cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multi-tag RFID systems

Successful object identification is the primary objective of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Yet, a recent major study by Wal-Mart has shown that object detection probability can be as low as 66%. We propose the tagging of objects with multiple tags to address the fundamental issue of object detectability. We show that this strategy dramatically improves the efficacy of RFID systems, even in the face of radio noise and other interfering factors. We define different types of multi-tag systems and examine their benefits using analytics, simulations, and experiments with commercial RFID equipment. We investigate the effect of multi-tags on anti-collision algorithms, and develop several techniques that enable multi-tags to enhance RFID security. We suggest new promising applications of multi-tags, ranging from improving patient safety to preventing illegal deforestation. We analyse the economics of multi-tag RFID systems and argue that the benefits of multi-tags will continue to increasingly outweigh their costs in many applications.
On the importance of opal, carbonate, and lithogenic clays in scavenging and fractionating 230Th, 231Pa and 10Be in the ocean

Abstract The influence of particle composition on the scavenging of 230 Th, 231 Pa, and 10 Be in the ocean is critically re-examined based on the particle-solution distribution coefficient ( K d ) data reported by Chase et al. [Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 204 (2002) 215–229]. Our re-examination shows that the K d s for these radionuclides are strongly influenced by the amount of lithogenic material (lithogenics) in particulates as reported previously by us, and that a strong correlation between the lithogenic and carbonate contents in open-ocean particulates results in an apparent, non-linear correlation between %CaCO 3 and K d for each of the three radionuclides. Using a three-end-member model, we estimate that the respective K d s (g/g) of 230 Th, 231 Pa, and 10 Be in the open ocean are: 2.3×10 8 , 1.2×10 7 , and 3.8×10 6 for lithogenics; 1.0×10 6 , 1.0×10 5 , and 3.0×10 4 for carbonate; and 2.5×10 5 , 1.2×10 6 , and 7.5×10 5 for opal, suggesting that lithogenics have a much stronger affinity for any of the three nuclides than does carbonate or opal. Lithogenics and carbonate preferentially scavenge 230 Th over 231 Pa and 10 Be, whereas opal slightly favors 231 Pa and 10 Be over 230 Th. Relative to lithogenics, carbonate plays a very limited role in fractionating 230 Th, 231 Pa, and 10 Be due to its orders-of-magnitude smaller K d values for the three nuclides. Our results indicate that fractionations between Pa and Th and between Be and Th through particle scavenging are mainly determined by the opal-to-lithogenic ratio in particulates, rather than the opal-to-carbonate ratio suggested by Chase et al.
Architecture of an expert system for composite document analysis, representation, and retrieval

Abstract The CODER (COmposite Document Expert/extended/effective Retrieval) project is a multi-yeare effort to investigate how best to apply artificial intelligence methods to increase the effectiveness of information retrieval systems handling collections of composite documents. To ensure system adaptability and to allow controlled experimentation, CODER has been designed as a distributed expert system. The use of individually tailored specialist experts, coupled with standardized blackboard modules for communication and control and external knowledge bases for maintenance of factual world knowledge, allows for quick prototyping, incremental development, and flexibility under change. The system as a whole is being implemented under UNIX as a set of MU-Prolog and C modules communicating through pipes and TCP/IP sockets.
Strongly nonlinear wave dynamics in a chain of polymer coated beads

Strongly nonlinear phononic crystals were assembled from a chain of Parylene-C coated steel spheres in a polytetrafluoroethylene holder. This system exhibits strongly nonlinear properties and extends the range of materials supporting sonic-vacuum-type behavior. The combination of a high density core and a soft (low elastic modulus) coating ensures a relatively low velocity of wave propagation. The bead contact interaction caused by the deformation of the Parylene coating can be described by classical nonlinear elastic Hertz theory with an effective value of the elastic modulus equal to 15 GPa for the contact interaction. Strongly nonlinear solitary waves excited by impacts were investigated experimentally and compared to chains composed of uniform steel beads. Fracture of the polymer coating was detected under relatively large pulse amplitude.
Correlates of formal reasoning: Content and problem effects

Piaget's structural theory of formal thought suggests that a general construct of formal reasoning exists. The content of the task and type of problem employed are often ignored in Piagetian based studies but are important for generalizing findings to other studies and to educational problems. The study reported here examines content and problem effects of formal thought in 13-year-old adolescents. Specifically, three controlling variables tasks with different content and two question type tests (analysis and controlling questions) were administered to 120 seventh graders. Ability measures and personality dimensions associated with formal reasoning in the literature are used to clarify what formal reasoning is and how content and problem type are involved in formal reasoning. Significant main effects were found for problem and content effects (p = 0.001), and a significant interaction was found between the two (p = 0.001). Across the three tasks general ability, field dependency, and locus of control were consistently and significantly related to the controlling questions. However, only measures of field dependency were related to the analysis questions. Combinations of ability and personality factors were found to be uniquely related to each task, within each question type. Results have implications for a theory of formal thought and the teaching of the controlling variables strategy.
Regional cerebral blood flow correlated with flashback intensity in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract Background: Nuclear imaging studies have examined cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in subjects with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using symptom evocation paradigms. To date, no such studies have investigated rCBF as related to subjects' reports of flashback intensity Methods: Subjects with varying traumatic histories and longstanding PTSD were studied using [ 15 O]-H 2 O positron emission tomography with an auditory script of their traumatic event. Eight subjects had three resting scans followed by their script and additional scans. Heart rate responses as well as the presence of flashbacks and their intensity were recorded. rCBF was correlated with flashback intensity in each subject's scan. Combined analysis of all subjects' data yielded common regions related to the flashback experience Results: rCBF correlated directly with flashback intensity in the brainstem, lingula, bilateral insula, right putamen and left hippocampal and perihippocampal, somatosensory and cerebellar regions. Inverse correlations with rCBF were found in bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal, right fusiform and right medial temporal cortices Conclusions: This study correlated flashback intensity and rCBF in a group of patients with chronic PTSD suggesting involvement of brainstem, and areas associated with motor control, complex visual/spatial cues and memory.
Metallurgical Failure Analysis of a Horse Trailer: A Criminal Investigation

Following the deaths of three people involved in a vehicular collision with an ejected horse, criminal charges were brought against the horse’s owner. Failure analysis was performed on the horse’s trailer to determine its roadworthiness. The failure mode of the hinge between the door and frame became the focus of the investigation. The analysis concentrated on proving whether or not the hinge was broken prior to the collision; that the trailer was not roadworthy; and whether the trailer was capable of safely transporting two horses on a public freeway. Analysis using optical microscopy and the scanning electron microscope indicated the hinge was significantly corroded and mechanically deformed. Additionally, there was evidence of paint on an alleged fresh fracture surface. The results were presented at the trial of the defendant.
Recognizing human actions by attributes

In this paper we explore the idea of using high-level semantic concepts, also called attributes, to represent human actions from videos and argue that attributes enable the construction of more descriptive models for human action recognition. We propose a unified framework wherein manually specified attributes are: i) selected in a discriminative fashion so as to account for intra-class variability; ii) coherently integrated with data-driven attributes to make the attribute set more descriptive. Data-driven attributes are automatically inferred from the training data using an information theoretic approach. Our framework is built upon a latent SVM formulation where latent variables capture the degree of importance of each attribute for each action class. We also demonstrate that our attribute-based action representation can be effectively used to design a recognition procedure for classifying novel action classes for which no training samples are available. We test our approach on several publicly available datasets and obtain promising results that quantitatively demonstrate our theoretical claims.
Leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in the inflammatory response.

I nflammation is the response of vascularized tissue to damage. It is a complex response set in motion in any tissue by virtually any injury due to any cause. It is an attempt to restore homeostasis. In the early history of Homo sapiens, when lifespans were relatively short and our ancestors were likely to die from infectious diseases and trauma, the ability to fight off pathogens and heal wounds was even more critical for the survival of the species than it is today. The inflammatory response is still critical for these purposes. However, now that we are living longer, we have come to realize that inflammation is a doubleedged sword. The same inflammatory processes that are so effective at clearing pathogens and repairing damaged skin are the cause of most human pathology today. Atherosclerosis, autoimmune diseases, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, and many other common human afflictions are all conditions that result when the inflammatory response is uncontrolled, self-directed, or in the wrong place at the wrong time. These conditions generally affect humans past the traditional breeding age and thus these untoward aspects of inflammation were not selected out during evolution. As a result, there is now far more effort to develop potent anti-inflammatory therapies than there is to develop treatments to boost the inflammatory response. What is needed is the therapeutic equivalent of “smart bombs”—the ability to selectively inhibit inflammation where it is damaging without interfering with beneficial functions of the inflammatory response. To design rational therapies, a more thorough understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of inflammation is necessary. A great deal of research has been carried out in this area over the past two decades and significant progress has been made. Along with this progress has come an array of jargon and hundreds of molecules denoted by cluster of differentiation (CD) numbers that make following the field daunting for those not involved in it (see Table 1) This brief overview is intended to introduce the nonspecialist to the general concepts in the field and the important areas for future research. A general paradigm of leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in inflammation is presented that is generally agreed on in the field. This is obviously oversimplified; alternative interactions do exist. In particular, there are certain adhesion molecules that are critical to inflammation in some tissues but not in others. The reader is referred to more detailed reviews cited in each section for a more thorough discussion.
The Role of the Right Hemisphere for Processing of Social Interactions in Normal Adults Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate whole-brain and hemispheric activation in normal adult volunteers to videos depicting positive and negative social encounte
Childhood play experiences of women in traditional and nontraditional professions

One hundred ten women in both traditional and nontraditional professions were compared on childhood play and related socialization experiences. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects that different play experiences had on career choices of professional women. A survey questionnaire on play experiences and related factors was administered to the subjects. Chi Squares and t-tests for differences between means revealed significant differences among subgroups of women on several independent variables. Professional business women had participated more in competitive sports as children, and-along with women in other nontraditional professions-reported more male playmates and fewer female playmates than did women in traditional professions. Forms of encouragement by fathers differed from that of mothers, and women in nontraditional professions received different forms of parental encouragement than women in traditional professions.
The solvent contribution to the free energy of protein--ligand interactions.

Abstract The intrinsic solvent contribution to the free energy of protein-ligand interactions in solution is shown to be related to a free energy per unit area term, obtained from analysis of the solution to gas phase process, and the change in accessible area on association. Analysis of the free energy data on a per unit area basis for the solution to gas phase process leads to the conclusion that the aliphatic CH2 group is only slightly intrinsically hydrophobic, δΔG°/ A 2 = 6 cal mol −1 A 2 , whereas the aromatic compound are actually intrinsically hydrophilic, δΔG°/ A 2 = -26 cal mol −1 A 2 . This leads to the conclusion that, for the interaction of benzene, naphthalene and anthracene with the binding site of α-chymotrypsin, the ligand-solvent free energy contribution is actually unfavorable. Since the protein-solvent contribution is small or unfavorable, the central conclusion is that the solvent contribution to protein-ligand interactions is small or unfavorable and that it is the protein-ligand non-bonded interactions that provide the driving force for association.
Layer-by-layer growth of SiC at low temperatures

Abstract A novel reactor for layer-by-layer deposition of compound semiconductors has been designed and commissioned for the deposition of SiC. The substrates rested on a heated, rotating platform. They encountered individual fluxes of Si2H6 and C2H4 and subsequently paused beneath a hot filament. The filament was used to encourage the surface reaction between silicon adatoms and carbon precursors. Heteroepitaxial films were grown between 850 and 980 °C on Si(100) substrates oriented 3° off-axis toward 〈011〉. They were analyzed for composition, crystallinity, growth per cycle, and morphology using depth profiling Auger spectroscopy, reflection high-energy electron diffraction, ellipsometry and transmission electron microscopy. Growth, as measured by ellipsometry and transmission electron microscopy, corresponded to approximately one monolayer per cycle. Monocrystalline films were achieved. Initial growth and characterization results of representative films are presented and discussed.
EXCEPTIONALLY PRESERVED FOSSIL INSECT EARS FROM THE EOCENE GREEN RIVER FORMATION OF COLORADO

Tympanal ears in insects are important for both intraspecific communication and for the detection of nocturnal predators. Ears are thought, based on modern forms, to have originated independently multiple times within insects and can be found on multiple regions of the body. Here we describe and document the exceptionally well preserved tympanal ears found in crickets and katydids from the Eocene Green River Formation of Colorado, which are virtually identical to those seen in modern representatives of these groups. These specimens are among the best preserved insect ears in the fossil record and establish the presence of ears in two major clades of Orthoptera 50 million years ago. Also discussed and evaluated are previously described insect ears from the Mesozoic and the implications of the findings of the present study for studying the evolution of ears within insects.
Mineral precipitation and dissolution at two slag-disposal sites in northwestern Indiana, USA

Slag is a ubiquitous byproduct of the iron- and steel-refining industries. In northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois, slag has been deposited over more than 52 km2 of land surface. Despite the widespread use of slag for fill and construction purposes, little is known about its chemical effects on the environment. Two slag-disposal sites were examined in northwestern Indiana where slag was deposited over the native glacial deposits. At a third site, where slag was not present, background conditions were defined. Samples were collected from cores and drill cuttings and described with scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. Ground-water samples were collected and used to assess thermodynamic equilibria between authigenic minerals and existing conditions. Differences in the mineralogy at background and slag-affected sites were apparent. Calcite, dolomite, gypsum, iron oxides, and clay minerals were abundant in native sediments immediately beneath the slag. Mineral features indicated that these minerals precipitated rapidly from slag drainage and co-precipitated minor amounts of non-calcium metals and trace elements. Quartz fragments immediately beneath the slag showed extensive pitting that was not apparent in sediments from the background site, indicating chemical weathering by the hyperalkaline slag drainage. The environmental impacts of slag-related mineral precipitation include disruption of natural ground-water flow patterns and bed-sediment armoring in adjacent surface-water systems. Dissolution of native quartz by the hyperalkaline drainage may cause instability in structures situated over slag fill or in roadways comprised of slag aggregates.
Production and annealing studies of lead irradiated with protons or deuterons

Abstract In contrast to existing high dose electron irradiation data approximately 50% recovery occurs below 70 K in pure lead (R273K/R4.2K < 10,000) irradiated at 7.3 K with either 11 MeV protons or 22 MeV deuterons with doses up to 33 × 10−9 ωcm. Recovery decreased with increasing dose for doses between 5.8 and 33 × 10−9 ωcm and was increased by pre-irradiation and partial annealing. Previous identification of stage I D as that occurring at 170 K appears in error in view of the results presented here. Furthermore annealing data after neutron irradiation and plastic deformation data are substantially in agreement with the present interpretation.
Water and sediment supply affect basin-filling sedimentation patterns

The spatial and temporal variability of sedimentation can affect models that scientists use to interpret the stratigraphic record. To better understand the influence of sedimentation variability, Straub and Wang quantify basin-filling trends in three experiments with fluvial deltaic systems experiencing subsidence. They note that sediment fills some basins randomly, while in other basins sediment fills in an even, structured way.
A BARRIER BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEM FOR PARABOLIC AND ELLIPTIC EQUATIONS

Barrier type boundary conditions are modeled for describing the substance diffusion in a medium when obstacles in the medium are considered. The existence of solutions of parabolic and elliptic differential equations with barrier boundary condition is presented in this paper.
Adjusting selectivity in liquid chromatography by use of the thermally tuned tandem column concept.

In this study, we propose the novel “thermally tuned tandem column (T3C)” concept for the optimization of selectivity in LC by continuous adjustment of the stationary phase. Two columns with distin...
Increased divalent metal ion uptake associated with hydrogenase constitutive phenotypes of Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Hydrogenase-constitutive (Hupc) mutants of Bradyrhizobium japonicum were previously shown to accumulate more nickel than the wild-type strain. In a 2 h period Hupc strains JH101 and JH103 also accumulated 2- to 3-fold more Mg2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+, and about 4-fold more Co2+ and Mn2+ than the wild-type strain JH. Init uptake rates (first 10 min) by the Hupc strains were also greater for all the metals. The mutation in the Hupc strains affecting a trans-acting regulator of the hup structural genes appears to have also amplified a metal uptake/accumulation process common to many divalent metal ions. From efflux experiments (suspension of cells in metal-free medium after metal accumulation) to determine the degree of dissociation of each metal with the cells it was concluded that Zn2+, like Ni2+, was rapidly and tightly cell-associated. In contrast, about 50% of the accumulated Cu2+ and about 30% of the Mn2+ was effluxed within 2 h by both the Hupc and wild-type strains. Cobalt was more tightly cell-associated than Mn2+ or Cu2+, as the strains effluxed about 26% of the previously accumulated metal in 2 h. Even after accounting for ‘effluxed metal’, the Hupc strains retained more of each metal than the wild-type. The increased metal accumulation by Hupc strains could not be accounted for solely at the level of transport, as known metabolic inhibitors (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and nigericin) of nickel transport partially inhibited (1 h) accumulation of only some (magnesium, zinc and copper) of the other metals. Hydrogenase-derepressed wild-type cells exhibited slightly higher (22–27% more) 2 h accumulation capacity for some of the metals (nickel, zinc and copper) than did non-derepressed cells, but not to the 2- to 4-fold greater level observed for Hupc strains compared with the wild-type. The Hupc strains JH101 and JH103 do not synthesize more capsular/cell wall carbohydrate than the wild-type strain.
Coherent phonon excitation in bismuth

Abstract Ultrafast time-resolved reflectivity of a bismuth thin film evaporated on a silicon substrate is measured to investigate coherent phonons in bismuth. The reflectivity result is analyzed by a linear chirp approximation to obtain the time dependent frequencies of coherent phonons. Not only the optical modes are detected, which are generated by a combination of impulsive stimulated Raman scattering and displacive excitation of coherent phonon, acoustic phonon modes are also observed, which are emitted by the A 1g optical phonon.
TU-FF-A2-02: Dual-Fields Rotational Total Skin Electron Irradiation/therapy

Purpose: We have developed a new technique for rotational total skin electron therapy (RTSET). The technique combines the rotational method of McGill University with the Stanford University angled dual‐fields method. We report dosimetry characteristics and in‐vivodosimetry.Method and Materials: Patients stand on a rotational (0.9 rpm) platform at an extended SSD (332cm) with field‐size 133‐cm by 133‐cm. The gantry is angled 70° and 110° so that beam points above patient's head and below patient's feet, respectively, in order to minimize contaminant x‐ray dose. A “high‐dose‐rate” mode (600 MU/min) on a Varian‐21EX delivers a 6 MeV‐electron beam. Daily treatments require only about 0.5 h, one‐half of which is used for patient set‐up. Shields are used for eyes, nails, and toes. Dosimetrymeasurements include static dose‐rate at extended SSD, rotational dose‐rate for a rotating patient/phantom, and a power law correction for SSD variation. In‐vivo dose measurements are performed using XV‐films and MOSFET. Films strips are attached firmly on patient's skin to avoid any air gaps. Results: We obtained MU = Dose/(0.0751*0.39 *(332/SSD)2.25). Therefore, a prescription dose of 125cGy at 325cm SSD required 4068 MU or 7.5 revolutions. The dose distribution along the vertical direction was measured by a parallel‐plate ionization chamber in a phantom. For a patient prescribed 116cGy daily, the average measuredsurface dose with film was 110cGy, within 5% of prescribed dose. In‐vivoMOSFET on a patient prescribed 125cGy daily, measured doses were distributed from 99% to 102% from the prescribed dose of 125cGy. Conclusion: The dual‐field RTSET offers combined advantages of shorter beam‐on time, uniform dose distribution, larger treatment fields, and less x‐ray contamination than other techniques. Our in‐vivomeasurements revealed that delivered dose matched prescribed dose to < 5% and dose uniformity was within 6% variation.
Primitive Groups with no Regular Orbits on the Set of Subsets

We determine all primitive groups which do not have a regular orbit on the power set of the permutation domain. As a corollary, we also determine all families of orbit equivalent primitive permutation groups.
Concordance between task and interface rotational and translational control improves ground vehicle performance

Research in various areas of human-system interaction suggests the importance of examining the similarities and dissimilarities between tasks and the interfaces used to complete them. Specifically, the theory of cognitive fit suggests that human problem solvers will perform better when the data and data displays they use to complete a task match some characteristic of that task. An experiment was performed that extends the theory of cognitive fit to the realm of human performance on motor tasks. Participants completed several virtual vehicle control motor tasks that consisted of rotational and translational control components. The tasks were performed with user interfaces that either combined or separated rotational and translational control. The tasks were of two types: control of either rotation or translation changes but not both concurrently, or simultaneous control of combined rotation and translation changes. The results indicate that task performance was better when the characteristics of the interface matched the characteristics of the task. Actual or potential applications of this research include constructing ground vehicle interface controls that are designed specifically based on the characteristics of the task for which they are to be used, such as primarily driving fast and in a straight line (e.g., on a highway) versus primarily driving slowly with much turning (e.g., on a city street).
A Comparison of Suicide Note Writers with Suicides Who Did Not Leave Notes.

There is disagreement in the suicide literature on the value of suicide notes as a data source, particularly regarding the extent to which suicide decedents who write notes differ from those who do not. Using 10 years of suicide cases from Summit County, Ohio, these two groups were compared on 40 variables including sociodemographic characteristics, reported affect before death, precipitating events, physical and mental health status and care, and method of suicide. The only differences found were that note writers were more likely to have lived alone and had made prior suicide threats. These findings suggest that for research purposes, suicide cases with and without notes are essentially similar.
QUANTITATIVE STUDIES ON THE REACTION OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARIES OF IMMATURE FEMALE RATS TO EXTRACTS OF PREGNANCY URINE

It has been found by Severinghaus (1934) and Wolfe (1934) that injections of extracts of pregnancy urine induce marked changes in the anterior pituitaries of immature female rats. The latter reported that such injections induced a marked increase in the weight of the ovaries of immature female rats and a variable increase in the weight of the pituitaries. The ovaries contained many corpora lutea, partially luteinized follicles and unluteinized follicles of all sizes. In the anterior pituitaries the most prominent morphologic changes were in the basophiles, which were usually enlarged and exhibited a marked loss of granules. Less outstanding was the morphologic evidence of loss of granules from the eosinophiles; this loss in most instances involved only a minority of the cells. The relative level of the eosinophiles was usually decreased, while that of the ehromophobes was increased. Of equal interest was the fact that these extracts were without effect on the anterior pituitaries of castrated female rats.
Prevalence of the HOXB13 G84E prostate cancer risk allele in men treated with radical prostatectomy

Objective To determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of the G84E mutation in the homeobox transcription factor, or HOXB13, gene using DNA samples from 9559 men with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. Patients and Methods DNA samples from men treated with radical prostatectomy at the University of Michigan and John Hopkins University were genotyped for G84E and this was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The frequency and distribution of this allele was determined according to specific patient characteristics (family history, age at diagnosis, pathological Gleason grade and stage). Results Of 9559 patients, 128 (1.3%) were heterozygous carriers of G84E. Patients who possessed the variant were more likely to have a family history of prostate cancer than those who did not (46.0 vs 35.4%; P = 0.006). G84E carriers were also more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age than non-carriers (55.2 years vs 58.1 years; P < 0.001). No difference in the proportion of patients diagnosed with high grade or advanced stage tumours according to carrier status was observed. Conclusions In the present study, carriers of the rare G84E variant in HOXB13 were both younger at the time of diagnosis and more likely to have a family history of prostate cancer compared with homozygotes for the wild-type allele. No significant differences in allele frequency were detected according to selected clinical characteristics of prostate cancer. Further investigation is required to evaluate the role of HOXB13 in prostate carcinogenesis.
Tracking Multiple Objects Is Limited Only by Object Spacing, Not by Speed, Time, or Capacity

In dealing with a dynamic world, people have the ability to maintain selective attention on a subset of moving objects in the environment. Performance in such multiple-object tracking is limited by three primary factors—the number of objects that one can track, the speed at which one can track them, and how close together they can be. We argue that this last limit, of object spacing, is the root cause of all performance constraints in multiple-object tracking. In two experiments, we found that as long as the distribution of object spacing is held constant, tracking performance is unaffected by large changes in object speed and tracking time. These results suggest that barring object-spacing constraints, people could reliably track an unlimited number of objects as fast as they could track a single object.
Multipotential stem cells and 'side population' cells.

In the past 2 years we have seen a dizzying array of reports of potential new stem cell types that can generate a variety of differentiated mesenchymal (and other) cells. These stem cells are derived from many different tissue sources, frequently BM [1], but also skin [2] and brain [3]. Most recently, Catherine Verfaillie’s group has reported a seemingly stable, immortal multipotent adult progenitor cell (MAPC) from BM that behaves somewhat like a embryonal stem cell, generating many cell types in adults and embryos [4]. Is there a relationship between these myriad stem cell types? It is not known whether all these stem cell types have similar broad differentiation profiles, nor whether they are all ultimately derived from one stem cell, perhaps residing in the BM. There are as many different isolation procedures as there are publications, and no one has directly compared each ‘stem cell’ population, which makes it impossible to determine if one or many stem cell populations are being characterized. We have studied ‘side population’ or SP cells, which are identified on the basis of efficient Hoechst dye efflux. We originally identified SP cells by screening Hoechst-stained murine BM cell populations for those that would reconstitute lethally irradiated recipients [5]. SP cells reconstituted mice with an efficiency . 1000-fold over whole BM, and were therefore defined as hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). The population is highly homogeneous, with around 90% of SP cells expressing the stem cell markers Sca-1, c-Kit, and the hematopoietic Ag CD45. Until a few years ago we, along with most others in the
L-Canavanine: A Potential Chemotherapeutic Agent for Human Pancreatic Cancer

L-Canavanine, the principal nonprotein amino acid of certain leguminous plants, is a potent L-arginine antimetabolite. This natural product has demonstrative antineoplastic activity against a number of human cancers. Recent studies with MIAPaCa-2 and CFPAC have established canavanine’s potential anticancer activity against these human pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Canavanine has promise as a lead compound in the development of a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of human pancreatic carcinoma, but it has not been adequately investigated. Greater study of canavanine and its derivatives is needed to fully realize the experimental and therapeutic value of this naturally-occurring non-protein amino acid, and to obtain a chemotherapeutic agent of clinical value in treating human carcinomas.
Rickets in Mature Chickens

Abstract Definite knowledge regarding rickets in the human and other mammals has developed rapidly during the past few years, due to the discovery of some of the important factors in the causation of the disease. The influence of supply and balance of calcium and phosphorus in the diet has been studied quite carefully. Certain substances, such as cod liver oil and egg yolk, have been shown definitely to contain something (anti-rachitic vitamin) which is capable of preventing and curing rickets. Quite a complete review of the literature on experimental rickets may be found in Korenchevsky’s 1 publication. The demonstration by Huldschinsky, 2 3 then by Hess, Unger, and Pappenheimer 4 , that ultraviolet rays play an important part in the prevention and cure of rickets, answered some of the perplexing questions which had arisen regarding the cause of the disease. Before this fact was discovered it was extremely difficult to account for the . . .
E-selectin is upregulated in proliferating endothelial cells in vitro.

Objective: E-selectin is an endothelial cell-specific membrane glycoprotein that participates in leukocyte adhesion and has also been suggested to function in angiogenesis. To gain further insights into E-selectin, we analyzed E-selectin polypeptide in proliferating versus quiescent bovine capillary endothelial cells and its expression as a function of the cell cycle.Methods: E-selectin polypeptide was analyzed by immunoadsorption from 35Scysteine—labeled endothelial cells, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The distribution of endothelial cells in G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases of the cell cycle was determined using propidium iodide staining of DNA.Results: E-selectin was upregulated in subconfluent proliferating bovine capillars endothelial cells compared to confluent quiescent cultures. The upregulation was independent of activation in that E-selectin was further increased by treatment with tumor necrosis factor α or lipopolysaccharide. In contrast to E-selecti...
Regulation of calf renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D-hydroxylase activities by calcium-regulating hormones.

Abstract Parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 had opposite effects on calf renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 24-, 23-, and 1 α -hydroxylase activities. Parathyroid hormone administration increased renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 -1 α -hydroxylase activity 7-fold while 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 -23- and 24-hydroxylase activities were essentially the same as controls. Administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 increased 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 -23-hydroxylase and 24-hydroxylase activities 4-fold and decreased 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1 α -hydroxylase activity to undetectable concentrations. Vitamin D deficiency increased 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 -1 α -hydroxylase activity 13-fold, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 -23-hydroxylase and 24-hydroxylase activities were undetectable. These results confirm previous reports with regard to control of renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 -24-hydroxylase and 1 α -hydroxylase in other species and represent new findings relative to the control of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 -23-hydroxylase. Plasma P was lower and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D 3 higher in calves treated with parathyroid hormone, and Ca and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 were lower in the vitamin D-deficient calves. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 -treated calves had higher plasma P and lower Mg than controls. Further studies using this calf model should lead to better understanding of Ca-regulating hormones control of vitamin D metabolism.
Genealogical portraits of speciation in montane grasshoppers (genus Melanoplus) from the sky islands of the Rocky Mountains.

Grasshoppers in the genus Melanoplus have undergone a radiation in the 'sky islands' of western North America, with many species originating during the Pleistocene. Despite their recent origins, phylogenetic analyses indicate that all the species exhibit monophyletic or paraphyletic gene trees. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the monophyletic genealogies are the result of a bottleneck at speciation and to investigate the extent to which the different phylogenetic states of eight species (i.e. monophyletic versus paraphyletic gene trees) can be ascribed to the effects of speciation. A coalescent simulation was used to test for a bottleneck at speciation in each species. The effective population sizes and demographic histories of species were compared across taxa to evaluate the possibility that the paraphyly versus monophyly of the species reflects differential rates of lineage loss rather than speciation mode. While coalescent analyses indicate that the monophyly of Melanoplus species might not be indicative of bottlenecks at speciation, the results suggest that the paraphyletic gene trees may reflect the demography of speciation, involving localized divergences in the ancestral species. With respect to different models of Pleistocene divergence, the data do not support a model of founder-effect speciation but are compatible with divergence in allopatric refugia.
Microstructural Modeling and Process Control During Hot Working of Commercial Ti-6A1-4V: Response of Lamellar and Equiaxed Starting Microstructures

Abstract The microstructural changes that occur during hot deformation of Ti-6A1-4V alloy with β transformed (βt) and equiaxed α+β ((α+β)e) starting microstructures have been modeled in the temperature range 750-1100°C and strain rate range 0.0003-10 s-1. The stress-strain behavior, the kinetic parameters, and the processing maps have been compared for these two preforms with a view to evaluate the mechanisms of hot deformation and to establish correlations between the microstructural changes and the process parameters. The βt preform exhibits continuous flow softening behavior below the transus (α-β range) and is harder than the (α+β)e preform. In the β range, the stress-strain curves were of steady-state type except at the highest strain rate where oscillations have been observed. In the a-p range, the apparent activation energies for hot deformation are 455 and 330 kJ/mole for the βt and (α+β)e preforms respectively and the stress exponents are similar. In the β range, the apparent activation energy is...
Combining stochastic and greedy search in hybrid estimation

Techniques for robot monitoring and diagnosis have been developed that perform state estimation using probabilistic hybrid discrete/continuous models. Exact inference in hybrid dynamic systems is, in general, intractable. Approximate algorithms are based on either 1) greedy search, as in the case of k-best enumeration or 2) stochastic search, as in the case of Rao-Blackwellised Particle Filtering (RBPF). In this paper we propose a new method for hybrid state estimation. The key insight is that stochastic and greedy search methods, taken together, are often particularly effective in practice. The new method combines the stochastic methods of RBPF with the greedy search of k-best in order to create a method that is effective for a wider range of estimation problems than the individual methods alone. We demonstrate this robustness on a simulated acrobatic robot, and show that this benefit comes at only a small performance penalty.
Design and implementation of adaptive and repetitive controllers for mechanical manipulators

Synthesis and implementation results for a recently developed class of adaptive and repetitive controllers used for motion control of mechanical manipulators are presented. The repetitive controller, which learns the input torque corresponding to a repetitive desired trajectory, requires no explicit knowledge of the manipulator equations of motion. The adaptive controller, on the other hand, which estimates the robot dynamic parameters online, may be used for more general trajectories but requires more detailed modeling information. Both schemes are computationally efficient and require no acceleration feedback of any kind; only standard position and velocity feedback information is utilized. The performances of the above-mentioned controllers were experimentally evaluated on an IBM 7545 robotic manipulator and the results were compared to those of a simple PD (proportional-derivative) feedback system and a compound-torque controller. The repetitive algorithm outperformed the other controllers by a significant margin in terms of the tracking accuracy. >
HLA-DR4 and Other Genetic Markers in Rheumatoid Arthritis

In a new series of RA patients the association with HLA-DR4 was again found to be highly significant. Also increased were the DR4 associated antigens DRw53 and DQw3. Hybridization of a DQ-beta probe to Bg1 II-digested DNA showed that a variant of DQw3, characterized by a 4.3 kb fragment and related to the serological specificity TA10, was markedly increased among DR4 positive RA patients. HLA-DR1 was also increased in RA and appeared to be independent of the increase of DR4. Although the DR1 association was weaker, it was observed in both patients with and without RF. In contrast, DR4 was found to be increased significantly only in the RF positive group of patients, as previously observed. Development of RA in multiple-case families was found to be linked to the inheritance of DR4 positive haplotypes. The possible role of risk factors associated with polymorphic markers of the T-cell receptor genes was investigated. An allelic marker associated with one of the variable gene subfamilies of the beta-chain was found to be associated with RA. The results suggest that susceptibility for development of RA is influenced by alleles of the T-cell receptor in conjunction with the class II HLA factors with which the T-cell receptor interacts in the course of the immune response.
Toward a Better Understanding of the Role of Situations in Linking Personality, Work Behavior, and Job Performance

NEIL D. CHRISTIANSENCentral Michigan UniversityROBERT P. TETTUniversity of TulsaHoughandOswald(2008)provideacurrentperspective on personality testing, conclud-ing that personality–job performance rela-tionships are complex but that both theconstructs and the measures of personalitycurrentlyusedhavethepotentialtoadvanceorganizational research and practice. Wefundamentally agree. In this commentary,we focus on the role of situations in under-standing relationships between personalitytraitsandjobperformance,particularlywithrespect to trait activation theory (Tett B Tett & Guterman, 2000) asa guide to further research. Hough andOswald acknowledge that such a theoryhas potential to ‘‘highlight where and howpersonalityvariablesaremostlikelytoinflu-ence behavior and performance.’’ Here, weexpand on that comment, calling attentionto how this general goal might best beachieved.Webeginwithsomeobservations.Hough and Oswald pose the question ofwhether situations are important and howresearch might incorporate the situation orcontext into measurement of personalityvariables. We believe that research andtheory so overwhelmingly underscore theimportance of situations that it is nowbeyond questioning. Contextualizing per-sonality items in work settings has beenfound to enhance validity (e.g., Bing,Whanger,Davison,VTrux-illo, Bauer, Campion, & Paronto, 2002), butthegainsarelikelytobefargreaterbypayingcloser attention to the conditions underwhich personality traits are expressed andevaluated in the workplace.The impact of situations on personalitytest validity is evident in every major meta-analysis in this area, primarily in the form ofSDq,representingvariabilityinqbecauseoffactors other than sampling error and cross-study differences in measurement artifacts(e.g.,unreliability).RelativetoSDqtypicallyreported for cognitive ability tests, SDq forpersonality tests tends to be quite substan-tial. Hough and Oswald spare their readersdetailed review of meta-analytic evidence,focusingonnetfindingscarriedbymeanval-idity estimates. By ignoring the cross-studyvariability in personality test populationvalidity (as per SDq), however, they under-state the importance of understanding therole of situations in advancing the use ofpersonality tests in work settings.Meta-analyses of personality–job perfor-mance relations show that true validity esti-matesgenerallyrangefromnear0toover.30
Rickettsial endosymbiont in the “early-diverging” streptophyte green alga Mesostigma viride

A bacterial endosymbiont was unexpectedly found in the "axenic" culture strain of the streptophyte green alga Mesostigma viride (NIES-995). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the symbiont belongs to the order Rickettsiales, specifically to the recently designated clade "Candidatus Megaira," which is closely related to the well-known Rickettsia clade. Rickettsiales bacteria of the "Ca. Megaira" clade are found in a taxonomically diverse array of eukaryotic hosts, including chlorophycean green algae, several ciliate species, and invertebrates such as Hydra. Transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridi-zation, and SYBR Green I staining experiments revealed that the endosymbiont of M. viride NIES-995 is rod shaped, typically occurs in clusters, and is surrounded by a halo-like structure, presumably formed by secretory substances from the bacterium. Two additional M. viride strains (NIES-296 and NIES-475), but not SAG50-1, were found to house the rickettsial endosymbiont. Analyses of strain NIES-995 transcriptome data indicated the presence of at least 91 transcriptionally active genes of symbiont origins. These include genes for surface proteins (e.g., rOmpB) that are known to play key roles in bacterial attachment onto host eukaryotes in related Rickettsia species. The assembled M. viride transcriptome includes transcripts that code for a suite of predicted algal-derived proteins, such as Ku70, WASH, SCAR, and CDC42, which may be important in the formation of the algal-rickettsial association.