cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relation between myocardial ischemia and the ejection fraction response to exercise in patients with normal or abnormal resting left ventricular function

This study examines the relation between myocardial ischemia and the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) response to exercise in patients with normal or abnormal resting EF. We studied 69 patients aged 25 to 78 years (mean 52 years) by radionuclide ventriculography (at rest and during peak upright exercise) and by exercise thallium-201 imaging. In 27 patients with resting EF less than 50%, the EF response to exercise was normal (greater than or equal to 5% increase) in 13 patients and abnormal in 14. The thallium scans showed reversible defects in 11 of the 14 patients (79%) with abnormal response but none in any of the patients with normal responses (p = 0.0001). In the 42 patients with resting EF greater than or equal to 50%, the EF response to exercise was normal in 23 and abnormal in 19. Reversible defects were present in 13 of the 19 patients (68%) with abnormal response and in only 3 of 23 patients (13%) with normal response (p = 0.0001). Therefore, an abnormal EF response to exercise was seen in 11 of 11 patients with resting EF less than 50% and in 13 of 16 patients (81%) with resting EF greater than or equal to 50% who had reversible thallium defects; normal EF responses were seen in 13 of the 16 patients (81%) with resting EF less than 50% and in 20 of 26 patients (77%) with resting EF greater than or equal to 50% who had no reversible thallium defects. Thus, in patients with abnormal resting LV function an abnormal EF response to exercise suggests the presence of myocardial ischemia rather than a nonspecific response to stress.
Simulation of Mixing within Drops due to Surface Tension Variations

We present the results of a numerical investigation of the mixing within drops caused by surface tension variations. With microfluidic applications in mind, we simulate drops surrounded by a fluid of equal density and viscosity. We investigate both stationary coalescing drops and steadily flowing drops, and study the influence of drop size ratio, viscous effects, and surface tension variations. We measure the mixing efficiency using the variance of the concentration distribution and find that surface tension variations may result in faster mixing than geometric effects.
Electrochemical and electrocatalytic reactions of a ruthenium oxo complex in solution and in cation exchange beads in carbon paste electrodes

Abstract A strategy for electrode immobilization of an ionic reagent as a counterion of an ion exchange matrix is described along with an electrocatalytic application of the reagent. Carbon paste electrodes, CPE, were prepared which contain microparticle beads of a strong cation exchanger, Dowex 50W×8, that had been loaded with the electrocatalytic oxidant reagent, [Ru II (trpy)(phen)(OH)] + ( I ) (trpy = 2,2′, 2″-terpyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). At pH 13 I is reversibly electro-oxidized by one two-electron, one-proton step to produce the Ru(IV) oxidant, [Ru IV (trpy)(phen)O] 2+ ( oxI ). At lower loadings of I in the Dowex resin, semi-infinite molecular diffusion of the reagent within the microparticle beads is the major means of charge transport. Benzyl alcohol oxidation by oxI , with electrochemical regeneration of I , served in basic solution as a system to probe electrocatalysis. On very slow experimental time scales, the electrochemical process is controlled solely by the rate of reaction of oxI with benzyl alcohol inside the ion exchanger. An electrocatalytic rate constant, k 1 = 10.8 ± 4 M −1 s −1 was measured in 0.1 M NaOH. The electrocatalytic rate constant measured at naked glassy carbon electrodes and at CPE containing no ion exchanger, and with I and benzyl alcohol dissolved in the solution, was within a factor of three of the above k 1 .
Stresses in sputter deposited nickel and copper oxide thin films

Abstract In this investigation the total induced stresses in nickel and copper oxide thin films deposited onto copper substrates by sputtering were determined. For nickel films, the stresses were determined as functions of the film thickness and the initial substrate temperature. For copper oxide films, the stresses were determined as functions of the film thickness and the oxygen partial pressure during the deposition cycle. The nickel films exhibited tensile stresses in all cases; however, the stresses decreased by 50% for initial substrate temperatures of 673 K compared with deposition at ambient temperatures. Copper oxide films could be readily produced in tension or in compression, depending on the amount of oxygen present during the deposition. Both the nickel and the copper oxide films approached constant stress values for films thicker than approximately 0.7 μm.
INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNICATION NETWORKS AS A PREDICTOR OF ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

This study examines the relationship between involvement in a job-related communication network and organizational commitment. The findings indicate a complex relationship that is moderated by the degree of job involvement. For employees who are not involved in their jobs, involvement in the job-related communication network functions to foster commitment to the organization. Two major conclusions are drawn: (1) the impact of involvement in communication networks on employee attitudes and behaviors may occur only for individuals with certain characteristics; and (2) previous studies that have reported main effects for individual variables on organizational commitment may need reinterpretation in light of the disordinal interaction obtained here. The possibility that different commitment processes operate for different kinds of employees is explored, with special emphasis on those employees for whom communication is a potent factor in determining attitudes. Implications for future research on the relationship between communication network involvement and other employee responses are discussed.
Ammonium-induced termination of diapause in the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis

Abstract Ammonium ions, administered by injection of ammonium acetate at a rate of 500 μ g/borer, greatly accelerated the completion of diapause in the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis . The biochemical mode of action of ammonium has not been determined, but the ions apparently exerted specific stimulation of some developmental process that is normally regulated via the insect's temporal-photoperiodic responses. Diapausing borers tended to be relatively refractory to ecdysone, but displayed a pathological apolysis in response to high hormone levels under some conditions, including (1) injection of ammonium acetate, (2) injection of sodium chloride, (3) during recovery from severe wounds, and (4) during restoration of water balance following water deprivation. These factors influencing the borer's response to ecdysone were interpreted as being associated with physiological stress or injury metabolism, because of their non-specificity. Only ammonium acetate had the effect of accelerating the termination of diapause, and in this regard the developmental stimulation was highly specific.
Structural interpretation and tectonic evolution of a part of the Najd Shear Zone (Saudi Arabia) using Landsat thematic-mapper data

Abstract Digital-Landsat thematic-mapper data were used to extrapolate structural features associated with the Ajjaj Shear Zone from well characterized to less well known areas. The satellite images were enhanced using a linear-mixing model, with the spectra of known rock types (measured from the images) as endmember components. The approach uses information for all six spectral bands. The effects of desert varnish/coating in modulating the spectral response of rock exposures are specifically accounted by using of an empirically derived coat component. Comparison between the lithologic component images, produced from the unmixing procedure, and published geologic maps demonstrate that these images can be effectively used to map brittle faults, ductile shear zones, and certain spectrally distinct lithologies. By combining interpretation of the enhanced images with available geologic data, it has been shown in this study that the Ajjaj Shear Zone is dominantly a ductile structure, characterized by the continuity of rotated layers across the shear zone, with a minimum sinistral displacement of 25 to 30 km. The northern boundary of this shear zone is dominantly ductile, whereas the southern boundary consists of a continuous brittle displacement surface which juxtaposes contrasting lithologies. Several brittle faults within and crosscutting the ductile shear zone had previously been mapped as Najd faults. These faults are not strike-slip in character and clearly postdate Najd deformation. In the middle of the area studied the Ajjaj Shear Zone changes orientation from WNW to NNW. This change corresponds spatially to the intersection of the shear zone with a N-S oriented structure, here named the Hanabiq Shear Zone. The Hanabiq Shear Zone is one of a set of broadly N-S trending dextral shear zones which crosscut the Arabian Shield. Proponents of the rigid-indentor model for the origin of the Najd fault system have suggested that these faults form a conjugate set to the NW trending sinistral Najd faults. Our study presents clear evidence that the Ajjaj Shear Zone postdates the Hanabiq Shear Zone. This supports recent criticisms of the rigid-indentor model as applied to the Najd. The tectonic significance of the Najd fault system remains as intriguing problem.
Mothers' clinical judgment: A randomized trial of the Acute Illness Observation Scales

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the reliability, sensitivity, and specificity of mothers' judgments about acute illnesses in their children could be improved by using the Acute illiness Observation Scales (AIOS). At the 2-week well child care visit in a primary care center and a private practice, 369 mothers were divided at random into an intervention group (n=183) and a control group (n=186). A teaching film and booklet were used to educate mothers in the intervention group about the AIOS; control group mothers were taught a 3-point global scoring system for evaluating the chance of serious illness. In the 32 months of follow-up, 704 acute illnesses were evaluated in tandem and independently by mothers and pediatricians before the history and physical examination; 20 of these illnesses were serious. The judgments of the intervention group were more reliable than those of the control group (weighted kappa=0.50 vs 0.26, respectively), as was the specificity of their judgments (85% vs 52%, respectively; p
Perception analysis of motion contributing to individuality using Kinect sensor

This paper investigates that human tend to percept of humanness and individuality to what features of human motion. We analyze from experiments based on test subjects how recognize of individuality by comparing a developed own self motion with other motion made by motion capture using Kinect sensor. The results showed except for the subjects could not perform the movement extremely distinctive, many subjects to recognize the movement of their own. In addition, the respondents also recognized with a video camera an objective of its own motion, the subjects of some of their own and do not match the image of the inside of me. It is difficult to percept humanness based on less-accurate expression of human motion.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for snoring : long-term results

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) has become a widely practiced procedure in the management of snoring. In a number of studies, all based on short-term follow-up, snoring was reduced or eliminated in 75% to 95% of patients. Because a decline in the initial success rate was casually observed, a formal analysis of the initial and long-term results of UPPP for snoring was made in the present study. From 1985 to 1989, 69 patients with severe habitual snoring were retrospectively analyzed. A scoring system was devised for snoring, and each patient was interviewed regarding the effects of UPPP on his or her snoring 16 to 75 (mean 44) months after surgery. In 60 (87%) of 69 patients, snoring was initially significantly reduced or totally eliminated. After 13 months the success rate dropped to 46% (32 of 69 patients). Most failures occurred between 6 and 12 months of surgery, after which time the success rate remained relatively stable. The authors' conclusion that the long-term success rate of UPPP for snoring declines significantly with time has obvious implications regarding presurgical patient counseling.
The Use of Fiber Optics for Communications, Measurement and Control Within High Voltage Substations

Based on experience to date, fiber optic communications, in conjunction with novel optic translucers, may play an important role in the design of future measurement and control devices used in high voltage substations. This paper presents a summary of fiber optics systems installed and tested at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and includes a look at possible future development.
Maximizing lifetime vector in wireless sensor networks

Maximizing the lifetime of a sensor network has been a subject of intensive study. However, much prior work defines the network lifetime as the time before the first data-generating sensor in the network runs out of energy or is not reachable to the sink due to network partition. The problem is that even though one sensor is out of operation, the rest of the network may well remain operational, with other sensors generating useful data and delivering those data to the sink. Hence, instead of just maximizing the time before the first sensor is out of operation, we should maximize the lifetime vector of the network, consisting of the lifetimes of all sensors, sorted in ascending order. For this problem, there exists only a centralized algorithm that solves a series of linear programming problems with high-order complexities. This paper proposes a fully distributed algorithm that runs iteratively. Each iteration produces a lifetime vector that is better than the vector produced by the previous iteration. Instead of giving the optimal result in one shot after lengthy computation, the proposed distributed algorithm has a result at any time, and the more time spent gives the better result. We show that when the algorithm stabilizes, its result produces the maximum lifetime vector. Furthermore, simulations demonstrate that the algorithm is able to converge rapidly toward the maximum lifetime vector with low overhead.
Interaction of H2O and O2 with Ni3Fe and their effects on ductility

Abstract Possible reasons for the high ductility of Ni3Fe and its insensitivity toward the testing environment have been investigated. Thermal desorption experiments have shown that water dissociates on clean Ni3Fe surfaces to produce atomic hydrogen. Ductility measurements of cast and cold-rolled polycrystalline Ni3Fe demonstrated that the reduced ductility was obtained only when the testing was performed with oxygen carefully removed. X-ray photoemission studies indicate that oxygen interacts with water to form hydroxyls, thereby suppressing the production of atomic hydrogen. Hydrogen desorption from the Ni3Fe surface requires a lower activation energy, resulting in a smaller surface hydrogen concentration at a given temperature. Hence it is possible that there is insufficient hydrogen to cause the nucleation and growth of brittle cracks for severe embrittlement.
The increasing role of radiologists in thoracic diagnosis: more thoracic biopsies are performed percutaneously.

Purpose The rate of thoracic biopsies overall and by type of biopsy from 1998 to 2010 is not known. The aim of this study was to examine the utilization rate of various types of thoracic biopsies within the Medicare population. Methods Source data was obtained from the CMS Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files from 1998 to 2010. Allowed primary claims submitted for percutaneous thoracic biopsy, bronchoscopic thoracic biopsy, and surgical thoracic biopsy were extracted. Annual volume and utilization rates were calculated and analyzed by biopsy type and provider type. Results Total thoracic biopsy volume in 1998 was 176,125 and in 2010 was 167,911 (−4.7%). The utilization rate for all thoracic biopsies decreased from 5.47 per 1,000 in 1998 to 4.76 per 1,000 (−13.0%) in 2010. The percutaneous biopsy utilization rate increased 3.6% from 1998 to 2010, while the rate for surgical biopsy decreased by 20.9% and the rate of bronchoscopic biopsy decreased by 19.6% during the same time period. In 2010, radiologists performed 96.4% (58,679) of all percutaneous biopsies. Radiologists' thoracic biopsy market share increased from 26.2% (46,084 of 176,125) in 1998 to 35.0% (58,700 of 167,911) in 2010 (+33.6%). Conclusions The overall rate of thoracic biopsy decreased from 1998 to 2010, with fewer biopsies being performed surgically and bronchoscopically and more biopsies being performed percutaneously. Radiologists are responsible for an increasing role in thoracic diagnosis, as they have increased market share of thoracic biopsies. These findings may be the result of changing trends toward less invasive procedures, changing patterns of reimbursement, and increased availability of percutaneous biopsy.
Validation of a large amplitude oscillatory shear protocol

Abstract Oscillatory shear rheology plays a valuable role in assessing rheological properties of viscoelastic materials. In the linear viscoelastic region (LVR), the stress response to a strain input comprises only the first harmonic. Beyond the LVR, higher-order harmonics have significant contributions, which are not accounted for in the traditional calculation of viscoelastic moduli. Previous study has developed a mathematical framework that accounted for higher-order harmonics during large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS), yielding a physical interpretation to nonlinear data. However, this protocol was not formally validated with model elastic and viscous systems. To that end, a model elastic solid and viscous liquid were tested using LAOS to compare the protocol to standard oscillatory data and the known nonlinear properties of both systems. Good agreement (α = 0.05) was shown between first-order harmonic viscoelastic moduli data for both systems in the linear region. The protocol correctly indicated linear-to-nonlinear transitions of the elastic system, strain-independent linear behavior of the viscous system, and strain-hardening behavior of the elastic system in the nonlinear region. These results indicate the validity of the protocol, which may be applied to food systems to give valuable insights into nonlinear behavior and elucidate structural keys to texture design.
Implications of dune pattern analysis for Titan’s surface history

Abstract Analysis of large-scale morphological parameters can reveal the reaction of dunes to changes in atmospheric and sedimentary conditions. Over 7000 dune width and 7000 dune spacing measurements were obtained for linear dunes in regions across Saturn’s moon Titan from images T21, T23, T28, T44 and T48 collected by the Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) aboard the Cassini spacecraft in order to reconstruct the aeolian surface history of Titan. Dunes in the five study areas are all linear in form, with a mean width of 1.3 km and mean crest spacing of 2.7 km, similar to dunes in the African Saharan and Namib deserts on Earth. At the resolution of Cassini SAR, the dunes have the morphology of large linear dunes, and they lack evidence for features of compound or complex dunes. The large size, spacing and uniform morphology are all indicators that Titan’s dunes are mature features, in that they have grown toward a steady state for a long period of time. Dune width decreases to the north, perhaps from increased sediment stabilization caused by a net transport of moisture from south to north, or from increased maturity in dunes to the south. Cumulative probability plots of dune parameters measured at different locations across Titan indicate there is a single population of intermediate-to-large-sized dunes on Titan. This suggests that, unlike analogous dunes in the Namib and Agneitir Sand Seas, dune-forming conditions that generated the current set of dunes were stable and active long enough to erase any evidence of past conditions.
The Impact of Supplemental Instruction: Results From an Urban Community College

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic support program consisting of a series of free, voluntary based weekly study sessions for students taking historically difficult courses. SI is designed to increase student retention and academic performance. Whereas Hensen and Shelley (2003) examined SI impact at a large public midwestern university, this study examined a newly implemented SI at an urban community college in downtown Dallas, Texas. General psychology students who regularly attended SI study sessions had an 83% success (final letter grade of A, B, or C) rate compared to 64% for students who did not participate. To further increase overall success, an early alert warning system within the Blackboard™ learning management system was set up to track each student’s performance in the event students started to fall behind in assignment completion. In that case, the student was placed in the SI study group. Additionally, this study examined the SI leaders themselves by tracking their academic and prof...
Infrared matrix isolation study of the 1:1 molecular complex of OVCl3 with (CH3)2O.

Abstract The 1:1 complex of OVCl 3 with (CH 3 ) 2 O has been isolated in argon matrices at 14 K, and characterized by infrared spectroscopy. The complex is relatively strongly bound, with significant shifts to vibrational modes of both the acid and base subunits in the complex. For example, the OC 2 symmetric stretch of (CH 3 ) 2 O shifted from 925 to 891 cm −1 upon complex formation, while the VCl 3 antisymmetric stretching mode shifted from 505 to 474 cm −1 . Product identification and band assignments were confirmed by isotopic labeling. Attempts to convert the initial 1:1 complex into secondary intermediates by either thermal or photochemical processes were unsuccessful, suggesting that an active hydrogen atom is a key element in determining the pathway for reactions of OVCl 3 .
Simulative modeling to control the Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic

Abstract Reoccurring instances of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in countries with underdeveloped infection surveillance have been taking a heavy toll on the lives of millions of livestock and causing annual financial losses worth billions of US dollars every year. FMD has been widely analyzed as a highly infectious disease that spreads rapidly with the movement of infected or contaminated animals of multiple species, and movement of people as well. Here, a metapopulation based stochastic model is implemented to assess the FMD infection dynamics and to curb the economic losses in such countries. This model predicts the spatio-temporal evolution of FMD over a weighted contact network where the weights are characterized by the effect of wind and movement of animals and humans. FMD Incidence data from Turkey is used to calibrate and validate the model, and the predictive performance of our model is compared with baseline models as well. Finally, cost effective mitigation strategies are simulated using the theoretical concept of network fragmentation. Based on the theoretical reduction in the total number of infected animals, several practical mitigation strategies are proposed and their cost effectivenesses are also analyzed.
Fat, protein, and mineral components of added ingredients affect flavor qualities of tomato soups

Ten tomato soups were prepared with deionized, distilled water, skim or whole milk, or deionized, distilled water with added fat (corn oil), protein (calcium caseinate), and/or minerals (NaCl, KCl, CaCl 2 ) to equal the composition of whole milk. Tomato soups prepared with whole or skim milk were perceived as sweetest by a sensory panel of 12 trained subjects. Salt taste was probably masked by sweetness from lactose in milk. Added minerals may have increased saltiness either by adding to total Na + content or by freeing Na + from other ingredients making it more available for perception. Saltiness was suppressed by added protein, which increased pH, and may have affected Na + binding. Salt taste intensity correlated positively with tomato flavor.
Genetic Predictors of Response to Therapy in Childhood Asthma

Asthma is a common chronic condition in children, where the response to treatment can be heterogeneous within a population. Genetic variations may partly explain the inconsistent response to asthma treatment between individuals. There is a relatively small but consistent body of literature linking genetic variations to improved response to different classes of asthma treatment, including short-and long-acting β-agonists, corticosteroids, and leukotriene modifiers. In most cases, the advantage conferred by a single genetic mutation for treatment response is relatively small; the Arg16Gly single nucleotide polymorphism of the β2-adrenoceptor is the exception to this rule and is associated with a marked difference in response to short-acting β-agonists. Pharmacogenetic studies have only recently been undertaken in asthmatic individuals, and much more work is required before clinical applications arise. Future genome-wide association (GWA) studies and randomized controlled trials in genetically susceptible populations will determine whether asthma treatment can be tailored to an individual based on their DNA. The aim of the present paper is to review pharmacogenetic studies concerning asthma medications, with a primary focus on studies involving children.
Anomalies associated with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both

Numerous investigators have reported on a low frequency of other anomalies in patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. The data have been somewhat inconsistent, ranging from a 3% to over 30% frequency of associated malformations. However, a recent study concluded that over half of the children with clefts at a large metropolitan center have associated anomalies. In an effort to elucidate further the genetic and morphologic characteristics of patients with clefts, 1,000 patients with clefts of the lip, palate, or both were examined and reviewed. The results indicate that associated anomalies occur in 63.4% of the sample. Approximately half of the patients with multiple anomalies have recognized syndromes, sequences, or associations, while the other half have physical examination (apparently one-of-a-kind) syndromes. The high frequency of associated anomalies has obvious implications for the genetic counseling offered to all patients at cleft palate and craniofacial centers. The frequency of associated anomalies also raises questions regarding the validity of past genetic research involving populations of subjects with clefts.
L-domains and lossless powerdomains

The category of L-domains was discovered by A. Jung while solving the problem of finding maximal cartesian closed categories of algebraic CPO's and continuous functions. In this note we analyse properties of the lossless powerdomain construction, that is closed on the algebraic L-domains. The powerdomain is shown to be isomorphic to a collection of subsets of the domain on which the construction was done. The proof motivates a certain finiteness condition on the inconsistency relations of elements. It is shown that all algebraic CPO's D whose basis B(D) has property M satisfy the condition. In particular, the coherent L- domains satisfy the condition.
Growth Stage –Based Phenotypic Analysis of Arabidopsis: A Model for High Throughput Functional Genomics in Plants

With the completion of the Arabidopsis genome sequencing project, the next major challenge is the large-scale determination of gene function. As a model organism for agricultural biotechnology, Arabidopsis presents the opportunity to provide key insights into the way that gene function can affect commercial crop production. In an attempt to aid in the rapid discovery of gene function, we have established a high throughput phenotypic analysis process based on a series of defined growth stages that serve both as developmental landmarks and as triggers for the collection of morphological data. The data collection process has been divided into two complementary platforms to ensure the capture of detailed data describing Arabidopsis growth and development over the entire life of the plant. The first platform characterizes early seedling growth on vertical plates for a period of 2 weeks. The second platform consists of an extensive set of measurements from plants grown on soil for a period of approximately 2 months. When combined with parallel processes for metabolic and gene expression profiling, these platforms constitute a core technology in the high throughput determination of gene function. We present here analyses of the development of wild-type Columbia (Col-0) plants and selected mutants to illustrate a framework methodology that can be used to identify and interpret phenotypic differences in plants resulting from genetic variation and/or environmental stress.
WORLD VIEWS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY, AND ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS/ AL-ANON MUTUAL HELP GROUPS

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Women For Sobriety (WFS), and Al-Anon affiliated Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoA/Al-Anon) mutual help groups each have different world views/philosophies regarding how to deal with alcohol-related problems. As members learn the world view of their mutual help organization, their perceptions are altered in multiple life domains. AA's world view emphasizes that members' self-centeredness causes suffering and should be overcome through surrender to a spiritual higher power. In contrast, WFS endorses the idea that individuals should be self-reliant and solve their problems through willpower and rational analysis. ACoA/Al-Anon represents a philosophical middle ground between AA and WFS, limiting members' sense of their own worth and importance in some respects and enhancing it in others. We discuss the bases of the three organizations' world views in various philosophical traditions and analyze their implications for organizational functioning. We also evaluate Antze's (1979) hypo...
Variable-Range Charge Hopping in DNA

In Chap. 3, Berlin and Ratner describe charge migration in DNA within a theoretical framework of a variable-range hopping model which has been successfully used to analyze steady-state measurements of the charge transfer efficiency for this molecule. According to the model proposed, the ability of DNA to serve as the medium for very long-range (up to 200 – 300°A) charge transfer is caused by the energetics of the base pairs stacked in the interior of the double helix. The energy landscape for charge migration along the stack of the nucleobases is shown to exhibit features typical for complex disordered systems. They also show that a charge moving in this landscape can be transferred over large distances via a series of short quantum hops with typical length of 13 — 18°A alternating with relatively long thermally activated jumps between “resting” sites of the stack. The physical nature of the hopping charges and the issues of dynamic and static disorder are also discussed in the context of the transport properties of DNA systems.
Effect of type and amount of buffer addition to grass silage-based total mixed rations on milk production and composition

Abstract Thirty-six lactating cows were fed total mixed rations in two experiments to evaluate the effect of type and amount of buffer on milk production and composition and DM intake. Dietary treatments were for Experiment 1: 1) control (40% grass silage:60% concentrate), 2) control plus 1.2% sodium sesquicarbonate, and 3) control plus 1.2% sodium bicarbonate; and Experiment 2: 1) control (10% alfalfa hay:30% grass silage:60% concentrate), 2) control plus .9% sodium sesquicarbonate, and 3) control plus 1.8% sodium sesquicarbonate. Increases in percentage milk fat were observed when either buffer was fed in experiment 1. Changes in percentage milk fat observed in Experiment 2 were not significantly different. No differences were observed in actual milk produced (Experiment 1 or 2), but 4% FCM was greatest in buffered diets of Experiment 1. In a third experiment, the pH of rumen fluid of fistulated steers was monitored for the first 8h after feeding the diets fed in Experiment 1. The pH of rumen fluid was maintained at pH 6 when both buffered rations were fed and significantly decreased when the control ration was fed. Data indicate that sodium sesquicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate are equally effective in their buffering capacity in vivo.
FTY720 stimulates multidrug transporter– and cysteinyl leukotriene–dependent T cell chemotaxis to lymph nodes

FTY720 is a sphingosine-derived immunosuppressant. Phosphorylated FTY720 promotes T cell homing from spleen and peripheral blood to LNs by acting as an agonist for sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors. Here we demonstrate that FTY720 enhances the activity of the sphingosine transporter Abcb1 (Mdr1) and the leukotriene C4 transporter Abcc1 (Mrp1). Both transporters must be active for FTY720-mediated T cell migration and LN homing. Migration and homing driven by FTY720, phosphorylated FTY720, or S1P also require 5-lipoxygenase–mediated synthesis of cysteinyl leukotrienes and their efflux from the cell. FTY720-mediated LN homing events further downstream are dependent on CCL19, CCL21, VLA-4α, and CD44. Use of T cells deficient in 5-lipoxygenase, Abcb1, and Abcc1, and comparison of the effects of FTY720 with those of S1P, suggest a model of sequential engagement of Abcb1, SP1 receptors, 5-lipoxygenase, and Abcc1 to enhance T cell migration and homing.
Cartilage and chondrocyte pathology in the mucopolysaccharidoses: The role of glycosaminoglycan-mediated inflammation.

The mucopolysaccharidoses are a family of genetic diseases each caused by a defect in a lysosomal enzyme responsible for degradation of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) [11]. Failure of effective metabolism results in abnormal storage of GAG fragments, cell injury and death, and inflammatory responses. Because glycosaminoglycans are fundamental in connective tissue structure and function, the MPS disorders are characterized by severe skeletal abnormality including growth failure, abnormal bone structure (dysostosis multiplex), and severe articular cartilage and joint disease. Although enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is currently available for three of the mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), there have been limited effects on bone and cartilage. Thus, new treatment approaches are clearly needed for these tissues, alone or as adjuncts to ERT. Previous studies in MPS animal models showed that inflammation is a critical aspect of these disorders, secondary to GAG accumulation [14,15,17]. As part of
Task and social visualization in software development: evaluation of a prototype

As open source development has evolved, differentiation of roles and increased sophistication of collaborative processes has occurred. Recently, we described coordination issues in software development and an interactive visualization tool called the Social Health Overview (SHO) developed to address them [12]. This paper presents an empirical evaluation of SHO intended to identify its strengths and weaknesses. Eleven informants in various open source roles were interviewed about their work practices. Eight of these participated in an evaluation comparing three change management tasks in SHO and Bugzilla. Results are discussed with respect to task strategy with each tool and participants' roles.
Microbial Quality of Food Available to Populations of Differing Socioeconomic Status

Background Low SES has been shown to be linked to poorer-quality diets, decreased consumption of fresh produce, and an increased reliance on small retail stores. Purpose The objective of this research was to determine if there is a difference in the microbial quality and potential safety of food available to low-SES versus high-SES populations at the retail level. Methods Aerobic plate count (APC); yeast and mold counts (YM and total coliforms were determined in ready-to-eat (RTE) greens, precut watermelon, broccoli, strawberries, cucumbers, milk, and orange juice and compared among products purchased in stores in low- versus those purchased in high-SES neighborhoods between June 2005 and September 2006. APC, fecal coliforms, and E. coli in ground beef and the presence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in chicken were also compared. Results Results showed higher microbial loads on produce from markets in low-SES areas. Significant differences observed included (1) APC and YM however, the APC in ground beef available in high-SES markets was significantly higher compared with that found in low-SES markets. Conclusions The results presented here indicate that populations of low SES may be more likely to experience produce of poorer microbial quality, which may have an impact on both the appeal and potential safety of the produce.
Extravascular lung water in patients with severe sepsis: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction Few investigations have prospectively examined extravascular lung water (EVLW) in patients with severe sepsis. We sought to determine whether EVLW may contribute to lung injury in these patients by quantifying the relationship of EVLW to parameters of lung injury, to determine the effects of chronic alcohol abuse on EVLW, and to determine whether EVLW may be a useful tool in the diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods The present prospective cohort study was conducted in consecutive patients with severe sepsis from a medical intensive care unit in an urban university teaching hospital. In each patient, transpulmonary thermodilution was used to measure cardiovascular hemodynamics and EVLW for 7 days via an arterial catheter placed within 72 hours of meeting criteria for severe sepsis. Results A total of 29 patients were studied. Twenty-five of the 29 patients (86%) were mechanically ventilated, 15 of the 29 patients (52%) developed ARDS, and overall 28-day mortality was 41%. Eight out of 14 patients (57%) with non-ARDS severe sepsis had high EVLW with significantly greater hypoxemia than did those patient with low EVLW (mean arterial oxygen tension/fractional inspired oxygen ratio 230.7 ± 36.1 mmHg versus 341.2 ± 92.8 mmHg; P < 0.001). Four out of 15 patients with severe sepsis with ARDS maintained a low EVLW and had better 28-day survival than did ARDS patients with high EVLW (100% versus 36%; P = 0.03). ARDS patients with a history of chronic alcohol abuse had greater EVLW than did nonalcoholic patients (19.9 ml/kg versus 8.7 ml/kg; P < 0.0001). The arterial oxygen tension/fractional inspired oxygen ratio, lung injury score, and chest radiograph scores correlated with EVLW (r2 = 0.27, r2 = 0.18, and r2 = 0.28, respectively; all P < 0.0001). Conclusions More than half of the patients with severe sepsis but without ARDS had increased EVLW, possibly representing subclinical lung injury. Chronic alcohol abuse was associated with increased EVLW, whereas lower EVLW was associated with survival. EVLW correlated moderately with the severity of lung injury but did not account for all respiratory derangements. EVLW may improve both risk stratification and management of patients with severe sepsis.
Template parsing with user feedback

Spreadsheets are among the most widely used end-user programming systems. According to some estimates, up to 90% of spreadsheets have non-trivial errors in them (Rajalingham et al., 2001). In many cases, spreadsheet errors have resulted in huge financial losses for companies. Spreadsheets are also in use in Science and Mathematics education in schools primarily because they offer a flexible modeling environment. With widespread adoption of spreadsheets by end users there is a greater need for better auditing tools to help users develop safer spreadsheets. Traditional approaches like code inspection, auditing, and testing might not be really conducive for users disadvantaged by their background, education, learning style or physical abilities. In this context, it is important to develop tools that work with minimal user intervention.
Inhibition of Ca2+ Signaling by Mycobacterium tuberculosisIs Associated with Reduced Phagosome–Lysosome Fusion and Increased Survival within Human Macrophages

Complement receptor (CR)-mediated phagocytosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by macrophages results in intracellular survival, suggesting that M . tuberculosis interferes with macrophage microbicidal mechanisms. As increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) promote phagocyte antimicrobial responses, we hypothesized that CR phagocytosis of M . tuberculosis is accompanied by altered Ca2+ signaling. Whereas the control complement (C)-opsonized particle zymosan (COZ) induced a 4.6-fold increase in [Ca2+]c in human macrophages, no change in [Ca2+]c occurred upon addition of live, C-opsonized virulent M . tuberculosis . Viability of M . tuberculosis and ingestion via CRs was required for infection of macrophages in the absence of increased [Ca2+]c, as killed M . tuberculosis or antibody (Ab)-opsonized, live M . tuberculosis induced elevations in [Ca2+]c similar to COZ. Increased [Ca2+]c induced by Ab-opsonized bacilli was associated with a 76% reduction in intracellular survival, compared with C-opsonized M . tuberculosis . Similarly, reversible elevation of macrophage [Ca2+]c with the ionophore A23187 reduced intracellular viability by 50%. Ionophore-mediated elevation of [Ca2+]c promoted the maturation of phagosomes containing live C-opsonized bacilli, as evidenced by acidification and accumulation of lysosomal protein markers. These data demonstrate that M . tuberculosis inhibits CR-mediated Ca2+ signaling and indicate that this alteration of macrophage activation contributes to inhibition of phagosome–lysosome fusion and promotion of intracellular mycobacterial survival.
Growth Standards of Infants With Prader-Willi Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To generate and report standardized growth curves for weight, length, head circumference, weight/length, and BMI for non–growth hormone–treated white infants (boys and girls) with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) between 0 and 36 months of age. The goal was to monitor growth and compare data with other infants with PWS. METHODS: Anthropometric measures (N = 758) were obtained according to standard methods and analyzed from 186 non–growth hormone–treated white infants (108 boys and 78 girls) with PWS between 0 and 36 months of age. Standardized growth curves were developed and the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th percentiles were calculated by using the LMS (refers to λ, μ, and σ) smoothing procedure method for weight, length, head circumference, weight/length, and BMI along with the normative 50th percentile using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention national growth data from 2003. The data were plotted for comparison purposes. RESULTS: Five separate standardized growth curves (weight, length, head circumference, weight/length, and BMI) representing 7 percentile ranges were developed from 186 non–growth hormone–treated white male and female infants with PWS aged 0 to 36 months, and the normative 50th percentile was plotted on each standardized infant growth curve. CONCLUSIONS: We encourage the use of these growth standards when examining infants with PWS and evaluating growth for comparison purposes, monitoring for growth patterns, nutritional assessment, and recording responses to growth hormone therapy, commonly used in infants and children with PWS.
Combining classification and regression for WiFi localization of heterogeneous robot teams in unknown environments

We consider the problem of team-based robot mapping and localization using wireless signals broadcast from access points embedded in today's urban environments. We map and localize in an unknown environment, where the access points' locations are unspecified and for which training data is a priori unavailable. Our approach is based on an heterogeneous method combining robots with different sensor payloads. The algorithmic design assumes the ability of producing a map in real-time from a sensor-full robot that can quickly be shared by sensor-deprived robot team members. More specifically, we cast WiFi localization as classification and regression problems that we subsequently solve using machine learning techniques. In order to produce a robust system, we take advantage of the spatial and temporal information inherent in robot motion by running Monte Carlo Localization on top of our regression algorithm, greatly improving its effectiveness. A significant amount of experiments are performed and presented to prove the accuracy, effectiveness, and practicality of the algorithm.
Frequency control improvement in an autonomous power system: An application of virtual synchronous machines

This work addressed the problem of frequency control improvement in a 3⊘/400V/50Hz autonomous power system, consisting of two diesel generators of 26kW nominal power, a fixed-speed wind generator of 20kW nominal power, two resistive loads of 20kW each, and an energy storage system consisting of a voltage source converter (VSC) with a 1000V dc-bus voltage. The model of the system was developed in Simulink-SimPowerSystems library. Simulations were conducted for a wind speed profile of 20s and considering the connection of the wind generator, and connection/disconnection of one resistive load. Frequency excursions of 0.1pu were observed in simulations when the system operates with only one genset. To support frequency control, a virtual synchronous machine (VSM) was proposed as a solution. To implement the VSM, the line currents of the VSC were controlled by the technique of input-output linearization. The reference for the q-axis was set to zero and the reference for the d-axis current was used to implement the VSM. For the testing conditions mentioned before, the VSM was capable of emulate the inertial response and the prime mover of the disconnected genset. It is also possible to have a better performance since parameters like the inertia of the VSM can be easily adjusted.
Impacts of a Global Climate Cycle on Population Dynamics of a Migratory Songbird

Progress toward understanding factors that limit abundances of migratory birds, including climate change, has been difficult because these species move between diverse locations, often on different continents. For black-throated blue warblers (Dendroica caerulescens), demographic rates in both tropical winter quarters and north temperate breeding grounds varied with fluctuations in the El Nino Southern Oscillation. Adult survival and fecundity were lower in El Nino years and higher in La Nina years. Fecundity, in turn, was positively correlated with subsequent recruitment of new individuals into winter and breeding populations. These findings demonstrate that migratory birds can be affected by shifts in global climate patterns and emphasize the need to know how events throughout the annual cycle interact to determine population size.
On the effect of channel estimation error with superimposed training upon information rates

Adopting affine precoding as the transmission strategy, we investigate the effect of channel estimation error on the mutual information between the input and the output of a frequency selective fading MIMO channel. For Bayesian receivers which perform joint channel and symbol estimation there is asymptotically no loss in information rate. In contrast, for the receivers which obtain the channel estimation and use it to estimate the symbols, the lower bound on information rate is maximized by enforcing a form of orthogonality between symbols and training