cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The environment affects epistatic interactions to alter the topology of an empirical fitness landscape.

The fitness effect of mutations can be influenced by their interactions with the environment, other mutations, or both. Previously, we constructed 32 ( = 25) genotypes that comprise all possible combinations of the first five beneficial mutations to fix in a laboratory-evolved population of Escherichia coli. We found that (i) all five mutations were beneficial for the background on which they occurred; (ii) interactions between mutations drove a diminishing returns type epistasis, whereby epistasis became increasingly antagonistic as the expected fitness of a genotype increased; and (iii) the adaptive landscape revealed by the mutation combinations was smooth, having a single global fitness peak. Here we examine how the environment influences epistasis by determining the interactions between the same mutations in two alternative environments, selected from among 1,920 screened environments, that produced the largest increase or decrease in fitness of the most derived genotype. Some general features of the interactions were consistent: mutations tended to remain beneficial and the overall pattern of epistasis was of diminishing returns. Other features depended on the environment; in particular, several mutations were deleterious when added to specific genotypes, indicating the presence of antagonistic interactions that were absent in the original selection environment. Antagonism was not caused by consistent pleiotropic effects of individual mutations but rather by changing interactions between mutations. Our results demonstrate that understanding adaptation in changing environments will require consideration of the combined effect of epistasis and pleiotropy across environments.
Comment on “Interplanetary protons (EP ≈ 1 MeV) 1973‐1986 and out to 22.4 AU”

Van Allen and Decker (1988) have drawn attention to the anomalous behavior of several solar and interplanetary phenomena in 1980 and suggested the anomalies are caused by the reversal of the solar polar magnetic field polarity. However, I show anomalous behavior of geomagnetic activity in that year that could not have been due to any event associated with all solar maximums. I suggest the 1980 anomaly may be connected with the declining phase of the 88 year cycle of the sun and solar terrestrial relations.
Shopping With a Social Conscience: Consumer Attitudes Toward Sweatshop Labor

This article addresses the global sweatshop issue and the market forces that influence workplace conditions, focusing on the role of the final consumer in ensuring an ethical marketplace. Opinion p...
Comparisons Between Alfalfa Silage and Hay

Abstract Comparisons were made between alfalfa harvested as silage or hay and fed to cattle and sheep. Feedable silage amounted to 71 to 90% of the dry matter ensiled, and organic matter lost as seepage from direct-cut silage amounted to 4 to 7%. For one year early-cut forage (hay and silage) was more digestible and produced greater intakes and live weight gains in heifers and sheep than did that cut three weeks later, but for the next year no such differences were found. Forage treated with a mechanical press to decrease water content or treated with formic acid was compared to direct-cut silage. No marked differences in silage composition, digestibility, and performance by cattle or sheep were noted. In six trials comparing direct-cut silage with hay, cattle and sheep consumed more dry matter as hay than as silage, yet performance was not consistently greater with hay. Dry matter from silages contained more energy, ether extract, and less hemicellulose than the companion hay, and the energy from silages was slightly more digestible. Thus, the digestible energy value as calories per gram dry matter for silages was about 1.24 times that of companion hays.
TRANSPORT OF PENETRANTS IN THE MACROMOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF COALS. I. ANOMALOUS TRANSPORT IN UNTREATED AND PYRIDINE-EXTRACTED COALS

Dynamic swelling of coals using pyridine vapors was investigated in an effort to elucidate the mechanisms of penetrant transport in coal sections and particles. Anomalous (non-Fickian) and Case-II transport were observed in much the same way as witb penetrant transport in glassy polymers. This anomalous transport was a function of ihe crosslinked structure of the organic phase of the coal samples.
Evaluating imaging systems in the absence of truth: a comparison of ROC and mixture distribution analysis in computer-aided diagnosis in mammography

A rigorous ROC analysis requires independent proof of cases that cannot be obtained in many practical clinical situations. An alternative is measurement of diagnostic reliability as relative percent agreement (RPA). A large set of mammograms read with and without computer aided diagnosis (CAD) was used to compare the ROC area (Az) using proof and RPA using agreement. A subset of 767 (416 normal and 351 abnormal) cases read by 5 generalists and 5 mammographers was selected from the readings on 900 proved mammograms read with and without CAD. The Az was calculated using the multireader-multicase (MRMC) method. The RPA was calculated from a mixture distribution analysis (MDA) using the EM algorithm. Individual reader values were calculated by a jackknife procedure. With and without CAD the Az was .90 and .88 for the mammographers (p equals .04) and .87 and .86 for the generalists (p equals .5). The RPA was 90 and 83 for mammographers (p equals .08) and 82 and 85 for generalists (p equals .3). The correlation between Az and RPA was 0.6. The larger variance of the RPA decreases statistical power. The MDA may be a useful method for comparing imaging modalities in clinical studies where definitive proof cannot be obtained.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Statistical modeling of sediment and oyster PAH contamination data collected at a South Carolina estuary (complete and left-censored samples)

This paper presents an analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) sediment and oyster contamination data collected at Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. Murrells Inlet is a high salinity estuary located in a heavily urbanized area south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In the first part, lognormal and Weibull distributions are determined that best fit the data, as measured by P–P and Q–Q probability plots. The results indicate that the Weibull gives an adequate fit for almost all the PAH analytes considered. In fact, the Weibull almost always provides a better fit to the data than the lognormal distribution. The second part addresses issues associated with non-detection points, as they are regularly encountered in environmental analyses. In statistical terms, the existence of non-detection points corresponds to data that are left-censored. Several statistical methods for estimating the Weibull parameters from such left-censored data are explored. The overall result is in agreement with recent findings reported by other investigators: methods based on the underlying distribution of the data give more consistent results than those obtained by commonly used substitution methods. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Front dynamics in an oscillatory bistable Belousov-Zhabotinsky chemical reaction.

We observe breathing front dynamics which select three distinct types of bistable patterns in the 2:1 resonance regime of the periodically forced oscillatory Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. We measure the curvature-driven shrinking of a circular domain $R\ensuremath{\sim}{t}^{1∕2}$ at forcing frequencies below a specific value, and show that the fast time scale front oscillations (breathing) drive this slow time scale shrinking. Above a specific frequency, we observe fronts of higher curvature grow instead of shrink and labyrinth patterns form. Just below the transition frequency is a relatively narrow range of frequencies where the curvature-driven coarsening is balanced by a competing front interaction, which leads to a pattern of localized structures. The length scale of the localized structure and labyrinth patterns is set by the front interactions.
Why (meta-)theories of automated software design are essential: A personal perspective

Program generators are tools that automatically construct customized programs in a particular domain. Generators mechanize implicit “theories” of how a domain expert would go about writing an efficient programing the core activities of a domain expert and automating them is analogous to creating and evaluating theories in physics and other natural sciences. Theories have a revered place in natural sciences; eventually theories will assume a comparable place in automated software design. The reason is simple economics: generators will remove the burden of difficult or mundane tasks from an engineer to a machine.
Strategy and tactics in male gray langur competition

Observation of a captive group of male gray langur monkeys (Presbytis entellus) indicated that these animals compete for status in the absence of competitive foci. This competition involves the opportunistic exploitation of temporary advantage and can involve the use of coalition. Since high rank enabled dominant animals to control access to females introduced to the group, it is likely that successful competition tends to increase reproductive success. These results are consistent with available data from the wild. Since competition for status is widespread among gray langurs, and since it appears likely to lead to increased Darwinian fitness under a wide variety of conditions, it can usefully be considered a facet of male reproductive strategy within the species. This general strategy is implemented in specific situations through the use of tactical decisions involving individual learning and cognitive abilities. In this study, these included the fine assessment of individual prowess and vulnerability, and the prompt exploitation of opportunities for the successful challenge of rivals. It is hoped that the distinction between strategy and tactics will prove generally useful in the study of the evolution of the behavior of the higher primates, including humans.
Modulation of charge conduction in ZnO nanowires through selective surface molecular functionalization

Two-terminal devices were fabricated using unintentionally doped Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanowires (NW) grown via a chemical vapor deposition technique to study the influence of surface functionalization on their transport properties. Organic molecules with differing functional groups demonstrated contrasting effects on the charge transport of the nanowires depending on the polarity and orientation of the molecules.
The Effects of a Language and Literacy Intervention on Head Start Children and Teachers

A language and literacy intervention was implemented in 10 Head Start classrooms. Teachers were trained in specific book reading and conversation strategies. The focus of the intervention was to train teachers how to increase opportunities for language and vocabulary development in young children. At the end of the year, children in the intervention classrooms performed significantly better than children in the control classrooms on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III and the Expressive One-Word Vocabulary Test (3rd ed.). In addition, teachers in the intervention classrooms used strategies that promoted language development during book reading and other classroom activities. Head Start teachers can be trained to implement strategies that have positive effects on children's language and literacy development.
Analyses of Raters Judgement of Drug Items Communicated by Teenaged Interviewees to Teenaged and Adult Interviewers.

This paper discusses the analyses of raters judgement of drug items communicated by teenaged interviewees to teenaged and adult interviewers. The subjects were teenagers residing in East, Central and West Harlem, New York. A pool of 298 tapes of interviews was gathered from which sixty tapes were randomly selected using a table of random numbers. Thirty tapes were from the teenaged interviewers and thirty tapes were from the adult interviewers. The types of explanations used by teenagers for drug use or non-use included ten categories established by the investigator. A panel of two raters and the researcher analyzed the tapes. The raters and the researcher's judgement in establishing the reliability of the value of judgement were calculated by the statistical analyses, coefficient of reproducibility and the standard error of difference to determine the extent of agreement or disagreement.
Anticipatory heart-rate changes: environmental vs self-produced mediation of the time between a warning stimulus and the required response.

9 Ss participated in an experiment comparing anticipatory heart-rate changes to two different kinds of reaction times. Ss were paid for pushing a button within 500 msec, of a signal (simple reaction time) and were paid for pushing a button within ± 250 msec, of 5 sec. after a signal (internally mediated reaction time). For all Ss and under both conditions, the heart-rate was observed to decelerate during at least the 2 sec. prior to the response being made. However, return to an accelerating phase was delayed by approximately 2 sec. for the internally mediated reaction time condition.
Science and Law: Rattled by Quakes

When good risk assessments improve financial, environmental, or health decisions, society often does not recognize the combined efforts of stakeholders who brought good management to bear. But when disaster strikes, the interface between science and public policy can come into question. A recent example is the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the Italian city of L'Aquila in early April 2009, destroying 20,000 buildings, displacing 65,000 people, injuring more than 1500, and killing more than 300. This region suffered earlier severe earthquakes and experienced swarms of tremors beginning in 2008. A National Commission for Prediction and Prevention of Major Risks met briefly in late March 2009 to evaluate and communicate the risks in L'Aquila. In September 2011, the six scientists and one bureaucrat comprising this commission were put on trial in Italy. The charges are not simple, and the trial is expected to last months or years. The indictment raised outcries from many geoscientists and some scientific organizations, who pointed out that no scientific method reliably predicts the occurrence of an earthquake. The controversy also raised questions about how well scientific information is conveyed to the public and how well policymakers and lawyers understand the nature of science.
Reliability and minimal detectable change of gait variables in community-dwelling and hospitalized older fallers

PURPOSE: Gait variables may constitute surrogate outcomes for fall risk. Their reliability in a specific population of older fallers has not been fully established, which limits their research and clinical applications. This study aimed to determine test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) values for selected fall-related gait variables in older adults with a recent fall history. METHODS: Community-dwelling (n=30) and hospitalized (n=30) fallers aged≥65 years were assessed twice using an instrumented pressure-sensitive walkway, under single- and dual-task gait conditions. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(2,1)), standard error of measurement (SEM; SEM%) and MDC at 95% confidence level (MDC95; MDC95%), were used as reliability estimates. RESULTS: The ICC(2,1) for gait velocity was greater than 0.84 across all gait conditions and groups; SEM% and MDC95% did not exceed 6.5% and 18.1%, respectively. Gait variability measures returned lower ICC(2,1) (range 0.18-0.79), and markedly higher SEM% (16.3-31.9%) and MDC95% (45.3-88.3%). Overall, hospitalized fallers exhibited larger SEM and MDC95 values for variability measures compared to community-dwellers in all gait conditions, while larger values were found for all variables while dual-tasking compared to single-tasking in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Gait velocity was found to be highly reliable and likely to be sensitive to change over repeated sessions in community-dwelling and hospitalized older fallers, both under single- and dual-task conditions. Gait variability measures showed lower reliability, irrespective of gait condition or group, displaying consistently larger measurement error, particularly under dual-task conditions. Clinicians should consider MDC95 values before using gait variability variables as evaluative outcome measures at patient level. Language: en
Behavior of a composite multidisk clutch subjected to mechanical and frictionally excited thermal load

Abstract A transient temperature–displacement coupled analysis is performed to investigate the thermomechanical behavior of a multidisk clutch, based on a carbon–carbon composite, under simulated operation conditions. The user subroutine FRIC is implemented into an axisymmetric finite element model to simulate the frictional behavior between contacting surfaces. The temperature and contact pressure distributions on the friction surfaces are obtained. High thermal stress occurs in the clutch system due to the significant temperature variation during operation. The effects of clutch disk thickness and thermal properties on the thermomechanical behavior of the clutch system are investigated to facilitate the conceptual design of a multidisk clutch system.
Determination of pKR+ values for cyclobutadieneiron tricarbonyl-substituted carbocations

Abstract pKR+ values for a series of cyclobutadieneiron tricarbonyl-substituted carbocations have been determined by a Hammett-Deno indicator acidity study utilizing trifluoroacetic acid-water solutions. The results show that these carbocations are considerably more stable than a variety of similar organic and organometallic carbocations but less stable than the corresponding ferrocene systems.
Dynamic CREB family activity drives segmentation and posterior polarity specification in mammalian somitogenesis

The segmented body plan of vertebrates is prefigured by reiterated embryonic mesodermal structures called somites. In the mouse embryo, timely somite formation from the presomitic mesoderm (PSM) is controlled by the “segmentation clock,” a molecular oscillator that triggers progressive waves of Notch activity throughout the PSM. Notch clock activity is suppressed in the posterior PSM by FGF signaling until it crosses a determination front at which its net activity is sufficiently high to effect segmentation. Here, Notch and Wnt signaling directs somite anterior/posterior (A/P) polarity specification and boundary formation via regulation of the segmentation effector gene Mesoderm posterior 2. How Notch and Wnt signaling becomes coordinated at this front is incompletely defined. Here we show that the activity of the cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) family of transcription factors exhibits Wnt3a-dependent oscillatory behavior near the determination front and is in unison with Notch activity. Inhibition of CREB family in the mesoderm causes defects in somite segmentation and a loss in somite posterior polarity leading to fusions of vertebrae and ribs. Among the CREB family downstream genes, several are known to be regulated by Wnt3a. Of those, we show that the CREB family occupies a conserved binding site in the promoter region of Delta-like 1, encoding a Notch ligand, in the anterior PSM as a mechanism to specify posterior identity of somites. Together, these data support that the CREB family acts at the determination front to modulate Wnt signaling and strengthen Notch signaling as a means to orchestrate cells for somite segmentation and anterior/posterior patterning.
Characterization of Fibers Electrospun from Organometallic Tin Precursors in a Polymer Binder

Electrospinning has been thought of as an effective, low cost technique for producing nanofibers for use in gas sensor applications with nanofibers of tin oxide showing particular promise in this area. Critical to the success of tin oxide in these applications are nanowires with a rutile phase structure and well defined current-voltage characteristics which requires controlled fiber diameters. This paper reports on the characterization of the pre and post sintered fibers deposited via electrospinning of two different tin precursor chemicals, dimethyl dineodecanoate tin and dimethyl dichloro tin, both spun within a polyethylene oxide / chloroform binder system. Both tin precursor systems were evaluated at different concentration levels to investigate morphological changes due to concentration. Mats of fibers were spun on silicon wafers and sintered at 600°C for 2 hours. Morphology was characterized by optical microscope while chemical composition was determined via Raman spectrometry. Fibers of dimethyl dineodecanoate tin were found be ∼30μm in diameter and to have considerable component separation upon deposition. After sintering, SnO2 islands were found but there was no fiber appearance. Fibers of dimethyl dichloro tin were found to be ∼10μm in diameter and lacked the component separation seen in the other tin precursor system with some SnO2 domains found directly inline with initial fiber deposition. Comparison of results from both systems shows that the interaction of the polymer and tin precursor is of paramount importance for development of micro- or nanosized ceramic wires deposited by electrospinning.
MAXIMIZING VERSUS MATCHING IN PEOPLE VERSUS PIGEONS

A single subject allocated behavior to several concurrent variable interval/fixed ratio reinforcement schedules and a series of fixed ratio schedules with no other alternative schedule present. The allocation of behavior to the real choices (concurrent schedules) and no choice (fixed ratio only) schedule situations conformed to those predicted by formal equations for maximization of reinforcements in each situation. The results suggest that, while matching may be a fundamental rule of behavioral choice in animals and people, there exist identifiable limitations to its applicability to human choice behavior. Humans with some training in economic income maximization are likely to maximize rather than match in concurrent choice situations.
Synthesis and Structure Activity Relationship Investigation of Adenosine-containing Inhibitors of Histone Methyltransferase DOT1L

Histone3-lysine79 (H3K79) methyltransferase DOT1L has been found to be a drug target for acute leukemia with MLL (mixed lineage leukemia) gene translocations. A total of 55 adenosine-containing compounds were designed and synthesized, among which several potent DOT1L inhibitors were identified with K(i) values as low as 0.5 nM. These compounds also show high selectivity (>4500-fold) over three other histone methyltransferases. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) of these compounds for their inhibitory activities against DOT1L are discussed. Potent DOT1L inhibitors exhibit selective activity against the proliferation of MLL-translocated leukemia cell lines MV4;11 and THP1 with EC(50) values of 4-11 μM. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies showed that two representative inhibitors bind with a high affinity to the DOT1L:nucleosome complex and only compete with the enzyme cofactor SAM (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) but not the substrate nucleosome.
Charge-Sharing Models for Switch-Level Simulation

This paper addresses various timing and glitch detection issues in switch-level simulation. Particular attention is focused on charge sharing. We categorize and analyze problems caused by charge sharing. Solutions to these problems are proposed and applied to real designs. Results are reported and compared with SPICE simulation. The computational complexity of our methods is also investigated.
A Study of Role Clarity and Need for Clarity for Three Occupational Groups

Role clarity and the need for role clarity are investigated empirically as interpreted by a total of 261 salesmen, supervisors, and operating employees in a medium-size electronic manufacturing pla...
Establishment of woody riparian vegetation in relation to annual patterns of streamflow, Bill Williams River, Arizona

Previous studies have revealed the close coupling of components of annual streamflow hydrographs and the germination and establishment ofPopulus species. Key hydrograph components include the timing and magnitude of flood peaks, the rate of decline of the recession limb, and the magnitude of base flows. In this paper, we retrospectively examine establishment of four woody riparian species along the Bill Williams River, Arizona, USA, in the context of annual patterns of streamflow for the years 1993–1995. The four species examined were the nativePopulus fremontii, Salix gooddingii, andBaccharis salicifolia and the exoticTamarix ramosissima. We modeled locations suitable for germination of each species along eight study transects by combining historic discharge data, calculated stage-discharge relationships, and seed-dispersal timing observations. This germination model was, a highly significant predictor of seedling establishment. Where germination was predicted to occur, we compared values of several environmental variables in quadrats where we observed successful establishment with quadrats where establishment was unsuccessful. The basal area of mature woody vegetation, the maximum annual, depth to ground water, and the maximum rate of water-table decline were the variables that best discriminated between quadrats with and without seedlings. The results of this study suggest that the basic components of models that relate establishment ofPopulus spp. to annual patterns of streamflow may also be applicable to other woody riparian species. Reach-to-reach variation in stage-discharge relationships can influence model parameters, however, and should be considered if results such as ours are to be used in efforts to prescribe reservoir releases to promote establishment of native riparian vegetation.
Apnea and airway obstruction during feeding and sleep

Recent awareness of the magnitude of sudden unexplained deaths in apparently healthy infants has lead to an increased interest in those circumstances that are associated with or can elicit prolonged and serious apneic episodes. In the present studies, attention was directed toward the study of physiologic activity during sleep and feeding. Apneic episodes of varying durations occur during sleep which, in some instances, can be of sufficient length to warrant resuscitative intervention. A number of infants also reveal transient upper airway obstruction following brief periods of sleep apnea. This functional airway obstruction produces sudden and severe bradycardia. Similarly, infant feeding can induce dangerously prolonged periods of apnea and, in some infants, transient airway obstruction. Few detailed studies have been performed to identify the anatomical level or characteristics of the obstruction. Available evidence suggests that this can take the form either of muscle hypotonicity or hypertonicity. Two infants observed by means of direct laryngoscopy revealed transient failure of vocal cord abduction. These results have provided for the development of two theoretical models that can result in the sudden infant death syndrome; furthermore, continuous recordings of respiratory and cardiac activity during feeding and sleep can be extremely valuable in elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the sudden development of apneic and cyanotic episodes in infants.
Impedance matching and implementation of planar space-filling dipoles as intraocular implanted antennas in a retinal prosthesis

In this work, an extremely compact planar meander line dipole is designed and implemented for use as an intraocular element in a retinal prosthesis. This planar meander dipole antenna exhibits a high degree of current vector alignment and is impedance matched by inducing a current phase reversal along its length. This current phase reversal is induced by a minor offset in feed location which yields a highly directive broadside radiation pattern on this particular planar antenna geometry. This concept is applied in designing and implementing a 6/spl times/6 mm planar compact wire dipole at 1.4 GHz as the intraocular element for the data telemetry link of a retinal prosthesis. Coupling measurements between an external microstrip patch antenna and the intraocular wire dipole are presented and compared with those obtained with intraocular microstrip patch antennas in place of the wire dipole. It is demonstrated that such compact meander dipoles can perform better than previously reported microstrip patch antennas as intraocular elements for a retinal prosthesis.
Negotiating With Helping Systems: An Example of Grounded Theory Evolving Through Emergent Fit

A strength of substantive grounded theories is that they are modifiable. Yet, little attention is given in the research literature to the evolution of grounded theories through the process of emergent fit. In this article, emergent fit is discussed, and the evolution of the theoretical understanding of relationships with helping systems is provided as an example. In a feminist grounded-theory study of women's caring, emergent fit with existing inductive research on health care relationships resulted in a framework of negotiating, which includes four strategies: reframing responsibility, becoming an expert, harnessing resources, and taking on more. This explanatory model demonstrates how the use of emergent fit can avoid the generation of isolated theories and contribute to knowledge accumulation by producing a substantive theory with wider applicability.
Juvenile Steelhead Release Strategies: A Comparison of Volitional- and Forced-Release Practices

Abstract In 2004 and 2005, steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared at Winthrop National Fish Hatchery (Winthrop, Washington) were tagged with passive integrated transponders and subjected to a volitional or forced release. Gill Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) activity, body size, condition factor (K), travel time, and apparent survival were compared between volitional migrants (VMs), forced-release migrants (FRMs), and volitional-release nonmigrants (VNMs). Gill NKA activity and body size were similar between VNM, VM, and FRM groups, but K varied by date and migrant group. However, by the end of the volitional-release period, all three groups had similar K. The VNMs consistently demonstrated lower apparent survival to McNary Dam on the Columbia River than did the VM and FRM groups, which had three to eight times greater survival than did VNMs. Volitional migrants had higher apparent survival to McNary Dam than did FRMs in 2005; however, apparent survival was similar between the two groups in ...
Acetic acid modulates spike rate and spike latency to salt in peripheral gustatory neurons of rats

Breza JM, Contreras RJ. Acetic acid modulates spike rate and spike latency to salt in peripheral gustatory neurons of rats. J Neurophysiol 108: 2405‐2418, 2012. First published August 15, 2012; doi:10.1152/jn.00114.2012.—Sour and salt taste interactions are not well understood in the peripheral gustatory system. Therefore, we investigated the interaction of acetic acid and NaCl on taste processing by rat chorda tympani neurons. We recorded multi-unit responses from the severed chorda tympani nerve (CT) and single-cell responses from intact narrowly tuned and broadly tuned salt-sensitive neurons in the geniculate ganglion simultaneously with stimulus-evoked summated potentials to signal when the stimulus contacted the lingual epithelium. Artificial saliva served as the rinse and solvent for all stimuli [0.3 M NH 4Cl, 0.5 M sucrose, 0.1 M NaCl, 0.01 M citric acid, 0.02 M quinine hydrochloride (QHCl), 0.1 M KCl, 0.003‐0.1 M acetic acid, and 0.003‐0.1 M acetic acid mixed with 0.1 M NaCl]. We used benzamil to assess NaCl responses mediated by the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). The CT nerve responses to acetic acid/NaCl mixtures were less than those predicted by summing the component responses. Single-unit analyses revealed that acetic acid activated acid-generalist neurons exclusively in a concentration-dependent manner: increasing acid concentration increased response frequency and decreased response latency in a parallel fashion. Acetic acid suppressed NaCl responses in ENaC-dependent NaCl-specialist neurons, whereas acetic acid-NaCl mixtures were additive in acid-generalist neurons. These data suggest that acetic acid attenuates sodium responses in ENaC-expressing-taste cells in contact with NaCl-specialist neurons, whereas acetic acid-NaCl mixtures activate distinct receptor/ cellular mechanisms on taste cells in contact with acid-generalist neurons. We speculate that NaCl-specialist neurons are in contact with type I cells, whereas acid-generalist neurons are in contact with type III cells in fungiform taste buds.
Locating HIV/AIDS and India: Cautionary Notes on the Globalization of Categories:

HIV/AIDS can now be considered a pandemic as it affects all parts of the world. As attentive as scholars have been to the biomedical and epidemiological aspects of the disease they have been slower to try to understand it as a disease of transnational significations or meanings. This article looks to the ways that the conceptual categories of HIV/AIDS came to India in the biomedical literature the approaches that the media in the United States and India took in contending with these meanings and how these categories travel globally in dominant and negotiated realms of discourse. Throughout this analysis attention is paid to ways that high-risk groupings obscure alternative approaches based on understandings of the dynamics of poverty history gender and culture. Finally this article argues that critical approaches to science and medicine are essential to help produce a more complex science. (authors)
Accurate stresses in the thin‐layer method

A method is described by means of which accurate strains and stresses can be obtained for problems of wave motion in laminated media modelled with the thin layer method (TLM), a semi-discrete procedure that combines the power of finite elements with that of analytical solutions. It is shown that when the displacements in the TLM are combined with the consistent stresses at the layer interfaces, strains and stresses anywhere in the medium can be obtained with the same level of accuracy as the displacements. The proposed method thus circumvents the intrinsic problem that arises when strains are obtained via differentiation. As a bonus, it also renders the stresses continuous across layer interfaces, which is not the case when stresses are obtained via differentiation of the primary interpolation field. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Minimizing outage probability for arbitrary channel distributions

MIMO wireless systems have been a focus of research for several years, mainly because of the promise of increased channel capacity, extended range, and increased reliability. An aspect of this ongoing research has been concerned with transmit precoding given partial information of the channel. This work focuses on designing a transmit covariance to minimize the probability of outage for a given target data rate over a fading MIMO channel whose distribution is known to the transmitter. This problem is addressed by formulating a convex problem via a heuristic relaxation. Structure of the problem is utilized to simplify the numerical implementation. Finally, the performance of this technique relative to other simpler techniques is considered, therefore showing the utility of this computational technique in evaluating other heuristics.
Codeswitching as an urban language‐contact phenomenon

(1992). Codeswitching as an urban language‐contact phenomenon. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development: Vol. 13, No. 1-2, pp. 1-17.
The multifaceted actions of PTHrP in skeletal metastasis.

PTHrP, identified during the elucidation of mediators of malignancy-induced hypercalcemia, plays numerous roles in normal physiology as well as pathological conditions. Recent data support direct functions of PTHrP in metastasis, particularly from tumors with strong bone tropism. Bone provides a unique metastatic environment because of mineralization and the diverse cell populations in the bone marrow. PTHrP is a key regulator of tumor–bone interactions and regulates cells in the bone microenvironment through proliferative and prosurvival activities that prime the ‘seed’ and the ‘soil’ of the metastatic lesion. This review highlights recent findings regarding the role of PTHrP in skeletal metastasis, including direct actions in tumor cells, as well as alterations in the bone microenvironment and future perspectives involving the potential roles of PTHrP in the premetastatic niche, and tumor dormancy.
A nonlinear signal detector for enhancement of noisy seismic record sections

In an area of complicated structure a stacked record section is likely to be characterized by a low signal‐to‐noise ratio, even after substantial velocity analysis and other processing. The interpreter identifies signals showing phase coherence across many traces at physically allowable velocities and compiles them into a line drawing. We have developed a nonlinear filter designed to mimic this process, which passes only signals showing spatial coherence and having slowness within an allowed range. In this algorithm, called the “SSD filter,” overlapping M-trace windows are converted into a p-τ representation, obtained by multiplying the stack along the relevant slant line by the smoothed semblance. The results from all windows are composited in the p-τ domain, then retransformed into x-t. The principal tunable parameter is the width M of the correlation window, adjusted to provide an output which agrees well with the event picks made by an experienced interpreter on a test panel of data. The method was de...
Dietary fat modulates gastric lipase activity in healthy humans.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the amount of dietary fat modulates the activity of gastric lipase in humans. Gastric juice was collected from six healthy subjects after 2-wk periods of either a high-fat (50% of energy as fat) or low-fat (25% of energy as fat) diet. The collection period lasted 2 h, the first hour under baseline conditions and the second hour after pentagastrin stimulation (6 μg/kg body wt). Gastric lipase and pepsin activities were quantitated at 15-min intervals and total enzyme outputs were calculated. Under baseline conditions there was a tendency for higher output of gastric lipase and pepsin after the high-fat diet than after the low-fat diet (gastric lipase : 745 compared with 446 U/h, pepsin : 107 677 compared with 78 505 U/h). The difference in output between diet groups was significant after pentagastrin stimulation (gastric lipase : 1323 compared with 875 U/h, pepsin : 191 751 compared with 128 961 U/h, for high-fat compared with low-fat diet, respectively, P < 0.05). This study is the first to report that a high-fat diet leads to an increase in the activity of gastric enzymes in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 1995 ; 62 :74-80.
Dynamic Sensorimotor Planning during Long-Term Sequence Learning: The Role of Variability, Response Chunking and Planning Errors.

Many everyday skills are learned by binding otherwise independent actions into a unified sequence of responses across days or weeks of practice. Here we looked at how the dynamics of action planning and response binding change across such long timescales. Subjects (N=23) were trained on a bimanual version of the serial reaction time task (32-item sequence) for two weeks (10 days total). Response times and accuracy both showed improvement with time, but appeared to be learned at different rates. Changes in response speed across training were associated with dynamic changes in response time variability, with faster learners expanding their variability during the early training days and then contracting response variability late in training. Using a novel measure of response chunking, we found that individual responses became temporally correlated across trials and asymptoted to set sizes of approximately 7 bound responses at the end of the first week of training. Finally, we used a state-space model of the response planning process to look at how predictive (i.e., response anticipation) and error-corrective (i.e., post-error slowing) processes correlated with learning rates for speed, accuracy and chunking. This analysis yielded non-monotonic association patterns between the state-space model parameters and learning rates, suggesting that different parts of the response planning process are relevant at different stages of long-term learning. These findings highlight the dynamic modulation of response speed, variability, accuracy and chunking as multiple movements become bound together into a larger set of responses during sequence learning.
Who should handle retail? Vertical contracts, customer service, and social welfare in a Chinese mobile phone market

Using data on mobile phone handset sales from a single retail store, we examine the impact of different retail responsibility designations and vertical contracts on seller service provision, firm profitability, and social welfare. During our sample, this store switched from retailer-managed retailing with linear pricing contracts to manufacturer-managed retailing with revenue-sharing contracts. We estimate consumer demand and manufacturer cost parameters. Demand estimates indicate a large positive shift that coincided with the vertical change, consistent with improved retail customer service. Welfare estimates suggest that consumers derived substantial surplus from the improved customer service in addition to that from lowered prices.
From full-service to self-service: The airline industry takes off

The use of self-service technologies is dramatically increasing across industries; however, especially during the transition from full- to self-service, customers may need help. In the airline industry, many companies position staff beside check-in kiosks to help their passengers. In the current study, our goal was to gain insight into how intensive the assistance is and how successful the transition from full-service to self-service has been for the airlines. Specifically, we conducted direct observations at airports to note the frequency with which airline employees help customers. We found that airline employees are proactively assisting passengers through the kiosk check-in process. Much of the research on self-service focuses on the customer's perspective. The current study is different in that it examined the corporate perspective. Despite the increasing trend toward self-service technologies, organizations must communicate with and provide service to customers through multiple channels (such as e-mail and phone, in addition to self-service) in order to meet customer needs. The role of professional communicators is essential to ensure the smooth transition from full- to self-service.
Contourlet-Based Fusion Method for Video Surveillance Using the Pulse Coupled Neural Networks Model

To improve the quality of images in monitoring videos, an image fusion method using pulse coupled neural networks in the contourlet domain is presented. This work is mainly for combining useful information of multiple monitoring sensors to gain a more comprehensive description of the scene. After contourlet decomposition, normalized contourlet coefficients of source images were inputted into the neurons of the pulse coupled neural networks. Through this process, the output pulses of these networks reflected the perception of human visual neural systems to detailed information of the scene. Since a stronger stimulus could make corresponding neuron fire earlier and fire for more times, both the first firing time and the average times of ignition in the linking neighborhood centered at corresponding neuron were selected as the salience measures for the high-frequency fusion rule. Experimental results prove the validity of our proposed method both visually and objectively.
Gene Therapy for Lung Cancer

Gene therapy was originally conceived to treat monogenic diseases. The replacement of a defective gene with a functional gene can theoretically cure the disease. In cancer, multiple genetic defects are present and the molecular profile changes during the course of the disease, making the replacement of all defective genes impossible. To overcome these difficulties, various gene therapy strategies have been adopted, including immune stimulation, transfer of suicide genes, inhibition of driver oncogenes, replacement of tumor-suppressor genes that could mediate apoptosis or anti-angiogenesis, and transfer of genes that enhance conventional treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Some of these strategies have been tested successfully in non-small-cell lung cancer patients and the results of laboratory studies and clinical trials are reviewed herein.
Towards a more representative morphology: clinical and ethical considerations for including diverse populations in diagnostic genetic atlases

Towards a more representative morphology: clinical and ethical considerations for including diverse populations in diagnostic genetic atlases
Air cushion active control for the reduction of wave induced motion of ramp-connected ships

We consider the problem of cargo transfer in high sea states over a ramp from an LMSR (large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off) vessel to a smaller connector vessel, the T-Craft. Due to the complexity of the wave and ship interactions, this problem represents significant challenges for ship and control system designers and requires the use of computational tools to simulate the system. We utilize Matlab, AEGIR, and Rhino to model and simulate the system in two configurations: 1) the ships are oriented side by side, and 2) the ships are in a bow-to-stern configuration. To reduce the oscillations in the ramp connecting the vessels, we employ active control through a method called backstepping. When the ships are oriented side by side, the heave of the T-Craft is suppressed using fans to control the pressure in an air cushion positioned underneath the vessel. For the bow-to-stern configuration, a two-chamber air cushion is considered, where T-Craft pitch is suppressed by inducing a moment through a pressure difference between the chambers. We present simulation results.
An Analysis of Selected Variables Affecting Outdoor Recreation Patterns

n June 1958, the Congress of the United States created the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission. It clharge(d tllis group with the responsibility of compiling a national inventory of outdoor recreation facilities anid resources an(d of (leterminiing thie types, locations, and number of resoulrces needed by present and future generationis, particularly those of 1975 and 2000. To accomplish these tasks, the Commissioni employe(d a professionial staff, conducted a national survey Nvithl the aid of the Bureau of the Census, coIntracted or conducted over 100 additional independent research investigations and comiipile(d the most extensive bibliography ever published in the field of organized recreation. The total operation expended some three million dollars and required three and one-half years to complete. The final report of the Commission was received by the Congress in January 1962. Legislation is now being prepared to implemenit the ORRRC's recommendations. During the preliminary stages of a Nationial Recreation Survey (1960), this writer was employed by the Commission as a Consultant with the specific task of reviewing the literature for data relevant to the survey. The results of this endeavor could not be made available, however, until the Commission's final report was received by the Congress. The materials are now available as an appendix to the Commission's Report.1