cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational estimation of rainbow trout estrogen receptor binding affinities for environmental estrogens

Environmental estrogens have been the subject of intense research due to their documented detrimental effects on the health of fish and wildlife and their potential to negatively impact humans. A complete understanding of how these compounds affect health is complicated because environmental estrogens are a structurally heterogeneous group of compounds. In this work, computational molecular dynamics simulations were utilized to predict the binding affinity of different compounds using rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) estrogen receptors (ERs) as a model. Specifically, this study presents a comparison of the binding affinity of the natural ligand estradiol-17β to the four rainbow trout ER isoforms with that of three known environmental estrogens 17α-ethinylestradiol, bisphenol A, and raloxifene. Two additional compounds, atrazine and testosterone, that are known to be very weak or non-binders to ERs were tested. The binding affinity of these compounds to the human ERα subtype is also included for comparison. The results of this study suggest that, when compared to estradiol-17β, bisphenol A binds less strongly to all four receptors, 17α-ethinylestradiol binds more strongly, and raloxifene has a high affinity for the α subtype only. The results also show that atrazine and testosterone are weak or non-binders to the ERs. All of the results are in excellent qualitative agreement with the known in vivo estrogenicity of these compounds in the rainbow trout and other fishes. Computational estimation of binding affinities could be a valuable tool for predicting the impact of environmental estrogens in fish and other animals.
Structural and band alignment properties of Al2O3 on epitaxial Ge grown on (100), (110), and (111)A GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

Structural and band alignment properties of atomic layer Al2O3 oxide film deposited on crystallographically oriented epitaxial Ge grown in-situ on (100), (110), and (111)A GaAs substrates using two separate molecular beam epitaxy chambers were investigated using cross-sectional transmission microscopy (TEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). High-resolution triple axis x-ray measurement demonstrated pseudomorphic and high-quality Ge epitaxial layer on crystallographically oriented GaAs substrates. The cross-sectional TEM exhibited a sharp interface between the Ge epilayer and each orientation of the GaAs substrate as well as the Al2O3 film and the Ge epilayer. The extracted valence band offset, ΔEv, values of Al2O3 relative to (100), (110), and (111) Ge orientations using XPS measurement were 3.17 eV, 3.34 eV, and 3.10 eV, respectively. Using XPS data, variations in ΔEv related to the crystallographic orientation were ΔEV(110)Ge>ΔEV(100)Ge≥ΔEV(111)Ge and the conduction band offset, ΔEc, related t...
Representation of whispered vowels in discharge patterns of auditory-nerve fibers.

Abstract We have previously shown that the spectra of speech sounds can be represented in the temporal patterns of discharge of populations of auditory-nerve fibers. These results were obtained using perfectly periodic stimuli, for which a temporal representation is straightforward. In order to see if our results could be generalized to nonperiodic stimuli, we have studied responses to a whispered vowel with formant frequencies typical of /e/. The whispered vowel was generated by exciting a vocal tract model with noise; this signal was therefore aperiodic. Temporal patterns of responses to the vowel in populations of auditory-nerve fibers were analyzed using interval histograms. Fourier transforms of these histograms show large components at frequencies near the formant frequencies of the vowel. With these Fourier transform components as a measure of the temporal response, a temporal-place representation of the response of populations of fibers preserves the spectral features of the aperiodic vowel stimulus. Profiles of average rate versus characteristic frequency for fibers with spontaneous rates greater than 1 s show little if any formant-related structure. On the other hand, such profiles for fibers with spontaneous rates less than 1 s may show peaks in the region of the formants.
Advances in nuclear cardiology: preoperative risk stratification.

Preoperative stress MPI can be used in concert with clinical data to identify low-risk patients who can go on to undergo planned noncardiac surgery. It can also identify high-risk patients, providing an opportunity to ameliorate this risk. Studies suggest that medical and revascularization interventions can reduce the perioperative risk in patients identified as high risk by stress MPI and that early and late outcome is improved when such preoperative testing is used.
Thermoregulatory vasoconstriction during propofol/nitrous oxide anesthesia in humans: threshold and oxyhemoglobin saturation.

To determine the thermoregulatory effects of propofol and nitrous oxide, we measured the threshold for peripheral vasoconstriction in seven volunteers over a total of 13 study days. We also evaluated the effect of vasoconstriction on oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2). Anesthesia was induced with an intravenous bolus dose of propofol (2 mg/kg), followed by an infusion of 180 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1 for 15 min, and maintained with 60% nitrous oxide and propofol (80-160 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1). Central and skin surface temperatures and SpO2 (using two different pulse oximeters) were measured continuously; plasma propofol concentrations and arterial PO2 were measured at 15-min intervals. Volunteers were cooled with a circulating water blanket until definitive peripheral vasoconstriction was detected. The tympanic membrane temperature triggering vasoconstriction was considered the thermoregulatory threshold. Vasoconstriction developed on seven study days during propofol/nitrous oxide anesthesia at a central temperature of 33.3 +/- 1.0 degrees C (mean +/- SD) and plasma propofol concentration of 3.9 +/- 1.1 micrograms/mL. The thresholds during anesthesia were significantly lower than those during the control period (36.7 +/- 0.3 degrees C), but the correlation between plasma propofol concentrations and vasoconstriction thresholds was poor. On the remaining six study days, vasoconstriction did not develop despite central temperatures ranging from 32.1 to 32.7 degrees C. Corresponding propofol concentrations were 4.1-10.9 micrograms/mL. These data suggest that anesthesia with propofol, in typical clinical concentrations, and 60% nitrous oxide substantially inhibits thermoregulatory vasoconstriction. Vasoconstriction increased SpO2 by approximately 2% without a significant concomitant change in PO2. The observed increase in SpO2 probably reflects decreased transmission of arterial pulsations to venous blood in the finger.
Role of Apoptosis in Adverse Ventricular Remodeling

Apoptosis is a key feature in the progression of heart disease. Stage B heart failure is characterized by a structurally abnormal heart in which the remodeled myocardium is prone to apoptosis. Elimination of the proapoptotic stimuli or inhibition of the apoptotic cascade could presumably rescue the myocardium and halt the progression of adverse remodeling and heart failure. In this article, the authors review the role of apoptosis (or programmed cell death) in determining the evolution of symptomatic heart failure and particularly the adverse remodeling in the aftermath of acute myocardial infarction.
Study of a Non Intercepting Ion Beam Diagnostic for Beam Density Profile

An electron beam diagnostic system for measuring the charge distribution of an ion beam without changing its properties is investigated. The conceptual basis of the diagnostic, the design and setup of the system, characterization of the mechanical construction, electron beam transport and its deflection with an ion beam is presented.
Galvanic Couple Current and Potential Distribution between a Mg Electrode and 2024-T351 under Droplets Analyzed by Microelectrode Arrays

Abstract : The galvanic throwing power of bare and polymer coated Mg over a simulated bare AA2024 scribe was studied directly with diagnostic multi-electrode arrays, which enable the spatial distribution of cathodic current density to be elucidated. The galvanic current density over the AA2024-T351 coupled to Mg in various full immersion, thin layer, and droplet electrolyte geometries relevant to atmospheric field exposures was investigated during simulated atmospheric exposures. In these microelectrode studies, current and potential distributions extended somewhat more uniformly across a 5.75 mm long, simulated bare 2024-T351 scratch when the electrolyte layer was thick, continuous and more ionically conductive (i.e., higher salt concentration) in the absence of a polymer coating over the Mg. Current and potential distributions did not extend across simulated defects when the electrolyte became discontinuous or the ionic path became tortuous due to drying or the addition of a resistive polymer coating over the Mg. Additionally, galvanic protection is shown to intensify for short period of time during drying and re-wetting cycles at close distances between Mg and 2024-T351 rationalized to be caused by changing electrolyte conductivity, E-i behavior, and electrode area effects. The drying characteristics of individual salts were also shown to have an effect on the current and potential distribution as MgCl2 (due to its low deliquescence/efflorescence point of approximately 35% RH at STP) was shown to be less susceptible to drying at low RH, thus extending the time into the drying cycle where the galvanic couple was active compared to pure NaCl or ASTM Substitute Ocean Water.
Diffusion-Annihilation and the Kinetics of the Ising Model in One Dimension

The relationship between the one-dimensional kinetic Ising model at zero temperature and diffusion-annihilation in one dimension is studied. Explicit asymptotic results for the average domain size, average magnetization squared, and pair-correlation function are derived for the Ising model, for arbitrary initial magnetization. For the case of zero initial magnetization (m0 = 0), a number of recent exact results for diffusion-annihilation with random initial conditions are obtained. However, for the case mo not equal to zero, the asymptotic behavior turns out to be different from diffusion-annihilation with random initial conditions and at a finite density. In addition, in contrast to the case of diffusion-annihilation, the domain-size distribution scaling function h(x) is found to depend nontrivially on the initial magnetization. The origin of these differences is clarified and the existence of nontrivial correlations in the initial wall distribution for finite initial magnetization is found to be responsible for these differences. Results of Monte Carlo simulations for the domain size distribution function for different initial magnetizations are also presented.
Ab initio pseudopotential study of structural and high-pressure properties of SiC

An ab initio pseudopotential method is used to study the structural properties of SiC at low and high pressures. For cubic SiC, the calculated ground-state properties, such as the equilibrium lattice constant, bulk modulus, and cohesive energy, are in good agreement with experiment. The indirect band gap of cubic SiC is predicted to decrease with increasing pressure; this behavior is similar to Si but not to C. To study the structural phase stability at high pressures, the rocksalt and tetragonal \ensuremath{\beta}-Sn phases are considered. Our calculations suggest that the zinc-blende structure of SiC transforms into the rocksalt phase under a hydrostatic pressure of 660\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}50 kbar. The calculated value should be regarded as an upper bound for the pressure of a structural phase transition from the zinc blende. The valence-charge distribution for cubic SiC resembles those for other zinc-blende semiconductors.
Flow rate-perfusion pressure relationships in situ in the uterine circulation of pregnant rats.

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to study the effects of inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis on perfusion pressure and flow rate-perfusion pressure relationships in the rat uterine circulation in situ. Study Design: Nonpregnant, midpregnant (day 14), and late pregnant (day 21) Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. The vascular bed of the intact uterus and its contents were isolated and perfused with Krebs buffer (37°C, pH ~7.4, 2% dextran and indomethacin, 10 −5 mol/L) through a cannula inserted into the abdominal aorta close to the iliac artery bifurcation, and perfusion pressure was monitored. After equilibration, the flow rate was increased from 1 mL/min to 8 or 16 mL/min, in the absence and presence of N ω -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), phenylephrine, or both. Results: The flow rate-perfusion pressure relationship in midpregnant rats (n = 9) was not significantly different from that in late pregnant rats (n = 12), but the latter was significantly greater than the relationship in nonpregnant animals (n = 5). L-NAME did not influence perfusion pressure and flow rate-perfusion pressure relationships in any of the groups. However, L-NAME enhanced the phenylephrine-induced and flow rate-induced increase in perfusion pressure in the vascular beds from nonpregnant and midpregnant animals, and to a lesser extent in late pregnant rats. L-arginine did not influence perfusion pressure or the flow rate-perfusion pressure relationship in any group. Conclusions: Vasoconstriction produced by phenylephrine uncovers basal release of endotheliumderived nitric oxide. Vasoconstriction increases perfusion pressure responses to increases in flow rate in the uterine vascular beds of nonpregnant, midpregnant, and late pregnant rats. The release of endothelial nitric oxide in the uterine vascular beds depends on the basal contractile state of the vasculature. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:1022-6.)
Hall-Petch hardening in pulsed laser deposited nickel and copper thin films

Very fine-grained Ni and Cu films were formed using pulsed laser deposition on fused silica substrates. The grain sizes in the films were characterized by electron microscopy, and the mechanical properties were determined by ultra-low load indentation, with finite-element modeling used to separate the properties of the layers from those of the substrate. Some Ni films were also examined after annealing to 350 and 450 C to enlarge the grain sizes. These preliminary results show that the observed hardnesses are consistent with a simple extension of the Hall-Petch relationship to grain sizes as small as 11 nm for Ni and 32 nm for Cu.
Airborne Fourier Transform Spectroscopy of the Upper Atmosphere

High resolution infrared spectroscopy is a very useful technique for remote sensing of atmospheric constituents. From an aircraft it is possible to use emission or absorption spectroscopy to measure total quantities of constituents above the aircraft or profiles at altitudes below the flight. The adaptation of a commercial high resolution (0.06 cm-1) Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for use in absorption spectroscopy on a jet aircraft is described, emphasizing methods of dealing with the difficulties of the aircraft environment. Atmospheric constituents with concentrations less than one part per billion can be measured.
Alcohol abolishes the hypotensive effect of clonidine in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

This study tested the hypothesis that concurrent ethanol administration attenuates the hypotensive effect of clonidine. Four groups of spontaneously hypertensive rats matched for baseline systolic pressure and body weight were randomly assigned the following treatments: (1) water (control), (2) ethanol, (3) clonidine, and (4) ethanol plus clonidine for 13 weeks. Ethanol was provided in the drinking water as 5% for 1 week, 10% for the next 2 weeks, and 20% from week 4 to 13. Starting from similar baseline systolic blood pressures, the blood pressure of the control group increased 10 to 15 mm Hg over the 13-week treatment period. A similar rise in systolic blood pressure occurred in ethanol-treated rats despite a drastic (40% to 50%, P < .05) reduction in fluid intake. Clonidine (300 micrograms/kg per day) caused a smaller and shorter reduction in fluid intake. The fluid intake of the combined treatment group was similar to that of the ethanol group. Either treatment caused a significant and additive reduction in body weight gain. Treatment-related mortality (20%) occurred only in the combined treatment group by the 12th week. Clonidine elicited a slowly developing hypotensive response (P < .05) that started 2 to 3 weeks after treatment was initiated and lasted throughout the treatment period. Ethanol abolished the hypotensive effect of clonidine and resulted in blood pressure values that were not significantly different from those of the control or the ethanol group. Blood ethanol concentration was similar in the presence or absence of clonidine (5.5 +/- 1.9 versus 6.5 +/- 3 mmol/L).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ability of Cyclodextrins to Entrap Volatile Beany Flavor Compounds in Soymilk

: The efficacy of cyclodextrins for entrapping volatile beany flavor compounds in soymilk was studied using gas chromatography-headspace solid-phase microextraction and descriptive sensory analysis. Cyclodextrin addition reduced headspace concentrations of most beany flavor compounds, with α-cyclodextrin being more effective than γ-cyclodextrin. During 1 wk of 7 °C storage, soymilks with cyclodextrins maintained reduced headspace concentrations of volatile compounds associated with beany flavors. However, no significant difference was found by the sensory panel between soymilks with and without added cyclodextrins either 1 or 7 d after manufacture. This discrepancy could be because of the high concentrations of hexanal and other beany flavor compounds that might have had an overpowering effect on the panelists.
Mariner 9 mapping science sequence design.

The primary mission of Mariner 9 was to map the Martian surface. This paper discusses in detail the design of the mapping science sequences which were executed by the spacecraft in sixty days and during which over eighty percent of the surface was photographed. The sequence design was influenced by many factors: experimenter scientific objectives, instrument capabilities, spacecraft capabilities, orbit characteristics, and data return rates, which are illustrated graphically. Typical orbits are depicted for each of the three different mapping phases lasting twenty days. Examples of typical orbital sequence plans prepared daily during mission operations are given.
Visual impact analysis

The Surgeon's Assistant is a CASE tool for software maintainers and developers of ANSI C programs. It is based on the premises that maintainers need to be able to limit the scope of changes and that (most) development starts from some existing, similar system. The Decomposition Slice Display System (DSDS-XVCG), a component of the Surgeon's Assistant, automates and visualizes impact analysis by displaying the relationships among a program's decomposition slices. It allows the software maintainer to visually comprehend the relationships between the decomposition slices. The DSDS-XVCG uses the interface of a tool for Visualizing Compiler Graphs, VCG, to present the lattice of the decomposition slices for the user's perusal. It allows the user to manipulate the graph by deleting and coloring nodes, and by collapsing regions. The software maintainer is provided with a visualization of the impact of proposed changes and can plan maintenance accordingly.
The relation of enzyme synthesis to the ribonucleic acid level of normal and of thymine-starved Escherichia coli

Abstract The biological properties of the RNA produced during thymine starvation by a thymine-requiring mutant of Escherichia coli were investigated. The “thymineless RNA” is as stable in vivo as normal RNA and differs in this respect from the RNA formed in the presence of chloramphenicol; it enhances, just as normal RNA, the capacity of the cell for the synthesis of β-galactosidase; it also enhances the rate of synthesis of RNA when thymine is restored before the viability of the cells has declined. The synthesis of the bulk of the RNA appears to proceed normally when DNA synthesis is prevented by thymine deprivation and to proceed independently of DNA synthesis after thymine has been restored.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC TIME SERIES VIA MARKOV SWITCHING MODELS

. In this paper we develop a very general Markov switching model for analysis of economic time series. Our general set-up allows us to assess the effects of a variety of model and prior assumptions on the results. The growth rates of US quarterly real gross national product are used to illustrate the proposed analysis. We find that although the evidence is not strong the analysis does not support the model in which the dynamic behavior is constant and that allowing the dynamic structure to change affects the results. We also find that the results are sensitive to the prior specification.
Phenylbutyrate sensitizes human glioblastoma cells lacking wild-type p53 function to ionizing radiation.

Purpose Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors induce growth arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis in cancer cells. Phenylbutyrate (PB) is a HDAC inhibitor used clinically for treatment of urea cycle disorders. Because of its low cytotoxicity, cerebrospinal fluid penetration, and high oral bioavailability, we investigated PB as a potential radiation sensitizer in human glioblastoma cell lines. Methods and Materials Four glioblastoma cell lines were selected for this study. Phenylbutyrate was used at a concentration of 2 mM, which is achievable in humans. Western blots were used to assess levels of acetylated histone H3 in tumor cells after treatment with PB. Flow cytometry was used for cell cycle analysis. Clonogenic assays were performed to assess the effect of PB on radiation sensitivity. We used shRNA against p53 to study the role of p53 in radiosensitization. Results Treatment with PB alone resulted in hyperacetylation of histones, confirmed by Western blot analysis. The PB alone resulted in cytostatic effects in three cell lines. There was no evidence of G 1 arrest, increase in sub-G 1 fraction or p21 protein induction. Clonogenic assays showed radiosensitization in two lines harboring p53 mutations, with enhancement ratios (± SE) of 1.5 (± 0.2) and 1.3 (± 0.1), respectively. There was no radiopotentiating effect in two cell lines with wild-type p53, but knockdown of wild-type p53 resulted in radiosensitization by PB. Conclusions Phenylbutyrate can produce p21-independent cytostasis, and enhances radiation sensitivity in p53 mutant human glioblastoma cells in vitro . This suggests the potential application of combined PB and radiotherapy in glioblastoma harboring mutant p53.
Situation-aware trust architecture for vehicular networks

We present a new trust architecture-Situation-Aware Trust-to address several important trust issues in vehicular networks. SAT includes three main components: an attribute-based policy control model for highly dynamic communication environments, a proactive trust model to build trust among vehicles, and prevent the breakage of existing trust, and an email-based social network trust system to enhance trust and to allow the set up of a decentralized trust framework. To deploy SAT, we utilize identity-based cryptography to integrate entity trust, data trust, security policy enforcement, and social network trust, allocating a unique identity, and a set of attributes for each entity. We conclude by presenting research challenges and potential research directions that extend this work.
REBORN OF ROMANIAN BRANDS BY E-COMMERCE

The paper analyses the evolution of the Romanian traditional brands during the last 20 years. We started the analysis with the presentation of the most famous Romanian brands during the communist period. Then, we presented the transition of the traditional brands to the market economy, under the inﬂuence of structural transformations in economy, globalization and strong competition on the market. Some firms chose special strategies to enter on market or extend their share on market. Among them, the “reactivation” of old brands, from communist period, has an important place. The method seems to be successful and is based on the psychological implications generated by certain products in the nostalgic consumers’ minds. The analysis is close correlated with the evolution of the Internet and E-commerce. The new techniques of commercialization of the goods comprise the Internet use and promotion by Internet. That is why we will also present the impact of the Romanian traditional brands on Internet and E-commerce. We intend to know if is possible for old brands to compete on the market, if there is enough capacity for the entrepreneurs to stand out on the market, to protect and promote their products in the tough competition environment, subject to globalization, regardless of the fact that they take over an already consecrated mark or create a new one.
Compatibility of Prescribed Burning with the Conservation of Insects in Small, Isolated Prairie Reserves

Entomologists have expressed concern that prescribed burning is incompatible with the conser- vation of insect species richness on small prairie sites. To address this issue, I examined the response and recovery of insect populations after fire within small, isolated tallgrass prairie remnants in northern Illi- nois, northwestern Indiana, and southeastern Wisconsin. I conducted this research over seven seasons, fo- cused on responses at the species level, distinguished between remnant-dependent and remnant-indepen- dent species, and included multiple fire events and sites. I used sweep nets, light traps, sticky traps, and visual searches to gauge population responses and to track negatively affected populations to recovery. Most species (93%) responded consistently to prescribed fires. Postfire responses ranged from positive (26%) to negative (40%) for 151 species representing 33 families and seven orders. Three attributes—remnant- dependence, upland inhabitance, and nonvagility—were significant predictors of negative postfire re- sponse. Among negatively affected populations, 68% recovered within 1 year; all 163 populations tracked to recovery did so in 2 years or less. My results support the judicious use of rotational cool-season burning within small, isolated grassland sites.
Soft NMR: Exploiting statistics for energy-efficiency

Achieving energy-efficiency in nanoscale CMOS process technologies is made challenging due to the presence of process, temperature and voltage variations. In this paper, we present soft N-modular redundancy (soft NMR) that consciously exploits statistics of errors due to these nanoscale artifacts in order to design robust and energy-efficient systems. In contrast to conventional NMR, soft NMR employs estimation and detection techniques in the voter. We compare NMR and soft NMR in the design of an energy-efficient and robust discrete cosine transform (DCT) image coder. Simulations in a commercial 45nm, 1.2V, CMOS process show that soft triple-MR (TMR) provides 10× improvement in robustness and 13% power savings over TMR at a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 20dB. In addition, soft dual-MR (DMR) provides 2× improvement in robustness and 35% power savings over TMR at a PSNR of 20dB.
Impact of Nanosilicates on Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Crystal Polymorphism: Part 2. Melt-crystallization at Low Supercooling

Nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) filled with Lucentite STNTM organically modified silicate (OMS) were investigated upon melt-crystallization at temperatures near its melting point (i.e., at low supercooling temperatures). Previously, we showed that the addition of extremely small amounts of OMS into PVDF causes the polar beta phase formation in cold-crystallized samples, and causes polar gamma phase formation in melt-crystallized samples under high supercooling. The current study focused on the impact of OMS on polymorphic behavior of PVDF crystallized from the molten state, or annealed, at low supercooling temperatures. Nanocomposites with 0–4.0 wt% concentration were prepared from solutions. The existence of α or γ phase was verified by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle X-Ray scattering or Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Morphology of α- and γ-spherulites was observed by polarizing optical microscopy (POM). In annealed PVDF/OMS nanocomposites, gamma cry...
Physiological, Productive, and Economic Benefits of Shade, Spray, and Fan System Versus Shade for Holstein Cows During Summer Heat

During the 1984 summer, effects of spray and fan in freestall areas and feeding areas on milk yield, plasma growth hormone and prolactin, freestall utilization, and economic significance for Holstein cows were studied. Weekly milk and rectal temperatures at morning and afternoon milkings were higher for cows in shade than in shade with spray and fan cooling. Compared with rectal temperature, milk temperature measured in the clawpiece provided a more reliable indicator of heat stress than in the milk meter. Diurnal pattern of rectal temperature from 4-h measurements showed an average of 12 h in which maximal rectal temperatures of cows in shade were greater than 39 degrees C, but cows in the shade plus spray plus fan group had rectal temperatures below 39 degrees C all day. Plasma growth hormone was higher and prolactin lower for cows in shade plus spray and fan than cows in shade only. Cows cooled with spray and fan under shade produced 2 kg/cow per d more than cows in shade alone. Economic analysis showed a net income of 22 cents/cow per day for spray plus fan under shade. Results suggest that milk temperature is a practical technique to assess heat stress in dairy cattle, and the use of spray plus fan is a profitable means to maximize cow comfort and lessen stress-induced decline in milk production.
Fair Allocations of a Renewable Resource

Abstract In an economy with finitely many agents, one renewable resource, and an infinite horizon, it is shown that there is exactly one maximal allocation corresponding to given limiting shares of consumption and this allocation converges monotonically. Therefore, if there is no discounting, at most one fair maximal program exists—that which gives an equal amount to each individual in the limit. In this allocation, envy is always finite. However, only in special cases is it envyfree. This is in contrast to the case of finite economies where envy-free and Pareto efficient allocations may not exist or, if they exist, may not be unique.
Throughput-Delay Performance of Half-Duplex Hybrid-ARQ Relay Channels

The throughput-delay performance of a half-duplex relay channel with hybrid-automatic retransmission request (HARQ) is analyzed in this paper. The protocol uses a form of incremental redundancy HARQ transmission with assistance from the relay via space-time coding if the relay decodes the message before the destination. The packet delay constraint is represented by L, the maximum number of HARQ rounds. An outage is declared if the packet is unsuccessful after L HARQ rounds. A delay-limited throughput is defined in this paper to explicitly account for finite delay constraints and associated non-zero packet outage probabilities. For small outage probabilities, this delay-limited throughput is greater than the conventional long-term average throughput. An exact expression is obtained for the outage probability to compare the throughput-delay performance of this half-duplex relay protocol with direct transmission. The delay-limited throughput of the relay channel is significantly larger than that of direct transmission for a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), target outage probabilities, delay constraints and relay positions.
High-performance FeSb-TiC-C nanocomposite anodes for sodium-ion batteries.

Antimony-based alloy anodes with a Fe metal support dispersed in a conductive matrix consisting of TiC and carbon have been developed by high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) for sodium-ion batteries. The samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction before and after sodiation at different C rates and by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy before and after cycling for 100 cycles. Electrochemical charge–discharge cycling at various rates and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements have been carried out with and without 2 vol% of the fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) additive in the electrolyte. With well-defined crystalline FeSb and TiC structures, the FeSb–TiC–C nanocomposite anodes demonstrate superior rate capability with good capacity retention at 10 000 mA g−1 for sodium-ion storage, which could be ascribed to the novel nanocomposite structure consisting of a good metal (Fe) framework and a combination of conductive TiC and carbon as a matrix. The FEC additive particularly leads to a longer cycle life with high rate capability due to the formation of a stable, thin SEI layer and a smaller charge-transfer resistance.
Evidence for an inflammatory bowel disease locus on chromosome 3p26: linkage, transmission/disequilibrium and partitioning of linkage

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the two major forms of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are heritable, complex traits that appear to share some but not all susceptibility loci. We report that transmission/disequilibrium test analysis of a Crohn's disease genome scan dataset has detected an inflammatory bowel disease locus on chromosome 3p26 (nominal P=0.000052 and genome-wide corrected P=0.039 at D3S1297). An allele sharing method shows significant linkage (multipoint lod=3.69) in a larger, independent sample of inflammatory bowel disease-affected sibling pairs. A survey of 16 chromosome 3p26 short tandem repeat polymorphisms in a combined sample of 234 independent nuclear families with 324 IBD-affected sibling pairs shows significant linkage to chromosome 3p26 (multipoint lod=3.78) and significant transmission/disequilibrium test results at two adjacent markers (nominal P values in two different transmission/disequilibrium analysis methods=0.00011 and 0.0011 for the first marker, and 0.00071 and 0.00013 for the second marker). There is highly significant under-transmission of a common allele and modest over-transmission of other alleles at both markers. Families with no transmission to affected individuals of the under-transmitted alleles show significant linkage (multipoint lod=4.50) that is significantly greater in four simulation studies (P=0.0001, 0.0000625, 0.0000625 and 0.0000625, respectively) than the linkage evidence in families with transmission of the under-transmitted alleles (multipoint lod=0.12). Thus, the existence of an inflammatory bowel disease locus on chromosome 3p26 is supported by significant linkage, transmission/disequilibrium and partitioning of linkage evidence.
Multi-sensor physical activity recognition in free-living

Physical activity monitoring in free-living populations has many applications for public health research, weight-loss interventions, context-aware recommendation systems and assistive technologies. We present a system for physical activity recognition that is learned from a free-living dataset of 40 women who wore multiple sensors for seven days. The multi-level classification system first learns low-level codebook representations for each sensor and uses a random forest classifier to produce minute-level probabilities for each activity class. Then a higher-level HMM layer learns patterns of transitions and durations of activities over time to smooth the minute-level predictions.
IDENTIFICATION OF MONO-IODOTYROSINE FROM IODINATED PEPSIN

Isolation of mono-iodotyrosine from slightly iodinated pepsin has been repeated and the properties of the product compared with those of synthetic dl-3-iodotyrosine. Ultraviolet absorption spectra, pK values of the phenol group, solubility measurements, and partition coefficients were so nearly identical for the two materials that there is now no reason to doubt that the product from pepsin is 3-iodotyrosine.
Early primary succession on the volcano Mount St. Helens

Primary succession on Mount St. Helens, Washing- ton State, USA, was studied using long-term observational and experimental methods. Distance from potential colonists is a major factor that impedes early primary succession. Sites near undisturbed vegetation remain low in plant cover, but species richness is comparable to intact vegetation. Sites over 500 m from sources of potential colonists have as many spe- cies, but mean species richness is much lower than in undis- turbed plots. Cover is barely measurable after 11 growing seasons. Highly vagrant species of Asteraceae and Epilobium dominate isolated sites. Sites contiguous to undisturbed com- munities are dominated by large-seeded species. For a new surface to offer suitable conditions to invading plants, weathering, erosion and nutrient inputs must first oc- cur. The earliest colonists are usually confined to specific microsites that offer some physical protection and enhanced resources. Primary succession on Mount St. Helens has been very slow because most habitats are isolated and physically stressful. Well-dispersed species lack the ability to establish until physical processes ameliorate the site. Species capable of establishment lack suitable dispersal abilities. Subsequently, facilitation may occur, for example through symbiotic nitro- gen fixation, but these effects are thus far of only local impor- tance. Lupinus lepidus usually facilitates colonization of other species only after it dies, leaving behind enriched soil lacking any competitors. Experiments and fine-scale observations sug- gest that successional sequences on Mount St. Helens are not mechanistically necessary. Rather, they result from local cir- cumstances, landscape effects and chance.
Parallel Genetic Algorithm Implementation in Multidisciplinary Rotor Blade Design

Abstract : The present paper describes an adaptation of genetic algorithms in the design of large-scale multidisciplinary optimization problems. A hingeless composite rotor blade is used as the test problem, where the formulation of the objective and constraint functions requires the consideration of disciplines of aerodynamics, performance, dynamics, and structures. A rational decomposition approach is proposed for partitioning the large-scale multidisciplinary design problem into smaller, more tractable subproblems. A design method based on a parallel implementation of genetic algorithms is shown to be an effective strategy, providing increased computational efficiency, and a natural approach to account for the coupling between temporarily decoupled subproblems. A central element of the proposed approach is the use of artificial neural networks for identifying a topology for problem decomposition and for generating global function approximations for use in optimization. (AN)
Functional domains of the BACE1 and BACE2 promoters and mechanisms of transcriptional suppression of the BACE2 promoter in normal neuronal cells.

The β-amyloid (Aβ) protein present in the neuritic plaques of Alzheimer's disease is cleaved, from Aβ precursor protein (APP) by β-and γ-secretases. Following identification of β-APP cleaving enzyme (BACE1) as the β-secretase, a homologous β-secretase 2 (BACE2) was described. Our goal is to characterize the regulatory region of the BACE genes. We compare functional domains within the BACE1 and BACE2 regulatory regions. Both BACE genes lack canonical TATA and CAAT boxes, but they contain distinguishing transcription start sites and transcription factor-binding sites. The BACE1, sequence contains more repetitive elements than does BACE2 (no elements). Regulatory domains do not overlapstrongly between the two promoter regions. The BACE1 upstream sequence contains both negative and positive domains, separated from the transcription seat by a long neutral domain. The corresponding BACE2 sequence consists of a weakly positive domain directly upstream of a strongly positive domain, near a functionally active domain. DNA-protein interaction was corroborated by functional data. In primary rat cortical cultures, BACE1-driven reporter protein's expression was twice that of BACE2-driven reporter. The BACE2 gene promoter relatively reduced function in neuronal cells compared with BACE1. The BACE1 gene might operate through a single transcriptional control site. BACE2 operates through dual transcriptional control sites. Two (or more) regulatory pathways might control transcription in BACE2. Thus, BACE2 is partially suppressed in normal neuronal cells and likely to be a highly regulated gene expressed in a particularly tissue-specific fashion.
Evolution and breakdown of a vortex street in two dimensions

The initial-value problem defined by two parallel vortex sheets of opposite sign is studied. Strictly two-dimensional, incompressible, nearly inviscid dynamics is assumed throughout. The roll-up of the sheets into a vortex street is simulated numerically using 4096 point vortices. Much longer runs than in previous work are performed, and it is found that only for a finite range of values of the ratio, h/λ, of sheet separation to perturbation wavelength, does a long-lived vortex street emerge. For h/λ [gsim ] 0·6 a pairing transition within each row intervenes. For h/λ [lsim ] 0·3 we find oscillatory modes.Using up to 16384 point vortices, we also study the breakdown of the metastable street to a two-dimensional, turbulent shear flow. The vortex blobs that made up the street may merge with others of the same sign after the breakdown, but otherwise persist throughout the turbulent regime. Neither their disintegration nor amalgamation with vortices of opposite sign was observed. Using dimensional arguments we derive the relevant scaling theory, and show that it applies to a flow started from two random vortex sheets. The resulting turbulence is not self-similar. For the turbulent flow that follows from the breakdown of a regular vortex street two length scales with different power-law growth in time appear to be necessary. The important differences in the asymptotic structure of flows initialized from random and regular sheets leads us to question the idea of universality. The influence of the symmetry of the initial perturbation on the subsequent development is also considered.
Gene Transfer of Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase Reduces Cerebral Vasospasm After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose— Superoxide may play an important role in cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Our first goal was to determine the effect of gene transfer of extracellular superoxide dismutase (ECSOD) on vasospasm after experimental SAH. Our second goal was to determine whether tissue binding of ECSOD via the heparin-binding domain (HBD) is important for the effect of the enzyme. Thus, we examined effects of gene transfer of ECSOD with the HBD deleted (ECSODΔHBD). Methods— Adenovirus expressing human ECSOD (AdECSOD), ECSODΔHBD (AdECSODΔHBD), or no transgene (AdBglII) was injected into the cisterna magna of anesthetized rabbits 30 minutes after induction of experimental SAH. Cerebral angiography, an assay for ECSOD activity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and Western blotting for human ECSOD in the basilar artery were performed. Results— Baseline diameter of the basilar artery averaged 0.77±0.01 mm (mean±SEM) and was similar in all treatment groups. Decreases in diameter of the basi...
Postnatal maturation of carotid body and type I cell chemoreception in the rat

The site of postnatal maturation of carotid body chemoreception is unclear. To test the hypothesis that maturation occurs synchronously in type I cells and the whole carotid body, the development o...
Judging the Aesthetics of Billboards

This Note is a cultural and judicial history of billboard regulation in the United States, with particular emphasis on how the public and the courts have judged billboards' aesthetic qualities. I find that the American public and our courts have generally agreed that billboards are unattractive and deserve to be regulated. In the earliest billboard-related opinions, in the first decade of the twentieth century, courts sometimes struck down billboard ordinances as unconstitutional takings of advertisers' private property. However, as municipalities' police power broadened and public opposition to billboards mounted, courts became more receptive to increasingly expansive billboard regulation, first premised on safety and health rationales and ultimately based on aesthetic reasons alone. After a half-century of judicial deference during which billboard laws were generally upheld, such laws have again come under fire in recent decades for violating advertisers' free-speech rights. The Note concludes with a description of current law related to billboard regulation and current advocacy for and against such restrictions. It is no coincidence that American courts expanded their definition of municipal police-power authority, particularly as applied to aesthetic regulation, at the same time as billboards were spreading throughout the country and arousing widespread public disfavor. In fact, it appears that courts were responding to public opinion about billboards by facilitating regulation of these conspicuous eyesores. The courts' responsiveness reminds us that our judicial system is subsumed within, and thus reflects, the broader American culture. The courts' sensitivity to social values is both understandable and beneficial, showing that the courts are indeed majoritarian and that our common law - in this case, the police power in particular - gives courts flexibility to respond to evolving social needs.
Acid Precipitation in the Northeastern United States

Wet deposition of pollution-related material (sulfates, nitrates, free hydrogen ions, etc.) was determined at selected stations within the eastern United States. The deposition events were characterized with respect to air mass origin (for example, “Midwest/Ohio Valley” versus “Great Lakes/Canadian”). From this information, a regional pattern for the deposition of dominant ion species in precipitation was developed.
Federal Agency Involvement in Western Renewable Energy Resource Decisions: Assessing the Views of Colorado County Commissioners

This research addresses a key aspect of federal-local relationships in American federalism. How do Colorado county commissioners react in terms of supporting or restricting the development of renewable energy resource decisions under the control of federal agencies? Do they support the removal of legal obstacles to the construction of renewable energy facilities on federal lands under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)? And to what extent to they favor the prospective use of eminent domain authority by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to site interstate transmission lines across county boundaries? The results presented here suggest that commissioners are less likely to support the exercise of eminent domain authority if they are favorably predisposed toward clean coal or nuclear power and prefer a more gradual transition to the use of renewable energy resources. Commissioner resistance to the development of renewable energy facilities on federal lands was more likely to occur in counties with a greater percentage of BLM or Forest Service lands and with higher PILT payments from natural resource uses.
Fieldwork for Human Geography

This wonderful book fills a gap by introducing under- graduates to the whys and mechanics of human geography fieldwork. Of course, one of the features that sets geography apart from other disciplin...