cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PRACSYS: an extensible architecture for composing motion controllers and planners

This paper describes a software infrastructure for developing controllers and planners for robotic systems, referred here as PRACSYS . At the core of the software is the abstraction of a dynamical system, which, given a control, propagates its state forward in time. The platform simplifies the development of new controllers and planners and provides an extensible framework that allows complex interactions between one or many controllers, as well as motion planners. For instance, it is possible to compose many control layers over a physical system, to define multi-agent controllers that operate over many systems, to easily switch between different underlying controllers, and plan over controllers to achieve feedback-based planning. Such capabilities are especially useful for the control of hybrid and cyber-physical systems, which are important in many applications. The software is complementary and builds on top of many existing open-source contributions. It allows the use of different libraries as plugins for various modules, such as collision checking, physics-based simulation, visualization, and planning. This paper describes the overall architecture, explains important features and provides use-cases that evaluate aspects of the infrastructure.
Temporal Encoding of Visual Features by Cortical Neurons

Neurophysiological studies have shown that visual information is carried not only by which subset of neurons is active, but also by the temporal messages they carry. Recent theories of visual processing look at both temporal and spatial properties of cortical neurons to elucidate some of the higher order mechanisms that underlie perception. The spatio-temporal approach to neuronal encoding should lead beyond reductionist approaches, that look only at neuronal selectivity, to integrative approaches, that model visual information processing to understand visual function.
The diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer in the molecular era

Lung carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer mortality for both genders in the United States and throughout the world. Many of these tumors are being diagnosed with minimally invasive means resulting in small samples. There is a need to extract an increasing amount of therapeutic and prognostic information from progressively smaller samples. Collaboration among clinicians and pathologists is needed to produce a comprehensive final diagnosis in patients with lung cancer. This collaboration facilitates triage of small samples for ancillary studies including molecular testing. What follows represents a review of the current required testing for lung cancer specimens, an example of an algorithm currently employed at the Cleveland Clinic so that all required tests can be performed even on the smallest of specimens and suggestions on how pathologists may approach this new era of “doing more with less”.
Next Generation Trustworthy Fraud Detection

Popular web applications, such as e-commerce, social networks and online ad auction, are providing valuable services to web users but have also been plagued by prevalent and diverse frauds. Many detection methodologies have been devised but detection trustworthiness is still one important and yet missing desideratum: a user will not trust a detector that has uncertain accuracy, can malfunction under unexpected situations, or can't explain its behaviors and interal working. Previous efforts mostly focused on detection accuracy, and our goal is to chart a path towards a more comprehensive definition of trustworthy detection, that consists of accuracy, transparency, and proactivity. To achieve the goal, we identify key challenges rooting at the specific settings of the above applications: the evolving nature and unexpectedness of the fraudsters' strategies, the ever-growing large amount of data, and the increasing complexity of effective detectors. We hope spark a large volume of research questions and solutions with respect to the above challenges.
The Measurement and Variation of Public Safety Consolidation

Public safety consolidation of police and fire departments has long existed, but there are no quantitative measures of its implementation. Previous research has suggested a typology ranging from no...
Graded (Al z Ga 1-z ) x In 1-x P Window-Emitter Structures for Improved Short-Wavelength Response

Ga 0.51 In 0.49 P solar cells with compositionally-graded (Al z G a1-z )xln 1-x P window-emitter structures, both lattice-matched and pseudomorphically (tensile) strained, were grown via molecular beam epitaxy using a digital alloy based grading approach. Preliminary results suggest that the resulting drift field and elimination of discrete interfaces near the top surface of these devices helps mitigate the impact of surface/interface recombination and sub-optimal window and/or emitter material quality. A significant increase (>10% absolute quantum efficiency) in carrier collection in the UV-blue (λ < 500 nm) was observed, along with a commensurate Jsc increase of ~10% relative versus standard, fixed-composition reference cells.
Loss of TP63 Promotes the Metastasis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Activating MAPK and STAT3 Signaling

TP63 is frequently amplified or overexpressed in primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Nevertheless, the role of TP63 in the initiation and progression of HNSCCs is not known. Using archival HNSCC tissue sections, we found that TP63 expression is often downregulated in late-stage human HNSCCs. To establish a causal link between TP63 loss and HNSCC tumorigenesis, we developed a genetically engineered mouse model in which Trp63 (the mouse homolog of human TP63) was ablated from head and neck epithelia. Upon exposure of the mice to a chemical carcinogen, we found that Trp63 ablation accelerated HNSCC initiation and progression. To determine whether these findings are relevant for human HNSCCs, we generated TP63 knockdown HNSCC cell lines. These cells were implanted into the tongue of athymic nude mice to generate orthotopic xenografts. We found that loss of TP63 promoted HNSCC progression and metastasis. Furthermore, we determined that tumor metastasis is dependent on MAPK activation in TP63 knockdown HNSCCs. The significance of these findings is underscored by our finding that pharmacologic inhibition of MAPK activity by trametinib drastically impaired HNSCC metastasis mediated by TP63 loss. In conclusion, our data provide novel mechanistic insights into the role of TP63 loss in HNSCC initiation and progression, and provide a rationale for the development of new therapeutic approaches specifically targeting TP63-dependent tumor pathways. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings uncover a novel functional role for TP63 loss in HNSCC metastasis and identify MAPK signaling as a potential therapeutic target for treating HNSCCs with low TP63 expression.
Online Imagined Communities in the Airline Industry

This paper employs Anderson’s imagined communities applied in nations and their contributing elements that connect people—even if they have never met—to apply it to air transport member groups. The creation of the nation presupposed the association of people who have never met with symbols, association of ideas, the existence of experts, the presence of the significant other, the non-existence of time and space. In a similar vein, the air transport industry may implement the imagined communities to provide an online community perspective that may bond travelers together with significant implication for travelers and the industry.
The Relationship of Perceived Support to Satisfaction and Commitment for Special Education Teachers in Rural Areas

This study examined the relationship of work-related support to teacher satisfaction and job commitment for rural special educators. The researcher conducted a phone survey with 203 special educati...
Text Processing for Detection of Fungal Ocular Involvement in Critical Care Patients: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Fungal ocular involvement can develop in patients with fungal bloodstream infections and can be vision-threatening. Ocular involvement has become less common in the current era of improved antifungal therapies. Retrospectively determining the prevalence of fungal ocular involvement is important for informing clinical guidelines, such as the need for routine ophthalmologic consultations. However, manual retrospective record review to detect cases is time-consuming. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of fungal ocular involvement in a critical care database using both structured and unstructured electronic health record (EHR) data. Methods: We queried microbiology data from 46,467 critical care patients over 12 years (2000-2012) from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) to identify 265 patients with culture-proven fungemia. For each fungemic patient, demographic data, fungal species present in blood culture, and risk factors for fungemia (eg, presence of indwelling catheters, recent major surgery, diabetes, immunosuppressed status) were ascertained. All structured diagnosis codes and free-text narrative notes associated with each patient’s hospitalization were also extracted. Screening for fungal endophthalmitis was performed using two approaches: (1) by querying a wide array of eye- and vision-related diagnosis codes, and (2) by utilizing a custom regular expression pipeline to identify and collate relevant text matches pertaining to fungal ocular involvement. Both approaches were validated using manual record review. The main outcome measure was the documentation of any fungal ocular involvement. Results: In total, 265 patients had culture-proven fungemia, with Candida albicans (n=114, 43%) and Candida glabrata (n=74, 28%) being the most common fungal species in blood culture. The in-hospital mortality rate was 121 (46%). In total, 7 patients were identified as having eye- or vision-related diagnosis codes, none of whom had fungal endophthalmitis based on record review. There were 26,830 free-text narrative notes associated with these 265 patients. A regular expression pipeline based on relevant terms yielded possible matches in 683 notes from 108 patients. Subsequent manual record review again demonstrated that no patients had fungal ocular involvement. Therefore, the prevalence of fungal ocular involvement in this cohort was 0%. Conclusions: MIMIC-III contained no cases of ocular involvement among fungemic patients, consistent with prior studies reporting low rates of ocular involvement in fungemia. This study demonstrates an application of natural language processing to expedite the review of narrative notes. This approach is highly relevant for ophthalmology, where diagnoses are often based on physical examination findings that are documented within clinical notes. Trial Registration:
Breast Implant-associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Incidence: Determining an Accurate Risk.

Objective This study sought to estimate the incidence and incidence rate of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) at a high-volume single institution, which enables vigorous long-term follow-up and implant tracking for more accurate estimates. Summary background data The reported incidence of BIA-ALCL is highly variable, ranging from 1 in 355 to 1 in 30,000 patients, demonstrating a need for more accurate estimates. Methods All patients who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction from 1991 to 2017 were retrospectively identified. The incidence and incidence rate of BIA-ALCL were estimated per patient and per implant. A time-to-event analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator and life table. Results During the 26-year study period, 9373 patients underwent reconstruction with 16,065 implants, of which 9589 (59.7%) were textured. Eleven patients were diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, all of whom had a history of textured implants. The overall incidence of BIA-ALCL was 1.79 per 1000 patients (1 in 559) with textured implants and 1.15 per 1000 textured implants (1 in 871), with a median time to diagnosis of 10.3 years (range, 6.4-15.5 yrs). Time-to-event analysis demonstrated a BIA-ALCL cumulative incidence of 0 at up to 6 years, increasing to 4.4 per 1000 patients at 10 to 12 years and 9.4 per 1000 patients at 14 to 16 years, although a sensitivity analysis showed loss to follow-up may have skewed these estimates. Conclusions BIA-ALCL incidence and incidence rates may be higher than previous epidemiological estimates, with incidence increasing over time, particularly in patients exposed to textured implants for longer than 10 years.
Congress, the President, and the War Powers

The issue before us is the constitutional authority of Congress and the President to commit forces to armed combat and questions related to such authority. These questions have been the subject of considerable debate and scholarly attention.' Unfortunately, they are often approached polemically, with one side arguing the President's constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and the other asserting Congress' constitutional power to declare war; the implication often given is that these powers are somehow incompatible. On the contrary, the framers of the Constitution intended that there be a proper balance between the roles of the President and Congress in decisions to use force in the conduct of foreign policy. In discussing these issues, I will first review the historical background of the war powers question, beginning with the Constitution itself and tracing the practice of the nation throughout our history. Then, placing the war powers issue in the modern context, I will discuss the issues which bear upon the exercise of presidential and congressional powers now and in the foreseeable future. Finally, from this perspective, I will describe what I believe the national interest requires in terms of a proper balance between the President and the Congress. At the outset I would like to stress my belief that cooperation and consultation between the executive and legislative branches is the heart of the political process as conceived by the framers of the Constitution. In the absence of such cooperation, no legislation which seeks to define constitutional powers more rigidly can be effective. Conversely, given such cooperation, such legislation is unnecessary. The execu-
Virtual prototypes and product models in mechanical engineering

This paper gives an overview of some of the modelling and virtual prototyping techniques used in product realization, with emphasis on the mechanical engineering field. It is pointed out that virtual prototypes, in the commonly accepted sense of computer models permitting realistic graphical simulation, represent only one class amongst the many types of computer models used in design and planning for manufacture. Each such model is usually created for some comparatively narrow purpose, and one of the major problems faced by developers of integrated computer-aided product realization systems concerns the transmutation of one type of model into another. A related problem is that of interpretation by any model of information generated by interrogations of another model. These difficulties are compounded by the increasing presence in such models of semantic information concerning different aspects of the intended functionality or manufacturing requirements of the modelled artefact.
Laser-excited Raman spectroscopy of biomolecules: I. Native lysozyme and its constituent amino acids☆

Laser-excited Raman spectra of a simple native protein, lysozyme, in aqueous solution are reported and partially interpreted with the help of the spectra of its constituent amino acids. Raman spectroscopy should be useful in providing direct evidence concerning the presence and number of disulfide cross-links in proteins, and may also be useful in studying the local conformation of the CSSC group. The aromatic side-groups of phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine give rise to very intense and sharp lines. These lines are not sensitive to changes in conformation or state of aggregation. The peptide CONH group gives rise to two characteristic lines near 1660 (amide I) and 1260 cm−1 (amide III). They appear to be potentially useful in assessment of conformational changes caused by denaturation. Lines in the region from 800 to 1150 cm−1 arising from CC and CN stretching vibrations are also expected to be conformation-dependent.
Tetrahedral frameworks TX2 with T-X-T angle = 180° rationalization of the structures of MOF-500 and of MIL-100 and MIL-101

Abstract It is shown that the TX2 structures adopted by the giant MOFs MOF-500, MIL-100 and MIL-101 are uniquely determined as a result of the requirement of regular TX4 tetrahedra, T–X–T angles of 180° and appropriate X–T–T–X dihedral angles.
Handbook of Developmental Disabilities, edited by Samuel L. Odom, Robert H. Horner, Martha E. Snell, and Jan Blacher

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current research on a diverse range of topics in developmental disabilities, with implications for future research, social policy, and practice. T...
Relationships Between Adults and Parents in Asia

In East Asia, rapid changes of demographic, social and cultural environments are challenging dynamics of parent-child relationships in Asian families. This chapter discussed relationships between adults and parents as an important element of successful aging in Asia. First, we discussed filial piety and beliefs about family that lay the foundation of parent-child relationships. Second, regarding actual behaviors in parent-child relationships, we considered patterns of living arrangements and provision of support, and then reviewed empirical findings about how these patterns of intergenerational exchanges impact the well-being of the elderly parents. Lastly, our discussion included emotional aspects of parent-child relationships. Our review revealed variations in the mode of support and filial beliefs, indicating that Asian families are adjusting to changing social economic environment and renegotiating traditional notions of filial piety. To capture the changing modes of intergenerational support and the underlying norms in culturally sensitive ways, we need to consider various aspects of parent-child relationships from both perspective of parents and children.
Alkali metals on Si(100)2 × 1: comparative study of the surface electronic structures for Li, Na and K adsorption

Abstract We have studied the electronic structures of lithium, sodium and potassium-adsorbed Si(100)2 × 1 surfaces with angle-resolved direct and inverse photoemission. An empty, overlayer-derived state appeared for all three adsorbates at submonolayer coverage and shifted downwards in energy for increasing coverage. It is assigned to alkali-metal n p z or mixed n s− n p z orbitals. For potassium it showed a strong dispersion and the minimum of this band reached the Fermi level ( E F ) at saturation and made the surface metallic. For sodium and even more for lithium it showed weaker dispersions and smaller energy shifts with the energy positions 0.7 and 2.0 eV above E F , respectively, for the saturated 2 × 1 surfaces. These differences are assigned to alkali-metal (AM) size effects, where a smaller size results in a stronger AMSi interaction and a weaker AMAM interaction on the 2 × 1-reconstructed surface.
N2 fixation (nitrogenase activity) attributable to a specific Prochloron (Prochlorophyta)-ascidian association in Palau, Micronesia

Light-mediated nitrogenase activity (NA) consistently occurred in one of four species of tropical marine ascidians (sea squirts) hosting the symbiotic alga Prochloron (prochlorophyta) among reef habitats located in Palau, Micronesia. NA was limited to intact colonies of Lissoclinum patella exclusively colonized by cells of Prochloron. Neither isolated viable cells of Prochloron nor ascidians free of Prochloron revealed NA, indicating a strong dependence on the intact symbiosis for creating conditions conductive to N2 fixation. The confinement of NA to L. patella may be related to both the oligotrophic habitat and the large colony size of this protochordate species. This is the first report of NA attributable to symbiotic alga residing in either an aquatic or a terrestrial animal.
THE USE OF A NEW POTENTIAL BARRIER MODEL IN THE FOWLER-NORDHEIM THEORY OF FIELD EMISSION,

Abstract It is well known that for fields ⩽ 10 7 V/cm the observed field emitted current density is in agreement with the Fowler-Nordheim theory using the classical image-force barrier for the model of the surface potential. However, for fields ⩾ 5 × 10 7 V/cm, the measured current densities deviate from the linear log j versus 1/ F curve, becoming progressively less than predicted values as the field increases. It was suggested that the departures from theory were due to space-charge distortions of the cathode field by high current densities. There are, however, other effects that occur at high fields which may also produce significant departures from the Fowler-Nordheim Law. One such possibility is the inaccuracy of the classical image-force barrier at small distances (several angstroms) from the surface. We have examined the effect of a modified surface potential barrier on the emitted current and energy distributions in the field emission region. The new potential represents quantum modifications to the classical image-force and is based on quantum-mechanical calculations of the electronic potential in the surface region of a metal. The result for the current density is obtained in analytic form. Deviations from the linear Powler-Nordheim plot begin about 5 × 10 7 V/cm and decrease progressively to a value about 4 % lower at the highest fields. Energy distributions of the field emitted electrons have been calculated for the normal and total energy cases. These are given for the zero temperature limit and the T-F region. For the normal energy case differences with the image-force results are evidenced in the narrower half-widths and reduced peak heights obtained with the modified potential model. Improved agreement with the experimentally measured total energy distributions is obtained in a) location and height of the maxima and b) half-widths.
Mutational tests of the NMR-docked structure of the staphylococcal nuclease–metal–3′,5′-pdTp complex

In the X-ray structure of the staphylococcal nuclease-Ca(2+)-3',5'-pdTp complex, the conformation of the inhibitor 3',5'-pdTp is distorted by Lys-70* and Lys-71* from an adjacent molecule of staphylococcal nuclease (Loll, P.J., Lattman, E.E. Proteins 5:183-201, 1989). In order to correct this crystal packing problem, the solution conformation of enzyme-bound 3',5'-pdTp in the staphylococcal nuclease-metal-pdTp complex determined by NMR methods was docked into the X-ray structure of the enzyme [Weber, D.J., Serpersu, E.H., Gittis, A.G., Lattman, E.E., Mildvan, A.S. (preceding paper)]. In the NMR-docked structure, the 5'-phosphate of 3',5'-pdTp overlaps with that in the X-ray structure. However, the 3'-phosphate accepts a hydrogen bond from Lys-49 (2.89 A) rather than from Lys-84 (8.63 A), and N3 of thymine donates a hydrogen bond to the OH of Tyr-115 (3.16 A) which does not occur in the X-ray structure (5.28 A). These interactions have been tested by binding studies of 3',5'-pdTp, Ca2+, and Mn2+ to the K49A, K84A, and Y115A mutants of staphylococcal nuclease using water proton relaxation rate and EPR methods. Each mutant was fully active and structurally intact, as found by CD and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, but bound Ca2+ 9.1- to 9.9-fold more weakly than the wild-type enzyme. While the K84A mutation did not significantly weaken 3',5'-pdTp binding to the enzyme (1.5 +/- 0.7 fold), the K49A mutation weakened 3',5'-pdTp binding to the enzyme by the factor of 4.4 +/- 1.8-fold. Similarly, the Y115A mutation weakened 3',5'-pdTp binding to the enzyme 3.6 +/- 1.6-fold. Comparable weakening effects of these mutations were found on the binding of Ca(2+)-3',5'-pdTp. These results are more readily explained by the NMR-docked structure of staphylococcal nuclease-metal-3',5'-pdTp than by the X-ray structure.
To the Dark Side and Back: The Administrative Odyssey of an Academic Sociologist with Lessons Learned

My first semester as a tenure-track faculty member at a mid-size university began ignominiously and suggested that my academic career might be short-lived. It began with a blistering memo that was stridently critical of the academic dean’s policy which led to being taken to the proverbial woodshed. Other less serious episodes followed which put me at odds with the “administration.” Yet I have spent more than a third of my career in administrative positions, including a stint in the provost’s office (as an assistant vice chancellor), and only recently returned to faculty status. Over the course of my academic career I have noticed that a large number of academic sociologists have taken administrative positions in academia beyond that of the department chair. This paper will explore this phenomenon and discuss the reasons members of the ‘debunking’ discipline assume administrative roles. I will address this issue within the context of my personal odyssey in administration and how the sociological perspective and imagination has contributed to working in the ‘dark side’ of academia. Finally, I will discuss lessons learned and recommendations for the aspirant administrators among the ranks of academic sociologists.
Acid whey powder modification of gari from cassava

Abstract A high protein food (11 to 12% protein) patterned on Nigerian gari was developed from ground cassava tuber, acid whey powder, and soy concentrate. The acid whey-soy gari's amino acid profile showed an improvement over that of the Food and Agriculture and World Health Organizations’ reference pattern. Flavor and texture of modified acid whey gari were comparable to traditional gari. A 2 to 4 day fermentation of the ground cassava tuber resulted in a characteristics tangy flavor of the product and a loss of more than 50% in hydrocyanic acid content.
Experimental characterization of the role of hydrogen in CVD synthesis of MWCNTs

An experimental study was conducted to examine the role of hydrogen in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in a flow tube reactor using xylene as a carbon source and ferrocene as a catalyst. Ferrocene was introduced into the reactor by two methods. In a single step method, the catalyst was dissolved in xylene and the mixture was introduced using a syringe pump. A two step method was also used where the ferrocene powder was placed in the preheated zone for a certain time to deposit iron catalyst particles on the reactor wall prior to introducing the pure xylene into the reactor. CVD synthesis of carbon products was performed as a function of hydrogen input under constant flow conditions using both methods. SEM and TEM images of the carbon products were examined. The results revealed a competition between the formations of the different carbon products (soot, carbon fibers and CNTs) that altered by the addition of hydrogen. The role of hydrogen is suggested to reduce the rate of carbon production by dehydrogenation so that the more ordered and thermodynamically stable MWCNTs can be produced rather than less ordered and thermodynamically stable soot and carbon fibers.
Constrained Densification of Alumina/Zirconia Hybrid Laminates, I: Experimental Observations of Processing Defects

Various forms of damage were observed in pressure-less-sintered Al2O3/ZrO2symmetric laminates and asymmetric laminates (bilayers) fabricated by tape casting and lamination. These defects included channel cracks in the ZrO2 layers, Al2O3 edge-effect cracks parallel to the layers, delamination in the Al2O3layers, and debonding between the Al2O3and ZrO2layers. Based on detailed microscopic observations, the defects were attributed to sintering rate and thermal expansion mismatch between the layers. Cracks or cracklike defects were formed in the early stages of densification, and these cracks either opened during sintering or acted as preexisting flaws for thermal expansion mismatch cracks. Consequently, the extent of cracking could be reduced or even eliminated by decreasing mismatch stresses during the sintering and cooling stages. This can be accomplished by reducing the heating and/or cooling rates or by adding Al2O3in the ZrO2layers. The sintering mismatch stresses were estimated from the degree of curling in asymmetric laminates and from layer viscosities that were obtained by cyclic loading dilatometry. The measured curvature was an indication of the mismatch in sintering strain between Al2O3and ZrO2and were consistent with the dilatometric data that were obtained for the component layers.
Adaptive Vocabulary Forests br Dynamic Indexing and Category Learning

Histogram pyramid representations computed from a vocabulary tree of visual words have proven valuable for a range of image indexing and recognition tasks; however, they have only used a single, fixed partition of feature space. We present a new efficient algorithm to incrementally compute set-of-trees (forest) vocabulary representations, and show that they improve recognition and indexing performance in methods which use histogram pyramids. Our algorithm incrementally adapts a vocabulary forest with an Inverted file system at the leaf nodes and automatically keeps existing histogram pyramid database entries up-to-date in a forward filesystem. It is possible not only to apply vocabulary tree indexing algorithms directly, but also to compute pyramid match kernel values efficiently. On dynamic recognition tasks where categories or objects under consideration may change over time, we show that adaptive vocabularies offer significant performance advantages in comparison to a single, fixed vocabulary.
A review on self-destructive defense behaviors in social insects

Colony defense is a necessary but dangerous task for social insects, and nest defensive behaviors often lead to a premature death of the actor. As an extreme form of colony defense, self-sacrificial behaviors have evolved by kin selection in various social insects. Most self-sacrificial defensive mechanisms occur in response to an acute threat to the colony, but some behaviors are preemptive actions that avert harm to the colony. Self-sacrifice has also been observed as a form of preemptive defense against parasites and pathogens where individuals will abandon their normal colony function and die in self-exile to reduce the risk of infecting nestmates. Here, we provide an overview of the self-destructive defense mechanisms that eusocial insects have evolved and discuss avenues for future research into this form of altruism.
MEASUREMENT BY COMPRESSION TEST OF IMPACT DAMAGE TO CITRUS FRUITS

. Oranges and grapefruit were subjected to single and repeated impact drops from three heights. Subsequent measurements of the force-deformation ratio and hysteresis loss were made with quasi-static compression tests on the impacted whole fruit. Internal damage was indicated by a reduction in the force-deformation ratio and an increase in the hysteresis loss for a single 100 cm drop and two or more drops from 25 or 50 cm heights.
Self-Assembly of Drug-Loaded Liposomes on Genetically Engineered Target-Recognizing M13 Phage: A Novel Nanocarrier for Targeted Drug Delivery**

Liposomes have been a center of research for many years due to their numerous applications in chemistry, biology, medicine, and nanotechnology. They can be used to entrap materials such as drugs either within the central aqueous compartment if they are water soluble, or within the hydrophobic domain of the lipid bilayer if they are oil soluble. In addition, their surface can bemodified to realize targeted delivery. For example, in biomedicine, liposomes are used as vehicles to deliver drugs and genes to specific parts of the body. When used in the delivery of certain anticancer drugs, liposomes help to shield healthy cells from the drug toxicity and prevent concentration in vulnerable tissues. In addition, the liposomes allowmuch smaller doses of drug to be used, thus reducing the side effects of that drug. On the other hand, zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) is a potential drug that is being tested as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT involves the systemic administration of a photosensitizer followed by illumination with light of an appropriate wavelength, which results in the formation of singlet oxygen (O2) for destroying cancer cells. [6] ZnPc has a high absorption coefficient at 650–700 nm with optimal tissue penetration. It has a long lifetime in the triplet excited state, thus resulting in the highly efficient production of O2 which is the main cytotoxic species in PDT. However, it is insoluble in water and must be incorporated into unilamellar liposomes (Figure 1a). The main drawback of liposomes is their instability in biological media, as well as their sensitivity to many external parameters, such as temperature or osmotic pressure. This instability problem affects the application of liposomes in drug/gene delivery and PDT. Attempts have been made to stabilize liposomes by adsorbing some
Cladal Turnover: the end‐Ordovician as a large‐scale analogue of species turnover

Modern studies of individual populations have shown large cyclical shifts in phenotype/genotype that correlate with climatic variations. At the hierarchical level of the species, similar patterns can be observed in the climatically mediated turnover of species (i.e. Vrba's Relay Model). In turn, mass extinction events may have a similar analogous relationship with species turnover, while operating at the clade level. In this paper, such an analogous process is described and named ‘the Cladal Turnover Model’. The end-Ordovician mass extinction event is used as a test case to investigate the existence of such a phenomenon, with specific focus on the origin and extinction of the Hirnantia fauna. A test is outlined that can be applied to determine whether Cladal Turnover is occurring in the end-Ordovician. An example case study is then performed on the Hirnantia trilobite genus ‘Brongniartella’. The results of this test suggest that while the taxon ‘Brongniartella’ is derived from putatively cold-water high-latitude stock (consistent with the classical definition of Hirnantia taxa), the group does not go extinct at the end-Ordovician event, but instead gives rise to warm-water low-latitude descendants. This result is consistent with the Cladal Turnover Model. The method proposed for testing the Cladal Turnover Model could be applied to look at other times of major evolutionary turnover preserved in the fossil record.
DESICCATION PROTECTION AND DISRUPTION: A TRADE‐OFF FOR AN INTERTIDAL MARINE ALGA1

For marine algae, the benefits of drying out are often overshadowed by the stresses involved. Here we used laboratory and field experiments to examine both the costs and benefits of desiccation in the intertidal turf alga Endocladia muricata (Endlichter) J. Agardh. Laboratory experiments showed that when Endocladia is dry, photosynthesis stops, but thermotolerance increases to the point that the alga is protected from heat-induced mortality. Drying rates measured in a wind tunnel, combined with tidal data and measured wave splash, indicate that a substantial fraction of the year is spent "drying out" (∼30% of the total time available for photosynthesis). During these periods, the rate of drying determines how much time is spent hydrated and potentially engaged in photosynthesis, but also vulnerable to high temperatures. Turf algae such as Endocladia dry from the edge of a clump inward. Consequently, the clump center remains hydrated longer than the clump edge. The resulting regionalization of a clump results in notable patterns of frond mortality ("fairy rings," and zoned patterns of frond bleaching) within the Endocladia zone.
A Decision-Making Strategy for Machining Control

With few exceptions, efforts to control manufacturing equipment and processes have focussed on development of adaptive control techniques. As an alternative approach, this paper considers a sequential decisionmaking method to process control, similar to the manner in which a human would proceed. In particular, control of the machining process is considered, as machining processes are heavily used throughout industry. Through simulation of a turning process, the decision-making approach to control of the process is compared with a typical Adaptive Control Optimization (ACO) scheme.
The Relative Ability of Human Papillomavirus Type 6 and Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 Proteins to Transactivate E2F-Responsive Elements Is Promoter- and Cell-Dependent

The human papillomavirus 16 E7 protein (HPV 16 E7) transactivates the adenovirus E2 promoter (AdE2) by altering interactions between retinoblastoma (pRb) family members and the transcription factor E2F. To understand factors limiting the oncogenic potential of HPV 6, the relative ability of HPV 6 E7 as compared to HPV 16 E7 to transactivate the AdE2 promoter was determined. In primary baby rat kidney cells and human foreskin keratinocytes, HPV 16 E7 transactivated the AdE2 promoter to a greater extent than HPV 6 E7, consistent with the observation that HPV 16 E7 binds pRb with greater affinity. HPV 6 E7 gain of function correlated with increasing the affinity of the HPV 6 E7 pRb binding site of conserved region 2 (CR2). In keratinocytes, in contrast to the AdE2 promoter, the abilities of the two E7 proteins to transactivate the B-myb promoter, a promoter regulated by E2F bound to p107/p130, were comparable. Introducing a negative charge into the N-terminus (CR1) and a high affinity pRb binding site into CR2 of HPV 6 E7 resulted in a transactivator with greater activity than HPV 16 E7 for both the AdE2 and B-myb promoters. Both of the promoters were negatively regulated by E2F and transactivation by the E7 proteins required an intact E2F site. In C33-A cells, which contain a mutated pRb, the two E7 proteins had comparable transactivating activity on both the AdE2 and B-myb promoters. The data are consistent with the interpretation that HPV 16 E7 affects interactions of pRb and p107/p130 with the E2F transcription factor, whereas HPV 6 E7 only affects interactions of p107/p130.
Three-phase modular cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter with individual MPPT for grid-connected photovoltaic systems

A three-phase modular cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter for a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system is presented in this paper. To maximize the solar energy extraction of each PV string, an individual maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control scheme is applied, which allows the independent control of each dc-link voltage. PV mismatches may introduce unbalanced power supplied to the three-phase system. To solve this issue, a control scheme with modulation compensation is proposed. The three-phase modular cascaded multilevel inverter prototype has been built. Each H-bridge is connected to a 185 W solar panel. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed ideas.
Production of respiration-deficient mutants of yeast by some quinone-imine dyes.

Abstract Basic quinone-imine dyes were tested for their effect in producing respiration-deficient mutants of baker's yeast. Some dyes of a subclass, azine dyes (Table I) were found to be effective, but neutral red was ineffective. Janus green B, which is ordinarily classified as an azo dye, was also tested and found to be strongly effective. Oxazine and thiazine dyes so far tested (Table II) were ineffective except one. This exception was Nile blue, an oxazine dye, of which a preparation from Grubler was strongly effective, while those from Tokyo Kasei and Merck were only weakly effective. The dyes were examined by paper chromatography. Development with acetone-water (4:6) and tert. -butanol-acetic acid-water (4:1:5) gave fairly good results. A few dyes were satisfactorily pure, but many others separated into two or more components. Efficacy of the dyes to produce the respiration-deficient mutants in relation to the chemical properties was discussed.
Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation for Control of Intraatrial Reentrant Tachycardia in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract Background. Intraatrial reentrant tachycardia (IART) is a common problem in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). The progression of clinical symptoms of IART and their response to radiofrequency (RF) ablation are not yet well described. Objectives. The objective of the study was to determine the early and midterm success rates of RF ablation in effecting a reduction of clinical arrhythmic events in patients with IART and CHD. Methods. Clinical records of patients undergoing early, successful RF ablation were analyzed retrospectively to document the occurrence and frequency of documented IART, cardioversion and arrhythmia-related hospital visits before and after ablation. Results. Fifty-five catheterizations for intended RF ablation of IART were performed in 45 patients (mean [±SD] age 24.5 ± 10.5 years, 40 after surgical palliation of CHD). Early success was achieved for one or more IART circuits in 33 patients (73%). Mean clinical follow-up of those patients with successful ablation is 17.4 ± 11.3 months (total 574 patient-months). Documented IART recurrence was noted after 21 (53%) of 40 early, successful catheterizations in 17 (52%) of 33 patients, with a mean time to recurrence of 4.1 months, often with electrocardiographically novel configurations. A more prolonged and frequent history of IART was a univariate risk factor for recurrence. Seven patients underwent repeat RF ablations, and eight patients were restarted on antiarrhythmic medications after ablation. Two patients who had severe ventricular dysfunction before RF ablation died 1.5 and 11 months after RF ablation without known arrhythmia recurrence. Clinical events related to IART increased steadily in frequency for 24 months before RF ablation. Radiofrequency ablation resulted in a reduction of event frequency to levels significantly lower than those in the 12-month period before RF ablation and not significantly different from those levels observed at baseline 3 to 4 years before RF ablation. Conclusions. In patients with successful RF ablation, the frequency of subsequent events was reduced compared with the 2 preceding years. However, recurrence of IART in patients who showed clinical improvement was frequent, and often revealed the presence of new IART configurations.
Persistent Dizziness in Geriatric Patients

Among the 116 consecutive patients aged 70 and older who were evaluated for dizziness in the UCLA neurotology clinic, the mean duration of symptoms was 36.2 months. One or more specific diagnoses were identified in 100 patients (86.2%), with the most common diagnoses being benign positional vertigo (25.9% of patients) and cerebrovascular disorders (21.6%). Benign positional vertigo was characterized by brief episodes of positional vertigo, a positive Hallpike maneuver, and lack of focal signs on neurologic examination and electronystagmography. Cerebrovascular disease presented as two entities, infarction and transient ischemic attacks, each of which had a distinct clinical picture. Patients who could not be definitively diagnosed frequently described presyncopal lightheadedness provoked by upright posture, and usually had normal physical examinations and electronystagmography. The clinical history, particularly the description and temporal nature of the patient's symptoms, provided the key diagnostic data in 69.0% of cases.
Choice Functions over a Finite Set: A Summary

A choice function picks some outcome(s) from every issue (subset of a fixed set A of outcomes). When is this function derived from one preference relation on A (the choice set being then made up of the best preferred outcomes within the issue), or from several preference relations (the choice set being then the Pareto optimal outcome within the issue, or the union of the best preferred outcomes for each preference relation)? A complete and unified treatment of these problems is given based on three functional properties of the choice function. None of the main results is original.
Elucidating a Key Anti-HIV-1 and Cancer-Associated Axis: The Structure of CCL5 (Rantes) in Complex with CCR5

Elucidating a Key Anti-HIV-1 and Cancer-Associated Axis: The Structure of CCL5 (Rantes) in Complex with CCR5
Centralized windows application deployment app2go

What do you say when a user asks you why your university doesn't have a license for product xxx? To address the need to make high cost statistical and mathematical Windows software titles available to the maximum number of researchers, a Citrix Presentation Server was installed and concurrent use licenses for multiple software products were licensed and configured. Citrix Presentation Server is an application delivery system. The applications are installed and managed on the server which we named "app2go". The end-users can access the applications from any location via clients on the Windows, Mac and Linux platforms. The target audience is researchers and graduate students. For Mac and Linux users, titles only available on the Windows platforms can be used. A group of researchers interested in obtaining access to software available on the "app2go" server began testing in March 2007. University wide roll out will be the summer of 2007. The expectation is that this Citrix Presentation Server will greatly reduce the overall cost of software for research and significantly increase access to a wider variety of software for researchers.
Malignant meningioma of the seal

A nodule from the scalp of a 14-year-old boy was diagnosed by light and electron microscopy as a meningioma. There was no evidence of an intracranial lesion or involvement of the bone of the skull. The tumor was excised but recurred and metastasized to lung and chest wall.
Treatment of Epstein Barr virus-induced haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with rituximab-containing chemo-immunotherapeutic regimens

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life threatening complication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The anti-CD20 antibody rituximab depletes B cells, leading to improved outcomes for patients with EBV-associated B-lymphoproliferative disorders. To gather data on the use of rituximab in EBV-HLH, we performed a retrospective investigation involving 42 EBV-HLH patients who had received treatment with rituximab-containing regimens. On average, patients received 3 rituximab infusions (range 1-10) at a median dose of 375 mg/m(2) . In all patients, rituximab was administered with other HLH-directed medications, including steroids, etoposide and/or ciclosporin. Rituximab-containing regimens appeared well tolerated and improved clinical status in 43% of patients. Examination of laboratory data obtained prior to and within 2-4 weeks after the first rituximab dose revealed significant reductions in EBV load (median load pre-rituximab: 114,200 copies/ml, median post-rituximab: 225 copies/ml, P = 0.0001) and serum ferritin levels (median ferritin pre-rituximab: 4260 μg/l, median post-rituximab: 1149 μg/l, P = 0.001). Thus, when combined with conventional HLH-directed therapies, rituximab improves symptoms, reduces viral load and diminishes inflammation. These data support the incorporation of rituximab into future prospective clinical trials for patients with EBV-HLH.
Coulombic and neutral trapping centers in silicon dioxide.

Ces pieges d'attraction coulombienne sont produits avec l'injection d'avalanche des trous a partir du substrat de silicium et de la capture ulterieure de certains de ces trous sur des sites lies a l'arsenic. Durant la photoemission interne des electrons a partir d'une porte fine d'Al, on determine les deplacements de tension dus a l'annihilation des trous par des electrons, et la section efficace effective de capture