cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
International Knowledge Diffusion and the Comparative Advantage of Nations

In this paper we document that the probability that a product is added to a country’s export basket is, on average, 65% larger if a neighboring country is a successful exporter of that same product. We interpret our result as evidence of international intra-industry knowledge diffusion. Our results are consistent with the overall consensus in the literature on technology spillovers: diffusion is stronger at shorter distances; is weaker for more knowledge-intensive products; and has become faster over time.
The susceptibility of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and other termite species to an experimental preparation of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner

Abstract An experimental soluble toxin preparation derived from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner is toxic to Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks), Reticulitermes hesperus Banks, and Zootermopsis angusticollis (Hagen). Approximately 75 percent mortality is achieved by the soluble factor after 9 days. The soluble toxin in combination with spores and inclusion bodies results in greater than 90 percent mortality.
Using motion to teach chain rule and u-substitution

Many students learn the chain rule for differentiation as exactly that - a rule, and even those who use it well often do so with little understanding of why the formula works. This note briefly describes a presentation that introduces students to the chain rule by appealing to their experience with motion. While the presentation does not prove the chain rule, it does convince students that the chain rule makes sense and it provides them with an intuitive understanding of why it works. The note also includes an adaptation of the presentation that helps students understand why we can calculate a definite integral by u-substitution, never returning to the original function or limits of integration.
Methodology for Particle Characterization in the Exhaust Flows of Gas Turbine Engines

The University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) has developed, constructed, and employed a trailer-housed mobile aerosol sampling system (MASS) for the physical characterization of particles extracted from the exhaust flows of gasturbine engines. The MASS has been designed for a range of sampling conditions typically encountered at exit planes of combustors, angular sector rigs, flame tubes, and actual engines. To date measurements have been conducted in test cells, altitude chambers, on the wing (on the ground), and in flight. Reaching beyond the historically used but limited concept of smoke number, the MASS relies on differential mobility analysis, laser particle sizing, transmission electron microscopy, and molecular absorption spectroscopy to measure directly particle number concentration and size distribution (0.01 to <25 μm), water mixing ratio, particle morphology, and carbon dioxide (CO2), Combined with key combustor/engine operating conditions and fuel properties the MASS provides a series of derived par...
Photooxidation of 3-substituted pyrroles: a postcolumn reaction detection system for singlet molecular oxygen in HPLC.

A postcolumn photochemical reaction detection scheme, based on the reaction of 3-substituted pyrroles with singlet molecular oxygen ( 1 O 2 ), has been developed. The method is selective and sensitive for the determination of a class of organic compounds called 1 O 2 -sensitizers and is readily coupled to HPLC. Following separation by HPLC, analytes ( 1 O 2 -sensitizers) are excited by a Hg pen-ray lamp. Analytes that are efficient 1 O 2 -sensitizers promote ground-state O 2 ( 3 Σ g - ) to an excited state ( 1 Σ g + or 1 Δ g ), which reacts rapidly with tert-butyl-3,4,5-trimethylpyrrolecarboxylate (BTMPC) or N-benzyl-3-methoxypyrrole-2-tert-carboxylate (BMPC), which is added to the mobile phase. Detection is based on the loss of pyrrole (BTMPC or BMPC). The reaction is catalytic in nature since one analyte molecule may absorb light many times, producing large amounts of 1 O 2 . Detection limits for several 1 O 2 -sensitizers were improved by 1-2 orders of magnitude over optimized UV-absorbance detection. This paper discusses the optimization of the reaction conditions for this photochemical reaction detection scheme and its application to the detection of PCBs, nitrogen heterocycles, nitro and chloro aromatics, and other substituted aromatic compounds.
Energy and Electron Transfer in Enhanced Two-Photon-Absorbing Systems with Triplet Cores

Enhanced two-photon-absorbing (2PA) systems with triplet cores are currently under scrutiny for several biomedical applications, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and two-photon microscopy of oxygen. The performance of so far developed molecules, however, is substantially below expected. In this study we take a detailed look at the processes occurring in these systems and propose ways to improve their performance. We focus on the interchromophore distance tuning as a means for optimization of two-photon sensors for oxygen. In these constructs, energy transfer from several 2PA chromophores is used to enhance the effective 2PA cross section of phosphorescent metalloporphyrins. Previous studies have indicated that intramolecular electron transfer (ET) can act as an effective quencher of phosphorescence, decreasing the overall sensor efficiency. We studied the interplay between 2PA, energy transfer, electron transfer, and phosphorescence emission using Rhodamine B−Pt tetrabenzoporphyrin (RhB−PtTBP) adducts...
Variable-depth trie index optimization: theory and experimental results

We develop an efficient approach to Trie index optimization. A Trie is a data structure used to index a file having a set of attributes as record identifiers. In the proposed methodology, a file is horizontally partitioned into subsets of records using a Trie index whose depth of indexing is allowed to vary. The retrieval of a record from the file proceeds by “stepping through” the index to identify a subset of records in the file in which a binary search is performed. This paper develops a taxonomy of optimization problems underlying variable-depth Trie index construction. All these problems are solvable in polynomial time, and their characteristics are studied. Exact algorithms and heuristics for their solution are presented. The algorithms are employed in CRES-an expert system for editing written narrative material, developed for the Department of the Navy. CRES uses several large-to-very-large dictionary files for which Trie indexes are constructed using these algorithms. Computational experience with CRES shows that search and retrieval using variable-depth Trie indexes can be as much as six times faster than pure binary search. The space requirements of the Tries are reasonable. The results show that the variable-depth Tries constructed according to the proposed algorithms are viable and efficient for indexing large-to-very-large files by attributes in practical applications.
Early and late periodic patterns of even skipped expression are controlled by distinct regulatory elements that respond to different spatial cues

We have identified the regulatory sequences required for the periodic expression of the Drosophila pair rule gene even skipped (eve). We find that the gradually changing pattern of periodic eve expression during early embryogenesis is directed by two distinct regulatory programs. Initially, eve expression in individual stripes is established by different regulatory elements, each of which responds to nonperiodic spatial cues provided, at least in part, by the gap genes. Later, coordinate expression of eve in all seven stripes is directed by a single regulatory region that responds to periodic cues provided by primary pair rule genes, including eve itself. As a consequence of this two-step regulatory program, eve functions both in the establishment of the periodic pattern of gene expression and in the subsequent specification of parasegmental boundaries.
High-gain visual feedback exacerbates ankle movement variability in children

The purpose was to compare the effect of low- and high-gain visual feedback on ankle movement variability and muscle activation in children and young adults. Six young adults (19.8 ± 0.6 years) and nine children (9.4 ± 1.6 years) traced a sinusoidal target by performing ankle plantar/dorsiflexion movements. The targeted range of motion was 10°, and the frequency of the sinusoidal target was 0.4 Hz for 35 s. Low-gain visual feedback was 0.66°, and high-gain visual feedback was 4.68°. Surface EMG was recorded from the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. Movement variability amplitude was quantified as the standard deviation of the position fluctuations after the task frequency was removed with a notch filter (second-order; 0.3–0.5 Hz). We quantified the oscillations in movement variability and TA EMG burst using the following frequency bands: 0–0.3, 0.3–0.6, 0.6–0.9, 0.9–1.2, and 1.2–1.5 Hz. Children exhibited greater movement variability than young adults, which was exacerbated during the high-gain visual feedback condition (P < 0.05). The greater ankle movement variability in children at the high-gain visual feedback condition was predicted by greater power within the 0–0.3 Hz of their movement variability (R 2 = 0.51, P < 0.001). The greater power in movement variability from 0 to 0.3 Hz in children was predicted by greater power within the 0–0.3 Hz in their TA EMG burst activity (R 2 = 0.6, P < 0.001). The observed deficiency in movement control with amplified visual feedback in children may be related to an ineffective use of visual feedback and the immaturity of the cortico-motor systems.
Infrared heater arrays for warming field plots scaled up to 5-m diameter §

Abstract As Earth continues to warm globally, there is a need to conduct ecosystem plot warming experiments under conditions as representative of open fields in the future as possible. One promising approach is to use hexagonal arrays of infrared heaters such as described by [Kimball, B.A., Conley, M.M., Wang, S., Lin, X., Luo, C., Morgan, J., Smith, D., 2008. Infrared heater arrays for warming ecosystem field plots. Global Change Biology 14, 309–320]. However, their plots were only 3 m in diameter (7.1 m 2 ), which limits the stature of vegetation to shorter than about 1 m and also limits the amount of plant material that can destructively harvested. Therefore, we tested a larger hexagonal 5-m diameter array of infrared heaters, which provided a near tripling of useable area (19.6 m 2 ). The number of heaters was tripled from 6 to 18, and their height above the vegetative (wheat) canopy was scaled with the diameter (0.4 times diameter = 2.0 m). Distributions of down-going thermal radiation and of the resultant warming of the vegetation were quite uniform across the plot. Moreover, the same equation previously determined from 3-m diameter plots to describe the thermal radiation efficiency as a function of wind speed was still applicable. Thus, no problems were encountered in tripling the area of the infrared heater-warmed plots.
Pricing, Production, and Inventory Policies for Manufacturing with Stochastic Demand and Discretionary Sales

We study determining prices and production jointly in a multiple period horizon under a general, nonstationary stochastic demand function with a discrete menu of prices. We assume that the available production capacity is limited and that unmet demand is lost. We incorporate discretionary sales, when inventory may be set aside to satisfy future demand even if some present demand is lost. We analyze and compare partial planning or delayed strategies. In delayed strategies, one decision may be planned in advance, whereas a second decision is delayed until the beginning of each time period, after observing the results of previous decisions. For example, in delayed production (delayed pricing), pricing (production) is determined at the beginning of the horizon, and the production (pricing) decision is made at the beginning of each period before new customer orders are received. A special case is where a single price is chosen over the horizon. We describe policies and heuristics for the strategies based on deterministic approximations and analyze their performances. Computational analysis yields additional insights about the strategies, such as that delayed production is usually better than delayed pricing except sometimes when capacity is tight. On average, the delayed production (pricing) heuristic achieved 99.3 (99.8) of the corresponding optimal strategy.
Developments Toward Diagnostic Breast Cancer Imaging Using Near-Infrared Optical Measurements and Fluorescent Contrast Agents1

The use of near-infrared (NIR) light to interrogate deep tissues has enormous potential for molecular-based imaging when coupled with NIR excitable dyes. More than a decade has now passed since the initial proposals for NIR optical tomography for breast cancer screening using time-dependent measurements of light propagation in the breast. Much accomplishment in the development of optical mammography has been demonstrated, most recently in the application of time-domain, frequency-domain, and continuous-wave measurements that depend on endogenous contrast owing to angiogenesis and increased hemoglobin absorbance for contrast. Although exciting and promising, the necessity of angiogenesis-mediated absorption contrast for diagnostic optical mammography minimizes the potential for using NIR techniques to assess sentinel lymph node staging, metastatic spread, and multifocality of breast disease, among other applications. In this review, we summarize the progress made in the development of optical mammography, and focus on the emerging work underway in the use of diagnostic contrast agents for the molecular-based, diagnostic imaging of breast.
Progress toward competitive Ge/Si photodetectors

Research and development on silicon-based optoelectronic devices is increasing as the need for integrated optical devices is becoming more apparent. One component which has seen rapid performance improvement over the last five years has been a Ge-on-Si photodetector which can operate between 850 and 1600 nm with high quantum efficiencies and bandwidths. We have reported on three types of these detectors; normal incident illuminated p-i-n detectors, waveguide p-i-n detectors, and avalanche photodetectors (APDs). The former has achieved -14.5 dBm sensitivity at 10 Gb/s and 850 nm, which is comparable to similarly commercially packaged GaAs devices. Waveguide photodetectors have achieved bandwidths of approximately 30 GHz at 1550 nm with internal quantum efficiencies of 90%. Normal incident avalanche photodetectors operating at 1310 nm have achieved a primary responsivity of 0.54 A/W with a 3-dB bandwidth of 9GHz at a gain of 17.
Performance and Variability Driven Guidelines for BEOL Layout Decomposition with LELE Double Patterning

Litho-etch-litho-etch (LELE) double patterning lithography (DPL) is a strong candidate for BEOL patterning at the 20nm logic half-node (sub-80nm pitch). In double patterning lithography, layout pattern features must be assigned opposite colors if their spacing is less than the minimum coloring spacing. However, complex layouts usually have features that are separated by less than the minimum coloring spacing for any coloring assignment. To resolve the minimum coloring spacing constraint, a pattern feature (polygon) can be split into two different-color segments, introducing a stitch at the splitting location. Although many DPL layout decomposition heuristics have been proposed, the impact of stitches on circuit performance is not clearly analyzed. In this work, we study the impact of stitches on BEOL electrical performance based on analytical RC equations. Our studies with 45nm (commercial) and 22nm (ITRS) technology parameters show that (1) optimal stitching location can reduce delay variation by 5%, and (2) introducing redundant stitches (i.e., splitting an interconnect segment intentionally) can potentially reduce circuit delay variation.
Simulation tool to assess mechanical and electrical stresses on wind turbine generators

Wind turbine generators (WTGs) consist of many different components to convert kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy for end users. Wind energy is accessed to provide mechanical torque for driving the shaft of the electrical generator. The conversion from wind power to mechanical power is governed by the aerodynamic conversion. The aerodynamic-electrical-conversion efficiency of a WTG is influenced by the efficiency of the blades, the gearbox, the generator, and the power converter. This paper describes the use of MATLAB/Simulink to simulate the electrical and grid-related aspects of a WTG coupled with the FAST aeroelastic wind turbine computer-aided engineering tool to simulate the aerodynamic and mechanical aspects of a WTG. The combination of the two enables studies involving both electrical and mechanical aspects of a WTG. For example, mechanical engineers can formulate generator control that may preserve the life of the gearbox or mitigate the impact of transient events occurring on the transmission lines (faults, voltage and frequency dips, unbalanced voltages, etc.). Similarly, electrical engineers can study the impact of high-ramping wind speeds on power systems, as well as the impact of turbulence on the voltage and frequency of a small balancing authority area. This digest includes some examples of the capabilities of the FAST and MATLAB coupling, namely the effects of electrical faults on the blade moments.
Transition to chaos in converging–diverging channel flows: Ruelle–Takens–Newhouse scenario

Direct numerical simulations of the transition process from laminar to chaotic flow in converging–diverging channels are presented. The chaotic flow regime is reached after a sequence of successive supercritical Hopf bifurcations to periodic, quasiperiodic, and chaotic self‐sustained flow regimes. The numerical experiments reveal three distinct bifurcations as the Reynolds number is increased, each adding a new fundamental frequency to the velocity spectrum. In addition, frequency‐locked periodic solutions with independent but synchronized periodic functions are obtained. A scenario similar to the Ruelle–Takens–Newhouse scenario of the onset of chaos is verified in this forced convective open system flow. The results are illustrated for different Reynolds numbers using time‐velocity histories, Fourier power spectra, and phase space trajectories. The global structure of the self‐sustained oscillatory flow for a periodic regime is also discussed.
Emerging Therapies for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Focus on Targeting Interferon-alpha

Current therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a debilitating, potentially lethal, multifactorial systemic autoimmune disease, are limited to suppressing disease activity and are associated with multiple adverse effects. Recent advances in basic and translational sciences have elucidated a crucial role for the interferon-alpha (IFNα) pathway in the pathogenesis of this enigmatic disease. The so-called "type I interferon signature" has emerged as a major risk factor for disease activity of SLE. Multiple genes encoding for molecules within the type I interferon pathway have been associated with SLE in genome wide association studies. In addition, innate immune receptors are thought to be triggered by either endogenous and/or exogenous stimuli that lead to hypersecretion of IFNα. We review the multiple emerging treatment strategies targeting IFNα-related pathways. These include monoclonal antibodies against IFNα, anti-IFNα antibody-inducing vaccines, and inhibitors of Toll-like receptors. We also summarize the current status of these pharmaceutical agents in early clinical trials.
Genome analysis of cytochrome P450s and their expression profiles in insecticide resistant mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus.

Here we report a study of the 204 P450 genes in the whole genome sequence of larvae and adult Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. The expression profiles of the P450 genes were compared for susceptible (S-Lab) and resistant mosquito populations, two different field populations of mosquitoes (HAmCq and MAmCq), and field parental mosquitoes (HAmCq G0 and MAmCqG0) and their permethrin selected offspring (HAmCq G8 and MAmCqG6). While the majority of the P450 genes were expressed at a similar level between the field parental strains and their permethrin selected offspring, an up- or down-regulation feature in the P450 gene expression was observed following permethrin selection. Compared to their parental strains and the susceptible S-Lab strain, HAmCqG8 and MAmCqG6 were found to up-regulate 11 and 6% of total P450 genes in larvae and 7 and 4% in adults, respectively, while 5 and 11% were down-regulated in larvae and 4 and 2% in adults. Although the majority of these up- and down-regulated P450 genes appeared to be developmentally controlled, a few were either up- or down-regulated in both the larvae and adult stages. Interestingly, a different gene set was found to be up- or down-regulated in the HAmCqG8 and MAmCqG6 mosquito populations in response to insecticide selection. Several genes were identified as being up- or down-regulated in either the larvae or adults for both HAmCqG8 and MAmCqG6; of these, CYP6AA7 and CYP4C52v1 were up-regulated and CYP6BY3 was down-regulated across the life stages and populations of mosquitoes, suggesting a link with the permethrin selection in these mosquitoes. Taken together, the findings from this study indicate that not only are multiple P450 genes involved in insecticide resistance but up- or down-regulation of P450 genes may also be co-responsible for detoxification of insecticides, insecticide selection, and the homeostatic response of mosquitoes to changes in cellular environment.
Cache performance for selected SPEC CPU2000 benchmarks

The SPEC CPU2000 benchmark suite (http://www.spec.org/osg/cpu2000) is a collection of 26 compute-intensive, non-trivial programs used to evaluate the performance of a computer's CPU, memory system, and compilers. The benchmarks in this suite were chosen to represent real-world applications, and thus exhibit a wide range of runtime behaviors. On this webpage, we present functional cache miss ratios and related statistics for selected benchmarks in the SPEC CPU2000 suite. In particular, split L1 cache sizes ranging from 4KB to 1MB with 64B blocks and associativities of 1, 2, 4, 8 and full. Most of this data was collected at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with the aid of the Simplescalar toolset (http://www.simplescalar.org).
Evidence for temporal variations of coronal emission line intensity and profile

The time sequence of line profiles of Fe xiv emission obtained at the 1965 solar eclipse is examined for temporal variations of intensity and profile. Although no variations are found in some regions examined, two regions with intensity and profile line width variations are found. A simple temperature wave is consistent with observations.
Atmospheric photochemical transformations enhance 1,3-butadiene-induced inflammatory responses in human epithelial cells: The role of ozone and other photochemical degradation products

Chemistry of hazardous air pollutants has been studied for many years, yet little is known about how these chemicals, once reacted within urban atmospheres, affect healthy and susceptible individuals. Once released into the atmosphere, 1,3-butadiene (BD) reacts with hydroxyl radicals and ozone (created by photochemical processes), to produce many identified and unidentified products. Once this transformation has occurred, the toxic potential of atmospheric pollutants such as BD in the ambient environment is currently unclear. During this study, environmental irradiation chambers (also called smog chambers), utilizing natural sunlight, were used to create photochemical transformations of BD. The smog chamber/in vitro exposure system was designed to investigate the toxicity of chemicals before and after photochemical reactions and to investigate interactions with the urban atmosphere using representative in vitro samples. In this study, we determined the relative toxicity and inflammatory gene expression induced by coupling smog chamber atmospheres with an in vitro system to expose human respiratory epithelial cells to BD, BDs photochemical degradation products, or the equivalent ozone generated within the photochemical mixture. Exposure to the photochemically generated products of BD (primarily acrolein, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, furan and ozone) induced significant increases in cytotoxicity, IL-8, and IL-6 gene expression compared to a synthetic mixture of primary products that was created by injecting the correct concentrations of the detected products from the irradiation experiments. Interestingly, exposure to the equivalent levels of ozone generated during the photochemical transformation of BD did not induce the same level of inflammatory cytokine release for either exposure protocol, suggesting that the effects from ozone alone do not account for the entire response in the irradiation experiments. These results indicate that BDs full photochemical product generation and interactions, rather than ozone alone, must be carefully evaluated when investigating the possible adverse health effects to BD exposures. The research presented here takes into account that photochemical transformations of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) does generate a dynamic exposure system and therefore provides a more realistic approach to estimate the toxicity of ambient air pollutants once they are released into the atmosphere.
Differences in cochlear nerve cross-sectional area between normal hearing and postlingually deafened patients on MRI

Objectives. To demonstrate that parasagittal constructive interference in steady state (CISS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to accurately measure cochlear nerve cross-sectional area and thereby evaluate for statistically significant differences in the cochlear nerve cross-sectional areas of postlingually deafened and normal-hearing adults. Study Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. Tertiary care medical center. Subjects and Methods. Parasagittal CISS MRIs of postlingually profoundly deafened cochlear implant candidates and normalhearing patients at a tertiary care academic medical center between 2006 and 2009 were retrospectively identified. Two independent and blinded investigators measured the cochlear nerve height and width and calculated the cross-sectional area [π(H/2)(W/2)] at the fundus of the internal auditory canals. Measurements of both investigators were analyzed for reliability and agreement with an Altman plot, and deafened patient measurements were compared with results of the normal-hearing patients via Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results. The cochlear nerve cross-sectional area of postlingually deafened patients (mean ± SD = 0.61 ± 0.16 mm 2 ) was less than normal-hearing patients (0.94 ± 0.28 mm 2 ). The difference was statistically significant (P = .002). There was good agreement between independent observer measurements. Conclusion. Parasagittal CISS MRI can be used to measure the cochlear nerve with good interobserver agreement, and there is a significant difference between the cross-sectional area of postlingually deafened and normal-hearing adults. The crosssectional area may correlate with residual spiral ganglion cells and provide a prognostic indicator for post–cochlear implant performance, which is the focus of our ongoing research.
Identification of Cell Signaling Molecules by Expression Cloning

Using expression cloning one can isolate proteins with specific biological functions. This methodology can be adapted for the identification of novel players in the regulation of cell signaling. Here, we describe an expression cloning strategy to identify suppressors of Ras signaling. This screen is based on the observation that the activation of the small guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein H-Ras initiates a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent signaling pathway that inactivates integrin ligand binding. Our strategy depends on flow cytometry and a monoclonal antibody that recognizes integrin activation states. Flow cytometry enhances the screen's sensitivity thereby allowing us to examine function quantitatively at the level of a single cell millions of times in one screen. The following protocol provides a detailed method for the isolation of proteins that regulate cell signaling.
Occupational Risk Management of Engineered Nanoparticles

The earliest and most extensive societal exposures to engineered nanoparticles are likely to occur in the workplace. Until toxicologic and health effects research moves forward to characterize more broadly the potential hazards of nanoparticles and to provide a scientific basis for appropriate control of nanomaterials in the workplace, current and future workers may be at risk from occupational exposures. This article reviews a conceptual framework for occupational risk management as applied to engineered nanomaterials and describes an associated approach for controlling exposures in the presence of uncertainty. The framework takes into account the potential routes of exposure and factors that may influence biological activity and potential toxicity of nanomaterials; incorporates primary approaches based on the traditional industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls involving elimination or substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and use of personal protective equipment; and includes val...
Does Private Money Buy Public Policy? Campaign Contributions and Regulatory Outcomes in Telecommunications

To what extent can market particip ants affect the outcomes of regulatory policy? In this paper, we study the effects of one potential source of influence – campaign contributions – from competing interests in the local telecommunications industry, on regulatory policy decisions of state pu blic utility commissions. Using a unique new data set, we find, in contrast to much of the literature on campaign contributions, that there is a significant effect of private money on regulatory outcomes. Indeed, this result is robust to numerous alternat ive specifications and persists with instrumentation. We also assess the extent of omitted variable bias that would have to exist to obviate the estimated result. We find that for our result to be spurious, omitted variables would have to explain more th an five times the variation in the mix of private money as is explained by the variables included in our analysis. We consider this to be very unlikely.
Blockade of membrane calcium fluxes by lanthanum in relation to vascular smooth muscle contractility.

(1969). Blockade of Membrane Calcium Fluxes by Lanthanum in Relation to Vascular Smooth Muscle Contractility. Archives Internationales de Physiologie et de Biochimie: Vol. 77, No. 4, pp. 710-716.
Range-wide phylogeographic analysis of the spotted frog complex (Rana luteiventris and Rana pretiosa) in northwestern North America

The dynamic geological and climatic history of northwestern North America has made it a focal region for phylogeography. We conducted a range-wide phylogeographic analysis of the spotted frog complex (Rana luteiventris and Rana pretiosa) across its range in northwestern North America to understand its evolutionary history and the distribution of clades to inform conservation of R. pretiosa and Great Basin R. luteiventris, candidates for listing under the US Endangered Species Act. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data from a segment of the cytochrome b gene were obtained from 308 R. luteiventris and R. pretiosa from 96 sites. Phylogenetic analysis revealed one main R. pretiosa clade and three main R. luteiventris clades, two of which overlapped in southeastern Oregon. The three R. luteiventris clades were separated from each other by high levels of sequence divergence (average of 4.75–4.97%). Two divergent clades were also uncovered within the Great Basin. Low genetic variation in R. pretiosa and the southeastern Oregon clade of R. luteiventris suggests concern about their vulnerability to extinction.
Interfacial failure via encapsulation of external particulates in an outward-growing thermal oxide

Abstract A Cr2O3-forming Ni-base superalloy and this alloy coated with a Pt-modified aluminide coating were exposed to SiO2 powder and cyclically oxidized at 950 °C. The uncoated alloy showed a considerable amount of spallation and buckling whereas the Pt–NiAl coated alloy remained protective throughout hundred 1 h-cycles. The interfacial failure is mainly ascribed to the increased thermal strain by the encapsulation of external SiO2 particulates in an outward-growing Cr2O3 layer. However, the particles were not embedded in the thermally grown oxide of the Pt–NiAl coated alloy due to the slow inward-growing characteristics of Al2O3 scales. The buckling of the Cr2O3 scale with embedded SiO2 was analyzed with (1) a classical buckling criterion using the instantaneous coefficients of thermal expansion of the constituents, and (2) finite element analyses (FEA) to estimate the local interfacial shear stresses. It turns out that the thermal strain with embedded SiO2 is larger than the experimentally determined critical thermal strain (ɛb) explaining the buckling of the oxide scale observed in the experiment. The FEA results demonstrate that local shear stresses at the metal/oxide interface are significantly amplified near the SiO2 particles showing that the buckling of oxide can be readily initiated especially in the vicinity of the embedded particles.
Serum Antioxidant Status Is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome among U.S. Adults in Recent National Surveys

Potential antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects were recently ascribed to naturally occurring micronutrients. The extent and magnitudes of their differential effects on the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are still unknown. We examined the association between serum antioxidant status and MetS. NHANES 2001–2006 cross-sectional data among adults aged 20–85 y were analyzed (n = 3008–9099). MetS was defined with the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) and also by elevated homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and hyperuricemia. Serum antioxidants included retinol, retinyl esters, carotenoids [α-carotene, β-carotene (cis+trans), β-cryptoxanthin, lutein+zeaxanthin, total lycopene], vitamin E, and vitamin C. MetS (NCEP ATP III) prevalence in U.S. adults was 32.0% among men and 29.5% among women. Adults with MetS had consistently lower serum carotenoid concentrations compared with those without MetS, even after controlling for total cholesterol and TG among other potential confounders. Vitamin E had no significant relationship with MetS in the full multiple logistic regression model, whereas retinol+retinyl esters were inversely related to MetS among men only. The latter were also inversely related to elevated CRP and positively associated with hyperuricemia. Vitamin C exhibited a similar pattern to serum carotenoids with an inverse linear association with MetS (binary), HOMA-IR, and hyperuricemia. Future intervention studies of dietary and lifestyle change must be conducted to assess the utility of modifying serum antioxidant concentrations, especially carotenoids, given their suboptimal levels among U.S. adults with MetS, for the prevention of type 2 diabetes and various cardiovascular endpoints.
A polymorphic region in Mycobacterium abscessus contains a novel insertion sequence element.

A polymorphic region was discovered in the genetically uncharacterized opportunistic pathogen Mycobacterium abscessus. The region contains a novel 1·7 kb insertion sequence (IS) named ISMab1. ISMab1 contains two complete ORFs and one partial ORF located in segments with over 80% nucleotide identity to Mycobacterium avium IS1601 and IS999 and to previously unreported IS-like elements from Mycobacterium smegmatis. The marked similarity within this family of elements is supportive of horizontal transfer between environmental mycobacterial species. In clinical isolates, ISMab1 was either present as a single copy or absent. The polymorphic region containing ISMab1 was identified by genomic subtraction between a parental strain and phenotypic variant. The variant has a 14·2 kb genomic deletion and this is flanked in the parental strain by complex arrays of inverted and direct repeats. Clinical isolates of M. abscessus were probed for the deletion and flanking sequences and two were found to be missing more than 20 kb. No regional deletions were found in the type strain, ATCC 19977. Although M. abscessus is a rapidly growing species, comparative sequence analysis of 23 kb from the polymorphic region showed that most local ORFs have greater amino acid identity to proteins encoded by genes from the slowly growing mycobacteria, M. avium and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, than to the rapid-grower M. smegmatis. Several ORFs also have strong similarity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa genes with a potential role in β-oxidation.
First Detection and Widespread Distribution of the Spotted Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), in Connecticut in 2011

Abstract. The non-native spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), was first detected in Connecticut in August 2011. In a subsequent survey, conducted between September and December 2011, the eastern Asian D. suzukii was found in 86 (50.9%) of 169 municipalities distributed in the eight counties of Connecticut. New distributional records were based primarily on capturing adults in vinegar-baited traps and on rearing them from infested fruit. During the survey, adults were reared from fruit on wild plants of Elaeagnus umbellata Thunberg, Phytolacca americana L., and Vitis labrusca L. and on cultivated plants of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (Maximowicz) Trautvetter, Cornus kousa Hance, Diospyros virginiana L., Rubus idaeus L., and Vaccinium corymbosum L. Wild hosts of D. suzukii should be considered when management programs are designed and when population growth is modeled.
Evaluating window joins over unbounded streams

We investigate algorithms for evaluating sliding window joins over pairs of unbounded streams. We introduce a unit-time-basis cost model to analyze the expected performance of these algorithms. Using this cost model, we propose strategies for maximizing the efficiency of processing joins in three scenarios. First, we consider the case where one stream is much faster than the other. We show that asymmetric combinations of join algorithms, (e.g., hash join on one input, nested-loops join on the other) can outperform symmetric join algorithm implementations. Second, we investigate the case where system resources are insufficient to keep up with the input streams. We show that we can maximize the number of join result tuples produced in this case by properly allocating computing resources across the two input streams. Finally, we investigate strategies for maximizing the number of result tuples produced when memory is limited, and show that proper memory allocation across the two input streams can result in significantly lower resource usage and/or more result tuples produced.
Firearm Retailers' Willingness to Participate in an Illegal Gun Purchase

Firearm-related violence is a significant public health and public safety problem for cities in the USA, and licensed firearm retailers are an important source of the guns used in that violence. Using a scripted telephone interview, we screened a sample of licensed retailers in California to assess their willingness to participate in the surrogate or “straw” purchase of a handgun; such purchases are illegal under federal law. Of 149 retailers who provided a response, 30 (20.1%) agreed to participate. In multivariate analysis, pawnbrokers were more likely to agree than were gun dealers (odds ratio 6.58, 95% confidence interval 1.99–21.71). Sales of handguns that were later subjected to ownership tracing (a proxy measure for a gun’s use in crime) were not more frequent among retailers who agreed to participate than among others, and other findings were unexpected as well.
Roles of the Escherichia coli Small Heat Shock Proteins IbpA and IbpB in Thermal Stress Management: Comparison with ClpA, ClpB, and HtpG In Vivo

We have constructed an Escherichia coli strain lacking the small heat shock proteins IbpA and IbpB and compared its growth and viability at high temperatures to those of isogenic cells containing null mutations in the clpA , clpB , or htpG gene. All mutants exhibited growth defects at 46°C, but not at lower temperatures. However, the clpA , htpG , and ibp null mutations did not reduce cell viability at 50°C. When cultures were allowed to recover from transient exposure to 50°C, all mutations except Δ ibp led to suboptimal growth as the recovery temperature was raised. Deletion of the heat shock genes clpB and htpG resulted in growth defects at 42°C when combined with the dnaK756 or groES30 alleles, while the Δ ibp mutation had a detrimental effect only on the growth of dnaK756 mutants. Neither the overexpression of these heat shock proteins nor that of ClpA could restore the growth of dnaK756 or groES30 cells at high temperatures. Whereas increased levels of host protein aggregation were observed in dnaK756 and groES30 mutants at 46°C compared to wild-type cells, none of the null mutations had a similar effect. These results show that the highly conserved E. coli small heat shock proteins are dispensable and that their deletion results in only modest effects on growth and viability at high temperatures. Our data also suggest that ClpB, HtpG, and IbpA and -B cooperate with the major E. coli chaperone systems in vivo.
Morphologically Novel Members of the Ant-Mimetic Plant Bug Genus Pilophorus Hahn Found in Thailand, with Descriptions of Three New Species (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini)

ABSTRACT Morphologically novel species of the ant-mimetic plant bug genus Pilophorus Hahn from Thailand are reviewed, with photographic images of live individuals. Three species, Pilophorus barbiger, P. giraffoides, and P. portentosus, are described as new, in addition to two known Thai species, P. maculatus (Schuh) and P. pleiku (Schuh), which are also diagnosed. The female of P. pleiku is reported for the first time. The biology and immature forms are documented for P. pleiku and P. barbiger, which were observed to be associated with ants on the rubiaceous broadleaf, Gardenia sootepensis Hutch. The systematic position of such morphologically novel species is discussed. Pilophorus palawanus (Schuh) is newly recorded from Singapore.
Spectrum sharing in an ISM band: outage performance of a hybrid DS/FH spread spectrum system with beamforming

This paper investigates spectrum sharing issues in the unlicensed industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands. It presents a radio frequency measurement setup and measurement results in 2.4GHz. It then develops an analytical model to characterize the coexistence interference in the ISM bands, based on radio frequency measurement results in the 2.4 GHz. Outage performance using the interference model is examined for a hybrid direct-sequence frequency-hopping spread spectrum system. The utilization of beamforming techniques in the system is also investigated, and a simplified beamforming model is proposed to analyze the system performance using beamforming. Numerical results show that beamforming significantly improves the system outage performance. The work presented in this paper provides a quantitative evaluation of signal outages in a spectrum sharing environment. It can be used as a tool in the development process for future dynamic spectrumaccess models as well as engineering designs for applications in unlicensed bands.
An improved strategy for regression of biophysical variables and Landsat ETM+ data.

Empirical models are important tools for relating field-measured biophysical variables to remote sensing data. Regression analysis has been a popular empirical method of linking these two types of data to provide continuous estimates for variables such as biomass, percent woody canopy cover, and leaf area index (LAI). Traditional methods of regression are not sufficient when resulting biophysical surfaces derived from remote sensing are subsequently used to drive ecosystem process models. Most regression analyses in remote sensing rely on a single spectral vegetation index (SVI) based on red and near-infrared reflectance from a single date of imagery. There are compelling reasons for utilizing greater spectral dimensionality, and for including SVIs from multiple dates in a regression analysis. Moreover, when including multiple SVIs and/or dates, it is useful to integrate these into a single index for regression modeling. Selection of an appropriate regression model, use of multiple SVIs from multiple dates of imagery as predictor variables, and employment of canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to integrate these multiple indices into a single index represent a significant strategic improvement over existing uses of regression analysis in remote sensing. To demonstrate this improved strategy, we compared three different types of regression models to predict LAI for an agro-ecosystem and live tree canopy cover for a needleleaf evergreen boreal forest: traditional (Yon X) ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, inverse (X on Y) OLS regression, and an orthogonal regression method called reduced major axis (RMA). Each model incorporated multiple SVIs from multiple dates and CCA was used to integrate these. For a given dataset, the three regression-modeling approaches produced identical coefficients of determination and intercepts, but different slopes, giving rise to divergent predictive characteristics. The traditional approach yielded the lowest root mean square error (RMSE), but the variance in the predictions was lower than the variance in the observed dataset. The inverse method had the highest RMSE and the variance was inflated relative to the variance of the observed dataset. RMA provided an intermediate set of predictions in terms of the RMSE, and the variance in the observations was preserved in the predictions. These results are predictable from regression theory, but that theory has been essentially ignored within the discipline of remote sensing. D 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Measuring the corticosteroid responsiveness endophenotype in asthmatic patients

Background Inhaled corticosteroids are the most commonly used controller therapies for asthma, producing treatment responses in 6 clinical phenotypes: lung function, bronchodilator response, airway responsiveness, symptoms, need for oral steroids and frequency of emergency department visits and hospitalizations. We hypothesize that treatment response in all of these phenotypes is modulated by a single quantitative corticosteroid responsiveness endophenotype. Objective We sought to develop a composite phenotype that combines multiple clinical phenotypes to measure corticosteroid responsiveness with high accuracy, stability across populations, and robustness to missing data. Methods We used principal component analysis to determine a composite corticosteroid responsiveness phenotype that we tested in 4 replication populations. We evaluated the relative accuracy with which the composite and clinical phenotypes measure the endophenotype using treatment effect area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results In the study population the composite phenotype measured the endophenotype with an AUC of 0.74, significantly exceeding the AUCs of the 6 individual clinical phenotypes, which ranged from 0.56 ( P P = .015). In 4 replication populations with a total of 22 clinical phenotypes available, the composite phenotype AUC ranged from 0.69 to 0.73, significantly exceeded the AUCs of 14 phenotypes, and was not significantly exceeded by any single phenotype. Conclusion The composite phenotype measured the endophenotype with higher accuracy, higher stability across populations, and higher robustness to missing data than any clinical phenotype. This should provide the capability to model corticosteroid pharmacologic response and resistance with increased accuracy and reproducibility.