cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis genes rfaK, rfaL, rfaY, and rfaZ of Escherichia coli K-12 and Salmonella typhimurium.

Abstract Analysis of the sequence of a 4.3-kb region downstream of rfaJ revealed four genes. The first two of these, which encode proteins of 27,441 and 32,890 Da, were identified as rfaY and rfaZ by homology of the derived protein sequences of their products to the products of similar genes of Salmonella typhimurium. The amino acid sequences of proteins RfaY and RfaZ showed, respectively, 70 and 72% identity. Genes 3 and 4 were identified as rfaK and rfaL on the basis of size and position, but the derived amino acid sequences of the products of these genes showed very little similarity (about 12% identity) between Escherichia coli K-12 and S. typhimurium. The next gene in the cluster, rfaC, encodes a product which also shows strong protein sequence homology between E. coli K-12 and S. typhimurium, as do the rfaF and rfaD genes which lie beyond it. Thus, the rfa gene cluster appears to consist of two blocks of genes which are conserved flanking a central region of two genes which are not conserved between these species. Although the RfaL protein sequence is not conserved, hydropathy plots of the two RfaL species are nearly identical and indicate that this is a typical integral membrane protein with 10 or more potential transmembrane domains. We noted the similarity of the structure of the rfa gene cluster to that of the rfb gene cluster, which has now been sequenced in several Salmonella serovars. The rfb cluster also contains a gene which lies within a central nonconserved region and encodes an integral membrane protein similar to protein RfaL. We speculate that protein RfaL may interact in a strain- or species-specific way with one or more Rfb proteins in the expression of surface O antigen.
Medical Anthropology in Ecological Perspective. Third Edition

Medical Anthropology in Ecological Perspective. Third Edition. Ann McElroy and Patricia K. Townsend. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1996. xxiv. 434 pp.
Topographic projections between the nucleus isthmi and the tectum of the frog Rana pipiens.

The connections between the nucleus isthmi and the tectum in the frog have been determined by several anatomical techniques: iontophoresis of horseradish peroxidase into the tectum, iontophoresis of 3H-proline into the nucleus isthmi and the tectum, and Fink-Heimer degeneration staining after lesions of the nucleus isthmi. The results show that the nucleus isthmi projects bilaterally to the tectal lobes. The ipsilateral isthmio-tectal fibers are distributed in the superficial layers of the tectum, coincident with the retinotectal terminals. The contralateral isthmio-tectal fibers travel anteriorly adjacent to the lateral optic tract and cross the midline in the supraoptic ventral decussation, where they turn dorsally and caudally; upon reaching the tectum, the fibers end in two discrete layers, layers 8 and A of Potter. The tectum projects to the ipsilateral nucleus isthmi and there is a reciprocal topographic relationship between the two structures. Thus, a retino-tecto-isthmio-tectal route exists which may contribute to the indirect ipsilateral retinotectal projection which is observed electrophysiologically. The connections between the nucleus isthmi and the tectum in the frog are strikingly similar to the connections between the parabigeminal nucleus and the superior colliculus of mammals.
The effect of retailer private brands on consumer-based retailer equity: comparison of named private brands and generic private brands

This study investigated the effect of a private brand (PB) with retailer's name versus a generic brand on retailer equity and loyalty. Retailer equity was conceptualized as four dimensions: retailer awareness, retailer association, perceived quality, and retailer loyalty. Applying categorization theory, a conceptual framework was tested to investigate whether the PB with retailer's name influenced retailer equity. A survey was conducted using a college student sample. An experimental design was used to collect data which included two conditions (PB with retailer's name and generic product) and a control group. The effect of PB on retailer awareness, retailer association, and perceived quality was measured by multiple group analysis through structural equation modeling. Results confirm that PBs with retailer's name influenced three of the four dimensions of retailer equity more strongly and positively than did generics. However, the total effect of awareness, association, and perceived quality on retailer ...
Macrosegregation in solution-grown GaAs crystals

Abstract Macrosegregation in bulk GaAs crystals grown from solution by slow cooling and by constant-temperature steady-state (CTSS) processing was evaluated theoretically. Impurities incorporate along the growth direction more uniformly in crystals grown by slow cooling. On the other hand, substantially more material with significantly reduced concentrations of impurities can be grown by CTSS. Theoretical macrosegregation profiles of crystals grown by the two methods were also compared in terms of the sensitivity to the distribution coefficient of impurities.
Tethering in early target assessment

Abstract The high cost of drug discovery and development requires that the validity and druggability of targets are assessed as early as possible. Protein–protein interactions are clinically important but are usually high-risk targets when pursuing small-molecule approaches. Therefore, early target assessment might be particularly valuable when small-molecule modulation of a member from this difficult class is being considered as a means for therapeutic intervention. In this article, we first review the principles behind a fragment-based drug discovery approach known as Tethering. We then illustrate how this technique, which was initially developed to find small-molecule hits for validated targets, can also be used in the early assessment of a protein–protein interaction as a target for small molecules.
On the theory of scalar diffraction and its application to the prolate spheroid

Abstract Scalar scattering of a plane wave by a perfectly reflecting body whose surface is a level surface in a coordinate system in which the scalar wave equation is separable is considered. A general method for the computation of the surface distribution is described. This method reduces the problem of finding the surface distribution to that of evaluating a certain contour integral. The distribution induced on a prolate spheroid by an axially-symmetric plane wave is specifically computed. The evaluation by residues of the contour integral, given by the general theory, leads to the expected “creeping wave” interpretation of the residue series in which the attenuation of the “creeping waves” depends, in first approximation, on the local radius of curvature. The asymptotic theory used is applicable for large values of cω, where 2c is the interfocal distance of the spheroid and ω is the wave number. The surface distribution is computed over the entire shadow region including the tip.
Excisional Breast Specimen Orientation/Processing: A Multidisciplinary Approach for Breast Conservation

Breast carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women of North America. The combination of breast conservation surgery and radiotherapy has become a standard of treatment for the majority of breast cancers. It is critical to obtain clear margins to minimize local recurrence. However avoiding multiple re-excisions for margin clearance helps optimize cosmetic results in patients undergoing breast conservation surgery. Careful attention to the details of peri-operative evaluation and management are critical for success. The objective of this article is to define safe and effective techniques of preoperative planning and intraoperative breast specimen orientation and processing. The importance of a multidisciplinary approach with excellent communication between team members is stressed. Accurate pre-operative diagnosis, precise localization of the area of concern, volume of the surgical excision, specimen orientation, specimen radiography, intraoperative margin evaluation, specimen inking, and pathology processing are discussed. The specifics of the policy for breast specimen handling will vary depending on the resources and expertise available at each treating facility. This paper describes the approach used at Beth Israel Medical Center.
Voice outcome following thyroplasty in patients with longstanding vocal fold immobility.

Abstract Objective: Length of time elapsed between recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury and surgery may affect voice result. The purpose of this study was to compare voice outcome after thyroplasty in patients with short- and long-term vocal fold immobility. Methods: Thirty-five patients with longstanding vocal fold immobility (8.3 years) and 35 patients more acutely denervated (10 months) underwent type I thyroplasty. Trained listeners before and after surgery rated perceptual judgments of voice. Acoustic and aerodynamic data were analyzed. Results: Voice outcome did not differentiate the two groups with respect to objective measures. Perceptual ratings of post-operative voice quality favored the short-term patients, with the long-term group having a mildly ‘constricted’ quality. Conclusion: Thyroplasty yields a functional voice result even when substantial time has elapsed. Patients with chronic immobility may be unable to release longstanding hyperfunctional voicing behaviors even after surgery has afforded them an improved mechanism. In five of 35 long-term patients, therapy enhanced voice quality.
The influence of individual differences on organizational safety attitudes

Workplace accidents cost organizations and the economy billions of dollars annually, disabling and injuring millions of employees. Employee attitudes toward safety have been shown to relate to safe workplace behavior. In an effort to determine what contributes to stronger employee attitudes toward safety, we examined the relationships between safety attitudes and a wide array of individual differences reflecting preferences and tendencies toward risk and control. Using a sample of 190 engineering and occupational safety students from two universities, we found that agreeableness, conscientiousness, prevention regulatory focus, and fatalism related significantly to all six safety attitudes examined. Regression analyses demonstrated that agreeableness, prevention focus, and fatalism significantly related to safety attitudes when controlling for the other individual differences. This study illustrates the utility of examining individual differences when predicting safety-related attitudes.
ANNOYINGNESS OF AIRCRAFT NOISE IN RELATION TO COGNITIVE ACTIVITY

College students were exposed by means of headphones to two kinds of aircraft noise (helicopter and jet) at three levels of loudness (60, 70, and 80 dB) while engaging in two tests of intelligibility and 12 cognitive tasks. In addition, the annoyingness of the noise was rated on a seven-point scale for each source/loudness combination in each task. Individual-differences measures (embedded figures, locus-of-control, and test anxiety) were also obtained. No performance difference related to noise was obtained in any of the cognitive tasks, and using the individual-difference measures as co-variates made no difference. In a second experiment a limited set of five modified cognitive tasks was used, again without producing any significant results. Finally, a third experiment utilized four cognitive tasks, a perceptual-motor task (Rotary Tracking) and intermittent rather than continuous noise, and yielded the same results. It was concluded that the failure to find performance differences on the cognitive tasks...
THE STABILITY OF ACID PHOSPHATASE IN BLOOD AND OTHER FLUIDS

SUMMARY The acid phosphatase of dilute human seminal plasma is inactivated by heating at 37° C. in the presence of a variety of inorganic buffer mixtures of pH below 4 and above 6.6; at slightly higher pH when serum is present; and at pH 7.2 to 7.4 in human and dog blood kept fluid by neutral citrate/dextrose solutions. The acid phosphatase found in the blood of normal subjects and patients with carcinoma of the prostate is stable for long periods at 37° C. in blood of pH 7.2 to 7.4 kept fluid by neutral citrate/dextrose solutions. Serum separated from the clot from which it has been expelled and exposed to the atmosphere undergoes an alkaline change which makes its acid phosphatase liable to rapid inactivation at temperatures over 20° C. (68° F.). Serum in contact with its clot remains at pH 7.4 for a considerable time, and under these conditions the acid phosphatase in the serum is stable at temperatures below 30° C. (86° F.) for periods up to twenty-four hours. Determination of the acid phosphatase in the plasma of blood kept fluid by acid citrate/dextrose solutions has the following advantages over serum acid phosphatase determination: (1) Plasma acid phosphatase levels are greater than those of the corresponding serum levels; (2) errors due to haemolysis of red blood cells are less likely to occur with plasma than serum determinations; (3) plasma determinations may be made sooner after blood is drawn than serum determinations; (4) less blood is required for plasma than serum determinations; (5) acid phosphatase is so stable in blood preserved with acid citrate/dextrose solution that determinations may be delayed for a week.
Calcium oxalate crystals in plants

Calcium (Ca) oxalate crystals occur in many plant species and in most organs and tissues. They generally form within cells although extracellular crystals have been reported. The crystal cells or idioblasts display ultrastructural modifications which are related to crystal precipitation. Crystal formation is usually associated with membranes, chambers, or inclusions found within the cell vacuole(s). Tubules, modified plastids and enlarged nuclei also have been reported in crystal idioblasts. The Ca oxalate crystals consist of either the monohydrate whewellite form, or the dihydrate weddellite form. A number of techniques exist for the identification of calcium oxalate. X-ray diffraction, Raman microprobe analysis and infrared spectroscopy are the most accurate. Many plant crystals assumed to be Ca oxalate have never been positively identified as such. In some instances, crystals have been classified as whewellite or weddellite solely on the basis of their shape. Certain evidence indicates that crystal shape may be independent of hydration form of Ca oxalate and that the vacuole crystal chamber membranes may act to mold crystal shape; however, the actual mechanism controlling shape is unknown.
Observation of z-dependent impurity accumulation in the PBX tokamak.

Charge-dependent convective impurity transport is observed in the central core of PBX H-mode discharges by measurement of radial profiles for both low- and high-Z intrinsic impurities in the presence of strong sawtooth activity. The time-evolving ${Z}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ profile and central metallic densities are modeled to yield a diffuison coefficient and a Z-dependent inward convective pinch which are in general agreement with estimates of neoclassical transport in the central plasma region.
Preadipocyte Function and Aging: Links Between Age-Related Changes in Cell Dynamics and Altered Fat Tissue Function

OBJECTIVE: To review recent findings about changes with age in the replication and differentiation of preadipocytes, the progenitor cells in fat tissue that are capable of differentiating into fat cells, and to examine possible links between these alterations and age-related changes in fat tissue function. DESIGN: A survey and analysis of recent literature concerning changes in preadipocyte and fat cell function with age. CONCLUSIONS: Intrinsic aging changes in fat cells and preadipocytes as well as in factors extrinsic to fat tissue (such as food intake and absorption and hormonal status) contribute to age-related alterations in fat tissue function and cellularity. Changes with age in preadipocyte number, replicative potential, and capacity for differentiation, which may be linked to aging changes in fat cell size, number, and function, have been identified. The decline in preadipocyte capacity for differentiation and the associated decline in fat cell lipogenic capacity may be particularly important in contributing to the decrease in fat mass and alterations in fat tissue function that occur between middle- and old age. These declines result from blunting of the changes in gene expression that occur during preadipocyte differentiation and may, in turn, be related to altered regulation of particular transcription factors that control the preadipocyte differentiation program and maintenance of fat cell function.
Maps which preserve graphs

In 1976 Eberhart, Fugate, and Gordh proved that the weakly confluent image of a graph is a graph. A much weaker condition on the map is introduced called partial confluence, and it is shown that the image of a graph is a graph if and only if the map is partially confluent. In addition, it is shown that certain properties of one-dimensional continua are preserved by partially confluent maps, generalizing theorems of Cook and Lelek, Tymchatyn and Lelek, and Grace and Vought. Also, some continua in addition to graphs are shown to be the images of partially confluent maps only. A compactum is a compact metric space, and a continuum is a connected campactum. A map is a continuous function. A map f from a compactum X onto a compactum Y is called (1) confluent if for each continuum K in Y, each component of f-1 (K) maps onto K, (2) weakly confluent if for each continuum K in Y, some component of f 1 (K) maps onto K, (3) pseudoconfluent if for each irreducible continuum K in Y, some component of f -1 (K) maps onto K, (4) partially confluent if each continuum K in Y is the union of a finite number of continua which are the images of components of f -1 (K), and (5) n-partially confluent for some positive integer n if each continuum K in Y is the union of n continua which are the images of components of f (K). The following implications hold.
Ten-Year Echo/Doppler Determination of the Benefits of Aerobic Exercise after the Age of 65 Years

Age 65 is often designated as the beginning of old age. During “young” old age (65–74 years) motivated healthy seniors continue with prior athletic activities.1 Physically active lifestyle can extend into the “middle” old age (75–84 years), although with limitations. After age 85 (“old” old age), however, even the most motivated seniors find it difficult to exercise at higher levels. Muscle tissue loss (sarcopenia), atherosclerosis, “presbycardia,” and other effects of senescence take their toll.2 Well before age 65, however, participation in organized aerobic exercise drops precipitously. Consequently, contribution of habitual exercise to primary prevention of cardiovascular morbidity may be lost. After the age of 65, participation in competitive aerobic activities becomes further reduced. Performance drops primarily due to decrease inmuscle power and lower aerobic capacity. Switching to lower intensity exercise (walking) is associated with 30% longer disease-free life.3 In this study, we evaluated the significance of cardiopulmonary fitness in slowing the effects of aging in senior men. Twelve “young old” and “middle old” competitive distance runners were evaluated over a span of 10 years. A series of 6 treadmill stress tests (12–24 months apart) including echo/Doppler echocardiography, oxygen consumption, and lipid profiling were performed between 1995 and 2005. Twelve age-matched sedentary seniors with no previous history or current clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease were recruited as controls for the initial three series. Data were collected in 2 phases: Phase 1 (initial 3 years). The treadmill stress/echo protocol data with several health indicators were collected from both the athletes and the sedentary controls. Study of control subjects after three initial series had to be discontinued due to adverse health and/or motivational issues. Phase 2 (total duration 10 years). The athletes continued with the same treadmill stress/echo protocol for longitudinal analysis data individually to examine the changes in exercise capacity and cardiac function in athletes as they age.
Expanding the table: The web as a tool for participatory adaptive management in California forests

Participatory adaptive management is widely promoted as the new paradigm in public lands management. It is grounded in two underlying principles – that management experiments and diverse sources of information should be used to continually refine management in complex ecological systems, and that the public must be included throughout the adaptive management process. Access to scientific results and exchange of information is at the core of both of these principles. The recent proliferation of Internet communities and web-based participation tools raises the question of how the Internet might help facilitate information exchange in participatory adaptive management. Using a case study approach, the role of web technologies in facilitating the flow of transparent and useful information was examined in a participatory adaptive management project focused on Forest Service vegetation management treatments in California's Sierra Nevada. Three evaluation methods were used: analysis of web usage and content, a survey of active participants, and a review of comments posted to the project website. Results suggest that the web played an important role throughout the adaptive management cycle by supporting communication through disseminating information to the public and increasing the transparency of the scientific process. The web played a small, but important role in public consultation, by providing a forum for targeted questions and feedback from the public. Internet technology did not actively support the two-way flow of information necessary for mutual learning. Web technology complements face-to-face interactions and public meetings, rather than replacing them.
Behavioral effects of toluene in rats selectively bred for infantile vocalization rate

Glue sniffing is epidemic among children living in poverty in Latin America. Previous research has shown that abused inhalants such as toluene share pharmacological properties with anxiolytic drugs, and that personality factors such as degree of anxiety have been proposed to modulate the effects of these drugs. To study this interaction in an animal model, rats selectively bred for high (High) or low (Low) rates of distress calls after maternal separation (ultrasonic vocalizations, USVs) were used to investigate toluene's acute and long-term effects on two measures of anxiety behavior. At ten days of age, neonatal subjects were administered toluene (1 g/kg i.p.) and USVs were recorded. The subjects were retested as juveniles on an elevated plus maze to examine sequela of earlier toluene exposure. Acute toluene administration reduced USVs relative to control groups in neonates of both lines, indicating anxiolysis. As expected, Lows had reduced USVs relative to Highs. At 28 days of age, Highs spent more time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze than Lows. However, prior neonatal toluene exposure blocked this reversal of behavioral phenotype. This suggests that early toluene exposure compromised a compensatory process occurring during this developmental period, which may have been maternally mediated. These results have implications for the effects of early drug exposure on plasticity in the developing nervous system.
Numerical examination of a tube- and disk-type combustor configuration

Determination numerique des champs d'ecoulement pour la configuration de chambre de combustion du titre
Carbohydrate‐Deficient Transferrin as a Measure of Immoderate Drinking: Remaining Issues

A growing body of investigations demonstrate that elevated levels of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) effectively distinguishes alcoholics recently consuming large amounts of alcohol from light social drinkers or teetotalers. Nevertheless, important questions still remain concerning the value of CDT as a more generalized marker of alcohol consumption. Most important, the nature of the drinking pattern, including quantity and frequency, necessary to raise levels of CDT significantly remains unclear. Neither has research convincingly demonstrated that CDT is as accurate a marker for women, young adults, or non-Caucasian ethnic groups as for White, middle-aged men. Whereas CDT might serve as a useful outcome measure in trials of alcoholism treatment effectiveness, current research suggests that CDT is of limited value in identifying problematic drinking in general medical or community settings in which a broad continuum of drinkers is represented. Combining CDT with other biochemical or self-report screening measures may, however, improve sensitivity in these contexts. At present, the most accurate laboratory technique to detect CDT seems to be isoelectric focusing. Additional research, however, is needed to resolve the issue of whether CDT is best quantitated as a simple value or if its ratio to total transferrin or non-CDT results in higher predictive validity.
Risk management and pollution prevention: Thinking outside the box

The Medical University of South Carolina's risk management department received a 12-month grant from South Carolina's General Assembly "Hazardous Waste Management Research Fund" for the purpose of identifying pollution prevention opportunities within South Carolina healthcare facilities. One hundred and one healthcare facilities were invited to participate in this study. Facilities ranged in size from zero-licensed beds (clinics) to more than 300 beds. Seventy-six South Carolina facilities (75%) participated in this project.
Risk/Benefit Evaluation of Drugs: The Role of the Pharmaceutical Industry in Germany

Drugs that are efficacious have usually also undesired side effects. When applying for marketing authorization of a drug, demonstration of a positive risk/benefit ratio is a prerequisite for approval by the competent authorities. Once on the market, risk/benefit evaluation has to be continued in order to determine whether the risk/benefit ratio is still positive or not. The German Drug Law, by means of article 5, poses this responsibility on the pharmaceutical entrepreneur. Specific instructions on how to perform the risk/benefit evaluation can be derived from article 5, and a decision matrix was developed to support taking action if the risk/benefit ratio has changed. Historical and current examples are presented to illustrate changes of the risk/benefit ratio, problems associated with detecting risk signals, and the resulting regulatory actions.
Dominant processes concept, model simplification and classification framework in catchment hydrology

Technological and methodological advances have facilitated tremendous growth in hydrology during the last century; however, there are also concerns that these advances indirectly contribute to additional problems in our research. An insight into hydrologic literature reveals our tendency to develop more complex models than perhaps needed, and our increasing emphasis on individual mathematical techniques rather than general hydrologic issues. Some recent studies of diverse forms have suggested that simplification in modeling and development of a common framework may help alleviate these problems. The present study is intended to bring such studies together towards a more coherent approach to research in catchment hydrology. This is done by highlighting the need for model simplification and generalization and proposing some potential directions for achieving such. Through a discussion of difficulties in data measurements, the need for moving beyond the notion of “modeling everything” to the notion of “capturing the essential features” is explained; the concept of dominant processes in model simplification and the utility of integration of concepts for modeling improvement are discussed. Formulation of a catchment classification framework is advocated as a possible means for a common framework in hydrology, and the role of dominant processes in this formulation is presented; the problems due to adoption of different modeling terminologies are highlighted and potential ways to overcome such are also discussed.
The Occurrence and Significance of Amino Acids in Floral Nectar

Approximately 1 500 angiosperm species, in previous papers, have been sampled for the assessment of the amino acids (a. a.) in their nectar. We reaffirm that the findings provide statistically significant data linking differences in the concentration with pollinator type. Flowers that are pollinated by animals that have alternative sources of protein-building a. a.’s show lower a. a. concentration than those that are not. There is a tendency for woody plant nectar a. a.’s to be less concentrated than those of herbaceous plants, but there can be “phylogenetic constraints” which may reduce the correlations of a. a. concentration with pollinator type and with life form. The individual a. a.’s form complements which are qualitatively extremely constant within species. Proline is a normal constituent of many nectars and does not necessarily indicate contamination of the nectar by pollen. Criticism of our findings byGottsberger & al. (1984) is answered by reference to our previous publications and those of other workers, and to the presentation of data from California native species, not published previously. All previous postulates are borne out by these new data with the exception of positive correlations of a. a. concentration with “primitive” and “advanced” floral characteristics taken one at a time, which appear to be inconsistent and are affected strongly by the nature of the family in which they occur. Summary data are provided for families and genera which indicate that high or low a. a. concentration can typify certain families and genera of both relatively “primitive” and relatively “advanced” nature. Needs for future research on an ecosystem basis are quoted.
Community evolution in dynamic multi-mode networks

A multi-mode network typically consists of multiple heterogeneous social actors among which various types of interactions could occur. Identifying communities in a multi-mode network can help understand the structural properties of the network, address the data shortage and unbalanced problems, and assist tasks like targeted marketing and finding influential actors within or between groups. In general, a network and the membership of groups often evolve gradually. In a dynamic multi-mode network, both actor membership and interactions can evolve, which poses a challenging problem of identifying community evolution. In this work, we try to address this issue by employing the temporal information to analyze a multi-mode network. A spectral framework and its scalability issue are carefully studied. Experiments on both synthetic data and real-world large scale networks demonstrate the efficacy of our algorithm and suggest its generality in solving problems with complex relationships.
Hybrid neuro-fuzzy approach for flood prediction and Dam gate control

In recent years, research on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) prove that it offers several advantages over conventional Computing methods. ANN proves to be most convenient and easy tool for modeling and analysis of non-linear events. This ability of ANN to model non-linear events is important in hydrology to model various hydrological events which are dominantly nonlinear in nature. ANN is important, where the time required to generate solution is critical. It is also capable of Modelling Nonlinear relationship as compared to other Mathematical modeling techniques which model linearity only. In this paper ANN technique along with Fuzzy technique and their interfacing is over-viewed. This paper has two parts-Modelling of Runoff using ANN and Controlling Dam Gates using Fuzzy logic. This ANN modeling is done with the help of MATLAB neural Network tool Box. Back Propagation Algorithm is used to optimize network connection weights. Back Propagation (BP) algorithm evaluates error and back propagates it for more accurate training of ANN. Five river discharge data as inputs are considered and Runoff data as ANN output. Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) simulation is used to automate opening and closing of Dam gates. Predicted Runoff and Water level of Dam is applied as inputs to FIS to control Dam gates.
Mixed-fidelity simulation model of military platforms: an object-oriented approach

Simulation technology has been widely used in all aspects of military applications. In different applications, the fidelity requirements are also different, and so are the simulation models. Using the development of new military aircraft as an example, the simulation fidelity requirement would be very high. In this case, the simulation model has to include many details. On the other hand, the pilot training simulator has to satisfy the real-time simulation requirement; its fidelity cannot be very high and the model has to be simplified. Therefore, the reusability of military platform's simulation models is very low. This paper suggests an Object-Oriented approach to the modeling of military platforms. A helicopter is chosen to be the sample platform. To limit the scope of the problem, only the dynamical model of the helicopter is considered. This model includes equations of motion, kinematics, power plant, and interaction with the environment. The helicopter dynamical models can have many levels of detail. In a constructive simulation, it is possible that only the positions of the helicopter are of interest; therefore, a simple kinematic model may be sufficient. On the other hand, in a wargame simulation, the helicopter responds to control commands and moves from one position to another. A point-mass model can represent such motion. In a helicopter pilot trainer, though, a six-degree-of-freedom model is needed to represent both linear motion and the roll-pitch-yaw orientation. However, the real-time simulation requirement prohibits the model to use sophisticated aerodynamic models. Thus, in some applications, only two-dimensional motion is needed; in other applications, a four-degree-of-freedom model is sufficient. The object-oriented approach uses the concept of hierarchy and inheritance to build classes ofcomponents. Based on the fidelity requirements, classes and sub-classes can be replaced. This approach greatly increases the reusability ofthe model.
Theory and Application of the Commutation Principle for HVDC Circuit Breakers

The commutation principle for HVDC circuit breakers is described whereby the current in the circuit is brought to zero by a bucking current from a precharged capacitor. Circuit features are described to render this procedure easier for the interrupter and typical component requirements are discussed. The functions of current interruption and energy absorption should be separated; to this end, one type of surge suppressor is described. With breakers of this type, multi-terminal HVDC systems could be operated much like comparable AC systems, with only minimal dependence on terminal controls. A tapped line is given as an example.
Second Chair: an autoethnodrama

Second Chair, an autoethnodramatic one-man play, explores the reminiscences by an older adult of his high school band years and his quest to become first chair clarinetist through an epiphanic challenge. The play is a metaphor for the feelings of lesser status experienced by the marginalized individual in a competitive mainstream society. The full play script is included, accompanied with the author's reflections on the development and performance of the piece, and its implications for narrative inquiry.
Essential concepts necessary to consider when evaluating the efficacy of quantitative easing

Abstract The economic impact from quantitative easing (QE) may be much less than assumed by the Federal Reserve. One focus is on the effectiveness of QE to stabilize a failing banking system, and the judgment here is largely positive. A second focus, especially in the US, is on evaluating subsequent rounds of QE that were implemented after the economy had resumed growth and after the banking sector had recapitalized and returned to profitability. For these subsequent rounds of QE, the reviews are decidedly mixed and heavily dependent on the assumptions embedded in the economic models used by the researchers. Researchers willing to assume that the US is a closed domestic economy tend to find a large impact on long-term interest rates from QE. If the US is part of a highly integrated global economy, a smaller effect is presumed. Then there is the more important and controversial evaluation of whether there is any impact on real GDP growth and job creation from QE once the economy is growing again, even if unemployment rates remain historically elevated. What one chooses to ignore or assume does not exist can be more important to the conclusions of QE evaluations than may meet the eye. Inappropriate assumptions can lead to poor decisions.
Lipid-alamethicin interactions influence alamethicin orientation.

Whereas the barrel-stave configuration is accepted by most investigators as a good description of the conducting state of alamethicin, there are conflicting interpretations on its nonconducting state; in the absence of an applied field, some found alamethicin molecules on the membrane surface, but others found them incorporated in the hydrophobic core of the membrane. This problem is resolved by the discovery of a phase-transitionlike behavior of alamethicin in the membrane. As a function of lipid/peptide ratio L/P and the chemical potential of water μ, alamethicin molecules were observed to switch between two states: in one, the majority of the peptide molecules bind parallel to the membrane surface; in another, the majority of the peptide molecules insert perpendicularly into the membrane. The state of alamethicin was monitored by the method of oriented circular dichroism (OCD; Wu, Y., H. W. Huang, and G. A. Olah, 1990, Biophys. J. 57:797–806) using aligned multilayer samples in the liquid crystalline L α phase. If L/P exceeds a critical value, most of the peptide molecules are on the membrane surface. If L/P is below the critical value, most of the peptide molecules are incorporated in the membrane when μ is high; when μ is low, most of them are again on the membrane surface. In a typical conduction experiment of voltage dependence, alamethicin molecules are in a partition equilibrium between the aqueous phase and the lipid phase before the application of voltage; in the lipid phase, the lipid/peptide ratio is such that most of alamethicin molecules are on the membrane surface. This is the nonconducting state of alamethicin. The OCD analysis showed that there is essentially no change in the secondary structure when alamethicin changes between the surface state and the inserted state. The voltage-gating mechanism can be explained if we assume that these surface peptide molecules probabilistically turn into the membrane core to form channels due to the dipole-electric field interactions. We speculate that the phase-transitionlike behavior is a manifestation of membrane-mediated intermolecular interactions between peptide molecules.
Blockade of both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors is required for optimal protection against ischemic neuronal degeneration in the in vivo adult mammalian retina

Abstract Under ischemic conditions, the excitatory amino acids (EAA), glutamate and aspartate, accumulate in the extracellular compartment of brain and, by excessive stimulation of EAA receptors, trigger excitotoxic degeneration of CNS neurons. Since glutamate and aspartate exert excitotoxic activity through both of the generally recognized classes of EAA receptors [ [N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA], it follows that both receptor classes may play a role in ischemic neuronal degeneration. Although several laboratories have reported that NMDA receptor antagonists confer protection in vivo against ischemic neuronal degeneration, very little is known about the ability of non-NMDA antagonists to confer such protection, a major reason being that non-NMDA antagonists that penetrate blood-brain barriers have not been available. In the present study, we examined the ability of NMDA or non-NMDA antagonists, either individually or in combination, to prevent neuronal degeneration in vivo in the adult rat retina rendered ischemic by dye/photothrombotic occlusion of retinal blood vessels. In this model, delivery of drugs to the ischemic tissue is assured by intravitreal administration. Intravitreal administration of the NMDA antagonist, MK-801, reduced the severity of ischemic damage approximately 50% (a ceiling effect that could not be increased by administering higher doses). The predominantly non-NMDA antagonist, CNQX, when administered in the highest dose permitted by its solubility limitations, provided equivocal (statistically nonsignificant) protection, but the two drugs combined provided >80% protection. Kynurenic acid and 7-chloro-kynurenic acid, each of which is a broad spectrum antagonist that blocks both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors, dose-dependently reduced the severity of ischemic damage in the rat retina with the maximum protective effect for either drug being >90%. Since many neurons throughout the CNS, like retinal neurons, are probably endowed with both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors, we propose that for optimal protection against neuronal degeneration in conditions such as stroke, simultaneous blockade of both receptor classes may be necessary.
Sigma-Delta Control of a Biased and Initially-Displaced MEMS Microphone

This paper extends an earlier work that achieved resonance damping of a micro-machined directional microphone by embedding it in a compensated sigma-delta modulator (Wu et al., 2004). The goal was to combat the quadratic nonlinearity in the electrostatic force. The new developments in this paper include the use of a different capacitive device that is also biased to allow more effective readout, and the consideration of the dependence of the electrostatic force on the displacement of the microphone diaphragm, which was ignored in the earlier work. This paper discusses signal level adjustment to correct the effect of the asymmetry due to the bias, and partial feedback linearization to mitigate the nonlinearity in the electrostatic force due to the membrane displacement. Background information is given on the microphone and the damping scheme is explained. Simulation results of the control loop using Simulink are presented, where the full nonlinear model of the electrostatic force transducer is included. In addition, preliminary results of simulated linear circuit implementation of the sigma-delta control loop Multisim are also presented. This paper also investigates the robustness of the damping scheme with respect to uncertainties in stiffness and mass in the design model.
Strategic Uses of Information Technology in Clinical Research

The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly changing. There are mergers, the market is in a state of flux, the Japanese are coming, and there is globalization. Successful companies will deploy technology to meet this changing environment.Companies are using technology to decrease the cost of drug research and to shorten the time it takes to bring drugs to market. This paper will focus on strategic uses of information technology in clinical research for the 1990s. It will discuss three key strategies, ways to identify strategic opportunities, and possible applications of technology.The purpose of the paper is to make the reader think and find ways to use information technology more effectively in their company. A methodology to accomplish this is presented.
Publications, contributions, and the social Dilemma of scholarly productivity: A reaction to aguinis, debruin, cunningham, hall, culpepper, and gottfredson (2010)

In their article What Does Not Kill You (Sometimes) Makes You Stronger: Productivity Fluctuations of Journal Editors, Aguinis et al. (2010) find that major journal editors publish fewer journal art...
Mapping Multiple Minima in Protein Energy Landscapes with Evolutionary Algorithms

Many proteins involved in human proteinopathies exhibit complex energy landscapes with multiple thermodynamically-stable and semi-stable structural states. Landscape reconstruction is crucial to understanding functional modulations, but one is confronted with the multiple minima problem. While traditionally the objective for evolutionary algorithms (EAs) is to find the global minimum, here we present work on an EA that maps the various minima in a protein's energy landscape. Specifically, we investigate the role of initialization of the initial population in the rate of convergence and solution diversity. Results are presented on two key proteins, H-Ras and SOD1, related to human cancers and familial Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Increased Pulmonary Blood Flow Decreases Surfactant Protein A in a Lamb Model of Congenital Heart Disease

Increased Pulmonary Blood Flow Decreases Surfactant Protein A in a Lamb Model of Congenital Heart Disease
Recent advances in magnetospheric substorm research

More than two decades of magnetospheric exploration have led to a reasonably clear morphological picture of geomagnetic substorms, which is often summarized in terms of the near-earth neutral line model of substorms. Although this qualitative theory is quite comprehensive and explains a great many observations, it is hard pressed to explain both recent observations of consistently earthward flow within 19 RE and also the prompt onset of magnetic turbulence at 8 RE at the time of substorm onset. Other theories have recently been proposed which tend to be more quantitative, but which explain a more limited number of substorm observations. The challenge seems to be to understand the esential physics of these various quantitative theories and integrate them into a larger structure such as provided by the near-earth neutral line model.
Antiviral action of camptothecin

At a concentration of 10 mum, camptothecin inhibited vaccinia deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in HeLa cells. Inhibition of viral DNA synthesis was observed when the drug was added before infection or at 1 or 2 hr after infection. Inhibitory effects of camptothecin on vaccinia DNA synthesis could be reversed, even after exposure to the alkaloid for 2 hr. Viral DNA, isolated from vaccinia-infected, camptothecin-treated cells, displayed an altered sedimentation constant after alkaline sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Incorporation of uridine into vaccinia messenger ribonucleic acid was inhibited by camptothecin, but the activity of ribonucleic acid polymerase, as tested in isolated vaccinia cores, was not affected by the drug. Camptothecin had essentially no effect on replication of poliovirus in HeLa cells.
Evaluating Mergers as a Strategic Option: The Case of Hospitals

During the 1980s, hospital merger activity was growing steadily due to fundamental changes in the provision of health care. Recently, however, the US Government has escalated its anti‐trust scrutiny of hospital mergers. Provides an indepth analysis of two recent hospital mergers, one of which was successful and the other was not. Any hospital considering a merger can benefit from analysing the strategies that were used to combat the anti‐trust challenge in both cases.
Major element uptake by snap bean grown in nutrient culture with varying nitrogen solution treatments

Abstract Snap bean (Phaseoius vulgaris L.) showed an increasing preference for NO3 with increasing total N and equal ratio of NO3 to NH4 when grown in nutrient culture. The percent increase in NO3 uptake over NH4 from solution was about the same as the increase in percent K content found in the plants at harvest. Peak periods of NO3 and NH4 uptake were observed, similar to what has been found for the other vegetable legumes.