cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of MPEG-2 and AVC coding on synthetic test materials

The resources for evaluation of moving imagery coding include a variety of subjective and objective methods for quality measurement. These are applied to a variety of imagery, ranging from synthetically-generated to live capture. NIST has created a family of synthetic motion imagery (MI) materials providing image elements such as moving spirals, blocks, text, and spinning wheels. Through the addition of a colored noise background, the materials support the generation of graded levels of MI coding impairments such as image blocking and mosquito noise, impairments that are found in imagery coded with Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) and similar codecs. For typical available synthetic imagery, human viewers respond unfavorably to repeated viewings; so in this case, the use of objective (computed) metrics for evaluation of quality is preferred. Three such quality metrics are described: a standard peak-signal-to-noise measure, a new metric of edge-blurring, and another of added-edge-energy. As applied to the NIST synthetic clips, the metrics confirm an approximate doubling [1] of compression efficiency between two commercial codecs, one an implementation of AVC/H.264 and the other of MPEG-2.
Self-regulation in the dental profession

Assumptions about the self-regulatory aspect of the health professions were applied to dentistry and tested in a survey of solo and nonsolo practitioners. Structured and open-ended questions were posed in a survey of dentists in solo and non solo practices to test assumptions concerning clinical norms and the self-regulatory aspect of the health professions. The importance of autonomy in their perceptions of practice influenced the dentists’ responses to several developments; among them are peer review and third party programs that affect the profession.
Stability Issues for Gas-Liquid Flows in Bubble Columns

In the present work, gas-liquid flow dynamics in a bubble column are simulated with CFDLib using an Eulerian-Eulerian ensemble-averaging method in a two dimensional Cartesian system. The time-averaged gas holdup simulations are compared to experimental measurements of a cylindrical bubble column performed by Rampure et al. [1]. Numerical predictions are presented for the time-averaged gas holdup at various axial heights as a function of radial position. The effects of grid resolution, bubble pressure model, and drag coefficient models on the numerical predictions are examined. The bubble pressure model is reported to account for bubble stability, thus providing physical solutions. The objectives are to obtain grid-independent numerical solutions to resolve unphysical results observed in FLUENT with increasing grid resolutions [2], and to validate computational fluid dynamics simulations with experimental data to demonstrate the use of numerical simulations as a viable design tool for gas-liquid bubble column flows.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Agonist-induced Loss of Ligand Binding Is Correlated with Phosphorylation of cAR1, a G Protein-coupled Chemoattractant Receptor from Dictyostelium

Abstract The parallel agonist-induced phosphorylation, alteration in electrophoretic mobility, and loss of ligand binding of a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (G protein)-coupled chemoattractant receptor from Dictyostelium (cAR1) depend upon a cluster of five C-terminal domain serine residues (Caterina, M. J., Hereld, D., and Devreotes, P. N. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 4418-4423). Analysis of mutants lacking combinations of these serines revealed that either Seror Seris required; mutants lacking both serines are defective in all of these responses. Interestingly, several mutants, including those substituted at only Ser, Ser, or Seror at non-serine positions within the third cytoplasmic loop, displayed an unstable mobility shift; the alteration was rapidly reversed upon cAMP removal. These mutants also exhibited subnormal extents of loss of ligand binding, which is assessed after removal of the ligand. For the wild-type receptor, we found that the stability of phosphorylation depends upon the concentration and duration of agonist pretreatment. This suggests that, following phosphorylation of Seror Ser, cAR1 undergoes a further transition (EC≈ 140 n M, t≈ 4 min) to a relatively phosphatase-resistant state. We used this insight to show that, under all conditions tested, the extent of loss of binding is correlated with the fraction of cAR1 in the altered mobility form. We discuss possible relationships between cAR1 phosphorylation and loss of ligand binding.
Vitamin A, β-carotene, and mother-to-child transmission of HIV

The role of maternal vitamin A supplements in decreasing the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission has been examined in sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, there is no reduction in either mortality or HIV transmission in two recent studies. Contrary to expectations, one study reported an increased risk of transmission using vitamin A plus beta-carotene supplements.
Anomalous disappearance of high-Tc superconductivity at high hole concentration in metallic La2-xSrxCuO4.

Samples of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{x}\mathrm{Cu}{\mathrm{O}}_{4\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ have previously shown a maximum concentration of $p=0.15$ holes per [Cu${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$] unit, because increasing $xg0.15$ normally induces compensating oxygen vacancies. Annealing samples in 100 bars of oxygen pressure fills the oxygen vacancies and greatly increases the range of accessible hole concentrations, up to $p=0.40$ (or effectively ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{+2.40}$). We find that ${T}_{c}$ is constant at \ensuremath{\simeq}36 K from $p=0.15 \mathrm{to} 0.24$, where it begins to decrease. Beyond $p\ensuremath{\simeq}0.32$, superconductivity disappears, even though the samples are more conducting.
The biology of the marine sponge Microciona prolifera (Ellis and Solander). III. Spicule secretion and the effect of temperature on spicule size

Abstract The secretion of siliceous spicules in the marine demosponge Microciona prolifera (Ellis and Solander) is by three different means. Styles are secreted by sclerocytes with archeocyte characteristics (nucleolate nucleus, phagosomes). chelas are formed by small sclerocytes with anucleolate nuclei, and toxas are apparently formed extracellularly within membranous material. Genetically and physiologically equivalent explants of this sponge were grown at 15, 20, and 25 C for four weeks. Analyses of spicule dimensions show little correlation of temperature with spicule length, except in the case of toxas. but a clear inverse relationship of spicule width with temperature. It is suggested that thicker spicules are formed at lower temperatures due to the more efficient entrapment of silicon rather than to effects upon silicon transport. Chela dimensions are very uniform implying an all or none process in their secretion. Differences in spicule dimensions between individual sponges grown at these temperatures may be due to the highly complex pathways of silicon transport and/or to genetic differences.
Protection methods against IP packet attacks

Attackers most frequently use TCP and UDP vulnerabilities in various probing and spoofing attacks. TECP and UDP are the most common data fields in Internet IP packets, but unfortunately these segments contain known vulnerabilities. There are, however, protection devices available in the forms of firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) that can help filter these attack packets, or alert users when an attack is happening. There are many different types of firewalls, IDS, and IPS on the market today. It is extremely important to know what types exist, the inherent advantages and disadvantages that each has in given applications, and how to effectively control the functionality of the systems. Each has its own methods that are best in specific situations, and sometimes it is best to use a combination of multiple systems working simultaneously.This paper examines some protection systems available today, along with different packet inspection methods, functions, and architectures associated with each. Specific areas highlighted include selecting the correct system for a given situation, the best way to set up access control lists, and how to pick the best location for the system.
Application of PDE methods for image-based concrete surface damage detection

Tremendous progress has been achieved in image analysis and processing, and in particular, the use of partial differential equation (PDE) methods in image analysis has proliferated in recent years. However, PDE methods have seen little application to optical image-based structural damage detection for civil systems. This paper applies the Chan-Vese active contour model and its level set representation to detect concrete surface damage, in this case concrete cracks, in optical images. The detected cracks can be further characterized by extracted geometric quantities including their width, length and area of coverage, and associated with engineering design. With regard to crack width extraction, an approximate method is proposed, which relies on solving for a signed distance function. We test these methods by using synthetic images as well as real multi-temporal images from a laboratory experiment. This paper illustrates that using the proposed methods, cracks with complex topographical patterns can be successfully detected with sufficient accuracy.
Reliability processes and corporate structures

Abstract Quality and reliability concepts evolved since the 18th century and before to a stage where the current practitioner has a wide array of tools and algorithms to improve the competitiveness of manufactured products and services. The corporate structures in which engineers and managers apply these quality and reliability concepts are as important to the practitioner as the concepts themselves. Some companies in various countries have had great success in improving the quality and reliability of manufactured products by applying modern principles. However, many businesses and economies throughout the world are in states of decline for a variety of reasons. One key reason is inappropriate management structures for applying these modern principles. Two reliability management perspectives are reviewed in this paper, namely, 1.) Service Response Logistics and 2.) Superior Development for an Innovative Product. Service Response Logistics focuses on establishing strong relationships directly with customers and delivering value to each customer on an individual basis. Service Response Logistics emphasizes the accuracy of diagnosing customer needs and reliability of delivering benefit to the customer. The insightful work of F.W. Davis is emphasized. Superior Development Process for an Innovative Product involves the development of an integrated product by development teams. The product development process is broken down into distinct components that occur in phases. The structure (process) recognizes that customer expectations need to be assimilated with product ideas and that the selection and development of product and process technology should occur synonymously with a customer needs analysis. The insightful view of C.C. Wilson is stressed.
Liabilities of language: Audre Lorde reclaiming difference

Distortions around the naming and the misnaming of human differences are the central foci of Audre Lorde's speech entitled “Age, Race, Class, Sex: Women Redefining Difference,” which she delivered at Amherst College in Massachusetts on April 3, 1980. Lorde's speech at Amherst exemplifies her deep understanding of what she refers to in an earlier speech as “that language which has been made to work against us.” Paradoxically, by scrutinizing some liabilities that language may pose for members of subordinated communities, Lorde's speech enacts specific and often subtle means for reclaiming language, exemplified by “difference.” Lorde's speech undertakes a fundamental transformation in a commonplace understanding of “difference” as domination by redefining it as resource, while calling attention to how complicity inheres in language. She contends that a focus upon relational practices across human differences is more fundamental than demographic categories for people in promoting the human liberation of dive...
First integrated test of the superconducting magnet systems for the Levitated Dipole Experiment (LDX)

The Levitated Dipole Experiment (LDX) is an innovative approach to explore the magnetic confinement of a fusion plasma offering the possibility of an improved fusion power source. In this concept, a magnetic dipole (a superconducting solenoid) is magnetically levitated for several hours at the center of a 5 m diameter, 3 m tall vacuum chamber. The Floating coil (F-coil) is designed for a maximum field of 5.3 T. A Nb 3Sn conductor was selected to operate the coil when it warms from an initial temperature of below 5 K up to about 10 K at the end of the experimental run. The Levitation coil (L-coil) made from high temperature superconductor electromagnetically supports the F-coil in the center of the plasma volume. There are no electric or cryogenic feeders serving the coil through the plasma because the F-coil must operate in a levitated position. The coil is cooled by retractable feeds and inductively charged/discharged in a lower charging station (CS). The NbTi charging coil (C-coil) surrounds the CS and induces the current in the F-coil. The L-coil and C-coil have each been independently tested. This paper describes the first integrated test of the F-coil and C-coil. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Innovations and adaptations in ancient Egyptian medicine.

L'A evoque les innovations intervenues dans le domaine medical dans l'ancienne Egypte au cours des temps. Il donne un bref resume de ces changements methodologiques et enonce les contributions des egyptiens a la medecine classique.
Confirmation of a Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Strategy Applied to a Permanent Magnet Linear Generator for Wave-Energy Conversion

This paper begins with a brief review of the time-domain equation of motion for a generic floating body. The equation of motion of the floating body was modified to account for the influence of a power-take-off unit (PTO) to predict the hydrodynamic and electromechanical performance of the coupled system. As the damping coefficient is considered the dominant contribution to the PTO reaction force, the optimum non time-varying damping values were first presented for all frequencies, recovering the well-known impedance-matching principle at the coupled resonance frequency. In an effort to further maximize power absorption in both regular and irregular wave environments, nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) was applied to the model-scale point absorber developed at UC Berkeley. The proposed NMPC strategy requires a PTO unit that could be turned on and off instantaneously, leading, interestingly to electrical sequences where the generator would be inactive for up to 60% of the wave period. In order to validate the effectiveness of this NMPC strategy, an in-house designed permanent magnet linear generator (PMLG) was chosen as the PTO. The time-varying performance of the PMLG was first characterized by dry-bench tests, using mechanical relays to control the electromagnetic conversion process. Following this, the physical set-up was transferred to the wave tank. The on/off sequencing of the PMLG was tested under regular and irregular wave excitation to validate NMPC simulations using control inputs obtained from running the control algorithm offline. Experimental results indicate that successful implementation was achieved and the absorbed power using NMPC was up to 50% greater than the passive system, which utilized no controller. However, after considering the PMLG mechanical-to-electrical conversion efficiency the useful electrical power output was not consistently maximized. To improve output power, a mathematical relation between the efficiency and damping magnitude of the PMLG was inserted in the system model to maximize the electrical power output through continued use of NMPC. Of significance, results from these latter simulations provided a damping time series that was active over a larger portion of the wave period and required the actuation of the applied electrical load connected to the PMLG, rather than a simple on/off type control.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Cholesterol trafficking in the secretory and endocytic systems

Cells maintain a cholesterol gradient across the secretory system, with the lowest concentrations in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the highest in the plasma membrane (PM). Cholesterol is also heterogeneously distributed in the endocytic pathway. Little is known about how this heterogeneous distribution of cholesterol is maintained despite continuous vesicular traffic between organelles. Both the modulation of the cholesterol content of transport vesicles and the non-vesicular transport of cholesterol between organelles are likely to contribute. This review summarizes what is known about the pathways and mechanisms of intracellular sterol trafficking.
'Imala and rounding in a rural Syrian variety: Morphophonological and lexical conditioning

This study investigates two concurrent phenomena— ’imala and rounding—in the Arabic variety spoken in the Syrian village of Oyoun Al-Wadi. ’Imala refers to the use of [e] and [e:] in place of the urban vowels [a] and [a:] respectively; rounding refers to the use of [o] and [o:] in place of the urban vowels [a] and [a:] respectively. The use of two different vowels for each urban vowel is explained morphophonologically. The study economically proposes two phonological rules to account for ’imala and rounding and shows that only one rule can apply per word, to the final syllable of a word. In light of Lexical Phonology theory, certain morphological patterns and suffixes explain the presence of ’imala in initial syllables and in environments that induce rounding. That is, it is part of the lexical representation of a morphological pattern or suffix in the lexicon. Hence, ’imala could occur in the initial syllable as part of the morphological pattern, and rounding could occur in the final syllable of the same word as a result of a post-lexical phonological rule. Resume: Cette etude examine deux phenomenes concurrents—le ’imala et l’arrondissement— dans la variete d’arabe parlee au village syrien d’Oyoun Al-Wadi. Le ’imala est l’utilisation de [e] et [e:] a la place des voyelles urbaines [a] et [a:], respectivement; l’arrondissement est l’emploi de [o] et [o:] a la place des voyelles urbaines [a] et [a:], respectivement. L’utilisation de deux voyelles differentes pour chaque voyelle urbaine est expliquee morpho-phonologiquement, avec quelques mots conditionnes au niveau du lexique. L’etude propose deux regles phonologiques economiques pour expliquer le ’imala et l’arrondissement et montre qu’une seule regle s’applique par mot, toujours a la derniere syllabe d’unmot. En tenant compte de la theorie de la phonologie lexicale, certains modeles morphologiques et certains suffixes expliquent la presence du ’imala dans les syllabes initiales et dans des environnements causant l’arrondissement. Autrement dit, le ’imala fait partie de la representation lexicale d’un modele morphologique ou d’un suffixe du lexique. Ainsi, le ’imala pourrait se produire a la syllabe initiale comme une partie du modele morphologique et l’arrondissement pourrait se produire a la syllabe finale du meme mot comme resultat d’une regle phonologique postlexicale.
Absolute lymphocyte count predicts therapeutic efficacy of rituximab therapy in follicular lymphomas

The immunologic mechanisms of action of rituximab include complement mediated lysis and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. We hypothesised that a stronger host immune system prior to rituximab therapy for follicular (grades 1and 2) lymphomas (FL) would result in better response rates and longer time to progression (TTP). Thus, we studied the role of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) prior to rituximab therapy on treatment efficacy and TTP in FL patients. Between 1996 and 2002, 79 FL patients were treated with single agent rituximab during their lymphoma treatment at the Mayo Clinic. The median age of the cohort was 56.6 years (range: 25-98 years). The median TTP was 12.5 months (range: 1-76 months). Superior TTP was observed with an ALC > or =0.89 x 10(9)/l (n = 40) compared with an ALC or =0.89 x 10(9)/l (23/40, 58%) compared with the ALC <0.89 x 10(9)/l (5/39, 13%) (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed ALC to be an independent predictor for TTP. This study supports our hypothesis that a higher ALC predicts longer TTP following rituximab therapy.
Experience with a simple clamp-crush technique devoid of other devices for liver resections in a surgical oncology practice.

Abstract Background Parenchyma transection techniques during liver resection (LR) are linked to intraoperative blood loss and postoperative morbidity, with a recent increased use of energy devices over traditional clamp-crush hepatotomy (CCH). Methods Prospectively collected data from 191 consecutive patients undergoing LR with exclusive CCH by a single surgeon were examined. Results There were 94 men and 97 women, with 25% primary and 59% secondary malignancies or other conditions (16%). Forty-nine percent of LRs were major, 65% anatomic, and 32% included extrahepatic components. Median Pringle time was 23 minutes (9 to 76), blood loss 300 mL (20 to 5,000), and red blood cell transfusion rate 14%. Morbidity rate was 27% with 6 deaths. Significant relationships were observed for blood loss with complex resections, transfusions, major morbidity, and length of stay, but not between Pringle time and any outcomes. Conclusion A CCH technique as employed in this LR experience without any use of additional devices can yield good postoperative results.
The effect of visual context on perception of a form's parts as successive.

Abstract The succession threshold for the sides of a square contour is affected by presenting one line before and another line after the contour. Four experiments are designed to consider the possibility that this context effect is mediated by the mechanism underlying metacontrast. The results suggest that this effect is independent of the metacontrast mechanism and may be plausibly approached as dependent on a mechanism for “assigning” stimuli in a series to units of psychophysiological time.
Aqueous Organometallic Chemistry. 2. 1H NMR Spectroscopic, Synthetic, and Structural Study of the Chemo- and Diastereoselective Reactions of [Cp*Rh(H2O)3]2+ with Nitrogen Ligands as a Function of pH

The reactions of a new Cp*Rh aqua synthon, [Cp*Rh(H2O)3]2+ (1), at acidic pH values (2−6) with aniline (2), pyridine (3), and l-phenylalanine (4) have provided interesting chemo- and diastereoselectivities as studied by 1H NMR, FAB/MS, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The reaction of 2 and aqua complex 1, at pH values from 4 to 6, quantitatively provided [Cp*Rh(η6-aniline)]2+ (5); the structure of 5 was unequivocally determined by a single-crystal X-ray analysis, which also showed an approximate 25% η5 component. Compound 3 reacted with 1, at pH 2−6, to selectively provide [Cp*Rh(η1-pyridine)n(H2O)3-n]2+ (n = 1−3) complexes 6a−c as a function of pH. Surprisingly, complex 1 reacted with 4, from pH 4 to 6, to provide only one diastereomer of the known cyclic trimer [(Cp*Rh)(μ-η1-(OCO):η2-(N,OCO)-l- phenylalanine)]33+ (7; SC,SC,SC,SRh,SRh,SRh), an example of a one-step, highly diastereoselective reaction in H2O.
Fracture mechanics based fretting fatigue life predictions in Ti–6Al–4V

A fracture mechanics based crack propagation analysis is developed to work directly with the output of a contact mechanics stress analysis for fretting fatigue. A series of remote load fatigue tests were conducted on specimens that had previously been subjected to fretting fatigue loading conditions. The growth of these prior fretting induced cracks were monitored and compared to results from the crack propagation analysis. A combined fatigue crack formation and propagation analysis was then applied to other fretting fatigue experiments with good success. The creation of fretting fatigue stress-life curves is also demonstrated.
Delivering Political Power to Language Minorities: Voting, Elections, and the Rights of Language Minorities

Abstract With the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its amendments, language minority voters have been granted greater access to the polls than ever before. However, the 2000 election illustrated how these rights can easily be violated. In this article, I examine how election administrators and nonprofits can work together to improve services to language minority voters. Using examples from Arlington, Virginia, and Los Angeles, California, I show how these efforts can improve the services provided to voters and make service delivery easier for election administrators while also strengthening the nonprofits that provide election-related services to these populations.
Immunolocalization of the acid-sensing ion channel 2a in the rat cerebellum.

The acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are members of the DEG/ENaC superfamily of Na+ channels. Acid-gated cation currents have been detected in neurons from multiple regions of the brain including the cerebellum, but little is known about their molecular identity and function. Recently, one of ASICs (ASIC1a) was implicated in synaptic plasticity. In this study we examined the subcellular distribution of ASIC2a in rat cerebellum by immunostaining and confocal microscopy. Monoclonal antibodies for labeling of defined brain structures, for example, astroglia, Purkinje cell dendrites, nuclei, and presynaptic terminals were used for colocalization analyses. In the gray matter, the anti-ASIC2a antibody intensively stained dendrite branches of Purkinje cells evenly distributed throughout the entire molecular layer (ML). In the granule cell layer (GL), anti-ASIC2a antibody stained synaptic glomeruli. Neuronal localization of ASIC2a was confirmed by lack of co-staining with glial fibrillary acidic protein. Anti-ASIC2a staining in the ML colocalized with metabotropic glutamate receptor 1α (mGluR1α) in Purkinje cell dendrites and dendritic spines. Both proteins, mGluR1α and ASIC2a, were enriched in a crude synaptic membrane fraction prepared from cerebellum, suggesting synaptic expression of these proteins. Dual staining with anti-syntaxin 1A and anti-ASIC2a antibodies demonstrates characteristic complementary distribution of two proteins in both ML and GL. Because syntaxin 1A localized in presynaptic membranes and synaptic vesicles, complementary distribution with ASIC2a suggests postsynaptic localization of ASIC2a in these structures. This study shows specific localization of ASIC2a in both Purkinje and granule cell dendrites of the cerebellum and enrichment of ASIC2a in a crude cerebellar synaptic membrane fraction. The study is the first report of synaptic localization of ASIC2a in the CNS. The synaptic localization of ASIC2a in the cerebellum makes this channel a candidate for a role in motor coordination and learning.
An analysis of youth crime and employment patterns

This paper investigates the relationships between the employment and the crime decisions of youths. We assume that youths maximize expected utility and we allow divergence betweenex ante andex post time allocations to legal and illegal activities. This gap motivates the exclusion restrictions which allow us to explore feedbacks between criminality and employability. Moreover, by using a panel of individual-level data, we are able to investigate the impact of historical crime and labor-market activities on the current delinquency and employability of juveniles. The measures of the endogeneous variables of our model are dichotomous. Furthermore, our sample is choice-based. Maximum-likelihood procedures which deal with these complications are used in our empirical investigations.
Prediction of mixed gas solubility at high pressure

Abstract A variety of theories (UNIQUAC, NRTL, Wilson) are available for predicting multi-component vapor—liquid equilibria from activity coefficients measured for the constituent binaries. These activity coefficients are based on deviations from ideal mixing of pure liquids. However, if some of the components are supercritical gases, they do not exist as pure liquids and defining the standard state of a hypothetical liquid is problematic. We propose instead a procedure called ISAC for isoactive solvent in which the constituent gas-liquid binaries are the standard state. The mixing process is based on a ψ potential, a Legendre transformation of the Gibbs free energy for which the activity of the solvent is an independent variable. In this way, solubilities of mixed gases in a liquid solvent can be predicted from experimental data on single-gas solubifities. Predictions are compared to four ternary systems consisting of two gases dissolved in a liquid solvent at pressures from 20 to 250 atm, and the agreement is excellent.
Heating liquid dielectrics by time dependent fields

Steady state and time-resolved dielectric relaxation experiments are performed at high fields on viscous glycerol and the effects of energy absorption from the electric field are studied. Time resolution is obtained by a sinusoidal field whose amplitude is switched from a low to a high level and by recording voltage and current traces with an oscilloscope during this transition. Based on their distinct time and frequency dependences, three sources of modifying the dynamics and dielectric loss via an increase in the effective temperature can be distinguished: electrode temperature, real sample temperature, and configurational temperatures of the modes that absorbed the energy. Isothermal conditions that are desired for focusing on the configurational temperature changes (as in dielectric hole burning and related techniques) are maintained only for very thin samples and for moderate power levels. For high frequencies, say ν > 1 MHz, changes of the real temperature will exceed the effects of configurational temperatures in the case of macroscopic samples. Regarding microwave chemistry, heating via cell phone use, and related situations in which materials are subject to fields involving frequencies beyond the MHz regime, we conclude that changes in the configurational (or fictive) temperatures remain negligible compared with the increase of the real temperature. This simplifies the assessment of how time dependent electric fields modify the properties of materials.
Isolation of developmentally regulated genes from Dictyostelium.

Abstract We have constructed recombinant plasmid libraries containing complementary DNA (cDNA) inserts made to poly(A) + RNA isolated from two stages of Dictyostelium development. The procedure utilized for the cloning allows the excision of the cDNA inserts free of vehicle sequences. The two libraries were screened for inserts complementary to moderately abundant and abundant poly(A) + RNA whose genes are differentially modulated during Dictyostelium development. Several of these plasmids were then further examined by hybridization techniques to determine the reiteration frequencies of their genes, the relative rate of complementary RNA synthesis during development, and the relative accumulation and disappearance of complementary RNA during the Dictyostelium life cycle. RNA complementary to two sequences was found to accumulate from approximately one molecule per cell during vegetative growth to several hundred molecules during preaggregation.
Mutations linked to generalized epilepsy in humans reduce GABAA receptor current

Abstract The first mutations of the GABAA receptor channel linked to familial epilepsy in humans were reported in the γ2L subunit Baulac et al., 2001 , Wallace et al., 2001 . When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the γ2 subunit R43Q mutation abolished current enhancement by the benzodiazepine, diazepam, and the γ2 subunit K289M mutation decreased current amplitudes. In this study, single channel recording and concentration jump techniques were used to evaluate the effects of these mutations on GABAA receptor currents from receptors expressed in human embryonic kidney cells (Bianchi et al., 2002) . When co-expressed with α1 and β3 subunits, the mutated γ2 subunits did not alter current activation rates or rates or extent of desensitization during prolonged (400 ms) GABA application (1 mM). Deactivation following brief (5 ms) or prolonged (400 ms) GABA application was accelerated for the K289M, but not the R43Q mutation. Single channel analysis showed shorter mean open duration, suggesting that the faster deactivation was likely caused by altered gating efficacy. Interestingly, the R43Q mutation did not alter diazepam potentiation. However, significantly smaller current amplitudes were observed that were not explained by decreased single channel conductance or open time, suggesting this mutation resulted in reduced surface expression of functional receptors. These two γ mutations likely produce disinhibition and familial epilepsy by distinct mechanisms, suggesting that maintenance of normal neuronal inhibition depends on both the peak amplitude of IPSCs and their time course.
A review of hybrid brain-computer interface systems

Increasing number of research activities and different types of studies in brain-computer interface (BCI) systems show potential in this young research area. Research teams have studied features of different data acquisition techniques, brain activity patterns, feature extraction techniques, methods of classifications, and many other aspects of a BCI system. However, conventional BCIs have not become totally applicable, due to the lack of high accuracy, reliability, low information transfer rate, and user acceptability. A new approach to create a more reliable BCI that takes advantage of each system is to combine two or more BCI systems with different brain activity patterns or different input signal sources. This type of BCI, called hybrid BCI, may reduce disadvantages of each conventional BCI system. In addition, hybrid BCIs may create more applications and possibly increase the accuracy and the information transfer rate. However, the type of BCIs and their combinations should be considered carefully. In this paper, after introducing several types of BCIs and their combinations, we review and discuss hybrid BCIs, different possibilities to combine them, and their advantages and disadvantages.
Participants' perceptions of healthy families: A home visitation program to prevent child abuse and neglect

Abstract This qualitative study of 46 randomly selected participants of a home visitation program explores current participants' perceptions of the intake process, the program's purpose, and the relationship between the home visitor and the participant. The findings reveal that the participant and home visitor relationship is a central feature of the program. Not only do participants relate their personal achievements to the quality of their relationship with their home visitor, but through a positive relationship with the mother, the home visitor is able to address parenting behaviors that are harmful to the child. These findings are important in that prior research has questioned the ability of strength-based home visitation programs to address major risk factors for child maltreatment. Recommendations are made for improving the intake process so that fewer parents will experience initially negative reactions to home visitation.
Growth models of cultures with two liquid phases. II. Pure substrate in dispersed phase

Mathematical models which can be used to describe batch frowth in fermentations with two liquid phases are developed for systems in which the growth limiting substrate is the dispersed liquid phase. Three special cases are considered assuming pure substrate in the dispersed phase and a decreasing interfacial area due to substrate consumption. In the first, it is assumed that all growth occurs at the surface of the dispersed phase. In the second and third growth occurs at the interface and in the continuous phase. The second case assumes substrate equilibrium between the two phases while the third assumes substrate consumption in the continuous phase is limited by rate of substrate transport to that phase. Since the amount of growth at the interface and substrate transport to the continuous phase depend on the interfacial area, two limiting cases for the decrease of interfacial area with substrate consumption are also considered in this investigation. The first and third models are compared with available experimental data.
Rigidity of measures invariant under the action of a multiplicative semigroup of polynomial growth on

We prove that if a Borel probability measure on the circle group is invariant under the action of a �large� multiplicative semigroup (lower logarithmic density is positive) and the action of the whole semigroup is ergodic then the measure is either Lebesgue or has finite support.
Pain and Depression in HIV Illness

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among pain and depression, hopelessness, and quality of life in human immunodeficiency virus (HlV)-infected gay men, taking into account the role of HIV symptoms. One hundred sixty-one HIV + gay men were assessed, with 40 men endorsing HIV-related pain. The HIV + men with pain had a modal rating of pain within the mild range. They had significantly more advanced disease, more physical and depressive symptoms, and reported less life satisfaction than the men without pain. However, when HIV illness variables are accounted for, the higher depression scores in the men with pain were largely accounted for by somatic rather than cognitive symptoms. While pain is associated with greater physical distress in this cohort of HIV-seropositive gay men, it does not appear to be independently associated with cognitive symptoms of depression. These findings apply to HIV-infected men with mild pain and may not apply to those who experience more severe pain. Nonetheless, these observations highlight the overlap between symptoms of depression and pain and the challenge that clinicians face in assessing patients suffering from pain.
Spectro-electrochemical sensors: materials, incorporation of planar waveguide technologies, and instrumentation

The detailed kinetics and associated optical waveforms of the spectroelectrochemical sensor in competitive binary mixtures of analytes are presented. The extension of the sensor concept to planar waveguide structures is described. Two different planar waveguide designs have been made and evaluated. One design was an asymmetric slab waveguide with the waveguide layer sandwiched between a silica substrate and a chemically-selective film. The other design was a channel waveguide, which consisted of an ion-exchanged channel between two gold electrodes in a 'bus bar' configuration. These new designs are described in detail and evaluation of them with respect to operation of the sensor in the near ultraviolet region is discussed. Results with the devices in demonstration of the novel spectroelectrochemical concept with three modes of selectivity are given. Instrumentation developed specifically for operation of the sensors and acquisition of sensor data is described.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Retinoic acid-regulated expression of proteolipid protein and myelin-associated glycoprotein genes in C6 glioma cells

The effect of retinoic acid (RA) on the expression of myelin-specific genes, i.e., proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) in rat glioma C6 cells, was analyzed by Northern blot hybridization. RA-treatment increased the steady-state level of the PLP-specific messages within one day after RA administration and the upregulation reached a maximum on the third day. Concomitantly, the expression of MAG-specific messages in the RA-treated C6 cells dropped below the detectability limit. The expression of the PLP gene was directly related to the RA concentration increasing to approximately 44-fold over the control (untreated cells) level at 10(-6) M RA. The stimulatory effect was vitiated by cycloheximide indicating the involvement of intermediate genes in the PLP gene activation. The total cellular RNA content and the level of cyclophilin mRNA was not changed by the RA-treatment. The present data indicate that RA can be a potent modulator of the myelin-specific gene expression. Furthermore, the reciprocal response of PLP versus MAG genes to RA demonstrates that these two genes utilize different regulatory mechanisms.
Cavitation erosion of diesel engine wet cylinder liners

With the advent of high speed high output diesel engines, cavitation erosion of wet cylinder liners is one of the most prevalent types of failure. It has been attributed to many mechanisms by various research workers in different countries. Published information on the cavitation erosion problem is reviewed in this paper and contradictory findings are summarized and discussed. In combination with past work the work now reported provides some new important information.
DECIPHERING THE JAPANESE CULTURAL CODE

Huge US and Western European trade deficits with Japan indicate that Western firms are doing a worse marketing job in Japan than Japanese firms are doing in Western markets. One critical difference: Japanese executives have figured out how Westerners basically think; by and large, Western executives have learned much less about the Japanese. This paper contends that neglecting Japanese cultural factors limits marketing success, and can even lead to failure. Key Japanese anthropological concepts are explained, for the purpose of revealing how they create opportunities or problems for Western firms. Implications are discussed with emphasis on how sensitivity to Japanese values can be integrated with marketing planning.
Seasonal and Long-Term Variations in Hydraulic Head in a Karstic Aquifer: Roswell Artesian Basin, New Mexico1

Abstract: Water levels in the karstic San Andres limestone aquifer of the Roswell Artesian Basin, New Mexico, display significant variations on a variety of time scales. Large seasonal fluctuations in hydraulic head are directly related to the irrigation cycle in the Artesian Basin, lower in summer months and higher in winter when less irrigation occurs. Longer-term variations are the result of both human and climatic factors. Since the inception of irrigated farming more than a century ago, over-appropriation of water resources has caused water levels in the artesian aquifer to fall by as much as 70 m. The general decline in hydraulic head began to reverse in the mid-1980s due to a variety of conservation measures, combined with a period of elevated rainfall toward the end of the 20th Century.
Sound production and associated behaviors in Cyprinella galactura

Sound production has not been measured in Cyprinella galactura, the whitetail shiner, although described for other species in the genus. Furthermore, no thorough description of signal structure exists for any species of Cyprinella. In this study, Cyprinella galactura produced sounds during agonistic and courtship interactions associated with the breeding season. Females did not produce sounds. Signals were complex and could be monophasic, diphasic, or triphasic. Three call types (knocks, short knocks and pulses) were identified and characterized by differences in duration and dominant frequency. All call types were non-harmonic, low frequency, and could occur in trains. The exact mechanism of sound production in this species is unknown. Sounds are most frequent during low and moderate level displays and decrease during the highest level of motivation under both contexts. Agonistic signals are more variable than those produced during courtship and the two contexts can be distinguished on the basis of temporal and spectral variables.
Orientações para o diagnóstico de influenza em suínos

Schaefer R., Rech R.R., Silva M.C., Gava D. & Ciacci-Zanella J.R. 2013. (Guide- lines for diagnosis of swine influenza.) Orientacoes para o diagnostico de influenza em suinos. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 33(1):61-73.Embrapa Suinos e Aves, BR 153 Km 110, Concordia, SC 89700-000, Brazil. E-mail: rejane.schaefer@embrapa.br This article is intended to describe the adequate sample collection, the laboratory pro- cedures/techniques, the expected results and their interpretation for diagnosis of influen- za infection in swine, serving as a support for field veterinarians. In live pigs, the samples to be taken are nasal secretions, oral fluids and blood. For dead pigs, preference should be given to samples of cranioventral lung consolidation. Nasal discharge and chilled lung fragments are used for detection of virus (virus isolation - VI) or viral nucleic acids (con- ventional RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR). Samples should not be frozen, because the virus is inactivated at -20°C. Molecular characterization of isolates is performed by phylogenetic analysis of gene sequences obtained by DNA sequencing. Serum is used for the detection of antibodies using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and ELISA. Oral fluid may be used for either antibody (ELISA) or viral detection. Fragments of lung fixed in 10% formaldehy- de are used for histopathological analysis to identify bronchointerstitial pneumonia, and for immunohistochemistry (IHC) for antigens. For a successful diagnosis, sampling should be preferably performed in the acute phase of the disease to improve chances of virus de- tection. The best options to perform the diagnosis of influenza A in a swine herd are RT-PCR and VI from nasal swabs or oral fluid in live pigs and/or lung tissue for RT-PCR, VI or IHC in dead pigs. Serological tests are of very limited diagnostic value and are useful only to de- termine the immune status of the herd, not indicating clinical disease, because antibodies are detected after 7-10 days post infection (subacute phase). The diagnosis of influenza is important to evaluate the involvement of this agent in the complex of respiratory diseases in pigs. Furthermore, the isolation of influenza virus is essential for monitoring the main subtypes circulating in a given region or country, as well as for the detection of potential new viral reassortants, because influenza is considered a zoonosis.
Incremental unknowns for solving the incompressible Navier—Stokes equations

Abstract Incremental unknowns, earlier designed for the long-term integration of dissipative evolutionary equations, are introduced here for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in primitive variables when multilevel finite-difference discretizations on a staggered grid are used for the spatial discretization; extending to this practical case, the notion of small and large wavelengths that stems naturally from spectral methods when Fourier series expansions are considered. Furthermore, for the temporal discretization, we use the θ -scheme, which allows to decouple the nonlinearity and the incompressibility in these equations; then we have to solve a generalized Stokes equation — we consider here a leading preconditioned outer/inner iteration strategy — and a nonlinear elliptic equation — we linearize its nonlinear terms to get an iterative process. Roughly, at each iterative stage several Poisson equations must be solved, incremental unknowns appear there as an efficient preconditioner. The incremental unknowns methodology appears well suited to capture the turbulent behavior of the flow whose small eddies, even for moderate Reynolds numbers, never go to a steady state; instead they converge to a strange attractor, and keep always bringing imperceptible kinetic energy to the flow. First, they wander around, then they converge to the strange attractor.