cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consciousness is not a Bag: Immanence, Transcendence, and Constitution in The Idea of Phenomenology

A fruitful way to approach The Idea of Phenomenology is through Husserl’s claim that consciousness is not a bag, box, or any other kind of container. The bag conception, which dominated much of modern philosophy, is rooted in the idea that philosophy is restricted to investigating only what is really immanent to consciousness, such as acts and sensory contents. On this view, what Husserl called “the riddle of transcendence” can never be solved. The phenomenological reduction, as Husserl develops it in The Idea of Phenomenology, opened up a new and broader sense of immanence that embraces the transcendent, making it possible both to solve the riddle and to escape the bag conception once and for all. The essay will discuss ways in which this new conception of immanence is tied to the key Husserlian themes of appearance, phenomenon, essence, seeing or intuiting, and constitution.
Back to the future: science and technology directions for radio telescopes of the twenty-first century

The early days of radio astronomy showed incredibly diverse experimentation in ways to sample the electromagnetic spectrum at radio wavelengths. In addition to obtaining adequate sensitivity by building large collection areas, a primary goal also was to achieve sufficient angular resolution to localize radio sources for multi-wavelength identification. This led to many creative designs and the invention of aperture synthesis and VLBI. Some of the basic telescope types remain to the present day, now implemented across the entire radio spectrum from wavelengths of tens of meters to submillimeter wavelengths. In recent years, as always, there is still the drive for greater sensitivity but a primary goal is now to achieve very large fields of view to complement high resolution and frequency coverage, leading to a new phase of experimentation. This is the “back to the future” aspect of current research and development for next-generation radio telescopes. In this paper I summarize the scientific motivations for development of new technology and telescopes since about 1990 and going forward for the next decade and longer. Relevant elements include highly optimized telescope optics and feed antenna designs, innovative fabrication methods for large reflectors and dipole arrays, digital implementations, and hardware vs. software processing. The emphasis will be on meter and centimeter wavelength telescopes but I include a brief discussion of millimeter wavelengths to put the longer wavelength enterprises into perspective. I do not discuss submillimeter wavelengths because they are covered in other papers.
A Surrogate Modeling Based Approach to Renewable Mobile Hybrid Power System Design

A surrogate modeling approach was developed and implemented for facilitating the design of renewable, hybrid power systems. A time-series hybrid power system simulation code (HOMER with supplement analysis) was replicated via readily executable neural network surrogate models. These surrogate models were subsequently integrated into a conceptual design engineering tool. The tool enables the rapid sizing and optimization of system components in the face of variable environmental conditions (i.e., renewable energy resources), economic conditions and weighted objectives. Accordingly, this tool was successfully used in the multi-objective design of a deployable hybrid renewable power system. This same capability can also be used to assess the feasibility of the requirements and constraints themselves, and potentially to guide the customer to appropriate design specifications.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
'No, niente appello!': How De Gasperi sent Guareschi to prison

The article focuses on the legal proceedings between Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi and editor Giovannino Guareschi at the Milan tribunal in Italy. Guareschi was convicted of libel counted upon by the British evidence. He was accused of forgery of the letters that he reproduced against De Gasperi. Disciplines Italian Language and Literature This article is available at The Cupola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College: http://cupola.gettysburg.edu/italfac/2 ‘No, niente appello!’: How De Gasperi sent Guareschi to prison [The Italianist, n. 25, 2005, ii: 239-259] Alan R. Perry Non capisco perche debbano fare la perizia, giacche mio marito ha affermato di non aver mai scritto quei documenti. (Francesca De Gasperi) De Gasperi lo querelo. Ne scaturi un processo in cui, pero, nonostante le formali assicurazioni, non fu ammessa la perizia grafica sulle lettere in possesso di Guareschi. Esse vennero considerate false sulla base della parola di De Gasperi. (Antonio Di Pietro) Per rimanere liberi, bisogna a un bel momento prendere, senza esitare, la via della prigione. (Giovannino Guareschi) No one could have suspected the political bombshell Candido editor Giovannino Guareschi dropped on the Italian political scene in early 1954. As it occurred, it almost seemed like something that belonged to the Mondo Piccolo, the imaginary world Guareschi created that had brought him untold commercial and popular success. Indeed, in the realm of Don Camillo and Peppone, inflammatory accusations were daily occurrences. But this claim seemed to go beyond what anyone had reasonably come to expect from Guareschi’s caustic pen that lampooned the real world of Italian Cold War society and politics. In 1948 Guareschi had stood fast with then Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi to defeat the Popular Front. Six years later, any semblance of continuity between the inveterate allied enemies of Communism came to an abrupt end. Guareschi accused De Gasperi of having asked the Allies during World War II to bomb the periphery of Rome in order to incite a popular insurrection against the Germans. He backed his claim with a photocopied letter that carried De Gasperi’s signature. Soon thereafter, he published another missive, this time entirely written in De Gasperi’s hand. The former Prime Minister brought a criminal suit against Guareschi for his inflammatory commentary that accompanied the letters. The April trial lasted four
Size-dependent hardness in annealed and work hardened α-brass and aluminum polycrystalline materials using activation volume analysis

Abstract A study of the size-dependent hardness in aluminum and α-brass is presented. The study employs rate-effects to examine the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the indentation hardness size dependence (effect), or (ISE). These rate effects are characterized in terms of the rate sensitivity of the hardness, ∂H/∂lneeff, where H is the hardness and eeff is an effective strain rate in the plastic zone beneath the indenter. ∂H/∂lneeff is measured using indentation creep, load relaxation, and rate change experiments. ∂H/∂lneeff is used to calculate the activation volume, V*; activation volume data measured using conventional uniaxial testing are compared with activation volume data measured using nanoindentation. The data for α-brass when plotted V* vs. H (hardness) or σ (flow stress), extrapolated into literature data from conventional uniaxial testing, while the aluminum data suffered an offset. We propose some mechanisms for this offset. Using V* formalism, we demonstrate using materials with different stacking fault energy (SFE) and specimens with different levels of work hardening how increasing the dislocation density affects V*; these effects may be taken as a kinetic signature of dislocation strengthening mechanisms. We depicted an ISE in both H and ∂H/∂lneeff(V*). The trend of V*-vs.-H as a result of the ISE is consistent with the trend of testing specimens with different levels of work hardening. This indicates that a dislocation mechanism drives the ISE.
Reduced BPD Rates Made Possible by A New Nasal CPAP Device Through Early Extubation. 1252

Nasal prongs CPAP has been in use since the early 70's. The conventional nasal progs increased the work of breathing (WOB) by 94% (Goldman'79). They were not well tolerated by small preterm infants, as a result reintubaion was often necessary and hence mechanical ventilation prolonged. There has been no break through in technology until recently when Moa et al developed a new NCPAP device (Aladdin) which reduced WOB to 1/4 of conventional NCPAP system(Klausner 1996) and improved the tolerance and comfort of infants placed under them. We began using this new NCPAP system in Nov. 1995. We compared mechanical ventilation (MV) days and BPD rates of ELBW infants one year before and after the use of this device. Table
Kidney Folding: The Y-Plasty—A Means of Creating a Dependent Ureteropelvic Junction in the Child With Giant Hydronephrosis

Purpose: Occasionally, in the presence of severe dilatation and parenchymal thinning, postoperative obstruction or stasis may secondarily occur even after creation of a funneled ureteropelvic junction. Preferential filling of a severely dilated lower pole may kink or distort the ureteropelvic junction, causing this problem.Materials and Methods: A requirement for renal folding is a large hydronephrotic kidney with severe mid renal parenchymal thinning. After pyeloplasty if it is apparent that secondary obstruction is a possibility, and simple lateral or posterior fixation of the lower pole to retroperitoneal fascia will not resolve the problem, the lower pole can be brought superiorly adjacent to the upper pole and fixed in position with 2 or 3, 2-zero or 3-zero polyglactin sutures, creating a “Y” configuration with the ureteropelvic junction dependent from all calices. We reviewed the records of 5 children who underwent this procedure.Results: Five patients with severe upper tract dilatation were treated...
Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence in the United States 2009–2010 and Comparison with the Past Two Decades

Abstract. Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous parasite that can cause neurologic and ocular disease. We tested sera from 7,072 people ≥ 6 years of age in the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for immunoglobulin G antibodies and compared these results with two previous NHANES studies. The overall T. gondii antibody seroprevalence among persons ≥ 6 years of age in 2009–2010 was 13.2% (95% confidence limit [CL] 11.8%, 14.5%) and age-adjusted seroprevalence was 12.4% (95% CL 11.1%, 13.7%); age-adjusted seroprevalence among women 15–44 years of age was 9.1% (95% CL 7.2%, 11.1%). In U.S. born persons 12–49 years of age, the age-adjusted T. gondii seroprevalence decreased from 14.1% (95% CL 12.7%, 15.5%) in NHANES III (1988–1994) to 9.0% (95% CL 7.6%, 10.5%) in NHANES 1999–2004 to 6.7% (95% CL 5.3%, 8.2%) in NHANES 2009–2010 (P < 0.001 linear trend). Although T. gondii antibody presence is still relatively common, the prevalence in the United States has continued to decline.
Slow accumulation of lead from contaminated food sources by the freshwater gastropods,Physa integra andCampeloma decisum

Rates of lead accumulation from contaminated food sources were examined for the fresh-water gastropods,Physa integra andCampeloma decisum. Lead was slowly accumulated fromaufwuchs (0.52–0.87 Μg Pb/g dry wt of tissue/day) by the grazing snail,P. integra while no statistically significant lead accumulation from sediments was noted in the deposit/suspension feeder,C. decisum. Aufwuchs-associated iron and manganese did not affect the bioavailability of lead.
Accuracy and cost-effectiveness of fine needle aspiration biopsy.

Summary Two hundred eighty-six fine needle aspiration biopsies were reviewed. The sensitivity for the diagnosis of malignancy was 90 percent for lymph node specimens, 93 percent for skin and soft tissue masses, and 74 percent for breast cancer. The overall accuracy of the technique was 82 percent for breast lesions, and 90 to 92 percent for soft tissue and lymph node lesions. Traditional open biopsy in an outpatient setting for these tumors is twice as costly as fine needle aspiration biopsy. Further refinement in the use of the cytocentrifuge and immunohistochemical techniques will result in fewer inadequate fine needle aspiration specimens and an increase in the diagnostic information available with this technique. Fine needle aspiration is recommended as the first biopsy technique of choice for localized solid tumors.
Human resource turnarounds: advice from the experts

Provides advice for human resource managers gathered from a panel of 24 turnaround managers. A turnaround is a situation in which a company has experienced a period of declining profits, high costs and/or inability to meet its financial obligations. Turnaround managers specialize in the turnaround of firms in financial decline. Presents the stages of a turnaround, human resource problems encountered in each stage, actions taken to correct the problems and advice for human resource managers.
Possible new sputtering mechanism in track registering materials

The ’’ion explosion’’ model of track production in dielectric materials in investigated as a possible source of sputtered particles at high bombarding energies.
Polygonum cuspidatum (Polygonaceae) Genetic Diversity in a Small Region of Eastern Kentucky

ABSTRACT Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc. is an invasive species that has spread across Britain, Europe, Canada, and the United States. Prior to this research, no analysis of genetic diversity within, or among, populations had been conducted in the United States, although population genetic diversity had been examined in Britain. An analysis of genetic diversity was carried out using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based DNA fingerprinting on plant populations along two creeks in Rowan County, Kentucky. One creek was sampled at one-meter intervals and the other at intervals of one to nine km. The results of this analysis indicate that the plants along both of these creeks are genetically dissimilar and not clonal. The data did not support the hypothesis that P. cuspidatum is reproducing and dispersing by asexual means.
Hemodynamic and metabolic changes induced by cocaine in anesthetized rat observed with multimodal functional MRI

Rationale Physiological changes (such as heart rate and respiration rate) associated with strong pharmacological stimuli could change the blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mapping signals, independent of neural activity.
Nonlinear process model based control and optimization of a model IV FCC unit

Abstract Nonlinear process model based control (PMBC) has been applied to the Amoco/Lehigh University Model IV FCC industrial challenge problem. A dynamic simulator which was originally written in ACSL (Advanced Continuous Simulation Language) was converted into FORTRAN and benchmarked against the open-loop responses provided in the problem statement. The riser model in the simulator was replaced by a plug flow reactor model and a simple yield model was added. This addition made it possible to apply a simplified optimization analysis as well. Nonlinear model based control was applied for the control of reactor temperature, regenerator temperature and the flue gas oxygen concentration. The temperature of the feed entering the reactor riser, the catalyst circulation rate and the regenerator air flowrate were used as manipulated variables. The dynamic macroscopic oxygen and energy balances in the regenerator and the steady state energy balance for the reactor were used as nonlinear models for control. The Generic Model Control (GMC) law was used for the nonlinear PMBC controller. The nonlinear PMBC and conventional proportional-integral (PI) controllers were tested first for the unconstrained control. The PI results are included as a point of reference. The nonlinear PMBC constraint controllers were developed for constraints on the feed preheater, the air flowrate to the regenerator and the catalyst circulation rate. The feed rate to the system was manipulated based upon maximizing the process throughput without violating any of the constraints. The constraint controllers were tested successfully for a set of disturbances. The same controller models were then used for optimization studies to analyze the operation at the economic optimum in the face of variations in feed characteristics and variations in operative constraints.
Spectral properties of a near-periodic row-stochastic Leslie matrix

Abstract Leslie matrix models are discrete models for the development of age-structured populations. It is known that eigenvalues of a Leslie matrix are important in describing the asymptotic behavior of the corresponding population model. It is also known that the ratio of the spectral radius and the second largest (subdominant) eigenvalue in modulus of a non-periodic Leslie matrix determines the rate of convergence of the corresponding population distributions to a stable age distribution. In this paper, we further study the spectral properties of a row-stochastic Leslie matrix A with a near-periodic fecundity pattern of type (k, d, s) based on Kirkland’s results in 1993. Intervals containing arguments of eigenvalues of A on the upper-half plane are given. Sufficient conditions are derived for the argument of the subdominant eigenvalue of A to be in the interval 2 π d , 2 π d - s for the cases where k = 1. A computational scheme is suggested to approximate the subdominant eigenvalue when its argument is in 2 π d , 2 π d - s .
Non-cleft causes of velopharyngeal dysfunction: Implications for treatment

Although a history of cleft palate is the most common cause of velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD), there are other disorders that can also cause hypernasality and/or nasal emission. These include other structural anomalies of the velopharyngeal valve (velopharyngeal insufficiency), neurophysiological disorders that result in inadequate velopharyngeal movement (velopharyngeal incompetence), and even faulty articulation placement in the pharynx (velopharyngeal mislearning). Unfortunately, individuals with non-cleft causes of hypernasality and/or nasal emission do not typically present at a cleft palate/craniofacial center where there are professionals who specialize in the evaluation and treatment of these disorders. As a result, they are often misdiagnosed and do not receive appropriate treatment. In this review, we present various conditions that can cause hypernasality and/or nasal emission during speech. We discuss appropriate treatment based on the underlying cause of the condition. It is important that pediatric otolaryngologists are able to recognize these disorders so that affected patients are referred to specialists in velopharyngeal dysfunction for treatment.
Neurohumoral control of pulmonary surfactant secretion.

The effect of the muscarinic drug, carbamylcholine, on surfactant secretion by hamster lung was examined. Intracellular phosphatidylcholine was prelabeled with tritium by intraperitoneal injection of [3H]choline into adult hamsters. Carbamylcholine (18 µg/100 g body wt.) was administered IP to one group of animals 30 min before sacrifice and isotonic saline was given to another group. Following sacrifice, the lungs were perfused, sliced, and incubated in the presence or absence of 15 µg/ml carbamylcholine for 1 h. Secretion of radiolabeled phosphatidylcholine by the lung tissue slices into the medium was evaluated. Treatment of animals with carbamylcholine was associated with a significant enhancement in the secretion of [3H]phosphatidylcholine into the medium. Administration of the muscarinic antagonist, atropine, in an equimolar dose completely inhibied the stimulatory effect of carbamylcholine on surfactant secretion. Treatment of hamster fetuses with carbamylcholine had no effect on [3H]phosphatidylcholine secretion from fetal lung tissue slices. The results support the concept that surfactant secretion by adult hamster lung is regulated by neurohumoral mechanisms.
Monte Carlo method for simulating γ-ray interaction with materials: A case study on Si

Abstract In the present work, a Monte Carlo (MC) method has been developed to simulate various quantum mechanical processes for the energy loss of photons and fast electrons. The MC model is demonstrated by application to the interaction of photons with silicon over the energy range from 50 eV to 2 MeV and the subsequent electron cascades. The electron cascade process is commonly represented by two macroscopic parameters, the mean energy required to create an electron–hole pair, W , and the Fano factor, F , describing the electron yield and its variance. At energies lower than 5 keV, W generally decreases with increasing photon energy (from 3.96 to 3.58 eV), and it exhibits a sawtooth variation, as observed previously. However, discontinuities at the shell edges follow the photoionization cross-section, in contrast to previous results. The function, F ( E p ), initially increases with increasing photon energy, E p , to a maximum value of 0.187 around 155 eV, and then decreases at higher energies. Above the K shell edge, F has a value of 0.135. These results are consistent with experimental observations. The simulated distribution indicates that the interband transition and plasmon excitation are the most important mechanisms of electron–hole pair creation, while core shell ionization appears to be significant only at high energies.
The sensitivity of EGRET to gamma-ray polarization

A Monte Carlo simulation shows that the EGRET gamma-ray telescope aboard the GRO satellite does not have sufficient sensitivity to detect linear polarization, even for 100% polarized gamma-ray sources. This is confirmed by analysis of calibration data. Several data selection techniques suggested to enhance polarization sensitivity have been evaluated and found to not significantly improve sensitivity.
Four hundred giant cities atop the world

One of the most important social changes during the last decades has been the accelerated multiplication of giant cities and their growth in all continents, and mostly in the developing countries. The territorial nations are progressively becoming metropolitan states, in which mega-cities and metropolises dominate the economic, social, cmfultural, and political life in many international spheres. The globalisation of the world mainly develops in and through the major cities, among which an intensive network of communication of goods, people, and ideas is developing. Social change is visible in many domains but the metropolitisation of the world is probably one of the most significant and well-documented changes in the last decades.
“Big Deal” Journal Subscription Packages: Are They Worth the Cost?

We assessed the cost-effectiveness of “Big Deal” journal subscription packages by making four cost-per-article-use analyses. Our results showed an average cost of $6.04 for articles in Big Deal packages to which our library subscribes, $17.19 for articles in the Biomedical Library's journal subscriptions, and $15.35 for articles obtained via Interlibrary Loan. An average pay-per-view cost of $37.72 was calculated by consulting publisher websites. We conclude that “Big Deal” journal subscription packages are cost-effective; however, because of their high cost, they consume a large portion of a library's budget and thus limit a library's flexibility to purchase other resources.
Genetics of heart development

The genes that drive heart-cell differentiation in vertebrates and Drosophila are similar, even though the Drosophila 'heart' is a simple tube and the vertebrate heart is a multichambered physiologically complex organ. Mutational analysis in mice and, as particular focus of this review, in zebrafish, reveals the additional genes brought into play to fashion these evolutionarily 'new' organotypic components.
Gene delivery nanoparticles fabricated by supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions.

Abstract Non-viral polymeric gene delivery systems offer increased protection from nuclease degradation, enhanced plasmid DNA (pDNA) uptake, and controlled dosing to sustain the duration of pDNA action. Such gene delivery systems can be formulated from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers such as poly( d , l -lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA). Experimental loading of hydrophilic macromolecules such as pDNA is low in polymeric particles. The study purpose was to develop a supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions (SFEE) process based on CO 2 for preparing pEGFP-PLGA nanoparticles with high plasmid loading and loading efficiency. Another objective was to determine the efficacy of pFlt23k, an anti-angiogenic pDNA capable of inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, following nanoparticle formation using the SFEE process. Results indicated that the SFEE process allows high actual loading of pDNA (19.7%, w/w), high loading efficiency (>98%), and low residual solvents ( in vitro transfection, significantly reducing secreted VEGF from human lung alveolar epithelial cells (A549) under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. pFlt23K-PLGA nanoparticles did not exhibit cytotoxicity and are of potential value in treating neovascular disorders wherein VEGF levels are elevated.
Dynamic hyperspectral embedding with a spatial sensitive graph

Graph embedding techniques are useful to characterize spectral signature relations for hyperspectral images. However, such images consists of disjoint classes due to spatial details that are often ignored by existing graph computing tools. Robust parameter estimation is a challenge for kernel functions that compute such graphs. Finding a corresponding high quality coordinate system to map signature relations remains an open research question. We answer positively on these challenges by proposing a kernel function of spatial and spectral information in computing neighborhood graphs. Furthermore, a multidimensional artificial field graph embedding technique that relies on simple additive assumptions of pair-dependent attraction and repulsion functions is proposed. High quality visualizations and improved classification performance demonstrate the benefits of the approach.
Estimation of Residual Energy Intake for Lactating Cows Using an Animal Model

Residual energy intake is defined as the remaining energy from total net energy intake after accounting for all energy uses. Residual energy intake is proposed as a measure of feed efficiency because animal efficiency increases as the proportion of accountable energy intake increases or the residual energy intake decreases. Residual energy intake was estimated for each of 247 Holstein cows, daughters of 127 sires and 226 dams distributed in five herds across the US. Data consisted of daily milk production and net energy intake, biweekly measures of milk components, and BW measures taken at varied intervals throughout a lactation. Average daily net energy intake in a lactation was the dependent variable in a model that contained fixed effects of parity and herd-season subclass; covariates of lactation average daily SCM, metabolic BW, and weight change in a lactation; and random animal effect. From this model, residual energy intake was a sum of animal and residual effects. Partial energy requirements for SCM, maintenance, and weight change estimated for all cows were .54, .15, and 1.52 Mcal/kg, respectively. Heritability estimate for residual energy intake was .016; phenotypic standard deviation was 2.455. The proportion of the phenotypic standard deviation in net energy intake that was due to residual energy was 68%.
Measurement of social well-being: alternatives to gross domestic product

Abstract Gross domestic product (GDP) is widely acknowledged to be a poor measure of social well-being. This paper surveys several substitutes for and modifications of GDP which have been offered as measures of society's welfare. The Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare, a measure endorsed by many ecological economists, is found to possess a variety of virtues — but also several imperfections. The search for a social welfare measure has not yet ended.
Molecular discoveries alter our view of inflammatory bowel disease. A review from scientific, clinical, and laboratory perspectives.

Within the past decade, knowledge of the molecular basis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis, has advanced owing to the explosive growth of research involving the human genome. Furthermore, a shared interest between molecular biologists and clinical researchers has contributed to an emerging understanding of IBD. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2 ) belongs to an apoptotic regulatory family of genes and has been linked to CD. In addition, research into nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), the proteasome, interleukins, and tumor necrosis factor alpha has improved our understanding of IBD.Our understanding of these molecules and other scientific discoveries offers hope for new diagnostic tests and therapeutic agents. In the future, genetic markers will predict disease susceptibility, therapeutic responsiveness, and long-term sequelae of modern therapeutics. Also on the horizon, molecular markers promise to define disease heterogeneity, thereby providing a rational basis for patient-specific therapies. The molecular discoveries that are changing our views of IBD will affect the clinician, the laboratory professional, and the patient.
Application of circular statistics in the study of crack distribution around cemented femoral components

Abstract Cemented stem constructs were loaded in cyclic fatigue using stair climbing loading and the resulting fatigue damage to the cement mantle was determined in terms of angular position of crack and crack length. Techniques from circular statistics were used to determine if the distribution of micro-cracks was uniform. With a designated orientation of 0°–90°–180°–270° indicating lateral–anterior–medial–posterior anatomic directions, the overall distribution of cracks was not uniform ( p p
Biogenic amine-mediated alteration of pyridoxal phosphate formation in rat brain.

— DOPA, dopamine, norepinephrine, tyramine, serotonin, histamine and GABA inhibited pyridoxal kinase; whereas, tyrosine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, histidine, glutamic acid, hypotaurine and taurine were without inhibitory effects. Tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives formed from Pictet-Spengler condensation between DOPA, dopamine and norepinephrine with pyridoxal and pyridoxal phosphate did not inhibit pyridoxal kinase. These results are interpreted to indicate that interaction of biogenic amines and pyridoxal kinase may alter the formation of pyridoxal phosphate which in turn may influence the activity of numerous pyridoxal phosphate dependent enzymatic reactions in brain.
Effects of cocaine-induced behavioural sensitization on GABA transmission within rat medial prefrontal cortex.

Studies support the involvement of mPFC dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems in the development of cocaine sensitization. GABA is known to modulate dopamine and glutamatergic systems in the mPFC. In addition, recent reports have suggested that cocaine sensitization might be associated with a decrease in GABA B receptor responsiveness in the mPFC. Hence, in vivo microdialysis of the mPFC was performed to examine the effects on extracellular GABA levels within the mPFC of a cocaine challenge subsequent to repeated cocaine administration. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given four daily injections of saline (1.0 mL/kg, i.p.) or cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) and challenged with the same dose of saline or cocaine 1, 7 or 28 days later. Acute cocaine produced a motor-stimulant response that was significantly augmented in repeated cocaine animals at all withdrawal time points. Moreover, sensitized animals exhibited a significant increase in extracellular GABA levels after 1 and 7 days but not 28 days following repeated cocaine exposure. These data suggest that cocaine-induced sensitization is associated with a transient increase in mPFC GABA transmission.
Mechanical Properties of Nanophase Materials

It has become possible in recent years to synthesize new materials under controlled conditions with constituent structures on a nanometer size scale (below 100 nm). These novel nanophase materials have grain-size dependent mechanical properties that are significantly different than those of their coarser-grained counterparts. For example, nanophase metals are much stronger and apparently less ductile than conventional metals, while nanophase ceramics are more ductile and more easily formed than conventional ceramics. The observed mechanical property changes are related to grain size limitations and/or the large percentage of atoms in grain boundary environments; they can also be affected by such features as flaw populations, strains and impurity levels that can result from differing synthesis and processing methods. An overview of what is presently known about the mechanical properties of nanophase materials, including both metals and ceramics, is presented. Some possible atomic mechanisms responsible for the observed behavior in these materials are considered in light of their unique structures.
Tension measurement of artificial chordae tendinae implanted between the anterior mitral valve leaflet and the left ventricular apex: an in vitro study.

ObjectiveA newly developed surgical technique allows implantation of artificial chordae tendinae between a mitral valve leaflet and the left ventricular (LV) apex in a closed-chest, off-pump mitral...
Study of distance vector routing protocols for mobile ad hoc networks

We investigate the performance issues of destination-sequenced distance vector (DSDV) and ad-hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV) routing protocols for mobile ad hoc networks. Four performance metrics are measured by varying the maximum speed of mobile hosts, the number of connections, and the network size. The correlation between network topology change and mobility is investigated by using linear regression analysis. The simulation results indicate that AODV outperforms DSDV in less stressful situations, while DSDV is more scalable with respect to the network size. It is observed that network congestion is the dominant reason for packet drop for both protocols. We propose a new routing protocol, congestion-aware distance vector (CADV), to address the congestion issues. CADV outperforms AODV in delivery ratio by about 5%, while introduces less protocol load. The result demonstrates that integrating congestion avoidance mechanisms with proactive routing protocols is a promising way to improve performance.
MORPHINE-ADDICTED DOCTORS, THE ENGLISH OPIUM-EATER, AND EMBATTLED MEDICAL AUTHORITY

I N 1883, the American physician J. B. Mattison made the startling announcement that the majority of American morphine habitues were doctors and suggested that between thirty and forty percent of medical professionals were addicted (23). By 1909, an English addiction specialist had broadened the context and seemingly raised the ante, claiming “that the proportion of medical addicts to the total of cases is in some statistics as high as ninety per cent., and that one-fifth of the mortality in the profession is said to be caused by morphinism” (Jennings, The Morphia Habit v). Looking back in 1924, the German psychopharmacologist Louis Lewin referred to a “statistical table of [morphine] addicts, including all countries of the world,” which “gave 40.4 per cent doctors, 10.0 per cent doctors' wives” (54). Of course, all these data are somewhat questionable since reliable measures would have been all but impossible to obtain and the proportions surely varied over the periods and areas in question. But we can reasonably deduce at least this much: medical professionals were consistently the most prominent demographic group among morphine addicts in the developed western world after the middle of the nineteenth century.
Performance analysis of a cache-based multiprocessor system using closed queueing network model

An analysis for the performance measures (throughput and shared memory access time) of a cache-based multiprocessor system with multistage interconnection network is presented. The hit ratios of the shared data are obtained using Markov models based on various data movement policies. The developed closed queueing network model analyzes the performance of the multiprocessor system. Performance figures for 64*64 and 1024*1024 systems corresponding to these data movement policies are presented. The results show that the performance of such systems is dependent on the hit ratios of the data item requested. It is also indicated that the performance measures are dependent on the policy followed for the data movement in the entire system. The results show that keeping a single copy in the systems is better than the conventional global memory system. >
Temporal memory averaging and post-encoding alterations in temporal expectation

Abstract Recent work in our lab has demonstrated that rats trained to associate two different reinforcement delays with two different cues will generate a scalar temporal expectation at a time between these delays when presented with the cue compound. This work demonstrates that rats will integrate distinct temporal memories at retrieval, revealing that temporal expectation need not be a veridical representation of experience. Following from this recognition that processes occurring at or after memory retrieval may transform or bias temporal expectations, we suggest that previous pharmacological work that had been interpreted as resulting from sensorial, or clock-speed, changes, may be alternatively interpreted as resulting from mnemonic alterations. We end with a brief review of the impact of post-encoding alterations of memory on behavior other than timing. This article is part of a special issue entitled: SQAB 2012 Special Issue.
Improvements in Speed-Based Gait Classifications Are Meaningful

Background and Purpose—Gait velocity is a powerful indicator of function and prognosis after stroke. Gait velocity can be stratified into clinically meaningful functional ambulation classes, such as household ambulation (0.4 m/s), limited community ambulation (0.4 to 0.8 m/s), and full community ambulation (0.8 m/s). The purpose of the current study was to determine whether changes in velocity-based community ambulation classification were related to clinically meaningful changes in stroke-related function and quality of life. Methods—In subacute stroke survivors with mild to moderate deficits who participated in a randomized clinical trial of stroke rehabilitation and had a baseline gait velocity of 0.8 m/s or less, we assessed the effect of success versus failure to achieve a transition to the next class on function and quality of life according to domains of the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). Results—Of 64 eligible participants, 19 were initially household ambulators, and 12 of them (68%) transitioned to limited community ambulation, whereas of 45 initially limited community ambulators, 17 (38%) became full community ambulators. Function and quality-of-life SIS scores after treatment were significantly higher among survivors who achieved a favorable transition compared with those who did not. Among household ambulators, those who transitioned to limited or full community ambulation had significantly better SIS scores in mobility (P0.0299) and participation (P0.0277). Among limited community ambulators, those who achieved the transition to full community ambulatory status had significantly better scores in SIS participation (P0.0085). Conclusions—A gait velocity gain that results in a transition to a higher class of ambulation results in better function and quality of life, especially for household ambulators. Household ambulators possibly had more severe stroke deficits, reducing the risk of “ceiling” effects in SIS-measured activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Outcome assessment based on transitions within a mobility classification scheme that is rooted in gait velocity yields potentially meaningful indicators of clinical benefit. Outcomes should be selected that are clinically meaningful for all levels of severity. (Stroke. 2007;38:2096-2100.)
Application and validation of a 3-D calcium, chloride, and sulfate model in Lake Okeechobee

The calibration, verification, and validation of calcium (Ca), chloride (Cl), and sulfate (SO4) module of the Lake Okeechobee Environment Model (LOEM) was completed. The integrated model could simulate Ca, Cl, and SO4 concentrations and transport due to wind driven currents and waves from 1 Oct 1999 to 30 Sept 2009 in Lake Okeechobee. The enhanced model was also used to estimate lake water quality effects resulting from different management scenarios that include discharges from planned aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) facilities. The fate and transport processes of Ca, Cl, and SO4 are controlled by their reactivity and their hydrodynamic transport. Reactivity includes chemical, biological, and bio-uptake processes (IJRSA 33:2233-2260, 2012). Hydrodynamic transport includes advection of water current, diffusion, and turbulent mixing within the water column. The deposition and resuspension on the water-sediment bed interface is also included. The mathematical equations for describing Ca, Cl, and SO4 substances, including heavy metal and total organic carbon (TOC), are similar. Both the statistical results and the time series comparisons indicate that the simulation of Ca, Cl, and SO4 are generally simulated well by the LOEM. The root mean square error over the variance rage is Cl <18%, Ca <35%, and SO4 < 19%. Cl, Ca, and SO4 concentrations in the lake were largely controlled by water temperature and lake evaporation. Inflows to the lake can also have localized effects on chloride variations. Shallow water depth and high evaporation contribute to high Cl/Ca/ SO4 concentration in the lake.
Control of systems without drift via generic loops

This paper proposes a simple numerical technique for the steering of arbitrary analytic systems with no drift. It is based on the generation of "nonsingular loops" which allow linearized controllability along suitable trajectories. Once such loops are available, it is possible to employ standard Newton or steepest descent methods, as classically done in numerical control. The theoretical justification of the approach relies on results establishing the genericity of nonsingular controls, as well as a simple convergence lemma. >
A simulation technique for estimation in perturbed stochastic activity networks

We are concerned with what-if analysis in estimating the expected value and the distribution function of completion time in stochastic activity networks. Widely used Monte Carlo simulation models of stochastic networks are often subject to errors caused by the estitnated parameter(s) of underlying input distribution function. " What-if' analysis is needed to establish confidence with respect to small changes in the parameters of the input distributions. However, traditional "what-if'analysis requires a separate simulation run for each input value. Recently, a method based on Likelihood Ratio (LR) for estimating performance function far several scenarios using a single-run extrapolation has been presented. In this paper, we experiment the use of this LR method in a network with exponential arc durations. We also consider the method with a nonlinear control random variate (NCRV) and compare it to crude Monte Carlo. The results show that the NCRV method induces variance reduction and is an effeetive filter t...
Theory of nonlinear optics in dielectric spheres. III : Partial-wave-index dependence of the gain for stimulated Brillouin scattering

I give analytical formulas for the gain of TE and TM electrostrictive stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a spherical microdroplet when both the laser and Brillouin frequencies coincide with single partial waves that correspond to Debye–Mie resonances. Numerical evaluations of the analytical formula for the gain of a resonant TM mode in a water droplet show that the SBS gain peaks at the ratio η of the bulk-medium laser wavelength to the acoustic wavelength that depends on the values of the partial-wave index m for the laser and the SBS fields. This dependence can be explained by a simple geometrical picture based on vector addition. In the cases studied, maximum SBS gain occurs when mB = −mL = ±|lL| (where lL is the laser partial-wave order), corresponding to laser and SBS waves that counterpropagate in a tightly guided mode around a great circle of a spherical droplet.
Catastrophe theory, caustics and traveltime diagrams in seismology

Summary A commonly used technique in the analysis of body wave seismograms is to display the times of arrival of geometric rays as a function of position. When caustics are present, these traveltime diagrams are multi-valued functions of the position coordinate. Catastrophe theory may be used to classify the caustics and their associated traveltime diagrams. For waves which are excited by a compact source region in an earth model whose properties vary as a function of depth only or depth and range only, both the caustics and the associated traveltime curves consist of certain sections of one of the cuspoid catastrophes. Causality and the observation that transverse sections of the caustics are almost always seen provide additional constraints. The simplest non-trivial example of a traveltime curve consistent with all of these constraints is the familiar triplication. As an example of how the ideas presented might be applied, a stable and rapidly converging iterative algorithm is presented which allows the complete traveltime curve through a triplication to be accurately reconstructed from a knowledge of Ti(pi, Ri) for a small number of first arrivals in the vicinity of the triplication. Such information, which would be difficult to obtain without the aid of the ideas presented, can easily be incorporated into a variety of inversion algorithms (i.e. Herglotz-Wiechert or τ–p). The algorithm, including a Herglotz–Wiechert inversion, is demonstrated using synthetic data.
Searching the workplace web

The social impact from the World Wide Web cannot be underestimated, but technologies used to build the Web are also revolutionizing the sharing of business and government information within intranets. In many ways the lessons learned from the Internet carry over directly to intranets, but others do not apply. In particular, the social forces that guide the development of intranets are quite different, and the determination of a "good answer" for intranet search is quite different than on the Internet. In this paper we study the problem of intranet search. Our approach focuses on the use of rank aggregation, and allows us to examine the effects of different heuristics on ranking of search results.
Radiative decays of strange baryons and the structure of weak interactions

Radiative weak decays such ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p\ensuremath{\gamma}$, ${\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$, etc. are considered and various symmetry relations among these amplitudes are derived. They are then analyzed in a quark model and the operator-product expansion is studied. The effects of introducing right-handed currents are discussed. They are found to change drastically the angular distribution of the decay products, depending on the specific form of the right-handed current used.