cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Environments on Development in Sensory Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effects of environment on development in sensory system. Various areas of clinical expertise support the generality to human conditions of the experimental studies with animals. No single principle of brain growth or sensory learning experience or critical period has the predominant explanatory power in accounting for all effects of sensory deprivation or enrichment. Development is a complex sequence of outcomes of interactions between genetic and environmental forces. A principle of competition for synaptic control combined with one that says that an optimum frequency and rate of use increases the efficacy of synapses would account for effects on the sensory systems and on behavior resulting from deprivation or enrichment. Lateral inhibition has been a known fact of visual perception and a fact of the physiology of the visual nervous system. Applied to the rapidly growing young nervous system, repetitions of this process accumulate their effects until measurable growth changes result, and atrophy begins without them. The detailed contributions of excitatory and inhibitory events at synapses as they operate in the development of various sense modes remain to be specified. In ocular dominance columns and in barrel structures of somatosensory cortex, expansion of sensory projection fields to the cortex at the expense of adjacent projections is well documented by electrophysiology and light microscopy. Convergence and divergence of pathways between the sensory periphery and the cortex sets the stage for shifts in lateral inhibition or facilitation and may be demonstrated in local lesions of the retina or in striate cortex.
Complex Contribution of Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to Veteran Suicide: Facing an Increasing Challenge

PURPOSE: The purpose of this case study is to present the complex contribution of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to suicide and international standards of treatment among veterans deployed to the Middle East. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD carries increased physical and psychological health risk in combat soldiers. Internationally, guidelines for PTSD promote cognitive behavior therapies, specifically exposure therapy, as first line treatment; however, implementation varies among countries. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Evidence supports the benefit of exposure-based psychotherapy for combat-related PTSD. Commonly prescribed antidepressants and other psychotherapy treatments may not be as beneficial. Language: en
Historical Junctures in U.S. Foreign Policy Toward the UN Security Council: Is the End of the Cold War Critical?

How can international relations scholars identify and use critical junctures in their causal analysis? A historical juncture is when structural constraints on the options for political action are relaxed (Capoccia & Keleman 2007). This concept can be used to illuminate many areas of international politics. Most frequently, the concept is applied as part of an explanation of the formation of a new international order (e.g. Ikenberry 2001, Spruyt 1994). However, these periods of time can be helpful to explain changes in other international phenomenon such as foreign policy practices. Despite its utility, the concept remains under theorized. I establish criteria to identify when a critical juncture has taken place in the realm of international politics and how it can be used in causal analysis. I then apply these criteria to the foreign policy practices of the U.S. toward the UN Security Council and demonstrate how the existence of a critical juncture in 1990 is helpful for explaining the changes in U.S. foreign policy practices and the changes in UNSC authority.
Supercomputing and Evolution in Close Binaries

Martin Schwarzschild wrote, at the beginning of his semina11958 book ’Structure and Evolution of the Stars’, “…. the laws to be discovered may be perfect, but the human brain is not. Left on its own, it is prone to stray, as many past examples sadly prove. In fact, we have missed few chances to err until new data freshly gleaned from nature set us right again for the next few steps. Thus pillars rather than crutches are the observations on which we base our theories.”
Situational Interest: A Review of the Literature and Directions for Future Research

This paper reviews theoretical and empirical research on situational interest. A distinction is made between situational and personal interest. The former is spontaneous and context-specific, whereas the latter is enduring and context-general. We summarize historical perspectives and recent empirical findings on situational interest. Five emergent themes are identified that focus on relationships among situational interest, information processing, and affective engagement. We also discuss important topics for future research.
Studies on human dental plaque. 1. Physical and chemical characteristics and enzyme activities of pooled plaque extracts.

. Human supragingival dental plaque was collected from patients with various degrees of caries and periodontal disease. Plaque extracts, prepared in five different solutions (four varied from pH 1.8 to 12.7; one contained urea), were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and tested for amylase and lysozyme enzyme activity. Because no qualitative or quantitative advantages of using the extremes of pH or urea were observed, all subsequent extracts were prepared in phosphate buffered saline at pH 7.3. Concentrated extracts were fractionated by gel filtration and characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, peptide mapping, molecular weight estimation, determination of enzymatic activities and amino acid and carbohydrate analyses. Regions of similarity among the gels were revealed by comparing the electrophoretic patterns of pooled plaque extract, normal serum and whole saliva. The elution pattern of pooled plaque extract from a standardized Sephadex G-200 column indicated the presence of both high and low molecular weight proteins that might have correlated with the components of normal serum and saliva. A predominant and dialyzable third fraction had no correlate in either serum or saliva. The small peptides in this fraction were subjected to amino acid, carbohydrate and peptide map analyses. The most abundant amino acids were alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, valine, leucine, lysine and serine. These small components contained no neutral or amino sugars. Pooled plaque extract and the small peptides exhibited similar peptide maps.
Extracting 3-D structure and focused images using an optical microscope

Describes a novel method for recovering three-dimensional shapes and focused images of microscopic objects. A small sequence of object images is obtained by translating the object through the focused plane of the microscope. The sum-modified-Laplacian (SML) operator is developed to compute local measures of the quality of image focus. The SML operator is applied to the image sequence, and the focus measures obtained at each image point are used to compute local depth estimates. Two algorithms for depth estimation are presented. The first algorithm simply looks for the focus level that maximizes the focus measure at each image point. The second algorithm uses a model to interpolate the focus measures to obtain more accurate depth estimates. The algorithms were implemented and tested on a variety of biological specimens. The authors present a brief description of a fully automated shape-from-focus system that is currently being used to inspect both medical and industrial samples. >
A Decomposition of the Correlation Coefficient and its Use in Analyzing Forecasting Skill

Abstract Estimates of several components of forecasting skill can be obtained by combining a skill-score decomposition developed by Allan Murphy with techniques for decomposing correlation coefficients that have been employed in research on human judgment. The decomposition of the correlation coefficient requires knowledge of the information or “cues” used by the forecaster. When the cues are known, it is possible to estimate the effects of uncertainty and the forecaster's consistency and use of the cues.
Data collection studies for the superconducting super collider

Abstract We report on progress in our program for developing data acquisition systems for experiments at the SSCL. Using the MODSIM II object-oriented discrete-event simulation language, we are studying the behavior and interaction of various front-end circuits, data-collection chips, data-gathering networks, multilevel triggers, and buffer implementations. Results include system dead time, throughput, and efficiency, as they are influenced by data rates and system architecture.
The current status of Leishmania RNA virus I

Viruses of Leishmania have recently been identified and characterized. These viruses are consistently double-stranded RNA viruses of approximately 5 kb. They have not been shown to exist outside their protozoan host, persistently infecting these parasites. The laboratory of jean Patterson has been interested in characterizing and identifying virusese of protozoans in order to use them as molecular probes of the unique gene expression mechanisms of protozoan parasites.
Magnetostatic interactions in magnetic nanoparticle assemblies: energy, time and length scales

The effects of magnetostatic interactions between monodisperse single-domain nanoparticles are described in terms of the particle concentration and structural ordering within the assembly. The resulting energy level distribution, time-dependent behaviour and spatial correlations are discussed in the context of the properties of bulk dipolar ferromagnets, bulk spin glasses and non-interacting monodomain particles. Both standard measurements and novel characterization techniques are described. The results from research groups studying monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles are compared to illustrate the distinguishing characteristics of interacting assemblies and to highlight important questions that remain.
Same-sex marriage, sodomy laws, and the sexual lives of young people

Gains for lesbian and gay adults demanding the rights to privacy and marriage that they consider their due as U.S. citizens do not hold the same promise for young people. Both the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court decision and 2004 successes of the same-sex marriage movement in the United States fail to alter the oppressive social conditions in which contemporary young people navigate and claim sexual lives. Consent, privacy, and majority status—principles fundamental to the Lawrence decision and the expanding definition of “marriage”—are privileges to which youth do not have access. They are also understandings essential to the restrictive and inaccurate abstinence-only instruction with which many youth contend in contemporary U.S. schools. I urge social movement leaders to abandon adultist understandings of sexual justice and to include young people as constituents and allies in their movements for social change.
Control of the contractility of the myocardium in a feedback system.

Experimental evidence strongly suggests that the contractility of the intact heart in situ, in contrast to that of striated muscle elsewhere in the body, is controlled in a close-cycle system. Thus, the variation of intraventricular pressure during systole follows a complex pattern, whose relative form remains quite constant regardless of the duration of ejection. By use of the single-chambered model of the cardiovascular system, a mathematical representation of a feasible feedback mechanism is developed. The requirement that the feedback system must satisfy mathematical principles eliminates relationships apparently reasonable from a physiological viewpoint. A clinical application which the mathematical development suggests is that early arterial hypertension may arise from an abnormal feedback mechanism with excessively large cardiac output in the initial portion of systole.
A Standard for Computer Networks

The development of suitable standards is a vital key to developing ing the full potential of multi-access computer networks. To date work is being done on only a few of the standards that will be required, and among these few, progress is distressingly slow. Divergent procedures are rapidly becoming entrenched in areas where there should be standards and if the current rate of standards development is extrapolated, it is doubtful that the necessary standards can be developed in time.
Developmental learning communities at Metropolitan Community College

This case study describes steps for implementing innovative learning communities that build basic skills and foster self-confidence in students at the developmental level.
The effects of clonidine on postoperative analgesia after peripheral nerve blockade in children.

BACKGROUND:The effect of clonidine on the duration of sensory blockade after peripheral nerve blockade is controversial. We evaluated the effects of clonidine on the duration of sensory and motor block and analgesia time in children who underwent a variety of peripheral nerve blocks.METHODS:We revie
Muon beam ionization cooling in a linear quadrupole channel

Abstract In a scenario for either a Neutrino Factory or Muon Collider, the anticipated transverse beam emittance subsequent to capture and phase rotation is so large that it permits a relaxation of the requirements on beam spot size in the early stages relative to the final stages of ionization cooling. Staging the cooling process according to initial emittances, coupled with modest cooling factors, permits more optimal and efficient cooling channel designs and avoids much of the difficulty encountered with channels which attempt to maintain strong focusing (large, 300–500 mrad, divergences) across ultra-large momentum ranges (⩾±20% δ p / p ). Relaxation of spot size at the absorber, especially in the “precooling” stage, allowed development of an efficient transverse cooling channel based simply on a quadrupole FODO cell. This work describes the design of such a cooling channel and its application as an upstream stage of beam cooling. Being a linear channel with no bends, it serves to reduce the large transverse beam size delivered from muon-beam capture and bunching before entering more restricted optical structures such as transverse plus longitudinal cooling channels or accelerators.
Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on mouse thymus: role of extracellular calcium

Abstract We recently reported that mice treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ) or 19-nor-1,25-(OH) 2 D 2 experienced a severe loss of their thymocytes and decreased proliferation in response to concanavalin A mitogen. The present study investigated the effect of short-term treatment with 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 on the thymic architecture and thymocyte subsets. Daily treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 at 20 ng permouse for 4 days induced significant involution of thymic tissue. The atrophy was predominantly observed in the cortical component. Flow cytometric analysis of thymocyte subsets showed that the CD4 + CD8 + population was the primary target. Since the treated mice experienced profound hypercalcemia, we studied the effect of 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 on animals fed a vitamin D-deficient, low calcium diet or the same diet containing vitamin D for 25 days prior to treatment. The low calcium fed mice showed severe hypocalcemia and slight thinning of thymic cortex. Treatment with 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 moderately improved the hypocalcemia but had no further effect on the thymus of these animals. On the other hand, hypercalcemia and thymic atrophy were found in the animals fed the diet containing vitamin D. Overall, the atrophy effect on the thymus caused by 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 treatment was prevented by eliminating the hypercalcemia observed in + D + Ca treated animals. Thus, thymic atrophy probably resulted from hypercalcemia and not from 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 itself.
ABH Gel Is Not Absorbed From the Skin of Normal Volunteers

Abstract Background Lorazepam (Ativan ® ), diphenhydramine (Benadryl ® ), haloperidol (Haldol ® ) (ABH) topical gel is currently widely used for nausea in hospice because of perceived efficacy and low cost and has been suggested for cancer chemotherapy. However, there are no studies of absorption, a prerequisite for effectiveness. We completed this study to establish whether ABH gel drugs are absorbed, as a prerequisite to effectiveness. Intervention Ten healthy volunteers, aged 25 to 58 years (mean 37 years), two African Americans and eight Caucasian Americans, applied the standard 1.0mL dose (2mg of lorazepam, 25mg of diphenhydramine, and 2mg of haloperidol in a pluronic lecithin organogel), rubbed on the volar surface of the wrists by the subject. Measures Blood samples were obtained at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes. Plasma concentrations were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using deuterated internal standards for each drug. Outcomes No lorazepam or haloperidol was detected in any sample from any of the 10 volunteers down to a level of 0.05ng/mL. Diphenhydramine was found in multiple plasma samples at concentrations >0.05ng/mL in three patients, with the highest concentration of 0.30ng/mL in one person at 240 minutes. Overall, five of 10 patients exhibited detectable diphenhydramine in one or more samples, supporting limited absorption. No subject noted any side effects. Conclusions/Lessons Learned As commonly used, none of the lorazepam, haloperidol, or diphenhydramine in ABH gel is absorbed in sufficient quantities to be effective in the treatment of nausea and vomiting. Diphenhydramine is erratically absorbed at subtherapeutic levels. The efficacy of ABH gel should be confirmed in randomized trials before its use is recommended.
Patterns in the ripple structure of Mie scattering.

We study the ripple structure in the scattered intensity predicted by Mie scattering theory in the angular behavior of the scattered intensity for homogeneous, dielectric spheres. We find that for small values of the phase shift parameter ρ=2kR|m-1|, where k=2π/λ,R is the sphere radius, and m is the relative refractive index, the ripples are periodic with spacing equal to π when plotted versus the dimensionless qR, where q=2k sin(θ/2) and θ is the scattering angle. However, as ρ increases, this outcome switches to nonuniform spacing of approximately π cos(θ/2). The latter spacing is equivalent to a uniform spacing of π/kR when plotted versus θ.
Sequential Collapse Folding Pathway of β-Lactoglobulin: Parallel Pathways and Non-Native Secondary Structure

In this paper, the sequential collapse model (SCM) for revealing protein folding pathways is applied to bovine β-lactoglobulin. The results for the dominant folding pathway are in general agreement with recent experimental data. An analysis based on the SCM suggests that, in addition to the dominant early intermediate specified by the best predicted primary contact, there are coexisting populations of early intermediates defined by the formation of less energetically favorable primary contacts. The issue of parallel folding pathways defined by primary contacts with different formation propensities is discussed. The main primary contact is energetically dominant with respect to the additional primary contacts. However, it is possible that the additional population of contacts might contribute to the non-native helical structure observed to accumulate in the early folding stages if there were kinetic constraints along the dominant pathway that led to an accumulation of misfolded early intermediates. A mutation experiment is suggested to reveal whether any non-native secondary structure contributes to the observed helical excess due to the additional folding pathways defined by the nondominant primary contacts. The relevance of these results to larger issues of protein folding is also discussed.
Teaching teamwork in engineering and computer science

Teamwork is recognized as an important skill for engineering and computer science professionals. Both potential employers and accrediting agencies, such as ABET, expect students to gain proficiency in teamwork skills through experiential learning. Teamwork based projects challenge the student to apply the technical knowledge they gain in school to solve meaningful and complex problems. However, to be truly proficient in teamwork, a student must also learn and practice a large number of peripheral skills. These include planning, estimating, tracking progress, taking corrective actions, managing change, controlling and managing risks, maintaining ethical and professional conduct, communicating complex ideas clearly and concisely, using design automation tools, leveraging web-based tools for team collaboration, and most importantly participating effectively as team members. It is essential that students should be taught these important skills. It is unlikely that without adequate faculty guidance students can pick up these skills through ad-hoc project experience. Yet, many engineering and computer science programs expect the students to do just that. We feel strongly that we need to employ a more pragmatic approach in teaching students the skills necessary to function as effective and productive team members. Additionally, we need to develop criteria for assessing the effectiveness of teaching teamwork and the tools to measure learning outcomes. Among the problems contributing to this situation are the following: engineering and computer science instructors themselves often have had little or no experience operating in teams; training or guidance in effective ways to teach teamwork is seldom provided; and tools and effective approaches to assist in the teaching and assessment of teamwork are lacking. Another problem is that, it takes a great deal of faculty time, effort and energy to guide groups of students in doing effective teamwork. We will describe an approach that we have used to teach team collaboration skills using free and freely available web-based tools. Students learn to use tools for design automation, metrics collection, project management, and web-based collaboration. Our approach encourages students to learn teamwork skills and improves levels of collaboration among team members while reducing demands on faculty time and effort. Use of web-based collaboration tools allows students to participate without the need for frequent face-to-face meetings; this our students love. In an effort to maximize the use of techniques like the ones described in this paper, we hold regular informal sessions of interested faculty to share ideas on improving teaching teamwork and to develop methods and tools for assessment. The paper and the conference presentation will describe both our approach and the results we have obtained.
Sulfate-chloride exchange transport in a glioma cell line.

Abstract Transport of SO42− was studied in the glioma cell line LRM55 to determine whether it is mediated by the Cl−/HCO3− exchanger or the K+/Cl− cotransporter previously described in these cells (Wolpaw, E.W. and Martin, D.L. (1984) Brain Res. 297, 317–327). 35SO42− influx was saturable with SO42−. External SO42− stimulated 35SO42− efflux, indicating an exchange mechanism. External Cl− was a competitive inhibitor of 35SO42− influx. Internal Cl− stimulated 35SO42− influx and external Cl− stimulated 35SO42− efflux, indicating that Cl− is an exchange substrate for the SO42− carrier. Also, SO42− flux was sensitive to SITS, DIDS and furosemide. However, saturating external SO42− did not inhibit 36Cl− influx and did not inhibit 36Cl− efflux via the Cl−/HCO3− exchanger. Moreover, K+ did not stimulate 35SO42− influx as it does Cl− influx. These findings indicate that SO42− transport into these cells is mediated by an exchange carrier distinct from both the Cl−/HCO3− exchanger and the K+/Cl− cotransporter. While Cl− is an alternative substrate for the SO42− porter, this carrier is responsible for only a minor fraction of total Cl− flux in these cells.
Monte Carlo calculation of positron implantation in multilayered materials

Abstract A simple Monte Carlo algorithm for the calculation of positron implantation in multilayered materials is described. Given estimates of the linear positron absorption and backscattering coefficients for each material in a multilayer the algorithm calculates the fraction of implanted positrons in each layer. The algorithm can be applied to systems with an arbitrary number and arrangement of layers, including systems which give rise to multiple backscattering. Application of the method to the calculation of source corrections and positron implantation in coatings is described. Monte Carlo calculation of positron implantation in aluminum/molybdenum multilayers, representing typical single and double foil source/sample arrangements gives results that are indentical to those calculated with exact analytical expressions for those systems where such expressions are available. The inclusion of nonabsorbing, void regions between layers, as occurs in nonbouded multilayers, can change the pattern of backscattering and lead to significant changes in positron implantation fractions. Positron implantation in coatings and thin films is particularly sensitive to backscattering effects. For certain positron source/sample geometries, backscattering can increase the fraction of implanted positrons in the source as the coating thickness decreases.
An Ecological Study of Lactic Acid Bacteria: Isolation of New Strains of Lactococcus Including Lactococcus lactis subspecies cremoris

Abstract We previously described a colony hybridization method for isolation of bacteria from natural environments using rRNA probes and the successful use of the method for the isolation of dairy lactococci. Herein we report the use of the method for further isolation of dairy lactococci. Thirty-eight samples from US vegetables and other plant species; 24 individual raw milk and milk product samples from the US, People's Republic of China, Morocco, Yugoslavia, and Ukraine; and 12 other samples from US dairy farms were examined for lactic acid bacteria by the colony hybridization method. Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis occurred on potato, cucumber, sweet pea, bean, cantaloupe, corn, body and tail of cows, colostrum, raw milk from goats and cows, cottage cheese, and cream. Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis biovar diacetylactis was isolated from raw cow milk from Morocco and from raw goat milk and cottage cheese from Yugoslavia. Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris was isolated from raw milks from Morocco. People's Republic of China, and Ukraine and from cottage cheese and raw milk from Yugoslavia. Acid-producing properties of isolated strains were variable. Many strains were fast acid producers, most were acceptable for flavor when grown in milk, and a few produced a malty flavor, which is considered to be a defect.
Analysis of mechanisms associated with loss of infectivity of clonal populations of Borrelia burgdorferi B31MI

Numerous studies have provided suggestive evidence that the loss of plasmids correlates with the loss of infectivity of the Lyme disease spirochetes. In this study we have further investigated this correlation. Clonal populations were obtained from the skin of a mouse infected for 3 months with a clonal population of Borrelia burgdorferi B31MI. The complete plasmid compositions of these populations were determined using a combination of PCR and Southern hybridization. The infectivities of clones differing in plasmid composition were tested using the C3H-HeJ murine model for Lyme disease. While several clones were found to be noninfectious, a correlation between the loss of a specific plasmid and loss of infectivity in the clones analyzed in this report was not observed. While it is clear from recent studies that the loss of some specific plasmids results in attenuated virulence, this study demonstrates that additional mechanisms also contribute to the loss of infectivity.
AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF A FORCED-CHOICE F SCALE.

A forced-choice form of the F scale was constructed and correlations were computed between the resulting scores and those from a “counterbalanced” form and its two components: the scores from embed...
The Streptococcus mutans Aminotransferase Encoded by ilvE Is Regulated by CodY and CcpA

The aminotransferase IlvE was implicated in the acid tolerance response of Streptococcus mutans when a mutation in its gene resulted in an acid-sensitive phenotype (B. Santiago, M. MacGilvray, R. C. Faustoferri, and R. G. Quivey, Jr., J. Bacteriol. 194:2010–2019, 2012). The phenotype suggested that amino acid metabolism is important for acid adaptation, as turnover of branched-chain amino acids (bcAAs) could provide important signals to modulate expression of genes involved in the adaptive process. Previous studies have demonstrated that ilvE is regulated in response to the external pH, though the mechanism is not yet established. CodY and CcpA have been shown to regulate expression of branched-chain amino acid biosynthetic genes, suggesting that the ability to sense carbon flow and the nutritional state of the cell also plays a role in the regulation of ilvE. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using the ilvE promoter and a purified recombinant CodY protein provided evidence of the physical interaction between CodY and ilvE. In order to elucidate the signals that contribute to ilvE regulation, cat reporter fusions were utilized. Transcriptional assays demonstrated that bcAAs are signaling molecules involved in the repression of ilvE through regulation of CodY. In a codY deletion background, ilvE transcription was elevated, indicating that CodY acts a repressor of ilvE transcription. Conversely, in a ccpA deletion background, ilvE transcription was reduced, showing that CcpA activated ilvE transcription. The effects of both regulators were directly relevant for transcription of ilvE under conditions of acid stress, demonstrating that both regulators play a role in acid adaptation.
Effect of Different Cytokinins on Ethylene Production by Mung Bean Hypocotyls in the Presence of Indole-3-Acetic Acid or Calcium Ion

Kinetin has been shown to act synergistically with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or calcium ion (Ca2+) to stimulate ethylene production. Several commercially available cytokinins (kinetin, kinetin-riboside, benzyladenine, benzyladenine-riboside, isopentenyladenine, isopentenyladenine-riboside, and zeatin) as well as noncytokinin bases (adenine and xanthine) were administered to mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.) hypocotyls to study their effects, alone or in combination with IAA or Ca2+, on ethylene production. In the presence of IAA or Ca2+, all cytokinins tested synergistically stimulated ethylene production and were as effective or nearly as effective as kinetin. Noncytokinin bases (adenine and xanthine) were, however, inactive in this system.
Least relative entropy for voiced/unvoiced speech classification

The aim of the work is to develop a flexible and efficient approach to the classification of the ratio of voiced to unvoiced excitation sources in continuous speech. To achieve this aim we adopt a probabilistic neural network approach. This is accomplished by designing a multilayer perceptron classifier trained by steepest descent minimization of the least relative entropy (LRE) cost function. By using the LRE cost function we can directly output the ratio, as a probability, of excitation source, voiced to unvoiced, for a given speech segment. These output probabilities can then be used directly in other applications, such as low bit rate coders.
Data Analysis Using S-Plus

This article explores the S-plus statistical computing environment in the context of an analysis of Duncan's occupational prestige data. The article highlights the modeling and graphics capabilities of S-plus and introduces basic programming concepts. In the course of the analysis, the authors develop functions for bootstrapping and kernel density estimation. In addition, they display some of the extensive interactive graphics capabilities of S-plus.
Dynamical chiral-symmetry breaking

A solution of a quantum-chromodynamic Schwinger-Dyson equation for the quark propagator approximated in a way that is consistent with asymptotic freedom shows that chiral symmetry breaks down spontaneously.
Lactobacillus GG as an immune adjuvant for live-attenuated influenza vaccine in healthy adults: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) protects against influenza by mucosal activation of the immune system. Studies in animals and adults have demonstrated that probiotics improve the immune response to mucosally delivered vaccines. We hypothesized that Lactobacillus GG (LGG) would function as an immune adjuvant to increase rates of seroconversion after LAIV administration. We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study to determine whether LGG improved rates of seroconversion after administration of LAIV. We studied 42 healthy adults during the 2007–2008 influenza season. All subjects received LAIV and then were randomized to LGG or placebo, twice daily for 28 days. Hemagglutinin inhibition titers were assessed at baseline, at day 28 and at day 56 to determine the rates of seroconversion. Subjects were assessed for adverse events throughout the study period. A total of 39 subjects completed the per-protocol analysis. Both LGG and LAIV were well tolerated. Protection rates against the vaccine H1N1 and B strains were suboptimal in subjects receiving LGG and placebo. For the H3N2 strain, 84% receiving LGG vs 55% receiving placebo had a protective titer 28 days after vaccination (odds of having a protective titer was 1.84 95% confidence interval 1.04–3.22, P=0.048). Lactobacillus GG is potential as an important adjuvant to improve influenza vaccine immunogenicity. Future studies of probiotics as immune adjuvants might need to specifically consider examining vaccine-naive or sero-negative subjects, target mucosal immune responses or focus on groups known to have poor response to influenza vaccines.
The role of test structure in creating false memories

In the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm, studying lists of semantic associates results in high rates of false recognition of a nonpresented critical word. The present set of experiments was designed to measure the contribution of additional processing of list items at test to this false memory effect. The participants studied sets of lists and then performed a recognition task for each set. In three experiments, using this paradigm, we investigated false recognition when the number of studied list items presented at test (0, 6, or 12) was manipulated. In Experiments 2 and 3, false recognition of critical lures associated to both studied and nonstudied lists increased significantly as the number of list items included in the test increased. These results indicate that processes occurring at retrieval contribute to false memory effects found with the DRM paradigm.
Potential transformations of chromium in natural waters

A study has been conducted on the transformation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in simulated natural water conditions. It has been found that these forms are readily interconvertible under natural water conditions. The results of this study indicate that Cr(VI) is reduced by Fe(II), dissolved sulfides, and certain organic compounds with sulfhydryl groups, while Cr(III) is oxidized by a large excess of MnO2 and at a slow rate by Oz under conditions approximating those in natural waters. Based on the results of these studies, water quality standards for Cr should be based on total Cr rather than on Cr(VI), as has been frequently done in the past.
PENILE STUMP ADVANCEMENT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PERINEAL URETHROSTOMY AFTER PENILE AMPUTATION

Purpose: We describe a method for avoiding perineal urethrostomy, and maintaining penile cosmesis and function after penile amputation. Materials and Methods: Penile reconstruction was performed in 1 patient with traumatic total amputation of the penis and 1 undergoing near total penectomy for carcinoma by advancing the penile stump and covering the resultant phallus with rotational full thickness scrotal flaps. Results: Both patients were able to void while standing, and have intact sensation and erectile capability in the residual neophallus. Conclusions: Perineal urethrostomy is not necessary after penopubic penile amputation. Advancement of residual cavernosal tissue and skin coverage with scrotal flaps minimize altered body image, and maintain sensation and normal voiding position.
Selective food preferences of walleyes of the 1959 year class in Lake Erie

Abstract Stomachs were examined from 1,473 walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) of the 1959 year class collected in western Lake Erie from June 1959 to October 1960. In the same period, the relative abundance and lengths of potential forage species were determined from trawl catches. The walleyes fed almost entirely on fish. In 1959 the food was dominated first (in June and July) by yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and then, in sequence, by spottail shiners (Notropis hudsonius) and emerald shiners (Notropis atherinoides). In 1960, the walleyes fed mostly on yearling spottail shiners and emerald shiners in the spring and summer but young alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) became the dominant food in the fall. The length of forage fish increased with the length of walleyes and walleyes of a given length usually ate forage fish within a restricted range of lengths. This size preference was shown by walleyes of the same length in the same and different months. The increase in length of forage fish with length ...
Efficacy of High Hydrostatic Pressure Treatment in Reducing Escherichia coli O157 and Listeria monocytogenes in Alfalfa Seeds

: The application of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) technology as a seed decontamination technique was evaluated. Alfalfa seeds inoculated with Escherichia coli O157 and Listeria monocytogenes were air-dried and subjected to independent HHP treatments of 275 to 575 MPa for 2 min or at 475 MPa for 2 to 8 min (40°C). There were 1.4-log and 2.0-log reductions in E. coli O157 populations at 575 MPa (2 min) and 475 MPa (8 min), respectively. However, these treatments caused only 0.8-log and 1.1-log reductions in L. monocytogenes counts. Treated seeds took longer to germinate, achieving germination rate of up to 34%, whereas 95% of the control germinated. Results suggest that L. monocytogenes is more resistant to the bactericidal effects of HHP than E. coli O157. Although HHP treatments achieved a greater reduction in E. coli O157, it was at the expense of seed germination. Overall, our results indicate that although HHP treatments reduced the populations of E. coli O157 and L. monocytogenes in alfalfa seeds, they did not completely eliminate these microorganisms.
ENHANCEMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF PENICILLINS AND OTHER ANTIBIOTICS IN HUMAN SERUM BY COMPETITIVE SERUM BINDING INHIBITORS.

SummaryA series of compounds, many of which had been shown in dialysis studies to be effective in displacing penicillins from binding to human serum, have been tested for ability to enhance the antimicrobial activity of various penicillins and other antibiotics in the presence of 50% human serum. Enhanced antimicrobial activity in serum was shown in the case of sulfonamides to be only partially reversible by para-amino ben-zoic acid, suggesting that augmentation of penicillin activity was due to serum displacing effects as well as to the intrinsic antibacterial activity of sulfonamides. Evidence is presented that the “R” groups of penicillins are the most important determinants of binding to serum. The specificity of the penicillin binding sites was shown by the failure of displacing agents shown to be effective against the penicillin site(s), to effect binding of novobiocin and tetracyclines, and by the lack of effect of probenecid, known to be highly bound, to displace penicillins from serum.The author ...
Dissolution Patterns of Polydisperse Powders: Oxalic Acid Dihydrate

Abstract The dissolution of oxalic acid dihydrate crystals of log-normal particle-size distribution in 0.1 N HCI was studied. A biphasic cube root dependence was found; the slopes of the initial cube root plots were consistent with theory based on dissolution of isometric, isotropic particles where assumptions were made of: (a) sink conditions, (b) particle-size-independent solubility, and (c) particle-size-independent film thickness of adsorbed liquid layers.
Seismic fragility of reinforced concrete structures in nuclear facilities

Abstract The failure and fragility analyses of reinforced concrete structures and elements in nuclear reactor facilities within the Seismic Safety Margins Research Program (SSMRP) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are evaluated. Receiving special attention are uncertainties in material modeling, behavior of low shear walls, and seismic risk assessment for nonlinear response. Problems with ductility-based spectral deamplification and prediction of the stiffness of reinforced concrete walls at low stress levels are examined. It is recommended that relatively low damping values be used in connection with ductility-based response reductions and that static nonlinear force-deflection curves be studied for better nonlinear dynamic response predictions.
An evaluation of combined therapy for squamous cell cancer of the anal canal

Carcinoma of the anal canal develops in the area of the dentate line and is referred to as cloacogenic, transitional, basaloid, epidermoid, and squamous cell cancer. For years, the accepted treatment for these lesions has been abdominoperineal resection. The use of preoperative radiation and chemotherapy was begun by our group in 1972. By 1975, it became apparent that radiation and chemotherapy alone appeared effective enough so that radical operation was not done routinely. An evaluation of the results in 104 patients, 44 of whom were treated by us (the rest of the data was collected by questionnaire), suggests that radiation and chemotherapy alone are at least as effective as radical surgery in most patients with this disease.
The WMAP data and results

Abstract The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) science team has released results from the first year of operation at the Earth–Sun L2 Lagrange point. The maps are consistent with previous observations but have much better sensitivity and angular resolution than the COBE DMR maps, and much better calibration accuracy and sky coverage than ground-based and balloon-borne experiments. The angular power spectra from these ground-based and balloon-borne experiments are consistent within their systematic and statistical uncertainties with the WMAP results. WMAP detected the large angular-scale correlation between the temperature and polarization anisotropies of the CMB caused by electron scattering since the Universe became reionized after the “Dark Ages”, giving a value for the electron scattering optical depth of 0.17 ± 0.04. The simplest ΛCDM model with n=1 and Ω tot =1 fixed provides an adequate fit to the WMAP data and gives parameters which are consistent with determinations of the Hubble constant and observations of the accelerating Universe using supernovae. The time-ordered data, maps, and power spectra from WMAP can be found at http://lambda.gsfc.nasa.gov along with 13 papers by the WMAP science team describing the results in detail.
Quantum and classical size effects in the thermoelectric power of thin bismuth films

Abstract Anomalous behaviour of the thermoelectric power of thin Bi films has been observed and the results are consistent with those anticipated, based on both quantum and classical size effects in scattering. Mayer's theory relating thermoelectric power to film thickness can be applied to the present results provided that the bulk conduction electron mean free path is used for calculations of the thermoelectric power of thick specimens and that the conduction electron de Broglie wavelength is used for thin specimens.
Warranties, moral hazard, and the lemons problem

Abstract This paper analyzes the following problem. Consumers cannot observe product quality at the time of purchase so that only warranties can induce firms to supply high-quality products. Yet, if consumers can adjust the care with which they use products, the presence of warranties may result in more frequent product failure. The paper studies what kinds of contracts will be offered in a competitive market characterized by such a double-sided moral hazard problem.
Progressive electrocardiographic changes in male and female arteriosclerotic and non-arteriosclerotic rats during the course of isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.

Electrocardiograms were recorded from male and female, arteriosclerotic and non-arteriosclerotic rats given isoproterenol to induce myocardial infarction. Males exhibited severely damaged hearts and showed definite signs of myocardial infarction, ie, Q waves, J-point elevation, reduction in R-wave amplitude and ventricular arrhythmias. Females infrequently showed overt evidence of myocardial injury and considerably less ECG alterations.
Search for Charm

A systematic discussion of the phenomenology of charmed particles is presented with an eye to experimental searches for these states. We begin with an attempt to clarify the theoretical framework for charm. We then discuss the $SU(4)$ spectroscopy of the lowest lying baryon and meson states, their masses, decay modes, lifetimes, and various production mechanisms. We also present a brief discussion of searches for short-lived tracks. Our discussion is largely based on intuition gained from the familiar---but not necessarily understood---phenomenology of known hadrons, and predictions must be interpreted only as guidelines for experimenters.
New Directions in Capacity Building: Incorporating Cultural Competence into the Interactive Systems Framework

The UMBC Psychology Department’s Center for Community Collaboration (CCC) provides training and support for capacity building to promote substance abuse and mental health treatment as well as adherence improvement in community agencies funded through the Ryan White Act serving persons living with HIV/AIDS. This article describes an approach to dissemination of Evidence Based Practices (EBPs) for these services that uses the Interactive Systems Framework (ISF) and incorporates a collaborative process involving trainer cultural competence, along with a comprehensive assessment of organizational needs, culture, and climate that culminates in tailored training and ongoing collaboration. This article provides: (1) an overview of the CCC’s expanded ISF for the effective dissemination of two EBPs—motivational interviewing and the stages of change perspective; (2) an examination of the role of trainer cultural competence within the ISF framework, particularly attending to organizational culture and climate; and (3) case examples to demonstrate this approach for both general and innovation-specific capacity building in two community based organizations.