cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Universality in the dependence of the drop contact angle on liquid-solid interactions and temperature obtained by the density functional theory

A nonlocal density functional theory is employed to calculate the contact angles of nano- and macrodrops on smooth solid surfaces in wide ranges of temperature and parameters of the Lennard-Jones potentials representing the fluid-fluid and fluid-solid interactions. For both types of drops, simple linear dependencies of the contact angle on the fluid-solid energy parameter ∊ fs was found for various temperatures and hard core fluid-solid parameters σ fs . Expressions are suggested that relate the contact angle θ to the parameters of the interaction potentials and temperature. The most intriguing feature was that for each considered σ fs there is a value ∊ 0 of ∊ fs for which the contact angle θ = θ 0 becomes independent of temperature and of σ fs . It is shown that ∊ fs = ∊ 0 divides the materials for which θ increases from those for which θ decreases with increasing temperature.
The impact of leader characteristics on the performance of organizational members: an exploratory study

The commitment or loyalty of organizational members is one of the important determinants of leadership success. This study examines the relationship between leaders’ locus of control and value orientation to the performance of the members in a type of not‐for‐profit organization. The results indicate that leaders with conservative values and internal locus of control tend to elicit higher levels of performance from their members. The implications of these results are discussed.
R U Able to Meat Me: The Impact of Students’ Overly Casual Email Messages to Instructors

Out-of-classroom communication (OCC) in the form of email has increased considerably in the past few years. This study uses Interaction Adaptation Theory (IAT) to inform and frame the impact of using overly casual email messages with instructors. Study one used an experimental method to determine that message quality (casual vs. formal messages) accounted for between 48% and 64% of the variance explained in affect toward the student, student credibility, and message attitude. Message quality also significantly impacted on an instructor's willingness to comply with a simple request for a face-to-face meeting. Study two further examined these findings using a comparative analysis of both instructors and students. Findings reveal that instructors are bothered more than students by overly casual email messages. Instructors attribute students’ use of overly casual emails more heavily to training issues, while students attribute this to technology use. Two specific email violations that bother instructors more ...
TH‐E‐BRA‐02: A Novel Approach to Histopathological Validation of PET Tracers for Image Guidance in Radiotherapy

Purpose: It has been proposed that PETimages can be used to guide the delivery of selectively escalated doses to biologically‐relevant tumor subvolumes. Histopathological validation of PETimaging is challenging due to difficulties associated with precise registration of non‐invasive in‐vivo images to histopathological ex‐vivo images. The aim of this study is to develop an alternative method of PETimaging validation for image‐guidance applications. The method is applied to evaluation of the feasibility of FDG PET‐based delineation of viable tissue in animaltumormodels.Methods: Tumor‐bearing mice were injected with 14C‐FDG. Whole‐tumor specimens were sectioned, obtaining 8μm thick sections every 120μm throughout the tumor. These sections were used to obtain 14C‐FDG autoradiography and H&E microscopy images. Viable tumortissue was delineated on each H&E image. Based on sequential digital photography images of the tissue block acquired during sectioning, the true 3D distributions of 14C‐FDG and viable tissue were reconstituted. To simulate generation of a PETimage, the 3D activity map was convolved with a 3D point‐spread‐function of Siemens Inveon small‐animal PET scanner. Threshold‐based analysis was used to evaluate the degree of coincidence between the areas of high FDG uptake in the simulated PETimage and 3D distribution of viable tissue.Results: Averaging effects associated with PETimaging altered the true 3D spatial pattern of FDG intratumoral uptake. ROC analysis indicated good sensitivity of FDG PETimage‐segmentation for the detection of the viable tissue (AUC = 0.74). However, the specificity was low, as indicated by the low threshold value at which the maximum overlap occurred (22% of maximum uptake). Conclusion: A novel method of histopathological validation of PETimaging for image‐guidance in radiotherapy was developed. Using this method, it was demonstrated that for the tumors with high viable tissue content, FDG‐thresholding can be used for viable tissue detection.
DIETARY FIBER: THE EFFECT OF PARTICLE SIZE AND pH ON ITS MEASUREMENT

The effect of particle size, acid and alkali on the composition of processed and unprocessed wheat bran, purified corn pericarp, and peanut hulls was studied. Van Soest's method for fiber analyses was used to measure hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and cutin. Hemicellulose values for wheat samples ground through a 60-mesh screen of Wiley Mill were 20% lower than samples ground through a 20-mesh screen. Shaking red wheat bran for 24 hr at 25°C solubilized 17% of the hemicellulose at pH 11.5 and 9% at pH 2.2. Refluxing for 60 min reduced the hemicellulose content by 62% at pH 11.5 and by 52% at pH 2.2. Similar losses were observed for purified corn pericarp while little change was found for peanut hulls. Variation in sample particle size and exposing plant fiber to acid and alkali may change fiber composition as measured by the Van Soest procedure.
Taxon-specific oligonucleotide primers for detection of Glomus etunicatum

The 5.8S subunit and flanking internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions in nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from spores of Glomus etunicatum MD107, MD127, TN101, and FL329 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using ITS1Kpn and ITS4Pst as primers. The amplification products (597, 599, 598, and 613 bp, respectively) were cloned and sequenced. The similarity among ITS region sequences from MD107, MD127, and TN101 was 99%, whereas the sequence similarity between the ITS regions of these three DNAs and that from FL329 was 91%. The 5.8S rDNA sequences of all four G. etunicatum isolates were identical. In contrast, major dissimilarities in the corresponding rDNA sequence regions of other glomalean taxa were observed. Oligonucleotide sequences unique to G. etunicatum were tested for their specificity in PCR amplification of genomic DNA from spores of 55 isolates comprising 29 glomalean fungi: 18 isolates of G. etunicatum, five G. intraradices, three G. claroideum, 16 other Glomus isolates, and 11 other glomalean taxa from each of four other genera. The G. etunicatum isolates were from a broad range of geographic regions and soils. The oligonucleotide pair GETU1:GETU2 primed specific amplification of an oligonucleotide sequence (approximately 400 bp) present in all G. etunicatum. This primer pair did not prime PCR when template consisted of DNA from any of the other glomalean fungi or any of the non-mycorrhizal controls, including roots of corn (Zea mays). In addition, the pair successfully detected G. etunicatum in nested PCR using a primary PCR product amplified from highly diluted extracts of colonized corn roots using modified ITS1:ITS4 primers. In the phylogenetic analysis of Glomus 5.8S and ITS2 rDNA region sequences, which included 500 bootstrap data sets, confidence in the G. etunicatum branch was very strong (90%) and clearly independent of G. claroideum and G. intraradices, to which it is very closely related.
LANGUAGE AND THE SHIFT FROM SIGNS TO PRACTICES IN CULTURAL INQUIRY

A model of culture as a partially coherent system of signs comprised the most widely employed instrument for analyzing cultural meaning among the new cultural historians. However, the model failed to account for meanings that agents produce by executing social practices rather than by only "reading" contrasts among signs. It also encouraged some analysts to conceive the difference between sign system and concrete practice as that between what is graspable as an intellectual form and what remains inaccessibly material or corporeal. This essay introduces three exemplars of the ties between signs and practices to show how the pragmatics of using signs comprises a structure and a generator of meaning in its own right. In the three exemplars, which are based on the tropes of metonymy, metaphor, and irony, I employ the analytic tools of linguistics to appreciate the non-discursive organization of practice. Analysis of the diverse logics for orga
Nutrition Information to the Desktop: A Pilot Online Nutrition Course on Saturated Fat for Public Librarians Increases Knowledge, Expectancies, and Self-efficacy

Abstract Objective To assess the effectiveness of an online course for public librarians on helping patrons reduce saturated fat. Design Pre- and posttest design along with a 6-month follow-up survey. Setting Online nutrition course. Participants 100 (8 males, 92 females) completed the course, and 29 completed the follow-up survey. Intervention Completion of an online course. Main Outcome Measures Self-efficacy, expectancies, and knowledge were assessed at pre- and posttest. Self-efficacy, expectancies, and use of course content were assessed at 6-month follow-up. Analysis Paired-samples t tests. Results Knowledge increased significantly ( P P P P P = .178). At 6-month follow-up, 39% of the participants had used the information from the course to find resources for a patron with a health-related question, and 82% had used the information from the course to help a friend or family member. Conclusions and Implications This small pilot study with librarians shows that an online course can be an effective way to increase self-efficacy about helping patrons with nutrition-related questions.
Suggestions for Physiological Research in Dysarthria

Summary Techniques for study of speech physiology aberrations associated with neuromuscular disorders have been presented. Emphasis has been placed upon analyzing such problems via concomitant study of the articulatory, phonatory and respiratory mechanisms, since the disruption of the interdynamics of those mechanisms may help explain many dysarthric conditions. Even though there is still a great deal to be learned with respect to the normal speech physiology process, application of what is known regarding that process combined with advances in speech science technology seem to make such study highly profitable at this time. Two case descriptions are presented to illustrate the procedures used in attempts to specify the speech physiology problems of dysarthric subjects.
The development of a management information system for Health Systems Agencies

Abstract The legislation establishing the Health Systems Agencies (HSA) requires the development of a Management Information System (MIS) for these agencies. The authors, during the Summer of 1976. developed an MIS for an HSA which provides both information for internal management control and external reporting requirements. This paper discusses the system design and its implementation during the initial phase of agency operation. The system consists of a data base. procedures for gathering the data and methods of condensing the data into the information necessary for internal control, strategic planning, and external reporting.
The Effect of Particle Size on the Oxidation Resistance of a Nanoceria-Coated 304 Stainless Steel

In this work, the oxidation resistance of 304 stainless steel (SS) in the uncoated and nanoceria-coated conditions was investigated at 1073 K and 1273 K (800 °C and 1000 °C) under dry air conditions. It was found that nanoceria coatings with average particle sizes of 10 nm were effective enough to fully protect the 304 SS from oxidation. In particular, when the average nanoceria particle size in the coating was less than 5 nm, the coatings were highly efficient in hindering the oxidation susceptibility of the 304 SS. Improvements in the oxidation resistance of up to two orders of magnitude were experimentally found in this work. Finite elements were used in solving Fick’s Second Law using the Crank–Nicholson method in order to elucidate the active oxidation mechanisms in the bare and nanoceria-coated 304 SS. Oxygen penetration profiles across the scale were predicted suggesting that in the absence of a nanoceria coating, the oxygen concentration at a given scale depth is three times as high as in the nanoceria-coated samples. Moreover, kinetic simulations for scale growth through an exponential term containing a factor λ were satisfactory in predicting the experimental outcome on mass gain vs time. Ostwald-Ripening mechanisms were considered to be active during the dissolution of nanoceria particles. It was found that when average particle sizes fall below 5 nm in size, they tend to dissolve immediately, but the dissolution times become exceedingly long when the particle sizes increase above 10 nm.
Cerebral cortical capillary basement membrane thickening in galactosaemic rats.

Wistar-Kyoto rats fed a diet containing 30% by weight galactose for 15–21 months developed significant thickening of the endothelial basement membranes of capillaries from the frontal cortex of the cerebrum, by comparison with cerebral capillary basement membranes from animals on a standard diet (p<0.001), or animals receiving a diet containing 30% galactose together with 250 mg/kg diet of the aldose reductase inhibitor, Sorbinil (0.001<p<0.01). The effect was similar to that which we have reported previously in the retinal capillaries of these animals. Spontaneously hypertensive rats on the high-galactose diet showed modest cerebral capillary basement membrane thickening (0.02<p<0.05) only for one of the measurement protocols utilised, and the process was not prevented by Sorbinil. Biochemical assays of retina, cerebral cortex, and blood serum from Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats maintained on the Sorbinil regimen showed that the drug did cross the blood-retinal and blood-brain barriers. Similar to our previous study on the retinal capillaries, we observed no degeneration of pericyte or endothelial cell cytoplasm, and no alteration in the pericyte/endothelial cell nuclear ratio in the cerebral capillaries of galactosaemic animals, by comparison with controls. Based on immunocytochemical studies in the human retina, it has been claimed that aldose reductase is present in capillary pericytes but absent in the endothelial cells. However, we observe a considerably smaller pericyte/ endothelial cell nuclear ratio in the capillaries of the cerebral cortex of the rat, by comparison with those of the retina. Also, pericyte coverage of the cerebral cortical capillaries is much less than that of the retinal capillaries of these animals. Therefore, it appears that the biochemical process(es) responsible for basement membrane thickening are unlikely to reside within the pericytes.
Ceramic Theory and Cultural Process

Ceramic Theory and Cultural Process. DEAN E. ARNOLD. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. 279 pp. $15.95 (paper). ISBN 0-521-27259-9
Response to pheromone traps and disruption of pheromone communication in the lesser peachtree borer and the peachtree borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)

The sex pheromone communication of the lesser peachtree borer,Synanthedon pictipes (Grote and Robinson), and the peachtree borer,Sanninoidea exitiosa (Say), can be disrupted by permeation of the atmosphere with their respective sex pheromones, (E,Z)- and (Z,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate. The two isomers seemed equally effective against both species. Disruption was greatest when the pheromone was evaporated from the tops of the peach trees; also, pheromone traps placed in the tree tops captured significantly more males than did traps placed lower in the trees. Neither the color nor the directional placement in a tree (NE, NW, SE, SW) of pheromone-baited traps influenced captures of male lesser peachtree borers.
The analysis of variance and the correlations between relatives with respect to deviations from an optimum

The formulae for the mean and variance of squared deviations from an optimum are given for the cases of no dominance and of complete dominance, first assuming no environmental complications but later removing this restriction. The variance in each case is analysed into contributions due to (1) additive gene effects, (2) dominance deviations, (3) epistatic deviations, (4) environmental effects and (5) nonadditive joint effects of heredity and environment. In the case of complete dominance, formulae are developed which apply to epistatic relations in general. These lead to formulae for the correlations between parent and offspring and between two offspring. It appears that in a population in which the mean of some measurable character is at the optimum, the parent-offspring and fraternal correlations in adaptive value are approximately the squares of the corresponding correlations with respect to the character itself, whatever environmental complications there may be. Where the mean is not at the optimum, there is less difference between the correlations in adaptive value and the corresponding ones with respect to the character itself.
A geometric framework method for voltage stability analysis based on sensitivity analysis

This paper focuses on a new approach for contingency ranking with respect to saddle-node bifurcation induced voltage collapse. The proposed contingency ranking method has been done by estimating the post-contingency voltage collapse point (VCP), given pre-contingency VCP with forecasted load demand and generation dispatch. The features of the new approach are the abilities to estimate the post-contingency VCP directly with sensitivity analysis and rank contingency cases quickly and accurately for large power systems. The proposed method has been tested on the IEEE 118 bus system with 177 single branch outages (9 radial branches are skipped) and 18 single generator outages. Compared with results obtained from full continuation power flow, the new algorithm is shown to be twice as fast with “distance to voltage collapse” estimation errors of less than 1%.
Indications for pediatric liver transplantation

The clinical manifestations of chronic liver disease in the adult are usually insidious and slow to progress. In contrast, the clinical features of end-stage liver disease in children develop over a short time and are followed by devastating results. A typical example is the patient with cirrhosis secondary to biliary atresia. In these patients, jaundice, hypersplenism, and portal hypertension quickly develop, in addition to the complications of malabsorption such as diarrhea, growth retardation, and bone fractures. Three years ago, orthotopic liver transplantation left the realm of experimental surgery and became an accepted mode of therapy for patients with irreversible liver disease.1 The first human liver transplant was performed in a child 23 years ago, but progress was slow until cyclosporine was introduced into clinical practice in 1980.2 The immediate impact of cyclosporine on survival was so remarkable that in a few years there has been a proliferation of new transplant centers all over the world. Moreover, the indications for hepatic replacement are constantly expanding to benefit more patients who otherwise would inevitably die of hepatic failure (unpublished data). We report the results in the first 250 pediatric patients who received liver transplants during the cyclosporine era.
Differential serum dependence of cultured osteoclastic and osteoblastic bone cells

Sequential collagenase digestion of mice calvariae provides populations of bone cells that express either osteoclastic (OC) or osteoblastic (OB) activities after growth for 6 days in similar culture conditions consisting of minimal essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). The OC characteristics (acid phosphatase activity and hyaluronate synthesis, and their stimulation by PTH) were recovered in the cell populations released early from calvariae, but these also contained OB cells and numerous spindle-shaped alkaline phosphatase positive cells that resembled fibroblasts. We have attempted to select for growth of OC cells in these early populations by exploiting differences in growth requirements of OC, OB, and fibroblastic cells. We find that after growth for 6 days in low serum (2% FCS), OC cell populations demonstrated a threefold increase in OC activity/cell, and cell yield was reduced to one-third of that obtained in 10% FCS. Spindle-shaped cells were absent in 2% FCS and OB marker activities (alkaline phosphatase and citrate decarboxylation) were reduced threefold. In contrast to OC cells, high serum (10% FCS) favored the growth and phenotypic expression of OB cells (late populations). Cell yield and OB marker activities/cell were twofold higher in OB cells grown in 10% FCS vs 2% FCS, whereas growth but not phenotypic expression was retained at 5% FCS. These data suggest that differential serum dependence of OC and OB cells may provide a basis for further enrichment for each cell type following sequential digestion.
A research proposal: initial development of operational indicators for measuring US federal public sector organization virtuality

The purpose of this paper is to propose a research agenda for measuring the virtuality of US federal public sector organizations. Much of the e-Government literature has focused on service delivery. This paper moves the discussion to the administrative side of the equation and develops a research agenda that focuses attention to the real or perceived impact of IT on the day-to-day functions (structure and process) of the public sector. Building on Fountain's framework of virtual bureaucracy, a multi-case study method using operational indicators of virtual public sector organizations in conjunction with enterprise architecture analysis is discussed.
Ras inactivation of the retinoblastoma pathway by distinct mechanisms in NIH 3T3 fibroblast and RIE-1 epithelial cells.

Although Ras and Raf cause transformation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, only Ras causes transformation of RIE-1 intestinal epithelial cells. To determine if the inability of Raf to transform RIE-1 cells is due to a failure to deregulate cell cycle progression, we evaluated the consequences of sustained Ras and Raf activation on steady state levels of cyclin D1, p21CIP/WAF, and p27KIP1. Both Ras- and Raf-transformed NIH 3T3 cells showed up-regulated expression of cyclin D1, p21, and p27 protein, increased retinoblastoma (Rb) hyperphosphorylation, and increased activation of E2F-mediated transcription. Similarly, Ras-transformed RIE-1 cells also showed up-regulation of cyclin D1, p21, and hyperphosphorylated Rb. In contrast, Ras-mediated down-regulation of p27 was seen in RIE-1 cells. Conversely, stable expression of activated Raf alone caused only a partial up-regulation of p21 and Rb hyperphosphorylation but no activation of E2F-responsive transcription or down-regulation of p27 in RIE-1 cells. Moreover, we found that the AP-1 site was dispensable for Ras-mediated stimulation of the cyclin-D1 promoter in NIH 3T3 cells but was essential for Ras-mediated stimulation in RIE-1 cells. Thus, up-regulation of p21, rather than the down-regulation seen in previous transient expression studies, is seen with sustained Ras activation. Additionally, p27 may serve a positive (NIH 3T3) or negative (RIE-1) regulatory role in Ras transformation that is cell type-dependent. The involvement of Raf and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in mediating Ras changes in cyclin D1, p21, and p27 was also very distinct in NIH 3T3 and RIE-1 cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate the importance of Raf-independent pathways in mediating oncogenic Ras deregulation of cell cycle progression in epithelial cells.
Self-consistent dynamics in the single wave model

Abstract A numerical study of self-consistent dynamics is presented in the context of the single-wave model (SWM). The SWM is a general mean-field model that describes the weakly nonlinear dynamics of marginally stable plasmas and fluids. Also, the SWM bears many similarities with models used to describe coupled oscillator systems. We construct integrable solutions of the SWM, and illustrate the concept of self-consistent resonant mixing by following numerically the evolution of perturbed integrable solutions. Using Fourier analysis we construct kinematic effective Hamiltonians.
Dexamethasone increases protein degradation in cultured myotubes through a Calcium-calmodulin Kinase II (CaMK-II) dependent mechanism

Introduction. Previous reports suggest that glucocorticoids are important mediators of muscle protein breakdown in various muscle-wasting conditions, including sepsis. The mechanisms by which glucocorticoids induce muscle proteolysis are poorly understood. Previous studies provided evidence that glucocorticoids may influence cellular calcium homeostasis, and, in other experiments, calcium increased muscle protein breakdown. We tested the hypothesis that glucocorticoid-induced protein degradation in muscle cells is at least in part mediated by calcium and the calcium-activated enzyme CaMK-II. Methods. Cultured L6 myotubes, a rat skeletal muscle cell line, were treated with 1 μM dexamethasone for 24 h. Protein degradation was assessed by measuring the release of TCA-soluble 3H-tyrosine from proteins that had been pre-labeled with the amino acid. The role of calcium in dexamethasone-induced protein degradation was tested by treating the cells with the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA-AM (20 μM). The involvement of CaMK-II was tested by using the CaMK-II inhibitor KN-93 (20 μM). Results. Treatment of L6 myotubes with dexamethasone resulted in a 12% increase in protein degradation, confirming previous reports from this laboratory. This effect of dexamethasone was blocked by BAPTA-AM and KN-93. KN-93 also inhibited basal protein degradation, in the absence of dexamethasone (P < 0.001 by ANOVA). Conclusions. This study provides the first evidence that calcium and the calcium-activated enzyme CaMK-II may be involved in glucocorticoid-induced muscle protein degradation. TABLE—ABSTRACT 15. − DEX + DEX % Change with DEX Control 14.2 ± 0.2 15.9 ± 0.2 + 12.0%∗ BAPTA-AM 13.6 ± 0.2 13.5 ± 0.1 Not significant KN-93 10.0 ± 0.2 10.4 ± 0.2 Not significant Note. Protein degradation (% 24 h) in myotubes treated with dexamethasone, BAPTA-AM,and/or KN-93. Results are means ± SEM with n = 6 per group. ∗ P < 0.001 versus no dex by ANOVA.
Comparison of Mixed Model Methods of Sire Evaluation

Abstract Data were from the United States Department of Agriculture, Dairy Herd Improvement Association Sire Summary files for the active Artificial Insemination bulls summarized in September, 1972. The data consisted of all first lactation records of artificial insemination sired progeny of those bulls. Six different variations of the mixed model currently in use for sire evaluation in the Northeast United States were compared. Three different methods of nesting sires into groups were employed on Holstein data based on the year in which sires entered service, stud year, and region-year. All dairy breeds were evaluated in a grouping method involving years, and estimates for year trends for all breeds and region-year trends for Holsteins are given. Holstein sires (48) with greater than 1,000 daughters with comparisons were compared for all six methods of evaluation. Solutions for the different grouping methods showed that yield and the mean of sire transmitting ability has been increasing in all breeds during the years for which data were included (1960 to 1970). Guernseys, Jerseys, and Holsteins have been increasing since 1964 at average yearly rates of 68, 47, and 45 kg while trends in the Ayrshire and Brown Swiss breeds have been less uniform. Group estimates for Holsteins for region-years point out that artificial insemination bulls in the northeastern portion of the country have the highest evaluation of any region. The method of grouping had a marked influence on evaluation of the bull but was not as important an influence as genetic merit of herdmates.
Amygdalar vasopressin mRNA increases in acute cocaine withdrawal: evidence for opioid receptor modulation.

Abstract In humans, stress is recognized as a major factor contributing to relapse to drug abuse in abstinent individuals; drugs of abuse themselves or withdrawal from such drugs act as stressors. In the animals, evidence suggests that centrally released arginine vasopressin in both amygdala and hypothalamus plays an important role in stress-related anxiogenic behaviors. The stress responsive hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis is under tonic inhibition via endogenous opioids, and cocaine withdrawal stimulates hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal activity. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether: (1) 14-day (chronic) “binge” pattern cocaine administration (45mg/kg/day) or its withdrawal for 3 h (acute), 1 day (subacute) or 10 days (chronic) alters arginine vasopressin mRNA levels in amygdala or hypothalamus; (2) the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (1mg/kg) alters arginine vasopressin mRNA or hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal hormonal responses in acute cocaine withdrawal; and (3) there are associated changes of mu opioid receptor or proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels. In amygdala, arginine vasopressin mRNA levels were unchanged after chronic “binge” cocaine, but were increased during acute cocaine withdrawal. Naloxone completely blocked this increase. Neither chronic cocaine nor its acute withdrawal altered amygdalar mu opioid receptor mRNA levels. The increase in amygdalar arginine vasopressin mRNA levels was still observed after subacute withdrawal, but not after chronic withdrawal. Although hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal tolerance developed with chronic “binge” cocaine, there were modestly elevated plasma adrenocorticotropin hormone levels during acute withdrawal. While naloxone produced modest adrenocorticotropin hormone elevations in cocaine-naive rats, naloxone failed to elicit an adrenocorticotropin hormone response in cocaine-withdrawn rats. In hypothalamus, neither chronic cocaine nor acute withdrawal altered arginine vasopressin, proopiomelanocortin or mu opioid receptor mRNA levels. These results show that: (1) opioid receptors mediate increased amygdalar arginine vasopressin gene expression during acute cocaine withdrawal, and (2) cocaine withdrawal renders the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis insensitive to naloxone. Our findings suggest a potential role for amygdalar arginine vasopressin in the aversive consequences of early cocaine withdrawal.
Reliabilism, Proper Function, and Serendipitous Malfunction

Alvin Plantinga's externalist analysis of epistemic warrant centres on the proper function of the relevant belief-forming mechanism, where proper function is fixed relative to the design plan of the organism in question. He has set this analysis against reliabilism, the other leading externalist contender for the analysis of warrant. Though Plantinga's discussion advances the field of epistemology in a number of important ways, his treatment of warrant is limited by his assumption of creationism in his understanding of design and function. Further, analyses of epistemic warrant focusing on function over reliability either fail at handling problem cases reliabilism can handle, or fail to improve on problem cases for reliabilism. Thus no proper functionalist analysis like Plantinga's can supersede a well-constructed reliabilist analysis.
Increasing the Accuracy of Corrections for Range Restriction: Implications for Selection Procedure Validities and Other Research Results

The common practice in meta-analyses and in individual studies of correcting for direct range restriction even though range restriction is actually indirect has long been known to lead to under-correction, but this error has been assumed to be small. Using validity generalization data sets for 4 jobs, this study calibrated this error by comparing meta-analysis results based on corrections for direct range restriction with the more accurate results from a recently developed method of correcting for indirect range restriction. It was found that, on average, correction for direct range restriction resulted in substantial underestimation of operational validities for both job performance measures (21%) and training performance measures (28%). In addition, 90% credibility values were on average underestimated by 38%-40%. In addition to the implications for personnel selection, these findings suggest that similar underestimation of important relationships has occurred in other areas of research, with potential implications for theory development.
Pragmatic Functions of Toddlers Who Are Late Talkers

This study analyzed spontaneous language samples of 10 late talking toddlers and 11 typically developing toddlers using Dore’s primitive speech act analysis (1974). Late talkers did not produce as many pragmatic functions, and the ones that they do produce did not prompt continued interaction with a communication partner.
Interneurons of the sympathetic ganglia, in organotypic culture. A suggestion as to their function, based on three types of study.

This inquiry is directed toward the component of small granular neurons (SG cells, SIF cells, or interneurons) which characterizes sympathetic ganglia. Superior cervical and stellate ganglia from newborn rats, and paravertebral chain ganglia from newborn rats and embryonic chicks, have been maintained in organotypic tissue culture for periods of 3 to 12 weeks, and studied with the light microscope both living and fixed. These observations have been correlated with their fine structure and their responses to chemical agents affecting adrenergic neurons, as determined by histofluorescence findings. The interneurons develop normally in the isolated ganglia without preganglionic innervation, establishing junctional relationships with each other and with principal neurons. They store within their perikarya conspicuous dense-cored vesicles (∼14OO A −x), and exhibit intense catecholamine fluorescence. These small neurons are resistant to agents that extinguish fluorescence in principal neurons by interfering with biosynthesis or depleting catecholamine stores. It is suggested that a function of the interneurons may be to synthesize and store monoamines and to discharge them on appropriate stimuli, especially from preganglionic afferents (which synapse upon themin vivo), thus making immediately available to the principal neurons a local catecholamine pool.
Functional Variations among Prolactin Cells from Different Pituitary Regions

Reverse hemolytic plaque assays were used to compare the responsiveness of cells from different pituitary regions to the modulatory effects of human pancreatic GHreleasing factor (GRF), TRH, and dopamine (DA). Tissues from the peripheral rim (outer zone) and the central region (inner zone) of adenohypophyses from day 10 lactating rats were dispersed with trypsin, and the cells were placed into culture. On the following day, these cells were subjected to GH plaque assays (conducted in the presence or absence of GRF) and PRL plaque assays (performed with or without TRH and DA). Cells from both zones responded similarly to GRF with a rapid acceleration of GH plaque formation. However, the rate of PRL plaque formation in response to TRH and DA differed between cells from these regions. For outer zone cells, plaque development increased greatly with TRH treatment, but was only moderately affected by DA. Plaque formation from inner zone cells was influenced slightly by TRH, but markedly inhibited by DA. These r...
The PHENIX experiment in the RHIC run 7

PHENIX is one of two large experiments at Brookhaven National Laboratory's Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Previously, the PHENIX experiment had completed very successful Runs that featured different beam species in RHIC. Since the previous Au+Au run in 2004, we had improved the performance of the data acquisition system by introducing several key technologies, such as distributed compression and multi-event buffering, that had increased the event rate to 5 KHz for the smaller collision systems that we measured since, Cu+Cu, and p+p. However, this rate had yet to be reached in the largest and most demanding collision system, Au+Au at 200 AGeV. Previously, the data logging capability had been demonstrated to exceed 600 MB/S, although this value had never reached in actual running. The RHIC luminosity and the smaller collision systems before did not deliver enough data to saturate the logging capability. In this Run 7, we exceeded the 600 MB/S logging rate for the highest multiplicities, where we also reached the current practical limit of 5 KHz event rate with the large events size. We have in the past used GRID middleware tools to transfer substantial data volumes in the order of 400 TB off-site in order to make use of remote computing capacity in Japan, France, and other sites in the US, and used this technology to achieve priority processing of triggered events again in Run 7. The Run 7 also introduced several new prototype detectors in the experiment, a new high-resolution time-of-flight detector, a reaction plane detector, a Muon Piston Calorimeter, and, as a prototype, a Hadron Blind Detector that is designed to tag the background from conversion electrons and improve the photon and electron measurement capability of the PHENIX apparatus We will describe the ingredients which made those highest rates possible, and show some performance figures.
Development of new low stress epoxies for MEMS device encapsulation

In this study, a series of new low stress epoxies was introduced as conformal encapsulants, which show a high promise to meet all the requirements for the protection of the pressure sensor system. Mechanical properties such as initial Young's modulus, toughness and ultimate tensile stress were evaluated. The more critical issue of material's contamination resistance to the jet fuel was improved. And the mechanism behind materials low stress and toughness behaviors was investigated from the viewpoint of microstructure.
Trends affecting research strategies in plant resistance to insects

Abstract Varieties of crop plants showing resistance to insect pests have been in use in modern agricultural production systems for nearly 40 years. The need for their continued use is especially critical in developing countries today, since both food and food production costs have increased greatly. The expanding populations of some developing countries currently endanger the habitats of the germplasm of several major crop plants. For this reason, major efforts are now necessary to collect, preserve and maintain as much wild germplasm of major crop plants as possible. These efforts may lead to the exchange of advanced biotechnology techniques from developed countries for exotic crop plant germplasm from developing countries. Many varieties of insect-resistant crop plants rely on allelochemicals to convey antibiotic effects on pest insects. However, high levels of allelochemicals can have detrimental effects on beneficial insects, and induce insecticide tolerance in non-target insect pests. Therefore, a need for caution exists in the development of crop varieties which utilize allelochemicals in their resistance. Accurate, reproducible bioassay techniques are essential to the continued development of insect-resistant varieties. This is especially important today, since groups of scientists at different locations may be involved cooperatively in identifying and categorizing plant resistance to insects. Insect, plant and environmental variables should be standardized, since each can greatly affect the validity of bioassay results.
INSTRUMENTAL AND SENSORY DETECTION OF SIMULTANEOUS BRITTLENESS LOSS AND MOISTURE TOUGHENING IN THREE PUFFED CEREALS

The jaggedness of the compressive force-displacement relationship of cheese balls®, cocoa puffs® and peanut butter crunch® particles at various moisture contents was determined in terms of their apparent fractal dimension, and the mean magnitude of the power spectrum of their normalized residuals. The plots of these measures versus moisture contents had a characteristic sigmoid shape very similar to that of the corresponding sensory crispness and crunchiness vs moisture content relationships. This close similarity suggests that the jaggedness of the force-displacement relationship is a manifestation of the same failure events that produce the crispness or crunchiness sensation. (In the context of the tested products the two terms, crispness and crunchiness, were found to be synonymous.) In all three products moisture toughening could be clearly detected instrumentally but only in two there was an unambiguous corresponding increase in the sensory hardness scores. This indicates that at least in certain cereal products moisture toughening can be perceived simultaneously with brittleness loss.
Meeting Wild Bees’ Needs on Western US Rangelands

Rangelands are areas that are too arid, or with soils too shallow, to support either forests or cultivated agriculture, but that nonetheless produce enough vegetation for livestock grazing. Some arid range land regions, notably those with warm, dry climates in temperate zones (e.g., the warm deserts of the United States and adjacent Mexico, parts of Australia, South Africa, California, and around the Mediterranean) host great diver sities of native bees,1 primarily nonsocial species among which are many floral specialists. Conversely, the world's forested lowland tropics support many more social species of bees, but they have far less bee diversity overall.1 Bees are generally the most important group of pollinators for every continental flora. To better grasp the relevance of human impacts on rangeland bee faunas, and what we can do about it, some generalizations about bees are presented.
Leaf Wand for Measuring Chlorophyll Fluorescence on Cylindrical Leaves and Its Application on Juncus roemerianus (Black Needlerush)

Chlorophyll fluorescence is a well established technique to rapidly and non-invasively determine photosynthesis parameters in plant leaves. It can be used in both laboratory and field settings, and frequently dark-adaptation of a leaf sample is called for. In the field, this can be accomplished on flat leaves using standard leaf clips supplied by instrument manufacturers. However, not all plant leaves are flat, many are cylindrical or otherwise three-dimensional in shape. The standard leaf clip does not close fully on three-dimensional leaves, therefore, does not allow the sample to be properly dark adapted in the field. A new leaf “wand” was developed that can be slipped over an entire cylindrical leaf or culm of rushes and sedges for both light- and dark-adapted measurements. This new leaf wand is compared to the standard leaf clip (DLC-8) using a Walz mini-PAM on Juncus roemerianus(Black needlerush). Results indicate that dark-adapted yield measurements are not significantly different between leaf clips, while light-adapted yields are higher with the leaf wand. The potential sources of difference in the optical path of the excitation light and fluorescence return are discussed and compared between leaf clips. Construction of specialized leaf wands should be considered for any leaves are not flat and therefore that do not fit the standard leaf clip for complete dark-adaptation under field conditions.
A class of model equations for bi-directional propagation of capillary–gravity waves

A class of model equations that describe the bi-directional propagation of small amplitude long waves on the surface of shallow water is derived from two-dimensional potential flow equations at various orders of approximation in two small parameters, namely the amplitude parameter a ¼ a=h0 and wavelength parameter b ¼ð h0=lÞ 2 , where a and l are the actual amplitude and wavelength of the surface wave, and h0 is the height of the undisturbed water surface from the flat bottom topography.These equations are also characterized by the surface tension parameter, namely the Bond number s ¼ C=qgh 2 , where C is the surface tension coefficient, q is the density of water, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. The traveling solitary wave solutions are explicitly constructed for a class of lower order Boussinesq
Time warp for efficient parallel logic simulation on a massively parallel SIMD machine

A variation of the time warp protocol for efficient parallel logic simulation on a massively parallel SIMD machine is proposed. A scheme in which each object has a single event queue instead of three queues needed in the conventional time warp protocol is developed for fast queue manipulation and small storage requirement. An immediate cancellation technique of the rollback mechanism of time warp is proposed which does not require the use of antimessages and works well for the single queue structure. To minimize the queue size needed for simulation, a lower bound of rollback at each object is computed and used to discard processed events with timestamps less than the bound. Even if extra work is needed for computing and delivering the lower bound, the simulation using the lower bound of rollback is faster than the time warp protocol since queue manipulation time is significantly saved. Preliminary experimental results of the time warp variation on the Connection Machine-2 indicate significant savings in time and space over the time warp protocol. Moreover, the proposed scheme is much faster than the Intermetric VHDL simulator. >
A rapid assessment approach to prioritizing streams for control of Great Lakes sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus): a case study in adaptive management

We developed and evaluated an alternative method (rapid assessment or RA) for assessment of larval sea lampreys, Petromyzon marinus. We determined that using RA would result in at least as many, if...
Should less-invasive aortic valve replacement be avoided in patients with pulmonary dysfunction?

Objective In patients with pulmonary dysfunction, it is unclear whether a less-invasive approach for aortic valve replacement is well tolerated or even beneficial. We investigated whether a partial upper J-incision for aortic valve replacement leads to more favorable outcomes than a full sternotomy in patients with chronic lung disease by using forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a surrogate. Methods From January 1995 to July 2010, 6931 patients underwent primary isolated aortic valve replacement; 655 had forced expiratory volume in 1 second measured and expressed as percent of predicted (FEV1%; 368 via J-incision, 287 via full sternotomy). Postoperative outcomes were compared among 223 propensity-matched pairs. Results Patients diagnosed with chronic lung disease had longer median intensive care unit (41 vs 27 hours, P = .001) and postoperative (7.1 vs 6.1 days, P P = .07) was possibly higher in matched patients with J-incision, but late survival was similar ( P = .9). Patients with FEV1% less than 50 who underwent J-incision had the greatest survival advantage, which persisted for 5 years. Conclusions In patients with preoperative respiratory dysfunction, a less-invasive partial upper J-incision for aortic valve replacement can lead to more favorable outcomes than a full sternotomy, including shorter intensive care unit and postoperative lengths of stay and better early survival, which are amplified with decreasing pulmonary function.
Twitter and Simulation: Tweet Your Way to Better Sim

Abstract Simulation use in healthcare is growing at a rapid pace. It is time to evolve our communication techniques from the e-mail distribution lists to instant contact with the wisdom of crowds. Twitter is one tool to tap the expertise of a broad range of people to take simulation to the next level.