cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crystal Structure of PriB, a Component of the Escherichia coli Replication Restart Primosome

Maintenance of genome stability following DNA damage requires origin-independent reinitiation of DNA replication at repaired replication forks. In E. coli, PriA, PriB, PriC, and DnaT play critical roles in recognizing repaired replication forks and reloading the replisome onto the template to reinitiate DNA replication. Here, we report the 2.0 A resolution crystal structure of E. coli PriB, revealing a dimer that consists of a single structural domain formed by two oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding (OB) folds. Structural similarity of PriB to single-stranded DNA binding proteins reveals insights into its mechanisms of DNA binding. The structure further establishes a putative protein interaction surface that may contribute to the role of PriB in primosome assembly by facilitating interactions with PriA and DnaT. This is the first high-resolution structure of a protein involved in oriC-independent replisome loading and provides unique insight into mechanisms of replication restart in E. coli.
Placental expression of erythropoietin mRNA, protein and receptor in sheep.

In ovine placentae at 100 days gestation, we localized the expression of erythropoietin (EPO) mRNA by in situ hybridization and determined the cellular localization of EPO protein and EPO receptor protein by fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Erythropoietin mRNA was observed in maternal tissue at the apical tips of the fetal cytotrophoblastic villi at their interface with the maternal caruncle and was absent from both the centrally located fetal-maternal tissue and the more peripherally located maternal caruncle. An EPO-protein-associated fluorescent signal was observed in the same interface region as the EPO mRNA hybridization signal. An intense fluorescent signal associated with EPO receptor protein was observed in the apical fetal-maternal interface region with a lower density signal dispersed throughout the remainder of the interdigitating fetal-maternal tissue. The predominant cells in the apical fetal-maternal interface were identified as binucleate cells by immunohistochemistry. Thus the localization of the binucleate cells was the same as that for the EPO mRNA and the EPO protein, whereas the EPO receptor had a more generalized distribution. Since the binucleate cells are hormone producing cells, we speculate that the binucleate cells are the source of the EPO that is present in ovine placenta.
Effects of ankle–foot orthoses on mediolateral foot-placement ability during post-stroke gait

Background:Accurate and precise mediolateral foot placement is important for balance during gait, but is impaired post stroke. Mediolateral foot placement may be improved with ankle–foot orthosis use.Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine whether an ankle–foot orthosis improves mediolateral foot-placement ability during post-stroke ambulation.Study design:Crossover trial with randomized order of conditions tested.Methods:The accuracy and precision of mediolateral foot placement was quantified while subjects targeted four different randomized step widths. Subjects were tested with and without their regular non-rigid ankle–foot orthosis in two separate visits (order randomized).Results:While ankle–foot orthosis use corrected foot and ankle alignment (i.e. significantly decreased mid-swing plantar flexion, p = 0.000), effects of ankle–foot orthosis use on hip hiking (p = 0.545), circumduction (p = 0.179), coronal plane hip range of motion (p = 0.06), and mediolateral foot-placement ability (p =...
Counter machines and verification Problems

We study various generalizations of reversal-bounded multicounter machines and show that they have decidable emptiness, infiniteness, disjointness, containment, and equivalence problems. The extensions include allowing the machines to perform linear-relation tests among the counters and parameterized constants (e.g., "Is 3x-5y-2D1 + 9D2 < 12?", where x, y are counters, and D1,D2 are parameterized constants). We believe that these machines are the most powerful machines known to date for which these decision problems are decidable. Decidability results for such machines are useful in the analysis of reachability problems and the verification/debugging of safety properties in infinite-state transition systems. For example, we show that (binary, forward, and backward) reachability and safety are solvable for these machines.
Effects of precocene and methoprene application in young adult Musca autumnalis

Observations were made on the relative rates of growth among corpora allata, ovarian follicles and fat bodies in diapausing and reproductive Musca autumnalis DeGeer. Rates of corpora allata growth were greater in long-day than in short-day animals. Topically applied precocene II reduced the size of the corpora allata. Two sequential doses of precocene inhibited vitellogenesis. Topically applied methoprene produced vitellogenesis in short-day flies and inhibited development of hypertrophied fat body. This work provides evidence that Juvenile Hormone is the primary agent controlling diapause and non-diapause (vitellogenic) development in the ovaries of face flies.
Hepatitis B vaccination of adolescent and adult high-risk groups in the United States

Substantial progress has been made in implementing routine infant hepatitis B vaccination in the United States. However, in 1996, an estimated 65,000 acute hepatitis B cases occurred, the majority of which were among young adults in high-risk groups. Recent surveys have found very low vaccination coverage among several high-risk groups, including men who have sex with men and patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Targeted vaccination of persons with risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be provided in a variety of settings including family planning clinics, STD clinics, drug treatment centres, detention centres, jails and prisons. However, vaccination programmes have been infrequently implemented in these settings and the majority of persons with acute hepatitis B cases have had a missed opportunity for vaccination in the past. Thus, in order to accelerate elimination of HBV transmission in the United States, increased efforts are needed to implement effective hepatitis B vaccination programmes targeted to adolescents and adults in high-risk groups.
Olfactory pregnancy-block in mice (Mus musculus): an unusual response acquisition paradigm.

Abstract Females of the Parkes strain ( Mus musculus ) were bred during either a short-term (3 hr) or long-term (24 hr or more) exposure to Parkes strain studs. After breeding they were exposed to the urine of CBA males. The short-term females had significantly higher fertility (63 per cent) than long-term females (34 per cent). This supports the hypothesis that the effect of exposure to the stud male during breeding is to ‘sensitize’ the female to stimulation by the alien males. Re-exposing short-term females to their stud males did not affect their pregnancy rate nor did the short period of exposure to the stud male result in a lower fertility rate.
Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America

In recent years, the leaders of the American evangelical movement have brought their characteristic passion to the problem of race, notably in the Promise Keepers movement and in reconciliation theology. But the authors of this provocative new study reveal that despite their good intentions, evangelicals may actually be preserving America's racial chasm. In Divided by Faith, Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith probe the grassroots of white evangelical America, through a nationwide telephone survey of 2,000 people, along with 200 face-to-face interviews. The results of their research are surprising. Most white evangelicals, they learned, see no systematic discrimination against blacks; indeed, they deny the existence of any ongoing racial problem in the United States. Many of their subjects blamed the continuing talk of racial conflict on the media, unscrupulous black leaders, and the inability of African Americans to forget the past. What lies behind this perception? Evangelicals, Emerson and Smith write, are not so much actively racist as committed to a theological view of the world that makes it difficult for them to see systematic injustice. The evangelical emphasis on individualism, free will, and personal relationships makes invisible the pervasive injustice that perpetuates inequality between the races. Most racial problems, they told the authors, can be solved by the repentance and conversion of the sinful individuals at fault. Combining a substantial body of evidence with sophisticated analysis and interpretation, Emerson and Smith throw sharp light on the oldest American dilemma. Despite the best intentions of evangelical leaders and some positive trends, the authors conclude that real racial reconciliation remains far over the horizon.
Multiple optimal learning factors for the multi-layer perceptron

Abstract A batch training algorithm is developed for a fully connected multi-layer perceptron, with a single hidden layer, which uses two-stages per iteration. In the first stage, Newton׳s method is used to find a vector of optimal learning factors (OLFs), one for each hidden unit, which is used to update the input weights. Linear equations are solved for output weights in the second stage. Elements of the new method׳s Hessian matrix are shown to be weighted sums of elements from the Hessian of the whole network. The effects of linearly dependent inputs and hidden units on training are analyzed and an improved version of the batch training algorithm is developed. In several examples, the improved method performs better than first order training methods like backpropagation and scaled conjugate gradient, with minimal computational overhead and performs almost as well as Levenberg–Marquardt, a second order training method, with several orders of magnitude fewer multiplications.
Response of the fetal and newborn lamb to glucose and tolbutamide infusions.

Summary: Tolbutamide infused into the chronically catheterized sheep fetus produced significant secretion of insulin. An optimal dose range of 100–200 mg/kg estimated fetal weight was demonstrated. Paired tolbutamide and glucose infusions using a square wave technique demonstrated that although early phase insulin secretion is diminished in the fetus, this is not due to an absolute deficiency of stored insulin. Tolbutamide produced peak insulin concentrations of 51.6 ± 9.0 μu/ml by 20 min postinfusion in the fetus. When similar tolbutamide infusions were performed in neonatal lambs, qualitatively similar insulin response curves were demonstrated although peak insulin levels were much greater (260 ± 70 μu/ml at 20 min). A fall in plasma glucose was demonstrated in both fetal and neonatal lambs (to 75 and 39% of control values, respectively) by 60 min after tolbutamide infusion. In the fetus, this fall was not associated with changes in maternal glucose concentration. Speculation: The maturation of early phase insulin secretion in the neonate may involve a variety of factors beyond simple storage of insulin. The ability of the neonate to respond briskly to alterations in plasma glucose may be highly significant in an adaptation to “feast-fast” conditions. The hypoglycemia produced in response to endogenously secreted insulin in the fetus and neonate is consistent with insulin's role in accelerating glucose uptake and utilization.
Problems in direct reduction

The status of direct reduction processes for iron production is briefly discussed. More extensive commercial plant operation of these processes appears to depend in part on solution to problems of scale-up. These problems center around the reactors used, which are either rotary kilns, shaft kilns, or fluid bed units. Possible ways of solving these scale-up problems are discussed. On expose brievement l'etat actuel des connaissances sur les procedes de reduction directe pour la production du fer. L'exploitation commerciale de ces procedes a un degre plus pousse semble dependre en partie de la solution des problemes de production a une plus grande echelle. Ces problemes gravitent autour des reacteurs utilises, tels que les fours rotatoires, les fours verticaux ou les appareils a lit fluidifie. On discute les moyens possibles de resoudre ces problemes d'accroissement d'echelle.
The domains of disgust and their origins: contrasting biological and cultural evolutionary accounts

A recent paper by Tybur and colleagues presents a theory of the evolved functions of disgust based on biological evolution. This work furthers our understanding of disgust and is the first to detail the computational mechanisms involved in detecting and evaluating disgust-related risks. However, because this approach ignores the powerful role of cultural evolution, its ability to encompass the wide and culturally variable range of disgust is limited.
Vertical and lateral heterogeneity of the upper mantle

Abstract Application of pyroxene geobarometry to various suites of ultramafitites (xenoliths and massifs) illustrates lateral and vertical heterogeneities of the uppermost mantle as well as its local petrologic variability throughout time. The upper mantle is best described as a mosaic of large and laterally homogeneous cells with sharp boundaries extending deep into the upper mantle. In addition, local lateral heterogeneities (10–100 km in diameter) of great vertical extent (>200 km) are present at cell boundaries (diapirs: solid-state upwelling) and within cells (plumes: magma impregnation). Progressive vertical petrologic variations may occur within cells, diapirs and plumes. Six different types of sections have been so far identified: infracratonic, suboceanic (ophiolites), Colorado-type (Si-metasomatized infracratonic), meta-somatic (paleo-orogenic; plumes), prerift-type (by differentiation of meta-somatic type) and rift-type (diapirs). Contrasting with the last two types of mantle, dominant (80%) infracratonic and suboceanic types are typically stable sections with density increasing with depth. Shallow upper-mantle cummulate dunites and wehrlites are common; their chemistry reflects some of the characteristics of the overlain metamorphic mantle and suggests genetic ties.
Genetics of Interspecific Hybridization in the Triseriatus and Zoosophus Groups of Aedes (Protomacleaya) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Interspecific hybridization was used to examine the genetics of species diver­ gence and phylogeny of mosquitoes in the Triseriatus and Zoosophus groups of Aedes (Pro­ tomacleaya). Aedes zoosophus Dyar & Knab exhibited a relatively high degree of repro­ ductive compatibility with Triseriatus group species. Crosses between A. zoosophus and A. triseriatus (Say) produced fertile female and sterile, intersex, male progeny. Crosses between A. zoosophus females and A. brelandi Zavortink males were sterile with no egg embryonation observed. Crosses between A. zoosophus males and A. brelandt females and reciprocal crosses between A. zoosophus and A. hendersoni (Cockerell) produced sterile, intersex female and male progeny. This represents the first record of intersex females of hybrid origin in mos­ quitoes. One paracentric inversion separates A. zoosophus from the species in the Triseriatus group. Chiasmata frequencies are reduced in the interspecific hybrids and other meiotic abnormalities are observed. Three morphological characters differentiating A. zoosophus from Triseriatus group species are controlled by four genetic loci. White scales (Ws) exhibits recessive epistasis over abdominal banding (Ab) and banded tarsi (Bt). These three loci are linked on linkage group 3; copper thorax (co) is on linkage group 2. Dendrograms based upon indices of genetic similarity as reflected by the chiasmata frequency and reproductive compatibility are presented and compared with allozyme and morphological data.
Batch and column study: sorption of perfluorinated surfactants from water and cosolvent systems by Amberlite XAD resins.

Abstract Amberlite XAD resins have been employed to a great extent as the sorbent for removing or concentrating organic compounds from different matrices. We present for the first time a systematic study on the sorption of perfluorochemical (PFC) surfactants, an emerging class of environmental contaminants, by XAD-7HP (moderately polar) and XAD-2 (nonpolar). The results show that XAD-7HP can strongly sorb PFCs at circumneutral pH; the isotherm-determined linear sorption coefficient can reach 106 L/kg. On the other hand, the sorption coefficient for XAD-2 was two orders of magnitude lower than that for XAD-7HP. PFC sorption on XAD-7HP increased with an increase of the perfluorocarbon chain length of PFC and a decrease of the solution pH, indicating the importance of hydrophobic and electrostatic effects. The sorption coefficient for XAD-7HP reduced markedly with increasing fraction of the organic cosolvent (methanol) in the water–cosolvent mixture; however, the trend could not be predicted by a log-linear cosolvency model. Furthermore, the statistical analysis of column test results showed that after regeneration XAD-7HP can be used at least eight times without significant loss of performance. Finally, the experimental results imply that XAD-7HP sorption of shorter-chained PFCs (⩽5 perfluorinated carbons) from water can be thermodynamically favorable.
Engineering the largest isotope separation magnet

The primary requirement of this Production Magnet System (PMS II) is to provide a uniform magnetic field of 6 T+or-1.8 mT (+or-0.03%) over a 0.75-m diameter by 5.0-m long region. The magnet design proposed is 10.1 m long, has a 1.3-meter bore, and weighs 195 tons. The mechanical, thermal, and manufacturing design aspects of the system are reported. Magnet features discussed include the helium vessel/bobbing conductor splices, vapor-cooled conductor leads, helium overpressure protection devices, and stresses incurred during warm-up or cool-down. >
Uptake of Strontium by Roots of Zea Mays.

The absorption characteristics of vacuolated and nonvacuolated sections of the primary root of Zea may L. with respect to the uptake of Sr were determined. Like Na, Ca, and Cl, uptake of Sr is a non-metabolic process in the meristematic portion of the root tip, but dependent upon metabolism in the vacuolated tissue. The data presented suggest the existence of a barrier probably lying close to the cell surface which normally limits the non-metabolic uptake of Sr. This barrier is apparently metabolically maintained and is readily destroyed by anaerobiosis, permitting larger arnounts of Sr to enter the tissue. SrCl/sub 2/ was found to stimulate the respiration of both vacuolated and non- vacuolated tissue. (auth)
Shock‐compressed MgSiO3 glass, enstatite, olivine, and quartz: Optical emission, temperatures, and melting

Optical emission of MgSiO_3 glass, enstatite, olivine, and quartz under shock wave compression was investigated with optical pyrometry at discrete wavelengths ranging from visible to near infrared. We develop a new analysis of optical emission that does not require a gray body assumption. Instead, at each wavelength, the optical linear absorption coefficients (α) and blackbody spectral radiances (L_(λb)) of shocked and unshocked materials were obtained by nonlinear fitting to the time-resolved radiance from the target assembly. The absorption spectra of unshocked samples corresponding to the measured values of α reproduce those from independent static optical spectroscopic measurements. The measured values of α (ranging from 7 to 56 mm^(−1)) for shocked samples indicate that shock-induced high-pressure phases (including melt) can be regarded essentially as black bodies in the optical range investigated, although starting phases such as enstatite and olivine have band-like spectra at ambient conditions. The effect of emission from the air gap at the driver sample interface on the recorded radiance can be resolved, but α and L_(λb) cannot be separated for this component of the signal. The shock velocity-particle velocity relationships of these silicates derived from radiance history are in accord with previous investigations using independent techniques. Given the limited amount of shock wave data, possible high-pressure melting curves of Mg-perovskite and its assemblage with periclase are deduced; their melting temperatures near the core-mantle boundary (CMB) being 6000 ± 500 K and 4000 ± 300 K, respectively. It is proposed that Mg-perovskite melts with density increase at the CMB pressure.
Scheduling Analysis of Cluster Tools with Buffer/Process Modules

Modeling and scheduling of cluster tools are critical to improving the productivity and to enhancing the design of wafer processing flows and equipment for semiconductor manufacturing. In this paper, we extend the decomposition methods in the work of Dwande et al. (2005) for multi-cluster tools with buffer/process modules (BPMs). The computation of the lower-bound cycle time (fundamental period) is presented. Optimality conditions and robot schedules that realize such lower-bound values are then provided using "pull" and "swap" strategies for single-blade and double-blade robots, respectively. The impact of BPMs on throughput and robot schedules is studied. It is found that such an impact depends on the BPM processing time and the cycle times of the decomposed clusters on both sides of BPMs. A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) tool is used as an example of multi-cluster tools to illustrate the proposed method, analysis, and algorithms. The numerical and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the algorithms.
The blast wave of the Shuttle plume at ionospheric heights

The main engine burn (MEB) of the Space Shuttle deposits {approximately} 2 x 10{sup 12} joules of explosive energy and {approximately} 3 x 10{sup 5} kg of exhaust in almost horizontal flight at 105-110 km altitude during the period 300-550 s into the ascent. This extremely robust perturbation provides a potential active-excitation source for a variety of geophysical processes, including (1) the effects of aurora-like localized heating on the generation of gravity waves in the thermosphere, (2) the ducting mechanisms for long-period infrasound in the upper atmosphere, (3) dynamo effects associated with transient charge separation, (4) interactions with ambient midlatitude current systems at E-layer heights, and (5) effects in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide of transient electron-density perturbations in the D-region. The sine qua non of such an agenda is to gain a quantitative understanding of the near-field behavior of the MEB exhaust-plume`s quasi-cylindrical expansion, which generates a blast wave propagating away from the explosion. The authors report on observed electron-density signatures of this blast wave as manifested on lines-of-sight (LOSs) from a very-long-baseline interferometer (VLBI) illuminated by 137-MHz beacon signals from the MARECS-B satellite. They also compare the observations to a preliminary three-dimensional neutral-air acoustic model coupled to the ionospheric electronmore » density. 7 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.« less
Adjuvant therapy in rectal cancer: Analysis of stage, sex, and local control - Final report of Intergroup 0114

PURPOSE: The gastrointestinal Intergroup studied postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy in patients with T3/4 and N+ rectal cancer after potentially curative surgery to try to improve chemotherapy and to determine the risk of systemic and local failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients had a potentially curative surgical resection and were treated with two cycles of chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation therapy and two additional cycles of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy regimens were bolus fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-FU and leucovorin, 5-FU and levamisole, and 5-FU, leucovorin, and levamisole. Pelvic irradiation was given to a dose of 45 Gy to the whole pelvis and a boost to 50.4 to 54 Gy. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred ninety-five patients were entered and fully assessable, with a median follow-up of 7.4 years. There was no difference in overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) by drug regimen. DFS and OS decreased between years 5 and 7 (from 54% to 50% and 64% to 56%, respec...
Making Change Visible: The Possibilities in Assessing Mental Health Counseling Outcomes

The product of mental health counseling, unlike that of most professions, remains invisible to most people, leaving counselors vulnerable in a competitive market. The author argues that clinicians should recognize the value of, understand, and begin using outcome measures in their work. Research focusing on critical problems in psychotherapy outcome instruments, advances that have been made to counter those problems, areas of consensus among outcome researchers, and practical recommendations for using outcome measures are examined.
Systems biology approach to integrative comparative genomics

As more and more systems biology approaches are used to investigate the different types of biological macromolecules, increasing numbers of whole genomic studies are now available for a large array of organisms. Whether it is genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, interactomics or metabolomics, the full complement of genomic information on all different levels can be juxtaposed between different organisms to reveal similarities or differences, and even to provide consensus models. At the intersection of comparative genomics and systems biology lies great possibility for discovery, analysis and prediction. This paper explores this nexus and the relationship from four general levels: DNA, RNA, protein and extragenomic. For each level, we provide an overview of the methods, discuss the potential challenges and survey the current research. Finally, we suggest some organizing principles and make proposals for new areas that will be important for future research.
Effects of self-compassion workbook training on trauma-related guilt in a sample of homeless veterans: a pilot study.

Objective The present pilot study examined the effects of a 4-week-long self-administered self-compassion training on trauma-related guilt and compared it to a stress inoculation control group. Method A total of 47 homeless male veterans who were living in transitional housing facilities volunteered to participate in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to either a self-compassion (N = 13) or a stress inoculation (N = 14) group and were asked to complete pre-, mid-, and postintervention assessments measuring changes in self-compassion, trauma-related guilt, and posttraumatic stress disorder severity. Results Participants in both interventions reported increased levels of self-compassion and equal reductions in trauma-related guilt. No other significant changes were noted. Conclusions The results from this pilot study provide preliminary evidence for the use of self-compassion and stress inoculation trainings as effective interventions for trauma-related guilt. The findings also suggest that self-administered trainings in the form of workbooks may be a viable, cost-effective form of intervention for disadvantaged populations, such as homeless veterans in transitional housing, who may lack resources or access to professionals or paraprofessionals. The effects of both self-compassion training and stress inoculation training on the study variables and directions for future research on self-compassion and trauma-related guilt are discussed.
Resource-adaptive semantic concept detection using ensemble classifiers

We propose a new approach for resource-adaptive semantic concept detection on image streams. We build concept detectors using an ensemble learning method called random subspace bagging, and deploy them on a set of distributed processing nodes. We focus on the optimal placement of ensemble classifiers across nodes, and selection of the number of base models for each classifier, to maximize classification performance while adapting to resource constraints. Based on a utility metric defined in terms of misclassification probabilities, we formulate this resource adaptation problem using two approaches. The first corresponds to a Multiple-Choice-Multiple-Knapsack problem solved by integer programming, while the second involves formulation as a load-balancing problem solved by linear programming. The performance of these approaches is evaluated on an application that detects 10 semantic concepts on real image streams. We show that the load-balancing approach outperforms the knapsack approach, with over 60% reduction in misclassification penalty under tight resource constraints.
Will consumers accept irradiated food products

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 76 million people get sick, more than 300 000 are hospitalised, and 5000 Americans die each year from food-borne illness. Research over the past 40 years has shown, however, that food irradiation can decrease the incidence of food-borne illness and disease. Despite this benefit, food irradiation has been the focus of much controversy for years. Proponents of irradiation claim that it will improve food product safety by reducing harmful bacteria. Opponents, on the other hand, raise concerns about its long-term health effects, nutrient loss, and worker safety at irradiation facilities. The debate intensified recently when the US government approved the use of irradiation to kill E. coli 0157:H7 and other harmful bacteria in ground beef and other raw meat. The US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are also expected to decide soon whether to allow the process to be used on sandwich meats, hot dogs, and similar packaged food products. This study examines consumer willingness to pay for irradiated beef products. About 58% of the respondents are willing to pay a premium for irradiated beef. An ordered probit with sample selection model was estimated. Our findings suggest that females and those who think that improper handling contributes to food poisoning are more likely to pay a premium of 50 cents per pound of irradiated beef than others. Those who trust the irradiation technology are more likely to pay a premium of between 5 and 25 cents per pound for irradiated beef.
BOSOM BISCUITS A Study of African American Intergenerational Communication

Grandma Mattie Flippin did domestic work for a White Virginia family. Her primary duties were cooking, cleaning, and whatever else she was told to do. Her husband died, leaving her alone to raise her extended family. Mattie Flippin spent more time at the White family's home than she spent at her own, but what time that she did spend at home was "quality time." Not having sufficient food for her family, Grandma Mattie Flippin used well the resources available to her. Before leaving the White family's home, she often stuffed her extraordinarily endowed bosom with fresh biscuits which she had made that morning. These biscuits remained body temperature warm, and, as reported to the authors by her grandchild, Ms. Martha Carter (May 14, 1991), the butter had melted and turned the biscuits' white insides a beautiful golden color. Sometimes, these warm, buttered, bosom biscuits were all the family had to eat.
Adaptive multiscale feature extraction from range data

We present a method to extract meaningful features from range images which introduces some novel ideas: First, our primitives are a richer set than the usual one, as we not only extract high frequences events, which correspond to jump boundaries and sharp creases, but also low frequency events such as smooth ridges and ravines. These last features are generally discarded as they tend to hide in noise; however, they provide a coarse description of the shape, and we believe they may help in inferring volumetric descriptions. The method works at multiple scales to improve reliability, and we have designed a control strategy to automaticaNy select the most appropriate mask size. We present results on images of different levels of complexity from three different sensors. We are interested in the description of scenes obtained through the use of a range finder, for the tasks of object recognition, inspection, and manipulation. The representation scheme, in order to be useful, needs to f&l1 some constraints. It should be rich, to allow discrimin ation of similar objects. This requirement is especially necessary for range images, as opposed to intensity images, since they only encode distance to the sensor and ignore rich cues such as texture, reflectance, and surface markings. It should be stable, so that small changes in the input have very small effects on the resulting description, and it should be computed using &real support, in order to deal with partially occluded objects. We believe that lines corresponding to discontinuities of the surface (points of inflection) or the local surface orientation (creases), together with ridge and ravine lines, fulfill the conditions enumerated above. We extract them by fitting a continuous function to a variable support of data points. The fit should be poor around sharp discontinuities and generate a zero-crossing of the smoothed derivative for ridges and ravines. It is believed that these features will ultimately aid in volumetric description such as generalized cones. Most of the previous research has concentrated on high frequency discontinuities, such as jump boundaries and sharp folds, for the task of object recognition. Detection of low frequency discontinuities requires large spatial support for their identification. However, they often describe local symmetry which can be used to infer object shape. Such a wide range of features demand a large number of scales for their detection and localization. Previous work on the subject, most notably [7,15], proceeded by explicitly computing all features at a number of scales and then establishing correspondences between features at various scales. The correspondence phase is a necessary step for veri&cation and localization. This is a very complex problem to which a satisftiory solution has not been offered, and previous implementations relied on heuristics to address it. Instead, our approach is to locally find the best scale to describe a g&en
Achieving configural location privacy in location based routing for MANET

Research shows that location based routing can improve the performance and efficiency of communication in mobile ad hoc networks. From another point of view, disclosure of location information can cause a serious privacy risk, especially in environments where different groups of nodes cannot fully trust each other. In this paper, we propose a protocol through which a wireless node can achieve configurable location privacy by distributing location information with different levels of perturbations to different groups of nodes. To achieve this goal, polynomial based personal keys are deployed for group based location information access. A modified location based routing protocol with privacy awareness features is introduced. Authentication mechanisms are designed to protect the genuineness of location information and prevent impersonation attacks. The efficiency and safety of the proposed approach are investigated.
Parental Selection in Rice Cultivar Improvement

The evaluation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars assists breeders in identifying useful trait relationships and in selecting parents as donors of specific traits. This study was conducted to compare long-grain rice cultivars using genotype × trait (GT) biplot analysis and determine potential donors of traits related to grain yield and quality. Seventeen cultivars in the 2005 and 2006 Uniform Regional Rice Nursery in Beaumont, Texas, USA were analyzed for 20 traits using GT biplot analysis. The GT biplots showed the diversity among cultivars with regards to yield-related traits. Cultivars recommended as donor parents were: Trenasse, Spring, Presidio, and Cocodrie for high grain yield and head rice rate; Trenasse and Presidio for semi-dwarfness; Banks for tall plant height; Wells for high flag leaf area, panicle weight, and number and mass of filled grains per panicle; Hidalgo for high tiller density; Francis for high number of spikelets per panicle; Spring and Trenasse for short flowering duration; Cheniere for more days to heading and maturity and Spring for less days; and Spring and Hidalgo for high grain weight. Breeders can use these cultivars with specific traits to increase grain yield and quality.
Development of a field-friendly technique for fecal steroid extraction and storage using the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus).

Hormonal analysis provides information about wildlife populations, but is difficult to conduct in the field. Our goal was to develop a rapid and effective field method for fecal steroid analysis by comparing: (1) three extraction methods (laboratory (LAB), homogenize (HO) and handshake (HS)) and (2) two storage methods (solid-phase extraction (SPE) tubes vs. plastic tubes (PT)). Samples (n=23) from captive African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) were thoroughly mixed, three aliquots of each were weighed (∼0.5 g) and 5 ml of 90% ethanol was added. For LAB, samples were agitated (mixer setting 60; 30 min), centrifuged (1,500 rpm; 20 min) and poured into glass tubes. Or aliquots were HO (1 min) or HS (1 min) and poured through filter paper into glass tubes. Samples were split, analyzed for corticosterone (C) and testosterone (T) metabolites using enzyme immunoassays or stored in SPE or PT. Samples were stored (room temperature) for 30, 60 or 180 days, reconstituted in buffer and analyzed. Mean C and T recoveries of HO were greater (P=0.03) than HS compared with LAB, which was similar to HO (P>0.05). After 30 days <21% of C and T was recovered from SPE, but ∼100% of each was recovered from HO-PT and HS-PT. Similarly, after 60 and 180 days, ∼100% of C and T was recovered from HO-PT and HS-PT. Results demonstrated that, for C and T, HO was more comparable (P<0.001) to LAB than HS and PT storage was more efficient than SPE (P<0.001). Zoo Biol 29:289–302, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of Fluoride on Nucleic Acids and Growth in Germinating Corn Seedling Roots

Corn seeds were treated with 0.01 M sodium fluoride for various time periods. The treated seeds were germinated and grown until the seedling roots reached a standard size of 12±3 mm. Analyses were made for RNA and DNA contents of 3-mm seedling root tips. Determinations also were made for growth rate, rate of cell elongation, cell multiplication, and tissue maturity of 12-mm roots. RNA contents of 3-mm root tips were found to be directly proportional to the growth rates of the entire seedling root of corn seeds treated with sodium fluoride for various periods of time. The RNA content was reduced on a cell basis and was independent of the root tip cell number. The amount of DNA was not related to the growth rate of the intact seedling roots. Since fluoride reduced the number of mitotic figures, it was likely that fluoride inhibited DNA synthesis during the interphase of the mitotic cycle. Growth by cell multiplication was inhibited more than that by cell elongation in the sample treated with fluoride for a shorter period. The two types of growth, however, showed a similar level of growth reduction in the sample treated with fluoride for a longer period. Fluoride seemed to reduce the rates of cellular elongation and multiplication not more than about 40 per cent of the control value in these tissues under present experimental conditions. Fluoride also induced maturity in the seedling roots in proportion to the periods of fluoride treatment.
Neutralizing IL‐7 Promotes Long‐Term Allograft Survival Induced by CD40/CD40L Costimulatory Blockade

Memory T cells are somewhat resistant to immunosuppresion. They therefore pose a threat to inducing long-term allograft survival. IL-7 is essential for memory T-cell generation. Here, we investigated whether neutralizing IL-7 promotes allograft survival. We found that neutralizing IL-7 alone did not significantly prolong allograft survival. However, blocking both IL-7 and CD154 signaling synergistically prolonged allograft survival. In contrast, neutralizing IL-2 failed to further prolong allograft survival induced by CD40/CD154 costimulatory blockade. Allospecific memory CD8+ T-cell generation was severely impaired under the treatment of anti-IL-7 plus anti-CD154 Ab while administering recombinant IL-7 enhanced CD8+ memory generation even under donor-specific transfusion plus anti-CD154 Ab treatment. Neutralizing IL-7, but not IL-2, together with blocking CD154 synergistically suppressed the proliferation of naive/effector CD8+ T cells infiltrating grafts. Nevertheless, neutralizing IL-7 did not alter regulatory T-cell generation while neutralizing IL-2 suppressed their generation. Hence, targeting IL-7 represents a new strategy to prolong allograft survival by acting on both naive and memory T cells. Long-term allograft survival may be achieved by neutralizing IL-7 plus CD40/CD154 blockade, since CD40/CD154 costimulatory blockade prevents acute rejection while neutralizing IL-7 suppresses the generation of memory T cells that persist and mediate late or chronic rejection.
On the Valuation of Long-Dated Assets

I show that the pricing of a broad class of long-dated assets is driven by the possibility of extraordinarily bad news. This result does not depend on any assumptions about the existence of disasters, nor does it apply only to assets that hedge bad outcomes; indeed, it applies even to long-dated claims on the market in a lognormal world if the market’s Sharpe ratio is higher than its volatility, as appears to be the case in practice.
Phonocardiography and pulse tracings

The use of phonocardiography and pulse tracings has declined in recent years, no doubt in part due to the impact of newer, more sophisticated cardiac diagnostic methods. These time-honored techniques, however, still have a great deal to offer besides merely confirming auscultatory signs or serving as a teaching tool. Registration of phonos and pulse tracings simultaneously with M-mode echocardiograms has led to an improved understanding of the physiologic basis for physical signs and an enhanced utility for these graphic methods.
Work Pressure as a Determinant of Work Group Behavior

This study examines the relationship between newly emphasized production pressures and the internal dynamics of ongoing work groups. The focus is on cohesive group behavior and the role that superv...
Peripheral nerve injury alters excitatory synaptic transmission in lamina II of the rat dorsal horn

Using the blind whole cell patch-clamp recording technique, we investigated peripheral nerve injury-induced changes in excitatory synaptic transmission to neurones in lamina II of the dorsal horn. Partial (i.e. chronic constriction injury (CCI) and spared nerve injury (SNI)) and complete (i.e. sciatic nerve transection (SNT)) peripheral nerve injury altered the mean threshold intensity for eliciting A fibre-mediated EPSCs in lamina II neurones. Following SNT and CCI, EPSC threshold was significantly decreased, but following SNI, EPSC threshold was increased (naive: 32 +/- 2 mu A, SNT: 22 +/- 2 mu A, CCI: 23 +/- 2 mu A, SNI: 49 +/- 4 mu A; P or = 65 % of the sampled population, while the percentage of neurones with monosynaptic A delta fibre EPSCs decreased to < 10 %. The percentage of neurones with polysynaptic A delta fibre EPSCs was unchanged. In contrast, following SNI, A beta fibre EPSCs decreased in incidence while the percentage of neurones with polysynaptic A delta fibre EPSCs increased to 44 %. Similar to the other injury models, however, monosynaptic A delta fibre EPSCs decreased in frequency following SNI. Thus, excitatory synaptic transmission is subject to divergent plasticity in different peripheral nerve injury models, reflecting the complexity of responses to different forms of deafferentation.
Characterization and Performance Testing of Guayule Latex

Abstract Physical and biological properties were determined for a preliminary production run of low-ammonia latex from guayule (GR latex). GR latex, and dipped films produced from compounded GR latex, contain none of the Hevea allergens known to elicit Type I systemic allergic reactions. The polymer phase of GR latex has a lower bulk viscosity and a higher resin content than that of NR. In addition, GR latex serum and rubber lack the activating components present in NR latex. As a result, GR latex cures more slowly and reaches a lower state of cure. The aged stress-strain properties of cured GR films are nonetheless similar to those of NR films.
Toward a computerless computer facility.

Over the past 3 years we have begun to redirect a portion of our biomedical research facility’s efforts toward the eventual goal of eliminating facility ownership of any computers. If completely successful our computer facility will consist of hardware personnel who will design and construct new pieces of equipment and software types who will design and construct new systems. None of our personnel will be devoted to maintenance of existing hardware nor to the task of running “user” programs for them. Rather our goal in this project is to build complete systems (both hardware and software) for our colleagues, install these systems in their laboratories, and assist in the further development of these systems. This paper will describe the rationale and procedure for this experiment. However, before going any further it should be emphasized that only a portion of our efforts are devoted to this experiment and we retain the option of continuing our existing centralized service. Hopefully, we will be able to make an honest, convincing comparison of the values in each approach.
Reirradiation of Head and Neck Cancers With Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy: Outcomes and Analyses

Purpose To review our 15-year institutional experience using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to reirradiate patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and identify predictors of outcomes and toxicity. Methods and Materials We retrospectively reviewed the records of 227 patients who received head and neck reirradiation using IMRT from 1999 to 2014. Patients treated with noncurative intent were excluded. Radiation-related acute and late toxicities were recorded. Prognostic variables included performance status, disease site, disease-free interval, chemotherapy, and RT dose and volume. Correlative analyses were performed separately for surgery and nonsurgery patients. Results Two hundred six patients (91%) were retreated with curative intent, and 173 had HNSCC histology; 104 (50%) underwent salvage resection, and 135 (66%) received chemotherapy. Median follow-up after reirradiation was 24.7 months. Clinical outcomes were worse for HNSCC patients, with 5-year locoregional control, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates of 53%, 22%, and 32%, respectively, compared with 74%, 59%, and 79%, respectively, for non-HNSCC patients. On multivariate analysis, concurrent chemotherapy and retreatment site were associated with tumor control, whereas performance status was associated with survival. Favorable prognostic factors specific to surgery patients were neck retreatment and lack of extracapsular extension, whereas for nonsurgery patients, these were a nasopharynx subsite and complete response to induction chemotherapy. Actuarial rates of grade ≥3 toxicity were 32% at 2 years and 48% at 5 years, with dysphagia or odynophagia being most common. Increased grade ≥3 toxicity was associated with retreatment volume >50 cm 3 and concurrent chemotherapy. Conclusions Reirradiation with IMRT either definitively or after salvage surgery can produce promising local control and survival in selected patients with head and neck cancers. Treatment-related toxicity remains significant. Prognostic factors are emerging to guide multidisciplinary treatment approaches and clinical trial design.
Real-time Sperm Tracking and Ring Trapping System

An automatic microscope system is designed to study sperm response to annular laser trap. The sperm velocity, microscope stage movement and laser power at each image frame is saved at video rate.