cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The No Religion Zone: Constitutional Limitations on Religious Association in the Public Sphere

The last decade has witnessed an explosion of religious activity in the public sphere. Political candidates of both parties loudly pronounce their individual faith and link. that faith directly to their political values. Candidates use religious gatherings as political podiums and confidently assert that their God and His teachings define the country's very nature. Meanwhile, activities conducted by religious groups in public schools have become both more numerous and more prominent in the last decade. These activities include public prayer sessions at graduation ceremonies and extracurricular events, meetings by religious organizations on public school properly, prayer sessions around flagpoles outside public school buildings, and religious assemblies on school property, sometimes during the school day. Religious activities by groups of adults in public spaces other than schools have also multiplied. Religious groups conduct large-scale religious ceremonies in public parks, erect religious displays inside and outside public buildings, and even build permanent religious structures on public land.
Computational nature of processes induced by biochemical reactions

Natural computing is concerned with human-designed computing inspired by nature as well as with computations taking place in nature, i.e., it investigates phenomena taking place in nature in terms of information processing. Well-known examples of the first strand of research are evolutionary computing, neural computation, cellular automata, swarm intelligence, molecular computing, quantum computation, artificial immune systems, and membrane computing.
Chapter 15 The metabolic consequences of body size

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effect of body size on metabolism in fishes. There are no obvious direct effects of body size on cell metabolism because the size of individual cells remains relatively unchanged. With larger body size, cellular metabolism is increasingly removed from the environment by distance, and therefore also by time. The distancing between the cell and environment that occurs with increased body size will result in a decreased rate of delivery of these limiting factors. The chapter discusses the way discuss this limitation in the delivery of materials can be expected to influence the physiology and cellular metabolism of fish. It presents theoretical explanations for the negative allometry of aerobic metabolism and analyzes the scaling of maximum whole-body aerobic capacity. The chapter also describes symmorphosis and the scaling of individual respiratory traits and elaborates the effects of body size on anaerobic metabolism.
Hobby Lobby and the Dubious Enterprise of Religious Exemptions

The experience of the past fifty years, culminating in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., provides grounds for deep skepticism of any sweeping regime of religious exemptions. Part I of this essay views the problem in the current legal and cultural moment, which includes religious objections to employer-provided insurance that covers contraceptive care for women, and religion-based refusals by wedding vendors and others to facilitate the celebration of same sex marriages. Part II broadens the time frame to analyze the regimes of religious exemption – federal and state, constitutional and statutory – in which such disputes have played out. Such regimes will tend to be strong in rhetoric and weak in practice, with an occasional outburst of religion-protecting vigor. The decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, analyzed in Part III, demonstrates yet again that application of vague, general standards for adjudicating religious exemption claims cannot satisfy values associated with the rule of law. The key terms in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act are perpetually contested and subject to massive, result-oriented manipulability. Part IV addresses issues likely to arise in the wake of Hobby Lobby, including questions of LGBT equality. In light of past experience, Part IV argues that Burwell v. Hobby Lobby will suffer the same fate as earlier, apparently strenuous embraces of religious exemption regimes. Ultimately, it will wither on a malnourished vine.
Sexual Harassment: A Matter of Individual Ethics, Legal Definitions, or Organizational Policy?

Although interest in business ethics has rapidly increased, little attention has been drawn to the relationship between ethics and sexual harassment. While most companies have addressed the problem of sexual harassment at the organizational level with corporate codes of ethics or sexual harassment policies, no research has examined the ethical ideology of individual employees. This study investigates the relationship between the ethical ideology of individual employees and their ability to identify social-sexual behaviors in superior-subordinate interactions. The results indicate that ethical ideology does have an effect on employees' ability to identify verbal sexually harassing behaviors. This effect, however, is not demonstrated on nonverbal sexually harassing behaviors.
Experimental host preference of diapause and non-diapause induced Culex pipiens pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

Background Culex pipiens pipiens plays an important role in the transmission of several vector-borne pathogens such as West Nile virus (WNV) in North America. Laboratory and field studies suggest that this species is ornithophilic but because of genetic hybridization with sibling species during the active mosquito season, it may occasionally feed on mammals. Adult female Cx. p. pipiens undergo a facultative diapause and may serve as an overwintering mechanism for WNV. To determine the effect of diapause on the innate host preference of Cx. p. pipiens emerging from winter hibernation, we conducted host-choice experiments using bird and mammal hosts.
Micro-motor endoscope with adjustable focus for ultrahigh resolution OCT

Ultrahigh resolution OCT is demonstrated using a miniaturized micro-motor endoscope probe with adjustable beam focus. Real time image acquisition and focus adjustment are achieved with 8um transverse and 8um axial resolution.
Nuclear factor kappa-B mediates selective induction of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in astrocytes during low-level inflammatory stimulation with MPTP.

Abstract Recent advances in understanding the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) implicate perturbations in astrocyte function and induction of constitutively expressed neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) in both human PD and in the MPTP model of the disease. Transcriptional regulation of NOS1 is complex but recent data suggest that nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) is an important transcription factor involved in inducible expression of the gene. The data presented here demonstrate that mild activation of primary astrocytes with low or ‘sub-optimal’ concentrations of MPTP (1 μM) and the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (10 pg/ml) and interferon gamma (1 ng/ml) results in selective induction of Nos1 mRNA and protein, increased production of nitric oxide (NO), and a significant elevation in global protein nitration. This mild inflammatory stimulus also resulted in activation and recruitment of p65 to a putative NF-κB response element located in the Nos1 promoter region flanking exon 1. A role for NF-κB in MPTP-dependent induction of NOS1 was confirmed through overexpression of a mutant IκBα super repressor of NF-κB that prevented induction of NOS1. The data presented here thus demonstrate a role for NF-κB in selective induction of NOS1 during early inflammatory activation of astrocytes stimulated by low-dose MPTP and inflammatory cytokines.
Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (M0) with an Unusual Chromosomal Abnormality: Translocation (1;14)(p13;q32)

We describe a case of acute myeloblastic leukemia, French-American-British subclassification of M0 (AML-M0), with an unusual chromosomal abnormality. The diagnosis of AML-M0 was made morphologically, cytochemically, and immunophenotypically. At the time of diagnosis, cytogenetic studies were performed, revealing a translocation involving chromosomes 1 and 14--specifically t(1;14)(p13;q32). The patient responded to high-dose ARA-C. In our survey of the literature, we were unable to find a reported case of AML-M0 with this chromosomal translocation.
Neurologic improvement after high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration associated with anti-Purkinje cell antibody.

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is a rare syndrome associated with systemic malignancies, most in lung and ovarian cancer. Cerebellar ataxia has previously been associated with the presence of anti-Purkinje cell antibodies (anti-Yo) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid and responses to therapy are uncommon. We reported two patients were identified with delayed onset of PCD associated with high titer of CSF anti-Yo (1:30,000, 1:320 U/ml) and a marked elevation of tumor markers for ovarian cancer (CA-125 17,700 ng/ml, 43 ng/ml) titer 1 year and 6 months prior to discovery of the carcinoma. Both developed subacute onset of severe ataxia, dysarthria, tremor, nystagmus with progression to severe debilitation (wheelchair bound or bedridden status). One of these patients also developed dysphagia that required PEG tube feeding. They were treated with six cycles of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 0.4 gm/kg/day × 5 days, every 4–6 weeks in conjunction with combination chemotherapy of Taxol and Carboplatin after the surgical resection of ovarian cancer. In each case, a significant improvement of neurological deficits were seen after the third cycle of IVIG, approximately 4 months after initiation of treatment. This type of delayed response is contrary to the previous reports. Both patients could ambulate without assistance in correlation with dramatic decrease in anti-Yo titer (1:80, 1:320 U/ml) and CA-125 (11 ng/ml, 8 ng/ml). This is a first report of benefit from IVIG in patients with late onset of PCD, which showed a delayed response with significant neurological improvement.
Buried sputtered zirconium layer tribological coatings

Abstract Recent experiments to determine the utility of Zr/ZrN films for tribological applications are described. The low coefficient of friction of synthetic sputtered ZrN allows coated components to run in evenly, whilst the oxide formed on the surface of the zirconium metal after removal of the nitride can reduce the wear rate of the component to a low level. However, a number of problems remain to be solved before this type of coating can be tailored for use under dry conditions in air.
Trihydroxy-2-thiaquinolizidine derivatives as a new class of bicyclic glycosidase inhibitors

Abstract Trihydroxy-2-thiaquinolizidines, a new class of bicyclic dideoxy-iminohexitol glycosidase inhibitor derivatives with nominally the d -gluco, l -ido, d -manno and l -gulo configurations were synthesized. X-ray analyses indicated that the preferred conformation for d -gluco and d -manno derivatives was a flat trans-fused system. Unlike deoxynojirimycin, the compound with d -gluco configuration was selective for α-glucosidases (yeast and rice) and showed no inhibitory activity towards β-glucosidase (almond), α-galactosidase (green coffee beans), α-galactosidase (E. coli) and α-mannosidase (jack bean), while the l -ido derivative was specific for β-glucosidase (almond).
Social change and the family: Comparative perspectives from the west, China, and South Asia

This paper examines the influence of social and economic change on family structure and relationships: How do such economic and social transformations as industrialization, urbanization, demographic change, the expansion of education, and the long-term growth of income influence the family? We take a comparative and historical approach, reviewing the experiences of three major sociocultural regions: the West, China, and South Asia. Many of the changes that have occurred in family life have been remarkably similar in the three settings—the separation of the workplace from the home, increased training of children in nonfamilial institutions, the development of living arrangements outside the family household, increased access of children to financial and other productive resources, and increased participation by children in the selection of a mate. While the similarities of family change in diverse cultural settings are striking, specific aspects of change have varied across settings because of significant pre-existing differences in family structure, residential patterns of marriage, autonomy of children, and the role of marriage within kinship systems.
Cognitive and Personality Predictors of Leader Performance in West Point Cadets

The question of how to develop effective leaders is one of major importance to military organizations. This study, which examines a large cohort of U.S. Military Academy cadets over time, tests the...
INTRAMOLECULAR RESPIRATION OF TOMATO FRUITS

These experiments on intramolecular respiration have been conducted as a part of a general study of the development of tomato fruits. Nitrogen and in two experiments hydrogen have been used to replace air. These gases were first passed through a wash bottle containing NaOH which absorbed the CO2 and then through three bottles of chromous chlorid which absorbed any oxygen that was in the gas. The CO2and 02-free gas was then passed through the respiration chamber by the pressure in the tank and reduction of the pressure in the system by suction. As it came from the chromous chlorid the gas was frequently tested for oxygen by passing it over phosphorus, always with negative results. The respiration chamber was always kept at atmospheric pressure and was immersed in a constant temperature bath held at 25? C. A control in air otherwise similarly treated was run simultaneously. The fruits were usually picked during the afternoon and put into the chamber through which air was drawn over-night in order to establish an equilibrium, before any collection for analysis was made. The CO2 was collected in o.i M Ba(OH)2 contained in modified Pettenkofer tubes, and titrated with o.i M oxalic acid. Further detail may be obtained from a previous paper (5) 2 In the present experiments the Pettenkofer tubes had a diameter of only 9 mm. in the main portion, with both ends enlarged somewhat, to facilitate the insertion of stoppers. The use of tubes with a small diameter made it possible to utilize a volume of only sixty cubic centimeters of Ba(OH)2 and yet the gas passed through a column of liquid long enough to absorb the CO2 completely. With such a small volume of liquid the time of the individual collections could be shortened to one hour in some instances. In all but one experiment the length of time for collection of each sample was from one to three hours. Such short periods enabled one to follow more closely the changes in the rate of CO2 production. In the early experiments three hour periods were used almost exclusively, but in the later experiments several fruits were used and the time could be shortened to one hour when the gas production was at its maximum. After some preliminary trials an experiment with a ripe fruit weighing
Locus ceruleus lesion and chronic reserpine treatment: effect on adrenergic and cholinergic receptors in cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

Abstract Destruction of the central noradrenergic supply to rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus by the local injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the locus ceruleus produced β-adrenergic supersensitivity but no change in the binding characteristics to α-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in both the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Chronic reserpine treatment, which caused functional denervation without structural anatomic changes in noradrenergic neurons, produced qualitatively similar results. However, the reserpine-induced β-adrenergic supersensitivity in the cerebral cortex was quantitatively higher than that caused by locus ceruleus lesion. This discrepancy may be due to the presence of presynaptic β-adrenergic receptors that were destroyed by 6-hydroxydopamine but left intact by reserpine.
How Consumers Assess the Value of Advertising

Abstract This paper introduces a new construct—advertising value—a representation of the perceived value of advertising to consumers. A conceptual model is proposed and tested via a mall intercept survey. A portion of the model focusing on how informativeness and entertainment influence advertising value is then examined in an experimental study. The results from both tests strongly support the validity of the proposed relationships. Potential implications and applications of the construct as well as hypothesized relationships with other variables are also discussed.
Memento mori: is there room for death in lifelong learning?

This article presents a groundwork for the benefit of making death more explicit in the knowledge domain and practice of lifelong learning. The existential notion of human mortality is discussed in relation to the prevailing cultural context, theoretical frameworks of human development, and the exercise of lifelong learning. Death is explored as a latent force that can advance learning agendas in adults. Death, as a constant theme in the human condition, can be an existential burden but a significant motivator as well. As a matter of comprehensibility, it is argued that the reality of death, or human finitude, must be incorporated into discourses of lifelong learning towards establishing a deeper sense of meaning to all educative and learning endeavors.
Metal Angle Correction in the Cylinder Test

Cylinder test data show that the copper wall angle increases with time in a given shot and becomes much larger if the wall is at half-thickness. The true velocity is suggested to be that perpendicular to the wall, and this brings full- and half-wall data in closer agreement. The previously published Gurney-type equation for calculating the detonation energy density at each relative volume is modified by the angle of the wall and the angle of the measuring probe. This provides a unique solution to the energy density that does not require empirical coefficients or standards. We derive the length of the cone perpendicular to the cylinder surface and we use this as a description of the constant relative volume, creating a unified model for the first time. As a standard for full-wall cylinders, we obtain relative volumes of 2.4, 4.4, and 7.0 at the scaled wall displacements of 6, 12.5, and 19 mm. For a full-wall copper cylinder at the three points, the wall angles average 10.0, 11.0, and 11.6°. Besides Cylinder test data on copper, previously unpublished framing camera pictures also measure angles for eight different metals. The angles are a function of wall thickness and relative volume but of nothing else, including the type of metal. For modeling, our simulation code calculates the wall velocity as seen along a particular probe direction, as this is a more realistic comparison to measurements than a zone particle velocity.
Theory and technique in dynamic psychotherapy--curative factors and training therapists to maximize them.

Three principles of curative factors in dynamic psychotherapy are reviewed: (1) Achieving a helping relationship; (2) achieving self-understanding, and (3) maintaining the gains. A new development in
Conceptions of own versus others' outcomes: Manipulation by monaural attentional orientation

Previous research found that greater personal optimism was produced during selective left hemisphere activation. In that research the selective activation was manipulated by contralateral visual orientation of attention. The present experiment replicated and extended this effect using monaural stimulation. In addition, a significant reduction in variability of responding was found, as expected, in the monaural as compared to binaural groups, and a significant correlation was found between individual desire for control and optimism.
Energy conservation in low-income homes in New York City: the effectiveness of house doctoring

Abstract The Princeton Scorekeeping Method (PRISM) has been used to analyze the results of energy conservation measures applied to a sample of low-income homes in New York City. Of particular interest is a comparison of conventional auditing with the use of the “house doctor” treatment. PRISM indicates that the house doctor approach, including follow-up retrofits, led to average fuel savings of 20.2%, while the conventional approach produced savings of only 2.5%. The house doctor approach achieved significantly greater energy savings for both rowhouses and detached homes. Significant differences are found between savings achieved in rowhouses in a low-income area of the City, which showed overall savings of 22.0%, and detached homes in middle-income sections of the City, where the savings averaged 8.3%. A restricted form of the PRISM method, with the reference temperature fixed at 15.6°C (60°F) but including the fuel consumed during the retrofit period, has been used to analyze an expanded set of homes. Similar results are found.
From Savannah to Vienna: William Henry Stiles, the Revolutions of 1848, and Southern Conceptions of Order

Abstract This article represents an exploration of class identity among southerners during the decade preceding the Civil War. Myriad works on class identity in the antebellum era are extant, but few have used sources by Americans living abroad. William Stiles's History of Austria shows consistent amount of sympathy for European nobles and aristocrats during the 1848 Revolution in the Austrian Empire. The book, centered on a historical event that stemmed from class inequality and nationalist thought, provides an interesting lens to address the issue of class culture and identity in the United States. Using Stiles's work, newspapers, and appropriate primary and secondary monographs, the article argues that aristocratic identity in the South remained more influential than recent historians allowed well into the nineteenth century.
Nonparametric multivariate CUSUM control charts for location and scale changes

Among different multivariate control charts, multivariate cumulative sum (CUSUM) control charts are the popular choice for detecting small and moderate changes in the manufacturing process. However, most of CUSUM procedures in the literature were developed under the multivariate normality assumption. This assumption is usually difficult to justify in practice. In this paper, we propose two new nonparametric multivariate CUSUM procedures based on the spatial sign and data depth for detecting location and scale changes. These two procedures can be considered as the nonparametric counterparts of the two parametric multivariate CUSUM procedures developed in Crosier [(1988), ‘Multivariate Generalizations for Cumulative Sum Quality-Control Schemes’, Technometrics, 30, 291–303]. We show that the two proposed CUSUM procedures are affine invariant and asymptotically distribution-free over a broad family of distributions. In our simulation studies, the proposed CUSUM procedures perform well across a broad range of ...
Determinants of computer user expectations and their relationships with user satisfaction: an empirical study

Computer user expectations are known to influence user satisfaction with computer systems. This paper explores the relationship between the determinants of user expectations and user satisfaction. Based upon data collected from 252 users, it is found that users whose expectations are set by sources internal to the organization are significantly more satisfied with their information systems than those whose expectations are set by external sources. The results highlight the need for IS staff to communicate realistic expectations to users.
A styrene based water soluble polymer as a reaction medium for photodimerization of aromatic hydrocarbons in water

Abstract A styrene based water soluble polymer (polymer-A) has been explored as a host for solubilizing otherwise insoluble aromatic hydrocarbons in water. The increased local concentration of encapsulated aromatic hydrocarbons within the hydrophobic pockets of polymer-A was utilized for performing efficient photodimerization of acenaphthylene (1) and six 9-substituted anthracenes [AnCOOH, AnCHO, AnCH2OH, AnCH3, AnBr and AnCN] in water. Photodimerization of these aromatic hydrocarbons were more efficient than in water and yielded dimers even at low concentrations (∼10−4 M). At the same concentration of anthracenes in organic solvents such as benzene and methanol, no dimers were formed even after 48 h of irradiation. Although the polymer-A was able to increase the local concentration of the reactant aromatics it was unable to orient them towards a single dimer.
Cardiac function in fetuses and newborns exposed to low-dose aspirin during pregnancy

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate cardiac function in fetuses exposed to low-dose aspirin. Study Design: To assess its efficacy in preventing preeclampsia, 60 mg/day aspirin or a matching placebo was administered to women in a double-blind fashion during the second and third trimesters. As a part of this study, 146 echo Doppler studies were performed on 63 fetuses from 15 to 40 weeks' gestation. These studies allowed assessment of systolic and diastolic cardiac function. Cardiac function was also assessed in 87 neonates. Results: Throughout gestation ductus arteriosus flow velocity, right ventricular output and diastolic area, and left ventricular output and diastolic area all increased and were similar in both aspirin- and placebo-exposed fetuses. Fetal diastolic flow velocities were also alike in both groups. The two groups had similar gestational ages at delivery (39.2 ± 2.3 vs 38.7 ± 2.7 weeks) and birth weights (3174 ± 575 vs 3105 ± 579 gm, respectively). Furthermore, there was no difference in fractional shortening, cardiac output, prevalence of tricuspid regurgitation, or patency of the ductus arteriosus at birth between the two groups. Conclusion: The circulation of fetuses and newborns is not affected adversely by exposure to low-dose aspirin during gestation.
Health Risks and Environmental Inequity: A Geographical Analysis of Accidental Releases of Hazardous Materials

This study examines the spatial distribution and impact of nonroutine accidental releases of hazardous materials relative to the demographic composition of residents in nearby communities. First, atmospheric dispersion modeling methods are used to delineate the impact zones of worst-case accidents in two New York counties over the last ten years. Next, using accidental reports for 1997, GIS and statistical operations are used at the census tract level of the two counties to determine whether these incidents disproportionately affected disadvantaged neighborhoods. The results suggest that the areas of high-impact from accidental releases of hazardous materials are best characterized by a large proportion of families below the poverty line, Hispanics, and other minorities.
Autonomous underwater vehicle navigation using moving baseline on a target ship

This paper presents two alternative methods for moving long baseline (MLBL) navigation of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). In both methods 13-bit messages are broadcasted from transponders on the moving target ship to the AUV. These messages provided both range and state information about the target ship. The first method uses an extended Kalman filter (EKF) based on a relative coordinate system fixed to a moving target ship. The second method uses two EKFs, one to estimate the state of the target ship, and a second to estimate the state of the AUV itself. Both methods performed similarly in simulation. Further simulations utilizing field test data showed the global approach to be more robust to the target ship dynamics and message broadcast timing cycle.
An Experimental Investigation of the Radiation Patterns of Electromagnetic Horn Antennas

A systematized set of radiation patterns of rectangular electromagnetic horn antennas have been measured and are shown as a function of electric and magnetic plane flare angles and radial length of the horn. A total of two hundred and fifty patterns are included for representative flare angles from zero to 50°, and radial lengths from zero to fifty wavelengths. This set of patterns reveals many characteristic properties which may serve as a guide in the design of electromagnetic horn antennas.
A note on searching line arrangements and applications

We study the problem of searching for a vertex with a desired property in the arrangement of a set of lines in the plane. We show that this problem can be solved efficiently by modifying (and simplifying) two slope selection algorithms without using parametric search. We apply this result to a points approximation problem and obtain an optimal solution for it without using parametric search. Since this line arrangement searching problem is quite natural, our result may find other applications as well.
Stability and interactions of the amino-terminal domain of ClpB from Escherichia coli.

ClpB is a member of a multichaperone system in Escherichia coli (with DnaK, DnaJ, and GrpE) that reactivates aggregated proteins. The sequence of ClpB contains two ATP-binding regions that are enclosed between the N- and C-terminal extensions. Whereas it has been found that the N-terminal region of ClpB is essential for the chaperone activity, the structure of this region is not known, and its biochemical properties have not been studied. We expressed and purified the N-terminal fragment of ClpB (residues 1–147). Circular dichroism of the isolated N-terminal region showed a high content of α-helical structure. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the N-terminal region of ClpB is thermodynamically stable and contains a single folding domain. The N-terminal domain is monomeric, as determined by gel-filtration chromatography, and the elution profile of the N-terminal domain does not change in the presence of the N-terminally truncated ClpB (ClpBΔN). This indicates that the N-terminal domain does not form strong contacts with ClpBΔN. Consistently, addition of the separated N-terminal domain does not reverse an inhibition of ATPase activity of ClpBΔN in the presence of casein. As shown by ELISA measurements, full-length ClpB and ClpBΔN bind protein substrates (casein, inactivated luciferase) with similar affinity. We also found that the isolated N-terminal domain of ClpB interacts with heat-inactivated luciferase. Taken together, our results indicate that the N-terminal fragment of ClpB forms a distinct domain that is not strongly associated with the ClpB core and is not required for ClpB interactions with other proteins, but may be involved in recognition of protein substrates.
Role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in experimental catalepsy in rats.

N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA; 40 mg/kg, i.p.) did not elicit catalepsy, but it potentiated the cataleptic effect of haloperidol and GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen. MK-801 (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.), NMDA-receptor antagonist, reversed haloperidol- but not baclofen-induced catalepsy. MK-801 also potentiated the anticataleptic effect of scopolamine and bromocriptine against haloperidol-induced catalepsy. Dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium-channel antagonists such as nimodipine and nitrendipine (10 mg/kg, i.p.), reversed the anticataleptic effect of MK-801, and potentiated the cataleptic effect of haloperidol, as well as baclofen. These observations indicate the involvement of NMDA receptors in catalepsy, and suggest a potential clinical implication of NMDA-receptor antagonists in Parkinson's disease.
On the effects of non-local potentials

Abstract The results of Austern on the Perey effect have been re-derived under more general assumptions for one dimensions and are extended to three dimensions. We propose a mechanism to explain the over-estimation of calculated photonuclear cross sections.
Spinal Cord Injury Neuroprotection and the Promise of Flexible Adaptive Clinical Trials

Effective treatments for acute neurologic illness and injury are lacking, particularly for spinal cord injury (SCI). The very structure of clinical trials may be contributing to this because assumptions made during trial planning preclude additional learning within residual important areas of uncertainty, such as dose, timing, and duration of treatment. Adaptive clinical trials offer potential solutions to some of the factors that may be slowing the pace of discovery. Broadly defined, one can consider an adaptive clinical trial as any sort of clinical trial that makes use of information from within the trial to make decisions about how the trial is conducted going forward; however, it is important to emphasize that regardless of the degree of flexibility or complexity of an adaptive clinical trial design, the types of designs being described are only those in which all potential changes to the conduct of the trial are prospectively defined before the first patient is enrolled. Within this review, we describe the structure of flexible adaptive clinical trial designs, the process by which they are developed and conducted, and potential opportunities and drawbacks of these approaches. We must accept that there are some uncertainties that remain when both exploratory and confirmatory trials are designed. The process by which teams carefully consider which uncertainties are most important and most likely to potentially compromise the ability to detect an effective treatment can lead to trial designs that are more likely to find the right treatment for the right population of patients.
Correction to "Formulating Spatially Varying Performance in the Statistical Fusion Framework" [Jun 12 1326-1336]

In the above titled paper (ibid., vol. 31, no. 6, pp. 1326-1336, Jun. 2012), the first footnote should have included the following. This work was supported in part by NIH/NINDS 1R01EB006136, NIH/NINDS 1R01EB006193,NIH/NINDS 1R03EB012461, and NIH/NINDS 1R21NS064534.
Partial transection of the ipsilateral cervical spinal cord evokes a sustained increase in the adrenal section of catecholamines in the cat.

The importance of cervical spinal pathways on the adrenal secretion of catecholamines was assessed in chloralose-anesthetized cats. Partial transections of the upper cervical spinal cord were made ipsilateral (n = 21) or contralateral (n = 10) to the adrenal vein sampling catheter. Ipsilateral cuts evoked an immediate increase in the adrenal secretion of epinephrine that remained elevated at 60 min (+ 89.7 ± 27.0 ng/min, P < 0.001) and increased the epinephrine/norepinephrine secretory ratio from 1.99 ± 0.4 to 5.02 ± 0.6 by 60 min (P < 0.01) indicating a preferential augmentation of the secretion of epinephrine. The magnitude of the increase in secretion of epinephrine was well correlated with the cross-sectional area of the ipsilateral cut (rs = 0.681, P < 0.01). In contrast, partial transections of similar size made contralateral to the adrenal vein sample evoked significantly smaller increases in the adrenal secretion of epinephrine by 60 min (+ 12.7 ± 4.8 ng/min) and were not correlated with the cross-sectional area of the cut. The region of transection common to those experiments that caused the greatest increase in the secretion of catecholamines included the deep laminae (laminae V–VII) within the central gray matter as well as a portion of the dorsal columns. Transections restricted to the dorsolateral and lateral funiculi caused small and inconsistent changes in the adrenal secretion of catecholamines. Ipsilateral and contralateral cuts evoked similar effects on peripheral concentrations of catecholamines, on plasma adrenocorticotropin and on plasma angiotensin II, suggesting that the facilitatory effect of ipsilateral cuts on the adrenal secretion of catecholamines was not the result of a humoral mechanism. Arterial pressure and heart rate increased equally by 1 min and returned to prestimulus values by 5 min after transections of the ipsilateral or of the contralateral cervical cord. Electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral cervical spinal cord, caudal to the level of transection, decreased the secretion of epinephrine and arterial pressure by 1 min (−30.5 ± 9.0%, P < 0.05) suggesting the presence of an active inhibitory mechanism that persisted after transection. The results indicated that transections of pathways ipsilateral, but not contralateral, to the adrenal medulla that traverse the upper cervical spinal cord evoke a persistent increase in the adrenal secretion of epinephrine, whereas other indices of neuroendocrine or autonomic function do not reflect this tonic influence. The neural mechanism that underlies the apparent tonic inhibition of adrenomedullary function is distributed over a non-compact ipsilateral projection pathway that is not restricted to the dorsolateral or to the lateral funiculi.
Cognitive impairment in psychiatric patients and length of hospital stay.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether brief neuropsychologic screening at the time of admission to an acute-care psychiatric unit predicts the length of inpatient hospital stay (LOS). Over a 4-month period, 41 consecutively admitted patients on a general psychiatric inpatient unit were administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Trails A and B subtests from the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, and the Visual Reproduction subtest (VR) of the Wechsler Memory Scale within 72 hours of admission. A setwise, hierarchic multiple regression model examined the contributions of demographic factors, clinical features, and the four neuropsychologic tests to LOS variance. VR and Trails A were the best predictors of LOS, responsible for 21.6% and 16.3% of outcome variance, respectively. The independent variables (IVs) comprising the best-fitting model include Trails A, VR, MMSE, and patient diagnosis. These variables collectively accounted for 48.8% of the variance in LOS, and predicted 70.4% of patients with LOS 21 days. The results of this study support the hypothesis that LOS is related to cognitive impairment associated with psychiatric illness, and suggest that neuropsychologic testing upon admission to an inpatient unit can be useful in predicting LOS.
Optical characterization of coupled resonator slow-light rib waveguides

We report on the design, fabrication and optical characterization of a slow light waveguide created using a linear array of coupled resonators in a large cross-section rib waveguide. Structures with as many as 25 high aspect ratio resonators are experimentally investigated. The measured propagation loss, group velocity, and delay-bandwidth product (DBP) are presented. The metric DBP/unit loss is also introduced, with a value 38/dB. Finally we discuss a method for further reducing loss in the slow-light rib waveguide.
Reliability of the Genucom Knee Analysis System. A pilot study.

Instrumented knee laxity testing is now common practice in many orthopedic and rehabilitative practices around the country. The Genucom Knee Analysis System is marketed as a comprehensive quantitative knee joint laxity testing device. To examine the intrarater reliability of the Genucom, the authors evaluated five normal subjects, each on three independent occasions. All testing was done by a single examiner. Anteroposterior (AP) drawer, valgus/varus, and tibial rotation tests were performed. The average variability for repeated testing was determined and this variability was then used to estimate the smallest statistically significant difference for a single repeat examination that would represent true change, i.e., change over and above the inherent variability of the measurement. The results indicate that: (1) anterior drawer variability and tibial rotational variability are dependent on the knee flexion angle; (2) reporting anterior drawer may be more reproducible than reporting total AP motion; and (3) on average, changes exceeding 3 mm for anterior drawer tests, 5 mm for total valgus-varus motion, and 7 degrees-17 degrees of tibial rotation are needed to be 95% confident that the change in a measure from one time to the next is real and not due to measurement variability.
On Contact Rectification by Metallic Germanium.

Outputs from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) include projections to the ventral pallidum and the ventral tegmental area and subtantia nigra in the ventral mesencephalon. The medium spiny neurons (MSN) that give rise to these pathways are GABAergic and consist of two populations of equal number that are segregated by differentially expressed proteins, including D1- and D2-dopamine receptors. Afferents to the ventral pallidum arise from both D1- and D2-MSNs, whereas the ventral mesencephalon is selectively innervated by D1-MSN. To determine the extent of collateralization of D1-MSN to these axon terminal fields we used retrograde labeling in transgenic mice expressing tdTomato selectively in D1-MSN, and found that a large majority of D1-MSN in either the shell or core subcompartments of the accumbens collateralized to both output structures. Approximately 70% of D1-MSNs projecting to the ventral pallidum collateralized to the ventral mesencephalon, whereas >90% of mesencephalic D1-MSN afferents collateralized to the ventral pallidum. In contrast, SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Activity in D1 dopamine receptor-expressing neurons in the NAc is required for rodents to respond to cocaine-conditioned cues and relapse to drug seeking behaviors. The D1-expressing neurons project to both the ventral pallidum and ventral mesencephalon, and we found that a majority of the neurons that innervate the ventral pallidum also collateralize to the ventral mesencephalon. However, despite innervating both structures, only D1 innervation of the ventral pallidum mediates cue-induced cocaine seeking.
Observation of incident angle dependent phonon absorption in hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride thin films

We have demonstrated the existence of longitudinal- and transverse-like optical modes of Si–N bond in vibrational absorption spectrum of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride thin films. One of the longitudinal-like optical resonances coincides with the transverse-like mode of Si–O bond, and the other closely neighbors the bending mode of N–H bond. We have also shown that the conventionally assigned asymmetric stretching mode of Si–N bond is merely a transverse-like mode of the bond. The microstructures of both longitudinal- and transverse-like modes can well be apprehended by a p-polarized beam at an oblique incidence light, especially at Brewster angle incidence. The spectrum distortion induced by interference fringes can be eliminated at this condition.
Contention resolution in wireless LANs using frequency-domain backoff

Recent advancements in PHY data rates of communication technologies require efficient MAC mechanisms. IEEE 802.11 MAC compels nodes to defer transmissions to avoid collisions and maintain random and fair channel access. Contention time degrades network performance in terms of bandwidth and delays; this problem exaggerates at higher data rates. In this paper, we propose a frequency-domain backoff scheme, where each OFDM data subcarrier is assigned an integer and then RTS is transmitted using a randomly chosen data subcarrier. In parallel using an additional listening antenna, each node listens on whole band for all active subcarriers. Node that transmits on smallest subcarrier wins channel access and is replied with CTS. Unlike IEEE 802.11 backoff, this handshaking frequency-domain backoff mechanism has lesser and fixed contention overhead. We also compute goodput efficiency of proposed mechanism using an analytical model. Our analysis suggests that proposed mechanism has higher efficiency gains in various network scenarios.
Scotopic sensitivity to on and off stimulus transients

Abstract The luminance of a large diffuse field, viewed peripherally, was temporally modulated near absolute detection threshold. The field luminance either increased abruptly and decreased gradually ( on stimulus) or increased gradually and decreased abruptly ( off stimulus). For all wavelengths shorter than 620 nm. sensitivity to the on stimulus was greater than to the off . The spectral sensitivity curves obtained indicate that rods and/or their associated neural pathways are more sensitive to on stimulus transients than to off .
Protein kinase C isoforms and A1 adenosine receptors in porcine coronary smooth muscle cells.

Abstract We have previously reported that prolonged exposure of porcine coronary arteries to adenosine agonists upregulates protein kinase C (PKC) through the activation of adenosine A 1 receptor-coupled to pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein(s) [Am. J. Physiol. 264 (1993) H1465; Am. J. Physiol. 269 (1995) H1619]. The mechanism(s) by which A 1 adenosine receptor upregulates PKC (isoforms) are not yet clearly understood. In the present study, we identified the α, β 1 , β 2 , γ, e, and ζ PKC isoforms that were upregulated by adenosine A 1 receptor agonist as a possible mechanism(s) involved for this upregulation. Incubation of porcine coronary smooth muscle cells (PCSMC) with adenosine A 1 receptor agonist (2s)- N 6 -[2-endo-norbornyl]adenosine (ENBA) caused an upregulation of PKC (isoforms), which were blocked by adenosine A 1 receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX). Western blot analysis using specific antibodies to PKC isoforms indicated that all the isoforms tested (α, β I , β II , μ, γ, δ, e, and ζ) were present in the primary cultured smooth muscle cells from porcine coronary artery. Western blot studies indicated that PKC α, β I , β II , γ, e, and ζ isoforms were upregulated in a dose dependent manner by adenosine agonist (ENBA) and PKC δ and μ were not altered.
Proximal Enhancer of the Human Insulin Receptor Gene Binds the Transcription Factor Sp1

The insulin receptor is a growth regulator present on the surface of most cells that transmits a mitogenic signal in response to insulin. Thus, the gene for the insulin receptor is constitutively expressed at low levels in all cells. We characterize a constitutive enhancer element that is present in the proximal promoter of the human insulin receptor gene. We have localized the enhancer to a 26–base-pair (26-bp) sequence from –528 to –503. When this sequence is inserted into the proximal promoter, a three- to fourfold increase in promoter activity is observed, and when two copies are inserted, a five- to sixfold increase is seen. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis demonstrates that nuclear factors binding to this sequence are found in many different cell types. At least two proteins with different specificities bind within this 26-bp sequence. The identity of the predominant binding protein is Sp1, because an oligonucleotide composed of an Sp1 consensus binding sequence can compete for several of the DNA-protein complexes. In addition, we demonstrate that purified Sp1 can bind to the 26-bp oligonucleotide and that this complex comigrates with a DNA-protein complex formed with a HeLa nuclear extract. Finally, an antibody to human Sp1 protein is able to bind to the enhancer DNA/HeLa protein complex and supershift this complex. These findings suggest that this sequence corresponds to a general element that may contribute to the ubiquitous expression of the human insulin receptor gene.
A comparison of JPEG and FIF compression of color medical images for dermatology.

Abstract Dermatologists were shown digitized images of skin lesions compressed by Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) and fractal image format (FIF) algorithms and asked to make a diagnostic assessment and rate the image quality in displaying the features necessary for that assessment. Dermatologists performance in the diagnostic assessment was not affected by the level of compression (up to 40×) using either algorithm, but ratings of image quality for all compressed images were significantly lower than for uncompressed images and for the original photographic slides. There were no significant differences in dermatologists' performance or ratings between the two compression algorithms.