cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Modular Connectionist Architecture For Learning Piecewise Control Strategies

Methodologies for designing piecewise control laws, such as gain scheduling, are useful because they circumvent the problem of determining a fixed global model of the plant dynamics. Instead, the dynamics are approximated using local models that vary with the plant's operating point. We describe a multi-network, or modular, connectionist architecture that learns to perform control tasks using a piecewise control strategy. The architecture's networks compete to learn the training patterns. As a result, a plant's parameter space is partitioned into a number of regions, and a different network learns a control law in each region.
The ergonomics of child care: conducting worksite analyses

This paper examined the ergonomics of child care at a large metropolitan, university-based child care center. A case study approach was used to describe the job analysis process and results. Center staff were involved in the identification of health risk factors by completing an ergonomics survey and responding to questions posed during the job analysis (n=36). Two occupational therapists analyzed six different rooms, accommodating different age groups of children. Specific activities were identified as stressors and/or health risk factors inherent in the jobs according to the age of the children cared for. A list of ergonomic health risk factors and recommendations was generated.
D-Methionine as a biofilm dispersal signaling molecule enhanced tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium sulfate mitigation of Desulfovibrio vulgaris biofilm and biocorrosion pitting

Biocorrosion is also known as microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). It is often caused by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) biofilms. More effective biocide treatment methods are desired due to environmental regulations and increasing costs. Recently, several publications revealed that some D-amino acids are signaling molecules for bacterial biofilm dispersal. In this work, tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium sulfate (THPS) was combined with D-methionine for the mitigation of Desulfovibrio vulgaris (ATCC 7757) biofilm in the full ATCC 1249 medium and a modified medium with only four ingredients, i.e., magnesium sulfate, sodium lactate, ferrous ammonium sulfate hexahydrate, and yeast extract at concentrations 1/4 of those in the full medium, as well as MIC pitting of C1018 carbon steel. D-Methionine alone even at a concentration of 1000 ppm w/w and 50 ppm (active concentration) THPS alone were both found ineffective. However, a synergistic biocide combination consisting of 50 ppm THPS and 100 ppm D-methionine was highly effective and even better than 500 ppm THPS used alone. Although D-methionine alone has no biocidal effects, its biofilm dispersal effect can convert sessile cells to planktonic cells under a biocide stress. This is very useful in biofilm treatment because planktonic cells are much easier to treat than sessile cells using biocides.
Total Ordering Algorithms for Asynchronous Byzantine Systems

The Total algorithms are used within asynchronous faulttolerant distributed systems to derive a total order on messages from a causal order provided by an underlying multicast communication protocol. We present several Total algorithms that represent varying compromises between latency to message ordering and resilience to crash and Byzantine faults. The algorithms use a multi-stage voting strategy to achieve agreement on the total order, and depend on the random structure of the causal order to achieve probabilistic termination.
Effect of Diethylaminoethyl Dextran on the Growth of Mycoplasma in Agar

The growth of certain strains of Mycoplasma is inhibited by substances present in commercial agar preparations. The addition of diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) dextran (10 mg per 100 ml) to agar media appears to enhance the growth of some strains. Of eight strains initially tested, the presence of DEAE dextran grossly enhanced the growth of three strains. One strain appeared not to be affected, and a clearly enhancing effect was not evident with four strains. Quantitative studies revealed that growth enhancement varied from 10 colony-forming units (CFU) for M. hominis type II (strain Campo) to 10(3.3) CFU for M. pulmonis (strain 880). The growth-enhancing effect is probably due to the ability of DEAE dextran to bind the sulfated polysaccharide moieties in agar and not to the DEAE dextran, per se.
Multi-class HingeBoost. Method and application to the classification of cancer types using gene expression data.

Background: Multi-class molecular cancer classification has great potential clinical implications. Such applications require statistical methods to accurately classify cancer types with a small subset of genes from thousands of genes in the data. Objectives: This paper presents a new functional gradient descent boosting algorithm that directly extends the HingeBoost algorithm from the binary case to the multi-class case without reducing the original problem to multiple binary problems. Methods: Minimizing a multi-class hinge loss with boosting technique, the proposed HingeBoost has good theoretical properties by implementing the Bayes decision rule and providing a unifying framework with either equal or unequal misclassification costs. Furthermore, we propose Twin HingeBoost which has better feature selection behavior than HingeBoost by reducing the number of ineffective covariates. Simulated data, benchmark data and two cancer gene expression data sets are utilized to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. Results: Simulations and the benchmark data showed that the multi-class HingeBoost generated accurate predictions when compared with the alternative methods, especially with high-dimensional covariates. The multi-class HingeBoost also produced more accurate prediction or comparable prediction in two cancer classification problems using gene expression data. Conclusions: This work has shown that the HingeBoost provides a powerful tool for multi-classification problems. In many applications, the classification accuracy and feature selection behavior can be further improved when using Twin HingeBoost.
Stochastic theory of forage drying as related to pan evaporation

Abstract This study considers the relation between pan evaporation and drying of crops in the field after cutting, and the sources of variability in that relationship. Pan evaporation is considered as a climatic measurement that integrates the effects of temperature, wind speed, humidity, and solar intensity on drying rate. Crop drying is modelled as a stochastic diffusion of water molecules out of the crop surfaces. The model predicts the expected moisture ratio to be an exponentially decaying function of accumulated pan evaporation. Results of field experiments show that the drying rate of any given forage sample can be accurately characterized by the drying constant measured in relation to pan evaporation. However, the drying constant is found to vary significantly among different samples in a field. The variability in the drying constant can be adequately modelled by a Weibull, normal, or log-normal distribution. The log-normal distribution arises as a useful description of the variation in moisture ratio throughout a field after a given amount of pan evaporation, and of the variation in pan evaporation required to attain a given moisture ratio.
Monochromatic quartet: a search for the global optimum

Inthgued by the multiplicity of solutions of a triplet lens David Shafer devised a problem to seek out the best solution for a four lens design. To simplify things all elements were made of BK7 glass so that the lens would work only at a single wavelength. This is a report on the response of members of the lens design community to this intriguing problem. After a profile of the participants the form of the best solutions will be discussed. The prescriptions for the lenses with evaluated spot sizes below 3 im are given. 1.
Ambient-pressure silica aerogel films

Very highly porous (aerogel) silica films with refractive index in the range 1.006--1.05 (equivalent porosity 98.5--88%) were prepared by an ambient-pressure process. It was shown earlier using in situ ellipsometric imaging that the high porosity of these films was mainly attributable to the dilation or `springback` of the film during the final stage of drying. This finding was irrefutably reconfirmed by visually observing a `springback` of >500% using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Ellipsometry and ESEM also established the near cent per cent reversibility of aerogel film deformation during solvent intake and drying. Film thickness profile measurements (near the drying line) for the aerogel, xerogel and pure solvent cases are presented from imaging ellipsometry. The thickness of these films (crack-free) were controlled in the range 0.1-3.5 {mu}m independent of refractive index.
Transcriptional evidence for small RNA regulation of pupal diapause in the flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata.

Understanding the molecular basis of diapause, a phenotypically plastic, alternative developmental pathway, is key to predicting the seasonal distribution of economically and medically important insect species. Small regulatory RNAs, including piwi-related RNAs, small-interfering RNAs, and miRNAs, represent one type of epigenetic process that can alter the phenotype of organisms independent of changes in genome sequence. We hypothesize that small RNAs regulate pupal diapause and a maternal block of diapause in the flesh fly Sarcophaga bullata. We assessed the relative abundance of eight genes related to small RNA biogenesis and function using qRT-PCR in pre-diapause and diapause stages compared to their non-diapause counterparts. Elevated mRNA expression of piwi and spindle-E, as well as argonaute2 and r2d2, in photosensitive 1st instar larvae reared in diapause-inducing conditions indicate involvement of the piwi-associated RNA and small-interfering RNA pathways, respectively, in programming the switch from direct development to a developmental pathway that includes diapause. Two genes, related to the microRNA pathway, argonaute1 and loquacious, are upregulated during pupal diapause, suggesting a role for this pathway in maintaining diapause. Substantial reduction in transcript abundance of small RNA-related genes in photosensitive 1st instar larvae from mothers with a diapause history compared to those from mothers with no diapause history also suggest a role for small RNA pathways in regulating a diapause maternal effect in S. bullata. Together, the results point to a role for small RNAs in regulating the developmental trajectory in this species.
Effect of water and other dielectrics on subcritical crack growth in portland cement paste

Abstract In studying the effect of water and a series of aliphatic alcohols on subcritical crack growth in cement paste, log crack velocity-stress intensity factor curves were obtained by means of a double-torsion technique. The relative position of the curves was found to be dependent on the dielectric constant of the test media. Flexural strength of cement paste saturated in organic fluids is also dependent on the dielectric constant. Stress corrosion processes involving chemical attack of SiO bonds in cement paste appear to be operative.
Multiple-buffer-additive strategies for enhanced capillary electrophoretic separation of peptides.

Abstract A dodeca-peptide from the β-subunit of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was used as a model system for developing “multiple-buffer-additive” strategies to effect the separation of structurally-similar peptides. A series of synthetic peptides included six peptides with identical amino acid composition and two with multiple alanine substitutions at selected positions. Those with identical amino acid composition included the native and reverse sequences of residues 101–112 of the β-TSH and four “computer-shuffled” amino acid sequences. Buffer additives such as acetonitrile (ACN), hexane sulfonic acid (HSA), and hexamethonium bromide (HxMBr), were shown to alter selectivity dramatically. HSA, an ion-pairing agent, and ACN, known to alter the hydrophobic environment of the solute, and HxMBr, which is thought to negate solute-wall interactions, are shown to independently effect only partial resolution of the mixture. It is shown that only with the proper combination of HSA and ACN are all mixture components resolved. These results re-affirm that CE selectivity may be altered by changes in buffer ionic strength or with the addition of HSA, but also show that further changes in selectivity can be achieved through alteration of buffer hydrophobicity. The observed changes in selectivity accompanying the addition of HSA and ACN may be due to differing electrophoretic mobilities resulting from nearest-neighbor effects or subtle differences in peptide secondary structure or solvation. This emphasizes the importance of employing multiple-buffer-additive strategies for effecting the resolution of peptide mixtures that are difficult to separate.
Fibrillar polypeptide aggregates.

The morphology of precipitates of polymethyl and polybenzyl glutamate, polybenzyl aspartate, and polyalanine of high molecular weight has been studied by electron microscopy. Emphasis has been placed on systems where the polymer precipitates isothermally from supersaturated solutions in organic solvents. These systems consistently yield 50 A in diameter fibrils devoid of visible surface structure. The fibrils appear to be fundamental units and are frequently aggregated into considerably larger structures such as convoluted strands, large helical fibers, loops, or even toroids. The nature of the solvent and, to a lesser extent, the temperature of precipitation and the initial polymer concentration affect the final form of these complex structures. It is suggested that these phenomena are related to the conformation and the clustering tendency of the polymer molecules in solution.
Beyond Guam: The cyanobacteria/BMAA hypothesis of the cause of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases

Excitement about neurogenetics in the last two decades has diverted attention from environmental causes of sporadic ALS. Fifty years ago endemic foci of ALS with a frequency one hundred times that ...
Designing Evaluations in Child Welfare Organizations: An Approach for Administrators

Evaluations in child welfare settings present challenges and opportunities for administrators. This paper presents a framework for considering such evaluations and proposes mixed methods to assess participatory interventions for sustainable organizational change. A progression of three studies illustrates this approach and draws on results to demonstrate how evaluation designs impact findings.
Irreversible aggregation of protein synthesis machinery after focal brain ischemia

Focal brain ischemia leads to a slow type of neuronal death in the penumbra that starts several hours after ischemia and continues to mature for days. During this maturation period, blood flow, cellular ATP and ionic homeostasis are gradually recovered in the penumbral region. In striking contrast, protein synthesis is irreversibly inhibited. This study used a rat focal brain ischemia model to investigate whether or not irreversible translational inhibition is due to abnormal aggregation of translational complex components, i.e. the ribosomes and their associated nascent polypeptides, protein synthesis initiation factors and co-translational chaperones. Under electron microscopy, most rosette-shaped polyribosomes were relatively evenly distributed in the cytoplasm of sham-operated control neurons, but clumped into large abnormal aggregates in penumbral neurons subjected to 2 h of focal ischemia followed by 4 h of reperfusion. The abnormal ribosomal protein aggregation lasted until the onset of delayed neuronal death at 24-48 h of reperfusion after ischemia. Biochemical study further suggested that translational complex components, including small ribosomal subunit protein 6 (S6), large subunit protein 28 (L28), eukaryotic initiation factors 2alpha, 4E and 3eta, and co-translational chaperone heat-shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70) and co-chaperone Hdj1, were all irreversibly clumped into large abnormal protein aggregates after ischemia. Translational complex components were also highly ubiquitinated. This study clearly demonstrates that focal ischemia leads to irreversible aggregation of protein synthesis machinery that contributes to neuronal death after focal brain ischemia.
On the analytic extension of Stirling numbers of the first kind

We present an analytic extension of the unsigned Stirling numbers of the first kind that is in a certain sense unique in its coincidence with the Stirling polynomials. We examine and compare our extension to previous extensions of (signed) Stirling numbers of the first kind given by Butzer et al. (2007, J. Difference Equ. Appl., 13) and of the unsigned numbers given by Adamchik (1997, J. Comput. Appl. Math., 79). We also see a connection to the Riemann zeta function.
Variability among lettuce cultivars grown at two levels of available phosphorus

Fifteen lettuce cultivars representing three different morphological types were grown in a sand alumina system under conditions of low (deficient) and high (sufficient) P supply. An efficient plant was defined as one that produced a large shoot fresh weight under low P conditions. Cultivars within their respective groups varied significantly for some traits that appeared to be important in determining adaptation to P. This led to the conclusion that accumulation of P in shoot tissue or the total plant was the main difference between efficient and inefficient cultivars. Accumlation of P seemed to be due to a greater absorption capability of roots or greater root mass (weight), depending on the different lettuce groups. Differences in internal use of P did not contribute to differences in shoot fresh weight.
Controlled microfluidic interfaces

The microfabrication technologies of the semiconductor industry have made it possible to integrate increasingly complex electronic and mechanical functions, providing us with ever smaller, cheaper and smarter sensors and devices. These technologies have also spawned microfluidics systems for containing and controlling fluid at the micrometre scale, where the increasing importance of viscosity and surface tension profoundly affects fluid behaviour. It is this confluence of available microscale engineering and scale-dependence of fluid behaviour that has revolutionized our ability to precisely control fluid/fluid interfaces for use in fields ranging from materials processing and analytical chemistry to biology and medicine.
A scalable method for identifying frequent subtrees in sets of large phylogenetic trees

We consider the problem of finding the maximum frequent agreement subtrees (MFASTs) in a collection of phylogenetic trees. Existing methods for this problem often do not scale beyond datasets with around 100 taxa. Our goal is to address this problem for datasets with over a thousand taxa and hundreds of trees. We develop a heuristic solution that aims to find MFASTs in sets of many, large phylogenetic trees. Our method works in multiple phases. In the first phase, it identifies small candidate subtrees from the set of input trees which serve as the seeds of larger subtrees. In the second phase, it combines these small seeds to build larger candidate MFASTs. In the final phase, it performs a post-processing step that ensures that we find a frequent agreement subtree that is not contained in a larger frequent agreement subtree. We demonstrate that this heuristic can easily handle data sets with 1000 taxa, greatly extending the estimation of MFASTs beyond current methods. Although this heuristic does not guarantee to find all MFASTs or the largest MFAST, it found the MFAST in all of our synthetic datasets where we could verify the correctness of the result. It also performed well on large empirical data sets. Its performance is robust to the number and size of the input trees. Overall, this method provides a simple and fast way to identify strongly supported subtrees within large phylogenetic hypotheses.
Apoptosis in mosquito salivary glands: Sindbis virus-associated and tissue homeostasis

Apoptosis is observed during a spectrum of conditions including exogenous virus infection and endogenous cellular turnover. Adult female Aedes albopictus mosquitoes challenged with increasing titres of Sindbis virus (SINV) via intrathoracic inoculation demonstrated that the injection dosage did not result in significantly different levels of virus growth or mosquito survival at day 10 post-infection. Tissues probed for apoptosis using an in situ TUNEL assay revealed SINV-associated apoptotic cells scattered throughout the proximal and distal regions of the salivary gland (SG) lateral lobes but which were not detected in the median lobe or the midgut and hindgut. Apoptosis was also identified in SG duct cells in both infected and uninfected mosquitoes, suggesting routine tissue homeostasis. SINV-associated apoptosis sequestered to the SG lateral lobes indicates a differential epithelial cell response to an arbovirus and provides insight into mosquito defence mechanisms against pathogens and SG infection barriers, hurdles to transmission of arboviruses of public health concern.
Calcineurin/NFAT Signaling in Osteoblasts Regulates Bone Mass

Development and repair of the vertebrate skeleton requires the precise coordination of bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. In diseases such as osteoporosis, bone resorption dominates over bone formation, suggesting a failure to harmonize osteoclast and osteoblast function. Here, we show that mice expressing a constitutively nuclear NFATc1 variant (NFATc1(nuc)) in osteoblasts develop high bone mass. NFATc1(nuc) mice have massive osteoblast overgrowth, enhanced osteoblast proliferation, and coordinated changes in the expression of Wnt signaling components. In contrast, viable NFATc1-deficient mice have defects in skull bone formation in addition to impaired osteoclast development. NFATc1(nuc) mice have increased osteoclastogenesis despite normal levels of RANKL and OPG, indicating that an additional NFAT-regulated mechanism influences osteoclastogenesis in vivo. Calcineurin/NFATc signaling in osteoblasts controls the expression of chemoattractants that attract monocytic osteoclast precursors, thereby coupling bone formation and bone resorption. Our results indicate that NFATc1 regulates bone mass by functioning in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
Patterns in rotating Rayleigh–Bénard convection at high rotation rates

We present the results from numerical and theoretical investigations of rotating Rayleigh–Benard convection for relatively large dimensionless rotation rates, 170 < Ω < 274, and a Prandtl number of 6.4. Unexpected square patterns were found experimentally by Bajaj et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 81, 1998, p. 806) in this parameter regime and near threshold for instability in the bulk. These square patterns have not yet been understood theoretically. Sanchez-Alvarez et al. (Phys. Rev. E, vol. 72, 2005, p. 036307) have found square patterns in numerical simulations for similar parameters when only the Coriolis force is included. We performed detailed numerical studies of rotating Rayleigh–Benard convection for the same parameters as the experiments and simulations. To better understand these patterns, we compared the effects of the Coriolis force as well as the centrifugal force. We also computed the coefficients of the amplitude equation describing one-, two- and three-mode bulk solutions to rotating Rayleigh–Benard convection. We find that squares are unstable, but we do find stable limit cycles consisting of three coupled oscillating amplitudes, which can superficially resemble squares, since one of the three amplitudes is rather small.
On the Cartan matrix of an artin algebra of global dimension two

The purpose of this paper is to show that if n is an artin algebra of g!obal dimension (81 dim) 2, then the determinant of its Cartan matrix equals + I. This generalizes previous results of Donovan and Freislich [2], Igusa and Todorov ]4 ] and Wilson [5]. We recall that if n is an artin algebra (for instance, a finite-dimensional algebra over a field), there are finitely many nonisomorphic indecomposable projective rl modules P,, P ,,..., P,,. We denote by /End,(P.) Hom,,(P,, P,,) the length of Hom,(P,. PI) as an End,(P,) module. Then the h x n matrix C(n j, having knd.,cPi, Hom.,(P,, P,i) as the (i,j)th entry is called the Cartan matrix of rl. Let ,d be now an artin algebra of finite representation typethat is, having finitely many nonisomorphic indecomposable ‘4 modules. Let H= u End,(,tr) Hom.,(M, N)) be the matrix with integral entries, where M, N range through the set of the nonisomorphic indecomposable II modules. Donovan and Freislich [2], have shown that if .4 = kG is a group algebra of finite representation type, then det H = + 1. Then, using associated graded algebras, Wilson showed that det H = + 1 if A is a finite-dimensional algebra of finite-representation type over an algebraically closed field [ 5 IO Independently the same result was proved by Igusa and Todorov [4] without making any assumption on the ground field. Let P be the Auslander algebra of n (see [ 1 ] for further details). that is. r = End,,(M, 0 MT . . . @ M,JoD, where M, ,..., M, are the nonisomorphic indecomposable n modules. Then, it has been shown that H = C(T), where. C(T) denotes the Cartan matrix of the Auslander algebra r. It is known that gl dim r 2. [We recall that
Electrophysiological recording from neurons controlling sensory and motor functions of the esophagus

Much work has been done in recent years to understand the functional roles of sensory neurons that regulate reflexes and sensations. Information about the response patterns of spinal dorsal horn and brain stem neurons associated with esophageal functions has become available by using electrophysiological techniques. These techniques allow understanding of response characteristics of neurons to various types of stimuli, neurotransmitters involved in excitation or inhibition of neurons, changes in response characteristics of neurons under pathological conditions, and the shape and size of a particular neuron in the central nervous system, as well as its projection to other areas of the brain. Response properties of primary afferent fibers in the vagus and thoracic sympathetic nerves have been studied in intact animal models by using single-fiber or extracellular microelectrode recording techniques. Recently, the single-fiber recording technique has been used in vitro in isolated esophagus-vagus nerve preparations. Recordings from the brain stem nuclei and thoracic spinal dorsal horn neurons also have examined the response characteristics of second-order neurons receiving afferent input from the esophagus. In the spinal cord, dorsal horn neurons responsive to esophageal distension also receive ipsilateral somatic input (ie, viscero-somatic convergence) from the upper thoracic area. These neurons exhibit sensitization of response after repeated noxious distension of the esophagus or instillation of irritant substances in the esophagus. In the nucleus ambiguus, neurons receiving input from the distal esophagus exhibit excitation to distension of the distal esophagus but undergo inhibition to midthoracic esophageal distension or to swallow. Neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius receiving input from the distal esophagus exhibit 2 types of responses to proximal and distal esophageal distension. One type of response is a rhythmic firing synchronized with peristaltic contractions of the distal esophagus. This response undergoes inhibition in response to proximal distension. In addition, there is a second, nonrhythmic firing response that occurs both proximal and distal esophageal distension. This observation suggests that swallow-induced inhibition of the distal esophagus is controlled by the preganglionic motor neurons in the brain stem. Electrophysiological studies allow direct understanding of neuronal activities regulating esophageal functions. In vivo recording has an advantage for studying functional roles of the neurons in regulatory reflexes, whereas in vitro recording is useful for more accurate study of receptor pharmacology. Recordings from the central nervous system allow study of the neurotransmitters involved in neuronal function and the circuitry of different reflex mechanisms.
Pore structure of raw and purified HiPco single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract Very high purity single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were obtained from HiPco SWNT samples containing Fe particles by a two-step purification process. The raw and purified samples were characterized using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The purified sample consists of ∼0.4% Fe and the process does not seem to introduce any additional defects. The N 2 adsorption isotherm studies at 77 K reveal that the total surface area of the purified sample increases to 1587 m 2 /g from 567 m 2 /g for the raw material, which is the highest value reported for SWNTs.
Vapor phase growth of gallium arsenide microwave diodes

Abstract Gallium arsenide microwave diodes have been prepared by a novel vapor phase growth technique with the highest combination of reverse breakdown voltages and cut-off frequencies reported to date. This result is attributed to three inherent properties of this technique. First, structures of gallium arsenide can be prepared with a high purity layer directly next to layers doped either n - or p -type over a wide range of selected resistivities. Second, high quality, abrupt p - n junctions can be incorporated in these crystals without sacrifice of desired bulk properties. Third, the devices do not have to be heated to elevated temperatures after vapor growth, so that contamination of the high purity region is virtually eliminated.
A Director Prepares: Seven Essays on Art and the Theatre. By Anne Bogart. London: Routledge, 2001; pp. 155. $15.95 paper.

A Director Prepares presents Ann Bogart's approach to theatre training and art through a series of essays—memory, violence, eroticism, terror, stereotype, embarrassment, and resistance. Like Peter Brook's The Empty Space , the volume investigates the art of theatre and the creative process.
Pape in Panorpa scorpionflies and a general rape hypothesis

Abstract The adaptive significance of heterosexual rape is difficult to demonstrate because (1) female coyness is difficult to distinguish from apparent rape, and (2) male fitness must be enhanced by rape. Male Panorpa scorpionflies inseminate unwilling females by securing the female's wings in an abdominal clamp. Panorpa rapists gain fitness through avoidance of risks of predation by web-building spiders associated with the more typical male behaviours of feeding females a dead insect or salivary secretion during copulation. Males should be most strongly selected to rape in species in which males provide resources important for female reproduction. In such species, the strength of selection on males to rape should exceed the strength of selection on females to prevent rape.
Magnetic anisotropy in the SDW state of metallic V2−yO3 observed by magnetotransport measurements on oriented single crystals

Abstract The compound V 2 O 3 is often considered to be a Mott-Hubbard insulator at low temperatures. The development of a spin-density wave (SDW) in samples with V -deficiency, i.e. upon hole-doping of the stoichiometric system, is regarded to corroborate this view. This transition into a metallic antiferromagnetic state at T N = 10 K leads to a minimum in the resistivity. We show that this minimum varies only slightly when an external magnetic field is applied ( ΔT N = −1 K for B = 12 T). The Hall resistivity is linear in field and the Hall constant R H shows a strong temperature dependence with a maximum at about T N . For T T N the magnetoresistance is negative and we observe metamagnetic behavior, which depends on the orientation of the magnetic field with respect to the crystal axes.
Resistance to Protectant Insecticides in Two Field Strains of the Stored-Product Insect Parasitoid Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Field strains of the parasitoid Bracon (Habrobracon) hebetor Say (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) collected in corn and peanut storage facilities in Blackville, SC, and Hawkinsville, GA, were 7.6- and 7.3-fold more resistant to malathion, respectively, than was a laboratory strain with which they were compared. We detected much higher levels of malathion resistance (>270-fold that of a susceptible strain) in a pyralid host Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) collected at the same facilities. Results of serial time-response bioassays with a single pesticide dose indicated that adult males of the Blackville (SCC) strain of B. hebetor were significantly more sensitive to malathion than were females, perhaps because of their smaller (1.3-fold) size (weight). In the timed bioassay, sensitivities of laboratory and SCC strains of the parasitoid to several common grain protectants were chlorpyrifos-methyl > pirimiphosmethyl > deltamethrin > cyfluthrin > malathion. The SCC strain of B. hebetor,vas significantly more tolerant of deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, and malathion, compared with the laboratory strain. S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) synergized malathion against the SCC strain but was slightly toxic by itself. Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) substantially delayed the toxicity of malathion in the SCC strain. We discuss the relatively low level of resistance development in B. hebetor, compared with that of the host P. intenpunctella, in terms of the behavioral ecology of host location by the parasitoid.
A Poisson likelihood iterative reconstruction algorithm for material decomposition in CT

Emerging photon-counting detectors with energy discrimination ability for x-ray CT perform binning according to the energy of the incoming photons. Multiple output channels with different energy thresholds can be obtained in one irradiation. The energy dependency of attenuation coefficients can be described by a linear combination of basis functions, e.g., Compton scatter and photo-electric effect; their individual contributions can be differentiated by using the multiple energy channels hence material characterization is made possible. Conventional analytic approach is a two-step process. First decompose in the projection domain to obtain the sinograms corresponding to the coefficients of the basis functions, then apply FBP to obtain the individual material components. This two-step process may have poor quality and quantitative accuracy due to the lower counts in the separate energy channels and approximation errors propagated to the image domain from projection domain decomposition. In this work we modeled the energy dependency of linear attenuation coefficients in our problem formulation and applied the optimality transfer principle to derive a Poisson-likelihood based algorithm for material decomposition from multiple energy channels. Our algorithm reconstructs the coefficients of the basis functions directly therefore the separate non-linear estimation step in the projection domain as in conventional approaches is avoided. We performed simulations to study the accuracy and noise properties of our method. We synthesized the linear attenuation coefficients at a reference energy and compared with standard attenuation values provided by NIST. We also synthesized the attenuation maps at different effective energy bin centers corresponding to the different energy channels and compared the synthesized images with reconstructions from standard fan-beam FBP methods. Preliminary simulations showed that our reconstructed images have much better noise properties.
Identification and DNA sequence of tdcR, a positive regulatory gene of the tdc operon of Escherichia coli

Efficient in vivo expression of the biodegradative threonine dehydratase (tdc) operon of Escherichia coli is dependent on a regulatory gene, tdcR. The tdcR gene is located 198 base pairs upstream of the tdc operon and is transcribed divergently from this operon. The nucleotide sequence of tdcR and two unrelated reading frames has been determined. The deduced amino acid sequence of TdcR indicates that is is a polypeptide of Mr 12000 with 99 amino acid residues and contains a potential helix-turnhelix DNA binding motif. Deletion analysis and minicell expression of the tdcR gene suggest that TdcR may serve as a trans-acting positive activator for the tdc operon.
Input-output insulation in thermal-piezoresisitive resonant microsctructures using embedded oxide beams

This paper reports on the design, fabrication and testing of silicon based monolithic thermally actuated MEMS resonators with electrically insulated input and output ports. Promising results lately achieved for thermally actuated micromechanical resonators show that they could be viable candidates for frequency referencing and sensory applications. However, most of such devices utilizing monolithic fully silicon structures demonstrated so far use the same elements as both thermal actuators and piezoresistive sensors simultaneously. This leads to significantly high transmission feedthrough necessitating post-measurement data processing and de-embedding the effect of the large feedthrough conductance in order to extract the pure resonance behavior. The large feedthrough also complicates using such devices as frequency selective electronic components. The presented approach in this work takes advantage of embedded silicon oxide beams in the resonator structure formed through a long thermal oxidation process. The oxide beams electrically isolate the input and output ports of the resonator while maintaining its mechanical integrity. Characterization of resonators fabricated using this technique shows significantly suppressed feedthrough levels in the measured transmission data.
Urea excretion in the bullrog tadpole: effect of temperature, metamorphosis, and thyroid hormones.

Abstract Thyroid-induced metamorphosis shows a marked dependency on temperature. The induction of tail resorption and urea excretion by triiodothyronine appears to be completely arrested for over 3 months when bullfrog tadpoles are maintained at 5°. Both responses are renewed after shifting to 25° after 77 days at 5°. Urea and ammonia excretion in the untreated tadpole also increased with temperature (5–10 times at 5–25°) and fasting (2–3 times in 7–12 days). Changes in ammonia and urea excretory patterns during normal metamorphosis are also reported. The sensitivity of bullfrog tadpoles to triiodothyronine also appears to be affected by the nutritional status of the animals. Dose-urea excretion response relationships have been studied in detail for triiodothyronine and thyroxine. The rate of urea output appears to be more sensitive to triiodothyronine than the rate of tail resorption. Several triiodothyronine and thyroxine analogs also affect urea excretion in a quantitative way similar to both hormones.
Somatostatin-14 blocks the hepatotrophic effects of insulin in the rat.

We hypothesized that somatostatin-14 (SS-14) might inhibit insulin-stimulated hepatic growth. Rat hepatocytes were isolated by a two-step collagenase perfusion technique and cultured on Matrigel. Differentiated hepatocyte function was documented by albumin synthesis. Hepatocytes were incubated with insulin in the presence or absence of SS-14. Hepatocyte proliferation was assessed by tritiated thymidine ([3H]thy) incorporation into DNA. [3H]thy incorporation was increased by 230% in the presence of insulin and was essentially abolished by the addition of SS-14. Insulin-stimulated cyclic-AMP accumulation was also decreased from 190 to 108% of control levels (P < 0.05) by the addition of SS-14. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin, which inactivates the inhibitory G-protein, Gi, blocked the effect of SS-14. Conclusions: (i) In the rat, SS-14 effectively blocks insulin-stimulated [3H]thy incorporation into DNA, possibly by blocking intracellular cAMP accumulation. (ii) Pertussis toxin blocks the growth inhibitory effects of SS-14, suggesting that inhibitory G proteins are involved in the mechanism of SS-14 action. Somatostatin may be useful in studying the role of second messengers in cell growth.
A (New) Look at User Participation in an ERP

Engaging users in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation is not new. Research espouses the benefits of user participation in such major projects, and often takes it for granted that users are involved. What is missing is an assessment of how best to engage users, when to involve them, and how much decision-making and influence they are allowed. This paper highlights findings from a single case study, and encourages future research to develop a newer understanding of user participation. Key components of successful user engagement include an integrated team approach, a balance of workload, the need for expertise at all levels, organizational and project commitment, effective decision-making, the reduction of competing resources or projects, and the maintenance of user participation post-implementation. As ERP systems mature and companies upgrade and maintain their systems, the concept of user participation should remain a core component of ERP research and practice.
Localized spin wave states of superfluid3He in a magnetic field gradient

It is shown that in the presence of a magnetic field gradient, spin wave states in superfluid3He split into discrete levels, just as for a charged particle in an electric field near the surface. The energy levels and the intensity of the magnetic absorption due to localized states are determined for the simplest cases in superfluid3He A and B. The localized states will provide a unique way to determine the spin wave velocity and spin diffusion constant in superfluid3He.
Development of a solid-phase microextraction-based method for sampling of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons in an urbanized coastal environment.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been used as an in situ sampling technique for a wide range of volatile organic chemicals, but SPME field sampling of nonvolatile organic pollutants has not been reported. This paper describes the development of an SPME-based sampling method employing a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-coated (100-μm thickness) fiber as the sorbent phase. The laboratory-calibrated PDMS-coated fibers were used to construct SPME samplers, and field tests were conducted at three coastal locations off southern California to determine the equilibrium sampling time and compare the efficacy of the SPME samplers with that of an Infiltrex 100 water pumping system (Axys Environmental Systems Ltd., Sidney, British Columbia, Canada). p,p‘-DDE and o,p‘-DDE were the components consistently detected in the SPME samples among 42 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and 17 chlorinated pesticides targeted. SPME samplers deployed at two locations with moderate and high levels of contamination for 18 and 30 ...
Traumatic Brain Injury, Neuroscience, and the Legal System

This essay addresses the question: What is the probative value of including neuroscience data in court cases where the defendant might have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? That is, this essay attempts to articulate how well we can connect scientific data and clinical test results to the demands of the Daubert standard in the United States’ court system, and, given the fact that neuroimaging is already being used in our courts, what, if anything, we should do about this fact. Ultimately, I am not sure that there are completely satisfactory answers to this query at this particular time in our legal history. I briefly rehearse the recent use of brain research in our legal system, summarize how neuroscience data regarding TBI and its relation to poor behavioral outcomes are currently used in the courtroom, review challenges with using these data, and highlight fundamental tensions between how the legal system views the causes of behavior and how medicine, neuroscience, and psychology do. Until these tensions are resolved, it is unclear the place neuroscience data should have in courts.
Valuations and polarity

Given a collection[Figure not available: see fulltext.] of convex polytopes, let?([Figure not available: see fulltext.]) denote the set of all convex transversals of[Figure not available: see fulltext.]. If[Figure not available: see fulltext.] and ? are two such collections, of finite cardinality, then there is a simple, arithmetical condition which holds precisely when ?([Figure not available: see fulltext.])=?(?). Another such condition, involving what we call the "Sallee-Shephard mapping," characterizes those pairs[Figure not available: see fulltext.] and ? for which ?(?([Figure not available: see fulltext.]))=?(?). As these results are established, several distributive lattices involving convex sets are introduced, and relationships between their valuation modules are determined. In particular, it is proven that the Sallee-Shephard mapping is an isomorphism of the additive, abelian group of simple functions generated by the characteristic functions of the open, convex sets and that generated by those of the closed, convex sets.
Fuzzy defect avoidance system (FDAS) for product defect control

A proactive method to reduce the amount of scrap and rework activity is proposed for large manufacturing systems producing a high variety of parts. Using the knowledge of process experts and information readily obtainable from the manufacturing system, a fuzzy defect avoidance system (FDAS) is developed. It uses a fuzzy Bayesian methodology to aid in the identification of work centres and jobs that are most likely to produce defects. As the manufacturing system evolves over time, this tool can be used to provide continuous opportunities for defect avoidance.
The infra-red spectra of aqueous solutions of biogenic amine hydrochlorides

Abstract The infra-red spectra of thirteen biogenic amine hydrochlorides in aqueous solution in the region 6.45 μ (1550 cm−1) to 11.0 μ (909 cm−1) are presented and discussed. These thirteen compounds exhibit characteristic spectra which would permit their differentiation from one another and from the amino acids from which they are derived by decarboxylation.
Effects of compactin on the levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in compactin-resistant C100 and wild-type cells.

A cell line, C100, resistant to 225 microM compactin, has been isolated which overproduces 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase approximately 100-fold compared to the parental cell line [E. Hardeman, H. Jenke and R. Simoni (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 1516-1520]. It is demonstrated that the overproduction of HMG-CoA reductase in these cells is the result of increased enzyme synthesis due to elevated levels of translatable mRNA. Furthermore, the apparent molecular weight of the in vitro translation product is 94,000, which agrees with the molecular weight of the in vivo synthesized HMG-CoA reductase protomer in C100 cells. However, a comparison of the Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteolysis patterns between the in vitro and in vivo translation products reveals structural differences which suggests in vivo post-translation modification(s). It is also demonstrated unequivocally, by comparing proteolytic cleavage patterns and pulse-chase experiments, that the previously reported 63,000-, 52,000-, and 38,000-Da polypeptides recognized by HMG-CoA reductase antiserum derive from the 94,000-Da protomer as a result of nonphysiological proteolysis. Finally, the types of regulatory mechanisms involved in both the induction and repression of the enzyme in the presence or absence of compactin were determined. Four biochemical parameters of HMG-CoA reductase were examined in variant and parental cells grown in the presence and absence of compactin: enzymatic activity, degradation rate, synthesis rate, and concentration of translatable mRNA. These studies revealed that changes in cellular HMG-CoA reductase content are a function of concurrent changes in the rates of enzyme degradation and synthesis. Changes in enzyme synthesis are due to alterations in the level of translatable mRNA.