cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anytime computation of time-optimal off-road vehicle maneuvers using the RRT*

Incremental sampling-based motion planning algorithms such as the Rapidly-exploring Random Trees (RRTs) have been successful in efficiently solving computationally challenging motion planning problems involving complex dynamical systems. A recently proposed algorithm, called the RRT*, also provides asymptotic optimality guarantees, i.e., almost-sure convergence to optimal trajectories (which the RRT algorithm lacked) while maintaining the computational efficiency of the RRT algorithm. In this paper, time-optimal maneuvers for a high-speed off-road vehicle taking tight turns on a loose surface are studied using the RRT* algorithm. Our simulation results show that the aggressive skidding maneuver, usually called the trail-braking maneuver, naturally emerges from the RRT* algorithm as the minimum-time trajectory. Along the way, we extend the RRT* algorithm to handle complex dynamical systems, such as those that are described by nonlinear differential equations and involve high-dimensional state spaces, which may be of independent interest. We also exploit the RRT* as an anytime computation framework for nonlinear optimization problems.
Cessation of blood-to-brain influx of interleukin-15 during development of EAE.

Regulatory changes in cytokine permeation across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) may have crucial roles in central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune disease. Accordingly, we examined the interactions of interleukin (IL)-15 with the cerebral vasculature after induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In contrast to the influx of 125I-IL15 from blood to the CNS in normal mice and the persistence of IL15 influx in the spinal cord of EAE mice, influx was reduced in the EAE brain. Analyses of disappearance kinetics, FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate)-albumin space, and delivery of IL15 by in situ perfusion, all indicate that the changes were not caused by BBB disruption but by the rapid availability (high volume of distribution) of IL15 and albumin. Although there was no significant change in the BBB permeation of IL15 in either direction in EAE mice, there was an upregulation of its specific receptor, IL15Rα, and an increased in situ production of IL15 mRNA that showed regional variation in both basal and EAE states. Overall, for IL15, its increased cerebral vascular space in the brain was equally as important as its persistent influx across the blood–spinal cord barrier, indicating that it is fully capable of activating the upregulated IL15Rα in the brain along with the intrinsic CNS source of IL15 in EAE mice.
Discrimination by temperature of opiate agonist and antagonist receptor binding.

Abstract Variations in incubation temperature can markedly differentiate opiate receptor binding of agonists and antagonists. In the presence of sodium increasing incubation temperatures from 0° to 30° reduces receptor binding of 3H-naloxone by 50% while tripling the binding of the agonist 3H-dihydromorphine. Lowering incubation temperature from 25° to 0° reduces the potency of morphine in inhibiting 3H-naloxone binding by 9-fold while not affecting the potency of the antagonist nalorphine. At temperatures of 25° and higher the number of binding sites for opiate antagonists is increased by sodium and the number of sites for agonists is decreased by sodium with no changes in affinity. By contrast, in the presence of sodium lowering of incubation temperature to 0° increases opiate receptor binding of the antagonist naloxone by enhancing its affinity for binding sites even though the total number of binding sites are not changed.
DEFINING AND REDEFINING WORK Implications for Women's Health

In this article the authors examine the ways in which the definition of work as paid employment has affected women's health research, the knowledge and understanding of the relationships between women's work and health, and health and social policies. The authors argue for research and public policy based on an expanded definition of women's work, a redefinition that goes beyond employment to reflect the multiple contexts and dimensions of women's work as well as the diversity and differences among women.
The flow field induced by an oscillating sphere

Abstract The method of inner and outer expansions is applied to the case of a sphere oscillating along a diameter with high Reynolds number and high Strouhal number. The entire velocity field is determined to the second order. It is found that the induced motion has a steady part, a harmonic part, and a subharmonic part. The secondary steady motion, or acoustic streaming, has a pair of toroidal cells in the boundary layer in addition to a steady streaming motion away along the axis in the outer flow field.
Gravitational Stabilization of a Satellite in a Fixed Inertial Orientation

For satellites with long operational lifetimes it is often necessary to avoid mass expulsion techniques for attitude control. One alternative, which has been used successfully for Earth-pointing satellites, is the exploitation of gravitational forces exerted on the satellite by the central body. This paper deals with the possibility of using such forces to stabilize a satellite in an inertially fixed orientation. In the proposed attitude control scheme, the inertia properties of the satellite are selected in such a way that the gravitational forces have a natural stabilizing effect on motions about axes which lie in the orbit plane. To stabilize motions about an axis normal to the orbit plane (the pitch axis), an active control device is included. This device varies the inertia properties of the system by moving masses within the satellite so as to produce a controlled gravitational torque about the pitch axis when there is a pitch attitude error. The theoretical feasibility of the proposed control scheme is demonstrated by showing that there are regions in the system parameter space for which the desired attitude motion is asymptotically stable.
Vagal afferent innervation of smooth muscle in the stomach and duodenum of the mouse: morphology and topography.

Intraganglionic laminar endings (IGLEs) and intramuscular arrays (IMAs), the two putative mechanoreceptors that the vagus nerve supplies to the gastrointestinal smooth muscle, have been characterized almost exclusively in the rat. To provide normative inventories of these afferents for the mouse, the authors examined the endings in the stomach and small intestine of three strains used as backgrounds for gene manipulations (i.e., C57, 129/SvJ, and WBB6). Animals received nodose ganglion injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase or dextran-tetramethylrhodamine conjugated to biotin. The horseradish peroxidase tissue was processed with tetramethylbenzidine and was used to map the distributions and densities of the two endings; the dextran material was counterstained with c-Kit immunohistochemistry to assess interactions between intramuscular arrays and interstitial cells of Cajal. IGLEs and IMAs constituted the vagal innervation of mouse gastric and duodenal smooth muscle. IGLE morphology and distributions, with peak densities in the corpus-antrum, were similar in the three strains of mice and comparable to those observed in rats. IMAs varied in complexity from region to region but tended to be simpler (fewer telodendria) in mice than in rats. IMAs were most concentrated in the forestomach and sphincters in mice, as in rats, but the topographic distributions of the endings varied both between strains of mice (subtly) and between species (more dramatically). IMAs appeared to make appositions with both interstitial cells and smooth muscle fibers. This survey should make it practical to assay the effects of genetic (e.g., knockout) and experimental (e.g., regeneration) manipulations affecting visceral afferents and their target tissues.
Solvent accessibility calculations for sperm whale ferrimyoglobin based on refined crystallographic data.

Abstract The calculation of solvent accessibility parameters from protein crystallographic data, by the method of Lee and Richards has been simplified to allow treatment of single atoms and their immediate environment. New accessibility values for all titratable amino acid residues in myoglobin have been computed from recent X-ray structure data of Takano. A number of prominent differences appear between these values and those from the older structure data of Watson. Differences are interpreted in terms of the proximity of neighboring residues.
Acoustic round locator and discriminator

The US Army is currently investigating the use of acoustics to locate and discriminate tank rounds fired during live-fire training exercises for armored vehicle gunners. Being able to determine round type and location at the intended target greatly enhances training realism. By determining a round's velocity, miss distance from a sensor and acoustic shock wave duration, the round can be classified into one of five size categories. The round's location at the target is calculated as a by-product during the determination of miss distance. A prototype acoustic discrimination system has been developed that consists of a microprocessor with multichannel A/D hardware and a few acoustic sensors. For each round fired, the prototype system calculates a projectile shape value (PSV) from the round's velocity, miss distance, and shock wave duration. The PSV is then compared to a look-up table to classify the round according to size. Initial tests of the prototype acoustic round discrimination system have been successful.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An isotopic (15N) assessment of intraclonal regulation in C4 perennial grasses: ramet interdependence, independence or both?

1 A series of three experiments was conducted with three C4 perennial grasses, Panicum virgatum (short rhizomes forming distinct clones), Schizachyrium scoparium (caespitose) and Bouteloua gracilis (caespitose), to determine whether intraclonal regulation was characterized by interdependence, independence or a combination of both processes. Specific hypotheses tested were: (i) all ramets within individual clones are physiologically integrated; (ii) ramet hierarchies (several connected generations) within individual clones are capable of acquiring soil nitrogen equally from localized nutrient-rich pulses; and (iii) nitrogen is retained within individual hierarchies through allocation to sequentially developed ramet generations. 2 Mean 15N atom percent excess values within labelled ramet hierarchies were 10–21-fold greater than in immediately adjacent ramet hierarchies, and 105–137-fold greater than in the remaining ramet hierarchies within clones for all three species. This pattern of 15N distribution demonstrates that physiological integration does not occur among all ramets within individual clones and that ramet hierarchies function as integrated physiological individuals. 3 Ramets in closer proximity to a 15N pulse in soils acquired disproportionately greater amounts of the isotope compared to more distant ramets within clones for all three species. Inequitable resource acquisition among ramet hierarchies establishes the potential for asymmetric intraclonal competition below-ground and the development of size inequalities among hierarchies. 4 Approximately 21.7%, 3.5%, 1.7% and 2.3% of the initial 15N pool was allocated from the first ramet generation to the second and third (spring cohort), third (autumn cohort) and fourth generations, respectively. However, the magnitude of nitrogen allocation from parent to juvenile ramet generations was relatively consistent, with 17–32% of the 15N pool within parental ramets allocated to juvenile ramets. Intergenerational 15N allocation in S. scoparium clones therefore demonstrates a high degree of interdependence within individual ramet hierarchies. 5 Clones of the rhizomatous and two caespitose grasses investigated functioned as assemblages of autonomous ramet hierarchies, but ramet generations within individual hierarchies were effectively integrated. Consequently, intraclonal regulation in these temperate, perennial grasses is characterized by both ramet interdependence and independence. The occurrence of ramet independence throughout much of the life history of perennial grasses demonstrates the ecological importance of clonal fragments to genet and population maintenance and emphasizes that this may be the most relevant scale to investigate further the ecology of this important and widely distributed group of clonal plants.
Faunal implications of an environmental change before the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) transition in central Utah

Abstract The North Horn Formation at North Horn Mountain in central Utah records a shift in the composition of the upper Maastrichtian vertebrate fossil assemblage below the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary. Dinosaurs ( Alamosaurus , Tyrannosaurus , Torosaurus , and hadrosaurs), turtles ( Basilemys ), mammals, and lizards (Polyglyphanodon ) occur in the lowest unit of the formation. The environment changed from semi-arid to wetter conditions, and several of the mostly terrestrial vertebrate taxa no longer appeared in the type area. Several taxa that dominated the vertebrate assemblage low in the formation are replaced in the succeeding unit below the K-T boundary by different dinosaur taxa that are represented by eggshells. This altered vertebrate assemblage was more tolerant of, or was adapted to, wetter conditions, but it, too, disappeared at the type locality by the end of the Cretaceous. This wetland dinosaur assemblage is not identical to that found in semi-arid dinosaur assemblages or to dinosaur assemblages in other K-T boundary sites that represent different paleolatitudes. Most of the faunas in the succeeding unit are represented by aquatic forms (crocodilians, turtles, fish, mollusks, and ostracods) which persisted after the dinosaurs disappeared. There appears to be no current tectonic or biostratigraphic reason to conclude that a significant stratigraphic gap exists immediately below the K-T boundary in the North Horn Formation in central Utah.
Introduction: Cognitive Autonomy in Machine Discovery

This special issue of Machine Learning on discovery raises the question: How is discovery different from learning? In machine learning we typically distinguish between (1) learning as acquiring new knowledge in the form of concepts, taxonomies, regularities, and the like, and (2) learning as performance improvement and skill acquisition. "Discovery" applies to things that exist, such as the moons of Jupiter or the laws of nature, so in this section we confront discovery with learning in the first sense, of acquisition of objective knowledge. In the second section we discuss the distinction between discovery and invention. The third section reviews the ways in which the articles in this issue contribute to the growing autonomy and integration of machine discoverers, and it mentions recent research in machine discovery not represented in this issue.
Mechanism of benzo[a]pyrene-induced Cyp1a-1 gene expression in mouse Hepa 1c1c7 cells: Role of the nuclear 6 s and 4 s proteins☆

Treatment of wild-type (wt) aryl hydrocarbon (Ah)-responsive mouse Hepa 1c1c7 cells with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) caused a concentration-dependent induction of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity. In contrast, B[a]P was inactive as an inducer in Ah nonresponsive class 1 and class 2 mutant cell lines. In parallel experiments, the nuclear fractions from wt cells treated with 10(-7) M [3H]B[a]P contained both the 4 s carcinogen binding protein and the 6 s (Ah receptor) complexes, whereas only the 4 s complex was present in the nuclear fraction of the class 2 mutant cells. The results obtained from cotreatment of wt Hepa 1c1c7 cells with 10(-6) or 10(-7) M B[a]P and 5 x 10(-7) or 10(-7) M 6-methyl-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofuran (MCDF) showed that MCDF inhibited the induction of EROD activity and Cyp1a-1 mRNA levels by B[a]P. Moreover, using 10(-7) M [3H]B[a]P and unlabeled MCDF, it was shown that MCDF not only inhibited the induction response but also caused a concentration-dependent decrease in levels of the nuclear 6 s complex but not the 4 s complex. In contrast, in situ competition studies with unlabeled 10(-6) M benzo[ghi]-perylene (B[ghi]P) resulted in the elimination of the nuclear [3H]B[a]P 4 s complex (but not the 6 s complex); however, the EROD activity and Cyp1a-1 mRNA levels in cells treated with 10(-7) M B[a]P in the presence or absence of 10(-6) M B[ghi]P were not significantly different. These results indicate that the 4 s binding protein is not required for the induction of Cyp1a-1 gene expression in Hepa 1c1c7 cells and suggest that B[a]P and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induce Cyp1a-1 gene expression via a common mechanism which involves binding to the Ah receptor.
Atypical Multicentric "Sclerosing Hemangioma of the Lung": A Benign Mesenchymal Tumor of the Pulmonary Interstitium?

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/16-1-12439 A case of multicentric sclerosing hemangiomas of the lung with recurrent hemoptysis and previously unreported pneumothorax is presented. The variable histology of the tumor nodules presented the opportunity to make observations pertinent to the histogenesis of this tumor which bas been a subject of debate in surgical pathology for approximately 25 years. Our observations suggest that sclerosing hemangiomas of the lung arises from pluri-potential rnesenchymal cells in the pulmonary interstitium. Focal differentiation of these interstitial cells, as noted in this case, into fibroconnective tissue, osteoid, fat, angiomatous tissue and bone may help explain the variable histology observed in case reports. This variable differentiation supports a mesenchymal histogenesis. Ultrastructural studies demonstrated that many of the interstitial cells had features of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts.
Stimulation of the fastigial nucleus enhances EEG recovery and reduces tissue damage after focal cerebral ischemia.

Stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) increases CBF but not metabolism and reduces the tissue damage resulting from focal cerebral ischemia. This effect may result from enhancing CBF in the ischemic tissue without increasing local metabolic demands. To test this hypothesis, we studied whether the reduction in tissue damage is restricted to the neocortex, a region in which the CBF increase is independent of metabolism, and whether stimulation of the dorsal medullary reticular formation (DMRF), a treatment that increases both cerebral metabolism and CBF, also protects the brain from ischemia. In halothane-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats, the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded either proximally or distally to the lenticulostriate branches. The FN or DMRF were then stimulated for 1 h (50-100 microA; 50 Hz; 1 s on/l s off). Twenty-four hours later, the infarct volume was determined. FN stimulation substantially reduced the size of the infarct, an effect that was greater with distal (-69 +/- 8%; n = 6; p 0.05). Stimulation of the FN also enhanced recovery of EEG amplitude in the ischemic cortex (+48%; p 0.05). Thus, stimulation of the FN, but not the DMRF, attenuates the damage resulting from focal ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Automatic detection of non-cosmetic soft contact lenses in ocular images

Recent research in iris recognition has established the impact of non-cosmetic soft contact lenses on the recognition performance of iris matchers. Researchers in Notre Dame demonstrated an increase in False Reject Rate (FRR) when an iris without a contact lens was compared against the same iris with a transparent soft contact lens. Detecting the presence of a contact lens in ocular images can, therefore, be beneficial to iris recognition systems. This study proposes a method to automatically detect the presence of non-cosmetic soft contact lenses in ocular images of the eye acquired in the Near Infrared (NIR) spectrum. While cosmetic lenses are more easily discernible, the problem of detecting non-cosmetic lenses is substantially difficult and poses a significant challenge to iris researchers. In this work, the lens boundary is detected by traversing a small annular region in the vicinity of the outer boundary of the segmented iris and locating candidate points corresponding to the lens perimeter. Candidate points are identified by examining intensity profiles in the radial direction within the annular region. The proposed detection method is evaluated on two databases: ICE 2005 and MBGC Iris. In the ICE 2005 database, a correct lens detection rate of 72% is achieved with an overall classification accuracy of 76%. In the MBGC Iris database, a correct lens detection rate of 70% is obtained with an overall classification accuracy of 66:8%. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the earliest work attempting to detect the presence of non-cosmetic soft contact lenses in NIR ocular images. The results of this research suggest the possibility of detecting soft contact lenses in ocular images but highlight the need for further research in this area.
Self-reported predictors of depressive symptomatology in an elderly population with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study.

Background The prevalence of depression increases among the elderly with chronic medical conditions like diabetes. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine predictors of depressive symptomatology in Medicare enrolled elderly population with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Reliable computation of binary homogeneous azeotropes of multi-component mixtures at higher pressures through equation of states

Abstract A method to compute binary homogeneous azeotropes in multi-component mixtures at elevated pressures through the equation of state approach is developed. The method is capable of predicting the homogeneous azeotropes and is in close agreement with experimental data. At higher pressures, vapor and liquid phase non-idealities are incorporated using vapor and liquid phase fugacity coefficients from Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera equation of state with Wong–Sandler mixing rules. The method is also capable of predicting the exact value of bifurcation pressure where homogeneous azeotropes may appear or disappear. The method can predict the azeotropes at elevated pressures and is independent of equation of state and mixing rules. The method is also capable of predicting the double azeotropy in binary mixtures. The method is tested with Ethanol-Water, Isopropanol-Water, Carbon dioxide-Ethane-Ethylene and Ammonia-R-125 systems. The highly non-linear system of equations is solved by homotopy continuation approach.
Differential effects of mild therapeutic exercise during a period of inactivity on power generation in soleus type I single fibers with age.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of mild therapeutic exercise (treadmill) in preventing the inactivity-induced alterations in contractile properties (e.g., power, force, and...
Temporal perceptions and university faculty

This study is a preliminary investigation of the temporal perceptions of 100 male university faculty members grouped by professorial rank and by the three general academic areas of natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. The general hypothesis states that the temporal perceptions of these respondents relate to academic area and not to professorial rank. From the respondents' answers to an open-ended question during a taped interview session, three perceptual categories were derived and labeled ambiguous, analytical, and synoptic. Chi-square analysis confirmed the general hypothesis. This confirmation is congruent with previous research findings that academic area is a significant distinguishing variable to apply to the professoriate. Natural science respondents perceived time analytically, as increments for measurement, whereas respondents in social sciences and humanities tended to perceive time ambiguously, as having more than one meaning. Implications of this small-sample investigation at a comprehensive, state-supported university are important not for the answers provided but rather for the questions generated. These questions delineate areas for further research.
Ambivalence and Compromise in Human Nature

Triangulating to human nature generally is accomplished by finding analogies with nonhuman primates, by searching for overt behaviors that are universal, by identification of emotions that can be correlated with physiological responses or brain rewards, or by use of appropriate selection scenarios. An additional method is proposed, which focuses on universally occurring psychological ambivalences as manifestations of competing tendencies in human nature. Ethnographic exemplification concentrates on subsistence crises relevant to reproductive success, and dilemmas associated with feuding assassinations. It is argued that universal psychological ambivalences and the universal decision dilemmas these produce may be a better key to human nature than are universal patterns of observed behavior. It is suggested also that an ambivalence approach can assist us in arriving at a more specific treatment of human behavioral lability, one that can be usefully tied to the decision approaches employed by anthropologists.
Characteristics of jaw growth in cleidocranial dysplasia.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess craniofacial morphology in young and adult individuals with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). Design: Craniofacial morphology in young individuals (primary dentition) and in young adults was compared with control data using ratios and angles obtained from lateral head films. Setting: The CCD individuals were referred to the Center for Craniofacial Anomalies for diagnostic workup and treatment recommendations. Subjects: The sample consisted of 14 Caucasians. The inclusion criterion for the young, prepubertal group (A) was complete primary dentition, and for the adult, postpubertal group (B), the eruption of all four first molars was required. Interventions: No treatment other than extraction or surgical removal of selected primary or supernumerary teeth was performed. Results: Both groups showed significantly smaller anterior upper face height compared with controls. Group B subjects demonstrated significantly smaller face height values than th...
Yellow fever 17-D vaccine is neurotropic and produces encephalitis in immunosuppressed hamsters

Immunosuppressed (cyclophosphamide) adult golden hamsters inoculated intraperitoneally (IP) with wild-type Asibi yellow fever virus (YFV) developed a rapidly fatal illness. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies of tissues from these animals showed typical hepatic changes of severe yellow fever (inflammation, hepatocyte necrosis, and steatosis) without brain involvement. In contrast, 50% of immunosuppressed hamsters receiving the YFV-17D-attenuated vaccine developed a slowly progressive encephalitic-type illness. Brain tissue from these latter animals revealed focal neuronal changes, inflammation, and YFV antigen-positive neurons; however, the liver and spleen appeared normal. YFV was isolated from brain cultures of many of these animals. Immunocompetent (non- immunosuppressed) hamsters inoculated with both viruses developed a subclinical infection. Results of this study indicate that wild-type YFV is hepatotropic in immunosuppressed hamsters, whereas the attenuated YFV-17 is primarily neurotropic. These findings support current recommendations against yellow fever vaccination of immunosuppressed/ immunocompromised people and suggest that this hamster model might be useful for monitoring the safety of other live-attenuated YFV vaccines.
Respiratory and sleep patterns during nocturnal infusions of branched chain amino acids

In the awake, normal subject, infusions of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) alter the ventilatory response to CO2. If this effect extends to the sleep state, it could contribute to our understanding of the neurophysiology of the sleep state as well as having clinical utility in ameliorating or preventing apnea syndromes. This study examined the effect of nocturnal BCAA infusions on sleep patterns (as measured by EEG, chest wall motion, Sao, and end-tidal CO2) in five normal male subjects. Subjects were monitored with a polysomnograph from 21.00 to 7.00. Each subject was studied double-blind in random order on three occasions: a) baseline, no infusion (B); b) control, with normal saline infusion (S); and c) treatment, infusion of BCAA (BCAA). Sleep pattern analysis did not demonstrate any measurable effect of the BCAA infusion. End-tidal CO2 levels during BCAA infusion were lower than during baseline or control nights (meank ± s.d.; BCAA: 5.8 ± 0.7 kPa vs B: 6.9 ± 0.1 kPa, P< 0.01 and S: 6.7 ± 0.4 kPa, P< 0.05). This study demonstrates that nocturnal BCAA infusions have effects on respiratory control during sleep; further clinical studies are required to determine whether these data have implications for disease states.
Diffusion map kernel analysis for target classification

Given a high dimensional dataset, one would like to be able to represent this data using fewer parameters while preserving relevant information, previously this was done with principal component analysis, factor analysis, or feature selection. However, if we assume the original data actually exists on a lower dimensional manifold embedded in a high dimensional feature space, then recently popularized approaches based in graph-theory and differential geometry allow us to learn the underlying manifold that generates the data. One such manifold-learning technique, called Diffusion Maps, is said to preserve the local proximity between data points by first constructing a representation for the underlying manifold. This work examines binary target classification problems using Diffusion Maps to embed the data with various kernel representations for the diffusion parameter. Results demonstrate that specific kernels are well suited for Diffusion Map applications on some sonar feature sets and in general certain kernels outperform the standard Gaussian and Polynomial kernels, on several of the higher dimensional data sets including the sonar data contrasting with their performance on the lower-dimensional publically available data sets.
What is Nominalistic Mereology

Hybrid languages are introduced in order to evaluate the strength of “minimal” mereologies with relatively strong frame definability properties. Appealing to a robust form of nominalism, I claim that one investigated language \(\mathcal {H}_{\textsf {m}}\) is maximally acceptable for nominalistic mereology. In an extension \(\mathcal {H}_{\textsf {gem}}\) of \(\mathcal {H}_{\textsf {m}}\), a modal analog for the classical systems of Leonard and Goodman (J Symb Log 5:45–55, 1940) and Leśniewski (1916) is introduced and shown to be complete with respect to 0-deleted Boolean algebras. We characterize the formulas of first-order logic invariant for \(\mathcal {H}_{\textsf {gem}}\)-bisimulations.
Learning, Memory, and Sleep in Humans

About one-third of a person’s life is spent sleeping, yet in spite of the advances in understanding the processes that generate and maintain sleep, the functional significance of sleep remains a mystery. Numerous theories regarding the role of sleep have been proposed, including homeostatic restoration, thermoregulation, tissue repair, and immune control. A theory that has received enormous support in the last decade concerns sleep’s role in processing and storing memories. This article reviewssomeoftheevidencesuggestingthatsleep is critical for long-lasting memories. This body of evidence has grown impressively large and covers a range of studies atthemolecular, cellular, physiologic, and behavioral levels of analysis.
How Severe Are the Problems of Congestion and Unreliability? An Empirical Analysis of Traveler Perceptions

Congestion (low average speeds) and unreliability (variability in travel times due to factors such as incidents, construction, special events, and weather) are two well-recognized undesirable characteristics of transportation systems. Travel-demand models have routinely incorporated the effect of congestion on the mode of travel, time-of-day of travel, and route of travel by using travel times and travel speeds as explanatory factors.
Defining Availability for High-Rate Data Links with Fading

Future wireless military data links are being designed to transmit packet data at rates of hundreds of Mb/s and higher. Link technologies that are liable to signal fading, such as free-space atmospheric optical technology, are also expected to gain in importance over the next decade, especially for very high-rate links. These developments require reevaluation of the traditional criteria used for determining the availability of such communications links. This paper examines some traditional criteria for defining link availability, both in the military and commercial arenas, and analyzes their shortcomings for defining link availability in future systems. New classes of error-rate-based availability definitions are presented, along with analysis showing that their characteristics are particularly suitable for the high-rate, possibly fading, data links of the future.
Crosslinking aqueous poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) solutions by persulfate

Aqueous solutions with 1.5 to 6.5 wt-% poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), PVP, are converted to stable gels by reaction with potassium persulfate. Large quantities of persulfate are needed for high-modulus gels, 50% to 150% of the weight of PVP being required typically. The shear modulus G′ can be measured during reaction by making the gel the restoring element in a simple torsion pendulum. The increase in modulus to a maximum plateau value of G′max can be expressed as a first-order process: Where t is elapsed time of reaction and K increases with the square root of polymer concentration. G′max varies with the second power of the polymer concentration. It also increases rapidly with increasing temperature of reaction and with persulfate/PVP ratio.
Identification, individualization and uniqueness: What's the difference?

Criminalists and many forensic scientists concerned with the identification of trace evidence have distinguished between identification and individualization, but they have not distinguished as precisely between individualization and uniqueness. This paper clarifies these terms and discusses the relationships among identification, individualization and uniqueness in forensic science evidence.
On the characterization of a reflector impulse radiating antenna (IRA): full-wave analysis and measured results

There is a growing demand for impulse radiating antennas (IRAs) to receive and transmit short pulses. The basic concepts of IRA are reviewed and the far-field pattern versus frequency of an ideal IRA is characterized based on the fundamental properties of IRA. It is shown that the transmitted pulse is ideally in the form of a time derivative of the input pulse. The physical optics simulation results show that the far-field characteristics of a parabolic reflector are very close to an ideal IRA if it is fed properly. The reflector IRA was constructed, analyzed and measured at UCLA. The near-field and far-field characteristics of the reflector IRA are studied using both the method of moments (MoM) full-wave simulations and the frequency domain measurements. In this paper, the radiation mechanism of the reflector IRA is studied using a detailed current distribution on the parabolic reflector and the feeding structure at different frequencies. Applying either the calculated current distribution on the reflector IRA or the measured near-field results, it is seen that the aperture field intensity of the parabolic reflector is not the same in the two principle planes and as a result the beam-widths in the two principle planes are different. The far-field patterns of the antenna are measured and the calculated far-field patterns support the measured results. The calculated current distribution results provide a guideline on how to properly change the feeding structure to achieve a more uniform aperture field and increase the antenna radiation efficiency
The Hemodynamic Effects of Ibopamine, a Dopamine Congener, in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

Ten patients with congestive heart failure underwent noninvasive and invasive hemodynamic testing before and sequentially after the administration of ibopamine to determine the cardiovascular effects of this oral dopamine congener. Single doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg were administered to all patients and 5 repeated doses of 200 or 400 mg were studied in 8. Hemodynamic effects occurred as early as 30 minutes and lasted up to 4 hours after dosing. In general, ibopamine elicited statistically significant dose-related increases in cardiac output and reductions in the derived resistance of the systemic and pulmonary circulations. A biphasic response in central and peripheral pressures was observed; up to 1 hour after administration, ibopamine elevated mean right and left atrial pressures and pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures with a significant reduction of these measurements beyond 1 hour. It did not alter heart rate. Repeated doses qualitatively affected hemodynamics similar to the initial dose and did not appear to be accompanied by short-term tolerance. While oral ibopamine elicits some favorable hemodynamic effects in humans with cardiac failure, the biphasic hemodynamic response is generally undesirable in the majority of these patients.
A Comparative Study of Legionella micdadei and Other Nosocomial Acquired Pneumonia

The clinical and laboratory characteristics of 27 patients during an outbreak of pneumonia due to Legionella micdadei were reviewed. These patients were compared with a group of 46 patients who had other causes of nosocomial acquired pneumonia. Patients with pneumonia due to L micdadei typically had nosocomial acquisition of the disease and were immunosuppressed. Symptoms, physical findings, and laboratory tests were nonspecific; however, patients with pneumonia due to L micdadei had an increased frequency of pleuritic pain in the chest, dyspnea, cough, and changes in mental status compared to the nosocomial group. Direct fluorescent antibody staining and culture of sputum and other respiratory secretions established the diagnosis of infection with L micdadei. Unusual features included dual infections in three patients and pulmonary cavitation in five patients. Therapy with erythromycin, when instituted early, decreased mortality. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, used as alternative therapy in patients with persistent infection, was also curative. Because of the high mortality associated with a delay in diagnosis, it is important to consider the diagnosis of pneumonia due to L micdadei in immunosuppressed patients.
The Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein (APP) and FE65, an APP-binding protein, regulate cell movement

FE65 binds to the Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein (APP), but the function of this interaction has not been identified. Here, we report that APP and FE65 are involved in regulation of cell movement. APP and FE65 colocalize with actin and Mena, an Abl-associated signaling protein thought to regulate actin dynamics, in lamellipodia. APP and FE65 specifically concentrate with β1-integrin in dynamic adhesion sites known as focal complexes, but not in more static adhesion sites known as focal adhesions. Overexpression of APP accelerates cell migration in an MDCK cell wound–healing assay. Coexpression of APP and FE65 dramatically enhances the effect of APP on cell movement, probably by regulating the amount of APP at the cell surface. These data are consistent with a role for FE65 and APP, possibly in a Mena-containing macromolecular complex, in regulation of actin-based motility.
Orientation of the JPL Ephemerides, DE 200/LE 200, to the dynamical equinox of J 2000

The lunar and planetary ephemerides, DE 200/LE 200 have been recently produced at JPL. They will form the basis of the ephemerides in the 'Astronomical Almanac' starting in the year 1984. The origin has been referenced to the J 2000 dynamical equinox of the ephemerides themselves. The procedure for this orientation is described here in detail. Analyses of the ephemerides also provide comparisons with the equinox of the FK 4 and with presently adopted values for the earth's obliquity.
Turning Points in International Negotiation A Comparative Analysis

A turning-points analysis of 34 cases of international negotiation is performed in three parts: precipitants (external, substantive, or procedural), process departures (abrupt or nonabrupt), and immediate and later consequences (escalatory or de-escalatory). The cases are divided into three types according to issue area: security, political (including environmental), and trade or economic negotiations. The results are summarized in terms of paths to outcomes: security negotiations are characterized primarily by external precipitants leading to abrupt departures in process that typically turn the talks in the direction of agreements; process departures or turning points in political and trade talks are usually precipitated by either substantive or procedural decisions made by the negotiators that also lead to agreements. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of the risk-averse and reactive orientations taken by governments in the area of security policy. They are also discussed in the context...
Perceived Control by Employees: A Meta-Analysis of Studies Concerning Autonomy and Participation at Work

Perceived control by employees is a variable that has been heavily researched in two popular areas, job design (as autonomy) and participative decision-making. A meta-analysis was conducted of studies relating perceived control variables to 19 employee outcome variables. For all studies combined, it was found that high levels of perceived control was associated with high levels of job satisfaction (overall and individual facets), commitment, involvement, performance and motivation, and low levels of physical symptoms, emotional distress, role stress, absenteeism, intent to turnover, and turnover. A similar pattern was found for the autonomy and participation studies analyzed separately, with one exception. Participative decision-making was not associated with absenteeism in the single study available.
A calculation of neural network statistics: the probability distribution of average cell firing in a feedforward neural network

The author describes a relationship between the statistics of the input environment and the distribution of average postsynaptic excitation for a feedforward network governed by a particular associative modification rule. In some circumstances, which are illustrated, this calculation implies a normal distribution. Only summary statistics of the pairwise correlations of the input environment are necessary to produce an accurate estimate of the average cell firing distribution. An application of this estimate to the design of a preprocessing network is described. >
Evidence for the Involvement of Calmodulin in Mouse Sperm Capacitation

Although Ca(2+) is of fundamental importance in mammalian sperm capacitation, its downstream targets have not been definitively demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to use the calmodulin (CaM) antagonists W7 and calmidazolium (CZ) to investigate the possible role of CaM, a Ca(2+)-specific binding protein, in capacitation. Sperm membrane changes associated with capacitation were assessed by the B pattern after chlortetracycline staining and by the ability to undergo the acrosome reaction (AR) in response to lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). The percentage of B pattern sperm was significantly inhibited by W7 or CZ in a concentration-dependent manner. At 100 microM W7 or 10 microM CZ, these inhibitors also significantly reduced the sperm's ability to undergo the LPC-induced AR. Inhibition of the B pattern and the LPC-induced AR was overcome by exogenous cAMP analogues. Treatment of the sperm with 100 microM W7 also resulted in a significant decrease in their ability to fertilize eggs in vitro. At 100 microM, W5, a less potent dechlorinated W7 analogue, had no effect on the B pattern, LPC-induced AR, or fertilization competence. Sperm viability and protein tyrosine phosphorylation were not substantially affected by 100 microM W7 (relative to 100 microM W5) or 10 microM CZ; however, the percentages of motile and hyperactivated sperm were significantly reduced. The antagonist-inhibited sperm motility was restored by dilution in control medium, but not by cAMP analogues. These results suggest that CaM participates in the regulation of membrane changes important for mouse sperm capacitation, at a point upstream from cAMP, and that this pathway is at least partially separable from pathways controlling tyrosine phosphorylation and hyperactivation.
Analysis of intersonic crack growth in unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites

Recent experiments on dynamic fracture of unidirectional fiber-reinforced graphite/epoxy composite materials showed that, in Mode I, the crack tip velocity could never exceed the shear wave speed, while the crack tip velocity in Mode II not only exceeded the shear wave speed but also approached a stable velocity at which the crack grew for a substantial period of time in experiments. The experimentally obtained fringe patterns also clearly showed the existence of shear shock waves when the crack tip velocity exceeded the shear wave speed. In the present study, we have obtained the asymptotic fields near an intersonically propagating crack tip. It is shown that Mode-I intersonic crack propagation is impossible because the crack tip energy release rate supplied by the elastic asymptotic field is negative and unbounded, which is physically unacceptable since a propagating crack tip cannot radiate out energy. For Mode II, however, it is established that there exists a single crack tip velocity (higher than the shear wave speed) that gives a finite and positive crack tip energy release rate. At all other intersonic crack tip speeds the energy release rate supplied by the elastic asymptotic field is identically zero. This critical crack tip velocity agrees well with the stable crack tip velocity observed in experiments. The synthetically obtained fringe patterns based on the asymptotic field also agree with experimentally obtained fringe patterns, particularly on the existence of the shock waves.
The Impact of a U.S. teacher training program on teaching beliefs and practices: A case study of secondary school level Japanese teachers of English

This study examines the impact of a U. S. teacher training program on eight Japanese English professionals’ teaching beliefs and practices after the completion of the program. It also investigates the teachers’ perspectives on how they resolve tensions, if any, between their teaching beliefs, Japanese teaching contexts, and new knowledge learned in the program. The data were collected mainly through qualitative methods such as multiple interviews with teachers and through document analysis. The results suggest that while the teachers considered the training experiences to be positive, they faced difficulties in applying their new knowledge in their own teaching contexts due to school, social, and cross-cultural factors. Despite the challenges, the data also revealed that the teachers attempted to negotiate the gap between expectations in these contexts and their teaching beliefs. We conclude that in order to understand the impact of teacher education programs, it is important to explore teachers’ perspectives on their learning to teach.