cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The prefrontal cortex and hybrid learning during iterative competitive games

Behavioral changes driven by reinforcement and punishment are referred to as simple or model-free reinforcement learning. Animals can also change their behaviors by observing events that are neither appetitive nor aversive when these events provide new information about payoffs available from alternative actions. This is an example of model-based reinforcement learning and can be accomplished by incorporating hypothetical reward signals into the value functions for specific actions. Recent neuroimaging and single-neuron recording studies showed that the prefrontal cortex and the striatum are involved not only in reinforcement and punishment, but also in model-based reinforcement learning. We found evidence for both types of learning, and hence hybrid learning, in monkeys during simulated competitive games. In addition, in both the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex, individual neurons heterogeneously encoded signals related to actual and hypothetical outcomes from specific actions, suggesting that both areas might contribute to hybrid learning.
Dynamic modeling and simulation of three-piece freight vehicle suspensions with nonlinear frictional behaviour using Adams/Rail

At present there are approximately 2.5 million three-piece bogies operating under North American freight vehicles. Although US bogie manufacturers offer a variety of designs to vehicle builders, central to all of these bogie designs are the nonlinear frictional characteristics inherent in the bogie suspension. These characteristics derive from the dynamic behaviour of the friction wedges. Friction wedges are small triangular metal elements that are held into position via spring loading, and function as the primary mechanism for vibrational energy dissipation between the bolster and side frame. Therefore, as a prerequisite to obtaining a realistic dynamic model of a typical three-piece bogie, an accurate model of the load-sensitive behaviour of these dry friction devices is required. Using design specifications from US bogie manufacturers and experimental data from the open literature, a load-dependent friction wedge model was developed using the ADAMS/View environment. After this model was validated against theoretical benchmarks, it was imported into an ADAMS/Rail vehicle model of a typical North American three piece bogie. The results of model development for both the friction wedge and three-piece bogie are presented, as well as ADAMS/Rail simulation results of the bogie dynamics under a variety of operating conditions.
Magnetic field induced by a point charge located between two anyon planes

Abstract The circulating currents and magnetic field induced by a point charge placed between two electrostatically coupled and antiferromagnetically ordered planes of semions are calculated. Although the magnetic field at the charge vanishes when the charge is midway between the planes, this field approaches values of the same order as that induced by a single plane when the charge is moved significantly (>10%) off-center. These results could be relevant to future searches for anyon superconductivity using positive muon spin rotation measurements.
Dominant negative activity of thyroid hormone receptor variant α2 and interaction with nuclear corepressors

The splicing variant of the thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TRalpha) gene, TR variant alpha2 (TRv alpha2), lacks the second half of the ninth heptad, a domain thought to be important for heterodimerization with retinoid X receptors (RXRs). In transient transfection studies, TRv alpha2 exhibits weak dominant negative inhibition of TRalpha1-mediated transcription. In contrast, a TRv alpha2 mutant in which the ninth heptad was restored (alpha2 + 9H), exhibits very strong dominant negative activity. We have examined the role of nuclear corepressors (CoRs) in the dominant negative activity of TRv alpha2 and alpha2 + 9H. Glutathione S-transferase pull down experiments revealed that TRv alpha2 barely interacts with CoRs, whereas alpha2 + 9H interaction with CoRs is as strong as that of TRalpha1. A P160R CoR box mutation was introduced in the context of TRv alpha2 and alpha2 + 9H, which nearly abolishes the ability of these receptors to interact with CoRs. In transient transfection the dominant negative activity of TRv alpha2 was only marginally impaired by the P160R mutation. In contrast, alpha2 + 9H-P160R had approximately 66% less dominant negative activity than alpha2 + 9H. These results suggest that the weak dominant negative activity of TRv alpha2 is due in part to its lack of interaction with CoRs, and that restoration of the ninth heptad restores CoR interaction and strong dominant negative activity. Further, the data reveal aspects of the dominant negative action that are dependent on the orientation of the TRE.
A general upper bound for 1-widths

Abstract Let A be an m × n (0, 1)-matrix having row sums ⩾ r and column sums ⩽ c . An upper bound for the 1-width of A is obtained in terms of m, n, r, c .
Analog front-end electronics for the SDC Silicon Tracker

Abstract Analog front-end electronics are described for the SDC Silicon Tracker, a large (17 m 2 ) silicon tracking detector with about 6.5 × 10 6 channels. The experimental environment and derivation of the design concept are discussed. Technology choices to meet the noise, speed, and radiation resistance requirements are summarized. First iteration ICs have been fabricated and preliminary results are presented. Complete 64-channel ICs remain fully functional after exposure to a particle fluence of 3 × 10 13 cm −2 (500 MeV protons). Prospects for design improvements are presented.
Fluid Dynamics of Thin Solar Wind Filaments

This paper gives the radial dependence of the flow parameters in a thin solar wind filament corotating with the Sun. Presuming that the filament flow velocity is different from the external velocity close to the Sun, the solution shows that the radial component of the filament flow is eventually (at distances greater than 1 AU) brought equal to the external radial flow speed by pressures acting on the filament boundary. These pressures also induce azimuthal motion that reaches a maximum near 1 AU. The direction of the azimuthal motion is consistent with that deduced for the fast-slow stream interaction. The longitudinal angular width of the filament changes very little (< 20%) over the length of the filament.
Algorithm to optimize transient hot-wire thermal property measurement

The transient hot-wire method has been widely used to measure the thermal conductivity of fluids. The ideal working equation is based on the solution of the transient heat conduction equation for an infinite linear heat source assuming no natural convection or thermal end effects. In practice, the assumptions inherent in the model are only valid for a portion of the measurement time. In this study, an algorithm was developed to automatically select the proper data range from a transient hot-wire experiment. Numerical simulations of the experiment were used in order to validate the algorithm. The experimental results show that the developed algorithm can be used to improve the accuracy of thermal conductivity measurements.
Present Desire Satisfaction and Past Well-Being

One version of the desire satisfaction theory of well-being (i.e., welfare, or what is good for one) holds that only the satisfaction of one's present desires for present states of affairs can affect one's well-being. So if I desire fame today and become famous tomorrow, my well-being is positively affected onlyif tomorrow, when I am famous, I still desire to be famous. Call this the present desire satisfaction theory of well-being. I argue, contrary to this theory, that the satisfaction of past desires that are no longer held does indeed affect one's well-being. The satisfaction of past desires is good for one in that the present satisfaction of past desires positively affects one's past well-being. I argue for this view in stages, starting with the recognition that many of our desires are satisfied not at an instant but over an interval of time, and that it is during this interval of time that our well-being is positively affected. Once we get our foot in the door with some temporal thickness to desire ...
Trends in Musical Theatre Voice: An Analysis of Audition Requirements for Singers

Summary Objectives The American musical theatre industry is a multibillion dollar business in which the requirements for singers are varied and complex. This study identifies the musical genres and voice requirements that are currently most requested at professional auditions to help voice teachers, pedagogues, and physicians who work with musical theatre singers understand the demands of their clients' business. Study Design Frequency count. Methods One thousand two thirty-eight professional musical theatre audition listings were gathered over a 6-month period, and information from each listing was categorized and entered into a spreadsheet for analysis. Results The results indicate that four main genres of music were requested over a wide variety of styles, with more than half of auditions requesting genre categories that may not be served by traditional or classical voice technique alone. Conclusions To adequately prepare young musical theatre performers for the current job market and keep the performers healthily making the sounds required by the industry, new singing styles may need to be studied and integrated into voice training that only teaches classical styles.
A model for phase change kinetics in polymer composites with significant fiber surface nucleation

A model for the isothermal crystallization of fiber-reinforced polymers with significant nucleation on the fibers is presented. The model is based on exact and approximate expressions for the volume of intersection between a cylinder and a sphere located on the outside radius of the cylinder which allows to account for the effects of the fibers on the overall crystallization process. The crystallization process is divided into time frames according to the validity of the solutions for the volume of intersection. The evolution of the crystallinity is computed for both thermal and athermal nucleation processes. The accelerating effect of fiber-nucleated spherulites on the overall crystallization process is demonstrated with simple examples in which parameters such as the fiber volume fraction, the fiber radius, the nucleation density and an induction time are changed. Limitations of the current model are also discussed.
Ionic conductivity of NASICON-type conductors Na1.5M0.5Zr1.5(PO4)3 (M:Al3+, Ga3+, Cr3+, Sc3+, Fe3+, In3+, Yb3+, Y3+)

Abstract Ionic conductivities of Na1.5M0.5Zr1.5P3O12 with trivalent ions Al3+, Ga3+, Cr3+, Sc3+, Fe3+, In3+, Yb3+, Y3+ are discussed in view of material chemistry in the ceramics. The conductivity of Na1.5M0.5Zr1.5P3O12 depended on the ionic radius of the trivalent ion (M3+) substituted for Zr4+ ion in NZP. Estimation of mobile ion concentration (ci) and the mobility (ωp) of Na1.5Ga0.5Zr1.5(PO4)3 and Na1.5Cr0.5Zr1.5(PO4)3 suggests that the conduction mechanisms are different between the grain (bulk) and grain boundary regions.
Misconceptions About Sample Size, Statistical Significance, and Treatment Effect

Abstract Researchers' interpretations of statistical significance relative to sample size were obtained and analyzed. Fifty-two graduate students responded to a 6-question instrument designed to measure interpretations of the relationships between sample size and treatment effect, sample size and Type I error, and sample size and Type II error. Respondents placed more confidence in results of studies with large sample sizes than in results of studies with small sample sizes, regardless of the criterion on which that confidence was based. A discussion of the mathematical procedure for significance testing shows that respondents were not justified in these interpretations. An improved understanding of the relationship between treatment effect, sample size, and errors of statistical inference is suggested.
Phenotypic flexibility of skeletal muscle and heart masses and expression of myostatin and tolloid-like proteinases in migrating passerine birds

Migrant birds require large flight muscles and hearts to enhance aerobic capacity and support sustained flight. A potential mechanism for increasing muscle and heart masses during migration in birds is the muscle growth inhibitor myostatin and its metalloproteinase activators, tolloid-like proteinases (TLL-1 and TLL-2). We hypothesized that myostatin, TLL-1 and TLL-2 are downregulated during migration in pectoralis and hearts of migratory passerines to promote hypertrophy. We measured seasonal variation of tissue masses, mRNA expression of myostatin, TLL-1, and TLL-2, and myostatin protein levels in pectoralis muscle and heart for yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia), warbling vireos (Vireo gilvus), and yellow-rumped warblers (Setophaga coronata). Pectoralis mass was greatest in spring for warbling vireos and yellow warblers, but was stable between spring and fall for yellow-rumped warblers. Heart mass was higher in spring than in fall for yellow-rumped warblers, lowest in fall for warbling vireos, and seasonally stable for yellow warblers. Pectoralis and heart mRNA expression of myostatin and the TLLs did not differ significantly for any of the three species, offering little support for our hypothesis for a prominent role for myostatin in regulating migration-induced variation in pectoralis and heart masses. In contrast, pectoralis myostatin protein levels were lowest in spring for all three species, consistent with our hypothesis. Myostatin protein levels in heart, however, were seasonally stable for warbling vireos and yellow warblers, and increased in spring relative to fall for yellow-rumped warblers. These data offer mixed support for our hypothesis for the pectoralis, but suggest that myostatin is not a prominent regulator of migration-induced heart hypertrophy. Moreover, the different seasonal patterns for pectoralis mRNA and protein expression suggest that post-transcriptional modification of myostatin may contribute to pectoralis mass regulation during migration.
Mobile Agent's Host Security with Access Control

Mobile agents system has attracted the attention of software technology vendors over the last one decade. Many organizations and universities are dedicating a lot of resources on the multi mobile agent?s system design, frameworks and security issues. The focus of this paper is towards the security of mobile agents host environment from the mobile agent by allowing a restricted access to the resources. Different access control options have been proposed and on those proposed techniques, few modules with brief roles are suggested at architectural level.
Cellular localization of carbon-14 endotoxin in cultured leucocytes.

IT is well known that the administration of endotoxin results in a very rapid increase in size of the reticuloendothelial system (RES)1. The RES is enhanced not only quantitatively but also qualitatively, in that radio-actively labelled endotoxin is more rapidly removed by the RES of animals which have previously received endotoxin2. Tritiated endotoxin administered subcutaneously is found initially in the intraendothelial cells of the lymphoid channel, and the sinusoidal cells of the draining lymph node. By 24 h the large mononuclear cells, infiltrating the area, contain the labelled material3. In a similar fashion, labelled antigens (such as non-endotoxin) which are administered subcutaneously localize in the macrophages of the medullary sinuses and the lymphoid follicles of the draining lymph nodes4. They are also more rapidly and avidly taken up by immune and immunologically tolerant animals5.
Brain metastasis in children with sarcoma, neuroblastoma, and Wilms' tumor.

Abstract Purpose To determine the incidence and prognosis of children who develop brain metastasis. Materials and methods The medical and tumor registry records of 611 children treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics between 1965 and 2000 for a sarcoma, neuroblastoma, or Wilms’ tumor were reviewed. Results Thirty children (4.9%) were found to have brain metastasis. Brain metastasis occurred in 9 of 113 (8%) neuroblastoma, 7 of 104 (6.7%) rhabdomyosarcoma, 6 of 105 (5.7%) Ewing’s sarcoma, 5 of 106 (4.7%) osteosarcoma, 2 of 83 (2.4%) nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma, and 1 of 100 (1%) Wilms’ tumor patients. There were 22 male and 8 female patients, with a median age of 14 years at the time of diagnosis of brain metastasis (range 8 months–20 years). Four patients were diagnosed at autopsy, whereas five had brain metastasis at initial diagnosis. For the 25 children who did not have brain metastasis at initial presentation, the median interval from initial diagnosis to development of brain metastasis was 5 months (range 1–43 months). Twenty-nine (97%) had concurrent or prior history of distant metastasis. Eighteen (60%) had solitary brain metastasis. Treatment for the 26 non-autopsy-diagnosed children included surgery (S), followed by postoperative radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) in 2, S and postoperative RT in 1, RT and CT in 16, S alone in 2, CT alone in 2, RT alone in 1, and no treatment in 2. Median survival was 4 months after diagnosis of brain metastasis, with a 1-year survival rate of 11.5%. On multivariate analysis, only the use of RT was found to positively influence freedom from neurologic progression (p = 0.005). Conclusion Brain metastasis is uncommon in children with a diagnosis of sarcoma, neuroblastoma, or Wilms’ tumor and is often accompanied by concurrent distant disease. Children treated with RT for brain metastasis had a better freedom from neurologic progression rate than those who did not receive radiotherapy.
Stages of Change for Reducing Dietary Fat Intake over 18 Months

Abstract Objective To describe the stages of change that take place over 18 months, using the criterion of fat intake ≤30% of total energy to define effective action and to investigate the effect of a single dietary feedback report on dietary fat reduction. Design Subjects were randomly assigned to experimental or control conditions and assessed at 0, 6, 12, and 18 months for fat intake and stage of change. Subjects in the experiment group received 1 feedback report at baseline; all subjects received a report at 12 months. Subjects Potential subjects (n=614) were recruited by mail from a random sample of nonsmoking adults (32% response rate). Subjects were excluded if consuming ≤30% of energy from fat or if pregnant or lactating (n=145). Although 83% of subjects (n=389) completed the 18-month study, only 296 provided complete data for all time points. The study was restricted to these 296. Intervention Dietary feedback reports plus brief educational materials were provided following the experiment design. Analyses Repeated measures analysis of variance with fat intake (percent of energy from fat) as the dependent variable and baseline stage and condition as independent variables. In addition, t tests were used to compare groups at specific time points. Results There was a main effect for time ( F 3,286 =39, P F 3,286 =24, P F 4,286 =4.7, P t =3.8, P t =5.1, P Implications Interventions targeted to stage of change have the potential for accelerating the rate of change for dietary fat reduction, but reaching the goal of fat intake ≤30% of total energy may require more intensive interventions than a single dietary feedback report. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998; 98:529–534.
A supported epoxidation catalyst for nucleophilic olefins

Abstract A polystyrene-supported peptide-linked epoxidation catalyst is described and its utility for the discovery of new epoxidants is discussed.
The effects of depression and smoking on pain severity and opioid use in patients with chronic pain

Depression and smoking are common comorbid conditions among adults with chronic pain. The aim of this study was to determine the independent effects of depression on clinical pain and opioid use among patients with chronic pain according to smoking status. A retrospective design was used to assess baseline levels of depression, clinical pain, opioid dose (calculated as morphine equivalents), and smoking status in a consecutive series of patients admitted to a 3-week outpatient pain treatment program from September 2003 through February 2007. Depression was assessed using the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale, and clinical pain was assessed using the pain severity subscale of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory. The study cohort (n=1241) included 313 current smokers, 294 former smokers, and 634 never smokers. Baseline depression (P=.001) and clinical pain (P=.001) were greater among current smokers compared to former and never smokers, and the daily morphine equivalent dose was greater among smokers compared to never smokers (P=.005). In multivariate linear regression analyses, baseline pain severity was independently associated with greater levels of depression, but not with smoking status. However, status as a current smoker was independently associated with greater opioid use (by 27mg/d), independent of depression scores. The relationship between depression, smoking status, opioid use, and chronic pain is complex, and both depression and smoking status may be potentially important considerations in the treatment of patients with chronic pain who utilize opioids. This study found that pain severity was associated with greater depression but not smoking; however, smoking was associated with greater opioid use, independent of depression.
Analysis of the Impacts of Distribution Connected PV Using High-Speed Datasets

High penetrations of distribution connected photovoltaic (PV) systems are becoming more common. However, the impact of these variable generators on system voltage and automatic voltage regulation equipment is not well quantified. In contrast to load which generally has some diversity, PV systems are often non-diverse over small geographic areas. Variability caused by PV can range from relatively slow changes in system voltage to high frequency impacts on real and reactive power. These changes have the ability to impact the operation of a distribution circuit from a protection, voltage control and load prediction/modeling point of view. This paper utilizes information from high resolution data acquisition systems developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and deployed on a high-penetration PV distribution system to analyze the variability of different electrical parameters. High resolution solar irradiance data is also available in the same area which is used to characterize the available resource and how it affects the electrical characteristics of the study circuit. This paper takes a data-driven look at the variability caused by load and compares those results against times when significant PV production is present. Comparisons between the variability in system load and the variability of distributed PV generation are made. Additionally, the potential impacts of high-penetration PV on voltage regulation equipment such as capacitor banks and load tap changing transformers are quantified.
Factors contributing to failure of neuromuscular transmission in myasthenia gravis and the special case of the extraocular muscles.

Acetylcholine receptors (AchRs) and Na(+) channels (NaChs) are concentrated on neuromuscular junction (NMJ) postsynaptic folds; both are depleted in myasthenia gravis (MG), reducing the safety factor (SF) for neuromuscular transmission, especially in extraocular muscles (EOM). Studies of human myasthenic nerve-muscle preparations indicate that loss of endplate AChRs accounts for 59%, and NaChs for 40%, of SF reduction. Rodent models of MG indicate that NaChs and AChRs losses are due to complement-mediated destruction of postsynaptic folding. Saccades in MG show stereotyped, conjugate initial components, similar to normal but different from early disconjugacy with ocular nerve palsies. Loss of AChRs, NaChs, and postsynaptic folding all contribute to SF reduction in MG. EOM seem more susceptible to MG because of poor postsynaptic folding, lower baseline SF, and lower levels of intrinsic complement inhibitors. Initial conjugacy of saccades in MG reflects selective sparing of neuromuscular transmission of fast, pale global fibers, which have better developed postsynaptic folding.
Weight loss in rats following lateral hypothalamic or thalamic lesions

It has been reported frequently that rats sustaining lateral hypothalamic (LH) lesions lose more body weight than can be accounted for by their failure to eat and drink. This phenomenon was investigated in two experiments. The results indicated a tendency for rats sustaining LH lesions to lose more body weight than deprived, unoperated controls on some postoperative days. However, rats sustaining control lesions of the thalamus and also deprived generally lost about the same amount of weight as those sustaining LH lesions. The rats with LH lesions excreted more urine and displayed depressed locomotor activity compared with either lesion or unoperated controls. Fecal output and the retractive index of the urine did not differ among groups. It is suggested that excessive weight loss following LH lesions is not specific to LH lesions. The importance of these findings to current hypotheses of metabolic disruptions produced by LH lesions is discussed.
Integrated freestanding single-crystal silicon nanowires: conductivity and surface treatment

Integrated freestanding single-crystal silicon nanowires with typical dimension of 100 nm × 100 nm × 5 μm are fabricated by conventional 1:1 optical lithography and wet chemical silicon etching. The fabrication procedure can lead to wafer-scale integration of silicon nanowires in arrays. The measured electrical transport characteristics of the silicon nanowires covered with/without SiO2 support a model of Fermi level pinning near the conduction band. The I -V curves of the nanowires reveal a current carrier polarity reversal depending on Si-SiO2 and Si-H bonds on the nanowire surfaces. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
Resonance hyper-Raman and Raman scattering from benzene and fluorobenzene

Abstract The first resonance ( 1 L a state) hyper-Raman spectra of benzene and fluorobenzene are reported. The benzene spectrum implies weak two-photon vibronic coupling between the 1 L a and ground electronic states and is the first reported example of hyper-Raman C term scattering. The fluorobenzene spectrum is comprised of one-photon vibronically active fundamental modes, indicating strong two-photon dipole allowed electronic character. A corresponding resonance Raman spectrum confirms the primarily vibronic (one-photon) nature of the 1 L a transition, although some dipole allowed activity is also evident. The results illustrate advantages of resonance hyper-Raman scattering over two-photon absorption techniques.
A comprehensive estimation technique for high-level synthesis

Abstract: We present an integrated approach aimed at predicting layout area needed to implement a behavioral description for a given performance goal. Our approach is novel because: (1) it accounts for all types of RT level components (FUs, buses, registers), (2) it is highly flexible, allowing the designer to tradeoff one type of resource with another and considers dependencies between these different types, (3) it is vertically integrated to include provably accurate physical level estimators, and hence provides realistic accounting of layout effects, and (4) it uses a timing model with finer granularity, accounting for various delays in RTL datapaths. We demonstrate our technique on a variety of HLS benchmarks and show that efficient and effective design space exploration can be accomplished using this technique.
Perspective: Elimination round

We must push harder to eliminate diseases, for everyone's benefit, say Andrew Artenstein and Gregory Poland.
An evidence-based approach to case management model selection for an acute care facility: is there really a preferred model?

Purpose of study This research seeks to determine whether there is adequate evidence-based justification for selection of one acute care case management model over another. Primary practice setting(s) Acute Inpatient Hospital. Methodology and sample This article presents a systematic review of published case management literature, resulting in classification specific to terms of level of evidence. Conclusion This review examines the best available evidence in an effort to select an acute care case management model. Although no single case management model can be identified as preferred, it is clear that adequate evidence-based literature exists to acknowledge key factors driving the acute care model and to form a foundation for the efficacy of hospital case management practice. Implications for case management practice Although no single case management model can be identified as preferred, this systematic review demonstrates that adequate evidence-based literature exists to acknowledge key factors driving the acute care model and forming a foundation for the efficacy of hospital case management practice. Distinctive aspects of case management frameworks can be used to guide the development of an acute care case management model. The study illustrates: * The effectiveness of case management when there is direct patient contact by the case manager regardless of disease condition: not only does the quality of care increase but also length of stay (LOS) decreases, care is defragmented, and both patient and physician satisfaction can increase. * The preferred case management models result in measurable outcomes that can directly relate to, and demonstrate alignment with, organizational strategy. * Acute care management programs reduce cost and LOS, and improve outcomes. * An integrated case management program that includes social workers, as well as nursing, is the most effective acute care management model. * The successful case management model will recognize physicians, as well as patients, as valued customers with whom partnership can positively affect financial outcomes in terms of reduction in LOS, improvement in quality, and delivery of care.
A 5-HT2C receptor antagonist potentiates a low dose amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference

Abstract This study was designed to determine whether a 5-HT 2C receptor antagonist could induce a conditioned place preference indicative of reward and/or abuse potential. Here, we present the first evidence that a selective 5-HT 2C receptor antagonist, 6-chloro-5-ethoxy-N-(pyridin-2-yl)indoline-1-carboxamide hydrochloride (CEPC), can potentiate a low dose (0.5 mg/kg) amphetamine-induced positive conditioned place preference (CPP). CEPC did not produce any CPP given alone at doses of either 2.0 or 4.0 mg/kg, whereas low dose amphetamine alone produced only a slight, but statistically nonsignificant, place preference. These studies suggest that 5-HT 2C receptor antagonists can indirectly potentiate the rewarding effects of amphetamine, and perhaps other psychostimulants. If the results can be translated to man, putative 5-HT 2C receptor antagonist treatments for anxiety or depression may enhance or potentiate the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse such as amphetamine, which release dopamine.
Acute hormonal control of pyruvate kinase and lactate formation in the isolated rat hepatocyte

Abstract The activity of pyruvate kinase from the isolated rat hepatocyte was studied under conditions which allow investigation into the hormonal regulation of the enzyme. Incubating hepatocytes from fed or fasted rats with 1 μ m glucagon gives approximately 60% inhibition of the enzyme activity determined at 1.6 m m P-enolpyruvate. A good correlation between the regulation of pyruvate kinase and lactate formation from 10 m m dihydroxyacetone is observed in hepatocytes from fasted rats. When hepatocytes are incubated in a Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer, the inhibition of the pyruvate kinase activity by 1 μ m glucagon is not accompanied by a marked inhibition of lactate production from fructose. Half-maximal regulation is observed at 0.26 ± 0.02 n m glucagon and 0.37 ± 0.05 n m glucagon for the enzyme and lactate formation from dihydroxyacetone respectively. Incubating hepatocytes with 10 m m l-alanine enhances inhibition of pyruvate kinase by physiological concentrations of glucagon, lowering the half-maximally effective concentration of glucagon from 0.3 n m to approximately 0.1 n m . A small but consistent inhibition of pyruvate kinase by 10 μ m epinephrine is also observed and this inhibition is enhanced by 0.5 m m theophylline and by 10 m m l-alanine. The inhibition of pyruvate kinase by epinephrine both in the absence and presence of theophylline is blocked by the α-adrenergic antagonist phenoxybenzamine. The β-adrenergic blocker propranolol has no influence on the inhibition of the enzyme by epinephrine. Adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate, N 6 O 2 -dibutyryl adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate, and guanosine 3′:5′-monophosphate also inhibit glycolysis from dihydroxyacetone and modulate pyruvate kinase activity in hepatocytes from fasted rats. Oleate, ethanol, and 3-hydroxybutyrate inhibit dihydroxyacetone glycolysis, but they do not influence the activity of pyruvate kinase. The divalent metal ionophore A23187 slightly stimulates lactate synthesis from dihydroxyacetone, but it has no influence on pyruvate kinase activity.
Biosynthesis and Function of Polyacetylenes and Allied Natural Products

Abstract Polyacetylenic natural products are a substantial class of often unstable compounds containing a unique carbon–carbon triple bond functionality, that are intriguing for their wide variety of biochemical and ecological functions, economic potential, and surprising mode of biosynthesis. Isotopic tracer experiments between 1960 and 1990 demonstrated that the majority of these compounds are derived from fatty acid and polyketide precursors. During the past decade, research into the metabolism of polyacetylenes has swiftly advanced, driven by the cloning of the first genes responsible for polyacetylene biosynthesis in plants, moss, fungi, and actinomycetes and the initial characterization of the gene products. The current state of knowledge of the biochemistry and molecular genetics of polyacetylenic secondary metabolic pathways will be presented together with an up-to-date survey of new terrestrial and marine natural products, their known biological activities, and a discussion of their likely metabolic origins.
Agile manufacturing concept

The initial conceptualization of agile manufacturing was the result of a 1991 study -- chaired by Lehigh Professor Roger N. Nagel and California-based entrepreneur Rick Dove, President of Paradigm Shifts, International -- of what it would take for U.S. industry to regain global manufacturing competitiveness by the early twenty-first century. This industry-led study, reviewed by senior management at over 100 companies before its release, concluded that incremental improvement of the current system of manufacturing would not be enough to be competitive in today's global marketplace. Computer-based information and production technologies that were becoming available to industry opened up the possibility of an altogether new system of manufacturing, one that would be characterized by a distinctive integration of people and technologies; of management and labor; of customers, producers, suppliers, and society.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Survival and growth of Salmonella in reconstituted infant cereal hydrated with water, milk or apple juice and stored at 4°C, 15°C and 25°C

Abstract Salmonella has caused foodborne illness through consumption of a variety of foods, including dry cereal and infant foods. In particular, reconstituted infant cereals may support growth of recovering or cross-contaminating Salmonella , especially if consumption is delayed and the meal is temperature abused. The objective of this study was to assess survival/growth of Salmonella inoculated (four-strain mixture) in rice, oatmeal, and mixed rice–oatmeal–wheat infant cereal, hydrated (0.5/3.0, w/v) with apple juice, pasteurized milk (2% fat) or water. The inoculated products were stored at 4°C, 15°C, or 25°C for 0, 8 and 24 h to simulate advance home preparation and abuse. Samples were analyzed by plating on tryptic soy agar with 0.6% yeast extract (TSAYE) and on XLT4 agar. There was no growth, but also no death, of Salmonella in any hydrated cereal stored at 4°C for 24 h. However, at 15°C Salmonella increased in cereals hydrated with water or milk from 1.6–2.3 log cfu ml −1 at time 0–4.1 to 5.4 log cfu ml −1 in 24 h, while at 25°C the pathogen reached 7.1–7.9 log cfu ml −1 in 24 h. However, in cereals hydrated with apple juice, growth of Salmonella was restricted (1.5–2.9 log cfu ml −1 ) after 24 h at 25°C, while weak or no growth occurred at 15°C. When hydrated with apple juice, rice cereal was less supportive of Salmonella growth compared to oatmeal and mixed cereals at 15°C and 25°C. Changes in Salmonella populations at 8 h of storage had similar patterns, with average increases being smaller compared with those at 24 h. Changes in bacterial populations on TSAYE followed trends similar to those on XLT4. These results indicate that hydrated infant cereal should be consumed immediately after preparation or held at 4°C for less than 8 h.
Latinos with obsessive-compulsive disorder: Mental healthcare utilization and inclusion in clinical trials

Previous research has documented that ethnic minorities, particularly Latinos, obtain fewer mental health services than Caucasians (Kearney, Draper, & Baron 2005; Sue, Fujino, Hu, Takeuchi, & Zane, 1991). Conceivably, this may be due to a wide array of cultural issues (e.g., negative stigma attached to mental health, and language, socio-economic, and acculturation barriers), symptom disparities across Caucasian and Latino groups, or lack of effective outreach methods by clinicians and researchers. However, research is limited. As a result, Latinos may be insufficiently represented in clinical studies for OCD, making it unclear whether evidence-based treatments demonstrate the same efficacy and effectiveness for Latinos as has been demonstrated for Caucasians. The current study takes an in-depth analysis of 98 efficacy and effectiveness studies for OCD from across the Western hemisphere and reports the rates of Latino inclusion from each sample. Ninety clinical studies in the US and Canada, as well as eight clinical studies in Mexico and Central America were reviewed. Findings showed that only 11 (24%) US and Canadian studies included Latino participants, illustrating an overwhelming underrepresentation of Latinos in clinical studies for OCD. Further explanation of the results and their implications are discussed, along with suggestions for effectively improving access to mental health research and appropriate treatments.
Monomeric scAlu and Nascent Dimeric Alu RNAs Induced by Adenovirus are Assembled into SRP9/14-Containing RNPs in HeLa Cells

Nearly 1 000 000 copies of Alu interspersed elements comprise approximately 5% of human DNA. Alu elements cause gene disruptions by a process known as retrotransposition, in which dimeric Alu RNA is a presumed intermediate. Dimeric Alu transcripts are labile, giving rise to stable left monomeric scAlu RNAs whose levels are tightly regulated. Induction of Alu RNA by viral infection or cell stress leads to a dramatic increase in dimeric Alu transcripts, while scAlu RNA increases modestly. Each monomer of the dimeric Alu element shares sequence homology with the 7SL RNA component of the signal recognition particle (SRP). The SRP protein known as SRP9/14 is also found in a discrete complex with scAlu RNA, although whether dimeric Alu RNA is associated with SRP9/14 had been unknown. Here we show that antiserum to human SRP9 immunoprecipitates both scAlu RNA and dimeric Alu RNAs and that these RNPs accumulate after adenovirus infection, while levels of SRP9, SRP14, SRP54 and 7SL SRP RNA are unaffected. Dimeric Alu RNAs are also associated with the La protein, indicating that these are indeed nascent RNA polymerase III transcripts. This report documents that induced Alu transcripts are assembled into SRP9/14-containing RNPs in vivo while SRP levels are unchanged. Implications for Alu RNA metabolism and evolution are discussed.
Young’s interference fringes with finite-sized sampling apertures

The theory of Young’s interference fringes is developed with particular attention to the finite size of the sampling apertures. A spatial Fourier transform of the product of the intensity distribution of the finite-sized source and the shifted intensity impulse response of the sampling aperture allows us to define a function Ĝ whose absolute value and phase dictate the visibility and the shift of the fringes, respectively. Alternatively, the function Ĝ may be expressed as a spatial Fourier transform of the spatial-coherence function across the sampling plane times the shifted transfer function of the sampling aperture. The effect of the finiteness of the sampling aperture becomes predominant in the neighborhood of the zeros of the coherence function or in regions where the coherence function is changing fast.
Can Individualized Health Care Plans Help Increase Continence in Children with Dysfunctional Elimination Syndrome

School-age children with dysfunctional elimination syndrome (DES) do not always have school support for their treatment plans, including an every 2-hr voiding schedule. The objective of this study was to increase school support of treatment plans by allowing access to bathrooms, thereby improving continence. An eight-question survey about bathroom access at schools was given to parents at baseline. The author contacted school nurses requesting that treatment plans be incorporated into individual health plans (IHPs) with teacher support of the IHP. Six weeks later, school nurses were contacted and parents completed a postintervention survey to determine whether IHPs were supported by teachers. Voiding diaries were used to document continence. Seventeen parents completed the survey at baseline, and 13 children were enrolled in the intervention. After the intervention, 100% of the children had IHPs and teacher support of treatment plans. Ninety-two percent had increased continence. IHPs improved teacher supp...
STUDY OF PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN MAMMALIAN CELLS SURVIVING LOW DOSES OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

— Ultraviolet-induced pyrimidine dimers were not found to be excided from the DNA of Chinese hamster cells in small oligounucleotides. At doses whereby many cells survive the radiation, the dimers were still associates with the large polynucleotides even after 48 hr of postirradiation incubation.
Toward an empirical approach to understanding counterintuitiveness, the supernatural, and the divine

Purzycki and Willard (2015) provided a much-needed critique of the minimal counterintuitiveness (MCI) hypothesis, survey the current state of the cognitive science of religion, and propose future d...
Expression of immunoreactive cytidine 5'-triphosphate: cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase in developing rat lung.

ABSTRACT: The principle rate-limiting enzyme required for phosphatidylcholine production is cytidine 5′-triphosphatexholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase. Two functional forms of cytosolic cytidylyltransferase have been previously identified: an active high-molecular weight multimer (H-form) and a relatively inactive low-molecular-weight species (L-form). In the present study, we examined the maturational changes in enzyme mass in the subcellular fractions of fetal, neonatal, and adult rat lungs. Total enzyme mass, measured by immunoblotting of total cellular lung homogenates, revealed a large amount of immunoreactive enzyme during the fetal and neonatal periods and relatively low levels of enzyme in the adult lung. A similar developmental profile for enzyme mass was noted in the cytosolic and microsomal fractions. Further, in the fetus, the majority of cytosolic enzyme mass was expressed as an inactive form (L-form). Stimulation of fetal cytosol with phosphatidylglycerol converted the enzyme mass from an inactive form (L-form) to an active form (H-form). In the adult, a substantial portion of the cytosolic enzyme mass was expressed as the active species (H-form). These observations suggest that cytidylyltransferase activity early in lung development is accompanied by an increase in enzyme mass, the majority of which exists as an inactive low-molecular-weight species. In contrast, high levels of enzyme activity are maintained in the adult lung, despite relatively low levels of enzyme mass, because a significantly greater portion of the enzyme mass is expressed as an active high-molecular-weight multimer.
Application of image processing in topographical measurements of the corneal curvature

In this paper, a technique extracting the misalignment information in topographical measurement of the corneal curvature is presented. First, automatic focus is introduced to guarantee system alignment in the direction of the optical axis. Secondly, movement invariant is used to establish the centralized images of a set of rings in the image plane. Therefore, misalignment in the image plane is compensated by adjusting parameters of the optical system.
Visual Clarity: Some Determinants

Research by Flynn showed three primary factors of subjective reactions to lighting, "evaluation" (or "pleasantness"), "spatiousness" and "visual clarity" (or "perceptual clarityw" or, just, "clarity"). While earlier, British, researchers have emphasized color as determinants of clarity, light intensity determinants seem foremost. An experiment in which working plane luminance, ceiling luminaire luminance and area were varied and related to clarity was carried out. Regression analysis showed a substantial, though incomplete explanation of clarity from these results. Language: en
Effects of Cocaine Self-administration on Striatal Dopamine Systems in Rhesus Monkeys: Initial and Chronic Exposure

The purpose of this study was to examine the time course of changes in dopamine D1- and D2-like receptor densities in monkeys self-administering cocaine. Experimentally naive adult male rhesus monkeys (n = 22) were divided into a food reinforcement group (n = 6) , in which responding was maintained by food presentation, or into four cocaine self-administration groups (n = 4/group) , based on dose (0.03 or 0.3 mg/kg per injection) and duration of exposure (5 or ˜100 sessions). After the last session, monkeys were euthanized, brains were removed, frozen, and coronal sections through the striatum, rostral to the anterior commissure, were processed for D1 ([3H]SCH23390) and D2 ([3H]raclopride) receptor autoradiography. Compared with controls, there was no effect of 5 days of cocaine self-administration on D1 and D2 receptors. In monkeys with extensive cocaine histories, D1 receptor densities were significantly increased relative to controls in some parts of the striatum, while D2 receptor densities were significantly decreased throughout the striatum. These findings demonstrate that chronic cocaine self-administration produces neuroadaptations in dopamine systems, but that these changes do not occur in a parallel fashion.