cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Price discrimination with a resource constraint

Abstract Introducing an aggregate resource constraint into Mussa and Rosen's [Mussa, M., Rosen, S., 1978. Monopoly and product quality. Journal of Economic Theory 18 (2), 301–317] model of monopoly price discrimination induces an upwards distortion in product quality for high valuation consumers because the standard downward distortions in product quality for other consumers relax the resource constraint.
Resistive receiving and scattering antenna

This work is a sequel to two earlier papers devoted to detailed theoretical and numerical analyses of the imperfectly conducting cylindrical transmitting antenna [1], [2]. A knowledge of the driving-point impedance of the transmitting antenna, as previously reported, and the short-circuit current, as derived in this paper, completely determine the receiving properties of the resistive antenna. It is assumed that an internal impedance per unit length may be defined for the resistive cylinder. This study was prompted primarily by the desire to determine the current distribution along an ionized column of gases when the dielectric constant and conductivity are known, and also along imperfectly conducting missiles in free flight following burnout. The radar cross section of a gas column is readily obtained from the induced current distribution. Current distributions along several representative resistive cylinders as well as scattering cross sections are computed considering broadside illumination by a plane-wave field. The analysis yields accurate results when k_{0}a \ll 1, h \gg a , and k_{0} h \leq 5\pi /4 . Here k_{0} is the free-space wave number; h and a are the antenna half length and radius, respectively.
Geostatistical modeling of the gas emission zone and its in-place gas content for Pittsburgh-seam mines using sequential Gaussian simulation

Determination of the size of the gas emission zone, the locations of gas sources within, and especially the amount of gas retained in those zones is one of the most important steps for designing a successful methane control strategy and an efficient ventilation system in longwall coal mining. The formation of the gas emission zone and the potential amount of gas-in-place (GIP) that might be available for migration into a mine are factors of local geology and rock properties that usually show spatial variability in continuity and may also show geometric anisotropy. Geostatistical methods are used here for modeling and prediction of gas amounts and for assessing their associated uncertainty in gas emission zones of longwall mines for methane control. This study used core data obtained from 276 vertical exploration boreholes drilled from the surface to the bottom of the Pittsburgh coal seam in a mining district in the Northern Appalachian basin. After identifying important coal and non-coal layers for the gas emission zone, univariate statistical and semivariogram analyses were conducted for data from different formations to define the distribution and continuity of various attributes. Sequential simulations performed stochastic assessment of these attributes, such as gas content, strata thickness, and strata displacement. These analyses were followed by calculations of gas-in-place and their uncertainties in the Pittsburgh seam caved zone and fractured zone of longwall mines in this mining district. Grid blanking was used to isolate the volume over the actual panels from the entire modeled district and to calculate gas amounts that were directly related to the emissions in longwall mines. Results indicated that gas-in-place in the Pittsburgh seam, in the caved zone and in the fractured zone, as well as displacements in major rock units, showed spatial correlations that could be modeled and estimated using geostatistical methods. This study showed that GIP volumes may change up to 3 MMscf per acre and, in a multi-panel district, may total 9 Bcf of methane within the gas emission zone. Therefore, ventilation and gas capture systems should be designed accordingly. In addition, rock displacements within the gas emission zone are spatially distributed. From an engineering and practical point of view, spatial distributions of GIP and distributions of rock displacements should be correlated with in-mine emissions and gob gas venthole productions.
Market optimization for microgrid with Demand Response model

This paper develops a market optimization model for a microgrid with Demand Side Bidding (DSB) and Demand Response (DR) by residential consumers. Demand Response (DR) models have been developed by utilizing consumer behavior modeling by Price Elasticity Matrices (PEMs) considering different scenarios and levels of consumer rationality. These PEMs are utilized to calculate the levels of demand response for different consumer types and utilized in the bidding mechanism for the double sided microgrid market. The proposed method is tested for different scenarios on a microgrid system with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Load Serving Entities (LSEs) for optimized generation and demand response levels so as to minimize cost.
The utility of texture analysis to improve per‐pixel classification for high to very high spatial resolution imagery

Earth observation data are becoming available at increasingly finer resolutions. Sensors already in existence (IKONOS, Quickbird, SPOT 5, Orbview) or due to be launched in the near future will reach 1–5 m resolution. These very high resolution (VHR) data will provide more details of the urban areas, but it seems evident that they will create additional problems in terms of information extraction using automatic classification. In this framework, this paper examines the potential of the spectral/textural approach to improve the classification accuracy of intra‐urban land cover types. The utility of the textural analysis was measured in comparison with multi‐spectral per‐pixel classifications. Haralick's second‐order statistics were applied to the co‐occurrence matrix. Four texture indices with six window sizes created from panchromatic images were tested on images at high to very high resolutions (10–1 m). The results show that the optimal index improving the global classification accuracy is the homogenei...
Catecholamines and local rebound in left ventricular contractile force after release of coronary artery occlusion.

Data obtained in open-chest dog preparations indicate the involvement of myocardial catecholamines with increased inotropism after temporary ventricular ischaemia. Reserpinization and treatment with β-adrenergic blocking agents significantly reduced the rebound contractile force recorded after release of coronary artery constricting ligatures. Simultaneously recorded rebounds in coronary arterial blood flow were not correspondingly affected.
Modern power switches: the Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology

Silicon Power MOSFETs, with more than fifty years of development, are widely accepted and applied in power converters. Gallium Nitride (GaN) power devices are commercially available in recent years, but the device performance and application have not been fully developed. These devices include Schottky Barrier Diode (SBD) and P-I-N rectifiers,?? High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT), heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT). In this paper, these GaN devices are discussed and compared with Si devices and SiC devices, which were the candidates to replace Si devices for their capacity to support high power density and high temperature environments. SiC devices high cost reduced their usage which resulted in the growth of GaN-based power switches.
Effects of diazepam on circadian phase advances and delays.

Abstract Phase advances of hamster locomotor rhytms, which normally can be induced by light pulses in the late subjective night, were blocked in a dose-dependent manner by the benzodiazepine, diazepam. Light-induced phase delays were unaffected at doses that significantlly blocked phase advances. Diazepam caused small phase delays of the free-running rhythm when given without a light pulse at either phase advance or phase delay time points. These results are discussed with regard to the possibility that different neurochemical mechanisms are required to process light-induced phase advances and delays and that GABA neurotransmission may be involved in the modulation of light input to the clock.
Experimental observations of deformation behavior of bulk metallic glasses during wedge-like cylindrical indentation

This article reports on the in situ observations of deformation behavior of a metallic glass under a wedge-like cylindrical indenter. The experimental observations for various indenter radii provide information on both macroscopic and microscopic details of the deformation. The deformation zones developed under indenters with different radii that were found to be self-similar and in agreement with the predictions of continuum finite-element simulation with pressure-dependent yielding. There are two types of shear bands being identified beneath the indenter. A set of primary bands is identified as evolving with the process zone front and presents an included angle of 78–80°. The other set of bands evolves at a later stage of loading within the originally formed ones but with a consistently higher included angle of around 87°. Despite the richness of the shear-band details, the macroscopic trends, the force-indentation depth response, and the extent of deformation zones are well captured for this constrained deformation mode by the continuum models that address the onset of yielding only.
Advances and Refinements in Phonosurgery

Scientific discovery, technological advances, and improved outcomes assessment have resulted in advances and refinements in phonosurgery. Three areas of substantial evolution are phonomicrosurgery, laryngeal framework surgery, and the use of implantable materials in vocal folds. Discovery of the importance of the superficial layers of the lamina propria has led to increased use of more limited medial microflap approaches and less frequent use of the classic lateral cordotomy flap approach. Alternative approaches to managing vocal fold scarring defects have addressed the separation of body and cover and provided suitable lamina propria replacement. Approaches to sulcus vocalis have been refined to address type II (linear vergeture) and type III (focal invasive pit) sulcus, where there is loss of lamina propria, while still recognizing the common nonpathological type I (physiological) sulcus. Technological advancements such as photodynamic therapy, tuned dye lasers, and laryngeal microdebridement have augmented the armamentarium for mechanical removal of laryngeal papillomata. Careful infusion-assisted microexcision and adjunctive medical management have been refined and made more effective. Laryngeal framework surgery has embraced the development of Silastic, hydroxylapatite, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, and titanium shims. Anatomical studies have helped to improve operative precision and safety, and have led to inventive variations in arytenoid repositioning that improve closure of the posterior subunit. Vocal fold augmentation by injection has been facilitated by innovative use of the rigid telescope and intraoperative videostroboscopy. Anatomical studies have focused on the infrafold region and rheological studies have attempted to match viscoelastic properties of injectable substances to those of vocal fold tissues. Alloplastic materials such as Teflon have been largely supplanted by newer bioimplantables such as fat, collagen, and fascia.
Monitoring blood flow responses during topical ALA-PDT

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is currently used as a clinical treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancers. In order to optimize PDT treatment, vascular disruption early in treatment must be identified and prevented. We present blood flow responses to topical ALA-PDT in a preclinical model and basal cell carcinoma patients assessed by diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). Our results show that ALA-PDT induced early blood flow changes and these changes were irradiance dependent. It is clear that there exists considerable variation in the blood flow responses in patients from lesion to lesion. Monitoring blood flow parameter may be useful for assessing ALA-PDT response and planning.
Epidemiologic changes in bulimic behavior among female adolescents over a five-year period

Because bulimia has only recently been recognized as a distinct diagnostic category, little is known about the extent to which this disorder has reached a stable morbidity in our culture. In this study we compared two samples of female adolescents which were collected 5 years apart, in 1981 and 1986
Penetration by stretching projectiles

Abstract The hydrodynamic theory of long-rod penetration which takes into account material strength is expanded to include those projectiles which can be modeled as having a linear velocity gradient. This is intended to encompass certain projectiles formed by shaped charges. The theory is then built into a model which includes experimentally determined parameters for penetrator particulation and the model is experimentally tested.
Alterations in properties of L-type Ca channels in aging rat heart.

Previous studies of whole-cell L-type Ca currents in aging heart have demonstrated an increase in the peak Ca current magnitude in proportion to the increase in membrane area, and a slowing of the time course for inactivation. However, the single-channel mechanisms underlying this upregulation, and for the slowed inactivation are not known. We have therefore compared the properties of single L-type Ca channel currents recorded from ventricular myocytes obtained from young adult (3 month), adult (6–8 month) and aging (24 month) Wistar rats, using 5 m m Ba ions as the permeant ion. We report that the peak ensemble-averaged single Ca channel currents from aging heart (−280±57 fA) were enhanced compared to those from young adult (−137±16 fA), or adult hearts (−144±38 fA). This surprising result was related, in part, to an apparent increase in the number of active Ca channels per patch in aging (1.90±0.23) v young adult (1.33±0.19) or adult heart (1.50±0.2). Moreover, there was an increase in the time constant for inactivation of the ensemble-averaged Ca currents of aging (471±169 ms), compared with young adult (198±43 ms), or adult heart (196±32 ms). The aging-related changes were also traced to alterations in single Ca channel gating, including an increase in the average probability of being open, and an increase in the availability of single Ca currents in aging heart. In contrast, the unitary Ca current amplitude was unchanged with aging. These novel findings suggest that the compensatory increase in the L-type Ca currents during aging is a consequence of an apparent increase in both the number, and the activity of individual L-type Ca channels.
Comparison of biomass equations for planted vs. natural loblolly pine stands of sawtimber size

Abstract Equations predicting biomass of components of sawtimber-size trees in a near-maturity loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation were compared to similar equations for an uneven-aged natural loblolly pine stand. Combined analysis of the two sites revealed that curves estimating total tree, stem wood, stem bark, branches, and foliage + branches weights were significantly different, while curves predicting biomass for total stem and foliage were similar. Biomass equations differ because of variations in tree component ratios and taper associated with site and stand conditions.
“I Hated Her Guts!”: Emerging Adults’ Recollections of the Formation, Maintenance, and Termination of Antipathetic Relationships During High School

Antipathetic relationships have received little empirical attention. This study examines these relationships by eliciting college students’ descriptions of the formation, patterns of interpersonal ...
Cycle-Averaged Models of Cardiovascular Dynamics

Lumped-parameter time-varying electrical circuit analogs for the cardiovascular system are frequently used in medical research and teaching for simulating and analyzing hemodynamic data. Pulsatile models provide details of the intracycle dynamics of each heart beat. In some settings, however, such as when tracking a hospital patient's hemodynamic state over time, it is more useful to dynamically track the beat-to-beat or intercycle dynamics. Rather than introducing heuristic averaging during the model-building step, as is done in existing nonpulsatile models, we apply a short-term, cycle-averaging operation to the differential equations of the underlying pulsatile model to obtain cycle-averaged models. The cycle-averaging method preserves the dependence of the output variables on the model parameters. In this paper, we apply cycle averaging to a simple pulsatile cardiovascular model to derive a cycle-averaged model for cardiovascular dynamics. The resultant model captures the intercycle dynamics with relatively small approximation errors for a large range of perturbations in important system parameters
Coupled helices for use in traveling&#8211;wave tubes

Previous theoretical treatments concerning coupled helices in the absence of a beam, while useful for predicting approximate behavior, are not satisfactory for many tube applications because the presence of a beam can substantially modify the behavior. This paper presents a theory of propagation for coupled concentric helices in the presence of a coaxial beam and computes therefrom properties pertaining to coupler and attenuator applications. Included are curves of the propagation constants as functions of coupling coefficient and beam velocity, curves of the inner and outer helix voltages as functions of the physical dimensions, and curves which permit the frequency response for various designs of input and output couplers to be calculated. Sample calculations show that the proper length for input and output couplers is greater than the length for complete energy transfer between helices in the absence of the beam (a criterion commonly used in design work). Calculations also illustrate the related fact that the frequency for maximum transmission through a coupler is lower when the beam is turned on than when off. Only preliminary work has been done to date in computing the properties of a coupled-helix attenuator.
Photocurrents at a metal-electrolyte interface.

Photocurrents at metal electrolyte interface coulostatic measurement with dropping mercury electrode /DME/ for sodium fluoride with nitrous oxide
The Importance of Islands for the Protection of Biological and Linguistic Diversity

Islands make up 5.3% of Earth’s land area yet maintain an estimated 19% of bird species, 17% of rodents, 17% of flowering plants, and 27% of human languages. Species diversity is disproportionately threatened on islands in relation to the islands’ proportion of both global land area and species, with 61% of all extinct species and 37% of all critically endangered species confined to islands. Languages are disproportionately threatened on islands in relation to land area with 11% of extinct languages and 25% of critically endangered languages on islands. Islands are a priority area for integrated conservation efforts because they have 14 times greater density of critically endangered terrestrial species and 6 times greater density of critically endangered languages than continental areas. Invasive species and habitat loss are the largest threats to island terrestrial species diversity. Proven management actions can reduce these threats, benefiting both local peoples and species diversity on islands.
On-chip picosecond delay measurement of RSFQ digital logic gates

Because RSFQ circuits are intended to operate at multi-GHz frequencies, a logical requirement for developing the technology is a method of accurately measuring the picosecond delays associated with individual logic circuits. A technique has been developed for on-chip measurements of such RSFQ gate delays. The central element in this scheme is a race between a path of calibrated variable delay and a path of unknown delay. Modification of the canonical RSFQ RS flip-flop circuit yields a multiple state destructive readout cell (MDRO), in which one can configure the number of flux quanta to be stored. This circuit has been experimentally verified for groups of two flux quanta. Used in concert with the confluence buffer, this scheme can provide the RSFQ designer with sub-picosecond pulse arrival delay information crucial for higher order circuit simulation. A detailed experimental process is presented from which this timing information can be extracted using basic low-speed measurement techniques. >
Internalization strategies and value implications of latin american emerging market multinationals

This study investigates the Internationalization strategies and their value implications of Latin American Emerging Market Multinationals (LAEMMs). We examine 66 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) announcements, 20 joint venture (JV) announcements and 9 Strategic Alliance (SA) announcements associated with LAEMMs during the sample period of 19912005. First, the paper explores the effects of cross-border expansion patterns on firm value creation. Second, it examines market reaction to the announcements of cross-border expansion patterns. Third, it evaluates firm performance in relation to the cross-border expansion activities. This study finds that most LAEMMs do not earn significantly positive abnormal returns during the event windows defined in this study. However, it is generally evident that there is value creation in international expansion activities. According to the event-study results, value creation is mostly associated with SAs. This finding is consistent with previous research. It is also indicated that most SA announcements are received by the market positively. JVs also experience value creation during the event windows utilized in this study. However, value creation of JVs is not to the extent that of SAs. Market reaction to JV announcements is also positive, but not to the degree of SAs.
Steady-state optimal controller with actuator noise variance linearly related to actuator signal variance

The linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) method assumes that the covariance matrix of the actuator noise is given before the design of the feedback matrix. However, in practice, the actuator-noise covariance matrix may depend on the actuator signal energy, which depends on the feedback. Consequently, the feedback from LQG theory degrades the system performance. The authors investigate the steady-state optimal controller when the noise variance of an actuator is linearly related to the variance of an actuator signal. This control system could be much more precise and/or spend much less control energy than the one obtained through the use of the ordinary LQG method. >
One Health continuing medical education: an avenue for advancing interdisciplinary communication on One Health issues

JAVMA, Vol 234, No. 11, June 1, 2009 C ago, prominent members of the medical community recognized the link between the health of humans and that of other animals. Although there was considerable collaboration between practitioners of human and veterinary medicine in the late 19th century, particularly with regard to education and research, there are limited collaborative efforts in place today. Globalization of economies, emerging infectious diseases, and bioterrorism are rapidly changing the needs of public health and medical education. Of particular concern to both the human and veterinary medical professions is the threat of zoonotic diseases from livestock, companion animals, and wildlife. The encroachment of housing developments into rural areas has brought people and domestic animals into greater contact with wildlife diseases. With a growing number of US households owning at least one pet, millions of families are placed at further risk, albeit limited in proportion to the risks of other contagious diseases. Via contamination of the food and water supplies with pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp, close contact with live animals is no longer required for humans to develop zoonotic diseases. Millions of consumers in the United States are at risk of developing serious health problems from improperly handled meat, poultry, and egg products. Many zoonoses are preventable through public education programs that target simple measures to reduce disease transmission, such as proper hand washing after handling pets, vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies, routine screening of pets for zoonotic parasites, and observation of leash laws. However, it can be difficult for veterinarians to provide appropriate guidance for several reasons: appointment time is often too limited to discuss all relevant issues with clients, certain pet owners may never seek veterinary care for their animals, and the public does not generally perceive veterinarians to be a source of information on human health. In a research study of parents’ and pediatricians’ knowledge of pet-associated hazards, most parents obtained information regarding animal disease from magazines, newspapers, and television, whereas only 5% (11/231) sought advice from a veterinarian. Physicians and nurses may therefore be the only sources One Health continuing medical education: an avenue for advancing interdisciplinary communication on One Health issues
Circumventricular organs: Receptive and homeostatic functions and clinical implications

AP= : area postrema; AQP4= : aquaporin-4; AT1R= : angiotensin type 1 receptor; AVP= : arginine vasopressin; BBB= : blood–brain barrier; CVO= : circumventricular organ; IgG= : immunoglobulin G; IL-6= : interleukin-6; NMO= : neuromyelitis optica; NSCC= : nonspecific cation channel; NTS= : nucleus of the solitary tract; OVLT= : organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis; PVN= : paraventricular nucleus; SFO= : subfornical organ; SON= : supraoptic nucleus; TRP= : transient receptor potential The circumventricular organs (CVOs) are highly vascularized structures located around the third and fourth ventricles and characterized by the lack of a blood–brain barrier (BBB). These specialized areas are points of communication between the blood, the brain parenchyma, and the CSF. Neurons and glial cells of the CVOs express a unique repertoire of receptors and ion channels and receive a wide range of chemical signals from the bloodstream. Via their interconnections with the hypothalamus and brainstem, these sensory CVOs have a critical role in sodium and water balance, cardiovascular regulation, energy metabolism, and immunomodulation. They are also involved in mechanisms of fever, vomiting, and other responses to potentially noxious stimuli; they are sites of access to the CNS for circulating microorganisms, prion proteins, and autoantibodies. These subjects have been recently reviewed.1,–,4 ### Microscopic architecture. The circumventricular organs (CVOs) are specialized structures strategically located along the surface of the brain ventricles. From the structural standpoint, they are subdivided into 2 groups, paraependymal and ependymal; the paraependymal CVOs have been further characterized into sensory and secretory.5 The CVOs have a unique neural and vascular architecture (table 1).1,–,4 They consist of neurons, glia, and ependymal cells combined with leptomeningeal and vascular elements. A common salient feature of the CVOs is presence of fenestrated capillaries and loosely apposed astrocytic processes that create relatively large perivascular spaces. These characteristics allow the ready passage of large molecules, such as peptides and polar substances, between the blood to the perivascular spaces, exposing neurons to peripheral signals. The ependymal lining of the CVOS contains specialized ependymocytes and tanycytes. Whereas ependymocytes are linked by tight junctions that establish a barrier between the CSF and the brain, tanycytes have multiple microvilli or cilia that contact the CSF, potentially providing for a …
English Catholics and the Supernatural, 1553–1829. By Francis Young. (Farnham, England: Ashgate, 2013. Pp. xii, 308. $134.95.)

This is a difficult book to review for many reasons. The title is somewhat misleading and would be more accurate if it were “Catholics, the Supernatural, and the Occult,” which would more accuratel...
On the distributed subcube-allocation strategies in the hypercube multiprocessor systems

The authors propose a novel system framework for the design of distributed job-scheduling and subcube-allocation strategies in hypercube multiprocessor/multicomputer systems. A generalized-lattice ordering scheme is proposed for processors. An elegant system information structure, the subcube identification table (SIT), is proposed for efficient distribution, retrieval, and update of free-subcube information. Locations of free subcubes can be determined by any node through direct lookup of its SIT. A novel interprocessor communication mechanism called the sync-broadcast is presented for SIT update/construction, and for resolving contention between subcube-requests for consistent allocation/deallocation of subcubes. Different job scheduling schemes can be easily implemented based on the proposed scheme. >
Considering Circuit Observability Don't Cares in CNF Satisfiability

Boolean Satisfiability (SAT) has seen significant use in various tasks in circuit verification in recent years. A key contributor to the efficiency of contemporary SAT solvers is fast deduction using Boolean Constraint Propagation (BCP). This can be efficiently implemented with a Conjunctive Normal Form (CNF) representation of a circuit. However, most circuit verification tasks start from a logic circuit description of the problem instance. Fortunately, there is a simple conversion from a logic circuit to a CNF that enables the use of the CNF representation even for circuit verification tasks. However, this process loses some information regarding the structure of the circuit. One example of such structural information is the Circuit Observability Don't Cares. Several recent papers have addressed the issue of handling circuit unobservability in CNF-based SAT. However, as we will demonstrate, none of these accurately captures the conditions for use of this information in all stages of a CNF-based SAT solver. In this paper, we propose a broader approach to take such Don't Care information into consideration in a CNF-based SAT solver. It does so by adding certain don't care literals to clauses in the CNF representation. These don't care literals are treated differently at different times during the solution process, much like don't cares in logic synthesis. The major merit of this scheme, unlike other recently proposed techniques, is that the solver can continue to use this don't care information during the learning process, which is an important part of contemporary SAT solvers. We have implemented this approach in the zChaff SAT solver and experiments show that significant performance gain can be obtained through their use.
ACTH-(4-10) through gamma-MSH: evidence for a new class of central autonomic nervous system-regulating peptides

Examination of the cardiovascular effects produced by peripheral administration of peptide sequences derived from adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) led to the discovery of the pressor, cardioaccelerator, and natriuretic actions of intravenous (iv) ACTH-(4-10). Based on pharmacological studies in rats with alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, the cardiovascular effects of this peptide appeared to be mediated by the release of catecholamines. A peptide sequence analogous to ACTH-(4-10), gamma-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (gamma-MSH), possesses greater than 100-fold more cardiovascular activity and 1,000-fold more natriuretic activity than ACTH-(4-10). The pressor effect of iv gamma-MSH peptides appears to be dependent on the maintenance of preganglionic sympathetic drive, with no significant contribution of circulating vasopressin or angiotensin II. However, the presence of central vasopressinergic, and perhaps angiotensinergic, pathways appears to be crucial for expression of the full pressor effect of circulating gamma-MSH. Further evidence for the potential importance of the central nervous system (CNS) in these cardiovascular effects was obtained from central lesion experiments and a comparison of intracarotid vs. intrajugular infusions. Structure-activity studies suggested that the cardiovascular effects of ACTH-(4-10) or gamma-MSH are dependent on an Arg-hydrophobic amino acid sequence, located at or near their COOH-terminal. A similar requirement for biological activity is found in molluscan cardioexcitatory peptides, and the molluscan peptides have cardiovascular effects in rats, which resemble ACTH-(4-10) or gamma-MSH. This suggests that peptides of the gamma-MSH family are the pharmacological analogues, and perhaps the physiological homologues, of a cardioexcitatory family of peptides found in molluscs and birds. Elevated circulating levels of peptides derived from the NH2-terminal of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) have been found in psychological stress, cardiovascular distress, and hemorrhage. Increases in central sympathetic drive are common to all of these states. gamma-MSH peptides have been localized to POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus and nucleus commissuralis of the rat. Projections from the latter nucleus innervate hindbrain vasomotor centers. Intraventricular administration of gamma-MSH produces prolonged elevation of mean arterial pressure. gamma-MSH peptides may provide a link between humoral and neurogenic mechanisms in cardiovascular regulation and could potentially be important neurotransmitters for central control of the cardiovascular system.
Limitations for Dairy Production in Developing Countries

Abstract Animal products (fish, eggs, meat, and milk) provide nearly 53 million Mt of edible protein and more than 1 billion Meal of energy per year. This is equivalent to 53% of the protein and 26% of the energy from cereal grains. The 550 million Mt of milk provides 53% of all animal protein. Present production is equivalent to .36 liters per capita, but consumption is high in developed countries, .5 to .8 liters per day but less than .2 liters in developing countries. From 1969 to 1978 world milk supplies increased 1.4% peryr, but human population grew 2.1%. Comparing rates of increase in cattle numbers (1.1%) and in milk (1.4%) indicates milk per animal has changed little. Land for agricultural cropping increased 1.1% per year 1969 to 1978. Expansion of cropping into traditional grazing areas and rise in fossil fuel prices has tended to reduce availability of milk in urban centers of developing countries. Elasticity of demand for milk in developing countries is high, but general market growth is slow because of limits in income growth by the majority of the population. Many developing countries are giving greater emphasis to milk supplies and are seeking bank loans to support development of infrastructure for dairying both on and off farms. Growth in milk must come largely from small farms which will require identification of constraints and development of appropriate technology. On subsistence farms there is a high dependence on animals to provide goods and services of nonfood nature which also will require consideration in developing milk supplies. Potential for growth of milk supplies in developing countries is high and affords an excellent opportunity for dairy scientists in the United States to assist in training and research.
Composite Vectorlike Fermions

Abstract We study a dynamical mechanism that generates a composite vectorlike fermion, formed by the binding of an N-tuplet of elementary chiral fermions to an N-tuplet of scalars. Deriving the properties of the composite fermion in the large N limit, we show that its mass is much smaller than the compositeness scale when the binding coupling is near a critical value. We compute the contact interactions involving four composite fermions, and find that their coefficients scale as 1 / N . Physics beyond the Standard Model may include composite vectorlike fermions arising from this mechanism.
Minimizing and maximizing the joint space-spatial frequency uncertainty of Gabor-like functions: comment

We dispute the claim that Hermite functions (similar to derivatives of Gaussians) minimize a joint uncertainty relation in space and spatial frequency. These functions are found to maximize rather than minimize the uncertainty of the class of functions consisting of an mth-order polynomial times a Gaussian.
Ensemble Data Assimilation Applied to RAINEX Observations of Hurricane Katrina (2005)

An ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) based on the Weather Research and Forecasting model is applied to generate ensemble analyses and forecasts of Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the surrounding area every 6 h over the lifetime of the storm on a nested domain. Analyses are derived from assimilating conventional in situ observations, reconnaissance dropsondes, including data taken during the Hurricane Rainband and Intensity Exchange Experiment (RAINEX), and tropical cyclone position estimates. Observation assimilation at individual times consistently reduces errors in tropical cyclone position, but not necessarily in intensity; however, withholding observations leads to significantly larger errors in both quantities. Analysis increments for observations near the tropical cyclone are dominated by changes in vortex position, and these increments increase the asymmetric structure of the storm. Data denial experiments indicate that dropsondes deployed in the synoptic environment provide minimal benefit to the outer domain; however, dropsondes deployed within the tropical cyclone lead to significant reductions in position and intensity errors on the inner domain. Specifically, errors in the inner domain ensemble-mean 6-h forecasts of minimum pressure are 70% larger when dropsonde data is not assimilated. Precipitation fields are qualitatively similar to Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite estimates, although model values are double the values of the satellite estimate. Moreover, the spinup period and initial imbalance in EnKF-initialized WRF forecasts is less than starting the model from a GFS analysis. Ensemble-mean 48-h forecasts initialized with EnKF analyses have track and intensity errors that are 50% smaller than GFS and NHC official forecasts.
Microwave modulation of a quantum-well laser with and without external optical injection

We compare three microwave modulation methods experimentally and theoretically using a semiconductor quantum-well (QW) Fabry-Perot test laser: (1) direct microwave current modulation of the test laser (electrical modulation); (2) optical modulation by an external single-wavelength pump laser with a modulated optical injection power; and (3) electrical modulation of the test laser that is injection locked by an external single-wavelength pump laser with a constant injection power. This is the first direct comparison of the three modulation methods on the same QW laser, to the best of our knowledge. The bandwidth of optical absorption modulation is 7.7 GHz, which is 1.45 times the direct electrical modulation bandwidth (5.3 GHz) at a bias current of 30 mA in the test laser. On the other hand, the electrical modulation of the test laser under injection-locking condition has a significantly higher modulation bandwidth (10.5 GHz) than both the electrical and optical modulation methods.
Wnt/β-catenin signaling: components, mechanisms, and diseases

Signaling by the Wnt family of secreted glycolipoproteins via the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin controls embryonic development and adult homeostasis. Here we review recent progress in this so-called canonical Wnt signaling pathway. We discuss Wnt ligands, agonists, and antagonists, and their interactions with Wnt receptors. We also dissect critical events that regulate β-catenin stability, from Wnt receptors to the cytoplasmic β-catenin destruction complex, and nuclear machinery that mediates β-catenin-dependent transcription. Finally, we highlight some key aspects of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in human diseases including congenital malformations, cancer, and osteoporosis, and discuss potential therapeutic implications.
The Outcome of Linear Accelerator Radiosurgery: Is an Early Angiogram Needed?

In this issue of the American Journal of Neuroradiology (page 475), Oppenheim et al document an extensive experience with linear accelerator radiosurgery for 197 patients over a 4-year period (January 1990 to December 1993). Of the 197 patients treated, 138 had what was defined as an “early”
Borrowed Authority: The American Catholic Bishops' Argument by Citation.

Rhetorical use of citation is a means of indirectly reaffirming authority while avoiding the appearance of argument. It is therefore an especially useful strategy for people and institutions with c...
Black hole evolution by spectral methods

Current methods of evolving a spacetime containing one or more black holes are plagued by instabilities that prohibit long-term evolution. Some of these instabilities may be due to the numerical method used, traditionally finite differencing. In this paper, we explore the use of a pseudospectral collocation (PSC) method for the evolution of a spherically symmetric black hole spacetime in one dimension using a hyperbolic formulation of Einstein’s equations. We demonstrate that our PSC method is able to evolve a spherically symmetric black hole spacetime forever without enforcing constraints, even if we add dynamics via a Klein-Gordon scalar field. We find that, in contrast with finite-differencing methods, black hole excision is a trivial operation using PSC applied to a hyperbolic formulation of Einstein’s equations. We discuss the extension of this method to three spatial dimensions.
Homotopy approach for solving constrained optimization problems

A homotopy approach for solving constrained parameter optimization problems is examined. The first-order necessary conditions, with the complementarity conditions represented using a technique due to Mangasarian (1967) are solved. The equations are augmented to avoid singularities which occur when the active constraint changes. The Chow-Yorke (1978) algorithm is used to track the homotopy path leading to the solution to the desired problem at the terminal point. A simple example which illustrates the technique and an application to a fuel optimal orbital transfer problem are presented. >
Multirate payload switching using a swappable optical carrier suppressed label in a packet switched DWDM optical network

Optical packets with multirate payloads have been demonstrated for optical label switching (OLS) and transport in a multihop dense wavelength-division-multiplexed (DWDM) optical network with over 200 km fiber and a low-power penalty for the first time. The key functions for label generation, swapping, and switching have been successfully realized.
Modulation of ION Channels in Neurons and Other Cells

The field of ion channel modulation has entered a stage of maturity. The development of powerful new molecular biological and biophysical approaches has provided important new insights into the structure and function of ion channels and has revealed them as dynamic entities whose activity can be regulated. The physiological consequences of such regulation are obvious for so-called excitable cells like nerve and muscle cells, but it is also evident that modulation occurs in many other cell types, where its effects on the lifestyle of the cell are less clear. Furthermore, the number of ion channels that have been shown to be subject to modulation continues to increase, and the end is not yet in sight. For example, exciting information is beginning to emerge about gating and conduction properties of the large class of channels coupled to excitatory amino acid receptors (Mayer 1987), but their modulation has not yet been studied in any detail. In any event, there no longer is any doubt that modulatability is an intrinsic property of many and perhaps all membrane ion channels. The mechanisms of channel modulation are also turning out to be more diverse than was first suspected. One possible explanation for this diversity is to provide a broad temporal spectrum for the regulation of channel activity. One temporal extreme may be a directly coupled system such as the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor/channel, where interactions between the several subunits of a single macromolecular complex determine rapid channel gating. The other extreme may be covalent modification (by protein phosphorylation or other covalent change), which results in a functional change that can long outlast the initial stimulus. G-protein modulation, which involves the (presumably) noncovalent interaction between distinct membrane proteins, may provide for intermediate duration changes in channel properties. Whether these mechanisms will be joined by others that provide for an even more subtle temporal discrimination is an exciting question for the future.
On Measuring Compassion in Social Preferences Do Gender, Price of Giving, or Inequality Matter?

This paper incorporates compassion into social preferences and tracks individuals' choices over ten allocation decisions, categorizing participants' behavior more precisely than previous work. We provide important evidence relevant to the on-going debate as to whether social preferences are better characterized as inequity aversion or social surplus maximization. We find social preferences to be heterogeneous: approximately two-thirds of participants exhibit consistent preferences in all ten exercises and other-regarding individuals are almost evenly split between inequity aversion and social surplus maximization. Women are significantly more likely than men to be inequity averters and less likely to be social surplus maximizers. A large majority of participants choose one or more allocations consistent with compassion but which reduce own payoff, increase inequality, or reduce social surplus. Individuals respond to lower prices of giving by being less self-interested and to larger payoff gaps by being more compassionate. Men are more responsive than women to the price of giving because they are more often social surplus maximizers who react more to costs while women are more often inequity averters who are less sensitive to the price of giving.
Adam Smith Was Right About Corporate CEO's Incentives Absent Effective Regulation

Adam Smith warned that the officers of corporations were likely to be unfaithful agents that would harm shareholders. Modern anti-regulatory economists sought to remedy this flaw at capitalism’s core by supercharging executive compensation. However, modern compensation systems further misaligned the CEO’s interests, and intensified the perverse incentives to engage in accounting "control fraud," where the CEO uses an apparently legitimate firm as a "weapon" to defraud creditors and shareholders. No regulation forced any lender to make a bad loan. "The greedy" do not "aim at profits, not losses" when compensation schemes are perverse. They maximize short-term accounting "profits" in order to increase their wealth. Making bad loans, growing rapidly, and extreme leverage maximize "profits." Bad borrowers agree to pay more and it is impossible to grow rapidly via high quality lending. Lending to the uncreditworthy requires the CEO to suborn controls, maximizing "adverse selection." This produced an "epidemic" of mortgage fraud, particularly in the unregulated nonprime sector. The FBI began warning in September 2004 about the mortgage fraud "epidemic." Fraudulent loans cause huge direct losses, but the epidemic also hyper-inflated and extended the housing bubble, and eviscerated trust, causing catastrophic indirect losses. When we do not regulate or supervise financial markets we, de facto, decriminalize control fraud. The regulators are the cops on the beat against control fraud – and control fraud causes greater financial losses than all other forms of property crime combined.