cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Theory for the Development of Conceptual Functional Models for Automation of Manual Processes

Conceptual design is a vital stage in the development of any product, and its importance only increases with the complexity of a design. Functional modeling with the Functional Basis provides a framework for the conceptual design of electromechanical products. This framework is just as applicable to the conceptual design of automated solutions where an engineered product with components spanning multiple engineering domains is designed to replace or aid a human and his or her tools in a human-centric process. This paper presents research toward the simplification of the generation of conceptual functional models for automation solutions. The presented methodology involves the creation of functional and process models to fully explore existing human operated tasks for potential automation. Generated functional and process models are strategically combined to create a new conceptual functional model for an automation solution to potentially automate the human-centric task. The presented methodology is applied to the generation of a functional model for a conceptual automation solution. Then conceptual automation solutions generated through the presented methodology are compared to existing automation solutions to demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented methodology.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The Arabidopsis Phospholipase D Family. Characterization of a Calcium-Independent and Phosphatidylcholine-Selective PLDζ1 with Distinct Regulatory Domains

Four types of phospholipase D (PLD), PLDα, β, γ, and δ, have been characterized in Arabidopsis, and they display different requirements for Ca2+, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), substrate vesicle composition, and/or free fatty acids. However, all previously cloned plant PLDs contain a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding C2 domain and require Ca2+ for activity. This study documents a new type of PLD, PLDζ1, which is distinctively different from previously characterized PLDs. It contains at the N terminus a Phox homology domain and a pleckstrin homology domain, but not the C2 domain. A full-length cDNA for Arabidopsis PLDζ1 has been identified and used to express catalytically active PLD in Escherichia coli. PLDζ1 does not require Ca2+ or any other divalent cation for activity. In addition, it selectively hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine, whereas the other Arabidopsis PLDs use several phospholipids as substrates. PLDζ1 requires PIP2 for activity, but unlike the PIP2-requiring PLDβ or γ, phosphatidylethanolamine is not needed in substrate vesicles. These differences are described, together with a genomic analysis of 12 putative Arabidopsis PLD genes that are grouped into α, β, δ, γ, and ζ based on their gene architectures, sequence similarities, domain structures, and biochemical properties.
Dual-frequency ferromagnetic resonance to measure spin current coupling in multilayers

Spin pumping is a method for injecting a pure spin current into a non-magnetic metal (NM) by inducing precession of a neighboring ferromagnet (FM) at its ferromagnetic resonance frequency. A popular method to detect spin current uses the Inverse Spin Hall Effect (ISHE) to convert the spin current to a detectable charge current and hence a voltage. In order to better understand the role of time independent and high frequency contributions to spin pumping, we sought to detect we attempt to detect spin currents by using a second microwave frequency to detect changes in linewidth of a second ferromagnet due to the spin-torque induced by the spin current from the first ferromagnet. This dual resonance is achieved by pairing a custom broadband coplanar transmission line with the high-Q resonant cavity of a commercial electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer. This technique is general enough that it should enable the investigation of spin currents in any FM-NM-FM system, for any orientation of external field, and is not sensitive to voltage artifacts often found in ISHE measurements. We find that the condition for simultaneous resonance generates a dc spin current that is too small to produce a measurable change in linewidth of the second ferromagnet, confirming the dominance of ac spin currents in linewidth enhancement measurements.
Estimation and Equalization of Rapidly Varying Sparse Acoustic Communication Channels

A method for estimating rapidly time-varying and sparse channels is presented. The impact of estimation performance on equalization of phase coherent communication signals is investigated. To address both the rapid channel fluctuations and the channel sparse structure, the delay-Doppler-spread function representation of the channel is adopted. The delay-Doppler-spread function may be considered as a first-order approximation to the rapidly varying channel in which each channel component is associated with Dopplers that are assumed constant or slowly varying over a certain averaging time. The sparse structure of the delay-Doppler-spread function is then exploited by sequentially choosing the dominant components that minimizes a least squares error. Comparison is made between nonsparse RLS channel estimation, sparse channel impulse response estimation and estimation using the proposed approach. The performance of channel estimation as well as the subsequent equalization based on those channel estimates are demonstrated for highly dynamic channels using experimental data.
Synaptic expression of the high-affinity kainate receptor subunit KA2 in hippocampal cultures.

Abstract Non- N -methyl- d -aspartate glutamate receptors are responsible for fast excitatory neurotransmission in the mammalian CNS. These receptors are rapidly activated and desensitized in the presence of glutamate, and are often further subdivided into α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole proprionic acid and kainate receptors based on their selective agonists. Non-NMDA glutamate receptors are composed of multiple subunits which recently have been cloned, and studies on the recombinant glutamate receptors have helped clarify the distinctions between AMPA and kainate-preferring glutamate receptors. Although the subunits which make up both AMPA and kainate receptors have a widespread distribution, most currents recorded in vivo are characteristics of recombinant AMPA receptors. To help clarify the functional role of high-affinity kainate receptors, we have characterized the expression of a high-affinity kainate receptor subunit, KA2, in cultured hippocampal neurons. Using immunocytochemistry, we found that KA2 was expressed in hippocampal neurons at all times during the development of the cells in culture, and the subunit was enriched in dendritic spines after about 14 days. The subcellular distribution of KA2 paralleled that of the AMPA receptor subunit GluR1, with the AMPA and kainate subunits being co-localized at all times in culture. The enriched KA2 immunoreactivity co-localized with the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin at the resolution of light microscopy, indicating synaptic localization of KA2. Although the kainate subunit KA2 co-localized with the AMPA subunit GluR1, co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated a direct interaction between the AMPA receptor subunitsGluR1 and GluR 2/3 , but not between GluR1 and the kainate subunits GluR 6/7 or KA2. We therefore, conclude that both AMPA and kainate receptor subunits are enriched in the same dendritic spines, yet do not combine to form receptor complexes.
Can an "empty" de Broglie pilot wave induce coherence?

According to the de Broglie pilot wave theory, a pilot wave which is empty of photons is still capable of physical effects like induced coherence. We have carried out an experiment to test this prediction. The experiment involves interference of photons produced by down-conversion in two nonlinear crystals and depends on the mutual coherence induced between the two signal beams by an idler. When the photon is removed from the idler by a beam splitter, it is found that the resulting ``empty pilot wave'' no longer induces coherence. This violates at least the Selleri-Croca version of the de Broglie pilot wave theory makes the physical reality of the corresponding pilot wave doubtful.
Experimental induction of panic-like symptoms in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome

Patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) might be misdiagnosed with panic disorder due to shared clinical features. The first aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between symptoms of POTS and panic disorder. The second aim was to delineate clinical features distinguishing symptoms of POTS from panic disorder. A total of 11 patients with POTS and 11 control subjects participated in an IRB-approved, prospective, placebo-controlled study. The experimentally induced panic-like symptoms of POTS were systematically studied using the Acute Panic Inventory (API) questionnaire. The participants answered the questionnaire after each placebo infusion and after each of the three provoking stimuli: head-up tilt test (HUT), isoproterenol infusion (ISI), and sodium lactate infusion (SLI). API responses were summed for each subject at each time point of administration. Individual API symptoms and summed responses were analyzed for statistical significance. All patients with POTS developed symptoms of orthostatic intolerance during HUT. Pharmacologically induced symptoms subjectively mimicked spontaneous symptoms in 5 of 11 patients during ISI and in none of 11 patients during SLI. In contrast, API scores in these patients reached panic threshold in 0 of 11 following HUT, in 4 of 11 following ISI and in 4 of 11 following SLI. Individual symptoms analysis revealed that significant increase in scores was limited to the somatic symptoms of palpitations, dyspnea, and twitching or trembling. In conclusion, the symptoms of POTS are phenomenologically different and clinically distinguishable from panic disorder symptoms.
Spectroscopic detection of excited-state electron transfer in porphyrin viologen systems

Abstract Pulsed laser excitation (354.7 nm, 10 ns pulse) of a pyridyltritolylporphyrin chromophore covalently linked to a dibenzylviologen, Bz 2 V 2+ , electron acceptor (porphyrin—viologen, PV 2+ ) in CH 3 CN leads to intramolecular electron transfer quenching of the porphyrin singlet excited state within the laser pulsewidth to reduce the linked Bz 2 V 2+ to Bz 2 V +· . Transient Bz 2 V +· can be detected directly by resonance Raman spectroscopy. The same transient features are obtained from pulsed laser excitation of a mixture of porphyrin (P) and dibenzylviologen in CH 3 CN where Bz 2 V 2+ quenches the porphyrin fluorescence, establishing bimolecular excited state electron transfer quenching to yield Bz 2 V +· . Confirmation of our assignment of the transient Bz 2 V +· comes from comparison of the spectra with the resonance Raman spectrum of an authentic sample of Bz 2 V +· , and of electrochemically reduced PV 2+ which has been spectroscopically confirmed to form PV +· . Fluorescence lifetime determinations for PV 2+ and P yield a rate constant for intramolecular electron transfer, k et = 8 × 10 7 s −1 , consistent with the ability to observe electron transfer within the laser pulsewidth
Enduring resistance to extinction of cocaine-seeking behavior induced by drug-related cues.

The conditioning of cocaine's pharmacological actions with environmental stimuli is thought to be a critical factor in long-lasting relapse risk associated with cocaine addiction. To study the significance of environmental stimuli in enduring vulnerability to relapse, the resistance to extinction of drug-seeking behavior elicited by a cocaine-related stimulus was examined. Male Wistar rats were trained to associate discriminative stimuli (SD) with the availability of intravenous cocaine (S+) vs. the availability of non-rewarding (S−) saline solution, and then placed on extinction conditions during which intravenous solutions and SD were withheld. The rats were then presented with the S+ or S− alone in 60-min reinstatement sessions conducted at 3-day intervals. To examine the long-term persistence of the motivating effects of the cocaine S+, a subgroup of rats was re-tested following an additional three months of abstinence during which time the rats remained confined to their home cages. Re-exposure to the cocaine S+ selectively elicited robust responding at the previously active lever. The efficacy and selectivity of this stimulus to elicit responding remained unaltered throughout a 34-day phase of repeated testing as well as following the additional extended abstinence period. In pharmacological tests, conducted in a separate group of rats, the dopamine (DA) D1 antagonist SCH 39166 (10 μg/kg), the D2/3 antagonist nafadotride (1 mg/kg), and the D2/3 agonist PD 128907 (0.3 mg/kg) suppressed the cue-induced response reinstatement while the D1 agonist SKF 81297 (1.0 mg/kg) produced a variable behavioral profile attenuating cue-induced responding in some rats while exacerbating this behavior in others. The results suggest that the motivating effects of cocaine-related stimuli are highly resistant to extinction. The undiminished efficacy of the cocaine S+ to induce drug-seeking behavior both with repeated testing and following long-term abstinence parallels the long-lasting nature of conditioned cue reactivity and cue-induced cocaine craving in humans, and confirms a significant role of learning factors in long-lasting vulnerability to relapse associated with cocaine addiction. Finally, the results support a role of DA neurotransmission in cue-induced cocaine-seeking behavior.
IgG adsorption on a new protein A adsorbent based on macroporous hydrophilic polymers. I. Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics

Experimental determination and modeling of IgG binding on a new protein A adsorbent based on a macroporous resin were performed. The new adsorbent consists of polymeric beads based on hydrophilic acrylamido and vinyl monomers with a pore structure optimized to allow favorable interactions of IgG with recombinant protein A coupled to the resin. The particles have average diameter of 57 microm and a narrow particle size distribution. The IgG adsorption equilibrium capacity is 46 mg/cm(3) and the effective pore diffusivity determined from pulse response experiments for non-binding conditions is 8.0 x 10(-8) cm(2)/s. The IgG adsorption kinetics can be described with the same effective diffusivity by taking into account a heterogeneous binding mechanism with fast binding sites, for which adsorption is completely diffusion controlled, and slow binding sites for which adsorption is controlled by the binding kinetics. As a result of this mechanism, the breakthrough curve exhibits a tailing behavior, which appears to be associated with the slow binding sites. A detailed rate model taking into account intraparticle diffusion and binding kinetics is developed and is found capable of predicting both batch adsorption and breakthrough behavior over an ample range of experimental conditions. The corresponding effective diffusivity is independent of protein concentration in solution over the range 0.2-2 mg/cm(3) and of protein binding as a result of the large pore size of the support matrix. Overall, the small particle size and low diffusional hindrance allow capture of IgG with short residence times while attaining substantial dynamic binding capacities.
A randomized trial to manipulate the quality instead of quantity of dietary proteins to influence the markers of satiety

Abstract Aims To test whether a breakfast including eggs (EB) containing high-quality protein decreases subsequent food intake and increases satiety-related hormones in overweight or obese adults more than a breakfast including cereal (CB) of lower protein quality, but matched for energy density and macronutrient composition. Methods Twenty healthy overweight or obese subjects were randomized to eat an EB or a CB daily under supervision for one week, followed by a crossover to the opposite breakfast week after a two-week washout period. On days 1 and 7 of each test week, a structured lunch was provided ad libitum . Food intake, hunger and satiety scores, and blood parameters were measured before and after breakfast. Outcomes were analyzed using mixed effects statistical models for repeated measures analysis of variance. Results Compared to the CB week, during the EB week, a) feeling of fullness was greater (P Conclusion Despite a highly similar energy density and macronutrient composition, the higher protein quality breakfast significantly influenced fullness, ghrelin and PYY3-36. Only the effect on PYY3-36 lasted throughout the week. A next step would be to test if the benefits are pronounced and lasting, if protein quality of all meals is increased.
Sexual victimization, generalized perception of control, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity

We examined the relations among various characteristics of sexual victimization, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, and generalized perception of control. Our main focus lay in testing three predictions derived from the animal model of PTSD articulated by Foa, Zinbarg, and Olasov-Rothbaum (1992) based on the effects of uncontrollable and/or unpredictable aversive events. A sample of 117 female undergraduates participated and completed self-report measures of past experience with child sexual abuse, adult sexual victimization, PTSD symptom severity, and locus of control. The results showed that child sexual abuse experienced on multiple occasions was associated with diminished generalized perception of control and that diminished generalized perception of control is associated with greater PTSD symptom severity following adult sexual victimization when experienced on a single occasion or involving force. These results provide partial support for the uncontrollability/unpredictability model of PTSD. Further research is necessary, however, to firmly establish the direction of causality involved in these associations.
Study of the factors influencing sex differences in the career motivation of Iranian high school students

Abstract The purpose of the study was to investigate some factors thought to influence sex differences in the Career Motivation of Iranian high school students. Subjects (n = 206) were balanced on sex, ages 17–18 and attending schools in Tehran, Iran. Measures included the criterion career motivation and six predictors: Sex, Social Class, Early Family Socialization, Religious Orientation, Community Resources and Community Discrimination against women 's careers. Multivariate regression analyses with partial correlations were used to test hypotheses. Hypotheses were that males would score higher than females on career motivation; upper middle class students would score higher than lower middle class students on career motivation; Scores on Early Family Socialization, Community Resources and Religious Orientation would be positively correlated with Career Motivation; and Community Discrimination would be negatively correlated with Career Motivation. Interactions were expected for Sex, Religious Orientation and Social Class. Main effects found in the regression analyses supported hypotheses related to Sex, Social Class, Community Discrimination and Early Family Socialization. It remained for the interpretation of three significant interaction effects to shed light on the contribution of Religious Orientation to Career Motivation. The three significant interactions found were Sex × Social Class; Sex × Religious Orientation; and Religious Orientation × Community Discrimination. It appeared that the religion measure was confounded by the new movement within Islam led by the Mojahedin Khalgh group that is supportive of women 's careers, in contrast to the dominant Shia Islam group. The Community Resources measure was significantly (p
Effect of polyamines on hemoglobin and globin chain synthesis.

Abstract Exposure of reticulocytes to 25 mM spermidine and spermine stimulates the incorporation of 14C leucine into hemoglobin and globin polypeptide chains. These two polyamines stimulate β chain synthesis to a greater extent than they stimulate α chain synthesis, thus resulting in a decreased synthetic α β globin ratio. Because of the low permeability of the red cell membrane to these polycations, less than 1.0% of extracellular spermidine and spermine accumulate within the erythrocyte, thus these effects occur at intracellular polyamine levels that are physiological. Putrescine progressively decreases hemoglobin synthesis at extracellular concentrations greater than 10 mM without affecting the synthetic α β ratio. These findings suggest a role for polyamines in the fine tuning of the α β globin ratio at the translational level.
Guanosine-5'-O-thiodiphosphate functions as a partial agonist for the receptor-independent stimulation of neural adenylate cyclase.

Abstract GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) have been implicated as mediators of several aspects of neuronal signal transduction including ion channels, phosphatidyl inositol turnover and the stimulation or inhibition of adenylate cyclase. Several investigators have employed the stable guanosine diphosphate (GDP) analog, guaanosine5′-O-thiodiphosphate (GDPβS) to block putative G protein-mediated processes. Although GDPβS is assumed to block G protein function, some investigators have reported partial activation of G protein-mediated processes by this compound. In this study we demonstrate that GDPβS function as a partial agonist for the adenylate cyclase system. In rat cerebral cortex membranes, GDPβS activates adenylate cyclase with an EC50 similar to the hydrolysis resistant GTP analog, guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp), but to a far lower extent. Further, GDPβS antagonizes the activation of adenylate cyclase by high doses of GppNHp- or GTPγS (another stable GTP analog) but potentiates adenylate cyclase activation by low doses of these nucleotides. High doses of GDPβS provoke, only partially, exchange of nucleotides among G proteins, as measured by the transfer of the photoaffinity GTP analog, azidoanilido-GTP, between the inhibitory and stimulatory GTP-binding proteins. In the presence of the β-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, GDPβS fails to support stimulation of C6 glioma membrane adenylate cyclase and inhibits GppNHp- or GTPγS-mediated stimulation of that enzyme. Inhibition of C6 membrane adenylate cyclase by GTP analogs is also blocked by GDPβS. Finally, in C6cells made permeable with saponin, where the β-adrenergic receptor is ‘tightly coupled’ to the adenylate cyclase system, GDPβS, GppNHp or GTPγS stimulate adenylate cyclase at high concentrations, but only in the absence of isoproterenol. When isoproterenol is added to these cells, GppNHp or GTPγS enhance adenylate cyclase activation, yet GDPβS acts only to block that process. Thus GDPβS appears to function as partial agonist for the stimulatory adenylate cyclase G protein but only when an activated neuroreceptor is not coupled to that protein.
Interpolyelectrolyte complexes of conjugated copolymers and DNA: platforms for multicolor biosensors.

Interchain interactions modulate the frequency of emission from a cationic water-soluble conjugated polymer. The polymer, PFPB, is obtained by a Suzuki copolymerization of p-phenylenebisboronic acid with a 95:5 mixture of 2,7-dibromo-9,9-bis(6‘-bromohexyl)fluorene and 4,7-dibromo-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole, followed by quarternization of the pendant groups by addition of NMe3. The structure of PFPB contains 5% of the 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BT) chromophore within a cationic poly(fluorene-co-phenylene) polymer chain. The emission of PFPB is blue under dilute conditions (<1 × 10-6 M in repeat units) and green at higher concentrations. Energy transfer to dye-labeled ss-DNA is more efficient, relative to the parent polymer poly(9,9-bis(6‘-N,N,N,-trimethylammonium)hexyl)fluorene-co-alt-1,4-phenylene) dibromide (PFP), as a result of improved spectral overlap. By using a peptide nucleic acid (PNA-C*) labeled with a red-emitting chromophore one can obtain three different emission colors, depending on the nature of th...
Sexual dimorphism in the cranium of Cercocebus albigena

Twenty adult male and twenty-three adult female C. albigena crania were subjected to discriminant function analysis and canonical analysis using 17 cranial measurements and 10 cranial indices in order to determine specific characteristics useful in assessing sexual dimorphism in this species. Significant differences found between male and female crania included overall size, and differences in the cranial vault, orbital region, nasal region, and the mandible.
Near-infrared sensitive small molecule organic photovoltaic cells based on chloroaluminum phthalocyanine

The use of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) as a donor and C60 as an acceptor in planar double heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells with response extending into the near infrared is demonstrated. X-ray diffraction indicates that under the conditions used in this study ClAlPc grows as an amorphous film. Although the absorption and film morphology show no dependence on growth rate, device performance is optimized at a growth rate of 0.5A∕s, producing cells whose best performance gives an open circuit voltage of 0.68±0.01V, a responsivity of 0.062±0.007A∕W, a fill factor of 0.50±0.04, and a power conversion efficiency of 2.1±0.1% under simulated AM1.5G, 1 sun intensity illumination. This cell also displays low dark current under reverse bias, 2.4×10−8A∕cm2 at −1V.
P-801 - In vivo neuroimaging evidence of oxidative stress in major depressive disorder

Introduction Mounting evidence has implicated oxidative stress in severe psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD). Glutathione (GSH) is the major intracellular antioxidant that protects cells against oxidative stress. Objective To test the hypothesis that oxidative stress is implicated MDD by measuring cortical GSH in MDD patients and in matched healthy controls in vivo, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Methods Fifteen psychotropic medication-free patients with MDD diagnosed according DSM-IV-TR criteria and 13 healthy volunteers (HV) participated in the study. A history of other axis I diagnoses or substance/alcohol abuse was exclusionary for all subjects. In vivo brain GSH levels, expressed in institutional units, were obtained from a single 3 × 3 × 2-cm3 occipital lobe voxel at 3.0 Tesla using MRS spectral editing. Results Statistical comparisons revealed a 20.6% mean cortical GSH decrease (p Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to report a significant cortical GSH deficit in vivo in MDD, a finding that supports a role for oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of the disorder, and suggests the viability of treatment strategies based on using synthetic GSH precursors, such as N-acetylcysteine, to spur in situ synthesis and elevation of the antioxidant and mitigate the pathogenic effects of oxidative stress.
Magnetic Field Dependence of the Specific Heat of Some High-Tc Superconductors

Measurements of specific heat, C, were made on samples of La2CuO4−y (La1), La1.85M0.15CuO4−y (Ca1, Sr1, Sr2, Ba1 and Ba2) and YBa2Cu3O9−y (Y1). Meissner effect measurements were made in 12.5G. The high-temperature onset of a change in magnetic susceptibility, χ, was taken as Tc, and the transition width, ΔTc, as the temperature interval of the 10–90% change in χ. Calculation of the fractional Meissner effect, −4πχV, was based on the total sample volume, with χV corrected for demagnetizing effects. Figure 1 is a plot of −4πχV vs T.
Gastrointestinal myoelectric activity following abdominal operations in the opossum

Gastrointestinal myoelectric activity of the opossum, both in fasting and fed states, was studied after abdominal operations. Five different procedures were performed: a 5-min, a 1-hour, and a 3-hour laparotomy with intestinal handling, enteroenterostomy, and gastrojejunostomy. Electromyographic recordings from the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and sphincter of Oddi were obtained from unanesthetized animals. A normal fasting pattern after abdominal operations was observed from immediately after surgery to the fifth postoperative day and depended on the type and duration of the surgical procedure. A fed pattern did not occur in the experiments in which food was instilled before the appearance of the myoelectric migrating complex. A normal fed pattern was observed after the myoelectric migrating complex appearance in all but 2 experiments, one of which occurred in an animal with an intra-abdominal abscess.
Immediate unilateral tonsillectomy for severe peritonsillar infections in children.

Summary Twenty-four children with severe peritonsillar infections, subjected to unilateral tonsillectomies were studied with regards to the incidence of late infections in the remaining tonsil. Unilateral immediate tonsillectomy is an effective and sufficient treatment for unilateral peritonsillar abscesses in children or adolescents. The removal of the opposite uninvolved tonsil is not justified for it increases the risk of surgical morbidity, deprives the individual of an immunocompetent organ and does not result in demonstrable clinical benefit.
Effect of lesions in visual cortical area V4 on the recognition of transformed objects

The primate visual system has a remarkable capability for recognizing objects irrespective of the multitude of images they form on the retinal surface by virtue of changes in size, perspective, contrast, colour and partial obstruction by other stimuli in the visual scene. There is increasing evidence that this remarkable capacity is brought about by processes that occur earlier in the visual system than had previously been thought. Here I show that after ablation of area V4 in the rhesus monkey, major deficits arise in the recognition of objects that have been transformed in size, in the degree of occlusion, and in the amount of contour information provided. The ability to detect these objects when presented individually was unaffected by these lesions.
Verification solution for partial heating of rectangular solids

Abstract One method for verification of numerical solutions in heat transfer uses exact solutions for multi-dimensional parallelepipeds. The usual solution of these problems utilizes the method of separation of variables for both the steady and transient parts of the solution; however, this method for the steady-state part often produces solutions that converge slowly at the boundaries of greatest interest. Steady-state solutions having low convergence are illustrated for a rectangle with zero prescribed temperatures except one surface having a step change of temperature. Two forms of the steady-state solution are available and even then difficulties may be encountered. Another method called time-partitioning is used and is shown to have several superior features in the solution of this problem.
Binary mixing in ocean-ridge spreading segments

Compositional mixing trends in eruptive mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) seem to be confined to short time–space intervals, possibly corresponding to single fracture-zone-bounded segments of a spreading ridge axis. Binary mixing is discernible from the variation in Ta, Hf, Rb, Sr and rare earth elements (REEs), and may be interpreted as reflecting dual mantle sources for locally-defined units of the axis or associated transform fracture zones. These sources reflect contrasting degrees and types of incompatible (or ‘low-KD’) element enrichment relative to a ‘normal’ MORB source characterized by uniform depletion in these elements. Enrichment in low-KD elements, radiogenic isotopes and normative nepheline has long been recognized in some fracture zone magmas1–4 and it is important to speculate on the possible influence of fracture zones on the chemical character of spreading axes. Consideration of chemical and isotopic variation at a single Atlantic spreading segment (36–37 °N) in a regional context suggests that transform fracture zones may be instrumental in both generating compositional heterogeneity in the mantle and permitting its expression in eruptive crust. It is proposed here that hybridization of ‘enriched’ fracture zone-derived melt and less-enriched or depleted rift-derived melt occurs in sub-axial magma supply systems during an active spreading phase.
Plasmodium gallinaceum: Changing virulence patterns of malaria parasites during adaptation from neonate chick to chicken embryos

Abstract Infections of avian embryos with Plasmodium gallinaceum from a malaria strain adapted to continuous passage in chicks were characterized by reduced virulence. Five passages through embryos were required to produce infections comparable to those observed in established infections. If blood from a chicken infected by sporozoites was injected into 10-day chicken embryos there were a marked loss of virulence, heightened pathogenicity, and morphological aberrations. Increasing the dosage from a million to 20 × 10 6 parasites resulted in parasitemias more nearly resembling those in fully adapted passages in chicken embryos. Blood passages from chicken to chicken somehow changed the parasite to the point that after four passages acute virulent infections could be obtained in the embryo. It is postulated that the chicken embryo by virtue of its difference from neonates as regards plasma elements and physiochemical composition of its erythrocytes, especially in the hemoglobin, constitutes essentially a foreign host to which a few parasites are preadapted. During blood passages selection toward virulence ensues.
Body Mass Index, Age, and Gender Affect Prep Quality, Sedation Use, and Procedure Time During Screening Colonoscopy

Body mass index (BMI), age, and gender influence colorectal cancer (CRC) and adenoma risk. Their effects on colonoscopy characteristics are unclear, but might inform the screening approach in patient subgroups. The aims of this study were to assess the effect of BMI, age, and gender on prep quality, amount of sedation, procedure time, and adenoma prevalence for screening colonoscopy. We conducted a review of 773 eligible colonoscopies performed for average-risk CRC screening. We performed multivariable regression analyses to assess the outcomes of prep quality, amount of fentanyl and midazolam used, procedure time, and the adenoma prevalence rate (APR). Obese patients were less likely (p = 0.01) to have a good or excellent prep, had similar procedure times, and received similar amounts of fentanyl and midazolam. Increasing age had no effect on prep quality or procedure time, but was associated with decreased fentanyl and midazolam (both p ≤ 0.001). Women had similar prep quality, longer procedure times (increased by 2.8 ± 0.7 min, p < 0.001) for colonoscopies in which no polyps were detected, and received more fentanyl and midazolam (both p = 0.01). Increasing BMI, increasing age, and male gender were associated with an increased APR. The APR for women aged 50–59 with a normal BMI was 17.9 %. Normal-weight females, particularly those under age 60, have the lowest APR but have longer procedure times and require higher amounts of sedation. Screening options other than colonoscopy might be well-suited to this population.
Determination of critical exponents from measurements of binary vapor-liquid equilibrium in the neighborhood of the critical line☆

Abstract The shape of the coexistence curve for a binary vapor-liquid equilibria along several isotherms has been found to be described by (y − x) = c(Pcmix − P)β, where y and x are the concentrations of the more volatile component in the vapor and liquid phases, respectively; Pc mix is the critical pressure of the isotherm; P is the pressure; and c is a proportionality constant. A value of β = 1 3 ± 0.05 describes the data of the methaneethane and methane-propane systems from the critical point of methane to 23°K higher for pressures within 10 psi of the critical pressure of the isotherm. The proportionality constant c appears to have a generalized linear temperature dependence applicable to both systems. The behavior of the heavier component from 1.35°K above the more volatile (methane) component critical temperature to at least 9°K higher is mathematically represented by the same type of exponential function for a much wider pressure range of approximately 300 psi.
Alpha,beta-difluoromethylene deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates: a convenient synthesis of useful probes for DNA polymerase beta structure and function

α,β-Difluoromethylene deoxynucleoside 5′-triphosphates (dNTPs, N = A or C) are advantageously obtained via phosphorylation of corresponding dNDP analogues using catalytic ATP, PEP, nucleoside diphosphate kinase, and pyruvate kinase. DNA pol β Kd values for the α,β-CF2 and unmodified dNTPs, α,β-NH dUTP, and the α,β-CH2 analogues of dATP and dGTP are discussed in relation to the conformations of α,β-CF2 dTTP versus α,β-NH dUTP bound into the enzyme active site.
Probing Lexical Representations: Simultaneous Modeling of Word and Reader Contributions to Multidimensional Lexical Representations.

The current study models reader, item, and word contributions to the lexical representations of 39 morphologically complex words for 172 middle school students using a crossed random-effects item response model with multiple outcomes. We report 3 findings. First, results suggest that lexical representations can be characterized by separate but correlated dimensions of derived-word reading, spelling, and meaning. Second, a reader’s morphological knowledge of a root word (e.g., isolate) contributes to that reader’s lexical representations (i.e., mental representation of form and meaning) of a related derived word (e.g., isolation). Specifically, when controlling for reader and word characteristics, knowledge of root-word reading and morphological relatives and self-reported knowledge of meaning contributed to derived-word reading. Similarly, knowledge of root-word spelling and morphological relatives and self-reported knowledge of meaning contributed to derived-word spelling. Also, knowledge of root-word morphological relatives and self-reported knowledge of meaning contributed to self-reported knowledge of derived-word meaning. Our third finding is that after controlling for root-word knowledge, part of the remaining variability in lexical representations can be explained by reader and word characteristics, with different patterns of results for each lexical representation dimension. The significant reader characteristics include reading comprehension, morphological awareness, and vocabulary knowledge, whereas the significant word characteristics include frequency of the derived and root word, orthographic–phonological opaqueness, and phonological opaqueness. A model of what constitutes and contributes to lexical representations for adolescent readers is suggested.
Dynamic compression chamber to reduce scarring in a hand injury

According to the CDC, over 3.7 million people in 2010 visited the emergency room for a hand related injury. Nearly 60 percent of patients never regained normal hand function due to residual scar tissue. Therefore, TheraGlove's goal was to improve the patient's quality of life with the development of a dynamic rehabilitation device that provided compression, stimulated blood flow toward the heart, and reduced swelling with an aim to better reduce scar tissue.
KCNJ2 mutations in arrhythmia patients referred for LQT testing: a mutation T305A with novel effect on rectification properties.

Background Loss-of-function mutations in the KCNJ2 cause ∼50% of Andersen-Tawil Syndrome (ATS) characterized by a classic triad of periodic paralysis, ventricular arrhythmia, and dysmorphic features. Do KCNJ2 mutations occur in patients lacking this triad and lacking a family history of ATS? Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize mutations in the KCNJ2-encoded inward rectifier potassium channel Kir2.1 from patients referred for genetic arrhythmia testing. Methods Mutational analysis of KCNJ2 was performed for 541 unrelated patients. The mutations were made in wild type (WT) and expressed in COS-1 cells and voltage clamped for ion currents. Results Three novel missense mutations (R67Q, R85W, and T305A) and one known mutation (T75M) were identified in 4/249 (1.6%) patients genotype-negative for other known arrhythmia genes with overall incidence 4/541 (0.74%). They had prominent U-waves, marked ventricular ectopy, and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia but no facial/skeletal abnormalities. Periodic paralysis was present in only one case. Outward current was decreased to less than 5% of WT for all mutants expressed alone. Co-expression with WT (simulating heterozygosity) caused a marked dominant negative effect for T75M and R82W, no dominant negative effect for R67Q, and a novel selective enhancement of inward rectification for T305A. Conclusions KCNJ2 loss of function mutations were found in ∼1% of patients referred for genetic arrhythmia testing that lacked criteria for ATS. Characterization of three new mutations identified a novel dominant negative effect selectively reducing outward current for T305A. These results extend the range of clinical phenotype and molecular phenotype associated with KCNJ2 mutations.
Combinatorial optimization techniques for spacecraft scheduling automation

Most spacecraft have extremely limited resources compared with the state of the art in computer science and most missions have ambitious scientific goals, such as in the case of fly-bys like Voyager and Ulysses where there are limited windows of opportunity for achieving these goals. As a result, the scheduling of spacecraft experiments is a complete NP-hard problem for which an efficient solution procedure producing acceptable results is yet to be found. We describe the application of combinatorial optimization techniques to the automatic spacecraft scheduling problem. The sequencing problem is the search over the candidate sequences of experiments for a sequence that maximizes thevalue of the science conducted while minimizing constraint conflicts. A voluminous literature exists on planning and scheduling problems. Early approaches to solving these problems focused on analytical models, where the models were often based on techniques from mathematical programming and stochastic processes. While numerous advances have been made, many researchers have looked towards less traditional approaches to problems of this nature in order to solve the large-scale problems often encountered in practical applications. These approaches have still been based on the formulation of a mathematical model; however, heuristic procedures have been used to generate schedules that are considered good but not guaranteed to be optimal. There are several solution approaches that we believe can be successfully integrated with mathematical programming techniques to create a new solution paradigm addressing large-scale spacecraft scheduling optimization problems. These are Simulated Annealing (SA), Random Search, Tabu Search, and a diversification technique for Random Hill Climbing termed Strategic Oscillation. The power of these techniques lies in their ability to treat the objective function as a black box that returns a measure(s) of the goodness of the sequence; that is, these algorithms do not require a closed-form analytical description of the objective function nor any function derivatives. The algorithms we developed were evaluated by testing scheduling problems. Such testing on reduced size problems indicates the practicality of the proposed algorithms from a performance and timing perspective, while eliminating the need for sophisticated new sequence evaluation software to be developed or the need to integrate the new automation techniques into current software. Our exploratory computational results indicate that pseudo-random search techniques can generate viable sequences in reasonable times. Although the spacecraft scheduling problems used for testing were not based on actual experiment request data, they did match the data structures of actual problems with regard to size and constraint types. Therefore, we believe that the techniques described in this paper present viable approaches to spacecraft sequencing problems.
P02-20 - Predictive value of magnesium levels in depressed patients

Background and aim High, normal or low plasma magnesium (Mg) levels have been observed in depressed patients. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship of plasma Mg levels with depression severity, specific psychopathological dimensions and treatment outcome. Materials and methods 123 outpatients (M/F 60/63; mean age = 48 ± 15) during a Major Depressive Episode (MDE) were recruited. Most of them were affected by “difficult to treat” depression, that includes patients with history of at least two MDE, risk of chronicization and who did not achieve remission in previous treatments. The psychopathological status was assessed using HAM-D, HAM-A, DRRS for psychomotor retardation and SHAPS for anhedonia. HAM-D was repeated at 3 months. A blood sample was collected to determine total plasma Mg levels. Results We observed an association between Mg levels and psychomotor retardation scores (p = 0.045). Moreover, subjects with residual symptoms after treatment (HAM-D at 3 months > 15) have lower starting Mg values compared to treatment-responsive individuals (2.14 ± 0.2 vs. 2.25 ± 0.21, p = 0,039). Conclusions Conflicting data on plasma Mg levels in depression could be due to the isolation of brain Mg compartments from blood Mg compartments. As in a previous study, the association between high Mg levels and psychomotor retardation found in this larger sample strengthens the notion that high Mg levels play a part in the hypoactivity so often observed in depressed patients. Also, low Mg values in patients with poor treatment outcome suggest Mg could have a therapeutic potential in “difficult-to-treat” patients.
Accessibility and Activity of the Promoter for a Dioxin-Inducible Ecto-ATPase Gene

We have analyzed the core promoter for a dioxin-inducible ecto-ATPase gene in mouse hepatoma cells. The transcriptional initiation site maps to a region that contains neither a TATA sequence nor a consensus initiator sequence nor a downstream promoter element. The core promoter has constitutive activity that does not require either the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor or its heterodimerization partner Arnt. Two GC-rich regions contribute approximately equally to the constitutive activity. Proteins constitutively occupy the GC-rich regions in chromatin. The promoter assumes a non-nucleosomal configuration in its native chromosomal setting in both uninduced and dioxin-induced cells. Our findings imply that the GC-rich regions together with their cognate binding proteins carry out core promoter functions for the ecto-ATPase gene. The promoter is constitutively accessible in situ, and chromatin structure is not a limiting factor for dioxin-inducible ecto-ATPase transcription in intact cells.
The impact of bleomycin on retroperitoneal histology at post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection of good risk germ cell tumors

Purpose: Induction chemotherapy for International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) good risk metastatic testicular cancer includes 3 cycles of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP x3) or 4 cycles of etoposide and cisplatin (EP x4). We examine differences in active cancer in the retroperitoneum between patients receiving BEP x3 compared to EP x4.Materials and Methods: The Indiana University Testis Cancer database was queried to identify IGCCCG good risk patients who received BEP x3 or EP x4 induction chemotherapy before retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The primary outcome of interest was retroperitoneal histology. The association between the use of bleomycin in the induction regimen with active cancer in the retroperitoneal specimen was tested using a propensity score adjusted analysis.Results: A total of 179 men (79%) received BEP x3 while 47 (21%) received EP x4. Median age of the bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin group was 27 years (range 15 to 50) vs 30 years (range 18 to 71) in ...