cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Condition dependence of male display coloration in a jumping spider ( Habronattus pyrrithrix )

In many animals, conspicuous coloration functions as a quality signal. Indicator models predict that such colors should be variable and condition dependent. In Habronattus pyrrithrix jumping spiders, females are inconspicuously colored, while males display brilliant red faces, green legs, and white pedipalps during courtship. We tested the predictions of the indicator model in a field study and found that male body condition was positively correlated with the size, hue, and red chroma of a male’s facial patch and negatively correlated with the brightness of his green legs. These traits were more condition dependent than non-display colors. We then tested a dietary mechanism for condition dependence using two experiments. To understand how juvenile diet affects the development of coloration, we reared juvenile spiders on high- and low-quality diets and measured coloration at maturity. To understand how adult diet affects the maintenance of coloration, we fed wild-caught adults with high- or low-quality diets and compared their coloration after 45 days. In the first experiment, males fed high-quality diet had redder faces, suggesting that condition dependence is mediated by juvenile diet. In the second experiment, red coloration did not differ between treatments, suggesting that adult diet is not important for maintaining the color after it is produced at maturity. Diet had no effect on green coloration in either experiment. Our results show different degrees of condition dependence for male display colors. Because red is dependent on juvenile diet, it may signal health or foraging ability. We discuss evidence that green coloration is age dependent and alternatives to indicator models for colorful displays in jumping spiders.
Phase 1 safety trial of Filgrastim (r-metHuG-CSF) in non-neutropenic patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract The objectives of the present study were to: (1) evaluate the safety of Filgrastim therapy in non-neutropenic patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia; (2) determine the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) response to various dosages of Filgrastim in non-neutropenic patients with active infection; and (3) describe the impact of therapy with Filgrastim in combination with antibiotics on selected pneumonia-related clinical parameters. The study design was an open-label, dose-ranging, clinical trial, set in the General Clinical Research Unit of a large, public community hospital. The study population consisted of 30 patients who had presented to the Emergency Department with severe, community-acquired pneumonia. One of five dosages (75, 150, 300, 450 or 600 μg day −1 ) of Filgrastim (r-metHuG-CSF) was given subcutaneously daily for 10 days, until discharge or until the absolute neutrophil count >75 × 10 9 1 −1 , whichever was earlier. Vital signs, pulse oximetry, arterial blood gases, daily complete blood counts with differential, serum chemistries, coagulation profiles, electrocardiograms, chest radiographs, plasma G-CSF concentrations and duration of hospitalization were measured. There was no evidence of Filgrastim-related lung injury or evidence of extra-pulmonary toxicity. There was no apparent dose-response effect of Filgrastim on pneumonia-related clinical variables. Dosages of Filgrastim between 150 and 600 μg day −1 had similar effects on increasing the ANC. Filgrastim appeared to be safe in non-neutropenic patients with severe, community-acquired pneumonia when given in dosages of 75–600 μg day −1 in combination with appropriate antibiotic therapy. Further study is needed to determine the effect of Filgrastim on morbidity, mortality and duration of symptoms in this patient population.
A Systemic Exposure-Based Alternative to the Maximum Tolerated Dose for Carcinogenicity Studies of Human Therapeutics

A systemic exposure-based alternative to the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for high-dose selection in carcinogenicity studies for human therapeutics was accepted at the Second International Conference on Harmonization (ICH-2). The systemic exposure-based alternative to the MTD is suitable for nongenotoxic compounds with low rodent toxicity that are metabolized similarly in rodents and humans. This is the first product of an evaluation of current standards for rodent carcinogenicity studies of therapeutics. The relative systemic exposure is the ratio of the rat plasma area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) at the MTD/human plasma AUC at the maximum recommended daily dose. An appropriate systemic exposure ratio for high-dose selection in carcinogenicity studies was empirically derived from the distribution of systemic exposure ratios attained by 35 compounds from 11 therapeutic categories in a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) database. Approximately one-third achieved a relative systemic expo...
Integration of association rules and ontologies for semantic query expansion

We propose a novel semantic query expansion technique that combines association rules with ontologies and Natural Language Processing techniques. Our technique is different from others in that (1) it utilizes the explicit semantics as well as other linguistic properties of unstructured text corpus, (2) it makes use of contextual properties of important terms discovered by association rules, and (3) ontology entries are added to the query by disambiguating word senses. Using TREC ad hoc queries we achieve from 13.41% to 32.39% improvement for P@20 and from 8.39% to 14.22% for the F-measure.
On the fraction of habitat allocated to marine reserves

The case for marine reserves is strengthening, and both deterministic and stochastic calculations show that fisheries management using reserves may achieve harvests comparable with management without reserves. Thus, depending upon the metric used, reserves need not disadvantage harvest. Reserves provide a buffer that increases the chances of sustainability of the stock, and thus the fishery. In this paper, I develop methods (deterministic and stochastic) that allow one to determine how much habitat needs to be set aside as reserve, once societal decisions concerning the goals of reserves are made. The answer to the question: “how much habitat needs to be allocated to reserves” is not a simple single number. Rather, it is a procedure that can be employed once biological, operational and social information are provided. The methods also apply to reserves used to aid stock recovery.
Highly Rapid and Efficient Conversion of Human Fibroblasts to Keratinocyte-Like Cells

Cell fate commitment during development is achieved through the expression of lineage-specific transcription factors. Recent studies have suggested that the expression of combinations of these lineage-specific transcription factors can convert adult somatic cells from one type to another. Here we report that the combination of p63, a master regulator of epidermal development and differentiation, and KLF4, a regulator of epidermal differentiation, is sufficient to convert dermal fibroblasts to a keratinocyte phenotype. Induced keratinocytes (KCs) expressed KC-specific proteins and had a transcriptome similar to KCs. Reprogramming to a KC phenotype was rapid and efficient with a vast majority of cells morphologically resembling and expressing KC-specific genes within a week of p63 and KLF4 transduction. Furthermore, p63 and KLF4 are capable of inducing a KC phenotype even in a cancerous cell line, highlighting their importance for epidermal specification. The robustness of the conversion process also allows the use of this as a model system to study the mechanisms of reprogramming.
A new differential spectrofluoromotor

Abstract A differential fluorometer has been designed and built using the principle of two synchronously rotating mirrors. This is an advanced model of a previously published instrument [Bablouzian, B., Grourke, M., and Fasman, G. D. (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245 , 2081–2085] The instrument measures the fluorescence difference spectrum of two samples which share a common light source, monochromators, and photomultiplier. The excitation beam is chopped by a rotating mirror, and the fluorescence signals are recombined by a second mirror rotating synchronously with the chopping mirror. These signals are synchronously detected by a pair of lock-in voltmeters. Provision is made to measure the ratio of the fluorescence signals as well as their difference simultancously. Difference fluorescence spectroscopy provides an exceptionally sensitive probe to monitor protein conformational changes. These changes can involve either the intrinsic aromatic amino acids or added extrinsic fluorescent probes. Used concurrently with solvent perturbation, or quenching moeities, it can be used to probe the topology of the surface to evaluate the accessibility of aromatics residues. It should have wide utility in systems such as: enzyme-substrate interactions, receptor-receptor site interactions, etc. The extreme sensitivity of the method (e.g., measurement of δ F ± 0.001 at ∼ 10 −9 m added hormone to a cell surface) allows studies to be conducted at concentrations which simulate in vivo conditions.
Photosynthetic gene expression in higher plants

Within the chloroplasts of higher plants and algae, photosynthesis converts light into biological energy, fueling the assimilation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into biologically useful molecules. Two major steps, photosynthetic electron transport and the Calvin-Benson cycle, require many gene products encoded from chloroplast as well as nuclear genomes. The expression of genes in both cellular compartments is highly dynamic and influenced by a diverse range of factors. Light is the primary environmental determinant of photosynthetic gene expression. Working through photoreceptors such as phytochrome, light regulates photosynthetic genes at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Other processes that affect photosynthetic gene expression include photosynthetic activity, development, and biotic and abiotic stress. Anterograde (from nucleus to chloroplast) and retrograde (from chloroplast to nucleus) signaling insures the highly coordinated expression of the many photosynthetic genes between these different compartments. Anterograde signaling incorporates nuclear-encoded transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulators, such as sigma factors and RNA-binding proteins, respectively. Retrograde signaling utilizes photosynthetic processes such as photosynthetic electron transport and redox signaling to influence the expression of photosynthetic genes in the nucleus. The basic C3 photosynthetic pathway serves as the default form used by most of the plant species on earth. High temperature and water stress associated with arid environments have led to the development of specialized C4 and CAM photosynthesis, which evolved as modifications of the basic default expression program. The goal of this article is to explain and summarize the many gene expression and regulatory processes that work together to support photosynthetic function in plants.
Regulation of mammalian Gli proteins by Costal 2 and PKA in Drosophila reveals Hedgehog pathway conservation

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling activates full-length Ci/Gli family transcription factors and prevents Ci/Gli proteolytic processing to repressor forms. In the absence of Hh, Ci/Gli processing is initiated by direct Pka phosphorylation. Despite those fundamental similarities between Drosophila and mammalian Hh pathways, the differential reliance on cilia and some key signal transduction components had suggested a major divergence in the mechanisms that regulate Ci/Gli protein activities, including the role of the kinesin-family protein Costal 2 (Cos2), which directs Ci processing in Drosophila. Here, we show that Cos2 binds to three regions of Gli1, just as for Ci, and that Cos2 functions to silence mammalian Gli1 in Drosophila in a Hh-regulated manner. Cos2 and the mammalian kinesin Kif7 can also direct Gli3 and Ci processing in fly, underscoring a fundamental conserved role for Cos2 family proteins in Hh signaling. We also show that direct PKA phosphorylation regulates the activity, rather than the proteolysis of Gli in Drosophilia, and we provide evidence for an analogous action of PKA on Ci.
Water sorption isotherms on sucrose and starch by modified inverse frontal gas chromatography

Abstract A modification of the inverse frontal gas chromatography method was made to allow for obtaining equilibrium water sorption isotherms at around room temperature. Modification consists of allowing sufficient wet-gas contact time for samples to reach equilibrium then measuring the water uptake by increasing the column temperature to 70°C at the later phase of water desorption. Good agreement was observed between the water sorption isotherms of starch and crystaline sucrose obtained with the modified inverse gas chromatography method and the static method.
A cluster based architecture for intersection collision avoidance using heterogeneous networks

With the popularity of wireless devices, the possibility of implementing vehicular safety applications has been studied for years in the context of vehicular ad-hoc networks. Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) is designed to serve the needs of vehicular safety applications. However, DSRC does not offer good enough coverage and range around intersections in urban areas for certain applications such as intersection collision avoidance. Considering these drawbacks, LTE, an advanced cellular communication technology, is proposed as an alternative to DSRC. One problem is LTE bandwidth capability to support regularly transmitted cooperative awareness messages. In this paper, we propose a cluster based architecture using both Wi-Fi and LTE channels to accomplish this task. In our architecture, Wi-Fi peer to peer channels are used for cluster formation while LTE channels are used for transmitting Cooperative Awareness Messages (CAMs). A clustering algorithm specifically designed for intersection collision avoidance service is proposed in this paper. In addition, a channel allocation algorithm is applied to reduce the interference of Wi-Fi channels between different clusters. Simulations show that CAM traffic can be efficiently supported in this architecture.
A rapid chemiluminescent detection method for barley yellow dwarf virus

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV-PAV-IL) was detected with biotinylated in vitro transcript cDNA using a chemiluminescent substrate on nylon membranes. Signals were detected on X-ray film and quantified using either a densitometer or an ELISA plate reader. The time required for sample preparation was reduced so that the entire protocol could be completed in two days. The in vitro transcript probes could detect 1 ng of purified virus and as little as 1 microliter of sap extracts prepared from infected oat shoots.
Multidimensional maximum-entropy covariance extension

A universal characterization of maximum-entropy covariances for multidimensional signals is presented. It is shown that the maximum-entropy extension of an arbitrary partial covariance of a nonstationary multidimensional signal always has a banded inverse, i.e the inverse is sparse and has the same support as the given partial covariance. A dual formulation of the problem that makes it possible to approximate maximum-entropy extensions with models selected from suitably constrained model sets is introduced. It is proved that the best approximation in terms of multidimensional recursible autoregressive models can be determined by solving a set of linear equations. A simple graph-theoretic criterion is introduced to characterize those partial covariances whose maximum-entropy extension coincides with its autoregressive approximation, as in the conventional (one-dimensional stationary) maximum-entropy problem. >
Electron reflection and secondary emission characteristics of sputter-textured pyrolytic graphite surfaces

Low secondary and reflected primary electron emission from the collector electrode surfaces is important for optimum collector efficiency and hence for high overall efficiency of microwave amplifier tubes used in communication satellites and in military systems. Ion sputter texturing of the surface effectively suppresses electron emission from pyrolytic graphite, which is a promising collector electrode material. Secondary and reflected primary electron emission characteristics of sputter textured pyrolytic graphite surfaces with microstructures of various sizes and densities are presented. The microstructure with the lowest electron emission levels, less than those of soot, consists of a dense array of tall, thin spires.
Afrotropical mistletoe butterflies: Larval food plant relationships of Mylothris Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

A detailed list of larval food plants of Mylothris based on review of published records in the literature is presented. Food plants have been reported for some 23 species (40%), although in only eight species (14%) of butterflies have plants been identified to species level. The food plants represent two unrelated orders, Santalales and Polygonales, although nearly all records (93%) are from four closely related families in the former group. Within the Santalales, the family Loranthaceae, a diverse group of aerial stem‐parasitic shrubs (mistletoes), is most frequently exploited. Only two species of Mylothris, M. bernice (Hewitson) and M. rubricosta (Mabille), which are closely related and possibly comprise a single species, are associated with Polygonaceae (Polygonales). Comparison of the morphology of the early stages of M. bernice, and other evidence, clearly indicates that M. bernice/rubricosta belong to Mylothris and do not represent a separate genus or sister group. Comments are made on these diverse...
The Dynamics of Goal Congruency and Cognitive Busyness in Goal Detection

An experiment examined a theory explaining how people detect others’ goals. The framework maintains that because components or factors (e.g., context, tactic) of interaction increase the accessibility of inferable goals, goal detection is a product of the goals these cognitive linkages activate. In dyadic initial interactions, one participant was randomly assigned as the pursuer and the other as the detector; detectors sought a goal varying in congruency (i.e., identical, concord, and discord) with pursuers’ goal. Detectors’ cognitive busyness was also manipulated. The level of efficiency at which pursuers sought their goal and the accuracy and certainty of detectors’ inference of pursuers’ goal were measured. Results generally confirmed hypotheses. Efficiency and accuracy were positively correlated only when (a) not-busy detectors’ goal was concordant with pursuers’ goal and (b) busy detectors’ goal was discordant with pursuers’ goal, whereas efficiency and certainty were positively correlated only for n...
Analyzing the Inherent Reliability of Moderately Sized Magnetic and Electrostatic QCA Circuits Via Probabilistic Transfer Matrices

As computing technology delves deeper into the nanoscale regime, reliability is becoming a significant concern, and in response, Teramac-like systems will be the model for many early non-CMOS nanosystems. Engineering systems of this type requires understanding the inherent reliability of both the functional cells and the interconnect used to build the system, and which components are most critical. One particular nanodevice, quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA), offers unique challenges in understanding the reliability of its basic circuits since the device used for logic is also used for interconnect. In this paper, we analyze the reliability properties of two classes of QCA devices: molecular electrostatic-based and magnetic-domain-based. We use an analytic model, probabilistic transfer matrices (PTMs), to compute the inherent reliability of various nontrivial circuits. Additionally, linear regression is used to determine which components are most critical and estimated the reliability gains that may be achieved by improving the reliability of just a critical component. The results show the critical importance of different structures, especially interconnect, as used by the two classes of QCA.
An ex vivo gene therapy approach to treat muscular dystrophy using inducible pluripotent stem cells

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive and incurable neuromuscular disease caused by genetic and biochemical defects of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. Here we show the regenerative potential of myogenic progenitors derived from corrected dystrophic induced pluripotent stem cells generated from fibroblasts of mice lacking both dystrophin and utrophin. We correct the phenotype of dystrophic induced pluripotent stem cells using a Sleeping Beauty transposon system carrying the micro-utrophin gene, differentiate these cells into skeletal muscle progenitors and transplant them back into dystrophic mice. Engrafted muscles displayed large numbers of micro-utrophin-positive myofibers, with biochemically restored dystrophin-glycoprotein complex and improved contractile strength. The transplanted cells seed the satellite cell compartment, responded properly to injury and exhibit neuromuscular synapses. We also detect muscle engraftment after systemic delivery of these corrected progenitors. These results represent an important advance towards the future treatment of muscular dystrophies using genetically corrected autologous induced pluripotent stem cells.
Overflow Detection and Correction in a Fixed-Point Multiplier

The fixed-point binary representation, an integer format with an implied binary point, is an alternative to the IEEE floating-point binary layout. Systems that do not support the IEEE floating-point format, e.g., mobile devices, use the fixed-point format because it fits well into integer data paths whereas floating-point requires its own data path. Software developers who port to fixed-point systems often face issues when balancing range and precision. Those issues, overflow and large rounding errors, often arise from arithmetic operations, making debugging more difficult. The proposed solution limits hardware support to a set of fixed-point formats and adjusts the format of the output based on the user supplied format and overflow. The format of the result is readjusted on overflow in order to return a useful result but with the sacrifice of precision. In addition to the corrected result, the overflow flag is raised so the software and subsequent logic are aware of the readjustment in the result's format. This work has been implemented in a fixed-point multiplier because multiplication yields the largest overflow among the four basic arithmetic operations. In order to detect overflow early, the fixed-point multiplier adopts preliminary overflow detection. With the idea of taking the burden of fixed-point scaling off of the programmer, the fixed-point multiplier with overflow detection and correction provides a starting point towards mitigating fixed-point errors.
Electrically small antennas embedded in metamaterials: Closed-form analysis and physical insight

The main goal of this work is to understand the behavior of electrically small antennas embedded in metamaterials. To do so, the Green's function for small-size antenna located in small-size metamaterial sphere is approximated, then by applying the method of moment with Galerkin's procedure the probe current and input impedance as a function of sphere radius, antenna length, and material properties are derived. The results clearly demonstrate that in most of the designs considering the first dominant mode is not sufficient and one needs to consider higher order terms in Green's function expansion to provide an accurate analysis for antenna performance. A physical insight is highlighted.
Federal banking in Brazil: policies and competitive advantages

Federal banking in Brazil: policies and competitive advantages, by Kurt E. von Mettenheim, London, Pickering & Chatto, 2010, xii + 228 pp., £60.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-84893-065-0 The recent rise...
Detecting recurring and similar software vulnerabilities

New software security vulnerabilities are discovered on almost daily basis and it is vital to be able to identify and resolve them as early as possible. Fortunately, many software vulnerabilities are recurring or very similar, thus, one could effectively detect and fix a vulnerability in a system by consulting the similar vulnerabilities and fixes from other systems. In this paper, we propose, SecureSync, an automatic approach to detect and provide suggested resolutions for recurring software vulnerabilities on multiple systems sharing/using similar code or API libraries. The core of SecureSync includes a usage model and a mapping algorithm for matching vulnerable code across different systems, a model for the comparison of vulnerability reports, and a tracing technique from a report to corresponding source code. Our preliminary evaluation with case studies showed the potential usefulness of SecureSync.
Mixed-mode correlator for micropower acoustic transient classification

A mixed-mode very large scale integration (VLSI) processor for acoustic transient classification performs a running correlation between a time-frequency decomposed analog input signal and a corresponding template. Differential encoding of the inputs allows simplification of the multiply-and-accumulate operations, operating on binary templates and positive-valued inputs, implemented in current mode with eight MOS transistors per cell including SRAM template storage. The use of a bucket-brigade device (BED) instead of a charge-coupled device (CCD) for shift-and-accumulate operations allows long integration times necessary for acoustic transients spanning several hundred milliseconds. Correlated double sampling at the output compensates for dark current losses in the BED and other common-mode effects. The 64/spl times/16 time-frequency correlator measures 700 /spl mu/m/spl times/1170 /spl mu/m in a 1.2-/spl mu/m CMOS process and dissipates an average of 30 /spl mu/W in continuous operation.
EXPERIMENTAL RETURN TO THE WILD OF TWO BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS

In the first scientific experiment of its kind, two young male bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were captured in Tampa Bay, Florida, and then returned to the wild at the same locale in October 1990, after two years in captivity. The dolphins' agekex class and the capture and release site were selected prior to their collection. The ranging and social association patterns of the host community were examined prior to, and, including the two animals, after release. The dolphins remained together for the first month, then began interacting more with other dolphins and less with each other. Within the first year, one dolphin returned to the waters near his capture site and has remained there at least through September 1993. The other dolphin has remained in his original home range at least through June 1996. Observations of each dolphin have shown them to be fully integrated into the local dolphin societies. They displayed typical behavioral, ranging, and social association patterns. Their body condition has been excellent at each observation. They have not been observed interacting with humans. The apparent success of this experiment cannot necessarily be generalized to all potential candidates for return to the wild, but the results can be used to guide future experiments.
Combinatorial depletion analysis to assemble the network architecture of the SAGA and ADA chromatin remodeling complexes.

Despite the availability of several large-scale proteomics studies aiming to identify protein interactions on a global scale, little is known about how proteins interact and are organized within macromolecular complexes. Here, we describe a technique that consists of a combination of biochemistry approaches, quantitative proteomics and computational methods using wild-type and deletion strains to investigate the organization of proteins within macromolecular protein complexes. We applied this technique to determine the organization of two well-studied complexes, Spt–Ada–Gcn5 histone acetyltransferase (SAGA) and ADA, for which no comprehensive high-resolution structures exist. This approach revealed that SAGA/ADA is composed of five distinct functional modules, which can persist separately. Furthermore, we identified a novel subunit of the ADA complex, termed Ahc2, and characterized Sgf29 as an ADA family protein present in all Gcn5 histone acetyltransferase complexes. Finally, we propose a model for the architecture of the SAGA and ADA complexes, which predicts novel functional associations within the SAGA complex and provides mechanistic insights into phenotypical observations in SAGA mutants.
Mirror effect in order and associative information: Role of response strategies.

Classes of stimuli that are relatively easy to classify in recognition as old when old also appear to be relatively easy to classify as new when new. Five experiments are reported that extend this mirror effect to tests requiring retention of order and associative information. These experiments tested memory for words and nonwords; across experiments, the mirror effect was found on both yes--no and forced-choice tests. In addition, a new account of the mirror effect is proposed, one which suggests that this pattern results from participants' attempts to distribute responses equally across stimulus classes on tests. Support from this account came from additional experiments in which the mirror effect was eliminated when participants were asked to refrain from using positive responses as guesses. Numerous studies have been performed in which recognition memory has been tested for study lists containing two distinct sets of stimuli. The typical finding is that if one class is easier to classify as old when old than the other, then that class will also be easier to classify as new when new. On a yes-no recognition test, this pattern is shown when the stimulus class that has the higher hit rate also has a lower false-alarm rate than the other class. On a forced-choice recognition test, the equivalent pattern would be shown when participants are most accurate on test pairs containing a target and a distractor from the same class, least accurate on test pairs containing a target and a distractor from the other class, and intermediate in accuracy on the pairs containing one stimulus each from the two classes. Results such as these have been called the mirror effect and have been found in many recognition studies, such as comparisons of words with nonwords and low-frequency words with high-frequency words (Glanzer & Adams, 1985, 1990). The generality of the mirror effect across stimuli in recognition has been clearly demonstrated. The purpose of Experiments 1-5 was to demonstrate its generality across memory tests. It has been shown that the mirror effect can be found in frequency discrimination (Greene & Thapar, 1994). Frequency discrimination, like recognition, is a test of item information, and evidence suggests that frequency judgments and recognition are performed using similar processes (Hintzman & Curran, 1994). The first five experiments reported here extend the mirror effect to measures of order and associative information. All current accounts of the mirror effect have been intended to explain its occurrence on recognition tests. If frequency discrimination is performed using the same processes as recognition, such theories may be able to be extended
A Model of Web Server's Performance-Power Relationship

In this paper, a performance-power relationship model is proposed through profiling web server on blade machine. The fine-grained profiling results show that web server’s performance (exemplified by CPU utilization and response time) is almost linear with workload on it, and the power consumption of the server is linear with the CPU utilization for a given CPU frequency. A model is deduced which describes the relationship of the power consumption and performance expectation of a web server for given workload under chosen CPU frequency. The model is beneficial to power-efficient workload management and buildup of energy consumption simulation tools.
The role of starlings in the spread of Salmonella within concentrated animal feeding operations

Summary 1. Characterizing and mitigating the disease risks associated with wildlife use of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) can reduce the spread of micro-organisms throughout the environment while increasing agricultural productivity. To better understand the disease risks associated with bird use of CAFOs, we assessed the capacity of European starlings Sturnus vulgaris to spread Salmonella enterica to cattle, their feed and water. 2. We sampled starlings, cattle feed, cattle water and cattle faeces from 10 CAFOs in Texas, USA. Samples were screened for Salmonella enterica to investigate: (i) the prevalence of S. enterica in starlings using CAFOs, (ii) whether there was a relationship between cattle infections and starling numbers, and (iii) if S. enterica contamination of cattle feed and water was related to numbers of starlings observed on CAFOs. 3. We used generalized linear mixed logistic regression models to assess the importance of starlings, cattle stocking, facility management and environmental variables in the transmission of S. enterica to cattle, feed troughs and water troughs in CAFOs. 4. Starling gastrointestinal tract samples tested positive for S. enterica (2AE5% prevalence; 95% CI = 0AE3%, 8AE6%) and starlings were retained as model covariates in the best supported logistic regression models for S. enterica contamination within cattle feed, water and faeces. 5. Salmonella enterica contamination of both cattle feed troughs and water troughs is significantly related to numbers of starlings. Contamination in cattle feed increased as more starlings entered feed troughs. Contamination in water troughs increased asymptotically as numbers of starlings on CAFOs increased. Starling variables in the cattle faecal shedding model were not significant. 6. Synthesis and applications. The numbers of European starlings better explained S. enterica contamination of cattle feed and water than other variables including cattle stocking, facility management and environmental variables. This suggests that starlings are a source of S. enterica contamination in CAFOs. Thus, starling management tools such as population control, habitat management, exclusionary devises and bird repellents may be used to reduce the amplification and spread of disease within livestock production systems.
Examination of Nocturnal Blow Fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Oviposition on Pig Carcasses in Mid-Michigan

The most common application of forensic entomology involves estimating a portion of the postmortem interval (PMI), which usually assumes that blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) do not oviposit nocturnally. Research objectives were to (1) investigate blow fly nocturnal oviposition in relation to sunrise and sunset in Michigan; (2) evaluate abiotic variables postulated to affect blow fly oviposition; and (3) conduct laboratory experiments testing blow fly activity under complete darkness. In 2006, nocturnal oviposition was evaluated in relation to sunset by exposing pigs to fly colonization at 1-h intervals, beginning 2 h before and ending 2 h after sunset. This test was replicated in 2007; however, replicate pigs were placed in the field 2 h after sunset, and hourly observations were made into the following morning. Oviposition was never observed at night. In a laboratory experiment, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), never oviposited on liver hanging above or placed directly on the ground in a completely dark room, Another dark room laboratory study documented that adult flies launched into the air could not fly. This study documents that the probability of nocturnal oviposition on pig carcasses in Michigan was extremely low to nonexistent. These results should be considered when estimating a portion of the PMI in forensic entomological investigations.
Effectiveness of pulsed direct current at reducing walleye escapement from a simulated reservoir

Abstract Fish escapement from reservoirs is problematic and makes management of these fisheries challenging. Historically, physical barriers have been used to limit fish movement but are prone to clogging and require constant maintenance. Thus, evaluations of alternative technologies are needed to limit reservoir fish escapement. Electrical barriers may offer an effective option for reducing fish escapement, but their effectiveness may be species-specific. Here, we predicted pulsed direct current with a graduated field would (1) alter walleye Sander vitreus behavior, (2) reduce escapement and (3) not induce mortality. Laboratory experiments compared walleye behavior, escapement, and mortality at four pulse (0, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 ms) and three voltage (0, 60, and 80 V) settings. The average voltage gradient 80 cm in front of the outlet was 0.09 V/cm (power density = 1.36 μW/cm 3 ) at 60 V and 0.14 V/cm (power density = 3.36 μW/cm 3 ) at 80 V. Our results demonstrate that pulsed direct current was successful at reducing approaches and increasing deflections of walleyes, suggesting fish avoided the barrier. Altered behavior resulted in nearly an 80% reduction in escapement with smaller fish more likely to escape compared to larger individuals. However, pulse width and voltage did not influence escapement rates. Walleye mortality was 0% for control trials, ranged from 0.5–5.7% with the current activated, and was greatest at the highest barrier setting (0.8 ms, 80 V). Our laboratory results indicate pulsed direct current may be effective at reducing fish escapement from reservoirs. Lower pulse and voltage settings should be used due to their ability to reduce escapement while inflicting minimal mortality compared to higher settings. Additional work should evaluate the success of electric barriers in reservoir field settings under a wider range of conditions and on additional species.
Stock Market Performance: High and Low Months

This study analyzes stock market performance in 70 countries to determine which months generate higher returns and which months exhibit lower returns. Results from numerical analyses and t-tests show that returns are significantly higher in January, February, April, July and December relative to the other months of the year. Return in the month of September is the lowest compared to the rest of the months followed by returns in August, October, June, November, May and March, respectively. The findings seem to offer evidence of the other monthly anomalies (April and December anomalies, in this case) in addition to the January anomaly reported in the literature based on the analyses of market level data.
Agrochemicals and Water Management

Although population growth rates have been declining recently, by 2050 the planet could have 10 billion people, double the number of humans it has now. If we look at the global water resources, we see a frightening outlook. The impact of this increased population on the environment will be severe. While as much as 95 percent of the world population growth is projected in the developing countries where, by the year 2050, 87 percent of the world population is expected to live. This will add enormous stress on the available water resources for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use while maintaining environmental quality (Bouwer, 1993).
Optical properties of SiO2-TiO2 composite films.

Optical properties of ion-beam sputter deposited SiO2–TiO2 composite films were examined in terms of composition dependence of the optical parameters, optical energy gap, and absorption character of these films. The complex refractive index of SiO2 film in the nondispersive region (λ > 310 nm) was 1.48–i0.0000, and for TiO2 (at λ > 525 nm) the index was 2.39–i0.0000 and the corresponding energy gaps 9.2 and 3.5 eV, respectively. Composite films of SiO2–TiO2 exhibited a continuous change in their optical properties. SiO2-like optical properties were dominant for the volume concentration of CTiO2≤0.25 and TiO2-like at higher concentrations.
In Vivo Comparison of Copper Blood-Pool Agents: Potential Radiopharmaceuticals for Use with Copper-62

Two techniques for labeling of albumin with copper-67 (67Cu) and 62Cu were investigated; one using the native Cu(II) binding site of the protein and the other employing a bifunctional chelate, 6-bromoacetamidobenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane- N,N'N",N"'-tetraacetic acid (Br-benzyl-TETA or BAT), conjugated to the protein. Rat biodistribution experiments with 67Cu demonstrated retention of i.v. 67Cu-benzyl-TETA-albumin in the blood pool identical to co-injected 125I-albumin. By contrast, i.v. administration of either [67Cu]-Cu-acetate or [67Cu]-Cu-acetate pre-mixed with albumin results in relatively rapid clearance of blood-pool radioactivity as the tracer is excreted into the urine. The 62Cu-benzyl-TETA-albumin radiopharmaceutical was obtained in ca. 17% radiochemical yield (end of synthesis, without decay correction) following a procedure that can be completed in 15-18 min. In PET experiments with a baboon, myocardial blood volume images with 62Cu-benzyl-TETA-albumin were identical to those obtained with C15O. Use of the 62Cu-benzyl-TETA-albumin image for blood-pool subtraction of a 62Cu-PTSM myocardial perfusion image is illustrated. Copper-62-benzyl-TETA-HSA should be a useful, generator-produced radiotracer for the detection of the vascular pool at PET facilities without cyclotrons.
STRESS IN RELATION TO SATISFACTION WITH LEISURE EXPERIENCED BY THOSE PERFORMING IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION

Productive and satisfying use of recreation and leisure time has been identified as a potential coping strategy in reducing stress. The purpose of this study was to determine whether professional persons providing therapeutic recreation (organized leisure time activities for disabled persons) actually experience higher than normal stress and to estimate the association between stress and satisfaction with leisure. In this study 22 men and 64 women employed to provide therapeutic recreation services, were given the Personal Strain Questionnaire portion of the Occupational Stress Inventory (2). Scores were compared with scores of 909 persons fmm 130 different occupations (48.8% men, 51.2% women, mean age=44.5 yr.; mean tenure in current job = 6.5 yr.) which were obtained by Osipow and Spokane (2). The satisfaction of recreation therapists with their own leisure was measured on Beard and Ragheb's Leisure Satisfaction Scale (1). The association between satisfaction with leisure and perceived stress was estimated. Recreation therapists did not differ significantly from the normative population on any of the measures of vocational, psychological, interpersonal, or physical strain. On each scale the subjects' mean strain scores (vocational = 16.74, psychological = 18.95, interpersonal = 18.56, physical = 18.59) were well within one standard deviation of the mean for the normative population (2). Scores on the Leisure Satisfaction Scale ranged from 36 to 120, with a mean of 95.42 (n = 85, SD = 14.03). Correlations significantly different from zero were noted between scores on satisfaction with leisure and stress (n =85, p = .05), between Ieisure satisfaction and psychological strain ( - .3O), interpersonal strain ( - .24), and physical strain ( - ,391. A negative correlation between satisfaction with leisure and the total score on the Personal Strain Questionnaire was also noted (r = - .37). There was no evidence that persons employed in conducting therapeutic recreation for others experienced higher occupational stress than did individuals in other professions, based upon comparisons with the normative data. There is a small association between satisfaction with own leisure and level of stress; persons in this study having higher satisfaction with their leisure experienced lower stress.
Highly Effective Li2O/Li3N with Ultrafast Kinetics for H2 Storage

The refueling time and safe hydrogen storage are critical factors in the development of a hydrogen economy for transportation. The finding of a fast and high-capacity H 2 storage material represents a worldwide challenge. The short-term target of the U.S. Department of Energy for a hydrogen storage material is a 4.5 wt% reversible hydrogen capacity. In this paper, we report that reversible 5 wt% H 2 can be reached in only 3 min even at the relatively low temperature of 180 °C by a Li 2 O/Li 3 N solid material. Furthermore, this material has excellent stability because successive cycles of absorption-desorption did not decrease the reversible hydrogen capacity and absorption rate.
Erosional Trends on Galveston Island, Texas

Aerial photography of Galveston Island, dating from 1952 to the present, shows that storm-related beach erosion was typically followed by periods of slow accretion. Of late, however, it seems that significant post-storm accretion is now less likely because of a diminishing sediment supply. The southwest-moving coastwise drift has been blocked since the 18909s by long jetties at the northeast tip of the island. Further, the old ebb delta which has provided replenishment since the jetties were built shows signs of depletion. Recent evidence indicates that erosion rates along the island9s Gulf shoreline are trending upward. The Texas Open Beaches Act prohibits structures on the public beach, defined as the area between the vegetation line and the low waterline. Erosion from Hurricane Alicia moved the public beach an average of 100 ft inland, leaving scores of private dwellings subject to mandatory removal from the public easement. Despite this, the sale and development of beachfront housing on Galveston Island continues at a brisk pace.
Kentucky's Oral Health Wellness and Disease Prevention Program: An Innovative Partnership

Developing unique and varied partnerships to reach at-risk kids and communities is key to tackling current and future oral disease. According to the 2001 Kentucky Children9s Oral Health Profiles, in which 5,603 third- and sixth-grade children in Kentucky9s public schools were screened, 28.7% had untreated tooth decay. The Kentucky Oral Health Wellness and Disease Prevention Program began with an objective to develop a statewide 4-H camp program focusing on oral health wellness, disease prevention, tobacco education, and the promotion of oral health professions among preteen and teenage campers. The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, Divison of Dental Public Health, agreed to collaborate with the 4-H program at the College of Agriculture Extension Service by providing a research title faculty member to develop and implement the pilot 4-H camp program for four camps in the summer of 2003. The overwhelming success of the pilot 4-H camp initiative in 2003 led to the program expanding to nine camps in 2004. More notable, however, it precipitated a unique partnership between the two colleges. The jointly appointed faculty member focused on developing oral health wellness and disease prevention resources for extension agents to use on a county-by-county level to educate, promote oral wellness, remove barriers to access, and create a pipeline of oral health professionals from rural communities. The initial findings of the Kentucky Oral Health Wellness and Disease Prevention Program indicate that networking conducted between non-traditional partners can produce original, expectantly sustainable programs that benefit all counties of the Commonwealth and each family within, while leading the country in innovative approaches to oral health wellness, education, and disease prevention.
Determination of Rhiern,Emodin and Chrysophanol in Colon Site-Specific Drug Delivery Tablets by HPLC

Objective: To develop a method to determine rhien,emodin and chrysophanol contents in colon site-specific drug delivery tablets.Methods: HPLC method was used.The separation was performed on SYMMETRY column with methanol-0.1% phosphate acid(88∶12) as a mobile phase.Results: The resolution and the linearity of the method were good.The average recovery rate was 100.3% and RSD was 1.39% for emodin,and the two indices was 99.5% and 1.62% respectively for chrysophanol,100% and 0.73% for rhiern.Conclusion: The method is simple,rapid and reliable.It is suitable for quality control of colon site-specific drug delivery tablets.