cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discontinuous deformation gradients near the tip of a crack in finite anti-plane shear: an example

This investigation aims at the elastostatic field near the edges (tips) of a plane crack of finite width in an all-round infinite body, which — at infinity — is subjected to a state of simple shear parallel to the crack edges. The analysis is carried out within the fully nonlinear equilibrium theory of homogeneous and isotropic, incompressible elastic solids. Further, the particular constitutive law employed here gives rise to a loss of ellipticity of the governing displacement equation of equilibrium in the presence of sufficiently severe anti-plane shear deformations.
DEVELOPMENT OF A METRIC HALF-SPAN MODEL FOR INTERFERENCE FREE TESTING

A metric half-span model has been developed which allows measurement of aerodynamic forces and moments without support interference or model distortion. This is accomplished by combining the best features of the conventional sting/balance and half-span splitter plate supports, For example, forces and moments are measured on one-half of a symmetrical model which is mechanically supported by a sting on the nonmetric half. Tests were performed in the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel over a Mach range of 1.60 to 2.70 and an angle-of-attack range of 04 deg to 20 deg. Preliminary results on concept evaluation, and effect of fuselage modification to house a conventional balance and sting are presented.
Challenges for success in stereo gaming: a Virtual Boy case study

Stereo video stands to revolutionize the medium of videogames in the same way that stereo sound revolutionized the audio experience. It is a pending revolution. Despite years of research, development, and hype, 3D stereo video ubiquity in videogames has yet to be observed. Using Nintendo's Virtual Boy (VB) gaming platform as a case-study, we explore why the revolution hasn't yet happened. We identify six factors that played a significant role in VB's failure: its lack of defined identity as a product, a comparatively weak display, its socially isolating game experience, purported negative effects, the challenges in explaining and demonstrating stereoscopic gaming, and its lack of a must-have game. We note that the factors we identify aren't just technological and that they interact in confounding ways. Nearly fifteen years after the introduction of the VB, new technologies may address the original VB's technical shortcomings, but not necessarily the others. There is currently still an issue with raising the bar on consumer's expectations as well as encouraging game designers to explore the design space offered by stereoscopic video.
Modeling effects of initial dislocation microstructure on the yield strength in FCC single crystal Cu with dislocation dynamics

Abstract Three dimensional dislocation dynamics (3D-DD) method was used to study how initial dislocation microstructure, with varying dislocation density, length and distribution, affects the yield strength in face-centered cubic (FCC) single crystal Cu. Initial dislocations are generated for three average lengths for each one of the seven dislocation densities ranging from 0.1–5 × 1012 m/m3.They are randomly distributed on slip planes. The uniaxial tension simulation results for two crystallographic loading orientations, [1 0 0] and [1 1 1], all show that the yield strength has a well-defined linear relationship with the average length of these dislocations, except for very low dislocation densities where small number of dislocations lead to a stochastic behavior. This indicates that dislocation-density based crystal plasticity formulations, including the square-root relationship between flow stress and dislocation density, only work when dislocation densities/numbers are sufficiently large so that a statistically accurate description of the microstructure can be obtainable.
Solving Structure for Network-Decomposed Problems Optimized With Augmented Lagrangian Coordination

The complexity of design and optimization tasks of modern products which cannot be carried out by a single expert or by a single design team motivated the development of the field of decomposition-based optimization. In general, the process of decomposition-based optimization consists of two procedures: (1) Partitioning the original problem into sub-problems according to the design disciplines, components or other aspects; and (2) Coordinating these sub-problems to guarantee that the aggregation of their optimal solutions results in a feasible and optimal solution for the original problem. Much current work focuses on alternative approaches for these two procedures.For a decomposed problem with a hierarchical structure, the above two procedures work very well and the Analytical Target Cascading method tailored for this type of problems can be used as the coordination method. However, for a more generally decomposed problem with a non-hierarchical structure, there are several factors that might affect the performance of the optimization by decomposition besides the traditional two procedures. In this paper, these factors are identified as: (1) the number of Lagrangian multipliers; (2) the number of decomposition levels (3) the existence and the selection of the master sub-problem. These factors further characterize the structure to solve the decomposed problem: the Solving Structure for decomposition-based optimization. Both mathematical and engineering test problems are used to explore the role of the solving structure. The results show that under the same partition and using the same coordination method, the Augmented Lagrangian Coordination, the performance of the decomposition-based optimization may be largely different in terms of efficiency, accuracy and resource cost. The results highlight the importance of choosing an optimal solving structure after deciding on the procedures of partitioning and coordination. Based on these test results, several suggestions for guidelines on the selection of an optimal solving structure selection are proposed.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Guest-mediated switching of the assembly state of a water-soluble deep-cavity cavitand

Deep-cavity cavitand TEMOA (2) is shown to assemble via the hydrophobic effect into tetrameric and hexameric assemblies. With inner volumes of 1400–1500 A3 and 3200–3700 A3 respectively, these well-defined and mono-dispersed assemblies represent the largest of their type to date.
Changes in serum N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase levels after treatment of hypothyroid and hyperthyroid individuals with l-thyroxine and propylthiouracil

Multiple serum samples were obtained from six hypothyroid and six hyperthyroid females, 11--17 years of age, over the course of their corrective treatment with L-thyroxine (LT4) and propylthiouracil (PTU), respectively. Sera were assayed for total N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase (HEX), the A (heat-labile) and B (heat-stable) isozymes, and total T4. HEX activity (total HEX A) in sera from hypothyroid ( 13 micrograms/dl T4) individuals (total HEX: 839 +/- 96; HEX A: 540 +/- 74; HEX B: 299 +/- 52; n =20) was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.005 in all cases). The depression of hormone activity to the euthyroid range by PTU was accompanied ay a decrease in enzyme activity to control levels (total HEX: 632 +/- 92; HEX A: 400 +/- 55; HEX B: 232 +/- 52; n = 16). Non-parametric analysis of the data shows highly significance differences between pre- and post-treatment enzyme levels (alpha < 0.001) in both hyper- and hypothyroid groups. Alteration of thyroid status, and specifically T4 level is, therefore, indicated to be a contributing factor in the regulation of serum HEX activity in humans, as evidenced by individual responsiveness to oral administration of this hormone, or inhibitors of its peripheral metabolism.
Molecular dynamics simulations of vinyl ester resin monomer interactions with a pristine vapor-grown carbon nanofiber and their implications for composite interphase formation

Abstract A molecular dynamics simulation study was performed to investigate the role of liquid vinyl ester (VE) resin monomer interactions with the surface of pristine vapor-grown carbon nanofibers (VGCNFs). These interactions may influence the formation of an interphase region during resin curing. A liquid resin having a mole ratio of styrene to bisphenol-A-diglycidyl dimethacrylate VE monomers consistent with a commercially available 33 wt.% styrene VE resin was placed in contact with both sides of two pristine graphene sheets overlapped like shingles to represent the outer surface of a pristine VGCNF. The relative monomer concentrations were calculated in a direction away from the graphene sheets. At equilibrium, the styrene/VE monomer ratio was higher in a 5 A thick region adjacent to the nanofiber surface than in the remaining liquid volume. The elevated concentration of styrene near the nanofiber surface suggests that a styrene-rich interphase region, with a lower crosslink density than the bulk matrix, could be formed upon curing. Furthermore, styrene accumulation in the immediate vicinity of the nanofiber surface might, after curing, improve the nanofiber–matrix interfacial adhesion compared to the case where the monomers were uniformly distributed throughout the matrix.
Inhibitory effects of C-3 on membrane-associated enzymes.

Abstract It is reported here that 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl-ϵ-aminocaproic acid (C-3) exhibits an inhibitory effect on adenylate cyclase, phosphodiesterase and mitochondrial ATPase. It is suggested that the mechanism of inhibition may be the same for the three enzymes; that is, a modification of the hydrophobic portion of the membrane region associated with these enzymes. The possible metabolic consequences of C-3 enzymic inhibition and its relation to the therapeutic use of this drug are also discussed.
Modular synthesis of diphospholipid oligosaccharide fragments of the bacterial cell wall and their use to study the mechanism of moenomycin and other antibiotics.

We present a flexible, modular route to GlcNAc–MurNAc-oligosaccharides that can be readily converted into peptidoglycan (PG) fragments to serve as reagents for the study of bacterial enzymes that are targets for antibiotics. Demonstrating the utility of these synthetic PG substrates, we show that the tetrasaccharide substrate lipid IV (3), but not the disaccharide substrate lipid II (2), significantly increases the concentration of moenomycin A required to inhibit a prototypical PG-glycosyltransferase (PGT). These results imply that lipid IV and moenomycin A bind to the same site on the enzyme. We also show the moenomycin A inhibits the formation of elongated polysaccharide product but does not affect length distribution. We conclude that moenomycin A blocks PG-strand initiation rather than elongation or chain termination. Synthetic access to diphospholipid oligosaccharides will enable further studies of bacterial cell wall synthesis with the long-term goal of identifying novel antibiotics.
Global intraurban intake fractions for primary air pollutants from vehicles and other distributed sources.

We model intraurban intake fraction (iF) values for distributed ground-level emissions in all 3646 global cities with more than 100 000 inhabitants, encompassing a total population of 2.0 billion. For conserved primary pollutants, population-weighted median, mean, and interquartile range iF values are 26, 39, and 14–52 ppm, respectively, where 1 ppm signifies 1 g inhaled/t emitted. The global mean urban iF reported here is roughly twice as large as previous estimates for cities in the United States and Europe. Intake fractions vary among cities owing to differences in population size, population density, and meteorology. Sorting by size, population-weighted mean iF values are 65, 35, and 15 ppm, respectively, for cities with populations larger than 3, 0.6–3, and 0.1–0.6 million. The 20 worldwide megacities (each >10 million people) have a population-weighted mean iF of 83 ppm. Mean intraurban iF values are greatest in Asia and lowest in land-rich high-income regions. Country-average iF values vary by a fa...
On the choice of flattening constants for estimating multinomial probabilities

Abstract Bayesian estimation of the cell probabilities for the multinomial distribution (under a symmetric Dirichlet prior) leads to the use of a flattening constant α to smooth the raw cell proportions. The unsmoothed estimator corresponds to α = 0. The risk functions (under quadratic loss) of the Bayesian estimators for α > 0 are compared to that for α = 0 and this leads to an interpretation of any given choice of α > 0 in terms of the maximum number of “small” cell probabilities for which the corresponding smoothed estimator has smaller risk than the unsmoothed estimator. A real set of data is used to illustrate our interpretation of three a priori and three empirically determined choices of α that have appeared in the literature.
Diel cycles of activity, metabolism, and ammonium concentration in tropical holothurians

Movement rate, oxygen consumption, and respiratory tree ammonium concentration were measured in situ in the holothurians Pearsonothuria graeffei and Holothuria edulis in the Agan-an Marine Reserve, Sibulan, Philippines (9°20′30″N, 123°18′31″E). Measurements were made both day and night for both species during April–July 2005. P. graeffei had significantly higher movement rate during the day than at night (1.14 and 0.27 m h−1, respectively; three-way ANOVA, P < 0.05) while H. edulis had higher movement rate at night compared to the day (0.83 and 0.07 m h−1, respectively), spending the daylight hours sheltering under coral. More than 80% of H. edulis had movement rate of zero during the day. Oxygen consumption of P. graeffei was significantly higher during the day than at night (1.61 and 0.83 μmol O2 g−1 h−1, respectively; two-way ANCOVA, P < 0.05), but the reduction at night was not as pronounced as the reduction in movement. H. edulis had a 75% reduction in oxygen consumption during the day compared to night (0.51 and 1.96 μmol O2 g−1 h−1, respectively), matching this species’ reduced movement rates during the day. Ammonium concentration in water withdrawn from the respiratory trees of P. graeffei during the day (12.0 μM) was three times higher than in respiratory tree water sampled at night (4.3 μM) and 15 times higher than ambient seawater (0.8 μM; three-way ANOVA, P < 0.05). Ammonium concentration in the respiratory tree water of H. edulis was six times higher at night (14.6 μM) than during the day (2.2 μM) and 16 times higher than that of ambient seawater (0.9 μM). Even though H. edulis and P. graeffei are found within the same coral reef environment, they may affect different substrates and reef organisms due to their different habitats and distinct but opposite diel cycles.
Kallikrein excretion in renal transplant recipients and in uninephrectomized donors

Kallikrein excretion in renal transplant recipients and uninephrectomized donors. The rate of tissue kallikrein (EC 3.4.21.35) excretion into the urine has been examined with an active site-specific radioimmunoassay for kallikrein in renal transplant recipients, in post-uninephrectomy kidney donors, and in a normal control population. Normal individuals on uncontrolled diets excreted 96.88 ± 7.00 (SEM) /Ag of active kallikrein/24hr and 113.68 ± 8.39 /xg of total kallikrein/24 hr, as determined after trypsin treatment of urine samples. Uninephrectomized donors secreted significantly less (P
A note on the electrostatic force and torque acting on an isolated body in an electric field

Expressions for the electrostatic force and torque on an isolated body immersed in a dielectric medium have been developed for the case where the imposed electric field is either uniform or varies linearly with position. The expressions apply to a body of general shape that carries no net native charge; illustrative examples are provided for ellipsoidal and spheroidal bodies. The force on a body in a uniform field is shown to be zero, which rectifies an incorrect result derived previously by others. The expressions obtained can be adapted to dielectric, leaky dielectric and perfectly conducting bodies subject to either dc or ac forcing fields.
TRAIL and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression in bladder urothelial carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis

Summary Aims To investigate the expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in bladder urothelial carcinomas (UCs) and assess possible interrelations with other regulators of TRAIL induced apoptosis (p65/NF-κB, p-ERK1/2, p-AKT) and FGFR3, as well as to elucidate their potential involvement in bladder tumourigenesis and determine their potential prognostic utility. Methods Paraffin embedded transurethral resection tissue from 128 patients with UC was immunostained for TRAIL and OPGaswellasfor p65/NF-κB, p-ERK1/2, p-AKTand FGFR3. Results TRAIL and OPG were coexpressed in 96.6% of cases and positively interrelated. OPG expression was significantly different among histological grades, being higher in low-grade UCs and was inversely correlated with the presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI). TRAIL also displayed an inverse relationship with histological grade, T-category and LVI. Both OPG and TRAIL expression were positively correlated with FGFR3 expression, the former relationship being marginal. Moreover, increased TRAIL expression was marginally correlated with lower NF-kB/p65 nuclear expression. Increased OPG expression adversely affected survival both in univariate and multivariate analysis. Conclusions OPG and TRAIL are frequently expressed and coexpressed in UCs, supporting the involvement of OPG in the resistance to TRAIL-driven apoptosis. Inhibition of NF-κB activation may also play a similar role, although less important. OPG emerged as an independent prognostic marker of adverse significance.
Symptoms of Chronic Stress Following a Natural Disaster and Discovery of a Human-Made Hazard

Research on the acute and chronic effects of victimization by disaster has found that some patterns of response generalize across disasters of different origin and type. However, it is likely that variation in the nature of the victimizing event can affect long-term psychophysiological reactions. This study compared 23 flood victims with 27 people living near a leaking hazardous toxic waste dump and 27 control subjects. Self-report, behavioral, and physiological measures of stress were collected, all of which showed that 9 months after the announcement of the toxic hazard and the destructive flood, subjects living near the waste dump were more anxious, depressed, and alienated, less able to perform challenging tasks, and more aroused than were flood victims or control subjects. Residents of the landfill neighborhood also reported more feelings of helplessness than did any other subjects, and these feelings were significantly correlated with stress. Victimization associated with the toxic landfill appeared...
Acute cerebral revascularization: Part 3. Cerebral blood flow

The efficacy of cerebral revascularization by a superficial temporal-middle cerebral artery anastomosis done 4 and 24 hours following combined occlusion of the middle cerebral and internal carotid arteries (MCA/ICA) was tested in 15 dogs. An untreated and a sham-operated group of 8 and 5 dogs, respectively, controlled possible intercurrent variables. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by the hydrogen clearance method. Values of normal and preocclusion blood flow under basal conditions and following inhalation of 5% CO 2 were similar to values reported by other researchers. Combined MCA/ICA occlusion produced a significant drop in rCBF in the ipsilateral hemisphere ( p 2 was normal in the revascularized group, but was reversed ( p
Hypothyroidism and Glucocorticoids Modulate the Development of Hepatic Insulin Receptors

Summary: We investigated the influence of hypothyroidism and of glucocorticoid treatment on the in utero and postnatal maturation of insulin receptors on partially purified liver plasma membranes of the rabbit. Treatment of pregnant does with propylthiouracil (PTU) 200 mg/day plus thyroxine (T4) 20 μg on alternate days resulted in fetal but not maternal hypothyroidism because PTU crosses the placenta whereas T4 does not (fetal free T4 undetectable compared to control of 0.21 ± 0.012 ng/dl; mean ± S.E.). At 28 days of gestation (term ∼31 days), insulin binding and receptor number of hypothyroid animals was only 50% of that found in controls (P < 0.01). Intramuscular injection of betamethasone (0.085 mg/kg) to mothers on days 25 and 26 of gestation suppressed fetal corticosterone concentration at day 28 of gestation from 10.5 ± 1.5 ng/ml (mean ± S.E.) in controls to 2.1 ± 0.28 ng/ml (P < 0.01); insulin binding and receptor number was ∼50% of controls (P < 0.01). Using the two-site receptor model, the decrease in receptor number induced by hypothyroidism and glucocorticoids was due solely to reduction in the number of low-affinity sites without any change in the high affinity sites or affinity constants of either receptor class. Ongoing treatment with PTU for 6 postnatal days produced persistant hypothyroidism (free T4 0.15 ± 0.1 ng/dl versus control 0.73 ± 0.1 ng/dl, P < 0.01) physical signs of immaturity, and prevented the normal postnatal maturation of insulin receptor characteristics. Insulin binding was reduced (P < 0.02) and the proportion of high and low affinity receptor sites remained similar to those of 28-day-old fetuses. In contrast, normal maturational changes in insulin receptor characteristics were evident on day 6 in the liver membranes of animals simultaneously receiving PTU and replacement T4 (free T4 0.63 ± 0.17 versus control 0.73 ± 0.1 ng/dl). Thus, the normal pattern of hepatic insulin receptor development can be modulated by hypothyroidism and glucocorticoid exposure.
Open Posterior Approach for Tibiotalar Arthrodesis

Traumatic injury to the ankle and hindfoot often results in tibiotalar or subtalar arthritis. The associated joint pain, stiffness, and deformity may be difficult to treat with conservative measures. For such problems, arthrodesis of the ankle or hindfoot joints is the mainstay of treatment. This article discusses the application of the posterior approach to complete a tibiotalar and tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis as well as its use for converting a failed total ankle arthroplasty to an arthrodesis.
AMPA receptors mediate acetylcholine release from starburst amacrine cells in the rabbit retina.

The light response of starburst amacrine cells is initiated by glutamate released from bipolar cells. To identify the receptors that mediate this response, we used a combination of anatomical and physiological techniques. An in vivo, rabbit eyecup was preloaded with [H-3]-choline, and the [H-3]-acetylcholine (ACh) released into the superfusate was monitored. A photopic, 3 Hz flashing light increased ACh release, and the selective AMPA receptor antagonist, GYKI 53655, blocked this light-evoked response. Nonselective AMPA/kainate agonists increased the release of ACh, but the specific kainate receptor agonist, SYM 2081, did not increase ACh release. Selective AMPA receptor antagonists, GYKI 53655 or GYKI 52466, also blocked the responses to agonists. We conclude that the predominant excitatory input to starburst amacrine cells is mediated by AMPA receptors. We also labeled lightly fixed rabbit retinas with antisera to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), AMPA receptor subunits GluR1, GluR2/3, or GluR4, and kainate receptor subunits GluR6/7 and KA2. Labeled puncta were observed in the inner plexiform layer with each of these antisera to glutamate receptors, but only GluR2/3-IR puncta and GluR4-IR puncta were found on the ChAT-IR processes. The same was true of starburst cells injected intracellularly with Neurobiotin, and these AMPA receptor subunits were localized to two populations of puncta. The AMPA receptors are expected to desensitize rapidly, enhancing the sensitivity of starburst amacrine cells to moving or other rapidly changing stimuli. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Alternative approach to the dynamic renormalization group

The dynamics (time-dependent) renormalization group is reformulated. Probability distributions for configurations at a discrete time sequence are parametrized in a manner similar to the parametrization of static probability distributions. The spirit of this approach is that of phenomenological fitting without making reference to any differential equations for microscopic dynamics. Simple illustrative calculations using the new formulation are presented.
Performance of a Proposed Method for the Linking of Mixed Format Tests With Constructed Response and Multiple Choice Items

The error associated with a proposed linking method for tests consisting of both constructed response and multiple choice items was investigated in a simulation study. Study factors that were varied included the relative proportion of constructed response items in the test, the size of the year-to-year change in the ability metric, the number of anchor items, the number of linking papers to be reassessed, and the presence of guessing. The results supported the use of the proposed linking method, In addition, simulations were used to illustrate possible linking bias resulting from (a) the use of the traditional linking method and (b) the use of only multiple choice anchor items in the presence of test multidimensionality.
Parkinsonism and dropped head: dystonia, myopathy or both?

Abstract Background Dropped head syndrome (DHS) occurring with parkinsonism is often suggested to be a clue to multiple system atrophy (MSA), but it may occur in other parkinsonian conditions. The substrate for DHS is controversial, with some concluding that the cause is myopathic and others, exclusively dystonic. We report our clinical series of DHS arising in the setting of parkinsonism. Methods Patients with DHS were initially identified by a retrospective computer search of the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) medical record database from January 1997 to July 2010. Subsequent record review confirmed DHS and documented those with parkinsonism. Results We identified 21 patients with DHS and parkinsonism, 12 male, 9, female. The median age of DHS onset was 69 years (interquartile range: 63.6–77.5 years). This included 10 patients with Parkinson‘s disease (PD), 10 with MSA, and 1 with drug-induced parkinsonism. The DHS component of their disorder segregated into three different subgroups: dystonia-alone (12 patients); myopathy-alone (4 patients; focal cervical myopathy in 3 and generalized myopathy in one); coexisting dystonia and myopathy (5 patients; 3 generalized, 2 focal cervical myopathy). Conclusions DHS may be seen in either MSA or PD. It may be due to myopathy, dystonia or both. In some cases, the myopathy was focal, confined to the neck musculature. Whether dystonic antecollis predisposes to local muscle pathology is open to speculation.
Structural adjustment and manufacturing sector competitiveness: Lessons from post-unification East Germany

Abstract The article analyzes how the particular combination of historical circumstances, government policies, and institutional structures have shaped the quest for competitiveness of the East German manufacturing sector after unification in 1990. The nature of unification precluded the option of achieving short-run competitiveness via declining real wages leaving rapid productivity growth as the only possible avenue to pursue. The East German experience underlines the importance of crowding-in, particularly in the context of adverse initial conditions. It suggests that large-scale investment does not necessarily bring with it a commensurate build-up of research and development with positive spill-over effects for growth. It also cautions against the blind adoption of institutional arrangements from a different political-economical context, especially regarding capital-labor relations.
The Electrodynamics and Statistical Mechanics of Linear Plasma Response Functions

The purpose of this paper is to review and to extend, wherever possible, the Kramers-Kronig relations, sum rules, and symmetry properties for the electrodynamic transport tensors of a linear plasma medium. For complete generality, we consider both nonrelativistic and relativistic plasmas with and without external magnetic fields. Our study is carried out first within the framework of classical electrodynamics. We then exploit the statistical-mechanical fluctuation-dissipation theorem to further obtain the Onsager symmetry relations and Kubo sum-rule frequency moments. Of special significance is the emergence of a variety of new Kramers-Kronig formulae andf-sum rules for the inverse dispersion tensor.
The p -Centre Problem Heuristic and Optimal Algorithms

The p-centre problem, or minimax location-allocation problem in location theory terminology, is the following: given n demand points on the plane and a weight associated with each demand point, find p new facilities on the plane that minimize the maximum weighted Euclidean distance between each demand point and its closest new facility. We present two heuristics and an optimal algorithm that solves the problem for a given p in time polynomial in n. Computational results are presented.
Effects of catecholaminergic drugs upon memory storage processes in mice

These experiments examined the effects of drugs that interfere with catecholamine metabolism upon retention performance by Ha/ICR mice in an inhibitory avoidance task. When administered shortly before training, most of the drugs impaired subsequent retention performance. However, of the drugs studied, only diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) produced retention deficits when administered posttraining. A series of experiments examined in detail the effects of DDC upon (1) retention performance of inhibitory avoidance learning, (2) whole brain norepinephrine and dopamine levels, (3) brain seizure activity recorded from cortical electrodes, and (4) Timm's staining in the hippocampal mossy fiber system. DDC influenced all measures, and the degree of effect varied directly with dose. But, the amnestic effect of DDC did not depend in any simple manner upon reduction of brain catecholamine levels or upon induction of brain seizure activity.
The U.S. Federal Executive in an Era of Change

This article examines changes in the background characteristics, attitudes, and behavior patterns of high-level U.S. federal executives. It also considers the impact of the New Public Management (NPM) movement. The data indicate that despite intense struggles about the role of the public sector, top civil servants remain a well-educated, experienced, and highly motivated group, the members of which compare favorably to top executives in the private sector. The data also suggest that the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) of 1978 has been effective in producing a more politically responsive corps of career civil servants, and that administrators (both career and noncareer) are increasingly attuned to the more technical and legal aspects of their roles and less oriented to protecting particular interests or clientele groups. NPM-style changes are still in progress and remain controversial, but it appears that political leaders continue to have an excellent (and increasingly diverse) group of career people to work with and a system that—at least in part due to the CSRA reforms—is more responsive to them than before. The top part of the U.S. bureaucracy may have been bent and reshaped in many ways over the last thirty years, but, despite widely publicized fears, it has not broken.
Estimated worst case trihalomethane body burden of a child using a swimming pool

Abstract The amount of trihalomethane (as chloroform) absorbed over a three-hour period by a six-year-old boy when using a chlorinated freshwater swimming pool containing 500 μg/liter of trihalomethanes, has been estimated to be 2.82 mg.
HH 666: different kinematics from H α and [Fe ii] emission provide a missing link between jets and outflows

HH 666 is an externally irradiated protostellar outflow in the Carina Nebula for which we present new near-IR [Fe II] spectra obtained with the FIRE spectrograph at Magellan Observatory. Earlier H{\alpha} and near-IR [Fe II] imaging revealed that the two emission lines trace substantially different morphologies in the inner ~40" of the outflow. H{\alpha} traces a broad cocoon that surrounds the collimated [Fe II] jet that extends throughout the parent dust pillar. New spectra show that this discrepancy extends to their kinematics. Near-IR [Fe II] emission traces steady, fast velocities of +/- 200 km/s from the eastern and western limbs of the jet. We compare this to a previously published H{\alpha} spectrum that reveals a Hubble-flow velocity structure near the jet-driving source. New, second-epoch HST/ACS H{\alpha} images reveal the lateral spreading of the H{\alpha} outflow lobe away from the jet axis. H{\alpha} proper motions also indicate a sudden increase in the mass-loss rate ~1000 yr ago, while steady [Fe II] emission throughout the inner jet suggests that the burst is ongoing. An accretion burst sustained for ~1000 yr is an order of magnitude longer than expected for FU Orionis outbursts, but represents only a small fraction of the total age of the HH 666 outflow. Altogether, available data suggests that [Fe II] traces the highly collimated protostellar jet while H{\alpha} traces the entrained and irradiated outflow. HH 666 appears to be a missing link between bare jets seen in H II regions and entrained molecular outflows seen from embedded protostars in more quiescent regions.
A confidence metric for using neurobiological feedback in actor-critic reinforcement learning based brain-machine interfaces

Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMIs) can be used to restore function in people living with paralysis. Current BMIs require extensive calibration that increase the set-up times and external inputs for decoder training that may be difficult to produce in paralyzed individuals. Both these factors have presented challenges in transitioning the technology from research environments to activities of daily living (ADL). For BMIs to be seamlessly used in ADL, these issues should be handled with minimal external input thus reducing the need for a technician/caregiver to calibrate the system. Reinforcement Learning (RL) based BMIs are a good tool to be used when there is no external training signal and can provide an adaptive modality to train BMI decoders. However, RL based BMIs are sensitive to the feedback provided to adapt the BMI. In actor-critic BMIs, this feedback is provided by the critic and the overall system performance is limited by the critic accuracy. In this work, we developed an adaptive BMI that could handle inaccuracies in the critic feedback in an effort to produce more accurate RL based BMIs. We developed a confidence measure, which indicated how appropriate the feedback is for updating the decoding parameters of the actor. The results show that with the new update formulation, the critic accuracy is no longer a limiting factor for the overall performance. We tested and validated the system on three different data sets: synthetic data generated by an Izhikevich neural spiking model, synthetic data with a Gaussian noise distribution, and data collected from a non-human primate engaged in a reaching task. All results indicated that the system with the critic confidence built in always outperformed the system without the critic confidence. Results of this study suggest the potential application of the technique in developing an autonomous BMI that does not need an external signal for training or extensive calibration.
ColV plasmids pColV-B188 and pColV-K30: Genetic maps according to restriction enzyme sites and landmark phenotypic characteristics

Abstract The ColV plasmids are large virulence plasmids of the incompatibility group IncFI. We have obtained the genetic maps of two of the most studied ColV plasmids, pColV-B188 and pColV-K30, according to restriction enzyme sites and landmark phenotypic characteristics such as colicin V, the aerobactin iron uptake system, the transfer region, replication regions, and repeated sequences. Although the two plasmids differ in size (pColV-B188 is 80 kb and pColV-K30 is 144 kb), the maps reveal many regions which are apparently identical or very similar.
Voice simulation with a body‐cover model of the vocal folds

A simple, low-dimensional model of the body-cover vocal-fold structure is proposed as a research tool to study both normal and pathological vocal-fold vibration. It maintains the simplicity of a two-mass model but allows for physiologically relevant adjustments and separate vibration of the body and the cover. The classic two-mass model of the vocal folds [K. Ishizaka and J. L. Flanagan, Bell Syst. Tech. J. 51, 1233-1268 (1972)] has been extended to a three-mass model in order to more realistically represent the body-cover vocal-fold structure [M. Hirano, Folia Phoniar. 26, 89-94 (1974)]. The model consists of two "cover" masses coupled laterally to a "body" mass by nonlinear springs and viscous damping elements. The body mass, which represents muscle tissue, is further coupled laterally to a rigid wall (assumed to represent the thyroid cartilage) by a nonlinear spring and a damping element. The two cover springs are intended to represent the elastic properties of the epithelium and the lamina propria while the body spring simulates the tension produced by contraction of the thyroarytenoid muscle. Thus contractions of the cricothyroid and thyroarytenoid muscles are incorporated in the values used for the stiffness parameters of the body and cover springs. Additionally, the two cover masses are coupled to each other through a linear spring which can represent vertical mucosal wave propagation. Simulations show reasonable similarity to observed vocal-fold motion, measured vertical phase difference, and mucosal wave velocity, as well as experimentally obtained intraglottal pressure.
Children’s Identification and Reproduction of /w/, /r/, and /l/

The purpose of this study was to examine preschool children’s identification and reproduction of the speech sounds /w/, /r/, and /l/, and to compare the performance of children and adults in these ...
Minority Existence and the Subject of (Religious) Conversion

This article critiques the ideology of Hindutva—the ideological assertion of the Indian nation as Hindu culture—and its persecution of religious minorities in the name of preventing what the proponents of Hindutva perceive as the forcible conversion of Hindus to Islam and Christianity. Reading religious conversion as `cultural criticism', the author defends the rights of those who seek to convert to Islam and Christianity. In conclusion, the author proposes that our secular politics have to represent a `minimalist morality' in order for them to have a meaningful content.
A systematic review of post-deployment injury-related mortality among military personnel deployed to conflict zones

This paper reports on a systematic review of the literature on the post-conflict injury-related mortality of service members who deployed to conflict zones. Literature databases, reference lists of articles, agencies, investigators, and other sources were examined to find studies comparing injury-related mortality of military veterans who had served in conflict zones with that of contemporary veterans who had not served in conflict zones. Injury-related mortality was defined as a cause of death indicated by International Classification of Diseases E-codes E800 to E999 (external causes) or subgroupings within this range of codes. Twenty studies met the review criteria; all involved veterans serving during either the Vietnam or Persian Gulf conflict. Meta-analysis indicated that, compared with non-conflict-zone veterans, injury-related mortality was elevated for veterans serving in Vietnam (summary mortality rate ratio (SMRR) = 1.26, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.08–1.46) during 9 to 18 years of follow-up. Similarly, injury-related mortality was elevated for veterans serving in the Persian Gulf War (SMRR = 1.26, 95%CI = 1.16–1.37) during 3 to 8 years of follow-up. Much of the excess mortality among conflict-zone veterans was associated with motor vehicle events. The excess mortality decreased over time. Hypotheses to account for the excess mortality in conflict-zone veterans included post-traumatic stress, coping behaviors such as substance abuse, ill-defined diseases and symptoms, lower survivability in injury events due to conflict-zone comorbidities, altered perceptions of risk, and/or selection processes leading to the deployment of individuals who were risk-takers. Further research on the etiology of the excess mortality in conflict-zone veterans is warranted to develop appropriate interventions.
Stochastic leadtimes in a one-warehouse, N-retailer inventory system with the warehouse not carrying stock

Abstract This study extends upon a multi-echelon inventory model developed by Graves, introducing in the one-warehouse, N-retailer case—as Graves suggested—stochastic leadtimes between the warehouse and the retail sites in place of the original deterministic leadtimes. Effects of stochastic leadtimes on required base stock levels at the retail sites in the case where the warehouse carries no stock (e.g., serves as a cross-dock point) were investigated analytically. Two alternative treatments of stochastic leadtime distributions were considered. Using as a baseline Graves’ computational study under deterministic leadtimes, results of the current study suggest that it may be better to use the deterministic model with an accurately estimated mean leadtime than a stochastic model with a poorly estimated mean leadtime.
Generalized center-of-mass coordinate and relative momentum operators studied through unitary transformations

A method for studying the generalized center-of-mass coordinate and relative momentum operators is provided. This method is based on unitary transformations. The eigenvectors of these operators can be easily obtained. Their properties and relationship with one-body system eigenvectors are also discussed. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
The influence of Leptospirae and their toxins on tissue culture and the possibility of differentiation of the serotypes.

Summary The saprophytic L. biflexa Patoc does not produce a cytopathogenic effect in fibroblasts and He-La tissue culture. As controls, the Korthof-medium as well as normal human and rabbit sera do not produce a CPE. The pathogenic Leptospira: L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. grippotyphosa L. pomona, L. canicola, L. autumnalis, L. australis, L. hebdomadis produce a CPE in tissue culture. Homologous anti-Leptospira sera neutralised the CPE-activity of Leptospira. Leptospira toxins also produce a CPE on fibroblasts and He-La tissue culture. The homologous anti-Leptospira sera do not neutralise the CPE-activity. Heterologous anti-Leptospira sera do not neutralise the CPE-activity. These results suggest the possibility of using Leptospira-CPE activity for tissue culture and neutralisation analysis of homologous and heterologous sera for the differentiation of Leptospira serotypes. This would provide a new method of taxonomic appreciation of Leptospira which would perhaps supplement the basic and principal serological method of Broom and Wolff. Zusammenfassung Der Einflus von Leptospiren und ihrer Toxine auf Gewebekultur und die Moglichkeit der Differenzierung ihrer Serotypen Pathogene Leptospiren wirken auf Gewebekulturen toxisch (C.P.E.). Der saprophytare Stamm „Leptospira Patoc” ist nicht toxisch. Mittels homologer Anti-Leptospira-Sera last sich der C. P. E. neutralisieren. Heterologe Seren haben diese neutralisierende Wirkung nicht. Die Leptospiren-„Toxine” sind zwar fur Gewebekulturen auch toxisch (C. P. E.), die Anti-Leptospiren-Seren (Anti-Zellen-Seren) neutralisieren jedoch die „Toxine” nicht. Die neue Methode ermoglicht eine Differenzierung der Leptospiren-Serotypen. Resume L'influence des leptospires et de leurs toxines sur les cultures de tissu et possibilites de differenciation des serotypes Les leptospires pathogenes ont une action toxique sur les cultures de tissu (effet cytopathogene = CEP). La souche saprophyte «Leptospira Patoc» n'est pas toxique. Au moyen des serums anti-leptospires homologues le CEP peut etre neutralise. Les serums heterologues n'ont pas d'action neutralisante. Les «toxines» des leptospires sont egalement toxiques (CEP) pour les cultures de tissu, mais ne sont pas neutralisees par les serums anti-leptospires (serums anticellules). Cette nouvelle methode permet la differenciation des serotypes de leptospires. Resumen El influjo de las leptospiras y sus toxinas sobre el cultivo histonal y la posibilidad de diferenciar sus serotipos Las leptospiras patogenas actuan de forma toxica sobre cultivos histonales (efecto citopatogeno). La cepa saprofitica «Leptospira Patoc» no es toxica. Mediante sueros antileptospirosicos homologos se puede neutralizar el ECP. Los sueros heterologos no poseen esta accion neutralizante. Aunque las «toxinas» leptospirosicas tambien son toxicas para los cultivos histonales (ECP), los sueros antileptospirosicos (sueros anticelulares) no neutralizan las «toxinas». La nueva tecnica permite diferenciar los serotipos leptospirosicos.
Estimation of survival based on proportional hazards when cure is a possibility

Inference based on the proportional hazards model is discussed in the presence of long-term survivors. The model is formulated as a cure model yielding an improper survivor function. An algorithm is proposed to fit the proportional hazards model restricted by the fixed survival rates at the end of observation period. A parametric cure model is used to estimate the proportion of long-term survivors. To combine the stability of the parametric method with the flexibility of the nonparametric one, the survival function is estimated nonparametrically conditional on the cure rates provided by the parametric analysis. The methods are applied to the data collected in clinical trials on Hodgkin's disease.
THE ANTIGENIC COMPLEX OF STREPTOCOCCUS HÆMOLYTICUS IV. ANAPHYLAXIS WITH TWO NON-TYPE-SPECIFIC FRACTIONS.

The anaphylactic reactions of two non-type-specific fractions of hemolytic streptococcus extracts parallel the precipitin reactions. The nucleoprotein, P, is a true antigen, in that it stimulates antibody production in rabbits, as shown before, and produces anaphylactic shock in guinea pigs actively as well as passively. The probable carbohydrate, C, on the other hand, does not induce antibody formation in rabbits, so far as known at present, but does produce typical anaphylactic shock in guinea pigs passively sensitized with antibacterial serum provided the serum shows a high titer of C precipitins. This is an instance of a hapten, probably carbohydrate in nature, causing anaphylactic shock in passively sensitized guinea pigs.
Angular distribution of the Ne autoionization resonances: experimental and theoretical study

We have used angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and improved R-matrix calculations to study the (n = 3 - 5) autoionizing resonances and the doubly excited resonance in the photon energy range between 44 and 48.5 eV. The photoelectrons were detected at different angles using three time-of-flight spectrometers. The measurements were obtained utilizing the 18 meV photon energy resolution provided by an undulator coupled with a spherical grating monochromator of the Advanced Light Source. Angular distribution parameters of these resonances have been parametrized using a model by Kabachnik and Sazhina and have been compared with our R-matrix calculations which are similar to those of Burke and Taylor. We find that the calculations agree quite well with the measurements. Our analysis of the cross section shape shows no strong n dependence of the q and parameter, while the width varies as the quantum defect theory predicts. Also, the differential cross section parameters agree well with previous experiments carried out for the lower resonances.