cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can measures of sound localization acuity be related to the precision of absolute location estimates

Studies of sound localization use relative or absolute psychoacoustic paradigms. Relative tasks assess acuity by determining the smallest angle separating two sources that subjects can discriminate, the minimum audible angle (MAA), whereas absolute tasks measure subjects’ abilities to indicate sound location. It is unclear whether or how measures from the two tasks are related, though the belief that the MAA is specifically related to the precision of absolute localization is common. The present study aimed to investigate the basis of this relationship by comparing the precision of absolute location estimates with a measure of spatial acuity computed from the same data. Three cats were trained to indicate apparent sound source locations that varied in azimuth and elevation via orienting gaze shifts (combined eye and head movements). The precision of these absolute responses, as measured by their standard deviation, was compared with acuity thresholds derived from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses of the cumulative distributions. Surprisingly, the acuity measures were occasionally very poor indicators of absolute localization precision. Incongruent results were attributed to errors in mean accuracy, which are disregarded in analyses of traditional relative tasks. Discussion focuses on the potential for internal biases to affect measures of localization acuity.
Characterization of the SCAN box encoding RAZ1 gene: analysis of cDNA transcripts, expression, and cellular localization.

Abstract The SCAN box ( S RE-ZBP; C T-fin51; A W-1; N umber 18) is a highly-conserved 80-amino-acid domain identified in a subset of C2H2 zinc finger proteins. We and others have recently demonstrated that the SCAN box is a protein association domain that mediates hetero- and homo-protein associations with SCAN box containing proteins. RAZ1 (SCAN- r elated protein a ssociated with M Z F1B) is a novel gene identified in a yeast two hybrid genetic screen for binding to the MZF1B SCAN box. RAZ1 maps to chromosome 20q11 at a region frequently disrupted in various leukemias. We characterized the RAZ1 gene by analysing cDNA transcripts, mRNA expression, and cellular localization of the expressed protein. RAZ1 mRNA expression was detected in various human tissues and cell lines by Northern blot analysis and multiple tissue expression arrays. Highest levels of expression are in prostate, testis, thyroid, liver, and kidney. The RAZ1 gene produces two transcripts with variant 5′-untranslated regions containing identical open reading frames that express a 28 kDa protein in vitro. RAZ1 transcription start sites were mapped by primer extension and confirmed by identification of the RAZ1 promoter in the 5′ flanking genomic DNA. RAZ1 protein fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) localizes to the nucleus in a diffuse pattern and the carboxyl terminus containing the SCAN-related domain is sufficient for nuclear localization. These data suggest that RAZ1 is a widely expressed nuclear protein that may function as a key regulator of zinc finger transcription factor function.
Bare nominals, information structure and word order

Abstract Existentially interpreted bare nominals in English have been argued to be in focus; generic bare nominals, topical. In distributional terms, these nominals distribute more freely as compared to, e.g. Romance bare nominals. Arabic bare nominals pattern with the latter in interpretation and distribution. This paper proposes that Arabic bare nominals, which can only be interpreted existentially, are foci, on a par with their English counterparts, and that this plays a key role in their licensing. More importantly, the present paper seeks to derive the surface differences seen in the distribution of these nominals in Arabic and English from deeper differences between these two languages in the focus system facts and word order possibilities. Arabic has a freer word order, but is more constrained in its focus system. The reverse holds in English, a fact that explains why English bare nominals are more freely distributed than their Arabic counterparts.
Approximate Fourier expansion: its properties and applications

For signal representation, it is always desired that a signal be represented using minimum number of parameters. An important criterion of signal representation is the orthogonality of the constituent basis functions of a transform. There are various orthogonal transforms such like Karhunen-Loeve, discrete cosine, Haar, discrete Fourier etc., but the choice of a particular transform in a given application depends on the amount of reconstruction error that can be tolerated and the computational resources available. The approximate Fourier expansion (AFE) for non- periodic signals with theoretically uncorrelated coefficients has previously been proposed. In this paper, we will give system interpretation to approximate AFE using generalized harmonic analysis. Furthermore, we will investigate some mathematical properties of discrete AFE. Finally, we will apply AFE expansion to images, and show that for purposes of decorrelation is better than discrete Fourier transform. For comparison purposes, the results will also be compared with discrete cosine transform. Computer simulation results will also be presented.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The asymptotic law of the local oscillation modulus of the empirical process

Abstract Stute (1982) investigated strong limit theorems for the global oscillation modulus of the empirical process. We present the description of the limiting behaviour of the local oscillation modulus ωn (an,x0) for sequences of positive constants {an} converging to zero and satisfying certain growth conditions. Our result is the finest limit law in this context and extends Levy's LIL for the Wiener process. We illustrate the usefulness of our result by presenting several applications including strong convergence rates for variable kernel density estimators, an a.s. representation of the bootstrap, asymptotics of perturbed sample quantiles and the LIL for the Kiefer process and the general quantile process.
Nonpsychiatrist House Staff Frequently Misdiagnose Psychiatric Disorders in General Hospital Inpatients

Nonpsychiatric house staff referring inpatients for psychiatric consultation were asked to make a psychiatric diagnosis before their patients were evaluated by the consultants. The psychiatrists confirmed this diagnosis in only 22% of patients age 50 years and older, but in 68% of patients under age 50. Referring physicians identified 27 cases of major depression; the psychiatric consultants agreed with this diagnosis in only 6 (22%) of these patients. In the remaining 21 patients, the psychiatrists identified 10 cases of delirium, 7 cases of adjustment disorder, and 4 cases of various other conditions. These results suggest that nonpsychiatric house staff frequently misidentify other psychiatric conditions as major depression and that the psychiatric diagnosis of older patients by nonpsychiatrist house staff is far more problematic than the diagnosis of younger patients.
Methods for Determining Film Thickness and Optical Constants of Films and Substrates

Several methods are developed for deducing optical constants and film thickness from measurements of the monochromatic specular reflectance for linearly polarized radiation at varying angles of incidence. Consideration is given both to transparent films and to slightly absorbing films on absorbing substrates. The methods for transparent films are based on the property that, at any angle of incidence, there are upper and lower bounds on the reflectance that, for given substrate properties, depend only on the index of refraction of the film. For slightly absorbing films, an additional relevant property is that the angular positions of the maxima and minima of the reflectance curve are insensitive to the extinction coefficient of the film. Utilization of the foregoing properties in conjunction with measured distributions of reflectance vs incidence angle leads to the determination of the refractive indices and extinction coefficients of films and substrates as well as the film thickness. Monochromatic reflectances measured for two film–substrate pairs and a pure metal were used to illustrate the application of the methods. A He–Ne laser served as the source of monochromatic polarized light in the experiments.
A model for the irradiative coloration of smoky feldspar and the inhibiting influence of water

Radiation-induced smoky color and associated electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals develop only in potassium feldspar (KalSi_3O_8) free of structurally bound molecular water. Fluid inclusion water does not influence coloration. The integrated intensity of each of the four bands (11,600, 16,200, 19,100, and 27,200 cm^(−1)) in the optical absorption spectra are linearly correlated with the doubly-integrated intensity of a broad, asymmetric first derivative at g_(eff)=2.027 in EPR spectra. In microcline, the EPR pattern is resolved into an asymmetric six-line pattern at g_(eff)=2.024 and a single derivative at g_(eff)=2.009 which, based on analogy to alkali-silicate glass, are due respectively to [SiO_4/K^+]^(2+) and a hole shared between two nonbonding oxygens on Si. We propose that structural water inhibits formation of smoky centers in feldspar by releasing atomic hydrogen during irradiation which destroys centers while diffusing towards a stable site.
The stability of post-decision dissonance: A follow-up study of the job attitudes of business school graduates

Abstract This study is a follow-up to a study by Vroom 1966 which provided evidence of the phenomenon of post-decision dissonance reduction among graduate students in a school of industrial administration who were engaged in the process of choosing organizations in which to begin their managerial careers. The present study constitutes an examination of the attitudes of those students toward their organizations one year and three and one-half years after graduation. It was found that the changed orientations toward the chosen organization exhibited immediately following choice (i.e., increased attractiveness and greater perceived instrumentality for goal attainment) were no longer in evidence after implementation of the choice. In fact, both the attractiveness of the organization and its perceived instrumentality for the attainment of goals decreased markedly during the first year and remained at a low level for at least the next two and one-half years. This study examines the processes underlying the apparent disillusionment on the part of the subjects. The implications of the results for the phenomenon of post-decision dissonance are also considered.
NON-CONFORMAL LOEWNER TYPE ESTIMATES FOR MODULUS OF CURVE FAMILIES

We develop various upper and lower estimates for p-modulus of curve families on ring domains in the setting of abstract metric measure spaces and derive pLoewner type estimates for continua. These estimates are obtained for doubling metric measure spaces or Q-Ahlfors regular metric measure spaces supporting
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling of romiplostim in animals.

Purpose Romiplostim is a novel thrombopoiesis-stimulating peptibody that targets the thrombopoietin c-Mpl receptor, resulting in increased platelet production. The pharmacodynamic-mediated disposition (PDMDD) and its stimulatory effect on platelet production in Sprague-Dawley rats, rhesus monkeys, and cynomolgus monkeys following IV bolus and SC administration at various dose levels were determined.
Early childhood education teachers: Do they practice what they preach?

Abstract The study explored relationships, for 60 preschool, kindergarten, and first grade teachers, among teachers' beliefs about how children learn, their views on the goals of early childhood education, their positions on policies related to school entry, testing, and retention, their satisfaction with current practices and pressures for change, and their actual practices. Results revealed, for preschool and kindergarten teachers, significant associations among beliefs, goals, practices, and to some degree policy positions, that map on to current debates among experts on child-centered versus more didactic, basic-skills approaches. Findings for the small sample of first grade teachers showed few of the predicted associations. Nearly all teachers who reported that they were not able to implement the program they believed was appropriate claimed that their program was too basicskills oriented; parents were the most often cited source of pressure.
Cassini orbiter ion and neutral mass spectrometer instrument

The Cassini Orbiter Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) is designed to measure the composition and density variations of low energy ions and neutral species in the upper atmosphere of Titan, in the vicinity of the icy satellites and in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn where densities are sufficiently high for measurement. The sensor utilizes a dual radio frequency quadrupole mass analyzer with a mass range of 1-99 amu, two electron multipliers operated in pulse-counting mode to cover the dynamic range required and two separate ion sources. A closed ion source measures non-surface reactive neutral species which have thermally accommodated to the inlet walls such as N2 and CH4. An open ion source allows direct beaming ions or chemically active neutral species such as N and HCN to be measured without surface interaction. The instrument can alternate between these three different modes. Characterization and calibration of each of these three modes is done using a low energy ion beam, a neutral molecular beam and a neutral thermal gas source. An onboard flight computer is used to control instrument operating parameters in accordance with pre-programmed sequences and to package the telemetry data. The sensor is sealed and maintained in a vacuum prior to launch to provide a clean environment for measurement of neutral species when it is opened to the ambient atmosphere after orbit insertion. The instrument is provided by NASA/Goddard Spaceflight Center, Code 915. Operation of the instrument and data analysis will be carried out by a Science Team.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Localization of the steroid-binding site of the human sex steroid-binding protein of plasma (SBP or SHBG) by site-directed mutagenesis

The amino-terminal region of the human sex steroid-binding protein of plasma (SBP or SHBG) containing K134 and M139 was found to represent part of the steroid-binding site. This was accomplished by constructing and expressing site-directed mutants having the following replacements: M139L, M139K, M139S, K134A, H235S, and Y57F. The results indicated that M139L and H235S were fully-active, K134A and Y57F were 50 and 67% active, M139K was 7% active, and M 139S was inactive. These results support affinity-labeling data indicating that both K134 and M139 are located in or near the site, and suggest that Y57 may play a role in steroid binding. The fully active H235S mutant reveals that H235 is not involved in the steroid-binding process.
Are free energy calculations useful in practice? A comparison with rapid scoring functions for the p38 MAP kinase protein system.

Precise thermodynamic integration free energy simulations have been applied to a congeneric series of 16 inhibitors to the p38 MAP kinase protein for which the experimental binding data (IC50) is known. The relative free energy of binding for each compound has been determined. For comparison, the same series of compounds have also scored using the best rapid scoring functions used in database screening. From the results of these calculations, we find (1) that precise free energy simulations allow predictions that are reliable and in good agreement with experiment; (2) that predictions of lower reliability, but still in good qualitative agreement with experiment, can be obtained using the OWFEG free energy grid method, at a much lower computational cost; (3) and that other methods, not based on free energy simulations yield results in much poorer agreement with experiment. A new predictive index, which measures the reliability of a prediction method in the context of normal use, is defined and calculated f...
Applying Power System Stabilizers Part III: Practical Considerations

The practical considerations associated with applying power system stabilizers are addressed in this final part of the paper. Procedures are described whereby the tuning concepts developed in Part II may be implemented in the field. An approach is described for determining the "plant" characteristics for which a stabilizer must compensate. Guidelines are presented for adjustment of stabilizer parameters, inclduing frequency-response, gain, and output limits. Techniques are described for verification of proper stabilizer set-up.
Structure-Activity Relationships of Mineral Dusts as Heterogeneous Nuclei for Ammonium Sulfate Crystallization from Supersaturated Aqueous Solutions

Mineral inclusions, present in aqueous atmospheric salt droplets, regulate crystallization when relative humidity decreases by providing a surface for heterogeneous nucleation and thus reducing the critical supersaturation. Although laboratory studies have quantified these processes to some extent, the diverse atmospheric mineralogy presents more chemical systems than practically feasible for direct study. Structure−activity relationships are necessary. To that end, in the present work the interactions of ammonium sulfate with corundum, hematite, mullite, rutile, anatase, and baddeleyite were studied by diffuse reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and by epitaxial modeling. The spectroscopic results show that shifts in sulfate peak positions due to chemisorption are not a correlative indicator of the efficacy of heterogeneous nucleation. In contrast, epitaxial modeling results of unreconstructed surfaces explain the sequence of critical supersaturations for constant particle size. ...
Neurocognition and social skill in older persons with schizophrenia and major mood disorders: An analysis of gender and diagnosis effects

Effective social interactions necessary for getting affiliative and instrumental needs met require the smooth integration of social skills, including verbal, non-verbal, and paralinguistic behaviors. Schizophrenia is characterized by prominent impairments in social and role functioning, and research on younger individuals with the illness has shown that social skills deficits are both common and distinguish the disease from other psychiatric disorders. However, less research has focused on diagnostic differences and correlates of social skills in older persons with schizophrenia. To address this question, we examined diagnostic and gender differences in social skills in a community-dwelling sample of 183 people older than age 50 with severe mental illness, and the relationships between social skills and neurocognitive functioning, symptoms, and social contact. Individuals with schizophrenia had worse social skills than those with bipolar disorder or major depression, with people with schizoaffective disorder in between. Social contact and cognitive functioning, especially executive functions and verbal fluency, were strongly predictive of social skills in people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, but not those with mood disorder. Other than blunted affect, symptoms were not predictive of social skills in either the schizophrenia spectrum or the mood disorder group. Older age was associated with worse social skills in both groups, whereas female gender was related to better skills in the mood disorder group, but not the schizophrenia group. The findings suggest that poor social skills, which are related to the cognitive impairment associated with the illness, are a fundamental feature of schizophrenia that persists from the onset of the illness into older age.
LOVASTATIN HAS DIRECT RENAL HEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS IN A RODENT MODEL

AbstractPurpose: Lovastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, has been shown to preserve renal function in models of chronic renal failure. We determined the effect of lovastatin on renal function and hemodynamics in normal nonpathologic kidneys in a rodent model.Materials and Methods: Renal function was measured in anesthetized (Inactin) control rats (n = 13) and lovastatin-treated rats (15 mg./kg./day, 3 weeks, orally, n = 17). Renal blood flow was measured with an ultrasonic flowprobe, and glomerular filtration rate was measured by inulin clearance. The effect of lovastatin on pre- and postglomerular vessel diameters was also observed in a hydronephrotic kidney preparation by videomicroscopy.Results: Lovastatin significantly increased (p less than 0.05) renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate by 17 percent (3.4 plus/minus 0.2 ml./min./gram kidney weight (gKW) versus 2.9 plus/minus 0.2 ml./min./gKW) and 49 percent (0.67 plus/minus 0.04 ml./min./gKW versus 0.45 plus/minus 0.06 ml./min./gKW). The i...
Freedom and the Human in "Evolutionary" Political Theory

“Evolutionary” political theory is a dynamic process of scholarship that collides disparate ideas into each other to form new, symbiogenetic concepts that were previously unthinkable. As evolutionary political theory, “Species Evolution and Cultural Freedom” enacts the dynamics of species evolution the essay examines, colliding theories of freedom into theories of evolution to offer new ways of imagining the self. Yet I argue that the essay’s evolutionary argument moves beyond the “self” to untether freedom from the human and to redefine the human as the symbiogenetic effect of colliding force fields: both human and nonhuman, cultural and environmental, genetic and evolutionary.
Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(isobenzofuran) Films by Chemical Vapor Deposition

This paper describes the synthesis and properties of poly(isobenzofuran) (PIBF) films prepared by a thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The synthesized precursor monomer, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4-epoxynaphthalene, is pyrolyzed by flowing it through a tube furnace at temperatures of 600−750 °C. A reactive intermediate, isobenzofuran (IBF) monomer, is produced by this pyrolysis and deposited onto a silicon substrate where it polymerizes to form a thin coating of poly(isobenzofuran) (PIBF) on the surface. The chemical structure and composition of the PIBF films are supported by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The weight-average molecular weight of the PIBF films range from 5500 to 9400 by varying the deposition (stage), pyrolysis (furnace), and vaporization (source) temperatures. With the variation of deposition temperature (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 °C) and pyrolysis temperature (600, 650, 700, 750...
Himasthla quissetensis: induced in vitro encystment of cercaria and ultrastructure of the cyst.

Abstract Himasthla quissetensis cercariae were induced to encyst in solutions of casein hydrolysate, sodium glutamate, lysine, arginine, glucose, α-methylglucoside, 3-0-methylglucose, glucosamine, gluconate, galactose, xylose, cellobiose, maltose, clam mucus, and diffusates from bluegill and eel skin. The approximately ellipsoidal cyst is composed of an outer homogeneous layer formed by granules released from the tegument and an inner laminated layer formed by scrolled rods originating in subtegumental cell bodies. Encysted metacercariae were infective to fledgling seagulls. Cercariae of Leopcreadium setiferoides, Cryptocotyle lingua, and Parorchis acanthus could not be induced to encyst in vitro by addition of casein hydrolysate.
Gas-Phase 1H NMR Studies of Internal Rotation Barriers and Conformer Stabilities of N-Ethyl, N-Methylthioamides

Kinetic parameters and conformational equilibrium constants characterizing the internal rotation in gaseous N-ethyl, N-methylthioformamide (EMSF), N-ethyl, N-methylthioacetamide (EMSA), and N-ethyl, N-methyltrifluorothioacetamide (EMSTFA) are determined from exchange broadened 1H NMR spectra. The ΔG⧧298 values, in kcal mol-1, are 22.6 (0.1), 17.8 (0.1), and 17.2(0.1) for EMSF, EMSA, and EMSTFA, respectively. Conformer Gibbs free energy differences, ΔG° (ΔG° = G° (methyl group syn to thionyl sulfur) − G° (methyl group anti to thionyl sulfur)), in cal mol-1, are −123 (24), 56 (9), and 96 (13) for EMSF, EMSA, and EMSTFA, respectively. These results are compared to solution phase values and to the corresponding oxoamides.
Development of a Bioassay for Anti Tumor Activity of Biological Response Modifiers of the Reticuloendothelial Stimulant Class: Reproducibility of the Bioassay

AbstractIntravenously administered DiLuzio glucan, Wellcome C. parvum, and Glaxo BCG caused dose dependent increases in the tumor cell loss from the lungs of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice challenged respectively with intravenous 125IuDR labelled B16 or T 1699 mammary carcinoma cells.The results were reproducible with respect to the optimal doses and the magnitudes and shapes of the dose response curves.
Stochastic analysis of Poisson impact series using discrete form, spectrum analysis and time correlation

A stochastic model based on Poisson impact series is developed from a random pulse train model. Using the discrete form of the expectation function, first- and second-order time correlation functions are generated. Then, the force and power spectral density functions are generated by the Fourier transform of the first- and second-order correlation functions, respectively. Experimental force and power spectra are compared with those from the developed model and an existing model using single, multiple and ensemble averaged impact samples. Overlapping and consistent matching occur in most of the regions in these comparisons. The effects of noise and pulse shape deviation are discussed. It is shown theoretically and experimentally that the signal-to-noise ratio increases with the impaction rate. Using ensemble averages of a 100 samples, the impact magnitude and its arrival time is validated to be Gaussian and Uniformly distributed. The signal-to-error ratio increases with the number of ensemble averages. The established model is utilised to carry out modal tests of a space truss. Comparing modal parameters, such as mode shapes, natural frequencies, and damping ratios, consistent matching is observed with those obtained from the random noise test.
The nature of learning and memory impairments in schizophrenia.

The California Verbal Learning Test was used to characterize the learning and memory impairment in schizophrenia (SC) and to evaluate potential clinical and demographic factors associated with this impairment. SC patients (n = 175) performed worse than normal comparison (NC) subjects (n = 229) on all learning, recall, and recognition memory measures. The most important clinical correlates of these impairments were earlier age of onset, more negative symptoms, and greater anticholinergic medication dosage. SC patients showed a prominent retrieval deficit as indicated by disproportionate improvement when tested in a recognition, rather than a free recall, format. A residual impairment seen with recognition testing suggests a mild encoding deficit as well. In contrast, the relative absence of a storage deficit is suggested by the lack of rapid forgetting. Using a discriminant function analysis that differentiates cortical dementia [i.e., Alzheimer's disease (AD)], subcortical dementia [i.e., Huntington's disease (HD)], and normals, it was found that 5070 of the SC patients were classified as having a subcortical memory profile and 35% were classified as having a normal profile, whereas only 15% were classified as having a cortical memory profile. Although these findings reflect the clinical heterogeneity often found in SC, results suggest that most SC patients demonstrate a pattern of learning and memory impairments that resembles the pattern seen in patients with primary subcortical (specifically striatal) pathology. (JINS, 1995, I, 88–99.)
Brain injury forces of moderate magnitude elicit the fencing response.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury is heterogeneous, both in its induction and ensuing neurological sequelae. In this way, medical care depends on accurately identifying the severity of injury-related forces. Clinically, injury severity is determined by a combination of the Glasgow Coma Scale, length of unconsciousness, posttraumatic amnesia, and persistence of neurological sequelae. In the laboratory, injury severity is gauged by the biomechanical forces and the acute suppression of neurological reflexes. The present communication describes and validates the "fencing response" as an overt indicator of injury force magnitude and midbrain localization to aid in injury identification and classification. Methods: Using YouTube(TM), the Internet video database, videos were screened for head injury resulting in unconsciousness and documented for the fencing response. Adult male rats were subjected to midline fluid percussion brain injury at two severities, observed for acute neurological reflexes and the midbrain evaluated histopathologically. Results: Tonic posturing (fencing response) has been observed to precede convulsions in sports injuries at the moment of impact, where extension and flexion of opposite arms occurs despite body position or gravity. Of the 35 videos identified by an impact to the head and period of unconsciousness, 66% showed a fencing response at the moment of impact, regardless of the side of impact, without ensuing convulsion. Similarly, diffuse brain-injured rats demonstrate a fencing response upon injury at moderate (1.9 atm, 39/44 animals) but not mild severity (1.1 atm, 0/19 animals). The proximity of the lateral vestibular nucleus to the cerebellar peduncles makes it vulnerable to mechanical forces that initiate a neurochemical storm to elicit the neuromotor response, disrupt the blood-brain barrier, and alter the nuclear volume. Conclusions: Therefore, the fencing response likely indicates neurological disturbance unique from convulsion associated with mechanical forces of moderate magnitude imparted on the midbrain and can assist in guiding medical care after injury
A sequence-based materials flow procedure for designing manufacturing cells

One of the most important problems in designing a cellular manufacturing system is the formation of machine cells and the grouping of parts. Most of the existing cell design procedures operate on a binary part-machine incidence matrix to identify block diagonality. Important factors such as part operation sequence and demand volume have not been commonly considered in past research. In this paper, a sequence-based materials flow procedure is developed to solve the cell formation problem. The new cell formation procedure is designed to consider operation sequences in accurately determining the costs of inter-cell movement, as well as forward and backward intra-cell movements. Extensive comparisons of the new cell formation procedure with the relevant existing procedures in the literature demonstrate the effectiveness of the new procedure.
The ultraviolet history of the terrestrial planets — implications for biological evolution

Abstract A radiative transfer model is employed to investigate the comparative surface ultraviolet (UV) radiation histories of Earth, Mars and Venus from 4.5 Ga to the present and thus their comparative theoretical photobiological histories. Earth probably began with a period of higher ultraviolet radiation fluxes during the anoxic Archean. During the early Proterozoic UV fluxes declined as oxygen partial pressures and thus ozone column abundance rose, but the ozone column became subject to stochastic depletion events caused principally by impact events and possibly large-scale volcanism and less frequently, close cosmic events such as supernovae. In contrast Mars has been subject to a history dominated by a slow increase in solar luminosity and a reduction in partial pressures of CO2, both of which have resulted in an increase in UV flux. The UV radiation history of Venus has been dominated by the greenhouse effect through which high partial pressures of CO2 made the surface UV radiation environment clement. These distinct histories influence the potential comparative evolutionary photobiology of the three planets. On Earth, life transitioned from the Archean, when tolerance to UV radiation, particularly for exposed organisms, must have been high to a more photobiologically clement era. In this latter era the predominant evolutionary selection pressure is one that allows for tolerance of sudden and unpredictable increases in UVB radiation above seasonal and diurnal maxima caused by exogenous perturbation of the ozone column. In the case of Mars, the UV radiation flux has increased over time. Today the biologically effective irradiances to DNA are not considerably different from those that are calculated for Archean Earth. If the planet suffered an atmospheric collapse then it may have been subject to an ultraviolet crisis at some point in its past when DNA-weighted irradiance would have increased three to five-fold. Venus transitioned into a photobiologically clement era soon after late bombardment. The lifeless surfaces of Mars and Venus, when in the former case DNA-weighted irradiances are not much greater than Archean Earth and in the latter case, insignificant, are testament to the unimportance of UV radiation as an evolutionary selection pressure when other physical factors, particularly lack of liquid water, become limiting to life. Understanding the comparative evolutionary differences in surface UV flux of the terrestrial planets can help us understand the influence, and lack of influence, of UV radiation in determining their suitability as abodes for life at different stages in their past.
Oncogenes and Anti-oncogenes in the Evolution of Human Leukemia/Lymphoma.

(1991). Oncogenes and Anti-oncogenes in the Evolution of Human Leukemia/Lymphoma. Leukemia & Lymphoma: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 153-158.
A Semi-Markov Model for Primary Health Care Manpower Supply Prediction

In this paper we develop a semi-Markov formulation for modelling transitions of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants between different settings and locations within a geographic area. The model predicts the supply of primary care providers over a planning horizon. We then compare the model predictions with estimates of future demand and need for primary care for a community. Statistical tests for validation and sensitivity analysis of the model are also performed to establish the appropriateness of the semi-Markov approach. With the likelihood of an oversupply of physicians during this decade, the model offers a useful tool for health planners, administrators, legislators, and regulators, for objective decision making.
Change in the Cell Envelope of Escherichia coli Carrying the Thermosensitive Drug Resistance Factor, Rts 1, at the Nonpermissive Temperature

Escherichia coli, harboring the temperature-sensitive drug-resistant factor Rts 1, formed filaments on solid medium at the nonpermissive temperature (42 C). In addition, the rate of adsorption of T4D phage progressively decreased during growth at 42 C. Susceptibility to a variety of antibiotics increased suggesting that the permeability barrier to these antibiotics may be disrupted at the nonpermissive temperature. These observations were interpreted to suggest that the target of the temperature-sensitive Rts 1 gene product responsible for altering host growth may be the cell envelope.
Optimization of surface plasmon resonance for environmental monitoring

A novel architecture for using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for environmental monitoring is presented that reduces the key barriers (cost, size, weight, and power consumption) for entry into portable environmental monitoring markets. The novelty of the system emphasizes the electronic rather than optical capture of the point of resonance in a liquid sensing medium. The instrument presented herein eliminates the spectrometer (also the bulk of the cost) and instead uses electronic (overdrive) control of the light source to enable fine shifts in the wavelength of the input spectrum. These fine, electronically controlled spectral shifts provide comparable discernment to optical spectrometer-based methods in identifying refractive index using the point of SPR. The total cost of the new system is approximately an order of magnitude (hundreds rather than thousands of dollars) less than spectrometer-based systems and provides comparable or improved performance in accuracy, resolution, stability, and drift (repeatability).
Exceptional electrochemical performance of rechargeable Li-S batteries with a polysulfide-containing electrolyte

Soluble lithium polysulfides (Li2Sx, x ≥ 6) were used as co-salts/additives in an ether-based electrolyte for lithium sulfur (Li–S) batteries. By optimizing the concentration of the polysulfide species and the amount of electrolyte, the Li–S batteries show high and stable discharge capacity, outstanding rate capability, and exceptional cycling performance.
Using PageRank to Locally Partition a Graph

A local graph partitioning algorithm finds a cut near a specified starting vertex, with a running time that depends largely on the size of the small side of the cut, rather than the size of the input graph. In this paper, we present a local partitioning algorithm using a variation of PageRank with a specified starting distribution. We derive a mixing result for PageRank vectors similar to that for random walks, and we show that the ordering of the vertices produced by a PageRank vector reveals a cut with small conductance. In particular, we show that for any set C with conductance Φ and volume k, a PageRank vector with a certain starting distribution can be used to produce a set with conductance . We present an improved algorithm for computing approximate PageRank vectors, which allows us to find such a set in time proportional to its size. In particular, we can find a cut with conductance at most ϕ, whose small side has volume at least 2 b , in time O(2 b log2 m/ϕ 2) where m is the number of edges in the...
STUDY OF GLASS BATCH MELTING BY RADIOACTIVE TRACING

Radioactive emanation-producing tracers for the investigation of powders have been applied to (1) the determination of surfaces and surface changes (e.g., melting) and (2) the study of diffusion phenomena in relation to transformations and chemical reactions. Preliminary investigations of glass batches have indicated the usefulness of this method. In the application of the procedure, small samples of glass batch (0.2 gm.) are treated with radiothorium nitrate solution, dried and sieved, and heated at a constant rate of 10 °C. per minute to 900–1000°. The release of thorium emanation atoms as a function of the temperature is measured by their ionizing effect on a nitrogen current passing the sample into an ionization chamber connected to an amplifier and a sensitive galvanometer. Investigations using this method are described.
Juries and Judges versus the Law: Virginia's Provincial Legal Perspective, 1783–1828

This study examines the efforts of Virginians to resist the imposition of a supreme law which would be enforced throughout the land by a supreme court. The author looks at the law in Virginia and its connection to government and society during the period of the Early Republic, from 1783 to 1828.
Ghana: revival of the mineral sector

Abstract After almost two decades of decline, Ghana's mineral sector has rebounded significantly and is currently the main foreign exchange earner. Gold mining is the principal activity within the sector and accounted for 41 percent of total export earnings in 1996. This paper presents an overview of Ghana's mineral industry and covers mineral resources, production and reserves; mining investments; the role of mining in the economy; and the structure of the industry. An overview of the national mineral policy is also presented to depict the current regulatory and fiscal environment in which the industry operates. The spectacular reversal in mineral sector performance can be attributed to the adoption of World Bank recommendations in a new national mineral policy, the 1986 Minerals and Mining Law, aimed at revitalizing the sector.
Radiographic and clinical classification of acquired midtarsus deformities

To develop a classification of midtarsus deformities, clinical examination and weightbearing radiographs were used to evaluate 131 feet in 109 patients (average age, 59+/-11 years) with those deformities. Patients were classified into four types based on anatomic location of the maximum deformity. Type I (N=43) showed deformity at the metatarsocuneiform joints medially and the fourth and fifth metatarsocuboid joints laterally, with plantarmedial and/or medial prominence. Type II (N= 60) had deformity at the naviculocuneiform joint medially and the fourth and fifth metatarsocuboid joints laterally; plantarlateral prominence was characteristic, although one-third had isolated or additional medial prominences. Type III (N=17) had major deformity in the perinavicular region, with a prominence plantarcentrally or plantarlaterally. Type IV (N=11) had deformity at the transverse tarsal joints with variable prominences. Each type was further subdivided into stages A, B, and C based on the severity of the deformity. In stage B, the midtarsus was coplanar with the metatarsocalcaneal plane. In stage A, the midtarsus was above this plane. In stage C, the midtarsus was below this plane. We concluded that midtarsus deformities can be classified as one of four types and one of three stages. Additional study is warranted to correlate this system with prognosis and treatment for this pathologic process.
Predatory prokaryotes: an emerging research opportunity.

Predatory prokaryotes have evolved a unique strategy of obtaining energy and biosynthetic materials from their surroundings: acquiring them from other living bacterial cells. These types of microbes have been found in a diverse variety of environments, and may play an important role in modulating microbial population structure and dynamics, as has been hypothesized for marine viruses and possibly protists. Only one genus of predatory bacterium, Bdellovibrio ,h as been extensively described and studied, though several other examples have been reported in the literature. In this review, the four basic strategies used by currently described predatory prokaryotes will be discussed: ‘‘wolfpack’’ group predation, epibiotic attachment, direct cytoplasmic invasion, and periplasmic invasion. Special adaptations to each approach will be considered, and compared overall to the genetic and biochemical characteristics of symbiotic or pathogenic prokaryotes living within eukaryotic cells. Two specific examples of predatory microbes, Bdellovibrio and Ensifer ,w il lb ed escribed in terms of predation strategy, association with host cells, and host range. The prospects for bringing to bear the tools of molecular microbial genetics to the study of predatory prokaryotes will be explored, using current research with Bdellovibrio and Ensifer as examples.
YOUNG BABY BOOMERS' WEALTH

Researchers know relatively little about the beginnings of wealth accumulation. This paper analyzes the wealth of young baby boomers, individuals born from 1957 to 1964, using a previously ignored wealth data set, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79). First, a detailed data quality evaluation is performed. Findings suggest that not cleaning NLSY79 wealth data causes nonsensical results, but there are no other serious problems. Analyzing the cleaned wealth data quantifies many stylized facts. For example, the typical baby boomer's wealth holdings increase by more than $2,000 a year. Married females hold more wealth than either married or unmarried males. Finally, while young boomers start with a majority of their wealth in illiquid holdings such as automobiles and possessions, they rapidly shift their wealth holdings into homes as they grow older.
Quantification of 3D left ventricular deformation using hyperelastic warping: comparisons between MRI and PET imaging

Image based finite element (FE) analysis was used to determine the deformation of the left ventricle (LV) between end-systole and end-diastole. The algorithm used volumetric MRI data to create a body force that deformed a finite element model of the LV over half of the cardiac cycle and tracked the tissue deformation. The accuracy of the computational predictions of strain were assessed by the creation of image data sets for which displacements between the images were known. A "forward" left ventricular FE model was given physiological loading and material properties. A loaded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data set was created by displacing the end-systolic image MRI data set using the displacement values determined from the forward model. The strains computed from the forward and Warping solutions were compared. Further, PET images from a single patient were analyzed and compared to MRI-based Warping analysis results for the same patient at mid-ventricle and at the base of the LV. The fiber stretch distribution between the forward and warping solutions show good agreement, both in overall stretch distribution and for the stretch values on the image planes. The MRI and PET analyses showed similar stretch distributions indicating that strain distributions can be measured from PET images.
Changes in the in-phase relationship between the Indian and subsequent Australian summer monsoons during the past five decades

Abstract. This study examines the decadal changes in the in-phase relationship between Indian summer monsoon and the subsequent Australian summer monsoon using observational data from 1950–2005. The in-phase relationship is the tendency for a strong Indian summer monsoon to be followed by a strong Australian summer monsoon and vice versa. It is found that the in-phase relationship was weak during the late 1950s and early 1960s, strengthened to a maximum in the early 1970s just before the 1976/77 Pacific climate shift, then declined until the late 1990s. Pacific SST anomalies are noticed to have strong persistence from boreal to austral summer, providing the memory to connect the Indian and subsequent Australian summer monsoon. The simultaneous correlation between the Pacific SST anomalies and the Indian summer monsoon is always strong. It is the weakening and strengthening of the simultaneous correlation between the Australian summer monsoon and the Pacific SST anomalies that contributes to the decadal variations of the in-phase monsoon relation. This study suggests that the interaction between the Australian monsoon and the Pacific Ocean is crucial to tropical climate variability and has experienced significant changes over the past five decades.
Antifungal activity of redox-active benzaldehydes that target cellular antioxidation

Background Disruption of cellular antioxidation systems should be an effective method for control of fungal pathogens. Such disruption can be achieved with redox-active compounds. Natural phenolic compounds can serve as potent redox cyclers that inhibit microbial growth through destabilization of cellular redox homeostasis and/or antioxidation systems. The aim of this study was to identify benzaldehydes that disrupt the fungal antioxidation system. These compounds could then function as chemosensitizing agents in concert with conventional drugs or fungicides to improve antifungal efficacy.
Enlightened and Eloquent: Augustine on Education

Elliot Eisner contends that the way we know and experience the world is “shaped by the theoretical language through which we [become] socialized.” More specifically, theories can influence the way scholars understand the historical underpinnings of education. For instance, Christian philosophy, as interpreted by John Dewey, is a monolith. For him, the “link that spans the intervening centuries” between antiquity and modernity is a closed system of thought that seeks truth from authority instead of from nature or human experience.