cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Behaviors and Play Themes Over a Six-Week Period: Two Case Studies in Play Therapy

As a method for counseling children, play therapy continues to demonstrate effectiveness through research and to be included in mental health training programs throughout the country. However, like other counseling interventions, capturing the essence of the therapeutic environment is complex and dependent on individual perspectives and experiences. In this article, two case studies are presented to demonstrate the use of quantitative and qualitative measures in comparing the behavioral changes as rated by caregivers on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and play themes observed by play therapists over a 6-week period. For both children in the study, behaviors and themes were related. As the children made changes in their play themes over the 6-week period, they also made changes in their behaviors at home.
Investigation of performance variations due to the amplitude of group-delay ripple in chirped fiber Bragg gratings

Abstract We measure the system impacts due to the amplitude of group-delay (GD) ripple in single and cascaded chirped fiber Bragg gratings (CFBGs). Signals with smaller pulse width result in smaller performance variation at the same data rate. A 65-ps peak-to-peak GD ripple induces 0.9, 1.7, and 2.7 dB maximum penalties for 10, 20, and 40-Gb/s, respectively. We also find that cascading gratings with random ripple causes much less degradation than cascading gratings with the same ripple profile.
Origin of the Appalachian Faunal Province of the Devonian

THE Appalachian Province has been recognized to account for the distribution of Lower and Middle Devonian brachiopods in eastern North America1–3 and was formed during the Helderbergian, at the beginning of the Devonian, but within the upper part of the Tippecanoe Sequence4, by general withdrawal of marine waters from cratonic and adjacent shelf regions. Sequences are the principal packets of sediments that formed in response to cyclic onlap and offlap of the craton over a long span of time; they have been interpreted in terms of eustatic fluctuations of sea level5–7.
Modified surgical model of paratopic small bowel transplantation in mice.

A murine paratopic model of intestinal transplantation was developed and used to study the immune response to allografts in normal C57BL/6 recipients (H2b) and C57BL/6 recipients treated with tacrolimus (1 mg/kg, Days 0–7). B6C3F1 mice (C57BL/6 × C3H/HeJ, H2bxk) were used as donors. The paratopic model differed from the standard heterotopic model in that continuity of the intestine graft with the recipient intestine was established by anastomosing the graft ileum to the side of the recipient jejunum. The success rate of this modified procedure was 82% (94/114). Major complications included hypovolemic shock and/or anesthetic-related deaths (8%), infection (8%), and vascular thrombosis (2%). Rejection was assessed using both clinical features (i.e., edema and closure of the stoma, mucous discharge, and a palpable mass) and histologic features (apoptosis of crypt cells, crypt destruction, lymphocytic infiltrate, and mucosal ulceration). Syngeneic grafts appeared clinically and histologically normal throughout the study period. Untreated recipients of allografts developed clinical and histologic evidence of rejection by Day 4 which progressed to severe rejection and graft destruction by Day 18. After initially developing evidence of mild to moderate graft rejection on Day 8, the severity of allograft rejection decreased significantly by Days 10 to 14 in tacrolimus-treated mice. By Day 28 evidence of moderate rejection had recurred in mice treated with an 8-day course of tacrolimus. Consistent with these observations, graft function, as assessed by maltose absorption, was impaired in rejecting allografts when compared with syngeneic grafts. Allografts in mice treated with tacrolimus demonstrated improved maltose absorption relative to allografts from untreated mice. These studies describe a modified technique for intestinal transplantation in mice and provide a detailed analysis of complications as well as an assessment of rejection and its functional consequences. Based on these results, we conclude that the paratopic model of intestinal transplantation in mice is a useful tool for studying the host immune response to intestinal allografts.
Design of bentonite/crushed rock seals

The use of bentonite/crushed rock mixtures to form hydraulic barriers has greatly increased in recent years. To obtain an appropriate composition for such mixture sealants generally requires extensive laboratory work. Bentonite content and gradation of the crushed rock component are two key parameters in the seal design. This study investigates the effect of crushed rock gradation on the bulk porosity and permeability of systems of crushed tuff particles. Five different gradations are selected from the literature. The bulk porosity of systems of crushed tuff in the presence of bentonite is examined. The Fuller-Thompson gradations yield denser particle arrangements. For mixture samples containing 15% bentonite by weight, the amount of clay accounts for only 45 to 56% of the weight required to fill the interparticle pore space. The bentonite occupancy percentage amounts to 65 to 80% and 75 to 86.5% for samples having 25 and 35% bentonite by weight, respectively. The water content of bentonite at saturation is reduced and the resistance to piping and flow of bentonite is enhanced by the addition of clay. To reduce the bulk porosities of the mixtures containing 25% or more bentonite, a compaction energy higher than the standard Proctor compaction is necessary.
Innovation in Polyester Fibers: From Silk-Like to New Polyester

In the past several years, "Shingosen," or new synthetic fibers have been developed in Japan. Polyester fibers and fabrics have attained a new status among other synthetic and natural fibers and te...
Nonresonant approximations to the optical potential

A new class of approximations to the optical potential, which includes those of the multiple-scattering variety, is investigated. These approximations are constructed so that the optical potential maintains the correct unitarity properties along with a proper treatment of nucleon identity. The special case of nucleon-nucleus scattering with complete inclusion of Pauli effects is studied in detail. The treatment is such that the optical potential receives contributions only from subsystems embedded in their own physically correct antisymmetrized subspaces. It is found that a systematic development of even the lowest-order approximations requires the use of the off-shell extension due to Alt, Grassberger, and Sandhas along with a consistent set of dynamical equations for the optical potential. In nucleon-nucleus scattering a lowest-order optical potential is obtained as part of a systematic, exact, inclusive connectivity expansion which is expected to be useful at moderately high energies. This lowest-order potential consists of an energy-shifted ($t\ensuremath{\rho}$)-like term with three-body kinematics plus a heavy-particle exchange or pickup term. The natural appearance of the exchange term additively in the optical potential clarifies the role of the elastic distortion in connection with the treatment of these processes. The relationship of the relevant aspects of the present analysis of the optical potential to conventional multiple scattering methods is discussed.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Approximate nuclear optical potential. Pauli principle in nuclear reaction theory. Multiple scattering approximations. Optical potential for nucleon-nucleus scattering.
A Pannonian auxiliary's epitaph from Roman Gordion

A funerary stele of a Pannonian auxiliary soldier recovered in 1996 at Gordion (Turkey) provided the first concrete evidence of Roman military activity at the site. The Latin epitaph on the monument revealed the presence of a unit (cohors VII Breucorum c.R. equitata), previously unattested in central Turkey, within the rural environs of northern Galatia. Little is currently known about the garrisons and movements of auxiliary forces in that region, and the monument's discovery permits a fresh examination of military deployment within Rome's comparatively lightly-garrisoned provinces of Asia Minor. New archaeological fieldwork in the Roman settlement at Gordion has provided a firm context for the stele, and recently published epigraphical finds relating to the soldier's unit and its deployment strongly link the monument's presence to activities surrounding Trajan's Parthian War (AD 114–117).
The Graded Tax League of Pennsylvania: a History

THE GRADED TAX LEAGUE has been trying to influence at least one city in Pennsylvania or elsewhere to switch to land value taxation. Although it has not yet succeeded in accomplishing this, it has made some definite progress toward its goal. In 1913, the Pennsylvania Legislature authorized Pittsburgh and Scranton to change their city real estate tax system gradually so that the tax rate, instead of falling equally on land and building values, would be twice as high on land as on buildings. This was started in 1914 and was completed in 1925. State law did not authorize the adoption of this Graded Tax system, for so it was called, by any of Pennsylvania's 48 other officially designated cities. So, around 1950, the Henry George Foundation of America, a Pittsburgh-based organization, established the Graded Tax League of Pennsylvania to arouse support for a law which would enable these cities (excepting Philadelphia for technical reasons) to adopt the Graded Tax as it existed in Pittsburgh and Scranton, if the local city council so approved. This campaign was led by two men experienced in politics: Charles R. Eckert, one-time U.S. Congressman, and Percy R. Williams, former Chief Assessor of Pittsburgh. They enlisted the enthusiastic support of State Senator Bernard B. McGinnis of Pittsburgh who introduced and actively supported the necessary bill. Some of the city councils throughout the state were induced to endorse the bill by resolution. For
Thirty‐centimeter‐diameter ion milling source

A 30-cm beam diameter ion source has been designed and fabricated for micromachining and sputtering applications. An argon ion current density of 1 mA/cu cm at 500 eV ion energy was selected as a design operating condition. The completed ion source met the design criteria at this operating condition with a uniform and well-collimated beam having an average variation in current density of + or - 5% over the center of 20 cm of the beam. This ion source has a multipole magnetic field that employs permanent magnets between permeable pole pieces. Langmuir probe surveys of the source plasma support the design concepts of a multipole field and a circumferential cathode to enhance plasma uniformity.
Induction of penile erection by intracavernosal and transurethral administration of novel nitric oxide donors in the cat.

AbstractPurpose: The effects of novel nitric oxide (NO) donors administered intracavernosally and transurethrally on erectile function in the anesthetized cat were evaluated.Materials and Methods: In pentobarbital-anesthetized cats, increases in intracavernosal pressure, penile length, and duration of erectile response were determined after intracavernosal and transurethral injections of novel NO donors (MAHMA/NO, PAPA/NO, DEA/NO, PIPERAZI/NO and PROLI/NO). All parameters were measured after administration of NO donors intracavernosally via a 30-gauge needle and urethrally via a Jelco i.v. catheter in a volume of 200 micro l. Systemic arterial pressure was also assessed in these experiments. All NO donors were compared with a triple-drug control combination comprised of papaverine (1.65 mg.), prostaglandin E1 (0.5 micro g.), and phentolamine (25 micro g.).Results: MAHMA/NO, PAPA/NO, DEA/NO, PIPERAZI/NO and PROLI/NO induced dose dependent increases in intracavernosal pressure and penile length (p <0.05) wh...
An examination of the life stress-injury relationship among noncontact sport participants.

This study was designed to determine if life stress is predictive of athletic injury among male and female participants in intercollegiate noncontact sports. The Athletic Life Experiences Survey (ALES) was administered to 86 athletes from the sports of baseball, softball, tennis, and track before the start of the season. After the administration of the ALES, injury frequency and severity were recorded for all practices and contests. The results indicated that total life change (TLC) and negative life change (NLC) were significant (p less than .05) predictors of athletic injury frequency. When partitioned by sex and sport, females and track athletes showed significant (p less than .05) predictive relationships, with TLC the significant predictor for females and object loss (OL) for track athletes. No significant predictive models were found for severity of injury. These results suggest that life stress is predictive of the frequency of injury among noncontact sport participants, particularly for track and female athletes.
On conditions for stability of solutions of pendulum-type equations

Es gibt zu der Gleichung $$\ddot \vartheta + \alpha f(\vartheta ) \dot \vartheta = g(\vartheta ) ,$$ wof(v)=f(v+2π), g(v)=g(v+2π), f(v)>0,\(\int\limits_0^{2\pi } {g(\vartheta ) d\vartheta > 0} \) undg(θ) einfache Nullstellung hat, einen Wert α = αc mit der Eigenschaft: ist α > αc, so gibt es keine Losungv(t) dieser Gleichung, fur die\(\dot \vartheta = y(\vartheta ) = y(\theta + 2\pi )\) fur jedesv ist; ist aber α ≦ αc, so gibt es eine solche Losung, die mitunter nicht negativ ist. Im ersten Fall, α > αc. gilt auch fur jede Losungv(t), dass\(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{t \to \infty } \vartheta (t) = \vartheta _j< \infty \). In diesem Artikel werden fur αc Grenzen gegeben und mit denjenigen verglichen, dieHayes [2] undBohm [3] im Falle $$g(\vartheta ) \equiv \sin \vartheta _0 + \sin (\vartheta - \vartheta _0 ), f(\vartheta ) \equiv 1 \left( {0< \vartheta _0< \frac{\pi }{2}} \right),$$ erhalten haben.
Resonant heating and acceleration of ions in coronal holes driven by cyclotron resonant spectra

[1] Recent observations and models suggest that the resonant absorption of ion cyclotron waves heats and accelerates the ions in the solar wind. Velocity distributions of minor ions derived from SOHO Ultraviolet Cronagraph Spectrometer (UVCS) observations in coronal holes indicate that the minor ion temperature anisotropy is T⟂/T∣∣ > 10 and that outflow speeds are higher than those of the solar wind protons. Here one-dimensional hybrid simulations of initially homogeneous, collisionless plasmas are used to study a model of coronal plasmas including kinetic protons, a tenuous component of oxygen ions, and massless fluid electrons. Spectra of ion cyclotron resonant Alfven waves are imposed on the system to study the resultant heating of both ion species. We investigate the effects of various power spectra of the form f−1 or f−5/3 and vary the input frequency range. We find that the ion heating strongly depends on the power contained in the frequency range of the input spectrum that can resonate with the ions. The minor O5+ ions are easily heated and become anisotropic due to various forms of the spectra. The protons remain nearly isotropic and are weakly heated in most cases in this study. We investigate the self-consistent fluctuation spectrum generated by the response of the ions and the non-Maxwellian features in the velocity distribution.
Site Remediation in a Virtual Environment

We describe the process used in combining an existing computer simulation with Virtual Reality (VR) I/O devices and conventional visualization tools to make the simulation easier to use and the results easier to understand. VR input technology facilitates direct user manipulation of 3D simulation parameters. Commercially available visualization tools provide a flexible environment for representing abstract scientific data. VR output technology provides a more flexible and convincing way to view the visualization results than is afforded in contemporary visualization software. The desired goal of this process is a prototype system that minimized man-machine interface barriers, as wells as enhanced control over the simulation itself, so as to maximize the use of scientific judgement and intuition.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Uncertainty and Inference in Agent-Based Models

Agent-Based Models (ABMs) can be used to quantify future risks by projecting observable behavior into the future. This can be achieved by simulating a hypothetical longitudinal study based on cross-sectional data and estimating quantities on dynamic risks (e.g., relative hazard). Such an approach, however, requires assessment of the variation of the estimates, which would naturally have a higher variance than would be achieved in a real longitudinal study. We present a methodology that considers rigorous statistical measurements such as standard errors and uncertainty associated with the fact that the analyzed longitudinal data are a projection of the cross-sectional survey. We illustrate the use of our approach in simulated and real studies.
Long-term use of an antiinflammatory, curcumin, suppressed type 1 immunity and exacerbated visceral leishmaniasis in a chronic experimental model

Inflammation is considered the underlying cause of numerous disorders, and the practice of taking antiinflammatories as diet supplements has become increasingly prevalent. This study addresses the bioavailablity of a well-established dietary antiinflammatory, curcumin, and examines its effect on adaptive immunity. Visceral leishmaniasis is a major parasitic disease which protection relies on cell-mediated immunity and production of nitric oxide. We found that long-term, low-dose, oral consumption of curcumin activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, deactivates type 1 response, inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase, and interferes with adaptive immunity to exacerbate the pathogenesis of Leishmania donovani infection in vivo. These in vivo effects can be correlated to activities on infected residential macrophages in vitro. Therefore, when reactive radicals generated from inflammation play the dominant role in elimination of pathogens, excessive use of the antioxidative supplements may compromise microbial defense. Nonetheless, it should be noted with equal importance that our finding, conversely, also strengthens the prospect that curcumin may alleviate type 1 response disorders.
A functional relationship between base sequence in DNA and amino acid composition of protein

Abstract Sueoka has pointed out a correlation between per cent amino acid in protein and per cent CG (cytosine plus guanine) in DNA for bacteria. A correlation also appears to exist between per cent doublet sequence in DNA and per cent CG. If these correlations are expressed as linear functions, it follows that a linear correlation exists between per cent amino acid in protein and per cent doublet sequence in DNA. These correlations confirm the predictions of Sueoka (1961) and are consistent with currently proposed codes (Speyer et al. , 1962) .
Mastication in the tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus (reptilia: Rhynchocephalia): Structure and activity of the motor system.

The masticatory pattern of Sphenodon punctatus, the sole remaining rhynchocephalian, now restricted to islands off the coast of New Zealand, has been analyzed by detailed anatomy, cinematography, cinefluoroscopy, and electromyography. Food reduction consists of a closing, crushing bite followed by a propalineal sliding of the dentary row between the maxillary and palatine ones. The large, fleshy tongue can be protruded to pick up small prey, and also plays a major role in prey manipulation. The rotational closing movement of the jaw, supporting the basic crushing movement, is induced by the main adductor musculature. It is followed by a propalineal anterior displacement relying heavily on the action of the M. pterygoideus. The fiber lengths of the several muscles reflect the extent of shortening. The most obvious modification appears in the M. pterygoideus, which contains a central slip of pinnately arranged short fibers that act a period different from that of the rest of the muscle; their action increases the power during the terminal portion of the propalineal phase. This also allows the animal to use its short teeth in an effective shearing bite that cuts fragments off large prey. The action of single cusped dentary teeth acting between the maxillary and palatine tooth rows provides a translational crushing-cutting action that may be an analog of the mammalian molar pattern. However, this strictly fore-aft slide does not incorporate capacity for later development of lateral movement.
Effect of Season on Travel Patterns and Hoof Growth of Domestic Horses

Four Morgan mares and five Morgan geldings ranging in age from 5- to 12-years-old were fitted with Global Positioning System units to determine if season has an influence on travel pattern. Body and hoof growth measurements were obtained so that the influence of season on body condition and hoof growth could be determined. Waist and heart circumference, cresty neck score, and body condition score were determined in each season. The ambient temperature and precipitation was recorded for each season. Waist circumference was the greatest (P < .05) in the spring and summer and the least in the fall and winter. Hoof growth was the greatest (P < .05) in the fall and the least in the winter. The front and rear hooves grew at similar rates in all horses. Hoof growth in geldings and mares were also similar. The average distances traveled were similar across seasons; however, the horse did numerically travel more in the spring and summer compared with the fall and winter. The range of the travel pattern was influenced by season with the horses traveling significantly less in the winter, although the average travel distances were similar. In conclusion, season in temperate zones will influence body condition, hoof growth, and pattern of travel, but the total distance traveled will be similar. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the influence of season on hoof growth and travel patterns.
Synthesis of β-methyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone from biorenewable itaconic acid

An efficient, high-yielding route to β-methyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone (βMMBL)—a monomer for the production of high-performance engineering bioplastics—from biorenewable and inexpensive itaconic acid has been developed. The monomer prepared by this new route is of high purity as isolated without purification, as evidenced by NMR as well as small and large-scale polymerization tests.
An Art History Installation Of Electronic Still Photography

This paper describes an electronic still photography system used to main-tain and disseminate art history images. The system is composed of three distinct sub-systems: image acquisition, database management, and image distribution. The image acquisition sub-system utilizes an image processor for acquiring images, analysing, enhancing and recording them on magnetic video discs. The database management sub-system is used to select images and prepare sequences for lectures and distribution. The image distribution sub-system contains video carrels for student viewing, as well as a hard-copy recorder for the distribution of images. Combined, the facility improves the utilization of the traditional 35mm slides by providing greater access to the collection for both students and faculty. This enhanced access to visual ma-terials substantially improves the faculty's abilty to teach the History of Art.
Behavioural and endocrine responses of female mice to synthetic analogues of volatile compounds in male urine

Abstract The urine of intact, adult male mice elicits more investigatory sniffing from female mice than does the urine of castrated males. When either of two androgen-dependent urinary compounds, 2- sec -butyl dihydrothiazole or dehydro- exo -brevicomin are added to castrate urine, its relative attractiveness remains the same. When both compounds are added to castrate urine, however, its activity is enhanced and the castrate urine becomes as attractive to females as whole, intact male urine. Females exposed to the reconstituted ‘normal’ urine for 3 min per day, displayed more frequent oestrus cycles. The two synthetic compounds are synergistic in the context of castrate urine, producing an olfactory message that behaviourally and physiologically mimics the activity of the normal biological signal.
Synthesis and characterization of six sequential polypeptides containing tyrosine, glutamic acid, alanine, and glycine by circular dichroism and difference spectroscopy.

Six sequential polytetrapeptides containing equimolar amounts of tyrosine, glutamic acid, alanine, and glycine were characterized by CD and difference spectroscopy over a wide range of pH. As the pH was lowered from physiological values, each of the polymers underwent pH-sensitive transitions. The CD spectra indicated that two polymers, poly(Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly) and poly(Tyr-Ala-Glu-Gly), had some α-helical conformation at pH 7.0 and approached maximum helicity around pH 6.0; two others, poly(Ala-Tyr-Glu-Gly) and poly(Glu-Ala-Tyr-Gly), had no α-helical conformation at pH 7.0 and about one-third of the ellipticities of the above two polymers at pH 5.5; and the remaining two, poly(Ala-Glu-Tyr-Gly) and poly(Glu-Tyr-Ala-Gly) had little or no α-helix, even at pH 5.5. Difference spectroscopy at 286 nm yielded results quite different. The molar extinction coefficients for poly(Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly) and poly(Tyr-Ala-Glu-Gly) continued to change, even below pH 5.5, and the total changes in absorbance between pH 8.0 and 4.5 were of intermediate magnitudes among the six polymers. Poly(Ala-Tyr-Glu-Gly) and poly(Glu-Ala-Tyr-Gly), which had similar CD spectra, had the lowest and highest pH-related changes in the molar extinction coefficients. It thus appears that amino acid composition alone cannot account for the apparent differences in conformation among the polytetrapeptides. Other factors, such as amno acid sequence, must play a major role in the determination of conformation. The intrinsic viscosity of poly(Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly) increased markedly between pH 6.0 and 5.5, which was below the pH of the CD transition but above the pH at which the largest absorption perturbation change, at 286 nm, took place. The model that can best account for the relatively low pH at which the absorption transition of tyrosine occurred is a progressive immobilization of side chains in the α-helix as the pH decreases.
Using the PRECEDE model to determine junior high school students' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about AIDS.

The effectiveness of a one-period school-based AIDS education program on an adolescent population of seventh and eighth grade students (N = 585) was determined. An instrument based on the PRECEDE model was used to assess program effectiveness. Three-way analysis of variance indicated significant differences (p v .01) between pretest to posttest scores for knowledge, attitude, and beliefs for those who received the program versus those who did not by grade and gender of students. The intervention group scored significantly higher than the comparison group on knowledge gain for both seventh and eighth grade students and for males and females. On attitude items, a significant increase occurred from pretest to posttest for eighth grade students who received the program, but not for seventh grade students. The experimental group of eighth grade students scored higher on the attitudes component than the comparison of eighth grade students on the posttest. When attitudes were examined by gender for females in the educational intervention, an increase occurred in attitude scores from pretest to posttest. While belief scores increased significantly from pretest to posttest for the experimental seventh and eighth grade students, significant increases occurred only for experimental group females. Findings support the contention that a one-class period AIDS education program can affect more than just knowledge since attitudes and beliefs also were partially affected.
In vivo modulation of excitatory amino acid receptors: microdialysis studies on N-methyl-d-aspartate-evoked striatal dopamine release and effects of antagonists

Abstract Striatal dopamine (DA) release was measured following intrastriatal (i.s.) administration of N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) to unanesthetized, freely-moving rats. One hour after insertion of a removable microdialysis probe and perfusion with normal Ringer's solution, a modified Ringer's solution containing 100 mM potassium (high-K + Ringer's) was used to standardize the preparation. DA release following i.s. administration of NMDA (12.5 mM in normal Ringer's) was dose-dependent. When NMDA (12.5 mM) was administered in high-K + Ringer's, DA release was greatly potentiated. Administration of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist aminophosphonovalerate (APV) in normal Ringer's prior to treatment with NMDA in high-K + Ringer's resulted in a significant reduction of DA release compared to control animals. In contrast, administration of APV prior to treatment with NMDA in normal Ringer's resulted in a significantly increased release of DA compared to controls. Administration of the non-competitive NMDA antagonist, dextromethorphan (DXT) prior to treatment with NMDA in normal Ringer's or NMDA in high-K + Ringer's caused significant reductions of DA release compared to controls. Intrastriatal DXT also caused dose-dependent inhibition of high-K + Ringer's-induced DA release. Similarly, administration of the non-specific calcium channel blocker, cadmium, prior to treatment with NMDA resulted in a significant decrease when compared to control values. Results of this study indicate that dose-dependent NMDA-induced striatal DA release is greatly potentiated by potassium suggesting that under physiological conditions in vivo, striatal NMDA receptors are mostly inactivated. The inhibitory effect of cadmium on NMDA-induced DA release suggests that activation of calcium-dependent mechanisms is responsible in large part for the ability of NMDA to release DA. NMDA-induced release of DA in the presence of high-K + Ringer's is blocked by both APV and DXT suggesting specific involvement of NMDA receptors, although the ability of DXT to inhibit both high-K + Ringer's- and NMDA-induced striatal DA release supports the concept that DXT may act as a calcium channel antagonist. Whereas DXT effectively inhibited DA release following administration of NMDA in physiologic Ringer's, APV potentiated DA release suggesting that APV functions as a partial agonist at NMDA receptors or that APV relieves an inhibitory mechanism, mediated through interneurons, on dopaminergic function.
Surface Effects in Brittle Materials and Internal Length Estimation

The concept of state of degradation is employed as a tool to study the effect of initial material (structure) inhomogeneity and the implications of surface (skin) effects on brittle material response. The initial heterogeneity pattern and its growth under external load is studied experimentally via ultrasonic scanning measurements on prismatic simulated rock samples subjected to mechanical load. Numerical solutions are compared with the experimental results. The skin effects are also studied experimentally through the spatial variation of dissipated energy within the samples tested. In addition, microstructure considerations highlight the skin effect and its implications. The material length for the simulated rock is estimated (for load levels up to peak load) through the experimental observations which yielded 1{approx_equal}0.24 inches (0.61 cm). The analytical solution of a simple problem including microstructure considerations for the same material yielded 1{approx_equal}0.21 inches (0.53 cm). This paper integrates and extends the recent work of the author and co-workers. 21 refs., 6 figs.
Functional role for mouse cerebellar NO/cGMP/KATP pathway in ethanol-induced ataxia.

Background We have previously shown that brain adenosine A1 receptors and nitric oxide (NO) play an important role in ethanol (EtOH)-induced cerebellar ataxia (EICA) through glutamate/NO/cGMP pathway. I now report possible modulation of EICA by the cerebellar NO/cGMP/K(ATP) pathway. Methods EICA was evaluated by Rotorod in CD-1 male mice. All drugs (K(ATP) activators pinacidil, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 nmol; minoxidil, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 pmol; antagonists glipizide/glibenclamide, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 nmol; NO donor l-arginine, 20 nmol; NOS inhibitors [iNOS] inhibitor L-NAME, 50 nmol; glutamate, 1.5 nmol; adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclohexyladenosine [CHA], 6, 12 pmol; antagonist DPCPX, 0.1 or 0.4 nmol) were given by direct intracerebellar microinfusion via stereotaxically implanted guide cannulas, except EtOH (2 g/kg, i.p.). Results Pinacidil and minoxidil dose-dependently accentuated, whereas glipizide and glibenclamide markedly attenuated EICA, indicating tonic participation of K(ATP) channels. Glipizide abolished the pinacidil potentiation of EICA, which confirmed both drugs acted via K(ATP) channels. A possible link between K(ATP) channels and glutamate/NO pathway was suggested when (i) CHA (12 pmol) totally abolished l-arginine-induced attenuation of EICA; (ii) L-NAME abolished l-arginine-induced attenuation of EICA associated with further increase in EICA; and (iii) the combined l-arginine and glutamate infusion virtually abolished EICA. Also, whereas CHA abolished glibenclamide-induced attenuation and potentiated pinacidil/minoxidil-induced accentuation of EICA, the effects of DPCPX were just the opposite to those of CHA. Conclusions The results with CHA therefore suggest a functional link between K(ATP) and A1 receptors and between K(ATP) and glutamate/NO and as an extension may involve participation of NO/cGMP/K(ATP) pathway in EICA.
Alu repeats and human disease.

Alu elements have amplified in primate genomes through a RNA-dependent mechanism, termed retroposition, and have reached a copy number in excess of 500,000 copies per human genome. These elements have been proposed to have a number of functions in the human genome, and have certainly had a major impact on genomic architecture. Alu elements continue to amplify at a rate of about one insertion every 200 new births. We have found 16 examples of diseases caused by the insertion of Alu elements, suggesting that they may contribute to about 0.1% of human genetic disorders by this mechanism. The large number of Alu elements within primate genomes also provides abundant opportunities for unequal homologous recombination events. These events often occur intrachromosomally, resulting in deletion or duplication of exons in a gene, but they also can occur interchromosomally, causing more complex chromosomal abnormalities. We have found 33 cases of germ-line genetic diseases and 16 cases of cancer caused by unequal homologous recombination between Alu repeats. We estimate that this mode of mutagenesis accounts for another 0.3% of human genetic diseases. Between these different mechanisms, Alu elements have not only contributed a great deal to the evolution of the genome but also continue to contribute to a significant portion of human genetic diseases.
Catalytic diesel soot oxidation by hydrothermally stable glass catalysts

Abstract K–Ca–Si glass coated cordierite catalyst was exposed to extended continuous soot oxidation testing in a bench top reactor utilizing flame soot deposition. These samples maintained a T 50 temperature of 500 °C at the end of an estimated 100,000 mi equivalent continuous soot oxidation testing in a low humidity environment. High temperature (500–700 °C) hydrothermal exposure led to potassium and calcium carbonate formation on the glass catalyst surface which degraded oxidation activity with increasing hydrothermal temperature up to 700 °C due to reduced potassium surface mobility. The presence of a soot layer during hydrothermal exposure shielded the glass surface from extensive deactivation, suggesting glasses as promising catalysts for extended DPF use.
Computer aided facilities design : An international survey

A wide variety of computer programmes for solving facilities design problems have been developed. Since the arrival of programmes like CORELAP and CRAFT in the early sixties, a variety of aspects of this problem have been approached using computer technology. Engineers and architects appear to be the developers and users of most of these programmes This paper describes the results of a survey attempting to summarize this activity both in Europe and North America where most of the work is being conducted. Computers are being used for both data reduction and graphics associated with the design of buildings which range from industrial plants to hospitals and schools It is apparent that computers are being used as design aids although few practitioners are willing to delegate the whole job to a computer at this time. Both time shared programmes and the more conventional batch processing are summarized. Heuristics include algorithms which vary in philosophy. The advantages and limitations to construction algor...
Consolidation of Multimodel Forecasts by Ridge Regression: Application to Pacific Sea Surface Temperature

Abstract The performance of ridge regression methods for consolidation of multiple seasonal ensemble prediction systems is analyzed. The methods are applied to predict SST in the tropical Pacific based on ensembles from the Development of a European Multimodel Ensemble System for Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction (DEMETER) models, plus two of NCEP’s operational models. Strategies to increase the ratio of the effective sample size of the training data to the number of coefficients to be fitted are proposed and tested. These strategies include objective selection of a smaller subset of models, pooling of information from neighboring grid points, and consolidating all ensemble members rather than each model’s ensemble average. In all variations of the ridge regression consolidation methods tested, increased effective sample size produces more stable weights and more skillful predictions on independent data. While the scores may not increase significantly as the effective sampling size is increased, the bene...
A Striking Example of the Atmosphere's Leading Traveling Pattern

Abstract Conventional and complex empirical orthogonal function (EOF) techniques show that for at least four months during the fall and winter of 1979/80 a large-amplitude, large-scale, traveling flow anomaly existed in the troposphere and stratosphere. This feature evolved in a cyclic manner, exhibiting an average period of about 23 days. Its phase propagation was toward the west, while its amplitude was concentrated in a broad envelope centered over Canada. The phenomenon was equivalent barotropic in the troposphere and increased in amplitude with altitude. It represented about 25% of the variance of geopotential heights in the troposphere and stratosphere for the months of November through March. The meridional and zonal structure of the zonal wavenumber one component of the traveling anomaly is similar to that of the theoretical 16-day wave. However, it is distinct from that theoretical mode in that its period is longer and, in the troposphere, zonal wave two makes a large contribution to its structur...
The labeled line / basic taste versus across-fiber pattern debate: A red herring?

Why has the labeled line versus across-fiber pattern debate of taste coding not been resolved? Erickson suggests that the basic tastes concept has no rational definition to test. Similarly, however, taste neuron types, which are fundamental to the across-fiber pattern concept, have not been formally defined, leaving this concept with no rational definition to test. Consequently, the two concepts are largely indistinguishable.
Screening For Successful Low-Budget Marketing Strategies For New Ventures

Based upon a study of between fifty to sixty case examples of new venture start‐ups, the author presents a screening procedure for entrepreneurs to use when evaluating whether a proposed low‐budget marketing strategy for a new venture shows promise of being successful. The procedure consists of four sets of screening conditions. A well‐designed marketing strategy should have a reasonably good chance of being successful if it (1) will tightly integrate the product/service and price offerings, the intended distribution method, and the intended promotion plan with the new venture’s designated target market, (2) will encounter no serious marketing strategy execution difficulties which cannot be resolved, (3) uses marketing concepts which can be executed with a small marketing budget, and (4) displays three characteristics believed to be strongly associated with marketing strategies that are successful over the long term.
Relaxation process of hopping ionic conduction in lattice gas models

Abstract An analytical, microscopic treatment has been developed for the relaxation process of hopping ionic conduction in interacting lattice gas systems to gain understanding of the origin of the universal dynamic response in solid electrolytes. Here, it is demonstrated that the relaxation motion of mobile ions is intrinsically non-Debye and follows the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts relaxation behavior even without interactions among mobile ions. This is an apparent contrast to the current view that the anomaly is “created” by interaction and disorder.
Dissociation of the prostaglandin and renin angiotensin systems during captopril therapy for chronic congestive heart failure secondary to coronary artery disease.

Abstract Neurohumoral systems are activated as compensatory mechanisms in congestive heart failure (CHF). A close correlation has been reported between the renin angiotensin and prostaglandin systems in CHF. Furthermore, serum sodium concentration provided an excellent index of hormonal status. In this study, these relations were examined after acute and chronic blockade of renin angiotensin system with captopril. Eight patients with advanced CHF (New York Heart Association III or IV) were studied. Before captopril treatment, all hormone levels were elevated. Mean plasma renin activity was 24 ± 7 ng Al/ml/hour, angiotensin concentration was 221 ± 11 pg/ml and aldosterone concentration was 82 ±17 pg/ml. Plasma PGE2 metabolite was 1,425 ± 321 pg/ml. A close correlation was observed between plasma angiotensin II and PGE2 metabolite levels (r = 0.7); inverse correlations existed between serum sodium concentration and PGE2 metabolite levels (r = −0.9) and with plasma renin activity (r = −0.6). Captopril therapy reduced the plasma angiotensin II level to 38 ± 6 pg/ml and aldosterone concentration to 15 ± 3 pg/ml, but did not affect plasma renin activity (31 ± 10 ng Al/ml/ hour) when measured in 1 week. Paradoxically, PGE2-metabolite levels increased further (to 3,031 ± 346 pg/ml) despite blockade of the renin angiotensin system. Serum sodium concentration no longer correlated with hormone levels. These effects were sustained at 2 months of follow-up. Thus, captopril caused a dissociation between the renin angiotensin system and prostaglandin. The activation of prostaglandin is probably due to captopril's effect on prostaglandin biosynthesis and may contribute to captopril's sustained efficacy in CHF.
1-cm collimated source for use in infrared calibrations

Collimated infrared sources covering the 2 micrometer to 30 micrometer range of wavelengths are necessary to simulate infrared radiation from distant objects. This is important because on-orbit servo and tracking systems make extensive use of infrared radiation for remote sensing. Collimators are used to calibrate infrared detectors in terms of absolute power within a given spectral range. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) operates and maintains the Low Background Infrared Calibration (LBIR) facility, which uses a 2 K electrical substitution radiometer, the Absolute Cryogenic Radiometer (ACR), that is the primary national standard for broadband and infrared spectral measurements. At this facility, users can calibrate blackbody sources with at most 1% uncertainty. However, users must then rely on optical systems at their own facility to collimate the radiation from the blackbody. The effect of the optics on the output of the beam must then be calculated from models. For this reason, NIST is developing a portable transfer radiometer (BXR) that can be taken onsite to directly measure the spectral output, thus eliminating intermediate steps in the calibration chain. NIST is also developing a source having 1 cm diameter collimated beam, for a preliminary calibration of the BXR at the LBIR facility from 2 micrometer to 8 micrometer. The source must fit into a volume of about 0.03 m3 (1 cubic foot), have an angular divergence of less than 700 (mu) rad, a power output greater than 10 nW, and demonstrate 1% repeatability or better. The development and characterization of this source is the main topic of this paper.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hierarchical Load Balancing for Charm++ Applications on Large Supercomputers

Large parallel machines with hundreds of thousands of processors are being built. Recent studies have shown that ensuring good load balance is critical for scaling certain classes of parallel applications on even thousands of processors. Centralized load balancing algorithms suffer from scalability problems, especially on machines with relatively small amount of memory. Fully distributed load balancing algorithms, on the other hand, tend to yield poor load balance on very large machines. In this paper, we present an automatic dynamic hierarchical load balancing method that overcomes the scalability challenges of centralized schemes and poor solutions of traditional distributed schemes. This is done by creating multiple levels of aggressive load balancing domains which form a tree. This hierarchical method is demonstrated within a measurement-based load balancing framework in Charm++. We present techniques to deal with scalability challenges of load balancing at very large scale. We show performance data of the hierarchical load balancing method on up to 16,384 cores of Ranger (at TACC) for a synthetic benchmark. We also demonstrate the successful deployment of the method in a scientific application, NAMD with results on the Blue Gene/P machine at ANL.