cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prenatal Diagnosis of Severe Aortic Stenosis

We sought to identify echocardiographic markers that might be useful for managing fetuses with significant aortic stenosis. The study was a retrospective review of fetal echocardiographic studies and postnatal outcomes of all fetuses diagnosed with significant aortic stenosis who did not have a hypoplastic left ventricle on the initial echocardiogram. Where possible, fetal echocardiographic measurements included the aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valve annulus sizes; left ventricular dimensions and volume; septal and left ventricular wall thicknesses; and echocardiographic Doppler interrogation of the left heart and oval fossa. Observations also included an assessment of ascites, pericardial effusion, and endocardial fibroelastosis. Prenatal measurements were compared to postnatal outcomes. Four patients (group 1) had either clinically successful relief of their aortic obstruction (n= 3) or required no intervention (n= 1). Five fetuses evolved to the hypoplastic left heart syndrome (group 2). These infants demonstrated little or no growth in left ventricular, aortic valve, or mitral valve dimensions on serial examination. They also more often exhibited mitral stenosis, severe restriction of interatrial shunting, and early to mid second trimester left ventricular dilatation. Serial measurements of fetal cardiac size and function are helpful for predicting the postnatal outcome of fetuses with aortic stenosis.
Fatal injuries to teenage construction workers in the US.

Background The construction industry is second only to agriculture in the annual number of fatal injuries in workers less than 18 years of age. We examined fatal injury reports for youth and adult workers to determine risk factors for injury and applicability of existing child labor regulations. Methods The US Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) investigation data for fatal work injuries from 1984 through 1998 were reviewed with respect to type of event, employer characteristics, and apparent violations of existing child labor laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). We also examined whether the employer met exemption criteria for federal enforcement of child labor or OSHA regulations. Results The fatality rate for teenage construction workers age 19 and younger was 12.1 per 100,000 per year, slightly less than for adult workers. Teenage workers who were fatally injured were more likely than adults to have been employed at non-union construction firms (odds ratio (OR) = 4.96, P < 0.05), firms with fewer than 11 employees (OR = 1.72, P < 0.05), and their employers were more likely to have been cited by OSHA for safety violations (OR = 1.66, P < 0.05) than for firms which were investigated because of a fatality in an adult worker. Fatalities in teenagers were more likely to occur in special construction trades such as roofing. Among fatalities in workers less than 18 years of age, approximately one-half (49%) of the 76 fatal injuries were in apparent violation of existing child labor regulations. We estimated that in 41 of the 76 cases (54%) the employer's gross annual income exceeded the $500,000 threshold for federal enforcement of child labor laws. Only 28 of 76 cases (37%) were at construction firms with 11 or more employees, which are subject to routine OSHA inspections. Conclusions Fatal injuries in teenage construction workers differed from those in adults in that they were more likely to be at small, non-union firms of which a substantial proportion were exempt from federal enforcement of child labor laws and from routine OSHA inspections. Safety programs for young construction workers should include small, non-union construction firms and those in special construction trades such as roofing. We did not identify specific areas for new regulation but the number of fatalities reviewed was small. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:510–514, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A spectral sequence for polynomially bounded cohomology

Abstract We construct an analogue of the Lyndon–Hochschild–Serre spectral sequence in the context of polynomially bounded cohomology. For G an extension of Q by H , this spectral sequences converges to the polynomially bounded cohomology of G , H P ∗ ( G ) . If the extension is a polynomial extension in the sense of Noskov with H and Q isocohomological and Q of type H F ∞ , the spectral sequence has E 2 p , q -term H P q ( Q ; H P p ( H ) ) , and G is isocohomological for C . By referencing results of Connes–Moscovici and Noskov if H and Q are both isocohomological and have the Rapid Decay property, then G satisfies the Novikov conjecture.
“We Plant Only Cotton to Maximize Our Earnings”: The Paradox of Food Sovereignty in Rural Telengana, India

This article critically examines the role of food sovereignty interventions in the mitigation of the impacts of neoliberal economic policies on poor farmers in the Telengana region of India. Findings based on eighteen months of ethnographic research in the Telengana region reveal that small and poor farmers face socioeconomic and cultural constraints to the adoption of food sovereignty practices and ideals. Food sovereignty prescriptions based on localized, sustainable, and subsistence agriculture paradoxically constrained farmers’ chances of maintaining viable rural livelihoods in a harsh economic climate. Based on these findings, I argue that contrary to assertions by advocates that food sovereignty is a precondition to genuine food security, farmers must first have food and livelihood security to exercise true food sovereignty that allows them more control over their livelihoods.
Effect of Blood Nitrite and Nitrate Levels on Murine Platelet Function

Nitric oxide (NO) appears to play an important role in the regulation of thrombosis and hemostasis by inhibiting platelet function. The discovery of NO generation by reduction of nitrite (NO2−) and nitrate (NO3−) in mammals has led to increased attention to these anions with respect to potential beneficial effects in cardiovascular diseases. We have previously shown that nitrite anions at 0.1 µM inhibit aggregation and activation of human platelet preparations in vitro in the presence of red blood cells and this effect was enhanced by deoxygenation, an effect likely due to NO generation. In the present study, we hypothesized that nitrite and nitrate derived from the diet could also alter platelet function upon their conversion to NO in vivo. To manipulate the levels of nitrite and nitrate in mouse blood, we used antibiotics, NOS inhibitors, low nitrite/nitrate (NOx) diets, endothelial NOS knock-out mice and also supplementation with high levels of nitrite or nitrate in the drinking water. We found that all of these perturbations affected nitrite and nitrate levels but that the lowest whole blood values were obtained by dietary restriction. Platelet aggregation and ATP release were measured in whole blood and the results show an inverse correlation between nitrite/nitrate levels and platelet activity in aggregation and ATP release. Furthermore, we demonstrated that nitrite-supplemented group has a prolonged bleeding time compared with control or low NOx diet group. These results show that diet restriction contributes greatly to blood nitrite and nitrate levels and that platelet reactivity can be significantly affected by these manipulations. Our study suggests that endogenous levels of nitrite and nitrate may be used as a biomarker for predicting platelet function and that dietary manipulation may affect thrombotic processes.
What can epigenomics do for you

In 1990, with the initial launch of a 15-year project to map and sequence the human genome, a new era of science began. However, even after its successful and early completion in 2001 [1], no one could have foreseen how, only a few years later, genome sequencing would explode to become a widely applied multi-purpose tool whose applications include the mapping of epigenetic modifications and the complete assessment of both coding and non-coding RNA transcripts. The game changer behind this explosion was the transition from the classic electrophoretic Sanger sequencing method, which had limited scalability, to image-based massively parallel 'sequencing-by-synthesis' platforms. It had already become clear in the early days of the post-genome era, before these technological breakthroughs, that there were additional layers to the primary sequence waiting to be uncovered, and a small number of pilot epigenome projects, including the Human Epigenome Consortium (HEC), were launched [2,3]. While on the right track, these early projects suffered from lacking the sequencing capacity required to tackle the multidimensional space of the epigenome. This obstacle was overcome in 2006, with the introduction of next generation sequencing platforms, and the NIH was commendably fast to capitalize on these developments by implementing both its ENCODE and 'Roadmap Epigenomics' projects. ENCODE aimed to utilize the newly generated epigenome maps to assist in discovering and assigning functional elements in the genome, while the Roadmap Epigenomics Program aimed to create reference maps for the majority of normal, primary cell types [4,5]. The success of these projects has helped to popularize epigenomics and has proved somewhat contagious, with additional consortia, such as the recently funded BLUEPRINT (European) and DEEP (German), arriving on the scene; the International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC) now coordinates international efforts. The core technologies used in these projects, and in general across the field, have stabilized over the years and standards are now largely agreed upon. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) [6,7] remains the standard assay for determining transcription factor binding, as well as for mapping the genome-wide distribution of histone modifications. Continued efforts to increase sensitivity and resolution has resulted in some recent technical improvements to the basic ChIP-seq method, in the form of nano-ChIP-seq [8] and ChIP-exo [9], respectively. By contrast, dozens of assays exist for DNA methylation [10], although most genome-wide studies are focused on just a few of these [11-13]. As costs continue to decrease, methods are converging on whole genome bisulfite sequencing [14], which had previously been prohibitively expensive. As with exome sequencing, the subject of Genome Biology's 2011 special issue [15], the driving force behind the ongoing explosion in epigenome studies, and data, has been an increase in sequencing capacity at reduced cost.
It Depends on Who You're Talking To…: Predictors and Outcomes of Situated Measures of Organizational Identification

Scholars have researched organizational identification extensively in recent years. Only occasionally, however, has this research examined multiple targets simultaneously and almost never has it examined variations that occur as individuals interact with others during different activities. The research reported here draws on Scott, Corman, and Cheney's (1998) communicative model of situated identification to investigate identification with various organizational targets across three communication-based situations. Situated scores based on communication partner and identification target were related to several predictor and outcome variables.
Designing standardized clinical protocols: Some organizational and behavioral issues

In the present environment, the clinical ordering patterns of hospital-based physicians can be expected to come under increasing scrutiny. This paper considers three major aspects of the case for inpatient clinical ordering protocols. First, it reviews the argument that hospitals do not, at present, exercise adequate management over physician-triggered resource consumption. Subsequently, the paper examines existing but partial protocol models in the United States and Scandinavia that could provide a basis for an adequate physician management system. In its third section, the paper explores the fundamental characteristics of a full-fledged Standardized Clinical Protocol (SCP) system, developing two alternative 'ideal-type' models for further discussion. The paper concludes with the argument that physicians, rather than economists or politicians, should control the design of future protocol systems.
Eight-Year Trends of Cardiometabolic Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract Objective We examined cardiometabolic disease and mortality over 8 years among individuals with and without schizophrenia. Method We compared 65,362 patients in the Veteran Affairs (VA) health system with schizophrenia to 65,362 VA patients without serious mental illness (non-SMI) matched on age, service access year and location. The annual prevalence of diagnosed cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality was compared for fiscal years 2000–2007. Mean years of potential life lost (YPLLs) were calculated annually. Results The cohort was mostly male (88%) with a mean age of 54 years. Cardiometabolic disease prevalence increased in both groups, with non-SMI patients having higher disease prevalence in most years. Annual between-group differences ranged from Conclusions VA patients with and without schizophrenia show increasing but similar prevalence rates of cardiometabolic diseases. YPLLs were high in both groups and only slightly higher among patients with schizophrenia. The findings highlight the complex population served by the VA while suggesting a smaller mortality impact from schizophrenia than previously reported.
A Layered Java Application Framework for Supplying Mathematical Computing Power to the Distributed Environment

The JMEI (Java Mathematical Engine Interface) framework is a layered Java application framework for providing mathematical computing services for the Internet/Web. The layered architecture of JMEI framework follows model- view-controller pattern. The JMEI framework architecture, JMEI API and JMEI drivers, the JMEI JSP Tag Library, the JMEIAJAX library, and the practical uses of the JMEI Framework are discussed. The JMEI framework can also be used in grid computing and other distributed environments.
Ethnicity and the Course of Opiate Addiction: Native‐Born Americans vs. Hmong in Minnesota

The authors studied the course of opiate dependence among two ethnic groups in Minnesota, one of whom used heroin by injection and one of whom used opium by smoking. Subjects were 57 Hmong (Laotian) immigrants and 80 native-born Americans. American subjects were more likely to be employed, had more education, younger age at onset of opiate use, higher addiction scores, more legal problems, spent about 50 times more money per day on drugs, had used more treatment, and more self-help methods. Hmong subjects were more men, more married and living with family, had longer periods of abstinence, and more of certain psychological symptoms. Differences were related to culture, type of opiate, and immigrant/refugee status. Similarities (e. g., types and severity of certain drug-related problems, family history of substance abuse) suggested that certain core features of opiate dependence persist despite differences in ethnicity and type of opiate used.
Phospholipid metabolism in cells in culture

The proportions of the different lecithin fractions have been determined in HeLa and KB tissue culture cells and Ehrlich Ascites tumor. 82.8% of the total phosphatidyl choline phosphorus is found in fraction 3 of HeLa cells. The major phosphatidyl cholines found in KB cells and Ehrlich Ascites tumor are in fractions 3 and 4 and representing 66.6% and 88.7% of the total phosphatidyl choline P, respectively. The incorporation of 1,2-14C-choline and 1,2-14C-ethanolamine into the various phosphatidyl choline fractions has been assayed to determine their biosynthesis in Ehrlich Ascites tumor. The incorporation of 1,2-14C-choline into fractions 3 and 4 is 100 times the 1,2-14C-ethanolamine. This evidence indicates that the methylation pathway of phosphatidyl choline synthesis is very low in HeLa, KB and Ehrlich Ascites cells.
Molecular-dynamics simulation of amorphous and epitaxial Si film growth on Si(111).

Both amorphous and epitaxial crystalline Si films have been grown by deposition of Si-atom clusters on a Si(111) substrate with molecular-dynamics simulations utilizing two- and three-body interatomic Si potentials. The amorphous films were produced with deposition conditions that led to low surface diffusion. The a-Si films displayed voids, a 15--28 % lower density than c-Si, and coordination defects consisting only of undercoordinated atoms with no fivefold-coordinated atoms, in contrast to melt-quenched a-Si models. The epitaxial Si(111) growth was achieved under conditions of high surface diffusion consisting of a large initial cluster velocity and moderate substrate temperatures.
Chemical reactions of silver and indium at 180°C annealing

Since Ag and In react to form compound at room temperature was investigated, but the chemical reactions during bonding are not well understood. The Ag-In phase diagram shows two dominating intermetallic compounds (IMC), AgIn 2 and Ag 2 In. Therefore, based on the following systematic experiments to study the chemical reactions of AgIn system and compound formation. Copper (Cu) substrates were electroplated with 40 μm thick Ag layer, followed by indium layer of 1, 5, 10, and 15 μm, respectively. Thick Ag layer is chosen to prevent In reaction with underlying Cu substrate. The samples were annealed at 180°C in 100 millitorr for 5 minutes to emulate the bonding conditions. The microstructure and the composition on the surface of the samples were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was also employed to identify the IMC on the surface. The samples were then cut in cross section, polished, and studied also by SEM and EDX. The results show that, for the sample with 1μm thick indium, the In layer converts to Ag 2 In entirely after annealing. For sample with In layer thickness of 5 μm, AgIn 2 , Ag 2 In, and silver solid solution (Ag) all exist after annealing. No indium was identified. For sample having 10, and 15μm thick indium, In was detected on the surface, but was not found on the cross section. The polishing process probably bevels the thin In layer on the surface, making it invisible. We next studied what would happen if the Ag was annealed first before plating In. After plating the Ag layer, samples were annealed at 450°C for 3 hours to grow Ag grains. This was followed by plating 10μm In and annealing at 180°C. The result shows AgIn 2 , Ag 2 In as well as In. Significant In remains on the surface. The thicknesses of AgIn 2 and Ag 2 In layers are thinner than the sample whose Ag is not annealed.
Relative timing of substorm processes as derived from multifluid/multiscale simulations: Internally driven substorms

[1] The role of tail reconnection in initiating substorm onset remains highly controversial. Multifluid/multiscale simulations are used to examine this problem with the unique capability of being able to resolve ion skin depth and ion cyclotron processes within a very thin tail current sheet within a global magnetosphere. It is shown that, consistent with the near-Earth neutral line model, a thin current sheet forms during the growth phase with the eventual formation of an X line and the ejection of a plasmoid. However, these processes do not produce substorm onset but are precursors to onset. The modeling indicates that in the wake of the plasmoid, a Y line forms within which there is the intermittent generation of flux ropes that can propagate either earthward or tailward with equal probability. The intensity and size of the flux ropes are seen to increase in time up to substorm onset. Depending on the size of the earthward moving flux rope, pseudobreakup or substorm onset occurs when the energy within the earthward moving flux rope is dissipated against the inner edge of the plasma sheet. This interaction leads to rapid (1 min) dipolarization, magnetospheric injection of energetic particles, and intensification of the nightside auroral currents that expand in local time and to higher latitudes. These processes are consistent with the current disruption model where onset occurs as a direct consequence of processes occurring at the inner edge of the plasma sheet. Ionospheric outflows and their energization with the thin current sheet play important roles in the buildup of energy in the plasma sheet that eventually produces substorm onset and drives breakup.
Multiview fusion for canonical view generation based on homography constraints

Activity and gait recognition are among the various applications that necessitate view-specific input. In a real surveillance scenario it is impractical to assume that the desired canonical view will always be available. We present a framework to generate the canonical view of any translating object in a scene monitored by multiple cameras. The method is capable of recovering this view despite the fact that none of the cameras can see it individually. In this two step process, first the camera and scene geometry is used to identify the sagittal plane of the object, which is used to define the canonical view. Next, each original view is warped to the canonical view through planar homographies learnt from geometric constraints. The warped images are then combined by way of evidence fusion to recover the shape energy map which is used to obtain the final binary silhouette of the object's shape. Results presented for various indoor and outdoor sequences demonstrate the efficacy of this method in generating the shape of the object as seen from the canonical view, while resolving occlusions.
CYP1B1 expression in ovarian cancer in the laying hen Gallusdomesticus

Objectives Ovarian carcinoma is the most lethal gynecological malignancy. The genetic and molecular mechanisms that cause it still remain largely unknown. CYP1B1 is a cytochrome P450 enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of estrogens to genotoxic catechol estrogens which may cause DNA mutations and initiate ovarian epithelial cancer. Our objectives were to evaluate CYP1B1 expression, distribution and localization in the hen ovary and to determine if there is an increased CYP1B1 expression associated with, and possibly involved in the initiation of ovarian cancer.
Ranking hospitals on surgical mortality: the importance of reliability adjustment.

Objective We examined the implications of reliability adjustment on hospital mortality with surgery.
Finite element analysis of the axially symmetric motion of an incompressible viscous fluid in a spherical annulus

We present results obtained by employing a modified Galerkin finite element method to analyse the steady state flow of a fluid contained between two concentric, rotating spheres. The spheres are assumed to be rigid and the cavity region between the spheres is filled with an incompressible, viscous, Newtonian fluid. The inner sphere is constrained to rotate about a vertical axis with a prescribed angular velocity, while the outer sphere is fixed. Results for the circumferential function Ω, streamfunction Ψ, vorticity function ζ and inner boundary torque T 1 are presented for Reynolds numbers Re≤2000 and radius ratios 0.1≤α≤0.9
Asymptotic scalability analysis of mobility protocols based on signalling overhead

Increasing demand for mobility in wireless data networks has given rise to various mobility management protocols. The protocols use signalling messages to maintain reachability of mobile nodes. Increase in the number of mobile nodes gives rise to the scalability issues that need to be dealt with to avoid performance degradation of the network. In this paper, we have developed analytical models to obtain the asymptotic mobility signalling overhead on mobility management entities of two mobility protocols in terms of network size, mobility rate and traffic rate. These asymptotic overhead models have been used to compute mobility scalability factors of the protocols. We have presented numerical parameters to validate the analytical model. Results show that the mobility protocols exhibit asymptotically identical mobility signalling overhead on the network.
Elevated temperature properties of Mg–14Li–B particulate composites

The creep behavior of Mg–14Li particulate composites containing 0,10,20, and 30 vol. % boron particles was evaluated from 230 to 280°C. The results reveal that the creep strength of the particulate composite is increased by a factor of eight over the Mg–14Li matrix with the addition of 30 vol. % boron. The body-centered cubic (bcc) Mg–14Li alloy is shown, however, to be much weaker than hexagonal close-packed (hep) pure magnesium. This difference is attributed to the high rate of atom mobility in the open structure of the Mg–14Li bcc alloy. It is predicted that a Mg–6Li–30B particulate composite, containing an hep matrix structure, will have a higher specific strength at 250°C than the new experimental aluminum base–high iron alloys prepared by rapid solidification processing.
GENERATING SHAPE INVARIANT POTENTIALS

We transform the shape invariance condition, a difference-differential equation of supersymmetric quantum mechanics, into a local partial differential equation. We develop a new method for generating translationally shape invariant potentials from this equation. We generate precisely all the known shape invariant potentials, and argue that there are unlikely to be others.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements in the remote global troposphere, 1981-1984

The carbon dioxide concentration has been measured in air samples collected approximately once per week at 22 globally distributed sites during 1981-84. All samples were analyzed on the same non-dispersive infrared analyzer apparatus at the NOAA/GMCC laboratory in Boulder. The measured concentrations are directly traceable to the WMO primary C0 2 standards. Samples which do not contain well-mixed, regionally representative air or which have been contaminated during or subsequent to sampling, have been identified. The selected data have been analyzed using an objective curve fitting method which enables improved estimation of uncertainties associated with derived parameters. The latitudinal distribution of annual mean CO 2 concentration at the network sites shows significant interannual variability possibly related to the 1982-83 El Nino/Southern Oscillation event. No evidence was found for significant interannual variations or trends in the phase or amplitude of the seasonal cycle. Significant interannual and interstation variability in the CO 2 growth rate was observed. A growth rate minimum during 1982 was followed by a growth rate maximum in 1983, in association with the intense 1982-83 ENS0 event. The mean global growth rate for 1981-84 was 1.22 ppm yr -1 . DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1988.tb00214.x
Short‐Fiber‐Reinforced Polymeric Composites: Structure–Property Relations

Short-fiber-reinforced polymeric composites are an extremely useful class of heterogeneous materials that can be produced from a wide variety of materials and using a wide variety of manufacturing processes. The local inhomogeneity and variability of the material produces difficulties in the prediction of effective composite properties and in the prediction of the sensitivity of those properties to variations in the constituent volume fractions, properties, and morphology. To avoid costly testing programs, models have been developed which enable efficient composite property prediction. In this article, the description of fiber orientation and its prediction and measurement is summarized. A summary is given for three major methods of composite property prediction: the laminate analogy employing the Halpin-Tsai empirical model, the prediction of unidirectional fiber properties using an inclusion method followed by an orientation averaging procedure, and numerical solutions using the finite element method. A brief discussion is given of the effect of fiber length distribution, the “skin-core” effect, and three-phase systems such as those found in typical automotive applications. Most of the emphasis of this article is placed on the prediction of thermomechanical properties, although a short summary of strength properties via the use of fiber efficiency factors is included. Keywords: short fibers; Eshelby inclusion method; laminate analogy; Halpin-Tsai relations; orientation averaging; finite elements; fiber orientation tensor; thermoelastic properties; strength properties
A novel technique for compensating POL converters with variable output capacitance

Stringent transient response amplitudes in response to changes in load current are becoming difficult to meet in standard off-the-shelf modular converters without adding thousands of /spl mu/F of capacitance. These capacitors require extra PCB real estate, increase total BOM costs, slow response time, and cause unstable outputs. To address these problems, a user-customizable method of feedback control is presented and analyzed with experimental results shown.
Power-aware microsensor design

Military microsensors are networked distributed embedded systems composed of a processor, a radio, and sensors used for personnel or vehicle detection. They are most often found in minefield replacement and perimeter security applications where size, weight, power, and cost requirements are quite challenging. In this paper, we discuss the different system design approaches used in microsensor systems and introduce a modular, scalable, power-aware microsensor architecture intended span the entire dynamic range required of these systems. We describe a reference implementation of this concept and results from field experiments.
Examination of disease based selection, demographic history and population structure in European Y chromosome haplogroup I

We attempted to refine the understanding of an association of Y-chromosomal haplogroup I (hg-I) with enhanced AIDS progression that had been previously reported. First, we compared the progression phenotype between hg-I and its phylogenetically closest haplogroup J. Then, we took a candidate gene approach resequencing DDX3Y, a crucial autoimmunity gene, in hg-I and other common European Y-chromosome haplogroups looking for functional variants. We extended the genetic analyses to CD24L4 and compared and contrasted the roles of disease-based selection, demographic history and population structure shaping the contemporary genetic landscape of hg-I chromosomes. Our results confirmed and refined the AIDS progression signal to hg-I, though no gene variant was identified that can explain the disease association. Molecular evolutionary and genetic analyses of the examined loci suggested a unique evolutionary history in hg-I, probably shaped by complex interactions of selection, demographic history and high geographical differentiation leading to the formation of distinct hg-I subhaplogroups that today are associated with HIV/AIDS onset. Clearly, further studies on Y-chromosome candidate loci sequencing to discover functional variants and discern the roles of evolutionary factors are warranted.
Simulation and Experimental Study of Load Power Probability-Distribution-Function Effect on Platform Efficiency

In this paper, simulation and experimental results are utilized to study the effect of load power distribution behavior on a given voltage rail and on the overall system or platform energy efficiency. First, by utilizing a MatLab® simulation model that has been developed in this work, it is shown how the combination of the load Power Probability-Distribution-Function (P-PDF) and the power efficiency curve of power delivery/voltage regulator affects the overall energy consumption of a voltage rail in a system and/or platform. Then, the same is shown by utilizing experimental data obtained from an experimental platform running real applications workload in both idle and active modes. It is concluded from both simulation and experimental results that there is an important relationship between the power/energy efficiency and the match between the appropriate VR efficiency curve and the P-PDF of a load.
Data mining rules using multi-objective evolutionary algorithms

In data mining, nugget discovery is the discovery of interesting classification rules that apply to a target class. In previous research, heuristic methods (genetic algorithms, simulated annealing and tabu search) have been used to optimise a single measure of interest. This paper proposes the use of multi-objective optimisation evolutionary algorithms to allow the user to interactively select a number of interest measures and deliver the best nuggets (an approximation to the Pareto-optimal set) according to those measures. Initial experiments are conducted on a number of databases, using an implementation of the fast elitist non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA), and two well known measures of interest. Comparisons with the results obtained using modern heuristic methods are presented. Results indicate the potential of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms for the task of nugget discovery.
Natural Genetic Variation Caused by Transposable Elements in Humans

Transposons and transposon-like repetitive elements collectively occupy 44% of the human genome sequence. In an effort to measure the levels of genetic variation that are caused by human transposons, we have developed a new method to broadly detect transposon insertion polymorphisms of all kinds in humans. We began by identifying 606,093 insertion and deletion (indel) polymorphisms in the genomes of diverse humans. We then screened these polymorphisms to detect indels that were caused by de novo transposon insertions. Our method was highly efficient and led to the identification of 605 nonredundant transposon insertion polymorphisms in 36 diverse humans. We estimate that this represents 25-35% of approximately 2075 common transposon polymorphisms in human populations. Because we identified all transposon insertion polymorphisms with a single method, we could evaluate the relative levels of variation that were caused by each transposon class. The average human in our study was estimated to harbor 1283 Alu insertion polymorphisms, 180 L1 polymorphisms, 56 SVA polymorphisms, and 17 polymorphisms related to other forms of mobilized DNA. Overall, our study provides significant steps toward (i) measuring the genetic variation that is caused by transposon insertions in humans and (ii) identifying the transposon copies that produce this variation.
Poultry meat quality

The two most important quality attributes for poultry meat are appearance and texture. Appearance is critical for both the consumers' initial selection of the product as well as for final product s...
The fester locus in Botryllus schlosseri experiences selection

Background Allorecognition, the ability of an organism to distinguish self from non-self, occurs throughout the entire tree of life. Despite the prevalence and importance of allorecognition systems, the genetic basis of allorecognition has rarely been characterized outside the well-known MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) in vertebrates and SI (Self-Incompatibility) in plants. Where loci have been identified, their evolutionary history is an open question. We have previously identified the genes involved in self/non-self recognition in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, and we can now begin to investigate their evolution. In B. schlosseri, colonies sharing 1 or more alleles of a gene called FuHC (Fusion Histocompatibility) will fuse. Protein products of a locus called fester, located ~300 kb from FuHC, have been shown to play multiple roles in the histocompatibility reaction, as activating and/or inhibitory receptors. We test whether the proteins encoded by this locus are evolving neutrally or are experiencing balancing, directional, or purifying selection.
THE EFFECT OF BORDETELLA PERTUSSIS ON LYMPHOCYTE CYCLIC AMP METABOLISM

Bordetella pertussis culture fractions produce decreased metabolic responses to isoproterenol and epinephrine in mice and rats, suggesting the possibility of systemic beta adrenergic blockade. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of the alteration in adrenergic responsiveness and to clarify its relationship to other biological effects of the organism. Lymphocytes were selected as a suitable tissue because of the marked alteration in lymphocyte distribution in pertussis-treated mice and rats, suggesting a change in the surface properties of these cells. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes, purified by nylon fiber chromatography, were studied. In short incubation experiments (20 min or less) B. pertussis did not alter the cyclic AMP response to isoproterenol, prostaglandin E (PGE(1)), or methacholine. However, when cells were preincubated with B. pertussis for 90 min at 37 degrees C, the responses to all three agents were markedly inhibited. Although these observations provide direct confirmation of the ability of B. pertussis to inhibit catecholamine responsiveness, the fact that PGE(1) and methacholine responses were also inhibited suggests that blockade at the level of the beta adrenergic receptor is doubtful. The inhibitory activity was localized in a nondialyzable, protein-rich fraction that is precipitated from B. pertussis culture fluid by ammonium sulfate at 90% of saturation. The bulk of the activity was obtained in the load volume after 50,000 g centrifugation in a cesium chloride gradient, density 1.2-1.5 (fraction 4). Fraction 4 produced a change in lymphocyte hormonal responsiveness at concentrations as low as 5 ng/ml. The relationship between cyclic AMP inhibitory activity in isolated human cells and leukocytosis-producing activity in intact mice was studied. The two activities seemed to parallel one another quite closely until the final Sephadex G-150 fractionation step, in which the two activities were obtained in the same column fraction, but a greater recovery of the leukocytosis-producing activity was obtained. Additional purification will be required to establish conclusively whether the same macromolecule is responsible for both activities. The availability of a bacterial product that markedly inhibits cyclic AMP accumulation in purified lymphocytes may help to clarify the role of cyclic AMP in lymphocyte activation by antigen and nonspecific mitogens.
One Hundred Problems in Commutative Ring Theory

This article consists of a collection of problems in Commutative Ring Theory sent to us, in response to our request, by the authors of articles in this volume. It also includes our contribution of a fair number of unsolved problems. Some of these one hundred problems already appear in other articles of this volume; some are related to the topics but do not appear in another article; yet others are problems unrelated to any of the articles, but that the authors consider of importance. For all problems, we gave a few useful references, which will lead readers to other relevant references. There is no attempt to be encyclopedic. We added definitions and clarifying comments to make the problems more self contained, but, as a rule, if undefined notions are used the reader can find the relevant definitions in the cited references. Finally, this is an article whose purpose is to generate many more articles. We hope the problems posed here will keep researchers busy for many years, and would appreciate very much being sent preprints of their solutions.
Effects of stream enclosures on drifting invertebrates and fish growth

AbstractStream ecologists often use enclosure experiments to investigate predator–prey interactions and competition within and among fish species. The design of enclosures, manipulation of species densities, and method of replication may influence experimental results. We designed an experiment with enclosure cages (1 m2, 6-mm mesh) to examine the relative influence of fish size, density, and prey availability on growth of brown trout (Salmo trutta), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), and slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) within enclosures in Valley Creek, Minnesota. In addition, we examined water flow and invertebrate drift entering enclosures and in open riffles to investigate whether enclosures reduced the supply of invertebrate prey. Growth of small (age-0) brook and brown trout was not influenced by fish density, but growth of larger (age-1) trout generally decreased as density increased. Sculpin growth was not related to fish size or density, but increased with mean size of invertebrates in the drif...
Automated point cloud correspondence detection for underwater mapping using AUVs

An algorithm for automating correspondence detection between point clouds composed of multibeam sonar data is presented. This allows accurate initialization for point cloud alignment techniques even in cases where accurate inertial navigation is not available, such as iceberg profiling or vehicles with low-grade inertial navigation systems. Techniques from computer vision literature are used to extract, label, and match keypoints between “pseudo-images” generated from these point clouds. Image matches are refined using RANSAC and information about the vehicle trajectory. The resulting correspondences can be used to initialize an iterative closest point (ICP) registration algorithm to estimate accumulated navigation error and aid in the creation of accurate, self-consistent maps. The results presented use multibeam sonar data obtained from multiple overlapping passes of an underwater canyon in Monterey Bay, California. Using strict matching criteria, the method detects 23 between-swath correspondence events in a set of 155 pseudo-images with zero false positives. Using less conservative matching criteria doubles the number of matches but introduces several false positive matches as well. Heuristics based on known vehicle trajectory information are used to eliminate these.
Interactive effects of hypoxia, carbon monoxide and acute lung injury on oxygen transport and aerobic capacity

Abstract This study determined how breathing hypoxic gas, reducing circulatory capacitance for O 2 by breathing CO, and impairing pulmonary gas exchange by acutely injuring the lungs interact to limit cardiopulmonary O 2 delivery, O 2 extraction and maximal aerobic capacity (VO 2max ). Five goats ran on a treadmill at VO 2max following oleic-acid induced acute lung injury that impaired pulmonary gas exchange, after partial recovery or with no acute lung injury. Goats breathed normoxic or hypoxic inspired gas fractions (FIO 2 0.21 or 0.12) with and without small amounts of CO to maintain carboxyhemoglobin fractions (F HbCO ) of 0.02 or 0.30. With the exception of elevated F HbCO with acute lung injury ( P = 0.08), all combinations of hypoxia, elevated F HbCO and acute lung injury attenuated the reduction in VO 2max by 15–27% compared to the sum of each treatment’s individual reduction in VO 2max when administered separately. Simultaneous administration of two treatments attenuated the reduction in VO 2max by attenuating the decrease in cardiopulmonary O 2 delivery, not synergistically increasing O 2 extraction.
The Male of Catinathrips kainos (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Males of Catinathrips were unknown to O'Neill when she (1967) erected this genus for Taeniothrips vaccinophilus Hood and the new species kainos . However, at that time, Stannard (1968) had in press the description of the male of vaccinophilus , based on a single specimen collected in Connecticut. Langille found males of kainos in the course of his study of blueberry thrips in Maine in 1968–69. His thesis, which may be published later, gives an account of the biology of this species. The present paper differentiates the males of kainos and vaccinophilus .
Choice of Unmanipulated T Cell Replete Graft for Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplant and Posttransplant Cyclophosphamide in Hematologic Malignancies in Adults: Peripheral Blood or Bone Marrow—Review of Published Literature

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is often the only curative option for many patients with malignant and benign hematological stem cell disorders. However, some issues are still of concern regarding finding a donor like shrinking family sizes in many societies, underrepresentation of the ethnic minorities in the registries, genetic variability for some races, and significant delays in obtaining stem cells after starting the search. So there is a considerable need to develop alternate donor stem cell sources. The rapid and near universal availability of the haploidentical donor is an advantage of the haploidentical SCT and an opportunity that is being explored currently in many centers especially using T cell replete graft and posttransplant cyclophosphamide. This is probably because it does not require expertise in graft manipulation and because of the lower costs. However, there are still lots of unanswered questions, like the effect of use of bone marrow versus peripheral blood as the source of stem cells on graft-versus-host disease, graft versus tumor, overall survival, immune reconstitution, and quality of life. Here we review the available publications on bone marrow and peripheral blood experience in the haploidentical SCT setting.
A nursery outbreak of multiple-aminoglycoside-resistant Escherichia coli.

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of one hospital, 16 infants became colonized or infected with multiply-resistant Escherichia coli (MR-E.coli) over an 8-month period. Isolates were obtained from blood, urine, and sputum of three patients and from rectal surveillance cultures of 13 patients. The one patient with the blood isolate died. A matched case-control study identified continuous feeding (nine of 16 cases vs. one of 16 controls, p less than or equal to 0.001) and receipt of aminoglycosides (p less than or equal to 0.03) as risk factors. For case-babies not exposed to continuous feeding, duration of bolus feeding was significantly greater than for their controls (cases, 22 days; controls, 7 days; p less than or equal to 0.02). All 16 isolates were the same serotype and were resistant to amikacin, tobramycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin. The epidemiologic investigation suggested that MR-E. coli may have spread from person-to-person on the hands of personnel and that MR-E. coli persisted in the NICU for 8 months until effective control measures were instituted.
A Plasmid Set for Efficient Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) Transgenesis in Zebrafish

Transgenesis of large DNA constructs is essential for gene function analysis. Recently, Tol2 transposase-mediated transgenesis has emerged as a powerful tool to insert bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) DNA constructs into the genome of zebrafish. For efficient transgenesis, the genomic DNA piece in the BAC construct needs to be flanked by Tol2 transposon sites, and the constructs should contain a transgenesis marker for easy identification of transgenic animals. We report a set of plasmids that contain targeting cassettes that allow the insertion of Tol2 sites and different transgenesis markers into BACs. Using BACs containing these targeting cassettes, we show that transgenesis is as efficient as iTol2, that preselecting for expression of the transgenesis marker increases the transgenesis rate, and that BAC transgenics faithfully recapitulate the endogenous gene expression patterns and allow for the estimation of the endogenous gene expression levels.
Evaluation of a Community-Based Health Information Service

The Heart Information Service is a community-based telephone information and referral service designed to provide accurate and current information about cardiovascular disease to the lay and professional publics. In its first two years of existence, trained volunteers responded to more than 11,500 inquiries. The use of the service was evaluated by retrospective analysis of 4,351 calls made over a 12-month period and by a prospective evaluation using mailed survey questionnaires and simulation calls. The data indicate that 78 percent of the callers took at least one positive action as a result of information received. The results suggest that paraprofessional volunteers can effectively provide telephone information about heart disease, its prevention and treatment, as well as offer limited psychosocial support to cardiac patients and their families.