cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of the hippocampus in temporal and spatial navigation: An adaptive neural network

Abstract The hippocampus has been proposed to participate in either spatial or temporal mapping. As an alternative to these seemingly conflicting views, we hypothesized that the hippocampus computes ‘aggregate predictions’ of environmental events that are used to control associative learning. Aggregate predictions forecast what event is going to occur, when in time, and where in space. The hypothesis assumes that activity of hippocampal pyramidal neurons is proportional to the instantaneous value of the aggregate prediction, and that the computation of the aggregate prediction is impaired by hippocampal lesions. In order to test the ‘aggregate prediction’ hypothesis in both spatial and temporal tasks, this paper presents a real-time neural network capable of describing temporal discrimination and spatial learning in a unified fashion. The neural network incorporates detectors that can be tuned to a particular value of continuous temporal or spatial variables. In the temporal domain, computer simulations were carried out for temporal discrimination in classical conditioning and instrumental learning, classical conditioning under different interstimulus intervals (ISIs), and classical conditioning with mixed ISIs. In the spatial domain, computer simulations were carried out for place and cue learning. The paper shows that under the ‘aggregate prediction’ hypothesis the network correctly describes activity of hippocampal pyramidal neurons and the effect of hippocampal lesions in temporal and spatial learning. These results suggest that, rather than either a temporal or spatial function, the hippocampus is involved in the computation of variables common to both temporal and spatial navigation.
The relationship of potassium to the electrolytes and to the proteins of the gastric juice of man; effect of persistent loss of gastric juice on serum potassium.

The increasing interest in the study of potassium in relation to cell activity and the movement of the ion through its barriers, its concentration in the extracellular fluid and serum, and its excretion from the body, indicate the need for greater understanding of the movement of potassium in relation to the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. This study was undertaken to obtain further knowledge concerning the secretion of potassium in gastric juice. Additional data relating to its concentration in mucoid, achlorhydric and hydrochloric acid portions of gastric secretions were noted. The concentration of the ion in fasting and actively secreted specimens of stomach juice and its relation to the acid-base pattern has been studied. Attempts were made to determine whether potassium was in equilibrium with other electrolytes or bound to the proteins of gastric juice. A case report, which illustrates the effect of persistent loss of gastric juice on serum potassium is included.
Fences, Conservation, and Tourism: a History of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Park

On a pleasant July day in 1948, a small crowd congregated in rows upon rustic logs on the edge of a broad meadow in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Beyond the meadow to the west, they spied glimpses of the Snake River through aspen, fir, and pine trees. On the horizon, Mt. Moran loomed, framed by a vast expanse of azure sky. The crowdâs eyes however were not fixed upon the distant view, but on the small makeshift podium placed at the foot of the benches, and on the seven dignitaries who were scheduled to speak that day (Figure 1). They had come to dedicate the Jackson Hole Wildlife Park (JHWP). Conceived in 1945, the Park would provide controlled habitat for a host of primarily big game animals from the region, affording tourists the opportunity for education and close-up viewing of native mammals.
Protein Extraction for Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis of Proteomic Profiling in Turfgrass

Protein extraction for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) from plant samples is challenging due to low protein content and high level of contaminants. Proteomic research in turfgrass is limited by the lack of efficient protein extraction methods. To establish an effective protocol of protein extraction suitable for 2-DE analysis in turfgrasses, four protein extraction methods (chloroform/acetone, tris-base/acetone, phenol/ammonium acetate, and trichloroacetic acid [TCA]/acetone methods) were evaluated for creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). Proteins were extracted from leaves and roots of mature plants using the above four methods and separated by 2-DE. The TCA/acetone extraction had higher protein yield and resolution of protein separation for leaves, compared to the other three methods. For roots, both the TCA and phenol methods had higher protein yields and number of protein spots than the other two methods. The phenol method had more protein spots and higher spot intensities in the low molecular weight (Mr) region or high isoelectric point (pI) region than the TCA extraction, while more protein spots and higher spot intensity in the region of high Mr were detected by the TCA method than by the phenol method. Our results suggested that the TCA method was the most effective among the four methods for leaves, and a combination of the TCA and phenol methods may provide enhanced proteomic information for roots in turfgrass.
Twelve Degree of Freedom Baby Humanoid Head Using Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

A biped mountable robotic baby head was developed using a combination of Biometal fiber and Flexinol shape memory alloy actuators (SMAs). SMAs were embedded in the skull and connected to the elastomeric skin at control points. An engineered architecture of the skull was fabricated, which incorporates all the SMA wires with 35 routine pulleys, two firewire complementary metal-oxide semiconductor cameras that serve as eyes, and a battery powered microcontroller base driving circuit with a total dimension of 140×90×110 mm3. The driving circuit was designed such that it can be easily integrated with a biped and allows programming in real-time. This 12DOF head was mounted on the body of a 21DOF miniature bipedal robot, resulting in a humanoid robot with a total of 33DOFs. Characterization results on the face and associated design issues are described, which provides a pathway for developing a humanlike facial anatomy using wire-based muscles. Numerical simulation based on SIMULINK was conducted to assess the performance of the prototypic robotic face, mainly focusing on the jaw movement. The nonlinear dynamics model along with governing equations for SMA actuators containing transcendental and switching functions was solved numerically and a generalized SIMULINK model was developed. Issues related to the integration of the robotic head with a biped are discussed using the kinematic model.
D-xylulose-1-phosphate: Enzymatic assay and production in isolated rat hepatocytes

Abstract A specific enzymatic assay for D-xylulose-1-phosphate (D-threopentulose-1-phosphate) was developed, based on the measurement of glycolaldehyde, which is formed by aldolase cleavage of the D-xylulose-1-phosphate. This assay was used to confirm the identity of the product of fructokinase phosphorylation of D-xylulose and the production of glycolaldehyde and D-xylulose-1-phosphate in D-xylulose-treated isolated rat hepatocytes. An alternative pathway of xylitol metabolism in the liver, through D-xylulose-1-phosphate to glycolaldehyde, is proposed. Because glycolaldehyde is a known oxalate precursor, this pathway may explain the synthesis of oxalate from xylitol.
Code recognition with neural network dynamical systems

A class of dynamical systems called neural networks can be used to solve a variety of finite choice problems including the problem of correcting binary code.
Risk Communication Methods for Newspaper Gardening Columns

Educators writing about gardening and environmental risk can be more successful by writing text readable at the ninth grade level, choosing topics that reflect readers' concerns, and using risk communication methods. Such newspaper articles offer an overview of the plant or pest problem, its solutions, and include factors for the reader to consider in reaching a decision. These methods increase the effectiveness of mass media to disseminate information. They do not usually generate questions on the topic of the article for the Extension professional, and may increase credibility for the Cooperative Extension office.
Long-Distance Romantic Relationships: Sex Differences in Adjustment and Breakup

Research has shown that marriage is more beneficial for men than women and that men suffer more distress than women on marital dissolution. To explore the extent to which these findings generalize to nonmarital relationships, college students in long-distance dating relationships were followed over one semester to determine sex differences in adjustment to physical separation and breakup. Breakups increased men's distress but decreased women's. Women adjusted better than men to both physical separation and breakup. Frequency of contact prior to separation did not show a consistent pattern of effects on adjustment. Men, but not women, adjusted better to breakup if they had initiated it. The most distressed subjects were men whose partners initiated the breakup, most likely because they were less prepared for it. Many of the sex differences found here for dating relationships parallel those found in marriage.
Non-Contact Sensing for High-Temperature, Capacitive MEMS Sensors in Active Fuel Emission Control

This paper describes a non-contact sensor interface for MEMS capacitive sensors used in active fuel emission control (AFEC). The sensor elements are used as passive capacitors in a LC resonant circuit, the resonant frequency being a function of the sensor capacitance. Detailed analysis of the inductive link reveals a desired operation region in which the normalized resonant frequency response is linear, independent of quality factor, and sensitivity is only weakly dependent on antenna coupling factor. High-temperature sensor interface electronics are proposed to lock to the resonant frequency of the inductive tank circuit and provide a digital readout that is communicated to the combustion node controller. These circuits require a gm-stabilized negative conductance to form an oscillator and a high-speed counter that acts as FM demodulator in a multiplexed architecture that accommodates an array of sensors.
Evangelical radio and the rise of the electronic church, 1921–1948

Evangelicals in the U.S. used radio extensively between the wars to preach their old‐fashioned gospel and to enhance their social status in the expanding industrial nation. They were among the earliest station owners and operators and, despite restrictive network and regulatory policies, built audiences through creative and entertaining programming. National radio preachers such as Charles Fuller and Walter Maier became symbols of the rising influence and growing public acceptability of twentieth century American evangelicalism. They proved that evangelical broadcasting was commercially viable, setting the scene for the rise of the electronic church on U.S. television.
Barrier Island Forest Ecosystem: Role of Meteorologic Nutrient Inputs

The Sunken Forest, located on Fire Island, a barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island, New York, is an ecosystem in which most of the basic cation input is in the form of salt spray. This meteorologic input is sufficient to compensate for the lack of certain nutrients in the highly weathered sandy soils. In other ecosystems these nutrients are generally supplied by weathering of soil particles. The compensatory effect of meteorologic input allows for primary production rates in the Sunken Forest similar to those of inland temperate forests.
The dynamical optimal acquisition of automation

The acquisition of automation occurs in response to a variety of organizational goals. It follows that different mathematical models are required to capture an organization's specific incentives. In addition, formulations must differ to reflect the characteristics of the automation being considered. Here, a survey of three models developed by the author is presented that considers the optimal dynamic mix of labor and automation. These models differ with respect to (i) the organizational motivations identified for acquiring the automation, (ii) the purpose and use of the automation under consideration, and (iii) the manner in which the automation is acquired over time.
Locke and the laws of nature

Many commentators have argued that Locke understood laws of nature as causally efficacious. On this view the laws are causally responsible for the production of natural phenomena. This paper argues that this interpretation faces serious difficulties. First, I argue that it will be very difficult to specify the ontological status of these laws. Proponents of the view suggest that these laws are divine volitions. But I argue that this will be difficult or impossible to square with Locke’s nominalism. Second, I argue that it will be difficult to specify the manner in which these laws operate. The view runs the risk of collapsing into occasionalism and Locke has measured critiques of the occasionalist position. The only way to maintain that laws are causally efficacious divine volitions while avoiding occasionalism is to have God engage in what I call ‘brute fact-making’. But brute fact-making is difficult to square with Locke’s remarks on God’s action in the world and with his standards for explanation in natural philosophy.
Protestantism and Social Liberalism in Imperial Germany: Gustav Adolf Deissmann (1866–1937) and Friedrich Naumann (1860–1919)*

Adolf Deissmann was an internationally prominent German theologian, celebrated primarily for his groundbreaking contributions in the widely divergent fields of post-classical Greek philology, lexicography, the archaeological excavations of Ephesus, international conciliation and leading role in the nascent ecumenical movement. Less known — yet of considerable consequence — is his involvement with social liberal politics, especially his friendship with, and staunch backing of, Friedrich Naumann, a onetime Protestant pastor turned liberal career politician, pioneer of European integration and, ultimately, the first president of the German Democratic Party. This paper investigates to what degree these two men were intellectually indebted to each other in their mutual search to find a way forward to reconcile Germany's sharply divided class-society through Protestant-based social politics — and that in an era deeply troubled with seemingly insoluble conflicts over the form of the future German Reich.
Three Studies of the Validity of the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement

The current investigation assesses the construct validity of the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (K-TEA) via correlations with widely used group administered tests of academic achievement. Three separate samples were administered the Comprehensive Form of the K-TEA and a group administered achievement test; the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Tests, or Metropolitan Achievement Tests. Mean scores on the measures were quite similar. Correlations of the K-TEA with the group measures were quite high, supporting its potential utility as an achievement screener. Needed additional validation studies and practical assessment issues are discussed.
Similar amino acid sequences revisited

The rapid accumulation of protein sequences, many bearing unexpected resemblances to each other, is providing a new perspective on evolution.
Free-induction decay in molecular iodine measured with an extended-cavity diode laser

The free-induction decay (FID) technique combined with broadly tunable lasers offers a convenient way to survey molecular dephasing times. We measured FID's in molecular iodine by frequency switching an extended-cavity diode laser with a small current modulation. These decay times provide valuable information on the Doppler-free linewidths for frequency-standard applications.
Asymmetric envelope expansion of supernova 1987A

Analytic models for the spherically symmetric expansion of SN 1987 A are discussed. The SN model includes a bend in the expanded density profiles at a velocity of about 4000 km/s and employs an asymmetric initial density distribution or energy deposition on the assumption of radial flow. The calculations show that there is a tendency for the flow to become more spherical during the expansion phase, and that the sense of density asymmetry changes across the bend in the density profile.
Follistatin-like protein 1 is a critical mediator of experimental Lyme arthritis and the humoral response to Borrelia burgdorferi infection

Follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL-1) has recently been described as a critical mediator of CIA and a marker of disease activity. Lyme arthritis, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, shares similarities with autoimmune arthritis and the experimental murine model collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Because FSTL-1 is important in CIA and autoimmune arthritides, and Lyme arthritis shares similarities with CIA, we hypothesized that FSTL-1 may be an important mediator of Lyme arthritis. We demonstrate for the first time that FSTL-1 is induced by B. burgdorferi infection and is required for the development of Lyme arthritis in a murine model, utilizing a gene insertion to generate FSTL-1 hypomorphic mice. Using qPCR and qRT-PCR, we found that despite similar early infectious burden, FSTL-1 hypomorphic mice have improved spirochetal clearance in the face of attenuated arthritis and inflammatory cytokine production. Further, FSTL-1 mediates pathogen-specific antibody production and antigen recognition when assessed by ELISA and one- and two-dimensional immunoblotting. This study is the first to describe a role for FSTL-1 in the development of Lyme arthritis and anti-Borrelia response, and the first to demonstrate a role for FSTL-1 in response to infection, highlighting the potential for FSTL-1 as a target in the treatment of B. burgdorferi infection.
Metabotropic glutamate antagonists alone and in combination with morphine: Comparison across two models of acute pain and a model of persistent, inflammatory pain

The present study examined the effects of the mGluR1 antagonist JNJ16259685 (JNJ) and the mGluR5 antagonist MPEP alone and in combination with morphine in two acute pain models (hotplate, warm water tail-withdrawal), and a persistent, inflammatory pain model (capsaicin). In the hotplate and warm water tail-withdrawal procedures, JNJ and MPEP were ineffective when administered alone. In both procedures, JNJ potentiated morphine antinociception. In the hot plate procedure, MPEP potentiated morphine antinociception at the highest dose examined, whereas in the warm water tail-withdrawal procedure MPEP attenuated morphine antinociception at a moderate dose and potentiated morphine antinociception at a high dose. For both JNJ and MPEP, the magnitude of this morphine potentiation was considerably greater in the hotplate procedure. In the capsaicin procedure, the highest dose of MPEP produced intermediate levels of antihyperalgesia and also attenuated the effects of a dose of morphine that produced intermediate levels of antihyperalgesia. In contrast, JNJ had no effect when administered alone in the capsaicin procedure and did not alter morphine-induced antihyperalgesia. The present findings suggest that the effects produced by mGluR1 and mGluR5 antagonists alone and in combination with morphine can be differentiated in models of both acute and persistent pain.
Automated and Adaptable Quantification of Cellular Alignment from Microscopic Images for Tissue Engineering Applications

Cellular alignment plays a critical role in functional, physical, and biological characteristics of many tissue types, such as muscle, tendon, nerve, and cornea. Current efforts toward regeneration of these tissues include replicating the cellular microenvironment by developing biomaterials that facilitate cellular alignment. To assess the functional effectiveness of the engineered microenvironments, one essential criterion is quantification of cellular alignment. Therefore, there is a need for rapid, accurate, and adaptable methodologies to quantify cellular alignment for tissue engineering applications. To address this need, we developed an automated method, binarization-based extraction of alignment score (BEAS), to determine cell orientation distribution in a wide variety of microscopic images. This method combines a sequenced application of median and band-pass filters, locally adaptive thresholding approaches and image processing techniques. Cellular alignment score is obtained by applying a robust ...
High-resolution CT pulmonary findings in adults with gaucher’s disease

Abstract The purpose of this study was to illustrate high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings in symptomatic adult Gaucher’s disease patients. Five adult patients with Gaucher’s disease experienced dyspnea. These patients were first evaluated by chest X-ray (CXR) followed by HRCT. The chest X-ray on one patient demonstrated a calcified granuloma. Two patients had interstitial disease only seen on HRCT, and two patients had a combination of interstitial and alveolar disease giving a mosaic pattern better illustrated on HRCT. HRCT can be used following CXR to evaluate lung pathology in symptomatic adult Gaucher’s disease patients.
Theoretical studies of the first- and second-row transition-metal mono- and dicarbonyl positive ions

Ab initio calculations have been carried out on the first- and second-row transition-metal mono- and dicarbonyl positive ions. The bonding in these systems is discussed in detail. Trends in the series of mono- and dicarbonyl ions and between the first- and second-row transition metals are explained in terms of a dominantly electrostatic bonding interaction and differences in metal ion state separations, ionization potentials, and s and d orbital sizes. Dissociation energies are presented and a detailed comparison is made with experimental data. Where reliable experimental data exists, agreement with the theoretical results is generally good.
Post-shock annealing of Miller Range 99301 (LL6): Implications for impact heating of ordinary chondrites

MIL 99301 is an LL chondrite that has experienced successive episodes of thermal metamorphism, shock metamorphism and annealing. The first recognizable petrogenetic episode resulted in thermal metamorphism of the rock to petrologic type 6 (as indicated by homogeneous olivine compositions, significant textural recrystallization, and the presence of coarse grains of plagioclase, metallic Fe-Ni and troilite). The source of heat for this thermal episode is not identified. The rock also experienced shock metamorphism to shock stage ∼S4 as indicated by extensive silicate darkening (caused by the dispersion within silicate grains of thin chromite melt veins and trails of metallic Fe-Ni and troilite blebs), polycrystalline troilite, myrmekitic plessite, a relatively high occurrence abundance (OA) of metallic Cu (3.6), the presence of numerous chromite-plagioclase assemblages, and coarse grains of low-Ca clinopyroxene with polysynthetic twinning. The shock event responsible for these effects must have occurred after the epoch of thermal metamorphism to type-6 levels; otherwise the polycrystallinity of the troilite would have disappeared and the low-Ca clinopyroxene would have transformed into orthopyroxene. Despite abundant evidence of strong shock, olivine and plagioclase in MIL 99301 exhibit sharp optical extinction, consistent with shock stage S1 and characteristic of an unshocked rock. This implies that an episode of post-shock annealing healed the damaged olivine and plagioclase crystal lattices and thereby changed undulose extinction into sharp extinction. The rock was probably annealed to metamorphic levels approximating petrologic type 4; more significant heating would have transformed the low-Ca clinopyroxene into orthopyroxene. It is not plausible that an episode of annealing occurring after the epoch of thermal metamorphism could have been caused by the decay of 26Al because this isotope would have decayed away by that time. Impact heating is a more plausible source of post-metamorphic annealing of rocks in the vicinity of impact craters on low-density, high-porosity asteroids with rubble-pile structures.
Low-energy electron diffraction studies of Si(111)-(√3 × √3)R30°-Bi system: Observation and structural determination of two phases

Abstract The initial epitaxial growth of Bi on a Si(111)-7 × 7 surface has been studied as a function of overlayer coverage and deposition conditions using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Experiments show for the first time that two equilibrium phases are formed in the growth process, each displaying a (√3 × √3)R30° LEED symmetry: an α-phase occurring at 1 3 ML Bi coverage and substrate temperature of 360° C, and a β-phase at 1 ML and 300°C. Quantitative structural information for each phase was determined by multiple scattering analysis of I - V curves. The analysis is facilitated by comparing LEED intensity data measured for each phase with calculated values using appropriate structural models. The T 4 geometry for the α-phase and a trimer geometry for the β-phase are revealed to be the “best” models; detailed atomic coordinates have been determined for each phase.
Generation of a novel wing colour pattern by the Wingless morphogen

The complex, geometric colour patterns of many animal bodies have important roles in behaviour and ecology. The generation of certain patterns has been the subject of considerable theoretical exploration, however, very little is known about the actual mechanisms underlying colour pattern formation or evolution. Here we have investigated the generation and evolution of the complex, spotted wing pattern of Drosophila guttifera. We show that wing spots are induced by the Wingless morphogen, which is expressed at many discrete sites that are specified by pre-existing positional information that governs the development of wing structures. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the elaborate spot pattern evolved from simpler schemes by co-option of Wingless expression at new sites. This example of a complex design developing and evolving by the layering of new patterns on pre-patterns is likely to be a general theme in other animals.
Antisense inhibition of reward learning.

Monkeys and humans work harder for immediate than for distant rewards. How are associations between reward immediacy and sensory stimuli established in the brain? A recent study suggests a crucial role for dopamine-mediated activity in the rhinal cortex.
Limits on the isolation of stochastic vibration for microgravity space experiments

The limitations on the isolation of stochastic vibrations for microgravity space experiments are explored. These limitations result from the restricted interior space available for vibration isolation. A one-degree-of-freedom representation of the experiment-spacecraft system is used, and an ideal vibration actuator is assumed. A kinematic representation results, and the problem becomes one of finding the minimum acceleration trajectory within a pair of stochastic walls. The wall motion is characterized by an ergodic, stationary, zero-mean, Gaussian random process with known power spectral density. The geometry of the wall trajectories is defined in terms of their significant extrema and zero crossings. This geomemtry is used in defining a composite trajectory that has a mean square acceleratiaon lower than that on the optimal path satisfying the stochastic wall inequality constraints. The optimal control problem is solved on a return path yielding the mean square acceleration in terms of the distributions of significant maxima and first-passage time of the wall process. The methodology is applied to a microgravity isolation problem to find the lower bounds on root-mean-square acceleration given the disturbance power spectral density.
The impact of standards‐based reform on teachers: the case of ‘No Child Left Behind’

Standards‐based reform is a trend affecting the educational systems of nations around the world, driven by desires to create educational systems suited to increasing economic productivity. In the USA, The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 includes goals of reducing achievement gaps and getting ‘highly qualified’ teachers in all classrooms. Critics warned the legislation could exacerbate achievement gaps and actually drive quality teachers out of the field. To assess these arguments, we surveyed all K‐8 teachers in one school district, using both standardized items and an open‐ended question. Survey responses indicate that instructional time and professional development opportunities in non‐tested areas are being reduced and that future teacher retention and recruitment may be problematic for this district. Open‐ended responses reveal numerous sources of dissatisfaction and stress for teachers, allowing us to make connections between NCLB's outcomes and teacher dissatisfaction. Importantly, these eff...
Reversible photodegradation through chromophore-polymer interactions in disperse orange 11 dye-doped PMMA thin films

We study the role of polymer-chromophore and chromophore-chromophore interactions in reversible photodegradation of Disperse Orange 11 dye-doped thin films using temperature dependent studies of amplified spontaneous emission for several dye concentrations. The temperature dependence of the process determines both the ground state energies of the species involved and the role of the polymer; and, the concentration dependence gives information about the role of dye-dye interactions. We find that the material is more resistant to photo-damage at higher dye concentrations. This data is used to validate a new model of the process.
Mycobacterial infections other than tuberculosis in the AIDS era

Abstract The diagnosis of infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacterial species is often delayed due to a lack of familiarity with these pathogens. The increase in these infections due to immunosuppression and their prominent role in AIDS patients makes it imperative that clinicians and laboratorians be knowledgeable about the nontuberculous species of mycobacteria. Hopefully, this brief review will assist in that goal.
Stabilization of very rare tautomers of 1-methylcytosine by an excess electron

We characterized valence anionic states of 1-methylcytosine using various electronic structure methods. We found that the most stable valence anion is related to neither the canonical amino-oxo nor a rare imino-oxo tautomer, in which a proton is transferred from the N4 to N3 atom. Instead, it is related to an imino-oxo tautomer, in which the C5 atom is protonated. This anion is characterized by an electron vertical detachment energy (VDE) of 2.12 eV and it is more stable than the anion based on the canonical tautomer by 1.0 kcal/mol. The latter is characterized by a VDE of 0.31 eV. Another unusual low-lying imino-oxo tautomer with a VDE of 3.60 eV has the C6 atom protonated and is 3.6 kcal/mol less stable than the anion of the canonical tautomer. All these anionic states are adiabatically unbound with respect to the canonical amino-oxo neutral, with the instability of 5.8 kcal/mol for the most stable valence anion. The mechanism of formation of anionic tautomers with carbon atoms protonated may involve in...
Envenoming and antivenom use in Australia

Australia has a diverse and rich venomous fauna, both terrestrial and marine, including some of the most venomous species in each class. Antivenom is the principal therapy for the majority of medically significant envenomings and is currently supplied through a single source, CSL, Melbourne. Cases of envenoming reported to Australian poisons information centers (PICs) are dominated by spiderbite and insect stings, respectively accounting for 53.7% and 39.3% of all bite/sting calls. Marine animal bites/stings/poisonings account for only 4% of PIC calls in this category, while snakebites account for a mere 3% (still at least 400 calls/yr). Because most PIC calls are from the public, not doctors/hospitals, snakebite in particular is under-represented. The author has recently reviewed antivenom usage in Australia. Snakebite affects between 1,000 to 3,000 people per year, with an average annual mortality of about 2 cases. Brown snakes (genus Pseudonaja) cause the majority of deaths (and bites), with tiger snakes (genus Notechis) and taipans (genus Oxyuranus) accounting for nearly all other fatalities. Up to 500 cases require snake antivenoms each year, the majority of cases coming from rural areas of Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, these being the most populated states. The wide availability of snake venom detection kits has allowed specific antivenom to be used more often, rather than polyvalent antivenom, but the latter is still used in nearly 30% of cases, suggesting underutilization of venom detection. The issue of premedication prior to antivenom remains unresolved. Antivenom usage and complication data for 1995 and 1996 will be presented. Red back spider antivenom is the most commonly used antivenom, with reports of usage being greater than for all other antivenoms combined. It is reported as being therapeutically efficacious in 94% of cases, with a single ampoule being used in 76% of cases, 2 ampoules in 18% of cases, and 3 or more ampoules in 6% of cases. Clinical experience suggests only 20% of red back spider bites require antivenom therapy. It is likely that between 5-10,000 bites occur annually.
Measurement of heat flux and heat transfer coefficient due to spray application for the die casting process

AbstractLubricant spray application experiments were conducted for the die casting process. The heat flux was measured in situ using a differential thermopile sensor for three application techniques. First, the lubricant was applied under a constant flowrate while the nozzle was held in the same position. Second, the lubricant was applied in a pulsed, static manner, in which the nozzle was held over the same surface while it was turned on and off several times. Third, the lubricant was applied in a sweeping manner, in which the nozzle was moved along the die surface while it was held open. The experiments were conducted at several die temperatures and at sweep speeds of 20, 23, and 68 cm/s. The heat flux data, which were obtained with a sensor that was located in the centre of the test plate, were presented and discussed. The sensor can be used to evaluate lubricants, monitor the consistency of die lubrication process, and obtain useful process data, such as surface temperature, heat flux, and heat transf...
SU-E-T-314: Evaluation of Dosimetric Impact of Catheter-Position Uncertainty in Balloon High Dose Rate Brachytherapy of Breast Cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetric impact of catheter‐position uncertainty prior to each fraction in balloon high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for breast cancer.Methods: For 30 balloon HDR patients, each dwell position of the catheters was manually shifted distally (+) and proximally (−) with a magnitude of ±1 mm, ±2 mm, ±3 mm and ±4 mm. A total of 240 plans were retrospectively produced and compared to clinical treatment plans to simulate catheter‐position uncertainty. The following dosimetric data were evaluated: PTV_EVAL V90[%] after subtracting air/seroma volume, skin and rib maximal dose (Dmax[%]) and normal breast tissue V200[cc]. Results: PTV_EVAL V90 was decreased in 93% of cases while increased with maximum value of < 0.7% in 7% of cases. Average/maximal reduction was increased from 0.3%/1.2% (±1 mm), 1.0%/3.5% (±2 mm) and 2.6%/6.2% (±3 mm) to 5.0%/9.2% (± 4 mm) as catheter‐position error was increased. Change of skin and rib Dmax values was case‐specific. They were increased in 52% of cases while decreased in 48% of cases. As catheter‐position error was increased, the average/maximal deviation was increased from 1.6%/9.3% (±1 mm), 3.1%/19.1% (±2 mm) and 4.6%/29.1% (±3 mm) to 6.3%/40.2% (± 4 mm). Normal breast tissue V200 was increased in 90% of cases while decreased with maximum value of < 0.4cc in 10% of cases. Average/maximal increase was elevated from 0.3cc/1.2cc (±1 mm), 0.8cc/2.9cc (±2 mm) and 1.8cc/4.8cc (±3 mm) to 2.9cc/6.7cc (± 4 mm) as catheter‐position error was increased. Conclusions: The catheterposition tolerance of ±2 mm set by the AAPM TG 56 is clinically acceptable for most clinical cases. However, in a case where the dosimetric data of treatment plan are close to the dosimetry limits of the clinical protocol, smaller tolerances such as ±1 mm or zero tolerance is clinically recommended to minimize delivered dose discrepancy from the planned dose.
Two Instruments for Atmospheric Optics Measurements

A description is given of the design and construction of two instruments for studying atmospheric optics. One device, the Recording Polar Nephelometer, measures the volume scattering index of light passing through a sample of natural atmosphere, with scattering angle, polarization, and wavelength as variables. A new calibration procedure has been developed which employs a diffusing screen of known reflectance and transmittance as the standard. The second device, the Portable Transmissometer, measures the extinction coefficient with an accuracy of 5% under all conditions. These instruments are transported by a specially-equipped station wagon to form a mobile research unit. Samples of results obtained in fog and clear air are included.
The Zen Doctrine of “No-Method”

The case is made for a spectrum of methods in Western psychology transcending the normal dichotomy between the categories of quantitative versus qualitative methodology. Although the quantitative–qualitative continuum may be a sufficient representation of methods in the discussion of methodology within the reductionistic sciences, it fails to account for the phenomenology of the science-making process, itself, as a problem of consciousness within the developing human sciences, and also has little relevance for the way non-Western cultures view the problem of the relation of method to theory. A case in point is the problem of method as discussed in Zen Psychology. The act of freeing attention from its attachment to objective thought through the cultivation of wu, or no-thing-ness, is considered in Zen meditation and then applied to an analysis of the method of the koan, or nonrational riddle, which is designed to shock consciousness into a state of release through immediate intuitive insight. The conclusio...
What computational scientists and engineers should know about parallelism and performance

Parallel computing sounds straightforward: Apply multiple CPUs to solve bigger, more complex problems and get results faster. Unfortunately, the experiences of computational scientists and engineers show that the price tag for parallelism is high. It is possible to spend months of effort, only to find that the parallel program runs slower on six CPUs than the original version did on one. Should you make the investment? This article provides practical rules of thumb for predicting if parallelism is likely to be worthwhile, given the nature of your application and the amount of effort you want to invest. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Simulating the Trapped B Field in Bulk Superconductors Using a Mutual Inductance Coupling Technique

The field and current induced in a trapped field magnet during a transient current excitation is complicated by the fact that the conductivity of the material changes wildly depending on both the magnitude of the induced current and the local B field. A mutual inductance approach is presented for solving this coupled problem; it involves discretizing the bulk superconductor into cells and precomputing the inductance coupling matrix of all cells with one another and with the excitation coils. The benefits of this approach are that the numerical simulation is rapid and flexible. The latter is important because the conductivity of the individual cells is dependent on the current density, the magnetic field density magnitude, and the temperature. The proposed approach allows the modeling of a very sharp J-E relationship which has proved problematic using conventional finite element approaches. In addition, a phenomenological model relating the critical current density to the field is introduced for these tests in place of the Kim model. The field simulation is tested with a challenging dwell time experiment in which the trapped field above a bulk superconductor is predicted for various excitation current hold times.
Methane hydrate equilibria in silica gels with broad pore-size distributions

Equilibrium pressures for the dissociation of methane hydrates confined in silica gel pores of nominal radii 7.5, 5.0 and 3.0 nm were measured over a wide temperature range, and were observed to be higher than those for bulk methane hydrate. A model is presented that allows the pore radius involved in each equilibrium to be determined from these data, so that the model exactly reproduces the experimental equilibrium pressure. Based on this model, pore volume distributions were reconstructed and found to be in good agreement with those obtained from nitrogen desorption isotherms, indicating that hydrate formed nearly uniformly in the available pores.
A strong limit theorem in the Kac-Zwanzig model

A strong limit theorem is proved for a version of the well-known Kac–Zwanzig model, in which a 'distinguished' particle is coupled to a bath of N free particles through linear springs with random stiffness. It is shown that the evolution of the distinguished particle, albeit generated from a deterministic set of dynamical equations, converges pathwise towards the solution of an integro-differential equation with a random noise term. Both the canonical and microcanonical ensembles are considered.
A case study of teaching presence in virtual problem-based learning groups

Interest in conducting problem-based learning (PBL) on-line has increased to meet student and physician schedules. Little research describes skills needed to facilitate PBL on-line. In this paper we studied teaching presence in asynchronous PBL groups. Two raters, with average inter-rater agreements of 0.80, used an existing code to measure teaching presence in 62 PBL case discussions facilitated by one instructor over five years. This instructor was selected because of consistently high teaching evaluations. Messages sent by the instructor in the on-line PBL discussion were coded into three categories: instructional design and organization, facilitating discourse and direct instruction. Instructional design indicators were most frequent averaging 22.5 (SD = 5.6)/discussion. Facilitating discourse and direct instruction were comparable, 19.5(SD = 7.4) and 19.5 (SD = 6.7), respectively. Messages and indicators of teacher presence rose across time with a decline during subsequent PBL cases with the same group.
Comparison of standard and test formulations of ketorolac: A pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence study in Indian volunteers

Abstract In a crossover study, eight Indian volunteers received two 10-mg tablets of a standard or test formulation of oral ketorolac. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 hours after drug administration. The maximum concentration (C max ) ± SEM of the standard formulation at 0.5 hour was 2163.42 ± 61.89 ng/ml; the C max of the test formulation at the same time was 2168.80 ± 86.31 ng/ml. The area under the curve (AUC) ± SEM was 7716.73 ± 310.33 and 7786.24 ± 332.90 ng/ml/hr for the standard and test formulations, respectively. Comparison of the AUCs demonstrated that the bioavailability of the test formulation was 100.9% of that of the standard formulation. The results of this study showed that the standard and test formulations of ketorolac were bioequivalent.
FETAL DIAGNOSIS AND POSTNATAL TREATMENT OF HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME(HLHS) 161

Objective: Analyze results of in utero diagnosis and postnatal treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Methods: Between May 1991 and July 1995 50 fetuses were diagnosed with HLHS in our perinatal cardiology practice (gestational age 18-34 weeks, 30/50 <24 weeks) and counseled regarding the prognosis of the heart defect and any associated anomalies. Fifteen chose termination of pregnancy and there was one stillbirth leaving 34 born alive. Two died of extracardiac malformations, another awaiting transplantation, and one without treatment. 30 neonates were referred for reparative staged cardiac surgical treatment. Results: Of 30 neonates undergoing a Stage I Norwood procedure, 26 (87%) went home in good condition. Between hospital discharge and the hemiFontan procedure at 6 months of age, four infants died suddenly out-of-state. Of the remaining 22, one died after hemiFontan and one* after completion of Fontan. The remaining 20 are alive and have normal growth. Two required balloon dilation for aortic arch obstruction and three with congestive heart failure were managed with medications and early HemiFontan. Neurological follow-up revealed two with asymptomatic intraventricular hemorrhage as neonates, two with post-operative seizures, normal CT scans and no residua, one with cerebral infarction and resolved hemiplegia, and one* with cerebral palsy and late death from heart failure after Fontan. Conclusions: 1) Fetal diagnosis and in utero transport followed by neonatal surgery can achieve good survival results in HLHS. 2) Further efforts are necessary to manage preventable deaths between Stage 1 Norwood and the hemiFontan. We speculate that these infants had congestive heart failure secondary to a changing relationship between pulmonary and systemic flows. Further follow-up is needed to assess the quality of life after this form of treatment.
Three-dimensional chitosan-nanohydroxyapatite composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

We describe the structure of biodegradable chitosan-nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) composites scaffolds and their interaction with pre-osteoblasts for bone tissue engineering. The scaffolds were fabricated via freezing and lyophilization. The nanocomposite scaffolds were characterized by a highly porous structure and pore size of ∼50–125 μm, irrespective of nHA content. The observed significant enhancement in the biological response of pre-osteoblast on nanocomposite scaffolds expressed in terms of cell attachment, proliferation, and widespread morphology in relation to pure chitosan points toward their potential use as scaffold material for bone regeneration.
WAN virtualization and dynamic end-to-end bandwidth provisioning using SDN

We evaluate a WAN-virtualization framework in terms of delay and scalability and demonstrate that adding a virtual layer between the physical topology and the end-user brings significant advantages and tolerable delays.
Honest signals: how social networks shape human behavior

How did humans coordinate before we had sophisticated language capabilities? Pre-linguistic social species coordinate by signaling, and in particular 'honest signals' which actually cause changes in the listener. I will describe examples of human behaviors that are honest signals, and how they can be used to accurately predict and shape the outcomes of interactions (medical compliance, negotiation, trust assessment, depression screening, etc.). Understanding how human decision making is influenced by these pre-linguistic patterns of signaling also leads to very different ways to build incentives to change. In a recent trial we were able to change population behaviors using a social signaling strategy, and achieved twice the efficiency of standard behavior change schemes.