cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transfer hydrogenation reduction of ketones, aldehydes and imines using chelated iridium(III) N-heterocyclic bis-carbene complexes

Abstract A series of imidazolium and triazolium chelate ligand precursors are metalated with [Ir(coe)2Cl]2 (coe = cyclooctene) or [Ir(cod)Cl]2 (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) to give iridium(III) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) chelates [(NHC)(linker)(NHC)IrI2(OAc)]. The triazolium salts metalate more easily and give less electron donating NHCs as shown by IR spectroscopy on analogous iridium(I) carbonyl derivatives. The iridium(III) complexes show activity for the title catalytic reactions in 2-propanol that is very variable, depending on the nature of the linker and terminal N-substituents. Selective reduction of aldehydes over ketones becomes possible with K2CO3, an alternative base promoter to the usual KOH. TOFs of up to 1500/h were achieved.
Round-robin analysis of social interaction: Exact and estimated standard errors

Kenny has proposed a variance-components model for dyadic social interaction. His Social Relations model estimates variances and covariances from a round-robin of two-person interactions. The current paper presents a matrix formulation of the Social Relations model. It uses the formulation to derive exact and estimated standard errors for round-robin estimates of Social Relations parameters.
Plant response to stress induced by artificial infestations of western corn rootworm.

In a uniform infestation with eggs of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera LeConte, the root damage rating was found to be a more sensitive measurement of root worm damage than vertical pulling weight, root lodging and goosenecking, plant stunting, or adult recovery. Also, root damage ratings, unlike vertical pulling weight, were independent of the size of the root system. Adult insects began to emerge from the artificial infestation at the same time as from a nearby natural infestation. The maximum damage the test corn hybrids were able to sustain was reached at ca. 1200 eggs/30.5 cm of row (row-ft); any increase beyond this level resulted in a decrease in the number of adults recovered. The relationship established between yield reduction and a known number of corn rootworms showed that even with almost ideal growing conditions, as few as 100 eggs/30.5 cm of row caused a highly significant reduction.
Abnormal fat distribution in PMM2-CDG ☆ ☆☆ ★

We hypothesize that abnormal fat distribution, a common feature of PMM2-CDG, is associated with abnormal perinatal hormone regulation. We assessed 32 cases with PMM2-CDG, for the comorbidity of hypoglycemia/hyperinsulinism and fat pads. Ninety percent of patients with hypoketotic hypoglycemia and/or hyperinsulinism had abnormal fat distribution, while normoglycemic patients showed this feature in 50% of the cases. This statistically significant difference suggests an etiological role of the insulin receptor in developing abnormal fat distribution in PMM2-CDG.
An Arresting Development in Transcription

In this issue of Molecular Cell , Walmacq et al. (2012) show that bypass of UV photodimers by RNA polymerase II during transcription unexpectedly contributes to survival following UV irradiation; this process may clear the way for transcription-coupled repair of DNA damage.
Torque Load Effects on Mesh and Dynamic Characteristics of Hypoid Geared System

From the existing experimental results and previous studies, the torque load has great influence on the mesh and dynamic characteristics of hypoid gear drive. To have more insights on the load dependent mesh parameters and dynamic response of hypoid and spiral bevel gear, a load dependent mesh model is developed by using 3-dimensional loaded tooth contact analysis (LTCA). The contact ratio and time-varying mesh parameters including the mesh stiffness, transmission error, mesh point and line-of-action of the mesh force are examined within a wide torque range. Then a nonlinear multi-body dynamic analysis is performed considering the effect of backlash nonlinearity. Simulation results show that the contact ratio and mesh stiffness generally increases as the toque load increases. The effect of torque load on dynamic mesh force is found to be frequency dependent due to the resonance frequency shifts and peak magnitude changes. This study provides an in-depth understanding of hypoid gear tooth load sharing and dynamic behaviors in terms of change in operating load. Therefore, the proposed model can be employed to assist in gear design optimization.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Optical binary switch and amplitude modulator micromirror arrays

Five types of micromirror arrays were designed and fabricated using a three-level, polysilicon, surface micromachined, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) process. The electrostatically deflectable micromirror designs included arrays of simple cantilever beams, torsion beams, tethered (piston-style) beams, circular membranes, and oval membranes. The smallest micromirror element was the simple cantilever beam, measuring 50 micrometer square. The largest micromirror element was the oval membrane; it possessed an active optical surface that was 320 micrometer by 920 micrometer. Each of the remaining micromirror designs have gold-coated polysilicon optical surfaces with geometries between these two limits. Electrostatically induced vertical deflections on the order of 2.75 micrometer were achieved. The torsion beam micromirror design exhibits both in-plane and out-of-plane deflection. The other micromirror designs only manifest in-plane deflections. The modeling phase focused on the microdynamical behavior of the torsion beam micromirror. The IntelliCADR finite element analysis program was used to generate a plot of the micromirror's deflection (d) versus applied direct current voltage (V). The data was least-squares fitted to the well- established V varies direct as d3/2 relationship. A resonant frequency analysis predicted an approximate switching speed of 6 microseconds. The reliability (number of operational cycles) of each micromirror design, when operated with a rectified 60 Hz alternating current (ac) signal, was measured to exceed more than 1 million flexure events. Experimental evidence supporting the potential for using micromirrors as binary optical switches and amplitude modulators is also addressed.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
First-trimester diagnosis of Bartsocas-Papas syndrome (BPS) by transvaginal ultrasound: case report and review of the literature.

Initially described in 1972, Bartsocas-Papas syndrome (BPS) is an autosomal recessively inherited disorder combining multiple pterygia, ankyloblepharon, cleft lip and palate, filiform bands between the jaws, syndactyly, and other anomalies. Although described as lethal, review of the literature reveals three individuals who survived into childhood with this condition. We describe a fourth surviving patient and what we believe to be the first prenatal diagnosis of BPS in the first trimester.
Microscale correlation between surface chemistry, texture, and the adhesive strength of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is among the most commonly isolated microbes from medical implant infections, particularly in the colonization of blood-contacting devices. We explored the relationships between surface wettability and root-mean-square roughness (Rq) on microbial adhesive strength to a substrate. Molecular-level interactions between S. epidermidis and a variety of chemically and texturally distinct model substrata were characterized using a cellular probe and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Substrata included gold, aliphatic and aromatic self-assembled monolayers, and polymeric and proteinaceous materials. Substrate hydrophobicity, described in terms of the water contact angle, was an insufficient parameter to explain the adhesive force of the bacterium for any of the surfaces. Correlations between adhesion forces and Rq showed weak relationships for most surfaces. We used an alternate methodology to characterize the texture of the surface that is based on a fractal tiling algorithm applied to im...
Practical filter dynamic range compression for grayscale optical correlator using bipolar-amplitude SLM

Current optimal filter projection methods either do not take explicit consideration of the limited dynamic range nature of the currently available SLMs or need complicated search and calculation process (for optimal gain and phase angle). To better utilize the limited dynamic range of the bipolar- amplitude SLM used in our recently developed grayscale optical correlator, we devise a simple and rather practical way to improve filter's dynamic range compression after using minimum Euclidean distance projection.
Sampling high-quality clicks from noisy click data

Click data captures many users' document preferences for a query and has been shown to help significantly improve search engine ranking. However, most click data is noisy and of low frequency, with queries associated to documents via only one or a few clicks. This severely limits the usefulness of click data as a ranking signal. Given potentially noisy clicks comprising results with at most one click for a query, how do we extract high-quality clicks that may be useful for ranking? In this poster, we introduce a technique based on query entropy for noise reduction in click data. We study the effect of query entropy and as well as features such as user engagement and the match between the query and the document. Based on query entropy plus other features, we can sample noisy data to 15% of its overall size with 43% query recall and an average increase of 20% in precision for recalled queries.
An improved robust association test for GWAS with multiple diseases

Abstract In a previous study, we proposed a new design and analysis strategy for Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) with multiple diseases but no controls. We have proposed to use an overall chi-square test to test for the association between an SNP with any one of the diseases. The overall chi-square test is not sensitive to the underlying model assumption; however, it does not use the information about the trend among the relative risks of the three genotypes. In this study, we propose a new overall test based on the chi-square partition method. The overall p -value of the proposed approach can be estimated by combining independent p -values from the more powerful one-sided tests which incorporate the trend among the relative risks. Simulation study and real data application show that the proposed test is more powerful and robust.
Adaptive responses of Lepidium latifolium to soil flooding: biomass allocation, adventitious rooting, aerenchyma formation and ethylene production

Abstract Lepidium latifolium, perennial pepperweed, is an exotic crucifer that has spread explosively in recent years in wetlands and riparian areas of the western United States. Adaptive responses of L. latifolium to different durations of 0, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 50-day soil flooding treatment were investigated. Biomass allocation, adventitious rooting, aerenchyma development and ethylene production in plants were measured. Compared with controls maintained at −20 kPa soil matric water potential, flooding stress reduced total biomass of L. latifolium. After 7 days of flooding, the total biomass and root/shoot ratio of flooded plants were significantly less than those of unflooded controls. The number of adventitious roots on the stem base increased with the duration of flooding. Root porosity was much higher in the flooded plants than in the unflooded controls after 3 days of treatment and rose to 43% after 50 days. Ethylene production in roots was higher in flooded plants than in the control throughout the 50-day duration of flooding and peaked at 7 days. The reduction in the root/shoot ratio, adventitious rooting, and aerenchyma development in flooded L. latifolium are important contributions to flood tolerance. L. latifolium resembled species adapted to standing water conditions in terms of having an initially high porosity, but it resembled species adapted to either saturated or occasionally flooded habitats in terms of the degree of increase in root porosity under flooded conditions. However, in growth of biomass, L. latifolium was more like plants that do not grow in mostly saturated conditions. Thus, L. latifolium appears to be a plant that exhibits plasticity to tolerate or survive saturated conditions, but not to grow well under these conditions. This may be an adaptation to arid or semiarid riparian habitats where spring flooding and summer drought are characteristic.
Functional characterization of the HOXB13 promoter region.

Homeobox (HOX) genes are crucial regulators of cell growth and differentiation. These genes initiate and control gene expression cascades that drive development. More recently, the absent or aberrant expression of HOX genes has been implicated in cancer development. Despite the observance of these expression changes, the regulation of the HOX genes in adult tissues and how these genes become deregulated in cancerous tissues still needs much investigation. We characterized the promoter region of the HOXB13 gene. A 3 kb region upstream of the HOXB13 gene, which included the 5′UTR, increased reporter gene expression in LNCaP cells by approximately 99 fold over the promoterless control construct. A highly conserved 179 base pair fragment containing only the 5′UTR of the HOXB13 gene constituted a minimal promoter in the LNCaP cell line. Strong promoter activity was seen in the presence or absence of testosterone, although testosterone exposure did decrease expression in LNCaP cells by 50%. In an androgen insensitive cell line Du145, no sensitivity to testosterone was detected and a consistent low basal level of expression was observed. Since HOXB13 expression is highly tissue specific, we investigated the ability of the promoter to drive expression in tissues other than prostate. We observed highest expression in LNCaP cells with low levels of expression in lung, retinoblastoma, and colon cancer cells and higher expression in MCF7 breast cancer cells.
Some contractible open manifolds and coverings of manifolds in dimension three

Abstract McMillan has shown that every irreducible, contractible, open 3-manifold is the monotone union of handlebodies (only 0- and 1-handles) and that there are uncountably many such manifolds. Work by Myers and Wright shows that no irreducible, contractible, open 3-manifold different from R 3 can nontrivially cover any 3-manifold when the handlebodies all have genus one or have bounded genus. We describe a family of irreducible, contractible, open 3-manifolds that we call composite Whitehead manifolds. These manifolds have the property that when written as the monotone union of handlebodies, the handlebodies must have unbounded genus. We show that there are uncountably many composite Whitehead manifolds that nontrivially cover open 3-manifolds but do not cover a compact 3-manifold. We also show that there exist uncountably many composite Whitehead manifolds which cannot nontrivially cover any 3-manifold. It is a famous unsolved problem if any irreducible, contractible, open 3-manifold different from R 3 can cover a compact 3-manifold. It is unlikely that any composite Whitehead manifold covers a compact manifold, but our techniques are not strong enough to answer this question.
Coupling between a supersonic boundary layer and a flexible surface

The coupling between a two-dimensional, supersonic, laminar boundary layer and a flexible surface is studied using direct numerical computations of the Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the plate equation. The flexible surface is forced to vibrate by plane acoustic waves at normal incidence emanated by a sound source located on the side of the flexible surface opposite to the boundary layer. The effect of the source excitation frequency on the surface vibration and boundary layer stability is analyzed. We find that, for frequencies near the fifth natural frequency of the surface or lower, large disturbances are introduced in the boundary layer which may alter its stability characteristics. The interaction between a stable two-dimensional disturbance of Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) type with the vibrating surface is also studied. We find that the disturbance level is higher over the vibrating flexible surface than that obtained when the surface is rigid, which indicates a strong coupling between flow and structure. However, in the absence of the sound source the disturbance level over the rigid and flexible surfaces are identical. This result is due to the high frequency of the TS disturbance which does not couple with the flexible surface.
A regularization of multiple encounters in gravitationalN-body problems

A method is introduced to regularize binary collisions between one of the bodies and any number of other bodies in the three-dimensional problem ofn-bodies. The coordinates are first transformed from an inertial system to a system relative to one of the bodies. The KS dependent variable transformation and a new independent variable transformation are introduced for the regularization.
Image based weighted center of proximity versus directly measured knee contact location during simulated gait

Abstract To understand the mechanical consequences of knee injury requires a detailed analysis of the effect of that injury on joint contact mechanics during activities of daily living. Three-dimensional (3D) knee joint geometric models have been combined with knee joint kinematics to dynamically estimate the location of joint contact during physiological activities—using a weighted center of proximity (WCoP) method. However, the relationship between the estimated WCoP and the actual location of contact has not been defined. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between knee joint contact location as estimated using the image-based WCoP method, and a directly measured weighted center of contact (WCoC) method during simulated walking. To achieve this goal, we created knee specific models of six human cadaveric knees from magnetic resonance imaging. All knees were then subjected to physiological loads on a knee simulator intended to mimic gait. Knee joint motion was captured using a motion capture system. Knee joint contact stresses were synchronously recorded using a thin electronic sensor throughout gait, and used to compute WCoC for the medial and lateral plateaus of each knee. WCoP was calculated by combining knee kinematics with the MRI-based knee specific model. Both metrics were compared throughout gait using linear regression. The anteroposterior (AP) location of WCoP was significantly correlated with that of WCoC on both tibial plateaus in all specimens ( p r >0), but the correlation was not significant in the mediolateral (ML) direction for 4/6 knees ( p >0.05). Our study demonstrates that while the location of joint contact obtained from 3D knee joint contact model, using the WCoP method, is significantly correlated with the location of actual contact stresses in the AP direction, that relationship is less certain in the ML direction.
Integrated Irrigated Crop-Livestock Systems in Dry Climates

Arid and semiarid landscapes are often fragile and, thus, vulnerable to both natural weather extremes and human activities. Climate change and increasing demands for food to meet needs of a growing global population will place greater stress on these environments. Cropping and livestock systems have generally succeeded in these regions to the extent that the environment could be altered through water development and irrigation. Water sources for irrigation, including surface and groundwater, are declining in quality and quantity. Improvements in irrigation use efficiency now exceed 95% but often have led to increased water use, instead of water savings, as more systems have been installed. Also, as groundwater becomes scarce, more energy is required to extract water from greater depths. Increasing demands for alternative water uses and depletion of historic water sources make many irrigated systems in dry climates nonsustainable. The Texas High Plains exemplifies these challenges, where agriculture depends heavily on irrigation at nonsustainable rates of water extraction from the Ogallala aquifer. Today, agriculture uses about 95% of total water withdrawn from the aquifer. Crop rotations and integrating crop and livestock systems could reduce irrigation water use and diversify income compared with a monoculture. This region was historically a grazing land ecosystem offering opportunities for pastoral systems and benefits from diversification. Long-term comparisons of two irrigated systems [a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) monoculture and an integrated cotton-forage-beef cattle system] in the Texas High Plains have demonstrated water savings of about 25% achieved through integration, while remaining economically viable and diversifying income sources. Additional benefits included reduced soil erosion, lower chemical inputs including a 40% reduction in N fertilizer, improved soil microbial and enzymatic activities, enhanced C sequestration, and greater rainfall infiltration than the monoculture system. Greater annual crop yields can shift short-term profitability to the monoculture system, but long-term sustainability is likely to depend on environmental benefits and water savings achieved by integrated systems. Challenges include existing large investments in local infrastructure focused on monoculture systems, producer adoption of alternative strategies, enhanced knowledge and management skill required, and a need for more research. Dryland agriculture will increase with remaining water diverted to other uses including livestock, municipalities, manufacturing, and energy generation. Technological advances can increase water savings but can also decrease system resilience with dependence on nonsustainable external buffers. Regional resource and economic stability will likely depend more on internal resilience of appropriately integrated plant and animal agricultural systems.
Cryptographic Contests: Toward Fair and Comprehensive Benchmarking of Cryptographic Algorithms in Hardware (Abstract)

A fair comparison of functionally equivalent digital systems is a challenging and non-trivial task. Objective difficulties include lack of standard interfaces, influence of tools and their options, the dependence of the obtained results on the time spent for optimization, etc. In cryptography, there is a strong need for such a fair evaluation, associated with the way new cryptographic standards are being developed, namely through open competitions of algorithms submitted by research groups from all over the world. Such competitions included for example the AES contest in the U.S., the NESSIE and eSTREAM competitions in Europe, and the CRYPTREC project in Japan. At this point, the focus of attention of the entire cryptographic community is on the SHA-3 contest for a new cryptographic hash function standard, organized by NIST. In this talk I will analyze typical evaluation pitfalls and objective challenges facing the evaluators of cryptographic algorithms from the point of view of performance in hardware. I will present practical benchmarking methodologies and tools that facilitate overcoming these difficulties, and can be used to fairly compare competing algorithms, hardware architectures, development platforms, languages, and tools. I will also discuss the remaining challenges and difficulties worth exploring in the future, and the ways of generalizing experiences gained from benchmarking cryptographic hardware, and applying them to other domains, such as communications and digital signal processing.
Saint-Yved of Braine: The Primary Sources for Dating the Gothic Church

Research for this paper was supported by a fellowship from the American Couincil of Learned Societies. In addition I am grateful to Bernard and Jean Ancien of Soissons for aiding me in gaining access to documents and monunments, to Steven P. Marrone, Bryce and Mary Lyon, and Anne van Buren for help with transcribing the documents, and to Andrew W. Lewis and Stephen White for discussion of the charters. Carl F. Barnes, Jr., Jeoraldean S. McClain, and William Clark helped by supplying photographs. Finally, the paper has benefited greatly from critical readings by Carl Barnes, William Clark, Giles Constable, Peter Fergusson, and Luke Wenger, many of whose suggestions have been incorporated. Elisabeth C. Pastan has checked some readings in Paris libraries.
The effects of intrathecal sympathomimetic agents on neural activity in the lumbar sympathetic chain of rats

Abstract Intrathecal injections of norepinephrine (0.30 μmol) and clonidine (0.035 μmol) produced decreases in neural activity recorded from the lumbar sympathetic chain and caused changes in rat thermoregulation consistent with a reduction in efferent sympathetic activity. These results support the conclusion that bulbospinal noradrenergic pathways inhibit sympathetic outflow. The data also indicate that the spinal cord is a potential site of action for clonidine.
Receiving as Well as Giving: Mentors' Perceptions of Their Professional Development in One Teacher Induction Program.

Although many studies examine benefits to the mentees, this study examined the growth and development of the mentors in the context of a particular teacher induction program, the University of Missouri Teaching Fellowship Program. This program is unique in that mentors are released from classroom duties to mentor two fellows, conduct professional development in their schools and work with the university. First, second and third‐year mentors were interviewed in focus groups. Results indicated that mentors believed their professional development included: relearning, seeing a bigger picture, expanding their roles, gaining insights about the process of mentoring and understanding the impact of the program on themselves. Data suggest that having various duties encourages these mentors to better understand the complexity of schooling, which increases their leadership potential and gives them more confidence. Also, mentoring is somewhat developmental; it must be learned by engaging in it and needs to be consist...
The evolution of the intellectual partnership with a cognitive tool in inquiry-based astronomy laboratory

This paper describes a study focused on the longitudinal application of a cognitive tool by observing a pair of learners' interaction with it over a semester. This study intended to develop a deeper understanding of the process whereby learners become more capable of engaging in scientific inquiry with the tool in order to advance technology-enhanced, inquiry-based approaches to instruction. In an effort to understand how learners move toward coherent knowledge structure, eccentricity of planet's orbit emerged as one of the main themes. The findings are discussed focused on how the pair used, understood, and elaborated the concept of eccentricity.
The Impact of Psychological-Cultural Factors on Concepts of Fighting Terrorism

The aim of this paper is to show how counterterrorism measures and policy are shaped by the national frame of reference of a country, here in particular the United States. This insight is important not only in the interpretation of political developments but also in the formulation of policy responding to these developments. A better awareness of the influence of the American national reference frame can aid policy makers to formulate effective and constructive policy. This article is available in Journal of Strategic Security: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol2/iss1/4 59 The Impact of Psychological-Cultural Factors on Concepts of Fighting Terrorism Sybille Reinke de Buitrago
Ferrite-enhanced MR imaging of hepatic lymphoma: an experimental study in rats.

The purpose of this investigation was to define the potential of unenhanced and ferrite-enhanced MR to detect hepatic lymphoma. Rats were implanted with diffuse and focal hepatic lymphoma. Both in vitro measurements of relaxation times and in vivo MR imaging of normal liver and of diffuse and focal hepatic lymphoma were compared. Diffuse infiltrative hepatic lymphoma showed increased T1 (45%) and T2 (41%) relaxation times in vitro, but could not be distinguished from normal control livers on in vivo spin echo (SE) images with a repetition time of 500 msec and an echo time of 30 msec (SE 500/30) or SE 1500/60 images. Focal hepatic lymphoma showed increased T1 (185%) and T2 (115%) relaxation times relative to normal liver tissue. Focal hepatic lymphoma was undetectable on unenhanced SE 500/30 MR images (contrast-to-noise ratio, C/N = 0.4) and was slightly hyperintense on SE 1500/60 images (C/N = 1.1). Ferrite (50 mumol Fe/kg) was administered to improve tissue contrast. In normal control animals, T2 of live...
On Becoming Acquainted: A Longitudinal Study of Social Judgement Processes

This article reports the findings of a longitudinal study of social judgements made during the acquainting process. A repeated measures design was employed to observe changes in four variables: affective reactions, uncertainty, trust and attraction. Results showed that all four variables and the relationships among these variables changed over time. Results also indicated few unsystematic differences across acquainting dyads; thus the changes over time could best be represented as a uniphasic process. Based upon the findings of this study, a four-stage model of social judgement processes during acquainting was proposed including: (1) uncertainty, (2) exploratory affect, (3) interpersonal growth, and (4) interpersonal stability.
The Molecular Effects of Acrolein

Acrolein is a highly electrophilic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde to which humans are exposed in a variety of environmental situations, particularly as a component of smoke. In addition, as a metabolite of cyclophosphamide, acrolein is a major factor in the toxicity and perhaps the therapeutic activity of this important anticancer agent. The exposures to acrolein that are attained in vivo in most situations are quite low and the effects may differ from those seen at acutely toxic doses. At low doses, acrolein inhibits cell proliferation without causing cell death and may enhance apoptosis from secondary toxins, while at higher doses oncosis ensues. Although the acute toxicology of acrolein has been extensively investigated, both in animals and cultured cells, little information exists on the molecular effects of this reactive aldehyde. It is possible that the acrolein-mediated decrease in cell proliferation is caused by effecting changes in the expression of one or more growth- or stress-related genes or transcription factors secondary to a reduction in glutathione (GSH), which is rapidly depleted following acrolein treatment. It is apparent that the activation of the transcription factors nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) can be inhibited by acrolein. The purpose of this review is to assess the literature currently available on the molecular effects of acrolein, to discuss the relationship between effects on glutathione with those on various genes, and to present some new data showing that acrolein actively stimulates genes associated with the electrophile response element.
Bayesian variable selection for linear regression in high dimensional microarray data

Variable selection is a fundamental problem in Bayesian statistics whose solution requires exploring a combinatorial search space. We study the solution of variable selection with a well-known MCMC method, which requires thousands of iterations. We present several algorithmic optimizations to accelerate the MCMC method to make it work efficiently inside a database system. Our optimizations include sufficient statistics, variable preselection, hash tables and calling a linear algebra library. We present experiments with very high dimensional microarray data sets to predict cancer survival time. We discuss encouraging findings, identifying specific genes likely to predict the survival time for brain cancer patients. We also show our DBMS-based algorithm is orders of magnitude faster than the R statistical package. Our work shows a DBMS is a promising platform to analyze microarray data.
Minimum time-RMS bandwidth product for synchronous CDMA with multiple classes of users

We explore a symbol-synchronous CDMA system in which each user is guaranteed a certain quality of service (QoS). The QoS requirements need not be the same for all users so that multiple classes of users can be supported. In the context of root-mean-square (RMS) bandwidth, we show how to optimally design the users' signature waveforms so that the required time-bandwidth product is minimized while meeting the QoS constraints. This is accomplished for two receiver architectures, namely the linear and decision-feedback receivers. For both scenarios, we reformulate the problem so that efficient interior-point methods may be applied. The optimality of the resulting design is practically verified by checking the Kuhn-Tucker conditions. Our approach is also found to yield an efficient technique for solving the problem of signal design for capacity-maximization that was posed and solved in [1].
Differential vulnerabilities of urethral afferents in diabetes and discovery of a novel urethra-to-urethra reflex.

Urethral reflexes are important regulators of micturition, and impairment of urethral afferent neuronal function may disrupt coordinated bladder and urethral activity, thereby contributing to voiding dysfunction in lower urinary tract disorders. Chemical stimulation by intraurethral irritant solution perfusion was used to determine whether urethral afferent neuronal function is altered in diabetes mellitus (DM). Sprague-Dawley rats were studied 10 wk after streptozotocin injection to induce DM or vehicle alone. Escalating doses of capsaicin (0.1–30 μM) or acetic acid (0.01–1%; AA) were perfused intraurethrally while recording isovolumetric bladder activity, urethral perfusion pressure, and electromyography of the external urethral sphincter (EUS-EMG). Some rats were additionally treated with α-bungarotoxin, hexamethonium, or bilateral transection of the sensory branches of the pudendal nerves (PudSNx). Intraurethral capsaicin inhibited bladder contractions in six out of seven control rats but not in any of six DM rats. Low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) of intraurethral pressure were observed in five out of six control rats with capsaicin-induced bladder inhibition. In contrast, intraurethral AA inhibited bladder contractions and enhanced tonic EUS-EMG activity in six out of six control and five out of six DM rats. LFOs occurred in four out of six control and three of five DM rats with AA-induced bladder inhibition. Chemically induced bladder inhibition and LFOs were not prevented by α-bungarotoxin but were eliminated by PudSNx and hexamethonium. Finally, LFOs were followed by phasic EUS activity. These findings show that DM affects urethral afferent neurons differentially, compromising those expressing TRPV1 receptors. Urethral smooth muscle LFOs are neurogenically mediated and induce EUS activity, revealing the existence of a hitherto undescribed reflex pathway: a smooth-to-striated muscle urethra-to-urethra reflex.
A mixed time integration method for Timoshenko and Mindlin type elements

A brief summary of recent developments in numerical methods for doing transient analyses of Timoshenko and Mindlin types of structures is given. The pure shearing behaviour of these structures (with no transverse motion) is identified as the high-frequency mode which severely restricts the time step in standard explicit time integration methods. A mixed implicit–explicit scheme is proposed as a technique for circumventing this restriction, and it is shown that this scheme is equivalent to an approach suggested by Belytschko and Mindle9.
Picosecond transient coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy of Rhodamine 560 in ethanol.

Results of picosecond Raman scattering of the excited state of Rhodamine 560 are reported. Both two-and three-color transient spectroscopy are accomplished with a time resolution of ~10 psec. The method was coherent anti-Stokes Raman probing of the excited states with the Stokes field from a broadband synchronously pumped dye laser. The anti-Stokes signal is detected by using a multichannel spectrometer system.
Model filled polymers. XIII: Mixing and time-dependent rheological behavior of polymer melts containing crosslinked polymeric particles

The rheological properties of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites filled with monodisperse sized crosslinked polymeric particles are sensitive to processing history and chemical composition. Particles compatible with the matrix, such as PMMA or copolystyrene-vinylphenol in a PMMA matrix, are randomly dispersed on mixing, yielding (almost) Newtonian fluids. Particles incompatible with the matrix, such as PS or copolystyrene-acetoxystyrene in PMMA, produce composites whose steady shear viscosities depend on shear rate and whose dynamic moduli are elevated at low frequency. Particles in incompatible composites tend to cluster, producing a structure that is destroyed at high shear rates and that reforms on aging at elevated temperatures.
Improved vertical optical fiber borehole strainmeter design for measuring Earth strain.

Fiber-based interferometers provide the means to sense very small displacements over long baselines, and have the advantage of being nearly completely passive in their operation, making them particularly well suited for geophysical applications. A new 250 m, interferometric vertical borehole strainmeter has been developed based completely on passive optical components. Details of the design and deployment at the Pinon Flat Observatory are presented. Power spectra show an intertidal noise level of −130 dB (re. 1 ϵ2/Hz), consistent within 1–3 dB between redundant components. Examination of its response to Earth tides and earthquakes relative to the areal strain recorded by an orthogonal pair of collocated, 730 m horizontal laser strainmeters yield a Poisson’s ratio for local near surface material of 0.25 that is consistent with previous results.
Simulation fundamentals

This paper provides an introduction to simulation fundamentals via the Monte Carlo and next-event approaches to simulation, supported by two representative programs from the software suite written specifically for the Winter Simulation Conference's Simulation 101 workshop. The simulation libraries and functions associated with workshop are written using the R statistical language. R is suitable for an introduction to simulation because of its easy learning curve and its wide range of statistical procedures, built-in functions, and graphics capabilities. This paper begins with general instructions for downloading, compiling, and executing the software. This is followed by explanations of the Monte Carlo and next-event approaches, using two examples: craps() uses Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the probability of winning the dice game Craps, and ssq3() uses a next-event approach to estimate several measures of performance associated with a single-server queue.
Legal Dimensions of the Decision to Intercede in Cambodia

In appraising national security decisions, such as the recent decision to send United States combat forces into the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong border sanctuaries in Cambodia, it is useful to focus on three interrelated questions. First, is the decision consistent with national and international law? Second, is the decision consistent with the national interest? And third, are there other alternatives which are likely to be more satisfactory in implementing the national interest? Each of these questions represents an important perspective for appraisal. Although the answer to the first question is important for answering the second and third questions, international lawyers should resist the temptation to regard an affirmative answer to the legal question as equivalent to proof that a decision is the best option for national action. Conversely, international lawyers should also avoid the temptation to regard personal doubts about the efficacy of a particular option as equivalent to proof of the illegality of the option. An international legal perspective is a critical input in national security decisions and should have a major role in defining the national interest and in introducing and delimiting options for national action. On the other hand, efforts to overuse international law, whether by way of support or criticism of national action, serve only to obscure the vital role that an international legal perspective should play.
Symmetric or Skewed

Can the symmetry or skewness of a random variable's distribution be determined solely by inspecting its measures of center? On the other hand, does the direction of skewness indicate the ordering among measures of central tendency? Although there appears to be some confusion in both textbooks and periodicals on these issues, the present note suggests that the answer to both questions-at least with respect to discrete distributions-is "no".
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Florida physicians regarding dengue before and after an educational intervention

Failure to recognize and appropriately manage dengue early in the clinical course may result in late initiation of supportive treatment for severe disease. In Florida, travel-related and autochthonous dengue occur and are likely under-recognized. The objective of this study was to evaluate physician knowledge of dengue and its management before and after an educational intervention in Florida. From 2012–13 we conducted 14 grand-rounds style lectures on dengue clinical management attended by 413 physicians, and analyzed data from the pre- and post-tests. Of those attending, 231 and 220 completed the pre-and post-tests, respectively. Overall, the mean pre-test score for knowledge-based questions was 74.3 and average post-test score was 94.2 %, indicating a mean increase of 19.9 % (P < 0.0001, 95 % CI 17.7–22.4). Reported confidence in dengue recognition and management also increased. Non-US trained physicians and those who had treated more than ten dengue cases performed significantly better in the pre-test. Post-test scores did not differ by subgroup. The train-the-trainer approach with grand-rounds style presentations appear to be an effective intervention to improve knowledge of dengue among physicians.
Use of rumination and activity monitoring for the identification of dairy cows with health disorders: Part I. Metabolic and digestive disorders

The objectives of this study were to evaluate (1) the performance of an automated health-monitoring system (AHMS) to identify cows with metabolic and digestive disorders-including displaced abomasum, ketosis, and indigestion-based on an alert system (health index score, HIS) that combines rumination time and physical activity; (2) the number of days between the first HIS alert and clinical diagnosis (CD) of the disorders by farm personnel; and (3) the daily rumination time, physical activity, and HIS patterns around CD. Holstein cattle (n=1,121; 451 nulliparous and 670 multiparous) were fitted with a neck-mounted electronic rumination and activity monitoring tag (HR Tags, SCR Dairy, Netanya, Israel) from at least -21 to 80 d in milk (DIM). Raw data collected in 2-h periods were summarized per 24 h as daily rumination and activity. A HIS (0 to 100 arbitrary units) was calculated daily for individual cows with an algorithm that used rumination and activity. A positive HIS outcome was defined as a HIS of <86 during at least 1 d from -5 to 2 d after CD. Blood concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, total calcium, and haptoglobin were determined in a subgroup of cows (n=459) at -11±3, -4±3, 0, 3±1, 7±1, 14±1, and 28±1 DIM. The sensitivity of the HIS was 98% [95% confidence interval (CI): 93, 100] for displaced abomasum (n=41); 91% (95% CI: 83, 99) for ketosis (n=54); 89% (95% CI: 68, 100) for indigestion (n=9); and 93% (95% CI: 89, 98) for all metabolic and digestive disorders combined (n=104). Days (mean and 95% CI) from the first positive HIS <86 and CD were -3 (-3.7, -2.3), -1.6 (-2.3, -1.0), -0.5 (-1.5, 0.5), and -2.1 (-2.5, -1.6) for displaced abomasum, ketosis, indigestion, and all metabolic and digestive disorders, respectively. The patterns of rumination, activity, and HIS for cows flagged by the AHMS were characterized by lower levels than for cows without a health disorder and cows not flagged by the AHMS from -5 to 5 d after CD, depending on the disorder and parameter. Differences between cows without health disorders and those flagged by the AHMS for blood markers of metabolic and health status confirmed the observations of the CD and AHMS alerts. The overall sensitivity and timing of the AHMS alerts for cows with metabolic and digestive disorders indicated that AHMS that combine rumination and activity could be a useful tool for identifying cows with metabolic and digestive disorders.
Evaluation of ETV4 and WT1 expression in CIC-rearranged sarcomas and histologic mimics

A distinct subset of round cell sarcomas harbors capicua transcriptional repressor (CIC) rearrangement. Diagnosing these sarcomas can be difficult owing to their resemblance to Ewing sarcoma and other 'small round blue cell tumors'; molecular techniques are generally required. Recent gene expression studies of CIC-rearranged sarcomas identified the upregulation of ETV4. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of ETV4 and WT1 immunohistochemistry for CIC-rearranged sarcoma. We evaluated whole-tissue sections from 40 CIC-rearranged sarcomas, 40 Ewing sarcomas, 4 BCOR-CCNB3 sarcomas, 6 unclassified round cell sarcomas, and 150 histologic mimics. Moderate-to-strong nuclear immunoreactivity for ETV4 in at least 50% of cells was observed in 36 (90%) CIC-rearranged sarcomas and 10 (5%) other tumors, including 5 unclassified round cell sarcomas, 2 Wilms tumors, and 1 each desmoplastic small round cell tumor, melanoma, and small cell carcinoma. Thirty-eight (95%) CIC-rearranged sarcomas showed nuclear staining for WT1, and 34 (85%) were positive for both ETV4 and WT1. Of 182 other tumors evaluated, 34 (19%) showed nuclear WT1 positivity, including all Wilms tumors and desmoplastic small round cell tumors, 5 unclassified round cell sarcomas, and a subset of lymphoblastic lymphomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, mesenchymal chondrosarcomas, carcinomas, and melanomas. In summary, diffuse moderate-to-strong ETV4 expression is present in most CIC-rearranged sarcomas and unclassified round cell sarcomas. More limited expression is seen in small subsets of various other round cell neoplasms. Nuclear WT1 expression is also present in most CIC-rearranged sarcomas and unclassified round cell sarcomas, along with Wilms tumors and desmoplastic small round cell tumors, and subsets of various histologic mimics. The sensitivity and specificity of diffuse ETV4 expression for CIC-rearranged sarcomas are 90% and 95%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity and specificity of WT1 are 95% and 81%, respectively. Diffuse ETV4 along with at least focal WT1 expression is helpful to distinguish CIC-rearranged sarcoma from Ewing sarcoma and other histologic mimics.
Essay On Economic Growth and Environmental Quality

The major premise of this essay is that production-consumption and waste emis-sions tend to be joint products of the human species. Given this premise, a parable of an astronaut irretrievably lost in space is discussed in order to deduce several propositions on the astronaut’s optimal rate of consumption. A Harrod type of model is also analyzed with regard to the rate of consumption over time where the model includes a simplified depiction of the interaction between the economy and natural environment. Empirical estimates of the impact of effluent charges on comparative international advantage of selected countries are also presented. The major conclusion is that national and international economic policies and national environmental policies are not separable.