cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seasonal/regional comparisons of rain rates and rain characteristics in West Africa using TRMM observations

[1] West African rain estimates from a number of global rain data sets (surface and satellite derived), including the TRMM precipitation radar and merged data sets are compared for the 1998–2000 May through September period. Rain intensity and classification (convective/stratiform) from the TRMM precipitation radar are also included in this study. All of the rainfall estimates, including the TRMM products, show that the highest rain rates occur during the month of August for West Africa and its sub region, the Sahel. High negative correlations (<−0.8) are found among the wet season rain estimates and outgoing longwave radiation for West Africa and the Sahel. In the Guinea region, correlations are considerably lower because of a significant longitudinal variation in OLR during the wet season. The TRMM Precipitation Radar derived rain estimates show that stratiform rain becomes increasingly important as the wet season evolves with 35–40% of the rain being stratiform during August and September. Surprisingly the total number of lightning flashes in the Sahel is higher than those in the Guinea region by a factor of 1.5. During August, the Sahelian lightning flashes outnumber those in the Guinea region by more than a factor of 4. Furthermore, in the Sahel, the majority of the flashes occur during the nighttime but during the daytime in the Guinea region. Because of spatial and temporal under-sampling, the TRMM rain estimates are lower than other rain estimates with the TRMM PR producing the lowest rain rates.
Thermomechanical studies on newly developed copolyester thin films. Part II: Thermal and intrinsic stress

Thermal stresses were determined by a wafer bending technique for a newly developed family of all-aromatic and aromatic/aliphatic copolyester thermosetting films prepared by spin coating. The intrinsic stresses of the films were also estimated for T> T g (glass transition temperature). The effects of chemical structure and film processing conditions on thermal stresses are discussed. Thermal stresses varied with temperature and processing conditions, and the variations were dependent upon the chemical structures and T g of the copolyester films. The T g 's of different copolyesters were also estimated from thermal stress-temperature curves.
Risks of a nonprescription lovastatin.

Recently, Merck, maker of the once blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin (Mevacor), proposed that the product be available without a prescription.[1][1] The company claimed that millions of Americans would benefit and that many lives would be saved by preventing heart disease, the nation
Blood flow and intravascular phenomena in the microvascular system

Observations of microcirculatory blood flow in the wing membrane of the unanesthetized bat, Myotis leucifugus, show that many responses associated with the exposure of blood to foreign surfaces mimic normal behavior in these sites. The responses include leukocyte pavement formation, permeability changes, thrombus formation, and intravascular fibrin threads. Attempts to eliminate or suppress these reactions should recognize that they are latent normal physiological activities.
Viral Glycosphingolipids Induce Lytic Infection and Cell Death in Marine Phytoplankton

Marine viruses that infect phytoplankton are recognized as a major ecological and evolutionary driving force, shaping community structure and nutrient cycling in the marine environment. Little is known about the signal transduction pathways mediating viral infection. We show that viral glycosphingolipids regulate infection of Emiliania huxleyi, a cosmopolitan coccolithophore that plays a major role in the global carbon cycle. These sphingolipids derive from an unprecedented cluster of biosynthetic genes in Coccolithovirus genomes, are synthesized de novo during lytic infection, and are enriched in virion membranes. Purified glycosphingolipids induced biochemical hallmarks of programmed cell death in an uninfected host. These lipids were detected in coccolithophore populations in the North Atlantic, which highlights their potential as biomarkers for viral infection in the oceans.
Scalable E-mode N-polar GaN MISFET devices and process with self-aligned source/drain regrowth

E-mode GaN FETs fabricated on N-polar GaN have several unique scaling advantages such as vertical scaling of channel with back barrier for better electron confinement and regrowth of the n+ source/drain regions for reduced access resistance. They can also be integrated with recently demonstrated high performance N-polar D-mode [1] devices enabling novel circuit functionalities. Ga-polar E-mode devices with good performance have been demonstrated [2]; however in these devices source/drain contacts are invariably made to wideband gap Al x Ga 1−x N barriers leading to higher contact resistances which considerably limit the aggressive scaling of the device. Here we report E-mode N-polar GaN FETs fabricated with a scalable gate first process with self-aligned regrown source/drain regions and non-alloyed ohmic contacts for low access resistances. These devices show a peak drive current (I d ) of 0.74 A/mm and peak transconductance (g m ) of 250 mS/mm at L g = 0.55 µm with a threshold voltage (V th ) of 0.8 V.
Contribution of Internet news use to reducing the influence of selective online exposure on political diversity

Research has recognized both selective and heterogeneous exposures on the Internet through online news and discussion. How online exposures through Internet news and discussion influence political diversity in individuals' everyday lives needs to be addressed. The current research examines the extent to which Internet news use alters the effect of selective online interaction on political diversity in individuals' social networks. Results show that while Internet news use has no direct relationship with political diversity in individuals' social networks, it nevertheless moderates the negative effect of selective online interaction and indirectly contributes to political diversity. The social structural aspect of political diversity in social networks is discussed in comparison to political discussion networks.
Phase II trial of high‐dose, intermittent calcitriol (1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3) and dexamethasone in androgen‐independent prostate cancer

BACKGROUND. Data suggest that vitamin D plays a role in the treatment and prevention of prostate cancer. The combination of high-dose, intermittent calcitriol (1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3) plus dexamethasone was studied based on evidence that dexamethasone potentiates the antitumor effects of calcitriol and ameliorates hypercalcemia. METHODS. Oral calcitriol was administered weekly, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (MTW), at a dose of 8 g, for 1 month, at a dose of 10 g every MTW for 1 month, and at a dose of 12 g every MTW thereafter. Dexamethasone at a dose of 4 mg was administered each Sunday, and MTW weekly. Calcium and creatinine were determined weekly and radiographs of the urinary tract were performed every 3 months. All patients were considered evaluable for toxicity. RESULTS. Forty-three men with androgen-independent prostate cancer were entered; 37 received at least 1 month of calcitriol given at a dose of 12 g every day 3 per week. The majority of patients had bone metastases and rising prostatespecific antigen (PSA) levels. All had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Eight patients (19%) experienced partial responses by PSA criterion (PSA decline of 50%, persisting for 28 days). Subjective clinical improvement occurred in some patients. Toxicity was minimal: urinary tract stones in 2 patients; and a readily reversible, CTC (v.3.0) Grade 2 creatinine increase in 4 patients. Throughout the study only 4 patients ever had a serum calcium level 11.0 mg/dL and no patient had a calcium level 12.0 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS. The response rate reported in the current study (19%) was not found to be clearly higher than expected with dexamethasone alone. High-dose intermittent calcitriol plus dexamethasone appears to be safe, feasible, and has antitumor activity. Cancer 2006;106:2136 – 42. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Non-thermal plasma-assisted NOx reduction over Na-Y zeolites : the promotional effect of acid sites

The effect of acid sites on the catalytic activities of a series of H+-modified Na-Y zeolites was investigated in the non-thermal plasma assisted NOx reduction reaction using a simulated diesel engine exhaust gas mixture. The acid sites were formed by NH4+ ion exchange and subsequent heat treatment of a NaY zeolite. The catalytic activities of these H+-modified NaY zeolites significantly increased with the number of acid sites. This NOx conversion increase was correlated with the decrease in the amount of unreacted NO2. The increase in the number of acid sites did not change the NO level, it stayed constant. Temperature programmed desorption following NO2 adsorption showed the appearance of a high temperature desorption peak at 453 K in addition to the main desorption feature of 343 K observed for the base Na-Y. The results of both the IR and TPD experiments revealed the formation of crotonaldehyde, resulting from condensation reaction of adsorbed acetaldehyde. Strong adsorptions of both NOx and hydrocarbon species are proposed to be responsible for the higher catalytic activity of H+-modified Na-Y zeolites in comparison to the base NaY material
An outer membrane enzyme that generates the 2-amino-2-deoxy-gluconate moiety of Rhizobium leguminosarum lipid A.

The structures of Rhizobium leguminosarum and Rhizobium etli lipid A are distinct from those found in other Gram-negative bacteria. Whereas the more typical Escherichia coli lipid A is a hexa-acylated disaccharide of glucosamine that is phosphorylated at positions 1 and 4′, R. etli and R. leguminosarum lipid A consists of a mixture of structurally related species (designated A–E) that lack phosphate. A conserved distal unit, comprised of a diacylated glucosamine moiety with galacturonic acid residue at position 4′ and a secondary 27-hydroxyoctacosanoyl (27-OH-C28) as part of a 2′ acyloxyacyl moiety, is present in all five components. The proximal end is heterogeneous, differing in the number and lengths of acyl chains and in the identity of the sugar itself. A proximal glucosamine unit is present in B and C, but an unusual 2-amino-2-deoxy-gluconate moiety is found in D-1 and E. We now demonstrate that membranes ofR. leguminosarum and R. etli can convert B to D-1 in a reaction that requires added detergent and is inhibited by EDTA. Membranes of Sinorhizobium meliloti and E. coli lack this activity. Mass spectrometry demonstrates that B is oxidized in vitro to a substance that is 16 atomic mass units larger, consistent with the formation of D-1. The oxidation of the lipid A proximal unit is also demonstrated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in the positive and negative modes using the model substrate, 1-dephospho-lipid IVA. With this material, an additional intermediate (or by product) is detected that is tentatively identified as a lactone derivative of 1-dephospho-lipid IVA. The enzyme, presumed to be an oxidase, is located exclusively in the outer membrane of R. leguminosarum as judged by sucrose gradient analysis. To our knowledge, an oxidase associated with the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria has not been reported previously.
The Inherence Heuristic as a Source of Essentialist Thought

Humans are essentialists: They believe hidden "essences" underlie membership in natural and social kinds. Although essentialism has well-established implications for important societal issues (e.g., discrimination), little is known about its origins. According to a recent proposal, essentialism emerges from a broader inherence heuristic-an intuitive tendency to explain patterns in terms of the inherent properties of their constituents (e.g., we have orange juice for breakfast [pattern] because citrus aromas [inherent feature] wake us up). We tested two predictions of this proposal-that reliance on the inherence heuristic predicts endorsement of essentialist beliefs, even when adjusting for potentially confounding variables (Studies 1 and 2), and that reducing reliance on the inherence heuristic produces a downstream reduction in essentialist thought (Studies 3 and 4). The results were consistent with these predictions and thus provided evidence for a new theoretical perspective on the cognitive underpinnings of psychological essentialism.
Quantifying inductive bias: AI learning algorithms and Valiant's learning framework

Abstract We show that the notion of inductive bias in concept learning can be quantified in a way that directly relates to learning performance in the framework recently introduced by Valiant. Our measure of bias is based on the growth function introduced by Vapnik and Chervonenkis, and on the Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension. We measure some common language biases, including restriction to conjunctive concepts, conjunctive concepts with internal disjunction, k -DNF and k -CNF concepts. We also measure certain types of bias that result from a preference for simpler hypotheses. Using these bias measurements we analyze the performance of the classical learning algorithm for conjunctive concepts from the perspective of Valiant's learning framework. We then augment this algorithm with a hypothesis simplification routine that uses a greedy heuristic and show how this improves learning performance on simpler target concepts. Improved learning algorithms are also developed for conjunctive concepts with internal disjunction, k -DNF and k -CNF concepts. We show that all our algorithms are within a logarithmic factor of optimal in terms of the number of examples they require to achieve a given level of learning performance in the Valiant framework. Our results hold for arbitrary attribute-based instance spaces defined by either tree-structured or linear attributes.
Spectral Characteristics of Convolutionally Coded Digital Signals

The power spectral density of the output symbol sequence of a convolutional encoder is computed for two different input symbol stream source models, namely, an NRZ signaling format and a first-order Markov source. In the former, the two signaling states of the binary waveform are not necessarily assumed to occur with equal probability. The effects of alternate symbol inversion on this spectrum are also considered. The mathematical results are illustrated with many examples corresponding to optimal performance codes. It is demonstrated that only for the case of a purely random input source (e.g., NRZ data with equiprobable symbols) and a particular class of codes is the output spectrum identical to the input spectrum except for a frequency scaling (expansion) by the reciprocal of the code rate. In all other cases, the output spectrum is sufficiently changed relative to the input spectrum that the commonly quoted statement "a convolutional encoder produces a bandwidth expansion by a factor equal to the reciprocal of the code rate" must be exercised with care.
Commercial realtime software needs different configuation management

Arguments are presented as to why integrated, monolithic configuration management is not well suited to commercial realtime systems. An alternative approach to configuration management that over several years we have found to be effective and widely useable is described. This approach, Database and Selectors Cel (DaSC), separates treatment of versions that exist simultaneously from the evolution of those versions over time. Versions that exist simultaneously are represented by selectors from a common database. Evolution is represented by layers, as in the film animators cel.
Development of a Prototype Reflectrometer for PDIL, of a System for Commercial Sale: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-08-272

The first commercial unit of GT-FabScan was fabricated by GT Solar and delivered to NREL. The system is located in the Process Development and Integration Laboratory (PDIL) and is fully functional.
Thermal Management of a Fast UV Slitless Spectrometer for a Meteor Research Experiment

This paper presents the proposed thermal management design for an ultra-violet slitless spectrometer to be flown on either the Space Shuttle or on the International Space Station as a scientific experiment to capture the ultraviolet spectrum of meteors as they are heated by the Earth’s atmosphere. The proposed telescope was initially planned as a Hitchhiker experiment for the Space Shuttle. The Space Station environment is thermally more critical than the Hitchhiker application. The final thermal design is essentially passive; however, heaters will be used to maintain the component temperatures at acceptable levels during telescope nonoperating conditions. The major difference between the Space Station design and the Hitchhiker design is the use of external multi-layer insulation and thermal strapping on the former application. This paper was also originally published as part of the Proceedings of the ASME 2005 Pacific Rim Technical Conference and Exhibition on Integration and Packaging of MEMS, NEMS, and Electronic Systems.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Effects of irradiation on mixed müllerian tumors of the uterus

A retrospective study of 54 patients with histologically proven malignant mixed mullerian tumors of the uterus was undertaken with main emphasis on the evaluation of the effects of irradiation on pelvic tumor control. The tumors were staged according to the FIGO classification for endometrial carcinoma and 24 were classified as Stage I, 10 as Stage II, 13 as Stage III and seven as Stage IV. Patients with Stage I and II were treated with surgery alone (9 patients, three surviving) or preoperative intracavitary irradiation (13 patients, eight surviving) or preoperative combination of intracavitary and external irradiation (12 patients, six surviving). Five patients with Stage III and IV were treated with surgery alone, two were treated with a combination of irradiation and surgery and 11 with radiation alone. None of these patients survived. In seven patients showing no residual tumor in the uterine specimen after irradiation, no pelvic failures were noted, whereas seven of 17 (41.2%) with residual tumor developed pelvic recurrences. In patients with Stage I treated with surgery alone, three out of six recurred in the pelvis whereas only three of 17 (17%) receiving preoperative irradiation developed pelvic recurrences. However, in Stage II six of eight patients treated with preoperative irradiation failed in the pelvis. Correlation with the doses of irradiation given to the uterus or the pelvic lymph nodes indicate that with doses below 5000 rads a significantly higher number of pelvic recurrences take place, whereas these are uncommon with doses over 6000 rads. The difference in pelvic recurrences between dosage levels is not, however, statistically significant. It is suggested that patients with Stage I and II malignant mixed mullerian tumors of the uterus should be treated with preoperative radiation and total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Patients with more advanced disease have extremely poor prognosis and should be treated with radiation therapy alone. This tumor has a high propensity to spread through lymphatics and hematogenous metastases are seen in approximately 75% of the patients. Because of this dissemination, significant improvements in survival rate will not be seen until effective cytotoxic agents are available.
Data as a Service: Are We in the Clouds?

Data, data, data. That seems to be all we hear about these days. We create data, we find data for patrons, and we gather data on CDs, DVDs, and network servers. Data has become one of those intangi...
Cadaver use at the University of Tennessee's Anthropological Research Facility

The Anthropological Research Facility allows actualistic studies evaluating human decomposition to be conducted in a controlled, scientific setting. These studies have had significant ramifications for forensic investigations. Donated cadavers are used to study the precise nature and timing of decomposition events. More than 1,000 bodies have been donated, and more than 2,000 individuals are registered for donation on their death. Initial studies using cadavers focused on gross morphological changes of human decomposition, while more recent research has delved into biochemical analyses. This research has contributed to the accuracy of time since death estimations, which may be critical in criminal investigations. Furthermore, the donated cadavers contribute to the unprecedented diversity of the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection, which allows for a wide range of skeletal-based research. The continuous supply of human cadavers is essential for these research endeavors, and the Forensic Anthropology Center strives to ensure that donor wishes are fulfilled and to assure donors that their invaluable gift will serve the scientific community for years to come.
Bacterial pan-genomes: data representation and analysis

Bacterial genomes at NCBI represent a large collection of strains with different levels of sequence and assembly quality as well as sampling density. Among these, there are densely-sampled sets of related genomes, usually human pathogens, whose organization and protein content could be directly analyzed within the concept of pan-genome. Even in groups of close genomes, protein families appear with very different frequencies, with "core proteins" at one end and "dispensable proteins" at another and "accessory proteins" in between. In order to organize genomes available in the NCBI repositories in related groups (species-level clades), we use a distance method based on a robust distance between sets of ribosomal proteins. The threshold is selected to have one species per clade in most of the cases, with some clades containing genomes from a few species. Within each clade, we then build trees based on similarity of protein content using hierarchical clustering with tight parameters. In order to identify protein families for genomes within a clade accurately and reliably, we use a combined approach taking into account both sequence similarity and genome context: First, proteins are clustered in tentative clusters using inclusive parameters. Then, within each of tentative clusters, local genome context and protein phylogenetic tree are used to separate paralogs. The combined approach allows defining core and conservative clusters for the pan-genome more accurately than by sequence-based clustering. For computational efficiency, protein redundancy and near-redundancy is eliminated, with one representative sequence from each near-redundant group used.
Effects of Viscogens on RNA Transcription inside Reovirus Particles

The dsRNA genome of mammalian reovirus (MRV), like the dsDNA genomes of herpesviruses and many bacteriophages, is packed inside its icosahedral capsid in liquid-crystalline form, with concentrations near or more than 400 mg/ml. Viscosity in such environments must be high, but the relevance of viscosity for the macromolecular processes occurring there remains poorly characterized. Here, we describe the use of simple viscogens, glycerol and sucrose, to examine their effects on RNA transcription inside MRV core particles. Transcription inside MRV cores was strongly inhibited by these agents and to a greater extent than either predicted by theory or exhibited by a nonencapsidated transcriptase, suggesting that RNA transcription inside MRV cores is unusually sensitive to viscogen effects. The elongation phase of transcription was found to be a primary target of this inhibition. Similar results were obtained with particles of a second dsRNA virus, rhesus rotavirus, from a divergent taxonomic subfamily. Polymeric viscogens such as polyethylene glycol also inhibited RNA transcription inside MRV cores, but in a size-limited manner, suggesting that diffusion through channels in the MRV core is required for their activity. Modeling of the data suggested that the inherent intracapsid viscosity of both reo- and rotavirus is indeed high, two to three times the viscosity of water. The capacity for quantitative comparisons of intracapsid viscosity and effects of viscogens on macromolecular processes in confined spaces should be similarly informative in other systems.
Populations as Individuals

Biologists studying ecology and evolution use the term “population” in many different ways. Yet little philosophical analysis of the concept has been done, either by biologists or philosophers, in contrast to the voluminous literature on the concept of “species.” This is in spite of the fact that “population” is arguably a far more central concept in ecological and evolutionary studies than “species” is. The fact that such a central concept has been employed in so many different ways is potentially problematic for the reason that inconsistent usages (especially when the usage has not been made explicit) might lead to false controversies in which disputants are simply talking past one another. However, the inconsistent usages are not the only, or even the most important reason to examine the concept. If any set of organisms is legitimately called a “population,” selection and drift processes become purely arbitrary, too. Moreover, key ecological variables, such as abundance and distribution, depend on a nonarbitrary way of identifying populations. I sketch the beginnings of a population concept, drawing inspiration from the Ghiselin-Hull individuality thesis, and show why some alternative approaches are nonstarters.
New Analysis of the Interferometer Observations of Dayton C. Miller

For nearly thirty years the results of the Michelson-Morley experiment obtained by Dayton C. Miller on Mount Wilson have stood at variance with all other trials of this experiment. As interest in Miller's results has continued to the present time, and since the original data sheets are available to the present writers, it has seemed appropriate that the observations be subjected to a new analysis. It is now shown that the small periodic fringe displacements found by Miller are due in part to statistical fluctuations in the readings of the fringe positions in a very difficult experiment. The remaining systematic effects are ascribed to local temperature conditions. These were much more troublesome at Mount Wilson than those encountered by experimenters elsewhere, including Miller himself in his work done at Case in Cleveland. As interpreted in the present study, Miller's extensive Mount Wilson data contain no effect of the kind predicted by the aether theory and, within the limitations imposed by local disturbances, are entirely consistent with a null result at all epochs during a year.
Discovering Data and Information Quality Research Insights Gained through Latent Semantic Analysis

In the recent decade, the field of data and information quality (DQ) has grown into a research area that spans multiple disciplines. The motivation here is to help understand the core topics and themes that constitute this area and to determine how those topics and themes from DQ relate to business intelligence (BI). To do so, the authors present the results of a study which mines the abstracts of articles in DQ published over the last decade. Using Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) six core themes of DQ research are identified, as well as twelve dominant topics comprising them. Five of these topics--decision support, database design and data mining, data querying and cleansing, data integration, and DQ for analytics--all relate to BI, emphasizing the importance of research that combines DQ with BI. The DQ topics from these results are profiled with BI, and used to suggest several opportunities for researchers.
Assessment of relationship between acid reflux and heartburn using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Reflux of acid from the stomach into the esophagus is thought to be the cause of heartburn. The relationship between acid reflux and heartburn, as detected by prolonged ambulatory pH monitoring, is not clear. The authors tested the strength of association between acid reflux and heartburn using receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curves. Esophageal pH at 1 and 6 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter was recorded in 236 patients referred for symptom evaluation. In the 76 patients reporting heartburn during the monitoring period, the acid reflux frequency and number of reflux episodes associated with heartburn were higher at 1 cm compared with 6 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. The number of reflux episodes associated with heartburn was lower at 1 cm. Fisher exact test revealed a statistically significant correlation between acid reflux and heartburn, but the ROC curves revealed a weak association between heartburn and acid reflux, with area under the curve ranging from 0.59 to 0.72. This weak association indicates a lack of direct cause-and-effect relationship between acid reflux and heartburn. These findings indicate that factors either in addition to acid or other than acid in the esophagus determine the occurrence of heartburn symptoms.
Decision analysis for a new bioethics.

Decision analysis is a good example of an innovative method for consent. Baron seems to consider decision analysis to be a different way of thinking about consent (Baron 2006). There is a positivis...
Streamwise Curvature Effect on the Incompressible Turbulent Mean Velocity Over Curved Surfaces

A curvature law of the wall, which determines the mean velocity profile, is analytically derived for near-wall turbulent flows to include strong curved-channel wall curvature effects through a perturbation analysis. The new law allows improved analysis of such flows, and it provides the basis for improved wall function boundary conditions for their computation (CFD), even for strong curvature cases. The improved law is based on the algebraic eddy viscosity and curvature-corrected mixing length concepts, the latter of which is a linear function of the gradient Richardson number. To include the complete Richardson number effects, the local streamline curvature effects in the gradient Richardson number are kept. To overcome the mathematical difficulty of keeping all of these local streamline curvature terms, an innovative nonconstant-parameter perturbation solution technique is successfully applied
Exact formulas for approximating variogram function integrals

The application of regionalized variables requires the estimation of the variogram function and the evaluation of its integral. By representing the variogram by a polygonal function the integral may be easily approximated by closed form representations of polygonal integrals. This approach provides a basis for more extensive statistical evaluation not evident in existing approximation methods. This paper provides the closed form representations for two-dimensional variogram functions whose domain is represented by a finite collection of rectangles.
Amphetamine: Differential effects on defensive flight and motor behavior in the rat☆

Abstract As in previous research, hooded rats treated with an acute high dose of d-amphetamine sulfate (5 mg/kg free base) showed a dramatic defensive flight reaction to a novel stimulus (mechanical robot) that did not elicit flight from saline controls. Both the defense response and stereotypy behavior (repetitive movements and oral, licking chewing) were assessed at eight time periods after injection: 1, 15, 30, 45, 75, 105, 135, and 165 min. The defense response peaked early (15–30 min) after injection and showed a significant decline by 75 min, with no reemergence as stereotypy subsided. Stereotypy peaked later (45 min) and did not decline until 105 min. Tests in the absence of the robot provided a control for motor effects of the drug. Whereas stereotypy occurred in both Robot and No Robot conditions, the defense response occurred only in the Robot condition. These results were thought to provide further evidence that the effects of amphetamine on defensive flight could not be attributed to purely motor reactions. Thus, amphetamine-induced defensive flight may be an appropriate nharmacological model of affective psychosis. As such, it may be helpful in establishing differential pharmacological profiles for effective versus motor potencies of potential antipsychotic compounds.
On the application of quantum transport theory to electron sources.

Electron sources (e.g., field emitter arrays, wide band-gap (WBG) semiconductor materials and coatings, carbon nanotubes, etc.) seek to exploit ballistic transport within the vacuum after emission from microfabricated structures. Regardless of kind, all sources strive to minimize the barrier to electron emission by engineering material properties (work function/electron affinity) or physical geometry (field enhancement) of the cathode. The unique capabilities of cold cathodes, such as instant ON/OFF performance, high brightness, high current density, large transconductance to capacitance ratio, cold emission, small size and/or low voltage operation characteristics, commend their use in several advanced devices when physical size, weight, power consumption, beam current, and pulse repletion frequency are important, e.g., RF power amplifier such as traveling wave tubes (TWTs) for radar and communications, electrodynamic tethers for satellite deboost/reboost, and electric propulsion systems such as Hall thrusters for small satellites. The theoretical program described herein is directed towards models to evaluate emission current from electron sources (in particular, emission from WBG and Spindt-type field emitter) in order to assess their utility, capabilities and performance characteristics. Modeling efforts particularly include: band bending, non-linear and resonant (Poole-Frenkel) potentials, the extension of one-dimensional theory to multi-dimensional structures, and emission site statistics due to variations in geometry and the presence of adsorbates. Two particular methodologies, namely, the modified Airy approach and metal-semiconductor statistical hyperbolic/ellipsoidal model, are described in detail in their present stage of development.
Genetic map-based location of the red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) gametophytic self-incompatibility locus

Red clover is a hermaphroditic allogamous diploid (2n = 2x = 14) with a homomorphic gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system (Trifolium pratense L.). Red clover GSI has long been studied, and it is thought that the genetic control of GSI constitutes a single locus. Although GSI genes have been identified in other species, the genomic location of the red clover GSI-locus remains unknown. The objective of this study was to use a mapping-based approach to identify simple sequence repeats (SSR) that were closely linked to the GSI-locus. Previously published SSR markers were used in this effort (Sato et al. in DNA Res 12:301–364, 2005). A bi-parental cross was initiated in which the parents were known to have one self-incompatibility allele (S-allele) in common. S-allele genotypes of 100 progeny were determined through test crosses and pollen compatibility. Pseudo F1 linkage analysis isolated the GSI-locus on red clover linkage-group one within 2.5 cM of markers RCS5615, RCS0810, and RCS3161. A second 256 progeny mapping testcross population of a heterozygous self-compatible mutant revealed that this specific self-compatible mutant mapped to the same location as the GSI-locus. Finally, 82 genotypes were identified whose parents putatively shared one S-allele in common from maternal halfsib families derived from two random mating populations in which paternal identity was determined using molecular markers. Unique S-allele identity in the two random mating populations was tentatively inferred based on haplotypes of two highly allelic linkage-group one SSR (RCS0810 and RCS4956), which were closely linked to each other and the GSI-locus. Paternally derived pollen haplotype linkage analysis of RCS0810 and RCS4956 SSR and the GSI-locus again revealed tight linkage at 2.5 and 4.7 cM between the GSI-locus and RCS0810 and RCS4956, respectively. The map-based location of the GSI-locus in red clover has many immediate applications to red clover plant breeding and could be useful in helping to sequence the GSI-locus.
How long does it take to describe what one sees? The first step using picture description tasks.

Abstract The study explored the dependences between quantifiable features of a picture and the time it takes to describe it. Six native English speakers and six bilinguals watched pictures presented on the monitor and described them “as quickly and accurately as possible”. The bilingual participants performed the test twice, in English and in their native language. The pictures could contain one to six objects. There were four series of trials that differed in the number of characteristics of the objects the participants were instructed to describe. Reaction time showed a modest, close to linear scaling with the number of objects. Both reaction time and speech time were significantly longer for the bilingual participants performing in English as compared to their performance in the native language and to the English speaking participants. The difference in reaction time did not depend on the number of objects. Speech time showed a close to linear scaling with the number of objects within each of the four series. The linear regression coefficient in this relationship increased linearly with the number of characteristics of the objects across all series. The results are discussed in relation to speed-accuracy trade-off and different strategies of picture description.
Brassica carinata resynthesized by protoplast fusion.

Brassica carinata (bbcc) was resynthesized by protoplast fusion betweenB. nigra (bb) andB. oleracea (cc). In two fusion experiments 64 hybrid plants were obtained and identified to be true hybrids by isoenzyme analysis, nuclear DNA content, chromosome number, and intermediate morphology. Of these plants 56% were normal amphidiploids with 2n=34 chromosomes and a DNA content equivalent to that of naturalB. carinata. The remaining plants were polyploid, morphologically abnormal, and infertile. The majority of the hybrids contained both chloroplasts and mitochondria fromB. nigra, but some plants combined chloroplast and mitochondria from the different progenitors. Hybrids with a DNA content equivalent to that ofB. carinata had a wide range of male fertility (4–98%), but consistently low female fertility. Only a few selfed seed were produced, but these germinated and grew into vigorous plants.
High-Pressure Effects on the Disordered Phase of Block Copolymer Melts

We have measured the effect of high pressure on the scattering from the disordered state of a styrene-isoprene diblock copolymer containing 48 wt % styrene (M w ∼ 16 500). Small-angle X-ray scattering measurements performed at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) show an increase in the aspect ratio of the scattering maximum and a decrease in the angle at which the maximum occurs with increasing pressure. Within the context of the mean-field theory of block copolymer phase behavior originally developed by Leibler, 1 this behavior is due to an increase in both the radius of gyration of the molecule (R g ) and the degree of segregation of the system (χN). Examination of the data using the theory of Tang and Freed 2 reveals an identical quantitative dependence of R g and χN on pressure without indicating a role for the free volume fraction used by these authors to treat compressibility effects. We therefore propose that the observed behavior arises primarily from shifts in the structural characteristics of the blocks, rather than from a reduction in free volume. From comparison of the pressure-induced changes in the structural characteristics of the system with the corresponding temperature-induced ones, we predict the pressure dependence of the order-disorder transition temperature in this material, provided that the phase state of this polymer is determined solely by the structural characteristics examined in this experiment.
Men and Women Are Only as Different as They Look

Much of what Stewart-Williams and Thomas (this issue) say in their article sounds quite reasonable, even to a dyed-in-the-wool evolutionary psychologist. But after a well-informed and thoughtful re...
Phosphorylation of the plasma-membrane H+-ATPase of oat roots by a calcium-stimulated protein kinase

When plasma-membrane vesicles isolated from oat (Avena sativa L.) root cells were incubated with [γ-32P]ATP, the H+-ATPase was found to be phosphorylated at serine and threonine residues. Phosphotyrosine was not detected. Endogenous ATPase kinase activity was also observed in plasma-membrane vesicles isolated from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) root cells as well as from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Identity of the phosphorylated oat root Mr=100 000 polypeptide as the ATPase was confirmed using conventional glycerol density-gradient centrifugation to purify the native enzyme and by a new procedure for purifying the denatured polypeptide using reversephase high-performance liquid chromatography. Kinase-mediated phosphorylation of the oat root plasma-membrane H+-ATPase was stimulated by the addition of low concentrations of Ca2+ and by a decrease in pH, from 7.2 to 6.2. These results demonstrate that kinase-mediated phosphorylation of the H+-ATPase is a plausible mechanism for regulating activity. They further indicate that changes in the cytoplasmic [Ca2+] and pH are potentially important elements in modulating the kinase-mediated phosphorylation.
Security-Enhanced OSGi Service Environments

Today's home and local-area network environments consist of various types of personal equipments, network devices, and corresponding services. Since such prevalent home network environments frequently deal with private and sensitive information, it is crucial to legitimately provide access control for protecting such emerging environments. As a result, the open services gateway initiative (OSGi) attempted to address this critical issue. However, the current OSGi authorization mechanism is not rigorous enough to fulfill security requirements involved in dynamic OSGi environments. In this paper, we provide a systematic way to adopt a role-based access control (RBAC) approach in OSGi environments. We demonstrate how our authorization framework can achieve important RBAC features and enhance existing primitive access control modules in OSGi service environments. Also, we describe a proof-of-concept prototype of the proposed framework to discuss the feasibility of our approach using an open source implementation of OSGi framework known as Knopflerfish.
Structural and biomechanical characteristics of the diaphragmatic tendon in infancy and childhood: an initial analysis.

Abstract Background Engineered tendon grafts have been shown, experimentally, to be promising alternatives for partial diaphragmatic replacement. This study was aimed at determining the cellularity, extracellular matrix composition, and biomechanical characteristics of the diaphragmatic tendon in infants and children to be used as a reference for proper diaphragmatic graft engineering. Methods The left diaphragmatic tendon was procured at autopsy from 13 patients divided into 2 groups. Group I (n = 9) consisted of newborns and infants. Group II (n = 4) consisted of children and adolescents. Samples underwent quantitative assays for total DNA, glycosaminoglycans, collagen, and elastin contents. Biomechanical measurements included modular and ultimate tensile strength analyses. Statistical comparisons were by the 2-sample Student's t test. Results Group I showed significantly higher levels of total DNA, glycosaminoglycans, collagen, and elastin than group II. Conversely, group II tended to have higher modular and ultimate tensile strengths. Conclusions In neonates and infants, the diaphragmatic tendon has increased cell density and higher levels of major extracellular matrix components than in older children, in whom the diaphragmatic tendon tends to have higher tensile strength. Engineered diaphragmatic constructs should be tailored to the distinct anatomical, functional, and biomechanical characteristics of the diaphragmatic tendon at different age groups.
Organic solvents modify the calcium control of flagellar movement in sea urchin sperm

The form of flagellar and ciliary beating in various organisms is regulated by the intracellular concentration of free Ca2+ (refs 1–5). In demembranated sea urchin sperm reactivated with 1 mM Mg-ATP2−, Ca2+ regulates the asymmetry of the flagellar waveform6–8. On reactivation at a free Ca2+ concentration below 10−8 M, the flagella beat with almost symmetric bending waves9, and the sperm swim in nearly straight paths with an average turning rate of ∼0.04 radians per beat, whereas in the presence of 10−3 M free Ca2+, the bending waves are highly asymmetric and the sperm describe circular paths with an average turning rate between 0.2–0.35 radians per beat. Here we show that low concentrations of various organic solvents interact with the mechanism by which Ca2+ induces waveform asymmetry. The solvents studied fall into two groups of which the first, consisting of methanol, 2-propanol and ethylene glycol, mimic the effect of Ca2+ and increase the asymmetry, whereas the second group, N,N′-dimethylformamide, formamide and p-dioxane, block the increase in asymmetry induced by Ca2+. However, all solvents in both groups act similarly in decreasing the flagellar beat frequency.
Molecular orbital study of CO chemisorption and oxidation on a Pt(111) surface

Abstract A molecular orbital study was made, using an atom superposition and electron delocalization (ASED) technique, of the structures and energy levels of CO on Pt(111) surface. CO is predicted to be preferentially adsorbed at a height of 2.05 A from the surface at a 1-fold position with the carbon end down. The calculated binding energy (1.7 eV) is in good agreement with the recent experimental result (1.5 eV) of Campbell et al. Calculated binding energies for bridging (1.3 eV) and high coordinate (1.1 eV) sites are predicted to be smaller in magnitude. Calculated results are used to discuss the ordering of energy levels of adsorbed CO. The interaction between CO (adsorbed) and O (adsorbed) has been studied to estimate the energy of activation for the oxidation of CO on Pt(111) surface. The calculated activation energy (1.6 eV) is in reasonable agreement with the recent experimental result (1 eV) of Campbell et al. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism is found to be favored. We predict CO2 bonds vertically.
Do Metaphors Matter in Higher Education

The purpose of this article is to explore the underlying foundational assumptions of four metaphors for teaching at the college and university level: the teacher as artist, the teacher as coach, the teacher as tour guide, and the teacher as gardener. The intent is to examine the compatibility of each metaphor with a morally-based understanding of teaching and learning.
Bank monitoring, profit efficiency and the commercial lending business model

Abstract We build a bank-specific, fixed-effects regression model to develop proxies for a bank's monitoring effort. Our results show that banks that devote more resources to monitoring (based on these proxies) are more profit efficient and the effect is large. A very important theoretical literature in finance suggests that monitoring is value enhancing; we provide empirical evidence consistent with the theory. This research thus establishes an important link between the large literature on bank monitoring and the equally large literature on profit efficiency. Monitoring is a key technology in the commercial lending business model (e.g. Mester, Nakamura, & Renault, 2007 ). Thus, these results point to considerable strengths in the dominant business model used in the banking industry.