cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recruitment in a social carnivore before and after harvest

Knowledge about recruitment in a population can be critical when making conservation decisions, particularly for harvested species. Harvest can affect population demography in complex ways and this may be particularly true for cooperatively breeding species whose successful reproduction is often linked with complex social dynamics. We currently have a poor understanding of how harvest affects recruitment in cooperatively breeding species. We used non-invasive genetic sampling and a natural experiment to estimate recruitment in a population of gray wolves Canis lupus before and after harvest in the northern Rocky Mountains, US (2008–2013). We hypothesized that recruitment would decline after hunting and trapping began and that the decline in recruitment would be attributable to the harvest of pups and not to the subtler mechanisms associated with group dynamics and reduced reproductive success. We collected fecal samples from wolves in 10 packs for 6 consecutive years, extracted DNA and genotyped 154 individual pups across 18 microsatellite loci. Population harvest rates averaged 23.8% (sd = 9.2). Our hypothesis that recruitment would decline was supported; survival from 3 to 15 months of age decreased from 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.48–0.72] without harvest to 0.38 (95% CI: 0.28–0.48) with harvest and recruitment declined from 3.2 (95% CI: 2.1–4.3) to 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1–2.1) pups per pack after harvest was initiated. We cannot unequivocally dismiss other factors that could have reduced recruitment, however, an increase in recruitment when harvest temporarily ceased lends support to our conclusion that harvest reduced recruitment. We attributed just 18–38% of pup mortality directly to harvest and suggest that there are indirect effects of harvest on recruitment that may be associated with changes in group size and structure. Models that do not include both direct and indirect effects of harvest on recruitment may underestimate the potential impact of harvest on population growth in social species.
Distinguishing between discriminative and motivational functions of stimuli.

Abstract A discriminative stimulus is a stimulus condition which, (1) given the momentary effectiveness of some particular type of reinforcement (2) increases the frequency of a particular type of response (3) because that stimulus condition has been correlated with an increase in the frequency with which that type of response has been followed by that type of reinforcement. Operations such as deprivation have two different effects on behavior. One is to increase the effectiveness of some object or event as reinforcement, and the other is to evoke the behavior that has in the past been followed by that object or event. "Establishing operation" is suggested as a general term for operations having these two effects. A number of situations involve what is generally assumed to be a discriminative stimulus relation, but with the third defining characteristic of the discriminative stimulus absent. Here the stimulus change functions more like an establishing operation than a discriminative stimulus, and the new term, "establishing stimulus," is suggested. There are three other possible approaches to this terminological problem, but none are entirely satisfactory.
Electrochemical Modulation of the Sample Stream in Mass Spectrometry

Sampling methods are described, suitable for mass spectrometric identification of volatile species in aqueous solutions. Submillimolar concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide were sampled during electrolysis and identified within a second of the time they were electrolyzed. The electrolysis process modulates solution concentrations near a 100 μm thick silicone rubber membrane sampling device, which transmits the information to the mass spectral source as a periodic variation in the partial pressure of the analyte. Consequently, ion currents vary at the same modulation frequency. Correlation analysis quantitates a phase shift between the mass spectral response and the electrochemical excitation as a function of modulation frequency. The time required for various molecules to diffuse through the membrane is derived from these correlation spectra. The silicone membrane thus becomes an ultrashort chromatographic column, interfacing a condensed phase sample stream with a sensitive and discriminating mass s...
Photoreflectance Study Of Strain At Si/SiO2 Interfaces Prepared By Thermal Oxidation Of Silicon

We have used the contactless electromodulation technique of photoreflectance (PR) to investigate the strain in the near surface region (-100 R) of Si in thermally prepared (~100A) Si/Si02 interfaces. We have tracked the position of the E1 optical feature (Λ3 - Λl transitions) relative to its position in a reference Si wafer (not intentionally oxided). From the observed red-shifts we can deduce both the magnitude and sign (tensile) of the strain. These observations are consistent with the compressive stress in the SiO, at the Si/Si02 interface as evaluated previously using it transmission, ellipsometry and laser-beam deflection studies.
Changes in health-related quality of life with smoking cessation treatment.

Background : Cigarette smoking causes reduced health-related quality of life (QoL) and smoking abstinence improves health-related QoL. We assessed the effects of treatment for tobacco dependence on the health-related QoL in a 52-week randomized controlled trial of varenicline and bupropion sustained release (SR). Methods : Subjects who smoked ≥10 cigarettes per day for the past year were randomly assigned to receive varenicline 1 mg twice daily ( n = 696), bupropion SR 150 mg twice daily ( n = 671) or placebo ( n = 685) for 12 weeks and followed post-therapy for an additional 40 weeks. Health-related QoL was assessed using the Smoking Cessation Quality of Life questionnaire at baseline and Weeks 12, 24 and 52. Results : Health transition (perceived health compared with baseline) and self-control were both significantly improved among subjects receiving varenicline and bupropion SR compared with placebo at Weeks 12, 24 and 52. Similarly, varenicline-treated subjects had significantly improved health transition and self-control compared with subjects who received bupropion SR at Weeks 12 and 24, and at Week 52 for health transition. A significant positive association existed between length of continuous abstinence and improved health transition, vitality, self-control, anxiety and overall mental profile. In most instances both a direct and an indirect effect (through continuous smoking abstinence) of each active treatment (vs. placebo) contributed to improved self-control and health transition. Conclusion : Treatment with varenicline and bupropion SR for smoking cessation resulted in improved self-control and health transition that was mediated in large part by continuous smoking abstinence.
Asymmetric Catalysis at the Mesoscale: Gold Nanoclusters Embedded in Chiral Self-Assembled Monolayer as Heterogeneous Catalyst for Asymmetric Reactions

Research to develop highly versatile, chiral, heterogeneous catalysts for asymmetric organic transformations, without quenching the catalytic reactivity, has met with limited success. While chiral supramolecular structures, connected by weak bonds, are highly active for homogeneous asymmetric catalysis, their application in heterogeneous catalysis is rare. In this work, asymmetric catalyst was prepared by encapsulating metallic nanoclusters in chiral self-assembled monolayer (SAM), immobilized on mesoporous SiO2 support. Using olefin cyclopropanation as an example, it was demonstrated that by controlling the SAM properties, asymmetric reactions can be catalyzed by Au clusters embedded in chiral SAM. Up to 50% enantioselectivity with high diastereoselectivity were obtained while employing Au nanoclusters coated with SAM peptides as heterogeneous catalyst for the formation of cyclopropane-containing products. Spectroscopic measurements correlated the improved enantioselectivity with the formation of a hydro...
Important correlation effects for the Er3+ 4f114S3/2→4I15/2 laser transition energy

Most of the important correlation effects transitions within the 4fn manifold of rare-earth atomic ions are identified as coming from three sources: 4f2 pair correlations, single excitations from the valence shell and shallow core, and pair excitations where both of the electrons go into the incomplete 4f subshell (exclusion effects). A method (REDUCE) of managing the large basis sets encountered is discussed. Relativistic configuration interaction calculations are done to obtain the energy of the laser transition (in, e.g., GaN) Er3+4I15/24S3/2, to which correlation contributes ∼4000 cm−1. The residual error of 864 cm−1 may be due to missing second-order effects and to truncation of the angular basis. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002
Parallels Between Gaps and Gluts

This paper compares two proposed solutions to the liar paradox, both of which involve revisions to classical semantics. The first, that of truth value gaps, denies that all sentences are true or false. The second, that of truth value gluts, asserts that some sentences are true and false. A natural question about these proposals is, ‘Do they offer equally good (or bad) solutions, or is one better than the other?’ Parsons 1990 suggested an answer to this question, arguing that for every problem for one solution, there is a parallel problem for the other. Since then, several people have given arguments for and against the idea that the two face parallel problems. This paper advances the debate in two ways. First, it answers four attempts by Graham Priest to reject the parallel. In particular, it discusses alleged advantages for the gap solution with regard to the teleological account of truth, an extended liar paradox, Berry's paradox, and inexpressibility. Second, it discusses where, if anywhere, the parall...
Self-Image and Educational Plans of Adolescents from Two Contrasting Communities

This study examined self-image and educational plans in adolescents from two communities differing in geographic location (rural vs. suburban), socioeconomic status, educational attainment of adults, and unemployment level, differences hypothesized to affect their educational plans and self-image. Young adolescents in the eighth grade were sampled as part of two larger longitudinal studies (rural, n = 234; suburban, n = 253). Each adolescent reported educational plans and completed three scales from the Self-Image Questionnaire for Young Adolescents (SIQYA). The links of self-image and educational plans to parental educational attainment also were considered. Adolescent educational plans and self-image were consistently and significantly lower in the rural community. Within the rural sample, young adolescents with lower aspirations also had lower self-image. Self-image and educational plans were related to parental educational attainment primarily in the rural sample. These results suggested that communit...
The Post-Merger Equity Value Performance of Acquiring Firms in the Hospitality Industry

ABSTRACT This paper investigates long run equity value performance of acquiring firms in the hospitality industry. The performance analysis has been done using the Jensen Measure Model and the Market Model. The study shows significantly negative equity value performance of the acquiring hospitality firms at least for the period 1980–2000. As such, the impact of mergers and acquisitions on equity value of acquiring firms in the hospitality industry is better understood.
Arid lands plants as feedstocks for fuels and chemicals

The possibility of using green plants as a renewable resource for chemicals and fuels has focused attention on the energy potential of arid lands vegetation. This article reviews the current knowledge of obtaining various chemicals and fuels from these plants. The key issues of soil quality, resource production, and water use are discussed within the framework of developing a long‐term renewable resource base that is energetically and economically feasible. After identifying the major barriers to be overcome, the recommended research objectives for the 1980s are discussed.
Deposition and characterization of diamond-like carbon films by microwave resonator microplasma at one atmosphere

Abstract Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have been deposited at atmospheric pressure by microwave-induced microplasma for the first time. Typical precursor gas mixtures are 250 ppm of C2H2 in atmospheric pressure He. Chemically resistant DLC films result if the Si (100) or glass substrate is in close contact with the microplasma, typically at a standoff distance of 0.26 mm. The films deposited under this condition have been characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. The presence of sp3 C H bonds and ‘D’ and ‘G’ bands were observed from FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The surface morphology has been derived from SEM and AFM and shows columnar growth with column diameters of approximately 100 nm. Likely due to the low energy of ions striking the surface, the hardness and Young's modulus for the films were found to be 1.5 ± 0.3 GPa and 60 ± 15 GPa respectively with a film thickness of 2 μm. The hypothesis that a high flux of low energy ions can replace energetic ion bombardment is examined by probing the plasma. Rapid deposition rates of 4–7 μm per minute suggest that the method may be scalable to continuous coating systems.
Hardware Partitioning for Big Data Analytics

Targeted deployment of hardware accelerators can improve the throughput and energy efficiency of large-scale data processing. Data partitioning is a critical operation for manipulating large datasets and is often the limiting factor in database performance. A hardware-software streaming framework offers a seamless execution environment for streaming accelerators such as the Hardware-Accelerated Range Partitioner (HARP). Together, the streaming framework and HARP provide an order of magnitude improvement in partitioning and energy performance.
Unsteady seepage flow between fully-penetrating trenches

Abstract The problem of unsteady seepage flow, including either evaporation or infiltration, in the domain between two fully-penetrating trenches is considered. The method of solution is based on matrix mathematics and has the advantages of being able to handle complicated boundary and initial conditions and to consider step by step the nonlinearity of the governing differential equation. Typical results are presented for a variety of boundary and initial conditions, and results calculated by this technique for one particular set of boundary and initial conditions are shown to exhibit better agreement with experimental data than do results calculated by linearizing the governing field equation.
Why did the infants and toddlers die? Shifts in Americans' ideas of responsibility for accidents -- from blaming Mom to engineering.

Changes in ideas about risk and responsibility in injuries are found in American public discourse about who was responsible for accidents that hurt or killed very young children (under six years old). Parents and, in a gendered nineteenth-century world, especially mothers were-blamed for children's injuries. As the world of infectious diseases gave way to medical intervention, injuries became more conspicuous in mortality and morbidity statistics, especially for preschoolers, and home safety campaigns intensified. In the mid-twentieth century, care-givers more generally shared responsibility with mothers, and new public health campaigns emphasized educating parents-and children. Child-rearing authorities emphasized psychological causes of accidents. Near the end of the century, engineering solutions, emphasizing childproofing a youngster's surroundings, offered a technological fix for physical danger, as in medicine bottle caps, and much responsibility passed to purchased items in the child's environment. Language: en
The geomorphic development of wreck shoal, a subtidal oyster reef of the James River, Virginia

Wreck Shoal is a subtidal oyster reef located in the James River estuary, Virginia. This estuary has moved upstream and landward in response to rising sea level. The recent geomorphic history of Wreck Shoal is analyzed based on bathymetric records from the 1850’s to the 1980’s. The data indicate that the shallow oyster reef areas have lost elevation in the last 130 yr. This is attributed to intense harvesting activity during the last century. The late Holocene evolution of Wreck Shoal is developed based on the results of sub-bottom profiles and coring data. These suggest that the Wreck Shoal oyster reef has developed on the ridge and swale topography of a point-bar formed during the late Pleistocene epoch. Contemporary biodeposition processes on Wreck Shoal are evaluated. The results indicate that sediments of biogenic origin (fecal and shell material) potentially accumulate at rates in excess of 50 cm 100 years−1. A model for subtidal oyster reef development is proposed that accounts for sea level rise, biodeposition, and the harvesting activity of man. The model is verified with field observations of reef elevation and radiocarbon dates of oyster shell material. The implications of these results are that oyster reefs should be considered a renewable natural resource, and therefore managed accordingly in concert with the oysters.
Mismatch repair status and outcomes after adjuvant therapy in patients with surgically staged endometrial cancer

Objectives To determine whether DNA mismatch repair (MMR) modifies the response to chemotherapy or radiotherapy in patients with endometrial cancer.
Determination of Equivalent Processes for the Pasteurization of Crabmeat in Cans and Flexible Pouches

Equivalent processes were determined for the pasteurization of crabmeat, from the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), in cans and flexible pouches containing 113.5g, 227.0g, and 454.0g of product. F185 values were calculated for z values of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. Based on the heating characteristics of the traditional container used for pasteurized crabmeat (401 × 301), equivalent processes for nontraditional containers were determined.
Effects of Various Concentrations of Carbon Dioxide on Respiration and Potassium Uptake in Barley Roots

Barley roots contain a CO2 sensitive respiratory fraction which is inhibited in 50 per cent CO2 and is partially restored upon subsequent exposure to air. The residual O2 consumption occurring at CO2 concentrations between 50 per cent and 95 per cent amounts to about 40 per cent of the O2 uptake in air and can support K+ uptake for a limited time at a rate equal to or higher than occurs in air. Above 95 per cent CO2 both O2 and K+ uptakes decrease rapidly. 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), in the range of 10−6 to 10−5M, stimulates O2 uptake by the roots in air. The stimulation is absent when roots are treated with DNP in 80 per cent CO2, presumably because of the reduced demand for inorganic phosphate and phosphate acceptor at the lower respiratory level in high CO2. In either air or CO2, K+ uptake is strongly inhibited by DNP. A comparison of the respiratory and K+ uptake data indicates that O2 consumption is a necessary requirement for the uptake process in high CO2. Protoplasmic streaming in the root cells is rapidly stopped by high CO2 although K+ uptake and O2 consumption continue. The cation uptake mechanism in high CO2 appears to be limited to the stationary cytoplasm. It is also possible that a similar mechanism may be involved in cation uptake in air.
A mechanism for hydrochloric acid production in cloud

A theoretical model describing the general interaction between atmospheric trace gases, such as S02, NH3, C02 and 02, chemical reactant gaseous product H2SO4 and hydrometeors containing NaCl is proposed to study a possible mechanism for HCl production in non-precipitating cloud and the determination of the pH value of cloud droplets.
Tracking and Estimation of Ego-vehicle's State for Lateral Localization

For urban driving, knowledge of ego-vehicle's position is a critical piece of information that enables ad- vanced driver-assistance systems or self-driving cars to execute safety-related, autonomous driving maneuvers. This is because, without knowing the current location, it is very hard to autonomously execute any driving maneuvers for the future. The existing solutions for localization rely on a combination of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), an inertial mea- surement unit, and a digital map. However, on urban driving environments, due to poor satellite geometry and disruption of radio signal reception, their longitudinal and lateral errors are too significant to be used to guide an autonomous system. To enhance the existing system's localization capability, this work presents an effort of developing a vision-based lateral localization algorithm. The algorithm aims at reliably counting, with or without observations of lane-markings, the number road-lanes and identifying the index of the road-lane on the roadway that our vehicle happens to be driving on. Testings the proposed algorithms against inter-city and inter-state highway videos showed promising results in terms of counting the number of road-lanes and the indices of the current road-lanes. I. INTRODUCTION
Gain-of-function mutation of sapB that affects formation of alkaline phosphatase by Bacillus subtilis in sporulation conditions

The sapB locus was defined by mutations that render sporulation alkaline phosphatase formation independent of sigma F and sigma E without affecting the temporal control of formation. The sapB locus has been cloned and sequenced. The deduced polypeptide is 232 amino acids long, with a molecular mass of 26 kDa. It is very similar to four sequences in the database, none of which has a known function. Analysis of the transcription of sapB indicates that it is induced during late exponential phase, and that maximum expression is reached during the first hour of stationary phase, both under sporulation and non-sporulation conditions. The defining mutations of the locus, sapB2 and sapB10, have been sequenced and found to contain the same change, a G-->A transition resulting in an Ala111 Thr switch. This mutation apparently results in a gain-of-function, as sapB null mutants are indistinguishable from sap+ strains in terms of their APase production during sporulation.
Fine-needle aspiration of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the larynx.

We present a case of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the larynx in which the dedifferentiated component was initially diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA). The patient was a 74-yr-old man who presented with difficulty breathing and an anterior neck mass. A CT scan demonstrated a 4.5-cm cartilaginous lesion involving the left thyroid cartilage, with an anterior soft-tissue component. Nine years prior, the patient had an incomplete resection of a low-grade chondrosarcoma at the same site. FNA was performed on the current lesion, demonstrating a high-grade spindle-cell sarcoma with a storiform pattern. The cytomorphology together with immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy were diagnostic of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), and synthesis of the clinical, radiographic, and cytomorphologic features resulted in a diagnosis of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. The cytologic diagnosis was histologically confirmed by laryngectomy. Although rare, dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of high-grade sarcomas of bone and cartilage assessed by FNA. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2000;22:288–292. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of estradiol on auditory evoked responses from the frog's auditory midbrain.

Abstract Intraventricular injection of two small doses of estradiol-17β-hemisuccinate in 50% ethanol resulted in an increase in average auditory evoked responses in Rana p. pipiens to tone bursts at 4 frequencies. Vehicle injections (50% ethanol) of the same amount, on the other hand, did not change, or reduced, the auditory evoked responses. These results suggest that estrogen can alter the response properties of midbrain auditory neurons in frogs.
Improving Silicon Crystallinity by Grain Reorientation Annealing

Demand for high efficiency, low-cost solar cells has led to strong interest in post-deposition processing techniques that can improve the crystallinity of thick (1 to 40 µm) silicon films deposited at high growth rates. Here we describe a high temperature grain reorientation annealing process that enables the conversion of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) into a single crystal material having the orientation of an underlying single crystal Si seed layer. Poly-Si films of thickness 0.5 to 1.0 µm were deposited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) on substrates comprising a surface thermal oxide or a 100-oriented single crystal silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer. After annealing at 1300 °C for 1 hour, poly-Si on oxide shows very significant grain growth, as expected. In contrast, the poly-Si deposited on SOI showed no grain boundaries after annealing, transforming into a single crystal material with a fairly high density of stacking faults. Possible uses and drawbacks of this approach for solar cell applications will be discussed.
Cosmology: cool start to hydrogen ionization.

Simulations of the cosmos cast doubt on assumptions about the temperature of primordial hydrogen gas when it was ionized by the first stars and galaxies, complicating the interpretation of ongoing observations. See Letter p.197 The epoch of reionization was a one during which the neutral gas of the 'dark age' Universe became an ionized plasma. Simulations suggest that the 21-cm spectral transition of atomic hydrogen will show a clear fluctuation peak at a redshift and scale that mark the central stage of reionization. This prediction is based on the assumption that heating of the cosmic gas, which occurs before reionization, is caused by stellar remnants (particularly X-ray binaries) and reaches temperatures well above the cosmic microwave background of the time (30 kelvin). However, Rennan Barkana and colleagues report that the hard spectra of X-ray binaries (with more high-energy than low-energy photons) make such heating ineffective, resulting in a delayed and spatially uniform heating. In this new model, the 21-cm signature of reionization is modified to a more complex signal with a distinct minimum temperature (below 1 millikelvin) that marks the rise of the cosmic mean gas temperature above the microwave background.
A Photometric and Spectrophotometric Study of MR Cygni

A self-consistent, physically accurate program suite has been used in an accurate simulation of new spectroscopy and photometry of MR Cygni. Analysis of both the spectroscopic and photometric data used spectrum synthesis techniques and a synthetic photometry augmentation of a light synthesis program package. The theoretical light curves closely fit the observational data. The same self-consistent parameters from the light synthesis solution produced synthetic spectra precisely fitting the observed spectra at all orbital phases. The IRAF-reduced spectroscopy has produced an accurate double-lined radial velocity curve. The derived mass ratio differs greatly from photometric mass ratios in the literature. New UBV photometry closely replicates existing data and indicates photometric stability of the binary system. A synthetic spectrum fitted to IUE data established the primary component Teff. The light curve solution determined a single set of system parameters used to calculate U, B, and V light curves. We conclude that MR Cygni is a member of the relatively rare class of hot Algol systems defined by Popper. It is likely that mass transfer still is in progress, but there is no evidence, either from orbital period variation or from a bright spot on the mass gainer, for its existence. The lack of Hα emission in any of our spectra, including one at phase 0.063, suggests a small current rate of mass transfer. The fact that our computationally self-consistent procedure has successfully represented both the photometry and the spectroscopy for a binary system whose components are appreciably distorted demonstrates the overall power of the procedure.
Yeast pyruvate kinase renaturation after dissociation by guanidine·HCl☆

Abstract The successful renaturation of the guanidine·HCl dissociated allosteric yeast pyruvate kinase is reported. Optimal conditions for up to 70% renaturation were 25% giycerol, 0.1 m Tris·HCl (pH 7.5), 5 m m MgCl2, 0.1 m KCl, 9 m m PEP, 1 m m FDP, 54 m m glutathione. The kinetics for reversal at temperatures from 9 to 30 °C were first order with a slightly greater yield achieved at 20 °C. At 0 °C, the kinetics were not first order but rather autocatalytic. The renatured enzyme exhibited a sigmoid PEP saturation curve which in the presence of FDP was hyperbolic as was previously demonstrated for native enzyme.
The structure of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane films on iron mirrors

Abstract The structure of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (γ-APS) films deposited on mechanically polished iron mirrors from aqueous solutions has been investigated using reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy. Films formed at the natural pH of 1% aqueous solutions of γ-APS (∼10.5) were about 120 A in thickness and were composed of highly hydrolyzed oligomers characterized by infrared bands near 1550 and 1480 cm −1 . These bands were assigned to NH 2 deformation modes in amino groups that were very strongly hydrogen bonded with silanol groups to form cyclic structures. Films formed at pH = 12 were characterized by infrared bands near 1580 and 1488 cm −1 that were assigned to deformation modes of NH + 3 groups obtained by essentially complete proton transfer from silanol groups to amino groups. In all cases the as-formed films were stable in a dry environment but exposure to atmospheric humidity disrupted the strong hydrogen bonding, enabling the oligomers to condense to form polysiloxanes.
Multiresolution Constraint Modeling For Mobile Robot Planning

All navigation systems for a mobile robot include a basic sense-plan-drive cycle for moving the robot about. The navigator must choose sensing points, plan paths between them, and oversee the execution of the robot’s trajectory. Various constraints must be met in selecting potential sensing points, feasible trajectories, and safe configurations, all while taking positional uncertainty into account. We have developed a local planner that finds trajectories for a robot by modeling all of the constraints uniformly. At each step in the planning process, the system identifies and uses the most severe constraint to guide the search. A multi-resolution approximation to the constraint solution space is employed to reduce the number of search states, and thus the planning time. The system has been implemented and tested on real data. The results are presented.
The effect of notch geometry on critical distance high cycle fatigue predictions

Abstract A critical distance method for predicting the fatigue limit stresses of notched specimens was implemented for notched specimens with a wide range of notch dimensions. Circumferentially notched cylindrical specimens (kt=1.97–4.07) taken from Ti–6Al–4V forged plate were cycled to failure (R=0.1 and 0.5) using a step loading method for estimating the 106 cycle fatigue limit stresses. These experimental data were used in combination with finite element solutions for all specimen geometries to determine a ‘critical distance’, a quantity or parameter determined from the stress distribution surrounding the notch in combination with fatigue limit stress data from unnotched specimens. A unique parameter was not found for all of the specimen geometries. However, predictions for the fatigue limit stresses of the larger notch geometries may be made with some amount of accuracy using a single value of the critical distance parameter, while reasonable predictions for the specimens with the smallest notch dimensions may be made upon the recognition of an apparent size effect.
Sigmatropic shifts and cycloadditions on neutral, cationic, and anionic pentadienyl+butadiene potential energy surfaces

Quantum chemical calculations were used to characterize [4,5] sigmatropic shifts in systems containing butadiene and pentadienyl substructures. Cationic, anionic, and radical systems with various tethers connecting these substructures were examined. In many cases, concerted [4,5] sigmatropic shifts with asynchronous bond making and breaking events were observed. The fundamental connections between [4,5] sigmatropic shifts and (5+4) cycloadditions are highlighted.
Augmented heat transfer in a pin fin channel with short or long ejection holes

Abstract Experiments are performed to determine the heat transfer, pressure drop, and mass flow rate in a pin fin channel with short or long ejection holes on one of the channel sidewalls. The test section consists of eight copper segments that are individually heated to maintain an isothermal boundary wall condition. The segmentally averaged Nusselt numbers are determined. The heat transfer in the pin fin channel with sidewall ejection flow is about 25–30% lower than that with the straight flow. The length of the sidewall ejection holes does not significantly alter the heat transfer in the pin fin channel for the lengths of the ejection holes considered.
Oil spills: The strategy of recovery

A model for determining the optimal location of recovery resources is developed and applied to coastal Massachusetts. An optimal location pattern is one that minimizes the expected damage from unrecovered oil. Such a location was dependent on three factors: (1) The sensitivity of coastal zone resources to unrecovered oil, (2) the probability of one or more spills within a coastal zone, and (3) the rate of recovery in alternative zones given an initial location of recovery resources. Nine hypothetical situations were constructed relating to possible petroleum finds on Georges Bank and onshore developments in Southeastern Massachusetts. The location of recovery packages was determined for each situation. Preliminary analysis would indicate southern Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket to be underprotected and priority areas for the location of recovery resources. Woods Hole would be considered a desirable location for such resources in that it affords relatively rapid deployment times...
Gardos pathway to sickle cell therapies

In this issue of Blood, Ataga and colleagues report that treatment of sickle cell disease patients with senicapoc, a Gardos channel inhibitor, reduces the number of dehydrated cells, increases hemoglobin levels, and diminishes hemolysis.
Hierarchical decomposition and simulation of manufacturing cells using Ada

A useful tool in the development of flexible automation is a system description language which can generate a complete func tional description of a manufacturing cell of arbitrary complexity. We propose a description system based on the concept of hierar chical decomposition utilizing the Ada programming language in conjunction with established diagrammatical decomposition methods. The distinguishing aspect of our work is that it takes advantage of certain features of Ada (such as type checking) to create a description that can be automatically verified for con sistency Simulation is often an indispensable tool in the develop ment of manufacturing systems. We show how a simulation of the operation of the manufacturing cell can be embedded in its description. Finally, we apply the methodology to a specific instance of a manufacturing cell.
Perineal lipoma and an accessory labial fold in a female neonate.

The association of a perineal lipoma with an assessory labioscrotal fold has been well described but has only been reported previously in 1 female.1 To our knowledge we report the second occurrence of this rare anomaly in a female neonate. CASE REPORT: A female newborn had a large spherical perineal mass arising from the caudal aspect of the left labium majorum. The mass measured 3 3 3 cm., and was completely smooth and spherical except for a 0.5 cm. rugated protuberance on its craniomedial aspect (fig. 1). On the medial aspect of the protuberance was a groove lined with mucosa which was contiguous with the left labium minora. The newborn had no other abnormalities on physical examination. Renal and bladder ultrasound demonstrated no abnormal findings. At surgery the mass was easily excised using an elliptical incision which encompassed the relatively narrow base of the lesion (fig. 2). Upon sectioning the globoid mass was primarily comprised of fatty, finely lobulate, yellow-tan tissue which was confirmed to be fat histologically. The patient healed well by first intention.
Longitudinal effects of health-harming and health-protective behaviors within adolescent romantic dyads

Most models exploring adolescent health behavior have focused on individual influences to understand behavior change. The goal of the current study was to assess the role of adolescent romantic partners on the expression of health behavior. Our sample utilized two waves of data from the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1994, 1996), which included 80 romantic dyads (160 individuals). A longitudinal multilevel analysis was conducted. We assessed individual and romantic partner health-harming behaviors (i.e., delinquency, alcohol use, smoking, and marijuana use), health-protective behaviors (i.e., physical activity, physical inactivity, sleep patterns, seatbelt use, and contraception motivations), as well as the role of gender and age. Participants average age was 16 years at baseline. We found evidence for partner similarity and partner influence with the majority of health-harming behaviors. Specifically, partner influence was evident for smoking and alcohol use with partner influence approaching significance for marijuana use. We found limited evidence for partner similarity and partner influence for health-protective behaviors. The importance of assessing romantic dyads was evident in these data. Interventions focusing on health-harming behavior for adolescent populations are important public health goals. It is recommended that future intervention efforts with adolescent health-harming behaviors should target not only peers, but also consider the role of romantic partners.
Doing Good and Doing Well: Teaching Research-Paper Writing by Unpacking the Paper

Learning how to write a research paper is an important skill for political science majors, and faculty can also benefit when their students develop their research-paper-writing talents. Few departments, however, teach these skills explicitly, and many curricula seem to be based on the assumption that students will arrive at college with adequate basic writing skills. Several programs also suppose that a major will develop the ability to write a research paper through her experience with political science and other courses. These expectations are faulty, as most students are not “proficient” writers when they move to campus (McGrath 2004; NCWASC 2003, 16–7; Persky, Daane, and Jin 2003, 20–1), and writing a research paper in political science is a specific skill set that must be developed (Scholes 1998, 95; Russell 2002, 9–10). The approach I advocate here is to demystify the paper and the process for students by identifying and explaining the different parts of a typical paper—introduction, literature review, model and hypothesis, research design, analysis and assessment, and conclusion—and showing how the paper-writing process is broken into manageable tasks. While faculty know the components of research papers, most students have no idea what these sections should contain or what their titles mean. In addition, because revision and editing are essential general writing skills linked with the overall substantive learning process (NCWASC 2003, 1, 9; Maimon 2002, x), I suggest that students submit their papers in pieces, benefiting from feedback from faculty, peers, and themselves. In this essay, I unpack the parts of the paper and the writing process, providing suggestions for teaching about these segments and integrating research-paper-writing skills into the curriculum.
Emerging information technologies: developing a timely IT strategy

A model for quickly sifting through emerging technologies to find the best organizational fit.
Crystal structure of mycothiol synthase (Rv0819) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis shows structural homology to the GNAT family of N-acetyltransferases

Mycothiol is the predominant low-molecular weight thiol produced by actinomycetes, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The last reaction in the biosynthetic pathway for mycothiol is catalyzed by mycothiol synthase (MshD), which acetylates the cysteinyl amine of cysteine–glucosamine–inositol (Cys–GlcN–Ins). The crystal structure of MshD was determined in the presence of coenzyme A and acetyl–CoA . MshD consists of two tandem-repeated domains, each exhibiting the Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) fold. These two domains superimpose with a root-mean-square deviation of 1.7 A over 88 residues, and each was found to bind one molecule of coenzyme, although the binding sites are quite different. The C-terminal domain has a similar active site to many GNAT members in which the acetyl group of the coenzyme is presented to an open active site slot. However, acetyl–CoA bound to the N-terminal domain is buried, and is apparently not positioned to promote acetyl transfer. A modeled substrate complex indicates that Cys–GlcN–Ins would only fill a portion of a negatively charged channel located between the two domains. This is the first structure determined for an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of mycothiol.
Determination of the Dermal Penetration of Esterom Components Using Microdialysis Sampling

Purpose. Esterom\R Solution, an investigational pharmaceutical product, is derived from the esterification of benzoylmethylecgonine (cocaine) in 1,2 propanediol. The resulting solution contains a mixture of components. Esterom Solution is intended to be a topical analgesic to relieve pain and increase the range of motion in patients suffering from acute inflammation of the shoulder or back. Although the components of Esterom are known, the components that are responsible for analgesia have only recently been identified. The purpose of this research is to evaluate which components have the ability to penetrate the skin, how much actually penetrates, and if and/or how each component is metabolized and distributed locally.
Hemolysis of elasmobranch erythrocytes in urea solutions: effect of temperature.

Skate and stingray cells were shown to hemolyze in isosmotic solutions containing urea as the sole solute. The rate of urea penetration into these cells as determined by the rate of hemolysis is highly temperature dependent with a Q10 of 2.50–2.75. A reduced rate of methylurea penetration in the presence of urea was reconfirmed. The present results are consonant with the hypothesis of carrier mediated transport of urea in elasmobranch erythrocytes previously proposed by Murdaugh, Robin and Hearn.
Temporal effects of inactivty on myosin heavy chain gene expression in rat slow muscle.

Myosin heavy chain (MHC) mRNA and protein profiles in adult rat soleus and adductor longus were determined after 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days of spinal cord isolation (SI). SI results in complete neuromuscular inactivity while leaving the motoneuron-muscle fiber connections intact. From 15 to 90 days, type I MHC mRNA was significantly decreased, whereas type I MHC protein did not significantly decrease until 30 and 60 days in the soleus and adductor longus, respectively. However, in both muscles, slow MHC downregulation was offset by significant upregulation of the faster MHC isoforms, primarily IIx. From 60 to 90 days, type I MHC was almost completely replaced with faster isoforms at the mRNA and protein levels. Thus, chronic inactivity and unloading of slow rat hindlimb muscles shifted the MHC profile from predominately type I to type IIx MHC mRNA and protein.
Acceptance of sweet and salty tastes in 2-year-old children *

Taste acceptability, determined by volume of taste substances consumed during brief presentations, was assessed in 63 black 2-year-old children who had previously been tested at birth and at 6 months of age. Intake of sucrose solutions during taste tests was related to prior dietary exposure to sugar water. Children who had been regularly fed sugar water by their mothers consumed more sucrose solutions but not more water than did children whose mothers did not feed them sugar water. However, when these children were tested with sucrose in a fruit-flavored drink base, prior exposure to sugar water was unrelated to consumption of sweetened or unsweetened fruit-flavored drink. Thus, the apparent effects of dietary exposure on sucrose acceptability were specific to the medium in which sucrose was dissolved. Studies with sucrose solutions also revealed a significant correlation between sucrose acceptability determined at 6 months and at 2 years of age. Another series of tests evaluated response to salt with soup and carrots. Individual children who ingested more salty than plain soup also tended to ingest more salty compared with plain carrots. However, measures of salt consumption and salt usage obtained from mothers were unrelated to individual differences in acceptability of salty foods.
Reduction of primary and secondary smoke exposure for low-income black pregnant women

Cigarette smoking by women during pregnancy continues to be a substantial contributor to poor perinatal outcomes in the United States. Decreasing tobacco smoke exposure for women and children is a lifestyle change that will improve perinatal health. A study was conducted with a sample of 74 low-income black women to evaluate the effectiveness of the Smoke Free Families intervention in moving pregnant women forward in the stages of change toward becoming a non-smoker and reducing exposure to second-hand smoke. Transtheoretical model variables were measured at intake, postintervention, and during the last month of pregnancy. There were no statistically significant differences between treatment and control group in movement forward in the stages of change. The findings raise questions about the conceptual fit of the transtheoretical model with pregnant women. We discuss additional interventions and suggest types of studies that would provide new insight into tobacco exposure issues for pregnant women.
Method for thermoviscoelastic stress analysis in concrete reactor vessels

Abstract This paper is concerned with the analysis of problems in thermoviscoelasticity. The displacement equations of equilibrium governing the behavior of stressed, isotropic, thermorheologically simple materials subjected to thermal variations are formulated with respect to integral constitutive equations. This leads to a system of three, second order, variable coefficient, partial differential equations in the spatial coordinates and integral equations in the time. The general problem is formulated within the framework of classical, uncoupled thermoviscoelastic theory. A solution to the general displacement equations of equilibrium is presented for a point symmetric temperature field and point symmetric boundary conditions. The general theory is also formulated from the principle of virtual displacements. From the principle of virtual displacements, it is shown how exact, as well as approximate, solutions may be obtained. An example is included for the solution to an incompressible hollow cylinder subjected to an axisymmetric temperature field.
Type B Insulin Resistance Syndrome Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective: To document a case of type B insulin resistance syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods: We present the clinical course of a female patient with type B insulin resi...