cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tool Sequence Selection for 2.5-D Pockets With Uneven Stock

This paper describes an algorithm to select the cheapest tool sequence for machining 2.5-D pockets using the milling process when the stock is uneven (non cylindrical). Uneven stock is generated when multiple setups are used to machine a prismatic part. Even though the pockets have flat bottom faces, the amount of material to be removed will vary along the depth of the pocket. This research has developed algorithms for finding accessible areas for tools, and pocket decomposition when the stock is uneven. Finally, it is shown that tool sequence selection problem can be formulated as the shortest path problem in a single-source, single-sink directed acyclic graph.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Selective MAP1LC3C (LC3C) autophagy requires noncanonical initiation regulators and the paralog-specific C-terminal peptide

LC3s are canonical proteins necessary for the formation of autophagosomes. We have previously established that two paralogs, LC3B and LC3C, have opposite activities in renal cancer, with LC3B playing oncogenic role and LC3C tumor suppressing role. LC3C is an evolutionary late gene, present only in higher primates and humans. Its most distinct feature is a C-terminal 20 amino acid peptide cleaved in the process of glycine 126 lipidation. Here we investigated mechanisms of LC3C selective autophagy. LC3C autophagy requires noncanonical upstream regulatory complexes that include ULK3, UVRAG, RUBCN, PIK3C2A, and a member of ESCRT, TSG101. We established that Postdivision Midbody Rings (PDMBs) implicated in cancer stem cell regulation are direct targets of LC3C autophagy. LC3C C-terminal peptide is necessary and sufficient to mediate LC3C-dependent selective degradation of PDMBs. This work establishes a new noncanonical human-specific selective autophagic program relevant to cancer stem cells.
Terlipressin: Hopes Fulfilled or Dashed?

One of the most dreaded complications of end stage liver disease is hepatorenal syndrome AKI (HRS-AKI; formally known as hepatorenal syndrome 1 [HRS-1]). HRS-AKI carries a high mortality, and treatment options are limited. Guidelines recommend terlipressin as the first-line treatment of HRS-AKI;
Bioarchaeology of Andean South America: Past Contributions and Current Research

In recent years bioarchaeology has become a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse research area in South America in general, and in the Andean Area in particular. Bioarchaeologists are making important contributions to issues such as the peopling of South America, interactions between populations of the coast, highlands, and tropical forest, the possible health impacts of increasing social complexity and state formation, environmental challenges and human adaptation, evidence of warfare, and other research questions. This research is by definition multidisciplinary, involving collaboration between biological anthropologists, archaeologists, and specialists in genetics, geochemistry and other scientific disciplines. These collaborative research programs are producing important new data on the archaeology and history of human occupation of Andean South America.
Hippocampal Function and Memory for Temporal Context

Time, and the events associated with time, play a critical role in memory processing and amnesia. Indeed, without memory, the passage of time could not be detected, and without time, the concept of memory would vanish.
Muslims and Religious Liberty in the Era of 9/11: Empirical Evidence from the Federal Courts

In our continuing empirical study of religious liberty decisions in the federal courts, American Muslims were at a distinct and substantial disadvantage in raising free exercise or accommodation claims between 1996 and 2005. Holding other variables constant, the likelihood of success for non-Muslim claimants in religious free exercise claims was 38 percent, while the probability of success for Muslim claimants fell to 22 percent (with the disparity being even higher among court of appeals judges). In sum, Muslim claimants had only about half the chance to receive accommodation that was enjoyed by claimants from other religious communities.Drawing on insights from legal studies, political science, and social and cognitive psychology, we discuss alternative explanations for this result, including (1) a cultural antipathy to Muslims as a minority religion outside the modern American religious triumvirate of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews; (2) growing secularism in certain sectors of society along with opposition to groups holding traditional religious values; (3) the possibility that claims made by Muslims are weaker and deserve to be rejected on the merits; and (4) the perception that followers of Islam pose a security danger to the United States, especially in an era of terrorist anxiety. As a new threat to religious liberty, the persistent uneasiness of many Americans about Muslims appears to have filtered into the attitudes of such well-educated and independent elites as federal judges.
Mixed-Metal Oxide Nanomaterials for Environmental Remediation

The sections in this article are Introduction TiO2 Heterogeneous Photocatalysis for Environmental Remediation Metal-Doped TiO2 Mixed-Metal Oxides as UV-Light-Sensitive Photocatalysts Metal-Doped TiO2 Mixed-metal Oxides as Visible-Light-Sensitive Photocatalysts Other Mixed-metal Oxide Photocatalysts Conclusions Keywords: mixed-metal oxide; nanomaterials; photocatalysis; photodegradation; pollutants; remediation; UV-visible photocatalysts; environmental remediation
WHAT IS A THROAT CULTURE

In the early decades of this century only hospitalized patients had throat cultures performed, usually because diphtheria was suspected. In 1946 Dr. Burtis Breese returned to his private pediatric practice from his World War II involvement in efforts to control U.S. military outbreaks of streptococcal pharyngitis and acute rheumatic fever. Convinced that diagnosis of Group A β-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis was important, he and his colleague, Dr. Frank Disney, revolutionized the evaluation of children with pharyngitis in the United States by processing throat cultures in their private pediatric office.
Evidence for a vesicle-mediated maintenance of store-operated calcium channels in a human embryonic kidney cell line

Direct microinjection of the clostridial neurotoxins botulinum neurotoxin A light chain or tetanus neurotoxin into cells of a human embryonic kidney cell line significantly reduced calcium entry after depletion of internal calcium stores by cyclopiazonic acid, a reversible inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticular calcium-ATPases. Botulinum neurotoxin A light chain specifically hydrolyzes a synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kilodaltons (SNAP-25), and tetanus neurotoxin specifically hydrolyzes synaptobrevin-2 (vesicle-associated membrane protein 2, VAMP-2) and cellubrevin (vesicle-associated membrane protein 3, VAMP-3). Since these substrate proteins are required for vesicle docking and fusion, inhibition of store-operated calcium entry by botulinum neurotoxin A light chain and tetanus neurotoxin supports a model in which vesicle fusion is a prerequisite for activation of store-operated calcium entry. Brefeldin A, a fungal metabolite that interferes with vesicle traffic, partially reduced calcium entry following store depletion. The size of the reserve pool of vesicles or parallel vesicle recycling pathways employing brefeldin A-sensitive and brefeldin A-insensitive ADP-ribosylation factors may explain the failure of brefeldin A to completely inhibit store-operated calcium entry.
Dynamic tuning of MEMS resonators via electromechanical feedback

This paper introduces an active electrical technique for dynamic tuning of MEMS resonators. The proposed technique is based on using the resonator output current to generate displacement or acceleration signals by integration or differentiation operations, respectively. The resulting signal is then scaled to generate an appropriate tuning signal. When applied to the resonator through additional signal ports, the tuning signal electrically modifies the equivalent mechanical stiffness or mass of the resonator, thereby tuning the resonance frequency in a bidirectional fashion depending on the polarity of the scaling. This tuning scheme has been applied to a piezoelectric AlN-on-Si BAW square resonator to tune its 14.2 MHz resonance frequency by 22 kHz, equivalent to 1550 ppm. The proposed tuning technique can be applied to a wide range of MEMS resonators and resonant sensors, e.g., to compensate for temperature or process-induced variations in their resonance frequencies.
Large-Scale Effects on the Regulation of Tropical Sea Surface Temperature

The dominant terms in the surface energy budget of the tropical oceans are absorption of solar radiation and evaporative cooling. If it is assumed that relative humidity in the boundary layer remains constant, evaporative cooling will increase rapidly with sea surface temperature (SST) because of the strong temperature dependence of saturation water vapor pressure. The resulting stabilization of SST provided by evaporative cooling is sufficient to overcome positive feedback contributed by the decrease of surface net longwave cooling with increasing SST. Evaporative cooling is sensitive to small changes in boundary-layer relative humidity. Large and negative shortwave cloud forcing in the regions of highest SST are supported by the moisture convergence associated with largescale circulations. In the descending portions of these circulations the shortwave cloud forcing is suppressed. When the effect of these circulations is taken into account by spatial averaging, the area-averaged cloud forcing shows no sensitivity to area-averaged SST changes associated with the 1987 warming event in the tropical Pacific. While the shortwave cloud forcing is large and important in the convective regions, the importance of its role in regulating the average temperature of the tropics and in modulating temperature gradients within the tropics is less clear. A heuristic model of SST is used to illustrate the possible role of large-scale atmospheric circulations on SST in the tropics and the coupling between SST gradients and mean tropical SST. The intensity of large-scale circulations responds sensitivity to SST gradients and affects the mean tropical SST by supplying dry air to the planetary boundary layer. Large SST gradients generate vigorous circulations that increase evaporation and reduce the mean SST.
Vitamin D Prevents Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption via Vitamin D Receptor-Mediated NF-kB Signaling Pathways

Maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity and minimizing neuronal injury are critical components of any therapeutic intervention following ischemic stroke. However, a low level of vitamin D hormone is a risk factor for many vascular diseases including stroke. The neuroprotective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 (vitamin D) after ischemic stroke have been studied, but it is not known whether it prevents ischemic injury to brain endothelial cells, a key component of the neurovascular unit. We analyzed the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on brain endothelial cell barrier integrity and tight junction proteins after hypoxia/reoxygenation in a mouse brain endothelial cell culture model that closely mimics many of the features of the blood-brain barrier in vitro. Following hypoxic injury in bEnd.3 cells, 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment prevented the decrease in barrier function as measured by transendothelial electrical resistance and permeability of FITC-dextran (40 kDa), the decrease in the expression of the tight junction proteins zonula occludin-1, claudin-5, and occludin, the activation of NF—kB, and the increase in matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression. These responses were blocked when the interaction of 1,25(OH) )2D3 with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) was inhibited by pyridoxal 5’-phosphate treatment. Our findings show a direct, VDR-mediated, protective effect of 1,25(OH) )2D3 against ischemic injury-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction in cerebral endothelial cells.
Intrathoracic desmoid tumor mimicking primary lung neoplasm

Most reported thoracic desmoid tumors originate from the chest wall. However, intrathoracic desmoid tumors are rare. The pathogenesis of these tumors is unclear but antecedent trauma and operation have been implicated. Desmoid tumors can present either with pain or be incidentally detected on radiographic studies. We describe the case of a 60-year-old woman with an intrathoracic desmoid detected on a routine screening chest roentgenogram who underwent complete surgical resection of the tumor.
Chrysotile and amosite asbestos induce germ-line aneuploidy in Drosophila.

Abstract Asbestos toxicity is a problem of considerable public concern and debate, however little is known regarding the biological targets of asbestos fibers. Prompted by reports that asbestos induces aneuploidy in cultured mammalian cells, we have investigated whether asbestos induces germ-line aneuploidy in Drosophila melanogaster. Using the ZESTE genetic test system, we have shown that both chrysotile and amosite asbestos induce sex-chromosome aneuploidy in Drosophila oocytes. Chrysotile appeared to be the more effective agent because it induced approximately equal frequencies of chromosome gain and chromosome loss, while amosite induced chromosome loss only. Two other asbestiform minerals, erocidolite and tremolite, were ineffective in this assay system. These results suggest that possible germ-line effects of asbestos should be considered in evaluating its potential impact on human health.
The sensitivity of surface energy balance to convective parameterization in a general circulation model

This study investigates the interaction between convection and the surface energy fluxes, and its sensitivity to convective parameterization schemes using a general circulation model. Two simulations of the global circulation averaged annually from 1 June 1985 to 31 May 1986 are performed, with particular emphasis on the tropical Pacific. In the control simulation, a convective scheme that parameterizes convection based on low-level moisture convergence is used. A second experiment employs a parameterization scheme that uses the time rate of change of convective available potential energy (CAPE) to determine convection. When the low-level moisture convergence is used as the closure for convective parameterization, convection and low-level convergence occur near the landmass of Southeast Asia. The large-scale circulation is such that a fairly strong surface wind that provides moisture to fuel convection is located in the western tropical Pacific warm pool regions, giving rise to relatively high latent heat flux there. When the time rate of change of CAPE is used to close convective parameterization, convection and its associated low-level large-scale convergence and weak surface wind speed occur in the warm pool region, resulting in low latent heat flux there. Response of surface solar radiative flux to convection is found to bemore » the largest in the surface energy budget. In the experiment, more clouds are produced over the tropical oceans, leading to less solar radiation received on the surface. More clouds in the experiment also lead to less net emission of longwave radiation from the ocean surface due to the cloud greenhouse effect, albeit the magnitude is much smaller than that for solar radiation. The large changes in surface latent heat and solar radiative fluxes from the control run to the experiment suggest that the surface energy balance in the atmospheric general circulation model is highly sensitive to convective parameterization. 44 refs., 10 figs.« less
Hydrazine decomposition over Irn/Al2O3 model catalysts prepared by size-selected cluster deposition.

Hydrazine decomposition chemistry was probed over a temperature range from 100 to 800 K for a series of model catalysts prepared by mass-selected Irn+ deposition on planar Al2O3/NiAl(110). Two sets of experiments are reported. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) was used to study hydrazine desorption and decomposition on Al2O3/NiAl(110) and on a model catalyst prepared by deposition of Ir+ on Al2O3/NiAl(110) at a density large enough (5 × 1014 cm-2) that formation of a distribution of small Irn clusters on the surface is expected. This model catalyst was found to have hydrazine decomposition properties qualitatively similar to those observed on single-crystal Ir and polycrystalline Rh. This catalyst was also studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to probe TPD-induced changes in the samples. A substantial decrease in the Ir XPS intensity suggests that considerable sintering takes place when the samples are heated to 800 K. In addition, a significant fraction of the nitrogen contained in the...
Relationship between micellar and hemi-micellar processes and the bioavailability of surfactant-solubilized hydrophobic organic compounds.

In a landmark study on surfactant-enhanced biodegradation of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs), Guha and Jaffe demonstrated that a fraction (f) of micellar-phase HOC is directly bioavailable to bacterial cells. They developed a theoretical description of fwhich provided an excellent model of the experimental results. However, a mass transfer term describing the transport of the HOC through the cell wall (m(c)) was found to vary over an order of magnitude for the different surfactants examined, and a theoretical description of it remained elusive. This elusivity also resulted in the model not being able to describe a priori why fwas zero for the non-ionic surfactant C12E23. Here, the results of a recent study on surfactant sorption are used to develop an alternative mechanism describing m(c), where hemi-micellar formation on the cell surface is incorporated into the pathway describing micellar HOC bioavailability. The revised model is validated against HOC bioavailability data for five different C12E(y) surfactants, and it is shown that a single value for the mass transfer coefficient describing transfer of the hemi-micellar HOC into the bacterial cell is able to replicate the complete C12E(y) dataset, including that of C12E23 which eluded the original model. Overall, the results indicate that surfactant sorption and hemi-micelle formation are important parameters governing surfactant-enhanced bioavailability.
Biological Control of Postharvest Diseases of Peaches and Nectarines by Yeasts

Biocontrol activities of a total of 103 yeast isolates were tested against postharvest diseases of peaches. Seven isolates, with the best efficacy in reducing the number of infected wounds or lesion sizes of Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea, were selected for further large-scale experiments. In large-scale experiments, all selected isolates were significantly effective (P ≤ 0.05) in reducing the number of infected wounds and the diameter of lesions caused by P. expansum, B. cinerea, and Monilinia fructicola. DR52 was significantly superior to all the other yeasts in effectiveness against all three pathogens. The efficacy of the other yeast antagonists against B. cinerea and P. expansum was almost equal, while the control of M. fructicola was inferior. DR52 was selected for further storage experiment because its efficacy was higher against the three pathogens and it also showed a different random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction pattern compared with other isolates. DR52 was identified by Centraalbureau voor Schimmeelcultures (Baarn, The Netherlands) as Kloeckera apiculata. K. apiculata completely controlled both pathogens after 30 days of storage. Its efficacy declined to an 83.4% reduction in B. cinerea incidence and an 87.5% reduction in P. expansum incidence after 45 days of storage.
Glucose studies in Crocodilia.

IN A continuation of a study of the biochemistry of Crocodilia (Coulson, Hernandez and Brazda, 1950; Coulson, Hernandez and Dessauer, 1950; and Hernandez and Coulson, 1952) efforts have been directed toward an understanding of those aspects of glucose utilization which can be observed in the intact animal. This communication deals with the fate of injected glucose in the alligator and caiman and with various factors which influence its storage and metabolism. It is hoped that this paper may help to throw new light on the interpretation of “glucose tolerance” curves in the reptiles. experimental The alligators (A. mississippiensis), were obtained from the swamps of Louisiana and those used in this study were from 8 inches to 5 feet in length and weighed from 70 gm. to 8 kg. The caimans (C. latirostris), weighing 100 gm. to 1 kg., were obtained from a dealer who imported them from South America.
Bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine in farmers' lung disease.

Abstract Methacholine inhalation challenges were performed in five groups: 14 patients with history of farmers' lung disease (FLD), nine well farmers with precipitating antibodies to Micropolyspora faeni antigen, 11 normal subjects, 12 asthmatic patients, and 10 patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) other than hypersensitivity pneumonitis. After calculating the mean areas under the dose-response curves, FLD patients had a significantly greater degree of methacholine sensitivity than did well farmers with M. faeni antibody and normals. However, the methacholine sensitivity of FLD patients was indistinguishable from a group of patients with ILD and significantly less than the asthmatic group. Fifty percent of patients with FLD had positive methacholine challenges (≥20% decrease in their 1-sec forced vital capacity [FEV 1 ] from the control FEV 1 ). Hyperirritable airways was a common finding in FLD.
A Practitioner's Application of the Marketing Concept to Employee Absenteeism and Behavioral Change Programs

Abstract A review of the literature on absenteeism was conducted to ascertain what scholars indicate as its causes and remedies. The review showed why a time-lined framework is necessary with variables falling into five categories. However, researchers still believe that practitioners cannot develop an effective, all-inclusive model for on-site application. This paper proposes the application of The Marketing Concept as such a model, using the employee as an internal customer.
Sensory responses to passive hindlimb joint rotation in the cerebellar cortex of the cat.

Abstract We recorded from Purkinje cells in the anterior and posterior lobes of the cerebellar vermis in anesthetized cats during passive flexion and extension of the ipsilateral hind foot. Nearly 60% of the 302 cells recorded in lobules I–IV anterior and VII–IX posterior responded to this stimulus. In lobule V, generally considered to be the forelimb projection area, about a third of the 38 cells tested responded to hind foot movement. Cells in the anterior lobe typically exhibited different poststimulus patterns in response to foot flexion and extension while posterior cells usually had the same response to these stimuli. We also noted that cells recorded in the medial vermis (within 2.7 mm of the midline) generally had longer response latencies than cells recorded more laterally (2.7–4.5 mm) in both lobes. The results illustrate a diffuse proprioceptive input to the cerebellar vermis which has different features in various cerebellar areas.
Revisiting the Urban Interstates Politics, Policy, and Culture since World War II

Authors of the five essays published in this special section of the Journal of Urban History highlight the Interstate’s harsh and mostly unyielding consequences for urban residents, for their neighborhoods, and for their livelihoods. Politics and policy have shaped the Interstate Highway System from its beginning in 1939 up to the present day.
Lack of genetic restriction by a potential anti-idiotype vaccine for type B viral hepatitis

Abstract Anti-idiotype (anti-Id) reagents that bear an internal image capable of mimicking hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were used to induce an antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) response in both rabbits and chimpanzees. The anti-idiotype induced antibody response produced in rabbits recognized HBsAg determinants associated with the induction of protective immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Attesting further to the specificity was the binding of the rabbit anti-idiotype to the anti-idiotype induced anti-HBs containing sera. Our findings suggest that genetic restrictions associated with the induction of an interspecies immune response may not be a limitation of anti-idiotype based vaccines. In addition, anti-idiotype immunization also produced an anti-HBs in chimpanzees, a species susceptible to infection with human HBV. These data demonstrate that internal image bearing anti-idiotype reagents can induce an immune response across species barriers. Additionally, the reagents represent a viable alternative approach to vaccination against agents such as hepatitis B virus that cause human disease.
From Maxwell's equations to modern antenna marvels: From tiniest capsule antennas to largest space antennas

An important fact from physics, namely, “accelerated charges radiate” along with the outcomes of Maxwell's equations, namely, “existence of EM waves traveling at the speed of light” forever have changed how we live, enjoy life and protect ourselves. Antennas are perhaps one of the most celebrated devices that have allowed controlled generation and reception of the EM waves. Antennas come in a variety of sizes, shapes and functionalities. In this talk two classes of antennas will be highlighted: (a) Miniaturized sized antennas in bio-telemetry applications and (b) Large reflector antennas for space applications.
The scalp topography of potentials in auditory and visual Go/NoGo tasks ☆

Abstract The topography of averaged ERP to auditory and visual stimuli was evaluated employing an array of scalp electrodes overlying the left hemicranium in a sequential discrimination (Go-NoGo) task. The discriminanda (S1 and S2) were presented 1 sec apart and the subjects made a delayed motor response when S2 differed from S1 and withheld response when they were the same. Late positive components were associated with both S1 and S2 and slow negative shifts (CNV) occurred during the S1–S2 interval. The negative shifts terminated after the NoGo S2 but persisted after the Go stimuli until the motor response was performed. The CNV topography changed markedly over the 500 msec prior to S2. The early auditory CNV was restricted to the posterior frontal region, whereas the visual CNV was parieto-occipital with a secondary central focus. Just before S2, both the visual and auditory CNV possessed a central maximum with only a small posterior extension persisting in the visual modality. As in the previous topographic studies (Simson et al. 1976; 1977), the late positive components had parietal maxima, but in this study the Go and NoGo LPC differed in size, timing and topography. When the effect of the CNV return following the NoGo S2 was taken into account, however, the S2 LPC topographies were less disparate. Subtraction to the Go and NoGo ERP revealed an early modality specific difference waveform which was comparable in timing to the previously described N2 difference waveform. A modality unspecific parietally maximum difference potential reflected the larger Go LPC and a centrally maximum later wave the CNV resolution following the NoGo stimuli.
When mothers have serious mental health problems: Parenting as a proximal mediator

Abstract Maternal mental health (MMH) problems are associated with lack of confidence in one's parenting, overly lax or too harsh discipline, and child academic underperformance. We asked if parenting mediates the effect of MMH problems on academic outcomes even among mothers with serious mental illness ( n = 164 ). Structural equation analyses show a significant association between MMH problems and permissive (lack of parenting confidence, lack of follow through) parenting and verbal hostility as well as worse academic outcomes (school recorded grades, teacher reported behaviour). Permissive parenting completely mediated the direct effect of MMH on academic outcomes. Further analyses showed that the mediation effect was attributed to a single component of permissive parenting—lack of parenting confidence.
Photoinduced electron transport across a lipid bilayer mediated by C70

ELECTRON transport across a membrane is central to photosynthesis, to mitochondrial respiration and to the design of molecular systems for solar energy conversion. Relatively few synthetic molecules, however, have been shown to facilitate trans-port of electrons across a lipid bilayer1–3. We report here that C70 can act as both a photosensitizer for electron transfer from a donor molecule and a mediator for electron transport across a lipid bilayer membrane. The steady-state photocurrent density obtained from the C70–bilayer system is about 40 times higher, at comparable light intensities, than that of the carotene–porphyrin–quinone system2, previously the most efficient artificial system. The C70–bilayer system has a quantum yield of about 0.04, while the stability (tens of minutes) and turnover number (electrons transported per C70 before decay) of 103 are one to three orders of magnitude greater than those of other systems1–3. We anticipate that other higher fullerenes may also provide the basis for efficient transmembrane electron-transport systems.
Competence for genetic transformation in pneumococcus depends on synthesis of a small set of proteins.

In bacterial genetic transformation the uptake of DNA and its integration into the resident chromosome is dependent on a special cellular state, termed competence. In those species where appearance of competence has been studied, specific (but often poorly defined) growth conditions lead to a simultaneous development of competence in a substantial fraction of the cells in a culture. In Bacillus subtilis1–4, and in Haemophilus species5,6, competence appears in the stationary phase of growth or in certain other growth-limiting conditions5,6. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is perhaps unusual in that virtually all cells of a culture become competent7,8, for a short period at a specific cell density during logarithmic growth, without perturbing the growth rate9. The synchronous appearance of competence in pneumococcal cultures results from an auto-catalytic effect of a small protein10 released by the cells that induces competence11,12. The response to competence factor has been shown to require protein synthesis13. We report here additional information on the nature of competence in pneumococcus: pulse-labelling studies show that for the brief period of competence protein synthesis is restricted to a few specific polypeptides.
Parallel implementation and evaluation of a motion estimation system algorithm using several data decomposition strategies

Abstract Computer vision systems employ a sequence of algorithms that exhibit different computational characteristics. These algorithms require different data decomposition and load balancing techniques for efficient parallel implementations. This paper presents several techniques to perform static and dynamic data decomposition for common computer vision algorithms. They exploit the distribution of features as a measure of load for data decomposition. In these techniques, the distribution of features computed during the parallel execution of the current algorithm allows an informed partitioning for the next algorithm in the pipeline, keeping overhead involved in estimating the load small. Performance results obtained from a shared memory multiprocessor implementation using these techniques are presented. Furthermore, a classification of common vision algorithms based on their suitability for one or more data decomposition techniques is given. Improvements of up to four times over the performance of uniform block-oriented partitioning were obtained.
Lighting with sunlight using sun tracking concentrators

The use of controlled beams of sunlight for lighting interior parts of a building is proposed as an economically attractive and practical option in a solar energy context. Sun tracking concentrators introduce beams of sunlight through holes in the roof. Inside, the beams can be relayed throughout the building by means of mirrors and lenses. Ideally cool lighting is obtained by using dielectric mirrors to separate the visible and ir parts of the solar spectrum. The ir can be used to generate electricity and usable heat in solar cells. Results of a preliminary experiment are given.
Fish Protein Concentrate and Fish Meal in Calf Milk Replacers

Summary Fish protein concentrate can furnish up to 35% of the total protein in milk replacers for calves under 3 wk of age without depressing growth rate. However, as much as 70% has been successful when starter and hay were fed with the replacer or for older calves. Protein digestibilities for EPC in calves have been 10 to 30% lower than for dried skim milk. Fat digestibilities and nitrogen retentions were also lower on fish protein concentrate than dried skim milk. More vitamin E is needed for calves fed milk replacers containing dichloroethane-extracted fish protein concentrate than for calves fed dried skim milk. calves fed low-ash fish protein concentrate grew no better than those fed high-ash fish protein concentrate, but the high iron content of fish protein concentrate has been associated with darkening the color of veal.The water soluble fraction of fish protein concentrate is unacceptable for incorporation as a major protein source in milk replacers because of its poor amino acid profile.
Operational Flexibility and Market Valuation of Earnings

This paper examines the association between the stock returns and accounting earnings of firms that have different levels of operational flexibility. Operational flexibility is a firm’s ability to respond profitably to environmental fluctuations by shifting factors of production within a multinational network of subsidiaries. The geographic breadth and depth of a firm’s multinational network are used as indicators of operational flexibility. We find a significantly greater coefficient relating stock returns and accounting earnings for multinational firms that operate in many countries, but limit their concentration in any one foreign country, than for other multinational firms or domestic firms. This coefficient is significantly smaller for multinational firms whose foreign subsidiaries are highly concentrated in a few countries. When all multinational firms are pooled together, we find their earnings-returns association does not differ from that of domestic firms. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding theMultidimensionality of Property Rights Orientations: Evidence from Utah and TexasRanchers

ABSTRACT In the United States, the nature and limits of private property rights have been central themes in natural resource debates over issues such as rural land use control, public and private rangeland management, and endangered species preservation. In most of these debates, private property owners are characterized as favoring strong protection of private property rights and resisting efforts to condition their rights against the interests of society. Surprisingly, there has been very little systematic empirical study about how landowners actually view their private property rights. This article uses a sample of Utah and Texas rangeland owners to explore the complexity and socioeconomic correlates of property rights orientations. We find that landowners' views of their property rights can be described with four distinct dimensions. Moreover, property rights orientations are related to differences in landowners' demographic characteristics, ties to land and community, and place of residence.
Arsenic chemistry in municipal sewage sludge as affected by redox potential and pH

Abstract This laboratory experiment systematically examines As speciation and solubility in sewage sludge suspensions as affected by pH and redox potential (Eh). Under oxidizing conditions, As solubility was low with the major portion of soluble As present as organic species; dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA) was always the dominant organic species. Under moderately reducing conditions (0–100 mV), arsenite was the major inorganic As species in solution and As solubility significantly increased due to dissolution of iron oxyhydroxides. Upon reduction to −250 mV, As solubility was controlled by the formation of insoluble sulfides and as a result soluble As contents dramatically decreased as compared to levels measured at 0 mV. Speciation was drastically influenced by pH. Soluble As was maximum at a neutral pH value and decreased under both more acidic and alkaline concentrations. At pH 5.0, inorganic species were the dominant forms in solution, however, at pH 6.5, organic species were the major soluble forms. Alkaline conditions (pH 8.0) resulted in similar concentrations of soluble inorganic and organic As species. Arsenic biomethylation was measured at pH 6.5 and 8.0, but was drastically restricted at pH 5.0.
Nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere

The promise of a complete reproduction in the laboratory of the role played by oxygen in the Earth's upper atmosphere has been shown in a series of experiments, which are now under way. The results already obtained are of such interest that a preliminary report is presented here. All of the observations have been made in extremely weak electrical discharges and in the afterglows which were generated by such weak discharges. Only a trace of oxygen was present in the tubes which contained nitrogen. The two tubes in which these observations were made are the ones in which the nitrogen line 2P-4S, λ3466.4 A was first studied. It may be mentionedthat this discovery led to the identification of the corresponding line in the auroral spectrum and thus to the discovery of atomic nitrogen in the Earth's upper atmosphere.
Data acquisition for the Combined Ion and Neutron Spectrometer (CINS)

The CINS (Combined Ion and Neutron Spectrometer) consists of three detector systems: a boron-loaded plastic scintillator for medium energy neutrons, a silicon detector system for high-energy neutrons, and a charged particle stack containing both silicon detectors and scintillators. A readout system built for the charged particle stack is described here. The stack must be able to detect particles over a wide range of charge and energy. It contains 7 detectors, including 4 silicon detectors that each have two output paths. The readout must have a large usable dynamic range and must be able to handle the relatively high event rates that occur when the stack is placed in an accelerator beam. The data acquisition system detects events (that is, compares incoming signals to user-supplied trigger definitions), proceeds to capture waveform data from the preamplifiers, and saves the data to a hard drive. Although only used with the charged particle stack to date, the system can also be used with the other elements of CINS.
CLOSE-IN FALLOUT

Abstract The phenomenon of radioactive fallout from an atomic explosion is described, and a quantitative technique for determining the distribution of radioactive material on the ground is developed. The primary factors which must be considered are wind field, yield and height of burst, and particle-size distribution. Certain parameters which enter directly into a fallout determination are given quantitatively, such as the altitude and size of the atomic cloud (as a function of explosion yield and atmospheric stability) and particle fall-rates (as a function of altitude and particle size). Two hypothetical fallout patterns for a one-megaton explosion, computed on a high-speed digital computer are presented, showing the large effect which the wind has in determining the character of the fallout. The meteorological problems associated with a fallout prediction are discussed.
Neurohormonal Activation and Exercise Function in Patients With Severe Heart Failure and Patients With Left Ventricular Assist System: A Comparative Study

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of implantation of a left ventricular assist system (LVAS) on the neurohormonal status, exercise capacity and symptomatic state in patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). Background Severe CHF is characterized by decreased exercise tolerance and activation of several neurohormonal systems. Methods Parameters of neurohormonal activation and exercise capacity in patients with LVAS (n=7) were compared with those in groups of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 3 (n=121) and class 4 (n=81) patients. Plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE), plasma renin activity (PRA), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and maximal and submaximal exercise capacities were measured monthly in LVAS patients and compared with results in CHF patients. Results Plasma NE and PRA levels were significantly lower in LVAS patients than in NYHA class 4 patients, and plasma ANP levels in LVAS patients were significantly lower than those in NYHA class 3 and 4 patients. The distance walked during submaximal exercise testing and peak oxygen consumption during maximal exercise testing were similar for the LVAS and NYHA class 3 patients. The class 4 patients were unable to exercise. Conclusions We conclude that the LVAS lessens the neurohormonal activation and exercise intolerance characteristic of the CHF state and that the exercise capacity early after LVAS (
Vinyldeoxyadenosine in a sarcin-ricin RNA loop and its binding to ricin toxin a-chain.

8-Vinyl-2‘-deoxyadenosine (8vdA) is a fluorophore with a quantum yield comparable to that of 2-aminopurine nucleoside. 8vdA was incorporated into a 10-mer stem−tetraloop RNA (8vdA-10) structure for characterization of the properties of the base, 8-vinyladenine (8-vA), with respect to adenine as a substrate or inhibitor for ribosome-inactivating proteins. Ricin toxin A-chain (RTA) and pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) catalyze the release of adenine from a specific adenosine on a stem−tetraloop (GAGA) sequence at the elongation factor (eEF2) binding site of the 28S subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes, thereby arresting translation. RTA does not catalyze the release of 8-vinyladenine from 8vdA-10. Molecular dynamics simulations implicate a role for Arg180 in oxacarbenium ion destabilization and the lack of catalysis. However, 8vdA-10 is an active site analogue and inhibits RTA with a Ki value of 2.4 μM. Adenine is also released from the second adenosine in the modified tetraloop, demonstrating an alternative mod...
Curfew Orders: The Arguments For

A legal analysis of the new Night Restriction Order, the policy intentions, the potential advantages and the implications for Supervision.
Educational Leaders' Perceptions About Ethical Practices in Student Evaluation:

The Student Evaluation Standards call for student evaluations to be ethical, fair, useful, feasible, and accurate. However, little is known about educators' perceptions about the ethics of student evaluation practices. This study was designed to examine the degree of agreement among administrators about ethical student evaluation practices. It describes the results from a Web-based survey of principals and principal candidates in which they read a brief scenario and indicated whether the student evaluation practice in the depiction was ethical or unethical. Results show diversity in educators' perceptions about the ethicality of student evaluation practices and indicate a need for continued dialog and professional training of practitioners in ethical conduct.
Human parathyroid hormone: glandular and secreted molecular species.

Abstract Purified human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) from urea extracts of parathyroid adenomata (gland-extracted PTH) is immunochemically different from the hPTH in hyperparathyroid serum (serum PTH) and from the hPTH secreted into the medium of cultures of parathyroid adenoma slices (culture medium PTH). However, serum PTH is immunologically indistinguishable from culture medium PTH. Crude urea extracts of parathyroid adenomas are immunologically heterogeneous, and gel filtration studies of medium from scaled-up parathyroid adenoma cultures show that the medium contains at least two and probably three immunologic species of PTH, indicating that it also is immunochemically heterogeneous. The major fraction of culture medium PTH is immunologically similar to serum PTH, with a molecular weight (gel filtration) in the range of 5,000 to 7,000 and an amino acid composition similar to Rasmussen's bovine parathyroid hormone B. The other immunologic species in culture medium have molecular weights in the ranges of 9,000 and 14,000 and are immunologically distinct but more closely resemble gland-extracted hormone. These observations have important bearing on the possible existence of a glandular precursor to secreted PTH and on the great difficulties which have been experienced in the development of useful radioimmunoassays for human parathyroid hormone in serum.
Regulation: The FDA is overcautious on consumer genomics

A US drug-agency clampdown is unwarranted without evidence of harm, say Robert C. Green and Nita A. Farahany.
Derivation of a growth rate equation describing microbial surface colonization

A surface growth rate equation is derived which describes simultaneous growth and attachment during microbial surface colonization. The equation simplifies determination of attachment and growth rate, and does not require a computer program for solution. This rate equation gives the specific growth rate (Μ) as a function of the number of cells on the surface (N), the incubation period (t), and the number of colonies (Ci) containing either one cell, two cells, four cells, etc, as shown below. $$\mu = \frac{{\ln (\frac{N}{{C_i }} + 1)}}{t}$$ The attachment rate (A) is given by the following relationship: $$A = \mu C_i $$ The proposed colonization kinetics are compared with exponential growth kinetics using 3-dimensional computer plots. Colonization kinetics diverged most from exponential kinetics when the growth rate was low or the attachment rate was high. Using these kinetics, it is possible to isolate the effects of growth and attachment on microbial surface colonization.
Vascular Lab 360: are we losing control?

It is with the greatest honor that I stand before you today as president of the Eastern Vascular Society on this special 25th Anniversary of the society. This society has been very special to me since I joined 21 years ago, and I have not missed one single meeting since I joined in 1990. The Eastern Vascular Society was founded in 1987 by leaders in vascular surgery on the east coast of the United States, who have led the way in our society and played a prominent role in the leadership of our national Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS). In looking at the names of our past presidents, eight of them have served as president of the SVS/American Association for Vascular Surgery. It should also be noted that from the current officers of the Society for Vascular Surgery, the president, the vice-president, secretary, and the treasurer are current members of the Eastern Vascular Society. Over the past 25 years, our specialty has matured substantially. Today’s vascular and endovascular surgeons provide the most comprehensive diagnosis and management of the entire spectrum of vascular disease, particularly in an era where several other specialists are engaging in treating patients with peripheral vascular disease. Today’s vascular surgeons provide not only the best open vascular techniques but also the most modern endovascular therapy and comprehensive medical therapy. As vascular surgery has matured and expanded over the past 25 years, the Eastern Vascular Society has also ex-