cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teleoperation with intelligent and customizable interfaces

In this paper, we explore a class of teleoperation problems where a user controls a sophisticated device (e.g. a robot) via an interface to perform a complex task. Teleoperation interfaces are fundamentally limited by the indirectness of the process, by the fact that the user is not physically executing the task. In this work, we study intelligent and customizable interfaces: these are interfaces that mediate the consequences of indirectness and make teleoperation more seamless. They are intelligent in that they take advantage of the robot's autonomous capabilities and assist in accomplishing the task. They are customizable in that they enable the users to adapt the retargetting function which maps their input onto the robot. Our studies support the advantages of such interfaces, but also point out the challenges they bring. We make three key observations. First, although assistance can greatly improve teleperation, the decision on how to provide assistance must be contextual. It must depend, for example, on the robot's confidence in its prediction of the user's intent. Second, although users do have the ability to provide intent-expressive input that simplifies the robot's prediction task, this ability can be hindered by kinematic differences between themselves and the robot. And third, although interface customization is important, it must be robust to poor examples from the user.
System theory and transportation: Network analogs for transportation system analysis

Contributions by the engineering profession to transportation system analysis have primarily been from civil engineers. It would appear that the electrical-electronic branch of the profession should have much to offer, particularly in regard to the application of system theory, network analysis and automatic control techniques. Examples are given of analogs between electrical networks and transportation system models as an indication of how the skills of IEEE system-oriented people may be applied to transportation analysis tasks involving other branches of engineering and the quantitative social sciences. The current art of use by civil engineers of network models in transportation analysis is reviewed briefly. Certain deficiencies are noted which limit the usefulness and validity of these models.
Did the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 really improve air quality

The degree to which federal policies, such as the Clean Air Act (CAA), actually improve air quality is not fully understood. We investigate what portion of reductions in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that occurred 1999–2005 can be attributed to sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions reductions from implementation of title IV, phase 2, of the 1990 CAA Amendments. A detailed statistical model links sources and receptors over time and space to estimate the relationship between changes in emissions and observed improvements in air quality. We employ relatively transparent statistical methods incorporating uncertainty bounds to complement point estimates of the complex physico-chemical fate and transport models commonly used to estimate source-receptor relationships associated with long-range emissions transport. Monitor-specific estimates of changes in PM2.5 from changes in emissions from individual power plants are highly significant and mostly of the expected relative magnitudes for distance and direction from sources; and the model performs well on out-of-sample forecasts. Although we observe substantial model uncertainty, using our preferred specification, we estimate that the title IV, phase II emissions reduction policy implemented 1999–2005 reduced PM2.5 in the eastern USA by an average of 1.07 μg/m3, roughly 8 % (standard deviation, 0.11 μg/m3) versus a counterfactual of no change in emission rates per unit of energy input. On a population-weighted basis, the comparable reduction in PM2.5 is 0.89 μg/m3, roughly 6 %. This model presents a practical tool that can be used for policy analysis of air quality.
Quantification of 21 metabolites of methylnaphthalenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human urine

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their alkylated derivatives, such as methylnaphthalenes (MeNs), are harmful pollutants ubiquitously present in the environment. Exposure to PAHs has been linked to a variety of adverse health effects and outcomes, including cancer. Alkyl PAHs have been proposed as petrogenic source indicators because of their relatively high abundance in unburned petroleum products. We report a method to quantify 11 urinary methylnaphthols (Me-OHNs), metabolites of 1- and 2-methylnaphthalenes, and 10 monohydroxy PAH metabolites (OH-PAHs), using automated liquid-liquid extraction and isotope dilution gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). After spiking urine (1 mL) with 13C-labeled internal standards, the conjugated target analytes were hydrolyzed enzymatically in the presence of ascorbic acid. Then, their free species were preconcentrated into 20 % toluene in pentane, derivatized and quantified by GC-MS/MS. The 11 Me-OHNs eluted as 6 distinct chromatographic peaks, each representing 1 − 3 isomers. Method detection limits were 1.0− 41 pg/mL and the coefficients of variation in quality control materials were 4.7 − 19 %. The method was used to analyze two National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Standard Reference Materials® and samples from 30 smokers and 30 non-smokers. Geometric mean concentrations were on average 37 (Me-OHNs) and 9.0 (OH-PAHs) fold higher in smokers than in non-smokers. These findings support the usefulness of Me-OHNs as potential biomarkers of non-occupational exposure to MeNs and sources containing MeNs.
Dynamic topologies and their applications to crisp topologies, fuzzifications of crisp topologies, and fuzzy topologies on the crisp real line

Abstract We introduce and develop topologies whose members are dynamic sets a la Zeleny. This development spawns the notions of phase and co-phase spaces, fuzzy dual, dynamic dual, and co-fuzzy dual with the following results being obtained: Result A. The notion of fuzzy dual provides a unifying framework for the diverse fuzzification schemes of Hutton-Gantner-Steinlage-Warren, Klein, and Lowen. Result B. The dynamic duals of the fuzzy real lines are both homeostatic and coheterostatic. Result C. The fuzzy real lines, re-interpreted as fuzzy duals of R with the usual Euclidean topology T , induce on R , via the notion of co-fuzzy dual, a class of canonical, stratified fuzzy topologies {CO R L}. E.g., if L is a DeMorgan algebra and α ϵ Lc-{1}, then the α-compactness of A ⊂ R is equivalent to the ordinary compactness of A w.r.t. T ; and if L is a Hutton algebra, ( R , L, CO R L) is metrizable in the sense of Hutton and Erceg with Erceg metric d(L) such that d(L) (p r 1 , p s 1 )=¦r − s¦ (where pr is the crisp point or impulse with support r), i.e., d(L) extends the Euclidean metric on R .
Prevalence of fecal-borne parasites detected by centrifugal flotation in feline samples from two shelters in upstate New York

Over a 3.5-year period, fecal samples from 1322 cats from two shelters and affiliated foster homes in upstate New York were processed for parasite detection by both 1.18 spg zinc sulfate and 1.3 spg sugar double centrifugal flotation. In 50.9% of the samples at least one parasite was detected. Overall, 18 different parasites ranging in prevalence from 0.2% to 21% were recovered. The most prevalent parasites of foster and shelter cats in this study were Cystoisospora species and Toxocara cati (21% prevalence, each). In order of percentage of positive samples, other findings were: Giardia species (8.9%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (6.2%), taeniid eggs (3.9%), Cryptosporidium species (3.8%), Aonchotheca species (3.7%), Eucoleus species (2.3%), Ancylostoma species (2.2%), Cheyletiella species (2.0%), Dipylidium caninum (1.1%), Otodectes species, Toxoplasma-like oocysts and Sarcocystis species (0.8% each), Demodex and Spirometra species (0.4% each), and Alaria species and Felicola subrostratus (0.2% each).
Behavioral effects of early deprivation of nerve growth factor: some similarities with familial dysautonomia.

Abstract Female rats immunized with mouse nerve growth factor develop an antibody (anti-NGF) which reaches offspring through the placenta and via the milk. Pups exposed to maternal anti-NGF have fewer dorsal root and sympathetic neurons. When the offspring are examined on a wide variety of behavioral tests, they exhibit severe deficits in response to stress (ulceration, corticosterone levels), and mild deficits on some sensory and cognitive tasks. Explaratory and motor functions, however, are relatively normal. The pathologic and behavioral profiles of the animals closely mimic the sensory and sympathetic aspects of familial dysautonomia.
Differential hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry analysis of protein–ligand interactions

Functional regulation of ligand-activated receptors is driven by alterations in the conformational dynamics of the protein upon ligand binding. Differential hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) coupled with mass spectrometry has emerged as a rapid and sensitive approach for characterization of perturbations in conformational dynamics of proteins following ligand binding. While this technique is sensitive to detecting ligand interactions and alterations in receptor dynamics, it also can provide important mechanistic insights into ligand regulation. For example, HDX has been used to determine a novel mechanism of ligand activation of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ, perform detailed analyses of binding modes of ligands within the ligand-binding pocket of two estrogen receptor isoforms, providing insight into selectivity, and helped classify different types of estrogen receptor-α ligands by correlating their pharmacology with the way they interact with the receptor based solely on hierarchical clustering of receptor HDX signatures. Beyond small-molecule-receptor interactions, this technique has also been applied to study protein-protein complexes, such as mapping antibody-antigen interactions. In this article, we summarize the current state of the differential HDX approaches and the future outlook. We summarize how HDX analysis of protein-ligand interactions has had an impact on biology and drug discovery.
CRL4Cdt2 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) Cooperate to Degrade Thymine DNA Glycosylase in S Phase

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) is an essential enzyme playing multiple roles in base excision repair, transcription regulation, and DNA demethylation. TDG mediates the cytotoxicity of the anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by prolonging S phase, generating DNA strand breaks, and inducing DNA damage signaling. During S phase of the cell cycle, TDG is degraded via the proteasomal pathway. Here we show that CRL4Cdt2 E3 ubiquitin ligase promotes ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of TDG in S phase in a reaction that is dependent on the interaction of TDG with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). siRNA-mediated depletion of PCNA or components of CRL4Cdt2, specifically cullin4A/B or substrate adaptor Cdt2, stabilizes TDG in human cells. Mutations in the PCNA-interacting peptide (PIP) motif of TDG that disrupt the interaction of TDG with PCNA or change critical basic residues essential for the action of the PIP degron prevent the ubiquitination and degradation of TDG. Thus physical interaction of TDG with PCNA through the PIP degron is required for targeting TDG to the CRL4Cdt2 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Compared with forced expression of wild type TDG, CRL4Cdt2- resistant TDG (ΔPIP) slows cell proliferation and slightly increases the toxicity of 5-FU. Thus, CRL4Cdt2-dependent degradation of TDG occurs in S phase because of the requirement for TDG to interact with chromatin-loaded PCNA, and this degradation is important for preventing toxicity from excess TDG.
The intergenerational transmission of corporal punishment: a comparison of social learning and temperament models

This family study examined two models regarding the intergenerational transmission of corporal punishment. The model based on social learning assumptions asserted that corporal punishment influences aggressive child behavior. The model based on temperament theory suggested that aggressive child behavior impacts upon parental use of corporal punishment. Participants were 1,536 parents of 983 college students. Corporal punishment was assessed from father, mother, and child perspectives. Path analyses revealed that the social learning model was most consistent with the data.
DNA synthesis is dissociated from the immediate-early gene response in the post-ischemic kidney.

DNA synthesis is dissociated from the immediate-early gene response in the post-ischemic kidney. The response of the kidney to ischemic injury includes increased DNA synthesis, which is preceded by rapid and brief expression of the c- fos proto-oncogene. While the timing of these two events would suggest that c- Fos participates in an immediate-early gene program leading to proliferation, no direct test of this hypothesis exists. The purpose of these studies was (1) to determine whether c- fos is expressed as part of a typical immediate-early (IE) gene response, which would require co-expression of c- jun and sensitivity to cycloheximide, and (2) to determine whether the cells expressing c- Fos are the same as those undergoing DNA synthesis. Northern analysis was performed on renal mRNA at different times following release of a 50 minute period of renal hilar clamping. c- jun and c- fos mRNA were rapidly and briefly expressed following renal ischemia and their expression was superinduced by cycloheximide in a manner typical of an immediate-early gene response. 3 H-thymidine autoradiography performed on semi-thin sections from intravascularly perfusion fixed kidneys 24 hours following induction of ischemia showed labeled nuclei in cells lining the damaged proximal tubules of the outer stripe of the outer medulla, as well as proximal tubules in the cortex and interstitial cells throughout the kidney. However, immunohistochemical localization of c- Fos and c- Jun protein occurred predominantly in nuclei of the thick ascending limb, distal tubule and collecting duct cells. The studies demonstrate that c- fos and c- jun are expressed following renal ischemia as a typical immediate-early gene response, but they are expressed in cells that do not enter the cell cycle. The failure of the cells to enter the cell cycle may depend on the co-expression of jun -B and jun -D, which suppress the mitogenic activity of c- Jun in other cells. The data suggest that the IE response following renal ischemia is part of the stress response, which is antiproliferative rather than proliferative. The role of the stress response during renal ischemia and the fate of the cells undergoing it are unknown.
Maximin distance optimal designs for computer experiments with time-varying inputs and outputs

Abstract Computer models of dynamic systems produce outputs that are functions of time; models that solve systems of differential equations often have this character. Time-indexed inputs, such as the functions that describe time-varying boundary conditions, are also common with such models. Morris (2012) described a generalization of the Gaussian process often used to produce “meta-models” when inputs are finite-dimensional vectors, that can be used in the functional input setting, and showed how the maximin distance design optimality criterion ( Johnson et al., 1990 ) can also be extended to this case. This paper describes an upper bound on the maximin distance criterion for functional inputs. A class of designs that are optimal under certain conditions is also presented; while these designs are of limited practical value, they show that the derived bound cannot be improved in the general case.
Lateral clustering of the adhesive ectodomain: a fundamental determinant of cadherin function

Abstract Background: Classical cadherin-based cellular adhesion is mediated by a multicomponent protein complex that links the adhesive binding activity of the cadherin ectodomain to the actin cytoskeleton. Despite the importance of cadherins in morphogenesis and development, we know very little about how cells determine and alter cadherin adhesive strength. In this study, we sought to identify specific cellular mechanisms that modulate cadherin function by studying adhesion between cells transfected with Xenopus C-cadherin mutant molecules and substrata coated with the purified ectodomain of C-cadherin. Results: Using the FKBP–FK1012 protein oligomerization system, we found that forced clustering, in cells, of cadherin mutants lacking the cytoplasmic tail significantly increased cellular adhesive strength. Therefore, redistribution of the adhesive binding sites of cells into clusters can influence adhesion independently of other protein interactions mediated by the cadherin cytoplasmic tail. Furthermore, cells transfected with full-length C-cadherin demonstrated dynamic changes in adhesion over time that correlated with clustering but not with changes in the surface expression of C-cadherin or in the composition of the cadherin–catenin complex. The cytoplasmic tail was, however, necessary for clustering of wild-type cadherin. Conclusions: These studies directly demonstrate a fundamental role for lateral clustering in cadherin function. The distribution of cadherin binding sites presented at the cell surface, a cellular property which is regulated by the cadherin cytoplasmic tail, is an important mechanism which modulates cellular adhesion independently of cytoskeletal activity or signalling.
A Qualitative Analysis of Military Couples With High and Low Trauma Symptoms and Relationship Distress Levels

The purpose of the current study was to understand the experiences of a subset of military couples regarding the effects of war deployment on couple functioning. The authors used the core “couple functioning” variables included in the Couple Adaptation to Traumatic Stress Model as sensitizing concepts to guide the qualitative analysis process. Participant interviews (n = 15 couples, 30 total participants) were divided into subgroups according to high and low trauma symptom and relationship satisfaction scale scores. Five primary themes were identified in the results: communication, conflict management, roles, support/nurturance, and posttraumatic growth. Overall, highly satisfied couples and those with the lowest levels of traumatic stress symptoms reported more positive relationship functioning in the identified areas, while couples reporting higher traumatic stress symptoms and lower relationship satisfaction indicated varied or inconsistent qualitative results. Clinical and research implications for mi...
Betulinic acid sensitization of low pH adapted human melanoma cells to hyperthermia

Betulinic acid is a known inducer of apoptosis in human melanoma that is most effective under conditions of low pH. It was hypothesized that betulinic acid, in combination with acute acidification and/or hyperthermia, would induce higher levels of apoptosis and cytotoxicity in low pH-adapted human melanoma cells than in cells grown at pH 7.3. DB-1 human melanoma cells, adapted to a tumour-like growth pH of 6.7, were exposed to hyperthermia (2h at 42 degrees C) and/or betulinic acid (4-10 microg/ml) and compared with cells grown at a physiological pH of 7.3 or after acute acidification from pH 7.3-6.3 or pH 6.7-6.3. Betulinic acid induced higher levels of apoptosis and cytotoxicity in low pH-adapted cells than in cells grown at pH 7.3, as measured by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) DNA fragmentation assay (TUNEL), the MTS cell viability assay, and single cell survival. Acute acidification of low pH adapted cells rendered them more susceptible to betulinic acid-induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity. In the presence of hyperthermia at 42 degrees C for 2 h, cells grown at pH 7.3 were not sensitized to heat killing by betulinic acid, whereas cells grown at pH 7.3 and acutely acidified to pH 6.3, cells adapted to growth at pH 6.7 and cells adapted to growth at pH 6.7 and acutely acidified to pH 6.3 were all similarly sensitized to heat killing by betulinic acid, with survival values of 5, 9 and 2%, respectively. It is concluded that betulinic acid may be useful in potentiating the therapeutic efficacy of hyperthermia as a cytotoxic agent in acidotic areas of tumours with minimal effect in normal tissues growing at pH 7.3.
Physiological activation of Akt by PHLPP1 deletion protects against pathological hypertrophy.

Aims To examine the role of physiological Akt signalling in pathological hypertrophy through analysis of PHLPP1 (PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase) knock-out (KO) mice. Methods and results To investigate the in vivo requirement for ‘physiological’ control of Akt activation in cardiac growth, we examined the effect of deleting the Akt phosphatase, PHLPP, on the induction of cardiac hypertrophy. Basal Akt phosphorylation increased nearly two-fold in the cardiomyocytes from PHLPP1 KO mice and physiological hypertrophy induced by swimming exercise was accentuated as assessed by increased heart size and myocyte cell area. In contrast, the development of pathophysiological hypertrophy induced by pressure overload and assessed by increases in heart size, myocyte cell area, and hypertrophic gene expression was attenuated. This attenuation coincided with decreased fibrosis and cell death in the KO mice. Cast moulding revealed increased capillary density basally in the KO hearts, which was further elevated relative to wild-type mouse hearts in response to pressure overload. In vitro studies with isolated myocytes in co-culture also demonstrated that PHLPP1 deletion in cardiomyocytes can enhance endothelial tube formation. Expression of the pro-angiogenic factor VEGF was also elevated basally and accentuated in response to transverse aortic constriction in hearts from KO mice. Conclusion Our data suggest that enhancing Akt activity by inhibiting its PHLPP1-mediated dephosphorylation promotes processes associated with physiological hypertrophy that may be beneficial in attenuating the development of pathological hypertrophy.
Double-helical DNA and RNA circular dichroism. Calculations on base–sugar-phosphate helix interactions

Theoretical calculations of the near ultraviolet (uv) circular dichroism of double-helical DNA and RNA models were performed in order to evaluate the effects, on the calculated circular dichroism, of including the interactions of near uv quantum transitions of the nucleic acid bases with classical polarizable bonds of the sugar-phosphate backbone. Double-helical models (A-form, B-form, and C-form DNA and RNA-11) from X-ray diffraction data were used in the calculations. The results indicate that the contributions to the circular dichroism in the near uv region, of these types of interactions, provide calculated spectra that are slightly altered from calculated spectra when only base–base transition interactions were considered.
Comparing Pediatric Deaths With and Without Hospice Support

Background Although pediatric hospice care is commonly accepted as a beneficial intervention, the incremental advantage over end-of-life care delivered without engaging hospice remains unknown. The primary objective of this study was to describe differences in pediatric end-of-life care when delivered with and without hospice support, as perceived by the medical provider. Procedure A retrospective survey of medical providers was conducted in 2005 over a 2-month period at a single institution, the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital (HDVCH). Medical providers with self-determined experience in pediatric end-of-life care were asked to separately provide positive and negative comments about their experience with hospice. Additionally they were asked to describe differences between children under their supervision who died with and without hospice care. Medical provider comments and comparisons of experiences in caring for children dying with and without hospice involvement are described. Results Out of 157 responders, 43 reported positive comments about the hospice intervention. Non-medical support and location of death were the most frequently cited benefits. Nineteen responders provided negative comments about hospice; all involving feelings of lost hope, intrusion, or distrust. When asked to directly compare deaths with and without hospice support, 44 of 51 (86%) responders favored hospice. The most cited reason for preferring hospice involvement was better provision of non-medical services. Conclusions The majority of pediatric providers in this survey observed an advantage to utilizing hospice care for dying children as compared to providing end-of-life care without hospice involvement. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:746–750. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of spectral continua as primary sources in atomic absorption spectroscopy

Abstract The results of a critical and systematic evaluation of the feasibility of employing spectral continua as primary sources in atomic absorption spectroscopy are presented. Useful sensitivities were observed for most of the metallic elements in the periodic system. For 32 elements, the sensitivities observed for a spectral continuum primary source were either comparable to or exceeded those presently obtained with sharp-line primary sources. Recordings of typical spectra are presented as well as several analytical curves illustrating the quantitative analytical applications.
Settling In: A Study of Factors Contributing to Network Development and Socialization of Newcomers

While much research on organizational socialization has considered the influences and outcomes of organizational tactics and newcomer proactivity on newcomer adjustment, only limited work has focused specifically on the role of workplace network formation as a mechanism within the organizational socialization process. In this study we propose that network formation is a key element of newcomer socialization. Through a series of interviews with a cohort of new faculty members, we identify seven organizational and individual factors that contribute to the formation of such networks. Further, we find that the interaction between these factors can have important implications for newcomers' sense of integration, develop a typology that encapsulates variations in this interaction, and suggest that organizational tactics may have a greater influence than individual efforts on the formation of newcomer networks. Through this research, we provide a theoretical foundation for future inquiries on newcomer network fo...
Mill, Political Economy, and Women's Work

The sexual division of labor and the social and economic value of women's work in the home has been a problem that scholars have struggled with at least since the advent of the “second wave” women's movement, but it has never entered into the primary discourses of political science. This paper argues that John Stuart Mill's Political Economy provides innovative and useful arguments that address this thorny problem. Productive labor is essential to Mill's conception of property, and property was vital to women's independence in Mill's view. Yet since Mill thought most women would choose the “career” of wife and mother rather than working for wages, then granting that work productive status would provide a radical and inventive foundation for women's equality. Mill, however, is ambiguous about the productive status of domestic labor, and is thereby representative of a crucial failure in political economic thought, as well as in egalitarian liberal thought on gender. But because Mill at the same time develops a conception of production that goes well beyond the narrow limits offered by other prominent political economists, he offers contemporary political scientists and theorists a way to rethink the relationship of reproductive to productive labor, the requirements for gender equality, and the accepted categories of political economy.
Ocular inflammatory responses in the EP2 and EP4 receptor knockout mice.

Purpose: To examine the role of EP2 and EP4 receptors in murine ocular inflammation. Methods: Prostaglandin EP2 and EP4 receptor knockout and wild-type mice were treated topically with prostaglandin E2, SDF-1, and RANTES and lipopolysaccharide by intravitreal injection. Paracentesis was performed by puncturing the cornea. The increase in the level of aqueous humor protein and the number of leukocytes were measured and the vascular leakage of protein was visualized using fluorescein angiography. Results: In the EP2 receptor knockout mice, there was significant inhibition of the disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier caused by lipopolysaccharides, paracentesis, prostaglandin E2, SDF-1, and RANTES. Reductions in the disruption in the blood-aqueous barrier and leukocyte infiltration after lipopolysaccharide injection and paracentesis were significant, but there was no increase in the aqueous humor protein level after prostaglandin E2 treatment in EP4 receptor knockout mice. Conclusions: The results of the pr...
Energy-Limited Tolerance to Stress as a Conceptual Framework to Integrate the Effects of Multiple Stressors

Integrating the effects of multiple stressors and predicting their consequences for the species' survival and distribution is an important problem in ecological physiology. This review applies the concept of energy-limited tolerance to stress to develop bioenergetic markers that can assist in integrating the effects of multiple stressors and distinguishing between the moderate stress compatible with long-term survival of populations and bioenergetically unsustainable extreme stress. These markers reflect the progressive decline of the aerobic scope of an organism (defined as the fraction of the energy flux and metabolic power supporting this flux available after the basal maintenance costs of an organism are met) with increasing levels of the environmental stress. During the exposure to moderate stress (i.e., in the pejus range of the environmental conditions), the aerobic scope is positive but reduced compared with the optimum conditions. The reduction of the metabolic scope can be due to the (1) elevated costs of basal metabolism, (2) activation of the mechanisms for protection and damage repair, (3) reduced assimilation of food, and/or (4) stress-induced impacts on the aerobic pathways producing ATP. This leads to suboptimal growth and reproductive rates in the pejus range of environmental conditions and is commonly observed in food-limited and energy-limited wild populations. The tolerance windows of the organisms are delimited by the pessimum range(s) of environmental conditions in which the aerobic scope of the organism disappears (so that all available energy and metabolic capacity are used in support of basal metabolism), energy resources are depleted, and partial anaerobiosis and/or metabolic rate depression set in. The habitats where environmental conditions remain in the pessimum zone long enough to prevent consistent growth and reproduction often coincide with the species' distributional limits. Thus, focus on the bioenergetic effects of environmental stressors and their immediate consequences for fitness provides a suitable framework for integrating physiology and functional ecology and can assist in understanding the driving forces and limitations of environmental adaptation and improving assessment of ecological risk as well as environmental management in field populations facing multiple stressors.
GA optimization in electrical devices

Genetic algorithms (GAs) have been successfully applied to the design optimization of electromagnetic devices. Practical issues relating to the implementation of the technique are examined. The possibility of a premature convergence in some applications is studied. Recommendations and guidelines to take these practical implementation issues into consideration are explained.
Performance of Polarized Illuminators in Hyper NA Lithography Tools

Polarized light illumination is essential for hyper-NA imaging such as immersion lithography. This is confirmed by comparison of optical images between unpolarized light illumination condition and polarized light illumination condition. In this paper, we introduce our polarized light illumination apparatus and some experimental results, which confirm the effect of improvement of the imaging performance by utilization of polarized light illumination. In addition, required quality of the polarized light illumination for hyper NA lithography is discussed
The relationship between xylem conduit diameter and cavitation caused by freezing.

The centrifuge method for measuring the resistance of xylem to cavitation by water stress was modified to also account for any additional cavitation that might occur from a freeze-thaw cycle. A strong correlation was found between cavitation by freezing and mean conduit diameter. On the one extreme, a tracheid-bearing conifer and diffuse-porous angiosperms with small-diameter vessels (mean diameter ,30 mm) showed no freezing-induced cavitation under modest water stress (xylem pressure 52 0.5 MPa), whereas species with larger diameter vessels (mean .40 mm) were nearly completely cavitated under the same conditions. Species with intermediate mean diameters (30‐40 mm) showed partial cavitation by freezing. These results are consistent with a critical diameter of 44 mm at or above which cavitation would occur by a freeze‐thaw cycle at 20.5 MPa. As expected, vulnerability to cavitation by freezing was correlated with the hydraulic conductivity per stem transverse area. The results confirm and extend previous reports that small-diameter conduits are relatively resistant to cavitation by freezing. It appears that the centrifuge method, modified to include freeze‐thaw cycles, may be useful in separating the interactive effects of xylem pressure and freezing on cavitation.
Sexual history and quality of current relationships in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder: A comparison with two other psychiatric samples

It has been hypothesized that sexual conflict is a causal factor in the development of obsessive compulsive disorder. This study investigated the relationship between obsessive compulsive disorder and variables related to the individual's sexual history, present life, sexual satisfaction, and marital adjustment. Of inpatient admissions, 363 who met criteria for obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and depressive disorder completed a standard history questionnaire and the Marital Adjustment Test. Findings showed that obsessive compulsive individuals cannot be distinguished from either depressive or panic disordered groups by a particular sexual history. Future studies should use measures that do not rely on patient self-report.
Tagged potential fields: An approach to specification of complex manipulator configurations

This paper suggests a solution to the specification problem inherent in writing programs for manipulators with many degrees of freedom. It introduces a mechanism called tagged potential fields, which can be used to economically specify a complex manipulator configuration. Some examples are demonstrated for preshaping a dextrous hand, and some of the possible future applications previewed.
Stabilization mechanisms of soil organic matter: Implications for C-saturation of soils

The relationship between soil structure and the ability of soil to stabilize soil organic matter (SOM) is a key element in soil C dynamics that has either been overlooked or treated in a cursory fashion when developing SOM models. The purpose of this paper is to review current knowledge of SOM dynamics within the framework of a newly proposed soil C saturation concept. Initially, we distinguish SOM that is protected against decomposition by various mechanisms from that which is not protected from decomposition. Methods of quantification and characteristics of three SOM pools defined as protected are discussed. Soil organic matter can be: (1) physically stabilized, or protected from decomposition, through microaggregation, or (2) intimate association with silt and clay particles, and (3) can be biochemically stabilized through the formation of recalcitrant SOM compounds. In addition to behavior of each SOM pool, we discuss implications of changes in land management on processes by which SOM compounds undergo protection and release. The characteristics and responses to changes in land use or land management are described for the light fraction (LF) and particulate organic matter (POM). We defined the LF and POM not occluded within microaggregates (53–250 μm sized aggregates as unprotected. Our conclusions are illustrated in a new conceptual SOM model that differs from most SOM models in that the model state variables are measurable SOM pools. We suggest that physicochemical characteristics inherent to soils define the maximum protective capacity of these pools, which limits increases in SOM (i.e. C sequestration) with increased organic residue inputs.
Brachial Artery Access

Low brachial artery access is a safe alternative approach for the interventionalist when the femoral artery approach is not feasible or desirable. One important advantage of upper extremity access is the favorable route of entry from above into the caudally oriented visceral arteries. Although the risk of complications is low for experienced operators, meticulous attention to technique and knowledge of local anatomy are imperative to safely use brachial artery access. Adequate anticoagulation with heparin and use of lowest-profile devices may minimize complications. Following these procedures, patients must be carefully evaluated immediately and trained to self-monitor for up to 2 weeks for signs and symptoms of bleeding and nerve compression. This article describes the indications, procedural steps, expected outcomes, and tips on overcoming technical challenges of brachial artery access.
Large impact basins and the mega-impact origin for the crustal dichotomy on Mars

The hypothesis that the crustal dichotomy on Mars is due to a single giant (mega) impact early in Martian history is tested by determining the number of 'missing' basins, the difference between the observed number of large impact basins on Mars and the number expected from a 1/D-squared distribution. If the Borealis Basin was the largest member of a 1/D-squared impact population, a large number of 'missing' basins is expected which is too large to be hidden by the younger surface units. If Chryse is the largest member of a 1/D-squared impact population, the more modest number of 'missing' basins could be confined to areas of Mars that have been resurfaced or reworked by subsequent geologic processes.
Understory plant responses to uneven-aged forestry alternatives in northern hardwood–conifer forests

The understory layer encompasses the majority of plant species diversity in forested ecosystems and may be sen- sitive to timber harvest disturbance. We hypothesize that (i) uneven-aged, low-intensity silvicultural systems can maintain understory plant diversity and support late-successional species following harvest disturbance; (ii) retaining and enhancing stand structural complexity can increase understory plant diversity in northern hardwood-conifer forests; and (iii) plant re- sponses are influenced by interactions among canopy structure, soils, and climate processes. Experimental treatments in- clude single-tree selection and group selection, both modified to increase structural retention, and a third technique designed to promote late-successional forest structure and function, structural complexity enhancement. Four replications of each treatment were applied to 2 ha units in Vermont and New York, USA. Understory vegetation was monitored 2 years pre- and 4 years post-treatment. Results show that over time, understory responses were strongly affected by overstory treatment and less influenced by soils and drought. All treatments succeeded at maintaining overall composition and diver- sity. However, late-successional diversity increased significantly in structural complexity enhancement units compared with group selection units. These results indicate that while conventional uneven-aged systems can maintain understory plant di- versity, variations that retain or enhance structural complexity may be more effective at retaining late-successional species.
Generation of mice with a conditional Lbh null allele

Limb bud and heart (LBH) is a developmentally expressed, tissue-specific transcription cofactor in vertebrates that acts in the WNT signaling pathway, a genetic program critical for embryogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis. Aberrant gain-of-function of LBH is implicated in both human congenital disease and cancer. The normal physiological function of LBH has remained elusive owing to a lack of genetic loss-of-function models. Here, we have generated mice with a conditional null allele of Lbh by flanking exon 2 with loxP sites (Lbhflox). Homozygous Lbhflox and LbhloxP mice, in which the Neo cassette was removed through FLPe-mediated recombination, were viable and fertile, indicating that these conditional Lbh alleles are fully functional. LbhloxP mice were then crossed with a Rosa26-Cre line, resulting in ubiquitous deletion of exon 2 and abolishment of LBH protein expression. Mice homozygous for the Lbh null allele (LbhΔ2) displayed normal embryonic development and postnatal growth with morphologies indistinguishable from wild-type littermates. However, mammary gland development, which occurs primarily after birth, was perturbed. Thus, the conditional Lbh allele will be a valuable tool to uncover the currently unknown tissue-specific roles of LBH in postnatal development and disease. genesis 51:491–497. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Segmental Modeling for Audio Segmentation

Trainable speech/non-speech segmentation and music detection algorithms usually consist of a frame based scoring phase combined with a smoothing phase. This paper suggests a framework in which both phases are explicitly unified in a segment based classifier. We suggest a novel segment based generative model in which audio segments are modeled as supervectors and each class (speech, silence, music) is modeled by a distribution over the supervector space. Segmental speech classes can then be modeled by generative models such as GMMs or can be classified by SVMs. Our suggested framework leads to a significant reduction in error rate.
Molecular pathways that influence human tau-induced pathology in Caenorhabditis elegans

Mutations in the gene encoding tau cause frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism--chromosome 17 type (FTDP-17). In FTDP-17, Alzheimer's disease, and other tauopathies, aggregated hyper-phosphorylated tau forms the neurofibrillary tangles characteristic of these disorders. We previously reported a Caenorhabditis elegans model for tauopathies using human normal and FTDP-17 mutant tau as transgenes. Neuronal transgene expression caused insoluble phosphorylated tau accumulation, neurodegeneration and uncoordinated (Unc) movement. Here we describe a genome-wide RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) screen for genes that modify the tau-induced Unc phenotype. We tested RNAi sequences for 16,757 genes and found 75 that enhanced the transgene-induced Unc phenotype. Forty-six of these genes have sequence similarity to known human genes and fall into a number of broad classes including kinases, chaperones, proteases and phosphatases. The remaining 29 modifiers have sequence similarity only with other nematode genes. To determine if the enhancers are specific for the tau-induced Unc behavior, we exposed several non-tau Unc mutants to tau RNAi enhancer clones. Fifteen enhancers modified phenotypes in multiple Unc mutants, whereas 60 modified only the Unc phenotype in the tau transgenic lines. We also introduced the tau transgene into the background of genetic loss-of-function mutations for a subset of the enhancer genes. Tau transgenic animals homozygous for loss of these enhancer genes exhibited increased impaired motility relative to the tau transgene line alone. This work uncovers novel candidate genes that prevent tau toxicity, as well as genes previously implicated in tau-mediated neurodegeneration.
Atomic Force and Ultrasonic Force Microscopic Investigation of Laser-Treated Ceramic Head Sliders

The surface of laser-treated ceramic hard disk drive head sliders has been imaged with the atomic force microscope (AFM) and ultrasonic force microscope (UFM). The surface topography image from the AFM is compared with the elasticity image generated by the UFM on the same region. Images of the surface structure changes along with microcracking in the laser-treated regions are presented. The possible reasons for the development of microcracking and the enhanced contrast that the UFM provides of the microcracks and the material microstructure changes in the laser-treated region are discussed.
The forensic scientist and the open mind

The scientist has the duty of developing his critical sense, of submitting his judgement to no authority other than reason; he must school himself to have an open mind.
Signaling and Military Provocation in Chinese National Security Strategy: A Closer Look at the Impeccable Incident

Abstract On 8 March 2009, five Chinese vessels shadowed and aggressively maneuvered in close proximity to the US Naval Ship (USNS) Impeccable. This paper seeks to explain the incident and its aftermath in the context of Chinese coercive diplomacy. China's strategy, designed to motivate the US to cease surveillance operations near its militarily sensitive areas in the South China Sea, included three components: (1) the use of military provocation, (2) a coordinated media campaign, and (3) a challenge to US interpretations of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). This study goes beyond traditional research on Chinese use of force to explain why China's coercive diplomatic campaign took the form it did. Only by understanding the nature and factors affecting Chinese coercive diplomacy can the US design the effective counter strategy needed to protect US regional and global interests.
The Development of cotton in Northern Ivory Coast, 1910–1965

This article seeks to redress the largely contemporary bias and technologically deterministic approach of agricultural historians of cotton in francophone West Africa. It does this by arguing that the expansion of cotton since the 1960s has depended upon major socio-economic and cultural changes in agrarian production systems during the colonial period as much as on technological innovations in the post-colonial period. The study focuses on the political–economic and socio-cultural processes behind the emergence of an export-oriented, commodity producing peasantry among the Senufo of northern Ivory Coast. A periodization of cotton development is presented in which the gradual dissolution of precolonial production units and the gestation of smaller social units with new economic needs is emphasized. This restructuring of agricultural production systems is related to a complex interplay of internal and external factors, notably coercive state policies, the monetization of Senufo society and the internalization of commodity relations, conflicts between social groups and the direct intervention of foreign agribusiness in the productive process. Despite low levels of cotton output during the colonial period, the resultant transformation of production relations was crucial to the contemporary intensification of cotton growing.