cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance analysis of velocity (Doppler) estimators in mobile communications

The knowledge of the maximum Doppler spread, or equivalently the vehicle velocity is of paramount importance in such diverse applications as adaptive modulation and handoff. In this paper we derive the Cramer-Rao bound for all Doppler estimators that utilize the I/Q components of the channel coefficients, which is also shown to be a bound for all estimators that utilize the envelope or the logarithm of the envelope. Furthermore, by exploiting the method of stationary phase, we show that the sample covariances of the small scale fading converge at a rate of O(log(N)/N), regardless of the angle of arrival distribution. This is used to conclude that the covariance-based estimators in the literature converge to their true values at that same rate. We compare the CRB with the variance of covariance-based Doppler estimators by Monte Carlo simulation.
Thought Field Therapy: A Former Insider's Experience.

Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is a novel therapy that employs finger tapping on purported acupressure points. Over the past decade, TFT, promoted on the Internet and through testimonials of fast cures, has gained popularity with therapists, including clinical social workers. Although TFT claims to cure a wide variety of psychological and physical problems, there is scant evidence to support such claims. The following is an account of my 7-year experience as a leading practitioner, author, and teacher of TFT and includes my initial skepticism, what first interested me, my experiences training to the highest level of TFT (the proprietary Voice Technology) and becoming part of the inner circle of TFT, an experiment I did with Voice Technology, and factors that led to my doubts and ultimate disillusionment with TFT. The pseudoscientific aspects of TFT and how they can impair critical thinking are also discussed.
The vertebrate E1/U17 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein particle

Each of the many different box H/ACA ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) present in eukaryotes and archaea consists of four common core proteins and one specific H/ACA small RNA, which bears the sequence elements H (ANANNA) and ACA. Most of the H/ACA RNPs are small nucleolar RNPs (snoRNPs), which are localized in nucleoli, and are one of the two major classes of snoRNPs. Most H/ACA RNPs direct pseudouridine synthesis in pre-rRNA and other RNAs. One H/ACA small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA), vertebrate E1/U17 (snR30 in yeast), is required for pre-rRNA cleavage processing that generates mature 18S rRNA. E1 snoRNA is encoded in introns of protein-coding genes, and the evidence suggests that human E1 RNA undergoes uridine insertional RNA editing. The vertebrate E1 RNA consensus secondary structure shows several features that are absent in other box H/ACA snoRNAs. The available UV-induced RNA-protein crosslinking results suggest that the E1 snoRNP is asymmetrical in vertebrate cells, in contrast to other H/ACA snoRNPs. The vertebrate E1 snoRNP in cells is surprisingly complex: (i) E1 RNA contacts directly and specifically several proteins which do not appear to be any of the H/ACA RNP four core proteins; and (ii) multiple E1 RNA sites are needed for E1 snoRNP formation, E1 RNA stability, and E1 RNA–protein direct interactions. J. Cell. Biochem. 98: 486–495, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Jazzing up vessel growth

In this issue of Blood, Niessen and colleagues identify a critical role for signaling through the TGFβ pathway in postnatal lymphatic vessel growth. In vitro studies demonstrate that TGFβ and BMP receptors are expressed and function in lymphatic endothelial cells. Injection of soluble receptor proteins that block signaling by this family of ligands interrupts the terminal stages of microvascular lymphatic remodeling in neonatal mice. These findings identify a signaling pathway that regulates both blood and lymphatic vessel growth and underscore the need for more sophisticated genetic and pharmacologic approaches to better define how core signaling pathways orchestrate growth of the 2 mammalian vasculatures.
Effect of water activity on inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and lactate dehydrogenase during high pressure processing.

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water activity ( a w ) on the inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) during high pressure processing (HPP). For microbial inactivation lyophilized cells of L. monocytogenes 19,115 were left dry or were suspended in 10 ml of 0.1% peptone water, 10 ml of glycerol, or mixtures of glycerol and peptone water. All samples of various a w s were high pressure (HP) processed at ambient temperature at 600 MPa for 300 s. Following HPP, samples were serially diluted in 0.1% peptone and spread-plated on Tryptic Soy agar supplemented with Yeast Extract. For enzyme inactivation, 4.2 mg of lyophilized LDH was suspended in 2 ml of 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), 2 ml of peptone water or glycerol, or in 2 ml mixtures of glycerol and peptone water. A lyophilized sample with no added liquid was also included. All enzyme samples were subjected to HPP as described above. After HPP, LDH was diluted to 0.28 μg/ml in 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). LDH activity was assessed by measuring the change in concentration of β-NADH as a function of time. Dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS) was performed to examine the size distribution, polydispersity, and hydrodynamic radius of LDH before and after HPP. No significant difference in CFU/g was observed between lyophilized cells not subjected to HPP and lyophilized cells subjected to 600 MPa for 300 s ( P 10 reduction when subjected to HPP. Survival of L. monocytogenes following HPP significantly increased ( P a w ~ 0.8). DLS results revealed that LDH suspended in buffer underwent aggregation following HPP (600 MPa, 300 s). Inactivation rate constants obtained using a first-order kinetic model indicated that untreated and HP processed lyophilized LDH had similar activities. When LDH was subject to HPP in solutions containing glycerol, enzyme activity decreased as the water content increased ( r 2 = 0.95). Lyophilization completely protected L. monocytogenes and LDH from inactivation by high pressure. Furthermore, enzyme activity and cell survival increased as water activity was decreased. We postulate low a w results in protein stabilization, which prevents protein denaturation and cell death during HPP.
Laser speckle decorrelation as a noncontact method for brittle-ductile fracture differentiation

Quasi-static fracture in four-point-bend specimens of both brittle and ductile materials was examined using a method which required only photographic access to the specimen surface. Decorrelation of laser speckle patterns was used as a means to map out two-dimensional regions of high surface strain associated with crack propagation. ASTM A515 grade 70 steel was tested, at temperatures above and below its brittle-ductile transition temperature, by double-exposure speckle photography of the area ahead of the crack tip. The regions where the two speckle patterns were uncorrelated, determined by pointwise spatial filtering of the speckle interferograms, have been observed and are related to plastic deformation of the specimen surface near the crack tip. A subsequent comparison of the decorrelation zones resulting from brittle versus ductile states showed differences as expected in both zone size and shape.
Beta‐tricalcium phosphate particles as a controlled release carrier of osteogenic proteins for bone tissue engineering

Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) has been widely used as bone substitutes and delivery carriers of osteogenic proteins. However, low protein carrying capacity and agent burst release profiles of β-TCP limit their usage. This study investigates strategies to enhance protein carrying capacity of β-TCP particles with reduced initial burst by surface etching in citric acid solution or by creating apatite coatings with the simulate body fluid immersion approach. The release kinetics of protein from the modified β-TCP particles was investigated using Nel-like molecule-1 (Nell-1), a novel osteogenic protein, as a model protein. Although chemical etching treatments reduced the initial burst release of protein from the particles, a rapid burst release was observed with high protein dose. In contrast, the burst release of protein was significantly reduced by the apatite coating and a high protein dose was successfully delivered over a prolonged period from the apatite-coated particles. Protein release was further modulated by simultaneously delivering proteins from two different substrates: acid-etched and apatite-coated particles. The bioactivity of the protein was preserved during the loading procedure onto the particles. In addition, protein-loaded particles maintained biological activity in the lyophilized state over 4 weeks. These findings suggest that the protein carrying capacity of β-TCP can be modulated by surface modification, which has a potential for use as a protein carrier with controlled release.
One Perspective on the Value of Journal Editorship

Neuropsychology is a multifaceted neuroscience discipline, which evolved from neurology, psychiatry, psychology, neurosurgery, and electrophysiology. Historically, its purpose was to localize neural and neurological foundations of selective sensory, motor, and cognitive processes through characterization of selective functions disrupted by circumscribed lesions. In its current incarnation, neuropsychology reflects the neurosciences and has moved from seeking loci to appreciating multifocal systems and far-reaching neurocircuitry as underlying selective functions. This paradigm shift has required embracing and accommodating highly technical brain imaging modalities and complex analysis approaches. The joint venture of neuropsychology and neuroimaging has launched new levels of questioning and hypothesis testing conducted in vivo, unattainable by neuropsychology’s forerunners, whose “imaging” was limited to the neurosurgeon’s drawings or to postmortem examination for lesion verification. As a journal of reviews rather than of primary data, my approach has been to ensure that the topic du jour is covered by the best and most mature researchers of that topic. To enhance chances of achieving this aim, most papers are by invitation; those that are unsolicited suffer an 83 % rejection rate. To overcome—and perhaps compensate for—a fundamental annoyance I have with journals that limit authors to an arbitrary number of references, my reference allotment is limitless, and I actively encourage authors to expand their reference list where relevant. Similarly, I request that authors use figures in their reviews, which aid in describing neural pathways, neuroimaging findings, selectivity of brain structure-function relations, and functional models. Thorough, thoughtful, synthetic reviews provide an initial place to start learning about a new field. When adequately referenced, supplemented with figures, and written in a scholarly and critical fashion, the relevance, novelty, and unknowns are presented clearly and usefully. Then I thought about myself: what was my scope and limit of knowledge in “my” field, this expansive multidisciplinary field of neuropsychology? How dare I have the courage–or even the audacity–to assume editorship charging me to judge the worth of scholarly reviews on topics often far afield from my own?
High School Biology Teachers' Views on Teaching Evolution: Implications for Science Teacher Educators.

In the US, there may be few scientific concepts that students maintain preconceived ideas about as strongly and passionately as they do with regard to evolution. At the confluence of a multitude of social, religious, political, and scientific factors lies the biology teacher. This phenomenological study provides insight into the salient aspects of teaching evolution as viewed by public high school biology teachers. Transcribed interviews were coded, and data were sorted resulting in key themes regarding teachers’ views of evolution education. These themes are presented against the backdrop of extant literature on the teaching and learning of evolution. Suggestions for science teacher educators are presented such that we can modify teacher preparation programs to better prepare science teachers to meet the challenges of teaching evolution.
What is dry eye and what does it mean to the contact lens wearer

Purpose. To define dry eye disease and describe the evolution of our understanding of the clinical expression and pathophysiology of dry eye. To relate tear function to contact lens wear and review the problems dry eye causes with contact lens tolerance and performance. Methods. Review of literature. Results. The rudimentary definition of dry eye as a lack of tears is expanded through an increased understanding of the clinical presentations of dry eye. The classification of dry eye is historically reviewed. The pathophysiology is related to the evolution of therapy for dry eye disorders. The function of the tear film is related to contact lens wear and the problems induced by dry eye correlated with contact lens intolerance. Conclusion. The tear film is critical to successful contact lens wear. Disturbances of the quantity or quality of the tear film, whether because of aqueous deficiency or evaporative tear problems, results in intolerance of contact lens wear and damage to the ocular surface.
Scaling Performance via Self-Tuning Approximation for Graphics Engines

Approximate computing, where computation accuracy is traded off for better performance or higher data throughput, is one solution that can help data processing keep pace with the current and growing abundance of information. For particular domains, such as multimedia and learning algorithms, approximation is commonly used today. We consider automation to be essential to provide transparent approximation, and we show that larger benefits can be achieved by constructing the approximation techniques to fit the underlying hardware. Our target platform is the GPU because of its high performance capabilities and difficult programming challenges that can be alleviated with proper automation. Our approach—SAGE—combines a static compiler that automatically generates a set of CUDA kernels with varying levels of approximation with a runtime system that iteratively selects among the available kernels to achieve speedup while adhering to a target output quality set by the user. The SAGE compiler employs three optimization techniques to generate approximate kernels that exploit the GPU microarchitecture: selective discarding of atomic operations, data packing, and thread fusion. Across a set of machine learning and image processing kernels, SAGE's approximation yields an average of 2.5× speedup with less than 10p quality loss compared to the accurate execution on a NVIDIA GTX 560 GPU.
Vertical Photon Transport in Cloud Remote Sensing Problems

Photon transport in plane-parallel, vertically inhomogeneous clouds is investigated and applied to cloud remote sensing techniques that use solar reflectance or transmittance measurements for retrieving droplet effective radius. Transport is couched in terms of weighting functions which approximate the relative contribution of individual layers to the overall retrieval. Two vertical weightings are investigated, including one based on the average number of scatterings encountered by reflected and transmitted photons in any given layer. A simpler vertical weighting, based on the maximum penetration of reflected photons, proves useful for solar reflectance measurements. These weighting functions are highly dependent on droplet absorption and solar/viewing geometry. A superposition technique, using adding/doubling radiative transfer procedures, is used to accurately determine both weightings, avoiding time-consuming Monte Carlo methods. Effective radius retrievals from modeled vertically structured liquid water clouds are then made using the standard near-infrared bands and compared with size estimates based on the proposed weighting functions. Agreement between the two methods is generally within several tenths of a micrometer, much better than expected retrieval accuracy. Though the emphasis is on photon transport in clouds, the derived weightings can be applied to any multiple-scattering plane-parallel radiative transfer problem, including arbitrary combinations of cloud, aerosol, and gas layers.
Linear Programming across the Curriculum.

Linear programming (LP) is taught in different departments across college campuses with engineering and management curricula. Modeling an LP problem is taught in every linear programming class. As faculty teaching in Engineering and Management departments, the depth to which teachers should expect students to master this particular type of modeling is often discussed. Does a student's understanding of this critical concept differ across the curriculum? The authors look at students’ abilities to model LP problems in two different departments: Industrial Engineering and Management. The authors compare the results and look for differences and reasons for those differences.
Quantification of human H1 histamine receptor mRNA from peripheral blood.

Study Objective. To develop a reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to detect and quantify human histamine1 (H1) receptor mRNA in peripheral blood. Methods. Primer pairs were based on the human H1 receptor nucleotide sequence. A competitive reference standard (CRS) was developed that used the same primers as wild-type mRNA but contained a 92-bp deletion. RT-PCR was performed with 5 μg of total RNA obtained from venous blood of six subjects that was added to known concentrations of CRS RNA. Linear regression comparing wild-type with CRS product was used to quantify wild-type mRNA. Measurements and Main Results. Three subjects had detectable H1 mRNA, with a range of 31–435 pg. In three subjects PCR product was not detected, although the presence of RNA was confirmed. Redesigned primer pairs showed mRNA to H1 receptor in two of the remaining subjects, but it was undetectable in the third. Conclusion. RT-PCR can be used to detect and quantify human H1 receptor mRNA from peripheral blood.
Observation of continuous and reversible bcc–fcc phase transformation in Ag/V multilayers

A continuous and reversible bcc–fcc phase transformation via a rotation of bcc{110} or fcc{111} planes is observed in the Bain orientation relationship in a sputter deposited V/Ag multilayers using high resolution transmission electron microscopy and analyzed using molecular dynamics simulations. As a result of the continuous phase transformation, an intermediate bct phase connecting the bcc and fcc phases coexists, giving rise to the Bain path. The periodic displacement of atoms occurs in every two adjacent Ag and V layers. The alternating shear stress created by misfit strain is responsible for generating such transformation.
A VEHICLE ROUTING PROBLEM WITH BACKHAULS AND TIME WINDOWS: A GUIDED LOCAL SEARCH SOLUTION

The vehicle routing problem with backhauls and time windows (VRPBTW) has two objectives: minimize the number of routes and minimize the sum total distance of all the routes. This paper presents a guided local search heuristic to solve the VRPBTW. The VRPBTW with and without customer precedence are both considered. Customer precedence requires that all linehaul customers be visited before any backhaul customer. The basic approach is to construct an initial infeasible solution and then use a guided local search to improve the solution feasibility and quality. A new technique, section planning, is used to enhance the feasibility. Computational results show that the new heuristic can solve problems in which customers are distributed normally or in clusters. The proposed heuristic did not perform as well as a genetic algorithm for the VRPBTW with customer precedence, although its solution values were generally within 5% of published best results. The proposed heuristic did outperform previous algorithms in minimizing the total route distance without customer precedence.
Two-dimensional energy-dependent models for the simulation of substrate current in submicron MOSFET's

Two-dimensional energy-dependent substrate current models are described for NMOS and PMOS devices that have been developed using a multi-contour approach. The new models offer a significant improvement in the calculation of substrate current due to a more accurate calculation of the average energy as compared to the local-field model. The models are implemented in a post-processing manner by applying a one-dimensional energy conservation equation to each of many current contours in order to generate a two-dimensional representation of average energy and impact ionization rate, that is then integrated to calculate the substrate current. The new models have been compared to substrate current characteristics of a variety of NMOS and PMOS devices for a wide range of bias conditions and channel lengths, and very good agreement has been obtained with a single set of model parameters. An additional significance of this work is the enhancement of the standard multi-contour model by an energy-sink term that results in an improved prediction of the impact ionization process in PMOSFET's. >
[Invasive fungal disease in patients from five hospitals in the Valparaíso region, Chile: 2004 to 2009].

Introduccion: La enfermedad fungica invasora (EFI) es una causa frecuente de morbimortalidad en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. Es provocada principalmente por Candida albicans y Aspergillus fumigatus. Objetivos: Describir las EFI diagnosticadas con cultivos en adultos y ninos de cinco hospitales de la Region de Valparaiso, Chile, conocer las especies involucradas y para Candida spp determinar su sensibilidad in vitro. Material y Metodos: En cada caso se recopilaron antecedentes demograficos, cultivos, tratamiento antifungico y mortalidad a 30 dias. La identificacion de hongos se realizo por metodos estandarizados y la sensibilidad de levaduras segun documento M44-A del CLSI. Resultados: se diagnosticaron 51 EFI, destacando 13 en pacientes onco-hematologicos y 10 en inmunocompetentes de UCI adultos. Se aislaron 34 levaduras, 15 hongos filamentosos y en dos casos Histoplasma capsulatum. Hubo 33 EFI probabas por levaduras y una probable. En EFI por hongos filamentosos 6 fueron probadas y 9 probables; 13 de 15 especies aisladas fueron Aspergillus, siendo A fumigatus la mas frecuente. Entre las levaduras predomino C. albicans, seguida de C. tropicalis y C. parapsilosis. Todas fueron sensibles a fluconazol y voriconazol, excepto C. glabrata. La mortalidad de EFI por Candida fue de 42,4% y de EFI por hongos filamentosos de 86,6%. Conclusiones: la EFI se diagnostico principalmente en pacientes inmunocomprometidos y en pacientes de UCI adultos. La mortalidad de EFI por hongos filamentosos fue mayor que la causada por Candida. Los principales agentes fueron C. albicans y A. fumigatus. Existe una alta sensibilidad de las cepas de Candida spp a fluconazol y voriconazol.
Similar Pathogen Targets in Arabidopsis thaliana and Homo sapiens Protein Networks

We study the behavior of pathogens on host protein networks for humans and Arabidopsis - noting striking similarities. Specifically, we preform k-shell decomposition analysis on these networks - which groups the proteins into various ‘‘shells’’ based on network structure. We observe that shells with a higher average degree are more highly targeted (with a powerlaw relationship) and that highly targeted nodes lie in shells closer to the inner-core of the network. Additionally, we also note that the inner core of the network is significantly under-targeted. We show that these core proteins may have a role in intra-cellular communication and hypothesize that they are less attacked to ensure survival of the host. This may explain why certain high-degree proteins are not significantly attacked.
Injuries From Traffic Crashes: Meeting the Challenge

As we look toward the year 2000, important changes in the characteristics of vehicles, highways, drivers, and pedestrians will present new safety challenges and require innovative solutions. This report describes these changes. It also notes that the traffic safety community is not well prepared to meet these challenges because of persistent neglect of basic investments in traffic safety research. The report concludes on two notes of optimism: the consumer's increasing interest in vehicle safety, which is triggering competitive market forces on behalf of safety, and the public health community's increasing commitment to injury control, which promises to return traffic injuries to the governmental agenda, where it was briefly in the 1960s. The report's sub-headings are as follows: Introduction; Explaining the Progress, 1950-1980; Missed Opportunities, 1965-1985; Traffic Safety Progress in the 1980s; The American Campaign Against Drunk Driving; The American Campaign to Increase Occupant-Restraint Use; Cost-Effectiveness Comparisons of Traffic Safety Policies; Ominous Trends for the Future; The Neglected Road-Users; Crisis in Traffic Safety Research?; Safety in the Economic and Political Marketplaces; and Conclusion.
Mapping cancer cell metabolism with(13)C flux analysis: Recent progress and future challenges.

The reprogramming of energy metabolism is emerging as an important molecular hallmark of cancer cells. Recent discoveries linking specific metabolic alterations to cancer development have strengthened the idea that altered metabolism is more than a side effect of malignant transformation, but may in fact be a functional driver of tumor growth and progression in some cancers. As a result, dysregulated metabolic pathways have become attractive targets for cancer therapeutics. This review highlights the application of 13 C metabolic flux analysis (MFA) to map the flow of carbon through intracellular biochemical pathways of cancer cells. We summarize several recent applications of MFA that have identified novel biosynthetic pathways involved in cancer cell proliferation and shed light on the role of specific oncogenes in regulating these pathways. Through such studies, it has become apparent that the metabolic phenotypes of cancer cells are not as homogeneous as once thought, but instead depend strongly on the molecular alterations and environmental factors at play in each case.
Impact of Residual Impurities and Contaminants on Protein Stability

Production of recombinant proteins generates a variety of process-related impurities. The multistep manufacturing processes may introduce many potential contaminants into the final pharmaceutical products. These residual impurities and contaminants can potentially impact the protein stability significantly. In this short review, the authors intend to discuss major sources and types of residual process-related impurities and potential product contaminants, their impact on protein quality/stability, and possible mitigations during product development and manufacturing processes.
Phase I/II trial of docetaxel and vinorelbine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy

We conducted a phase I/II trial of the combination of docetaxel and weekly vinorelbine in patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were refractory or resistant to platinum-based regimens. The objectives of the study were (1) to determine the maximum tolerated doses of docetaxel and weekly vinorelbine when given in combination and (2) to evaluate the response to and quantitative and qualitative toxicity of this combination of agents. Patients were required to have an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, evaluable lesions, and no prior treatment with docetaxel or vinorelbine. A total of 30 patients were treated on this phase I/II study. Eight patients were treated at various doses on the phase I portion of the study. Twenty-two patients (11 males, 11 females, median age 64.5 years) were treated at the phase II dose of vinorelbine 15 mg/m(2) weekly with docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) on day 1 of a 21 day cycle. Twenty of these 22 patients enrolled at the phase II dose required dose modification or delay. Sixteen patients experienced absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <500/mm(3), and eight patients had neutropenic fever. Four patients experienced partial response (18%), nine patients had stable disease (41%), and nine patients had progressive disease (41%). With a median follow-up of 11 months, median survival for these 22 patients was 15.9 months (95% CI 8.1, 23.6 months). Median time to disease progression was 3.2 months with a 95% CI of (1.4, 4.1) months. Thus, the combination of docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks and vinorelbine 15 mg/m(2) weekly appears to be active as a second line regimen in NSCLC, although it is a highly myelosuppressive regimen requiring dose modification in 91% of patients.
On non-linear sensitivity of marine biological models to parameter variations

Marine biological models are usually complex with many free parameters. Parameter prioritization (based on contribution to model output) is important for system management but difficult. A variance-based sensitivity analysis is developed in this paper using the Sobol’–Saltelli sensitivity indices, which measure the relative importance of each parameter (or group of parameters) and range these parameters along their contribution to output variability. To reduce the number of degrees of freedom, the model output is decomposed using the warping functions or irreversible predictability time. A simple three-component [nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton (NPZ)] model with 23 parameters for reproducing annual phytoplankton cycle of the Black Sea is taken as the example to show the usefulness and procedure of the sensitivity analysis. Single and total sensitivity indices showed strong sensitivity of the biological model to the light limitation of the phytoplankton growth. This agrees well with physical intuition. However, ranging model parameters along their contributions to model output variability does not follow exactly the physical intuition when model-related errors from large perturbations of the parameters are not small. For example, the model output becomes very sensitive to the nutrient stock parameterization for certain combinations of the light-related factors.
An Alexandrium Spp. Cyst Record from Sequim Bay, Washington State, USA, and its Relation to Past Climate Variability(1).

Since the 1970s, Puget Sound, Washington State, USA, has experienced an increase in detections of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in shellfish due to blooms of the harmful dinoflagellate Alexandrium. Natural patterns of climate variability, such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and changes in local environmental factors, such as sea surface temperature (SST) and air temperature, have been linked to the observed increase in PSTs. However, the lack of observations of PSTs in shellfish prior to the 1950s has inhibited statistical assessments of longer-term trends in climate and environmental conditions on Alexandrium blooms. After a bloom, Alexandrium cells can enter a dormant cyst stage, which settles on the seafloor and then becomes entrained into the sedimentary record. In this study, we created a record of Alexandrium spp. cysts from a sediment core obtained from Sequim Bay, Puget Sound. Cyst abundances ranged from 0 to 400 cysts · cm(-3) and were detected down-core to a depth of 100 cm, indicating that Alexandrium has been present in Sequim Bay since at least the late 1800s. The cyst record allowed us to statistically examine relationships with available environmental parameters over the past century. Local air temperature and sea surface temperature were positively and significantly correlated with cyst abundances from the late 1800s to 2005; no significant relationship was found between PDO and cyst abundances. This finding suggests that local environmental variations more strongly influence Alexandrium population dynamics in Puget Sound when compared to large-scale changes.
Data compression issues with pattern matching in historical data

It is common practice in the process industries to compress plant data before it is archived. However, compression may alter the data in a manner that makes it difficult to extract useful information from it. In this paper we evaluate the effectiveness of a new pattern matching technique for applications involving compressed historical data. We also compare several data compression methods with regard to efficiency, data reconstruction, and suitability for pattern matching applications.
Acupuncture as a detoxification treatment: an analysis of controlled research.

The research literature on the use of acupuncture as a substance abuse treatment is reviewed. In recent years numerous descriptive reports have been published concerning the efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating withdrawal symptoms with substance abusers attempting abstinence. While a limited number of experimental design studies have been conducted in this area, results from controlled studies generally support that acupuncture can be effective in assisting active drug and alcohol users become abstinent. Controlled, experimental research on acupuncture and related techniques used as substance abuse treatments are reviewed. An overview regarding acupuncture and related procedures used as substance abuse treatments is first provided. Animal and human studies on acupuncture's usefulness in alleviating opiate withdrawal symptoms are presented, followed by studies concerning other substance abuse problems (i.e., alcohol, tobacco and cocaine). Possible physiological mechanisms related to acupuncture's effects are reviewed.
Acknowledgment, conscience, rhetoric, and teaching: The case of Tuesdays with Morrie

Abstract This essay offers a phenomenological assessment of the moral and rhetorical nature of acknowledgment. The dynamics of acknowledgment arise with the ontological structure of human existence, with our way of being spatial and temporal creatures whose existence, in an epideictic display, opens us to the future. From out of this openness comes a call of conscience, an evocation and a provocation that speaks to us of the importance of an essential vocation: teaching. Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie is offered as a case study of this entire process.
Bridging from research to teaching in undergraduate engineering design education

Our goal is to promote a research-informed approach to engineering design education. Over thepast eight years, we have conducted a number of studies in order to understand how engineeringstudents do design. Some of our current efforts focus on integrating research and practice inengineering design education. Because of the complexity of real educational practice, we areworking on multiple strategies to bridge the research-to-teaching gap. These include: 1) thecreation of instructional activities based on our research results and 2) a workshop model to engagedesign educators with research on engineering student design behavior. In this paper, we present aframework for thinking about the link between research and teaching, provide detailed descriptionsof the two strategies mentioned above, and discuss the effectiveness, viability, and reproducibility ofthese strategies.
Studies Regarding Mechanical Properties Improvement of Aluminum Alloy Type AtSi5Cux and Results Validation by Calculating Precision Indicators

Experimental studies performed in order to improve the specific characteristics of materials used by modern technologies have always represented a stringent demand. The current paper presents the results of the experimental researches performed on aluminum alloys, together with their statistical interpretation and data validation by means of precision indicators. Mechanical vibrations applied to an environment in which aging carries out lead to increasing efficiency of heat treatment due to elastic deformations of the base cell [3,7]. Thus, a significantly growing hardness is obtained as compared to samples subjected to classical treatment [10,11].
Terahertz quantum cascade VECSEL

Vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) have been successfully used in the visible and near-infrared to achieve high output power with excellent Gaussian beam quality. However, the concept of VECSEL has been impossible to implement for quantum-cascade (QC) lasers due to the "intersubband selection rule". We have recently demonstrated the first VECSEL in the terahertz range. The enabling component for the QC-VECSEL is an amplifying metasurface reflector composed of a sparse array of metallic sub-cavities, which allows the normally incident radiation to interact with the electrically pumped QC gain medium. In this work, we presented multiple design variations based on the first demonstrated THz QC-VECSEL, regarding the lasing frequencies, the output coupler and the intra-cavity aperture. Our work on THz QC-VECSEL initiates a new approach towards achieving scalable output power in combination with a diffraction-limited beam pattern for THz QC-lasers. The design variations presented in this work further demonstrate the practicality and potential of VECSEL approach to make ideal terahertz QC-laser sources.
Towards high-accuracy primary spectral radiometry from 400 K to 1300 K.

We describe the design, construction, calibration and use of a near-infrared thermodynamic radiation thermometer to measure blackbodies from 400 K to 1300 K. The motivation for this work is the pending redefinition of the kelvin and the need for direct, thermodynamic temperature measurements of the fixed-point blackbodies presently used in the realization of the temperature scale. The challenges of accurately measuring Planck radiances which vary greatly in radiance level and spectral shape are discussed. Methods to characterize the components used in the radiation thermometer design are described. The use of this radiation thermometer as a relative primary thermometer and the resulting residuals are shown. We describe radiometric calibration procedures for using the radiation thermometer as an absolute primary thermometer. Preliminary data showing the initial radiometric calibration steps are discussed.
Benign acquired toxoplasmosis with subsequent pregnancy.

The first reported cases of toxoplasmosis were those of fatal disseminated disease in newborn infants and adults. '•*• 19,20 I t soon became evident that fatal toxoplasmosis in the newborn was not uncommon; yet mothers of these infants showed no clinical evidence of infection. This fact led to the belief that the disease must occur in a mild or asymptomatic form. Only recently, evidence for such a benign infection has been reported in a number of publications. The development of a satisfactory test for toxoplasma antibodies and the systematic use of this test in certain areas 10,13, 14, 16 have indicated that benign toxoplasmosis may occur rather frequently. Siim concluded on the basis of such immunologic studies that benign toxoplasmosis was a distinct clinical entity characterized by lymphadenopathy, low-grade fever and mild lymphocytosis. Although he could not demonstrate the organism, Siim later described what he believed to be characteristic histopathologic changes in an enlarged lymph node from a person with such clinical features and a high dye-test titer. Morphologic evidence of benign toxoplasmosis was presented in the recent report of Wilder, who found organisms morphologically indistinguishable from toxoplasma in granulomatous lesions of the eye in 41 adults. Many of these patients had no systemic manifestations of disease. Two reports of successful animal inoculation from adults with mild symptoms have appeared. Armstrong and MacMurray reported the isolation of toxoplasma by animal inoculation of lymph node material from a person with localized adenopathy, atypical pneumonitis and a high titer in the serum dye test. Mellgren reported the isolation of toxoplasma from the post-partum vaginal washings of a woman who had given birth to a stillborn infant. This evidence, although not entirely conclusive in any one instance, seems sufficient to establish benign toxoplasmosis as a clinical entity.
Security and Privacy Governance: Criteria for Systems Design

AbstractSecurity and privacy issues are often an afterthought when it comes to systems design. However, failure to address these issues during analysis and design could result in catastrophic effects such as an erosion of trust among those in the stakeholder community once a loss of privacy is experienced, along with the additional expenditures that are necessary to secure a system that has been compromised. We present a conceptual model for creating subsystems of security and privacy governance that are integral parts of the system architecture. Additionally, we propose that knowledge created or acquired during the development and use of the system, especially knowledge about security and privacy, be well documented and stored within a Knowledge Management System (KMS). Viewing, updating, and manipulating the knowledge database throughout the life of the system can enhance its success. In addition, as a knowledge repository, a KMS can contribute to best practices in the development of future systems.
Association between Magnesium Disorders and Hypocalcemia Following Thyroidectomy

ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with postoperative hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery and to understand the relationship among hypocalcemia, length of hospitalization, and costs of care.Study DesignRetrospective database analysis.MethodsDischarge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 620,744 patients who underwent thyroid surgery from 2001 to 2010 were analyzed through cross-tabulations and multivariate regression modeling. Hypocalcemia, length of stay, and costs were examined as dependent variables. Secondary independent variables included magnesium and phosphate metabolism disorders, vitamin D deficiency, menopause, sex, extent of surgery, malignancy, and surgeon volume.ResultsHypocalcemia was reported in 6% of patients and was significantly more common for the following variables: women, age <65 years, patients from the Northeast, total thyroidectomy ± neck dissection patients, low-volume surgical care, malignancy, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and patients with disorders of magnesi...
Utilization Status and Development Prospect of Residual-Heat Resources at Baosteel

According to the Interim Provisions for Steel Enterprises ' Energy Balancing issued by the Government, Baosteel has made a general survey of its residual-heat resources . On the basis of the survey, the utilization of Baosteel' s residual-heat resources is analyzed. The distribution, utilization ratio and potential for the further use of residual-heat are studied in detail. The direction to improve the utilization of residual-heat resources is pointed out.
[The prevalence and evolution of HIV drug-resistant strains in people who live with HIV/AIDS during HIV antiretroviral therapy in Shandong province].

Objective To understand the prevalence and evolution of HIV drug-resistant strains in people who live with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) during HIV antiretroviral therapy in Shandong province.Methods Viral load testing was performed by using fluorescence real-time quantitative PCR ( NucliSens EasyQ system) on 324 patients who were under HIV antiretroviral therapy(ART) over 1 year in Shandong province.HIV resistance testing was conducted on the samples with more than 1000 copies/ml by using genotypic resistance testing method established in our lab.We tested the samples from drug-resistant patients before and after treatment to analyze the evolution of HIV resistant strains.Results The resistance rate for the patients under HIV ART over 1 year was 6.2％ ( 20/324 ).The rate of drug-resistant mutation,but not resistant to ART was 0.6％ (5/324).Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor(NRTIs) and non-NRTIs (NNRTIs) accounted for 93.1％ (94/101) and protein inhibitors(PIs) accounted only 6.9％ (7/101)of all mutations.M184V (48.0％,12/25 ) and Y181C (32.0％,8/25 ) were the most frequent mutations among 25 samples.Our research showed 20.0％ (2/10) patients were resistant to primary ART and 1 patient was detected drug resistance in 6 months after ART treatment.HIV evolved from wild type to drug resistant virus,from low level to high level drug resistance,and from resistance to few to multiple drugs.In addition,interactions between mutations may influence the sensitivity of patients to other drug treatment.Conclusion The prevalence of HIV drug-resistant strains in Shandong province is still at a low level,but its evolution is complex. Key words: HIV; Antiviral agents; Drug resistance; Evolution
Gas chromatographic analysis of milk for deoxynivalenol and its metabolite DOM-1

A gas chromatographic method is described for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its metabolite DOM-1 in milk. Milk samples were extracted with ethyl acetate on a commercially available disposable extraction column, followed by hexane-acetonitrile partitioning. Final purification was accomplished on a reverse phase C-18 cartridge. The trimethylsilyl ether (TMS) derivatives of DON were prepared, chromatographed on an OV-17 column, and quantitated with an electron capture detector. Chromatography of the TMS derivatives of milk extracts was compared to that of the corresponding heptafluorobutyryl derivatives. The limit of detection using TMS derivatives was 1 ng/mL for both toxins with recoveries averaging 82% +/- 9% at 2.5 and 10 ng/mL milk for DON and 85% +/- 6% at 10 ng/mL for DOM-1.
Air-ground channels for UAS: Summary of measurements and models for L- and C-bands

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are being used in an ever-expanding variety of applications. For their safe integration into the worldwide airspace, reliable control and non-payload communication (CNPC) systems must be developed. The performance of any CNPC system depends critically upon the characteristics of the air-ground (AG) channel. Hence the authors, supported by NASA Glenn Research Center, gathered data from an air-ground measurement campaign explicitly aimed at characterizing this channel in two bands recently allocated for UAS, the L- and C-bands. The measurements were conducted in 2013, and produced the largest set of AG channel data ever gathered to date. This data, for seven ground site (GS) environments, was subsequently processed to develop models for the AG channel's characteristics. In this paper we summarize the measurement campaign, measurement results, and completed models for propagation path loss, small-scale fading, airframe shadowing, wideband multipath characteristics, and correlations among the channel effects on two antennas and in the two bands. Path loss in the line-of-sight (LOS) AG channels generally follows that of free-space, but with significant two-ray attenuation peaks (exceeding 18 dB) recorded for relatively smooth earth surfaces. Small-scale fading was found to be well-modeled as Ricean, with K-factors on the order of 12 dB for L-band, 28 dB for C-band. Airframe shadowing was also found to be potentially severe, yielding attenuations of larger than 30 dB for both bands. As expected in the LOS conditions, channels were highly correlated for signals in the same band, but essentially uncorrelated between the two bands. Wideband models contain from one to seven intermittent multipath components, with power levels ∼ 20 dB down from that of the LOS component; these yield root-mean square delay spreads up to ∼ 2 microseconds. These results have been incorporated into the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RCTA)'s Special Committee (SC)-228 work on UAS, and should be of use to future designers and developers of UAS communication systems.
Left ventricular systolic dynamics in terms of its chamber mechanical properties.

To determine the mechanical properties of the left ventricle (LV) as a pump, a mathematical model of its systolic dynamics was developed. Initially the model consisted of three elements, i.e., elas...