cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An heuristic model based on localization-designation applied to a rotating parking lot

The present work proposes a heuristic model of solution to improve the regulated Rotating Parking Lot Service situated in Rio Grande, Brazil, based on the formation of the clusters. It has as a goal to obtain an effective and efficient way the sectors and areas of inspection in the rotating parking lot. The methodology uses techniques of operational research and divides the work in three phases: first, a field research is performed; second, sectors of inspection are formed; and third, the areas of the rotating parking lot are formed. To the sectors formation, it was used comparatively the classic heuristic Teitz and Bart and Tabu Search defining that way the p-median needed to the problem. These medians are used as "seeds" to the formation of the inspection sector, obtained by the designation algorithm of Gillet and Johnson. A dynamic application processed the georeferenced data making possible the computerization of the current system, as well as allowing the analysis of the different maps that may be obtained from the building of scenarios, when the block stretches are added or removed or still from the recruitment or reduction of people.
Development of a Practical Diet for Juvenile Striped Bass

Abstract We formulated four diets that simulated the amino acid profiles of eggs of striped bass Morone saxatilis, carcasses of larval striped bass, eggs of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, or nauplii of Artemia salina; a fifth diet contained a high concentration (33.6%) of shrimp meal. These diets were fed to juvenile striped bass for 14 weeks. Striped bass grew best when fed diets with an amino acid pattern that simulated the patterns of rainbow trout eggs or Artemia salina. Fish fed these two diets grew as well as, and had carcass compositions and protein efficiency ratios similar to those of, control fish fed the federally specified ASD2-30 salmon diet. No histological or morphological abnormalities were noted. These two diets, which have potentially lower production costs and contain slightly less protein than ASD2-30, may be used as prototype diets specifically for striped bass. Through further minor refinements, the diets could be used in production hatcheries.
Sinking costs to increase participation: technology deployment agreements enhance climate cooperation

The role of technology cooperation in international climate policy has drawn considerable attention in recent years. This article examines the possibility that an international agreement to deploy clean energy would pave the way to future climate cooperation. My game-theoretic analysis shows that even if technology deployment produces mostly private benefits for each country, an agreement can increase global pollution abatement efforts. If technology deployment allows countries to credibly commit to pollution abatement through sunk costs, the international community can form two coalitions. One deploys the technology and then abates pollution, whereas the other only abates pollution. A technology deployment agreement is useful and feasible when the total number of concerned countries is high and technology deployment is very costly but effective in reducing the cost of future pollution abatement.
Revised standards on thermal conditions for human occupancy

Abstract The revision is incorporating into the Standard the appropriate research results and experience acquired since its last update of 1974. The increased information content of the document should lead to better and more acceptable thermal environments. Some of the additions such as temperature drifts and winter and summer comfort zones are conducive to energy and cost conservation as well. The advocated winter and summer comfort zones are based on the normal seasonal clothing habits typical of the adult population. Particular clothing trends or dress codes may result in levels different from those described as typical, but the information given is sufficient for a designer or building operator to make intelligent adjustments of thermal parameters to ensure reasonable comfort for the clothing and/or activity levels of the space. The instrumentation section has been made more complete and definitive to enhance compliance testing. Currently under development is an Appendix Section dealing with comfort and acceptability prediction for new buildings not yet built. This paper is intended as a preview of highlights being incorporated. The actual Standard as released may differ somewhat from what has been presented here.
Processive Selenocysteine Incorporation during Synthesis of Eukaryotic Selenoproteins

Selenoproteins are a family of proteins that share the common feature of containing selenocysteine, the "twenty-first" amino acid. Selenocysteine incorporation occurs during translation of selenoprotein messages by redefinition of UGA codons, which normally specify termination of translation. Studies of the eukaryotic selenocysteine incorporation mechanism suggest that selenocysteine insertion is inefficient compared with termination. Nevertheless, selenoprotein P and several other selenoproteins are known to contain multiple selenocysteines. The production of full-length (FL) protein from these messages would seem to demand highly efficient selenocysteine incorporation due to the compounding effect of termination at each UGA codon. We present data demonstrating that efficient incorporation of multiple selenocysteines can be reconstituted in rabbit reticulocyte lysate translation reactions. Selenocysteine incorporation at the first UGA codon is inefficient but increases by approximately 10-fold at subsequent downstream UGA codons. We found that ribosomes in the "processive" phase of selenocysteine incorporation (i.e., after decoding the first UGA codon as selenocysteine) are fully competent to terminate translation at UAG and UAA codons, that ribosomes become less efficient at selenocysteine incorporation as the distance between UGA codons is increased, and that efficient selenocysteine incorporation is not dependent on cis-acting elements unique to selenoprotein P. Furthermore, we found that the percentage of ribosomes decoding a UGA codon as selenocysteine rather than termination can be increased by 3- to 5-fold by placing the murine leukemia virus UAG read-through element upstream of the first UGA codon or by providing a competing messenger RNA in trans. The mechanisms of selenocysteine incorporation and selenoprotein synthesis are discussed in light of these results.
Standardization of serum creatinine measurement: Theory and practice

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global public health problem. The best indicator of kidney function is considered to be the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the rate that blood is filtered at the glomerulus. Currently, it is recommended that GFR be estimated using the estimating equation developed from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study. To utilize the MDRD equation effectively requires reliable serum creatinine measurement. Understanding by laboratories world-wide of the importance of reliable serum creatinine measurements in GFR estimation and of factors that may affect creatinine measurement is critical to ongoing global public health efforts to increase the identification of patients with CKD. Serum creatinine assays must be properly calibrated and traceable to a high-order reference system in order to eliminate or significantly reduce variation among laboratories. If properly standardized world-wide, serum creatinine results can be used reliably to achieve universal implementation of GFR reporting as part of the global effort to diagnose and treat CKD.
Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate as the condensing unit for enzymatic synthesis of carotenes

Abstract A cell-free enzyme system capable of converting 4,8,12,16-trans-14C-geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate into phytoene, phytofluene, ζ-carotene, neurosporene, and lycopene was obtained from a Phycomyces blakesleeanus R1 mutant. The conditions of incubation and cofactor requirements for the conversion were defined. The incorporation of radioactive substrate into carotenes was maximal at pH 7·8 with Tris-HCl buffer and in the presence of a sulfhydryl reagent (dithiothreitol) at 25° for 24 hr. Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate was a much more effective precursor than mevalonic acid in this system and it was demonstrated that geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate is the condensing unit for carotene biosynthesis.
Recurrence phenomena in cosmic-ray intensity

Chree's method of investigating recurrence phenomena in international magnetic character-numbers has been applied to the daily mean cosmic-ray intensities, as given by the Carnegie Institution's Model C cosmic-ray meter at Teoloyucan, Mexico, somewhat more fully than in the study reported previously by Mr. P. S. Gill. The five days of highest cosmic-ray intensity (high${I}_{0}$) were selected from each of seventeen calendar months, and to each of these days was assigned the number $n=0$. The ${I}_{0}$ for each of these 85 high ${I}_{0}$ days was tabulated, also the ${I}_{0}'\mathrm{s}$ for the consecutive days following (and preceding) each of these selected days, up to $n=+131$ and $n=\ensuremath{-}132$ The average of the 70 to 85 ${I}_{0}'\mathrm{s}$ tabulated for each $n$ value, when plotted against $n$ gives a curve analogous to Chree's "positive pulses." A similar "negative-pulse" curve was obtained by selecting the five lowest ${I}_{0}$ days per month to be the "zero" days. Chree's material (20 years' data) gave sharp pulses at $n=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}27,\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}54,\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}81,\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}108$ with the curves relatively flat between pulses, and pulse-amplitudes decreasing with increasing $n$. The cosmic-ray curves have maxima (or minima) at intervals of 27 to 29 days and an amplitude of about 0.3 of one percent. Unlike Chree's curves, however, they are markedly sinusoidal, the maxima being much less sharp and showing very little damping, if any. Somewhat sharper maxima are shown by the difference-curve (positive-pulse minus negative-pulse), and these average between 27 and 28 days apart.This high correlation, on the average, between the intensity of cosmic-ray ionization at one time and that about one synodic rotation of the sun later is, from this evidence, a recurrence or interval phenomenon, not necessarily a true periodic phenomenon. The possibility that the latter, or at least a quasi-periodicity, is involved is suggested by the persistence in pulse-amplitude.
ACUTE TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION MANIFESTING AS MYOCARDITIS IN AN IMMUNE COMPETENT HOST

reports suggest that if removal of the foreign material can be delayed by several weeks, a strong fibrous layer will be formed that is rigid enough to provide chest wall stability. At present our patient remains on voriconazole and is contemplating delayed mesh removal. CONCLUSION: This case highlights that Aspergillus can be a delayed complication of prosthetic chest wall reconstruction. Its rarity is likely due to methylmethacrylate’s non porous nature and low capillarity. Issues for further discussion include the need for mesh removal based on experiences with bronchial stump Aspergillosis and the mechanism of infectionwhether the infection started in the pulmonary parenchyma with subsequent pleural and then chest wall extension or vice versa.
Designing electrostatic interactions in biological systems via charge optimization or combinatorial approaches: insights and challenges with a continuum electrostatic framework

Electrostatic interactions between biological molecules are crucially influenced by their aqueous environment, with efficient and accurate models of solvent effects required for robust molecular design strategies. Continuum electrostatic models provide a reasonable balance between computational efficiency and accurate system representation. In this article, I review two specific molecular design strategies, charge optimization and combinatorial design, paying particular attention to how the continuum framework (also briefly described herein) successfully enables both theoretical insights and molecular designs and presents a challenge in design applications due to what I call “the isostericity constraint.” Efforts to work around the isostericity constraint and other challenges are discussed. Additionally, particular emphasis is placed on using such models in the rational design of particularly tight, specific, or promiscuous interactions, in keeping with the increased sophistication of current molecular design applications.
Method of measuring invertase activity in soils

Invertase (β-D-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase, EC [Enzyme Commission] 3.2.1.26) is the enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose and yields glucose and fructose. The activity of this enzyme was monitored by systematically developing a sensitive and rapid method to detect reducing sugars with the precision of 1.4 to 6.1% C.V. The method involves the colorimetric determination of reducing sugars which react with 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid when soil is incubated with buffered sucrose solution and toluene at 37°C for 24 h. The detection limit for the method described is 100 μg of reducing sugar per ml of soil extract. The color intensity remained constant up to 24 h. Comparative studies showed that the method described was in good agreement to other invertase assay procedures reported in the literature. Studies on the stability and distribution of invertase in soils by using the method described showed that air-drying of field-moist soil samples resulted in decreased activity ranging from 15.3 to 23.7% (avg.=19.8%). Statistical analyses indicated that invertase activity was significantly correlated with total N (r=0.78***) and organic C (r=0.70***) in the topsoil of 19 diverse samples. There was no significant correlation between invertase activity and soil pH, cation exchange capacity, percentage of clay and percentage of sand. The activity of this enzyme was concentrated in surface soils and decreased with profile depth. Regression analyses showed that invertase activity was significantly correlated with organic carbon content of three soil profiles examined.
Evidence for an extraluteal antifolliculogenic action of chorionic gonadotropin in rhesus monkeys.

As shown previously, luteectomy in rhesus monkeys during the nonfertile cycle was followed by a preovulatory LH surge within 2 weeks. In contrast, a LH surge did not occur before the fourth week after luteectomy-induced abortion performed on day 29 of the fertile cycle. To account for the different responses to luteectomy in fertile and nonfertile cycles, we hypothesized that elevated levels of macaque CG (mCG) during the fertile cycle impeded follicle growth after abortion. To test this hypothesis, hCG was administered to three groups of rhesus monkeys in daily doubling doses of 10, 20, 40, and 80 IU/day on days 22, 23, 24, and 25 of the nonfertile cycle to mimic the pattern of mCG in fertile cycles. This regimen promptly and temporarily rescued the corpus luteum (CL) in a control group (group 1; n = 4) and in monkeys in group 2 (n = 4), luteectomized after hCG on day 26. Monkeys in group 3 (n = 4) were luteectomized on day 22, before the first hCG injection. Monkeys in group 4 (n = 5) served as a day of...
ZIPK is critical for the motility and contractility of VSMCs through the regulation of nonmuscle myosin II isoforms

Migration of medial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into the intimal layer contributes to pathological remodeling of the blood vessel in arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. It is well established that reorganization of cytoskeletal networks is an essential component of cellular motile events. However, there is currently a lack of insight into the cellular characteristics of VSMC migration under three-dimensional environments. Here, we investigated the mechanisms of VSMC migration and remodeling using two different collagen matrix assays as in vitro models: migration of VSMCs within a collagen matrix for VSMC invasion and contraction of a collagen gel by VSMCs for VSMC remodeling and contraction. We found that nonmuscle myosin IIA (NMIIA) and nonmuscle myosin IIB (NMIIB) differentially contribute to the migratory capacity of VSMCs via NMII isoform-dependent cytoskeletal reorganization. Depletion of NMIIA by short hairpin RNA revealed a unique interplay between actomyosin and microtubules during VSMC migration. On the other hand, NMIIB was required for the structural maintenance of migrating VSMC. Interestingly, there was a significant difference between NMIIA and NMIIB knockdown in the VSMC migration but not in the VSMC-mediated collagen gel contraction. Furthermore, depletion of zipper-interacting protein kinase by short hairpin RNA resulted in an impairment of VSMC migration and a substantial decrease of VSMC-mediated collagen gel contraction. These results suggest that NMIIA and NMIIB uniquely control VSMC migration and may contribute to vascular remodeling, which are both regulated by zipper-interacting protein kinase.
A general procedure for improving substructures representation in dynamic synthesis

In the general substructure synthesis method for the dynamic analysis of complex flexible structures developed earlier by the authors, the motion of each substructure is represented by a given number of substructure admissible functions and the otherwise disjoint substructures are connected together to form a whole structure by imposing approximate geometric compatibility conditions by means of weighted residuals. In this paper, a general procedure for improving the admissible functions representing each substructure in the synthesis is developed. The procedure is an iterative one and it leads to an improved eigensolution for the intermediate structure (i.e., a fictitious structure defined by the approximate compatibility conditions) where the improved eigensolution is obtained while always using the same number of degrees of freedom to represent a given substructure. In any iteration, the computations associated with each substructure are independent of those for all other substructures and they can be performed in parallel. By increasing the number of iterations, the eigensolution for the intermediate structure is approached. The procedure is applicable to assembled structures that are either positive definite or positive semidefinite. Moreover, the procedure represents an extension of the concept of subspace iteration to structures composed of substructures.
Some unique features of alkaliphilic anaerobes

This article explores two topics involving the examination of four strains of alkaliphilic anaerobes. The first topic was dedicated to detection of the ability of microorganisms to metabolize alternative chirality substrates. Two saccharolytic anaerobic bacteria were chosen for the first experiment: Anaerovirgula multivorans strain SCAT, which is gram positive and spore-forming; and Spirochaeta dissipatitropha, strain ASpC2 T , which is gram negative. It was found that both checked sugarlytics were able to use L-ribose and L-arabinose, as growth substrates. The second part was concerned of study a chemolithotrophy in two halo-alkaliphilic sulfate reducing bacteria: Desulfonatornum thiodismutans strain MLF1 T and Desulfonatronum lacustre strain Z-7951 T . The experiments with lithotrophs had demonstrated that strain MLF1 T was capable to grow without any organic source of carbon, while strain Z-7951 T had required at least 2 mM sodium acetate for growth. Anaerobic technique was used for preparation of the growth media and maintenance of these bacterial cultures. Standard methods for Gram, spore, and flagella staining were applied for characterization of cytomorphology. In this article, the results of the experiments performed on cytological, physiological, and biochemical levels are presented and discussed.
The procaryotic nature of the fatty acid synthetase of developing Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower) seeds.

Abstract All component activities involved in the synthesis of fatty acid were detected in crude extracts of developing safflower seeds. The crude extracts were fractionated into three portions by polyethylene glycol (0–5, 5–15, and 15% supernatant). Acetyl-CoA:acyl carrier protein (ACP) transacylase was precipitated about 66% by 5% polyethylene glycol. β-Ketoacyl-ACP reductase and enoyl-ACP reductase I were completely recovered in the 5–15% fraction. β-Ketoacyl-ACP synthetase and enoyl-ACP reductase II were in the 15% supernatant fraction. Malonyl-CoA:ACP transacylase and β-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydrase were distributed into both fractions of 5–15 and 15% supernatant. When the 5–15% fraction was gel-filtrated on Sephadex G-200 column, β-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydrase and malonyl-CoA:ACP transacylase were clearly separated from other enzymes, but β-Ketoacyl-ACP reductase and enoyl-ACP reductase I overlapped. However, by hydroxyapatite chromatography, these two reductases were clearly separated. Properties of each enzyme were examined with the samples fractionated by polyethylene glycol. β-Ketoacyl-ACP reductase preferably utilized NADPH ( K m = 16 μ M) as hydrogen donor. The K m for acetoacetyl-ACP was 9 μ m . β-Hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydrase had a K m of 12 μ m for crotonyl-ACP. Enoyl-ACP reductase had two forms, I and II, and these two reductases differed from each other as follows: (a) separation by polyethylene glycol (15%) fractionation; (b) the optimum pH; (c) the hydrogen donor specificity; (d) the substrate specificity. From these results, it is concluded that the FAS system of developing safflower seeds was nonassociated and similar to the procaryotic type of Escherichia coli .
Stresses and displacements around openings in homogeneous rock

Abstract An extensive program of finite element analyses was conducted to investigate the significance of material properties, initial stresses, excavation sequences and opening shapes on the resulting stresses and displacements around underground openings in homogeneous rock masses. These analyses simulated excavation operations and employed both linear as well as nonlinear, stress-dependent material properties. The results of these analyses showed that the most significant factors affecting the final stresses and/or displacements are the opening shape, initial in-situ stress magnitude, orientation and variation with depth, and the rock modulus and its stress-dependency; all other factors caused minor, if any, variations.
Nonreciprocal Optics within a Wavelength Fraction

Reciprocity in optics-the invariance of a light-matter interaction to the reversal of time-is a key principle in electrodynamics. This symmetry can be broken in the presence of magnetization, making the light propagation along forward and backward directions no longer invariant. Magneto-optical polarization rotation in the Faraday effect is a prominent example of this broken symmetry in optics.
From Plain Vanilla to Enhanced Access: The Search Engine for Online Historical Directories

ABSTRACT This article describes how The Search Engine for Online Historical Directories provides enhanced access for genealogical researchers to valuable family information contained in difficult-to-browse directories that have been made available online by institutions that have not provided sophisticated search tools.
Nanoscale patterning in crosslinked methacrylate copolymer networks: An atomic force microscopy study

To understand the properties of materials, their phase structure must be established. It has been difficult in previous work to visualize the heterogeneous cross-linked structure of methacrylate-based networks. In this work, nano-sized phases with worm-like features were detected in the surfaces of model crosslinked methacrylate copolymer containing hydrophobic/hydrophilic co-mono-mers using tapping mode atomic force microscopy/phase imaging technique. The effects of different surface-contact covers on the height and phase-contrast images of model resin surfaces were also studied. Based on the experimental data, the identification of phase domains was proposed.
Irradiation behavior of U-Nb-Zr alloy dispersed in aluminum

Abstract Three U–Nb–Zr alloys (U–5Nb–3Zr, U–6Nb–4Zr, and U–9Nb–3Zr) were included in a screening irradiation test of low-enrichment aluminum matrix dispersion fuels. Fuel particles made from these alloys reacted readily with aluminum during fuel fabrication and post-fabrication annealing, resulting in large fuel plate thickness increases. Under irradiation, the behavior of U–5Nb–3Zr (wt%) alloy based fuel was poor at 41 at.% 235U burnup, showing indications of incipient breakaway swelling. The post-irradiation microstructural characteristics of U–6Nb–4Zr based fuel were somewhat better than those of U–5Nb–3Zr, but is marginal at 70 at.% burnup. U–Mo based fuels generally show less reaction on fabrication and better fuel performance characteristics during irradiation.
Synthesis and structural characterization of the new arsenic telluride Rb4As2Te4 · (en)

Abstract The ethylenediamine (en) extraction of an alloy of nominal composition Rb4As2Te4 and subsequent concentration of the solution gave Rb4As2Te4 · (en) (1) as dark red crystals in 40% yield. The single crystal X-ray diffraction data revealed a novel dimeric [As2Te4]4− anion, which consists of an AsAs bonded As44+ dimer bonded to four Te atoms. Each of the As atoms are in a trigonal pyramidal coordination environment.
Clinical expert consensus statement on best practices in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

The cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) is a setting in which elective, urgent, and emergent percutaneous procedures are performed. This poses challenges to maintaining and prioritizing high quality care and patient safety. Nonetheless, process expectations of a high-quality CCL include appropriate periprocedural communication, clinical management, documentation, and universal protocol. Regulations primarily targeted at open surgical operating rooms have the potential to negatively impact care because they may mandate focus on performance measures that are not necessarily relevant to the cardiac catheterization laboratory. For example, routine site marking for percutaneous access is irrelevant for most patients since failure to obtain access on one side (e.g., right femoral artery) simply leads to attempting access on the other side (e.g., left femoral artery). Instead, directives should be tailored to the percutaneous procedure setting to assure quality and optimal patient safety. This document will therefore provide expert consensus opinion on a number of issues pertaining to ‘‘best practices’’ within the CCL, focusing on quality and safety during each step of the process. The writing committee acknowledges a dearth in high-quality published studies in this area, making many of the enclosed recommendations based primarily on expert consensus. Although references are provided when available, further research specifically in catheterization laboratory processes and quality improvement is needed. The document is divided into ‘‘best practices’’ that should be performed during the preprocedure, intraprocedure, and postprocedure settings for diagnostic cardiac catheterization and coronary intervention, to be consistent with the typical patient flow into and out of the CCL. Despite the long history of cardiac catheterization that dates back several decades, a document describing these ‘‘best practices’’ has not yet been written. The purpose of this document is not to represent all acceptable practices, but to provide consensus opinion on what would currently be considered ‘‘best practices’’ as future goals for catheterization laboratories.
Tuberous sclerosis: a syndrome of incomplete tumor suppression

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a congenital neurocutaneous syndrome (or phacomatosis) characterized by widespread development of hamartomas in multiple organs. For affected individuals, neurological and psychiatric complications are the most disabling and lethal features. Although the clinical phenotype of TS is complex, only three lesions characterize the neuropathological features of the disease: cortical tubers, subependymal nodules, and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas. The latter is a benign brain tumor of mixed neuronal and glial origin. Tuberous sclerosis is caused by loss-of-function mutations in one of two genes, TSC1 or TSC2. The normal cellular proteins encoded by these genes, hamartin and tuberin, respectively, form a heterodimer that suppresses cell growth in the central nervous system by dampening the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signal transduction pathway. The authors review the clinical and neuropathological features of TS as well as recent research into the molecular biology of this disease. Through this work, investigators are beginning to resolve the paradoxical findings that malignant cancers seldom arise in patients with TS, even though the signaling molecules involved are key mediators of cancer cell growth.
Comparison of Lignin-like Products Found Naturally or Induced in Tissues of Phleum, Elodea, and Coleus, and in a Paper Perioxidase System

22. MILLER, J. S. AND S. A. GORDON. 1962. Auxin relations in illuminated shoots. Plant Physiol. 37: xvi. 23. REINERT, J. 1959. Phototropism and phototaxis. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 10: 441-58. 24. REISENER, H. J. 1958. Untersuchungen fiber den Phototropismus der Hafer-Koleoptile. Z. Botan. 46: 474-505. 25. STEWART, W. S. AND F. W. WENT. 1940. Light stability of auxin in Avena coleoptiles. Botan. Gaz. 101: 706-14. 26. THIMANN, K. V. AND G. M. CURRY. 1960. Phototropism and Phototaxis. In: Comparative Biochemistry, vol. 1. Florkin and Mason, ed. Academic Press, N.Y. 27. WENT, F. W. 1928. Wuchstoff und Wachstum. Rec. Trav. Botan. N6,erl. 25: 1-116. 28. WENT, F. W. AND K. V. THIMANN. 1937. Phytohormones. Macmillan Co., New York. 29. WILDEN, M. 1939. Zur Analyse der positiven und negativen phototropischen Kriimmungen. Planta 30: 286-89. 30. ZIMMERMAN, B. K. AND W. R. BRIGGS. 1963. A kinetic model for phototropic responses of oat coleoptiles. Plant Physiol. 38: 253-61.
A target tracking algorithm using a sensor with biological vision features

Abstract One of the most difficult problems in a video tracking system is the speed required for real-time operation. In this paper, a fast tracking algorithm to determine displacements of points (pixels) on object surfaces between successive frames, a sequence of image frames representing a time-varying scene is described. The displacement is represented by a four-dimensional vector whose elements are two dimensional translation, rotational angle on the x-y plane, and scaling factor (zoom parameter). The algorithm was developed in conjunction with research on sensors for machine vision with biological vision features. The proposed sensor has two configurations: a uniform rectangular grid and a nonuniform logarithmic spiral grid. The rectangular grid is very well suited to translational motion in two-dimensions, whereas the logarithmic spiral grid has been proven to be appropriate for rotation and scaling. Both configurations are utilized to estimate three-dimensional motion as defined above. The algorithm developed is called a one-dimensional correlation algorithm and has recursive, spatio-temporal, correlation characteristics. It also possesses simplicity and separability properties. These properties make it easy to design and implement it in a highly parallel fashion. A speed comparison analysis shows that this algorithm can save 40% of computation time, or more, over the conventional correlation algorithm if implemented in a general purpose serial processor. Furthermore, the simulation results on a real image demonstrate that this algorithm possesses a good noise immunity property. That is, it can be applied directly to a predefined moving area without segmentation. The properties and capabilities of the algorithm make it especially suited for robotics applications with the camera mounted at the end effector. In such a situation the work space and conveyor belts would usually be horizontal and vertical, rotation and scaling would occur in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the sensor.
Collective transport and shear flow of magnetic bubble arrays

We present direct experimental observations of the forced flow of two-dimensional magnetic bubble arrays in thin garnet films. Shear flow is produced by forcing the bubble array to move past a flat interface. The array is strongly pinned on the other side of the interface by lithographically produced Permalloy disks. Time-resolved images of the motion of dislocations in the shear flow are obtained via Voronoi constructions. Observations indicate that the shear flow is produced by a gas of interacting dislocations that glides in response to the applied force
Boston Riots: Three Centuries of Social Violence

FROM THE FOOD UPRISINGS in the early 1700s to the notorious antibusing riots in the mid-1970s, incidents of communal social violence have played a significant role in Boston's history. The remarkable story of Boston's violent past is now told for the first time in this thorough exploration of the more than 100 riots that occurred in the city over a span of nearly three centuries. Drawing on exhaustive research in newspaper archives, Jack Tager revisits both well- and lesser-known episodes, including the grain, impressment, brothel, and Pope Day riots of the eighteenth century; the anti-Catholic, abolition, and draft riots of the nineteenth century; and the Kosher meat, police strike, ghetto, and busing riots of the twentieth century. Tager identifies the protagonists, highlights their motives and demands, and seeks to determine whether they realized their goals. He also examines how victims suffered at the hands of their fellow citizens, shows how law enforcement responded to the riots, and considers the complex social interactions and tensions that contributed to the uprisings. He finds that most incidents of violent civil disorder were initiated by the powerless lower classes who believed rioting was the only avenue for giving voice to their grievances over political, cultural, religious, or economic oppression. This vivid portrait of an ever-changing community over time provides a revealing glimpse into peoples' anger, aspirations, and frustrations. It sheds new light on why groups are provoked to take unlawful action in response to unjust conditions, and it opens a fresh vista on the social history of Boston.
Metabolism of d-mannosamine in bovine thyroid gland slices

Abstract 1. 1. The nature of the acid-soluble mannosamine intermediates was investigated in bovine thyroid gland slices after incubation with a tracer amount of [ 14 C] mannosamine plus 10 mM carrier mannosamine. 2. 2. These radioactive intermediates were separated by ion exchange columns, characterized by paper chromatography and were identified as N -acetylmannosamine, mannosamine-6-P, mannosamine, sialic acid and N -acetylmannosamine-6-P. The radioactivity associated with these acid-soluble compounds constituted about 17% of the added [ 14 C] mannosamine. 3. 3. [ 14 C] Mannosamine was incorporated as sialic acid only into thyroglobulin.
A paradoxical reduction in susceptibility to colonic injury upon targeted transgenic ablation of goblet cells

Goblet cells are the major mucus-producing cells of the intestine and are presumed to play an important role in mucosal protection. However, their functional role has not been directly assessed in vivo. In initial studies, a 5' flanking sequence of the murine intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) gene was found to confer goblet cell-specific expression of a transgene. To assess the role of goblet cells in the intestine, we generated transgenic mice in which approximately 60% of goblet cells were ablated by the expression of an attenuated diphtheria toxin (DT) gene driven by the ITF promoter; other cell lineages were unaffected. We administered 2 exogenous agents, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and acetic acid, to assess the susceptibility of mITF/DT-A transgenic mice to colonic injury. After oral administration of DSS, 55% of control mice died, whereas DT transgenic mice retained their body weight and less than 5% died. Similarly, 30% of the wild-type mice died after mucosal administration of acetic acid, compared with 3.2% of the transgenic mice. Despite the reduction in goblet-cell number, the total amount of ITF was increased in the mITF/DT-A transgenic mice, indicating inducible compensatory mechanisms. These results suggest that goblet cells contribute to mucosal protection and repair predominantly through production of trefoil peptides.
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project: overview and status

ABSTRACT The LIGO Project* is a joint effort between the California Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to build and operate a novel astronomical observatory that directly senses gravitational waves, and in doing so open a new observational window to the universe. Construction is well underway at the two observatory sites: Hanford, Washington and Livingston Parish, Louisiana. Installation of detector components is planned to begin in the spring of 1998 with the first data run at the designed strain sensitivity of h - 2 x 1O23m/vi scheduled to begin in 2002. Keywords: LIGO, gravitational wave, astronomy, interferometer 1. INTRODUCTION The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Project'3 is a joint effort by the CaliforniaInstitute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The principal goal of the project is the direct detection of gravitational waves emanating from astrophysical sources and, ultimately, utilization
Signal Shaping of Fluid Transmission Lines Using Parallel Branching

Modification de la forme du signal dans une tuyauterie transportant un fluide par des branchements en parallele
A look at autoimmunity and inflammation in the eye

Autoimmune and inflammatory uveitis are a group of potentially blinding intraocular inflammatory diseases that arise without a known infectious trigger and are often associated with immunological responses to unique retinal proteins. In the United States, about 10% of the cases of severe visual handicap are attributed to this group of disorders. As I discuss here, experimental models of ocular autoimmunity targeting retinal proteins have brought about a better understanding of the basic immunological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of uveitis and are serving as templates for the development of novel therapies.
Effect of therapeutic dosages of prednisone on human immunoglobulin G metabolism

Abstract In order to evaluate factors possibly responsible for the increased incidence of infections in patients treated with corticosteroids, immunoglobulin G (IgG) metabolism was studied in 8 patients before and during the administration of prednisone in a therapeutic range (30 mg. per day). The survival of intravenously administered IgG was determined, and total circulating IgG, fractional catabolic rate, and synthetic rate were calculated. There was no significant decrease in the measured levels of circulating IgG, but all patients had a shortened half-time (5 to 45 percent) and an increased fractional catabolic rate (p
Trace metals in finfish from the New York Bight and Long Island Sound

Abstract Concentrations of silver, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc were measured in five species of finfish collected from the New York Bight and two from Long Island Sound. With few exceptions the trace metal contents were similar for the various species examined and also for a single species when comparing catch locations. Metal levels also were similar to concentrations reported by two other investigators who studied fish from the North Atlantic.
Counting and sampling minimum cuts in genus g graphs

Let $G$ be a directed graph with n vertices embedded on an orientable surface of genus g with two designated vertices s and t. We show that counting the minimum (s,t)-cuts in G is fixed parameter tractable in g. Specially, we give a 2O(g) n2 time algorithm for this problem. Our algorithm requires counting sets of cycles in a particular integer homology class. That we can count these cycles is an interesting result in itself as there are few prior results that are fixed parameter tractable and deal directly with integer homology. We also describe an algorithm which, after running our algorithm to count minimum cuts once, can sample a minimum cut uniformly at random in O(gn) time per sample.
Agreement between Women's Histories of Oral Contraceptive Use and Physician Records

The adequacy of womens verbal accounts in determining oral contraceptive (OC) exposure was assessed by comparing the respondents histories with prescribers records. The study participants were selected from 299 women who had participated in a case-control study of hepatocellular adenoma. 2 memory aids were utilized during the interview: a calendar of significant life events to which a woman might relate her OC use and a color photograph book of 90 OC preparations available up to the time of the study. 61 cases and 69 controls were actually included in the study. Agreement for month-specific duration was 90%; for duration and brand 62%; and for duration brand and dose 54%. Each of these categories was significantly different from the others and agreement was significantly higher for cases than for controls. The results compare favorably to 2 other studies even with the increased complexity of this study i.e. longer interval between OC use and interviews and a much greater number of brands and doses to choose from. The memory aids proved useful in recall performance.
Redox State and Transition Metal Concentration Effects on Microstructure of Simulated Simplified Glasses for Waste Immobilization

Chromium, iron, and nickel are present in many waste-streams from DOE sites. This study considers a simplified lime-aluminosilicate glass system, similar to one proposed for high temperature (1250–1450°C) vitrification of soil and wastes from DOE sites, in which concentrations of Cr, Fe. and Ni are being varied and different redox states induced for selected melting conditions. The solubilities of Cr 2 O 3 and NiO in the simplified system are determined at 1350°C, 1400°C, and 1450°C. The enthalpies of solution calculated from the solubility data for Cr 2 O 3 and NiO are 12.2 and 15.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The iron redox ratio, Fe 2+ /Fe total in selected glasses is determined by Mossbauer Spectroscopy and related to changes in microstructure. The crystallization of eskolaite (Cr 2 O 3 ) seems to be favored at intermediate states of reduction (Fe 2+ /Fe total ≈0.8) in Cr-containing glass at near the solubility limit. Pseudoternary diagrams are plotted for melts in air at 1450°C in which Fe 2 O 3 + SiO 2 + X (X = NiO or Cr 2 O 3 3) is held constant. Time-Temperature-Transformation (TTT) curves are plotted using data from heat treatment studies. Liquidus temperatures of base, 1.5 wt% Cr 2 O 3 glass and 8 wt% NiO, 7 wt% Fe 2 O 3 glass are found to be 1150°C, 1175°C, and 1175°C, respectively.
Overview: future approaches to renal replacement and regeneration.

Improvements in surgical techniques and medical management of posttransplant complications, and recent development of novel immunosuppressive strategies have improved the outcome of organ transplantation and have made cell transplantation a front line therapy for replacement of pancreatic islets in
Sorption of organic vapors into drawn and undrawn polyethylene

Drawing of linear polyethylene at 60°C. to an extension ratio of ten drastically reduces the sorption and diffusion of n-pentane, benzene, methylene chloride, and tetrachloroethylene. Methylene chloride was chosen for more detailed study. The sorption is of the normal Fickean type. It is also fully reversible in the temperature range between 25 and 45°C. if the sorbed amount is kept to below 0.5%. At higher concentrations the sample relaxes so that sorption irreversibly increases. The reversible sorption per gram of amorphous component is about 1/6 of that in undrawn polyethylene. The diffusion constant has a larger temperature and concentration dependence than in the undrawn material. At zero concentration the activation energy for diffusion is 34.4 kcal./mole and the diffusion constant at 25°C. is 8 × 10−11 cm.2/sec. as compared with 14.4 kcal./mole and 1.5 × 10−8 cm.2/sec. in undrawn PE. Cold drawing reduces the sorption sites without changing their energy content, but drastically cuts down diffusion and increases the activation energy. A smaller part of the increase of the latter is a consequence of the lower enthalpy of the amorphous material and a larger part is probably due to the increased distance between sorption sites.
Smarter outlier detection and deeper understanding of large-scale taxi trip records: a case study of NYC

Outlier detection in large-scale taxi trip records has imposed significant technical challenges due to huge data volumes and complex semantics. In this paper, we report our preliminary work on detecting outliers from 166 millions taxi trips in the New York City (NYC) in 2009 through efficient spatial analysis and network analysis using a NAVTEQ street network with half a million edges. As a byproduct of large-scale shortest path computation in outlier detection, betweenness centralities of street network edges are computed and mapped. The techniques can be used to help better understand the connection strengths among different parts of NYC using the large-scale taxi trip records.
Understanding the values of mobile technology in education: a value-focused thinking approach

Mobile technology has mobilized the human interaction in all dimensions by supporting mobile collaboration. As collaboration is key to learning in today's educational environment, mobile technology has tremendous potential in supporting and improving education and its delivery. Given that mobile technology for education is a new phenomenon that is gaining popularity, the values of using mobile technology to support education need to be further researched and better understood. In this research, we used the Value-Focused Thinking approach to interview students and instructors to identify the values of education that are enabled by mobile technology. These values are represented in the form of a means-ends objective network that not only captures the values of education facilitated by mobile technology but also depicts the relationships between these values. The means-ends objective network derived from this research can serve as a conceptual foundation for future studies and provide useful guidelines to practitioners for implementation of mobile technology in education.
N-Acetylserotonin: Neuroprotection, Neurogenesis, and the Sleepy Brain

N-Acetylserotonin (NAS) is a naturally occurring chemical intermediate in biosynthesis of melatonin. Previous studies have shown that NAS has different brain distribution patterns from those of serotonin and melatonin, suggesting that NAS might have functions other than as a precursor or metabolite of melatonin. Indeed, several studies have now shown that NAS may play an important role in mood regulation and may have antidepressant activity. Additional studies have shown that NAS stimulates proliferation of neuroprogenitor cells and prevents some of the negative effects of sleep deprivation. It is believed that the antidepressant and neurotrophic actions of NAS are due at least in part to the capability on this molecule to activate the TrkB receptor in a brain-derived neurotrophic factor-independent manner. Emerging evidence also indicates that NAS and its derivatives have neuroprotective properties and protect retinal photoreceptor cells from light-induced degeneration. In this review, the authors discuss the literature about this exciting and underappreciated molecule.