cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploiting the predictability of TCP's steady-state behavior to speed up network simulation

In discrete-event network simulation, a significant portion of resources and computation are dedicated to the creation and processing of packet transmission events. For large-scale network simulations with a large number of high-speed data flows, the processing of packet events is the most time consuming aspect of the simulation. We develop a technique that saves on the processing of packet events for TCP flows using the well established results showing that the average behavior of a TCP flow is predictable given a steady-state path condition. We exploit this to predict the average behavior of a TCP flow over a future period of time where steady-state conditions hold, thus allowing for a reduction (or elimination) of the processing required for packet events during this period. We consider two approaches to predicting TCP's steady-state behavior: using throughput formulas or by direct monitoring of a flow's throughput in a simulation. We design a simulation framework that provides the flexibility to incorporate this method of simulating TCP packet flows. Our goal is (1) to accommodate different network configurations, on/off flow behavior and interaction between predicted flows and packet-based flows; and (2) to preserve the statistical behavior of every entity in the system, from hosts to routers to links, so as to maintain the accuracy of the network simulation as a whole. In order to illustrate the promise of this idea we implement it in the context of the ns2 simulation system. A set of experiments illustrate the speedup and approximation of the simulation framework under different scenarios and for different network performance metrics.
The oral tradition in special care issues

n January 21st of this year, in connection with the celebration of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., I had the distinct pleasure of hearing the late Alex Haley, author of ”Roots”, describe some of the forces which shaped his formative years. He spoke simply and eloquently about the significance of the oral tradition. Parenthetically, there was eloquence in the gestures of the translator for the deaf accompanying the speaker. Mr. Haley’s thesis was that the spoken word, carried down through the generations, was indeed history and was a force which in itself generated history. In his accounting of his boyhood memories, the speakers assumed as much importance as the message. Both subject and speaker, and even the setting, were things which were imprinted on the mind of the young listener. inspirational. He believed in what he spoke. importance of the oral tradition. Those of us who teach have the opportunity to pass on our experiences to our students and to our audiences in courses and seminars, to share with them our experiences complete with failures as well as successes. We need to attach more than just scientific rationale to explain why we do the things we do. This is more than what is implied by the usual case presentations.
A Computational Procedure for the Determination of Fracture Parameters at Interfacial Contact Cracks in Composite Laminates

This article presents a method to calculate the fracture parameters at interfacial cracks in laminated composites. Depending on the applied loading and crack length, a contact region may develop th...
An Analysis Of SAS No. 99 And Its Impact On The Big Fraud In Kentucky

Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 99 was implemented in 2002 and requires auditors to expand audit procedures to detect fraud. This paper analyzes the impact the procedures outlined in SAS No. 99 would have made if they had been in effect at the time of one of the largest frauds in the history of Kentucky. Wallace Wilkinson, former governor of Kentucky, was the target of FBI investigations at least seven times. Wilkinson entangled such well-known names as the late Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s restaurants, in his fraud. At the time of his death in July 2002, Wilkinson’s business empire was in bankruptcy after being kept afloat for years by one of the largest Ponzi schemes in the history of the state.
Domestic violence and the trauma surgeon: results of a study on knowledge and education.

Abstract Background: Despite the frequency of domestic violence in trauma patients, little emphasis has been placed on this subject in the education of surgeons and emergency medicine physicians. The 1997 Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course included, for the first time, education about domestic violence. This study was done to test the hypothesis that baseline knowledge about domestic violence in trauma care providers is poor and is not improved by the 1997 ATLS course. Study Design: A study on domestic violence was designed using attending general surgeons, general surgery and emergency medicine residents, and medical students as test subjects. An educational lecture and pre- and post-tests were developed using the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma position paper on domestic violence and other peer-reviewed literature as information sources. Data collected included level of training, date ATLS course was taken, and pre- and post-test scores. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA, with significance attributed to p Results: Ninety-two subjects attended the lecture and completed the pre- and post-tests. The overall mean pre-test score was 54 ± 1. There was no difference in scores for the 1997 ATLS cohort (with domestic violence material) versus the group with earlier ATLS courses (52 ± 2 versus 51 ± 1). The group that had never taken ATLS scored significantly better on the pre-test than the other groups (58 ± 2, p Conclusions: Baseline knowledge about domestic violence among surgeons and emergency medicine physicians was poor and was not improved by participation in the 1997 ATLS course. This study strongly supports the need for expanded domestic violence education for trauma care providers.
Role of nitric oxide in the vascular effects of local warming of the skin in humans

Local warming of skin induces vasodilation by unknown mechanisms. To test whether nitric oxide (NO) is involved, we examined effects of NO synthase (NOS) inhibition with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on vasodilation induced by local warming of skin in six subjects. Two adjacent sites on the forearm were instrumented with intradermal microdialysis probes for delivery of L-NAME and sodium nitroprusside. Skin blood flow was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) at microdialysis sites. Local temperature (Tloc) of the skin at both sites was controlled with special LDF probe holders. Mean arterial pressure (MAP; Finapres) was measured and cutaneous vascular conductance calculated (CVC = LDF/MAP = mV/mmHg). Data collection began with a control period (Tloc at both sites = 34 degrees C). One site was then warmed to 41 degrees C while the second was maintained at 34 degrees C. Local warming increased CVC from 1.44 +/- 0.41 to 4.28 +/- 0.60 mV/mmHg (P < 0.05). Subsequent L-NAME administration reduced CVC to 2.28 +/- 0.47 mV/mmHg (P < 0.05 vs. heating), despite the continued elevation of Tloc. At a Tloc of 34 degrees C, L-NAME reduced CVC from 1.17 +/- 0.23 to 0.75 +/- 0.11 mV/mmHg (P < 0.05). Administration of sodium nitroprusside increased CVC to levels no different from those induced by local warming. Thus NOS inhibition attenuated, and sodium nitroprusside restored, the cutaneous vasodilation induced by elevation of Tloc; therefore, the mechanism of cutaneous vasodilation by local warming requires NOS generation of NO.
Additive Schwarz algorithms for parabolic convection-diffusion equations

In this paper, we consider the solution of linear systems of algebraic equations that arise from parabolic finite element problems. We introduce three additive Schwarz type domain decomposition methods for general, not necessarily selfadjoint, linear, second order, parabolic partial differential equations and also study the convergence rates of these algorithms. The resulting preconditioned linear system of equations is solved by the generalized minimal residual method. Numerical results are also reported.
Linear queries in statistical databases

A database is compromised if a user can determine the data elements associated with keys which he did not know previously. If it is possible, compromise can be achieved by posing a finite set of queries over sets of data elements and employing initial information to solve the resulting system of equations. Assuming the allowable queries are linear, that is, weighted sums of data elements, we show how compromise can be achieved and we characterize the maximal initial information permitted of a user in a secure system. When compromise is possible, the initial information and the number of queries required to achieve it is surprisingly small.
Potential role for P-glycoprotein in the non-proportional pharmacokinetics of UK-343,664 in man.

1. UK-343,664 is a potent and specific PDE5 inhibitor. Following single oral doses to human volunteers, it exhibited non-proportional pharmacokinetics over the dose range 30-800mg. Over this 27-fold dose range, Cmax and AUCt increased 247- and 287-fold respectively. The half-life (4-6 h) was similar at all doses. No systemic exposure was quantifiable at doses <10 mg. 2. UK-343,664 is a lipophilic molecule (log D7.4 = 3.1) and as such is expected to be cleared mainly by metabolism. Based on studies with expressed human P450 enzymes it was concluded that the metabolism of UK-343,664 was predominantly mediated by CYP3A4. With a moderate Km
A comparison of point-count and mist-net detections of songbirds by habitat and time-of-season

We compared the results of point-count and mist-net surveys during the breeding and post-breeding seasons in four Missouri Ozark habitats: mature upland forest, mature riparian forest, 9- to 10-yr-old upland forest and 3- to 4-yr-old upland forest created by clearcutting. We determined whether differences in abundance estimates among habitats or between breeding and post-breeding seasons varied with survey method (i.e., habitat x method, season x method, or habitat x season x method interaction effects), The habitat x method interaction was significant for 13 of 16 species. The general pattern was for canopy or sub-canopy species to be detected by point counts more often in the mature-forest habitats, and to be detected by mist nets more often in the young-forest habitats. The season x method interaction was significant for 6 species largely because there was a greater decrease from breeding to post breeding season in mist-net captures than point-count detections. Two species had a significant habitat x season x method interaction. Differences in the patterns in abundance among habitats and between seasons, by survey method, are indicative of bias in the survey methods. Individuals planning bird surveys should recognize these biases and select the method that best samples the segment of the community they are surveying and that is least likely to confound treatment effects. Often this may require the use of multiple survey methods.
Describing Early America: Bartram, Jefferson, Crèvecoeur, and the Rhetoric of Natural History

Examines texts from 18th-century America, which have been considered belles-lettres, and finds in them scientific methods and systematic observations of a now extinct discipline, natural history. Shows how descriptions of plant, animal, and human life adhered to earlier principles, and how they inf
Asymptotic Similarity in Neutral Barotropic Planetary Boundary Layers

Abstract New similarity expressions for turbulent Ekman layers have recently appeared, the theoretical foundation of which is analyzed in this paper. It is shown that the flow in Ekman layers has to be solved by singular perturbation methods. The similarity laws given by Gill and Csanady are, in first approximation, independent of the surface Rossby number if it is sufficiently large.
Outcome and Management of Primary Amputations, Subtotal Amputation Injuries, and Severe Open Fractures with Nerve Injuries

Patients with severe lower-extremity trauma present multiple challenges to surgeons, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, and family members. Often there is considerable debate surrounding limb salvage or to proceed with early amputation. Prior to the LEAP study (Lower Extremity Assessment Project), high-level evidence assisting the clinician in this decision was lacking. This chapter details the findings of the LEAP study and other studies examining combat-related injuries and provides the surgeon and other members of the treatment team valuable information and guidance in the management and counseling of the trauma patient with severe limb-threatening trauma.
How Medication Affects the Existence of an ADA Disability

This brief article summarizes the United States Supreme Court decision of Sutton v. United Airlines, Inc. (U.S. 1999) and its impact on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Love beneath the Napalm

Author Redwood, presents the story of an aged Vietnamese man living in Schenectady, New York. Horribly burned by a napalm attack at the An Loc Battlefield, the old man has lived with the scars of war. A chance encounter with a young Vietnamese girl calls forth memories of youth, dignity, and hope lost to the ravages of war and cultural marginalization.
Assembly rules for Greater Antillean Anolis lizards : Competition and random models compared.

Using previously published data, several models were constructed to predict the distribution of Anolis lizard species on a set of sites on Puerto Rico and Jamaica. The models form a series with increasing ecological detail. The simpler “null” models are based on randomly created species-site matrices using progressively greater dependency on the observed matrix. The remaining models hypothesize that competition is the most important biotic interaction determining the intra-island distribution of the lizards. “Simple” competition models test the predictive power of simple statistical descriptions relating intensity of competition and ecological variables such as niche overlap and body size ratios. More complicated models are based on the ecomorph model of Williams (1972) and use the lizard resourceuse data of several niche dimensions (e.g., perch diameter and height). These models are derived from Puerto Rican data and tested against Jamaican data. The primary statistical tool used to test the accuracy of these models in the kappa statistic (Fleiss 1973) which assesses the degree of agreement in a contingency table relative to that expected by chance. The model structure is based on generative grammars (Haefner 1981), but is also related to artificial intelligence expert systems. Model comparisons indicate the following. (1) Only those null models constrained by the marginals of the observed species-site matrix agree with observed data. (2) Simple competition models based on fixed size ratios and/or fixed levels of allowable overlap do not agree well. (3) A complex competition model developed for Puerto Rico also shows significant agreement with lizard distributions on Jamaica, but is not better than a constrained null model. (4) If allowance is made for the restricted distribution of A. sagrei, a recent colonist of Jamaica, agreement of the competition model increases dramatically. It is predicted that A. sagrei would persist following an experimental transplant to eastern Jamaica.
Ethylene Dibromide Fumigation of Citrus in Reefer Compartments on a Refrigerated Ship

A cooperative study to test the feasibility of shipboard fumigation of citrus with ethylene dibromide (EDB) was conducted in September 1981, in Long Beach, Calif. The refrigerated holds (reefers) were used as fumigation chambers. Concentrations of EDB in the reefers during fumigation and aeration were measured using an infrared analyzer. Sixteen separate areas through the ship where seamen would normally work, eat, and sleep during a voyage were monitored from the start of fumigation through 5 days after fumigation. Work areas of potential human exposure had either no EDB or concentrations that were well below 130 ppb. During transit, the aerating reefers were checked daily for EDB concentrations; EDB concentrations at various positions on the ship and in the fumigated reefers were measured before and during unloading. In Hong Kong, fruit (oranges and lemons) was inspected and samples were sent to the United States for residue analysis. These tests indicated that shipboard fumigation of commodities for export may be an alternative to chamber fumigation on land because the method meets current worker health and safety considerations.
Craft Specialists at Moche: Organization, Affiliations, and Identities

This article examines the organization of specialized craft production at the urban site of Moche, known as the capital of the Southern Moche state. Recent excavations in workshop contexts revealed that the urban population of Moche was in part composed of ceramists, metallurgists, and lapidaries. These craft specialists played a significant role in the economic, political, and religious spheres of the Moche polity. Data obtained during excavations of workshops and domestic compounds are used to analyze the context, scale, and intensity of craft production, taking into account the nature of the goods produced and the identity of consumers. The discussion also considers the integration of craft specialists into the daily life and social structure at the site of Moche. Excavations showed that while urban craft specialists were not independent, they were not tightly controlled by a centralized ruling elite. They produced symbolic goods in various small to middle-scale workshops integrated into residential units, under the direct authority of urban leaders taking advantage of this particular organization of semi-attached craft production in various status-building strategies.
Beyond Justification in Paul: The Thesis of the Deliverance of God

Let me begin by observing that many Pauline interpreters share with me a fundamentally participatory view of Paul's gospel, understanding salvation as a pneumatological incorporation into Christ's death and resurrection. This is arguably an irreducibly proto-trinitarian account as well, so recently Michael Gorman has rightly emphasised theosis within its description. This view holds further that the only effective ethic for a sinful humanity is generated by divine action, essentially in terms of inaugurated eschatology; humanity must be transformed in Christ in order to act well. Hence Douglas Moo clearly shares this articulation. Indeed, I do not know of an Evangelical who does not affirm everything that has just been said; but it tends to be arranged under the rubric of ‘sanctification’, and hence treated in second position in any account of Paul's gospel. And this brings us to the nub of the problem, and to the solution, that I articulate in my book The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul.
Engagement: Where to next?

Abstract In my commentary, I discuss the historical origins of the Fredricks et al. 3 dimensions of engagement, provide some critical assessment of the individual papers in this special issue, and lay out the argument for renewed theoretical analysis of the concept of engagement. Specifically, the importance of theoretical work related to the definitions of engagement, dimensionality questions, and origins of, and influences, on engagement are discussed.
Regions: The Economics and Politics of Territory

Ann Markusen, one of the foremost theoreticians of regional development, has produced a book destined to become a classic in its field. Regions is a penetrating and innovative study of the political and economic aspects of American regionalism. Using historical materialism as a methodological foundation, the author analyzes the historical developments and contemporary issues of American regionalism. She contends that territorial differentiation and conflicts have emerged as major determinants in the spatial transformation of American regions. The book is rich in historical facts and case studies that are used to illuminate the theoretical dimensions of the contemporary public policy debates on regionalism.
Further examination of low-mass\(\bar p\)π−π+ and pπ−π+ enhancements in the reaction\(\bar p\)p→\(\bar p\)π−pπ+ at (2.8 ÷ 3.5) GeV/cπ−pπ+ at (2.8 ÷ 3.5) GeV/c

It is shown that an enhancement at 1.4 GeV in the\(\bar p\)π−π+ and pπ−π+ mass spectra from the reaction\(\bar p\)p→\(\bar p\)pπ+π− at (2.8÷3.5) GeV/c is not a reflection of the processOpen image in new window.
Modelling and analysis of population dynamics using Lur’e systems accounting for competition from adult conspecifics

We study the equilibrium dynamics of a Lur’e system modelling a structured population, where adult conspecifics are assumed to have a negative density-dependent feedback on the recruitment of possible recruits. We find that, depending on the model’s parameter values, the population either goes extinct or has a positive equilibrium that is asymptotically stable, globally attracting or globally asymptotically stable. We apply our results to an integral projection model for the Platte thistle (Cirsium canescens) and highlight open aspects of this problem for future work.
An Evaluation of Dazomet Incorporation Methods on Soilborne Organisms and Pine Seedling Production in Southern Nurseries

The use of dazomet as a fall and spring fumigant for pine seedling production and control of soi lborne pests was evaluated at two southern nurseries . Dazomet was appl ied at low (280-325 kg/ha) and high (493-560 kg/ha) rates and incorporated wi th a rotot i l ler or spading machine. Comparisons were made wi th methyl bromide/chloropicrin (MBC)fumigat ion and nonfumigated control treatments . Dazomet incorporat ion method had no effect on seedling density at either nursery, and often did not affect seedling morphological characteris t ics . At the Georgia (GA) nursery, seedl ing densi ty and morphological characteris t ics did not differ among fumigant treatments except in the spring study area where shoot weight was greater in the MBC treatment than the dazomet or nonfumigated control treatments . In the s tudy area a t the North Carol ina (NC) nursery, seedl ing densi ty was greater in the high-rate dazomet treatment than the nonfumigated control . Seedlings were generally larger in MBC and dazomet treatments than the control. Seedling density and morphological character is t ics did not differ amongfumigat ion treatments in the spring s tudy area. Fumigat ion wi th A4BC or dazomet generally reduced the percentage of roo t s w i th Pyth ium and Fusar ium spp. compared to controls at the GA nursery and the fal l fumigat ion area in the NC nursery . Plant parasi t ic nematodes were found infrequently at both nurseries and did not difSer among treatments. Nutsedge (Cyperus spp.) was the major problem at the GA nursery and was effectively controlled only with MBC. Compared to the MBC treatment, the abundance of soi lborne fungi and the associat ion of certain types of’lkichoderma wi th roo t s was ofren lower in the dazomet treatments . The importance of these dif ferences for long term seedl ing product ion and management of soi lborne diseases is not known at this t ime. South. J . Appl . For. 27(1):41-51.
Accelerating into the future

Accelerator science has traditionally been associated with high-energy physics and nuclear physics. But the use of accelerators in other areas of science, as well as in medicine and industry, is steadily growing. Accelerators are now, for example, used to treat cancer using proton therapy, which can deposit radiation onto a tumour while causing much less damage to surrounding healthy tissue than with other treatment techniques.
Indigenous Archaeological Field Technicians at Tiwanaku, Bolivia: A Hybrid Form of Scientific Labor

Archaeology is a science with an intimate investment in the bodies that labor to produce its objects of knowledge. Data comes into being through tactile skills: eyes that see, hands that touch, voices that name and debate. It matters, therefore, who constitutes and controls the labor force; yet little has been written about archaeological workers. Here I outline the relationship between archaeologists and indigenous workers at Tiwanaku, Bolivia, showing that archaeologists did not have direct control over labor on their sites, including who was hired, how much they were paid, and how jobs were defined. These decisions are made by the community's Mallkus in active (sometimes protracted) negotiation with the archaeologists. While active and constant, the process of bargaining was not necessarily conflicted; moreover, it led to a form of labor organization and scientific practice that was neither entirely “Aymara/indigenous” nor entirely “archaeological/scientific.” It thus forms an intriguing example of a form of hybrid scientific practice that incorporates two very different conceptualizations of labor, both as it relates to specific individuals (who is capable of occupying specific jobs) and how it is valued (what the underlying purpose of scientific work should be).
Diet composition and foraging ecology of U.S. Pacific Coast groundfishes with applications for fisheries management

Determining the prey composition and foraging habitats of U.S. Pacific Coast groundfishes are specified management directives that have not received much scientific attention. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of the feeding ecology of 18 commercially important species and their life stages during a recent review of Pacific Coast groundfish essential fish habitat. A Major Prey Index was developed to evaluate relative importance among 47 prey taxa. Based on this metric, unidentified teleosts, euphausiids, and brachyuran crabs were the most important prey groups. When 14 generalized prey categories were used, fishes represented the dominant taxon (mean % weight or volume = 32.3) followed by shrimps (11.5), crabs (10.0), and euphausiids (9.5). PERMANOVA results indicated that species-specific differences were the primary source of dietary variability among tested variables (life stage, functional group, taxonomic group). Pacific Coast groundfishes mainly were characterized as mesopredators with estimated trophic levels ranging from 3.4 to 4.2. Foraging habitats differed significantly among functional (benthic, demersal, pelagic) and taxonomic (elasmobranch, roundfish, rockfish, flatfish) groups. Using hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis, we identified a significantly distinct trophic guild that consumes mainly polychaetes and hard-shelled molluscs (juvenile, juvenile–adult Dover Sole; juvenile–adult English Sole) and another that specializes on euphausiids (juvenile Pacific Hake; juvenile–adult Darkblotched Rockfish). Our findings filled substantial data gaps in the trophic ecology and habitat-based management of commercially important species and can be used to inform future reviews of Pacific Coast groundfish essential fish habitat.
Fandom and the Shawshank Trail (research contributions by Richard Roberson, Jr.)

Shawshank’s fan base is so enthusiastic and prolific that it has inspired the creation of the Shawshank Trail, in addition to multiple fan-generated websites devoted to further study and discussion of the film, OSR, and other filming locations. The Shawshank Trail has brought together the unique stories of a prison, a community, and the film that employed them as its backdrop in creating a work of art that has now become a part of the world’s cinematic pantheon. This final chapter considers the experience the Trail provides for fans and how it fits into current fandom theory and tourism studies—exploring its nexus to state and local tourism, fan identification with the film, and the Trail’s effect on fans by stimulating various personal and emotive levels of nostalgia.
Modifications and adaptations of the Charm II rapid antibody assay for chloramphenicol in honey.

The Charm II screening method for the presence of chloramphenicol in honey has a sensitivity of 0.3 ppb. This screening method is a simple, rapid antibody assay using [3H]chloramphenicol and a binding reagent. Analysis of different types of honey revealed considerable differences in results. Honey can be liquid, crystallized (creamed), or partially crystallized and is classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture into seven color categories: water white, extra white, white, extra light amber, light amber, amber, and dark amber. Fortified and nonfortified liquid amber honey tested appropriately with the Charm II unit and the negative control provided with the unit after slight modifications were made. However, approximately 70% of creamed honey samples fortified at 0.6 ppb did not test positive for the presence of chloramphenicol using the provided negative control. Matrix quenching effects were evaluated, and these effects were accounted for by establishing different assay conditions for different hone...
Tough Nano‐Architectured Conductive Textile Made by Capillary Splicing of Carbon Nanotubes

Flexible electronics require electrically conductive and mechanically reliable nanoscale thin films. However, thin metal films have low fracture energy, which limits the performance of flexible devices. We demonstrate the design and synthesis of highly conductive, strong and tough nano-architectured textile by capillary splicing of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNT). Owing to the strong van der Waals forces among CNTs, the pristine CNT network has average strength of 170 MPa. The average fracture energy of the textile is 16 kJ/m2, 50 folds higher than metal nanofilms. The high toughness results from crack bifurcations and friction hysteresis in a dissipation zone propagating several millimeters ahead of the crack tip. This material is suitable for applications ranging from smart skin and flexible sensors.
Asymptotic properties of maximum likelihood estimates for a bivariate exponential distribution and mixed censored data

This article investigates asymptotic properties of the maximum likelihood estimators (MLE) of parameters in the bivariate exponential distribution (BVE) of Marshall and Olkin (1967) based on the following mixed censored data. In life-testing two-component parallel systems (A, B), a cost-saving procedure is to stop the testing experiment after observing the first r failure times of component A. The resulting data are (X (1), Y * [1]), (X (2), Y * [2]), …,(X (r) , Y * [ r ]), (X * (r+1), Y * [r+1]), …, (X * ( n ), Y * [ n ]), where X (1)≤X (2)≤⋯≤X ( r ) are ordered lifetimes from component A, and Y [ i ] is the concomitant order statistic corresponding to X ( i ) from component B. The data X * (r+1), …, X * ( n ), and Y * [ i ], i=1, …, n are all censored at time X ( r )=x ( r ). Because of the complexity of the data type and the irregularity of the BVE distribution of (X, Y), there are no immediately applicable asymptotic results for the MLE. This article provides a rigorous treatment of the asymptotic behavior of the MLE, with a numerical example illustrating the mathematical derivations.
Synonymous mutation in TP53 results in a cryptic splice site affecting its DNA-binding site in an adolescent with two primary sarcomas

Pathologic variants in TP53 are known risk factors for the development of cancer. We report a 17-year-old male who presented with two primary sarcomas. Germline sequencing revealed a novel TP53 c.672 G>A mutation. Sequencing revealed wild-type TP53 in the parents, and there was no history of cancer in first-degree relatives. This de novo synonymous germline mutation results in a 5' cryptic splice site that is bound by U1, resulting in a shift of the splice site by 5 base pairs. The frame shift results in a truncated protein at residue 246, which disrupts the DNA-binding domain of p53.
The Digital Literacy Partnership Website: Promoting Interdisciplinary Scholarship between Faculty, Students, and Librarians.

ABSTRACTIn 2013, the Center for Digital Scholarship at Miami University was established and coincided with the redesign of the Children's Picture Book Database, which had a successful web presence for nearly 20 years. We developed the Digital Literacy Partnership (DLP) website project in order to upgrade the project to Omeka as a new digital management tool and to establish a second resource called the Health Literacy Database. Over time, the project grew to include three databases with the mission to promote the contributions of literacy, health, and technology on learning. In this case study, we describe the role of academic libraries in supporting faculty and student design projects; share the history and mission of the DLP project; and explain the digital team of faculty, librarians, and undergraduate students. We also outline the production of public health eBooks targeted to children and adults with low literacy skills; the social marketing decisions we made from web usage statistics; and the techni...
Abstract 10889: Treating Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Through Troponin I Phospho-mimicry

Background—Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF-pEF), characterized by resistance to ventricular filling from impaired myofilament relaxation (lusitropy), is the most common variant o...
Decision Making with Fuzzy Ternary Relations

In this paper we study three models of choice in a fuzzy environment. The first model is based on maximizing sets defined for interval scales. The second model defines a fuzzy choice set by means of a fuzzy ternary relation. Finally, we introduce an abstract model of fuzzy choice functions which extends some classical ideas of rational choice behavior. We prove that these three models generate equivalent choice mechanisms.
Historical Introduction to Plant Electrophysiology

Plant Electrophysiology – Theory & Methods (ed. by Volkov) © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006 It is hardly conceivable that reflex responses, memory and brain activity were once explained without consideration of the electrical activity in nerves and muscles. One must remember that electricity was only known then either as lightning or as the repelling/attracting charges that certain substances (such as amber, the Greek word for which is electron) accumulate when rubbed against wool or other textiles. Among the first people who thought about electrical phenomena and their possible biological consequences were de Sauvages (1706–1767), S. Hales (1677–1761), J.A. Nollet (1700–1770) and most importantly the prior Pierre Bertholon de St Lazare (1742–1791), who proposed to improve agriculture with a novel electroculture of crops (Bertholon 1783). This idea was repeatedly revived, e.g. by Lemstrom (1902), who attempted to demonstrate stimulating effects of natural electrostatic fields by growing plants outside and under Faraday cages. Effects of electrical fields on plants and animals continue to be a flourishing field of serious study and some controversy (see Chapter 11). The birth of the larger field of experimental electrophysiology, however, is inseparably intertwined with the discovery of useable forms of electricity itself. The well-known common starting point was Luigi Galvani’s discovery of “animal electricity” or his observing the contraction of isolated frog legs suspended between copper hooks and the iron grit of his balcony (Galvani 1791). Aside from stimulating dubious medical treatments such as “galvanism” and “mesmerism”, this momentous event established electrophysiology as a major discipline of biology (Galvani’s work was continued by the studies of A. Matteucci, E. Du Bois-Reymond and many others, see below) and stimulated A. Volta to develop the first practical batteries (the existence of batteries in ancient Egypt has been suggested, but cannot be reliably confirmed). These portable sources of electricity were called galvanic elements. Based on the different redox potentials of metals and non-metals, they provided reliable sources of various fixed voltages. This invention not only laid the foundations of electricity as a novel discipline of the physical sciences but also turned electricity into useable reality that would later serve as the basis for at least two industrial revolutions. Electrical currents, voltages, resistances and fields
Hierarchical multi-granular modeling to improve software performance

This paper discusses the problems experienced in predicting execution times while varying the workload for a large batched transaction-oriented management information system. Experiments were also performed to determine the runtime sensitivity of proposed modifications to the software architecture. The need for the predictions was based on the substantial observed differences in runtime between the first two users of the system. These differences were observed despite superficially similar workloads and identical hardware and operating systems.
Arsenic-induced BRCA1 CpG promoter methylation is associated with the downregulation of ERα and resistance to tamoxifen in MCF7 breast cancer cells and mouse mammary tumor xenografts

A significant percentage (~30%) of estrogen receptor-α (ERα)-positive tumors become refractory to endocrine therapies; however, the mechanisms responsible for this resistance remain largely unknown. Chronic exposure to arsenic through foods and contaminated water has been linked to an increased incidence of several tumors and long-term health complications. Preclinical and population studies have indicated that arsenic exposure may interfere with endocrine regulation and increase the risk of breast tumorigenesis. In this study, we examined the effects of sodium arsenite (NaAsIII) exposure in ERα-positive breast cancer cells in vitro and in mammary tumor xenografts. The results revealed that acute (within 4 days) and long-term (10 days to 7 weeks) in vitro exposure to environmentally relevant doses reduced breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and ERα expression associated with the gain of cyclin D1 (CCND1) and folate receptor 1 (FOLR1), and the loss of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) expression. Furthermore, long-term exposure to NaAsIII induced the proliferation and compromised the response of MCF7 cells to tamoxifen (TAM). The in vitro exposure to NaAsIII induced BRCA1 CpG methylation associated with the increased recruitment of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and the loss of RNA polymerase II (PolII) at the BRCA1 gene. Xenografts of NaAsIII-preconditioned MCF7 cells (MCF7NaAsIII) into the mammary fat pads of nude mice produced a larger tumor volume compared to tumors from control MCF7 cells and were more refractory to TAM in association with the reduced expression of BRCA1 and ERα, CpG hypermethylation of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and BRCA1, and the increased expression of FOLR1. These cumulative data support the hypothesis that exposure to AsIII may contribute to reducing the efficacy of endocrine therapy against ERα-positive breast tumors by hampering the expression of ERα and BRCA1 via CpG methylation, respectively of ESR1 and BRCA1.
Epstein-Barr Virus Latent Membrane Protein-1 Induces the Expression of SUMO-1 and SUMO-2/3 in LMP1-positive Lymphomas and Cells

Epstein-Barr Virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1) interacts with the SUMO-conjugating enzyme Ubc9, which induces protein sumoylation and may contribute to LMP1-mediated oncogenesis. After analyzing human lymphoma tissues and EBV-positive cell lines, we now document a strong correlation between LMP1 and sumo-1/2/3 or SUMO-1/2/3 levels, and show that LMP1-induced sumo expression requires the activation of NF-κB signaling through CTAR1 and CTAR2. Together, these results point to a second mechanism by which LMP1 dysregulates sumoylation processes and adds EBV-associated lymphomas to the list of malignancies associated with increased SUMO expression.
Abstract MP19: Socioeconomic Status and Incident Heart Failure Among Individuals with Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Background: Diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) are strong risk factors for incident heart failure (HF). Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is also linked to increased HF risk. Given the im...
Increased ethanol tolerance associated with the pntAB locus of Oenococcus oeni and Lactobacillus buchneri

Lactobacillus buchneri and Oenococcus oeni are two unique ethanol-tolerant Gram-positive bacteria species. Genome comparison analyses revealed that L. buchneri and O. oeni possess a pntAB locus that was absent in almost all other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) genomes. Our hypothesis is that the pntAB locus contributes to the ethanol tolerance trait of these two distinct ethanol-tolerant organisms. The pntAB locus, consisting of the pntA and pntB genes, codes for NADP(H) transhydrogenase subunits. This membrane-bound transhydrogenase catalyzes the reduction of NADP+ and is known as an important enzyme in maintaining cellular redox balance. In this study, the transhydrogenase operon from L. buchneri NRRL B-30929 and O. oeni PSU-1 were cloned and analyzed. The LbpntB shared 71.0% identity with the O. oeni (OopntB). The entire pntAB locus was expressed in Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis IL1403 resulting in an increased tolerance to ethanol (6%), butanol (1.8%) and isopropanol (1.8%) when compared to the control strain. However, the recombinant E. coli cells carrying the entire pntAB locus did not show any improved ethanol tolerance. Independent expression of OopntB and LbpntB in recombinant E. coli BL21(DE3)pLysS host demonstrated higher tolerance to ethanol when compared with a control E. coli BL21(DE3)pLysS strain carrying pET28b vector. Ethanol tolerance comparison of E. coli strains carrying LbpntB and OopntB showed that LbpntB conferred higher ethanol tolerance (4.5%) and resulted in greater biomass, while the OopntB conferred lower ethanol tolerance (4.0%) resulted lower biomass. Therefore, the pntB gene from L. buchneri is a better choice in generating higher ethanol tolerance. This is the first study to uncover the role of pntAB locus on ethanol tolerance.
Efficacy of Vegetated Buffer Strips for Retaining Cryptosporidium parvum

Overland and shallow subsurface hydrologic transport of pathogenic Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts from cattle feces into surface drinking water supplies is a major concern on annual grasslands in California's central and southern Sierra Nevada foothills. Soil boxes (0.5 m wide X 1.1 m long X 0.3 m deep) were used to evaluate the ability of grass vegetated buffer strips to retain 2 X 101 spiked C parvum oocysts in 200-g fecal deposits during simulated rainfall intensities of 30 to 47.5 mm/h over 2 h. Buffers were comprised of Ahwahnee sandy loam (coarse-loamy, mixed, active, thermic Mollic Haploxeralfs; 78:18:4 sand to silt to clay ratio; dry bulk density = 1.4 g/cm(3)) set at 5 to 20% land slope, and greater than or equal to95% grass cover (grass stubble height = 10 cm; biomass = 900 kg/ha dry weight). Total number of oocysts discharged from each soil box (combined overland and subsurface flow) during the 120-min simulation ranged from 1.5 X 10(6) to 23.9 X 10(6) oocysts. Observed overall mean log(10), reduction of total C. parvum flux per meter of vegetated buffer was 1.44, 1.19, and 1.18 for buffers at 5, 12, and 20% land slope, respectively. Rainfall application rate (mm/h) was strongly associated with oocyst flux from these vegetated buffers, resulting in a decrease of 2 to 4% in the log(10) reduction per meter buffer for every additional mm/h applied to the soil box. These results support the use of strategically placed vegetated buffers as one of several management strategies that can reduce the risk of waterborne C. parvum attributable to extensive cattle grazing on annual grassland watersheds.
Production of a complete set of wheat–barley group-7 chromosome recombinants with increased grain β-glucan content

Wheat–barley group-7 recombinant chromosomes were selected using molecular cytogenetics and SNP markers; increased grain β-glucan content was observed in wheat plants with two and four copies of HvCslF6. The soluble dietary fiber (1–3)(1–4) mixed linked β-d-glucan from cereal grains is a valuable component of a healthy diet, which reduces risks of coronary disease and diabetes. Although wheat is an important cereal crop providing a substantial portion of daily calories and protein intake in the human diet, it has a low level of β-glucan. Owing to the plasticity of the polyploid wheat genome, agronomically important traits absent in the wheat primary gene pool can be introgressed from distant relatives. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has a high grain β-glucan content. Earlier, we introgressed this trait into wheat in the form of whole arm compensating Robertsonian translocations (RobT) involving group-7 chromosomes of barley and all three sub-genomes of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L). In the presented research, we shortened the barley 7HL arms in these RobTs to small pericentromeric segments, using induced wheat–barley homoeologous recombination. The recombinants were selected using SNP markers and molecular cytogenetics. Plants, comprising barley cellulose synthase-like F6 gene (HvCslF6), responsible for β-glucan synthesis, had a higher grain β-glucan content than the wheat control. Three wheat–barley group-7 recombinant chromosomes involving the A, B and D sub-genomes laid the basis for a multiple-copy gene introgression to hexaploid wheat. It is hypothesized that further increases in the β-glucan content in wheat grain can be obtained by increasing the number of HvCslF6 copies through combining several recombinant chromosomes in one line. The wheat lines with four copies of HvCslF6 exceeded the β-glucan content of the lines with two copies.
Determinants of High Crude Oil Price: A Nonstationary Extreme Value Approach

There are a number of factors that influence crude oil prices. We use a nonstationary extreme value approach to model crude oil prices. The model includes world oil demand, supply, dollar index, oil consumption, geopolitical and economic events as exogenous factors influencing crude oil prices. We assess the change in crude oil price dynamics as the consequence of changes in covariates. The primary objectives of the study are as follows: firstly, to investigate the impact of some exogenous variables on high crude oil prices; secondly, to fit the best nonstationary generalized extreme value model; thirdly, to compute the return level of crude oil prices for certain values of exogenous variables; fourthly, to compute the probability of crude oil prices which are extreme in nature; and finally, to measure the relative risk of a high oil price due to different covariate values. The finding shows that it is reasonable to model extreme oil prices using the nonstationary extreme value approach as opposed to the stationary approach. Moreover, the study shows that some of the independent variables considered here have significant roles in high crude oil prices and their changes create high risk of occurring extreme crude oil prices.
Making Use of Diverse Data Sources in Healthcare Simulation Research

This chapter provides readers with an introduction to some of the diverse data sources available to simulation researchers. This chapter compliments previous chapters (e.g., Chap. 4, Starting your Research Project) by drawing on research examples to highlight data generated from healthcare simulation-based encounters that may help the reader determine which data forms will best answer their research questions. In keeping with the goals of this text and the diversity of simulation in healthcare, the chapter also draws on examples from a variety of health professions domains, including nursing, medicine, and allied health, while highlighting a variety of simulation modalities, such as live simulations and augmented reality. The chapter ends with advice and suggestions as well as pointers to other complementary chapters in this book.