cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental manipulation of genomic methylation

Cytosine methylation is an important mechanism of gene regulation in mammals. Mouse embryos with reduced DNA methylation due to targeted disruption of the DNA methyltransferase gene show deregulated expression of imprinted genes. Loss of imprinting associated with loss of allele-specific methylation is one example of an epigenetic alteration found in tumor cells. Changes in DNA methylation may also be associated with facilitating protooncogene expression and inactivating tumor suppressor genes. However, cytosine methylation has additional deleterious consequences for the genome as well. CpG dinucleotides, the target of DNA methylation, are five-fold underpresented in the genome due to the high mutability of methylated cytosine. C-T transition mutations resulting from deamination of 5-methylcytosine are involved in both genetic disease and cancer. Lastly, aberrant DNA methylation may promote the genetic instability of a chromosomal locus. We review the genetic and epigenetic roles for DNA methylation during tumorigenesis gleaned from altered methycytosine patterns in tumor cells, and from pharmacologic, dietary or genetic manipulation of DNA methylation levels.
Scaling of impact damage in fiber composites from laboratory specimens to structures

Abstract Impact damage in fiber composite structures remains of much concern, and is often the limiting factor in establishing allowable strain levels. The complexity of impact damage formation usually dictates that experiments are required, but scaling of results from small laboratory scale specimens to large structures is not well understood. The following paper presents the results of an analytical and experimental investigation intended to develop procedures for prediction of damage formation and subsequent strength loss, with particular emphasis on scaling of results with respect to structure size. The experimental investigation involved both drop-weight and airgun impact on carbon/epoxy plates and cylinders. Five sizes of plates ranging from 50 × 50 × 1·072 mm to 250 × 250 × 5·36 mm, and two sizes of cylinders with diameters of 96·5 and 319 mm, were employed in the experimental program. Delamination was observed to increase with specimen size more than would be expected if stresses controlled the delamination extent, as would be predicted by fracture mechanics. Regions of broken fibers were observed in the impacted specimens, that were best correlated with the applied specimen stress or strains, independent of specimen size. It is seen that knowledge of the failure mechanisms involved is required to predict scaling of damage with confidence.
Models of Coevolution and Speciation in Plants and Their Pollinators

Coevolution of quantitative characters is modeled for populations of plants and specialized pollinators. Reciprocal selective forces on characters in mutualistic species create lines of equilibria for their mean phenotypes. Diversification between geographically isolated pairs of mutualistic populations can thus occur by random genetic drift. In each species the rate of differentiation between populations depends in part on the effective size of local populations of its mutualistic partner. Sexual selection in a pollinator species, through mating preferences in one sex based on the pollination behavior of the opposite sex, can produce rapid coevolution and speciation in both the pollinator and the plant populations. Patterns of mutualistic coevolution are discussed with particular reference to population structure, ecological interactions, and species diversity in orchids and orchid bees, figs and fig wasps, and yuccas and yucca moths.
OX40 Agonists and Combination Immunotherapy: Putting the Pedal to the Metal

Recent studies have highlighted the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy, a class of cancer treatments that utilize the patient’s own immune system to destroy cancerous cells. Within a tumor the presence of a family of negative regulatory molecules, collectively known as “checkpoint inhibitors,” can inhibit T cell function to suppress anti-tumor immunity. Checkpoint inhibitors, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1, attenuate T cell proliferation and cytokine production. Targeted blockade of CTLA-4 or PD-1 with antagonist monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) releases the “brakes” on T cells to boost anti-tumor immunity. Generating optimal “killer” CD8 T cell responses also requires T cell receptor activation plus co-stimulation, which can be provided through ligation of tumor necrosis factor receptor family members, including OX40 (CD134) and 4-1BB (CD137). OX40 is of particular interest as treatment with an activating (agonist) anti-OX40 mAb augments T cell differentiation and cytolytic function leading to enhanced anti-tumor immunity against a variety of tumors. When used as single agents, these drugs can induce potent clinical and immunologic responses in patients with metastatic disease. However, each of these agents only benefits a subset of patients, highlighting the critical need for more effective combinatorial therapeutic strategies. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which OX40 agonists synergize with checkpoint inhibitor blockade to augment T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity and the potential opportunities for clinical translation of combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies.
SPECTROSCOPY OF LIGHT HADRONS ON ANISOTROPIC LATTICES

The mass spectrum of spin-1/2 baryons in both parity channels is computed using the methods of lattice QCD in the quenched approximation. An anisotropic action with anisotropy as/at = 3 is employed, using tree-level coefficients with tadpole improvement. Clear splittings from the nucleon ground state are observed with smeared operators and 500 configurations. Methods for extracting the first excited states are investigated. Using the quark mass dependence of the masses, qualitative comparisons are made with previous calculations and experiment.
Large-scale mutational analysis of Kv11.1 reveals molecular insights into type 2 long QT syndrome

It has been suggested that deficient protein trafficking to the cell membrane is the dominant mechanism associated with type 2 Long QT syndrome (LQT2) caused by Kv11.1 potassium channel missense mutations, and that for many mutations the trafficking defect can be corrected pharmacologically. However, this inference was based on expression of a small number of Kv11.1 mutations. We performed a comprehensive analysis of 167 LQT2-linked missense mutations in four Kv11.1 structural domains and found that deficient protein trafficking is the dominant mechanism for all domains except for the distal carboxy-terminus. Also, most pore mutations--in contrast to intracellular domain mutations--were found to have severe dominant-negative effects when co-expressed with wild-type subunits. Finally, pharmacological correction of the trafficking defect in homomeric mutant channels was possible for mutations within all structural domains. However, pharmacological correction is dramatically improved for pore mutants when co-expressed with wild-type subunits to form heteromeric channels.
Integrability of resolvents of certain Volterra integral equations

This equation has been studied by a myriad of authors (see [2,3,6-9, 11, 121, for example) and many results are known concerning existence, uniqueness, integrability, and asymptotic behavior of solutions. Our purpose here is not to directly extend these results, but rather to discover new results concerning the resolvent of this equation. The resolvent r(t) is defined as the unique (assuming that f(t) and b(t) are locally integrable) solution r(t) of the equation
The butterfly effect on glioblastoma: is volumetric extent of resection more effective than biopsy for these tumors?

A subset of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) have butterfly GBM (bGBM) that involve both cerebral hemispheres by crossing the corpus callosum. The prognoses, as well as the effectiveness of surgery and adjuvant therapy, are unclear because studies are few and limited. The goals of this study were to: (1) determine if bGBM have worse outcomes than patients with non-bGBM, (2) determine if surgery is more effective than biopsy, and (3) identify factors independently associated with improved outcomes for these patients. Adult patients who underwent surgery for a newly diagnosed primary GBM at an academic tertiary-care institution between 2007 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed and tumors were volumetrically measured. Of the 336 patients with newly diagnosed GBM who were operated on, 48 (14 %) presented with bGBM, where 29 (60 %) and 19 (40 %) underwent surgical resection and biopsy, respectively. In multivariate analysis, a bGBM was independently associated with poorer survival [HR (95 % CI) 1.848 (1.250–2.685), p < 0.003]. In matched-pair analysis, patients who underwent surgical resection had improved median survival than biopsy patients (7.0 vs. 3.5 months, p = 0.03). In multivariate analysis, increasing percent resection [HR (95 % CI) 0.987 (0.977–0.997), p = 0.01], radiation [HR (95 % CI) 0.431 (0.225–0.812), p = 0.009], and temozolomide [HR (95 % CI) 0.413 (0.212–0. 784), p = 0.007] were each independently associated with prolonged survival among patients with bGBM. This present study shows that while patients with bGBM have poorer prognoses compared to non-bGBM, these patients can also benefit from aggressive treatments including debulking surgery, maximal safe surgical resection, temozolomide chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Reaction of coppersuperoxide dismutase with hydrogen peroxide: a possible source of Heterogeneity?

Abstract The reaction of hydrogen peroxide with copperzinc bovine superoxide dismutase at ratios of 0.2 to 4.0 per active site at pH 10.0 results in the formation of distinct electrophoretic forms of the enzyme. The mobilities of these forms are identical to the mobilities of the forms present in heterogeneous, untreated native samples in two different electrophoretic systems, pH 6.96 (TRIS-acetic acid) and pH 8.38 (TRIS-glycine) (Fig.1.). Increasing ratios of hydrogen peroxide result in an apparent increase in this heterogeneity in addition to progressive inactivation (Fig. 2). Inactivation of the dismutase and loss of histidine was reported by Hodgson and Fridovich [1]. Furthermore this reaction results in the loss of copper from the dismutase at all ratios of added peroxide and the loss of zinc at the higher ratios (Table I). The loss of copper parallels the increase in the faster moving species suggesting the possibility that this species is copperdeficient. However, in the pH 6.96 electrophoretic system, the mobility of this faster form does not coincide with the mobility of a copper-deficient form prepared by reconstituting the apoenzyme with equimolar copper and zinc [2]. If it is copper-deficient, the faster electrophoretic form must be modified by the reaction with peroxide. It should be noted that this form is not capable of giving rise to native enzyme upon the addiction of copper and zinc. In addition the reaction with peroxide forms distinct electrophoretic forms of the enzyme at the more physiological pH 7.0. Analysis of several purified preparations of superoxide dismutase have indicated that a lower copper content is correlated with an increased heterogeneity (Table II). For all samples listed but one, this heterogeneity was not altered by the addition of copper and zinc. In view of these observations we would like to suggest that the reaction with hydrogen peroxide in vivo may be the source of the heterogeneity so often seen in purified preparations of the copperzinc enzyme. Hydrogen peroxide is the product of the enzyme-catalyzed dismutation reaction of superoxide anion and its reaction with the dismutase, though slow, could lead to the accumulation of altered proteins t001 . Loss of Copper and Zinc from Superoxide Dismutase in the Reaction with Hydrogen Peroxide at pH 10.0 H2O2 Copper Zinc site Enzyme Enzyme 0.0 1.30 1.92 0.49 1.23 1.94 0.98 1.18 1.69 1.46 1.16 1.79 1.96 1.00 1.23 2.96 0.87 3.96 0.85 1.08 t002 . Copper Content and Heterogeneity in Preparations of Bovine Superoxide Dismutase Sample Copper %I %II %III Enzyme Sigma [1] 1.89 83 15 2 DDI 1.83 83 16 1 Sigma [2] 1.75 66 29 5 DDI 1.61 71 24 5 Malta 1.42 40 58 2 Sigma [2] dialyzed 1.30 52 34 14 that copurify with the native enzyme in classical isolation procedures.
Nonparametric mixed-effects models for repeated binary data arising in serial dilution assays : An application to estimating viral burden in AIDS

Abstract This article develops methods for estimating treatment effects in mixed-effects models using outcome data gathered from serial dilution assays. Our application allows us to estimate the viral burden of HIV infection before and after antiviral treatment from cell dilution assays. This assay is designed to determine the infectious units per patient peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). The infectious unit is the amount of virus required to produce detectable HIV infection in PBMC's from healthy, uninfected donors. At each dilution level of the patient cells, one observes whether or not it was possible for the virus from these cells to infect donor cells. Thus the assay result for each subject consists of a series of repeated binary outcomes. We propose an analytic approach in which patient-specific titers (measures of viral burden) are modeled as random effects from an unknown distribution, and treatment effects are modeled as fixed. This approach makes use of all assay results, even if many as...
The trends and future prospects of nano technology development and deployment in Korea

This session will cover nanotechnology R&D trends and government's policies and infrastructure along with industrial trends in Korea through "Nano Korea Exhibition 2006."
Effects of isometric exercise on serum creatine phosphokinase activity.

• The effect of isometric exercise on serum creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) activity in 14 psychotic patients in remission and ten normal controls was studied. The increases in serum CPK activity at 18 and 42 hours after exercise were not significantly different in patients and controls. The postexercise serum CPK activities in the patients were significantly less than the peak serum CPK levels when they were psychotic. There were no significant correlations between postexercise serum CPK activity and preexercise or peak serum CPK activity in the patient group. It is unlikely that increased isometric muscle tension is a major causative factor in the increased serum CPK levels frequently found in psychotic patients.
Review of the Girdlestone-Taylor Procedure for Clawtoes in Myelodysplasia:

To clarify the role the flexor tendon to extensor hood transfer (Girdlestone-Taylor procedure) may have in correction of clawtoes in myelodysplasia, 20 patients with residual paralysis from myelomeningocele who underwent the procedure between 1976 and 1985 were reviewed. They were evaluated for the effectiveness of the procedure and occurrence of late deformities. A total of 25 feet with 65 toes were evaluated in patients ranging in age from 0.6 to 38.8 years. Results were classified as good if toes were straight, fair if mild deformity was present, and poor if definite clawing was noted. The overall results showed 60% good, 34% fair, and 6% poor results. Toes followed less than 24 months had more good results than those with longer follow-up. There was little difference in the results between great toes and lesser toes. No serious complications occurred. Our results indicate a sufficient level of success to utilize this method for correction of flexible claw toe deformities without resorting to bony procedures. We suggest this should be particularly useful in children.
Effect of beta adrenergic stimulation and blockade on immediate hypersensitivity skin test reactions

Abstract The effects of isoproterenol (a β-adrenergic stimulating agent) and propranolol (a β-adrenergic blocking agent) were studied on immediate hypersensitivity skin test reactions in 15 atopic subjects. Forearm skin of these subjects was pretreated with these agents by local iontophoretic application and compared to areas locally pretreated with saline or diphenhydramine hydrochloride. Following pretreatment of skin, scratch or intradermal tests were performed with the most reactive antigen for each patient. A significant increase of skin reactivity occurred in areas of skin pretreated with propranolol. A significant decrease in reactivity followed pretreatment with isoproterenol. Thus the iontophoresis of β-adrenergic agents can alter the immediate hypersensitivity skin test reactions of atopic patients. This alteration is consistent with a modification of the local synthesis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (CAMP) induced by these pharmacologic agents. It is not clear whether this presumed alteration in CAMP is exerting its effect on mediator release from dermal mast cells or directly on the dermal blood vessels or both.
Separation of 26 toxaphene congeners and measurement in air particulate matter SRMs compared to technical toxaphene SRM 3067

Toxaphene is a complex technical mixture that has been found ubiquitously in the environment but has caused issues for analysis, especially of individual congeners. This paper reports the elution order of 26 major toxaphene congeners on three gas chromatographic columns. The three different stationary phases generally had similar elution orders for the toxaphene congeners, but fewer co-elutions occurred on a low-bleed, low-polarity column. These congeners (except for two that co-eluted and were not added to the calibration mixture) were examined in air particulate matter standard reference materials (SRMs), 1648a, 1649a, and 1649b as well as SRM 3067 toxaphene in methanol for assignment of reference values. SRM 3067 had mass fractions an order of magnitude greater than the air particulate SRMs, which ranged from 0.568 ± 0.018 ng g−1 dry mass (B9-2006 in SRM 1648a) to 12.9 ± 0.20 ng g−1 dry mass (B9-715 (P 58) in SRM 1649a). The three air particulate SRMs all had different mass fractions and proportions of congeners relative to the sum of the toxaphene congeners. SRM 3067 may be useful as a technical mixture toxaphene congener calibrant. SRMs 1648a and 1649b will serve as reference materials for the analysis of 21 (three congeners were not included due to values below the detection limit or a potential polychlorinated biphenyl co-elution) toxaphene congeners in atmospheric particulate samples.
Rural gentrification and nature in the Old and New Wests

The rural American West is a rapidly changing region. Geographers often use the Old West and New West to describe the economic, cultural, and environmental shifts happening within the communities of these regions. However, previous research on the rural West often overlooks the larger economic processes and cultural variables at work in the creation of these regions. Using a case study of Hamilton, Montana, to explore the New West and Anaconda, Montana, to examine the Old West, this paper seeks to begin a richer discussion of the rural American West. These two communities exemplify the interrelated impacts of shifting geographies of capital investment, processes of rural gentrification, and the formative role of nature as a cultural variable in shaping development within the region.
Varied Thermal Chemistry of Hydrocarbons on Nickel Single-Crystal Surfaces

Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) results are reported for the conversion of styrene, bromocyclopentane, 1-pentene, 1,5-pentadiene, and 1,5-diiodopentane on Ni(100), and of iodoethane and 1- and 2-iodopropane on Ni(110) single-crystal surfaces. The purpose of these experiments was to illustrate the versatility of nickel in promoting a variety of surface steps for the conversion of adsorbed hydrocarbons. Our examples include the selective hydrogenolysis of styrene to toluene, the migration of carbon–carbon double bonds in cyclopentene and 1-pentene, the ring closure of C5 metallacyclic surface intermediates, the coupling of alkyl groups, and the growth of hydrocarbon chains starting from ethyl and propyl surface intermediates. Additional information is reported on the relative rates of the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation surface steps responsible for multiple H–D exchange steps.
A technique for beveling fine micropipettes

Abstract A technique is described for the production of extremely fine micropipetes for intracellular recording.
The Research of EPON Rapid Protection Switching in Power System

The redundant optical link protection is the most popular technology by which we advance the reliability of Ethernet Passive Optical Networking (EPON) in power communication network, and self-healing sooner the network better. Through optical link state monitoring technology, we can start the protection switching immediately. Through optical network unit(ONU) pre-registration technology, we can shorten the self-healing time. Moreover, everything is occur on ONU, and then it would simplify the process.
Investigations on meteorological conditions for elevated PM2.5 in Fairbanks, Alaska

Abstract The relationships between meteorological conditions (temperature, wind-speed and direction, relative humidity, surface-inversion depth and strength, and stability) and PM2.5 concentrations in Fairbanks, Alaska were investigated using ten years of observational data. The results show that during wintertime (November through February) PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the 24 h National Air Quality Standard (35 μg/m3) occurred under calm wind, extremely low temperature (≤20 °C) and moisture (water-vapor pressure 75%) partly caused by water-vapor emission reduces PM2.5 concentrations.
Distributed event-triggered optimization for linear programming

This paper considers a network of agents whose objective is for the aggregate of their states to converge to a solution of a linear program. We assume that each agent has limited information about the problem data and communicates with other agents at discrete times of its choice. Our main contribution is the development of a distributed continuous-time dynamics and a set of state-based rules, termed triggers, that an individual agent can use to determine when to broadcast its state to neighboring agents to ensure convergence. Our technical approach to the algorithm design and analysis overcomes a number of challenges, including establishing convergence in the absence of a common smooth Lyapunov function, ensuring that the triggers are detectable by agents using only local information, and accounting for the asynchronism in the state broadcasts of the agents. Simulations illustrate our results.
Effect and siting of Nafion® in a Pt/C proton exchange membrane fuel cell catalyst

Abstract This paper explores the effect and siting (location) of Nafion on Pt/C as exists in a PEM fuel cell catalyst layer. The addition of 30 wt% Nafion on Pt/C (Nfn-Pt/C) resulted in a severe loss of BET surface area by filling/blocking the smaller pore structures in the carbon support. Surprisingly, the presence of this much Nafion appeared to have only a minimal effect on the adsorption capability of either hydrogen or CO on Pt. However, the presence of Nafion doubled the amount of time required to purge most of the gas-phase and weakly-adsorbed hydrogen molecules away from the catalyst during hydrogen surface concentration measurements. This strongly chemisorbed surface hydrogen was determined by a H2/D2 switch and exchange procedure. Nafion had an even more pronounced effect on the reaction of a larger molecule like cyclopropane. Results from the modeling of cyclopropane hydrogenolysis in an idealized pores suggest that partial blockage of only the pore openings by the Nafion for the meso–macropores is sufficient to induce diffusion limitations on the reaction. The facts suggest that most of the Pt particles are in the meso–macropores of the C support, whereas Nafion is present primarily on the external surface of the C where it blocks significantly the micropores but only partially the meso–macropores.
Racial differences in beliefs of physician prescribing practices for low-cost pharmacy options.

, Abstract—Background: Previous studies have reported that certain populations are sensitive to high out-of-pocket drug costs, and drug noncompliance leads to poorer health outcomes. Objective: Our aim was to measure patient awareness of discount pharmacy options, cost barriers to medication access, and beliefs about health care provider’s use of low-cost medications. Methods: This cross-sectional 17-item survey was administered to patients in the emergency department of an urban trauma center in February 2011. Differences in responses by sex and race groups were assessed. A logistic regression model was created to estimate the association of sociodemographic factors and medication use with awareness of discount pharmacy options. Results: Five hundred and fifty-two surveys were analyzed. Among respondents who were prescribed medications within the past year, three fourths of patients felt comfortable asking physicians for cheaper medicines. Slightly more than half were aware of low-cost pharmacy options, and 78% of these respondents correctly listed at least one of these pharmacies. Caucasian patients weremorecomfortable than African American patients asking for cheaper medicines (82.5% vs. 72.2%; p < 0.05) and were more aware of low-cost prescription programs (63.9% vs. 43.5%; p < 0.001). When adjusted for insurance status and current medication use, Caucasian patients were 2.7 times more likely to name a valid discount pharmacy option compared to African Americans (95% confidence interval 1.85 4.07). Conclusions: This study suggests populations may be more uncomfortable initiating a discussion about medication costs and selection of lower-cost alternatives. Health care providers may need to develop communication strategies in which medication cost is addressed with sensitivity and consistency. 2014 Elsevier Inc.
Oak forest decline and effects of two invasive shrubs in the Midwest Driftless Area: current status and implications for the future

Oak forests throughout the world are in a state of decline due to lack of oak seedling recruitment to larger size classes. Much of this recruitment decline has been attributed to changes in ecosystem disturbance regimes that have led to increased competition from other species. The Midwest Driftless Area forests in the United States are currently dominated by large oak trees of three species: Quercus alba L., Q. macrocarpa Mich., and Q. rubra L. These oak forests currently provide habitat for a large variety of flora and fauna, recreational opportunities for people, and an important timber resource. We examined the current status of forest composition and structure of Midwest Driftless Area oak forests. We were specifically interested in understanding how two invasive shrubs, Lonicera tartarica L. and Rhamnus cathartica L., might contribute to the decline of oak recruitment. We found that the recruitment of oak species is poor in comparison to other canopy tree species, including Acer saccharum Marsh. and Tilia americana L., and that the majority of saplings are of non-oak species. Our results revealed
Sensitivity of range localization in a multipath environment

A study is made of the sensitivity of range localization to several features, focusing on features recovered by temporal processing, and a metric that plays the role of an ambiguity function, now generalized to the multipath environment, is developed. In contrast with the matched wave-field approaches, which treat the channel as a black box, the modeling strategy effectively provides a manageable tool for understanding the role that different features can play in localization. Contour plots illustrate the sensitivity of ranging to the features and metric adopted. >
Clustering and Tailoring User Session Data for Testing Web Applications

Web applications have become major driving forces for world business. Effective and efficient testing of evolving web applications is essential for providing reliable services. In this paper, we present a user session based testing technique that clusters user sessions based on the service profile and selects a set of representative user sessions from each cluster. Then each selected user session is tailored by augmentation with additional requests to cover the dependence relationships between web pages. The created test suite not only can significantly reduce the size of the collected user sessions, but is also viable to exercise fault sensitive paths. We conducted two empirical studies to investigate the effectiveness of our approach- one was in a controlled environment using seeded faults, and the other was conducted on an industrial system with real faults. The results demonstrate that our approach consistently detected the majority of the known faults by using a relatively small number of test cases in both studies.
Urinary Stones which Require Adjunctive Management for Successful Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy

In February 1980, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL] was introduced clinically at the Department of Urology, University of Munich, as the first noninvasive method to treat patients suffering from upper urinary tract stones (1–15). The high efficacy, safety, and reliability of the method, dramatically changed the management of upper urinary stones. In 1991, approximately 70% of patients with renal and ureteral stones can be treated with ESWL-monotherapy and additionally 20% of patients with more complex stones can receive ESWL treatment in conjunction with endoscopic procedures. The remaining 10% of patients either require percutaneous or ureteroscopic endoscopic surgery alone or open surgery.
QoS-Driven Power Allocation Over Parallel Fading Channels With Imperfect Channel Estimations in Wireless Networks

We propose the quality-of-service (QoS) driven power allocation schemes for parallel fading channels when considering imperfect channel estimations. In particular, the parallel communication model plays a fundamental role in physical-layer evolutions of wireless networks. By integrating information theory with the concept of effective capacity, our proposed schemes aim at maximizing the system throughput subject to a given delay constraint. Solving the original non-convex problem by a 2-dimensional convex optimization approach, we develop the optimal allocation algorithms under different QoS and power constraints. Consistent with our previous work assuming perfect channel state information (CSI), our analyses considering imperfect CSI demonstrate that when the QoS constraint becomes more and more stringent, the optimal effective capacity decreases from the ergodic capacity to the zero-outage capacity. Moreover, our results indicate that the channel estimation error has a significant impact on QoS provisioning, especially when the delay constraint is stringent. Specifically, as long as the channel estimation is not perfect, a positive zero-outage capacity is unattainable. On the other hand, our simulations also suggest that a larger number of parallel channels can provide higher throughput and more stringent QoS, while offering better robustness against the imperfectness of CSI.
Buffer size optimization in asynchronous assembly systems using genetic algorithms

Abstract Selecting appropriate buffer sizes for the transport systems of automated manufacturing systems is a complex task that must account for random fluctuations in production rates by the individual stations as well as for transport delays that are a part of material handling system. If buffer sizes are too large, then transport delays are excessive and more in-process inventories must be input into the system to accommodate the large buffer sizes. If the buffer sizes are too small, then small processing delays will cause the buffer to fill, and upstream workstations will be blocked from releasing complete workpiece. This article presents the buffer size optimization problems of Asynchronous Assembly Systems. Genetic Algorithms (GAs) of Holland are applied to the problem in an attempt to extend their domain of application the complex design optimization problems of a certain class of manufacturing systems. In addition to a detailed description of the buffer size allocation problems, a brief introduction to GAs is given. A number of examples are presented. Also, future research directions are indicated.
Emergence of larval yellow perch, Perca flavescens, in South Dakota lakes: potential implications for recruitment

Temporal patterns in length frequency distributions and hatch dates were described for larval yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), captured in surface ichthyoplankton trawls from late April to mid-June 2000 to 2002 in six South Dakota, USA lakes. Fewer than 15 larval yellow perch were collected in four of six lakes during 2002, suggesting that in some cases factors prior to, during or immediately after hatching likely play a critical role in the perch recruitment process. When larval yellow perch were encountered in larger numbers, temporal trends in total length (TL) frequencies indicated that only a single cohort was produced annually in each lake. Most yellow perch in these lakes hatched between 29 April and 17 May, and most hatching occurred during 5-11 days each year. Larval TL was not related to hatch date. The apparent prevalence of relatively short hatch periods in these yellow perch populations probably increases the risk of catastrophic losses resulting from periods of poor envi- ronmental conditions.
Emancipatory Therapeutic Practice in a Turbulent Transmodern Era:A Work of Retrieval:

Within the community of psychotherapists, there has always existed philosophical and methodological tension between objectivists who follow a medical model, romantics who favor humanistic approaches, and social constructivists who take a more sociopolitical path. The current health care crisis is forcing practitioners to take sides, is threatening to unravel this always uneasy coherence among psychotherapists, and is forcing practitioners to revisit questions of epistemology, ethics, and practice. The author argues that as medical insurance funds dwindle and the assessment of "medical necessity" comes increasingly to be defined according to strict patterns of specific "symptoms," and as insurance-allowable treatment becomes restricted to short-term, emergency care or medication-based treatment, humanistic psychologists should restate their commitment to a psychology that approaches the struggles and promises of human life in human terms and should refocus their efforts on quality of life, spiritual, and e...
Stereotype Threat, Identification with Academics, and Withdrawal from School: Why the most successful students of colour might be most likely to withdraw

Claude Steele’s stereotype threat hypothesis posits that when there are negative stereotypes about the intellectual capacity of certain (stigmatised) groups, members of that group suffer aversive consequences; group members who are most strongly identified with the stigmatised domain in question (e.g., intellectual or academic ability) are those most likely to suffer the effects of stereotype threat. In education, it is widely held that personal investment in schooling should lead to more positive outcomes. However, highly‐invested individuals will most keenly experience the negative effects of stigma. Thus those most at risk for withdrawing from school among students of colour (who suffer a stigma of intellectual inferiority) could be those most invested in schooling. This hypothesis was tested by measuring identification with academics among a group of incoming students at a racially diverse inner‐city high school in the Midwest USA. Regardless of race, the students who most strongly identified with aca...
What to look for in the aftermath of an explosion? A review of blast scene damage observables

Abstract A review of existing literature dealing with the behavior of often-used building materials subject to blast loading is presented. Our focus is on the types of structural damage that might be observed at a blast scene, and in particular how this evidence can be used to infer characteristics of the blast (e.g., size and position of the charge). We consider two simple questions: what does damage look like in the wake of a blast for different structural materials (i.e., “what damage is seen?”) and what must the blast pressure have been to cause this damage (i.e., “what does the damage mean?”). This review looks at reinforced concrete, masonry, steel, glass, and timber. We propose the following principle for interpreting observed damage at a blast scene: if damage is present, a limit state was exceeded. The results from this review will be of great interest to post-blast investigators that seek to understand the size and position of a blast.
HEV to PHEV conversion compatibility

This paper includes some of the information gathered regarding the feasibility of converting a series-parallel configured electric vehicle to a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle versus using a series configured electric vehicle to a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. It will explain the theory behind how a series configured hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) might be a better option due to the power rating of the electric motor. Using ADVISOR (Advanced Vehicle Simulator) it will explain test results and form conclusions regarding the efficiency of a series-parallel configured HEV vs. a series configured HEV as it relates to their feasibility of conversion to a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
Individual differences in the vocalizations of the buff-throated woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus guttatus), a suboscine bird of neotropical forests

Unlike in temperate forests, bird communities in neo-tropical forests are largely composed of species of Tyranni, or suboscines, a suborder of passeriform birds that do not learn their songs. Thus, songs of suboscines are typically acoustically simple compared to the complex songs of Passeri, the oscine passeriforms. While a great deal is known about oscine song, few descriptions of the repertoires of tropical suboscines have been published, and relatively little is known about the use and function of song in suboscines. Additionally, whether suboscines can recognize individuals by voice alone has received little attention. One representative of these tropical suboscines is the buff-throated woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus guttatus, Dendrocolaptinae), a bird commonly found in the forests of the tropical Americas. To investigate the possibility for individual variation in songs of this species, we recorded buff-throated woodcreepers at dawn and dusk in Amazonian Peru. From these recordings, we document two long-range song types, describe their acoustic parameters, and examine their occurrence at different times of day and across two seasons. Quantitative analysis of frequency, timing, and pattern of songs revealed that woodcreeper vocalizations varied significantly among individuals. A discriminant function analysis of song parameters successfully assigned a majority of songs to the correct individual. Despite their relatively simple structure, the vocalizations of buff-throated woodcreepers vary consistently among individuals but apparently not so distinctly as those of many oscines. Questions remain regarding whether the buffthroated woodcreeper can use these differences for individual recognition and how the two song types function in communication.
Updating the Finite Element Model of the Aerostructures Test Wing using Ground Vibration Test Data

Improved and/or accelerated decision making is a crucial step during flutter certification processes. Unfortunately, most finite element structural dynamics models have uncertainties associated with model validity. Tuning the finite element model using measured data to minimize the model uncertainties is a challenging task in the area of structural dynamics. The model tuning process requires not only satisfactory correlations between analytical and experimental results, but also the retention of the mass and stiffness properties of the structures. Minimizing the difference between analytical and experimental results is a type of optimization problem. By utilizing the multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization (MDAO) tool in order to optimize the objective function and constraints; the mass properties, the natural frequencies, and the mode shapes can be matched to the target data to retain the mass matrix orthogonality. This approach has been applied to minimize the model uncertainties for the structural dynamics model of the Aerostructures Test Wing (ATW), which was designed and tested at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) (Edwards, California). This study has shown that natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes from the updated finite element model have excellent agreement with corresponding measured data.
Testing Intrusion Detection Systems in MANET: A Comprehensive Study

In this paper, we study the problem of testing intrusion detection systems (IDS) in mobile ad hoc networks (MANET). Testing is achieved by simulating different measurements. We modify the testing measurements of infrastructure-based networks to be compatible with the characteristics of MANET. Moreover, we add some new features and their associated measurements that we believe important for testing new proposed IDS. The modified measurements with the new added ones form a set of measurements that will be used throughout the testing process. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been any work done for testing IDS in MANET. Simulators are the most common tools used for testing the IDS. Therefore, we add some precautions for choosing a simulator and a list of available simulators. The precautions will help researchers to test the measurements efficiently and the list of simulators will guide them to select one according to their needs. Finally, we present some input parameter precautions that help on having more trustworthy testing results.
Geographic Variation in Hyla wrightorum: Advertisement Calls, Allozymes, mtDNA, and Morphology

Abstract We studied geographic variation in allozymes (22 loci), mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences (575 bp), advertisement calls (pulse rate, call duration, and dominant frequency), and snout–vent length among populations of Hyla wrightorum and Hyla eximia in the United States and Mexico. Calls were only available for H. wrightorum, and although populations varied in some advertisement call variables, there was no indication of species level differentiation. Allozyme variation was exhibited among the H. wrightorum populations, but no fixed differences were discovered, and the amount of genetic divergence among populations was small (Dm ≤ 0.0643). Seven mtDNA haplotypes were discovered among the H. wrightorum individuals included in this study. A single haplotype (G) was present in the Huachuca Mountains and was found only in this population restricted to southeast Arizona. Neither the Mogollon Rim nor the Sonora populations were exclusive, with some haplotypes in each being more closely related to...
Linking DNA polymerase theta structure and function in health and disease

DNA polymerase theta (Pol θ) is an error-prone A-family polymerase that is highly conserved among multicellular eukaryotes and plays multiple roles in DNA repair and the regulation of genome integrity. Studies conducted in several model organisms have shown that Pol θ can be utilized during DNA interstrand crosslink repair and during alternative end-joining repair of double-strand breaks. Recent genetic and biochemical studies have begun to elucidate the unique structural features of Pol θ that promote alternative end-joining repair. Importantly, Pol θ-dependent end joining appears to be important for overall genome stability, as it affects chromosome translocation formation in murine and human cell lines. Pol θ has also been suggested to act as a modifier of replication timing in human cells, though the mechanism of action remains unknown. Pol θ is highly upregulated in a number of human cancer types, which could indicate that mutagenic Pol θ-dependent end joining is used during cancer cell proliferation. Here, we review the various roles of Pol θ across species and discuss how these roles may be relevant to cancer therapy.
The Dr. Fox Effect: Studies on the Validity of Student Evaluations

Student evaluations of teacher effectiveness are being used with increasing frequency at many colleges and universities. On some campuses the evaluations are used at the instructor's option and serve mainly as a source of information and means of improvement for the faculty member. In other institutions, evaluations are required and administrators use them in reaching decisions regarding faculty retention, salary increases, tenure, and promotion. Doubtless, there is wide variation in the use of student evaluations at various universities, but there appears to be a general trend toward utilizing input from them in making important decisions regarding faculty status. The evaluations are also used in other ways. At Colorado State University, class evaluations have been computerized and summaries in book form made available to students and faculty. Students supposedly use this information in making selections of courses and instructors.
A new homemade secundum atrial septal defect closure device

Objective To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of a new homemade device for percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs) Methods Percutaneous closure of surgically created fossa ovalis ASD was attempted in 8 piglets The device was braided from Nitinol wires in the shape of two flat discs with a short connecting waist with a diameter corresponding to that of the defect to be closed Polyethylene filling was implanted to enhance thrombogenicity Pulmonary arteriography with levo phase was obtained before closure and immediately after closure Transthoracic echocardiography with color Doppler was used in all animals during closure and in follow up examinations The animals were killed at various intervals up to 6 months after occlusion for microscopic examination Results Successful placement of the device was achieved in all the 8 animals All ASDs were completely occluded in 1 month, observed by transthoracic echocardiography Postmortem gross and microscopic examination of the 8 specimens 1 to 6 months after placement showed complete or near complete fibrous neoendocardium coverage of both the right and left atrial discs Conclusion These observations show the feasibility of occlusion of secundum ASDs by the homemade device with the advantages of easy placement and repositionability in piglets