cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MicroLEAP: Energy-aware Wireless Sensor Platform for Biomedical Sensing Applications

Extended system lifetime is a critical requirement for wearable sensor platforms. However, these platforms must also accommodate local data processing, data storage, and broadband wireless communications. Since compact battery storage capacity is constrained, there exists a fundamental tradeoff between energy optimization and performance. Furthermore, biomedical transducers may also demand high peak power dissipation during active operations. Energy management, therefore, must be introduced through new hardware architecture and enabled through software in the overall system design. To effectively optimize energy dissipation for biomedical sensing applications, a new wearable sensor platform, MicroLEAP, has been developed. The MicroLEAP platform supports per-task real-time energy profiling to permit adaptive applications that select platform components to best match dynamically-varying measurement requirements. MicroLEAP design, implementation, and example of energy-aware operation are demonstrated.
Beneficial Effect of α-Tocopheryl Succinate in Rat Cardiac Transplants

Background Anti-oxidant vitamins have increasingly been used to supplement traditional post-surgical treatment in cardiac transplant recipients. However, the mechanism(s) of action have not been determined. In this study we examined the effects of a novel vitamin E analog, α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol-100 succinate (α-TPGS), and low-dose cyclosporine (CsA) in the treatment of acute and delayed cardiac rejection. Methods In situ sonomicrometry, histologic rejection and graft survival were determined in untreated rat cardiac allograft recipients and recipients receiving CsA, α-TPGS or CsA plus α-TPGS. DNA binding of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and AP-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein, caspase-3 activity and lymphocyte proliferation were determined. Results α-TPGS significantly ( p p p Conclusions α-TPGS has a significant effect in limiting lymphocyte proliferation and activation. This might explain the equipotent action of α-TPGS vs low-dose CsA and its action to potentiate graft survival and limit graft rejection and dysfunction.
Phosphate absorption and efflux of three ectomycorrhizal fungi as affected by external phosphate, cation and carbohydrate concentrations.

A prerequisite for symbiotic phosphate transfer in an ectomycorrhizal (ECM) association is hypothesized to be conditions in the interface between both symbiotic partners, that either promote the release of inorganic phosphate (P) from the Hartig net into the interfacial apoplast and/or decrease the fungal reabsorption from this location. To get more information about conditions, which might be involved in the regulation of P efflux or P reabsorption, the effect of various external conditions on 33 P-orthophosphate ( 33 P) uptake or efflux by axenic cultures of the ECM basidiomycetes Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Amanita muscaria and Laccaria laccata was analysed. In short-time experiments the following external conditions were analysed: an external supply of (1) P in the preculture, (2) cations (0.1-100 mM K, 0.1-50 mM Na, Mg and Ca), and (3) carbohydrates (0.5-50 mM glucose, fructose or sucrose). The P absorption was generally reduced in cultures previously supplied with an abundant P supply and with increased P concentrations in their tissues. The P uptake was also affected by an external supply of cations, whereas carbohydrates had only a slight effect. Compared to Na, Mg and Ca, the P absorption by H. crustuliniforme and L. laccata was increased by 0.1 mM K in the labelling solution but decreased after a supply of 100 mM K and then did not differ from the other cation treatments. Compared to other cations, an addition of 50 mM Ca led to a decrease of P absorption by A. muscaria, whereas 50 mM Mg increased the P uptake by H. crustuliniforme. The P efflux from the fungi was affected by both the cation and carbohydrate concentration of the bathing solution. High concentrations of the monovalent cations K and Na (5 mM or 50 mM) in the bathing solution increased the P efflux by H. crustuliniforme (only Na) and L. laccata (K and Na), but had little effects on A. muscaria. By contrast, the same concentrations of the divalent cation Mg reduced the P efflux from all fungal basidiomycetes. The P efflux from hyphae of H. crustuliniforme and A. muscaria was also affected by the carbohydrate concentration in the bathing solution. Compared to the hexoses, glucose and fructose, the P efflux by both basidiomycetes was stimulated even by low concentrations of sucrose (0.5 mM) in the bathing solution. The effect of carbohydrates on P efflux especially from hyphae of H. crustuliniforme was clearly concentration-dependent and the maximal efflux rates were observed after a supply of 2.5 mM sucrose or fructose or 5 mM glucose in the bathing solution. A further rise of the carbohydrate concentration led to a progressive decrease of P efflux from hyphae of H. crustuliniforme. The results are discussed with respect to the transfer processes between both symbiotic partners in a mycorrhizal association and a possible regulation of these exchange processes.
β-Galactofuranosidase activity in Helminthosporium sacchari and its relationship to the production of helminthosporoside

Abstract Helminthosporoside, a β-galactofuranoside of a sesquiterpenoid, is a host specific toxin produced by Helminthosporium sacchari . Regulation of toxin production in a culture medium containing the fungus is, in part, controlled by β-galactofuranosidase produced by the fungus. This enzyme was isolated and partially characterized from cultures of H. sacchari and an ultra-micro method was worked out for the determination of the galactose released by the action of the enzyme on the toxin. The enzyme destroys the toxic activity of helminthosporoside with the concommitant release of galactose.
Toe pad morphology and mechanisms of sticking in frogs

Sticking ability in frogs was measured on a series of different substrates. Analysis of performance suggests that frogs use two sticking mechanisms: interlocking on rough surfaces and capillarity on smooth surfaces. There is a correlation between morphological specializations of the toe pad and sticking ability, but these morphological features are not unique to arboreal species. Terrestrial species that use leaves as resting sites during times of inactivity have many of the same morphological specializations and stick as well as the strictly arboreal species.
Stress Optical Coefficients For The Computer Aided Holo-Photoelastic Method

The Computer Aided Holo-Photoelastic Method (CAHPM) is applied to the determination of the holographic and photoeldstic stress optical coefficients of a material. The optical fields used are the absolute and relative retardation light intensity distributions. For the former, real time holography is employed and for the latter, half fringe photoelasticity is used. The coefficients corresponding to the principal stress sum (C') and difference (C) are calculated from a least squares fit of experimental whole field stress optical data to the corresponding theoretical stress distribution ILL a L:alibration sample. The data presented were obtained from a diametrically loaded disk and the section employed for the calibration was the centerline perpendicular to the load axis. For the coefficient determinations, the method requires that a total of eleven images be collected; eight phase shifted images of absolute retardation data and three images corresponding to light and dark field circular polariscopic fields for the loaded sample and the light field for the unloaded condition. The theory for the method is reviewed and the experimental setup is also shown. Finally, the influence of retardation plate errors on the calibration results as well as for stress predictions is discussed. Once the coefficients are known, CAHPM which includes our automated isoclinic analysis can be used for exact and total stress analysis of transparent two-dimensional structures without resort to iterative techniques.
Intravenous prenatal nicotine exposure increases orexin expression in the lateral hypothalamus and orexin innervation of the ventral tegmental area in adult male rats.

a b s t r a c t Background: Approximately 18% of pregnant women continue to smoke tobacco cigarettes throughout pregnancy. Offspring exposed to tobacco smoke in utero exhibit a higher incidence of drug use in later stages of development relative to non-exposed children. Animal models indicate that prenatal nicotine (PN) exposure alone alters the development of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system, which, in part, organizes motivated behavior and reward. The orexin/hypocretin neuropeptide system, which originates in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), projects to key areas of the mesocorticolimbic DA pathway. Previous research suggests that orexin exerts a major influence on motivation and reward. Methods: The present experiments determined if intravenous (IV) PN exposure alters (1) the expression of orexin neurons and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH; positive control) in the LH; and (2) orexin projections from the LH onto DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Dams were injected with IV nicotine (0.05 mg/kg/injection) or saline 3×/day during gestational days 8-21. Tissues from adult male offspring (∼130 days) were examined using immunohistochemistry. Results: Relative to controls, offspring of IV PN exposure showed (1) increased numbers of orexin neurons in the LH, and no changes in the expression of MCH; and (2) increased orexin appositions on DA cells in the VTA. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the influence of PN exposure is enduring, and suggests that the PN-induced modification of orexin expression on mesolimbic circuitry may contribute to the reported changes in motivated behaviors related to food and drug reward observed in offspring prenatally exposed to nicotine. © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Combinatorial modeling of protein folding kinetics: free energy profiles and rates

Abstract A combinatorial approach has been used to determine the optimal assumptions and robustness of simple statistical mechanical models for protein folding. By combining alternative plausible assumptions and different enumeration schemes for constructing partition functions, 76 closely related Ising-like models were generated. These include various contiguous sequence approximations, the possibility of forming a disordered loop between ordered segments, the use of an atomistic or coarse-grained representation of the protein structure, and the choice of ordered residues or native contacts as a reaction coordinate. We also consider all 2 N conformations of an N -residue protein (e.g., 10 30 conformations for a 100-residue protein). Although the number of configurations is much too large to list, a free energy profile can be calculated using a build-up procedure by accumulation and recombination of partial partition functions. The predictions of the 76 models were tested against two kinds of experimental data – folding rates and the determination of two-state behavior for 25 proteins. Two-state behavior was judged by the relative magnitude of the dominant relaxation calculated from the rate matrix for motion on the free energy profile. The relative performance of each assumption was evaluated using rank sum statistics which show, with the exception of the single sequence approximation, that this class of models is not sensitive to alternative assumptions. Two-state free energy profiles are calculated for almost all but the α-helical proteins, and surprisingly accurate rates are predicted in both the absence and presence of denaturant. The combinatorics also show that an α-carbon representation of the protein structure does nearly as well as atomistic descriptions, possibly reflecting partial interatomic interactions between native residues in structures of the transition state ensemble. With its coarse-grained description of both the energy and entropy, and only 3 or 4 adjustable parameters, the α-carbon version may be regarded as the simplest possible analytical model of protein folding capable of predicting experimental properties of specific proteins.
Hazard regression models of early mortality in trauma centers.

Background Factors affecting early hospital deaths after trauma can be different from factors affecting later hospital deaths, and the distribution of short and long prehospital times can vary among hospitals. Hazard regression (HR) models might therefore be more useful than logistic regression (LR) models for analysis of trauma mortality, especially when treatment effects at different time points are of interest. Study Design We obtained data for trauma center patients from the 2008–2009 National Trauma Data Bank. Patients were included if they had complete data for prehospital times, hospital times, survival outcomes, age, vital signs, and severity scores. Patients were excluded if pulseless on admission, transferred in or out, or had an Injury Severity Score Results A total of 85,327 patients in 161 hospitals met inclusion criteria. Crude hazards peaked initially and then declined steadily. When hazard ratios were assumed constant in HR models, they were similar to odds ratios in LR models associating increased mortality with increased age, firearm mechanism, increased severity, more deranged physiology, and estimated hospital-specific effects. However, when hospital effects were allowed to vary by time, HR models demonstrated that hospital outliers were not the same at different times after injury. Conclusions Hazard regression models with time-varying hazard ratios reveal inconsistencies in treatment effects, data quality, and/or timing of early death among trauma centers. Hazard regression models are generally more flexible than LR models, can be adapted for censored data, and potentially offer a better tool for analysis of factors affecting early death after injury.
Sylvian fissure asymmetries in nonhuman primates revisited: a comparative mri study.

Magnetic resonance images (MRI) were collected in a sample of 28 apes, 16 Old World monkeys and 8 New World monkeys. The length of the sylvian fissure (SF) and the superior temporal sulcus (STS) was traced in each hemisphere from three regions of the cerebral cortex. These three regions were labeled according to their position on the sagittal plane as lateral, medial and insular. It was hypothesized that the length and asymmetry of these fissures would be dependent on the region of measurement and that a leftward asymmetry in the SF and STS would be more robust in the great ape sample than for the monkeys. The results indicated within the ape sample a population-level leftward asymmetry in the medial and insular regions of the SF. Within the Old and New World monkey samples, the SF was leftward in the medial region at the population level, but not at the insular region. Additionally, the Old World monkeys exhibited a population-level rightward lateral SF and a rightward lateral STS. No other families exhibited population-level asymmetries in the lateral region of the SF or in any region of the STS. These results are consistent with findings reported in apes and, to a lesser extent, monkeys. MRI has excellent potential for comparing neuroanatomy across taxonomic families that will help future investigations.
Ruminal nitrogen metabolism in steers as affected by feed intake and dietary urea concentration.

Abstract Four multiple-cannulated steers (340kg) were used in a 4×4 Latin square design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Steers were fed a diet of 50% ground hay and 50% concentrate at two intakes (1.4 and 2.1% of BW), with urea and 15 N-enriched ammonium sulfate infused continuously into the rumen at .4 or 1.2% of diet DM. Ratios of purines and diaminopimelic acid-N to N in fluid-associated and particulate-associated bacteria and in protozoa were similar among treatments but were lower for protozoa than for bacteria. Diaminopimelic acid-N:N was higher for fluid-associated vs. particulate-associated bacteria. Enrichment of 15 N was similar between bacteria among treatments and was 30% lower for protozoa. Turnover rates of 15 N in bacteria, NH 3 N, and non-NH 3 N pools were faster for steers infused with 1.2 than those infused with .4% urea, indicating less efficient usage of ammonia with higher urea. A method is described to estimate the proportion of duodenal nitrogen comprising bacterial and protozoal nitrogen.
Small footprint InGaSb/AlGaAsSb multiple-quantum-well light-emitting diodes

ABSTRACT Mid-infrared light-emitting diodes with InGaSb/AlGaAsSb triple-quantum-well active region have been integrated into arrays of either 200u 200 µm 2 or 40u 40 µm square pixels. Two generations of arrays have been designed, fabricated and tested. The first, sparse 6u 6 array provided valuable information on optimal electrode design and fabrication parameters that was used in the design and processing of the second generation dense 11 u 11 array. Keywords: Light-emitting diodes; Mid-infrared emitters; Optoelectronic integration 1. INTRODUCTION Compared to the intense research on semi conductor lasers emitting in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) range, the interest in mid-IR light-emitting diodes (LEDs) seems to be significantly smaller. The main potential applications of single-emitter mid-IR LEDs are in environmental monito ring, chemical process control, and me dical diagnostics. There are two main groups that have repeatedly published their results on mid-IR LEDs over the past five years. The first group, led by Tony Krier at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, has fabricated and tested LEDs emitting at wavelengths of 3.3  3.6 µm. These bulk junction devices were grown using liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) on InAs substrates [Krier 2001], [Krier 2003], [Monakhov 2004], [Krier 2006]. Y. P. Yakovlev leads the second group, based at the A. F. Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute in Russia, with focus on bulk p-n junction LEDs grown on GaSb substrates. Yakovlevs group used metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) as well as LPE to grow a variety of device structures with emission wavelengths covering the spectral range of 1.6  4.4 µm [Kizhayev 2002], [Stoyanov 2003], [Zhurtanov 2005], [Danilova 2005]. A systematic research effort towards development of two-di mensional arrays of mid-IR emitters has been going on at the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in Adelphi, MD [Das 2004], [Das 20 05a], [Das 2005b], [Das 2005c], [Das 2006]. In contrast to the bipolar p-n junction devices reported in this paper, the ARL group uses a unipolar quantum cascade design to generate light. For mounting, a flip-chip t echnique was used, where individual pixel elements varying in size from 200u 200 µm
Analysis of an FDDI network supporting stations with single-packet buffers

Abstract We present exact analysis of a nonsymmetric multiple-priority token ring network with single packet buffers under a timedtoken protocol, similar to that employed for medium access control of the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) network. The single-packet buffer model is employed for describing the queueing operation characterizing typical user terminals. An iterative procedure is used to compute the limiting state distribution of the embedded Markov chains representing the system state process. We obtain the distributions of the token rotation time, the normalized throughput, and the mean packet waiting time. By using a counting process representing the numbers of transmitted and deferred packets in a token rotation cycle, we present a simplified analysis of a symmetric network containing a large number of stations. We illustrate the application of the analytic approach through numerical examples representing FDDI network systems operating under various traffic loading conditions.
Intraocular pressure variations: Causes and clinical significance

Reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only known effective treatment for glaucoma. However, IOP is a highly variable and dynamic parameter, undergoing virtually constant changes from numerous factors, including body position and circadian rhythms. Despite this variability, evidence for the efficacy of IOP reduction in glaucoma is based on studies designed to assess mean IOP and not IOP variations. Post hoc analysis of data from major clinical trials has suggested that IOP variations may be an independent risk factor for the development of glaucoma or glaucomatous progression, at least in some patients, but the evidence is incomplete and further studies are required. In the interim, judicious selection of existing therapies can help to minimize IOP variations. In general, therapies that improve outflow instead of suppressing aqueous humor production result in more stable IOP. However, new technology to allow better monitoring of IOP, ideally in a continuous 24-hour manner, is required to fully understand the role of IOP variations in glaucoma.
Vital signs screening for alcohol misuse in a rural primary care clinic: a feasibility study

Context Alcohol misuse is more common in rural areas, and rural problem drinkers are less likely to seek alcohol treatment services. Rural clinics face unique challenges to implementing routine alcohol screening and intervention. Purpose To assess the feasibility of using the single alcohol screening question (SASQ) during routine nursing vital signs in a rural clinic, and to determine its effect on alcohol screening and intervention rates. Methods Patient exit interviews were used to identify alcohol misuse and to measure changes in screening and intervention rates. Chi-square tests were used to compare rates of screening across study phases, while odds ratios from logistic regression analyses were used to quantify association between nurse screening and clinician intervention. Findings Exit interviews were completed by 126 current drinkers (41 before vital signs screening implementation and 85 afterward). Screening rates for alcohol misuse rose from 14.6% at baseline to 20.0% (P = .027) after screening implementation. Clinician intervention rates among alcohol misusers rose from 6.3% to 11.8% (P = .039). Nurse screening increased the odds of clinician intervention (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.10-1.95). Conclusions Vital signs screening proved to be feasible in this rural clinic and produced modest but significant increases in alcohol screening by nurses and brief interventions by clinicians. Additional studies are needed to define effective strategies for further increasing these rates.
Using Due Process Opinions as an Opportunity to Improve Educational Practice

There is little question that today’s society is a litigious one, and few professions can escape the realities of such. Although there is no mandate for national data collection on special education due process hearings (Ahearn, 2002), Chambers, Harr, and Dhanani (2003) estimate that more than 9,000 requests for dispute resolution are made per year. The hearings that result from unresolved disputes between parents and school district personnel are often stressful (Lombardi & Ludlow, 2004; O’Shea, Bateman, Algozzine, & O’Shea, 2004), and the outcomes are frequently disappointing to both parties (Mills & Duff-Mallams, 2004; Vitello, 1990). In this article, we attempt to broaden discussion about due process by pointing out potential benefits frequently overlooked in practice and in the professional literature. We begin by offering a redacted or summarized version of a due process case as example. We present reasons why education professionals should view due process hearings as instructive, and then we follow up with suggestions about how educators can best use legal reviews of decision summaries.
LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF DISPOSITIONAL INFLUENCES AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT: EFFECTS ON JOB AND PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOMES

Research consistently demonstrates that sexual harassment is related to a variety of negative outcomes. Negative outcomes, however, may be influenced by respondents' dispositions or response biases rather than by their sexual harassment experiences alone. This study investigates relationships between negative outcomes and sexual harassment over time in an attempt to assess this possibility. Further, little empirical research on sexual harassment has explored the impact of various coping strategies on experiences of harassment over time. Sexual harassment experiences, job-related and psychological outcomes, and coping responses were obtained from 216 female faculty and staff members at a midwestern university at 2 times, 24 months apart. Patterns of results suggests that sexual harassment has important effects on job-related and psychological outcomes that operate independently of dispositional influences or response biases. Results also indicate that sexual harassment at Time 1 is a better predictor of harassment at Time 2 than are coping strategies.
The h-vector of coned graphs

Abstract The coned graph G ˆ on a finite graph G is obtained by joining each vertex of G to a new vertex p with a simple edge. In this work we show a combinatorial interpretation of each term in the h -vector of G ˆ in terms of partially edge-rooted forests in the base graph G . In particular, our interpretation does not require edge ordering. For an application, we will derive an exponential generating function for the sequence of h -polynomials for the complete graphs. We will also give a new proof for the number of spanning trees of the wheels.
Increased muscle mass and mitochondrial content in chronically ischemic skeletal muscle

Abstract Studies in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have demonstrated alterations in leg skeletal muscle and its mitochondria. In patients with unilateral PAD, some of these changes are not limited to the ischemic limb (IL), but also affect the contra-lateral nonischemic one (NIL). We developed an animal model of unilateral hindlimb ischemia to further examine these alterations. Six month old, C57BL/6 mice (N = 12) underwent unilateral common femoral artery ligation/division (12 IL) and sham contra-lateral operation (12 NIL). An additional 6 mice (12 limbs) had no operation and served as controls (CON). At 12 weeks after initial operation the deep red gastrocnemius was harvested with wet weight and total protein measured. Mitochondrial content was evaluated by measuring the activity of citrate synthase (enzyme specific for mitochondrial content). The protein content per unit of wet weight and mitochondrial content per unit of protein were also calculated as indices of the relative protein and mitochondrial density in the muscle. IL had significantly higher wet weight, protein content and citrate synthase activity compared to both NIL and CON hindlimbs. There was no difference between NIL and CON limbs. Protein and mitochondrial density were no different in IL, NIL and CON limbs. In our model chronic ischemia is associated with a significant increase of muscle mass and total mitochondrial content. Ischemic muscle appears to hypertrophy while maintaining its overall protein and mitochondrial density. Unilateral hindlimb ischemia resulted in no significant changes in the contra-lateral nonischemic limb. TABLE—ABSTRACT P83 . Wet weight (mg) Protein content (mg) Citrate synthase (umol/min) Protein/ weight % Citrate synthase/ protein IL 11.7 ± .4 § , € 1.2 ± .1 § , € 1.7 ± .5 § , € 12.7 ± .6 1.5 ± .8 NIL 9.9 ± .3 1.0 ± .1 1.4 ± .8 14.4 ± 1.2 1.4 ± .9 CON 9.3 ± .5 .8 ± .1 1.3 ± .1 13.2 ± 1.0 1.5 ± .1 § = significant when compared to NIL, € = significant compared to CON.
A Hybrid Numerical Method for Loaded Highly Resonant Single Mode Cavities

We describe a hybrid numerical method for modeling the electromagnetic interaction of a low-loss ceramic material in a single-mode waveguide applicator. The method we propose utilizes a combination of asymptotic and numerical techniques. The interaction between the applicator and the electromagnetic fields is described using scattering matrix theory and the interaction between the electromagnetic fields and the ceramic is determined numerically. Several simulations, including a low-loss slab and low-loss post, are presented to show the accuracy and simplicity of this method along with the relatively small amount of computer resources it requires.
Ventricular arrhythmias and the autonomic tone in patients with mitral valve prolapse

The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible relation between the autonomic tone determined by daily urine catecholamine excretion and the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). The study included 53 patients (31 women and 22 men) aged 19-52 years (mean age 32.7). The diagnosis of MVP was based on medical history, physical examination, and echocardiography. Cardiac arrhythmias were detected by Holter monitoring and classified according to Lown grades. Daily heart rate and duration of corrected QT interval using Basett's formula were also analyzed. Daily urine adrenaline and noradrenaline levels were determined fluorometrically by Von Euler and Lishajko's method. The patients with Lown's grade III-V VA were evaluated with particular consideration. Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. On Holter monitoring 26 patients showed VA, including 6 with grade I, 11 with grade II, 2 with grade III, 4 with grade IV, and 3 with grade V according to Lown's classification. The remaining 27 patients were free of cardiac arrhythmias. Mean daily heart rate ranged from 54-93 beats/min (73 +/- 8.44, mean +/- SD) and corrected QT from 336-494 ms (411 +/- 37.17). Daily adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion for the whole group of patients were 0.01-16.2 micrograms (2.1 +/- 2.38) and 1.6-31.0 micrograms (13.1 +/- 7.27), respectively, which was within normal range. However, the patients with serious ventricular arrhythmias showed significantly higher daily adrenaline excretion. Individual analysis of two-thirds of patients with ventricular arrhythmias grade III-V showed daily urine noradrenaline levels exceeding mean values for the whole group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Acute stress response of Kootenai River white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus Richardson reflected in peritoneal fluid and blood plasma

To evaluate whether stress-response indicators in blood plasma (BP) are similarly reflected in the peritoneal fluid (PF) white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus were stressed by a 30 min air exposure and pH, PCO2, osmolality, cortisol, glucose and lactate levels measured. Changes in certain stress indicators in the BP (pH, PCO2, osmolality and glucose) also occurred in the PF, while stressorinduced changes in cortisol and lactate were restricted to the BP. Data suggest that PF is a modified ultrafiltrate of the blood and potentially a useful indicator of animal stress. # 2008 The Authors Journal compilation # 2008 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Temporal Difference Learning of an Othello Evaluation Function for a Small Neural Network with Shared Weights

This paper presents an artificial neural network with shared weights, trained to play the game of Othello by self-play with temporal difference learning (TDL). The network performs as well as the champion of the CEC 2006 Othello Evaluation Function Competition. The TDL-trained network contains only 67 unique weights compared to 2113 for the champion
Incentive information sharing in various market structures

Information sharing between firms has been cited as a major means to improve firm performance. This paper develops a conceptual framework that relates information sharing to firm profitability in a duopoly market. The framework allows each firm to have its own private information about uncertain market demand. We utilize a game-theoretical model to examine this framework. Our results reveal that information sharing has no uniform effect on firm performance. Firms behaving in the Bertrand mode benefit from information sharing only under certain conditions. However, firms behaving in the Stackelberg mode always benefit from information sharing. Further, we examine how the value of information sharing is affected by the nature of firm, the product brand, and the degree of product differentiation. Our results show that when two firms have high level of customer satisfaction, offer products with reputable brands, or sell products that are strongly substituted in the market, information sharing becomes significantly important and imperative to both firms. Particularly if two firms behave in a Stackelberg mode, the value of information sharing further increases. Furthermore, we also address the issue of information distortion and propose EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) information system with a nonnegative matrix-factorization technique as an effective and valuable mechanism to eliminate any possible information distortion, so that both firms can share their forecast information truthfully. Information becomes a critical resource to the success of a firm.Information sharing of competing firms is becoming increasingly prevalent.Information sharing shows different influences on the performance of a firm acting in different modes.Information could be distorted while sharing information.Valuable mechanism is needed to eliminate information distortion.
Teaching business analytics

It is essential to prepare students with knowledge and skills in area of business analytics (BA) which will help business to process data, find patterns and relations, develop insights from past transactions, and make prediction. We develop hands-on labs to teach business analytics to students in Computer Science, Information Technology, and Software Engineering disciplines. Our hands-on labs can be adopted in courses such as database systems, data warehousing, data mining, etc. We use enterprise BA tools including MS SQL Server Business Intelligence and Cognos 10 platforms, which are essential to increase student interests, improve student learning, and enhance student confidence. Our hands-on labs contain three parts with one is built upon another: 1) Data integration; 2) Data Warehouse; and 3) Business analytics.
Periodic, incommensurate and chaotic states in a continuum statistical mechanics model

We study the thermodynamic behavior of a continuum system with competing periodicities. We show that in addition to commensurate and incommensurate phases, there exist configurations which are chaotic in nature and exhibit no long-range order. These phases are metastable and characterized by an order parameter with a continuous spectrum. By transforming the problem of determining the ground states of the system into a classical mechanics problem, we construct a two-dimensional area-preserving map which can be used to study the qualitative nature of the orbits. Our results might be of relevance to adsorbed monolayers on periodic substrates.
Wells’ syndrome: a clinical and histopathologic review of seven cases

Wells' syndrome, or eosinophilic cellulitis, is characterized clinically by an acute dermatitis resembling cellulitis, which evolves into violaceous plaques that resolve spontaneously without scarring. The histopathologic features are dynamic, starting with dermal edema and infiltration of eosinophils, the development of "flame figures," and finishing with the appearance of phagocytic histiocytes. We present the clinical and histopathologic features of seven cases of eosinophilic cellulitis.
Luminescent ruthenium(II) bipyridyl-phosphonic acid complexes: pH dependent photophysical behavior and quenching with divalent metal ions.

The synthesis, redox behavior, and photophysical properties of a series of Ru(II) bipyridyl complexes having diimine ligands with phosphonate and phosphonic acid substituents are presented. The phosphonate-containing ligands examined include diethyl 4-(2,2‘-bipyrid-4-yl)benzylphosphonate (bpbzp), diethyl 4-(2,2‘-bipyrid-4-yl)phenylphosphonate (bppp), and 4,4‘-(diethyl phosphonato)-2,2‘-bipyridine (bpdp), and the [(bpy)2Ru(L)](PF6)2 complexes of both the diethyl phosphonate and the phosphonic acid were prepared. The Ru(III/II) potentials are more positive for the phosphonate complexes than for the phosphonic acids, and the first reduction is localized on the phosphonate-containing ligand for the bppp and bpdp complexes. The first reduction of the phosphonic acid complexes is at more negative potentials and cannot be distinguished from bpy reduction. For the bppp and bpdp complexes luminescence arises from a Ru(dπ) → bpy-phosphonate (π*) MLCT state; the phosphonic acid complexes luminesce at higher energies...
Volume regulation in three species of marine mussels

Abstract Three species of marine mussels were acclimated to the following range of osmotic concentrations: Modiolus modiolus L., 718–1000 mOsm; Mytilus edulis L., 375–980 mOsm; Geukensia demissa Dillwyn, 298–900 mOsm. Changes in the relative weight of whole animals, or changes in tissue water, extracellular water, and intracellular water of the posterior adductor muscle were measured in mussels acclimated to the different osmotic concentrations. These parameters were regressed against the reciprocal of relative osmotic concentration (1/ROC). The slopes of the regression lines were used to estimate the capacity for volume regulation: the larger the slope the lower the capacity. The relative weight of Modiolus acclimated to different osmotic concentrations changed significantly, indicating imperfect volume regulation, but no such change occurred in either Mytilus or Geukensia , indicating perfect volume regulation. For both tissue water and intracellular water, the slopes of the regression lines indicated that the capacity for volume regulation followed the sequence: Geukensia = Mytilus > Modiolus . Extracellular water decreased with an increase in osmotic concentration in Modiolus , but was constant in both Mytilus and Geukensia . The ratio of intracellular water to total tissue water followed the sequence Modiolus > Mytilus > Geukensia .
Mcm3 is polyubiquitinated during mitosis before establishment of the pre-replication complex.

To ensure fidelity in genome duplication, eukaryotes restrict DNA synthesis to once every cell division by a cascade of regulated steps. Central to this cascade is the periodic assembly of the hexameric MCM2–7 complex at replication origins. However, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, only a fraction of each MCM protein is able to assemble into hexamers and associate with replication origins during M phase, suggesting that MCM complex assembly and recruitment may be regulated post-translationally. Here we show that a small fraction of Mcm3p is polyubiquitinated at the onset of MCM complex assembly. Reducing the rate of ubiquitination byuba1-165, a suppressor of mcm3-10, restored the interaction of Mcm3-10p with subunits of the MCM complex and its recruitment to the replication origin. Possible roles for ubiquitinated Mcm3p in the assembly of the MCM complex at replication origins are discussed.
A new class of inhibitors of 2-arachidonoylglycerol hydrolysis and invasion of prostate cancer cells.

Endogenous 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) inhibits invasion of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Blocking cellular hydrolysis of 2-AG to increase its endogenous concentration results in a decrease in cell invasion. A series of compounds containing a trifluoromethyl ketone (TFK) moiety or the methyl analog (known to inhibit carboxylesterases) were investigated for their ability to inhibit 2-AG hydrolysis and prostate cancer cell invasion. Compounds containing a thioether β to a TFK moiety inhibited 2-AG hydrolysis as well as cell invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of 2-AG hydrolysis increased concomitantly with inhibitor alkyl chain length from 4- to 12-carbons while inhibition of cell invasion exhibited a maximum at 8- to 10-carbons of the compounds. These results demonstrate a new series of 2-AG hydrolysis inhibitors as a potential therapeutic approach for prostate cancer.
Optimization of a polymer top electrode for inverted semitransparent organic solar cells

Abstract We report on semitransparent organic solar cells using a single-layer blend based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the top electrode. The PEDOT:PSS blend was prepared by mixing a high-conductivity formulation of PEDOT:PSS (H.C. Starck CLEVIOS PH-1000) and another formulation of PEDOT:PSS (H.C. Starck CLEVIOS CPP 105D). The PEDOT:PSS blend yields good wetting properties on the hydrophobic surface of a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM), and shows a conductivity over 400 S cm−1. Semitransparent organic solar cells using the PEDOT:PSS blend as the top electrode with a structure of glass/ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PC60BM/PEDOT:PSS-blend exhibited an average power conversion efficiency of 2.4% estimated for 100 mW cm−2 AM 1.5G illumination.
Recent developments in organic synthesis by electrolysis

A l'aide de nombreux exemples, on montre l'application de reactions electrochimiques a la synthese de composes organiques
Tidal pumping drives nutrient and dissolved organic matter dynamics in a Gulf of Mexico subterranean estuary

We hypothesize that nutrient cycling in a Gulf of Mexico subterranean estuary (STE) is fueled by oxygen and labile organic matter supplied by tidal pumping of seawater into the coastal aquifer. We estimate nutrient production rates using the standard estuarine model and a non-steady-state box model, separate nutrient fluxes associated with fresh and saline submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), and estimate offshore fluxes from radium isotope distributions. The results indicate a large variability in nutrient concentrations over tidal and seasonal time scales. At high tide, nutrient concentrations in shallow beach groundwater were low as a result of dilution caused by seawater recirculation. During ebb tide, the concentrations increased until they reached a maximum just before the next high tide. The dominant form of nitrogen was dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in freshwater, nitrate in brackish waters, and ammonium in saline waters. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) production was two-fold higher in the summer than in the winter, while nitrate and DON production were one order of magnitude higher. Oxic remineralization and denitrification most likely explain these patterns. Even though fresh SGD accounted for only ∼5% of total volumetric additions, it was an important pathway of nutrients as a result of biogeochemical inputs in the mixing zone. Fresh SGD transported ∼25% of DOC and ∼50% of total dissolved nitrogen inputs into the coastal ocean, with the remainder associated with a one-dimensional vertical seawater exchange process. While SGD volumetric inputs are similar seasonally, changes in the biogeochemical conditions of this coastal plain STE led to higher summertime SGD nutrient fluxes (40% higher for DOC and 60% higher for nitrogen in the summer compared to the winter). We suggest that coastal primary production and nutrient dynamics in the STE are linked.
A DFT study of the Al2O3 atomic layer deposition on SAMs: Effect of SAM termination

The atomistic mechanism of the initial atomic layer deposition (ALD) reaction of trimethylaluminum [Al(CH3)3, TMA] on octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS)-based self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with different functional termination groups was investigated using density functional theory (DFT). The adsorption of TMA on −NH2-terminated OTS involves formation of a dative bond between the amine lone pair and the Al atom of TMA and is exothermic by 0.86 eV. Conversion of the dative bond to a covalent bond through a four-centered H transfer from the NH2 to the methyl group of TMA to form methane involves a barrier that is 1.22 eV above the adsorbed complex and is exothermic by 0.94 eV. Reaction between TMA and the −OH-terminated SAM results in an adsorption energy of 0.60 eV. Although the dative bond is weaker, the barrier to converting the dative bond to a covalent bond to form methane is only 0.65 eV relative to the complex structure and the overall reaction is exothermic by 1.44 eV. The reaction of TMA with the me...
Studies of Herd Management Records II. Relation of Gestation Length to Birth Weight of Holstein Calves of both Sexes at Various Calvings

Summary A study of 755 normal gestations, 384 male births and 371 female, of Holstein calves in the University of Nebraska herd during the period 1897-1950 was made to determine the relationship between length of gestation and birth weights of calves, by sexes and successive calvings. Gestation length for each sex and for the successive calvings showed no significant trend. The average gestation length for males was 278.9 days and for females 278.4 days. The average birth weight for males was 96.7 lb., and for females 90.3 lb. Analysis of variance showed that differences in birth weight due to sex, calving sequence, and gestation length were significant (P
Node roles and community structure in networks

A node role is a subjective characterization of the part it plays in a network structure. Knowing the role of a node is important for many link mining applications. For example, in Web search, nodes that are deemed to be authorities on a given topic are often found to be most relevant to the user's queries. There are a number of metrics that can be used to assign roles to individual nodes in a network, including degree, closeness, and betweenness. None of these metrics, however, take into account the community structure that underlies the network. In this paper we define community-based roles that the nodes can assume (ambassadors, big fish, loners, and bridges) and show how existing link mining techniques can be improved by knowledge of such roles. A new community-based metric is introduced for estimating the number of communities linked to a node. Using this metric and a modification of degree, we show how to assign community-based roles to the nodes. We also illustrate the benefits of knowing the community-based node roles in the context of link-based classification and influence maximization.
A Spectral Algorithm for Latent Tree Graphical Models

Latent variable models are powerful tools for probabilistic modeling, and have been successfully applied to various domains, such as speech analysis and bioinformatics. However, parameter learning algorithms for latent variable models have predominantly relied on local search heuristics such as expectation maximization (EM). We propose a fast, local-minimum-free spectral algorithm for learning latent variable models with arbitrary tree topologies, and show that the joint distribution of the observed variables can be reconstructed from the marginals of triples of observed variables irrespective of the maximum degree of the tree. We demonstrate the performance of our spectral algorithm on synthetic and real datasets; for large training sizes, our algorithm performs comparable to or better than EM while being orders of magnitude faster.
The weighted redundancy transform

An algorithm is introduced for computing the multidimensional finite Fourier transform. The algorithm can be applied to data samples of any size. In most cases, it offers a substantial reduction in the computational complexity. >