cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
I.1 – Introduction

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an introduction to vector algebra. Vectors are quantities that require the specification of magnitude, orientation, and sense. The magnitude of a vector is specified by a positive number and a unit having appropriate dimensions. The orientation of a vector is specified by the relationship between the vector and the given reference lines and/or planes. The sense of a vector is specified by the order of two points on a line parallel to the vector. The vectors are depicted by either straight or curved arrows. A vector represented by a straight arrow has the direction indicated by the arrow. The direction of a vector represented by a curved arrow is the same as the direction in which a right-handed screw moves when the axis of the screw is normal to the plane in which the arrow is drawn and the screw is rotated as indicated by the arrow. The chapter concludes with the discussion of the types of vectors. A bound (or fixed) vector is a vector associated with a particular point “P” in space, a free vector is not associated with a particular point or line in space, and a transmissible (or sliding) vector is a vector that can be moved along its line of action without change of meaning.
Synoviocyte Stimulation by the LFA-1–Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-2–Ezrin–Akt Pathway in Rheumatoid Arthritis

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the synovium is infiltrated by mononuclear cells that influence the proliferation and activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) through soluble mediators as well as cell-to-cell contact. To identify receptor-ligand pairs involved in this cross-talk, we cocultured T cells with FLS lines isolated from synovial tissues from RA patients. Coculture with T cells induced phosphorylation of Akt (Ser(473)) and its downstream mediators, GSK-3alpha/GSK-beta, FoxO1/3a, and mouse double minute-2, and enhanced FLS proliferation. T cell-mediated phospho-Akt up-regulation was unique for FLS as no such effect was observed upon interaction of T cells with dendritic cells and B cells. Akt activation was induced by all functional T cell subsets independent of MHC/Ag recognition and was also found with other leukocyte populations, suggesting the involvement of a common leukocyte cell surface molecule. Akt phosphorylation, enhanced in vitro FLS proliferation, and enhanced FLS IL-6 production was inhibited by blocking Abs to CD11a and ICAM-2 whereas Abs to ICAM-1 had a lesser effect. Selective involvement of the LFA-1-ICAM-2 pathway was confirmed by the finding of increased ezrin phosphorylation at Tyr(353) that is known to be downstream of ICAM-2 and supports cell survival through Akt activation. CD28(-) T cells, which are overrepresented in RA patients, have high CD11a cell surface expression and induce Akt phosphorylation in FLS more potently than their CD28(+) counterparts. These findings identify ICAM-2 as a potential therapeutic target to inhibit FLS activation in RA, allowing for a more selective intervention than broad LFA-1 inhibition.
Energy Efficiency of Power-Gating in Low-Power Clocked Storage Elements

An analysis of the efficiency of power-gating for Clocked Storage Elements (CSEs) is presented. Two CSE topologies: the Transmission Gate Master Slave latch (TGMS) and the Write Port Master Slave latch (WPMS) are examined along with their respective circuits with sleep transistors. In this work, we study the benefits of adding sleep transistors coupled with regular clock-gating during inactive mode. We examine the energy savings for standard clock gated CSEs versus their power gated counterparts. This is done by studying how the leakage energy saved with power gating offsets the energy consumed by the extra transistors added to support it. It is not always beneficial to add sleep transistors when deciding between power-gating or just using clock-gating. We also study how the results and tradeoff change with voltage scaling.
A construction for sets of integers with distinct subset sums

A set S of positive integers has distinct subset sums if there are $2^{|S|}$ distinct elements of the set $\left\{ \sum_{x \in X} x: X \subset S \right\} . $ Let $$f(n) = \min\{ \max S: |S|=n {\rm \hskip2mm and \hskip2mm} S {\rm \hskip2mm has \hskip2mm distinct \hskip2mm subset \hskip2mm sums}\}.$$ Erdős conjectured $ f(n) \ge c2^{n}$ for some constant c. We give a construction that yields $f(n)
Abstract P072: Short Sleep Duration is Associated with Elevated Homocysteine Levels

Introduction: Short and long sleep durations are associated with heightened risk for cardiovascular disease and vascular risk factors. Elevated homocysteine is also associated with greater risk for cardiovascular disease; however, studies have yet to investigate the relationship between sleep duration and homocysteine. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that short and long sleep duration would be associated with clinical levels of homocysteine. Methods: Adults (n=2,469; ≥20y) from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were assessed for habitual sleep duration (coded as <5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and ≥10hrs) and fasting plasma homocysteine levels (<10 [normative], 10 to <15 [pre-clinical] and ≥15 [clinical] μmol/L). Participants were excluded if pregnant, lactating, missing data on the primary variables, or if they had a history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, or diagnosed sleep disorder. Population weighted, multinomial logistic regression analyses assessed ...
Eating Disorders and Mindfulness: Exploring Alternative Approaches to Treatment

In recent years, mindfulness has emerged as an increasingly promising approach in the field of mental health. It has been widely incorporated into treatment for eating disorders (ED), either as a s...
The Language System of Audio Description: An Investigation as a Discursive Process

This study investigated the language used in a selection of films containing audio description and developed a set of definitions that allow productions containing it to be more fully defined, meas...
Three dimensional object tracking using dual-drive control

A robotic object-tracking algorithm that employs multiple controllers is outlined. The dual-drive force/velocity controller is used when the robot is in contact with an object, and the damping controller, Fcomply, is employed to move the robot on a specified trajectory. The algorithm has been successfully implemented on an IBM 7565 robot, equipped with strain gauges on its end effector. Dense data sets have been collected during surface tracking with the intention that this information be used to recognize various objects. These data sets have been used to recognize simple objects such as a box and a cylinder. The performance of the algorithm is not dependent on the orientation of an object. A telephone receiver was placed at different orientations in the workspace, and tracking was successfully demonstrated in all cases. >
Grounding line retreat of Totten Glacier, East Antarctica, 1996 to 2013

© 2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Totten Glacier, East Antarctica, a glacier that holds a 3.9 m sea level change equivalent, has thinned and lost mass for decades. We map its grounding line positions in 1996 and 2013 using differential radar interferometry (InSAR) data and develop precise, high-resolution topographies of its ice surface and ice draft using NASA Operation IceBridge data, InSAR data, and a mass conservation method. We detect a 1 to 3 km retreat of the grounding line in 17 years. The retreat is asymmetrical along a two-lobe pattern, where ice is only grounded a few 10 m above sea level, or ice plain, which may unground further with only modest amounts of ice thinning. The pattern of retreat indicates ice thinning of 12 m in 17 years or 0.7±0.1 m/yr at the grounding line on average. Sustained thinning will cause further grounding line retreat but may not be conducive to a marine instability.
Congenital heart block with fatal Adams-Stokes attacks in childhood.

Congenital heart block may be associated with Adams-Stokes attacks in children with slow heart rates and QRS complexes of prolonged duration. The attacks are almost always associated with upper respiratory infections. The mechanism in two of three cases was ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular tachycardia followed by ventricular arrest. At autopsy, moderate endocardial fibrosis was found in two cases. A small atrial septal defect was present in one. These and other reported fatal cases of congenital heart block in infancy and childhood suggest that the clinical course is not as benign as previously suggested.
Immunogenetics of cell surface antigens of human cancer.

Abstract Hybridoma technology, immunohistochemistry and molecular genetic techniques have paved the way for a general serological mapping of molecules expressed on the surface of normal and neoplastic cells. The emerging findings challenge cell lineage-based models of differentiation and point to new, modular concepts to explain complex tumor phenotypes. In parallel studies, the repertoire of T-cell recognized tumor antigens — still mysterious but probably quite distinct from the antibody-defined repertoire — has also become accessible to molecular analysis.
An Analysis of the Time and Temperature Dependence of the Upper Yield Point in Iron

The influence of temperature and strain rate on the upper yield point of ingot iron was studied. Torsion tests were conducted using strain rates of 12.5/sec, 0.25/sec, and 0.0001/sec over the temperature range 77 to 525 deg K. The upper yield point showed a rapid increase as the temperature was lowered. An increase in the strain rate also caused an increase in the yield point. An apparent activation energy can be associated with the strain rate and temperature dependence of the yield point. This energy is influenced by stress level, and it appears from the present study that the relationship can be described by an equation of the form ΔH = ΔH τ − ττb. If this relationship is substituted for ΔH in a modification of the Boltzmann relation, the following result is obtained: log γγ1 = M ΔHRT1 τ − τ1τb 1 − T1T τ − ττ − τ1b. This equation describes the experimental data within ± 3000 psi. The results of this investigation compared with tensile test data from other investigators confirm that state of stress is an important factor in determining whether a material will behave in a ductile or brittle fashion.
Cyclopentenones from β, ∊-Diketo Phosphonates. Synthesis of cis-Jasmone

Abstract The synthesis of cyclopentenones has become an important area of research in recent years and various ingenious routes to these compounds have been developed. 1 Our interest in the preparation of functionalized hydrindenones (eq. 3) for synthetic work related to vernolepin 2 led us to investigate the cyclization of β, ∊-diketo phosphonates as a general route to functionalized cyclo-pentenones. 3 We report here the use of this approach in the preparation of 3 as well as an efficient (∼60% overall yield) synthesis of the important perfumery agent cis-jasmone 12.
Proceedings of the Statistical and Social Inquiry of Ireland One Hundred and Sixty-Third Session: 2009/2010

The first meeting of the Society was held at 6:00pm on Thursday 15th October 2009 at the Royal Irish Academy. The President, Dr Donal de Buitleir, was in the Chair.
A dual fluorescence flow cytometric analysis of bacterial adherence to mammalian host cells

Flow cytometry has provided a powerful tool for analyzing bacteria–host cell associations. Established approaches have used bacteria, labeled either directly with fluorochromes or indirectly with fluorescently conjugated antibodies, to detect these associations. Although useful, these techniques are consistently unable to include all host cells in the analysis while excluding free, aggregated bacteria. This study describes a new flow cytometry method of assessing bacterial adherence to host cells based on direct fluorescent labeling of both bacteria and host cells. Eukaryotic host cells were labeled with PKH-26, a red fluorescent dye, and bacteria were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate, a green fluorescent dye. The red host cells were gated and the mean green fluorescence intensity (MFI) of these red cells was determined. We used MFI values obtained from control samples (unlabeled and labeled host cells with unlabeled bacteria) to eliminate contributions due to autofluorescence. The final MFI values represent fluorescence of host cells resulting from the adherent bacteria. Because all red fluorescent cells are analyzed, this method includes all the eukaryotic cells for analysis but excludes all free or aggregated bacteria that are not bound to target cells.
Variability of the Atlantic Meridional Mode during the Atlantic Hurricane Season

Abstract An observational and modeling study is conducted to investigate the structure of the Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM) during the Atlantic hurricane season, and the relationship between AMM-related SST anomalies and environmental conditions that influence seasonal tropical cyclone activity. The observational analysis shows that during the Atlantic hurricane season the AMM exhibits a similar SST and low-level wind structure as during boreal spring (when the AMM is most active). Observed AMM SST variations are accompanied by air temperature and moisture anomalies that are limited to the boundary layer and an anomalous baroclinic circulation structure in the northern subtropical Atlantic with an anomalous lower-level cyclonic circulation residing under an anomalous upper-level anticyclone during a warm phase. This baroclinic structure contributes to a reduction in vertical wind shear over the tropical Atlantic that is dominated by changes in the upper-level flow. Two sets of model experiments were cond...
ELEOFIMBRIS SVENSONII (CY PERACEAE) FROM THE LATE MIOCENE OGALLALA GROUP OF WESTERN KANSAS

Abstract More than 60 fossil achenes of Eleofimbris svensonii (Cyperaceae) were recovered from strata in Scott County, Kansas tentatively assigned to the late Miocene Ash Hollow Formation. This collection extends the temporal range of the taxon in this formation more than 130 km west and 20 km south and more than doubles the number of specimens available for study.
RNA synthesis by vegetative and sperm nuclei of trinucleate pollen.

In binucleate pollen tubes the vegetative and generative cell nuclei are known to synthesize RNA. Nothing is known about RNA synthesis in trinucleate pollens. To determine whether RNA synthesis occurs in trinucleate pollen, Secale cereale pollen was studied. The vegetative and sperm cell nuclei of the in vitro grown pollen tubes were shown by autoradiography to incorporate [5-3H] uridine. This incorporation was interpreted as indicating the synthesis of RNA.
Getting the message across: A Peircean analysis of environmental websites

When it comes to environmental sustainability, opinions often run deep. In one extreme are people that believe humans have not, nor can they, do anything to the earth that will jeopardize its future. The other extreme blames humanity for all of earth's woes: global warming, melting ice caps, dying species, etc. In between these two extremes are a mass of people that are not sure what to believe. Environmental sites, therefore, want to encourage activism and promote their message in the most effective way possible. The purpose of this study will be to look at these environmental sites and determine • The intended message of the site • The intended design theme • If the intended message and design theme are well matched A well-designed site will have a design theme that matches the intended message of the prose. This alignment of design and information will create the best experience for the viewer, and would drive the environmental sites purposes further. This paper will use a model of visual form/visual purpose connections based on the semiotic of C.S. Peirce. This paper will take his approach and apply it to environmental web site design and report on the effectiveness of these site's overall design purposes.
Salt-Induced Polyelectrolyte Interdiffusion in Multilayered Films: A Neutron Reflectivity Study

Polyelectrolyte multilayers were constructed from poly(styrenesulfonate), PSS, and poly(diallyldimethylammonium) with regularly interspersed layers of deuterated PSS. Annealing, by salt, of the fuz...
The influence of professional athlete philanthropy on donation intentions.

Athlete-supported charities and foundations have become increasingly popular forms of philanthropy in the professional sport landscape. However, a paucity of research has examined whether the high-profile status of a professional athlete can influence third-party donations to the charitable cause the athlete supports. Based on theory and prior literature, the image of, and identification with, a professional National Basketball Association athlete were hypothesized to influence donation intentions from potential donors in the Orlando, Florida area. In addition, the intervening effects of personal involvement with the athlete's cause and trust toward the athlete were examined. The results suggest that athlete identification, image of the athlete, trust toward the athlete, and cause involvement significantly influenced donation intentions. The results also indicate that athlete trust mediated the relationship between identification, image, and donation intentions. Finally, cause involvement moderated the re...
Rotation-robust math symbol recognition and retrieval using outer contours and image subsampling

This paper presents an unified recognition and retrieval system for isolated offline printed mathematical symbols for the first time. The system is based on nearest neighbor scheme and uses modified Turning Function and Grid Features to calculate the distance between two symbols based on Sum of Squared Difference. An unwrap process and an alignment process are applied to modify Turning Function to deal with the horizontal and vertical shift caused by the changing of staring point and rotation. This modified Turning Function make our system robust against rotation of the symbol image. The system obtains top-1 recognition rate of 96.90% and 47.27% Area Under Curve (AUC) of precision/recall plot on the InftyCDB-3 dataset. Experiment result shows that the system with modified Turning Function performs significantly better than the system with original Turning Function on the rotated InftyCDB-3 dataset.
Memory and the extensor phase of convulsions induced by electroconvulsive shock

In Experiment 1, rats receiving electroconvulsive shock immediately following one-trial passive avoidance training displayed less amnesia on a 24-h retention test when the convulsion lacked a phase of hindlimb tonic extension. Experiment 2 found that attenuated amnesia and incomplete convulsions following electroconvulsive shock occurred in fewer animals on deprivation than on ad lib diets. However, deprivation did not appear to affect degree of amnesia in those animals exhibiting complete grand mal convulsions. These results suggest that future ECS research on memory can circumvent the problem of incomplete convulsions by using either young animals or adults on weight-limiting diets.
Thermalization of a Magnetic Impurity in the Isotropic XY Model

We carry out an exact study of the relaxation of a single magnetic impurity embedded in a linear quantum chain. We obtain a rigorous result for the expectation value of any spin in the chain, and find that it relaxes to its equilibrium value as ${t}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.
Aromatic copolyamides: Effect of phenylene content on optical, spectral, and solubility properties

A series of para-linked phenylene, bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenylene and stilbene copolyamides was synthesized in order to examine the effect of comonomer ratio on absorption spectra, solubility and birefringence. The data clearly showed that decreasing the stilbene content significantly lowered the birefringence and hypsochromically shifted the absorption band. A decrease in the biphenylene content broadened and bathochromically shifted the absorption band and lowered the birefringence and the solubility.
Risks for the Health Care Worker in the Endoscopy Suite

Health care workers in the endoscopy suite are subject to a variety of potential infectious exposures. The published risks of percutaneous and mucocutaneous exposure to potentially infectious material during endoscopy are reviewed. Rigorous attention to standard precautions and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may minimize the risk of infection in the health care worker.
A Forced-Choice Adjective Preference Scale for Personality Assessment:

With the aim of investigating a forced-choice format for studying selected personality check-list variables as a means of overcoming response set variance encountered in other adjective check lists...
On the dynamics of liquids in a cylindrical tank with a flexible bottom.

The problem of hydroelastic sloshing of a liquid, partially filling a cylindrical tank with rigid side walls and a flat flexible bottom, has been investigated. The liquid is assumed to be inviscid, homogeneous and incompressible; the flexible bottom is assumed to be a stretched membrane. An approximate solution is given and numerical examples are discussed. The data obtained show good agreement with experimental results reported by other authors.
The oxidation state of europium as an indicator of oxygen fugacity

Empirical oxygen barometers based on Eu(2+)/Eu(3+) ratios in plagioclase feldspar and magmatic liquid were developed using Philpott's (1970) approach and the experimental data of Drake (1972). Oxygen fugacities calculated on the basis of Eu(2+)/Eu(3+) ratios for terrestrial basalts cluster tightly around 10 to the negative seventh power. Oxygen fugacities for Apollo 11 and 12 lunar ferrobasalts cluster tightly around 10 to the negative 12.7 power. Calculated oxygen fugacities for achondritic meteorites are lower than for lunar samples by several orders of magnitude.
Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking

Study of intergranular stress corrosion cracking problems in which radiation-induced segregation plays a major role in light water reactor materials
Development of Team Action Projects in Surgery (TAPS): a multilevel team-based approach to teaching quality improvement.

Objectives To meet the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competency in Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, educational curricula need to address training in quality improvement (QI). We sought to establish a program to train residents in the principles of QI and to provide practical experiences in developing and implementing improvement projects. Design We present a novel approach for engaging students, residents, and faculty in QI efforts—Team Action Projects in Surgery (TAPS). Setting Large academic medical center and health system. Participants Multiple teams consisting of undergraduate students, medical students, surgery residents, and surgery faculty were assembled and QI projects developed. Using “managing to learn” Lean principles, these multilevel groups approached each project with robust data collection, development of an A3, and implementation of QI activities. Results A total of 5 resident led QI projects were developed during the TAPS pilot phase. These included a living kidney donor enhanced recovery protocol, consult improvement process, venous thromboembolism prophylaxis optimization, Clostridium difficile treatment standardization, and understanding variation in operative duration of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Qualitative and quantitative assessment showed significant value for both the learner and stakeholders of QI related projects. Conclusion Through the development of TAPS, we demonstrate a novel approach to addressing the increasing focus on QI within graduate medical education. Efforts to expand this multilevel team based approach would have value for teachers and learners alike.
Robust control for carriage drum printer

A dynamic controller is developed for a nonlinear carriage drum printer model. The nonlinearities include static and Coulomb friction. A change in operating points also introduces other nonlinearities which can be modeled as perturbation feedbacks. Frequency weighting on the input is used to achieve decoupling between the carriage and drum systems. The H/sub 2/ suboptimal control theory is the basis for calculation of the proposed dynamic controller. The H/sub 2/ controller design theory is modified by parameterizing the state matrix by the operating point parameter variation which is realized by a table lookup routine. Another approach using the H/sub /spl infin// optimal criteria is developed as a comparison to the H/sub 2/ based controller. >
26-Hydroxylation of 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Does Not Occur under Physiological Conditions

Abstract The 26-hydroxylation of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 in rats in vitro and in vivo was studied under physiological conditions. Incubation of 1α,25-dihydroxy-[26,27- 3 H]vitamin D 3 with rat kidney or rat liver homogenate showed formation of a metabolite that was identified as 1α,25( S ),26-trihydroxy-[26,27- 3 H]vitamin D 3 by comigration on three different HPLC systems and a periodate cleavage reaction. This metabolite was not generated by hydroxylation of 1α,25-dihydroxy-[26,27- 3 H]vitamin D 3 itself but by an enzymatic conversion of a precursor that was formed nonenzymatically in substantial amounts upon storage of 1α,25-dihydroxy-[26,27- 3 H]vitamin D 3 in ethanol at −20°C under argon for more than three weeks. An in vivo metabolism study in rats dosed with a physiological dose of 1α,25-dihydroxy-[26,27- 3 H]vitamin D 3 confirmed the absence of 26-hydroxylation of the hormone. As expected at 6 h postinjection of purified 1α,25-dihydroxy-[26,27- 3 H]vitamin D 3 , 1α,24( R ),25-trihydroxy-[26,27- 3 H]vitamin D 3 , as well as traces of (23 S, 25 R )-1α,25-dihydroxy-[ 3 H]vitamin D 3 -lactone were detected and identified on straight phase and reverse phase HPLC in serum, kidney, and liver.
The Partisan Geographies of Sincere Crossover Voting Behavior: Evidence from North Carolina

A great deal of interdisciplinary literature suggests that although the general motivation to vote is complex, it can be partially explained by a multitude of psychological and contextual factors, including local geographic patterns. I extend this observation to one particular type of voting behavior: sincere crossover voting, or voting for a candidate outside of one's own political affiliation, in a general election. Using a replicable methodological approach that incorporates partisan spatial segregation and exposure as predictors into statistical models of crossover voting behavior for a selected U.S. election, I produce evidence to suggest that the spatial arrangement of partisans influences crossover behavior in the study area, although not uniformly for members of the two major American political parties.
Prion Diseases and Their Biochemical Mechanisms

Prion diseases, also known as the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and animals. These diseases are intimately associated with conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein, PrP(C), into an oligomeric beta-sheet-rich form, PrP(Sc). A growing number of observations support the once heretical hypothesis that transmission of TSE diseases does not require nucleic acids and that PrP(Sc) alone can act as an infectious agent. The view that misfolded proteins can be infectious is also supported by recent findings regarding prion phenomena in yeast and other fungi. One of the most intriguing facets of prions is their ability to form different strains, leading to distinct phenotypes of TSE diseases. Within the context of the "protein-only" model, prion strains are believed to be encoded in distinct conformations of misfolded prion protein aggregates. In this review, we describe recent advances in biochemical aspects of prion research, with a special focus on the mechanism of conversion of prion protein to the pathogenic form(s), the emerging structural knowledge of fungal and mammalian prions, and our rapidly growing understanding of the molecular basis of prion strains and their relation to barriers of interspecies transmissibility.
Release of template restriction for DNA synthesis by poly ADP(ribose) polymerase during the HeLa cell cycle.

Abstract The degree of complexing between DNA and chromosomal proteins and the ability of poly adenosine diphosphate ribosylation (ADP-ribosylation) of nuclear proteins to release this template restriction and expose DNA primer site changes during the HeLa cell cycle. Primer site exposure by NAD and poly ADP(ribose) polymerase was assessed with intact nuclei by single deoxynucleotide incorporation into DNA in the presence of saturating bacterial DNA polymerase. The most marked in vitro enhancement of primer site exposure by ADP-ribosylation occurred in early G1 phase, where cellular template restriction was the greatest. Cytoplasmic DNA polymerase also had high activity in early G1 phase of the cell cycle. Streptozotocin reduces NAD pools in HeLa cells; a concomitant stimulation of nuclear poly ADP(ribose) polymerase activity is noted.
Level-dependent changes in perception of speech envelope cues.

Level-dependent changes in temporal envelope fluctuations in speech and related changes in speech recognition may reveal effects of basilar-membrane nonlinearities. As a result of compression in the basilar-membrane response, the “effective” magnitude of envelope fluctuations may be reduced as speech level increases from lower level (more linear) to mid-level (more compressive) regions. With further increases to a more linear region, speech envelope fluctuations may become more pronounced. To assess these effects, recognition of consonants and key words in sentences was measured as a function of speech level for younger adults with normal hearing. Consonant–vowel syllables and sentences were spectrally degraded using “noise vocoder” processing to maximize perceptual effects of changes to the speech envelope. Broadband noise at a fixed signal-to-noise ratio maintained constant audibility as speech level increased. Results revealed significant increases in scores and envelope-dependent feature transmission from 45 to 60 dB SPL and decreasing scores and feature transmission from 60 to 85 dB SPL. This quadratic pattern, with speech recognition maximized at mid levels and poorer at lower and higher levels, is consistent with a role of cochlear nonlinearities in perception of speech envelope cues.
Locking in finite-element approximations to long thin extensible beams

Finite-element approximations to a linearized model of the extensible beam problem are examined. For long thin beams, the model may be viewed as a fourth-order singular perturbation problem. If the mesh size in the finite-element method is not taken to be fine enough, the numerical solution may exhibit locking; we explore the cause of this phenomenon and a possible correction
Learning to Combine High Variability With High Precision: Lack of Transfer to a Different Task

ABSTRACTThe authors studied effects of practicing a 4-finger accurate force production task on multifinger coordination quantified within the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis. During practice, task instability was modified by changing visual feedback gain based on accuracy of performance. The authors also explored the retention of these effects, and their transfer to a prehensile task. Subjects practiced the force production task for 2 days. After the practice, total force variability decreased and performance became more accurate. In contrast, variance of finger forces showed a tendency to increase during the first practice session while in the space of finger modes (hypothetical commands to fingers) the increase was under the significance level. These effects were retained for 2 weeks. No transfer of these effects to the prehensile task was seen, suggesting high specificity of coordination changes. The retention of practice effects without transfer to a different task suggests that further studies on a ...
The Preparation amd Reaction of Dianions Derived from M-Mquoauctl Acetamides

Abstract During a study of varistions in the side-chain moiety of 9-phenanthry alkanolamipes of importance for the current antinalarial program, it became necesary to develop a simple method for the preparation of N-aono- alkylated propanolanines 1
Greengard's N-Body Algorithm is Not Order N

Greengard's $N$-body algorithm claims to compute the pairwise interactions in a system of $N$ particles in $O(N)$ time for a fixed precision. In this paper, we show that the choice of precision is not independent of $N$ and has a lower bound of $\log N$. We use this result to show that Greengard's algorithm is not $O(N)$.
The influence of legacy impacted seed banks on vegetation recovery in a post-agricultural fen complex

Agricultural legacies shape soil seed banks, which in turn alter subsequent vegetation recovery. However, the role of legacy-impacted seed banks in shaping wetland-vegetation recovery is not well studied, and hydrologic context may alter impacts of seed bank legacies on extant vegetation. Here we compare seed banks and extant vegetation of four plowed fens to an on-site reference fen to determine (i) if plowing legacies have altered seed banks, (ii) if 13-year post-abandonment vegetation differs from the reference fen, and (iii) whether extant vegetation composition is different than that of seed banks in both reference and plowed fens. The relative abundance of key native graminoid and fen specialist species was greatly reduced in plowed-fen seed banks compared to the reference fen, while weedy/invasive species present in the post-agricultural fens’ seed banks were absent from the reference fen. The depletion of normally dominant native graminoids from seed banks was reflected in extant vegetation. However, shallow water tables predicted shifts in extant vegetation from weedy-mesic annuals to areas dominated by either native clonal forbs or Phalaris arundinacea. In general, plowed plant communities had decreases relative abundance of weedy-mesic species and increased relative abundance clonal forbs or clonal-invasive graminoids compared to seed banks. Our results suggest that while depletion of native graminoids from seed banks plays a part in vegetation recovery, the abundance of weedy-mesic species was not reflected in the recovering vegetation in wetter areas.
Production and properties of zirconia ceramics

A study was made of the effect of preliminary milling and the process temperature of a mixture of zirconium and yttrium hydroxides on the technical aspects of preparing large articles from partially stabilized zirconia.
Bes Results on J/ψ Decays and Charmonium Transitions

Results are reported based on samples of 58 million J/ψ and 14 million ψ(2S) decays obtained by the BESII experiment. Improved branching fraction measurements are determined, including branching fractions for J/ψ→π+π-π0, ψ(2S)→π0J/ψ, ηJ/ψ, π0π0J/ψ, anything J/ψ, and ψ(2S)→γχc1, γχc2→γγJ/ψ. The decay J/ψ→ωπ+π- is studied. At low ππ mass, a large, broad peak due to the σ is observed, and its pole position is determined. Results are presented on ψ(2S) and J/ψ hadronic decays to and final states. No significant Θ(1540) signal, the pentaquark candidate, is observed, and upper limits are set. An enhancement near the mp+MΛ mass threshold is observed in the invariant mass spectrum from decays. It can be fit with an S-wave Breit-Wigner resonance with a mass m=2075±12 (stat)±5 (syst) MeV and a width of Γ=90±35 (stat)±9 (syst) MeV.
Microwave delay characteristics of Cassegrainian antennas

An approach is presented in which the time an RF signal is delayed in propagating through a Cassegrainian antenna can be determined. The approach is based on the recognition that both the group delay (time) and the envelope delay (time) can be obtained from the antenna transfer function. Two antenna transfer functions are derived. The delay time under various antenna operating conditions is discussed.
Necessarily, Sherlock Holmes Is Not a Person

In the appendix to Naming and Necessity, Kripke espouses the view that necessarily, Sherlock Holmes is not a person. To date, no compelling argument has been extracted from Kripke's remarks. I give an argument for Kripke's conclusion that is not only interpretively plausible but also philosoph- ically compelling. I then defend the argument against salient objections.
Severe cervical dystonia in pathologically proven Parkinson's disease and dementia (PDD)†

We describe and present a videotape of a patient with parkinsonism and dementia who developed severe cervical dystonia, despite treatment with levodopa and botulinum toxin. The clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and dementia (PDD) was confirmed at autopsy.
Teachers’ Perceptions of the Goals of Education in the USA: responses to the educational reform literature of the 1980s

Summary What do teachers in the USA perceive as the significant goals and purposes of education? To what extent are these perceptions related to those advocated in the reform literature of the 1980s? Responses to a survey administered to 279 teachers in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia are analyzed in this study. Findings indicate some areas of congruence between teachers and reformers. In areas where the reform literature is divided, especially with regard to educational purpose, teacher opinion is similarly divided. Teacher responses, however, also indicate some attempt to synthesize seemingly disparate views. To provide an expanded frame of reference, the article offers some preliminary findings based on John Goodlad's Teachers for Our Nation's Schools. The article concludes with commentary about the nature and likelihood of educational reform in the USA.
Mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene variation reveals different largemouth bass genealogies

A mitochondrial DNA character set based on cytochrome b gene variations is described that may be used in conjunction with established nuclear gene differences to assess largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides population structure and dynamics. Alignment of known cytochrome b sequences revealed two regions where the functional constraints of the molecule appear to be sufficiently reduced to allow several amino acid substitutions. Restriction analysis was used to probe nucleotide variation within one of these evolutionary hotspots, resulting in the discovery of fixed largemouth bass subspecific cytochrome b haplotypes. Application of two molecular character sets, one founded on fixed allelic variation in nuclear genes and the other on mtDNA cytochrome b diversity, revealed that in several Texas populations, where the Florida subspecies was introduced into extant populations of northern largemouth bass, hybridization was evident. The direction of the introgression vector could be determined through the combination of both character Sets.
CURRENT STATUS OF AMPHIBIAN CULTURE WITH EMPHASIS ON NUTRITION, DISEASES AND REPRODUCTION OF THE BULLFROG, Rand catesbeiana

Culture techniques for some amphibians have progressed sufficiently to allow production of animals to be sold for teaching and research. The current state of the art is reviewed. Areas where additional research is needed include nutrition and feeding, immunology, reproductive control of females, and selective breeding.
Parathyroid hormone as a smooth muscle relaxant.

I. Introduction THE ROLE of PTH as a major physiological regulator of calcium homeostasis has been studied extensively, and both bone and kidney have long been recognized as classical major target organs for PTH action (1, 2). More recently, however, evidence has accumulated which indicates that PTH has diverse biological effects in other tissues as well. For example, in the gastrointestinal tract, PTH has been reported to act directly to stimulate calcium transport in the chick duodenum (3) and to increase gastrin release from the pig stomach (4, 5). As discussed in detail later, PTH also is an inhibitor of smooth muscle contraction in the cardiovascular system, in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and in other tissues such as trachea, uterus, and vas deferens. In the central nervous system, immunoreactive PTHlike activity has been detected in human cerebrospinal fluid, and its release has been reported from the pituitary and from different regions of the brain of a variety of vertebrates, including mamma...
Dynamics of Mount St. Helens' 1980 pyroclastic flows, rockslide-avalanche, lahars, and blast

Abstract A computer model for the movement of gravity flows calculates the velocities and simulated flow paths over digital topographic models. The nonuniform flow movements are determined from initial conditions, gravitational accelerations, and resistance to motion (tr) described by the general equation τr = α0 + α1ν + α2ν2, where ν is velocity. Although empirical, the terms α0, α1 and α2 may be related to Coulomb, viscous, and turbulent resistance, respectively. The energy-line model is used by setting α0 proportional to a coefficient of friction and setting α1 and α2 to zero. Use of the terms α0 and α1 results in a Bingham-like model. The models were tested against the reported velocities and distributions of the pyroclastic flows, rockslide-avalanche, lahars, and blast of the 1980 eruptions of Mount St. Helens, Washington. The energy-line model, which has been widely used for this type of effort, generally predicts velocities that are too high, resulting in flow paths that are not sufficiently responsive to the topography. Use of the α1 or α2 term usually results in better matches to the observed velocities and flow paths. An August 7th pyroclastic flow was modeled in detail for comparison with the velocities acquired from a timed sequence of photographs. Both the energy-line model and a Bingham model based on measured rheologic properties result in model velocities that are much too high. The Reynolds and Bingham numbers indicate that local turbulence was likely, which is consistent with the presence of plane-parallel and cross-bedded deposits on the steep northern flanks of Mount St. Helens. Addition of turbulent resistance to the Bingham model results in a much better match to the measured velocities. A similar model best matches the distribution of deposits from the more voluminous May 18th pyroclastic flows. Our best result for the rockslide-avalanche in the North Fork Toutle River is a Bingham model with a viscosity of 3 × 104 Pa s and a yield strength of 104 Pa. For the lahars, viscous models gives the best results, but model viscosities range from 103–104 Pa s near the flanks of the volcano and in relatively dry creeks and canyons to 101–102 Pa s where the lahars entered river channels and were significantly diluted. For the blast, each of the three basic types of resistance models compares reasonably well with the observed distribution and velocities, provided the resistance is small. However, the expected resistances from both boundary-layer turbulence and air drag are substantial; in order to account for the blast's travel distance of 20–30 km, some process in addition to the initial momentum and gravity must have operated, such as continued decompression far from the vent.
nuMap: A Web Platform for Accurate Prediction of Nucleosome Positioning

Nucleosome positioning is critical for gene expression and of major biological interest. The high cost of experimentally mapping nucleosomal arrangement signifies the need for computational approaches to predict nucleosome positions at high resolution. Here, we present a web-based application to fulfill this need by implementing two models, YR and W/S schemes, for the translational and rotational positioning of nucleosomes, respectively. Our methods are based on sequence-dependent anisotropic bending that dictates how DNA is wrapped around a histone octamer. This application allows users to specify a number of options such as schemes and parameters for threading calculation and provides multiple layout formats. The nuMap is implemented in Java/Perl/MySQL and is freely available for public use at http://numap.rit.edu. The user manual, implementation notes, description of the methodology and examples are available at the site.
Heavy PETting: reducing radiation exposure from intradepartment positron emission tomography scans.

Increasingly, positron emission tomography (PET) scans are being utilized in radiation medicine departments for staging, treatment planning, and follow-up. Positron emission tomography scans use signals emitted from the radioactive tracer [F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-Dglucose (FDG-glucose) that is preferentially taken up by cancer cells. After image processing including fusion with simultaneously obtained computed tomography (CT) scans, the oncologist is able to identify tumors as they “light up.” Positron emission tomography scans are becoming a part of standard oncologic evaluation for many cancers for which their sensitivity and specificity for cancer detection is superior to CT scans. Positron emission tomography is used frequently at the time of simulation because treatment planning can be tailored by targeting areas of metabolically active tumor. Given the sensitivity of PET in cancer detection, it is being used increasingly as part of standard followup to evaluate response to treatment, to detect early recurrent or persistent disease, and to help differentiate radiation necrosis from tumor. With all these useful applications in our cancer patients, the number of PET scans ordered has risen significantly in the last few years. For example, taking just the US Veterans Administration patients treated in our department, the number of PET scans ordered increased from 100 scans in 2008 to 811 in 2012. This presents a new and unique problem in radiation protection. The FDG-glucose is administered intravenously at a typical dose of 5-10 mCi directly before scanning, and it remains in a patient’s circulation for several hours after administration, with a physical half-life of 110 minutes. The biologic half-life is dependent on urinary excretion. Given patient anxiety in cancer detection and the fact that PET scanners are often located in close proximity to the ordering radiation oncologist, physician visits are