus clinoptilolite supplemented at either 2.5% (n = 24) or 5.0% (n = 24) of diet dry matter (DM). Microarray analyses on randomly selected healthy low-S control (n = 4) and high-S (n = 4; no clinoptilolite) steers using the Affymetrix GeneChip Bovine Genome Array revealed 488 genes upregulated (p < 0.05) and 154 genes downregulated (p < 0.05) in response to the high- vs. low-S water consumption. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed the upregulation (p < 0.10) of seven genes involved in inflammatory response and immune functions. Changes in such genes suggest that ruminant animals administered high-S water may be undergoing an inflammation or immune response, even if signs of sPEM or compromised health are not readily observed. Further study of these, and other affected genes, may deliver new insights into the physiology underlying the response to high dietary S, ultimately leading to the development of treatments for high S–affected ruminant livestock.
A Dynamic Weight-Based Dynamic Requests Scheduling Model in Multi-core Web Server

In order to improve performance of handling user requests, most of web servers adopt multi-core processors. However, traditional requests scheduling algorithms, such as FCFS, don't consider the characteristics of multi-core processors and the distribution of the dynamic requests service time. Therefore, the scheduling algorithms couldn't fully exploit the performance of multi-core processors. To solve this problem, we proposed the new requests scheduling algorithm based on the dynamic weights of request queues. Simulation experiments have been done to evaluate the new algorithm. The experiment results show that the proposed algorithm could solve the load imbalance between cores in long period and avoid the problem of ping-pong effect in multi-core systems.
The role of sucrose, auxin and explant source on in vitro rooting of seedling explants of Eucalyptus sideroxylon

Abstract Explants (mainstem shoots or axillary shoots) excised from Eucalyptus sideroxylon seedlings were utilized for in vitro micropropagation studies. Modified half-strength Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with different levels of sucrose and auxin were tested to identify the optimal combination for rooting and plantlet formation. Explants from distal or proximal segments of the mainstem also were tested for rooting capacity and subsequent pattern of plantlet growth and performance. These studies demonstrated that 2–6% sucrose concentrations in the medium favored root development. However, 4 and 6% sucrose caused more callus formation and 8 and 10% levels of sucrose were detrimental to explant cultures. Adding 5 μM indolebutyric acid (IBA) to the rooting medium at any sucrose level in this study induced more callus than α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The average root number and frequency of callus formation per explant increased IBA concentrations (2.5–10 μM). However, a rooting medium with a combination of 2.5 μM IBA and 2.5 μM NAA was most suitable for rooting and plantlet development. Explants from well-rooted donor plantlets exhibited a high rooting frequency and more well-developed root systems in subsequent subcultures.
Global warming in schools: relational approaches to improving school climate

Steven M. Constantino, 2003 Lanham, MD, Scarecrow Education $21.79 (pbk), 178 pp. ISBN 1‐57886‐062‐8 M. Beadoin and M. Taylor, 2004 Thousand Island, CA, Sage $65.95 (hbk), $29.95 (pbk), 210 pp. ISB...
Separating the Men from the Moms The Making of Adult Gender Segregation in Youth Sports

Based on a multiyear study, this article analyzes the reproduction of adult gender segregation in two youth-sports organizations in which most men volunteers become coaches and most women volunteers become “team moms.” We use interviews and participant observation to explore how these gender divisions are created. While most participants say the divisions result from individual choices, our interviews show how gendered language, essentialist beliefs, and analogies with gendered divisions of labor in families and work-places naturalize this division of labor. Observation reveals how patterned, informal interactions reproduce (and occasionally challenge) it as well. We show how (mostly) nonreflexive informal interactions at the nexus of three gender regimes—youth sports, families, and workplaces—produce a gender formation with two interrelated characteristics: an ascendant professional class gender ideology that we call “soft essentialism” and a “gender category sorting system” that channels most men into c...
Efficient non-corrosive electron-transfer mediator mixtures for dye-sensitized solar cells.

The electrochemical and photoelectrochemical study of noncorrosive electron-transfer mediator mixtures for DSC is reported. These mixtures, characterized by the presence of kinetically fast organic or metal−organic redox couples in conjunction with a Co(II)/(III) relay, exhibited maximum photon-to-current conversion efficiencies (IPCE %) exceeding 80% when employed in the presence of a suitably designed MLCT sensitizer, rivaling with the performances of the classical I-/I3- electrolyte.
Effect of relaxation on self-induced transparency

We derive an equation of motion of the Bloch-vector tipping angle and the area theorem in the presence of relaxation. We derive relaxation-dependent shifts in the equilibrium $n\ensuremath{\pi}$ areas. Part of these shifts depends on a weighted time integral of the sine of the area, and hence these shifts remove the propagation degeneracy of pulses having equal areas but different shapes.
Vaginal pH and parabasal cells in postmenopausal women.

Abstract Objective: To determine the vaginal pH level that correlates with elevated parabasal cells in vaginal smears Methods: Postmenopausal women presenting to a gynecology office for routine annual and incontinence examinations were studied prospectively. Women were excluded if they had vaginal infections or pelvic organ prolapses past the hymen. pH was measured and cytology smears made from the midvagina. A pathologist who was not aware of pH results evaluated the smears. Spearman rho was used to correlate pH and percentage of parabasal cells. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between pH and increased parabasal cells in vaginal smears. Predictive values were used to select a pH level as a cutoff point to predict increased parabasal cells. Results: Seventy-four women were enrolled and 70 completed the study. The correlation coefficient between pH and percentage of parabasal cells was 0.6 (P Conclusion: Vaginal pH above 6.0 correlates with high levels of parabasal cells (20% or more) from the midvagina.
Tuning FlaSh: Redesign of the Dynamics, Voltage Range, and Color of the Genetically Encoded Optical Sensor of Membrane Potential

Abstract The optical voltage sensor FlaSh, made from a fusion of a GFP "reporter domain" and a voltage-gated Shaker K + channel "detector domain," has been mutagenically tuned in both the GFP reporter and channel detector domains. This has produced sensors with improved folding at 37°C, enabling use in mammalian preparations, and yielded variants with distinct spectra, kinetics, and voltage dependence, thus expanding the types of electrical signals that can be detected. The optical readout of FlaSh has also been expanded from single wavelength fluorescence intensity changes to dual wavelength measurements based on both voltage-dependent spectral shifts and changes in FRET. Different versions of FlaSh can now be chosen to optimize the detection of either action potentials or synaptic potentials, to follow high versus low rates of activity, and to best reflect electrical activity in cell types with distinct voltages of operation.
Exploring multilocus associations of inflammation genes and colorectal cancer risk using hapConstructor

In candidate-gene association studies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), multilocus analyses are frequently of high dimensionality when considering haplotypes or haplotype pairs (diplotypes) and differing modes of expression. Often, while candidate genes are selected based on their biological involvement in a given pathway, little is known about the functionality of SNPs to guide association studies. Investigators face the challenge of exploring multiple SNP models to elucidate which variants, independently or in combination, might be associated with a disease of interest. A data mining module, hapConstructor (freely-available in Genie software) performs systematic construction and association testing of multilocus genotype data in a Monte Carlo framework. Our objective was to assess its utility to guide statistical analyses of haplotypes within a candidate region (or combined genotypes across candidate genes) beyond that offered by a standard logistic regression approach. We applied the hapConstructor method to a multilocus investigation of candidate genes involved in pro-inflammatory cytokine IL6 production, IKBKB, IL6, and NFKB1 (16 SNPs total) hypothesized to operate together to alter colorectal cancer risk. Data come from two U.S. multicenter studies, one of colon cancer (1,556 cases and 1,956 matched controls) and one of rectal cancer (754 cases and 959 matched controls). HapConstrcutor enabled us to identify important associations that were further analyzed in logistic regression models to simultaneously adjust for confounders. The most significant finding (nominal P = 0.0004; false discovery rate q = 0.037) was a combined genotype association across IKBKB SNP rs5029748 (1 or 2 variant alleles), IL6 rs1800797 (1 or 2 variant alleles), and NFKB1 rs4648110 (2 variant alleles) which conferred an ~80% decreased risk of colon cancer. Strengths of hapConstructor were: systematic identification of multiple loci within and across genes important in CRC risk; false discovery rate assessment; and efficient guidance of subsequent logistic regression analyses.
The Influence of Social Consensus Information on Intergroup Helping Behavior

Previous research demonstrates that social consensus information (information about other people's beliefs) has a powerful influence on intergroup attitudes. The present study examined the influence of consensus information on helping behavior. White participants were provided with favorable or no consensus information about African Americans, and then we assessed their racial attitudes and their willingness to help an African American versus a White person. Replicating previous findings, we found that individuals who received favorable, as compared to no, consensus information had more favorable attitudes toward African Americans. More importantly, our results demonstrated that participants who received favorable consensus information were more likely to help an African American individual than those who did not receive consensus information. Consensus information did not influence behavior toward a White person. In understanding when and why consensus information influences stereotypes and prejudice, we...
Properties of phenolic fiber‐reinforced polymers

Fibers made of phenol formaldehyde are relatively new to the market place and are currently manufactured in Japan. They have certain characteristics which make them attractive as a reinforcement for rubber, thermoplastics, and thermosets. This paper will discuss the properties of molded polypropylene thermoplastics as a function of fiber weight percent and surface treatment. It is shown that the elevated temperature properties are improved without sacrifice of low-temperature brittleness.
Interferons as Therapy for Viral and Neoplastic Diseases: From Panacea to Pariah to Paragon

For more than 20 years after the excitement engendered by their discovery in 1957 as antiviral agents, there were no significant clinical uses of interferons; however, following their cloning they have been employed as effective treatment for several viral, autoimmune, and neoplastic diseases.
Increased fructose consumption is associated with fibrosis severity in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The rising incidence of obesity and diabetes coincides with a marked increase in fructose consumption. Fructose consumption is higher in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) than in age-matched and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls. Because fructose elicits metabolic perturbations that may be hepatotoxic, we investigated the relationship between fructose consumption and disease severity in NAFLD. We studied 427 adults enrolled in the NASH Clinical Research Network for whom Block food questionnaire data were collected within 3 months of a liver biopsy. Fructose consumption was estimated based on reporting (frequency × amount) of Kool-aid, fruit juices, and nondietary soda intake, expressed as servings per week, and classified into none, minimum to moderate (<7 servings/week), and daily (≥7 servings/week). The association of fructose intake with metabolic and histological features of NAFLD was analyzed using multiple linear and ordinal logistic regression analyses with and without controlling for other confounding factors. Increased fructose consumption was univariately associated with decreased age (P < 0.0001), male sex (P < 0.0001), hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.04), low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (<0.0001), decreased serum glucose (P < 0.001), increased calorie intake (P < 0.0001), and hyperuricemia (P < 0.0001). After controlling for age, sex, BMI, and total calorie intake, daily fructose consumption was associated with lower steatosis grade and higher fibrosis stage (P < 0.05 for each). In older adults (age ≥ 48 years), daily fructose consumption was associated with increased hepatic inflammation (P < 0.05) and hepatocyte ballooning (P = 0.05). Conclusion: In patients with NAFLD, daily fructose ingestion is associated with reduced hepatic steatosis but increased fibrosis. These results identify a readily modifiable environmental risk factor that may ameliorate disease progression in patients with NAFLD. HEPATOLOGY 2010
Relation between grain growth and grain-boundary diffusion in a pure material by molecular dynamics simulations

Traditionally, due to the impurities inevitably present in real materials that limit the grain-boundary (GB) mobility, the processes of grain growth and GB diffusion are thought to involve similar activation barriers. However, recent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of GB migration in bicrystals have suggested that, in pure materials, GB diffusion and GB migration involve distinct mechanisms and, hence, different activation barriers. Here we report MD simulations of grain growth in an impurity-free model nanocrystalline palladium microstructure containing only high-energy GBs. By contrast with the bicrystal simulations, we observe virtually identical activation energies for grain growth and GB diffusion. We discuss several mechanisms that might be responsible for this difference between the bicrystal and polycrystal results, including accommodation of the curvature-driven GB migration by the elimination of GB area and GB excess free volume and a possible finite mobility of the triple junctions. The qualitative agreement of our observations with the general experimental findings is remarkable given the absence of any impurities in our model system. This suggests that a fundamental, intrinsic process may be responsible for the similar activation energies for GB migration and GB diffusion in polycrystals. In our model system this process seems to involve the accommodation of the curvature-driven GB migration by GB diffusion to eliminate the GB area and related GB free volume at the triple junctions.
Frame replenishment coding over noisy channels

The authors propose a combined source-channel coding scheme that provides error protection to improve the performance in noisy channels. Recently, two new frame replenishment coding techniques based on vector quantisation (VQ) have been proposed, namely, label replenishment coding using vector quantisation (LRVQ) and codeword replenishment coding using vector quantisation (CWRVQ). These techniques provide a good coding performance in a noiseless channel. However, the performance degenerates considerably in the presence of channel noise. The authors first compare the performances of LRVQ and CWRVQ in a noiseless channel with that of the basic frame replenishment (BFR) technique, where the performance of BFR is used as a baseline for comparison. The simulation results demonstrate that, for a noiseless channel, the LRVQ and CWRVQ techniques provide better performance and tolerance to motion in the picture, compared to the BFR technique. However, in the presence of channel noise, the LRVQ and CWRVQ techniques exhibit serious error propagation and noise effects, resulting in poor performance. The authors propose to use a combined source-channel coding technique with three different error protection schemes, where the bit rates for the source code and channel code are adjusted so as to minimise the mean square error. Simulation results demonstrate that the three error protection schemes provide a significant improvement in performance without sacrificing transmission bandwidth.
Fostering the growth of a software quality culture

Instructors often discuss assessment of the technical skills students must acquire in a typical computer science program. Often times, the technical skills and the required body of knowledge are mandated through standards or curricular requirements. How are non-technical skills assessed? Are computer science educators teaching and encouraging the development of other critical skills needed in the workplace such as personal accountability, a strong work ethic, and an ability to deliver on-time and correct work? This paper describes the results of a student survey, designed to provoke some thoughts about the evolving work ethic and the level of a quality-centered culture in students today.