cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Report on the 5th IFIP international workshop on quality of service (IWQOS'97)

This paper presents a summary of the fifth International Workshop on Quality of Service (IWQOS) which was held at Columbia University in May 1997. The goal of this three-day meeting was to foster interaction between researchers active in the area of Quality of Service(QOS) research, to reflect on past experiences and lessons learnt, and to discuss future QOS challenges. To reflect this goal, this year's workshop included a hot program made up of (i) a keynote address on "Programming Telecommunications Networks"; (ii) panels addressing "QOS for Distributed Object Computing Middleware --- Fact or Fiction?" and "Reservations about Reservations"; (iii) a workshop invited paper entitled, "Quality of Service --- Where are we?" and (iv) ten technical sessions that included new topics for IWQOS such as mobile communications, QOS routing and QOS-based transport systems. This report summarizes the technical program and captures the main themes and major areas of discussion that emerged during IWQOS'97.
Human face recognition and the face image set's topology

Abstract If we consider an n × n image as an n2-dimensional vector, then images of faces can be considered as points in this n2-dimensional image space. Our previous studies of physical transformations of the face, including translation, small rotations, and illumination changes, showed that the set of face images consists of relatively simple connected subregions in image space. Consequently linear matching techniques can be used to obtain reliable face recognition. However, for more general transformations, such as large rotations or scale changes, the face subregions become highly non-convex. We have therefore developed a scale-space matching technique that allows us to take advantage of knowledge about important geometrical transformations and about the topology of the face subregion in image space. While recognition of faces is the focus of this paper, the algorithm is sufficiently general to be applicable to a large variety of object recognition tasks
Effect of chronic D-1 and/or D-2 dopamine antagonist treatment on SKF 38393-induced non-stereotyped grooming.

The effects of chronic D-1 and/or D-2 dopamine (DA) receptor blockade on a putative D-1 DA receptor-mediated behavioral function was studied in rats treated for 21 days with the selective D-1 antagonist SCH 23390, the predominantly D-2 antagonist haloperidol, or the combination of both drugs at the same daily doses. Four days after the last drug dose, the nonstereotyped grooming response to the selective D-1 agonist SKF 38393 increased in SCH 23390-pretreated rats and decreased in haloperidol-pretreated rats compared to controls, but remained unchanged in animals receiving both drugs. Underlying DA receptor changes and the resulting imbalance between D-1 and D-2 receptor presumably contribute to these effects, suggesting that the upregulation of one DA receptor subtype may modify the expression of behaviors associated with the other subtype.
Mobile Heterogeneous Sensor Network for Prioritized Sensing

Currently in the literature there does not exist a framework which incorporates a heterogeneous team of agents to solve the sensor network connectivity problem. An approach that makes use of a heterogeneous team of agents has several advantages when cost, integration of capabilities, or possible large search areas need to be investigated. A heterogeneous team allows for the robots to become “specialized” in their abilities and therefore accomplish sub-goals more efficiently which in turn makes the overall mission more efficient. In this paper we relax the assumption of network connectivity within the sensor network and introduce mobile communication relays to the network. This addition converts the homogeneous sensor network to a heterogeneous one. Based on the communication geometry of both sensing and communication relay agents we derive communication constraints within the network that guarantee network connectivity. We then define a heterogeneous proximity graph that encodes the communication links that exist within the heterogeneous network. By specifying particular edge weights in the proximity graph, we provide a technique for biasing particular connections within the heterogenous sensor network. Through a minimal spanning tree approach, we show how to minimize communication links within the network which allows for larger feasible motion sets of the sensing agents that guarantee the network remains connected. We also provide an algorithm that allows for adding communication links to the minimal spanning tree of the heterogeneous proximity graph to create a biconnected graph that is robust to a single node failure. We then combine a prioritized search algorithm and the communication constraints to provide a decentralized prioritized sensing control algorithm for a heterogenous sensor network that maintains network connectivity.
The classification of asbestos fibres by scanning electron microscopy and computer-digitizing tablet

Because of the need to completely and accurately size asbestos bulk samples for toxicity studies, a method was developed to classify asbestos fibres using enlarged micrographs originally produced on the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Individual fibre length and width measurements were performed on a computer-assisted, digitizing tablet. This method, though time consuming, permitted the sizing of all fibres (length and width) and particles (area) in selected fields of view at SEM magnifications of x100 and x2500. Final enlargement of the micrographs permitted sizing magnifications of x10,000. Seven distinct asbestos samples were classified including five chrysotile and two crocidolite samples. Statistical analyses showed good interfilter fibre size correlation for all types of asbestos. In addition, it was determined that a representative sizing of all fibres and non-fibrous particles on a filter preparation could be performed using five sets of micrographs taken at a magnification of x2500 and enlarged to x10,000: an inverse square root transformation (-0.5 power) is needed to normalize the distributions of length and width.
Calcium incorporation in the developing cartilaginous epiphysis

Growth plates of rat bones have been studied with the electron microscope. Autoradiography of these tissues was made on specimens obtained at 6, 15, 30, 60, 180, 360, and 1200 min following intraperitoneal injection of45Ca. Isotopic45Ca was first noted in relation to the cells. Cells from the zones of proliferation, matrix synthesis, and hypertrophy contained isotopic calcium in the cytoplasmic areas of both the ER and Golgi membranes. Cells of the hypertrophic zone and those of the zone of matrix mineralization showed the label to be associated principally with the widely distributed membranes and processes of cells in varying states of dissolution. The label was then observed within the matrix of the mineralizing globules. These data suggest that the cartilage cell acts as a calcium binding and concentrating system and that the calcium is ultimately used in the process of calcification. The membranes involved in calcium binding are those reported by other workers to be associated with ATP, mucopolysaccharide, and phosphatases. It might be suggested, therefore, that these cell membranes may be the site of primary nucleation.
Multi-Ray Channel Modeling and Wideband Characterization for Wireless Communications in the Terahertz Band

Terahertz (0.06–10 THz) Band communication is envisioned as a key technology for satisfying the increasing demand for ultra-high-speed wireless links. In this paper, first, a unified multi-ray channel model in the THz Band is developed based on ray tracing techniques, which incorporates the propagation models for the line-of-sight, reflected, scattered, and diffracted paths. The developed theoretical model is validated with the experimental measurements (0.06–1 THz) from the literature. Then, using the developed propagation models, an in-depth analysis on the THz channel characteristics is carried out. In particular, the distance-varying and frequency-selective nature of the Terahertz channel is analyzed. Moreover, the coherence bandwidth and the significance of the delay spread are studied. Furthermore, the wideband channel capacity using flat and water-filling power allocation strategies is characterized. Additionally, the temporal broadening effects of the Terahertz channel are studied. Finally, distance-adaptive and multi-carrier transmissions are suggested to best benefit from the unique relationship between distance and bandwidth. The provided analysis lays out the foundation for reliable and efficient ultra-high-speed wireless communications in the (0.06–10) THz Band.
Mediated Biocatalytic Cathode for Direct Methanol Membrane-Electrode Assemblies

A membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) incorporating a biocatalytic cathode with a conventional, platinum-based anode is demonstrated in operation with hydrogen and methanol fuels. The biocatalytic cathode comprised the enzyme laccase and a redox mediator immobilized within a polymer hydrogel on a carbon-fiber paper support. The cell demonstrated an open circuit potential (OCP) of 1.1 V and a maximum current density of 6 mA/cm 2 when supplied with hydrogen and an air-saturated citrate buffer solution at pH 4 and 40°C. With 10 M methanol fuel, the OCP was 0.8 V and maximum current density was 4 mA/cm 2 . The tolerance of the laccase cathode to the presence of methanol was demonstrated by polarization of the MEA in the presence of methanol feed concentrations up to 10 M. A 6% increase in current density at 0.2 V cell potential was found for 10 M methanol as compared to 1 M methanol.
In situ assessment of cell viability within biodegradable polylactic acid polymer matrices

Efforts to expand treatment options for articular cartilage repair have increasingly focussed on the implantation of cell polymer constructs. Primary cells cultured from perichondrium, a chondrogenic tissue, were found to survive in vitro within a biodegradable porous polylactic acid matrix. The novel application of an in situ fluorescent double-stain protocol to cell polymer constructs was supported by increased 3H-thymidine uptake and the ability of cell seeded polylactic acid to form first passage explant cultures. This in situ viability staining technique allowed for rapid determination of cell viability and, in conjunction with confocal microscopy, assessment of cellular distribution within a biodegradable scaffold. Advantages of using this method over histological and electron microscopic analysis include in situ observation, absence of distortion in scaffold architecture due to polymer dissolution and disruption during processing, and obtaining a viability assessment within 30 min. Potential applications of this protocol as a screening tool for laboratory engineered tissues and in the evaluation of cellular injury in natural tissues are discussed.
Prostaglandin H Synthase-1: Evaluation of C-Terminus Function

The first committed step in prostaglandin biosynthesis is catalyzed by prostaglandin H synthase, an enzyme localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane in a variety of cells. Several types of C-terminal region peptide sequence motifs have been found to lead to ER retention of other proteins. We have tested the potential role for such signals in the ER localization and catalytic activity of human isoform-1 of the synthase (PGHS-1). PGHS-1 mutants with alterations in the C-terminus designed to disrupt potential retention signals were expressed in transfected COS-1 cells. The mutations included: substitution of valine for the ultimate leucine residue (position 600) to disrupt a KDEL-type signal, substitution of a neutral glutamine for arginine at position 595 to disrupt signals based on positive charge, and deletion of the last six residues, to remove all of the wild-type extreme C-terminus. The subcellular localization of each recombinant PGHS-1 was assessed by differential centrifugation and by immunofluorescence microscopy. None of the mutations led to a significant change in the distribution of PGHS-1 between microsomes and other cellular fractions. Immunostaining of wild-type PGHS-1 and all of the mutants colocalized with that of protein disulfide isomerase, an ER marker protein. However, mutation of the terminal leucine or deletion of the last six residues did lead to loss of cyclooxygenase activity. Mutation of the terminal leucine also altered the pattern of fragments produced by limited proteolysis, indicating that this mutation led to changes in the polypeptide folding which might account for the loss of activity. The results indicate that the extreme C-terminal region is important to the functional integrity of PGHS-1, but it is not an essential part of the intracellular targeting mechanism.
Langmuir circulations beneath growing or decaying surface waves

The instability to longitudinal vortices of two-dimensional density-stratified temporally evolving wavy shear flow is considered. The problem is posited in the context of Langmuir circulations, LCs, beneath wind-driven surface waves and the instability mechanism is generalized Craik–Leibovich, either CLg or CL2. Of interest is the influence of non-stationary base flows on the instability according to linear theory. It is found that the instability is described by a family of similarity solutions and that the growth rate of the instability, in non-stationary base flows, is doubly exponential in time, although the growth rate reduces to exponential when the base flow is stationary. An example is given for weakly sheared wind-driven flow evolving in the presence of growing irrotational surface waves. Waves aligned both with the wind and counter to it are considered, as is the role of stratification. Antecedent to the example is an initial value problem posed by Leibovich & Paolucci (1981) for neutral waves in slowly evolving shear. Here, however, the waves and shear may grow (or decay) at rates comparable with the LCs. Furthermore the current here has two components: a wind-driven portion due to the wind stress applied at the free surface and a second due to the diffusion of momentum due to the wave-amplitude-squared free-surface stress condition. Using the case for neutral waves in non-stratified uniform shear for reference, it is found, in general, that growing waves are stabilizing while decaying waves are destabilizing to the formation of LCs, although the latter applies only for sufficiently large spanwise spacings and is subject to a globally stable lower bound. Decaying waves in the absence of wind can also be destabilizing to LCs. When the wind is counter to the waves, however, only decaying waves are unstable to LCs. Furthermore, while growing waves are stable to the formation of LCs in the presence of stable stratification, decaying waves are unstable in both aligned and opposed wind-wave conditions. Unstable stratification on the other hand, is destabilizing to LCs for all temporal waves in both aligned and opposed wind-wave conditions.
Blood culture surveillance: What is useful and cost-effective?

In this issue, Taylor and colleagues report their experience with nosocomial gram-negative bacteremia at the University of Alberta Hospital, a Canadian tertiary acute care facility.’ The incidence of gram-negative bacteremia remained remarkably constant over 10 years even though the overall incidence of bacteremia rose, primarily because of gram-positive microorganisms. The l-week mortality rate associated with gram-negative bacteremia declined for reasons that were unclear. This report by Taylor et al adds to an enormous, growing, international database on the significance of positive blood cultures, dating back to the pre-antibiotic em2 But, aside from the archival value of monitoring institutional experience, of what use is such surveillance to infection control and patient care? What types of surveillance activities justify their cost? Three key terms need to be examined. First, “bacteremia” -the traditional focus of such surveillancedenotes the presence of bacteria in blood cultures with or without symptoms of disease. Until the late 1970s blood culture surveillance was essentially synonymous with tracking bacteremias, because other types of organisms were infrequently isolated from blood.3 During the 1980s the rising incidence of fungemias made it clear that such surveillance should incorporate, at the very least, bacteremias and fungemias (Figure 1). Mycobacteria, viruses, and parasites can also be detected in blood. There is no generally accepted inclusive term for the presence of microorganisms of any kind in blood. (In preparing a review article,* the author once proposed “microbemia, )) which was roundly rejected by the reviewers, probably for the best!). Another caveat is that the focus for clinical intervention trials has shifted from “septicemia” (that is, sepsis with positive blood cultures) to “sepsis” because many patients with life-threatening infection do not have positive blood cultures.5 The correlation between sepsis and positive blood cultures is now being evaluated in various countries.‘j Monitoring blood cultures provides an easily obtainable, but incomplete
Advanced automation approaches for space power systems

The short-term objective of the work described is to develop ground and knowledge-based systems integrated with actual electric power system breadboards and testbeds to demonstrate the viability of advanced automation approaches for spacecraft onboard and ground-support applications. Initially, such systems would be used primarily in advisory capacities. As confidence is gained in their operation, these systems would evolve to allow closed-loop control. The long-term objective is to develop such intelligent knowledge-based systems for actual onboard autonomous operation of the spacecraft electric power system. The approach taken has been to start with well-defined, limited electric power system applications as stand-alone systems. The next step has been to integrate such applications with actual breadboards that are representative of flight systems. The next activity is concerned with focusing on integrating these knowledge-based systems with conventional automation software and hardware. Current efforts emphasize adding robustness to the interactions among the knowledge-based systems as well as adding intermediate levels of autonomy for the power system management. >
Bibliometric reflections on the history of consumer research

Abstract This article analyzes citation data for over 7000 articles published in the Journal of Marketing , Journal of Marketing Research , and Journal of Consumer Research between 1936 and the end of 2009 to address five questions relating to the history of consumer research: What types of articles have been influential in consumer research? Does consumer research have sleeping beauties and shooting stars? How do consumer researchers achieve impact? Has consumer research become more or less influential over time? And finally, how much do older articles inform current consumer research?'
Scale effects in friction of single–asperity contacts. I. From concurrent slip to single–dislocation–assisted slip

A micromechanical dislocation model of frictional slip between two asperities is presented. The model suggests that when the contact radius is smaller than a critical value, the friction stress is constant, of the order of the theoretical shear strength, in agreement with reported atomic force microscope (AFM) friction experiments. However, at the critical value there is a transition beyond which the friction stress decreases with increasing area, until it reaches the second transition where the friction stress gradually becomes independent of the contact size. This is in contrast to previous theories, which assume that the friction stress is always independent of the size. The present model also predicts that the mechanisms of slip are size dependent. Before the first transition, the constant friction stress is associated with concurrent slip without the aid of dislocation motion. The first transition corresponds to the minimum contact size at which a single dislocation loop is nucleated and sweeps through the whole contact interface, resulting in a single–dislocation–assisted (SDA) slip. This mechanism is predicted to prevail for a wide range of contact sizes, from 10 nm to 10 µm in radius for typical dry adhesive contacts; however, there are no available experimental data in this size range. The second transition is found to be caused by the effective Peierls stress which stabilizes the dislocation loop within the contact region, resulting in dislocation pile–ups. Beyond the second transition, slip is assisted by cooperative glide of dislocations in the pile–up. For sufficiently large contacts the mechanism of cooperative glide induces a size–independent friction stress, in agreement with observations in surface force apparatus (SFA) friction experiments. This paper (Part I) addresses the first transition: from concurrent slip to SDA slip. The second transition is analysed in a companion paper (Part II).
The differential effects of carbon monoxide and oxygen on the pressure dissociation of Lumbricus terrestris hemoglobin

We have explored the subunit affinities of Lumbricus terrestris hemoglobin (LtHb) under a variety of conditions using high-pressure spectroscopy. While only small changes were observed for LtHb-oxy below 1.0 kbar, higher pressures resulted in a 1000 cm-1 red shift and 2-fold increase in fluorescence intensity with a concomitant 12-fold decrease in scattering intensity, all of which reached completion by approx. 2.2 kbar. In the presence of 1 M MgCl2 or at acidic pH (4.2), the curves shifted by 400 and 1000 bar corresponding to significant destabilization. At pH 9.1, the initial spectral parameters were almost equal to the final endpoints and were unaffected by pressure. While the pressure curve of the CO form was similar to the oxy form at pH 7.2, the midpoints of the other samples were shifted to higher pressures relative to their oxy counterpart, indicating tighter subunit contacts. This stabilization was unexpected based upon the sequence homology to vertebrate hemoglobins, and the minimal structural differences between these two liganded forms of human hemoglobin. These data indicate that the differences are the result of the additive nature of the interactions involved in subunit packing whose effects become significant in larger aggregates.
Codiffusion of propylene glycol and dimethyl isosorbide in hairless mouse skin.

The in vitro percutaneous fluxes of propylene glycol (PG), cis-oleic acid (OA) and dimethyl isosorbide (DI) were determined and their effect on nifedipine (N) flux and lag time evaluated. PG, OA and DI flux through hairless mouse (HM) skin was measured in vitro by beta-scintigraphy and N permeation was measured by HPLC under finite and infinite dose conditions. Evaluation of each of the solvents separately showed that pure DI possessed the inherent ability to traverse the skin (12% in 24 h). For the tested formulation after 24 h, 57% of the PG and 40% of the DI had permeated across the skin with nearly linear permeation between 4 and 18 h and the relative order of permeation was PG>DI>N. DI permeation was further aided in the presence of PG and OA. N flux was dependent on concomitant solvent permeation. Over a 24-h test period a dose dependent response was observed for N, with 4.9–15.6 mg of N delivered from the lowest and highest doses, respectively, and the highest dose yielding zero-order flux of 146 (g/h per cm2).
PERCEPTION OF FRUITY AND VEGETATIVE AROMAS IN RED WINE

ABSTRACT Red wine descriptive analyses often produce principal component analysis maps where the first dimension is a dichotomy of vegetative and fruity aromas. Whether the trend is due to actual flavor differences among wines, or is a function of masking of the component aromas has not been investigated. Descriptive analysis was performed on wines spiked with bell pepper, mint, corn, raspberry, strawberry and “berry” aromas as well as with combinations of these. A consensus trained panel evaluated wines in triplicate. Canonical variate analysis showed that wines spiked with either bell pepper or fruit were separated on the fruit/bell pepper continuum. Wines spiked with combinations of fruit and bell pepper had less intense in bell pepper aroma, even though the amount added did not change. These results indicate that a masking effect of vegetative aromas by fruit aromas occurred. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Knowing that bell pepper aromas, which are often not desired in Cabernet Sauvignon wines, are masked by fruity aromas allow winemakers to blend “out” the perceived vegetative aromas with wines that are more fruity. This could lead to better consumer acceptance of these wines.
Pretreatment of switchgrass by ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX).

The effects of ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) pretreatment of switch grass using its major process variables are reported. The optimal pretreatment conditions for switchgrass were found to be near 100°C reactor temperature, and ammonia loading of 1:1 kg of ammonia: kg of dry matter with 80% moisture content (dry weight basis [dwb]) at 5 min residence time. Hydrolysis results of AFEX-treated and untreated samples showed 93% vs 16% glucan conversion, respectively. The ethanol yield of optimized AFEX-treated switchgrass was measured to be about 0.2 g ethanol/g dry biomass, which is 2.5 times more than that of the untreated sample.
A connection between linear and nonlinear resistor networks

The authors explore the connection between the higher moments of the current (or voltage) distribution in a random linear resistor network, and the resistance of a nonlinear random resistor network. They find that the two problems are very similar, and that an infinite set of exponents are required to fully characterise each problem. These exponent sets are shown to be identical on a particular hierarchical lattice, a simple model which accurately describes the geometrical properties of the backbone of the infinite cluster at the percolation threshold and also the voltage distribution on this structure.
An Unusable Past: Urban Elites, New York City's Evacuation Day, and the Transformations of Memory Culture

This article examines the dissolution of tradition through an analysis of the formation, transmission, demise, and failed revival of New York City's Evacuation Day. Honoring the end of Britain's occupation of New York during the Revolutionary War on November 25, 1783, Evacuation Day was associated with elites throughout its history. Its memorialization was initiated by merchants who prized it for denoting elite rule and social harmony, and it acquired a public dimension when Federalists used it in their campaign to ratify the Constitution in 1787. The anniversary experienced a crisis of generational transmission in the 1820s and 1830s that gave it new meanings and stakeholders, becoming used to memorialize the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 and to assert the antebellum elite's claims to social exclusivity and civic leadership. The Civil War's transformation of American ideas of remembrance and warfare weakened adherence to the holiday by undermining its purpose and reducing its audience. Evacuation Day was revived in the early 1880s by the Sons of the Revolution, a patriotic hereditary organization and ancestral society that viewed colonial history as an elite preserve. The Sons of the Revolution completed the tradition's journey into the unusable past by privatizing the holiday.
Ratios of the Fab fragments I and II from rabbit antibodies and non-specific γ-globulins

The ratio (R) of fragment I/fragment II was determined in hapten-specific antibodies directed against Ars− and R4N+, and in non-specific γ-globulins of rabbits. The R values showed great individual differences, but were always higher in anti-R4N+ than in anti-Ars− antibodies of rabbits injected with the doubly labelled Ars−-R4N+-bovine serum albumin antigen. The R values of the non-specific γ-globulin were always greater than unity, indicating predominance of the more acidic fragment I over the less acidic fragment II. The R values showed no relation to the age of the rabbits, to repeated bleeding, nor to the repeated injection of Ars−-bovine serum albumin.
A protein-bound phosphorylated product as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of O-methyl glycerol by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract 1-O-methyl sn-glycerol 3-phosphate bound to a protein has been identified as the probable intermediate in the mycobacterial transmethylation reaction leading to the formation of 1-O-methyl glycerol from S-adenosyl methionine and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. Acid treatment of the partially purified protein-bound product appears to release 1-O-methylsn-glycerol 2:3-cyclic phosphate. Our hydrolysis studies indicate that the 1-O-methyl glycerol is bound to the protein via a phosphodiester linkage.
Application of Robust Design Techniques to the Parallel Design of Engineering Systems

The problem of designing complex systems, with performance specifications from multiple disciplines, was cast within the framework of robust control design in a previous publication. In that work, the overall system design problem was decomposed into several subsystem design problems. Robust controller analysis techniques were used to determine limits on the magnitudes of the uncertain parameters that would enable the design of the subsystems to proceed in parallel. In this paper, we extend that previous work, formulate the subsystem design problems in a robust controller design framework and use nonlinear optimization to design subsystems that are robust with respect to the uncertainties arising from designing the subsystems in parallel. This requires that the uncertain parameters for a given subsystem include, in addition to its own uncertain design parameters, the design variables and outputs from other subsystems that are needed in that subsystem analysis. Incorporating the uncertainties arising from parallel subsystem design into robust controller design framework will ensure that, upon assembly of the subsystems, the system-level performance requirements are met. The results are illustrated using a simple example representing a corner-car model.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Continuum of Counseling Goals: A Framework for Differentiating Counseling Strategies

Counseling process goals are presented in a developmental continuum similar in concept to Maslow's hierarchy of needs with implications for counseling practice.
The solution structure of the VS ribozyme active site loop reveals a dynamic "hot-spot".

The VS ribozyme is the largest ribozyme in its class and is also the least structurally characterized thus far. The current working model of the VS ribozyme locates the active site in stem-loop VI. The solution structure of this active site loop was determined using high resolution NMR spectroscopy. The structure reveals that the ground-state conformation of the active site differs significantly from that determined previously from chemical structure probing and mutational analysis of the ribozyme in its active conformation, which contains several looped out bases. In contrast, the base-pairing scheme found for the isolated loop contains three mismatched base-pairs: an A+-C, a G-U wobble, and a sheared G-A base-pair and no looped out bases. Dynamics observed within the active site loop provide insight into the mechanism by which the RNA can rearrange its secondary structure into an “activated” conformation prior to cleavage. These findings lend support to the idea that RNA secondary structure is more fluid than once believed and that a better understanding of structure and dynamic features of ribozymes is required to unravel the intricacies of their catalytic abilities.
A new approach to the finite-element formulation and solution of a class of problems in coupled thermoelastoviscoplasticity of crystalline solids

Abstract The application of the general thermoviscoelastic-plastic theory to the analysis of the coupled thermomechanical response of a class of crystalline solids is considered. After a brief review of the essential features of the theory, the manner in which finite-element models of the generalized plastic behaviour can be formulated is discussed. Available experimental data are used to solve a representative example problem in transient, nonlinear, coupled thermoviscoelastoplasticity of a three-dimensional solid of aluminum.
Growth in the pre-fusion murine allantois

Prior to fusion with the chorion, the extraembryonic mesoderm of the murine (Mus musculus) allantois differentiates with distal-to-proximal polarity into at least two cell lineages: a chorio-adhesive cell lineage called mesothelium, and the endothelium of the umbilical vasculature. How the allantois grows is less clear, but cell proliferation and addition of mesoderm from the underlying primitive streak appear to play important roles. The aim of this study was to analyze growth in the murine allantois. Techniques of histology and microsurgery were used to examine pre-fusion allantoises at nine developmental timepoints that differed by approximately 2 h. Cell counts revealed that allantoic size increased over time. Two hours of exposure to colcemid enhanced mitotic figures, which were used to calculate the relative number of proliferating cells (mitotic index, MI) in pre-fusion allantoises at each developmental timepoint. Cell proliferation was highest in nascent allantoises and showed signs of slowing by two somite pairs. By five to six-somite pairs, when most allantoises are attaching to the chorion, the overall MI decreased significantly. No regional differences in the mitotic index were observed at any developmental stage. Total cell numbers and the mitotic index were then used to discover the extent of streak contribution to pre-fusion allantoises. Cell proliferation and streak activity were highest in nascent allantoises, after which growth occurred predominantly by cell proliferation. Formation of allantoic regenerates by microsurgical removal and culture in intact conceptuses provided independent confirmation that, as the allantois matured, the primitive streak ceased to be a major contributor to its growth. Thus, the allantois grows by both mitosis and addition of mesoderm from the streak. That the periods of highest cell proliferation and streak activity coincided raises intriguing questions concerning their interplay in the control of growth in the murine allantois.
The implications of government funding for non‐profit organizations: three propositions

While the state dependency thesis seems widely accepted among students of the German non‐profit sector, there is surprisingly little research that has systematically explored its empirical base and conceptual validity. Attempts to remedy this situation and offers an initial empirical examination of this thesis. Examines the extent and pattern of state funding of the German non‐profit sector and develops three propositions, each adopting a different explanatory focus, which are then analysed with the help of data taken from a sample survey of West German non‐profit organizations.
Effects of an oil and gas-production effluent on the colonization potential of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) zoospores

Point sources of pollution (e.g. industrial and municipal outfalls) may produce ecological impacts at distant locations if pollutants affect dispersive propagules. We used laboratory experiments to determine how water-column exposure to produced water (=the aqueous fraction of oil and gas production that is typically discharged into coastal waters) influences the colonization potential of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) zoospores on the bottom. Zoospores were maintained in suspension at relatively low densities in 18-liter containers and exposed to one of five concentrations of produced water for varying amounts of time. Zoospore swimming generally decreased with increasing produced-water concentration and exposure duration; however, the specific pattern of decrease differed between experimental trials done on different dates. The effect of exposure duration on the ability of swimming zoospores to attach to plastic dishes placed on the bottom varied with produced-water concentration. Zoospores placed in produced-water concentrations of 1 and 10% showed a steady decline in their ability to attach with increased exposure; lower concentrations of produced water had no such effects. The percentage of zoospores that germinated after attachment varied tremendously with exposure duration and date of experimental trial. Zoospores that settled during the first 12 h after release had very poor rates of germination, indicative of a short precompetent period. Surprisingly, exposure of suspended zoospores to high concentrations of produced water during the first 12 h reduced this precompetent period and greatly improved germination success on the bottom. The magnitude of this enhancement, however, varied among dates. The results suggest that adverse effects of discharging produced water on planktonic zoospores of giant kelp would most likely be limited to the immediate vicinity of the outfall.
Studies of the Metabolic Effects of Acute Insulin Deficiency: II. Changes in Hepatic Glycolytic and Krebs-Cycle Intermediates and Pyridine Nucleotides

(1) Various glycolytic and Krebs-cycle intermediates and pyridine nucleotides were measured in the livers of anti-insulin serum treated (i.e., acute insulin deprivation) and alloxan diabetic rats (i.e., chronic insulin deprivation). (2) Acute insulin deprivation of three-hour duration resulted in significant changes in the concentration profile of the various glycolytic intermediates suggesting marked impairment of glycolysis at the phosphofructokinase step, activation of glycogenolysis, and decreased hexosemonophosphate shunt activity. The tissue levels of citrate and malate were not elevated under these conditions. (3) Insulin deficiency of forty-eight hours9 duration produced changes in the hepatic levels of glycolytic and Krebs-cycle intermediates which differed in several important aspects with those seen in acute insulin deficiency. The accumulation of P-pyruvate and 3-P-glycerate in forty-eight hour alloxan diabetic rats, when gluconeogenesis is accelerated, suggests that the rate limiting step in this system resides at some step between the conversion of 3-P-glycerate and dihydroxyacetone-P. (4) Acute insulin deficiency of three-hour duration produced no significant changes in the levels of oxidized and reduced pyridine nucleotides. Chronic insulin deficiency (48hr. alloxan diabetic rats) did not alter the content of TPN, TPNH or DPN but did cause a significant decrease (32 per cent) in the level of DPNH.
A probabilistic framework for aligning paired-end RNA-seq data

Motivation: The RNA-seq paired-end read (PER) protocol samples transcript fragments longer than the sequencing capability of today's technology by sequencing just the two ends of each fragment. Deep sampling of the transcriptome using the PER protocol presents the opportunity to reconstruct the unsequenced portion of each transcript fragment using end reads from overlapping PERs, guided by the expected length of the fragment. Methods: A probabilistic framework is described to predict the alignment to the genome of all PER transcript fragments in a PER dataset. Starting from possible exonic and spliced alignments of all end reads, our method constructs potential splicing paths connecting paired ends. An expectation maximization method assigns likelihood values to all splice junctions and assigns the most probable alignment for each transcript fragment. Results: The method was applied to 2 × 35 bp PER datasets from cancer cell lines MCF-7 and SUM-102. PER fragment alignment increased the coverage 3-fold compared to the alignment of the end reads alone, and increased the accuracy of splice detection. The accuracy of the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm in the presence of alternative paths in the splice graph was validated by qRT–PCR experiments on eight exon skipping alternative splicing events. PER fragment alignment with long-range splicing confirmed 8 out of 10 fusion events identified in the MCF-7 cell line in an earlier study by (Maher et al., 2009). Availability: Software available at http://www.netlab.uky.edu/p/bioinfo/MapSplice/PER Contact: [email protected] Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A Hybrid, Large-scale Wireless Sensor Network for Missile Defense

We introduce a hybrid, large-scale wireless sensor network (WSN) for missile defense that consists of terrestrial and satellite nodes. Rather than treating each node as an individual system, we model this sensor network as a system-of-systems with the objective of realtime tracking of multiple ballistic missile threats. We present a hybrid routing algorithm based on a combination of data centric routing concepts and clustering mechanisms. Through simulation, it is shown that the performance of this hybrid algorithm significantly improves data throughput without sacrificing the real-time data delivery requirements associated with missile tracking applications.
Chronic Heart Disease and Its Management

Diseases of the cardiovascular system are a common cause of morbidity and mortality among geriatric canine and feline patients. Furthermore, diseases of the heart and vasculature often complicate the management of other abnormalities. This article contains a brief overview of the effects of aging on the circulatory system. It also contains a discussion of the cardiovascular disorders most frequently encountered in geriatric animals, namely, the feline myocardial disorders and feline hypertension and degenerative valvular disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, and cardiac neoplasia in dogs.
A nonlinear approach to surface-enhanced sensing in the short-wave infrared

The surface-enhanced hyper-Raman scattering (SEHRS) of three analyte molecules has been obtained with excitation wavelengths at 1.55 and 1.8 μm. At 1.55 μm, excellent signal-to-noise ratios under modest experimental parameters demonstrate compelling potential for practical applications in chemical analysis and molecular imaging.
Comparative evidence for the correlated evolution of polyploidy and self-compatibility in solanaceae

Breakdown of self-incompatibility occurs repeatedly in flowering plants with important evolutionary consequences. In plant families in which self-incompatibility is mediated by S-RNases, previous evidence suggests that polyploidy may often directly cause self-compatibility through the formation of diploid pollen grains. We use three approaches to examine relationships between self-incompatibility and ploidy. First, we test whether evolution of self-compatibility and polyploidy is correlated in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), and find the expected close association between polyploidy and self-compatibility. Second, we compare the rate of breakdown of self-incompatibility in the absence of polyploidy against the rate of breakdown that arises as a byproduct of polyploidization, and we find the former to be greater. Third, we apply a novel extension to these methods to show that the relative magnitudes of the macroevolutionary pathways leading to self-compatible polyploids are time dependent. Over small time intervals, the direct pathway from self-incompatible diploids is dominant, whereas the pathway through self-compatible diploids prevails over longer time scales. This pathway analysis is broadly applicable to models of character evolution in which sequential combinations of rates are compared. Finally, given the strong evidence for both irreversibility of the loss of self-incompatibility in the family and the significant association between self-compatibility and polyploidy, we argue that ancient polyploidy is highly unlikely to have occurred within the Solanaceae, contrary to previous claims based on genomic analyses.
Sudden Late Onset of Clozapine-Induced Agranulocytosis

OBJECTIVE:To report a patient who suddenly developed agranulocytosis after long-term clozapine therapy.CASE SUMMARY:A 41-year-old white man suddenly developed agranulocytosis after 89 months of nearly continuous clozapine therapy. During this time, which included the addition of risperidone to the treatment regimen, his white blood cell (WBC) and granulocyte counts remained stable. One week after having stable hematologic counts, the patient suddenly developed agranulocytosis. WBC and granulocyte counts returned to baseline shortly after discontinuation of all medications and administration of sargramostim.DISCUSSION:The main factor limiting the use of clozapine as a first-line agent in mentally ill patients is the risk of agranulocytosis. Although the greatest risk of developing this adverse reaction is during the initial 6-month exposure, clozapine-induced agranulocytosis continues to pose a risk after years of exposure. Current product labeling requires weekly WBC and granulocyte monitoring for the fir...
Quantification of ground-water flow in fractured rock, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

The theory of ground-water flow in fractured rocks has been used to interpret aquifer tests and streamflow data for the Oak Ridge Reservation of US Department of Energy. This interpretation has resulted in a better understanding of the data needed for ground-water models. The hydraulic conductivity values calculated from most aquifer tests are meaningless. Slug tests and early data from pumping tests measure the total transmissivity of all fractures within the area of influence; this value can be used to calculate rates of ground-water flow and transport near the well. Larger transmissivity values are calculated form late aquifer-test data and from an analysis of streamflow hydrographs because most ground-water flow occurs in a thin layer at the water table. This layer supplies most ground-water discharge to streams and apparently is a late-time water source for pumpage from deeper wells. The calibration of distributed flow and transport models will be difficult, if not impossible, because about 90% of the ground-water flow occurs in only 10% of the area, and the locations of these flow paths are unknown. Also, large changes in transmissivity occur with recharge and discharge cycles that change the saturated thickness of the permeable layer near the water table.
Towards marine bloom trajectory prediction for AUV mission planning

This paper presents an oceanographic toolchain that can be used to generate multi-vehicle robotic surveys for large-scale dynamic features in the coastal ocean. Our science application targets Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) which have significant societal impact to coastal communities yet are poorly understood ecologically. Bloom patches can be large spatially (in kms) and unpredictable in their extent. To understand their ecology, we need to be able to bring back water samples from the ‘right’ places and times for lab analysis. In doing so, we target hotspots representative of intense biogeochemical activity for such sampling. Our approach uses remote sensing data to detect such hotspots using ocean color as a proxy, and advectively projects these patches spatio-temporally using surface current data from HF Radar stations. Experiments with satellite and Radar data sets are promising for large, coherent blooms. We show how these predictions can be used to select an appropriate sampling trajectory for an AUV.
Preparation and thermal characterization of the glass transition temperatures of sulfonated polystyrene‐metal ionomers

The Tg values and heat capacity changes in the transition region are reported for sulfonated linear polystyrenes in the hydrogen form, H-SPS, in the 3.4-20.1 mol% sulfonation range and metal SPS ionomers in the 3.4-12.8 mol% range. The metals include +1, +2, and +3 ions of the alkali metal, alkaline earth, and rare earth series. The T g values of dry M-SPS ionomers depend only on the sulfonation level despite wide variation in metal ion charge and size