cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the Effects of Environmental Conditions on Autonomy Algorithms for Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Autonomy for commercial applications is developing at a rapid pace; however, autonomous navigation of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for military applications has been deployed to a limited extent. Delaying the use of autonomy for military applications is the environment in which military UGVs must operate. Military operations take place in unstructured environments under adverse environmental conditions. Military UGVs are infrequently tested harsh conditions; therefore, there exists a lack of understanding in how autonomy reacts to challenging environmental conditions. Using high-fidelity modeling and simulation (M&S), autonomy algorithms can be exercised quickly and inexpensively in realistic operational conditions. The presented research introduces the M&S tools available for simulating adverse environmental conditions. Simulated camera images generated using these M&S tools are run through two typical autonomy algorithms, road lane detection and object classification, to assess the impact environmental conditions have on autonomous operations. Furthermore, the presented research proposes a methodology for quantifying these environmental effects.
Information-theoretic thresholds for community detection in sparse networks

We give upper and lower bounds on the information-theoretic threshold for community detection in the stochastic block model. Specifically, consider a symmetric stochastic block model with q groups, average degree d, and connection probabilities cin/n and cout/n for within-group and between-group edges respectively; let λ = (cin − cout)/(qd). We show that, when q is large, and λ = O(1/q), the critical value of d at which community detection becomes possible—in physical terms, the condensation threshold—is dc = � � logq qλ 2 � , with tighter results in certain regimes. Above this threshold, we show that any partition of the nodes into q groups which is as ‘good’ as the planted one, in terms of the number of within- and between-group edges, is correlated with it. This gives an exponential-time algorithm that performs better than chance; specifically, community detection becomes possible below the Kesten-Stigum bound for q ≥ 5 in the disassortative case λ 0 (similar upper bounds were obtained independently by Abbe and Sandon). Conversely, below this threshold, we show that no algorithm can label the vertices better than chance, or even distinguish
Nanoluciferase-based Method for Detecting Gene Expression in C. elegans

Abstract Genetic reporters such as the green fluorescent protein (GFP) can facilitate measurement of promoter activity and gene expression. However, GFP and other fluorophores have limited sensitivity, particularly in tissues that autofluoresce like the intestine of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we present a highly sensitive Nanoluciferase (NanoLuc)-based method in multi-well format to detect constitutive and inducible gene expression in C. elegans. We optimize detection of bioluminescent signal from NanoLuc in C. elegans and show that it can be detected at 400,000-fold over background in a population of 100 animals expressing intestinal NanoLuc driven by the vha-6 promoter. We can reliably detect signal in single vha-6p::Nanoluc-expressing worms from all developmental stages. Furthermore, we can detect signal from 1/100 dilution of lysate from a single vha-6p::Nanoluc-expressing adult and from a single vha-6p::Nanoluc-expressing adult “hidden” in a pool of 5,000 N2 wild-type animals. We also optimized various steps of this protocol, which involves a lysis step that can be performed in minutes. As a proof of concept, we used NanoLuc to monitor promoter activity of the pals-5 stress/immune reporter and we were able to measure 300 and 50-fold increased NanoLuc activity after proteasome blockade and infection with microsporidia, respectively. Altogether, these results indicate that NanoLuc provides a highly sensitive genetic reporter for rapidly monitoring gene expression in C. elegans.
Effects of periconceptional heat stress on primiparous and multiparous daughters of Holstein dairy cows

To meet growing worldwide demands for animal products, animal production will need to increase in capacity and efficiency. Every opportunity to improve animal protein yield should be considered and explored. Developmental programming is one such opportunity that has not yet been thoroughly investigated in farm animal production. While developmental programming can be advantageous for the survival of the offspring, it is often described in conjunction with negative consequences. The known and potential causes and mechanisms are numerous, often stemming from some sort of stress experienced during the prenatal or early postnatal period. One stressor that is particularly concerning for farm animal production is heat stress. Heat stress is known to elicit adaptations associated with developmental programming in several species, but has not been investigated in dairy cattle until recently. Multiple studies have shown that heat stress experienced during the periconceptional period is generally associated with reduced milk production of resulting offspring. This could be the result of adaptations within the pre-ovulatory oocyte or early developing embryo. Interestingly, in a few select comparisons, periconceptional heat stress was associated with greater milk production. This was only observed when dairy cattle calved in the spring, and would therefore be reaching peak milk production in late spring or early summer (in heat stress). This is consistent with the match/mismatch theory associated with developmental programming, where matched prenatal/postnatal environments confer advantageous adaptations and mismatched prenatal/postnatal environments are generally detrimental to the offspring. While these studies are important additions to our growing knowledge of heat stress impacts on dairy cow production, the broader implication of developmental programming requires further investigation.
Grain yield and N use efficiency of direct-seeded rice under different N management practices aimed to reduce N input

The objective of this study was to determine whether integrated N management strategies can be used to increase yield and N use efficiency (NUE) of direct-seeded rice. Field experiments were conduc...
Creative Adjustments to an Undergraduate Chemical Biology Course from Research-Based in-Person to All-Remote Education during the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

With the global pandemic this spring, we experienced a switch to remote education halfway through our semester at The College of New Jersey. For an advanced special topics in chemical biology class, lecture and group work required changes, increasing the number of assignments as well as the level of independent thinking and application-based learning. Laboratories that revolved around a cohesive research experience where students would have synthesized, characterized and tested novel peptides using biophysical and biochemical techniques were changed in a unique way. Using research, both published and unpublished, the developed vignettes retained the learning outcomes for students and provided students background, a task, and raw, unworked data. They made predictions, worked up the data, provided conclusions, suggestions, and analysis just as they would had they obtained the data first-hand. This work describes the original course design, the adjustments to lab, lecture, and assessments, what appeared successful, and what was challenging.
Microlensing Events from Measurements of the Deflection

Microlensing events are now regularly being detected by monitoring the flux of a large number of potential sources and measuring the combined magnification of the images. This phenomenon could also be detected directly from the gravitational deflection, by means of high-precision interferometric astrometry. Relative astrometry at the level of 10 μas may become possible in the near future. Contrary to the photometric method, astrometry allows the detection of microlensing events for impact parameters much larger than the Einstein radius, increasing by a large factor the number of detectable events. With ground-based interferometers, the gravitational deflection can be measured by astrometric monitoring of a bright star having a background star within a small angular separation. This type of monitoring program will be carried out for the independent reasons of discovering planets from the angular motion they induce on the nearby star around which they are orbiting and of measuring parallaxes, proper motions, and orbits of binary stars. We discuss three applications of the measurement of gravitational deflections by astrometric monitoring: measuring the mass of the bright stars that are monitored, measuring the mass of brown dwarfs or giant planets around the bright stars, and detecting microlensing events by unrelated objects near the line of sight to the two stars. We discuss the number of stars whose mass could be measured by this procedure. We also give expressions for the number of expected microlensing events by unrelated objects, which could be stars, brown dwarfs, or other compact objects accounting for dark matter in the halo or in the disk; these could be detected with space interferometers.
Updating an Empirically Based Tool for Analyzing Congenital Heart Surgery Mortality

Objectives:STAT Mortality Categories (developed 2009) stratify congenital heart surgery procedures into groups of increasing mortality risk to characterize case mix of congenital heart surgery prov...
A Terminal Imido Complex of an Iron–Sulfur Cluster

We report the synthesis and characterization of the first terminal imido complex of an Fe-S cluster, (IMes)3 Fe4 S4 =NDipp (2; IMes=1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene, Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl), which is generated by oxidative group transfer from DippN3 to the all-ferrous cluster (IMes)3 Fe4 S4 (PPh3 ). This two-electron process is achieved by formal one-electron oxidation of the imido-bound Fe site and one-electron oxidation of two IMes-bound Fe sites. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational studies establish that the Fe-imido site is best described as a high-spin Fe3+ center, which is manifested in its long Fe-N(imido) distance of 1.763(2) A. Cluster 2 abstracts hydrogen atoms from 1,4-cyclohexadiene to yield the corresponding anilido complex, demonstrating competency for C-H activation.
Improved rates for prediction and identification of partially observed linear dynamical systems

Identification of a linear time-invariant dynamical system from partial observations is a fundamental problem in control theory. Particularly challenging are systems exhibiting long-term memory. A natural question is how learn such systems with non-asymptotic statistical rates depending on the inherent dimensionality (order) $d$ of the system, rather than on the possibly much larger memory length. We propose an algorithm that given a single trajectory of length $T$ with gaussian observation noise, learns the system with a near-optimal rate of $\widetilde O\left(\sqrt\frac{d}{T}\right)$ in $\mathcal{H}_2$ error, with only logarithmic, rather than polynomial dependence on memory length. We also give bounds under process noise and improved bounds for learning a realization of the system. Our algorithm is based on multi-scale low-rank approximation: SVD applied to Hankel matrices of geometrically increasing sizes. Our analysis relies on careful application of concentration bounds on the Fourier domain -- we give sharper concentration bounds for sample covariance of correlated inputs and for $\mathcal H_\infty$ norm estimation, which may be of independent interest.
The Grace of Four Moons: Dress, Adornment, and the Art of the Body in Modern India

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Pravina Shukla Year: 2008 Pages: 464 Publisher: Indiana University Press ISBN: 978-0-253-34911-8 (hard cover). Prices: $34.95 USD(hard cover).
EEG monitoring of comatose patients in the intensive care unit

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the process of electroencephalographically (EEG) monitoring comatose patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). EEG monitoring permits clinical and subclinical changes to be followed over time and may capture transient events, such as seizures when they are not manifest clinically. The EEG findings reflect cerebral metabolism and may therefore detect cerebral ischemia or hypoxia that is responsible for, or compounding, the patient's comatose state. The EEG reflects the postsynaptic activity of superficial cortical cells and is altered by processes or cerebral events that influence the activity of these cells. The major role of EEG monitoring in the ICU is to detect changes while they are still reversible. In patients who are in the ICU, secondary neural injury is common and may be hard to detect clinically, thereby providing justification for the belief that EEG monitoring should become more widely used in the ICU.
Polarizable Media in Classical Gluodynamics and the SU2 Vacuum

The description of a polarizable medium, interacting with non-Abelian gauge fields can be formulated in a simple, gaugeinvariant manner. Working with a Euclidean-space version of an SU2 gauge-theory, we find a solution to the resulting field equations with “vacuun-like” properties: 1. E i a B i a =0 2. E i a E i a + B i a B i a constant 3. Area law behavior for Wilson loops formed from the classical fields.
Three Dimensional Numerical Simulations of the UPS-292 Stratified Charge Engine

The authors present and analyze three-dimensional calculations of the spray, mixing and combustion in the UPS-292 stratified charge engine for three different operating conditions, corresponding to overall air-fuel ratios between 22.4 and 61.0. The numerical calculations are performed with KIVA, a multidimensional arbitrary-mesh, finite-difference hydrodynamics program for internal combustion engine applications. The calculations use a mesh of 10,000 computational cells. Each operating condition is calculated from intake valve closure at 118/sup 0/ BTDC to 90/sup 0/ ATDC and requires approximately three hours of CRAY-XMP computer time. Combustion occurs primarily in the wake of the spark plug, and to include the effects of the spark plug on the flow field, we use a novel internal obstacle treatment. The methodology, in which internal obstacles are represented by computational particles, promises to be applicable to the calculation of the flows around intake and exhaust valves.
Adolescent alcohol exposure decreased sensitivity to nicotine in adult Wistar rats

Many adolescents engage in heavy alcohol use. Limited research in humans indicates that adolescent alcohol use predicts adult tobacco use. The present study investigated whether adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure alters nicotine sensitivity in adulthood. Adolescent male Wistar rats (postnatal day 28-53) were exposed to AIE exposure that consisted of 5 g/kg of 25 percent ethanol three times per day in a 2 days on/2 days off regimen. Control rats received water with the same exposure regimen. In adulthood, separate groups of rats were tested for nicotine intravenous self-administration (IVSA), drug discrimination and conditioned taste aversion (CTA). The dose-response function for nicotine IVSA under a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement was similar in AIE-exposed and control rats. However, AIE-exposed rats self-administered less nicotine at the lowest dose, suggesting that low-dose nicotine was less reinforcing in AIE-exposed, compared with control rats. AIE-exposed rats self-administered less nicotine under a progressive-ratio schedule, suggesting decreased motivation for nicotine after AIE exposure. The discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine were diminished in AIE-exposed rats compared with control rats. No group differences in nicotine CTA were observed, suggesting that AIE exposure had no effect on the aversive properties of nicotine. Altogether, these results demonstrate that AIE exposure decreases sensitivity to the reinforcing, motivational and discriminative properties of nicotine while leaving the aversive properties of nicotine unaltered in adult rats. These findings suggest that drinking during adolescence may result in decreased sensitivity to nicotine in adult humans, which may in turn contribute to the higher rates of tobacco smoking.
A reconciliation of dynamic crack velocity and Rayleigh wave speed in isotropic brittle solids

Following earlier observations of multiple micro-crack formation accompanying crack propagation under dynamic conditions, the question regarding the discrepancy between the ‘theoretically anticipated’ maximal crack (Rayleigh wave) speed and those observed typically in amorphous, isotropic solids is examined experimentally. It is shown that if the production of these multiple micro-cracks ahead of the main fracture is suppressed by fabricating a material possessing a thin uniform region of vanishing intrinsic (molecular/atomic) material strength, the crack speed is materially increased to the point of approaching the Rayleigh wave speed. Moreover, it is also shown that the presence of small discreet flaws of sufficient spatial density similarly ‘weakens’ the material to produce fracture speeds comparable to the Rayleigh wave speed. One deduces, therefore, that for a single crack front the linearized theory of elastodynamics correctly predicts the dynamic crack propagation behavior of a solid with sufficiently low material strength.
Effect of carbon dioxide on sorghum yield, root growth, and water use

Abstract The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is rising. The effect of higher than ambient levels of CO 2 on plants grown in the sub-humid central Great Plains of the U.S.A. has not been investigated. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at Manhattan, Kansas, to study the effect of elevated levels of CO 2 on grain sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. During the summer of 1984, the sorghum was grown in rhizotrons in which root and shoot growth could be monitored throughout the growth cycle. The tops of the plants were enclosed in plastic chambers, which contained one of four concentrations of CO 2 : 330 (ambient), 485, 660, and 795 μl 1 −1 . Enriched CO 2 delayed the boot, half bloom, and soft dough stages. Sorghum grown at elevated concentrations of CO 2 yielded more roots and shoots than plants grown with 330 μl 1 −1 . At all soil-profile depths, root numbers and weights were higher at elevated CO 2 than at ambient CO 2 . However, water use per unit dry matter of leaf, stem, root, and grain was decreased 13, 30, 31, and 29%, respectively, in plants grown at 795 μl 1 −1 CO 2 compared to plants at 330 μl 1 −1 CO 2 . Although elevated CO 2 levels increased the stomatal resistance and leaf temperature, an increase in leaf area indices resulted in a lower canopy resistance.
Terrorism, War, and The Killing of the Innocent

Commonsense moral thought holds that what makes terrorism particularly abhorrent is the fact that it tends to be directed toward innocent victims. Yet contemporary philosophers tend to doubt that the concept of innocence plays any significant role here, and to deny that prohibitions against targeting noncombatants can be justified through appeal to their moral innocence. I argue, however, that the arguments used to support these doubts are ultimately unsuccessful. Indeed, the philosophical positions in question tend to misunderstand the justification of both the prohibition against targeting noncombatants, and that of the permission to attack combatants, for which the paper offers a new account. Such misunderstandings make it all too easy to justify both terrorist actions and morally objectionable actions on the part of nations at war. Taking proper account of the role of innocence in the context of armed conflict will alter our ordinary ways of thinking about the ethics of war, with respect to both jus in bello and jus ad bellum.
859 SCREENING FOR ANEMIA IN INFANTS: EVIDENCE FOR USING IDENTICAL HEMOGLOBIN (Hb) CRITERIA IN BLACKS AND CAUCASIANS

Blacks are reported to have an inherently lower Hb than caucasians. The purpose of this study was to determine by evaluatingthe Hb response to a therapeutic trial of iron whether separate Hb screening criteria according to race are justified. Hb was determined on capillary blood in 1128 healthy one-year-old infants of air force personnel. All infants with a Hb < 11.5 g/dl were considered screen positive and were asked to return for Hb determination on venous blood before and after 3 mo of oral iron therapy (3 mg/kg/d as ferrous sulfate). Significantly more blacks (37%) than caucasians (22%) were screen positive (p < 0.005). If an inherently lower Hb were the only basis for overrepresentation of blacks in the screen positive group, we would expect fewer blacks than caucasians to have an Hb response to iron therapy. However, there was a similar percentage who had a ≥ 1.0 g/dl rise invenous Hb in both races: 38% of the 41 black and 35% of the 122 caucasian infants who satisfactorily completed the regimen. The distributions of Hb values and the rates of Hb response indicated that a slight but significant inherent tendency to lower Hb values among the blacks was counterbalanced by a substantially higher prevalence of iron deficiency anemia. These findings favor using uniform Hb screening criteria in similar populations.
Nonlinear Dynamics of a Boom Crane

We study a boom crane modeled as a spherical pendulum undergoing base excitations. We demon strate how instabilities in the payload motion arise due to a combination of a one-to-one internal resonance and a primary (additive) resonance or a parametric (multiplicative) resonance. The method of multiple scales is used to derive four nonlinear ordinary-differential equations describing the amplitudes and phases of the in-plane and out-of-plane modes. The modulation equations are used to study the equilibrium and dynamic solutions and their stability. The response could be a single-mode (planar) or a two-mode (three-dimensional) motion. We also study the limit cycles arising in the response and ascertain their stability Numerical re sults indicate the existence of a sequence of period-doubling bifurcations that culminates in chaos, multiple attractors, intermittency of type I, and cyclic-fold bifurcations.
Ultra low power 10- to 25-Gb/s CMOS-driven VCSEL links

Two optical links sharing a TX but using different RXs explore the speed/power/area tradeoff. Circuits are 90nm CMOS. Record full-link power efficiencies of 1.37pJ/bit at 15Gb/s and 3.6pJ/bit at 25Gb/s are achieved.
Corn versus oat silages as a roughage for dairy cattle.

Summary Two double-reversal milk production trials, two digestion trials, and a 46-day heifer growth study were conducted to compare corn and oat silages as roughages for dairy cattle. The studies were conducted with 1956 and 1957 crops. The corn was harvested in the early dent stage and the oats in the early dough stage. Digestion trials showed that the corn and oat silages had average TDN values of 65.4 and 61.4% on a dry matter basis, respectively. Milk production data showed that when oat silage supplied 63% of the total roughage intake it was superior in feeding value to corn silage, but when the silages supplied a higher proportion of the total roughage intake (77%), oat silage produced significantly less 4% FCM than corn silage. Cows consumed significantly less roughage dry matter when fed oat silage than when fed corn silage. Dairy heifers fed oat silage as the sole source of roughage made significantly lower average daily gains in body weight than heifers fed either corn silage or alfalfa hay. Heifers fed either oat or corn silage consumed significantly less roughage dry matter than heifers fed hay.
Winter annual small grain forage potential. I. Dry matter yield in relation to morphological characteristics of four small grain species at six growth stages

Small grains offer a potential animal feed at a time when moisture is usually available in the Southeast. The four major winter annual small grains, barley, oats, rye, and wheat, have not been comp...
Particle-induced modification of thin film YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7- delta / transport properties and microwave device performance

The authors examine the modification of the microwave surface resistance (R/sub s/), the critical current (J/sub c/), and the critical temperature (T/sub c/) resulting from 2-MeV H/sup +/ and 12-MeV Si/sup 4+/ irradiation of high-quality thin films of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7- delta / on LaAlO/sub 3/ substrates. For both ions, the change in T/sub c/ (R=0) and J/sub c/ (77 K and 4.2 K) was roughly linear with fluence. The change in these properties with fluence was quantitatively similar once corrected for differences in the rate of energy loss to atomic displacements. R/sub s/ was also measured as a function of temperature for the same films at 36 GHz using the cylindrical cavity end-wall replacement technique. High quality c-axis oriented films exhibited sharp transitions in R/sub s/ near T/sub c/, followed by a relatively temperature-independent R/sub s/ with a value of approximately 6 m Omega at 20 K. For irradiation with H/sup +/ and Si/sup 4+/ ions, the sharp transition in R/sub s/ was shifted to lower temperatures, although below the transition temperature R/sub s/(T) was unchanged. The loaded quality factor, or Q, of a 5.3-GHz ring resonator, patterned from a 500-nm film on MgO substrate, was measured as a function of temperature for 2-MeV H/sup +/ irradiation. While Q(T) was observed to decrease as a function of fluence, Q(T/T/sub c/) was invariant, as expected from the insensitivity of R/sub s/ to particle fluence below approximately 0.9 T/sub c/.
Charge-recovery power amplifier for piezoelectric applications

A power amplifier concept that considers both the electrical and mechanical nature of piezoelectric actuators is presented in this paper. It is referred to as a charge-recovery amplifier because it is designed to recover during actuator contraction the energy that is stored in the electric field of the actuator during extension. This is accomplished by creating a closed system with a flying capacitor that can be switched from a parallel configuration to a series configuration, effectively trapping the electric charge in the closed system and moving it between the piezoelectric actuator and the capacitor. Desired deflection levels within the range of the actuator are accomplished by switching the system at a high rate and using a pulse-width-modulation strategy.
T2–T4 Carcinoma of the skin of the head and neck treated with radical irradiation

This is an analysis of 99 patients with 100 T2-T4 previously untreated (56) or recurrent (44) carcinomas of the skin of the head and neck that were treated with radical irradiation between October 1964 and December 1983. Fifty-five patients had squamous cell carcinomas, 42 had basal cell carcinomas, and 3 had basosquamous carcinomas. The lesions were staged according to the AJCC staging system. All patients were observed for at least 2 years, and 71% had at least a 5-year follow-up. Eighty-four percent of recurrences were noted within 2 years of radiation therapy, and 97% within 5 years of treatment. This paper will present data on the initial and ultimate rates of local control, factors, such as bone, cartilage, and nerve invasion, that affect the likelihood of local control, determinate survival rates, and the incidence of treatment complications.
Lookup peaks: a hybrid of de novo sequencing and database search for protein identification by tandem mass spectrometry.

A powerful technique for peptide and protein identification is tandem mass spectrometry followed by database search using a program such as SEQUEST or Mascot. These programs, however, become slow and lose sensitivity when allowing nonspecific cleavages or peptide modifications. De novo sequencing and hybrid methods such as sequence tagging offer speed and robustness for wider searches, yet these approaches require better spectra with more complete and consecutive fragmentation and, hence, are less sensitive to low-abundance peptides. Here we describe a new hybrid method that retains the sensitivity of pure database search. The method uses a small amount of de novo analysis to identify likely b- and y-ion peaks“lookup peaks”that can then be used to extract candidate peptides from the database, with the number of candidates tunable to fit a computing budget. We describe a program called ByOnic that implements this method, and we benchmark ByOnic on several data sets, including one of mouse blood plasma spik...
Experimental Predictions from Technicolor Theories

We calculate detailed predictions for masses, decay branching ratios, and production cross sections for new dynamical bosons expected as physical parttcles m a technicolor theory The colored technieta state (m = 240 GeV) has a significant production cross section at Isabelle or the Tevatron colhder. Ltght, neutral, spin-zero axlons (m ~< 2.5 GeV) are expected, and also charged, spin-zero, axions (analogous to charged Higgs bosons) with mass 8 GeV The latter should be seen at PETRA/PEP.
Dielectron measurements by PHENIX using the HBD

Abstract PHENIX presents first dielectron spectra for p + p and Au + Au collisions measured using the HBD detector. The p + p results are compatible with cocktail calculations that take into account the modified aperture of PHENIX due to a change in the magnetic field configuration. The Au + Au results are compared to the expected yield of dielectrons from meson decays (hadronic cocktail) in centrality selections 20–40% and 60–92%. Our results do not show any significant deviations from these predictions and are compatible with previous measurements published by PHENIX.
Independence and Community: Teaching Midwestern

This article investigates how a Midwestern early childhood teacher’s practice and her views of her practice are culturally constrained. The research is framed by a cultural psychology and draws on an ethnographic and interpretive biographic study of Mary, an experienced first-grade teacher. We explore Mary’s practice through four central themes: (a) raising independent decision makers, (b) developing self-motivated lifelong learners, (c) providing a basis for a successful life, and (d) building community. We explore how each theme is informed by a folk psychology that reflects Mary’s cultural beliefs and values. We conclude with implications for early childhood practice and research
The Chesapeake Bay story: The science behind the program

The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) is based on good science and high quality data. This has allowed the program to set and implement meaningful goals. The research phase resulted in the “1983 Chesapeake Bay Agreement”, which called for the jurisdictions to focus existing pollution control programs on reducing the nutrient loads to the Bay. A second “Bay Agreement” was developed and signed by the jurisdictions in 1987. This agreement contained 27 specific goals including a Basinwide Nutrient Reduction Strategy to reduce “1985 controllable” nutrient loads to the Bay by 40 percent in the year 2000. To assure high quality monitoring data, CBP established a strong quality assurance and quality control procedure which is used for all monitoring. To assist with the monitoring a computer program, “Chesapeake Bay Automated Monitoring System” was developed to evaluate the quality of field and laboratory data and to allow the data to be directly loaded into the CBP computers. The Chesapeake Bay Program Office developed models for the drainage basin and the water of the Bay. The watershed model simulates the pollutant loads from eight land uses, the majority of the point sources and atmospheric deposition. It processes these loads through the river systems and delivers the load to the Bay for use in the Bay model. The Bay model uses these loads and adds atmospheric deposition, loads from the ocean interface and loads from bottom sediments to simulate water quality data at all points in the Bay. The models were used to confirm that the 40% nutrient reduction goal was correct, resulting in an amendment to the 1987 Agreement, calling for a commitment by the jurisdictions to develop tributary specific strategies to reach the goal. The tributary strategies lay out the future goals and direction that must be taken to reach the nutrient reduction goals. These tributary strategies are being evaluated by the program office, using the models. The results of the evaluation and model simulation of the implementation progress in the basin are discussed along with the economic implications of reaching these goals.
Predictors of Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Performance in Persons Receiving Rehabilitation Services

Abstract Coster W, Haley SM, Jette A, Tao W, Siebens H. Predictors of basic and instrumental activities of daily living performance in persons receiving rehabilitation services. Objective To examine the relations among cognitive and emotional function and other patient impairment and demographic variables and the performance of daily activities. Design Cohort. Setting Acute inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and outpatient clinics. Participants Adults (N=534) receiving services for neurologic (32.3%), lower-extremity orthopedic (42.7%), or complex medical (24.9%) conditions. Mean age was 63.8 years; 55% were women; 88.6% were white; and the time since condition onset ranged from 0.2 to 3.9 years. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care: applied cognitive, personal care and instrumental, and physical and movement scales; Mental Health Inventory–5 (MHI-5); and patient-identified problems (vision, grasp). Results Path analyses resulted in good model fit both for the total sample and 3 patient subgroups (χ 2 test, P >.05; comparative fit index >.95). There was a significant ( P R 2 for the personal care and instrumental scale for the total sample was .60, with R 2 values of .10, .72, and .62 for the lower-extremity orthopedic, neurologic, and complex medical groups, respectively. Conclusions Results suggest that variations in cognitive function, along with visual impairment and lower perceived well-being are associated with a patient's ability to complete daily activities. Rehabilitation professionals should consider cognitive and emotional factors as well as physical performance when planning treatment programs to restore daily activity function.
Producing and Concentrating Lenti-Cre for Mouse Infections

Lentiviral vectors offer versatility as vehicles for gene delivery. They can transduce a wide range of cell types and integrate into the host genome, which results in long-term expression of the transgene (Cre) both in vitro and in vivo. This protocol describes how lentiviral particles are produced, purified, and concentrated.
MIMO multipath clutter mitigation for GMTI automotive radar in urban environments

Ground-moving target indicator (GMTI) radar, commonly deployed on airborne platforms, is currently precluded on surface vehicles due to multipath spread-Doppler clutter in complex terrain. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar techniques have been shown to successfully mitigate spread-Doppler clutter in other radar applications, such as over-the-horizon (OTH) radar. In the instance of a forward-looking, vehicular-mounted GMTI radar, MIMO spacetime adaptive processing (STAP) techniques have been shown to mitigate multipath clutter resulting from a point reflector and the ground. However, fully adaptive MIMO STAP uses a large number of degrees of freedom, which requires an immense amount of training data to support. In addition, a single point reflector is not an accurate representation of an urban environment. This research explores using partially adaptive MIMO beamforming techniques with a significantly reduced number of degrees of freedom than fully adaptive MIMO STAP, in the situation of a forward-looking, vehicular-mounted GMTI radar in the presence of a large specular reflector, such as a highway guardrail or a building wall. (5 pages)
Crystal Structure of Lactaldehyde Dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli and Inferences Regarding Substrate and Cofactor Specificity.

Aldehyde dehydrogenases catalyze the oxidation of aldehyde substrates to the corresponding carboxylic acids. Lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli (aldA gene product, P25553) is an NAD(+)-dependent enzyme implicated in the metabolism of l-fucose and l-rhamnose. During the heterologous expression and purification of taxadiene synthase from the Pacific yew, lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from E. coli was identified as a minor (</=5%) side-product subsequent to its unexpected crystallization. Accordingly, we now report the serendipitous crystal structure determination of unliganded lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from E. coli determined by the technique of multiple isomorphous replacement using anomalous scattering at 2.2 A resolution. Additionally, we report the crystal structure of the ternary enzyme complex with products lactate and NADH at 2.1 A resolution, and the crystal structure of the enzyme complex with NADPH at 2.7 A resolution. The structure of the ternary complex reveals that the nicotinamide ring of the cofactor is disordered between two conformations: one with the ring positioned in the active site in the so-called hydrolysis conformation, and another with the ring extended out of the active site into the solvent region, designated the out conformation. This represents the first crystal structure of an aldehyde dehydrogenase-product complex. The active site pocket in which lactate binds is more constricted than that of medium-chain dehydrogenases such as the YdcW gene product of E. coli. The structure of the binary complex with NADPH reveals the first view of the structural basis of specificity for NADH: the negatively charged carboxylate group of E179 destabilizes the binding of the 2'-phosphate group of NADPH sterically and electrostatically, thereby accounting for the lack of enzyme activity with this cofactor.
Segregation distorter in D. melanogaster males: An effect of female genotype on recovery

Segregation Distorter (SD) is a gene affecting sperm recovery in Drosophila melanogaster. In a cross SD/SD+♂ x SD+♀, the proportion of SD/SD+ zygotes recovered (k) is larger than the 0.50 expected. Previous investigations have shown that the relative recovery of SD- and SD+-bearing sperm is determined at or before the meiotic divisions. Evidence is presented here that k is influenced by the genotype of the female parent. It is suggested that the SD gene product causes a difference in the enzymatic or structural complement of the SD- and SD+-bearing sperm which largely determines their relative functionality. The effect of the female genotype on recovery is interpreted as an interaction between this physiological difference and the environment of the female reproductive tract.
Constructing specifications by combining parallel elaborations

An incremental approach to construction is proposed, with the virtue of offering considerable opportunity for mechanized support. Following this approach one builds a specification through a series of elaborations that incrementally adjust a simple initial specification. Elaborations perform both refinements, adding further detail, and adaptations, retracting oversimplifications and tailoring approximations to the specifics of the task. It is anticipated that the vast majority of elaborations can be concisely described to a mechanism that will then perform them automatically. When elaborations are independent, they can be applied in parallel, leading to diverging specifications that must later be recombined. The approach is intended to facilitate comprehension and maintenance of specifications, as well as their initial construction. >
Single access laparoscopic nephrectomy

Laparoscopic nephrectomy has assumed a central role in the management of benign and malignant kidney diseases. While laparoscopy is less morbid than open surgery, it still requires several incisions each at least 1-2 cm in length. Each incision carries morbidity risks of bleeding, hernia and/or internal organ damage, and incrementally decreases cosmesis. An alternative to conventional laparoscopy is single access or keyhole surgery, which utilizes magnetic anchoring and guidance system (MAGS) technology or articulating laparoscopic instruments. These technical innovations obviate the need to externally space trocars for triangulation, thus allowing for the creation of a small, solitary portal of entry into the abdomen. Laboratory and early clinical series demonstrate feasibility as well as safe and successful completion of keyhole nephrectomy. Future work is necessary to improve existing instrumentation, increase clinical experience, assess benefits of this surgical approach, and explore other potential applications for this technique.
Parent Training With Behavioral Couples Therapy for Fathers' Alcohol Abuse: Effects on Substance Use, Parental Relationship, Parenting, and CPS Involvement

This pilot study examined effects of Parent Skills with Behavioral Couples Therapy (PSBCT) on substance use, parenting, and relationship conflict among fathers with alcohol use disorders. Male participants (N = 30) entering outpatient alcohol treatment, their female partners, and a custodial child (8 to 12 years) were randomly assigned to (a) PSBCT; (b) Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT); or (c) Individual-Based Treatment (IBT). Children were not actively involved in treatment. Parents completed measures of substance use, couples' dyadic adjustment, partner violence, parenting, and Child Protection Services (CPS) involvement at pretreatment, posttreatment, 6- and 12-month follow-up. PSBCT was comparable to BCT on substance use, dyadic adjustment, and partner violence; both groups showed clinically meaningful effects over IBT. Compared to BCT, PSBCT resulted in larger effect sizes on parenting and CPS involvement throughout follow-up. PSBCT for fathers may enhance parenting couple- or individual-based treatment, and warrant examination in a larger, randomized efficacy trial.
Numerically predicting ductile material behavior from tensile specimen response

Abstract Direct measurement of uniaxial true stress-strain behavior for ductile engineering materials is not possible when necking occurs in standard tensile test specimens. A procedure is presented which converts standard specimen test data to a true stress-strain relation postulated as valid for higher strains. A series of finite element test specimen simulations demonstrates the correction algorithm rationale for HY-100 steel. Predicted specimen behavior was in close agreement with reported experimental data. The combined influence of specimen boundary conditions and material stress-strain behavior is discussed. Results suggest that specimen behavior may be modeled correctly without the use of auxiliary conditions, such as geometric imperfections or material instability, to trigger specimen necking.
Constitutional tariffs, incidental protection, and the Laffer relationship in the early United States

This article explores an early attempt to establish a constitutional constraint on tariffs utilizing the Laffer Curve relationship. In 1842 John Calhoun suggested that the curve’s revenue maximization apex could be used to differentiate between “Revenue” and “Protective” tariffs independently from the non-judiciable question of legislative motive. When admitted that a tax must actually be collected to remain constitutionally valid, the apex functions as a de facto upper tariff rate constraint. Despite subsequently falling in disfavor, Calhoun’s argument illustrates the importance of political economy on the constitutional level by recognizing conditions that induce policymakers to rationally raise tax rates at the expense.
Multiple Birth-Risk Factors and Handedness in Elementary School Children

Abstract The relationships between a set of birth-risk factors, i.e., sex, parity, maternal age, handedness were computed for 600 elementary school children. None of these birth-risk variables (or relevant combinations of them) were significantly related to handedness. These data further question the Validity-of the hypothesis that left-handedness results from stressful prenatal and birth conditions.
A NONSTANDARD ANALYSIS OF A SIMPLE DISCONTINUOUS FORCE EQUATION MODELLING CONTINUOUS MOTION

Modern mathematical techniques have been applied to analyze a simple discontinuous force equation; the results of which are applicable to general friction problems containing discontinuities
Quantification of Urinary Stone Volume: Attenuation Threshold–based CT Method—A Technical Note

A method that uses a variable stone attenuation (equal to half of the attenuation of each stone) yielded more accurate and precise volume measurements than a method with a fixed attenuation threshold.
The relationship and biology of human retroviruses.

other animal retroviruses, including long terminal repeat, group-specific polymerase, envelope, and transactivation genes. Human retroviruses discovered to date have been associated with lymphoproliferative or cytopathic disease states. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) shares genomic sequence, structural features, replicative mechanisms, and cytopathic features with other animal lentiviruses. Lentiviruses, such as HIV, share the common biological features of inducing fusion and death of infected host cells. Restricted transcription of viral gene products (in concert with host factors) and antigenic variation (primarily in the envelope gene) allow these viruses
Rapid determination of adenosine deaminase kinetics using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry

Adenosine deaminase is an enzyme involved in purine metabolism and its inhibitors are used as anticancer and antiviral drugs. In this study, we show that fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes can be used to study the kinetics of adenosine deaminase by electrochemically monitoring decreases in adenosine concentration. Buffer and salt concentrations were shown to affect the enzyme kinetics and the inhibition by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA) and deoxycoformycin (DCF). In a Tris buffer containing salts that mimic cerebrospinal fluid, EHNA and DCF showed non-competitive inhibition with a Ki of 1.7 ± 0.6 nM and 1.2 ± 0.2 nM, respectively. However, removing the divalent cations from the Tris buffer caused the inhibition to be competitive and reduced the Ki for DCF by two orders of magnitude. In phosphate-buffered saline, the Ki was 1.0 ± 0.2 nM for EHNA and 3.6 ± 0.3 pM for DCF, similar to literature values. Adenosine deaminase was also competitively inhibited by AgNO3, showing it is susceptible to silver toxicity. Caffeine was found to increase adenosine deaminase activity. This is a fast, easy method for screening drug effects on enzyme kinetics and could be applied to other enzymatic reactions where there is a significant difference in the electroactivity of the reactant and product.
The Comparison of Performances of Preschool Children on Two Motor Assessments

Understanding children's motor performance on different assessments is important for researchers. The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) are motor assessments that use either a process- or product-oriented scoring approach. However, no studies have examined how performances are related to these two types of assessment. This study compared the performance of preschool children on the TGMD-2 and the MABC-2. 32 children (M age = 4.2 yr., SD = 9) completed each test to assess whether each described motor performance similarly. Significant low to moderate Spearman's rank correlations (r2 range = .13-.40) were found between the subscales of the assessments. A related-samples Wilcoxon signed rank test was not significant between total performances on the TGMD-2 and MABC-2. From a practical standpoint, each assessment provides a similar overall description of motor competence in preschool children. However, each assessment results in scores that present different information about motor performance.