cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statistical Evolution of Chaotic Fluid Mixing

We describe a new constitutive theory for two-phase flow models of chaotic mixing layers, which form as two incompressible fluids interpenetrate. This theory is compatible with arbitrary velocities of the edges of a mixing layer, and it gives analytic solutions for the distribution of fluid variables across the layer in terms of these velocities. Our results are in agreement with all available data from planar Rayleigh-Taylor instability experiments. The model that we discuss can be embedded in a larger system of two-phase flow equations in order to predict other important physical quantities, such as the fluid pressures and internal energies in compressible mixing. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Therapeutic horizons for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Recent theories on the pathogenesis of motor neuron disease and research on motor neuron injury have resulted in new putative therapies, which include treatment with various neurotrophic factors, antioxidants and anti-excitotoxicity agents. Clinical and preclinical studies have now provided the first agents that reproducibly alter the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Size Does Matter: The Effects of Gender on Perceptions of Dating Violence

Previous research has shown that people perceive intimate partner violence (IPV) as more serious in cases involving a male perpetrator and female victim versus other gender combinations. This study is the first to explore reasons for these differences. 181 undergraduates at a U.S. southeastern college rated one of four dating violence vignettes that varied by perpetrator and victim gender. Participants viewed male-on-female violence as more frightening primarily because males are stronger and bigger than female perpetrators. Physical differences were rated as significantly more important causes of fear than other personality/relationship dynamics. Because males are actually stronger and bigger than females, it appears that gendered perceptions of violence are based in real-world knowledge of gender differences, not merely gender stereotypes.
ζ-Potential analyses using micro-electrical field flow fractionation with fluorescent nanoparticles

Increasingly growing application of nanoparticles in biotechnology requires fast and accessible tools for their manipulation and for characterization of their colloidal properties. In this work we determine the ζ-potentials for polystyrene nanoparticles using micro-electrical field flow fractionation (μ-EFFF) which is an efficient method for sorting particles by size. The data obtained by μ-EFFF were compared to ζ-potentials determined by standard capillary electrophoresis. For proof of concept, we used polystyrene nanoparticles of two different sizes, impregnated with two different fluorescent dyes. Fluorescent emission spectra were used to evaluate the particle separation in both systems. Using the theory of electrophoresis, we estimated the ζ-potentials as a function of size, dielectric permittivity, viscosity and electrophoretic mobility. The results obtained by the μ-EFFF technique were confirmed by the conventional capillary electrophoresis measurements. These results demonstrate the applicability of the μ-EFFF method not only for particle size separation but also as a simple and inexpensive tool for measurements of nanoparticle ζ-potentials.
Conformational Coupling between Receptor and Kinase Binding Sites through a Conserved Salt Bridge in a Signaling Complex Scaffold Protein

Bacterial chemotaxis is one of the best studied signal transduction pathways. CheW is a scaffold protein that mediates the association of the chemoreceptors and the CheA kinase in a ternary signaling complex. The effects of replacing conserved Arg62 of CheW with other residues suggested that the scaffold protein plays a more complex role than simply binding its partner proteins. Although R62A CheW had essentially the same affinity for chemoreceptors and CheA, cells expressing the mutant protein are impaired in chemotaxis. Using a combination of molecular dynamics simulations (MD), NMR spectroscopy, and circular dichroism (CD), we addressed the role of Arg62. Here we show that Arg62 forms a salt bridge with another highly conserved residue, Glu38. Although this interaction is unimportant for overall protein stability, it is essential to maintain the correct alignment of the chemoreceptor and kinase binding sites of CheW. Computational and experimental data suggest that the role of the salt bridge in maintaining the alignment of the two partner binding sites is fundamental to the function of the signaling complex but not to its assembly. We conclude that a key feature of CheW is to maintain the specific geometry between the two interaction sites required for its function as a scaffold.
How stable is the demand for money in Greece

The cointegration technique is now a common method of estimating any money demand function. Numerous studies that applied this technique to estimate the money demand function in Greece, interpreted their finding of cointegration as a sign of stable money demand. In this paper, after incorporating CUSUM and CUSUMSQ tests into cointegration analysis, we show that even though M1 and M2 monetary aggregates are cointegrated with income and interest rate, the M2 money demand function is unstable while M1 is stable.
Correction to: On Webs of Maximum Rank (Geom. Dedicata 31 (1989), 19–35)

We correct an error in Example (3.4) in Geom. Dedicata 31 (1989), 19–35. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000). 53A60.
Solenoidal ionization cooling lattices

We explore a practical approach for designing ionization cooling channels with periodic solenoidal focusing. We examine the lattice characteristics in terms of the properties of the coils and the cell geometry. The peak magnetic field in the coils is an important engineering constraint in lattice design. We examine the dependence of the peak field, momentum passband locations, and the beta function on the coil parameters. We make a systematic examination of all allowed lattice configurations taking into account the symmetry properties of the current densities and the beta function. We introduce a unique classification for comparing cooling lattice configurations. While solutions with a single coil per cell illustrate most of the effects that are important for cooling channel design, the introduction of additional coils allows more flexibility in selecting the lattice properties. We look at example solutions for the problem of the initial transverse cooling stage of a neutrino factory or muon collider and compare our results with the properties of some published cooling lattice designs. Scaling laws are used to compare solutions from different symmetry classes.
Comprehensive Structure Characterization of Lipid A Extracted from Yersinia pestis for Determination of its Phosphorylation Configuration

We report on comprehensive structure characterization of lipid A extracted from Yersinia pestis (Yp) for determination of its phosphorylation configuration that was achieved by combining the methods of molecular biology with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. The phosphorylation pattern of diphosphorylated lipid A extracted from Yp has recently been found to be a heterogeneous mixture of C-1 and C-4′ bisphosphate, C-1 pyrophosphate, and C-4′ pyrophosphate (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.2008,105, 12742). To reduce the inherent phosphate heterogeneity of diphosphorylated lipid A extracted from Yp, we incorporated specific C-1 and C-4′ position phosphatases into wild type KIM6+ Yp grown at 37°C. Comprehensive high-resolution tandem mass spectrometric analyses of lipid A extracted from Yp modified with either the C-1 or C-4′ phosphatase allowed for unambiguous structure assignment of monophosphorylated and diphosphorylated lipid A and distinction of isomeric bisphosphate and pyrophosphate forms. The prevalent aminoarabinose modification was determined to be exclusively attached to the lipid A disaccharide via a phospho-diester linkage at either or both the C-1 and C-4′ positions.
Implementing high-level control functions for the TAMU K-500 cyclotron

Abstract The control system for the TAMU K-500 superconducting cyclotron provides basic accelerator controls. It is comprised of networked IBM-XT clone computers, has a highly responsive push-button operator console and is coded in FORTH, using program-generation tools including a data base describing the control system. As the system expands to accommodate more accelerator subsystems, there is a need to extend it by implementing high-level control functions such as support for tuning an electron cyclotron resonance ion source. New hardware in the form of MS-DOS workstations has been added to run these functions. The software development for the first workstation program has laid the groundwork for subsequent high-level functions. An overview of the total control system is also presented.
Depression, self-esteem, diabetes care and self-care behaviors among middle-aged and older Mexicans

Aims Examine the associations of depression and self-esteem on self-care activities and care received among Mexicans with diabetes.
Potential impacts of a changing Arctic on community water sources on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska

[1] This paper discusses the potential impacts of climate change on community drinking water sources on the Seward Peninsula. The vulnerability assessment was largely based on the likelihood that the water source would be impacted by a change in the permafrost regime. Factors that were considered were the likely change in the permafrost condition of a watershed, the watershed area, and the contribution of groundwater to streamflow. Results showed that the change in permafrost condition is likely to impact some communities much more than others, even though the communities are near to each other. Communities that will experience little change to the permafrost in their watersheds, have a significant contribution of base flow to their streams and rivers, or have water sources with large watersheds were not found to be vulnerable. On the other hand, communities with small watersheds, watersheds that were likely to see a significant change in the permafrost regime, or watersheds with little winter base flow were seen to be vulnerable to climate change. The results of this work could be valuable to community leadership when considering future vulnerability. The same approach could be used across the Arctic to assess the potential impact of climate change on community water sources and ultimate sustainability.
Laser-driven thermal reactions of ethylidyne on platinum

Abstract The reactions of ethylene and ethylidyne (CCH3) adsorbed on a Pt(s)(111) surface have been studied by laser-induced thermal desorption mass spectrometry. A small spot on the surface is heated rapidly by a laser pulse; desorbed species are ionized by an electron beam and detected by Fourier transform mass spectrometry. For Ts≲250 K, the main peak in the laser desorption mass spectrum is molecular ethylene. At higher temperatures, when ethylidyne is the dominant surface species, laser desorption produces large peaks at m/z=2 and 26, instead of m/z=27 as might have been expected. This is interpreted to be due to a laser-driven thermal reaction on the surface to produce C2H2(s) plus H (s), with subsequent desorption as C2H2 and H2.
Phenotypically constrained Boolean network inference with prescribed steady states

In this paper, we investigate a phenotypically constrained inference algorithm to reconstruct genetic regulatory networks modeled as Boolean networks (BNs). Based on a previous universal Minimum Description Length (uMDL) network inference algorithm, we study whether adding the prior information based on prescribed attractors or steady states can help better reconstruct the underlying gene regulatory relationships. Comparing the network inference performance with and without prescribed steady states, the experiments based on randomly generated networks as well as a metastatic melanoma network have shown that the phenotypically constrained inference obtains improved performance when we have small numbers of state transition observations.
Platelet MAO in subtypes of alcoholism

Abstract A number of investigators have observed low platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in alcoholism. There is also preliminary evidence suggesting that low enzyme activity is principally associated with one of two putative subtypes of alcohol dependence, i.e., type II (male limited). The results of this study are consistent with two previous reports of reduced platelet MAO activity in type II male alcoholics as compared with type I male alcoholics and normal, healthy male controls. Type I (milieu-limited) alcoholics showed a smaller reduction in enzyme activity. The observed differences do not appear to be related to concurrent use of other psychoactive substances, characteristics differences in age between type I alcoholics and type II alcoholics, antisocial personality disorder, or variation in platelet size. Low platelet MAO activity in alcoholics is possibly related to both state and trait factors and may be a useful biochemical measure to assist with subtyping.
Investigating Toddlers’ and Parents’ Storybook Reading During Morning Transition

This qualitative study builds on the previous body of emergent literacy research by investigating the use of storybook reading with parents during morning transition times through observation on fifteen toddlers (2- to 3-years old), their parents, and teachers in a university preschool classroom. The focus of this study is to investigate whether storybook reading with parents eases morning transitions for young children as well as fosters their literacy development. Additionally, this study seeks to understand how storybook reading with parents during morning transitions affects the partnership between parents and teachers. The findings of this study contribute to the literature showing that (1) reading a book with parents during morning transition times may provide smooth transitions, (2) it may help with direct interactions between teachers and parents and with direct parental involvement in a school setting, and (3) storybook reading with parents in class during morning transition times may lead the child to engage in independent reading.
Poly(silane)-based high-mobility photorefractive polymers

The photorefractive (PR) properties of guest–host polymer systems composed of the high-mobility charge-transporting host polymer poly(4-n-butoxyphenylethylsilane) (PBPES), a nonlinear dopant, and a sensitizer are characterized by four-wave mixing (FWM) and two-beam coupling (2BC). Steady-state diffraction efficiencies as high as 10−4 (λ = 753 nm, E0 = 16 V/μm; sample thickness, 175 μm) and rise times as short as 39 ms (λ = 647 nm, E0 = 11.4 V/μm, 1-W/cm2 intensity) are observed by FWM; to our knowledge this is the fastest response observed in a PR polymer to date. In addition, net 2BC gain was observed in one material combination The mobilities of PBPES and a mixture consisting of PBPES:Coumarin-153:C60 are measured, and the mobility of the latter is ~10−4 cm2/(V s) at E0 = 10 V/μm, a factor of 10 larger than that of the undoped polymer. The rate of grating growth is analyzed within a charge-generation-limited model. The evidence indicates that carrier mobility is not the limiting factor in the PR response of these materials.
Nonparametric feature selection for multiple class processes

A method of feature selection is presented that has linear computational complexity, and ways are shown how to use it when the type of the probability density function is unknown. There is no claim that the procedures for nonparametric probability density function estimation are applicable to any thinkable distribution, but the lower bound for the classifier performance estimation, makes the presented measure applicable in most practical cases. Simulations with synthetic test data as well as references to applications with real-world data demonstrate the applicability of the measure discussed. >
Clock distribution on a dual-core, multi-threaded Itanium/spl reg/ family microprocessor

Clock distribution on the microprocessor codenamed Montecito features four distinct segments and topologies each tuned to a specific purpose. A region based active de-skew (RAD) system reduces the process, voltage, and temperature sources of skew across the 21.5 /spl times/ 27.7mm/sup 2/ die during normal operation. Clock vernier devices (CVDs) inserted at each local clock buffer allows 70ps of adjustment via scan. The system supports a constantly varying frequency and consumes less than 25W on its 30mm route from PLL to latch.
High-performance low-power CMOS circuits using multiple channel length and multiple oxide thickness

Power optimization has become an important issue for high performance designs. One way to achieve low-power and high performance circuits is to use dual-threshold voltages. High threshold transistors can be used in non-critical paths to reduce the leakage power, while lower threshold voltage is used for transistors in critical path(s) to achieve high performance. This paper proposes two low power and high performance CMOS design techniques-multiple channel length (M/sub L/CMOS) and multiple oxide thickness (M/sub ox/CMOS), based on dual V/sub th/, design technique. A comprehensive algorithm for selecting and assigning optimal transistor threshold voltage, channel length and oxide thickness is given. The simulation results on ISCAS benchmark circuits show that the total power consumption can be reduced by 21% for M/sub L/CMOS at low activity. Total power savings for M/sub ox/CMOS at low and high switching activities are about 42% and 24%, respectively.
The Effect of the Plant Growth Retardants Amo 1618 and CCC on Gibberellin Production in Fusarium monili-forme: Light Stimulated Biosynthesis of Gibberellins

Through the use of a single gene dwarf mutant of Zea mays L., dwarf-1, the interaction of growth retardants with gibberellin biosynthesis was studied in Fusarium monitiforme. It was demonstrated that the growth retardants 2-isopropyl-4-dimcthylamine-5-methyphenyl-1-piperidine-cai'boxylate methyl chloride (Amo 1618) and (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) are more effective inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis in cultures maintained under continuous illumination. Light grown cultures produced significantly more biologically active gibberellin-like materials than dark grown cultures. Stock cultures exposed to light also promoted the subsequent biosynthesis of gibberellins in the dark. Chromatographical analysis of the soluble gibberellins extracted from the culture medium revealed that large amounts of chromatographically detectable A3 and A7 were produced in light cultures with only A7 produced in the dark. Light also induced a greater incorporation of acelate-2-14C into the gibberellins A7, A3 and an unidentified gibberellin. Growth returdants occasionally caused a complete disappearance of chromatographically detectable gibberellins in the dark; however, in the light at no concentration tested was it possible to detect the complete disappearance of gibberellin-like material. A3 was always detectable. Like higher plants, different strains of F. moniliforme exhibit variation which makes them more or less sensitive to the growth retardants. This variation is interpreted to mean that there may be more than one pathway leading to the synthesis of the gibberellins.
Muscle activation and strain during suction feeding in the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides

Activation and strain in the sternohyoideus (SH) were measured in vivo in five largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. The SH is thought to actuate lower jaw depression, hyoid depression and suspensorial abduction during suction feeding in teleost fish. Sonomicrometry was used to measure fascicle shortening and lower jaw kinematics, while activity was measured by electromyography (EMG). SH fascicles shortened by an average of 11% during suction feeding. In three fish SH fascicles consistently shortened during fast lower jaw depression, but in two individuals they contracted isometrically or lengthened slightly during fast lower jaw depression. The SH continued shortening after peak gape, presumably actuating hyoid depression and lateral expansion of the buccal cavity. Onset of SH relengthening and onset of lower jaw elevation were simultaneous, as were the return of the SH to resting length and gape closure. Activation followed the onset of shortening by an average of 23 ms, although the muscle was active an average of 15 ms before the onset of rapid shortening. SH fascicles reached sustained shortening velocities averaging -2.5 fascicle lengths per second, and generally increased shortening velocity after peak gape. The shortening velocities measured in this study suggest that the SH actively shortens to generate power during suction feeding. This study is the first direct measurement of in vivo muscle function during suction feeding, the most common mechanism of prey capture among aquatic vertebrates.
Assessing the ability of the Köppen system to delineate the general world pattern of climates

The Koppen climate classification system [Koppen, 1923] is a scheme that provides an objective numerical basis for defining regional climatic types based on temperature and precipitation. Through the years it has been used as a scientific and teaching tool for prescribing the general world pattern of climates. Here for the first time an evaluation of the system is performed by employing coextensive temperature and precipitation data over the N. Hemisphere for the last 140 years. First the global pattern of climate type sensitivity is obtained. From this pattern it is discovered that several climate types exhibit a rather strong variability. Since all climate types depend on temperature we then tested whether or not the above variability is due to the fact that over the last 140 years the global climate system exhibits a well documented positive temperature trend known as global warming. We found that the Koppen system is rather insensitive to the observed global warming and concluded that overall the system performs rather poorly over Europe and Asia whereas it appears adequate over N. America and N. Africa.
A Comparative analysis of interference mitigation techniques for ultra wideband and WLAN co-existence

A comparative analysis of various interference mitigation techniques applied to ultra wideband (UWB) systems for reducing interference and enabling co-existence with WLAN systems (IEEE 802.11a) has been done. Different techniques have been identified, studied and compared with respect to the performance of the 802.11a system when these mitigation techniques are applied to UWB systems. A comparison of techniques used with and without multipath is also presented. A very novel approach proposed in J. Bellorado, et al (2004) involving the design of time hopping (TH) codes has also been tested with respect to performance of 802.11a system.
The Earliest Step in B Lineage Differentiation from Common Lymphoid Progenitors Is Critically Dependent upon Interleukin 7

Little is known about the signals that promote early B lineage differentiation from common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs). Using a stromal-free culture system, we show that interleukin (IL)-7 is sufficient to promote the in vitro differentiation of CLPs into B220+ CD19+ B lineage progenitors. Consistent with current models of early B cell development, surface expression of B220 was initiated before CD19 and was accompanied by the loss of T lineage potential. To address whether IL-7 receptor (R) activity is essential for early B lineage development in vivo, we examined the frequencies of CLPs and downstream pre–pro- and pro-B cells in adult mice lacking either the α chain or the common gamma chain (γc) of the IL-7R. The data indicate that although γc−/− mice have normal frequencies of CLPs, both γc−/− and IL-7Rα−/− mice lack detectable numbers of all downstream early B lineage precursors, including pre–pro-B cells. These findings challenge previous notions regarding the point in B cell development affected by the loss of IL-7R signaling and suggest that IL-7 plays a key and requisite role during the earliest phases of B cell development.
Sol-Gel Coating of Lithium Zinc Ferrite Powders

Lithium zinc ferrite powders of composition Li0.3Zn0.4Mn0.05− Fe2.25O4 were prepared by solid—state synthesis. Liquid-phase borosilicate sintering additives were applied to the ferrite particle surfaces at room temperature via a sol—gel coating technique. Calcined and comminuted ferrite powder was dispersed in methanol with predetermined quantities of tetraethyl orthosilicate and triethyl borate. Hydrofluoric acid was used to catalyze the sol—gel reactions. Amorphous coatings of 10 to 20 nm thickness were observed on particle surfaces by TEM. Chemical bonding in the coatings was studied using diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy.
Enhanced identification of eligibility for depression research using an electronic medical record search engine.

Abstract Purpose Electronic medical records (EMRs) have become part of daily practice for many physicians. Attempts have been made to apply electronic search engine technology to speed EMR review. This was a prospective, observational study to compare the speed and clinical accuracy of a medical record search engine vs. manual review of the EMR. Methods Three raters reviewed 49 cases in the EMR to screen for eligibility in a depression study using the electronic medical record search engine (EMERSE). One week later raters received a scrambled set of the same patients including 9 distractor cases, and used manual EMR review to determine eligibility. For both methods, accuracy was assessed for the original 49 cases by comparison with a gold standard rater. Results Use of EMERSE resulted in considerable time savings; chart reviews using EMERSE were significantly faster than traditional manual review ( p =0.03). The percent agreement of raters with the gold standard (e.g. concurrent validity) using either EMERSE or manual review was not significantly different. Conclusions Using a search engine optimized for finding clinical information in the free-text sections of the EMR can provide significant time savings while preserving clinical accuracy. The major power of this search engine is not from a more advanced and sophisticated search algorithm, but rather from a user interface designed explicitly to help users search the entire medical record in a way that protects health information.
A Process for Future Aviation Environmental Impacts: A Surrogate Fleet Analysis Approach for NextGen

The Environmental Design Space (EDS) is a physics-based tool at the heart of a tool suite under development by the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Environment and Energy (FAA/AEE). Because EDS can evaluate aircraft specific impacts and capture interdependencies among aviation-related noise, emissions, and fuel burn, it has the potential to add a physics-based capability to future fleet analysis. Developing an EDS model for each aircraft in the commercial fleet would be extremely cost prohibitive, and in order to model the entire fleet, methods to link physics-based tools to aggregate fleet results must be considered. This paper discusses three approaches to quantifying fleet environmental impacts with the development of a surrogate fleet for potential use in Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) fleet evolution analysis through the connection of EDS with the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT). The performance of each approach to model a baseline, reference fleet is presented in this work, along with a discussion of potential methods for using these approaches to model changes in operations and implementation of aircraft technologies.
The Impact of Differential Patterns of Physical Violence and Stalking on Mental Health and Help-Seeking Among Women With Protective Orders:

This study examined the severity of partner violence on women's mental health and help-seeking as well as perceptions of safety and protective-order effectiveness. Three groups based on partner violence victimization in the past year were compared: (a) women who reported experiencing moderate physical violence but no history of severe violence or stalking (n = 102), (b) women who experienced severe violence but no history of stalking (n = 142), and (c) women who experienced severe violence and stalking (n = 145). Results suggest that stalking has a unique impact on victims' mental health and perceived safety, and that protections afforded by protective orders may not be adequate for women experiencing stalking.
Confirmation of the Presence of the Red-capped Mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus) in Mayumba National Park, Southern Gabon, and Conkouati-Douli National Park, Southern Republic of Congo

Abstract: Surveys were carried out in Gabon in Mayumba National Park in 2006 and in the Conkouati-Douli National Park in the Republic of Congo in 1996 and 2000. Red-capped mangabeys, Cercocebus torquatus, (also known as white-collared mangabeys) were recorded in both parks in areas about 30 km distant from hunting pressure. The distribution of this species is known to extend from west of the Niger River to just south of the Ogooue River in Gabon, but its presence in Southern Congo, while suspected in 1949, had never been confirmed. These observations extend the confirmed published range by about 250 km south, and into the Republic of Congo. The published distribution is probably much too uniform, as the species now appears to be absent in areas with even low to medium hunting pressure. We call for resurveys of the sites where it has been previously recorded in the past to confirm continued presence and to clarify its conservation status. We also call for surveys along the coastal forests outside protected...
Prefrontal asymmetry in depression? The long-term effect of unilateral brain lesions

The proposal that a functional asymmetry in prefrontal cortex (PFC) may play a role in the pathophysiology of depression has sparked vigorous debate and investigation. One particularly contentious issue of clinical and theoretical importance is whether left PFC lesions are associated with the development of depression, and whether any such lesion-depression association is stable over time. To address this issue, we assessed the long-term depressive symptomotology of Vietnam veterans who had acquired left PFC lesions (n=21), right PFC lesions (n=18), non-PFC lesions (n=38), or no brain lesions (n=31) during the Vietnam War. Depressive symptoms were assessed at two different timepoints, approximately 15 and 35 years after lesion onset, respectively. There was no significant effect of PFC lesion laterality on overall depression severity at either timepoint. These data converge with previous stroke studies to suggest that PFC lesion laterality has no long-term systematic effect on vulnerability to depression.
Bionomics and Formation of “Bonsai” Colonies With Long-Term Rearing of Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

This laboratory study reports the ability of Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, colonies to survive for at least 9 yr while restricted to a sweater box. Colonies survived by limiting queen size and worker numbers, allowing these bonsai colonies to thrive. Queen physogastry appeared to plateau with 9-yr-old queens not larger than 6-yr-old queens, but nearly triple the size of 2-yr-old queens. Nine-year-old colony worker numbers were not greater than 6-yr-old colonies, but worker numbers were greater than in 2-yr-old colonies. Such colony survival under conditions of restricted resources provides a mechanism for re-infestation of areas following extensive area-wide control efforts. “Bonsai” colonies are relevant to the ability of marginalized colonies to avoid detection and then expand and invade into areas once the large, mature colonies are eliminated, and their potential to produce alates to start new C. formosanus colonies in areas which have been subjected to colony elimination programs impacts termite management strategies.
Empirical Study of Dimensional and Categorical Emotion Descriptors in Emotional Speech Perception.

The dynamic between speaker intent and listener perception is played out in the variation of acoustical cues by the speaker that must be interpreted by the listener to determine in an appropriate way. Emotion speech research must rely on either acted intent (i.e., an actor attempting to express an emotion) or listener perception (i.e., listening tests to assign emotional categories to non-acted data) to define ground truth labels for analysis. The emotion labels are described either using emotion dimension or emotion category. This study examines the two emotion characterization strategies dimension and category in communication of emotion embedded in speech as expressed through acted intent and the perception of emotion determined by a group of listeners. The results reveal that, without context information, intended emotion categories could be perceived by listeners with the averaged accuracy rate five times of chance in category. Also, the trend of listener ratings between emotion dimensions (valence/arousal) and emotional word categories was shown to be well correlated. Furthermore, while listeners confused the specific identity of certain emotional expressions, they were generally very accurate at identifying the intended affective space of the actor as determined by intended valence and arousal.
No more freeloading: using individual assignments to improve team-based learning outcomes

Although team-based coursework is widely perceived by both students and faculty as a valuable teaching strategy, it can lead to a "free rider" problem: often one or more team member(s) does not fully participate in the assignment workload. This paper describes an approach to teaching the introductory database course that is based on a hybrid of individual and team-based assignments. By forcing every team member to be involved in all phases of the collaborative project, the approach alleviates the free rider problem that often occurs in project teams, thus improving learning outcomes and student perceptions of the team-based assignments.
A Philosophy of Unity

The distinguishing trait of twentieth-century intellectual life is emergence and proliferation of the “meta-disciplines” (or “metasciences”): e.g., meta-mathematics, meta-logic, meta-ethics, meta-jurisprudence, meta-politics, meta-theater, meta-language (hermeneutics and linguistic analysis), meta-sociology (sociology of knowledge), etc. The emergence of these meta-disciplines signifies a fundamental change in human orientation. We may compare this contemporary movement with the development in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries of the special sciences as self-contained disciplines: chemistry, biology, botany, geology, history, psychology, etc. Whereas this earlier period proliferated special sciences through the application of rigorous techniques which critically reduced (and therefore multiplied) the objects of science per se, the characteristic of contemporary intellectual life is the proliferation of meta-disciplines through the critical analysis of the methods and the presuppositions of the special sciences themselves. I believe this peculiar intellectual activity, which underlies the emergence of all contemporary meta-disciplines, is the major clue to understanding the fundamental reorientation of personal and social consciousness which is going on today. Moreover, this change is rich with possibilities for new ways of dealing with the technological and institutional impasse which is the fruit of the development of the special sciences.
Cadmium Chloride Susceptibility of Campylobacter spp and Pseudomonas and Aeromonas spp

Twenty-eight strains of Campylobacter jejuni, seven strains ofCcoli, and ten strains of C pylori were examined for their susceptibility to cadmium chloride using 2.5-μg cadmium chloride disks. One hundred strains of Pseudomonas species and Aeromonas hydrophilia were also tested. All strains ofCampylobacter were susceptible to cadmium chloride, producing zones of inhibition from 13 to 40 mm in diameter, whereas strains of Pseudomonas and A hydrophilia were resistant. The results indicate that susceptibility to cadmium chloride can be used as an additional test for the laboratory identification of certain Campylobacter species including C pylori.
The concentration of stress at the rotator cuff tendon-to-bone attachment site is conserved across species.

Abstract The tendon-to-bone attachment site integrates two distinct tissues via a gradual transition in composition, mechanical properties, and structure. Outcomes of surgical repair are poor, in part because surgical repair does not recreate the natural attachment, and in part because the mechanical features that are most critical to mechanical and physiological functions have not been identified. We employed allometric analysis to resolve a paradox about how the architecture of the rotator cuff contributes to load transfer: whereas published data suggest that the mean muscle stresses expected at the tendon-to-bone attachment are conserved across species, data also show that the relative dimensions of key anatomical features vary dramatically, suggesting that the amplification of stresses at the interface between tendon and bone should also vary widely. However, a mechanical model that enabled a sensitivity analysis revealed that the degree of stress concentration was in fact highly conserved across species: the factors that most affected stress amplification were most highly conserved across species, while those that had a lower effect showed broad variation across a range of relative insensitivity. Results highlight how micromechanical factors can influence structure–function relationships and cross-species scaling over several orders of magnitude in animal size, and provide guidance on physiological features to emphasize in surgical and tissue engineered repair of the rotator cuff.
Chemosterilant Efficiency of Bis ( l-Aziridinyl) Phosphinyl Carbamates in Screw-Worm Flies

Antifertility effects were induced in adult screw-worm flies, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), treated topically or orally with 4 esters of bis (l-aziridinyl) phosphinyl carbamic acid. The compounds were much less active administered topically than orally. At 1%, uredepa (ethyl [bis (l-aziridinyl) phosphinyl] carbamate), sterilized either sex orally and with little toxicity. Yet uredepa-sterilized males were about half as competitive for mates as normal or gamma-irradiated flies. Flies of either sex were effectively sterilized with uredepa at all ages tested up to 7 days and males remained infertile for life. Inseminated females were rendered sterile when treated with uredepa either before or after depositing fertile eggs. Oral administration of 0.1% uredepa together with a folic acid antagonist was as effective as 1% uredepa alone in obliterating female fertility because of the action of the antagonist, and survival of treated females was improved. Uredepa (0.05%), offered to both sexes orally in a single dose or in 5 equally divided daily fractions, caused incomplete and complete sterility, respectively.
The Design and Implement of the Game Engine Base on Direct3D

A 3D game engine based on Direct3D is designed. Then the implementation of texture mapping,GUI ,the encryption system and the system interface are presented.
Loss of NCB5OR in the cerebellum disturbs iron pathways, potentiates behavioral abnormalities, and exacerbates harmaline-induced tremor in mice

Iron dyshomeostasis has been implicated in many diseases, including a number of neurological conditions. Cytosolic NADH cytochrome b5 oxidoreductase (NCB5OR) is ubiquitously expressed in animal tissues and is capable of reducing ferric iron in vitro. We previously reported that global gene ablation of NCB5OR resulted in early-onset diabetes and altered iron homeostasis in mice. To further investigate the specific effects of NCB5OR deficiency on neural tissue without contributions from known phenotypes, we generated a conditional knockout (CKO) mouse that lacks NCB5OR only in the cerebellum and midbrain. Assessment of molecular markers in the cerebellum of CKO mice revealed changes in pathways associated with cellular and mitochondrial iron homeostasis. 59Fe pulse-feeding experiments revealed cerebellum-specific increased or decreased uptake of iron by 7 and 16 weeks of age, respectively. Additionally, we characterized behavioral changes associated with loss of NCB5OR in the cerebellum and midbrain in the context of dietary iron deprivation-evoked generalized iron deficiency. Locomotor activity was reduced and complex motor task execution was altered in CKO mice treated with an iron deficient diet. A sucrose preference test revealed that the reward response was intact in CKO mice, but that iron deficient diet consumption altered sucrose preference in all mice. Detailed gait analysis revealed locomotor changes in CKO mice associated with dysfunctional proprioception and locomotor activation independent of dietary iron deficiency. Finally, we demonstrate that loss of NCB5OR in the cerebellum and midbrain exacerbated harmaline-induced tremor activity. Our findings suggest an essential role for NCB5OR in maintaining both iron homeostasis and the proper functioning of various locomotor pathways in the mouse cerebellum and midbrain.
The evolving role of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in providing science and technology policy advice to the US government

For over a century and a half the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have been called upon frequently by federal executive agencies of government and the U.S. Congress to empanel widely recognized experts as study committees that provide independent, objective, science-based advice on important and at times critical issues affecting the nation. The manner in which the Academies assemble such advice has evolved steadily over decades to accommodate different kinds of government needs. In the last 20 years, in particular, significant federal court decisions, legislation and executive orders, as well as changing sponsor needs have all contributed to changes in how the Academies operate in fulfilling their mission. This article chronicles the historical beginnings of the Academiesâ role in providing science advice to the nation; describes significant changes in this role over the past two decades; probes some implications of the changing role; and recaps several new types of Academies convening activities that supplement traditional Academies reports as a means of providing advice to the government. These new types of activities are being utilized increasingly to better meet the needs of sponsors for more timely advice when timing is an imperative. This article is published as part of a thematic collection dedicated to scientific advice to governments.
Dictionary of Difference Equations with Polynomial Coefficients

In this chapter we list the difference equations for some of the classical functions and polynomials of mathematical physics. These difference equations have coefficients which are polynomials in the argument of the difference equation, their degree ranging from zero (i.e., constant coefficients) for the Tchebichef polynomials \(T_{n}(x)\) and \(U_{n}(x)\) to three for the Jacobi polynomials \(P_{n}^{(\alpha , \beta )}(x)\) and \(Q_{n}^{(\alpha , \beta )}(x)\). We list only those difference equations in which only one parameter varies (note, for example, Eq. (8.16), in which only \(\nu \) varies, or Eq. (8.17), in which only \(\mu \) varies).
The Predictive Processing Paradigm Has Roots in Kant

Predictive processing is a paradigm in computational and cognitive neuroscience that has recently attracted significant attention across domains, including psychology, robotics, artificial intelligence, and philosophy. It is often regarded as a fresh and possibly revolutionary paradigm shift, yet a handful of authors have remarked that aspects of predictive processing seem reminiscent of the work of 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant. To date there have not been any substantive discussions of how exactly predictive processing links back to Kant. In this article I argue that several core aspects of predictive processing were anticipated by Kant in his 1781-87 works on perception and cognition. Themes from Kant active in predictive processing include (1) the emphasis on ‘top-down’ generation of percepts, (2) the role of ‘hyperpriors’, (3) the general function of ‘generative models’, (4) the process of ‘analysis-by-synthesis’, and (5) the crucial role of imagination in perception. In addition to these, I also point out that predictive processing echoes Kant’s general project in that it aims to explain how minds track causal structure in the world using only sensory data, and that it uses a reverse-engineer or ‘top-down’ method of analysis. I then locate a possible source of Kant’s influence on predictive processing by tracing the paradigm back to Hermann von Helmholtz, who saw himself as providing a scientific implementation of Kant’s conclusions. I conclude by arguing that predictive processing should not be regarded as a new paradigm but is more appropriately understood as the latest incarnation of an approach to perception and cognition initiated by Kant and refined by Helmholtz.
Emerging investigators series: building a theory for smart stormwater systems

Retrofitting stormwater systems with sensors and controllers will allow cities to be operated as real-time, distributed treatment plants. Unlike static infrastructure, which cannot adapt its operation to individual storms or changing land uses, “smart” stormwater systems will use system-level coordination to maximize watershed pollutant removal and treatment. We illustrate that this vision is not limited by technology, which has matured to the point at which it can be ubiquitously deployed. Rather, the challenge is much more fundamental and rooted in a system-level understanding of environmental science. Once distributed stormwater systems become highly instrumented and controlled, how should they be operated to achieve desired watershed outcomes? The answer to this question demands the development of a theoretical framework for smart stormwater systems. In this paper, we lay out the requirements for such a theory. Acknowledging that the adoption of these systems may still be years away, we also present a modeling framework to allow for the simulation of controlled stormwater systems before they become commonplace. We apply this control framework to two simulated case studies in which stormwater sites are controlled to reduce nitrate loads to downstream water bodies.
Laboratory and field evaluation of brown dog tick behavioral responses to potential semiochemicals

The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Parasitiformis: Ixodidae), is an ectoparasite of dogs that can be found worldwide. This tick poses unique difficulties in management because it can complete its entire life cycle indoors and has demonstrated acaricide resistance. The ability to monitor for tick presence and abundance is necessary for developing effective control programs. As such, an evaluation of adult brown dog tick behavioral responses to 16 potential semiochemicals was undertaken using Y-tube and straight-tube olfactometers. Both sexes of ticks were activated by nine of the 16 semiochemicals tested, including 300μg of 1-octen-3-ol, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, hexanoic acid, nonanoic acid, methyl salicylate, o-nitrophenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol and salicylaldehyde. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. behaviors including movement speed, direction and duration, as well as turning, were quantified following exposure to the same nine chemicals in a straight-tube olfactometer, individually at 300μg and as mixtures. Three individual chemicals, 1-octen-3-ol, hexanoic acid, and methyl salicylate induced strong responses. These three chemicals were evaluated in a semi-field setting using a modified bed bug trap but were found to provide no significant increase in attraction compared with CO2 alone. The results of these studies provide a foundation for future research regarding semiochemicals of R. sanguineus s.l.