cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient ARQ protocols with anti-jamming coding for cognitive radios

We introduce simple yet efficient automatic retransmission request (ARQ) protocols in conjunction with two types of anti-jamming coding techniques—rateless coding and piecewise coding—for protecting secondary users' data transmissions in cognitive radio systems. For piecewise coding, we propose to employ systematic codes to facilitate efficient selected retransmissions and design short codes to maximize secondary user throughput. For rateless coding, we consider a protocol that transmits new parity packets during retransmission and show that this scheme is stable if the jamming rate of the system is within a certain range. It is seen that for both anti-jamming coding schemes, the corresponding simple ARQ protocols provide significant improvement in secondary user throughput. Moreover, the piecewise coding together with its ARQ protocol offers similar or better throughput performance compared with the rateless coding counterpart, without incurring the stability issue. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. We introduce efficient ARQ protocols in conjunction with rateless and piecewise anti-jamming coding techniques in cognitive radios. For piecewise coding, we propose to employ systematic codes to facilitate efficient selected retransmissions and design short codes to maximize secondary user throughput. For rateless coding, we consider a protocol that transmits new parity packets during retransmission and show that this scheme is stable if the jamming rate of the system is within a certain range.
Forgone vaccination during childhood and adolescence: Findings of a statewide survey of parents

Objective Widespread immunization confers both individual- and community-level protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. To better understand vaccine hesitancy, we assessed correlates of forgone vaccination for children and adolescents.
Remission re-induction chemotherapy with clofarabine, topotecan, thiotepa, and vinorelbine for patients with relapsed or refractory leukemia.

Background We determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of clofarabine when administered with topotecan, vinorelbine, thiotepa, and dexamethasone (TVTC) for children with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia, and observed the efficacy and toxicities of this therapy. Procedure Twelve patients with acute lymphoblastic or myeloblastic leukemia were given a 14-day remission induction therapy. Clofarabine was administered at a dose of 30 or 40 mg/m2/day over 2 hr for five consecutive days in six patients each. Patients who achieved a remission proceeded to a stem cell transplant (HSCT). A second cycle could be administered prior to HSCT. Results Of the six patients at the 30 mg/m2 clofarabine dose, two achieved a complete response (CR) and one a PR and proceeded to BMT. Three patients had progressive disease. Five of the six patients at the 40 mg/m2 achieved a CR. Four proceeded to HSCT, and one relapsed prior to HSCT. One patient died on day 45 with marrow hypoplasia without evidence of leukemia. Hematologic and infectious adverse events were universal. The one dose limiting non-infectious toxicity observed was prolonged marrow hypoplasia. Conclusion TVTC has significant anti-leukemic activity in both acute lymphoblastic and myeloblastic leukemia. The MTD of clofarabine is 40 mg/m2/day in this combination. This is the recommended dose for the phase II study in patients with refractory or relapsed leukemia, a population which has limited therapeutic options. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:687–693. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Media Literacy: A Health Education Perspective

Abstract This article argues for an increase in media literacy training to help students combat the mixed health messages found in the media. Media literacy is defined as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and produce media messages. Much of the article deals with laying out specific exercises school health educators and other teachers can use to incorporate media literacy into health education. The article suggests that through media literacy students can learn to evaluate critically the health messages in various media outlets. Once students realize how the media package messages, they will be more aware of what to look for and how to interpret what they see and hear.
Hydrophobic interaction high-performance liquid chromatography of proteins

Protein separations by means of a new hydrophobic-interaction high-performance liquid chromatography column are described. A linear elution gradient was used, starting with 1.7 M ammonium sulfate and concluding with 0.1 M sodium phosphate (pH 7.0). All proteins except albumin and β-lactoglobulin were eluted as sharp peaks. The broadening of some protein peaks may depend upon the influence of the eluent of the structure of those proteins. Variations in column temperature and additions of either methanol or urea to the mobile phase was studied. The results show that small adjustments in chromatographic conditions can greatly improve resolution when band spreading exists. In addition, this column can be used not only for the separation of proteins, but also to determined their relative hydrophobic character.
Reasons to Exercise Caution When Considering a Screening Program for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Screening is defined as detection of disease in its early, treatable stages. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued a recommendation to screen for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) only in asymptomatic adults with blood pressure greater than 135/80 mm Hg.1 The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for type 2 DM in asymptomatic adults with blood pressure of 135/80 mm Hg or lower. This recommendation has caused considerable consternation in the community of those who treat patients with type 2 DM. In this issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Sheehy et al2 provide a rationale for implementation of a screening test and advocate a much broader screening regimen. Ideally, recommendations that influence the practice of medicine should be based on multiple randomized, controlled clinical trials. With this particular recommendation, however, both parties (ie, USPSTF and Sheehy et al) rely solely on expert opinion. When determining whether a screening test or program is worthwhile, some of the most important factors are evidence, guideline recommendations, competing priorities, and testing errors.
Robust optimization in electromagnetic scattering problems

In engineering design, the physical properties of a system can often only be described by numerical simulation. Optimization of such systems is usually accomplished heuristically without taking into account that there are implementation errors that lead to very suboptimal, and often, infeasible solutions. We present a robust optimization method for electromagnetic scattering problems with large degrees of freedom and report on results when this technique is applied to optimization of aperiodic dielectric structures. The spatial configuration of 50 dielectric scattering cylinders is optimized to match a desired target function such that the optimal arrangement is robust against placement and prototype errors. Our optimization method inherently improves the robustness of the optimized solution with respect to relevant errors and is suitable for real-world design of materials with unconventional electromagnetic functionalities, as relevant to nanophotonics.
Feminist Theory and the Failures of Post-9/11 Freedom

After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, freedom was the dominant term used to describe the United States in national political discourse. It was articulated as sovereign power, unencumbered agency, and military triumph. “Freedom” eventually animated global violence, becoming a justification for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as for substantial increases in state surveillance. A significant body of feminist scholarship has interrogated the discourse of post-9/11 freedom, examining how the call to “free the women of Afghanistan and Iraq” legitimated the push for war (Bhattacharrya 2008; Marso 2007; Mohanty 2008). For these scholars, “freedom” transformed feminist concerns into tools of militarism and imperialism, while worsening living conditions of women across the globe. In this essay, I also examine the discourse of post-9/11 freedom from a feminist perspective, but I ask a different question: How can feminist political theory critique the discourse of American freedom and challenge its trajectory of sovereign and violent state power? In other words, I examine the discourse of Americans upholding their own freedom, rather than their quest to free others, and insist that feminist theoretical arguments are directly relevant to post-9/11 problematics.
Expression of Keratin Genes in Mouse Epidermis and Normal and Malignantly Transformed Epidermal Cells in Culture

Complementary DNA (cDNA) clones constructed to the 55, 59 and 67 kilodalton (K) keratins, the major keratins synthesized in newborn mouse epidermis, were used as molecular hybridization probes to examine the expression of these genes in newborn epidermis and normal and malignantly transformed epidermal cells in culture. Transcripts of these three keratin genes are abundant in newborn epidermis. However, primary cultures of epidermal cells contain very low levels of these RNAs, The decreased expression of these keratin genes in primary cells appears to be due to factors within the culture system. Unlike primary-cell cultures, the malignantly transformed cell line Pam 212 synthesizes keratin proteins and mRNAs similar to newborn epidermis, including the 67 K keratin. However, synthesis of the 67 K keratin in Pam 212 cells is modulated by culture factors. Keratin gene expression in another Pam line, 321, differs from that of Pam 212 cells in that decreased expression of these three keratin genes occurs. These results indicate that keratin genes that are normally expressed in vivo in epidermis may be expressed in malignant epidermal cells under conditions that do not permit expression of these genes in nonmalignant primary epidermal cells.
Putting patients first in organ allocation: an ethical analysis of the U.S. debate.

Organ allocation policy involves a mixture of ethical, scientific, medical, legal, and political factors, among others. It is thus hard, and perhaps even impossible, to identify and fully separate ethical considerations from all these other factors. Yet I will focus primarily on the ethical considerations embedded in the current debate in the United States about organ allocation policy. I will argue that it is important to put patients first—in the language of the title of one of the major public hearings—but even then significant ethical questions will remain about exactly how to put patients first.
Non-swarming grasshoppers exhibit density-dependent phenotypic plasticity reminiscent of swarming locusts.

Locusts are well known for exhibiting an extreme form of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity known as locust phase polyphenism. At low density, locust nymphs are cryptically colored and shy, but at high density they transform into conspicuously colored and gregarious individuals. Most of what we know about locust phase polyphenism come from the study of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (Forskal), which is a devastating pest species affecting many countries in North Africa and the Middle East. The desert locust belongs to the grasshopper genus Schistocerca Stal, which includes mostly non-swarming, sedentary species. Recent phylogenetic studies suggest that the desert locust is the earliest branching lineage within Schistocerca, which raises a possibility that the presence of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity may be a plesiomorphic trait for the whole genus. In order to test this idea, we have quantified the effect of rearing density in terms of the resulting behavior, color, and morphology in two non-swarming Schistocerca species native to Florida. When reared in both isolated and crowded conditions, the two non-swarming species, Schistocerca americana (Drury) and Schistocerca serialis cubense (Saussure) clearly exhibited plastic reaction norms in all traits measured, which were reminiscent of the desert locust. Specifically, we found that both species were more active and more attracted to each other when reared in a crowded condition than in isolation. They were mainly bright green in color when isolated, but developed strong black patterns and conspicuous background colors when crowded. We found a strong effect of rearing density in terms of size. There were also more mechanoreceptor hairs on the outer face of the hind femora in the crowded nymphs in both species. Although both species responded similarly, there were some clear species-specific differences in terms of color and behavior. Furthermore, we compare and contrast our findings with those on the desert locust and other relevant studies. We attribute the presence of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity in the non-swarming Schistocerca species to phylogenetic conservatism, but there may be a possible role of local adaptation in further shaping the ultimate expressions of plasticity.
Replacement of fish meal in cobia (Rachycentron canadum) diets using an organically certified protein.

Abstract A six-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the use of a yeast-based, certified organic protein source as a replacement for fish meal in diets for cobia. Five experimental diets were formulated to provide 40% crude protein and 11% dietary lipid (dry matter basis) with the yeast-based protein source replacing Special Select® menhaden fish meal at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of dietary protein. Ten juvenile cobia (initial weight 11.5 g/fish) were randomly stocked in triplicate 300 l circular fiberglass tanks ( n = 30 treatment − 1 ) and hand-fed the diets based upon total tank biomass two times daily at 0900 and 1400 h. Fish were group weighed weekly to monitor performance and adjust feeding rations. Water temperature and salinity were maintained at 27 °C and 15‰, respectively. At the end of the feeding trial, weight gain, ranging from 86% to 512%, and feed conversion ratio values, ranging from 1.9 to 5.8, were significantly affected by the inclusion of the yeast-based protein source, with decreasing values as inclusion levels of the yeast-based protein source rose above 25% of dietary protein. Cobia fed the diet containing 25% of dietary protein from the yeast-based protein source had equal weight gain and feed conversion ratio values as fish fed the control diet composed of 100% fish meal (503 vs. 512 and 1.9 vs. 1.9, respectively). Biological indices including hepatosomatic index, visceral somatic index and muscle ratio were all similarly affected by inclusion of the yeast-based protein source, with significant impacts when inclusion levels rose above 25% of dietary protein. As with the weight gain and feed efficiency ratio values, fish fed the diet containing 25% of protein from the yeast-based source had similar values as those observed in the control animals. This study represents the first attempt to utilize an organically certified protein source as a replacement for fish meal in diets for juvenile cobia. Although levels of inclusion of the yeast-based protein source above 50% of dietary protein resulted in detrimental effects on production characteristics, the data clearly suggest that, at a minimum, 25% of dietary protein can be provided by this yeast-based protein in diets for cobia.
Filamentous protein model for cyclic AMP-mediated cell regulatory mechanisms.

Abstract A striking correlation exists in the literature between cell regulatory phenomena mediated by cyclic AMP and the presence of filamentous proteins. By filamentous proteins is meant microtubules, microfilaments, and actinlike protein, three general classes of proteins which can be grouped on structural and functional grounds. These proteins comprise a significant portion of the protein of all eucaryotic cells and appear to be evolutionary related and quite constant. The cell events discussed include regulation of growth, differentiation, responses to hormones, secretion, including neurotransmitter release, and membrane permeability. These phenomena share a role for cyclic AMP and an involvement of filamentous proteins. The filamentous protein model for cyclic AMP-mediated cell regulatory mechanisms is proposed, in which a common aspect of many cyclic AMP-mediated processes is the regulation by cyclic AMP of filamentous protein function. The filamentous proteins would, by controlling some aspect of motility in the cell, provide the necessary and sufficient means to effect the cell response regulated by cyclic nucleotide levels. A further aim of this article is to bring attention to the emerging importance of filamentous proteins in biological sciences.
Effects of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 on aortic endothelial cells

In staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome, hypotension and shock due to capillary leak may rapidly lead to death of the host. To investigate its pathogenesis, the cytotoxic effects of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) on porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) were examined in vitro. TSST-1 killed PAEC (as measured by 51Cr release) in a dose- and time-dependent fashion and was blocked by anti-TSST-1 antibodies. Receptor-mediated endocytosis may be critical for the cytotoxic effects of TSST-1, as killing was inhibited by cold (4 degrees C) and by addition of chloroquine and methylamine. Furthermore, calcium and oxygen appeared necessary for TSST-1 effects on PAEC. Membrane receptor binding studies indicated PAEC bind TSST-1 with high affinity (Kd = 5.7 x 10(-7) M) and had 2.2 x 10(4) receptors/cell. Last, as measured by 125I-labeled albumin flux in a transendothelial permeability model, TSST-1 enhanced the permeability of PAEC monolayers in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
Relations Between Parental Affect and Parenting Behaviors: A Meta-Analytic Review

SYNOPSIS Objective. The goal of the present investigation was to provide a meta-analytic review of the research on affect and parenting in nonclinical samples. Design. The authors conducted analyses on the overall mean effect size for 63 studies (k = 18,211). Affect was coded as either positive or negative, and parenting behavior was coded as either supportive-positive or harsh-negative. Moderators included definition of affect, time frame of measurement, reporter, child age, and parent gender. Results. The authors' analyses support the association between parental affect and parenting behavior, and this relation was consistent across types of affect and parenting, as well as gender of parent. Significant methodological moderators of these relations include time frame match and reporter match. Child age moderated the relation between negative affect and supportive-positive parenting, but not harsh-negative parenting. Last, both negative and positive affect showed specificity in their association with pare...
Portable and cost-effective pixel super-resolution on-chip microscope for telemedicine applications

We report a field-portable lensless on-chip microscope with a lateral resolution of <1μm and a large field-of-view of ∼24mm2. This microscope is based on digital in-line holography and a pixel super-resolution algorithm to process multiple lensfree holograms and obtain a single high-resolution hologram. In its compact and cost-effective design, we utilize 23 light emitting diodes butt-coupled to 23 multi-mode optical fibers, and a simple optical filter, with no moving parts. Weighing only ∼95 grams, we demonstrate the performance of this field-portable microscope by imaging various objects including human malaria parasites in thin blood smears.
Discussion of “Bayesian local influence for survival models” by Ibrahim, Zhu and Tang

First, I would like to thank Ibrahim, Zhu and Tang for a very interesting paper on measuring local sensitivity in Bayesian survival model using perturbations. The perturbations can be individually or simultaneously to the prior, the sampling model or the data. The authors propose to measure the effect of the perturbations by first and second order local sensitivity measures and φ-divergence between the “unperturbed” and “perturbed” posteriors. The proposed measures are computable in the illustrated examples and they lead to quantifiable, interpretable and meaningful measures. The distinction between the latter two perturbations, namely to the sampling distribution and the data, is not clear to me, at least the way they are considered here. When a datum is a outlier in the current model, a different sampling distributionmodel might be appropriate for this datum (say, under conditional independence with other observations). Should such a case be investigated by perturbations to the data or the sampling model? In the first setup of the simulation example, Ibrahim et al. generate only the last two observations from a hazard model that is different from the analysis model and label them as outliers. In the second setup, the data generating model for all the observations are different from the analysis model. Should the former case be detected by data perturbation and the latter one by sampling model perturbations? The perturbed analysis models that the authors use for these two cases are rather similar; in the first case, the perturbationωi is observation specificwhereas in the latter case ω is constant (over the observations). Is this the difference between data perturbation and sampling model perturbation? Continuing on, how does one know when to use the observation specific perturbation ωi or the constant perturbation ω in a data analysis?
Hypoalphalipoproteinemia: Postprandial response of subjects with preprandial normotriglyceridemia and hypertriglyceridemia to various diets☆

Abstract The effect of a single oral fat meal (60 g fat/m 2 body surface area) enriched in either saturated (SFA) or polyunsaturated ([PUFA] ω-6 or ω-3) fatty acids on postprandial lipoprotein levels was studied in four men with primary hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HP) and in four-age- and sex-matched controls. Vitamin A was included in the meal to label intestinally derived triglyceride-rich particles (TRP) with retinyl palmitate (RP). The HP subjects were either mildly hypertriglyceridemic (group A) or normotriglyceridemic (group B) and were phenotyped for post-heparin lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) activities and apolipoprotein (apo) E isoforms. Postprandial total plasma triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and RP and TG concentrations in the chylomicron (S f > 1,000) and nonchylomicron (S f > 1,000) fractions were evaluated for 24 hours after the meal. At each time point, HDL composition and size and apolipoprotein distributions were also measured. Following the SFA meal, HP subjects had maximal plasma TG levels at 8 hours (4 hours in controls) with a slow return to baseline levels at 12 to 24 hours (8 to 12 hours for controls). In contrast, after the ω-6 meal plasma TG levels decreased in group A subjects, while group B subjects and controls showed only a small increase. The results after the ω-7 meal were intermediate between the SFA and the ω-3 meal. When compared with group B, subjects in group A showed higher levels of RP-associated TRP, slower clearance rates, 30% to 50% lower fasting LPL activity, and 1.5-fold to twofold higher fasting plasma apo C-III levels. The major preprandial HDL subclass in HP subjects was HDL 3 , which showed a relative decrease in cholesterol esters (CE) and an increase in TG levels following the SFA meal. After the ω-3 meal, HDL of group A subjects showed a decrease in TG, a reciprocal increase in CE, and either no changes or minor changes in phospholipid (PL) and free-cholesterol (FC) levels. The results show that HP subjects with mild preprandial hypertriglyceridemia respond to a single fat meal differently than subjects with normotriglyceridemia, and that this difference is the result of HP in addition to other factors such as low LPL and HTGL activities, high plasma apo C-III levels, and apo E2 phenotype.
THE ESTIMATION OF TERM RELEVANCE WEIGHTS USING RELEVANCE FEEDBACK

The term relevance weighting method has been shown to produce optimal information retrieval queries under well‐defined conditions. Unfortunately, the relevance weights cannot be determined in the absence of accurate knowledge of the occurrence frequencies of the terms in the relevant and non‐relevant documents of a collection. This study presents a realistic method for estimating the term relevance weights from information derived in an interactive search environment where relevance assessments for previously retrieved items are used later to construct improved query statements. Procedures are introduced for constructing the initial query weights by using estimated term relevance factors. These initial weights are then modified during the relevance feedback process by utilizing the occurrence frequencies of the terms in the retrieved documents obtained from an earlier search. The procedures used to construct the term relevance weights are covered in detail, and experimental output is included to illustrate the effectiveness of the methods.
An evolving MHD vortex street model for quasi-periodic solar wind fluctuations

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation are used to provide a dynamical basis for the 'vortex street' model of the quasi-periodic meridional flow observed by Voyager 2 in the outer heliosphere. Various observations suggest the existence near the current sheet at solar minimum, of a vorticity distribution of two opposite shear layers with an antisymmetric staggered velocity pattern due to structured high-speed wind surrounding low-speed equatorial flow. It is shown that this flow pattern leads to the formation of a highly stable vortex street through the nonlinear interaction of the two shear layers. Spatial profiles of various simulated parameters (velocity, density, meridional flow angle and the location of magnetic sector boundaries) and their relative locations in the quasi-steady vortex street are generally in good agreement with the observations.
THE ROLE OF COMPOUND NUCLEI IN INTERMEDIATE-ENERGY HEAVY-ION REACTIONS

Hot compound nuclei are frequently produced in intermediate-energy reactions through a variety of processes. Their decay is shown to be an important and at times dominant source of complex fragments, high energy-gamma rays, and even pions.
Differences in cold hardiness between introduced populations of an invasive tree

The potential for populations of exotic invasive plants to differ in their response to stressful environmental conditions is an underexplored issue in determining invasive species’ range limits. Introduced genotypes may differ in response to climatic, edaphic, or biotic factors within their introduced range leading to differences in potential ranges among populations. We examined differences in cold hardiness (resistance and tolerance to winter conditions and freeze events) among Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) seeds and seedlings from two genetically distinct populations in the northernmost portion of its introduced U.S. range (North Carolina and South Carolina). Seed germination from these two sources was compared between fall plantings (mimicking natural dispersal timing) and spring plantings (occurring post-frost) as well as among areas within and inland of Chinese tallow’s core coastal distribution in South Carolina. Overwinter seedling survival and damage were also assessed among seedlings planted in the piedmont of South Carolina and following artificial freeze events in the lab. Seeds and seedlings from South Carolina sources showed greater reductions in germination success by inland winters, greater winter damage in field plantings in the piedmont, and lower survival after prolonged freezes than those from North Carolina. These results indicate that differences in cold hardiness exist among introduced populations of Chinese tallow and suggest that genotypes from North Carolina possess greater potential for expansion into areas with more severe winters. Differences among introduced populations should be considered when evaluating the potential range expansion of Chinese tallow and other invasive species.
A GIS Model of Subsurface Water Potential for Aquatic Resource Inventory, Assessment, and Environmental Management

Biological, chemical, and physical attributes of aquatic ecosystems are often strongly influenced by groundwater sources. Nonetheless, widespread access to predictions of subsurface contributions to rivers, lakes, and wetlands at a scale useful to environmental managers is generally lacking. In this paper, we describe a “neighborhood analysis” approach for estimating topographic constraints on spatial patterns of recharge and discharge and discuss how this index has proven useful in research, management, and conservation contexts. The Michigan Rivers Inventory subsurface flux model (MRI-DARCY) used digital elevation and hydraulic conductivity inferred from mapped surficial geology to estimate spatial patterns of hydraulic potential. Model predictions were calculated in units of specific discharge (meters per day) for a 30-m2-cell raster map and interpreted as an index of potential subsurface water flux (shallow groundwater and event through-flow). The model was evaluated by comparison with measurements of groundwater-related attributes at watershed, stream segment, and local spatial scales throughout Lower Michigan (USA). Map-based predictions using MRI-DARCY accounted for 85% of the observed variation in base flow from 128 USGS gauges, 69% of the observed variation in discharge accrual from 48 river segments, and 29% of the residual variation in local groundwater flux from 33 locations as measured by hyporheic temperature profiles after factoring out the effects of climate. Although it does not incorporate any information about the actual water table surface, by quantifying spatial variation of key constraints on groundwater-related attributes, the model provides strata for more intensive study, as well as a useful spatial tool for regional and local conservation planning, fisheries management, wetland characterization, and stream assessment.
High-performance analysis of filtered semantic graphs

High performance is a crucial consideration when executing a complex analytic query on a massive semantic graph. In a semantic graph, vertices and edges carry “attributes” of various types. Analytic queries on semantic graphs typically depend on the values of these attributes; thus, the computation must either view the graph through a filter that passes only those individual vertices and edges of interest, or else must first materialize a subgraph or subgraphs consisting of only the vertices and edges of interest. The filtered approach is superior due to its generality, ease of use, and memory efficiency, but may carry a performance cost. In the Knowledge Discovery Toolbox (KDT), a Python library for parallel graph computations, the user writes filters in a high-level language, but those filters result in relatively low performance due to the bottleneck of having to call into the Python interpreter for each edge. In this work, we use the Selective Embedded JIT Specialization (SEJITS) approach to automatically translate filters defined by programmers into a lower-level efficiency language, bypassing the upcall into Python. We evaluate our approach by comparing it with the high-performance C++ /MPI Combinatorial BLAS engine, and show that the productivity gained by using a high-level filtering language comes without sacrificing performance.
Review of the Folin phenol protein quantitation method of Lowry, Rosebrough, Farr and Randall.

Owing to its simplicity, sensitivity and precision, the method of Lowry, Rosebrough, Farr, and Randall is the most widely used procedure for the quantitative determination of protein. Lowry and coworkers combined the use of copper, as suggested by Herriott, with the Folin phenol method, which originated from the work of Wu, to produce a more reliable and sensitive protein asssay. The principal disadvantage of this method is its lack of specificity. Many substances are now known to interfere with this method. Fortunately, few interfering substances are encountered in specific measurements, and simple methods exist for coping with most of the interfering substances. Other less serious disadvantages of the method include relatively slow reaction rates, instability of some reagents, and nonlinearity of the standard curve. In this article, the method of Lowry, et al. is reviewed in the context of a general standard laboratory procedure for the quantitative determination of protein. Emphasis is therefore given to the practical aspects encountered or likely to be encountered in using this method under a wide variety of conditions. The reaction mechanism is briefly reviewed, followed by an extensive list of those substances examined for possible interference in the method of Lowry et al. Methods or modifications designed for coping with these interfering substances, as well as the other disadvantages (slow reaction rates, reagent instability, nonlinearity) are then reviewed. Finally, the method of Lowry et al. is compared with other methods of protein analysis in the context of a standard laboratory procedure.
Water Level Observations and Short-Term Predictions Including Meteorological Events for Entrance of Galveston Bay, Texas

This paper shows that conventional harmonic analysis alone does not adequately predict the coastal water level variation at the entrance to Galveston Bay when strong meteorological forcing is present. The water level anomalies (the difference between the observed water level and that predicted by harmonic analysis) are shown to be as large as the tidal range itself. The water level anomaly at the entrance to Galveston Bay is primarily due to the east-west directed wind speed, and a simple linear model is shown to predict the anomaly based on the locally measured wind and a nine hour lag between the wind forcing and water level response. The model is further refined using a neural network approach with east-west and north-south winds, barometric pressure, and the previously observed water level anomaly and without assuming previous knowledge of the phase lag between wind and water level. Both linear and neural network models are shown to improve significantly short-term (3<t<24 h) predictions of the total ...
ENHANCED BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY OF PHAGOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC GRANULOMATOUS DISEASE IN THE PRESENCE OF SULPHISOXAZOLE

Abstract The decrease in the frequency and severity of bacterial infections in four of five children with chronic granulomatous disease (C.G.D.) on long-term sulphonamide therapy was out of proportion to demonstrable direct antibacterial effects of the drug. In an attempt to determine the mechanism for this apparent protective effect, the killing of sulphisoxazole-resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by leucocytes from five patients with C.G.D. was studied in the presence or absence of 5-50 μg. per ml. sulphisoxazole. With leucocytes from all five patients there was a modest but reproducible enhancement of bactericidal activity in the presence of the sulphonamide. Studies of phagocytosis-associated oxidative metabolism in patients' cells have not revealed a metabolic basis for improved killing.
Asymmetric cell division of stem and progenitor cells during homeostasis and cancer

Stem and progenitor cells are characterized by their ability to self-renew and produce differentiated progeny. A fine balance between these processes is achieved through controlled asymmetric divisions and is necessary to generate cellular diversity during development and to maintain adult tissue homeostasis. Disruption of this balance may result in premature depletion of the stem/progenitor cell pool, or abnormal growth. In many tissues, including the brain, dysregulated asymmetric divisions are associated with cancer. Whether there is a causal relationship between asymmetric cell division defects and cancer initiation is as yet not known. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate asymmetric cell divisions in the neural lineage and discuss the potential connections between this regulatory machinery and cancer.
Progress Monitoring of Mathematics Among Students with Learning Disabilities

This article describes a statewide project in which weekly progress monitoring of mathematics was implemented with 120 special education students. Curriculum-based measurement probes for computation and concepts/applications skills were administered weekly over seven months. Students were assessed at levels identified as instructional by their teachers, and goals for performance were set based on recommendations from the research literature. Improvements of 0.38 digits per week (in computation) and 0.38 points per week (in concepts/applications) were found across students. A total of 66% of students achieved the expected goals in computation and 37% in concepts/applications. These levels of improvement were comparable to those reported in the literature for general education students. Perceived benefits and challenges of conducting progress monitoring in mathematics are discussed.
The effect of arylsulfonate esters on cholesterol--aggravated atherosclerosis in White Carneau Pigeons.

The arylsulfonate esters of linoleyl, stearyl, and decyl alcohols were found to reduce significantly the accumulation of cholesterol in the plasma and livers of White Carneau pigeons subjected to a diet of Purina pigeon pellets coated with 0.25% cholesterol and 10% lard when fed for periods ranging from 9–12 months; no effects were observed in normocholesterolemic pigeons. These compounds produced no toxic side effects and were found to significantly attenuate the development of aortic atherosclerosis. The effect on aortic atherosclerosis was most likely the result of the lowering of plasma cholesterol concentrations. Linoleyl p-toluenesulfonate appeared to be the most effective of the three arylsulfonates tested, both with respect to the reduction of plasma and liver cholesterol accumulation and attenuation of the atherosclerotic process.
Transforming academic nursing: From balance through integration to coherence

Academic institutions continue to be challenged to enhance their productivity in the face of diminishing resources. Escalating demands on full-time faculty must come from a fundamental transformation in the focus and, hence, design of that work. This article presents a model of a mission transformed from the current representation of the tripartite activities involved with teaching, research, and service to a new representation of the inherent holism of that work. This transformation moves the academy's mission to a single, integrative focus on knowledge work. When the essence of the academy's unique mission is expressed as knowledge work, the unity of knowledge development, dissemination, and application can be actualized in the work lives of a community of scholars. A fuller realization of the inherently holistic nature of this knowledge work is seen as a transformation to coherence at the levels of university, unit, and scholar. Coherence within the academic lives of individuals, the collective community of scholars, and the broader organization is the essential feature for the long-term success of the institution and the career of a scholar.
Functional anatomy: From molecule to memory

The Drosophila memory gene amnesiac is expressed in neurons that project to mushroom body axons. Blockade of synaptic transmission in the amnesiac-expressing cells disrupts memory, but not learning, suggesting presynaptic and postsynaptic sites for memory formation.
Chromosome changes in germ cell tumors of the testis

Chromosome analysis was performed on short-term cultures established from samples of six tumors of the testis. Histologically, four tumors were embryonal cell carcinomas (three primary, one metastatic) and two of mixed histology with predominance of teratoma. The modal chromosome number was hypotriploid in four tumors, triploid in one, and hypertriploid in another. All tumors contained structurally abnormal chromosomes, ranging in number from 1 to 10 in different cases. A small metacentric marker chromosome, identified as an isochromosome of the short arm of chromosome #12 [i(12p)], was present in all tumors analyzed. Unlike other marker chromosomes, this one was invariably present in at least two copies per metaphase in all cases; all other chromosome markers were present in single copy in all tumors. Together with the previous reports on the presence of i(12p) in seminoma and teratoma of the testis, our findings suggest that this karyotypic abnormality is characteristic for all histologic varieties of germ cell tumors of the testis.
Life Satisfaction in Latin America: A Size-of-Place Analysis

ABSTRACT In Latin America, countries can be divided into two groups: those where people in villages and small towns are happier than people in middle sized cities, and those where they are less happy. Four possible reasons for these patterns are explored: level of economic development, social values, public social spending, and presence of indigenous population. In regressions on happiness of each explanatory factor separately, development and public social spending (especially on health, housing, and social security) are the most important. In a joint regression, public social spending is found to be the main explanation of the different happiness patterns.
Soil maltase activity by a glucose oxidase–perioxidase system

The enzyme maltase (glucoinvertase; glucosidosucrase; maltase-glucoamylase; α-glucopyranosidase; glucosidoinvertase; α-d-glucosidase; α-glucoside hydrolase; α-1,4-glucosidase EC 3.2.1.20), is involved in the exo-hydrolysis of 1,4-α-glucosidic linkages and certain oligosaccharides into glucose which is an important energy source for soil microbes. This enzyme originates from different sources, which include plants, seaweeds, protozoa, fungi, bacteria, vertebrates, and invertebrates. The assay of soil maltase using maltose as substrate and the released glucose determined using a glucose oxidase–peroxidase system has not been explored or investigated to the best of our knowledge. A simple assay protocol using this system is proposed to evaluate and characterize maltase activity in soils. The protocol involves the release of glucose (determined using a glucose oxidase–peroxidase colorimetric approach) when 1 g soil is treated with toluene and incubated with 5 mM maltose in 67 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.0) at 37 °C for 1 h. The optimal activity using this procedure was at pH 5.0 and decreased at temperatures above 70 °C. The calculated Km values ranged from 0.8 to 6.5 mM, and are comparable to those of enzymes purified from microorganisms. The Arrhenius equation plots for the activity in the four soils were linear between 20 and 70 °C. The activation energy values ranged from 34.1 to 57.2 kJ mol−1, the temperature coefficients (Q10) ranged from 1.5 to 1.9 (avg. = 1.7), and the coefficients of variation (CV) of the proposed assay protocol for the soils used was <6%. While we recognize the availability of established assay protocols to determine soil α-glucosidase (referred in other literature as maltase) activity based on the p-nitrophenol (artificial product) released from p-nitrophenyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (artificial substrate), our interest was to assay its activity by determining the glucose (natural product) released from maltose (natural substrate).
Trained and supervised physician assistants can safely perform diagnostic cardiac catheterization with coronary angiography.

Using a prospectively collected database of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, we sought to compare the outcomes of procedures performed by supervised physician assistants (PAs) with those performed by supervised cardiology fellows-in-training. Outcome measures included procedural length, fluoroscopy use, volume of contrast media, and complications including myocardial infarction, stroke, arrhythmia requiring defibrillation or pacemaker placement, pulmonary edema requiring intubation, and vascular complications. Class 3 and 4 congestive heart failure was more common in patients who underwent procedures by fellows compared with those undergoing procedures by PAs (P = 0.001). PA cases tended to be slightly faster (P = 0.05) with less fluoroscopic time (P < 0.001). The incidence of major complications within 24 hr of the procedure was similar between the two groups (0.54% in PA cases and 0.58% in fellow cases). Under the supervision of experienced attending cardiologists, trained PAs can perform diagnostic cardiac catheterization, including coronary angiography, with complication rates similar to those of cardiology fellows-in-training.
An analysis of the increased demands placed on dialysis health care team members by functionally dependent hemodialysis patients.

Abstract A team of health care providers is integral to the care of chronic hemodialysis patients and includes nephrologists, social workers, dietitians, and nurses. Increasingly, the chronic hemodialysis population is composed of older patients with multiple comorbid conditions and reduced functional independence. The demands placed on social workers, nurses, and dietitians caring for the increasingly fragile chronic hemodialysis population have not been examined. We compared the interventions required by social workers, dietitians, and nurses caring for two demographically matched chronic hemodialysis patient groups undergoing dialysis in two outpatient units over a 6-month period to examine the demands imposed by these functionally dependent patients. Patients underwent dialysis in either a step-down unit or an ambulatory unit. Patients undergoing dialysis in the step-down unit had more coronary artery disease (6 of 12 patients [50%] versus 1 of 12 patients; P P P P P P P P P
Regulation of prostaglandin E2 synthesis after brain irradiation

Purpose: A local tissue reaction, termed neuroinflammation, occurs after irradiation of brain tissue. Previous work suggested that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 activity was important for changes in gene expression associated with neuroinflammation as well as increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels seen after radiation treatment. Methods and materials: To begin to determine the contributions of other enzymes involved in PGE2 production, we examined protein levels of COX-1 and COX-2 as well as 2 PGE synthases (membrane and cytosolic PGES) 4 h after 35 Gy single dose irradiation to the brains of C3HeN mice. We also evaluated the effects of specific COX inhibitors on PGE2 production and PGES expression. Results: As expected, COX-2 expression increased after radiation exposure. Brain irradiation also increased tissue protein levels for both PGES isoforms. Specific COX-2 inhibition with NS398 lowered brain PGE2 levels by about 60%. Surprisingly, COX-1 inhibition with SC560 completely prevented the elevation of PGE2 seen after irradiation. Interestingly, NS398 reduced the membrane-associated PGES isoform, whereas SC560 treatment lowered cytosolic isoform levels below those seen in unirradiated controls. Conclusions: Taken together, these data indicate that both cyclooxygenases contribute to PGE2 production in irradiated brain and reveal dependence of PGES isoforms expression on specific cyclooxygenase activities.
Impulse variables, vortex dipoles and applications

A Lagrangian numerical method based on impulse variables is analyzed. The relation between impulse vectors and vortex dipoles with a prescribed dipole moment is presented and used to adapt the high-accuracy cutoff functions of vortex methods for use in impulse-based methods. The long-time implementation of the impulse method is shown to contain a source of error whose growth in time renders impulse methods impractical for use in interior flows. Applications for which impulse methods are well suited are identified.