cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NEURAL MECHANISMS OF ADDICTION: The Role of Reward-Related Learning and Memory

Addiction is a state of compulsive drug use; despite treatment and other attempts to control drug taking, addiction tends to persist. Clinical and laboratory observations have converged on the hypothesis that addiction represents the pathological usurpation of neural processes that normally serve reward-related learning. The major substrates of persistent compulsive drug use are hypothesized to be molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie long-term associative memories in several forebrain circuits (involving the ventral and dorsal striatum and prefrontal cortex) that receive input from midbrain dopamine neurons. Here we review progress in identifying candidate mechanisms of addiction.
Evaluating a training-for-action job health and safety program

This paper describes an action research evaluation method developed to assess a worker training program which encourages trainees to use knowledge acquired to correct health and safety problems in their workplaces. The project teaches trainees from the same workplace to identify problem areas collectively using a tool called a Risk Chart and then to prioritize problems to work on with the aid of an Action Plan. Follow-up trainee interviews are conducted to determine what impact the training has on trainees. The methodology is presented and preliminary results are discussed, with particular emphasis on the advantages and limitations of this method.
Examination of the Spinal Cord in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI at 7 Tesla (P06.125)

OBJECTIVE: Cervical spinal cord application of molecular-based CEST MRI will non-invasively and quantitatively address the current disparity between MRI findings and measures of clinical disability caused by MS. This will be demonstrated through the sensitivity of CEST MRI metrics to the known diffuse histopathology found in NAWM of MS, establishing a non-invasive, quantitative, and predictive understanding of the mechanisms of clinical dysfunction that are poorly represented by macroscopically visual lesions in multiple sclerosis. BACKGROUND: Current radiological markers remain insufficient at capturing pathological correlates of multiple sclerosis (MS). Current imaging methods that quantitatively measure tissue properties do not reliably reflect the dynamic and heterogeneous tissue microenvironment present in the pathological white matter. Furthermore, imaging studies typically concentrate on focal lesions. The normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in cervical spinal cord is a largely unexplored area of MS research, particularly at 7 T. DESIGN/METHODS: All MRI data are acquired on the Philips Achieva 7 T scanner using a surface quadrature coil and 16-channel spine array (Nova Medical) for RF transmission and reception at the level of C2-C4. Statistical analyses are performed in SPSS. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Healthy controls and patients with clinically diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS, based on the McDonald diagnostic criteria above the age of 18 are eligible. RESULTS: CEST imaging of the cervical spinal cord at 7T has reveals differences in the amide proton transfer (APT) metric between healthy white matter and gray matter. Additionally, differences in the APT metric are found in MS lesions of the spinal cord. Further studies focus on normal appearing white matter in the spinal cord with preliminary results indicating the potential to distinguish healthy white matter and normal appearing white matter of MS patients. CONCLUSIONS: CEST MRI at 7T provides increased resolution, signal to noise, and spectral dispersion, facilitating the examination of the biochemical pathyphysiology of MS. Supported by: NIH KL2 RR24977-05. Disclosure: Dr. Dula has nothing to disclose. Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gore has nothing to disclose.
Connections between Childhood and Adulthood

The study of the relationship between childhood and adulthood is an inherently interdisciplinary project. Psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, and epidemiologists have all made central contributions to our understanding of the processes through which early material, experiential, and psychological endowments shape subsequent development. In areas as diverse as the childhood predictors of adult health, the long-term sequelae of childhood adversity, and life course continuities in antisocial behavior researchers have presented compelling evidence for childhood-adulthood links and have begun to eludicate the mechanisms responsible for them. These investigations draw on life course concepts such as transitions and trajectories and affirm their utility for understanding the long-term implications of early life experiences.
Actualism and Quantification

A central working assumption of the present essay is that most of us embrace actualism— the view that there are no objects that do not actually exist and that there are no philosophical problems whose solution calls for or requires an ontological commitment to non-actual objects.1 Relative to this assumption, my aim is to determine what sort of quantification theory should accompany the actualist ontological stance. To facilitate matters, I shall confine the examination to just three principal approaches to quantificational logic.
Autonomous fixation

The author previously introduced a direct method, called fixation, for the recovery of shape and motion in the general case that uses neither feature correspondence nor optical flow. Instead, it directly uses the spatio-temporal gradients of image brightness. The experimental results of applying some of the author's fixation algorithms to a sequence of real images, where the motion is a combination of translation and rotation, are reported. Techniques for autonomous choice of parameters that result in good estimates for important motion parameters are described. >
Modeling dynamic stall of SC-1095 airfoil at high mach number

The Leishman-Beddoes method of determining airloads for an airfoil undergoing dynamic stall is studied over a wide range of Mach numbers. To validate the method for higher Mach numbers where there is less available experimental data, a Computational Fluid Dynamics solver is utilized to provide airload predictions for comparison to the Leishman-Beddoes results. It is found that even for high Mach numbers the Leishman-Beddoes method provides reliable predictions for lift coefficient. However, at the higher Mach numbers pitching moment is sometimes overpredicted at high angle of attack. This is seemingly due to an inability to accurately determine the center of pressure in the high speed unsteady flow environment.
Seasonality of Predaceous Plant Bugs (Heteroptera: Miridae) and Phytophagous Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) as Influenced by Host Plant Phenology of Native Azaleas (Ericales: Ericaceae)

Seasonal synchrony of phytophagous insects, especially Heterothrips azaleae Hood, and the predaceous mirids Dicyphus rhododendri Dolling and Rhinocapsus vanduzeei Uhler, was determined on five species of native deciduous azaleas ( Rhododendron spp.) during 1990–1993. Florida, Alabama, Piedmont, and Flame azaleas supported populations of H. azaleae ; Plumleaf azalea did not. Peak adult and larval activity of this species of thrips varied with sequence of flowering during April and May. While R. vanduzeei was present on all azalea species, except Plumleaf, D. rhododendri was found to be abundant only on Florida azalea and occurred more rarely on Alabama azalea. Dicyphus rhododendri nymphs emerged in late March or early April, 2–3 wk before R. vanduzeei nymphs emerged from overwintering eggs, which were inserted into the woody plant tissue. Adult D. rhododendri became scarce after mid-May. Rhinocapsus vanduzeei adults were present until the last week of June. Although both species are known to be pollen feeders, scavengers, or both, they were observed to be active effective predators of thrips and other small insects in the field and in laboratory tests. Additional thrips species collected were Terebrantia: Frankliniella tritici (Fitch), Anaphothrips obscurus (Muller), Chaetanaphothrips orchidii (Moulton), Thrips nigropilosus Uzel, and Tubulifera: Leptothrips mali (Fitch). Seasonal occurrence of additional phytophagous Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Homoptera are given.
A synthetic steroid (R2323) as a once-a-week oral contraceptive.

Five milligrams of the steroid R2323 (13 β -ethyl-17 α -ethynyl-17-hydroxygona-4,9,11-trien-3-one (R2323) were administered orally once weekly to 28 subjects for a total of 138 treatment cycles. No pregnancies occurred. The predominant side effects were irregular vaginal bleeding, headache, weight gain, and acne. Administration of the drug was stopped by the investigator in four patients (14%) because of the onset of headaches. Four patients discontinued the drug for other reasons. In 8 of 26 subjects (31%), endometrial biopsy in the third treatment cycle showed secretory endometrium. This suggests a variable central suppression with the 5-mg dose schedule. Patients were enthusiastic about the once-weekly oral administration. This contraceptive may be useful in a select group of women.
Single-Step Synthesis of D3h-Symmetric Bicyclooxacalixarenes

Bicyclooxacalixarenes are obtained in up to 95% yield by condensation of phloroglucinol with electron-poor meta-dihalogenated benzenes or pyridines. Single-crystal X-ray analysis reveals that these compounds adopt highly symmetrical, all-1,3-alternate cage-like structures.
Other Complications: Management of Recalcitrant Late-Onset DLK After Hyperopic LASIK

Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK), also known as Sands of the Sahara, is one of the most common early postoperative complications of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). It was first described by Smith and Maloney in 1998 as a granular, white cell infiltrate within the LASIK flap interface [1]. The incidence of DLK has been shown to increase with the use of the earlier models of femtosecond laser for creating LASIK flaps.
Corporate Sociopolitical Involvement: A Reflection of Whose Preferences?

The management literature has devoted increased attention to nonmarket activities of firms, such as political involvement and social responsibility, including philanthropy. While these activities m...
Context Matters: Commentary on Papers by Aschieri, Chudzik, Evans, and Fantini.

This article discusses articles by Aschieri, Chudzik, Evans, and Fantini (this issue) that address cultural considerations in Therapeutic Assessment (TA). The importance of the cultural context in ...
Mucinous Carcinoma of the Ovary

Mucinous ovarian carcinoma is a rare tumor, but deserves separate attention, as its clinical behavior is quite different from other types of ovarian carcinoma. This has implications for both surgical therapy as well as adjuvant treatment.
Mini-Haploidentical Transplantation for Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The quest for effective, yet less toxic means of treating advanced diseases has led the bone marrow transplantation (BMT) researchers and clinicians searching for the optimal balance between host immune suppression, stable chimerism, effective graft versus tumor response and overall survival. We asked the question “how low can you go?” and approached this from the minimalist view. Born out of murine studies, mini-HLA-identical bone marrow transplantation (BMT) using 100cGy as host conditioning followed by non-mobilized peripheral blood lymphocyte infusion of 1×108 CD3 cells/kg was successful in achieving a complete responses (CR) in 4 of 11 refractory hematologic malignancy patients (Blood 100:442, 2002). This study has been extended using HLA-haploidentical donors. We have evaluated CD3+ cell dose escalation with HLA-haploidentical transplantation in patients with refractory malignancies. We have performed 42 HLA-haplo transplants with escalation of the CD3 dose from 1x106–2x108cells/kg using G-CSF primed peripheral blood stem cells, with a conditioning regimen of 100cGy TBI. Twenty patients were treated at the highest level. The CD34 dose infused was always >2x106cell/kg. Ages ranged from16–82 years. We have treated 15 patients with solid tumors and 27 patients with hematologic malignancies consisting of AML (13), NHL (5), Multiple Myeloma (5) CML (3), and HD (1). One treatment related death occurred from grade IV aGVHD. Most patients had a transient febrile engraftment syndrome believed to be immunologically based and represents neither hyperacute nor acute graft versus host disease. There were no objective responses in the patients with solid tumors. One of 5 patients with NHL had a partial response. We observed several encouraging responses in patients with refractory AML. We treated 13 patients with AML and have obtained a complete response in three patients and transient responses in 7 of 12 evaluable patients (survival >2wks after BMT). The median time of transient response was19 days± 5 days and was defined as a persistent loss of peripheral blood blasts and/or more than 50% reduction in marrow blasts as seen on biopsy. In these patients, improvement in blood counts was seen in 3 patients and an improved performance status in 6 of 12. All responses occurred at CD3 levels of 1–2x108 cells/kg. All complete and transient responses occurred in the absence of measurable donor chimerism (
Multivariate empirical mode decomposition based signal analysis and efficient-storage in smart grid

Wide-area-measurement systems (WAMSs) are used in smart grid systems to enable the efficient monitoring of grid dynamics. However, the overwhelming amount of data and the severe contamination from noise often impede the effective and efficient data analysis and storage of WAMS generated measurements. To solve this problem, we propose a novel framework that takes advantage of Multivariate Empirical Mode Decomposition (MEMD), a fully data-driven approach to analyzing non-stationary signals, dubbed MEMD based Signal Analysis (MSA). The frequency measurements are considered as a linear superposition of different oscillatory components and noise. The low-frequency components, corresponding to the long-term trend and inter-area oscillations, are grouped and compressed by MSA using the mean shift clustering algorithm. Whereas, higher-frequency components, mostly noise and potentially part of high-frequency inter-area oscillations, are analyzed using Hilbert spectral analysis and they are delineated by statistical behavior. By conducting experiments on both synthetic and real-world data, we show that the proposed framework can capture the characteristics, such as trends and inter-area oscillation, while reducing the data storage requirements.
Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract Introduction Survivors of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) have high rates of chronic morbidities including neurocognitive complications and depression. There is limited information regarding the psychological consequences of TTP. We conducted this cross sectional study to estimate the prevalence of symptoms of PTSD and depression in survivors of TTP. Methods An online survey tool comprising demographic and clinical information and two validated self-administered questionnaires, the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), was distributed to individuals with TTP. Multivariable regression was used to identify clinical and demographic associations of depression and PTSD. Results A total of 236 individuals completed either the BDI II or PCL-5 and were included in the analysis. Median age was 44 years and 87.3% were female. Median time from diagnosis was 80 months. BDI-II scores > 13 indicating at least mild depressive symptoms were present in 80.8% individuals (15.8%, 28.2%, and 36.8% with mild, moderate and severe symptoms, respectively) and 35.1% had a positive screen for PTSD (PCL-5 score ≥ 38). A previous diagnosis of depression [OR 3.65 (95% CI 1.26–10.57); p = 0.017] and unemployment attributed to TTP [OR 5.86 (95% CI 1.26–27.09); p = 0.024] were associated with depression. Younger age (p = 0.017), a pre-existing anxiety disorder [OR 3.57 (95% CI 1.76–7.25), p Conclusion We report a high prevalence of PTSD and depression in TTP survivors. These results are concerning and indicate a need for further investigation to better define this association and its consequences.
Approximate reduction of dynamic systems

Abstract The reduction of dynamic systems has a rich history, with many important applications related to stability, control and verification. Reduction of nonlinear systems is typically performed in an “exact” manner–as is the case with mechanical systems with symmetry–which, unfortunately, limits the type of systems to which it can be applied. The goal of this paper is to consider a more general form of reduction, termed approximate reduction, in order to extend the class of systems that can be reduced. Using notions related to incremental stability, we give conditions on when a dynamic system can be projected to a lower dimensional space while providing hard bounds on the induced errors, i.e. when it is behaviourally similar to a dynamic system on a lower dimensional space. These concepts are illustrated on a series of examples.
Current Status of Targeted Radioprotection and Radiation Injury Mitigation and Treatment Agents: A Critical Review of the Literature

As more cancer patients survive their disease, concerns about radiation therapy-induced side effects have increased. The concept of radioprotection and radiation injury mitigation and treatment offers the possibility to enhance the therapeutic ratio of radiation therapy by limiting radiation therapy-induced normal tissue injury without compromising its antitumor effect. Advances in the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of radiation toxicity have stimulated radiation oncologists to target these pathways across different organ systems. These generalized radiation injury mechanisms include production of free radicals such as superoxides, activation of inflammatory pathways, and vascular endothelial dysfunction leading to tissue hypoxia. There is a significant body of literature evaluating the effectiveness of various treatments in preventing, mitigating, or treating radiation-induced normal tissue injury. Whereas some reviews have focused on a specific disease site or agent, this critical review focuses on a mechanistic classification of activity and assesses multiple agents across different disease sites. The classification of agents used herein further offers a useful framework to organize the multitude of treatments that have been studied. Many commonly available treatments have demonstrated benefit in prevention, mitigation, and/or treatment of radiation toxicity and warrant further investigation. These drug-based approaches to radioprotection and radiation injury mitigation and treatment represent an important method of making radiation therapy safer.
Feral Rhetoric: Common Sense Animals and Metaphorical Beasts

The humanist tradition of rhetoric has historically emphasized differences rather than similarities between humans and nonhuman animals. Attending to similarities between humans and other species is considered anthropomorphic; however, avoiding similarities is anthropocentric. Using case studies of feral children, this essay attends to the way similarities may be constituted across differences, particularly in cases where wolves domesticate human children. Domestication is the constitution of common sense. Aristotle theorizes common sense as an interspecies capacity, while Cicero contends it is innately human. The humanist tradition has favored Cicero’s rendering. This essay works through the consequences of this adoption and concludes by speculating on Aristotle’s notion of common sense as zoomorphism, a form of animal troping.
Nontraditional sites for vascular anastomoses to enable kidney transplantation in patients with major systemic venous thromboses.

Successful renal transplantation requires low-pressure venous drainage to permit adequate outflow from the allograft. We report here a series of three patients in whom the inferior vena cava as well as bilateral iliac veins were thrombosed, making it necessary to explore less traditional vessels for venous drainage of the renal allograft. We utilized the splanchnic vasculature in two cases and the native left renal vein in another. The resulting atypical intra-abdominal locations of these allografts also presented difficulties for arterial anastomoses and for urinary drainage. Arterial conduits were utilized in two cases to facilitate anastomosis to the common iliac artery or the aorta, and in the third case, the splenic artery was used for arterial inflow. A traditional ureterocystostomy was technically feasible for only one patient. In another, ureteroureterostomy to the native ureter was performed, and in the third case, the creation of an ileal conduit was necessary. All three patients had antibodies to human leukocyte antigens and two required desensitization. All three kidneys had immediate graft function and continued to function at 1 year post-transplant. With a combination of planning, creativity, and persistence, patients with IVC thrombosis can enjoy the benefits of renal transplantation.
Parent Training Programs for School-Age Children with Autism: A Systematic Review.

Parent training (PT) is widely used with families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and its benefits for young children and their parents have been documented. However, no reviews have examined the use of PT within interventions delivered to older children with ASD or investigated the added benefit of including a PT component in these interventions. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to explore the state of research regarding the inclusion of PT in interventions for school-age children with ASD and to determine the value added to these interventions by including a PT component. Fifteen PT studies examining 622 child participants with ASD were included. Participants, interventions, and the effects of the interventions are described. Overall, studies demonstrated moderately positive effects for interventions that included PT. Importantly, three studies isolating the added benefit of PT demonstrated an effect size (ES) of 0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.05, 0.61], indicating the va...
Addressing Family Accommodation in Childhood Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract Parents of children with OCD modify their own behavior to help their child avoid or alleviate distress related to their OCD symptoms, a process termed family accommodation. Family accommodation can help a child to feel better in the short term but is associated with more severe symptoms in the longer term and places considerable burden on parents and other family members. High levels of family accommodation also predict poorer treatment outcomes for the child. It is important to assess the frequency and nature of family accommodation when evaluating childhood OCD and reducing family accommodation should be integrated into treatment planning. This chapter reviews the theoretical and empirical knowledge relating to family accommodation of childhood OCD, describes the phenomenology of family accommodation, presents measures for assessing family accommodation, and provides strategies for addressing family accommodation through parent-based treatment.
Nonmedically Indicated Induction of Labor Compared with Expectant Management in Nulliparous Women Aged 35 Years or Older.

Objective This article compares maternal and neonatal outcomes in women aged ≥ 35 years who experienced nonmedically indicated induction of labor (NMII) versus expectant management. Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study of nulliparas aged ≥ 35 years with a singleton and cephalic presentation who delivered at term. Outcomes were compared between women who underwent NMII at 37, 38, 39, and 40 weeks' gestation and those with expectant management that week. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated, controlling for predefined covariates. Results Of 3,819 nulliparas aged ≥ 35 years, 1,409 (36.9%) women underwent NMII. Overall at 39 weeks' gestation or later, maternal and neonatal outcomes were similar or improved with NMII. At 37, 38, and 39 weeks' gestation, NMII compared with expectant management was associated with decreased odds of cesarean delivery at 37, 38, and 39 weeks' gestation. At 40 weeks' gestation, NMII compared with expectant management was associated with an increased odds of operative vaginal delivery and a decreased odds of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Conclusion In nulliparous women aged ≥ 35 years, NMII was associated with decreased odds of cesarean delivery at 37 to 39 weeks' gestation and decreased odds of NICU admission at 40 weeks' gestation compared with expectant management.
Retribution, Recognition, and Capital Punishment

Under the Eighth Amendment, a form of punishment is invalid if it fails to measurably contribute to the acceptable goals of punishment. In the death penalty context, the relevant goals are retribution and deterrence. In this Article it is argued that capital punishment is not a valid form of retribution and, in part for that reason, is unconstitutional as well. Part I examines Ford v. Wainwright and Panetti v. Quarterman, in which the Supreme Court held that the state does not further its interest in retributive justice when it executes an offender who, due to mental illness, cannot understand the nature of the death penalty or the reasons for its imposition. These rulings reflect the view that retributive justice requires the possibility that an offender will recognize in the severity of punishment the gravity of the offense itself, and will in this way be reconnected to correct values, to victims, and to the moral community. Part II argues that such recognition is impossible in cases of capital punishment because the offender does not experience the evil of death, namely the deprivation of the goods that life makes possible. In particular, it is argued that it is not enough that an offender predicts and then undergoes a given penalty; the offender must experience the penalty and recognize in that experience the magnitude of the offense. Part III argues that capital punishment is therefore unconstitutional. As in Ford, the possibility that an offender will recognize in the experience of a penalty the magnitude of the offense is a side constraint on the pursuit of consequentialist goals. Moreover, in the death penalty context the Court has distanced itself from general deterrence and looked instead to the deterrability of specific classes of offenders. Capital punishment therefore fails to measurably contribute to the acceptable goals of punishment and is unconstitutional not merely as applied but also per se.
Intuitive Approach to MST

The fundamental construction upon which multiple scattering theory is based can be understood through an application of the principle originally proposed by Huygens in 1678 [1] as governing the propagation of light waves. Given that Huygens had no hint of the electromagnetic nature of light — Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism appeared only after the lapse of a century — and did not even know whether light was a transverse or longitudinal wave, the principle he postulated has proved to be of great didactic as well as practical value. Huygens’ theory of light propagation is based on a geometric construction —Huygens’ principle —which allows one to determine the position of an advancing wavefront at timet +Δt, from its position at a previous time,t.This principle can be stated as follows:Each point on an advancing wavefront acts as an independent source of (spherical) wavelets. The surfaces of tangency to these secondary wavelets determine successive positions of the wavefront at later times.For isotropic media the wavelets are spherical, but they can assume more complex shapes in general, anisotropic media, i.e., when the index of refraction depends on direction. This apparently simple description and the geometric construction that derives from it are sufficient to explain such commonly occurring phenomena as refraction and diffraction of light.
Current Research Problems

Below is a list of research problems and questions that the participants wrote down towards the end of the meeting. The suggestions were made in response to the question “What problem would you personally like to see solved within the next 5–10 years?” As the reader will see, there is a great deal of interest in the hydraulics of time-dependent strait and sill flows. Related issues include internal bore propagation, rectification, and the applicability of hydraulic control concepts. Other major topics of interest include the determination of maximal vs. submaximal exchange, the prediction of interfacial mixing and its consequences, and a host of issues related to flow with multiple density layers or continuous stratification. The following is not a comprehensive list of important issues but rather a statement of personal interests.
Contending paradigms of Japan’s international role: Elite views of the Persian Gluf crisis

Japan’s dramatic ascent to the status of economic superpower raises significant questions about how it will wield the broader global influence ordinarily conferred by wealth. Its emergence as an economic leader coincides with the demise of the cold war. Taken together, these trends alter the basis of the long-standing U.S.-Japan relationship. While the security partnership is likely to continue as a force for regional stability in the post-cold war environment, it is simply natural that a prosperous, self-confident Japan will begin to assert an independent voice in international affairs. In this study the author examines Japan’s recent debate over its policy in the Persian Gulf crisis. Particular attention is given to five competing schools of thought that shaped the national debate among Japanese opinion leaders. Although Japan’s response to the Gulf crisis was marked by a series of false starts and confusion, it is likely that a new foreign policy paradigm will eventually emerge from the ongoing debate among the contending schools of thought identified by the author.
The Formation Factor Tensor in Relation to Structural Characteristics of Anisotropic Granular Soils

The mechanical properties of granular soils depend on their grain and aggregate structural characteristics which are particles’ shape (elongation, flakiness, roundness/angularity, surface roughness), gradation, porosity, particles’ orientation and contacts’ orientation (measured in terms of the normals to contact planes). Anisotropic properties develop due to particles and contact orientations [1, 3, 17, 18, 19]. In view of the difficulty to obtain undisturbed samples from the field for laboratory tests, the mechanical properties can be correlated with proper indices measured in situ, which must depend on the above structural characteristics. Scalar indices like relative density and penetration resistance cannot possibly account for anisotropy which is tensorial in character.
Electrophysiological Analysis of Human Brain Function

Scalp recordings of human brain potentials provide information about underlying brain functions which complements that obtainable from other neuropsychological approaches described in this volume. Like the brain lesion and other neuroanatomical approaches, electrophysiological recordings can assist in the localization of particular sensory, perceptual, and cognitive processes in the brain. This nonintrusive method offers a distinct advantage, however, in that the distribution of brain activity associated with particular behavioral events can be evaluated “on line” in the intact, normally functioning nervous system, rather than inferred on the basis of post-lesion deficits. Electrophysiological studies of brain dysfunctions are also complementary to behavioral tests in that disturbances of the normal spatial and temporal flow of information in the brain can be identified and, in some cases, localized to particular structures.
Electronystagmography and Videonystagmography

Vestibular function tests are clinical techniques used to evaluate part of the vestibular system. Stimulation of the inner ear results in specific eye movement termed nystagmus, which are integral in the evaluation of the vestibular system. Nystagmus has a fast-phase and a slow-phase component and is named based on the fast phase. Electronystagmography (ENG), videonystagmography (VNG), and rotation testing measure nystagmus to provide objective assessment of the function of the vestibular system.
Reward Dysfunction in the Manic Spectrum: Unable to Win? The Use of Biographical Information to Refine Neurobiological Modeling.

OBJECTIVE The manic spectrum is thought to be characterized by a hypersensitive biobehavioral reward system, the behavioral activation system. Evidence for this framework comes from questionnaire-based, self-report data collected in cross-sectional and prospective studies of mania, mania in remission, and proneness to hypomania, and from functional neuroimaging investigations of brain reward circuit activity during incentivized choice protocols. Although heightened reward anticipation is consistently documented, the status of later goal attainment activity, hedonic responses, and satiety reactions is less clear. This report examines the status of such reward receipt processes as they operate in the manic spectrum. METHODS A case report of a typical subject with bipolar II disorder with a hyperthymic temperament is presented using longitudinal, biographical data. RESULTS Diminished reward receipt, pleasure, and satiety were demonstrated indicating impaired hedonic processing in hyperthymic temperament. This impairment indicates a dissociation between early, intensified reward pursuit processes and later, blunted, reward attainment activity. CONCLUSIONS The experience and neural correlates of hedonic processing may be impaired in the manic spectrum. Possible mechanisms for this impairment and its dissociation from the earlier stage of reward processing characterized by hyperactive reward pursuit are considered. Clinical reports and longitudinal, life-based follow-up can provide important data to supplement more experimentally based neurobiological models of reward dysfunction in bipolar disorders.
A diurnal flux balance model of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 metabolism.

Phototrophic organisms such as cyanobacteria utilize the sun’s energy to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon, resulting in diurnal variations in the cell’s metabolism. Flux balance analysis is a widely accepted constraint-based optimization tool for analyzing growth and metabolism, but it is generally used in a time-invariant manner with no provisions for sequestering different biomass components at different time periods. Here we present CycleSyn, a periodic model of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 metabolism that spans a 12-hr light/12-hr dark cycle by segmenting it into 12 Time Point Models (TPMs) with a uniform duration of two hours. The developed framework allows for the flow of metabolites across TPMs while inventorying metabolite levels and only allowing for the utilization of currently or previously produced compounds. The 12 TPMs allow for the incorporation of time-dependent constraints that capture the cyclic nature of cellular processes. Imposing bounds on reactions informed by temporally-segmented transcriptomic data enables simulation of phototrophic growth as a single linear programming (LP) problem. The solution provides the time varying reaction fluxes over a 24-hour cycle and the accumulation/consumption of metabolites. The diurnal rhythm of metabolic gene expression driven by the circadian clock and its metabolic consequences is explored. Predicted flux and metabolite pools are in line with published studies regarding the temporal organization of phototrophic growth in Synechocystis PCC 6803 paving the way for constructing time-resolved genome-scale models (GSMs) for organisms with a circadian clock. In addition, the metabolic reorganization that would be required to enable Synechocystis PCC 6803 to temporally separate photosynthesis from oxygen-sensitive nitrogen fixation is also explored using the developed model formalism.
Chemical and antifungal properties of the copper(II) complexes of 2-formylpyridine4N-methyl-,4N-dimethyl,4N-diethyl and4N-dipropylthiosemicarbazones

Two series of copper(II) complexes. [Cu(HL)X2] and [Cu(L)Cl], where HL is a 2-formylpyridine4N-substituted thiosemicarbazone, L is an anion formed by loss of the2N hydrogen and X=Cl or Br, have been prepared and spectrally characterised. Their growth inhibition ofAspergillus niger andPaecilomyces variotii has been measured and compared with analogous complexes formed from 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones.
Deciphering well connectivity with diagnostic signal processing techniques

Abstract Data mining has become increasingly crucial in deciphering reservoir dynamics, given that operators currently acquire an enormous amount of data. These data contain valuable information about subsurface processes. Interwell connectivity is one of the most significant aspects of subsurface characterization that can impact a project's success. In this study, we present novel techniques to quantify and monitor interwell communication by applying signal processing methods to observe and derive well-based measurements. A large dataset from the Permian Basin constituted the primary content of this investigation. We constructed a suite of realistic reservoir models under varying conditions involving multiple producing and water injection wells. More than 40 static and dynamic parameters including permeability, porosity, water saturation, fluid properties, and rock-fluid interaction terms are varied using experimental designs to capture realistic uncertainty. Waterflood scenarios are modeled using streamline simulation to infer injector-producer pair connectivity, pattern allocations, drainage efficiency, and their evolution period. These injector-producer variables are analyzed using numerous signal processing methods, including cross-correlation, time-lag correlation coefficient, coherence, and periodogram, among others. Well variables examined involve pressure, rate, and their derivative functions. The objectives of this study include: (1) Examining and devising several signal-processing techniques; (2) Identifying informative well data to provide information of communication between injectors and producers over time; (3) Deducing connectivity measures and systematically evaluate their efficacy in characterizing subsurface connectivity picture. The approaches reveal new insights into determining reservoir communication metrics. The proposed methods have the potential for implementation in the automated virtual flow-metering system. These methods also helped identifying the predominant injector-producer pairs and making operational decisions at any stage of any waterflood and enhanced recovery projects.
A Long-term Support Group for Elderly People with Low Vision:

A long-term support group for elderly people with vision loss is a relatively new idea. The Low-Vision Support Group of the University of Michigan's Turner Geriatric Clinic has been meeting since O...
Preservation of lateral pressure disequilibrium during the uplift of shale reservoirs

A pressure gradient increase from normal pressure in oil zones to overpressure in dry gas zones indicates a lateral disequilibrium of pore pressure in many shale reservoirs. In this work, conditions for the preservation of the lateral pressure disequilibrium during uplift and erosion are investigated. Numerical simulations were conducted by coupling pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) and fluid dynamic calculations. Results show that temperature decrease and pore volume expansion during erosion tends to increase the pressure gradient in the gas or condensate zone and tends to decrease the pressure gradient in the black oil zone; therefore, the PVT effect tends to enhance lateral pressure disequilibrium during erosion. Low permeability is crucial for the preservation of the lateral pressure disequilibrium. The persistence of disequilibrium over geological time (tens of millions of years) requires extremely small vertical permeability (sub-picodarcy range) and horizontal permeability (10 nd or even lower). The horizontal permeability is 10–100 times smaller than laboratory measurements on shale plugs, indicating a discontinuity of laminations and fractures within a shale formation.
Analyzing the super-resolution characteristics of focused-spot illumination approaches.

Significance: It is commonly assumed that using the objective lens to create a tightly focused light spot for illumination provides a twofold resolution improvement over the Rayleigh resolution limit and that resolution improvement is independent of object properties. Nevertheless, such an assumption has not been carefully examined. We examine this assumption by analyzing the performance of two super-resolution methods, known as image scanning microscopy (ISM) and illumination-enhanced sparsity (IES). Aim: We aim to identify the fundamental differences between the two methods, and to provide examples that help researchers determine which method to utilize for different imaging conditions. Approach: We input the same image datasets into the two methods and analyze their restorations. In numerical simulations, we design objects of distinct brightness and sparsity levels for imaging. We use biological imaging experiments to verify the simulation results. Results: The resolution of IES often exceeds twice the Rayleigh resolution limit when imaging sparse objects. A decrease in object sparsity negatively affects the resolution improvement in both methods. Conclusions: The IES method is superior for imaging sparse objects with its main features being bright and small against a dark, large background. For objects that are largely bright with small dark features, the ISM method is favorable.
Use of Thermogravimetric Analysis to Develop Accelerated Test Methods to Investigate Long-Term Environmental Effects on Fiber-Reinforced Plastics

The development of accelerated test methods to characterize long-term environmental effects on fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) requires the use of physicochemical methods, as well as macromechanical measurements, in order to investigate the degradation processes and predict their course over long periods of time. Thermochemical and mechanical measurements were performed on a large number of FRPs exposed to neutral, basic, and acidic media between 23 and 80°C over periods of 7 to 224 days. The resin matrices used in the present study included vinylester, polyester, and epoxy, and the fiber materials were silicate glass, aramid, and carbon. TGA was used to study the effects of aqueous media on FRPs. In particular, the relative weight loss upon heating the previously exposed material from 150 to 300°C was found to be indicative of the extent of matrix depolymerization. Indications were obtained for correlation between this weight loss and the extent of degradation of various measures of mechanical strength. The measured weight change of the tested materials during exposure was found to reflect the extent of water absorption and could be related to the extent of the weight loss between 150 and 300°C. In basic environments, weight loss, rather than gain, took place as a result of fiber dissolution. Among various FRPs, those with aramid fibers were found to be especially prone to degradation due to extensive water uptake. Basic environments caused a large decrease in strength due to fiber dissolution. Acetic acid buffers caused significant matrix depolymerization. Raising the temperature to 80°C appeared to be the most effective method of enhancing the degradation effects, as reflected in both the thermochemical and mechanical data. Furthermore, the trends observed at 80°C (for example, with respect to solvent effects) were identical with the trends observed at lower, service-like temperatures. Thus, elevating the temperature is a promising acceleration factor. In agreement with the enhanced matrix depolymerization observed in the TGA measurements, higher temperatures also caused a decrease in T g , as measured by DSC.
Evaluation of A2 and A4 Hand Pulley Repair Using Tendon Graft Rings

Purpose To compare the mechanical characteristics of A2 and combined A2–A4 pulley repair in the intact and damaged flexor pulley system. Methods After control testing, we recorded tendon excursion and flexion of 11 cadaveric fingers after several interventions: (1) complete excision of A2 and A4, (2) repair of the A2 with one ring of tendon graft , (3) repair of the A2 with 2 rings of tendon graft, and (4) repair of the A2 with 2 rings combined with repair the A4 with one ring. Results At the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, the maximum rotational angle decreased by an average of 30% after complete excision of the A2 and A4 pulleys. This angle was still decreased compared with the control by an average of 25% after one-ring repair at A2, 23% after 2-ring repair at A2, and 17% after 2-ring repair at A2 combined with one-ring repair at A4. At the metacarpophalangeal joint , the average maximum rotational angle decreased by an average of 17% after complete excision of the A2 and A4 pulleys. This angle was still decreased compared with the control by an average of 11% after one-ring repair at A2, 7% after 2-ring repair at A2, and 4% after 2-ring repair at A2 combined with one-ring repair at A4. Kinematic behavior at the PIP joint with an intact pulley system was most closely approximated by the 3-loop repair. The least similar behavior was with a 2-ring construct at A2. Conclusions All repairs increased average flexion at the PIP and metacarpophalangeal joints compared with the unrepaired samples. The 3-ring configuration exhibited a higher recovery of PIP flexion compared with the other repairs. Clinical relevance Although each repair restored flexion, clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical relevance of the mechanical results of this study.
Athletic skill and the value of close contests

In this paper I defend an Irreconcilability Thesis, claiming that two commonly held views about athletic contests are in fact incompatible. The first view is that athletic contests are essentially ...
Semiflexible oligomers crystallize via a cooperative phase transition

Semicrystalline polymers are ubiquitous, yet despite their fundamental and industrial importance, the theory of homogeneous nucleation from a melt remains a subject of debate. A key component of the controversy is that polymer crystallization is a non-equilibrium process, making it difficult to distinguish between effects that are purely kinetic and those that arise from the underlying thermodynamics. Due to computational cost constraints, simulations of polymer crystallization typically employ non-equilibrium molecular dynamics techniques with large degrees of undercooling that further exacerbate the coupling between thermodynamics and kinetics. In a departure from this approach, in this study we isolate the near-equilibrium nucleation behavior of a simple model of a melt of short, semiflexible oligomers. We employ several Monte Carlo methods and compute a phase diagram in the temperature--density plane along with two-dimensional free energy landscapes (FELs) that characterize the nucleation behavior. The phase diagram shows the existence of ordered nematic and crystalline phases in addition to the disordered melt phase. The minimum free energy path in the FEL for the melt--crystal transition shows a cooperative transition, where nematic order and monomer positional order move in tandem as the system crystallizes. This near-equilibrium phase transition mechanism broadly agrees with recent evidence that polymer stiffness plays an important role in crystallization, but differs in the specifics of the mechanism from several recent theories. We conclude that the computation of multidimensional FELs for models that are larger and more fine-grained will be important for evaluating and refining theories of homogeneous nucleation for polymer crystallization.