cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accelerating DNN Architecture Search at Scale Using Selective Weight Transfer

Deep learning applications are rapidly gaining traction both in industry and scientific computing. Unsurprisingly, there has been significant interest in adopting deep learning at a very large scale on supercomputing infrastructures for a variety of scientific applications. A key issue in this context is how to find an appropriate model architecture that is suitable to solve the problem. We call this the neural architecture search (NAS) problem. Over time, many automated approaches have been proposed that can explore a large number of candidate models. However, this remains a time-consuming and resource expensive process: the candidates are often trained from scratch for a small number of epochs in order to obtain a set of top-K best performers, which are fully trained in a second phase. To address this problem, we propose a novel method that leverages checkpoints of previously discovered candidates to accelerate NAS. Based on the observation that the candidates feature high structural similarity, we propose the idea that new candidates need not be trained starting from random weights, but rather from the weights of similar layers of previously evaluated candidates. Thanks to this approach, the convergence of the candidate models can be significantly accelerated and produces candidates that are statistically better based on the objective metrics. Furthermore, once the top-K models are identified, our approach provides a significant speed-up (1.4 ~ 1.5 × on the average) for the full training.
Recent Advances in Electron Beam Deflection

Publisher Summary This chapter describes and assess the ferment that has overtaken the field of electron beam deflection in the last ten or fifteen years. This agitation is largely due to the impact of the high-speed digital computer on theoretical studies of deflection structures. Electron beam deflection is a venerable topic of study; it's continuing practical importance having inspired several generations of investigators. There has been a steady flow of improvements stimulated by the constantly increasing stringency of requirements for practical applications. Even so, in comparison with a field such as semiconductor electronics, the pace of progress in electron beam deflection has been rather sedate. The fundamental problem is to calculate the electric or magnetic field produced by a given configuration of conductors, currents, and dielectric or permeable materials, and then to trace the trajectories of the electrons that form the beam.
Incidence and type of meniscal injury and associated long-term clinical outcomes in dogs treated surgically for cranial cruciate ligament disease.

Objective To evaluate factors related to meniscal pathology and their effect on clinical outcome in dogs treated for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease. Study Design Prospective cross-sectional study. Animals Dogs (n = 163) with CCL disease (n = 223 stifles). Methods CCL disease was treated by (1) arthroscopy and TightRope (TR) stabilization; (2) arthroscopy and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO); or (3) open arthrotomy and TPLO. Incidences of concurrent and subsequent meniscal tears, meniscal treatments, mid-(6 months) and long-(>1 year) term outcomes by owner assessment were compared among surgical treatment groups. Results Concurrent meniscal tears were diagnosed in 83% of stifles assessed by arthroscopy and 44% of stifles assessed by arthrotomy, with concurrent tear diagnosis being 1.9 times more likely by arthroscopy than arthrotomy (P < .001). Incidence of diagnosis of subsequent meniscal tears was 6.7% with median time to diagnosis of 5.8 months. Differences in proportion of subsequent meniscal tears among treatment groups were not significant (P = .69). Subsequent meniscal tears were diagnosed in 21% of cases without concurrent meniscal tears, but only 1.3% of cases with concurrent meniscal tears (P < .001). Cases treated with meniscal release did not have subsequent meniscal tears, whereas dogs not treated with meniscal release had a subsequent meniscal tear rate of 11% (P = .0013). Cases diagnosed and treated for concurrent meniscal tears were 1.3 times more likely to have a successful long-term outcome (P = .007). Conclusions CCL surgical technique did not affect subsequent meniscal tear rate or mid-term or long-term functional outcomes, whereas diagnosis and treatment of concurrent meniscal tears did significantly affect both.
E-Business Evaluation Strategy

Doing business over the internet requires unique business models. The cost of operating over the internet, the unusual methods needed to become successful, and the significant differences in organizational valuation increase both the risk and incentive.
História, eventos e narrativa: incidentes e cultura do quotidiano

Escândalos, massacres, desabamentos, sequestros: muitos temas que eram associados a tabloides e romances policiais tem sido objeto de um grande numero de livros de historia, que vem ganhando espaco privilegiado nas estantes das livrarias. Trata-se do despontar de um novo genero historiografico, o das "analises dos incidentes", que esta alcancando grande exito de publico. Abordando assuntos diversos, estas analises coincidem em sua tentativa de circunscrever um evento, reconstrui-lo, e relata-lo como uma estoria, usando toda sorte de tecnicas narrativas; alem de acompanharem sua repercussao e suas versoes, atrav es do tempo. Ao faze-lo, tais estudos refletem o interesse recente dos historiadores pelo modo como se constroi e se significa a experiencia da historia. Ao mesmo tempo, suscitam indagacoes sobre os limites da reconstru cao de um evento, e da utilizacao de artificios em seu relato, resituando a discussao sobre a fronteira entre historia, narracao e ficcao. Partindo do exame do livro A Sentimental Murder. [Love and Madness in the Eighteenth Century (BREWER, 2004)], no qual se aborda um crime passional ocorrido em Londres, em 1779, e suas repercussoes, ate 1950, o presente ensaio procura debater o panorama historiografico criado pela emergencia das analises de acontecimentos.
Alert verification evasion through server response forging

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) are necessary components in the defense of any computer network. Network administrators rely on IDSs to detect attacks, but ultimately it is their responsibility to investigate IDS alerts and determine the damage done. With the number of alerts increasing, IDS analysts have turned to automated methods to help with alert verification. This research investigates this next step of the intrusion detection process. Some alert verification mechanisms attempt to identify successful intrusion attempts based on server responses and protocol analysis. This research examines the server responses generated by four different exploits across four different Linux distributions. Next, three techniques capable of forging server responses on Linux operating systems are developed and implemented. This research shows that these new alert verification evasion methods can make attacks appear unsuccessful even though the exploitation occurs. This type of attack ignores detection and tries to evade the verification process.
Genetically generated neural networks-I: representational effects

The author studied several applications of genetic algorithms (GAs) within the neural networks field. After generating a robust GA engine, the system was used to generate neural network circuit architectures. This was accomplished by using the GA to determine the weights in a fully interconnected network. The importance of the internal genetic representation was shown by testing different approaches. The effects on speed of optimization by varying the constraints imposed upon the desired network were also studied. It was observed that relatively loose constraints provided results comparable to a fully constrained system. The type of neural network circuit generated was the recurrent competitive field as described by S. Grossberg (1982). >
Role of copper in biosynthesis of intramolecular cross-links in chick tendon collagen.

Abstract Collagen was extracted from Achilles tendons of copper-deficient and control chicks by successive treatment with 0.15 m NaCl, 1.0 m NaCl, and 0.5 m acetic acid. The fractions extractable by 1.0 m NaCl and 0.5 m acetic acid were purified and characterized by ultracentrifugation and gel electrophoresis. They were then fractionated on carboxymethyl cellulose columns into their α1, α2, β11, and β12 components. These components were analyzed for amino acids and in part for aldehyde function. Copper deficiency not only increased the proportion of total extractable collagen but also markedly increased the proportion of α components at the expense of the β components. The α:β ratio was increased approximately 3-fold, and the β11 component was essentially eliminated. Copper deficiency had no detectable effect upon amino acid composition. The amino acid analyses confirmed the presence of two distinct polypeptide chains which occurred in a ratio of approximately 2:1. Both the salt-soluble and the acid-soluble collagen from copper-deficient tendons contained less aldehyde than those from control tissue. The control α1 component contained approximately 1 mole of aldehyde per 100,000 g, while the deficient α1 contained about 0.7 mole. Copper functions as a catalyst in the formation of the intramolecular bond in collagen and appears to be essential for formation of an intermediate aldehydic compound.
PDL1: The Illusion of an Ideal Biomarker.

There is an emerging revolution in the use of immunotherapy to treat cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibition with antibodies that target the programmed cell death 1 (PD1) pathway and its ligand (PDL1) have demonstrated significant clinical activity by providing durable benefits with minimal toxicities in multiple solid tumors, including urothelial carcinoma [1,2]. PDL1 is highly expressed in urothelial cancer of the bladder and has been correlated with pathologic stage [3] and overall survival (OS) [4]. The rapid development of PD1/PDL1 immune checkpoint inhibitors has created an urgent need for predictive biomarkers to aid in the selection of patients most likely to respond to therapy. Many clinical trials, particularly of monotherapies, have suggested that patients with PDL1-expressing tumors or tumor-infiltrating immune cells have a greater response to PD1/PDL1 inhibition [1,5–11]. Baseline PDL1 status seems to belessrelevant incombination studies.However,a fairlylarge proportion of patients with PDL1-negative tumors also benefit from PD1/PDL1 inhibition. If PDL1 expression correlates with higher responses to PD1/PDL1 inhibitors, we could potentially induce higher responses by priming the immune system with agents such as chemotherapies that increase the expression of PDL1 in tumors. In this issue of European Urology Focus, McDaniel et al reported on ‘‘Expression of PDL1 (B7-H1) Before and After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Urothelial Carcinoma’’ [12]. This study is a retrospective analysis by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for PDL1 in matched samples before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy from 40 patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. McDaniel et al report that PDL1 expression was significantly higher after neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with baseline (p = 0.0235). Most patients received carboplatinbased neoadjuvant chemotherapy (65%) instead of cisplatinbased chemotherapy (33%) for about 3 cycles (range: 1–6).
Phenol and benzoate metabolism by Pseudomonas putida: regulation of tangential pathways.

Catechol occurs as an intermediate in the metabolism of both benzoate and phenol by strains of Pseudomonas putida. During growth at the expense of benzoate, catechol is cleaved ortho (1,2-oxygenase) and metabolized via the β-ketoadipate pathway; during growth at the expense of phenol or cresols, the catechol or substituted catechols formed are metabolized by a separate pathway following meta (2,3-oxygenase) cleavage of the aromatic ring of catechol. It is possible to explain the mutually exclusive occurrence of the meta and ortho pathway enzymes in phenol- and benzoate-grown cells of P. putida on the basis of differences in the mode of regulation of these two pathways. By use of both nonmetabolizable inducers and blocked mutants, gratuitous synthesis of some of the meta pathway enzymes was obtained. All four enzymes of the meta pathway are induced by the primary substrate, cresol or phenol, or its analogue. Three enzymes of the ortho pathway that catalyze the conversion of catechol to β-ketoadipate enol-lactone are induced by cis,cis-muconate, produced from catechol by 1,2-oxygenase-mediated cleavage. Observations on the differences in specificity of induction and function of the two pathways suggest that they are not really either tangential or redundant. The meta pathway serves as a general mechanism for catabolism of various alkyl derivatives of catechol derived from substituted phenolic compounds. The ortho pathway is more specific and serves primarily in the catabolism of precursors of catechol and catechol itself.
Traumatic Brain Injury: Rehabilitative Treatment and Case Management, 2nd ed

Ashley MJ, ed. Boca Raton, FL 33487, CRC Press, 2004, hardcover, 800 pp, illus, ISBN: 0-8493-1362-7, $149.95. Zalewski is Interim Program Director for the University of Wisconsin System Consortial Doctor of Physical Therapy programs at the UW—Milwaukee campus and currently researches the impact of aerobic activity on the lives of adults with disabilities caused by stroke or brain injury. Traumatic Brain Injury: Rehabilitative Treatment and Case Management is a text designed to be both a clinical reference tool and a teaching text for clinicians working with people with acquired brain injury. The text is comprehensive and meets the editor's stated objectives of addressing treatment, education, and advocacy issues for clinicians working with people with brain injury. The content richness of this book comes in part from the diverse background of the 43 contributors who represent the work of researchers and clinicians. The book is not meant to provide an all-inclusive reflection on the many unique challenges facing people with brain injury, but it …
Coup d'oeil of sperm

Mammalian sperm can do some neat tricks with their fl agella. Motility is initiated in two broad phases following release from the male reproductive tract (Fig. 1). The initial stage, designated as activated motility, develops rapidly and is associated with the uncapacitated state. It is characterized by a somewhat stiff, symmetrical fl agellar beat that produces relatively linear and progressive cell movement. The second, or hyperactivated, pattern is characterized by deep, asymmetric fl agellar bending that produce a movement that is more a “drunken walk” than progressive, and is part of the behavioral repertoire of capacitated sperm (Yanagimachi 1970).
Nominal model for structure-property relations of chiral dielectric sculptured thin films

The Bruggeman formalism is implemented to estimate the permittivity dyadics of chiral dielectric sculptured thin films (STFs), called thin-film helicoidal bianisotropic mediums (TFHBMs), modelled as helicoidally arranged stacks of ellipsoidal inclusions in vacuum. Spectral maximums of several observable optical properties of axially excited TFHBM slabs are examined as functions of inclusion shape, volume fraction and orientation. Changes in the transverse aspect ratio of the ellipsoidal inclusions significantly affect the predicted optical properties of the TFHBM. A critical value for the transverse aspect ratio of the ellipsoids can be found such that optical activity disappears when all other parameters are fixed. The orientation of the inclusions significantly affects the value of optical property maximums, and can be made to suppress optical activity completely. A distribution of orientations decreases various measures of optical activity.
The SV40 nucleosome-free region is detected throughout the virus life cycle.

Abstract The structures of SV40 intracellular chromatin complexes and of extracellular virus particles were examined by photo-labeling wiyh a radioactive psoralen derivative in order to determine the fate of the exposed origin region during the virus life cycle. We have previously shown that the origin region of intracellular SV40 chromatin is preferentially accessible to psoralen derivatives in vivo , whereas psoralen adducts are uniformly distributed when purified virus particles are photoreacted. We demonstrate here that when virion is photoreacted prior to a freeze-thaw cycle, the exposed regulatory region detected in intracellular nucleoprotein complexes is also found in mature virus particles. In contrast, if the virion is frozen and thawed prior to the photoreaction, the origin is not preferentially exposed to photoaddition. Virus particles that have not been subjected to a freeze-thaw cycle were found to exhibit preferential labeling in the origin region whether they were irradiated intracellularly, in culture medium, or following purification. Banding the virus in CsCl had no significant effect on the relative accessibility of the origin region to psoralen. Our findings indicate that the open regulatory region found on intracellular SV40 chromatin persists throughout the virus life cycle.
Studies of vasospasm. I. The use of glyceryl trinitrate as a diagnostic test of peripheral pulses.

In the course of a physical examination one is often confronted with the question whether the inability to palpate a pulse in a usual location is the result of arterial spasm, occlusive arterial disease, or an aberrant location of the artery. Evidence is presented that the sublingual administration of glyceryl trinitrate (nitroglycerin) will frequently solve this problem. If the absent or markedly diminished pulse becomes bounding and objective tests confirm this, it can be concluded that the reduced pulsation was due to spasm of the artery under study. This is a simple test readily applied in clinical practice.
HIV+ patients have increased lymphocyte infiltrates in CIN lesions.

Abstract Objective. The objective of our study was to analyze immunocyte infiltrates in CIN lesions from HIV+ patients to assess whether local immunosuppression, defined as a decrease in T cell infiltrates, could explain the aggressive nature of CIN in HIV-infected patients. Materials and methods. Cervical tissue was obtained from 6 HIV+ CIN patients, 6 HIV− CIN patients, who underwent LLETZ (large loop excision of the transformation zone) for CIN, and 17 normal patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications. The following cell surface markers were analyzed: CD20 (B cells), CD4 (T helper cells), and CD8 (T suppressor/cytotoxic cells). Each tissue section was visualized with a Leica microscope at 400× and the image was captured for analysis by Harmony Group image analysis software. Results. A significantly higher number of lymphocytes (both B and T cells) was detected in the stroma of HIV+/CIN tissue compared to either HIV−/CIN or normal tissue. There was also a significant increase in CD8+ cells in the HIV+/CIN group compared to HIV−/CIN or normal tissue. There was a trend toward a decreased CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the HIV+/CIN compared to the other two groups; however, this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions. This study indicates that HIV+/CIN cervical tissue has a greater number of tissue lymphocytes recruited to the neoplastic site compared to HIV− individuals. In addition, HIV+ patients may have a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio in locally infiltrating immunocytes in CIN lesions. The local immunomodulatory effects of HIV may be detectable early in infection and therefore may explain the aggressive nature of CIN in the HIV+ patient.
Clozapine treatment of psychosis in patients with tardive dystonia: Report of three cases

Among the tardive dyskinesia syndromes, dystonia can be the most difficult to treat. It may be severe to the point of being disabling, yet the patients may require antipsychotic medications for an even more disabling psychosis. Clozapine, an atypical neuroleptic drug that lacks extrapyramidal effects, may be the drug of choice for such patients. This report describes three patients with significant dystonia, previously disabled by their psychoses, who have been successfully managed with clozapine plus other agents for > 3 years.
Generalized bivariate count data regression models

Abstract This paper proposes a flexible bivariate count data regression model that nests the bivariate negative binomial regression. An application to the demand for health services is given.
Attributes of high‐quality intensive courses

This chapter outlines the best teaching strategies to use in intensive courses to achieve the best possible learning outcomes.
Necessary conditions for minimum in problems with nonstandard cost functionals

Usual formulation of optimal control problems involves the minimization of a cost functional which is of the form of a definite integral. In this chapter we develop necessary conditions for an optimal control in the case of problems in which the cost functional is either a quotient or a product of definite integrals. We call such functionals nonstandard, and these naturally arise in Chapters 2,4, and 5 during the computation of the performance of a suboptimal H∞ controller. In Chapters 2,4, and 5 a criterion for the evaluation of the cost functional will be presented in the specialized case of linear systems and quadratic integrands. Preliminary results for problems having a fixed final time and free terminal state are in [1]. Related results can also be found in [2,3]. In this monograph, we consider only fixed final time problems. Problems in which the final time is free are treated in [4]. In Section 5, we discuss the relation of our results to those in [2,3].
Changes in the hemolymph of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, after a blood meal

The stable fly hemolymph was analyzed after a blood meal. The hemolymph volume increased to approximately three times the pre-feeding level 3–6 h after a blood meal and gradually returned to normal 18 h after the blood meal. The osmotic pressure decreased approximately 10% following a blood meal and gradually returned to normal with a pattern that was a mirror-image of that of the hemolymph volume. Concentrations of cations and anions are not directly affected by the ingested blood, indicating a possible selective excretory mechanism.
A Mammalian Homolog of the Yeast LCB1 Encodes a Component of Serine Palmitoyltransferase, the Enzyme Catalyzing the First Step in Sphingolipid Synthesis

Abstract Serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT; EC2.3.1.50) catalyzes the initial step dedicated to sphingolipid biosynthesis and is thought to be a key enzyme for regulating cellular sphingolipid content. For SPT activity, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires two genes, LCB1 andLCB2. We isolated mammalian LCB1 cDNA homologs from mouse and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and anLCB2 cDNA homolog from CHO cells. The mammalian LCB1 proteins are predicted to have about 35% amino acid identity to the yeast Lcb1 protein, whereas the CHO LCB2 protein is predicted to have about 40% amino acid identity to the yeast Lcb2 protein. Northern blot analysis of mRNA isolated from various mouse tissues revealed that the tissue distribution of both LCB1 and LCB2messengers followed a similar pattern. Transfection of an SPT-defective CHO mutant strain with a CHO LCB1-expressing plasmid restored both SPT activity and de novo sphingolipid synthesis to the wild type levels, whereas transfection of the mutant strain with a CHO LCB2-expressing plasmid did not exhibit any recovery effects, indicating that the SPT defect in the mutant cells is specifically complemented by the CHO LCB1 homolog. Furthermore, when the SPT-defective mutant cells were transfected with a plasmid encoding a His6-tagged CHO LCB1 protein, SPT activity bound to a Ni2+-immobilized resin. These results indicate that the CHO LCB1 homolog encodes a component of SPT.
Liability in Search and Rescues: Should Individuals who Necessitate Their Own Rescues Have to Pay?

Over the course of the past several years, numerous disasters in the outdoors have received widespread attention by the media and the American public. Search and rescue (SAR) services in the U.S. generally have been provided free of charge to outdoor enthusiasts who need them. In light of the excessive costs associated with some rescues, the fact that many rescues are either the result of perceived stupidity or unwarranted, and other factors, there has been a shift toward charging individuals who necessitate their own rescues. This paper examines the legal basis for free SAR services in the U.S., the rationale behind the shift toward charging for these services, and the implications of holding individuals liable for the cost of SAR activities. It reviews the formal shift toward individual liability for SAR services, looking specifically at state legislation and local policies, as well as some case law. Finally, the paper discusses the implications of charge-for-rescue policies.
Optic Atrophy: Differential Diagnosis by Fundus Observation Alone

• In order to assess the contribution of fundus examination to the differential diagnosis of acquired optic neuropathy, five ophthalmologists viewed 163 fundus stereophotographs of nine disease entities as "unknowns." Glaucoma, central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), and ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) were diagnosed by at least one observer with an accuracy above 80%. The remaining conditions (optic neuritis; compressive, traumatic, and hereditary optic neuropathies) were correctly identified with less than 50% accuracy. Retinal arteriolar attenuation and sheathing were most helpful in differentiating CRAO and ION. Although pathologic disc cupping often identified glaucoma, it was also seen in 20% of eyes with optic atrophy not associated with glaucoma. Excavation was more profound in glaucoma than in nonglaucomatous optic atrophy, the latter demonstrating relatively greater neuroretinal rim pallor. In 6% of nonglaucomatous optic atrophy eyes, however, disc cupping was misdiagnosed as "glaucomatous." Only 11% of eyes with previously documented papillitis or ION left clues that allowed observers to identify preexisting disc swelling.
Staining differences between normal and carcinogen-induced carcinomas of the hamster pouch.

An alteration in cell surface antigens associated with malignant change was investigated with the fluorescent antibody technic. Normal hamster pouch and squamous cell carcinomas (induced by topical DMBA) from the same hamsters were compared. The findings consistently showed that the intensity of the staining is diminished in squamous cell carcinomas.
Tribute to Tinbergen: The Place of Animal Behavior in Biology

Tinbergen is famous for emphasizing behavioral fieldwork and experimentation under natural circumstances, for founding the field of ethology, for getting a Nobel Prize, and for mentoring Richard Dawkins. He is known for dividing behavior studies into physiology, development, natural selection, and evolutionary history. In the decades since Tinbergen was active, some of the best research in animal behavior fuses Tinbergen's questions, connecting genes to behavioral phenotypes, for example. Behavior is the most synthetic of the life sciences, because observing the actions of an organism can tell us what all those physical and physiological traits are for. Insights from behavior tell us how traits in one individual impact those in another in ways that challenge our definition of an organism. Behavioral conflict and cooperation among animals has led to theory that explains within-organism conflict and cooperation and human malfunctions of many kinds. Darwin certainly began the evolutionary study of behavior, but Tinbergen brought it forward to the heart of biology. The challenge for the future is to apply concepts from animal behavior across biology with tools that would have amazed Tinbergen.
Taurine in developing rat brain: subcellular distribution and association with synaptic vesicles of [35S]taurine in maternal, fetal and neonatal rat brain

— The concentration of taurine in the brain of the fetus in several species is higher than that found in the mature animal. In order to explore the functional significance of this, we have studied the subcellular distribution of taurine and [35S]taurine in the brain of the mother, the fetus and the neonate after [35S]taurine was administered to pregnant rats. In maternal brain, the distribution of taurine and of radioactivity (all of which was recovered from brain as taurine) in the subcellular fractions of maternal brain were essentially identical and were recovered primarily in two fractions (72% taurine, 71% [35S]taurine was soluble, S3; 16% and 17%, respectively, was in the crude mitochondrial and synaptosomal fraction, P2). After further fractionation of P2, most of the taurine and [35S]taurine were in the cytoplasmic, O, and the synaptosomal, B, fractions. In the neonatal brain, shortly after birth there was a decrease in taurine and [35S]taurine recovered in the supernatant fraction, S3, accompanied by an increase in the percentage of taurine and [35S]taurine recovered in the crude mitochondrial fraction. A small percentage of taurine and [35S]taurine was consistently recovered in the synaptic vesicle fraction. Fractionation of the synaptic vesicles on a gel column separated the vesicle bound taurine completely from the free taurine: approx 1% of the taurine in the synaptic vesicle fraction was eluted with vesicles and could not be released by hypo-osmotic shock. The pattern of development in subcellular fractions of neonatal rat brain labelled with [35S]taurine via intraperitoneal injections of the pregnant mother may be an indication of maturation or protection of putative taurinergic nerve endings.
Tradeswomen's perspectives on occupational health and safety: a qualitative investigation.

Qualitative research methods were used to determine the health and safety concerns of women employed in the construction trades. Major categories of concern were identified, including: 1) exposure to chemical and physical agents; 2) injuries from lifting/bending/ twisting, falling, and lacerations; 3) lack of proper education and training; and 4) the health and safety risks related specifically to tradeswomen. Many of the issues identified by the workers are amenable to change through either engineering, behavioral, or administrative interventions. Language: en
A Robust Distributive Approach to Adaptive Power and Adaptive Rate Link Scheduling in Wireless Mesh Networks

In this paper, we present a distributive heuristic algorithm for maximizing the network throughput in adaptive power and adaptive rate spatial-TDMA wireless mesh networks. At each step of our algorithm, the link with highest receive Signal-to-Interference and Noise Ratio in its neighborhood is included in the schedule that is set for the underlying time slot, configuring its Modulation/Coding Scheme so that it transmits at the highest feasible power and rate levels. The transmitting node of the winning link announces the current receive power margin of its link's receiver to its neighbors. The transmitters of unscheduled links subsequently calculate the maximum potential Signal-to-Interference and Noise Ratio level at which their links could operate if scheduled next. The process repeats until the announced power margins of scheduled links do not allow more additions to the schedule at the underlying time slot. We show the performance of this distributive algorithm to be within 5-10% of that exhibited by our recently developed centralized algorithm, while inducing a much lower computational complexity. We also demonstrate the robustness and energy efficiency of our distributive algorithm by applying it to schedule a new set of links on top of an existing schedule. For the examined scenarios, we show that the throughput rate achieved by using such an incremental scheduling scheme is within 15% of the throughput rate attained when a complete scheduling of all the links is carried out, while reducing the control traffic overhead rate and achieving a more energy efficient operation.
Beta Thalassemia Trait: Detection at Birth

The synthesis of alpha, beta, and gamma chains in samples of cord blood was measured by the incorporation of leucine labeled with carbon-14 into these chains. In a newborn affected with beta thalassemia trait, the presence of one beta thalassemia gene was revealed on the 1st day of life by the lower specific radioactivity of the beta chain.
The disequilibration of the pinned charge density wave by slight temperature changes

Abstract By employing a technique analogous to ac demagnetisation of a ferromagnet we have constructed a state of the pinned CDW which is shown to be stable for 8 hours. Slight temperature changes ΔT at a rate below 1 mK/s destroy this equilibrium. We hypothesize that the condensate is left highly stressed by ΔT. The relief of this stress occurs by a series of quasi-periodic resistance jumps (condensate quakes).
Human topoisomerase I C-terminal domain fragment containing the active site tyrosine is a molten globule : Implication for the formation of competent productive complex

Human topoisomerase I (topo I) is an essential cellular enzyme that relaxes DNA supercoiling. The 6.3 kDa C-terminal domain of topo I contains the active site tyrosine (Tyr723) but lacks enzymatic activity by itself. Activity can be fully reconstituted when the C-terminal is associated with the 56 kDa core domain. Even though several crystal structures of topo I/DNA complexes are available, crystal structures of the free topo I protein or its individual domain fragments have been difficult to obtain. In this report we analyze the human topo I C-terminal domain structure using a variety of biophysical methods. Our results indicate that this fragment protein (topo6.3) appears to be in a molten globule state. It appears to have a native-like tertiary fold that contains a large population of α-helix secondary structure and extensive surface hydrophobic regions. Topo6.3 is known to be readily activated with the association of the topo I core domain, and the molten globule state of topo6.3 is likely to be an energy-favorable conformation for the free topo I C-terminal domain protein. The structural fluctuation and plasticity may represent an efficient mechanism in the topo I functional pathway, where the flexibility aids in the complementary association with the core domain and in the formation of a fully productive topo I complex.
Administrative reorganization in maine

Maine promises to be the next addition to the honor roll of states which have simplified and modernized their administrative structure.
Electronic Traps for Automated Monitoring of Insect Populations

Abstract We present preliminary work towards developing electronic traps for automated monitoring of insect populations. The proposed system has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of integrated pest management programs by automating the labor-intensive operations of monitoring insect populations. In addition, the proposed system will provide unprecedented real-time, high-resolution insect population data to growers. We present the design and implementation of two electronic trap prototypes, one based on light dependent resistor (LDR) sensors and the other based on infrared (IR) sensors. Both prototypes use a commercially available bucket trap as a base frame. Using an on-board microcontroller, the electronic traps are able to detect target insects entering the trap and record each event with a corresponding timestamp. We report the results of field tests that were performed in apple orchards in Pennsylvania and Washington in 2009.
Improved method for pointing characterization of large radio telescopes

In order to upgrade existing large radio telescopes or develop new ones, it is necessary to employ sophisticated active controls to meet the higher requirements on surface precision and pointing accuracy. However, in order for these high- performance controllers to maintain stability, they require an accurate characterization of the telescope structure. A finite element model (FEM) is sufficient to prove controller concepts, but does not have the level of accuracy required for final controller implementation. This results in a need for experimental characterization of the structure. A significant problem is that the structural behavior of the telescope is typically measured at the encoders, while the critical performance is the actual pointing on the sky. Conventional pointing measurements are excellent for obtaining the actual pointing direction, but are insufficient for structural characterization. Conversely, conventional physical measurements are excellent for determining structural behavior, but are not suitable for high accuracy calculation of the final pointing. We describe a new method for taking pointing measurements to quantify the static and dynamic tracking errors in the telescope. This is accomplished by combining pointing measurements at a high sample rate with simultaneous data taken from sensors on the structure. In the simplest form, the method allows improvement of the telescope controller and some indication of the relative importance of static and dynamic effects. More complete implementations of the approach can provide information about the major contributors of pointing error, improvements to the FEM, and extraction of the force distribution history on the structure. Such data will be essential if future telescope upgrades and designs are to take advantage of complex control and metrology.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Biochemical characterization of a human band 4.1-related protein-tyrosine phosphatase, PTPH1.

PTPH1 is a human protein-tyrosine phosphatase with homology to the band 4.1 superfamily of cytoskeleton-associated proteins. Here, we report the purification and biochemical characterization of this enzyme from baculovirus-infected insect cells. The purified protein exhibited an apparent Mr of 120,000 on SDS gels. The native enzyme dephosphorylated both myelin basic protein (MBP) and reduced, carboxamidomethylated, and maleylated lysozyme (RCML) but was over 5-fold more active on MBP. The Km values for the two substrates were similar (1.45 μM for MBP and 1.6 μM for RCML). Phosphorylation of PTPH1 by protein kinase C in vitro resulted in a decrease in Km but had no effect on Vmax. Removal of the NH2-terminal band 4.1 homology domain of PTPH1 by limited trypsin cleavage stimulated dephosphorylation of RCML but inhibited its activity toward MBP. The dephosphorylation of RCML by full-length PTPH1 was enhanced up to 6-fold by unphosphorylated MBP and increasing ionic strength up to 0.2 M NaCl, whereas trypsinized preparations of PTPH1 containing the isolated catalytic domain were unaffected. These results suggest that in addition to a potential role in controlling subcellular localization, the NH2-terminal band 4.1 homology domain of PTPH1 may exert a direct effect on catalytic function.
Four decades of lean: a systematic literature review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of four decades of scholarly lean literature and identify phases of lean while highlighting core knowledge and voids from within the scholarly lean literature.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology applied to better understand lean over the past four decades was a systematic review of literature, as described by Machi and McEvoy in The Literature Review: Six Steps to Success.Findings – This literature review has synthesized and categorized four decades of scholarly literature, along with influential books from credible researchers and practitioners of lean, in an effort to decipher the lean thinking paradigm from jargon to a commonly‐shared language. In total, five themes evolved from the analysis starting with the Discovery phase (1970‐1990), Dissemination phase (1991‐1996), Implementation phase (1997‐2000), Enterprise phase (2001‐2005), and the most recent phase of Performance (2006‐2009).Research limitations/implications – The...
Resistance training increases heat shock protein levels in skeletal muscle of young and old rats.

Heat shock proteins (HSP) HSP72, HSC70 and HSP25 protein levels and mRNA levels of HSP72 genes (Hsp72−1, Hsp72-2, Hsp72−3) and HSC70 were examined in tibialis anterior muscles from young and old rats following 4.5 weeks of heavy resistance exercise. Young (3 months) (n=10) and old (30 months) (n=9) rats were subjected to 14 sessions of electrically evoked resistance training using stretch-shortening contractions of the left limb that activated the dorsiflexor muscle group, including the tibialis anterior muscle, while the right side served as the intra-animal control. Muscle wet weight of the left tibialis anterior increased by 15.6% in young animals compared to the untrained right side, while the aged rats demonstrated no significant hypertrophy based on muscle wet weight. There were no differences in mRNA expression between the control and experimental muscles in either the old or the young animals for any of the four genes examined. On the other hand, HSP72 levels as determined by Western blots were significantly (p<0.01) higher (968.8 and 409.1%) in the trained as compared to the contralateral control muscle in young and old animals, respectively. HSP25 expression was increased significantly (p<0.01) by training in muscles of young rats (943.1%) and old rats (420.3%). Moreover, there was no training by age interaction for HSP72, while a significant age and training by age effects were found in muscles for HSP25. There was no change in HSC70 protein expression in response to the training intervention in either age group. SOD-1 enzyme level increased by 66.6% in the trained muscles of the young rats, while this enzyme was 33% lower in trained muscles compared to the untrained control side in old rats. Moreover, a significant (p<0.05) training by age interaction was found for SOD-1 enzyme levels. This study suggests that fast contracting muscles in young and old animals are capable of increasing HSP expression in response to high intensity contractile stress. Furthermore, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that higher levels of oxidative stress in muscles of old animals limit HSP levels and/or function in response to high intensity contractile stress.
Molecular dynamics study of hydration of the protein interior

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to study the patterns of hydration of cavities in the interior of staphylococcal nuclease (SN) and of the variants V66E and V66K. In these variants the polar groups of Glu and Lys are internal, and they affect the polarity and size of a small internal cavity. Internal water molecules were identified in the simulations based on their coordination state. They were characterized in terms of their residence times, average locations, dipole moment fluctuations, hydrogen bonding interactions, and interaction energies. The best agreement in the locations of MD and crystallographically determined water molecules was found for molecules that have residence times of several ns, and which display small mean square displacements in the MD simulations. In the simulations the hydrophobic cavity near Val-66 in the wild type contains a relatively disordered water molecule that has never been seen crystallographically. Consideration of the protein dynamics was found to be important when studying hydration in the protein interior: inside the protein the interaction energies of water molecules fluctuate less than in bulk water, giving rise to a favorable contribution to the chemical potential. The analysis of the MD trajectories revealed that the fluctuations in the protein structure (especially the loop elements) can strongly influence protein hydration by changing the patterns or strengths of hydrogen bonding interactions between water molecules and the protein, or by providing potential energy barriers for water penetration.
On the theory of partially inbreeding finite populations. V. The effective size of a partially selfing age-structured population

Abstract Consider a large population, with the same age distribution at times 0,1,2,…, in which there is reproduction by selfing with probability β and by random mating with probability 1 − β . An individual between i and i + 1 units of age at time t is said to be in age group i at that time. Let L be the mean, among copies of an allele A in genotypes of offspring in age group 0, of ages of parents when the inbreeding coefficient has attained an equilibrium value. Then if there is no selection and allele A is originally present in one heterozygote, the probability that it is ultimately fixed is 1/(2 N 0 L ), where N 0 is the number of individuals in age group 0 at any time. The effective population size can then be derived. It turns out to be the same as for a population with discrete generations having the same mean and variance of the number of successful gametes produced during a lifetime and the same number of individuals entering the population per generation.
Transcriptional and Post-Transcriptional Regulation of the Escherichia coli luxS mRNA; Involvement of the sRNA MicA

Background: The small RNA (sRNA) MicA has been shown to post-transcriptionally regulate translation of the outer membrane protein A (OmpA) in Escherichia coli. It uses an antisense mechanism to dow ...
Use of salt‐stored zonae pellucidae for assessing rabbit sperm capacitation for in vitro fertilization

Zonae pellucidae of tubal and follicular oocytes were collected and prepared for salt storage. Cumulus and corona radiata cells were removed from oocytes with hyaluronidase and a small bore pipette. The oocytes (referred to as zonae since vitelline were rendered nonfunctional) were stored in a salt solution at 4 degrees C. Using in utero capacitated sperm, the penetrability of zonae from tubal and follicular oocytes stored immediately after collection was compared to controls, i.e., in vitro development of tubal ova to the 4-cell stage within 24 hr. The penetration rates were 100% (8 penetrated/8 inseminated), 77.8% (7 penetrated/9 inseminated), and 100% (10 fertilized/10 inseminated), respectively, and these were not statistically different. The mean (x) numbers of sperm able to penetrate the zonae, into the perivitelline space (PVS) for tubal (34.0) and follicular (1.1) oocytes were significantly different (P less than 0.01). However, following maturational incubation before salt storage, zonae of tubal and follicular origin showed no significant differences in penetrability of in utero capacitated sperm when assessed by percent penetration, or mean numbers of sperm cells reaching the PVS: tubal zonae, 100% (15/15), and follicular zonae, 100% (18/18), and mean number of sperm in the PVS (x [tubal zonae] = 12.4, and x [follicular zonae] = 11.8). The penetrability of tubal zonae with and without maturational incubation was compared, and no significant differences in penetrability by in utero capacitated sperm were present when assessed by percent penetration nonmatured 92.6% (25/27) and matured 93.3% (28/30) and mean number of sperm in the PVS (x [nonmatured] = 3.33 and x [matured] = 2.41). In vitro capacitation of ejaculated rabbit sperm by serum treatment was assessed by the penetration of salt-stored zonae, zona-free hamster oocytes (ZFHO), and in vitro fertilization of freshly collected tubal oocytes. None of 60 salt-stored zonae and none of 31 tubal oocytes were penetrated, and these values were significantly (P less than 0.005) smaller than the 9 of 78 (12%) zona-free hamster ova that were penetrated by sperm cells from the same sample. In vitro capacitation of ejaculated rabbit sperm by washing and preincubation was assessed by the penetration of salt-stored zonae, zona-free hamster oocytes (ZFHO), and fertilization of freshly collected tubal oocytes. Seventy-six of 80 salt-stored zonae were penetrated, and this was significantly (P less than 0.005) greater than the 67 of 87 tubal oocytes fertilized and 30 of 35 ZFHO penetrated, which were not significantly different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)