cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal task switching policy for a multilevel storage system

Capacity demands for computer memory are increasing. A multilevel storage system provides an economically feasible solution without seriously affecting the total response time. An M-level storage system is considered in this paper. The capability of a digital computer with a multilexel storage system is best enhanced in a multiprogramming environment. In a high level storage system, determination of a best task switching policy becomes an important consideration. In this paper a queuing network is introduced to describe distribution and flow of tasks in the system. An optimal switching policy is determined in relation to the system's overhead time. It is shown that in heavily CPU-limited cases the determination becomes a very simple one; namely, the best policy is given as the threshold level at which the accumulation of the average access time exceeds the overhead time.
Zernike's Feature Descriptors for Iris Recognition with SVM

Valuable information of the iris is intrinsically located in its natural texture, therefore preserve and extract the most relevant features for biometric recognition is of paramount importance. The iris pattern is subject to translation, scaling and rotation, consequently the variations produced by these artifacts must be minimized. The main contribution of this work consists on performing a comparison between the descriptive power of the Zernike and pseudo Zernike polynomials for the identification of iris images using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) as a classifier. Experiments with the iris data set obtained from the Bath University repository show that our proposal yields high levels of accuracy.
PSYCHIATRIC SEQUELAE OF OLD BURNS IN CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS.

A study of ten children who had long recovered from severe burn, and of their mothers, revealed the existence of lasting emotional maladjustments in both children and mothers, related at least in part to the trauma of the burn. Implications for preventive measures and for future research are discussed.
Continuously varying binocular disparity: An exploratory study

It was hypothesized that viewing an object under conditions of continually varying binocular disparity would result in the perception of a “real” object that would continually change its shape, yet retain its three-dimensionality. It was further hypothesized that observed changes would be systematically sequential and repetitive, reflecting systematic and repetitive changes in the stimulus conditions. Two Ss were used. They were shown 12 objects (one at a time) by means of the Groman Continuous Binocular Disparator. An analysis was made from taped verbal reports. The hypotheses were strongly supported. Other phenomena were noted and described. The observations were categorized on the basis of three types of breakdown of veridicality. Differences between the frequency of breakdown of veridicality in the three categories were found and discussed in terms of a functional theory of veridical perception.
Signal extension and noncausal filtering for subband coding of images

ABSTRACT This paper addresses two issues of concern when implementing filter banks for subband coding of images: filtercausality and filtering of the finite-length rows and columns of the image. A new framework for analyzing the effectof noncausal analysis filtering on the aliasing cancellation properties of the two—band filter bank system is presented.A general solution is given to the problem of how to extend finite-length signals before filtering so that expansionof the subband signal size can be avoided but perfect reconstruction remains. It will be shown how the methods ofcircular convolution and symmetric extension provide this solution. When using the symmetric extension method, how the signal is extended and the amount of delay the analysis filters may impart are highly constrained. Both even-length and odd-length FIR filters may be used, but extension is different in the two cases. 1. INTRODUCTION Subband coding has become an important and powerful technique for compression of speech and audio signals.There are a number of advantages to being able to decompose an input signal into distinct frequency bands with
Explaining the Decision to Withdraw from a U.S. Presidential Nomination Campaign

We contend that a candidate’s decision to exit from a U.S. presidential nomination campaign is a function of three sets of considerations: the potential for profile elevation, party-related costs, and updated perceptions of competitiveness. We analyze data from eleven post-reform presidential nomination campaigns and find support for all three considerations. Specifically, our results suggest that in addition to candidates’ competitiveness, the decision to withdraw is a function of candidates’ closeness to their party and ability to raise their profile. At the same time, some of our results contradict the conventional wisdom regarding presidential nomination campaigns, as we find no evidence that media coverage or cash on hand directly affect the duration of a nomination candidacy.
The Lung Allocation Score and Survival in Lung Transplant Candidates with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The Lung Allocation Score (LAS), devised to prioritize candidates awaiting lung transplantation (LTX), is calculated using the predicted duration of survival on the wait list while also considering the recipient’s likelihood of post-transplant survival. This score is generated based, in part, on the severity of the candidate’s comorbid illnesses. The actual relationship between the LAS and survival is unknown. The current study was performed to evaluate the relationship between the LAS and both wait-list survival and post-transplant survival in candidates with COPD. The study was a retrospective analysis of 41 LTX candidates with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well as a cohort of 17 candidates who survived to receive a graft. The study was conducted at a university hospital transplant center. Thirty-six of 41 candidates survived to transplant. The LAS of these survivors was 32.62 ± 1.06 and was significantly lower than the score of 34.45 ± 1.19 of the nonsurvivors (P < 0.01). The LAS also exhibited a negative association with survival to transplant (P < 0.05, β = −1.39). A cohort of 17 LTX recipients was chosen for post-transplant analysis in which 13 survived at least 1 year. In this cohort the LAS did not exhibit significant association with 1-year post-transplant survival (P = 0.58, β = −0.25). As might be anticipated by virtue of its calculation being based in part on the existence and severity of comorbid conditions, a lower LAS was associated with improved survival to transplantation in LTX candidates with COPD. However, the pretransplant calculation of the LAS was not associated with actual post-transplant survival.
The role of heparin in the thrombin-antithrombin III reaction.

Abstract The effect of heparin on the kinetics of inactivation of thrombin by antithrombin III (AT) has been investigated in order to distinguish between two possible mechanisms. Either (1) heparin activates AT to make it a (kinetically) more effective inhibitor, or (2) heparin makes thrombin more susceptible to inhibition by AT. The results were consistent only with mechanism 1. The experimental approach was to premix heparin with either thrombin or AT and then to measure the rate of association of the two proteins in the rapid-mixing stop-flow spectrophotometer. Reactions were followed spectrophotometrically by observing displacement of the dye proflavine from the active site of thrombin as AT binds. Only premixing AT with heparin accelerated the reaction compared to control (no heparin); the observed second-order rate constant was enhanced by a factor of 200–400. Premixing of thrombin with heparin was without effect on the rate of association with AT. If heparin was premixed with both proteins before reaction, the rate was as slow as the control, indicating that heparin bound to thrombin is actually inhibitory to the association of enzyme with activated AT.
Swarms of repeating stick-slip icequakes triggered by snow loading at Mount Rainier volcano

We have detected over 150,000 small (M 3000 m) on the glacier-covered edifice and occur primarily in weeklong to monthlong swarms composed of simultaneous distinct families of events. Each family contains up to thousands of earthquakes repeating at regular intervals as often as every few minutes. Mixed polarity first motions, a linear relationship between recurrence interval and event size, and strong correlation between swarm activity and snowfall suggest the source is stick-slip basal sliding of glaciers. The sudden added weight of snow during winter storms triggers a temporary change from smooth aseismic sliding to seismic stick-slip sliding in locations where basal conditions are favorable to frictional instability. Coda wave interferometry shows that source locations migrate over time at glacial speeds, starting out fast and slowing down over time, indicating a sudden increase in sliding velocity triggers the transition to stick-slip sliding. We propose a hypothesis that this increase is caused by the redistribution of basal fluids rather than direct loading because of a 1–2 day lag between snow loading and earthquake activity. This behavior is specific to winter months because it requires the inefficient drainage of a distributed subglacial drainage system. Identification of the source of these frequent signals offers a view of basal glacier processes, discriminates against alarming volcanic noises, documents short-term effects of weather on the cryosphere, and has implications for repeating earthquakes, in general.
Organization of gene and non-gene sequences in micronuclear DNA of Oxytncha nova

In order to study the derivation of the macronuclear genome from the micronuclear genome in Oxytricha nova micronuclear DNA was partially digested with EcoRI, size fractionated, and then cloned in the lambda phage Charon 8. Clones were selected a) at random b) by hybridization with macronuclear DNA or c) by hybridization with clones of macronuclear DNA. One group of these clones contains only unique sequence DNA, and all of these had sequences that were homologous to macronuclear sequences. The number of macronuclear genes with sequences homologous to these micronuclear clones indicates that macronuclear sequences are clustered in the micronuclear genome. Many micronuclear clones contain repetitive DNA sequences and hybridize to numerous EcoRI fragments of total micronuclear DNA, yielding similar but non-identical patterns. Some micronuclear clones containing these repetitive sequences also contained unique sequence DNA that hybridized to a macronuclear sequence. These clones define a major interspersed repetitive sequence family in the micronuclear genome that is eliminated during formation of the macronuclear genome.
Parental investment without kin recognition: Simple conditional rules for parent-offspring behavior

Species differ widely with regard to parental investment strategies and mechanisms underlying those strategies. The passing of benefits to likely genetic offspring can be mediated through a number of different computational and behavioral systems. We report results from an agent-based model in which offspring maintain proximity with parents and parents transmit benefits to offspring without the capacity of either parent or offspring to “recognize” one another. Instead, parents follow a simple rule to emit benefits after reproducing and offspring follow a simple rule of moving in the direction of positive benefit gradients. This model differs from previous models of spatial kin-based altruism in that individuals are modeled as having different behavioral rules at different life stages and benefits are transmitted unidirectionally from parents to offspring. High rates of correctly directed parental investment occur when mobility and sociality are low and parental investment occurs over a short period of time. We suggest that strategies based on recognition and bonding/attachment might serve to increase rates of correctly directed parental investment under parameters that are shown here to otherwise lead to high rates of misdirected and wasted parental investment.
A stereotactic device for experimental rat and mouse irradiation using gamma knife model B--technical note.

Background. For radiobiological experiments using the Gamma Knife model B, we constructed a stereotactic device to irradiate rat and mouse brains and verify the absorbed dose at the target using thermoluminescence dosimetry and a head phantom. Methods. Our stereotactic device is primarily designed for rats using the fixation principles of a stereotactic atlas. A head-fixation adapter for a mouse was constructed to enable targeted irradiation of mouse brains. We built simple phantoms to simulate rat and mouse heads. We placed thermoluminescent dosimeters at various positions on the phantom for dose measurements. Dose planning employed the Leksell Gamma Plan version 4.11 software, assuming a spherical skull geometry for all calculations. Findings. The measurements demonstrated that the actual absorbed dose agreed with our calculations within the errors of thermoluminescence dosimetry and the accuracy of our irradiation technique and dose calculations. Interpretation. This device provides an accurate method for irradiating rat and mouse brains using the Gamma Knife model B.
Leachate Recirculation in Bioreactor Landfills Using Geocomposite Drainage Material

The key purpose of this study was to test the use of a permeable blanket made up of a geocomposite drainage layer (GDL) for leachate recirculation in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and to predict the observed leachate travel in the blanket using a numerical model. A 34 m long by 12 m wide permeable blanket made up of GDL was constructed at an active MSW landfill located in Michigan. Leachate was injected in the GDL using a perforated pipe placed centrally above the GDL along its length. Moisture content sensors, pressure transducers, thermistors, thermocouple sensors, and a vertical load sensor were embedded immediately below the GDL blanket to monitor the flow of injected leachate. After the blanket was covered with waste, leachate was injected into the blanket at rates ranging from 0.9 to 2.6 m3 ∕h per meter length of the blanket. Data collected from the embedded sensors indicated that the injected leachate traveled at rates ranging from 5 to 18 m∕h through the blanket depending upon the leachate...
Three-year Efficacy of Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty

The authors report on the effect of argon laser trabeculoplasty on intraocular pressure (IOP) over a 3-year period with a mean follow-up period of 1.8 years in patients with uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma who had not undergone prior surgery. An analysis of the effect of laser trabeculoplasty using the criteria for success of an IOP of 22 mmHg or less with no further laser trabeculoplasty or glaucoma surgery, showed a cumulative success of 79% (112 eyes) at 1 year, 69% (85 eyes) at 2 years, and 59% (58 eyes) at 3 years. Similar results are presented for 22 eyes from patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. The authors conclude that although the initial success rate of laser trabeculoplasty is high, it diminishes progressively over time.
Fields due to kinky, cuspless, cosmic loops

We study the gravitational field of a kinky, cuspless loop of cosmic string. The gravitational field does not have a repulsive component as in the case of loops with cusps and so the gravitational field produced by cuspless loops is spherically symmetric and Newtonian when we go far away from the loop. We also find the electromagnetic field due to kinks on a current-carrying superconducting cosmic loop and the Goldstone field produced by a loop of global string. For the case of the Goldstone field we also consider loops with cusps.
Chronic Intrastriatal Dialytic Administration of Quinolinic Acid Produces Selective Neural Degeneration

Abstract The excitotoxic hypothesis of Huntington's disease pathogenesis suggests that selective striatal neuronal loss results from excessive activation of striatal excitatory amino acid receptors. Using a microdialysis probe mated to an Alzet 2002 mini-osmotic pump three different concentrations of quinolinic acid or vehicle were administered to the striata of rats over a 3-week period. Animals that received a total of 3.3 μmol of quinolinic acid had significant striatal atrophy that could be attributed to two distinct areas of neuronal loss. First, an area of necrosis surrounding the probe was marked by inflammatory infiltrate and a lack of neurons. In the second region, surrounding the necrotic area, there was a significant reduction in nissl-stained cells, with relative sparing of NADPH-diaphorase-staining neurons. In addition, there was a reduction in cytochrome oxidase staining throughout both of the areas of cell loss. Beyond the area of cell loss, the striatum appeared normal in all respects. The striata of animals that received 880 nmol quinolinic acid appeared identical to those that received vehicle. The striata of animals that received 8.8 μmol quinolinic acid showed severe nonselective atrophy of the striatum and some surrounding structures. We conclude that dialytic delivery of 3.3 μmol quinolinic acid produces an area of neuronal destruction that resembles the selective neuronal loss seen in Huntington's disease. This selective neurodegeneration produced by chronic exposure to quinolinic acid simulates more closely the course of Huntington's disease than previously described methods.
Factors influencing the electrospray intrasource separation and selective ionization of glycerophospholipids.

The external electric field induces a separation of cations from negative electrolyte ions in the infusate while differential ionization of molecular species that possess differential electrical propensities can be induced in either the positive- or negative-ion mode during the electrospray ionization process. These physical and electrical processes that occur in the electrospray ion source have been used to selectively ionize lipid classes possessing different electrical propensities that are now known as “intrasource separation and selective ionization”. However, the chemical principles underlying charge-dependent alterations in ionization efficiencies responsible for the selective ionization of lipid classes are not known with certainty. Herein, we examined the multiple factors that contribute to intrasource separation and selective ionization of lipid classes under optimal instrumental conditions. We demonstrated that many different lipid classes could be selectively ionized in the ion source and that intrasource resolution of distinct molecular constituents was independent of lipid concentration, flow rate, and residual ions under most experimental conditions. Moreover, the presence of alkaline conditions facilitates the selective ionization of many lipid classes through a mechanism independent of the design of the ESI ion source. Collectively, this study provides an empirical foundation for understanding the chemical mechanisms underlying intrasource separation and selective ionization of lipid classes that can potentially be used for global analysis of cellular lipidomes without the need for chromatographic separation.
Damage Size Estimation of the Aircraft Structure with Use of Embedded Sensor Network Generating Elastic Waves

One of the approach to develop a system of continues, automated monitoring of the health of the structures is to use elastic waves excited in a given medium by piezoelectric transducers network. Elastic waves depending on their source and the geometry of the structure under consideration can propagate over significant distance. They are also sensitive to local structure discontinuities and deformations providing a tool to detect local damage of large aerospace structures. In the paper the issue of fatigue crack growth monitoring by means of elastic guided waves actuated by a sparse array of sensors will be presented. In particular we propose signal characteristics, robust enough to detect different kinds of damages: Barely Visible Impact Damages (BVIDs) in composite materials and fatigue cracks of metallic structures. The model description and the results of specimen tests verifying damage detection capabilities of the proposed signal characteristics are delivered in the paper. Some issues concerning the proposed damage indices and its application to damage detection and its monitoring are also discussed.
Degenerate variational inequalities of evolution

On etudie des inegalites variationnelles de la forme Re ≥0 pour tout v∈K, By(0)=Bu 0 , ou B est lineaire mais peut s'annuler, A est non lineaire et K est un ensemble convexe ferme
John P. Ryan: A teacher with several imperative pluses

Ryan, born in New York, educated at Cornell and Chicago, professor at Grinnell College 1903–1947, president in 1936 of what became the Speech Communication Association, was a master teacher of public speaking to college students and, in Des Moines, to adults. His method, notable for imaginative planning, was distinguished by: insistence upon preparation, good thinking, good speech content; attention to delivery; repetition, organization, mnemonic words; abundance of examples. He had a commanding presence, a keen sense of humor, a lively interest in the welfare and in the careers of students.
On a sequential selection procedure of Bechhofer, Kiefer, and Sobel☆

Abstract We give an elementary proof of a theorem of Bechhofer, Kiefer, and Sobel concerning their sequential procedure P B ∗ for selecting the highest probability in binomial or multinomial trials. Our proof uses the change of measure approach. An error in the original proof is pointed out and corrected.
Prevention of Neuromusculoskeletal Frailty in Slow-Aging Ames Dwarf Mice: Longitudinal Investigation of Interaction of Longevity Genes and Caloric Restriction

Ames dwarf (Prop1 (df/df) ) mice are remarkably long-lived and exhibit many characteristics of delayed aging and extended healthspan. Caloric restriction (CR) has similar effects on healthspan and lifespan, and causes an extension of longevity in Ames dwarf mice. Our study objective was to determine whether Ames dwarfism or CR influence neuromusculoskeletal function in middle-aged (82 ± 12 weeks old) or old (128 ± 14 w.o.) mice. At the examined ages, strength was improved by dwarfism, CR, and dwarfism plus CR in male mice; balance/ motor coordination was improved by CR in old animals and in middle-aged females; and agility/ motor coordination was improved by a combination of dwarfism and CR in both genders of middle-aged mice and in old females. Therefore, extension of longevity by congenital hypopituitarism is associated with improved maintenance of the examined measures of strength, agility, and motor coordination, key elements of frailty during human aging, into advanced age. This study serves as a particularly important example of knowledge related to addressing aging-associated diseases and disorders that results from studies in long-lived mammals.
A quantitative study of the effect of strychnine on deep reflexes

The effect of small doses of strychnine on the knee-jerk and Achillesjerk of 4 subjects was studied quantitatively. The following conclusions seem justified:
Psychophysical observations on patients with neuropathic pain relieved by a sympathetic block

Abstract Patients with sympathetically maintained pain (SMP) were tested with noxious heat pulses, innocuous mechanical stimuli, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation before and during local anesthetic sympathetic blocks that relieved their pain. The perceived intensity of the pain evoked by these stimuli was measured by the patients' responses on a visual analog scale and compared to the responses obtained when the same stimuli were applied to contralateral normal skin. In 5 of 7 patients tested, graded noxious heat stimuli (43–51°C) applied to painful skin resulted in heat-pain intensity ratings that were essentially identical to the responses obtained when the same stimuli were applied to the normal side. Of the remaining two patients, one was clearly hypoalgesic for heat-pain and the other was probably hyperalgesic. The normal and subnormal heat-evoked responses obtained from abnormal skin were unchanged during completely successful sympathetic blocks. Trains of noxious heat pulses (52° C) evoked summation of the second pain sensation in each of the 4 patients tested. This summation effect was normal and unaffected by a sympathetic block. Four of the patients had allodynia evoked by mechanical stimulation. In each of the 3 allodynia cases tested, transcutaneous nerve stimulation at an intensity that was at threshold for detection evoked burning pain and a coexistent sensation of tingle, indicating that both sensations were due to the activation of Aβ axons. Patients without touch-evoked pain reported that electrical stimuli at threshold for detection produced only the sensation of tingle. The pains evoked by touch and by threshold-strength nerve stimulation were eliminated during sympathetic block. In patients with allodynia, trains of gentle mechanical stimuli and trains of threshold-strength electrical nerve stimuli produced summation of the intensity of the burning pain sensation when the stimuli were presented at 0.3 Hz. These results add to a growing body of evidence indicating that the touch-evoked pain of some patients is due to abnormal central activity evoked by input from Aβ low-threshold mechanoreceptors. The coexistence of Aβ-evoked pain with normal heat-evoked pain and normal heat-pain summation suggests that the central abnormality cannot be a simple hypersensitivity of wide-dynamic-range neurons. The effect of sympathetic blockade on Aβ-evoked pain and its summation suggests that the crucial sympathetic interaction may take place centrally. The results show that there is considerable heterogeneity of sensory abnormalities among patients with SMP. Lastly, the results indicate that the different kinds of disordered pain sensation seen in painful peripheral neuropathies may each have different underlying neuropathic mechanisms.
Recruitment of activated IRF-3 and CBP/p300 to herpes simplex virus ICP0 nuclear foci: Potential role in blocking IFN-β induction

The host innate response to viral infection includes the production of interferons, which is dependent on the coordinated activity of multiple transcription factors. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) has been shown to block efficient interferon expression by multiple mechanisms. We and others have demonstrated that HSV-1 can inhibit the transcription of genes promoted by interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3), including interferon beta (IFN-beta), and that the immediate-early ICP0 protein is sufficient for this function. However, the exact mechanism by which ICP0 blocks IRF-3 activity has yet to be determined. Unlike some other viral proteins that inhibit IRF-3 activity, ICP0 does not appear to affect phosphorylation and dimerization of IRF-3. Here, we show that a portion of activated IRF-3 co-localizes with nuclear foci containing ICP0 at early times after virus infection. Co-localization to ICP0-containing foci is also seen with the IRF-3-binding partners and transcriptional co-activators, CBP and p300. In addition, using immunoprecipitation of infected cell lysates, we can immunoprecipitate a complex containing ICP0, IRF-3, and CBP. Thus we hypothesize that ICP0 recruits activated IRF-3 and CBP/p300 to nuclear structures, away from the host chromatin. This leads to the inactivation and accelerated degradation of IRF-3, resulting in reduced transcription of IFN-beta and an inhibition of the host response. Therefore, ICP0 provides an example of how viruses can block IFN-beta induction by sequestration of important transcription factors essential for the host response.
Diminished Adrenal Corticoid Response to Burn and ACTH in the Nephrectomized Dog.

SummaryNephrectomized dogs respond to third degree burns with much less increase in 17 OHCS secretion than do normal dogs. ACTH injection also produces much less increase in 17 OHCS secretion in nephrectomized than in normal dogs. These diminished responses appear to result from decreased adrenal sensitivity to ACTH. It is suggested that the kidney plays an important role in the control of 17 OHCS secretion.
Determination of the equilibrium constant for the reaction between bisphenol A and diphenyl carbonate

Despite the industrial significance of poly(bisphenol A carbonate), there is a scarcity of open literature on the equilibrium of the melt-phase process. In fact, the equilibrium constant (K eq ) for this reaction has never been measured directly. This article describes a process on the basis of NMR for the measurement of K eq for the reaction between bisphenol A and diphenyl carbonate in the presence and absence of a catalyst. The apparent enthalpy and entropy were calculated using a van't Hoff plot. Decomposition of bisphenol A is a common side reaction in the melt-phase reaction performed at high temperatures in the presence of catalyst. The effect of these side reactions on the K eq in the presence of catalyst is determined.
Genomes of replicatively senescent cells undergo global epigenetic changes leading to gene silencing and activation of transposable elements

Replicative cellular senescence is an important tumor suppression mechanism and also contributes to aging. Progression of both cancer and aging include significant epigenetic components, but the chromatin changes that take place during cellular senescence are not known. We used formaldehyde assisted isolation of regulatory elements (FAIRE) to map genome-wide chromatin conformations. In contrast to growing cells, whose genomes are rich with features of both open and closed chromatin, FAIRE profiles of senescent cells are significantly smoothened. This is due to FAIRE signal loss in promoters and enhancers of active genes, and FAIRE signal gain in heterochromatic gene-poor regions. Chromatin of major retrotransposon classes, Alu, SVA and L1, becomes relatively more open in senescent cells, affecting most strongly the evolutionarily recent elements, and leads to an increase in their transcription and ultimately transposition. Constitutive heterochromatin in centromeric and peri-centromeric regions also becomes relatively more open, and the transcription of satellite sequences increases. The peripheral heterochromatic compartment (PHC) becomes less prominent, and centromere structure becomes notably enlarged. These epigenetic changes progress slowly after the onset of senescence, with some, such as mobilization of retrotransposable elements becoming prominent only at late times. Many of these changes have also been noted in cancer cells.
Effect of cerebroventricular anterior pituitary grafts on in situ expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in dopaminergic neurons of the aged animal.

The effect of cerebroventricular anterior pituitary (AP) grafts on brain tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the median eminence (ME), substantia nigra (SN), and corpus striatum (CS) has been investigated in young and aged female rats. TH expression was studied using the following indices: in situ TH activity, TH mass, and quantity of TH mRNA. The rate of synthesis of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) was evaluated by measuring its accumulation in the ME, SN, and CS. TH mRNA and TH mass were quantified by an Si nuclease protection assay and an immunoblot assay, respectively. Viability of the grafts was demonstrated by histological examination and by their ability to secrete PRL into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Liver grafts served as controls. In castrated young and castrated aged animals with AP grafts, the PRL concentrations in the CSF were 204 ± 49 (mean ± SE) and 345 ± 83 ng/ml, respectively, compared to control values of 14 ± 9 and 23 ± 9. In intact aged animals, the concentration of PRL was 729 ± ...
Cognitive Processes Involved in Environmental Interpretation

Abstract Familiarization, defined as visitor ability to recognize environmental information and proposed as a cognitive process in environmental interpretation, was examined for 150 users of forest trails. Respondents were asked to indicate the degree to which they recognized correctly statements concerning the content of interpretive sign messages. Nearly three-quarters of the trail users recognized 70 percent or more of the content of the messages. The average familiarity score of hikers was 78 percent. Implications for familiarity as a cognitive process in environmental interpretation are discussed.
Macroergonomics as a large work-system transformation technology

Traditional ergonomics has concentrated on improving such metrics as productivity, health, safety, and quality of work life. While such local improvements are important, increasingly, there is pressure upon ergonomists to achieve global improvement. This article reviews some of the basic concepts behind large-scale change and takes the position that the macroergonomist is postured uniquely to induce and manage positive change in industrial organizations. While ergonomists focus at the human–machine interface level, organization-intervention consultants typically focus at the organizational level. Macroergonomists uniquely concentrate their efforts at both levels. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 14: 101–115, 2004.
The Economic Lives of Latinos in the United States

Rarely do we have a picture of who Latinos are and how they live in the United States. Yet by 2060 the proportion of the U.S. population that is Latino will double, to more than 30 percent. These researchers conducted a survey of a diverse group of Latinos to find out how they live and what their fears and aspirations are.
The complex conductivity of the surface sheath of a type II superconductor at all magnetic fields

Abstract The complex microwave surface impedance of Pb 0.83 - In 0.17 was measured and a simple model was used to derive the sheath conductivity. The result, that even at fields considerably below H c2 this conductivity is very different from that at zero field, is unexpected.
Particle in a Disk: A Spectroscopic and Computational Laboratory Exercise Studying the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Corannulene.

This laboratory exercise introduces undergraduate chemistry majors to the spectroscopic and theoretical study of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), corannulene. Students explore the spectroscopic properties of corannulene using UV–vis and Raman vibrational spectroscopies. They compare their experimental results to simulated vibrational spectra and the molecular structure obtained from computational chemistry to other PAHs, including C60. The delocalized electron in corannulene is also conceptually explored using the particle in a disk model. This laboratory exercise allows students to explore multiple physical chemistry concepts in one, 3 h laboratory exercise centered around one theme.
Librarians and the Holocaust: Research-Related Issues

ABSTRACT After learning and teaching about the Holocaust for the past 16 years, the author advocates that librarians join Holocaust scholars, historians, teachers, and others in ensuring that this horrific and catastrophic event of the twentieth century is correctly understood, taught, and, most importantly, never forgotten.
Academic Models of Clinical Care for Women: The National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health

Between 1996 and 1999, 18 academic health centers were awarded the designation of National Center of Excellence (CoE) in Women's Health by the Office on Women's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services and were provided with seed monies to develop model clinical services for women. Although the model has evolved in various forms, core characteristics that each nationally designated CoE has adopted include comprehensive, women-friendly, women-focused, women-relevant, integrated, multidisciplinary care. The permanent success of these comprehensive clinical programs resides in the ability to garner support of leaders of the academic health centers who understand both the importance of multidisciplinary programs to the clinical care they provide women and the education they offer to the future providers of women's healthcare.
Response of electrons in ionosphere and plasmasphere to magnetic storms

MEASUREMENTS of total electron content (TEC) using the Faraday polarisation–rotation and dispersive-group-delay techniques were carried out at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey1,2 (40.18°N, 74.06°W) using v.h.f. and u.h.f. beacon signals emitted by the satellite ATS–6. A comparison of TEC values obtained by both these techniques yields the total electron content of the plasmasphere. During the severe magnetic storms of September 15–16 and September 18–19, 1974, rapid increases with sudden onsets were observed in TEC as well as in plasmaspheric content, NP. These increases were followed by long periods of low values of TEC and NP.
The Contributions of Martin Bucer to the Reformation

It is a common fallacy to regard great movements in history as the work of one great prophet, to think that he alone changed the current of human events by the force of a single dynamic personality. As a matter of fact, great movements, such as the Reformation, have been produced because an unusually large number of prophets arose at the same time. Though the names of only a few have been illumined by fame, the deeds of the rest were just as necessary for the success of the movement.
Identification of metabolically stable 5′-phosphate analogs that support single-stranded siRNA activity

The ss-siRNA activity in vivo requires a metabolically stable 5'-phosphate analog. In this report we used crystal structure of the 5'-phosphate binding pocket of Ago-2 bound with guide strand to design and synthesize ss-siRNAs containing various 5'-phosphate analogs. Our results indicate that the electronic and spatial orientation of the 5'-phosphate analog was critical for ss-siRNA activity. Chemically modified ss-siRNA targeting human apoC III mRNA demonstrated good potency for inhibiting ApoC III mRNA and protein in transgenic mice. Moreover, ApoC III ss-siRNAs were able to reduce the triglyceride and LDL cholesterol in transgenic mice demonstrating pharmacological effect of ss-siRNA. Our study provides guidance to develop surrogate phosphate analog for ss-siRNA and demonstrates that ss-siRNA provides an alternative strategy for therapeutic gene silencing.
Why Do Consumers Stay When Things Are Bad and Leave When Things Are Good

The study seeks to identify and classify motives for customers leaving when things are good and motives for staying when things are bad. Thus, this study identifies reasons for remaining in a business relationship when not satisfied. These motives are termed Capture Assistants. The study also identifies reasons for leaving a provider when satisfied. These motives are termed Escape Assistants. The critical incident technique was used to gain insights. A total of 219 incidents were classified. The results reveal that Capture Assistants hinder customers from leaving because they manifest themselves as fears of loss. Conversely, Escape Assistants motivate satisfied customers to leave because they promise gains. Managerial implications are outlined.
An Analysis of Expenditures by Cruise Ship Passengers in Jamaica

A study of 1,500 cruise ship passengers in Jamaica was conducted during a 5-year period to determine buying habits and influences. The results generally reinforce long-standing commonly held beliefs that vendors who are perceived as friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable fare better than those who come across as manipulative and aggressive and that older consumers can be expected to spend more in port than their younger counterparts.
Cooperative Game in Dynamic Spectrum Access with Unknown Model and Imperfect Sensing

We consider dynamic spectrum access where distributed secondary users search for spectrum opportunities without knowing the primary traffic statistics. In each slot, a secondary transmitter chooses one channel to sense and subsequently transmit if the channel is sensed as idle. Sensing is imperfect, i.e., an idle channel may be sensed as busy and vice versa. Without centralized control, each secondary user needs to independently identify the channels that offer the most opportunities while avoiding collisions with both primary and other secondary users. We address the problem within a cooperative game framework, where the objective is to maximize the throughput of the secondary network under a constraint on the collision with the primary system. The performance of a decentralized channel access policy is measured by the system regret, defined as the expected total performance loss with respect to the optimal performance in the ideal scenario where the traffic load of the primary system on each channel is known to all secondary users and collisions among secondary users are eliminated through centralized scheduling. By exploring the rich communication structure of the problem, we show that the optimal system regret has the same logarithmic order as in the centralized counterpart with perfect sensing. A decentralized policy is constructed to achieve the logarithmic order of the system regret. In a broader context, this work addresses imperfect reward observation in decentralized multi-armed bandit problems.
Feature selection for improved automatic gender classification

In this paper, we demonstrate the need for dimensionality reduction to mitigate model overfitting on the nontrivial problem of gender classification from digital images. In (his study we explore four feature selection schemes using Genetic Algorithm, Memetic Algorithms, and Random Forest, which are fed to a nonlinear support vector machine (SVM) for final classification. The performance of the model (feature) selection approaches are evaluated against two distinct datasets of facial images: FG-NET which contains toddlers to seniors and the UIUC-PAL which contains faces of adults up to seniors. This work demonstrates that feature selection can, and does, improve performance of an SVM based gender classification system significantly.
Surfaces, curves, and points as constraints in nonrigid registration

This paper describes a new method for performing nonrigid registration of brain images where gray level matching is augmented with structural information. Segmented surfaces, curves and points are used as constraints to help increase the accuracy of the registration. Control points are placed in the image only where needed such as at places of high curvature and on segmented structures. The resulting algorithm uses the available information effectively in order to produce an accurate registration.
CRYSTAL CHEMISTRY OF URANYL MOLYBDATES. IV. THE STRUCTURES OF M2[(UO2)6(MoO4)7(H2O)2] (M = Cs, NH4)

Two new uranyl molybdate hydrates, M2[(UO2)6(MoO4)7(H2O)2] (M = Cs, NH4), have been synthesized using hydrothermal methods. The crystals occur as transparent yellow needles and yellow elongate plates for M = Cs and NH4, respectively. Their structures were solved by direct methods and refined on the basis of F 2 for all unique data collected with Mo K X-radiation and a CCD (charge-coupled device) detector. Final R1 values are 4.1 and 3.9% for M = Cs and M = NH4, respectively, calculated for 2178 and 2969 unique observed (|Fo| ≤ 4F) reflections, respectively. The compound Cs 2[(UO2)6(MoO4)7(H2O)2] is orthorhombic, space group Pbcm, a 13.990(2), b 10.808(1), c 25.671(3) A, V 3881.6(9) A 3 , Z = 4. The compound (NH4)2[(UO2)6(MoO4)7(H2O)2] is isostructural with the Cs analogue, a 13.970(1), b 10.747(1), c 25.607(2) A, V 3844.4(6) A 3 , Z = 4. The four symmetrically independent U 6+ cations in M2[(UO2)6(MoO4)7(H2O)2] are part of approximately linear (UO 2) 2+ uranyl ions (Ur) that are further coordinated by five ligands at the equatorial positions of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids that are capped by O Ur atoms. The four symmetrically identical Mo 6+ cations are tetrahedrally coordinated by O atoms. The uranyl and molybdate polyhedra link by vertex sharing to form a framework, with the low-valence M cations located in voids within the framework.
Immobilization and characterization of γ-aminobutyric acid on gold surface

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of two main inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system that plays an important role in neuronal function and dysfunction. Immobilization of GABA molecules on a rigid surface in an ordered fashion will provide an opportunity to understand some of the fundamental properties related to its structure and function. In this study, we report a novel strategy for immobilization of bioactive GABA on gold substrate. GABA was immobilized in three consecutive steps, namely gold substrate amination, dextran covalent attachment, and GABA immobilization. Surface chemistry was verified at each step using XPS and FTIR. Bioactivity of GABA immobilized on the gold surface was studied using atomic force microscopy to reveal antigen-antibody binding. Nonspecific protein adsorption on the bioactive surface was analyzed quantitatively using anti-GABA antibody and an enzyme linked nonspecific anti-immunoglobulin-G antibody in an ELISA assay. GABA functionalized surface has high affinity for anti-GABA, while showing significantly low affinity for nonspecific anti-IgG antibody. All these data support the presence of a bio-functional immobilized GABA on the gold surface. In conclusion, we report a novel technique for immobilizing bioactive GABA molecules in an orderly fashion on gold substrates.
Comparing Two Classwide Interventions: Implications of Using Technology for Increasing Multiplication Fact Fluency

An adapted alternating treatments design with initial baseline and final best treatment phase was used to evaluate and compare the effects of two classwide interventions, detect–practice–repair (DPR), and self-mediated iPad instruction, on the multiplication math facts fluency in an inclusive third-grade classroom. Twelve students participated in both interventions over a 3-week treatment phase. Results showed that although both interventions were effective, in general, students showed greater gains during the iPad intervention compared to the DPR intervention. Intervention acceptability results also revealed that students, teachers, and parents preferred the iPad intervention. The discussion focuses on the benefits and implications of using technology to differentiate instruction in inclusive settings.
Peer tutors' perceptions of the in-class peer tutoring program in mechanics of materials

The quality of the classroom experience of engineering undergraduates has the potential to impact both retention of engineering students and student preparation for the workforce. An in-class peer tutoring (ICPT) program was initiated two years ago at Washington State University for statics and mechanics of materials courses. The ICPT program builds upon research on classroom practices and is characterized by utilizing undergraduate engineering students with relevant experience as teaching assistants for small groups of students working on active learning exercises during scheduled lecture time. While substantial research has been done evaluating the impact of peer tutoring programs on student and tutor outcomes, very little in-depth qualitative research has been done investigating the peer tutor experience in a higher education setting from the tutors' perspective. The goal of this research is to investigate what motivates tutors to agree to take part in the ICPT program and how they participate in the experience. Variation in peer tutor preparation styles for in-class assignments related to how effective they felt their presence was in the classroom. Finally, beliefs in peer tutor qualifications were an indication of how the peer tutors chose to interact with students in the classroom.