cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The origin of the genetic code

The problem of code origin is presented in the context of increasingly complex events in the origin of life. The likely sequence of events appears to progress from abiotic synthesis of biological monomers to polymers to formation of protocells, which would be capable of competition and further evolution. We propose that rate of polymer formation was a critical controlling parameter of rate of protocell propagation. This would lead to selection of autocatalytic and mutually catalytic reactions of polymer formation. Primitive proteins would catalyze polynucleotide formation, and polynucleotides could be used as anvils of noncoded polypeptide synthesis. Proteins that could catalyze this latter reaction (assignment catalysts) would play an important role in subsequent evolution of a genetic code. Competing populations of assignment catalysts would possess very nonlinear dynamics of production of the catalysts themselves. An analysis of this dynamics shows that it has a rich family of bifurications which would provide a pathway for gradual approach to a genetic code. The selection criterion in this process would be efficiency of utilization of monomers and energy for the production of assignment catalysts.
Weinbersterol disulfates A and B, antiviral steroid sulfates from the sponge petrosia weinbergi

Abstract Weinbersterol disulfates A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ), two new sulfated tetrahydroxy steroids with an unprecedented cyclopropane-containing side chain, were isolated from the sponge Petrosia weinbergi . Both compounds are active in vitro against feline leukemia virus, and 1 is also active in vitro against HIV. The structures of these two compounds were assigned mainly on the basis of spectral data.
Direct observation of the columnar to equiaxed zone transition in an undercooled melt

Abstract Utilizing a succinonitrile-water mixture it was shown that a zone of equiaxed grains developed from dendrites which initiated and then detached near the point of nucleation. These fragments proceeded to sink at a rate faster than growth of the columnar dendrites, increasing in size along the way. These observations suggest a means to account for the transition observed in the Pb — 75 wt pct Sn alloys.
The Role of Prematurity and Socioeconomic Status in the Onset of Canonical Babbling in Infants

The onset of canonical babbling (implying production of well-formed syllables) is a landmark event in the development of the capacity for speech, capping a series of vocal stages of the infant's first year of life. Infants who are handicapped with regard to linguistic development are, in some cases, delayed in the onset of speech-like sounds such as canonical syllables. The age of onset of canonical babbling in infants born at risk, either due to prematurity or due to low socioeconomic status (SES) has not been extensively studied. This research, based on a longitudinal investigation of babbling and other motor milestones in term and preterm infants of middle and low SES, indicates that the onset of canonical babbling is robust with regard to such risk factors. Neither preterm infants whose ages were corrected for gestational age, nor infants of low SES were delayed in the onset of canonical babbling. In fact, at corrected ages, the preterm infants appeared to begin canonical babbling earlier than their full-term counterparts. It is suggested that the greater auditory experience of the preterms in this study may account for the early appearance of canonical babbling and hand banging, both of which can be viewed as rhythmic stereotypies that may require auditory feedback for normal development. Other motor milestones studied showed neither delay nor acceleration of onset in the same infants.
Children's Use of Ethnic Frames of Reference: An Exploratory Study of Children's Conceptualizations of Multiple Ethnic Group Membership

(1948). Children's Use of Ethnic Frames of Reference: An Exploratory Study of Children's Conceptualizations of Multiple Ethnic Group Membership. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 367-386.
Back to the Future: Newman on Corporal Punishment

If there is anything consistent in the history of criminal justice policy it is that no idea disappears for long. The fixed sentence was considered primitive in the 1920s; in the past several years it has been hailed as the solution to the modern dilemmas of punishment. Likewise, by the end of the past century prison labor was considered a scandal that degraded free labor and interfered with prison discipline; today it has once again surfaced on the agenda of prison reformers. Still some readers will find surprising and disturbing Graeme Newman's thesis in his book Just and Painful: A Case for the Corporal Punishment of Criminals. Newman proposes that electrical shocks, calculated in advance to avoid permanent damage, be employed to give physically painful punishment to many of the offenders who today draw sentences of probation or imprisonment. While Newman would not eliminate the prison, he presents the view that its long-term destructive effect on the lives of those incarcerated is really an inappropriate punishment for all but those who commit horribly violent crimes or who persist in offending. Alternatives like probation, however, are insufficiently punitive to satisfy the basic sensibility of the victimized community. Painful electric shocks can fill the gap, according to Newman. His argument, which I will summarize-although he himself presents a comprehensive summary in the form of a "punishment manifesto" (at 139-42)-consists of a number of analyses attacking many of the institutions and ideas that have dominated modern penal thought, and rehabilitating the idea that punishment can be legitimately imposed on the body of the offender.
Megalourethra mimicking an anterior abdominal wall mass.

Megalourethra is an uncommon congenital anomaly. Historically, the majority of males with megalourethra are diagnosed at birth. However, with the increased use of prenatal ultrasound more cases may be diagnosed prenatally. We describe a unique case of megalourethra presenting with early bladder outlet obstruction that resolved in utero. Two hypotheses regarding the etiology of the anomaly have been proposed. One suggests that there is an arrest in migration and fusion of mesenchymal elements that form the corpora spongiosa leading to a patulous urethra.1 The other suggests that the anomaly is the result of an obstructing uncanalized epithelial glanular plug.2 Our unusual case demonstrates one of these hypotheses.
Electrophoretic liquid crystal displays: how far are we?

We are in the middle of another revolution in information processing and distribution. After the invention of script and then print, pictures are taking over again. The number of gadgets with displays is larger than the world population. On average, every single person on earth owns at least one device with a display on it. These displays are the portals to everything we do: communicating, reading, shopping, learning, etc. But are they up to the job? The most successful display technology to date is still the liquid crystal display. It is a well-established technology that can be scaled in size from small to large and, depending on the drive electronics, has no significant inherent limits to resolution. However, poor light efficiency and data congestion caused by high pixel densities are still technical challenges in need of good solutions. Could electrophoresis in a liquid crystal host be the answer? The fundamental basics and technical challenges of this interesting new approach will be discussed.
Stepping statistics of single HIV-1 reverse transcriptase molecules during DNA polymerization

DNA polymerases are protein machines that processively incorporate complimentary nucleotides into a growing double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA). Single-base nucleotide incorporation rates have been determ...
Ability Tests and Cultural Heritage: The Draw-A-Person and Bender Tests in Aboriginal Australia

Apparent learning disability, as measured by European/American tests and examinations, may, in fact, represent a false positive and an artifact of the testing, when the subjects are members of an ethnic culture in which traditions of skills and knowledge do not match those of the culture of those who devised the test. For an authentic estimate of abilities, one must have tests that fit the cultural traditions of the subjects being tested. This principle is extremely relevant to the testing of members of minority cultures in the United States, as well as of Aboriginal Australians who provided the raw data for this paper. In nonminority cultures, the same principle may also be relevant to the testing of a child with a learning disability; for a learning disability may, unsuspectedly, be the specific response of a particular child to his family's inchoate, covert, and paradoxical tradition, directive, or taboo against a specific facet of learning.
Antivenom activity of rattlesnake blood plasma

MANY species of venomous snakes have a high resistance to their own venoms and to those from other individuals of the same species and other species1–4. The resistance is not absolute but it increases as the size of the snake increases, and varies also with the type of venom. Blood plasma or sera of several species neutralise the venom of the same species and of other species both in vivo and in vitro5–11. As Clark and Voris10 reported, the whole serum of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) neutralises lethal doses of C. adamanteus venom in mice and the protective capacity of the serum is associated with the serum albumin fraction. Mixtures of C. adamanteus serum and Venom show no evidence of precipitation, such as occurs when serum from animals hyperimmunised with C. adamanteus venom is mixed with C. adamanteus venom. The nature of the factor(s) in rattlesnake plasma, which neutralise rattlesnake venom toxins, and the mechanism of neutralisation are unknown. We have found that both western and eastern diamondback rattlesnake (C. atrox and C. adamanteus) blood plasma contain antivenom factor(s) and have a neutralisation capacity (NC), not only for C. atrox venom but also other rattlesnake venoms. The antivenom activity of C. atrox plasma is sufficiently potent, compared with commercial immunoglobulin antivenin, to be potentially useful in the management of snakebite.
Conteúdo estomacal da albacora-laje, Thunnus albacares, durante o inverno e primavera no sul do Brasil

Stomach contents of yellowfin tuna caught by commercial tuna longliners in Southern Brazil, were studied from 178 specimens collected during Winter and Spring between August 1988 and October 1990. IRI (Index of Relative Importance) diagrams and a prey list showed variations in the diet composition for both seasons. Teleosteans and the squid Ornithoteuthis antillarum were the most important items during Winter, whilst the amphipods hyperiids Brachyscelus crusculum and Phrosina semilunata were the main items during Spring. Yellowfin tuna is an euriphagic predator, that practice no discrimination on prey type nor prey size.
A NOTE ON RELATIONS BETWEEN SEASONALLY ADJUSTED VARIABLES

. This paper examines, with reference to some well known data, possible difficulties in the fitting of simple non-seasonal models to seasonally adjusted time series data.
Morphosyntactic variation and gender agreement in three Afro-Andean dialects

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of gender agreement in three little studied Afro-Andean dialects: Chinchano Spanish (Peru), Yungueno Spanish (Bolivia) and Chota Valley Spanish (Ecuador). Data is presented showing a variety of DP gender agreement configurations significantly divergent from standard Spanish. A unified account for these phenomena is proposed combining quantitatitative methodology and several forms of data collection with a Minimalist approach to data explanation and interpretation. The provided analysis charts evolution and variation of gender agreement, arguing that the parallel development of gender agreement in these three Afro-Hispanic contact varieties can be explained by an approach in which change takes place along paths set by universal properties of grammar (feature valuation, locality of agreement, gradience of fitness in grammatical development, etc.).
Petalling of plates under explosive and impact loading

Abstract Failure by petalling occurs when thin plates are struck by cylindro-conical projectiles. Similar deformation mode is produced by a localized explosion on a plate. In either case, high circumferential strains induced in the target material cause radial cracking and the subsequent rotation of the affected plate material resulting in a number of symmetric petals. A new analytical method of treating this problem is proposed by developing a simple and realistic velocity and displacement fields. The progressive tearing is quantified using the CTOD criterion while bending deformation of cylindrical petals is described by the propagating hinge line with decreasing local curvature. The above two modes are coupled through the local bent radius of the petal. Closed form solution is derived for the total energy absorbed by the system, the number of petals, and the final deformed shape of the plate as a function of plate flow stress, thickness, and parameters of the external loading. The present solution compares well with experimental results of Nurick and Radford (In: Reddy BD (editor) Recent developments in computational and applied mechanics. A volume in honour of John B. Martin. 1997: p. 276–301) and Landkof and Goldsmith (Int J Solids Struct 1993;21:245–66) as well as empirical equations published in the literature.
Submicrosecond Flash Sources

Design details are given for two submicrosecond flash sources for photography by reflected light, silhouette and schlieren techniques. The source for reflected-light photography uses a “guided” air spark operated at 18 kv with 0.05 μf to produce a 0.4-μsec flash with a peak light of 5 million candlepower. The flashtube, a special design, is described, together with its power supply and trigger circuit. The trigger circuit can be operated by a microphone, phototube, contactor or other electrical signal, and incorporates an adjustable time delay. A photograph taken with the unit is shown. — A small spark source capable of producing flashes of about 10 mμsec duration for silhouette and schlieren photography is described. Relative peak light output and flash duration are given as a function of pressure for air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and argon. Gap resistance is given as a function of gap length, for air.
Comments on the testing of two prominent dark-adaptation hypotheses.

Abstract There appear to be some logical errors in recent attempts to test the hypotheses. (1) that the process of dark adaptation is controlled by the concentration of a substance in the receptors (the photochemical hypothesis) and (2) that the state of the visual system during dark adaptation is equivalent to that produced by some stabilized steady background (the equivalent-background hypothesis). The various factors that should be considered in testing these hypotheses are discussed.
Julia-jokes at Macrobius’s Saturnalia: Subversive decorum in late antique reception of augustan political humor

This article argues that the sassy, sexy comebacks of Augustus's daughter Julia, preserved for us by Macrobius's Saturnalia, contribute vitally to the dialogue's moral and literary aesthetic of collaboratively appropriating the past. The argument falls into four sections: (I) The interactive style of reading that the Saturnalia's literary frame promotes makes reception of classical tradition and active endeavor: the reader engages with the text in tandem with the decorum it models. (II) The Saturnalia introduces joking as a valuable social tool. (III) The jokes before Julia's establish the political context for her jokes. Still more importantly, they demonstrate joking's humane virtues. (IV) Macrobius carefully negotiates the delicate problems of reception and decorum posed by Julia's jokes so as to preserve decorum and yet acknowledge the place of sexuality within human society and cultivated Roman tradition.
Research issues in covert conditioning

The present paper discusses research issues pertaining to the conceptualization, methodology, and clinical utility of covert conditioning techniques. The conceptual issues include the problems of extrapolating laboratory concepts and procedures to covert conditioning techniques and the evidence pertaining to the viability of such extrapolations. The methodological issues address the nature of imagery processes and the importance of assessing ongoing imagery to ensure that client imagery follows the scenes described by the therapist and to discover imagery processes that may enhance treatment. In general, several basic research questions need to be addressed pertaining to the theoretical basis of covert conditioning techniques, a description of what actually occurs in imagery on the part of the client, and whether select techniques should serve as a treatment of choice when other options are available.
Mass spectrometry analysis of organometallic assemblies: Bis-terpyridine-Ru(II) connectivity

Abstract Organometallic assemblies, containing the bis-terpyridinyl-Ru(II) connectivity (symbolized as [–〈Ru〉–]) in a range of small bismetal complexes to macrocycles possessing up to 12 metal ions, have been studied by electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS). ESI MS is found to be a more suitable characterization method than MALDI MS, because (1) it can directly detect multiply charged ions, (2) does not alter the connectivity of the complexes through disassembly/reassembly sequences and (3) causes essentially no or very little fragmentation. Requirements for the optimum signal-to-noise ratio in ESI mass spectra include: (1) a low ionization source temperature (30 °C), (2) low skimmer voltage (10–15 V), (3) moderate flow rates of both the nebulizing and drying gases and (4) a pre-cooled sample. Tandem mass spectrometry experiments on intact complex ions indicate that the noncovalent interactions between the Ru(II) center and the two terpyridine ligands, which hold the supramolecular assembly together, are very strong.
Astrophysical constraints on the radiative lifetime of neutrinos with mass between 10 and 100 eV/c-squared

Upper limits to astronomical photon backgrounds are used to derive constraints on the radiative lifetime of neutrinos. With the assumption that the radiative decay dominates the decay routes available, comparisons with predicted fluxes exclude radiative lifetimes between 10 to the 13th and 10 to the 22nd-23rd sec for neutrinos which decay to lighter neutrinos and 5-50 eV photons. For a secondary neutrino mass much less than the parent neutrino mass, this photon-energy range corresponds to a parent-neutrino-mass range of 10-100 eV/c-squared.
A nonverbal technique for studying music preference

Abstract This study demonstrated a reliable technique for evaluating listening preferences for music. It evaluated simultaneously the relative percentage of time that retarded subjects pressed one of four keys resulting in two types of music, white noise, and silence (no consequence). Although each type of auditory stimulus was continually available, the key which produced a specific type of stimulus was switched each 2 min. A key-press operated a microswitch and resulted in presentation of a stimulus type for the duration of time that the key was pressed. This procedure was used to assess preference for 66 subjects in four 20-min sessions. The results indicated that all 66 subjects preferred music over white noise and silence during each session. Also, 59 of 66 subjects preferred one type of music (Motown Sound) over the other type of music (Doc Severinsen). Fifty-one of 66 subjects preferred Motown Sound music during each of four sessions. There was a trend for differences to increase between preference for Motown Sound Music and the three other stimulus types over four sessions.
The Vowels of Stressed and Unstressed Syllables in Nonnative English

Nonnative and native American English speakers produced two-syllable words such as confess and confirm and three- and four-syllable derived words such as confession and confirmation in isolation and in sentences. The durations and formant patterns of the vowels were measured for the first two syllables of each word. In addition, the ratio of vowel-to-syllable was calculated for the syllable (con). The nonnative speakers had most difficulty with the four-syllable words, producing a vowel of variable quality in the first syllable and failing to reduce the vowel of the second syllable. In addition, the nonnative speakers failed to produce appropriate durations for vowels according to position in word and stress pattern.
Silicon-micromachined direct-pore filters for ultrafiltration

A new silicon filter with straight filtration channels has been fabricated and characterized. The semi-permeable membrane of the filter is made of a sandwiched p+ polysilicon/oxide/p+ silicon structure. The sacrificial oxide between the two silicon layers determines the pore size of the filter. This filter can be mass produced and has very precise control over filtration channels (variation less than 25%). Two log reduction of 100 nm fluorescent particles has been achieved in our 50 nm filters. The tested filtration fluxes for filtered DI water, 0.1 M PBS and ethanol solution (75% wt) were 0.54 - 1.5, 0.10, 0.54 - 1.2 ml/cm2hr, respectively.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The prediction of fires in buildings

A building fire viewed as the interaction of many components; pyrolysis, flames plumes, hot layers, radiative and conductive heat transfers, and flows can be predicted with presently available fundamental and/or empirical knowledge. The method is presented and the degree of success is shown by some comparisons between predicted and measured full-scale room fire results. The development of the prediction program shows the need for new research efforts on many of the component phenomena.
Formulating Farnesol and Other Ant-Repellent Semiochemicals for Exclusion of Argentine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Citrus Trees

Lemon trees banded with experimental formulations of farnesol and other natural ant repellents were examined for efficacy of disruption of the foraging of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), at varying periods of time after application. Excellent disruption of foraging was achieved by the use of a band constructed from a single strand of cotton twine permeated with 40 mg each of farnesol and Stickem per centimeter of twine. An “ant tape,” consisting of twine similarly permeated with farnesol and Stickem and covered with a strip of waxed paper, was under some conditions superior in duration of disruption of ant foraging to the noncovered, treated twine. Efforts to produce an effective barrier from farnesol mixed with Stickem and beeswax and formulated into a paste, which was then applied around tree trunks, have not been successful. The better formulations of farnesol tested have given between 2 and 3 mo of complete ant exclusion from banded trees. Other tested repellent compounds have not been as active or provided as long a duration of effectiveness as farnesol.
Design of Potent β-Lactamase Inhibitors by Phage Display of β-Lactamase Inhibitory Protein

Abstract β-Lactamase inhibitory protein (BLIP) binds tightly to several β-lactamases including TEM-1 β-lactamase (Ki 0.1 nm). The TEM-1 β-lactamase/BLIP co-crystal structure indicates that two turn regions in BLIP insert into the active site of β-lactamase to block the binding of β-lactam antibiotics. Residues from each turn, Asp49 and Phe142, mimic interactions made by penicillin G when bound in the β-lactamase active site. Phage display was used to determine which residues within the turn regions of BLIP are critical for binding TEM-1 β-lactamase. The sequences of a set of functional mutants from each library indicated that a few sequence types were predominant. These BLIP mutants exhibitedKi values for β-lactamase inhibition ranging from 0.01 to 0.2 nm. The results indicate that even though BLIP is a potent inhibitor of TEM-1 β-lactamase, the wild-type sequence of the active site binding region is not optimal and that derivatives of BLIP that bind β-lactamase extremely tightly can be obtained. Importantly, all of the tight binding BLIP mutants have sequences that would be predicted theoretically to form turn structures.
Porcine somatotropin alters insulin response in growing pigs by reducing insulin sensitivity rather than changing responsiveness.

Abstract Exogenous porcine somatotropin (pST) treatment consistently improves growth performance and reduces fat deposition in pigs, and it is hypothesized that one component of the mechanism is through altering the sensitivity and/or responsiveness to insulin. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of pST treatment on whole-body glucose metabolism in response to varying doses of insulin. Eight barrows were surgically prepared with indwelling catheters and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (0 or 120 μg pST/kg BW · d) for 13 d. Whole-body glucose kinetics were measured during infusion of [6- 3 H]-glucose under basal conditions and during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps at various insulin infusion rates (7, 28, and 140, and 14, 70, and 280 ng insulin/kg BW · min) and alterations in the dose–response parameters were calculated with nonlinear regression. Treatment with pST increased basal plasma concentrations of glucose (36%; P = 0.005), insulin (276%; P = 0.001), and NEFAs (177%; P = 0.01) and decreased the rate of glucose disappearance (−59%; P = 0.001). The responsiveness (maximum response) for steady state glucose infusion rate to maintain glycemia was not altered by pST (112 vs 106 μmol/min · kg; P = 0.78), whereas the sensitivity (effective dose at 50% of maximum response) was increased almost 7-fold (1.3 vs 8.7 ng/mL; P = 0.027). Similar responses were observed for rate of glucose disappearance and insulin-dependent glucose utilization. Therefore, pST-induced insulin resistance with regard to whole-body glucose uptake is due to a reduced sensitivity to insulin, rather than a change in responsiveness.
Bootstrapping density estimates

Let X1 X2…, Xn be independent and identically distributed random variables with continuous density function f(x) . Nonparametric density estimates of the form are considered. The asymptotic distribution of the sup over [0, 1] was obtained by Bickel and Rosenblatt (1973) and was used to construct confidence bands for f(x) . In this paper, confidence bands for f(x) based on bootstrap methods are considered and are shown to have the correct asymptotic level. The performance of bootstrap confidence bands is compared with the Bickel and Rosenblatt (1973) method by Monte Carlo simulation.
Temporal and Spatial patterns of Breeding Brown-Headed Cowbirds in the Midwestern United States

Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) are an obligate brood parasite and a potential threat to some populations of migratory songbirds. I used radio-telemetry to study temporal patterns in behavior, habitat use, and sociality, as well as spatial patterns and movements among breeding, feeding, and roosting areas. I obtained a mean of 42 locations of 84 radio-tagged female cowbirds on three study sites in Illinois and Missouri. Radio-tagged females usually were located in forest and shrub-sapling habitats with a mean of 1.4 males during the morning breeding period. During midmorning to early afternoon, females commuted to short-grass, cropland, and feedlot habitats; they fed in small flocks. At dusk females roosted singly or in small groups near breeding or feeding areas, or commuted to a large communal roost. Behavior and time of day, behavior and habitat use, and habitat use and time of day were highly associated. For approximately 90% of the radio-tagged cowbirds, breeding, feeding, and roosting locations were distributed nonrandomly within home ranges, and came from distinct utilization distributions. Cowbirds moved an average of 3.6 km between roosting and breeding locations, 1.2 km between breeding and feeding locations, and 2.6 km between feeding and roosting locations. Midwestern cowbirds show the same pattern of commuting between disjunct breeding and feeding areas as elsewhere in their range.
Cultural variation, decision making, and local institutions: an examination of fuelwood use in western Tanzania.

ABSTRACT Understanding human decision making about resource use is the common denominator in effective conservation that hinges on local community involvement. Rational choice theory provides an avenue for better assessing individual-level decision making, but its ability to adequately explain community-level cooperation remains in question. Focusing on two culturally distinct populations residing in Tanzania, East Africa, I employ rational choice theory to test hypothesized relationships between the degree to which local wood resource value is discounted, and individual decisions regarding rate and selectivity of fuelwood extraction. I then relate variation in demonstrated valuation of fuelwood resources to the existence of working rules that monitor fuelwood extraction practices. I find evidence for population-level variation in future discounting of fuelwood resources, reflected in selectivity and rates of use. Evidence of rules that monitor fuelwood extraction practices did not, however, relate to fut...
Robust vision-aided navigation using Sliding-Window Factor graphs

This paper proposes a navigation algorithm that provides a low-latency solution while estimating the full nonlinear navigation state. Our approach uses Sliding-Window Factor Graphs, which extend existing incremental smoothing methods to operate on the subset of measurements and states that exist inside a sliding time window. We split the estimation into a fast short-term smoother, a slower but fully global smoother, and a shared map of 3D landmarks. A novel three-stage visual feature model is presented that takes advantage of both smoothers to optimize the 3D landmark map, while minimizing the computation required for processing tracked features in the short-term smoother. This three-stage model is formulated based on the maturity of the estimation of the 3D location of the underlying landmark in the map. Long-range associations are used as global measurements from matured landmarks in the short-term smoother and loop closure constraints in the long-term smoother. Experimental results demonstrate our approach provides highly-accurate solutions on large-scale real data sets using multiple sensors in GPS-denied settings.
Clinical evaluation of tumor promotion by CO2 laser

Cancer promotion by CO2 laser surgery is known to occur in animal models. It is not clear whether these observations are relevant to human disease. To test this, a series of 21 patients with oral lesions treated with CO2 laser surgery were followed for 2 weeks to 32 months with a mean of 10.2 months. Following laser surgery, 83% of lesions presenting as leukoplakia recurred, whereas no recurrences were observed amongst other lesions. This supports the hypothesis that growth factors released in response to CO2 laser surgery could promote cancers in patients with initiated lesions.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Why estimates of physician supply and requirements disagree.

To the Editor. —Why is the review of physician supply by Feil et al1so overwhelmingly a supply-side analysis with scant discussion of attrition? In private discussions with my colleagues, the issue of early retirement or attenuation of one's specialty practice is a hot topic. With the frustrations of rapidly decreasing incomes and increasing practice overhead, other physicians have told me that specialty medical practice as we now know it may not be worth the trouble within the next 5 years. Among an informally polled sample of 20 peripheral vascular surgeons aged 38 to 45 years, 19 expressed a desire to truncate or leave their practice when they reach 55 years of age. Actually, doing this will obviously depend on each physician's financial resources, but those currently in their 50s who have assiduously saved pension money and who do not have excessive expenses, such as tuition for children, may
Uncovering an Intermediate Phenotype Associated With rs2200733 at 4q25 in Lone Atrial Fibrillation

Genomewide association studies have reproducibly identified rs2200733T on chromosome 4q25 as a risk factor for the most common sustained arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AF). The biologic basis for cardiac electrical instability conferred by this noncoding variant is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate potential relations between rs2200733 versus clinical and electrocardiographic traits in a cohort of patients with early-onset AF who lack traditional risk factors. Congruent with previous reports, the minor T allele was overrepresented in subjects with lone AF. All genotype groups were statistically similar for age at diagnosis, gender distribution, family history, body mass index, AF type, ventricular rate, QRS duration, corrected QT interval, and use of PR interval–prolonging medications. However, a novel association was identified between the TT genotype and duration of the PR interval. The TT group had a mean PR interval of 189.5 ± 35.8 ms in comparison to mean PR intervals of 172.0 ± 29.0 and 171.0 ± 27.1 ms for the CT and CC groups, respectively (p = 0.013 and p = 0.0056). In conclusion, PR interval length, an established risk factor for AF, represents an rs2200733-associated intermediate phenotype.
Targeting cancer stem cells in glioblastoma multiforme using mTOR inhibitors and the differentiating agent all-trans retinoic acid

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive primary brain tumor, portends a poor prognosis despite current treatment modalities. Recurrence of tumor growth is attributed to the presence of treatment-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). The targeting of these CSCs is therefore essential in the treatment of this disease. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) forms two multiprotein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, which regulate proliferation and migration, respectively. Aberrant function of mTOR has been shown to be present in GBM CSCs. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a derivative of retinol, causes differentiation of CSCs as well as normal neural progenitor cells. The purpose of this investigation was to delineate the role of mTOR in CSC maintenance, and to establish the mechanism of targeting GBM CSCs using differentiating agents along with inhibitors of the mTOR pathways. The results demonstrated that ATRA caused differentiation of CSCs, as demonstrated by the loss of the stem cell marker Nestin. These observations were confirmed by western blotting, which demonstrated a time-dependent decrease in Nestin expression following ATRA treatment. This effect occurred despite combination with mTOR (rapamycin), PI3K (LY294002) and MEK1/2 (U0126) inhibitors. Expression of activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) was enhanced following treatment with ATRA, independent of mTOR pathway inhibitors. Proliferation of CSCs, determined by neurosphere diameter, was decreased following treatment with ATRA alone and in combination with rapamycin. The motility of GBM cells was mitigated by treatment with ATRA, rapamycin and LY29002 alone. However, combination treatment augmented the inhibitory effect on migration suggesting synergism. These findings indicate that ATRA-induced differentiation is mediated via the ERK1/2 pathway, and underscores the significance of including differentiating agents along with inhibitors of mTOR pathways in the treatment of GBM.
Experimental investigation of the quasi-static fracture of functionally graded materials

In this paper we describe the fracture testing of model Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs). The FGMs were created by selective ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of a polymer. An ethylene carbon monoxide copolymer (ECO) was chosen to make the specimen because of its rapid degradation under UV light. ECO becomes stiffer, stronger and more brittle with increasing irradiation time. By controlling exposure time we produced specimens with continuously varying mechanical properties. We conducted single edge notch fracture tests on both homogeneously irradiated ECO and functionally graded ECO. A hybrid numerical-experimental method was used to evaluate fracture parameters. The stress versus crack length relation, obtained experimentally, was used as the boundary conditions at each increment of crack growth in a Finite Element Analysis (FEA). From the FEA we calculated the J-integral, energy release rate and stress intensity factor for 5-, 60- and 106-h uniformly irradiated ECO, as well as for several FGMs. The fracture toughness of homogeneously irradiated ECO showed a rise following initiation and then remained constant during crack growth. The magnitude of the fracture toughness decreased with increasing irradiation time. For the case of FGMs it was observed that fracture toughness increased throughout crack growth (i.e. did not reach a plateau) when the crack propagated from the stiffer to the more compliant region.
Concurrent facilitation of food-reinforced, spaced licking and depression of schedule-induced, polydipsic licking by amphetamine

Two rats that were reinforced with food for spacing their water licks at least 20 sec apart showed a licking pattern that alternated irregularly between low-rate (operant) licking and high-rate (polydipsic) licking. Intraperitoneal administration of 2 mg/kg of d,1-amphetamine sulfate just before a session caused the spaced, operant licking to increase in rate while at the same time the high-rate, polydipsic licking bursts decreased in duration and regularity.
Phase holograms in a ferroelectric-photoconductor device.

Some characteristics of an integrated ferroelectric–photoconductor (FE–PC) device useful for hologram storage are described. An improved phase readout technique for reconstructing holograms is analyzed. The results of a simple theory of device resolution are given.
Redistribution and market efficiency: An experimental study

Abstract We study the interaction between competitive markets and income redistribution that reallocates unequal pre-tax market incomes away from the rich to the poor majority. In one setup, participants earn their income by trading in a double auction (DA) with exogenous zero or full redistribution. In another setup, after trading, they vote on redistributive tax policies in a majoritarian election with two competing candidates. This results in virtually full redistribution, even when participants have the opportunity to influence taxes by transferring money to the candidates. We find that the high redistribution reduces trading efficiency, but not as much as predicted if market participants trade randomly. This is because, rather than capitulating to the much lower trading incentives, many participants respond to redistribution by asking and bidding more conservatively in the DA, and in this way help to prevent further efficiency losses.
Predicting Relationship Quality and Emotional Reactions to Stress from Significant-Other-Concept Clarity

This study evaluated the extent to which clarity, valence, and connectedness of Significant-Other-Concepts (SOCs) predicted relationship quality and emotional reactions to stressful situations using two novel experimental paradigms. Mental representations of self (self-concept) and of romantic partner (SOC), together with measures of relationship quality (conflict, depth, support, and satisfaction), were assessed for 162 undergraduate psychology students and their romantic partners. Structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analyses showed that SOCs were related to, but distinguishable from, self-concepts, connectedness, and relationship quality. Clear SOCs uniquely predicted variance in all measures of relationship quality after controlling for self-concept, connectedness, and valence measures. SOCs also predicted some emotional reactions to stress. The evidence suggests that multiple measures of SOCs, especially clarity, provide important predictors of relationship quality.
High-performance composite material airframe weight and cost estimating relations

Estimates of the weight reduction potential of using advanced composite materials in high-performance aircraft airframes are presented. A conventional, all-aluminum airframe is established as the reference configuration for comparison purpose, with the alternate use of other homogeneous metals, viz, titanium and beryllium, also considered. Advanced composites discussed in detail include boron/epoxy, graphite/epoxy, and an organic filament/epoxy. Cost factors are estimated in order to keep the significance of the various weight reduction factors in proper perspective. Conventional sheet and stringer construction will eventually be modified to take advantage of the unique characteristics of composite materials in achieving maximum structural efficiency. Therefore, the influence of advanced construction technology on weight and cost factors is also considered. Numerical examples representing applications to specific vehicle airframes are presented, indicating the significance of the estimated airframe weight savings in terms of vehicle performance increases.
A novel water-assisted pulsed light processing for decontamination of blueberries.

Abstract Sample heating and shadowing effect have limited the application of pulsed light (PL) technology for decontamination of fresh produce. In this study, a novel setup using water-assisted PL processing was developed to overcome these limitations. Blueberries inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Salmonella were either treated with PL directly (dry PL treatment) or immersed in agitated water during the PL treatment (wet PL treatment) for 5–60 s. Although both pathogens were effectively inactivated by the dry PL treatments, the appearance of the blueberries was adversely affected and a maximum temperature of 64.8 °C on the blueberry surface was recorded. On the other hand, the visual appearance of blueberries remained unchanged after wet PL treatments and sample heating was significantly reduced. The wet PL treatments were more effective than chlorine washing on inactivating both pathogens. After a 60-s wet PL treatment, the populations of E. coli O157:H7 inoculated on calyx and skin of blueberries were reduced by 3.0 and >5.8 log CFU/g, respectively. Salmonella on blueberry calyx and skin was reduced by 3.6 and >5.9 log CFU/g, respectively. No viable bacterial cells were recovered from the water used in the wet PL treatments, demonstrating that this setup could prevent the risk of cross-contamination during fresh produce washing. Our results suggest that this new water-assisted PL treatment could be a potential non-chemical alternative (residue free) to chlorine washing since it is both more effective and environmentally friendly than chlorine washing.
Binding and unwinding—How T antigen engages the SV40 origin of DNA replication

The development of a cell-free system that catalyzes SV40 DNA replication in vitro coupled with the use of expression systems that overproduce T antigen has allowed detailed analysis of the individual steps carried out by T antigen prior to initiation of DNA synthesis. This review will focus on events preceding initiation DNA synthesis
Phonocardiographic and echocardiographic features of Lillehei‐Kaster mitral prosthesis

Fifteen patients were studied with phonocardiography (phono) and echocardiography (echo) three to 13 months after mitral valve replacement with Lillehei-Kaster mitral valve prostheses. Echo measurements in all patients included prosthesis excursion (DE), opening velocity (OV), closing velocity (CV), and Q-to-mitral prosthesis closure (Q-MPC). In five patients, further, echo measurements included isometric contraction period (ICP), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), and time to complettion of aortic valve opening (TCAO). Phono measurements in all patients included pre-ejection perior (PEP), LVET, and PEP/LVET. Further phono measurements in the same five patients in whom further echo measurements were performed included Q to first heart sound (Q-S1), ICP, and isometric relaxation period (IRP). Phono and echo measurements were done sequentially. The echo results showed widespread values for De, OV and CV with no correlation between clinical state, size of prosthesis, or postoperative duration. There was a positive correlation between CV and OV, r + 0.65. Q-MPC by echo averaged 72 msec, which is longer than reported values for Q-to-mitral valve closure in normal people. Similarly, ICP by echo was shorter than ICP by phono in every patient. Of the phono measurements IRP was shortest (45 msec) in one patient in congestive heart failure with a possible prosthesis malfunction. We conclude that echo and phonocardiography are useful tools in evaluation mitral prosthesis function, but because normal values are wide spread, individual measurements may be useful for followup in the same individual. Precise measurement of subdivisions of systolic intervals are now possible with these techniques.
Nutrient and Carbohydrate Partitioning in Sorghum Stover

Although petroleum fuels have been abundant during the past decade, alternative energy sources are needed for the long term. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] stover has been demonstrated to be a potential biomass energy source. Complete aboveground crop removal, however, can result in soil degradation. Differential dry matter, nutrient, and carbohydrate partitionning by sorghum cultivars may allow management strategies that return certain stover parts to the field while removing other portions for alternative uses, such as energy production. A field study was conducted to determine N, P, K, nonstructural carbohydrate, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin distributions in stover of three diverse sorghum cultivars of differing harvest indices (...)
Optimal actuator placement for large scale systems: A reduced-order modelling approach

A recently developed, extended balanced realization, reduced order modelling technique for large-scale distributed systems is applied to the problem of optimal actuator placement for hyperthermia treatments. Extended balanced realization develops low-order models whose state reconstructions are robust to actuator and sensor placement changes, and hence can be effectively used to find optimal placements in a computationally efficient manner. This optimization approach has been tested on simulations of a scanned focused, ultrasound hyperthermia system and found to be robust and accurate over a wide range of models, and the savings in computational costs were found to be significant.