cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between Subthreshold and Suprathreshold Ocular Dominance in Cat Primary Visual Cortex

Primary visual cortex (V1) is the site at which right and left eye pathways are first integrated, leading to a representation of the visual world in depth. The ocular dominance (OD) of individual cortical neurons varies and may be changed by altering visual experience during the developmental critical period. Estimates of OD, commonly used to quantify the right and left eye synaptic inputs, have previously been based on spike rate. Membrane potential ( V m), however, is more closely related to the synaptic inputs onto neurons and should therefore more closely reflect the degree of input from the two eyes. To determine the relationship between OD based on membrane potential and on spike rate, intracellular recordings were made from visual cortical neurons. OD based on spike rate was systematically more monocular than OD based on membrane potential. The discrepancy between membrane-potential OD and spike-rate OD may be accounted for by a simple model of V m-to-spike-rate transformation.
“Hearty and happy and with a lively, yeasty soul:” feeling right in Louisa May Alcott's The Candy Country

This article discusses a short story by Louisa May Alcott in which a young white girl is transported into three parallel worlds: Candy Land, Cake Land and Bread Land. This article argues that Alcott uses these three food nations to both portray the history of US imperial exceptionalism and also to trace out a biopolitical imperative through which whiteness is granted the right to live on, while blackness is instrumentalized in the service of white survival. More unusually, in this story, Alcott explores the fermentative qualities of yeast to depict the unequally distributed and yet biologically universal sensation of living “right” within an affective-biopolitical order.
On the conjugate behaviour of weak along-shore flows

Using a simple analytical model containing a step shelf in a rotating ocean, confirmation is found for the idea that unstratified positively directed currents (poleward on western boundaries, equatorward on eastern boundaries) may be arranged in one of two structural forms each of which transports the same flux of each water type. In other words, the flux of water of each potential vorticity (or Bernoulli head) occurring within the current is the same for both structural forms. These structural forms are referred to as conjugate structural forms of the current. In agreement with an earlier study, it is shown that the wider of these two conjugate forms is subcritical to shelf waves and the narrower form is supercritical to the same waves. The present study seeks to understand the behaviour of these structures in the limit of weak flow. It is shown that as the velocity is decreased in a subcritical structure of fixed width, the conjugate supercritical structure continues to exist but with decreased width as well as velocity. At rest, conditions may be obtained by letting the flow tend to zero in either the subcritical structure of fixed width or its conjugate supercritical structure. However, the branch of the dispersion curve that comes to correspond to shelf waves in the at rest state depends on whether this state is approached as the weak flow limit of a subcritical or supercritical flow. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0870.1986.tb00471.x
Effect of dietary nickel and iron on the trace element content of rat liver.

The level and/or form of dietary iron, dietary nickel, and the interaction between them affected the trace element content of rat liver. Livers were from the offspring of dams fed diets containing 10–16 ng, or 20 μg, of nickel/g. Dietary iron was supplied as ferric chloride (30 μg/g) or ferric sulfate (30 μg, or 60 μg). In nickel-deprived rats fed 60 μg of iron/g of diet as ferric sulfate, at age 35 days, levels of iron and zinc were depressed in liver and the level of copper was elevated. At age 55 days, iron was still depressed, copper was still elevated, but zinc also was elevated. In rats fed 30 μg of iron/g of diet as ferric chloride, liver iron content was higher in nickel-deprived than in nickel-supplemented rats at 30, but not at 50, days of age. Also manganese and zinc were lower in nickel-deprived than in nickel-supplemented rats at age 35 days if their dams had been on experiment for an extended period of time (i.e., since age 21 days). Thus, the levels of copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in liver were affected by nickel deprivation, but the direction and extent of the affects depended upon the iron status of the rat.
Cellular Characterization of Leukotoxin Diol-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Leukotoxin, a cytochrome P450-derived epoxide of linoleic acid, has been implicated as a causative factor in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Conversion of this fatty acid epoxide to leukotoxin diol by epoxide hydrolase has been hypothesized as the critical activation step in leukotoxin-induced cellular toxicity. In both human and insect cells, we observed that leukotoxin diol causes acute cellular toxicity and that cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition, ameliorates leukotoxin diol-associated toxicity. To evaluate mitochondria as a target of leukotoxin diol, multiple aspects of mitochondrial integrity were evaluated in both cell- and organelle-based assays. Leukotoxin diol specifically activated the mitochondrial permeability transition, resulting in release of cytochrome c and subsequent cell death. Pretreatment with cyclosporin A inhibited these effects and, furthermore, limited in vivo toxicity. While the mechanisms underlying leukotoxin-mediated toxicity remain to be fully elucidated, the observation that leukotoxin diol disrupts mitochondrial function specifically through activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition suggests at least one mechanism through which leukotoxin diol may exert its activity in physiological contexts.
Spectral character of sunlight modulates photosynthesis of previtamin D3 and its photoisomers in human skin

The photosynthesis of previtamin D3 from 7-dehydrocholesterol in human skin was determined after exposure to narrow-band radiation or simulated solar radiation. The optimum wavelengths for the production of previtamin D3 were determined to be between 295 and 300 nanometers. When human skin was exposed to 295-nanometer radiation, up to 65 percent of the original 7-dehydrocholesterol content was converted to previtamin D3. In comparison, when adjacent skin was exposed to simulated solar radiation, the maximum formation of previtamin D3 was about 20 percent. Major differences in the formation of lumisterol3, and tachysterol3 from previtamin D3 were also observed. It is concluded that the spectral character of natural sunlight has a profound effect on the photochemistry of 7-dehydrocholesterol in human skin.
Computational drug design accommodating receptor flexibility: the relaxed complex scheme.

A novel computational methodology for drug design that accommodates receptor flexibility is described. This “relaxed-complex” method recognizes that ligand may bind to conformations that occur only rarely in the dynamics of the receptor. We have shown that the ligand−enzyme binding modes are very sensitive to the enzyme conformations, and our approach is capable of finding the best ligand−enzyme complexes. This new method serves as the computational analog of the experimental “SAR by NMR” and “tether” methods, which permit a building block approach for constructing a very potent drug.
Translational Bioinformatics: Linking the Molecular World to the Clinical World

Translational bioinformatics represents the union of translational medicine and bioinformatics. Translational medicine moves basic biological discoveries from the research bench into the patient-care setting and uses clinical observations to inform basic biology. It focuses on patient care, including the creation of new diagnostics, prognostics, prevention strategies, and therapies based on biological discoveries. Bioinformatics involves algorithms to represent, store, and analyze basic biological data, including DNA sequence, RNA expression, and protein and small-molecule abundance within cells. Translational bioinformatics spans these two fields; it involves the development of algorithms to analyze basic molecular and cellular data with an explicit goal of affecting clinical care.
The interaction of spatial reference frames and hierarchical object representations: evidence from figure copying in hemispatial neglect.

In copying or drawing a figure, patients with hemispatial neglect following right parietal lobe lesions typically produce an adequate representation of parts on the right of the figure while omitting the corresponding features on the left. The neglect of information occupying contralateral locations is influenced by multiple spatial reference frames and by the hierarchical structure of the object(s) in the figure. The present work presents a computational characterization of the interaction among these influences to account for the way in which neglect manifests in copying. Empirical data are initially collected from brain-damaged and normal control subjects during two figure-copying tasks in which the hierarchical complexity and orientation of the displays to be copied are manipulated. In the context of the model, neglect is simulated by a “lesion” (monotonic drop-off along gradient from right to left) that can affect performance in both object- and viewer-centered reference frames. The effect of neglect in both these frames, coupled with the hierarchical representation of the object(s), provides a coherent account of the copying behavior of the patients and may be extended to account for the copying performance of other patients across a range of objects and scenes.
Self-care: Why do parents leave their children unsupervised?

We used a preferences-and-constraints model to develop four hypotheses to explain why parents may choose self-care (an unsupervised arrangement) as the primary child care arrangement for their children over supervised alternatives and tested them in a multivariate framework using 1995 data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. We found that the choice of self-care over supervised care alternatives is linked to the availability of parents’ time to care for children, the child’s level of responsibility and maturity, and the neighborhood context. However, we found no evidence that parents’ ability to pay for child care is related to the choice of self-care. The results also suggest that parents use different decision-making processes, depending on their children’s ages.
Superconducting magnets and their applications

Superconducting magnets are now being used in such diverse applications as medical imaging, fusion research, and power conditioning. Steady improvement in the understanding of instability and quenching has allowed increases in current density and compactness of winding. The resulting reduction in winding size has allowed the construction of economical magnets for imaging, acceleration, and high-resolution spectrometers. Large magnets for fusion and energy applications have been made possible by composite conductors containing large amounts of copper or aluminum. It is noted that the advent of high-temperature superconductors may hold the promise of very-high-field magnets. Meanwhile, low-temperature superconductors capable of generating fields up to 30 T have been developed. In either case, structural materials of greater strength than are now available and novel construction techniques will be needed. >
Theory and Practice Hall, Joan Kelly. Teaching and Researching: Language and Culture. 2nd ed. Edinburg Gate, UK: Pearson Education Limited, 2012. Pp. 189. $46.67, paper. ISBN 978–1–4082–0506–8.

The article reviews the book "Teaching and Researching: Language and Culture," second edition, part of the Applied Linguistic in Action series, written by Joan Kelly Hall.
JNK Pathway Activation Is Controlled by Tao/TAOK3 to Modulate Ethanol Sensitivity

Neuronal signal transduction by the JNK MAP kinase pathway is altered by a broad array of stimuli including exposure to the widely abused drug ethanol, but the behavioral relevance and the regulation of JNK signaling is unclear. Here we demonstrate that JNK signaling functions downstream of the Sterile20 kinase family gene tao/Taok3 to regulate the behavioral effects of acute ethanol exposure in both the fruit fly Drosophila and mice. In flies tao is required in neurons to promote sensitivity to the locomotor stimulant effects of acute ethanol exposure and to establish specific brain structures. Reduced expression of key JNK pathway genes substantially rescued the structural and behavioral phenotypes of tao mutants. Decreasing and increasing JNK pathway activity resulted in increased and decreased sensitivity to the locomotor stimulant properties of acute ethanol exposure, respectively. Further, JNK expression in a limited pattern of neurons that included brain regions implicated in ethanol responses was sufficient to restore normal behavior. Mice heterozygous for a disrupted allele of the homologous Taok3 gene (Taok3Gt) were resistant to the acute sedative effects of ethanol. JNK activity was constitutively increased in brains of Taok3Gt/+ mice, and acute induction of phospho-JNK in brain tissue by ethanol was occluded in Taok3Gt/+ mice. Finally, acute administration of a JNK inhibitor conferred resistance to the sedative effects of ethanol in wild-type but not Taok3Gt/+ mice. Taken together, these data support a role of a TAO/TAOK3-JNK neuronal signaling pathway in regulating sensitivity to acute ethanol exposure in flies and in mice.
KrF laser light interaction with intrinsic defects in silica

We report the interaction of sub-band gap 5. 0 eV (KrF) laser irradiation with intrinsic defects in Type III and IV silica. The silicas were divided into two groups for laser interaction studies. One group was first irradiated with 137Cs to a dose of 6. 6 x iO?'' rads. The second group was irradiated with laser light in the as-received state. Optical absorptions of the samples from 3 to 6 eV were measured before and after 200 300 700 and 1500 pulses (l90mJ/pulse-cm2) of KrF laser light. Neither optical bands nor EPR spectra were observed in the as-received silicas. The spectra of samples pre-irradiated with 137Cs contained components due to peroxy radicals non-bridging oxygen hole centers E''centers and E" centers. The concentrations of these defects were dependent upon silica type. Subsequent laser irradiation of the gamma-ray irradiated samples bleached bands at 5. 4 and 4. 8 eV in type III and type IV silica respectively. The EPR spectra showed that laser irradiation bleached the peroxy radical and produced a new oxygen related center (ORC) in type IV silica. No detectable change in the non-bridging oxygen hole center concentration in the type III silica samples were observed. E'' center concentration increased. For the same laser irradiations the concentration of E'' centers produced in the as-received samples was a factor --''20 less than in the samples first irradiated with 137Cs. We suggest that© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Morphological characteristics of the lyotropic and gel phases in the cellulose/NH3/NH4SCN system

Solutions of cellulose in the ammonia/ammonium thiocyanate (24.5/75.5 w/w) solvent form several stable phases. Of particular interest in this work are the temperature-dependent liquid crystalline and gel phases which are stable at cellulose concentrations above 6% w/v. While the temperature-composition conditions yielding these phases are reasonably well established, very little is currently known about the morphological characteristics of lyotropic and gelled cellulose. Polarized light microscopy is employed here to demonstrate that solutions at temperatures above the gel melting point are birefringent, composed of liquid crystals. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy has been used to (i) examine the three-dimensional network in cellulose gels, and (ii) correlate network morphology with cellulose molecular weight and solution concentration. Results obtained from two complementary sample preparation techniques (i.e., critical point drying and freeze drying) are compared to identify and minimize artifacts, and reveal that gel formation occurs as the solutions phase-separate into polymer-rich anisotropic and solvent-rich isotropic phases. The polymer-rich phase is highly interconnected and forms a fibrillar network, with fibrils measuring 20-70 nm in diameter.
The Influence of Modulation Effects on Solar Flare Radiation

The modulation of cosmic rays at the time of the February 23, 1956 solar flare cosmic ray outburst has been estimated from the latitude variation of the cosmic ray intensity decrease observed in the period surrounding the flare event. The perturbing influence of these modulation effects on the rigidity spectrum of the flare radiation has been calculated. The change in the slope of the rigidity spectrum is found to be small as the modulation function does not have a strong dependence on rigidity between low and middle magnetic latitudes.
Prostaglandins increase trabecular meshwork outflow facility in cultured human anterior segments.

Purpose To determine the effect of latanoprost free acid and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on outflow facility in cultured human anterior segments. Clinical studies find prostaglandin treatment increases uveoscleral outflow, but do not agree whether trabecular outflow increases. Cultured anterior segments eliminate the uveoscleral pathway and enable a direct assessment of trabecular outflow. Design Laboratory investigation. Methods One anterior segment of an eye pair was placed in perfusion organ culture and received a continuous infusion of drug while the fellow anterior segment received vehicle. Histologic changes were assessed. Zymography and Western blots were used to analyze matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity. Scleral hydraulic conductivities were measured. Results Latanoprost significantly increased outflow facility (67% ± 11% vs control 6% ± 10%, P P = .02). Prostaglandin treated anterior segments had regions of focal detachment and loss of Schlemm canal endothelial cells, with loss of extracellular matrix underlying some areas. MMPs were not consistently increased in Western blots, zymography, or immunohistochemistry. Scleral hydraulic conductivity increased, but not enough to account for total facility increase. Conclusions Prostaglandins increase outflow facility in perfusion organ culture of human anterior segments. MMP activity was not consistently increased, and scleral hydraulic conductivity was not increased sufficiently to account for total facility increase. The histologic changes suggest a direct trabecular meshwork effect.
Effect of oxygen partial pressure on the in situ growth of Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films on SrTiO 3

The evolution of YBCO film growth with thickness at various oxygen pressures was observed by in situ synchrotron x‐ray diffraction in real time. When the films were deposited at 2 A/s and 730 °C under higher oxygen partial pressures (in an Ar/O2 mixture of 90 mTorr), the nucleation was observed to have c‐axis orientation. After the films reached a critical thickness, the growth of the YBCO film changed from c axis to a axis and then propagated epitaxially. This provides evidence that a‐axis epitaxial growth nucleates on a c‐axis base. The critical thickness reflects the competition between the growth of the c and a axes, which is determined by the oxygen partial pressure in the process of thin‐film formation. The a‐axis oriented films showed a very sharp rocking curve (less than 0.1°) which indicates a very high structural quality. For very low oxygen partial pressures, the in situ growth process was very similar, but the initial nuclei involve a second phase mixed with a small amount of c‐axis ‘‘123’’ ph...
Infrared and Raman spectra, adjusted r0 structural parameters, and vibrational assignment of isopropyl isocyanide

Abstract Infrared spectra (3200–220 cm−1) of gaseous and Raman spectra (3200–40 cm−1) of liquid isopropyl isocyanide ((CH3)2CHNC) have been recorded. By utilizing the microwave rotational constants combined with the structural parameters predicted from MP2(full)/6-311+G(d,p) calculations, adjusted r0 parameters have been obtained for isopropyl isocyanide. The heavy atom distances in A are: r (C1 N2) = 1.176(3), r (N2 C3) = 1.437(3), r (C3 C4,5) = 1.525(5) and the angles in (°) are ∠ C1N2C3 = 178.6(5); ∠ N2C3C4,5 = 109.4(5); ∠ C4C3C5 = 113.0(5). A complete vibrational assignment is proposed for isopropyl isocyanide based on infrared band contours, relative intensities, depolarization values, and group frequencies. The vibrational assignments were supported by normal coordinate calculation utilizing the force constants from ab inito MP2(full)/6-31G(d). The results are discussed and compared to those obtained for some similar molecules.
Long-run trends in world trade and income

This paper examines the statistical relationship between world trade and world income (GDP) over three different epochs: the pre-World War I era (1870–1913), the interwar era (1920–1938), and the post-World War II era (1950–2000). The results indicate that trade grew slightly more rapidly than income in the late nineteenth century, with little structural change in the trade–income relationship. In the interwar and post-war periods, the trade–income relationship can be divided into different periods due to structural breaks, but since the mid 1980s trade has been more responsive to income than in any other period under consideration. The trade policy regime differed in each period, from the bilateral treaty network in the late nineteenth century to interwar protectionism to post-war GATT/WTO liberalization. The commodity composition of trade has also shifted from primary commodities to manufactured goods over the past century, but the results cannot directly determine the reasons for the increased sensitivity of trade to income.
Integrating conflict analysis and consensus reaching in a decision support system for water resource management.

Abstract The importance of shared decision processes in water management derives from the awareness of the inadequacy of traditional—i.e. engineering—approaches in dealing with complex and ill-structured problems. It is becoming increasingly obvious that traditional problem solving and decision support techniques, based on optimisation and factual knowledge, have to be combined with stakeholder based policy design and implementation. The aim of our research is the definition of an integrated decision support system for consensus achievement (IDSS-C) able to support a participative decision-making process in all its phases: problem definition and structuring, identification of the possible alternatives, formulation of participants’ judgments, and consensus achievement. Furthermore, the IDSS-C aims at structuring, i.e. systematising the knowledge which has emerged during the participative process in order to make it comprehensible for the decision-makers and functional for the decision process. Problem structuring methods (PSM) and multi-group evaluation methods (MEM) have been integrated in the IDSS-C. PSM are used to support the stakeholders in providing their perspective of the problem and to elicit their interests and preferences, while MEM are used to define not only the degree of consensus for each alternative, highlighting those where the agreement is high, but also the consensus label for each alternative and the behaviour of individuals during the participative decision-making. The IDSS-C is applied experimentally to a decision process regarding the use of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation in the Apulia Region (southern Italy).
Design and Analysis of a Variable Stiffness Mechanism

The design and analysis of a mechanism with variable stiffness is examined. The mechanism, which is a simple arrangement of two springs, a lever arm and a pivot bar, has an effective stiffness that is a rational function of the horizontal position d of the pivot. The external pure force acting on the system is constrained to always remain vertical. The effective stiffness is varied by changing d while keeping the point of application of the external load constant. The expression for the effective stiffness is derived. A reverse analysis is also carried out on the mechanism. Special design cases are considered. The dynamic equation of the system is derived and used to deduce the natural frequency of the mechanism from which some insights were gained on the dynamic behavior of the mechanism.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Review of the effects of 12 selected biocides on target and non-target soil organisms

Abstract This literature review investigates biocides that claim to reduce the populations of specific target groups, i.e. bacteria, saprophytic fungi, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae, protozoa, nematodes, or soil-dwelling microarthropods. Removal or reduction of organism groups in natural ecosystems would allow study of their functional role in non-laboratory situations. The biocides considered in this review are those which are supposed to have a ‘narrow spectrum’ (affect only one group), and can be applied as a solution or suspension to the soil. The effects of aldrin, benomyl, captan, carbofuran, chloroneb, cycloheximide, diazinon, oxytetracycline, parachloronitrobenzene (PCNB), streptomycin, thiabendazole, and thiram on both target and non-target soil organisms are summarized. Each soil organism group except protozoa was reduced by at least one biocide, and usually by several biocides. Of the biocides reviewed, none had effects which were strictly limited to their target group and all have been reported to reduce more than one group of organisms. The responses of soil organisms to these biocides are tabulated.
Ring theoretic aspects of the virasoro algebra

An application of the theory of Noetherian rings is used to produce a new family of irreducible representations for the Virasoro algebra.
An exact theory for the thermal rate coefficient in a curve crossing system

Abstract We use linear response theory to derive an exact formula for the thermal rate coefficient in a quantum system having more than one electronic state. We present illustrative calculations which use a fast Fourier transform method modified to solve efficiently this problem.
Human miR-1271 is a miR-96 paralog with distinct non-conserved brain expression pattern

Recent deep-sequencing efforts have identified many novel non-conserved small RNAs that are expressed at low levels in certain mammalian cells. Whether these small RNAs are important for mammalian physiology is debatable, therefore we explored the function of one such RNA, human miR-1271. This small RNA is similar in sequence to miR-96, a highly conserved microRNA that when mutated causes hearing loss in humans and mice. Although the miR-1271 and miR-96 sequences differ slightly, our in vitro assays indicate that they have an identical regulatory activity. We have identified brain-expressed mRNAs from genes including, GPHN, RGS2, HOMER1 and KCC2, which share the same miR-96 and miR-1271 regulatory elements. Interestingly, human miR-1271 is expressed abundantly in brain tissue, where miR-96 is not highly expressed. The rodent miR-1271 precursor contains several sequence differences in the precursor stem, which appear to reduce the efficiency of microRNA processing. Our data indicate that although miR-1271 and miR-96 function identically in vitro, they function to some extent uniquely in vivo. Given the expression patterns and nature of the target genes, miR-1271 may have a significant, although non-conserved, role in regulating aspects of neural development or function in humans.
Discovery of a Remarkable Point-Symmetric Proto-Planetary Nebula: Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of IRAS 04296+3429

We present images of the proto‐planetary nebula (PPN) IRAS 0429613429 (hereafter I04296) taken with the Hubble Space TelescopeWide Field Planetary Camera 2 in two wide-band filters centered at 0.56 and 0.81mm. We find that this object, which belongs to a class of carbon-rich PPNs with a peculiar 21 mm dust emission feature, has a striking point-symmetric morphology, with a pair of long, well-collimated lobes oriented at about 707 to an equatorial elliptical “disklike” structure. Although dense disklike regions have been inferred from the presence of dark lanes separating the bipolar lobes of post‐asymptotic giant branch (AGB) objects, I04296 is the first to show a bounded disk directly in scattered light. The lobes and the disk appear embedded in a roughly round, faint halo with a radius at least as large as 2 0 .8. The bipolar lobes probably result from the interaction of a collimated high-velocity bipolar outflow with the spherical progenitor AGB circumstellar envelope, which is seen as the halo. The internal structure of the lobes suggests that the bipolar outflow changes its direction with time. A simple single-scattering model of a spherical inverse-square density envelope with a dust mass-loss rate of yr provides a good fit to the scattered light in the halo at both wavelengths. The collimated 28 21 4 # 10 M, lobes and point-symmetric structure in I04296 provide strong support for the jet-driven formation of aspherical planetary nebulae.
Color constancy. III. General linear recovery of spectral descriptions for lights and surfaces

We present a color-constancy algorithm that uses quantum-catch data from reflected lights to recover surface reflectance functions and illuminant spectral power distributions. The algorithm recovers both surface and light-source spectral properties simultaneously. The method works in all situations that were handled by the earlier two-stage algorithms of Maloney and Wandell [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A3, 29 ( 1986)] and D’Zmura and Iverson [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A9, 490 ( 1992); J. Opt. Soc. Am. A10, 2148, 2166 ( 1993); J. Opt. Soc. Am. A11, 1970 ( 1994)]. In addition, the method handles problems that lie outside the scope of earlier algorithms. Using this method, a trichromatic visual system can recover, when provided adequate information, spectral descriptions of arbitrarily high accuracy for lights and surfaces. We determine conditions under which bilinear models can be used to recover color properties uniquely with the new procedure, and we formulate an algorithm for checking whether a particular bilinear model provides perfect color constancy. This research extends our analysis of linear methods for color constancy begun earlier [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A10, 2148, 2166 ( 1993)].
Evaluating Approaches for Communication About Genomic Influences on Body Weight.

Developments in genomics may improve patient consultations about weight management; however, optimal approaches for these communications are unstudied. We assessed the influence of receiving generic, genomic information and of physician communication approach on overweight females in simulated clinical weight counseling interactions. Two hundred participants were randomized to receive information about genomic or behavioral underpinnings of body weight from a virtual reality-based physician who used either a supportive or directive communication approach. Participants completed post-test self-report questionnaires. Genomic explanations for body weight led patients to perceive less blame [F (1,196) = 47.68, p < .0001] and weight stigma [F (1,196) = 5.75, p = .017] in the consultation. They did not lead to negative outcomes in physician-patient interaction or affect health behavior-related attitudes and beliefs. Physician’s supportive or directive communication approach did not moderate these effects. Integrating genomic concepts into health care has potential to positively influence the patient-provider relationship while addressing longstanding challenges in weight management. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01443910.
Weak Segmentations and Ensemble Learning to Predict Semantic Ratings of Lung Nodules

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) can be used as "second readers" in the imaging diagnostic process. Typically to create a CAD system, the region of interest (ROI) has to be first detected and then delineated. This can be done either manually or automatically. Given that manually delineating ROIs is a time consuming and costly process, we propose a CAD system based on multiple computer-derived weak segmentations (WSCAD) and show that its diagnosis performance is at least as good as the predictions developed using manual radiologist segmentations. The proposed CAD system extracts a set of image features from the weak segmentations and uses them in an ensemble of classification algorithms to predict semantic ratings such as malignancy. These automated results are compared against a reference truth based on ratings and segmentations provided by radiologists to determine if it is necessary to obtain manual radiologist segmentations in order to develop a CAD. By developing a pair of CADs using the Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) data, we show that WSCADs are at least as accurate in predicting semantic ratings as CADs based on radiologist segmentation.
A contact-coupled finite element analysis of the natural adult hip

A non-linear two-dimensional finite element model was used to study phenomena of stress redistribution in the natural adult hip resulting from parametric material property variations in the juxtarticular regions of the femoral head. Despite the geometrical simplifications employed, the intra-articular contact stresses (computed using the FEAP program) were found to be in reasonable qualitative agreement with previous in vitro data for the case of a normal hip. Generalized sclerotic changes in the subchondral plate, as reflected either in apparent modulus increases or in plate thickening, were found to have only minor effects on the computed contact stress distribution, although stress levels within the plate itself were markedly influenced. Localized subchondral plate sclerosis, by contrast, led to marked stress elevations in the cartilage immediately overlying the stiffened bone. Cartilage modulus increases caused increased load uptake for a given imposed deformation, but involved stress distribution increases which were very nearly linearly proportional to the increases in resultant load magnitude. Friction coefficient elevations had no noticeable effects on normal contact stress or upon overall load transmission, but involved complex, possibly slip-related, changes in intra-articular and cartilaginous shear stresses.
TFII is required for transcription of the naturally TATA-less but initiator-containing Vbeta promoter.

The proximal or core promoter of a typical eukaryotic protein coding gene comprises distinct elements, TATA and/or initiator (Inr). The existence of TATA or Inr at the core promoter suggests that the mechanism of transcription initiation mediated by these two genetic elements may be different. Accordingly, it has been demonstrated that the transcriptional requirements for the TATA-containing, Inr-less (TATA+Inr-) promoters are different from the transcriptional requirements for the TATA-less, Inr-containing (TATA-Inr+) promoters. Although both types of promoters require the transcription initiation factor (TFIID) in addition to other common initiation factors, a TATA-Inr+ promoter requires accessory component(s). Here we have employed in vitro analyses to address the transcription factor requirements for a TATA-Inr+ promoter. We demonstrate that in addition to TFIID, a naturally occurring TATA-Inr+ promoter requires TFII-I, an Inr element-dependent transcription factor. Consistent with its Inr element-dependent activities, TFII-I is dispensable for a TATA+Inr- promoter. Furthermore, we demonstrate that both TFII-I and TFIID activities in nuclear extracts are temperature-sensitive. However, TFII-I is heat-inactivated at temperatures lower than that required to inactivate TFIID. Therefore, differential heat treatment of nuclear extracts provides an assay to discriminate between transcriptional requirements at TATA+Inr- and TATA-Inr+ promoters.
Interspecific chromosomal effects on agronomic traits in Gossypium hirsutum by AD analysis using intermated G. barbadense chromosome substitution lines

The untapped potential of the beneficial alleles from Gossypium barbadense L. has not been well utilized in G. hirsutum L. (often referred to as Upland cotton) breeding programs. This is primarily due to genomic incompatibility and technical challenges associated with conventional methods of interspecific introgression. In this study, we used a hypoaneuploid-based chromosome substitution line as a means for systematically introgressing G. barbadense doubled-haploid line ‘3-79’ germplasm into a common Upland genetic background, inbred ‘Texas marker-1’ (‘TM-1’). We reported on the chromosomal effects, lint percentage, boll weight, seedcotton yield and lint yield in chromosome substitution CS-B (G. barbadense L.) lines. Using an additive-dominance genetic model, we studied the interaction of alleles located on two alien substituted chromosomes versus one alien substituted chromosome using a partial diallel mating design of selected CS-B lines (CS-B05sh, CS-B06, CS-B09, CS-B10, CS-B12, CS-B17 and CS-B18). Among these parents, CS-B09 and CS-B10 were reported for the first time. The donor parent 3-79, had the lowest additive effect for all of the agronomic traits. All of the CS-B lines had significant additive effects with boll weight and lint percentage. CS-B10 had the highest additive effects for lint percentage, and seedcotton and lint yield among all of the lines showing a transgressive genetic mode of inheritance for these traits. CS-B09 had greater additive genetic effects on lint yield, while CS-B06, CS-B10 and CS-B17 had superior additive genetic effects on both lint and seedcotton yield compared to TM-1 parent. The 3-79 line had the highest dominance effects for boll weight (0.513 g) and CS-B10 had the lowest dominance effect for boll weight (−0.702). Some major antagonistic genetic effects for the agronomic traits were present with most of the substituted chromosomes and chromosome arms, a finding suggested their recalcitrance to conventional breeding efforts. The results revealed that the substituted chromosomes and arms of 3-79 carried some cryptic beneficial alleles with potential to improve agronomic traits including yield, whose effects were masked at the whole genome level in 3-79.
A bottom-up complement to the logic-based top-down approach to the story arrangement test

Psychometric AI is a type of AI distinguished by the pursuit of intelligent systems able to excel on psychometrically validated human-level tests of cognitive abilities. We seek to build a system that solves a specific sub-test within Psychometric AI: the story arrangment test. Items in this test confront the test-taker with a set of jumbed snapshots (whether diagrammatic or otherwise) which must be ordered to tell a coherent story. We propose a dual-process system that combines bottom-up non-or sub-symbolic processing (e.g. neural network-based modelling) with top-down symbolic processing (e.g. deductive reasoning over declarative information represented as formulae in a logical system) for solving these tests of cognitive ability. The top-down process provides the benefits of a traceable proof, but requires a large amount of pre-existing knowledge. The bottom-up technique sacrifices provability and certainty on some problems for speed, but always yields some level of an answer to a given problem. This demonstrates a natural marriage between the two: the bottom-up approach seems especially powerful when used as a form of pre-processing in conjunction with a logic-based approach, because the latter approach would only need to consider a small number of possible orderings of snapshots.
OBSERVATIONS ON NORTH AMERICAN GOMPHONEIS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE). I. VALVE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF G. MAMMILLA WITH COMMENT ON THE TAXONOMIC STATUS OF THE GENUS1,2

Recent questions concerning the taxonomic status of the diatom genus Gomphoneis Cleve have prompted critical examination of the valvar morphology of a species originally included in the genus. Light and electron microscopic observations on G. mammilla (Ehr.) Cl. show that the characteristics put forth by Cleve to delineate the genus are present in this taxon. Striae composed of two rows of simple areolae located in depressions on the valve and longitudinal lines formed by a broad internal axial plate were observed in G. mammilla. The presence of two apical spines on the headpole and the structure of a bilobed apical pore field located at the footpole are described, in addition to other valve features. Valve morphology of G. mammilla is compared with that of doubly-punctate Gomphonema species with the result that we recommend the two genera remain separate.
Lowen, para-Lowen, and α-level functors and fuzzy topologies on the crisp real line

On etudie les relations entre des foncteurs ω et l de Lowen definis pour des cadres L, et les foncteurs para-Lowen Gω L et la classe {COR L } L des topologies floues sur R
Profile of NE, DA and 5-HT activity shifts in medial hypothalamus perfused by 2-DG and insulin in the sated or fasted rat

This study was carried out in the unrestrained rat to determine the nature of the in vivo profile of monoamine neurotransmitters within the medial hypothalamus in response to the presence of a glucoprivic or metabolic challenge to neurons within this region. In these experiments, insulin or 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) was applied locally to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), dorsomedial nucleus (DMN) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). In each of 11 Sprague-Dawley rats, a guide cannula was implanted stereotaxically to rest just above these structures. Upon recovery, a concentric push-pull cannula system was used to perfuse an artificial CSF within a medial hypothalamic site. The CSF was perfused at a rate of 20 microliters/min with a 5.0 min interval intervening between the collection of each 100 microliters sample. After the rat was fasted for 20-22 hr, either 10 micrograms/microliters 2-DG or 4.0 mU/microliters of insulin was incorporated into the control CSF medium and perfused at the same locus. The aliquots of hypothalamic perfusate were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC) for the respective concentration in pg/microliter of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and each of their major metabolic products. When the rat was sated, 2-DG enhanced significantly the mean efflux of NE from the medial hypothalamus in comparison to control CSF values. However, under the fasted condition, 2-DG augmented the turnover of both the catecholamine and 5-HT as reflected by elevated levels of MHPG and 5-HIAA, respectively. On the other hand, insulin perfused within the same medial hypothalamic sites evoked a significant increase in the synthesis and release of DA from the sated rat, but did not alter its turnover. Following the interval of fast, insulin produced no immediate alteration in transmitter activity; however, in the interval following insulin's perfusion, DA and 5-HT turnover were enhanced while the efflux of 5-HT was suppressed. An analysis of the proportional values of the levels of the amines to each other revealed marked shifts in the relationships between the catechol- and indoleamine transmitters following local perfusion with both 2-DG and insulin. Overall, NE synthesis and turnover exceeded that of 5-HT following 2-DG, whereas DA predominated over NE and 5-HT during insulin's perfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Sports governance, development and corporate responsibility

Sport-for-development, social responsibility and good governance are all very topical in nature at the present, but much of the established literature in the area fails to recognize the interwoven ...
Cognitive Consequences of Programming: Augmentations to Basic Instruction.

A study of junior high students was undertaken to investigate the cognitive outcomes of a first course in computer programming. A model for understanding the learning outcomes is presented, called the chain of cognitive consequences. This model describes the knowledge and skills that potentially can be gained from programming. The model suggests how programming instruction could be augmented so as to focus on higher cognitive skills. An experimental design was implemented which compared two “augmentations” to traditional BASIC instruction. Three important findings were modest achievement scores, large between-site variation, and significant effect of augmentations. The limitations of current instruction for producing cognitive outcomes are discussed, and the instructional implications of this study are presented.
MR imaging-guided percutaneous cryoablation of the prostate in an animal model: in vivo imaging of cryoablation-induced tissue necrosis with immediate histopathologic correlation.

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging–guided percutaneous cryoablation of normal canine prostates and to identify MR imaging features that accurately predict the area of tissue damage at a microscopic level. Materials and Methods Six adult male mixed-breed dogs were anesthetized, intubated, and placed in a 0.5-T open MR imaging system. A receive-only endorectal coil was placed, and prostate location and depth were determined on T1-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE) MR imaging. After placement of cryoprobes and temperature sensors, three freezing protocols were used to ablate prostate tissue. Ice ball formation was monitored with T1-weighted FSE imaging. Tissue necrosis area was assessed with contrast-enhanced weighted MR imaging and compared with histopathologic findings. Results A total of 12 cryolesions (mean size, 1.2 cm) were bilaterally created in six prostates. Ice ball formation was oval and signal-free on T1-weighted FSE sequences in all cases. Postprocedural contrast-enhanced MR imaging typically showed a nonenhancing area of low signal intensity centrally located within the frozen area, surrounded by a bright enhancing rim in all cases. On histopathologic examination, two distinct zones were identified within cryolesions. Centrally, a necrotic zone with complete cellular destruction and hemorrhage was found. Between this necrotic zone and normal glandular tissue, a zone of fragmented and intact glands, interstitial edema, and rare acute inflammatory cells was seen. Correlation between nonenhancement on contrast-enhanced weighted MR images and tissue necrosis on pathologic examination was consistent within all six dogs. Conclusions MR imaging–guided cryoablation of the prostate is technically feasible. The nonenhancing area on postablation contrast-enhanced weighted MR imaging accurately predicts the area of cryoablation-induced tissue necrosis on pathologic analysis.