cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic Compilation of Concurrent Hybrid Factories from Product Assembly Specifications

We address the problem of designing a distributed, hybrid factory given a description of an assembly process and a palette of controllers for basic assembly operations. In particular, we present a method that, starting with a product assembly graph (PAG), allows us to "compile" a factory description, consisting of a geometry and a hybrid, dynamical system representing the motions of robots on that geometry. This method is based on a formalism, which we have described in previous work, that allows us to manage the details of low level, continuous control of robot actuation and high level, logical control of various couplings of robot behaviors. The factory description is intended to be an aid in the design of an actual factory, if not directly implementable itself.
Investigation of hydrogen and chlorine at the SiO/sub 2//Si interface

Silicon oxides thermally grown in H/sub 2/O, O/sub 2/, HCl/O/sub 2/ and Cl/sub 2//O/sub 2/ ambients were analyzed, via /sup 1/H(/sup 19/F,..cap alpha gamma..)/sup 16/O nuclear reaction and SIMS, for the presence of hydrogen. In addition, those oxides grown in HCl/O/sub 2/ and Cl/sub 2//O/sub 2/ ambients were analyzed with SIMS for the presence of chlorine. The SIMS data show that the hydrogen levels in these oxides were below the limit of detection for nuclear reaction experiments. The /sup 35/Cl/sup +/ depth-profiles show that chlorine is enriched at the SiO/sub 2/ interface for the HCl/O/sub 2/ grown oxides while it is more evenly distributed in oxide bulk in the Cl/sub 2//O/sub 2/ grown samples.
The Metabolic Syndrome

The metabolic syndrome refers to the clustering of metabolic abnormalities more frequently than would be expected by chance alone. These metabolic abnormalities are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the epidemiological association between these multiple risk factors points to the possibility of a unifying underlying pathophysiology. Obesity, in particular visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, and some degree of abnormal glucose metabolism coupled with dyslipidemia and abnormal blood pressure are the hallmarks of the syndrome. Epidemiological data correlates the presence of the metabolic syndrome with a proinflammatory state and greater risk for diabetes and CVD. There is also emerging evidence that the syndrome is associated with an increased risk of several malignancies. Since obesity is an increasing global burden, it is expected that the number of individuals with the metabolic syndrome will increase worldwide. An internationally accepted definition of the syndrome would facilitate both clinical diagnosis and future research to accurately assess risk and to identify preventative and therapeutic strategies.
Partially Ordered Sets

The theory of partially ordered sets (or posets) plays an important unifying role in enumerative combinatorics. In particular, the theory of Mobius inversion on a partially ordered set is a far-reaching generalization of the Principle of Inclusion-Exclusion, and the theory of binomial posets provides a unified setting for various classes of generating functions. These two topics will be among the highlights of this chapter, though many other interesting uses of partially ordered sets will also be given.
Outcomes of percutaneous and paddle lead implantation for spinal cord stimulation: a comparative analysis of complications, reoperation rates, and health-care costs.

Objectives Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-established modality for the treatment of chronic pain, and can utilize percutaneous or paddle leads. While percutaneous leads are less invasive, they have been shown to have higher lead migration rates. In this study, we compared the long-term outcomes and health-care costs associated with paddle and percutaneous lead implantation. Materials and Methods We utilized the MarketScan data base to examine patients who underwent percutaneous or paddle lead SCS system implantation from 2000 to 2009. Outcomes including complications, reoperation rates, and health-care costs were evaluated in propensity score matched cohorts using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The study cohort was comprised of 13,774 patients. At 90 days following the initial procedure, patients in the SCS paddle group were more likely to develop a postoperative complication than patients receiving percutaneous systems (3.4% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.0005). Two-year (6.3% vs. 3.5%, p = 0.0056) and long-term (five+ years) (22.9% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.0008) reoperation rates were significantly higher in those with percutaneous lead systems. However, long-term health-care costs were similar for those receiving paddle and percutaneous leads ($169,768 vs. $186,139, p = 0.30). Conclusions While the implantation of paddle leads is associated with slightly higher initial postoperative complications, these leads are associated with significantly lower long-term reoperation rates. Nonetheless, long-term health-care costs are similar between paddle and percutaneous leads. Additional improvements in SCS technologies that address the shortcomings of current systems are needed to reduce the risk of reoperation due to hardware failure. Further study is required to evaluate the efficacy of newer percutaneous and paddle SCS systems and examine their comparative outcomes.
Characterization of Polysulfide Radicals Present in an Ether-Based Electrolyte of a Lithium–Sulfur Battery During Initial Discharge Using In Situ X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Experiments and First-Principles Calculations

Author(s): Wujcik, KH; Pascal, TA; Pemmaraju, CD; Devaux, D; Stolte, WC; Balsara, NP; Prendergast, D | Abstract: The presence and role of polysulfide radicals in the electrochemical processes of lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries is currently being debated. Here, first-principles interpretations of measured X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of Li-S cells are leveraged with an ether-based electrolyte. Unambiguous evidence is found for significant quantities of polysulfide radical species (LiS3, LiS4, and LiS5), including the trisulfur radical anion S3 -, present after initial discharge to the first discharge plateau, as evidenced by a low energy shoulder in the S K-edge XAS below 2469 eV. This feature is not present in the XAS of cells at increased depth of discharge, which, by our analysis, exhibit increasing concentrations of progressively shorter polysulfide dianions. Through a combination of first-principles molecular dynamics and associated interpretation of in situ XAS of Li-S cells, atomic level insights into the chemistries are provided that underlie the operation and stability of these batteries. Calculated and measured sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) and schematic of a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cell with ether-based electrolyte are reported. The XAS is obtained through the lithium anode probing the electrolyte beyond it. The signature of polysulfide radicals is found as a low-energy shoulder below 2469 eV after discharging to 2.25 V. This feature disappears at greater depths of discharge.
Translating intermediate phenotypes to psychopathology: The NIMH Research Domain Criteria

The Research Domain Criteria project (RDoC) was initiated by the National Institute of Mental Health in early 2009 to "develop, for research purposes, new ways of classifying mental disorders based on dimensions of observable behavior and neurobiological measures." RDoC provides a framework for psychopathology research intended to explicate specific aspects of functional impairment by studying relevant brain-behavior relationships, in contrast to the current heterogeneous categories of mental disorders defined by various groupings of symptoms. Endophenotypes fit naturally into the RDoC context since they are typically conceived to be closer to fundamental neural and psychological mechanisms than more abstracted disorder categories. Consequently, the genomic aspects of endophenotypes take on particular significance for understanding genetic risk architectures in such an approach to psychopathology.
On the minimax optimality of non-randomized block designs

In a previous article by the authors (Mathew and Bhaumik (1989)), it was shown that randomization validates (in a minimax sense) the model based optimality results for many designs, for a class of optimality criteria, which includes the A- and E- criteria, but not the D-criterion. In the present paper, it is shown that in the presence of certain model inadequacies, a nonrandomized design can be superior to a randomized design in terms of D-optimality. Motivated by this observation, minimax optimality is investigated for nonrandomized block designs for the A-, D-, and E-criteria.
Using Geographic Information Systems in Injury Research

Purpose: To provide an overview of geographic information systems (GIS) and to discuss current and future applications in injury and trauma research. Design: Literature review and discourse of GIS technology related to injury and trauma research. Method: A search of scientific literature databases, text books, and online resources was undertaken to describe the current and prospective uses of GIS in injury and trauma research. Results: Geographic information systems are computerized mapping systems that link information from different data sets spatially. The advantage of GIS is the capability to graphically display different attributes of an area in a way that is easily interpretable. Geographic information systems have been used to study injury rates, describe populations at risk for injury, examine access to trauma care, and develop and assess injury prevention programs. Conclusions: Geographic information systems are tools for injury researchers to analyze injury rates and risks and to describe their results with colorful maps and graphics that allow the public to see how injuries affect their communities. Language: en
LINEAR IN-PLANE AND OUT-OF-PLANE LATERAL VIBRATIONS OF A HORIZONTALLY ROTATING FLUID-TUBE CANTILEVER

The case of simultaneous in-plane and out-of-plane lateral vibrations of small amplitude of a horizontally rotating fluid-tube cantilever conveying fluid is investigated. The rotation is with respect to a vertical axis at the fixed end at a constant angular velocity. The diameter of the tube is constant along its length and much smaller than the length. There is no nozzle attached at the free end. The fluid-tube cantilever is inextensible. Two inter-dependent equations of motion in the two directions of lateral displacement of the system are derived by means of Newton's second law on a fluid-tube element. The same system of equations is derived by means of Hamilton's principle. An approximate solution is sought in the case of linear vibrations in the form of a series of normalized eigenfunctions from the linear cantilever beam theory using Galerkin's method. The critical nondimensional circular frequency of lateral vibration and critical nondimensional speed of flow of the fluid-tube cantilever system are investigated for the in-plane and the out-of-plane case. Comparisons between the in-plane and out-of-plane case, between the rotating and the nonrotating case, as well as between the rotating with internal flow and the rotating case without flow are discussed.
Behavioral buffers on the effect of negativity on marital satisfaction: A longitudinal study

A 2-year longitudinal study of newlyweds was conducted to explore the connection between negativity and satisfaction as a function of (a) the extent to which spouses create an atmosphere of friendliness (as indexed by the degree to which they are affectionally expressive) and (b) the reported extent to which they try to accommodate to each other's needs and work toward maintaining the quality of their relationship. Data concerning marital behavior (negativity, affectional expression, and maintenance) and marital satisfaction were gathered from 105 pairs of spouses on three occasions spaced approximately a year apart. Hierarchical regressions with the concurrent data revealed that affectional expression and maintenance appear to buffer the impact of husbands' negativity on wives' satisfaction. The buffering hypothesis was not supported, however, when wives' behavior was used to account for husbands' satisfaction. Consistent with the buffering hypothesis, the decline in wives' satisfaction associated with husbands' negativity was less great when husbands exhibited relatively high levels of affectional expression. Declines in husbands' level of satisfaction, in contrast, could not be predicted by wives' initial levels of negativity, considered alone, or in combination with either their level of affectional expression or maintenance behavior.
Property Changes of a Graphite/Epoxy Composite Exposed to Nonionizing Space Parameters:

A study has been made of the changes in the mass, thickness and flexural properties of initially wet and dry specimens of graphite/epoxy composite material due to the equivalent of eight weeks of exposure to nonionizing space environmental parameters. The parameters were near and middle solar UV irradiance, high vacuum, and temperature. The flexural properties were not affected by the exposures. Changes occurred to the mass, dimensions, and surface morphology of the specimens which varied with individual and combined parameter exposures. The combined UV and elevated thermal environment had synergistic effects on the properties of the specimens.
Velocity and resistivity changes during freeze-thaw cycles in Berea sandstone

We report on simultaneous measurements of resistivity, compressional ( Vp ) , and shear ( Vs ) velocities made during the temperature cycling of Berea sandstone while at elevated pressure. Temperatures were cycled through the freezing point of the saturating brine. The responses of resistivity and velocities are in phase but are asymmetrical as the brine freezes and thaws. Limited freezing causes no discernible damage to the core. Free water is present below the nominal freezing point of the brine. Vp , Vs , and resistivity change by 16%, 24%, and 500%, respectively, over the temperature range of −4°C to +6°C at 6.9 MPa confining pressure.
HIGH-ENTHALPY AND PERFECT-GAS HEATING MEASUREMENTS ON A BLUNT CONE

Detailed aerodynamic heating measurements were made on a 70-deg sphere-cone configuration model and in the wake of the model on the sting. Tests were conducted in hypersonic flows in a high-enthalpy impulse facility, in which air and carbon dioxide were employed as test gases, and in a conventional perfect-gas air wind tunnel. Heating data were also obtained on three similar parametric forebody configurations. Normalized forebody Stanton number distributions were independent of Reynolds number and test gas, with the exception of smaller forebody corner heating peaks in carbon dioxide. Peak wake Stanton numbers were 5% of the forebody stagnation point values in the high-enthalpy tests and varied with Reynolds number from 7 to 15% of the stagnation point values in the perfect-gas tests. The impulse facility wake flow establishment process was studied in detail, and a criterion for determining when the wake flow becomes established was developed. Wake flow establishment was found to require on the order of 45-75 flow-path lengths as based on the model size and freestream velocity. Nomenclature C = ^Too/^ooT-* CH = Stanton number, q/[pooUoo(ho — hw)] cp = specific heat, J/kg-K h = enthalpy, J/kg k = thermal conductivity, W/m-K L = surface distance along sting from model base, m Q - heat energy, J/m2 q = heat transfer rate, W/m2
Anisotropic displacement threshold energies in silicon by molecular dynamics simulations

A combination of molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical modeling was used to examine the orientation dependent threshold energies for displacement of silicon atoms from their lattice site due to energetic particle collisions. These results are important for a detailed understanding of both radiation effects in silicon devices and beam-enhanced stimulation of molecular beam epitaxial growth. The molecular dynamics code developed for this study, which employs a Tersoff interaction potential, as well as the theoretical model that incorporates the symmetry of the crystal are described. Bulk displacement threshold energies were determined by the molecular dynamics code for four directions through the open face in the . These values were then incorporated into the theoretical model for the average bulk displacement threshold energy. The average bulk displacement threshold energy was found to be 14.8 eV in 30° about and 11.1 eV in 20° about .
Negative Value Added and the Theory of Effective Protection

I. Introduction, 415. — II. An analytical interpretation of negative value added, 425. — III. Negative value added and nonzero elasticity of substitution, 427. — IV. The measurement of effective protection when value added is negative, 430. — V. Conclusion, 432.
Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin and Cisplatin Chemotherapy and Cystectomy for Unresectable Bladder Cancer

AbstractPurpose: We combined chemotherapy and surgery to improve local control and survival of patients with unresectable bladder cancer.Materials and Methods: A total of 41 patients with unresectable bladder cancer (T4bnX/N+M0) received methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (M-VAC) chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy when possible. End points were response to M-VAC, local control and survival.Results: Minimum followup was 4 years (range 4 to 7). Of the 41 patients 14 (34 percent) achieved a complete (T0) and 27 (66 percent) achieved an incomplete (T+) clinical response to M-VAC, including 29 who underwent exploration and 24 who underwent cystectomy. Definitive surgery was not done in 17 patients due to lack of response to M-VAC with local or systemic tumor progression, or refusal. Nine patients (22 percent) are alive, including all but 1 after cystectomy for T0 disease, and 2 had T+ tumor confined to the bladder for longer than 5 years. None of the patients with no response or tumo...
A GENERALIZATION OF DIRACS THEOREM* ON TRIANGULATED GRAPHS

Summary Golumbic and Goss [5] introduced the class of chordal bipartite graphs, which was shown to be the bipartite analog of triangulated graphs. This paper completes the connection by proving a stronger theorem for chordal bipartite graphs and by deriving some previously known results on triangulated graphs.
Conceptual support design of the high resolution mirror assembly for the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF)

The performance goals of the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) require that the Wolter I optics support system be insensitive to temperature fluctuations and the effects of gravity during ground testing. Previous work has shown that acceptable concepts are achievable but require much attention to design details. This paper discusses a new support system wherein each optic is held by a single circumfererential ring near its center of mass rather than a multipoint support as previously analyzed. The thermal sensitivity of this system is considerably lower than any concept yet studied. This advanced support concept allows the use of a wider variety of mateials and simple design details. Structural analysis utilizing the finite element method and optical ray-trace analysis are used to predict the system performance.
Optimizing the State Identities in Markov Models of Macroscopic Ion Channel Activity

Ion channel kinetics are often modeled and simulated using Markov models, where rate constants provide the probability of transitioning between a defined connectivity of closed and open states. Usually, the connectivity and state identities (open versus closed) are set by the modeler and an optimization routine is used to search for the rate constants with which the model best matches the experimental activity. Here we present a novel approach for ion channel model specification where a genetic algorithm (GA) is used to optimize both the rate constants between state transitions as well as the identities of the states. Specifically, the GA chooses which states are open and which are closed. Including the state identities as free parameters improves efficiency by concomitantly searching multiple models within one optimization routine instead of individually fitting each model. Using this approach, we correctly identified models ranging from three to seven states that were used to simulate macroscopic concentration response relationships. We then fit experimental macroscopic GABAA receptor activity to seven models, ranging from three to eight states, where seven-state models with three open and four closed states provided the best fits. This approach may be particularly useful for fitting macroscopic data where the number of closed and open states is not delineated by dwell-time distributions, as with single-channel analysis, and provides an alternative where fewer constraints and assumptions are made of the ion channel models.
Immunoaffinity purification of tyrosine-phosphorylated cellular proteins.

Abstract Transformation of cells by viral oncogene-encoded tyrosine kinases coincides with the phosphorylation of many cellular proteins on tyrosine. In order to study the potential cellular targets of oncogenic tyrosine kinases, tyrosine phosphoproteins were purified from cells by immunoaffinity chromatography with antibodies to phosphotyrosine. Tyrosine phosphoproteins were purified from both rat-1 cells and primary chicken embryo cells expressing transforming or non-transforming variants of the src oncogene. These proteins were released from anti-phosphotyrosine resins with hapten, and the protein mixtures contained 6–10 highly pure phosphoproteins including the src protein pp60 src . The recovered proteins represented approximately 0.03% of total cellular proteins. All of the proteins were shown to contain phosphotyrosine; in addition, virtually all of these proteins were also phosphorylated on serine and threonine. This method thus provides a large-scale, single-step immunoaffinity purification of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins to a purity amenable for immunization protocols and characterization of individual polypeptides.
Patient knowledge and use of acetaminophen in over-the-counter medications

OBJECTIVES To evaluate patient knowledge of over-the-counter (OTC) products containing acetaminophen and to determine patients' accuracy in dosing adult, child, and infant formulations. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Six community pharmacies in Tucson, AZ, between February and May 2011. PARTICIPANTS 88 adults aged 19 to 89 years. INTERVENTION Investigator-administered, semistructured interviews. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient knowledge of and ability to safely use OTC products containing acetaminophen, including understanding risks, identifying products, and dosing different formulations. RESULTS Although most (86%) participants heard of acetaminophen, only 68% understood at least one of its uses and only 9% knew the abbreviation APAP. Virtually all knew that consuming too much acetaminophen in 1 day could be harmful, but only 17% and 35% knew that overdoses could result in death or liver damage, respectively. On average, participants correctly identified 80% (range 27-100%) of products with and without acetaminophen from a lineup of 11 OTC products. Although 38% (n = 84) of participants correctly measured both the child and infant doses of acetaminophen, doses ranged from one-half to twice the amount of the labeled child dose and one-third of the labeled infant dose. Findings from the regression analysis suggested that on average, women and those with college degrees had higher overall scores, while participants' age or parent status were nonsignificant predictors. CONCLUSION Many patients remain confused about using acetaminophen safely, signaling the need for greater patient education to prevent unintentional harm. The results further specify common misunderstandings to address during patient contact, which also includes replacing "APAP" with "acetaminophen" on any prescription bottle labels or patient-directed information.
Moderating effects of employee expectancies on the relationship between leadership consideration and job performance of engineers

Abstract Ninety-four engineers were asked to describe their supervisors' leadership style, to indicate their expectancies whether performing effectively in their jobs would lead to job rewards and the valence of these rewards. It was hypothesized that employees' expectancies and a considerative leadership style interact to influence the performance levels of these engineers. Results indicated that leader consideration and employee expectancies operate in joint fashions to effect job performance.
Influence of Sediment Inflow on Phytoplankton Primary Productivity in Lake Tahoe (California‐Nevada)

Light, nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton photosynthesis were studied in a Lake Tahoe sediment plume during maximum spring runoff. They were compared with conditions in clear lake waters not influenced by inlets. In the plume, nutrient concentrations increased in proportion to sediment density whereas light transmission of water was reduced with little effect on the spectral composition except for red light. Light inhibition of photosynthesis at the lake surface was less pronounced in the plume than in clear water and light limitation occurred more rapidly in deeper layers. Evidence from both lake experiments and laboratory bioassays suggests that iron had the greatest stimulatory effect on both photosynthetic activity and biomass growth at maximum sediment densities near the stream inlet. Because of less surface inhibition, photosynthetic light energy utilization efficiency was usually higher in the sediment plume which occurred in relatively shallow areas near the shore. In order to estimate overall effects of enhanced turbidity associated with nutrient loading on Lake Tahoe's primary productivity, profiles taken in shallow areas near the lakeshore were extrapolated to the maximum depth of photosynthesis. Light limitation would cause decreasing productivity, but nutrient stimulation would make this effect less pronounced. The overall effect would depend on the extent of sediment loading relative to nutrient loading.
Three Han dynasty tombs at Ma‐wang‐tui

Abstract Taken together, the three Ma‐wang‐tui tombs are probably the richest discovery in Chinese archaeology since 1949. Tomb No. 1 belonging to Lady Li and Tomb No. 3, the burial of her son, date from the mid‐second century B.C. and were found in a remarkably well‐preserved state. Tomb No. 2 which belonged to Li Ts'ang (d. 186 B.C.), the Marquis of Tai, had been opened by tomb robbers on several occasions and contained little of interest. Excavations of Tombs No. 1 and No. 3, revealed the construction of the tombs and the marvellously preserved contents of the tomb‐chambers. These include the corpse of Lady Li, two magnificent funerary banners, and a host of grave‐furnishings including copies of classical texts, maps, medical treatises, musical instruments, lacquerware, sacrificial vessels and funerary food‐offerings. The form of the burials does much to illuminate the nature of the Ch'u culture that thrived in the Ch'ang‐sha area until the late third century B.C., and will help explain how the Ch'u pe...
Magnetic viscosity study in FePt/C granular films

Abstract The magnetic viscosity of FePt/C granular thin films was studied in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K in order to examine the thermal stability of the nanoparticles. The magnetic viscosity coefficient ( S max ) was found to decrease with temperature because of decreased thermal activation. At low temperatures, S max showed an almost linear dependence on temperature. However, S max does not extrapolate to zero but seems to have a finite value at cryogenic temperatures.
Atmospheric mercury in the vapor phase, and in fine and coarse particulate matter at Perch River, New York

Daily samples of size segregated atmospheric particulate matter (da < 2.5 μm, and 2.5 μm < da < 10 μm), and vapor-phase mercury have been collected at five locations in upstate New York over a period of two years. Atmospheric concentrations were determined for mercury and, in the particulate matter, for up to 38 other elements by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). At the Perch River sampling site, the average vapor-phase mercury concentration was 2.4 ng m−3 with a seasonal pattern of higher winter and lower summer concentrations observed over both years of sampling. The average fine and coarse particulate concentrations were 0.058 and 0.025 ng m−3, respectively. Concentrations for the particulate concentrations followed a log-normal frequency distribution with the most frequently occurring value for fine particulates being 0.012 ng m−3 and for coarse particulates 0.009 ng m−3. Episodic high concentrations of both fine and coarse particulate mercury indicate the impact of specific s ources. No correlation was found among the three different types of samples on either an overall or daily basis. By applying factor analysis (FA) to the data and using known marker species for specific types of emissions, the sources of the particulate mercury were identified and their contributions estimated. Fine particulate mercury concentrations were primarily associated with regional sources in the midwestern U.S.A., with copper smelting, and with the combined influence of aluminum and precious metals processing. Coarse particulate mercury concentrations were principally related to local aluminum processing facilities. The source identification results of the FA were confirmed by examining back-projected, mixed-layer wind trajectories. From February 1993 through the end of the particulate sampling in September 1993 fine particulate mercury concentrations declined significantly possibly due to the installation of particulate controls at one or more of the copper smelters.
Exploring Pooling Strategies based on Idiosyncrasies of Spatio-Temporal Interest Points

Recent studies have demonstrated that the implementation of local space-time interest points has good competence and robustness in the area of human action recognition, which has become one of the challenging problems in multimedia analysis. While most research focuses on the techniques of detecting feature points or capturing spatial and temporal information around those points, there has been very limited research on delving into the pooling strategies which are also important components of action recognition algorithms. In this paper, we propose a novel pooling framework by categorizing the interest points with respect to their idiosyncrasies. Specifically, we discuss three pooling strategies based on the optical flow orientation, foreground weight and spatio-temporal locations respectively and further investigate the fusion of different pooling strategies. For the encoding process, instead of the popular bag-of-visual words (BoV) method, we adopt the improved Fisher Vector (FV) approach. Our proposed methods are evaluated on a benchmark dataset with controlled settings (KTH), and two more challenging datasets with realistic background (HMDB51 and UCF101). The experimental results demonstrate that pooling strategies based on the appropriate idiosyncrasies of individual interest points can improve the performance of action classification.
Suppression of Hydroxysteroid Sulfotransferase-a Gene Expression by 3-Methylcholanthrene

Abstract The hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases (HSTs) are phase II drug metabolizing enzymes which play a role in xenobiotic detoxication, carcinogen activation, and intratissue hormone modulation. Rat liver contains three principal HST enzymes. Of these, HST-a is most abundant in female rat liver. The phase I drug metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) provides a major pathway for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) carcinogen activation, whereas HST-a, through enzymatic sulfation, offers an alternative pathway for PAH carcinogen activation. Transcription of the rat hepatic CYP1A1 gene is induced in response to treatment with PAH carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC). In view of the potential importance of enzymatic sulfation to the complex process of PAH carcinogenesis, the effect of 3-MC on HST-a gene expression was investigated. Groups of prepubescent (aged ≍22-30 days) and young adult female (aged ≍69-84 days) Sprague-Dawley rats were injected ip with corn oil vehicle or with 3-MC (80 mg/kg). After fasting for 24 hr, rats were terminated and hepatic HST-a gene expression was analyzed using slot blot, Northern blot, and Western blot analyses. Initial Northern blot and slot blot analyses demonstrated a substantial suppression of rat hepatic HST-a mRNA in both prepubescent and young adult female rats. Subsequent Northern blot analyses on liver tissue isolated from female rats aged ≍55 days confirmed CYP1A1 mRNA induction in 3-MC-treated animals and demonstrated a dose-dependent suppression of HST-a mRNA expression of ≍25, 50, and 75% in rats treated with 10, 25, and 80 mg/kg 3-MC ip, respectively. In contrast, HST-a protein levels remained unaltered 24 hr after 3-MC treatment. A time-course study revealed that hepatic HST-a mRNA levels returned to control levels by 36 hr following 3-MC treatment. These results suggest that xenobiotics such as 3-MC modulate HST-a mRNA expression and that HST-a mRNA suppression after 3-MC treatment may occur at the level of transcription.
Endoplasmic reticulum-through-Golgi transport assay based on O-glycosylation of native glycophorin in permeabilized erythroleukemia cells: role for Gi3.

Abstract An assay for endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-through-Golgi transport has been developed in streptolysin O-permeabilized murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. The reporter proteins are metabolically labeled native murine glycophorins, which display a distinctive shift in electrophoretic mobility after acquisition of O-linked oligosaccharides. The O-linked sugars are acquired at a site distal to a brefeldin A block, presumably in a cis Golgi compartment, and sialylation occurs in middle and/or trans Golgi compartments. In permeabilized cells supplemented with cytosolic proteins and an ATP-generating system, 20-50% of the radiolabeled precursor glycophorins can be converted to the mature, sialylated form. This maturation process is ATP- and cytosol-dependent and is blocked by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[gamma S]). Electron microscopy of permeabilized MEL cells shows retention of ER elements, stacked Golgi cisternae, free polysomes, and other subcellular components. In the presence of GTP[gamma S], dilated vesicles accumulate around the Golgi stacks. Antisera to the carboxyl terminus of the Golgi resident alpha subunit of Gi3 inhibit maturation of glycophorin. To our knowledge, a transport assay utilizing O-glycosylation of an endogenous protein as a monitor of ER-through-Golgi traffic in permeabilized cells has not been reported previously. Furthermore, the data provide evidence for heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein involvement in Golgi function.
Evidence suggesting that a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is a positive regulator of proliferation in Cloudman S91 melanoma cells.

Wild-type Cloudman S91 melanoma cells have a retarded rate of division when agents which raise cyclic AMP levels such as melanotropin, protaglandin E1, or cholera toxin are supplemented to the culture medium. A mutant cell line was isolated which had the opposite response, i.e., the mutant grew very slowly unless agents which raised cyclic AMP levels were present (Pawelek et al., '75a). In this report evidence is presented indicating that the molecular basis for the mutant phenotype resides in the major cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase found in the cells. The mutant kinase had increased thermolability and an elevated activation constant for cyclic AMP over the corresponding wild-type kinase. It is proposed that the elevated requirement for cyclic AMP for the proliferation of cAdep cells is related to the elevated activation constant of the kinase, suggesting that the kinase is a positive regulator of proliferation in Cloudman S91 cells.
Proteomic analysis of an unculturable bacterial endosymbiont (Blochmannia) reveals high abundance of chaperonins and biosynthetic enzymes

Many insect groups have coevolved with bacterial endosymbionts that live within specialized host cells. As a salient example, ants in the tribe Camponotini rely on Blochmannia, an intracellular bacterial mutualist that synthesizes amino acids and recycles nitrogen for the host. We performed a shotgun, label-free, LC/MS/MS quantitative proteomic analysis to investigate the proteome of Blochmannia associated with Camponotus chromaiodes. We identified more than 330 Blochmannia proteins, or 54% coverage of the predicted proteome, as well as 244 Camponotus proteins. Using the average intensity of the top 3 "best flier" peptides along with spiking of a surrogate standard at a known concentration, we estimated the concentration (fmol/μg) of those proteins with confident identification. The estimated dynamic range of Blochmannia protein abundance spanned 3 orders of magnitude and covered diverse functional categories, with particularly high representation of metabolism, information transfer, and chaperones. GroEL, the most abundant protein, totaled 6% of Blochmannia protein abundance. Biosynthesis of essential amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides, and sulfate assimilation had disproportionately high coverage in the proteome, further supporting a nutritional role of the symbiosis. This first quantitative proteomic analysis of an ant endosymbiont illustrates a promising approach to study the functional basis of intimate symbioses.
ADF Sense Antenna Requirements and Design

The use of high speed aircraft has accentuated the requirements for low drag antennas and has made the precipitation static problem much more severe. A radically new loop design using ferrite materials makes it possible to exceed the performance of the present external loop antenna in a submerged magnetic antenna that has zero drag. Among its important characteristics are lower weight, less mechanism, and rejection of precipitation static interference as well as reduction of the drag to zero. The antenna consists of a small ferrite-core goniometer with four radial collector bars of the same material. The design includes a novel quadrantal error compensating scheme in which the loop is compensated by attaching selected end pieces to the collector bars.
Swelling of PVC particles during gelation and fusion of plastisols as observed with small-angle light scattering

Small-angle light scattering was employed as a nondestructive technique for the in situ observation of swelling of PVC particles during gelation and fusion. One typical plastisol grade of PVC and three different plasticizers were used. The results demonstrate that quantitative measurements of average PVC particle size appear possible while they are in the process of swelling with plasticizers. From the degree of swelling the solvent power of plasticizers may be evaluated. The ranking of plasticizers made in this manner was in good agreement with the previous studies involving viscoelastic measurements.
Self-induced polarization anisoplanatism

This paper suggests that the astronomical science data recorded with low F# telescopes for applications requiring a known point spread function shape and those applications requiring instrument polarization calibration may be compromised unless the effects of vector wave propagation are properly modeled and compensated. Exoplanet coronagraphy requires “matched filter” masks and explicit designs for the real and imaginary parts for the mask transmittance. Three aberration sources dominate image quality in astronomical optical systems: amplitude, phase and polarization. Classical ray-trace aberration analysis used today by optical engineers is inadequate to model image formation in modern low F# high-performance astronomical telescopes. We show here that a complex (real and imaginary) vector wave model is required for high performance, large aperture, very wide-field, low F# systems. Self-induced polarization anisoplanatism (SIPA) reduces system image quality, decreases contrast and limits the ability of image processing techniques to restore images. This paper provides a unique analysis of the image formation process to identify measurements sensitive to SIPA. Both the real part and the imaginary part of the vector complex wave needs to be traced through the entire optical system, including each mirror surface, optical filter, and all masks. Only at the focal plane is the modulus squared taken to obtain an estimate of the measured intensity. This paper also discusses the concept of the polarization conjugate filter, suggested by the author to correct telescope/instrument corrupted phase and amplitude and thus mitigate6, in part the effects of phase and amplitude errors introduced by reflections of incoherent white-light from metal coatings.
Cell death in planktonic, photosynthetic microorganisms

Phytoplankton evolved in the Archaean oceans more than 2.8 billion years ago and are of crucial importance in regulating aquatic food webs, biogeochemical cycles and the Earth's climate. Until recently, phytoplankton were considered immortal unless killed or eaten by predators. However, over the past decade, it has become clear that these organisms can either be infected by viruses or undergo programmed cell death (PCD) in response to environmental stress, resulting in mortality. Here, we discuss exogenous and endogenous mechanisms of phytoplankton death, specifically examining the experimental evidence for PCD in phytoplankton and exploring its evolutionary development and ecological impact. We consider phytoplankton PCD as an autocatalytic cell-suicide mechanism in which an endogenous biochemical pathway leads to cellular demise with apoptotic morphological changes. Phytoplankton have a core set of proteins that are orthologues of metazoan caspases. It seems that PCD in prokaryotic phytoplankton, and in independently evolving eukaryotic lineages, has deeply rooted origins that were appropriated and transferred to multicellular plants and animals in the past 700 million years of the Earth's history.
Respiratory and postprandial changes in portal flow rate: assessment by phase contrast MR imaging.

The objective of this study was to investigate the variability of several different phase contrast (PC) magnetic resonance techniques and duplex Doppler imaging (DDI) for measuring portal flow rate (PFR) with different patterns of respiration before and after a standard meal. PFR was measured in nine normal volunteers in both fasting and postprandial states, using both 2D and cine PC MR techniques. Two-dimensional PC technique was performed with and without breath-hold (BH). Four different patterns of BH (relaxed maximal inspiration, expiration, Valsalva maneuver, and Muller or reversed Valsalva) were used. Cine PC technique was performed without BH. DDI measurement of PFR was done in the fasting state with relaxed inspiration. PFR measurements made by means of PC MR techniques varied, depending on BH method, and were systematically less than those obtained by DDI. PFR measured during inspiration was significantly less than that measured during expiration and other respiratory maneuvers (P < .03). PFR increased significantly after a meal for PC and Doppler measurements, with a range of mean increases of 24 to 74%. Two-dimensional PC MR imaging techniques yielded differing measurements of PFR, depending on whether they were done with or without BH, as well as on the pattern of BH. PC mean measures of PFR were consistently less than those of DDI. The physiologic inspiratory decreases and postprandial increases of the PFR were evident from 2D and cine PC MRI techniques, as well as with DDI.
Unsupported μ‐Oxo‐ and μ‐Hydroxo‐Iron(III) Dimers and Mononuclear Iron(III) Complexes with Pyridylbis(aminophenol) Ligands

Unsupported hydroxo- and oxo-bridged diiron(III) and mononuclear iron(III) complexes with pyridylbis(aminophenol) ligands (L amine ) 2- and (L tBu-amine ) 2- were synthesized and characterized [H 2 L amine = 2,2'-(2-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)diphenol; H 2 L tBu-amine = 6,6'-(2-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-diyl)bis(azane-diyl)bis(methylene)bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenol)]. Dimeric [(FeL amine ) 2 (μ-OH)]BPh 4 (1) and [(FeL tBu-amine ) 2 (μ-O)] (2), and monomeric [FeL tBu-amine (OCH 3 )] (3) were synthesized from ferric perchlorate. Monomeric [FeL amine Cl] (4) and [FeL tBu-amine Cl] (5) were synthesized from ferric chloride. Complex 1 is comprised of two [FeL amine ] + units, where (L amine ) 2- is pentadentate, bridged by a single hydroxo ligand. Intramolecular H-bonding between the NH groups on one [FeL amine ] + unit and the phenolato O atoms of the other [FeL amine ] + unit stabilizes the structure. Complex 2 is an oxo-bridged dimer, but the steric constraints from the tert-butyl groups of (L tBu-amine ) 2- prevent intramolecular H-bonding. Monomeric 4 and 5 are isostructural with pentadentate li-g ands (L amine ) 2- or (L tBu-amine ) 2- , respectively, and a chloro ligand in the sixth position of the six-coordinate iron(III) moieties. Conversion of 2 to its protonated hydroxo-bridged analog [(FeL tBu-amine ) 2 (μ-OH)] + by treatment with mild acid was monitored spectroscopically and electrochemically, but the reaction was not reversible by treatment with base. Similarly, hydroxo-bridged 1 could not be deprotonated to generate its oxo-bridged analog, [(FeL amine ) 2 (P-O)], suggesting that the pK a values of the hydroxo groups in 1 and [(FeL tBu-amine ) 2 (μ-OH)] + are quite large. The CV of 2 revealed well-defined ligand-based redox couples, but no metal-based redox couples. When 2 was treated with mild acid, metal-based redox couples for [(FeL tBu-amine ) 2 (μ-OH)] + grew in.
The ultimate gift: body donation.

Information relative to whole body donation was requested from a representative number of medical schools. Additionally, selected information contained on the Internet was gleaned as a helpful resource. This article reports aspects of body donation including physical arrangements, policies and procedures, limitations, and options available to families of donors. Body donation at death to university medical schools represents a valuable program for educating and training young doctors, dentists, nurses, and other allied professionals, and for promoting surgical and research techniques and procedures. While there is ample information about coping mechanisms of medical students and others involved in dissecting cadavers, little has been published concerning the effects of the donor program on surviving families.
Flame Propagation Along Matchstick ArraysOn, Inclined Base Boards

Abstract Flame propagation along linear, vertically-oriented matchstick arrays on inclined base board is studied experimentally. The angles between the base board and the horizontal are 0°, 20°, and 40°. Both uphill burning and downhill burning are studied. The temperature field within the flame zone is measured, which indicates that the preheated region increases as the base board angle increases. Schlieren photographs of burning matchstick arrays also support this observation. Theoretical analysis using the concepts of the ignition temperature and the standoff distance of an envelope flame provides good agreement with the experimental results.