cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Feasible Transition Graph: Encoding Topology and Manipulation Constraints for Multirobot Push-Planning

Planning for multirobot manipulation in dense clutter becomes particularly challenging as the motion of the manipulated object causes the connectivity of the robots’ free space to change. This paper introduces a data structure, the Feasible Transition Graph (FTG), and algorithms that solve such complex motion planning problems. We define an equivalence relation over object configurations based on the robots’ free space connectivity. Within an equivalence class, the homogeneous multirobot motion planning problem is straightforward, which allows us to decouple the problems of composing feasible object motions and planning paths for individual robots. The FTG captures transitions among the equivalence classes and encodes constraints that must be satisfied for the robots to manipulate the object. From this data structure, we readily derive a complete planner to coordinate such motion. Finally, we show how to construct the FTG in some sample environments and discuss future adaptations to general environments.
INFLUENCES OF AVAILABILITY ON PARAMETER ESTIMATES FROM SITE OCCUPANCY MODELS WITH APPLICATION TO SUBMERSED AQUATIC VEGETATION

Site occupancy models are commonly used by ecologists to estimate the probabilities of species site occupancy and of species detection. This study addresses the influence on site occupancy and detection estimates of variation in species availability among surveys within sites. Such variation in availability may result from temporary emigration, nonavailability of the species for detection, and sampling sites spatially when species presence is not uniform within sites. We demonstrate, using Monte Carlo simulations and aquatic vegetation data, that variation in availability and heterogeneity in the probability of availability may yield biases in the expected values of the site occupancy and detection estimates that have traditionally been associated with low-detection probabilities and heterogeneity in those probabilities. These findings confirm that the effects of availability may be important for ecologists and managers, and that where such effects are expected, modification of sampling designs and/or analytical methods should be considered. Failure to limit the effects of availability may preclude reliable estimation of the probability of site occupancy.
Integrated financial supervision : lessons of Northern European experience

In the past, financial supervision tended to be organized around specialist agencies for the banking, securities, and insurance sectors. In recent years, several countries have moved toward integrating these different supervisory functions in a single agency. Drawing on Northern European experience - where three Scandinavian countries have practiced integrated supervision for the past 10 years - Taylor and Fleming address three policy-related issues associated with the integrated model: - Under what conditions should (or should not) a country consider moving toward an integrated model of financial supervision? Clearly, for a small transition or developing economy, or an economy with a small financial sector, the economies of scale from establishing an integrated agency outweigh the costs of moving to such a model. A strong case can also be made for an integrated approach in a financial sector dominated by banks, with little role for capital markets or a highly integrated financial sector. - How should an integrated agency be structured, organized, and managed? There is no single obviously correct organizational structure, and existing agencies are experimenting with a variety of forms. An institutionally based structure has the virtue of simplicity and can be implemented fairly quickly, but tends to preserve the cultures and identities of the predecessor agencies more than is optimal. Whatever the structure, integrated supervision requires active management to secure the potential benefits that the approach offers. - How should the integration process be implemented? While the decision to move to an integrated agency must be carefully thought through in the context of the country concerned, the more difficult part is implementation, which must be sensitively managed. Once the decision has been made, implementation should take place as quickly as possible. A well-conceived change management process should aim to overcome the cultural barriers associated with the previous fragmented structure. Taylor and Fleming's review of Northern European experience with integration of financial supervision raises a range of questions relevant to developing and transition economies, which they discuss. This paper - a product of the Private and Financial Sectors Development Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region - is part of a larger effort in the region to assist transition economies in strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for their financial sectors. The authors may be contacted at mtaylor@imf.org or afleming@worldbank.org.
Supervivencia y transcendencia de inmigrantes latinas indígenas transnacionales (ILIS) en los Estados Unidos

Transnational indigenous Latino immigrants today seem to live multiple lives across multiple borders. Based on a 3-year Mix methods research study that took place in a new immigrant-receiving community in North Carolina, the manuscript describes the experiences of Indigenous Latina Immigrants (ILIs) living in the United States, specifically pedagogies of survival based on fluid social identities. The indigenous women who took part in this study had to adopt fluid unknown identities both in the home for cultural survival, and also outside the home (external identities) for physical and social survival, often in hostile environments. In addition, it raises questions about the ways multilingualism affects border mobility and transnationality as well as how indigenous Latina immigrants become Camaleonas guerreras (Chameleon Warriors) who use “critical survival tools” as a transnational bridge to facilitate their survival in a hostile US environment, the community, and in schools.
Electrostatic effects on protein stability: Current Opinion in Structural Biology 1992, 2:40…-45

Abstract Recent experimental and theoretical studies have led to new insights into the contribution of ionizable amino acids to protein stability. The role of polar groups is less clear, in part because their interactions are difficult to control experimentally.
What does chlorophyll variability tell us about export and air‐sea CO2 flux variability in the North Atlantic?

[1] The importance of biology to the ocean carbon sink is often quantified in terms of export, the removal of carbon from the ocean surface layer. Satellite images of sea surface chlorophyll indicate variability in biological production, but how these variations affect export and air-sea carbon fluxes is poorly understood. We investigate this in the North Atlantic using an ocean general circulation model coupled to a medium-complexity ecosystem model. We find that biological CO2 drawdown is significant on the mean and dominates the seasonal cycle of pCO2, but variations in the annual air-sea CO2 flux and export are not significantly correlated. Large year-to-year variability in summertime pCO2 occurs, because of changing bloom timing, but integrated bloom strength and associated carbon uptake and export do not vary substantially. The model indicates that small biological variability, quantitatively consistent with SeaWiFS (1998–2006), is not sufficient to be a first-order control on annual subpolar air-sea CO2 flux variability.
Fiber taper based Raman spectroscopic sensing

A method for performing Raman spectroscopic analysis of micro-particles adhered to a tapered optical fiber as they interact with the taper-guided evanescent pump wave is explored as a chemically selective, label-free taper-particle sensing technique.
Simultaneous retrieval of aerosol optical properties and surface parameters from space: forward and inverse modeling strategies

In order to retrieve accurate information about surface physical and biogeochemical properties from space-borne sensors removal of the atmospheric signal is required. On the other hand, the retrieval of aerosol properties from space is hampered by the necessity to remove the signal originating from the underlying surface. Instead of retrieving surface (aerosol) properties in a two-step procedure in which an "atmospheric (surface) correction" is followed by retrieval of the desired quantity, it may be advantageous to attempt a simultaneous retrieval of atmospheric and surface parameters. The forward and inverse modeling strategies associated with this approach are discussed. This approach is particularly useful over bright surfaces, and can be used for simultaneous retrieval of snow and aerosol properties.
A new approach to MF radar interferometry for estimating mean winds and momentum flux

New techniques are applied to measured Doppler velocity and angle of arrival to estimate horizontal wind vectors, variances, and momentum fluxes, from MF radar data. The approach used to estimate mean winds was first introduced as “time domain interferometry” (TDI) by Vandepeer and Reid [1995]. In the present paper, the algorithm is refined and used with data from the Urbana MF radar, which employs a single vertical antenna beam, to obtain a monthly mean wind climatology which is compared with the results from conventional spaced antenna full correlation analysis. The comparison validates the scattering model used in the development of the TDI technique and highlights instrumental and processing biases that differ between the two techniques. An extension of the TDI method that can provide estimates of the Reynolds stress tensor associated with propagating gravity waves is also proposed, and some preliminary results are presented.
Prepivoting Test Statistics: A Bootstrap View of Asymptotic Refinements

Abstract Approximate tests for a composite null hypothesis about a parameter θ may be obtained by referring a test statistic to an estimated critical value. Either asymptotic theory or bootstrap methods can be used to estimate the desired quantile. The simple asymptotic test ϕA refers the test statistic to a quantile of its asymptotic null distribution after unknown parameters have been estimated. The bootstrap approach used here is based on the concept of prepivoting. Prepivoting is the transformation of a test statistic by the cdf of its bootstrap null distribution. The simple bootstrap test ϕB refers the prepivoted test statistic to a quantile of the uniform (0, 1) distribution. Under regularity conditions, the bootstrap test ϕB has a smaller asymptotic order of error in level than does the asymptotic test ϕA , provided that the asymptotic null distribution of the test statistic does not depend on unknown parameters. In the contrary case, both ϕA and ϕB have the same order of level error. Certain class...
Na+, K+-ATPase: relation of conformational transitions to function

In its native environment, Na+, K+-ATPase of the plasma membrane is an oligomer consisting of two or more of each of two major subunits. Na+ and K+ move across the membrane through the channels that exist between the catalytic subunits of this oligomer. Two distinct ligand-induced conformational transitions (one due to the binding of K+ and ATP to the enzyme, and the other resulting from the phosphorylation of the enzyme in the presence of Na+ and ATP) cause changes in the geometries of the intersubunit channels, and provide the necessary energy-linked gating mechanisms for the transmembrane movements of ions against electrochemical gradients.
Synchronization of high-power broad-area semiconductor lasers

Semiconductor lasers offer significant operational advantages due to their compactness and high electrical-optical conversion efficiency. The major drawback in considering semiconductor lasers for many applications is the relatively small emission power that can be obtained from a single semiconductor laser. Synchronization of laser arrays provides a unique solution to this limitation. In this paper, we describe our recent research on the synchronization of high-power broad-area semiconductor lasers and laser arrays. We demonstrate experimental results on 1) simultaneous injection locking of multiple broad-area lasers to achieve single longitudinal/transverse mode beams and 2) synchronization and coherent beam combination of an integrated 19 broad-area laser array based on a scalable external cavity. A number of issues in the synchronization of broad-area lasers have been addressed in this paper. These include the effects of laser coupling on the array synchronization performance and the gigahertz complementary intensity oscillations occurring at different transverse modes of broad-area lasers subject to the optical injection.
How Science and Hollywood Can Work Together Is Focus of Fall Meeting Panel

[1] Jon Amiel, director of the 2003 science fiction blockbuster movie The Core, told a room packed with geophysicists at the recent AGU Fall Meeting that he had a confession to make. The confession had nothing to do with what he called the “preposterous premises” of the movie, including that humans could start or stop the spinning of Earth's core. Rather, he told the crowd at the Tuesday evening presentation “Science and the Cinema: AGU Sciences Meet Hollywood” about his recurring dream of being on stage wearing nothing but a skimpy T-shirt. “This dream now has come true. Here I am, I'm talking to a whole room of geophysicists about The Core. I've never felt like the T-shirt was this short,” he said.
Oocytes from Xenopus laevis contain an intrinsic σ2-like binding site

In preparation for expression studies for rat brain sigma-binding sites, Xenopus oocytes were tested for the presence of [3H]di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG)-binding sites. Native oocytes were found to contain two intrinsic [3H]DTG-binding sites, a high-affinity site (Kd = 32 +/- 6 nM, Bmax of 45.7 +/- 19 pmol/mg protein) and a low-affinity binding site (Kd = 1.3 +/- 0.7 microM, Bmax of 3.2 +/- 0.7 nmol/mg protein). In a series of radioligand-binding-displacement studies, the high-affinity binding sites were found to have a binding profile which has a similar Kd to that of the mammalian sigma 2-binding site (32 vs. 38 nM). Comparison of the IC50 values for inhibition of [3H]DTG binding in rat liver and oocytes for DTG, haloperidol (HAL), (-)-pentazocine, (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-propylpiperidine hydrochloride ((+)-3-PPP), (+)-pentazocine and Zn2+, showed similarity in rank (r2 = 0.913) but a 7-fold lower potency in oocytes. These results suggest that the high-affinity [3H]DTG-binding site in oocytes represents a sigma 2-like binding site.
Thin bases for finite nilpotent groups

Abstract In this paper, it is proved that for every h ≥ 2, every finite nilpotent group G of order n contains a subset A such that A h =G and |A|⩽h·2 h−1 h n This answers an old question by Rohrbach in the nilpotent case. An application to Cayley graphs is also discussed.
Sticking coefficient at ultralow energy: Quantum reflection

Some sixty years ago, Lennard-Jones and Devonshire predicted that the low energy behavior of the sticking coefficient is s α √E, which vanishes as the energy approaches zero. This behavior is called quantum reflection. The prediction differs from the classical limit s = 1, because the wave function of the impinging particle is reflected at large distance from the surface. The present article explains why and when the prediction is valid, when it is not valid, and the nature of the experimental confirmation to date. Other related predictions are discussed.
Pre-column derivatization of proteins to enhance detection sensitivity for sodium dodecyl sulfate non-gel sieving capillary electrophoresis

Pre-column derivatization of proteins with fluorescamine, naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxyaldehyde, and o-phthaldialdehyde was used to enhance absorption and fluorescence detection after separation by SDS non-gel sieving capillary electrophoresis. When compared with underivatized proteins, absorption sensitivity increased by as much as a factor of 22 at 280 nm, and 1.74 and 4.71 at 200 and 220 nm, respectively. Under favorable conditions, absorption detection limits with the labeled proteins at 280 nm were approximately equivalent to the detection limits of underivatized proteins at 200 nm. Fluorescence detection provided attomole detection limits with the best results being obtained with high-molecular-mass proteins. Pre-column labeling decreased the efficiency of the separation, but did not give rise to multiple peaks from heterogeneous labeling. The migration velocity of labeled proteins was slightly different from the unlabeled molecules, but did not significantly degrade molecular mass determinations. Pre-column derivatization with fluorescence detection allowed the proteins in a fertilization membrane isolated from a single amphibian embryo to be easily characterized.
Metabolic measures of male southern toads (Bufo terrestris) exposed to coal combustion waste

Southern toads (Bufo terrestris) are found in coal fly ash collection basins associated with coal-burning electrical power plants. These basins contain large amounts of trace metals and organisms found in these basins are known to accumulate large quantities of metals. Studies on a variety of organisms exposed to trace metals found that they experience a significant increase in standard metabolic rate. We experimentally exposed southern toads to metal-contaminated sediment and food and measured changes in standard and exercise metabolic rates as well as changes in body, liver and muscle mass, blood glucose, and corticosterone. We found that toads exposed to trace metal contamination gained significantly less mass (18.3%) than control toads (31.3%) when food was limited and experienced significantly decreased RQ after exercise. However, contaminated toads did not experience changes in standard or exercise metabolic rates, plasma glucose levels, and hepatic or muscle percentage indices whether food was limited or not.
High-resolution mapping of the desmosomal plaque and adhesive interface.

A precise structural definition of the desmosome has so far remained elusive, likely in part because of its insolubility in aqueous buffers (Matoltsy, 1975). Despite this limiting factor, several key papers have attempted to address this question. What is becoming clear is that the desmosome is both a complex and dynamic structure whose different states may not be readily appreciated by its textbook presentation in single static images. Several approaches have been used to generate a structural map of the desmosome (Figure 1). In vitro binding assays, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescent colocalization and yeast two-hybrid analyses have been useful in defining protein–protein interactions among desmosome components. Immunogold labeling with N-terminaland C-terminal-specific antibodies to known desmosome proteins was used by North et al. (1999) to generate a molecular map of desmosomes in ultrathin cryosections of bovine epidermis. Using this approach, they were able to generate quantitative measures of the distance of each label from the plasma membrane and thus define the orientation, intermolecular distance and ordering of desmosome protein components. Thus, desmoglein and desmocollin desmosomal cadherins are single-pass transmembrane proteins whose aminoterminal extracellular domains form the adhesive interface. The cytoplasmic tail of desmoglein binds to plakoglobin, which in turn binds to desmoplakin. Desmoplakin binds to keratin intermediate filaments and plakophilins bind to desmoplakin, plakoglobin, desmogleins and desmocollins. Complexes of this unit repeat structure localize into regions of the plasma membrane to form the desmosome, yielding a polyvalent adhesive interface. New specimen preparation techniques and imaging technologies are being applied to the study of desmosome structure. Vitrification, a process in which biological tissues are converted to solids free of crystalline water, facilitates preservation of native structures. Cryo-electron microscopy of vitreous sections is a technique that avoids specimen dehydration and heavy metal deposition of traditional electron microscopy, and thus offers the promise of significantly higher resolution images of the desmosome. Applying this technique to mouse skin, Al-Amoudi et al. (2004) generated an image of the desmosome in which the extracellular inter-desmosomal interface was characterized by highly ordered straight rod-like structures with a 5 nm periodicity. In electron microscopic tomography, multiple two-dimensional images are obtained by tilting a sample at angles to the electron beam; computer software is then used to reconstruct a
The Transcriptional Coactivators p/CIP and SRC-1 Control Insulin Resistance through IRS1 in Obesity Models

Three p160 family members, p/CIP, SRC1, and TIF2, have been identified as transcriptional coactivators for nuclear hormone receptors and other transcription factors in vitro. In a previous study, we reported initial characterization of the obesity-resistant phenotypes of p/CIP and SRC-1 double knockout (DKO) mice, which exhibit increased energy expenditure, and suggested that nuclear hormone receptor target genes were involved in these phenotypes. In this study, we demonstrate that p/CIP and SRC1 control insulin signaling in a cell-autonomous manner both in vitro and in vivo. Genetic deletion of p/CIP and SRC-1 increases glucose uptake and enhances insulin sensitivity in both regular chow- and high fat diet-fed DKO mice despite increased food intake. Interestingly, we discover that loss of p/CIP and SRC-1 results in resistance to age-related obesity and glucose intolerance. We show that expression levels of a key insulin signaling component, insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), are significantly increased in two cell lines representing fat and muscle lineages with p/CIP and SRC-1 deletions and in white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of DKO mice; this may account for increased glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. This is the first evidence that the p160 coactivators control insulin signaling and glucose metabolism through IRS1. Therefore, our studies indicate that p/CIP and SRC-1 are potential therapeutic targets not only for obesity but also for diabetes.
Measuring the Quality of Quality Measures

Print quality (PQ) is a composite attribute defined by human perception. As such, the ultimate way to determine and quantify PQ is by human survey. However, repeated surveys are time consuming and often represent a burden on processes that involve repeated evaluations. A desired alternative would be an automatic quality rating tool. Once such quality evaluation measure is proposed, it should be qualified. That is, it should be shown to reflect human assessment. If two of the human opinions conflict, the tool cannot possibly agree with both. Conflicts between human opinions are common, which complicates the evaluation of tool's success in reflecting human judgment. There are many optional ways for measuring the agreement between human assessment and tool evaluation, but different methods may have conflicting results. It is, therefore, important to pre-establish the appropriate method for the evaluation of quality-evaluation-tools, a method that takes the disagreement among the survey participants into account. In this paper, we model human quality preference and derive the most appropriate method to qualify quality evaluation tools. We demonstrate the resulting qualification method in a real life scenario-the qualification of the mechanical band meter.
Animal models of lethal arrhythmias

Sudden cardiac death resulting from ventricular tachyarrhythmias remains the leading cause of death in industrially developed countries, accounting for between 300,000 and 500,000 deaths each year in the United States. Yet, despite the enormity of this problem, the development of safe and effective antiarrhythmic agents remains elusive. Indeed, several class I (encainide and flecainide) and class III (d-sotalol) drugs have actually been shown to increase, rather than decrease, the risk of arrhythmic death in patients recovering from myocardial infarction. The identification of effective antiarrhythmic agents is critically dependent on the use of appropriate animal models of human disease. In particular, myocardial ischemia may be an important determinant for the development of the life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. For example, preclinical studies demonstrate that many drugs that prevent arrhythmias induced by programmed electrical stimulation fail to prevent ventricular fibrillation provoked by ischemia in the same animals. Thus, one would predict that animal models in which lethal arrhythmias are induced by myocardial ischemia would be the most effective tools for the identification of potential antiarrhythmic medications. This review first evaluates several animal models of lethal ventricular arrhythmias with particular emphasis placed on canine models. Then it closes with a brief discussion of ATP-sensitive potassium-channel antagonists as an example of antiarrhythmic drugs that may act selectively on the ischemic myocardium. Drug Dev. Res. 55:59–72, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Short-Term Outcomes for Youth Receiving Runaway and Homeless Shelter Services:

Objective: Few studies have assessed the outcomes of runaway/homeless youth that seek assistance from shelter or crisis services, which would provide much needed documentation of intervention effectiveness and point to new directions for service provision. The goals of the current study were to: (1) assess short-term outcomes among runaway/homeless youth using emergency shelters and crisis services and (2) compare short-term outcomes achieved by runaway/homeless youth in crisis shelters with similar youth using other, longer-term treatment modalities. Method: The study sampled 261 youth using runaway/homeless shelters from four midwestern states at intake and six-weeks postdischarge and 47 high-risk youth using longer-term services at intake and six weeks postintake; ten key outcome variables were assessed. Results: Every outcome variable demonstrated improvement postintervention: days on the run, school suspension and/or detention, and sexual activity decreased; perceived family support and self-esteem i...
The Soviet military threat to Western Europe: US estimates in the 1950s and 1960s

(1992). The Soviet military threat to Western Europe: US estimates in the 1950s and 1960s. Journal of Strategic Studies: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 208-227.
Correlation of the Diameter of the Left Common Iliac Vein with the Risk of Lower-extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis

Abstract Purpose Compression of the left common iliac vein (CIV; LCIV) is a known risk factor for lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This study was performed to model the probability of DVT based on LCIV diameter and apply this to a quantitative DVT risk factor scoring system. Materials and Methods Medical records were used to identify female patients younger than 45 years of age who were diagnosed with lower-extremity DVT (n = 21) and age-matched control subjects (n = 26) who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain. Minimum CIV diameters were measured on computed tomography. Based on published reporting standards, 13 risk factors were scored for patients diagnosed with left-sided DVT and for control subjects. The association between vein diameter and DVT was examined by Mann–Whitney test. Odds of DVT based on vein diameter was assessed by logistic regression. Results Mean minimum LCIV diameters were 4.0 mm for patients with DVT and 6.5 mm for patients without DVT ( P = .001). The odds of left DVT increased by a factor of 1.68 for each millimeter decrease in LCIV diameter (odds ratio=1.68; P = .006; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–2.43). As the risk factor score increased, the relationship between diameter and risk for DVT became stronger; identical LCIV diameters were associated wtih a higher probability of developing DVT if the risk factor score was higher. Conclusions Stenosis of the LCIV was found to be a strong independent risk factor for development of DVT. Moreover, each millimeter decrease in CIV diameter increased the odds of DVT by a factor of 1.68.
Nonenzymatic Free Radical-catalyzed Generation of Thromboxane-like Compounds (Isothromboxanes) in Vivo

The isoprostanes (IsoPs) are novel bioactive prostaglandin-like compounds produced in vivo by free radical-catalyzed peroxidation of arachidonyl-containing lipids. Previously, we have identified IsoPs containing F-type and D- and E-type prostane rings that are formed by reduction and rearrangement of IsoP endoperoxide intermediates, respectively. We now explore whether thromboxane B2 (TxB2)-like compounds, termed B2-isothromboxanes (B2-IsoTxs), are formed by rearrangement of IsoP endoperoxides. Detection of these compounds was carried out using a stable isotope dilution mass spectrometric assay originally developed for quantification of cyclooxygenase-derived TxB2. Incubations of arachidonic acid with Fe/ADP/ascorbate for 30 min in vitro generated a series of peaks representing putative B2-IsoTx at levels of 62.4 ± 21.0 ng/mg arachidonate. Using various chemical modification and derivatization approaches, it was determined that these compounds contained hemiacetal ring structures and two double bonds, as would be expected for B2-IsoTx. Analysis of the compounds by electron ionization mass spectrometry yielded multiple mass spectra similar to those of TxB2. B2-IsoTxs are also formed esterified to phospholipids; oxidation of arachidonyl-containing phosphatidylcholine in vitro followed by hydrolysis resulted in the release of large amounts of these compounds. To explore whether B2-IsoTxs are also formed in vivo, a well characterized animal model of lipid peroxidation consisting of orogastric administration of CCl4 to rats was used. Levels of B2-IsoTx esterified in lipids in the liver increased 41-fold from 2.5 ± 0.5 to 102 ± 30 ng/g of liver. In addition, circulating levels of free compounds increased from undetectable (
Species and gender differences in the carcinogenic activity of trimethylolpropane triacrylate in rats and mice

Trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) is a multifunctional monomer with industrial applications. To determine the carcinogenic potential, male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1/N mice were administered TMPTA (0, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg) in acetone dermally for 2 years. There were no differences in the body weights and survival in the treated animals compared to controls. Nonneoplastic skin lesions at the site of application included epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis in both rats and mice. There were no incidences of tumors at the site of application in rats and mice. Rare malignant liver neoplasms were observed in female mice that included hepatoblastoma in the 0.3 and 3.0 mg/kg groups, and hepatocholangiocarcinoma in the 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg groups. The incidences of uterine stromal polyp and stromal polyp or stromal sarcoma (combined) in female mice occurred with positive trends and the incidences were significantly increased in the 3.0 mg/kg group. A marginal increase in the incidences of malignant mesothelioma in male rats may have been related to TMPTA treatment. In conclusion, our studies show that TMPTA is a dermal irritant in both rats and mice of either sex. Increased incidences of tumor formation were observed in female mice and male rats.
Magnetism in low dimensionality

Abstract The collective creativity of those working in the field of surface magnetism has stimulated an impressive range of advances. Once wary, theorists are now eager to enter the field. The present article attempts to take a snapshot of where the field has been, with an eye to the more speculative issue of where it is going. Selective examples are used to highlight three general areas of interest: (i) characterization techniques, (ii) materials properties, and (iii) theoretical/simulational advances. Emerging directions are identified and discussed, including laterally confined nanomagnetism and spintronics.
Graphite fiber-epoxy interphase modification by electrodeposition of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) and its influence on composite properties

An electrodeposition technique has been used for the modification of the fiber-matrix interphase in graphite fiber-epoxy composites. A coating of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) polymer was electrodeposited from an aqueous solution on AU graphite fibers used as electrodes in an electrolytic cell. Different electrocoating parameters were initially used to establish the optimum conditions to achieve thin uniform coatings suitable for functioning as interphases in composites reinforced by the coated fibers. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS), evaluated by a single-fiber composite technique, showed that the SMA coating resulted in an improvement of about 50% in IFSS compared with the commercially treated fibers (AS). This was achieved without sacrificing impact strength. Evidence of good epoxy penetration into the coating was obtained by the use of electron microprobe line scans for bromine across the diameter of a filament in a single fiber composite-the bromine introduced through the use of a bro...
Cartilage thickness measurements from optical coherence tomography

We describe a new semiautomatic image processing method for detecting the cartilage boundaries in optical coherence tomography (OCT). In particular, we focus on rabbit cartilage since this is an important animal model for testing both chondroprotective agents and cartilage repair techniques. The novel boundary-detection system presented here consists of (1) an adaptive filtering technique for image enhancement and speckle reduction, (2) edge detection, and (3) edge linking by graph searching. The procedure requires several steps and can be automated. The quantitative measurements of cartilage thickness on OCT images correlated well with measurements from histology.
Recurrence relations based on minimization

Abstract This paper investigates solutions of the general recurrence M (0) = g (0), M ( n + 1) = g ( n + 1) + min 0⩽ k ⩽ n ( αM ( k ) + βM ( n − k )) for various choices of α, β, and g ( n ). In a large number of cases it is possible to prove that M ( n ) is a convex function whose values can be computed much more efficiently than would be suggested by the defining recurrence. The asymptotic behavior of M ( n ) can be deduced using combinatorial methods in conjunction with analytic techniques. In some cases there are strong connections between M ( n ) and the function H ( x ) defined by H(x) = 1 for x (x − 1) α ) + H( (x − 1) β ) for x ⩾ 1 . Special cases of these recurrences lead to a surprising number of interesting problems involving both discrete and continuous mathematics.
The Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being: Psychometric properties, demographic comparisons, and evidence of validity

The Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being (QEWB) was developed to measure well-being in a manner consistent with how it is conceptualized in eudaimonist philosophy. Aspects of eudaimonic well-being assessed by the QEWB include self-discovery, perceived development of one's best potentials, a sense of purpose and meaning in life, intense involvement in activities, investment of significant effort, and enjoyment of activities as personally expressive. The QEWB was administered to two large, ethnically diverse samples of college students drawn from multiple sites across the United States. A three-part evaluation of the instrument was conducted: (1) evaluating psychometric properties, (2) comparing QEWB scores across gender, age, ethnicity, family income, and family structure, and (3) assessing the convergent, discriminant, construct, and incremental validity of the QEWB. Six hypotheses relating QEWB scores to identity formation, personality traits, and positive and negative psychological functioning were evaluated. The internal consistency of the scale was high and results of independent CFAs indicated that the QEWB items patterned onto a common factor. The distribution of scores approximated a normal curve. Demographic variables were found to predict only small proportions of QEWB score variability. Support for the hypotheses tested provides evidence for the validity of the QEWB as an instrument for assessing eudaimonic well-being. Implications for theory and future research directions are discussed.
INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT BY AN ADVANCED OXIDATION PROCESS

The overall objective of this study was to evaluate an advanced oxidation process (AOP) used to treat oil and grease (O&G), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of industrial wastewaters generated during barge cleaning operations. This wastewater generally contains appreciable concentrations of O&G, TPH, COD, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) compounds. A bench scale AOP test unit was designed and built for the treatment of the barge cleaning industrial wastewater. The AOP test unit was a 0.33 gpm mobile, modular unit consisting of two contact chambers, two counter current columns and two catalytic chambers. Six experiments were performed using the AOP unit to determine its effectiveness on the reduction of O&G, TPH, and COD. The wastewater was delivered to the AOP from a storage tank. The unit was run for a total of 120 minutes at various gas delivery rates of ozone for each treatment run. Influent and effluent samples were collected at 30 minutes intervals and analyzed for O&G, TPH, and COD. Significant reductions in O&G and TPH concentrations were observed. Oxygen alone indicated a 50% removal efficiency for O&G and TPH. The ozone treatment efficiency was 86% for O&G and TPH at a dosage rate of 12 SCFH and 82% for a dosage rate of 6 SCFH.
Comments On Fast Polynomic Processing

Systolic array processors featuring local communications, high throughput and VLSI compatability provide the most attractive media for meeting the computational requirements of on line non linear signal processing. The present study considers computational requirements attendant to the Wigner distribution, and quadratic functions in general.
Urinary beta 2-microglobulin as a marker for vesicoureteral reflux.

To determine whether urinary beta2-microglobulin (β2 M) excretion would be elevated in patients with severity of vesicoureteral reflux, urinary β2 M/creatinine (Cr) ratios were measured on random urine samples in 56 children with various grades of reflux. Results were compared with ratios of 39 nonrefluxing patients matched for age and gender. Patients with evidence of renal insufficiency or urinary tract infection were excluded. Bladder urine was obtained at the time of the vesicoureterogram. Reflux was graded using the International Reflux Classification System. The mean urinary β2 M/Cr ratio was higher in the refluxing group (1.82±0.6 µg/mg Cr) than in the nonrefluxing control group (0.54±0.09 µg/mg Cr, P<0.01). When the mean urinary β2 M/Cr ratios were compared for each grade of reflux with the nonrefluxing control group, patients with grade IV and V reflux had significantly higher urinary β2 M/Cr values than the nonrefluxing patients (2.83±0.71 µg/mg Cr and 4.61±0.65 µg/mg Cr, P<0.001, respectively). No patient with grade I, II, or III reflux had a urinary β2 M/Cr ratio above 0.92 µg/mg Cr. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences among the mean β2 M/Cr ratio for grade I (0.53±0.08), II (0.51±0.09), or III (0.59±0.17) refluxers or the nonrefluxing controls. Therefore, urinary β2 M/Cr ratios are increased in children with a high grade of reflux. Such values may be useful in the early detection of tubular damage in patients with vesicoureteral reflux.
Symplectic manifolds, coadjoint orbits, and Mean Field Theory

Mean field theory is given a geometrical interpretation as a Hamiltonian dynamical system. The Hartree-Fock phase space is the Grassmann manifold, a symplectic submanifold of the projective space of the full many-fermion Hilbert space. The integral curves of the Hartree-Fock vector field are the time-dependent Hartree-Fock solutions, while the critical points of the energy function are the time-independent states. The mean field theory is generalized beyond determinants to coadjoint orbit spaces of the unitary group; the Grassmann variety is the minimal coadjoint orbit.
BRIEF REPORT: ON AN EXERCISE FOR TRAINING BEGINNING MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPISTS IN LANGUAGE SKILLS

Summary This paper is a brief report on the administration and outcome of an experiential exercise for training beginning martial and family therapists in language skills. The exercise consists of two parts. In the first part, only the audio of a film clip is engaged, and participants are asked to describe what they heard. During the second part, both the audio and video of this clip are presented together and the participants are again asked for a description. This exercise is used to sensitize beginning therapists to the possibility of their own and their clients' idiosyncratic application of words during a therapy session.
Dynamics of Bacterial Ribosome Assembly in Cells

The assembly of the bacterial ribosome involves coordinated rRNA transcription, rRNA processing, and binding of over 50 ribosomal proteins in a highly efficient biogenesis program. Using quantitative mass spectrometry to study both the rRNA and ribosomal proteins, we are investigating the dynamics of ribosome assembly in cells with pulse labeling experiments. Using electron microsopy, we can characterize both the distributions and structures of assembly intermediates. The analysis focuses on use of assembly cofactor deletion strains to perturb the assembly and create a bottleneck in the otherwise efficient assembly process. Using this approach, we are starting to understand the basic order of events that must occur during ribosome assembly in rapidly growing bacteria.
Assessing Factors That Influence the Recruitment of Majors from Introductory Geology Classes at Northern Arizona University.

In order to guide the formulation of strategies for recruiting undergraduates into the geology program at Northern Arizona University, we surveyed 783 students in introductory geology classes and 2...
Effect of Cortisone and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) on Experimental Scurvy in the Guinea Pig.

Summary1. Cortisone and ACTH prolong life and reduce the hemorrhagic manifestations of scurvy in guinea pigs. The effects of the two hormones are similar. 2. The effect of these two hormones is als...
Environmental Sustainability: A Closer Look at Factors Influencing National Ecological Footprints

This article investigates the driving forces of the ecological footprint (EF) and its six subcomponents to examine similarities in sources using a cross-national data set of more than 100 countries. Expectations from environmental impact, world-systems, and world-polity perspectives are incorporated in a model examining the institutional-level attributes driving national-level imprints on the biophysical environment. Results suggest that the structural factors driving ecological footprints differ across the EF's subcomponents and are similar for only one of its pieces, carbon uptake. Specifying alternative sets of predictors from previous research for three EF subcomponents offers support for a model specifying a set of simultaneous equations or seemingly unrelated regression models. These underlying processes, though driven by different structural influences, are linked with one another for the cross-national sample of countries examined here.
The origin of enantioselectivity in the dihydroxylation of olefins by osmium tetroxide and cinchona alkaloid derivatives

Abstract A logical and simple mechanistic explanation is proposed for the enantioselectivity which has been demonstrated for the catalytic dihydroxylation of certain olefins by osmium tetroxide under the influence of derivatives of quinine and quinidine.
Selection of biochemical mutants in plant cell cultures: Some considerations

Abstract The availability of diverse biochemical mutants for use as experimental probes in higher plants has been limited. Nevertheless, the importance of mutants in furthering the understanding of plant processes and in crop improvement has encouraged the development of numerous mutation selection methodologies that exploit the advantages of the plant cell culture technologies; examples of successful efforts to select mutants in plant cell culture systems are accumulating. We have also recognized that the mutation selection methodologies that have proven useful with microbes may not be as successful when applied to plant cell culture systems. It is necessary to establish the basis (whether genetic, epigenetic, or a sorting out of a specific cell type) of the variant phenotype. Thorough characterization of the frequency (with and without mutagenic treatment), stability and biochemical properties of a variant cell line will aid in establishing the basis of the altered phenotype, even in the absence of a direct genetic analysis through meiosis. Further research on the selection of specific types of biochemical mutants using various plant cell, tissue and organ will likely produce additional useful higher plant mutants.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia masquerading as dilated cardiomyopathy

This is a case report of 2 patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias. At the time of cardiac transplantation they were found to have right ventricular dysplasia with left ventricular involvement.
β-Glucuronidase is transported slowly to lysosomes in BW5147 mouse lymphoma cells: Evidence that the prelysosomal enzyme is not restricted to the endoplasmic reticulum

Abstract The post-translational processing of β-glucuronidase in BW5147 mouse lymphoma cells is slow relative to other newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes. To characterize this slow maturation the acid hydrolase was immunoprecipitated from cells pulse-labeled with [2-3H]mannose. Radiolabeled β-glucuronidase migrated as the precursor form of the enzyme for up to 4 h of chase, whereas another acid hydrolase, β-galactosidase, was processed completely to its mature form within this same time period. Both β-glucuronidase and β-galactosidase obtained high levels of mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P) within 60 min of their biosynthesis. The Man 6-P content of β-galactosidase declined rapidly during a subsequent chase while that of β-glucuronidase remained high during the first 4 h of chase and then slowly declined. 3H-Labeled phosphorylated high mannose-type oligosaccharides isolated from β-glucuronidase after 1 h of chase were composed primarily of species with one or two phosphodiester groups, but oligosaccharides with one and two phosphomonoesters became the predominant phosphorylated species with longer chase times. The phosphorylated oligosaccharides attached to other newly synthesized acid hydrolases, on the other hand, contained primarily phosphodiester species at all chase times. When BW5147 cells were pulsed with [3H]mannose and chased in the presence of monensin to disrupt transport, the number of phosphorylated oligosaccharides recovered from β-glucuronidase was comparable to the quantity recovered from the enzyme produced by non-drug-treated cells. The number of phosphorylated units recovered from all other newly synthesized acid hydrolases, however, was greater in the presence of the ionophore than in its absence. Nondenaturing gel electrophoresis studies indicated that β-glucuronidase existed in two forms at steady state within BW5147 cells and, as such, was similar to liver β-glucuronidase in which a large percentage of the enzyme was present as a complex bound to egasyn. These data suggest that newly synthesized β-glucuronidase produced by BW5147 cells complexes with an egasyn-like protein within the endoplasmic reticulum. This interaction retards the enzyme's migration through the secretory apparatus but does not prevent its access to Golgi-associated processing enzymes.