cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CR8, a novel inhibitor of CDK, limits microglial activation, astrocytosis, neuronal loss, and neurologic dysfunction after experimental traumatic brain injury.

Central nervous system injury causes a marked increase in the expression of cell cycle-related proteins. In this study, we show that cell cycle activation (CCA) is detected in mature neurons at 24 hours after rat lateral fluid percussion (LFP)-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI), as reflected by increased expression of cyclin G1, phosphorylated retinoblastoma (phospho-Rb), E2F1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). These changes were associated with progressive cortical, hippocampal, and thalamic neuronal loss and microglial and astrocyte activation. Notably, we detected 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive neurons, microglia, and astrocytes at 7 days, but not at 24 hours, suggesting that cell cycle reaches the S phase in these cell types at the latter time point. A delayed systemic post-LFP administration at 3 hours of CR8—a potent second-generation cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor—reduced CCA; cortical, hippocampal, and thalamic neuronal loss; and cortical microglial and astrocyte activation. Furthermore, CR8 treatment attenuated sensorimotor and cognitive deficits, alleviated depressive-like symptoms, and decreased lesion volume. These findings underscore the contribution of CCA to progressive neurodegeneration and chronic neuroinflammation following TBI, and demonstrate the neuroprotective potential of cell cycle inhibition in a clinically relevant experimental TBI model.
Self-assembling biomaterials: Liquid crystal phases of cholesteryl oligo(l-lactic acid) and their interactions with cells

We report here on the synthesis and characterization of a series of self-assembling biomaterials with molecular features designed to interact with cells and scaffolds for tissue regeneration. The molecules of these materials contain cholesteryl moieties, which have universal affinity for cell membranes, and short chains of lactic acid, a common component of biodegradable tissue engineering matrices. The materials were synthesized in good yields with low polydispersities in the range of 1.05-1.15, and their characterization was carried out by small-angle x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and atomic force microscopy. These molecular materials form layered structures that can be described as smectic phases and can also order into single-crystal stacks with an orthorhombic unit cell. Their layer spacings range from 58 to 99 A, corresponding to bilayers of oligomers with an average of 10 and 37 lactic acid residues, respectively. The self-organized layered structures were found to promote improved fibroblast adhesion and spreading, although the specific mechanism for this observed response remains unknown. The ability of self-assembling materials to present ordered and periodic bulk structures to cells could be a useful strategy in tissue engineering.
mGluR5-dependent increases in immediate early gene expression in the rat striatum following acute administration of amphetamine.

Abstract Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is densely expressed in medium-sized spiny projection neurons of the rat striatum. Activation of mGluR5 increases intracellular Ca 2+ , resulting in Ca 2+ -dependent cellular responses. Acute administration of the psychostimulant amphetamine (AMPH) induces immediate early gene (IEG) expression in the striatum, which is considered an important molecular event for the development of striatal neuroplasticity related to the addictive properties of drugs of abuse. This study investigated the role of mGluR5 in the mediation of IEG expression in the rat striatum induced by a single dose of AMPH (4 mg/kg, i.p.) in vivo. We found that systemic administration of the mGluR5-selective antagonist 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl) pyridine hydrochloride (MPEP) at a dose of 10 mg/kg, i.p. reduced AMPH-stimulated c- fos mRNA levels in the dorsal (caudoputamen) and ventral (nucleus accumbens) striatum as revealed by quantitative in situ hybridization. Similar results were observed in the three areas of cerebral cortex (cingulate, sensory, and piriform cortex). In contrast to c- fos mRNAs, AMPH-stimulated mRNA expression of another IEG, zif / 268 , was not significantly altered by the blockade of mGluR5 with MPEP in the entire striatum and the three areas of cortex. Treatment with MPEP alone had no effect on basal levels of c- fos and zif / 268 mRNAs in the striatal and cortical areas. These results indicate that an mGluR5-dependent mechanism selectively contributes to c- fos expression in the striatum and cortex in response to acute exposure to AMPH.
Standard enthalpies of formation of some borides of Ce, Pr, Nd and Gd by high-temperature reaction calorimetry

Abstract The standard enthalpies of formation of five lanthanide borides have been determined calorimetrically at 1473 ± 2 K. The following values of ΔH f 0 are reported: PrB 6 , − 51.3 ± 5.7 kJ/g · atom (this value was determined by solute-solvent drop calorimetry); CeB 4 , − 53.5 ± 1.5 kJ/g · atom; PrB 4 , − 53.1 ± 1.6 kJ/g · atom; NdB 4 , − 53.3 ± 1.5 kJ/g · atom; Gd 2 B 5 , − 43.1 ± 1.4 kJ/g · atom (these four values were all obtained by direct synthesis calorimetry from the elements). The results are compared with earlier experimental data and with values predicted from Miedema's semi-empirical model. Finally, a systematic comparison is presented between the considered boride data and values for compounds of the rare-earth metals with Al, Ga, In and Tl taken from the published literature.
An exploratory analysis of the growth rates of economic and financial data

Abstract The importance of this research is not so much in the specific results obtained, but in the general approach to the analysis of macro-economic and financial time series. The results do at least indicate that innovative ways of examining the data can reveal aspects of the series that are not apparent in the raw time series, or that are not evident from the standard types of linear analysis. A key aspect of the data that was examined in some detail is the presence of “seasonal components” at frequencies of a year and less for production data. The phase space analysis of the monthly production data indicated that much of the variation in the series is representable by a regular dynamical process with somewhat complex paths; the orbit is not one of a simple harmonic oscillator. A few of the “returns to quadrants” plots for durable consumer goods and for producer goods did not give clear indications of the patterns of periodicity until the effect of noise on boundary positions was taken in to account. When that was done, the observed periods were remarkably stable for very long time spans. Finally, there is evidence of drift in the orbits. The neighbourhood analysis confirmed that, except for the S&P500 index, the variation in the one period forecasts over quadrants was due to systematic causes and was not merely due to random fluctuations of a linear model across sub-areas of phase space. Spectral analysis on the amplitudes of the orbits indicated that in addition to the seasonal variation there is clear evidence of an approximately 20-year cycle in all the data sets. Durable consumer goods index also has approximately 18- and 34-month long cycles. The S&P500 index was resistant to all these procedures in that there was no indication of any form of periodicity in the series, or variations in local neighbourhood forecasts across phase space. Nevertheless, it is of some note that the 1-year and the approximately 20-year cycle found in the real data are “reflected” in the S&P500 index.
Termites as models of swarm cognition

Eusociality has evolved independently at least twice among the insects: among the Hymenoptera (ants and bees), and earlier among the Isoptera (termites). Studies of swarm intelligence, and by inference, swarm cognition, have focused largely on the bees and ants, while the termites have been relatively neglected. Yet, termites are among the world’s premier animal architects, and this betokens a sophisticated swarm intelligence capability. In this article, I review new findings on the workings of the mound of Macrotermes which clarify how these remarkable structures work, and how they come to be built. Swarm cognition in these termites is in the form of “extended” cognition, whereby the swarm’s cognitive abilities arise both from interaction amongst the individual agents within a swarm, and from the interaction of the swarm with the environment, mediated by the mound’s dynamic architecture. The latter provides large scale “cognitive maps” which enable termite swarms to assess the functional state of their structure and to guide repair efforts where necessary. The crucial role of the built environment in termite swarm cognition also points to certain “swarm cognitive disorders”, where swarms can be pushed into anomalous activities by manipulating crucial structural and functional attributes of the termite system of “extended cognition.”
The intervalley X6→Γ6, L6 scattering time in GaAs measured by ultrafast pump-probe infrared absorption spectroscopy

Abstract A direct measurement of the dynamics of electrons in the X 6 valley for a GaAs crystal by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy is reported for the first time. IR picosecond probe pulses were used to monitor the growth and decay of the population in the X 6 valley subsequent to excitation by a 527 nm pump pulse. The intervalley X 6 → Γ 6 , L 6 scattering time t x of 0.70 ± 0.50 ps is determined and the crossection for the X 6 →X 7 transition is estimated to be 1.8 × 10 −16 cm 2 .
Current trends in the diagnosis and treatment of pyloric stenosis

We hypothesized that recent trends towards earlier diagnosis of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis continued throughout the early part of the 21st century. We reviewed the medical records of patients with HPS at a single institution during two periods: 1/03–12/05 and 4/09–7/13. A total of 433 patients with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis who underwent pyloromyotomy were included (modern cohort = 259; historic = 174). The two cohorts did not differ in terms of age, weight, or median time from symptom onset to physician (5 vs 6.5 days; p = 0.3) or surgeon (7 days for both) evaluation. The percentage of patients who presented late (>7 days of symptoms) (27 % modern vs 25 % historic; p = 0.15) or with an elevated serum bicarbonate (22 % for both; p = 0.8) did not change over time. There was a shift to laparoscopic procedures: 99 % modern vs 57 % historic (p < 0.0001) with no associated change in operative length (28 vs. 27 min; p = 0.06), or operative (3 % for both, p = 0.8) or respiratory (4 vs 2 %, p = 0.4) complications. Most infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis are diagnosed early, prior to significant electrolyte abnormalities; however, continued improvement in awareness is necessary given that a fourth of patients are diagnosed after over 1 week of symptoms.
Petrous apex lesions in the pediatric population.

A variety of abnormal imaging findings of the petrous apex are encountered in children. Many petrous apex lesions are identified incidentally while images of the brain or head and neck are being obtained for indications unrelated to the temporal bone. Differential considerations of petrous apex lesions in children include “leave me alone” lesions, infectious or inflammatory lesions, fibro-osseous lesions, neoplasms and neoplasm-like lesions, as well as a few rare miscellaneous conditions. Some lesions are similar to those encountered in adults, and some are unique to children. Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and primary and metastatic pediatric malignancies such as neuroblastoma, rhabomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are more likely to be encountered in children. Lesions such as petrous apex cholesterol granuloma, cholesteatoma and chondrosarcoma are more common in adults and are rarely a diagnostic consideration in children. We present a comprehensive pictorial review of CT and MRI appearances of pediatric petrous apex lesions.
Long-Term Outcomes After CABG With Concomitant CO2 Transmyocardial Revascularization in Comparison With CABG Alone.

ObjectivesTransmyocardial revascularization (TMR) has been used as an isolated or adjunctive revascularization therapy in patients presumed to have nonbypassable coronary artery disease. The purpos...
Turbulence in the Atmosphere

Based on his over forty years of research and teaching, John C. Wyngaard's textbook is an excellent up-to-date introduction to turbulence in the atmosphere and in engineering flows for advanced students, and a reference work for researchers in the atmospheric sciences. Part I introduces the concepts and equations of turbulence. It includes a rigorous introduction to the principal types of numerical modeling of turbulent flows. Part II describes turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer. Part III covers the foundations of the statistical representation of turbulence and includes illustrative examples of stochastic problems that can be solved analytically. The book treats atmospheric and engineering turbulence in a unified way, gives clear explanation of the fundamental concepts of modeling turbulence, and has an up-to-date treatment of turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer. Student exercises are included at the ends of chapters, and worked solutions are available online for use by course instructors.
Automated analysis of long-term bridge behavior and health using a cyber-enabled wireless monitoring system

A worthy goal for the structural health monitoring field is the creation of a scalable monitoring system architecture that abstracts many of the system details (e.g., sensors, data) from the structure owner with the aim of providing “actionable” information that aids in their decision making process. While a broad array of sensor technologies have emerged, the ability for sensing systems to generate large amounts of data have far outpaced advances in data management and processing. To reverse this trend, this study explores the creation of a cyber-enabled wireless SHM system for highway bridges. The system is designed from the top down by considering the damage mechanisms of concern to bridge owners and then tailoring the sensing and decision support system around those concerns. The enabling element of the proposed system is a powerful data repository system termed SenStore. SenStore is designed to combine sensor data with bridge meta-data (e.g., geometric configuration, material properties, maintenance history, sensor locations, sensor types, inspection history). A wireless sensor network deployed to a bridge autonomously streams its measurement data to SenStore via a 3G cellular connection for storage. SenStore securely exposes the bridge meta- and sensor data to software clients that can process the data to extract information relevant to the decision making process of the bridge owner. To validate the proposed cyber-enable SHM system, the system is implemented on the Telegraph Road Bridge (Monroe, MI). The Telegraph Road Bridge is a traditional steel girder-concrete deck composite bridge located along a heavily travelled corridor in the Detroit metropolitan area. A permanent wireless sensor network has been installed to measure bridge accelerations, strains and temperatures. System identification and damage detection algorithms are created to automatically mine bridge response data stored in SenStore over an 18-month period. Tools like Gaussian Process (GP) regression are used to predict changes in the bridge behavior as a function of environmental parameters. Based on these analyses, pertinent behavioral information relevant to bridge management is autonomously extracted.
Growth retardation of woody species by three growth regulators

Greenhouse grown 1- to 2-year-old seedlings of silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.), American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), and white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) were injected with one of three plant growth regulating chemicals. 1-napthylacetic acid (NAA) and N,N,N-tributyl-N-(trifluormethylbenzyl) ammonium chloride (an analogue of Phosfon S, coded DOWCO 391) retarded shoot regrowth at appropriate concentrations without causing an unacceptable degree of foliar damage to seedlings. Fosamine-ammonium (ammonium ethyl carbanoyl phosphonate, trade name Krenite) even at low concentrations, produced severe phytotoxicity indicating that it acts more as a herbicide than as a growth retardant.
Distribution of Phosphorus in the Electrophoretic Components of the Blood Serum of Radio-Thyroid-Ecrecticized Chickens,

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE detection of P32-labeled electrophoretic components in the blood serum of the chicken has been demonstrated (Hein and Clegg, 1952) and by employing similar techniques, the distribution of radioactive phosphorus (P32) in the blood serum components of P32-fed cockerels, laying hens, and diethylstilbestrol-injected cockerels has been illustrated (Clegg and Hein, 1953). In the subsequent discussion these techniques have been employed to determine the distribution of phosphorus in the blood serum of chickens that were radio-thyroid-ecrecticized by the method of Winchester et al. (1949). The electrophoretic patterns and the phosphorus activity of the electrophoretic components were determined for the serum from P32-feed radio-thyroid-ecrecticized chickens, radio-thyroid-ecrecticized chickens receiving daily injections of thyroxine, and normal chickens. EXPERIMENTAL Twenty-four one-day-old chicks (straight run, Kansas White Rocks) were radio-thyroid-ecrecticized by intramuscular injection of radioactive iodine (I131) at a dosage level of six millicuries of activity per 100 grams of body weight. Thereafter these chickens …
Löwner's equation from a noncommutative probability perspective

Using concepts of noncommutative probability we show that the Lowner's evolution equation can be viewed as providing a map from paths of measures to paths of probability measures. We show that the fixed point of the Lowner map is the convolution semigroup of the semicircle law in the chordal case, and its multiplicative analogue in the radial case. We further show that the Lowner evolution “spreads out” the distribution and that it gives rise to a Markov process.
Single mutation to a sex pheromone receptor provides adaptive specificity between closely related moth species

Sex pheromone communication, acting as a prezygotic barrier to mating, is believed to have contributed to the speciation of moths and butterflies in the order Lepidoptera. Five decades after the discovery of the first moth sex pheromone, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pheromone communication between closely related species. Although Asian and European corn borers (ACB and ECB) can be interbred in the laboratory, they are behaviorally isolated from mating naturally by their responses to subtly different sex pheromone isomers, (E)-12- and (Z)-12-tetradecenyl acetate and (E)-11- and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (ACB: E12, Z12; ECB; E11, Z11). Male moth olfactory systems respond specifically to the pheromone blend produced by their conspecific females. In vitro, ECB(Z) odorant receptor 3 (OR3), a sex pheromone receptor expressed in male antennae, responds strongly to E11 but also generally to the Z11, E12, and Z12 pheromones. In contrast, we show that ACB OR3, a gene that has been subjected to positive selection (ω = 2.9), responds preferentially to the ACB E12 and Z12 pheromones. In Ostrinia species the amino acid residue corresponding to position 148 in transmembrane domain 3 of OR3 is alanine (A), except for ACB OR3 that has a threonine (T) in this position. Mutation of this residue from A to T alters the pheromone recognition pattern by selectively reducing the E11 response ∼14-fold. These results suggest that discrete mutations that narrow the specificity of more broadly responsive sex pheromone receptors may provide a mechanism that contributes to speciation.
The peptide content of colonic afferents decreases following colonic inflammation

Peripheral injury produces long term changes in peptide content in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells that contribute to the inflammatory process in the periphery and neuronal plasticity in the spinal cord. We report here the proportion of colonic afferents labeled for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) or somatostatin (Som) in the T13-L2 and L6-S2 DRG and changes in the percentage of SP or CGRP labeled afferents 6, 24, and 72 h following induction of experimental colitis. Following injection of fluorogold (FG) into the descending colon, significantly more FG labeled DRG cells were observed in the T13-L2 than L6-S2 DRG. In noninflamed rats, in both spinal regions, 60-70% of the colonic afferents that were labeled with FG were double labeled for SP. Similar results were obtained when double labeling for CGRP. Only 20-30% of the FG labeled afferents were double labeled for Som. Following experimental colitis induced by intracolonic zymosan, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of cells double labeled for SP in the T13-L2 and L6-S2 DRG at 6, 24, and 72 h. The percentage of CGRP double labeled cells was decreased in the T13-L2 DRG at all time points, but only at 24 h in the L6-S2 DRG. The cell bodies of CGRP labeled colonic afferents were significantly larger than SP or Som in control rats. Inflammation did not affect the mean size of the double labeled cells. These results suggest that colonic inflammation increases SP and CGRP release in the spinal cord and the colon that is manifest as a decrease in peptide content in the cell bodies of the colonic afferents during the first 72 h following injury.
Postnatal changes in canine erythrocyte pyruvate kinase isozymes.

The isozyme pattern of pyruvate kinase in canine erythrocytes changes following birth. These changes have been followed by electrophoretic, immunologic, and kinetic measurements of the isozymes. At birth, a mixture of isozymes is present consisting of the M2 isozyme and hybrid molecules containing M2 and R subunits. With increasing animal age, the content of M2 subunits decreases and the content of R subunits increases. At 6 months of age, the isozyme pattern is indistinguishable from that of adult erythrocytes which contain only the R tetramer. We conclude that there is a switch in erythrocyte pyruvate kinase gene expression during the first 6 months of postnatal life. The existence of hybrid molecules during the switch indicates that both M2 and R genes are expressed within each erythroid precursor cell. The developmental changes in erythrocyte pyruvate kinase are consistent with the role of this enzyme in the regulation of the oxygen-transport function of canine hemoglobin by 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in the postnatal period.
Nonrigid multimodality image registration

We have designed, implemented, and validated an algorithm capable of 3D PET-CT registration in the chest, using mutual information as a similarity criterion. Inherent differences in the imaging protocols produce significant non-linear motion between the two acquisitions. To recover this motion, local deformations modeled with cubic B-splines are incorporated into the transformation. The deformation is defined on a regular grid and is parameterized by potentially several thousand coefficients. Together with a spline-based continuous representation of images and Parzen histogram estimates, the deformation model allows for closed-form expressions of the criterion and its gradient. A limited-memory quasi-Newton optimization package is used in a hierarchical multiresolution framework to automatically align the images. To characterize the performance of the algorithm, 27 scans from patients involved in routine lung cancer screening were used in a validation study. The registrations were assessed visually by two observers in specific anatomic locations using a split window validation technique. The visually reported errors are in the 0-6mm range and the average computation time is 100 minutes.
β-escin diminishes voltage-gated calcium current rundown in perforated patch-clamp recordings from rat primary afferent neurons

Perforated patch recordings of neuronal calcium currents (I(Ca)) with amphotericin B or nystatin reduce dialysis of intracellular constituents and current rundown, but can be difficult and frequently unsuccessful. We investigated the saponin beta-escin as a putative ionophore for perforated patch I(Ca) recordings in acutely dissociated, rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. I(Ca) was recorded in time-course studies after including either beta-escin (50 microM), or amphotericin B (240 microg/ml) as perforating ionophores in the internal pipette solution, in comparison to standard ruptured-patch technique, using suction. Perforated patches were allowed to take place spontaneously. The percentage loss of I(Ca) per min (within the first 20 min) was significantly less after beta-escin (0.0518%) (n = 18), versus either amphotericin (1.82%) (n = 12) or standard patch (4.52%) (n = 7), (P 10% of peak I(Ca) was present in 25% of cells after beta-escin versus 20% after amphotericin, and 12% after standard technique. Perforated patches using beta-escin were stable for 15-60 min. We conclude that beta-escin may be used as an alternative ionophore for perforated patch-clamp studies in neurons, and results in minimal rundown that can facilitate long-term recordings of I(Ca). Limited rundown may be due to better preservation of cytosolic ATP content.
Learning Style Theory: Less than Meets the Eye

A learning style theory [Kolb, 1971] has been used for theory building, research, and to provide pedagogical advice. Supporting evidence comes from an unreliable instrument designed so that its results spuriously corroborate the theory. Independent research has not supported the theory and suggests its normative use should be suspended.
Fetal Alcohol Exposure and Effects of LHRH and PMA on LHβ‐mRNA Expression in the Female Rat

Fetal alcohol exposure (FAE) is associated with a variety of physiological and behavioral dysfunctions. Effects of FAE on reproduction have been described that include delayed puberty, altered gonadotrophin secretion and steroidogenesis, and altered sexual behavior. Earlier work suggested that pituitary function was compromised in adult fetal alcohol-exposed female rats. This study examined the effects of LHRH and PMA in vitro on LH beta-mRNA expression in pituitary fragments from FAE animals; a separate experiment examined the effects of estradiol-17 beta on LH beta-mRNA under similar conditions. The results indicate that the pituitary glands of FAE females have a reduced ability to respond to these three stimuli. The reason for this reduced responsiveness to LHRH, PMA, and estradiol-17 beta is not clear, but the alterations suggest that LH synthesis is impeded following fetal ethanol exposure.
Paranoia and Self-Consciousness

A new instrument designed to assess paranoid thought in college students, together with reliability and validity data, was presented in Study 1. A single general factor accounted for a substantial portion of the variance in the full scale. Public self-consciousness was consistently and significantly correlated with the present measure of paranoia. In Study 2, both pretested paranoia and public self-consciousness were related to feelings of being watched (a classical manifestation of paranoia), although public self-consciousness had an effect only when there was a 2-way mirror present. In Study 3, self-attention, experimentally induced using a story construction task, again resulted in a heightened sense of being observed. Discussion focuses on paranoid cognition as characteristic of everyday thought and the implications of self-attention for social perception processes.
Tutorial on solar energy

The solar industry has grown at an astonishingly high rate over the past decade. This growth has been both in what one could consider the “traditional” areas such as flat panel crystalline silicon arrays, as well as in “new” technologies such as thin film CdTe arrays on glass. We will review some of the major discoveries of the past and trace how the industry came to be where it is today. We will also provide an overview of some of the latest discoveries in the field and what are the current hot areas of interest. Finally, we will discuss what these current trends industry may hold for the future, both technically and from a business perspective for this very rapidly developing field.
The method of eliminating phenol with the use of tyrosinase Agaricus bisporus immobilized in alginate

We have considered the method of oxidizing aqueous solutions of phenol (0.25–2.00 mmol/dm3) with the use of a biocatalyst—a partially purified tyrosinase immobilized into calcium alginate. In optimal conditions (pH 7.2, T—25°C, transformation time—one hour, phenoloxidase activity—25–200 unit/cm3) when adding a PEG-6000 stabilizer the preparation stabilized complete oxidation of phenol in a periodic-action reactor during 12 cycles and retained a high degree of transformation of the substrate during the following 16 cycles. The concentrations of coagulants necessary for elimination of transformation products using the immobilized enzyme were reduced 2.5-fold compared with such for a free biocatalyst.
The propositional dynamic logic of deterministic, well-structured programs☆

Abstract We consider a restricted propositional dynamic logic, Strict Deterministic Propositional Dynamic Logic (SDPDL), which is appropriate for reasoning about deterministic well-structured programs. In contrast to PDL, for which the validity problem is known to be complete in deterministic exponential time, the validity problem for SDPDL is shown to be polynomial space complete. We also show that SDPDL is less expressive than PDL, and give a complete axiomatization for it. The results rely on structure theorems for models of satisfiable SDPDL formulas, and the proofs give insight into the effects of nondeterminism on intractability and expressiveness in program logics.
Inverse kinematics for humanoid robots

Real-time control of the end-effector of a humanoid robot in external coordinates requires computationally efficient solutions of the inverse kinematics problem. In this context, this paper investigates methods of resolved motion rate control (RMRC) that employ optimization criteria to resolve kinematic redundancies. In particular we focus on two established techniques, the pseudo inverse with explicit optimization and the extended Jacobian method. We prove that the extended Jacobian method includes pseudo-inverse methods as a special solution. In terms of computational complexity, however pseudo-inverse and extended Jacobian differ significantly in favor of pseudo-inverse methods. Employing numerical estimation techniques, we introduce a computationally efficient version of the extended Jacobian with performance comparable to the original version. Our results are illustrated in simulation studies with a multiple degree-of-freedom robot, and were tested on a 30 degree-of-freedom humanoid robot.
Low leakage current fabrication of optically gated silicon field emitter arrays

Photofield emission from gated silicon field emitter array showed improvements on efficiency and dynamic range at the expense of higher dark current as the gate voltage increased. For 830 nm, efficiency approached 19% and dynamic range approached 7.2 at 100 V. Measured saturation behavior was attributed to screening of the applied field. Ratio of field emission current over leakage current peaked at 75 before the onset of current interception by the gate. Nanosecond time scale response was detected with short pulse excitation at 82 MHz repetition.
Exploring the relationship between employer recordkeeping and underreporting in the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

BACKGROUND: Little empirical data exist to identify the reasons for underreporting in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) non-fatal occupational injury and illness data. METHODS: We interviewed occupational injury and illness record keepers from Washington State establishments that participated in the 2008 BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to explore recordkeeping and business practices that may explain SOII's incomplete case capture compared with WC claims data. RESULTS: Most participants (90%) did not comply with OSHA recordkeeping regulations. Other factors including using workplace injury data to evaluate supervisors' or SOII respondent's job performance, recording injuries for a worksite that operates multiple shifts, and failing to follow SOII instructions were more common among establishments with unreported WC claims. CONCLUSION: Business practices that incentivize low injury rates, disorganized recordkeeping, and limited communication between BLS and survey respondents are barriers to accurate employer reports of work-related injuries and illnesses. Am. J. Ind. Med. 9999:1-11, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Language: en
Combined source-channel diversity scheme for image transmission over wireless channels

In this paper, we investigate a combined source-channel diversity scheme for image transmission through wireless channels with flat fading and noise. The proposed scheme combines the multiple descriptor coding (MDC) and space-time block coding (STBC) techniques to achieve diversity at both source and channel. In the proposed scheme, the input image is coded using multiple descriptor transform coding (MDTC) approach and transmitted using multiple transmit and receive antennas (two transmit antennas and one receive antenna). The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated and compared to the single descriptor scheme. Experimental results indicate that there is an overall improvement in the end-to-end system performance.
CRYP-2/cPTPRO is a neurite inhibitory repulsive guidance cue for retinal neurons in vitro

Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) are implicated as regulators of axon growth and guidance. Genetic deletions in the fly have shown that type III RPTPs are important in axon pathfinding, but nothing is known about their function on a cellular level. Previous experiments in our lab have identified a type III RPTP, CRYP-2/cPTPRO, specifically expressed during the period of axon outgrowth in the chick brain; cPTPRO is expressed in the axons and growth cones of retinal and tectal projection neurons. We constructed a fusion protein containing the extracellular domain of cPTPRO fused to the Fc portion of mouse immunoglobulin G-1, and used it to perform in vitro functional assays. We found that the extracellular domain of cPTPRO is an antiadhesive, neurite inhibitory molecule for retinal neurons. In addition, cPTPRO had potent growth cone collapsing activity in vitro, and locally applied gradients of cPTPRO repelled growing retinal axons. This chemorepulsive effect could be regulated by the level of cGMP in the growth cone. Immunohistochemical examination of the retina indicated that cPTPRO has at least one heterophilic binding partner in the retina. Taken together, our results indicate that cPTPRO may act as a guidance cue for retinal ganglion cells during vertebrate development.
MDMA "ecstasy" alters hyperactive and perseverative behaviors in dopamine transporter knockout mice.

Mice lacking the gene for the dopamine transporter (DAT) show a unique behavioral phenotype characterized by locomotor hyperactivity and repetitive circling in a novel environment. The hyperactivity of DAT (−/−) mice can be attenuated by psychostimulants and by serotonin uptake inhibitors, suggesting an important role for serotonin in the attenuation of locomotor hyperactivity in these mice. These studies characterized the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA), a serotonin releaser, on the amount and patterns of locomotor activity in DAT (+/+) and (−/−) mice. We compared the locomotor patterns produced by MDMA to those observed in DAT (−/−) mice, and examined whether MDMA altered the hyperactivity and perseverative locomotor patterns in DAT (−/−) mice. The effects of MDMA (10, 30 mg/kg) on locomotor activity in DAT (+/+) mice were measured for 90 min in a video tracker system to determine the optimal dose for subsequent studies in DAT (+/+) and (−/−) mice. The effects of 20 mg/kg MDMA on patterns of locomotor activity in DAT (+/+) and (−/−) mice were measured for 90 min. In DAT (+/+) mice, MDMA increased locomotor activity and induced repetitive straight movement patterns. In DAT (−/−) mice, however, MDMA (20 mg/kg) attenuated the characteristic locomotor hyperactivity seen in these mice. In contrast, MDMA potentiated the thigmotaxis and decreased entropy observed in the DAT (−/−) mice. The effects of MDMA observed here demonstrate that the different aspects of the abnormal locomotor behavior exhibited by DAT (−/−) mice can be independently manipulated by pharmacological treatments.
Structural neuroplasticity following T5 spinal cord transection: increased cardiac sympathetic innervation density and SPN arborization

When the spinal cord is injured at or below thoracic level 5 (T5), cardiovascular control is markedly unbalanced as the heart and blood vessels innervated by upper thoracic segments remain under brain stem control, whereas the vasculature of the lower body is affected by unregulated spinal reflexes. Importantly, the regulation of heart rate and cardiac function is abnormal after spinal cord injury (SCI) at T5 because sympathetic outflow to the heart is increased. An increase in tonic sympathetic outflow may be attributable to multiple mechanisms, such as increases in cardiac sympathetic innervation density, altered morphology of stellate ganglia neurons, and/or structural neuroplasticity of cardiac sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs). Furthermore, these neuroplastic changes associated with SCI may be mediated by nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a neurotrophin that supports the survival and differentiation of sympathetic neurons and enhances target innervation. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that T5 spinal cord transection (T5X) is associated with an increased left ventricular (LV) NGF content, LV sympathetic innervation density, and cardiac SPN arborization. In intact and paraplegic (9 wk posttransection) rats, LV NGF content (ELISA), LV sympathetic innervation density (tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry), and cardiac SPN arborization (cholera toxin B immunohistochemistry and Sholl Analysis) were determined. Paraplegia, compared with intact, significantly increased LV NGF content, LV sympathetic innervation density, and cardiac SPN arborization. Thus, altered autonomic behavior following SCI is associated with structural neuroplastic modifications.
An upper bound for the height for regular affine automorphisms of $${{{\mathbb{A}}^ n}}$$

Kawaguchi (Math. Ann. 335(2):285–310, 359–374, 2006) proved a height inequality for $${h\bigl(f(P)\bigr)}$$ when f is a regular affine automorphism of $${{\mathbb{A}}^2}$$ , and he conjectured that a similar estimate is also true for regular affine automorphisms of $${{\mathbb{A}}^n}$$ for n ≥ 3. In this paper we prove Kawaguchi’s conjecture. This implies that Kawaguchi’s theory of canonical heights for regular affine automorphisms of projective space is true in all dimensions.
Adaptive Electronic Linearization of a Coherent Heterodyne Optical Receiver

We demonstrate the electronic linearization of a coherent heterodyne receiver in a phase modulated optical link. Third order nonlinearity suppression of 7.2 dB and spurious free dynamic range (SFDR 3) improvement of 2.4 dB is obtained with an adaptive CMOS linearizer circuit
Teaching Microprocessors to Exceptional Students

Recognizing the industry demand for students who are knowledgeable about microprocessors on the one hand and student curiosity about the topic on the other, the author was caught between a saturated curriculum and a total lack of financial support. With a number of enthusiastic students and some privately owned equipment, a club was started to give students an opportunity to work with the available hardware and software. As the club solidified, a low key teaching/learning style developed which produced a highly knowledgeable student in computer hardware and programming languages with surprising programming skill. The club is an important part of the Department of Electrical Engineering now, where microcomputer-related topics are taught effortlessly to interested and motivated students without the performance/time pressure of the classroom.
ASSESSING PIPELINE ADEQUACY TO MEET NATURAL GAS DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION: NEW YORK STATE CASE STUDY

A conceptual framework and modeling approach are presented for assessing pipeline adequacy to meet existing and future demands for natural gas in electricity generation after gas demands for traditional end users have been met. Transportation logistics and economics issues are identified that natural gas (and electric) suppliers face in trying to meet traditional and electricity generation gas demands. An integrated electric and gas modeling approach is used for this purpose. The approach uses separate models for electric and gas systems. Consistent equilibrium solutions are obtained by iterating between the two models. The economic decisions and logistical issues facing the gas and electric industries are quite stark. The incentives of the two industries need to be realigned to achieve greater electric efficiency, reliable generation, and better air quality at a reasonable cost. As a detailed case study of the modeling approach, results are presented from an analysis of the ability of the natural gas delivery system to meet future electricity generation requirements in New York State. The analysis integrates the modeling of the gas demands of New York State electric generators with the modeling of available gas supply and delivery capacity to the state. Although the analysis indicates that the gas and electric systems in New York can reliably meet their future loads under a range of electricity generation and gas pipeline expansion scenarios, oil use by electric generators remains a key substitute for gas during times of peak gas demands (e.g., cold winter days).
Outdoor Air PCB Concentrations in Three Communities Along the Upper Hudson River, New York

Outdoor air polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations were measured in upstate New York as part of a nonoccupational exposure investigation. The adjacent study communities of Hudson Falls and Fort Edward contain numerous sites of current and former PCB contamination, including two capacitor-manufacturing facilities. Outdoor air PCB concentrations in the study municipalities were significantly higher than in the comparison municipality of Glens Falls. Total PCB concentrations in the study area ranged from 0.102 to 4.011 ng/m3 (median: 0.711 ng/m3). For the comparison area, concentrations ranged from 0.080 to 2.366 ng/m3 (median: 0.431 ng/m3). Although our sampling was not designed to identify point sources, the presence of PCB-contaminated sites in the study area likely contributed to this observed difference in concentration. While elevated relative to the comparison area, total PCB concentrations in the study area are lower than those in other communities with known PCB-contaminated sites, and similar to levels reported in other locations from the northeastern United States.
Investing in Emotion: Love and Anger in Financial Advertising

In the late 1990s, when the American stock market was booming, television commercials for financial-services companies represented investing either as nurturing love or as violent anger. Although investing has long been constructed as love, this study of the visual, aural, and textual deployment of emotions in television advertising argues that the representation of investing as anger reflects a broad revaluation of anger in American culture from an emotion that is properly repressed to one that is ideally celebrated.
Doing survival: strategies for coping with gender-based violence in Kenya's Kibera slum

The current study analyzed strategies for coping with gender-based violence described in the diary accounts of 20 women residents of Kibera, Kenya, the largest slum in sub-Saharan Africa. Three dis...
Stable isotopes reflect the ecological stability of two high-elevation mammals from the late Quaternary of Colorado

Abstract The vertebrate fossil record of Cement Creek Cave, Colorado, spans from > 45,000 yr ago to the present and represents the richest stratified series of high-elevation (> 2900 m) mammal remains known from the late Quaternary of North America. Stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of tooth enamel were used to assess potential ecological responses of two species found commonly throughout the cave, Yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) and Bushy-tailed woodrats (Neotoma cinerea), to late Quaternary climate and environmental changes of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Results indicate that despite such perturbations, the dietary ecologies of both species were maintained across this period. Neither taxon shifted to consuming C4 taxa or different C3 functional groups; similarly, no significant shifts in surface water use were detected. Variations in enamel δ13C were observed, however, that represent the physiological responses of high-elevation plants to changing levels of late Quaternary atmospheric CO2. While our findings extend both the geographic and elevational record of this plant CO2 response, they simultaneously highlight the ecological stability of high-elevation M. flaviventris and N. cinerea during climate changes of late Quaternary magnitude.
Mandibular asymmetry characterization using generalized tensor-based morphometry

Quantitative assessment of facial asymmetry is crucial for successful planning of corrective surgery. We propose a tensor-based morphometry (TBM) framework to locate and quantify asymmetry using 3D CBCT images. To this end, we compute a rigid transformation between the mandible segmentation and its mirror image, which yields global rotation and translation with respect to the cranial base to guide the surgery's first stage. Next, we nonrigidly register the rigidly aligned images and use TBM methods to locally analyze the deformation field. This yields data on the location, amount and direction of “growth” (or “shrinkage”) between the left and right sides. We visualize this data in a volumetric manner and via scalar and vector maps on the mandibular surface to provide the surgeon with optimal understanding of the patient's anatomy. We illustrate the feasibility and strength of our technique on 3 representative patients with a wide range of facial asymmetries.