cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallel hopfield networks

We introduce a novel type of neural network, termed the parallel Hopfield network, that can simultaneously effect the dynamics of many different, independent Hopfield networks in parallel in the same piece of neural hardware. Numerically we find that under certain conditions, each Hopfield subnetwork has a finite memory capacity approaching that of the equivalent isolated attractor network, while a simple signal-to-noise analysis sheds qualitative, and some quantitative, insight into the workings (and failures) of the system.
Design of the second generation XRS detector

Microcalorimeter performance is limited by non-ideal effects that were not included in the standard theory of bolometers and microcalorimeters developed 20 years ago by Mather (Appl. Opt. 21 (1982) 1125). These include the hot-electron effect, absorber decoupling, thermometer non-ohmic behavior, and all related extra noise sources. Models that include these effects have been developed and can be used to optimize the design of microcalorimeters for best performance. The design of the array for the XRS detector on the Astro-E2 satellite was completely optimized based on the required performance and on the characteristics of the materials used. The characteristic heat capacity and thermal conductivity of all the detector components have been measured and the values have been used as input to the models to design the detector geometry for best performance. Mechanical modeling has also been carried out in parallel to ensure the mechanical integrity of the microcalorimeter. We report here the analysis involved in the optimization of the detectors, and the comparison between modeled and measured performance.
Approximate Method For Solving Boundary Layer Equations

Introduction O a few methods, (e.g., Thwaites, Schlichting, Head, and Curie) are available for determining the incompressible flow in the laminar boundary layer on a permeable surface. These methods, excluding Head's, are one-parameter and are less satisfactory for flows over permeable surfaces than for flows over solid boundaries, for the reason that the one-parameter method fails to satisfy the condition of the change of curvature of velocity profile which arises due to the presence of suction. From this point of view, the one-parameter method gives only a rough indication of the effects of suction, whereas Head's twoparameter method gives as accurate a result for the flow with suction as for the flow over an impermeable surface. Although the method of Head is more accurate than any other approximate method, it is more lengthy and more difficult to handle. So, it would be useful to find an accurate two-parameter method which is as simple as the one-parameter method of Curie. The purpose of this Note is three-fold: first, it is to present the numerical solutions of incompressible boundary-layer equations with uniform suction obtained by using the method given by Williams. The numerical solutions are shown in Fig. 1 for the case of retarded flows. Second, these numerical solutions are used to extend the method of Curie to two-parameter method. Last, it is shown that for small values of suction velocity, the method of Curie is as good as the present two-parameter method because of its simplicity and accuracy.
Single-Cell Measurements of Polyamidoamine Dendrimer Binding

The binding of fluorescein-labeled polyamidoamine dendritic polymers (dendrimers) to the surface of individual fibroblast cells has been quantitatively measured using confocal fluorescence microscopy. Because the binding of these polymers is not strong, significant fluorescence from polymers in solution complicates the measurement, even using confocal optics. To overcome this difficulty, we have developed a new method employing a cell-entrapped marker dye to determine the extracellular volume in each voxel. This allows for a correct subtraction of fluorescence due to polymers in solution. We have found that, as expected, the larger dendrimers bound more tightly than the smaller generations, which may partially account for their increased efficacy in DNA transfection applications. The binding varied significantly from cell to cell, and an analysis of the cell surface area showed that this variability was not caused simply by variations in cell size. © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society.
Infralimbic BDNF/TrkB Enhancement of GluN2B Currents Facilitates Extinction of a Cocaine-Conditioned Place Preference

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates synaptic activity and behavioral flexibility, and reduction of BDNF strongly predicts psychiatric disorders and cognitive dysfunction. Restoration of BDNF-dependent activity could alleviate these impairments, but BDNF has limited clinical utility due to its pharmacokinetics. Here we demonstrate that activation of a primary BDNF target, the tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor, enhances the amplitude and prolongs the decay kinetics of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) currents in male rat infralimbic prefrontal pyramidal neurons. Moreover, these effects were prevented and reversed by blockade of NMDARs containing the GluN2B subunit. Our results show that this signaling cascade bidirectionally regulates extinction of a cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), a task that requires behavioral flexibility. Blockade of infralimbic TrkB receptors or GluN2B-containing NMDARs disrupted consolidation of extinction of the CPP. In contrast, extinction was strengthened by potentiation of TrkB receptor activity with infralimbic infusions of BDNF or systemic injections of 7,8 dihydroxyflavone (7,8DHF), the newly synthesized TrkB receptor agonist. The 7,8DHF-induced enhancement of extinction was prevented by infralimbic infusions of a GluN2B-specific receptor antagonist, demonstrating that TrkB receptor activation enhances extinction of cocaine-CPP via GluN2B-containing NMDARs. Together, infralimbic TrkB receptor activation strengthens GluN2B-containing NMDAR currents to support extinction learning. TrkB receptor agonists would therefore be useful as pharmacological adjuncts for extinction-based therapies for treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with reduced BDNF activity.
Regulation of type 1 angiotensin II receptor and its subtype gene expression in kidney by sodium loading and angiotensin II infusion.

Objective To test the hypothesis that a high salt intake decreases gene expression of both type 1 angiotensin receptor subtypes 1A and 1B (AT1A and AT1B) and diminishes AT1 receptor density in the kidney through an angiotensin II (Ang II)-independent mechanism. Methods Wistar rats were divided into four groups and fed a normal-sodium diet (0.5%, NSD), NSD + 25 ng/kg per min Ang II infusion, a high-sodium diet (4%, HSD), or HSD + Ang II infusion for 2 weeks. Quantitative reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction was used for analysis of changes in renal AT1A and AT1B messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. Radioligand binding assays were used for measurement of Ang II receptor density. Results Body weight and mean arterial pressure did not differ among the four groups. Renal AT1A and AT1B mRNA levels were decreased significantly in NSD + Ang II and HSD Ang II groups compared with those in the NSD group. Renal AT1 B mRNA was also decreased significantly in HSD versus NSD. The renal AT1 receptor density was decreased significantly in NSD + Ang II and HSD + Ang II, but was not changed in HSD compared with NSD. Conclusion A high salt intake downregulates the AT1B mRNA expression but does not change the AT1A mRNA expression and AT1 receptor density in the kidney, suggesting that differential regulation occurs in the kidney. Infusion of a nonpressor dose of Ang II, either alone or in conjunction with a high salt intake, downregulates the AT1 receptor and its subtype gene expression in the kidney, suggesting that Ang II regulates these responses through a negative feedback mechanism.
Dynamics of a system of randomly distributed spins with multipolar interactions: Application to dipolar systems

A general first-principles method for the calculation of dynamical spin correlation functions in a system of randomly distributed, strongly interacting spins with multipolar interactions is presented. The method is valid in the high-temperature limit and is applicable at all spin concentrations $c$. As a numerical example, the case of dipolar forces is treated and the magnetic-resonance frequency line shape is calculated for a variety of values of $c$. The general trend of the change in line shape with $c$ obtained agrees with phenomenological theories and with experiment. The theoretical linewidth has the correct $c$ dependence in both the $c\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1$ and $c\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ limits.
EFFECTS OF TIME BETWEEN TRIALS ON RATS' AND PIGEONS' CHOICES WITH PROBABILISTIC DELAYED REINFORCERS

Parallel experiments with rats and pigeons examined reasons for previous findings that in choices with probabilistic delayed reinforcers, rats' choices were affected by the time between trials whereas pigeons' choices were not. In both experiments, the animals chose between a standard alternative and an adjusting alternative. A choice of the standard alternative led to a short delay (1 s or 3 s), and then food might or might not be delivered. If food was not delivered, there was an “interlink interval,” and then the animal was forced to continue to select the standard alternative until food was delivered. A choice of the adjusting alternative always led to food after a delay that was systematically increased and decreased over trials to estimate an indifference point—a delay at which the two alternatives were chosen about equally often. Under these conditions, the indifference points for both rats and pigeons increased as the interlink interval increased from 0 s to 20 s, indicating decreased preference for the probabilistic reinforcer with longer time between trials. The indifference points from both rats and pigeons were well described by the hyperbolic-decay model. In the last phase of each experiment, the animals were not forced to continue selecting the standard alternative if food was not delivered. Under these conditions, rats' choices were affected by the time between trials whereas pigeons' choices were not, replicating results of previous studies. The differences between the behavior of rats and pigeons appears to be the result of procedural details, not a fundamental difference in how these two species make choices with probabilistic delayed reinforcers.
Percutaneous ethanol injection vs reoperation for locally recurrent papillary thyroid cancer: a systematic review and pooled analysis.

Importance Reoperation for recurrent papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) can be associated with a high rate of complications and failure to provide lasting remission. Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) may be an effective nonsurgical management option for locally recurrent PTC. Objective This systematic analysis of the current literature compares the efficacy and complications related to PEI vs reoperative surgical intervention for treatment of locally recurrent PTC. Data Sources Original studies were identified using the keywords “thyroid/ethanol” and “recurrent thyroid cancer/repeat surgery.” Study Selection Studies evaluating reoperation or PEI for lymph node metastases in patients with primary surgery of total thyroidectomy with appropriate lymph node dissection where indicated were included in the analysis for both reoperation and PEI. Animal studies, single case reports, and studies with fewer than 10 lesions were excluded. Data Extraction and Synthesis Outcomes included interval to detection of recurrence, success and failure rates, recurrence rates, complication rates, and follow-up duration. Between-group outcome differences were calculated using random-effects models, and pooled data cross-tabulation and logistic regression analysis were used. Results In all, 945 publications were identified, and 27 studies met the inclusion criteria. There were no studies that directly compared the 2 treatment techniques. A total of 1617 patients were included in this analysis; 168 (11.4%) were treated with PEI, and 1449 (88.6%) were treated with reoperation. Reoperation was successful in 94.8% of cases compared with an 87.5% success rate for PEI (odds ratio [OR], 2.58; 95% CI, 1.55-4.31;P Conclusions and Relevance High-quality, well-designed studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating PEI into the treatment protocol of PTC. Although presently inferior to reoperation, PEI has the potential to be a widely accepted and effective nonsurgical treatment option for limited recurrent PTC in poor surgical candidates or patients seeking to avoid multiple reoperations.
Structural and dialectal characteristics of the fictional and personal narratives of school-age African American children.

Purpose To report preliminary comparisons of developing structural and dialectal characteristics associated with fictional and personal narratives in school-age African American children. Method Fo...
The rise of Dz-manga in Algeria: glocalization and the emergence of a new transnational voice

This article aims to establish Algerian manga as a new object of study within the field of Francophone studies and the broader field of cartooning in the developing world. To this end, it provides a survey of existing works while answering three main questions: How has manga become part of the cultural habits of young Algerian creators and readers? What status does it hold in local cultural production? Finally, what strategies have artists employed to broaden the readership of Algerian manga and how have they taken advantage of the unique possibilities offered by this new medium?
WESBES: A wireless embedded sensor for improving human comfort metrics using temporospatially correlated data

When utilized properly, energy management systems (EMS) can offer significant energy savings by optimizing the efficiency of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. However, difficulty often arises due to the constraints imposed by the need to maintain an acceptable level of comfort for a building's occupants. This challenge is compounded by the fact that human comfort is difficult to define in a measurable way. One way to address this problem is to provide a building manager with direct feedback from the building's users. Still, this data is relative in nature, making it difficult to determine the actions that need to be taken, and while some useful comfort correlations have been devised, such as ASHRAE's Predicted Mean Vote index, they are rules of thumb that do not connect individual feedback with direct, diverse feedback sensing. As they are a correlation, quantifying effects of climate, age of buildings and associated defects such as draftiness, are outside the realm of this correlation. Therefore, the contribution of this paper is the Wireless Embedded Smart Block for Environment Sensing (WESBES); an affordable wireless sensor platform that allows subjective human comfort data to be directly paired with temporospatially correlated objective sensor measurements for use in EMS. The described device offers a flexible research platform for analyzing the relationship between objective and subjective occupant feedback in order to formulate more meaningful measures of human comfort. It could also offer an affordable and expandable option for real world deployment in existing EMS.
CdSe & ZnS core/shell nanoparticles generated by laser ablation of microparticles

Laser Ablation of Microparticles (LAM) is a process of nanoparticle formation in which microparticles in a flowing aerosol are continuously ablated by high-power laser pulses. For the first time, we have produced CdSe/ZnS core/shell nanoparticles using a double ablation apparatus, designed to undergo a two-step LAM process. This process can be inverted to produce ZnS/CdSe core/shell nanoparticles. The present work focuses on the range around ∼15 nm radius heterostructures and uses high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) to image core and shells. For smaller particles, core shell structures have been detected with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) 5 nm spot size beam and fast Fourier transform (FFT) spectra. Differences in the ablation behavior were measured between the two IIB–VIA type semiconductors.
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is a combination of obesity, unexplained daytime hypercapnia, and sleep-disordered breathing. It is associated with such symptoms as dyspnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, and impaired cognition. The disorder can result in pulmonary hypertension, severe hypoxemia, cor pulmonale, respiratory failure, and increased mortality. While the etiology is still incompletely understood, the combined effects of obesity, sleep-disordered breathing, and altered leptin levels all likely interact to result in a decreased ventilatory drive. Standard treatment consists of positive airway pressure (continuous positive airway pressure or bi-level positive airway pressure) combined with long-term weight management.
Angular Distribution of Quasistellar Objects

An examination of the distribution on the sky of quasistellar objects identified with 4C radio sources shows no significant departures from a uniform distribution of redshift, apparent magnitude or total number as a function of position on the sky.
Influence of Interspecific and Intraspecific Host Plant Variation on the Susceptibility of Heliothines to a Baculovirus

In this paper we report on the effect of host plant variation on the susceptibility of Helicoverpa zea and Heliothis virescens larvae to the Helicoverpa zea nucleopolyhedrovirus (HzNPV). Larval H. zea and H. virescens treated with HzNPV on foliage from various hosts showed that H. virescens were significantly more susceptible to HzNPV on cotton and Carolina geranium than H. zea, whereas H. zea were significantly more susceptible to HzNPV on velvetleaf than H. virescens. Plant phenology had an effect on larval susceptibility to HzNPV. Vegetative or reproductive tissues of cotton, soybean, tomato, crimson clover, Carolina geranium, and velvetleaf were treated with HzNPV and fed to second-instar H. zea or H. virescens. Host phenology significantly affected the mortality of HzNPV-treated H. zea on all hosts except tomato. HzNPV-treated H. zea fed on vegetative tissues of crimson clover, Carolina geranium, velvetleaf, and soybean had significantly higher mortality than those fed on reproductive tissues. On the contrary, larval susceptibility to HzNPV on cotton was greater on reproductive than vegetative tissues. H. virescens susceptibility to HzNPV was greater on vegetative than reproductive tissue for crimson clover. In addition, we examined the effect of prior herbivory on larval susceptibility to the HzNPV. Cotton, soybean, tomato, and velvetleaf plants were either untreated or wounded with three fourth-instar H. zea or H. virescens. Neonates were reared on the respective treatments and then treated with HzNPV as second instars. Non-HzNPV-treated H. zea larvae fed on wounded foliage had up to 93.1% reduced weight gain compared with those fed on unwounded foliage. The weight reduction was greatest on cotton (93.1%), followed by velvetleaf (80.6%), tomato (78.4%), and soybean (54.1%). Prior herbivory on all plants significantly affected the larval growth of nontreated H. zea. In nontreated H. virescens, the reduction in weight was greatest on velvetleaf (63.1%), followed by soybean (29.2%) and cotton (21.8%). However, the effect of prior herbivory on cotton did not significantly affect the larval growth of nontreated H. virescens. Only virustreated H. zea that fed on wounded virus-treated tomato foliage showed significantly enhanced larval mortality (47.7%) compared with larvae on unwounded foliage. For HzNPV-treated H. virescens, only prior herbivory on cotton significantly enhanced larval mortality (39.4%). r 1998 Academic Press
The exchange reaction, D + HCl → DCl + H

Abstract The exchange reaction, D + HCl → DCl + H has been studied directly using a fast discharge flow apparatus attached to an EPR spectrometer. At 295 K, its rate constant was measured as less than 6 × 10 −16 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 . At 1000K, its rate constant was measured as (1.6±0.9) × 10 −13 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 , and exchange was found to be 1 20 as fast as abstraction. Previous work is discussed in the light of these findings.
Comparison of RHEED during MBE growth and the quality of AlGaAs:Si grown on (100) and misoriented GaAs substrates

Abstract RHEED surface reconstruction patterns were compared in situ on Si-doped AlGaAs grown side by side on (100) and 6° off toward (111)A GaAs substrates. Different RHEED patterns of AlGaAs were observed under certain growth conditions including the so-called “forbidden range”. Studies of surface morphology and low temperature photoluminesence (PL) indicate that growth on 6° off substrates relaxes the constraints on the growth conditions necessary to obtain high quality AlGaAs between 600 and 680°C.
A Chaos-Based Arithmetic Logic Unit and Implications for Obfuscation

It is no secret that modern computer systems are vulnerable to threats such as side-channel attack or reverse engineering whereby sensitive data or code could be unintentionally leaked to an adversary. It is the premise of this work that the mitigation of such security threats can be achieved by leveraging the inherent complexity of emerging chaos-based computing (computer systems built from chaotic oscillators). More specifically, this paper considers a chaos-based arithmetic logic unit which consists of many unique implementations for each possible operation. Generalizing to a chaos-based computer, a large number of implementations per operation can enable the obfuscation of critical code or data. In such a system, any two functionally equivalent operations are unique in terms of control parameters, power profiles, and so on. Furthermore, many possible implementations for each operational code can be leveraged to compile a program that is uniquely defined in terms of what the user knows -- such knowledge which itself could be protected via encryption. The frequencies of the various operations are shown to approach that of a probabilistic system as the circuit is allowed to evolve in time. Further, the difficulty of a successful attack is assumed to be directly related to the number of unique op-code sets possible which is shown to grow exponentially with allowed evolution time for the proposed chaos-based arithmetic logic unit.
A particle-level set-based sharp interface cartesian grid method for impact, penetration, and void collapse

An Eulerian, sharp interface, Cartesian grid method is developed for the numerical simulation of the response of materials to impact, shocks and detonations. The mass, momentum, and energy equations are solved along with evolution equations for deviatoric stresses and equivalent plastic strain. These equations are cast in Eulerian conservation law form. The Mie-Gruneisen equation of state is used to obtain pressure and the material is modeled as a Johnson-Cook solid. The ENO scheme is employed to capture shocks in combination with a hybrid particle level set technique to evolve sharp immersed boundaries. The numerical technique is able to handle collisions between multiple materials and can accurately compute the dynamics of the immersed boundaries. Results of calculations for axisymmetric Taylor bar impact and penetration of a Tungsten rod into steel plate show good agreement with moving finite element solutions and experimental results. Qualitative agreement with theory is shown for the void collapse phenomenon in an impacted material containing a spherical void.
Chloruretic, natriuretic, and depressor activities of some substituted sydnones

The natriuretic, chloruretic, and depressor activities of three novel heterocyclic sydnones has been studied in rats and dogs. The compounds tested were: 3-secondary butyl sydnone, 3-butyl-4-ethyl sydnone, and 3-isopropyl-4-sodium carboxylate sydnone. When compared on the basis of the millimoles of each compound injected, the greatest mean change of sodium and chloride outputs has been found to occur when 3-butyl-4-ethyl sydnone is administered. The other two compounds possess roughly similar effects and are about a third as effective as 3-butyl-4-ethyl sydnone. In addition, acute injection of 3-secondary butyl sydnone depresses systolic blood pressure roughly in proportion to the dose administered whereas 3-isopropyl-4-sodium carboxylate sydnone appears to have little or no depressor activity. Depressor activity of 3-butyl-4-ethyl sydnone could not be tested because the dose levels required to depress blood pressure produced strong convulsive activity. The compound 3-scondary butyl sydnone was given chronically at 20 and 40 mg/kg/day to rats in which renal hypertension had been induced. The compound failed to affect development of renal hypertension whether administered in food or intraperitoneally by injection. Depression of growth rate occurred in rats given 20 mg/kg/day but not in rats receiving the higher dose level.
The Zamiaceae in Panama with comments on phytogeography and species relationships

A key to, and descriptions of, the eleven species ofZamia in Panama are presented. Four of these are new species:Z. cunaria, Z. dressleri, Z. ipetiensis, andZ. neurophyllidia. Floristically,Zamia, is represented in Panama by three elements: three Central American species,Z. acuminata, Z. fairchildiana, andZ. skinneri, which reach their southern limits in central Panama; three northern South American species,Z. chigua, Z. manicata, andZ. obliqua, which reach their northern limits in Panama; and five endemic Panamanian species,Z. cunaria, Z. dressleri, Z. ipetiensis, Z. neurophyllidia, andZ. pseudoparasitica. These distributions are interpreted by a consideration of sister group relationships based upon derived morphological character states.
Irregular ventricular activation results in QT prolongation and increased QT dispersion: a new insight into the mechanism of AF-induced ventricular arrhythmogenesis.

Effects of Irregular Pacing on Repolarization. Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been shown to be associated with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias. We have previously shown reverse electrical remodeling of the ventricles following successful restoration of sinus rhythm in patients with persistent AF. The purpose of this study was to assess the relative role of irregular ventricular activation in mediating the previously observed changes. Methods and Results: Twenty-two patients referred for an invasive electrophysiologic study were randomized to 30 minutes of regular or irregular atrioventricular (AV) sequential pacing at 100 beats per minute (bpm) with a programmed AV interval of 100 ms. Irregular pacing was triggered from prerecorded digital signal with a mean rate of 100 bpm, and a standard deviation of 150 ms (25% of the mean rate). In the regular pacing group, QT and QTc decreased from 448 ± 102 ms and 453 ± 105 ms to 428 ± 109 ms and 442 ± 104 ms, respectively (P < 0.001 for QT interval and P < 0.001 for QTc interval). There was no significant change in QT dispersion. In the irregular pacing group, QT and QTc increased from 477 ± 104 ms and 486 ± 78 ms to 489 ± 106 ms and 500 ± 106 ms (P < 0.01 for QT interval and P = 0.03 for QTc interval). In addition, there was a significant increase in QT dispersion from 50 ± 22 ms to 66 ± 22 ms (P = 0.001). Since the rate and pacing sites were similar between the groups, we attribute the repolarization changes in the irregular pacing group to the irregular activation of the ventricles. Conclusion: The detrimental effects of irregular pacing go beyond the hemodynamic changes and include electrical remodeling that favors an arrhythmogenic substrate. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. pp. 1-4)
Why Do People Join Groups? Three Motivational Accounts from Social Psychology

This paper describes and contrasts three contemporary social psychological theories that focus on why people join and identify with groups: the sociometer model, terror management theory, and uncertainty–identity theory. The sociometer model argues that people have a need to be socially included, and that self-esteem is a meter of successful inclusion and group belonging. Terror management theory argues that people are motivated to reduce fear of the inevitability of their own death, and that the consensual belief–confirmation provided by groups drives people to belong. Uncertainty–identity theory argues that people have a basic need to reduce uncertainty about themselves, their attributes, and their place in the world, and that cognitive processes associated with group identification reduce such uncertainty. We critically contrast these three accounts to conclude that all three motivational processes may play a role, but that self-uncertainty may have the benefit of wide generality to all groups and group contexts and of detailed specification of cognitive processes.
The biologic effects of bacterial endotoxin: A short review

This short reveiw considers some of the more widely accepted biological actions of bacterial endotoxin. Early sections concern endotoxin chemical composition, assay techniques, and species variation in toxigenicity. Individual specific actions and classical endotoxin-induced phenomena are presented under headings of pyrogenic effect, hemodynamic effects, disseminated intravascular coagulation, complement system effects, induction of the generalized Shwartzman reaction, effects upon cellular constituents of blood, metabolic and endocrinologic effects, immunologic effects, nervous system effects, hepatic effects, and abortifacient action. The relationship of these effects to clinical manifestations is discussed where warranted.
Determinants of male reproductive success in pupfish (Cyprinodon pecosensis)

Abstract Studies of the territorial breeding system of Cyprinodon pecosensis at Bottomless Lakes State Park, New Mexico revealed that male reproductive mating success was affected by (a) the topographic features of a territory, and (b) the intensity of male breeding coloration. The importance of male nuptial coloration was demonstrated by increased male reproductive success with intensity of colour of the same individual males (‘light’, 1.6 females mated per h; ‘dark’, 5.4 females mated per h). A stepwise multiple regression analysis of male reproductive success as a function of breeding substrate, nuptial colour, size and agonistic behaviour indicated that topographic complexity accounted for as much as 65.4% of the variance in male reproductive success and coloration accounted for at least an additional 12.7% of the variance. Male size and agonistic behaviour together explained only an additional 1.8% of the variance in reproductive success, and thus were fairly unimportant as indicators of female choice. A high correlation between nuptial colour and reproductive success indicates that females choose males independent of the quality of their territories.
THE EFFECT OF CHOLINE ON MEASUREMENT OF THE ACTIVITY OF FLY HEAD CHOLINESTERASE

Choline was found to be a competitive inhibitor of fly head Cholinesterase (ChE). The degree of inhibition is such that choline accumulated as a reaction product can appreciably affect ChE activity determinations made at low substrate concentrations. Methods are described which make possible the accurate determination of ChE activity at low substrate concentrations. Zusammenfassung DIE WIRKUNG VON CHOLIN AUF DIE MESSUNG DER CHOLINESTERASEAKTIVITAT DES FLIEGENKOPFES Messungen der Cholinesterase-Aktivitat, welche bei niederen Acetylcholin-(ACh-)Konzentrationen durchgefuhrt werden, komplizieren sich durch Verbrauch oder Hemmung des Acetylcholins infolge der Anhaufung von Cholin (Ch) als Reaktionsprodukt. Titration des ACh in das Reaktionsgefas in dem Mase, wie das ACh hydrolysiert wird, vermindert das Problem der Substraterschopfung. Es wurde gezeigt, das die Hemmung der Fliegenkopf-Cholinesterase durch Cholin konkurrierend ist. Diese Erkenntnis gestattet die Berechnung der wahren Hydrolyserate vor irgendeiner Anhaufung von Cholin. Messungen der Cholinesterase-Aktivitat bei niederer ACh-Konzentration sind von fragwurdigem Wert, wenn diese Tatsachen nicht in Rechnung gezogen werden.
Application of the iterative solution method with Schur complement reduction to mixed finite elements based in a tetrahedral discretization

Abstract The iterative solution method for mixed finite element methods is applied to a 3-D domain partitioned with tetrahedral elements. For the particular discretization technique of first partitioning the domain with hexahedral cells, and then subsequently partitioning cells with five tetrahedral elements, a Schur complement decomposition is devised wherein the actual number of equations solved is reduced by 80%. Although this Schur complement reduction requires a fair amount of computational overhead, its application within the iterative solution method can reduce overall solution time by about 44%, depending on closure criterion and other factors.
738 PARENT-CHILD CORONARY HEART DISEASE RISK FACTOR ASSOCIATIONS

Parent-child (P-C) coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factor (RF) associations were assessed in 430 P-C pairs in the Princeton School Study. P-C correlations of Quetelet index (Q), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP,DBP), plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low, high, and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-LDL, C-HDL, C-VLDL) were [Pearson's(PE), Spearman's(S) r, *p<.05,**<.02,***<.01,+<.001] P-C RF relationships were most marked for TC, C-LDL, C-HDL,and Q. P-C associations for C-HDL,C-LDL, and Q were also examined by covariance analysis. C-HDL in P and C were positively related; the following interactions were significant:holding P C-HDL constant, P TG was inversely related to C C-HDL; holding C age constant, P Q was inversely related to C C-HDL; by race group, P SBP related inversely with C C-HDL. C C-LDL positively related to P Q, and inversely with P SBP. Holding P TC constant, P C-HDL was inversely related to C C-LDL. P Q and TG were positively related to C Q. Holding P C-HDL constant, P TC was positively related to C Q. Holding P age constant, P C-HDL was inversely related to C Q. Aggregation of P-C RF may account, in part, for the familial clustering of CHD. Knowledge of parental CHD RF should facilitate early identification of CHD RF in their progeny.
South Asian nuclear weapons and dilemmas of international non-proliferation regimes

(2001). South Asian nuclear weapons and dilemmas of international non-proliferation regimes. Contemporary Security Policy: Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 27-48.
Induction of stalk cell differentiation by cyclic-AMP in a susceptible variant of Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract The P-4 variant of Dictyostelium discoideum (DdH) was found to produce a great excess of stalk cells compared to the wild type DdH. If the vegetative cells of P-4 were repeatedly washed, the variant changed back to the wild type phenotype, and if cyclic-AMP was added to the washed P-4 cells, the variant character was restored. Furthermore, if the concentration of added cyclic-AMP was increased, it was possible to induce 100% stalk cells in P-4. Phosphodiesterase would cause the variant to change to the wild type, while 5-AMP and cyclic-nucleotides other than cyclic-AMP have no effect at all. Therefore it was concluded that cyclic-AMP plays a key role in stalk cell differentiation. A comparison between wild type DdH and the variant P-4 showed that DdH is ten times less sensitive to cyclic-AMP induction. They both produce the same amount of cyclic-AMP and extracellular phosphodiesterase, but the specific activity of P-4 cell-bound phosphodiesterase during development is significantly less than that in the DdH. One hypothesis that accounts for the P-4-DdH difference is that because of the lack of cell-bound phosphodiesterase, more cyclic-AMP enters the variant cells and hence more stalk cell differentiation.
On the evolution of large ultramafic magma chambers and timescales for flood basalt eruptions

[1] Large igneous provinces are characterized by magmatic activity on two distinct timescales. While these provinces have total active lifetimes of order 10–30 Ma, most of the erupted volume is emplaced within 1 Ma in many cases. The longer timescale is consistent with plume or tectonic models for mantle melting responsible for flood volcanism, but the shorter “main stage” timescale is enigmatic. We hypothesize that cessation of main stage eruptions reflects shutoff of dike propagation from the deep crust due to the onset of thermally activated creep on a ∼1 Ma timescale, with intrusive processes and minor eruptions continuing over 10–30 Ma. To test this hypothesis we model deep magma differentiation and the stability of Moho level magma reservoirs. Assuming mantle volatile contents, fractionation results in concentration and deep exsolution of CO2, with the geothermal gradient and melt influx setting the timescale for buoyancy production and thus timing between individual eruptions. Chemical evolution generally occurs rapidly compared to heat conduction from the magma body. Although the viscous response of surrounding rocks depends on lower crustal rheology, we find that thermally induced creep can reasonably prevent dike propagation within 1 Ma of intrusion. However, if melt influx is high or heat transfer from the magma chamber is low, viscous creep may outpace differentiation. In this regime, continued melt influx spreads along the Moho until external stresses provide a destabilizing trigger. The coevolution of large-scale melting and lower crustal rheology may thus control a progression of large igneous province emplacement from largely eruptive to largely intrusive magmatism.
Weak Convergence of Reflected Brownian Motions

We show that if a sequence of domains $D_k$ increases to a domain $D$ then the reflected Brownian motions in $D_k$'s converge to the reflected Brownian motion in $D$, under mild technical assumptions.
Simulation and animation of an assembly system

A software package was developed for eventual use by manufacturing engineers responsible for the design of an automated assembly loop. The loop consists of a number of cells through which palletized parts flow. A simulation of this system was developed which includes the effects of blocking, machine down times and pallet transport time. In addition to the statistical information usually obtained with any simulation, an animation of the process was also developed which provides the manufacturing engineer with an interactive-graphic environment to examine the dynamic performance of the system.
Intersensory Interactions in Hermissenda

Hair cells of the Hermissenda statocyst respond to photic stimulation. This response requires the presence of at least one of the two eyes. Two principal hair cell responses to light were observed. The activity of photoreceptors in response to a light step is interrupted during firing of contralateral hair cells. The intersensory interactions between the statocyst and visual pathway underlying these responses were examined with simultaneous intracellular recordings. Evidence is presented that the statocyst of Hermissenda is an important channel for visual information.
The Role of Second-Trimester Serum Screening in the Post–First-Trimester Screening Era

Considerable advances have been made in identifying women whose pregnancies are at the greatest risk for fetal Down syndrome and other aneuploidies. Maternal serum tests and ultrasonography in either the first or second trimester provide effective prenatal screening. However, the most efficacious protocols are based on the combination of first- and second-trimester tests. In this article the advantages and best strategies in providing these sequential screening protocols are discussed.
Simulation of semiconductor transport using coupled and decoupled solution techniques

Abstract Two dimensional mobile carrier transport in a semiconductor is simulated using the finite element method. Two algorithms are compared for computational efficiency and accuracy in modeling an IGFET transistor. With the first, the non-linear partial differential equations are decoupled and solved sequentially using a minor and a major iterative cycle. In the second, Newton's method is used to linearize the equations, and they are solved simultaneously using only a major loop. Results show the decoupled approach to be faster and require less storage than the coupled Newton approach for simulation of device operation where the mobile carrier densities are equal to or less than the fixed charge density. The coupled approach is more efficient for highly non-linear problems where the mobile carrier densities exceed the fixed charge density but requires far more storage (2.5x) and set up time (100x).
A TWO-POWDER PROCESS FOR BI-2223 PRECURSORS

A two-powder process is described for the production of uniform, fine-grained Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub {ital y}} (Bi-2223) powders. One powder is the Bi{sub 2.1{minus}{ital x}}Pb{sub {ital x}}Sr{sub 1.9{minus}{ital y}}Ca{sub {ital y}}O{sub {ital z}} (2:2 Cu-free) phase. The other is a multi-phase powder of approximate overall composition SrCaCu{sub 3}O{sub {ital y}}. The 2:2 Cu-free is one of the first Bi-containing phases to form from a nominal Bi-2223 mixture of oxides and carbonates. This precursor route was chosen for investigation because (1) powders have very similar particle morphologies and (2) the mixing volumes are closely matched. Both of these characteristics facilitate the milling and blending process. This precursor mix was found to be stable in that explosive grain growth of dundesirable phases was not observed during sintering. Critical current densities up to 26,900 A/cm{sup 2} in self field at 75 K were obtained in tapes. {copyright} {ital 1996 Materials Research Society.}
Siegfried oberndorfer: Origins and perspectives of carcinoid tumors

Abstract Carcinoid tumors are rare, indolent neoplasms that, although clinically well defined, are regarded as exotic and are consequently often unrecognized. Although little is known of the lives of the men who defined the tumor, described its distinct histology and cell type, and delineated the clinical hallmarks of the disease even less is known of the pathobiology of the lesion. In the nineteenth century, T. Langhans (1839-1915), O. Lubarsch (1860-1933), and W. B. Ransom (1860-1909) described unusual tumors in the small bowel but each failed to adequately investigate these novel entities. This responsibility fell to Siegfried Oberndorfer (1876-1944), who became the first to adequately characterize the nature of the tumors and refer to them as “benign carcinomas.” During his tenure at the Pathological Institute of the University of Munich, Oberndorfer noted in 1907 that the lesions were distinct clinical entities and named them “karzinoide” (“carcinoma-like”), emphasizing in particular their benign features. In 1929 he amended his classification to include the possibility that these small bowel tumors could be malignant and also metastasize. Although the enterochromaffin cell, the carcinoid cell of origin, had been identified as early as 1897 by N. Kulchitsky (1856-1925), it was not until 1953 that F. Lembeck (1922–) established that such cells synthesized and secreted serotonin—a potent bioactive amine. Thereafter the protean clinical effects of serotonin, including “flushing,” were recognized as was the associated relationship of carcinoid heart disease (Biorck in 1952) and fibrosis (Moertel in 1961). As the centennial of the observations of Oberndorfer approaches, it should be noted that the legacy of one of Germany’s most distinguished pathologists, teachers, and scientists (whose career fell victim to the machinations of the Third Reich) has been largely unrecognized. Similarly, the biology and mechanistic analysis of these lesions remain to a large extent unexplored. The present article describes the contributions of the clinical and scientific pioneers in the elucidation of carcinoid disease and traces the evolution of the discovery and understanding of carcinoid tumor biology. It also serves to memorialize the extraordinary accomplishments of Oberndorfer, whose vision exceeded his times.
Transport and stability of ascorbic acid in pituitary cultures.

Abstract Ascorbic acid uptake in AtT-20 tumor cells and primary cultures of rat anterior and intermediate pituitary was sodium-dependent and showed half-maximal saturation between 9 and 18 μM ascorbate. When incubated in [14C]ascorbic acid at concentrations similar to those in serum (50 μM), all of the cells concentrated ascorbate 20- to 40-fold, producing intracellular ascorbate concentrations of 1–2 mM. HPLC analyses showed that over 90% of the intracellular label comigrated with authentic ascorbic acid. Although ascorbate was rapidly oxidized in culture medium in the absence of cells, incubation of ascorbate in culture medium in the presence of cells stabilized the ascorbate substantially. Unlike systems that transport dehydroascorbic acid, the ascorbate transport systems in all three preparations were not inhibited by glucose. Thus all three systems possess similar saturable, high-affinity, sodium-dependent active transport systems for ascorbic acid.
An improvement of the deletion channel capacity upper bound

In this paper, we offer an alternative look at channels with deletion errors by considering equivalent models for deletion channels by “fragmenting” the input sequence where different subsequences travel through different channels. The resulting output symbols are combined appropriately to come up with an equivalent input-output representation of the original channel which allows for derivation of new upper bounds on the channel capacity. Considering a random fragmentation processes applied to binary deletion channels, we prove an inequality relation among the capacities of the original binary deletion channel and the introduced binary deletion subchannels. This inequality enables us to provide an improved upper bound on the capacity of the i.i.d. deletion channels, i.e., C(d) ≤ 0.4143(1 - d) for d ≥ 0.65. We also consider a deterministic fragmentation process suitable for the study of non-binary deletion channels which results in improved capacity upper bounds.
The effect of signal sequences on the efficiency of secretion of a heterologous phosphotriesterase by Streptomyces lividans.

A heterologous phosphotriesterase (parathion hydrolase) containing the native Flavobacterium species signal sequence was previously shown to be secreted by Streptomyces lividans. Western blot analysis of the recombinant phosphotriesterase produced by S. lividans demonstrated only the mature form extracellular but both processed and unprocessed forms in cell-associated samples. To investigate the efficiency of secretion in Streptomyces, a construction was made that substituted a native Streptomyces β-galactosidase signal sequence for the Flavobacterium signal sequence. This resulted in a higher proportion of hydrolase in the extracellular fluid and a lower proportion of parathion hydrolase remaining cell-associated. These results suggest that use of a native Streptomyces signal sequence may result in more efficient secretion of heterologous proteins.