cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative CFD analyses of liquid metal cooled reactor for lunar surface power

Abstract This paper presents the results of comparative CFD and thermal-hydraulics analyses of the Solid Core–Sectored Compact Reactor (SC-SCoRe) for lunar surface power. This fast-neutron spectrum, liquid NaK-56 cooled reactor is loaded with highly enriched UN fuel. It nominally generates 1.0 MWth for ∼21 full-power years at NaK-56 inlet and exit temperatures of 850 K and 900 K. The analyses examine the realizable two-layer k–ɛ and the Shear Stress Transport (SST) k–ω turbulence models, with different numerical mesh refinements, for simulating the performance of the SC-SCoRe core during nominal operation as well as investigate the effect on the computation time and calculated parameters. In addition, the results calculated for a single tri-lobe flow channel are compared to those obtained using the Detached Eddy Simulation (DES), a hybrid LES and RANS turbulence model. The numerical mesh refinement beyond 2 × 107 cells in the flow channels and the choice of turbulence model slightly affect the calculated fuel, core structure, and liquid metal temperatures. They more strongly affect the pressure losses and the intensity of flow mixing and the formation of turbulence eddies in the inlet and exit plenums and exit duct. With the same numerical mesh refinements, the total computation time with the k–ω model is 40–120% longer than with the k-ɛ model, while the calculated operation parameters are almost identical. The flow field provided by the k–ω model offers finer details of the flow mixing and the eddy vortices forming in the upper plenum and the exit duct. Comparisons of the heat transfer and pressure loss results of the DES model to those of the k–ɛ and k–ω turbulence models for a single tri-lobe, show the calculated temperatures, velocity profiles, and pressure losses differ only slightly. The DES model results of the Nusselt number along the channel are consistently higher than those calculated using the k–ω and the k–ɛ models. The time to complete the calculations with the DES model, on the same hardware, was 38 and 86 times that with the k–ω and the k–ɛ models, respectively. The results for NaK-56 liquid flow in a circular tube with uniformly heated wall show that the Nu values using the k–ω and k–ɛ turbulence models are consistent with the reported empirical correlations.
The presence of the adult respiratory distress syndrome does not worsen mortality or discharge disability in blunt trauma patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Purpose To evaluate the prevalence of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) among blunt trauma patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine if ARDS is associated with higher mortality, morbidity and worse discharge outcome. Methods Blunt trauma patients with TBI (head abbreviated injury score {AIS} ≥ 4) who developed predefined ARDS criteria between January 2000 and December 2004 were prospectively collected as part of an ongoing ARDS database. Each patient in the TBI + ARDS group was matched with two control TBI patients based on age, injury severity score (ISS) and head AIS. Outcomes including complications, mortality and discharge disability were compared between the two groups. Results Among 362 TBI patients, 28 (7.7%) developed ARDS. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to age, sex, ISS, Glasgow coma score (GCS), head, abdomen and extremity AIS. The TBI + ARDS group had significantly more patients with chest AIS ≥ 3 (57.1% versus 32.1%, p = 0.03). There was no difference with respect to overall mortality between the TBI + ARDS group (50.0%) and the TBI group (51.8%) (OR 0.79: 95% CI 0.31–2.03, p = 0.63). There was no significant difference with respect to discharge functional capacity between the two groups. There were significantly more overall complications in the TBI + ARDS group (42.9%) compared to the TBI group (16.1%) (OR 3.66: 95% CI 1.19–11.24, p = 0.02). The TBI + ARDS group had an overall mean intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay of 15.6 days, versus 8.4 days in the TBI group (p < 0.01). The TBI + ARDS group had significantly higher hospital charges than the TBI group ($210,097 versus $115,342, p < 0.01). Conclusion The presence of ARDS was not associated with higher mortality or worse discharge disability. It was, however, associated with higher hospital morbidity, longer ICU and hospital length of stay.
Alluvial architecture in headwater streams with special emphasis on step–pool topography

Alluvial mountain streams exhibit a range of channel forms: pool–riffle, plane bed, step–pool and cascades. Previous work suggested that these forms exist within discrete, and progressively steeper slope classes. Measurements conducted at over 100 sites in west-central and central Idaho confirm that slope steepens progressively as one moves from pool–riffle, to plane bed, to step–pool, and finally to cascades. Median slope for pool–riffle topography is 0·0060, for plane beds 0·013, for step–pools 0·044, and for cascades 0·068. There is substantial overlap in the slopes associated with these channel forms. Pool–riffle topography was found at slopes between 0·0010 and 0·015, plane beds between 0·0010 and 0·035, step–pools between 0·015 and 0·134, and cascades between 0·050 and 0·12. Step–pools are particularly striking features in headwater streams. They are characterized by alternating steep and gentle channel segments. The steep segments (step risers) are transverse accumulations of boulder and cobbles, while the gentle segments (pools) contain finer material. Step wavelength is best correlated to step height which is in turn best correlated to the median particle size found on step risers. This result differs from past studies that have reported channel slope to be the dominant control on step wavelength. The presumed geometry and Froude number associated with the features under formative conditions are consistent with the existence field for antidunes and by extension with the hypothesis that step–pools are formed by antidunes. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fiber ring resonator with power exchange between polarization modes: experiment.

Experimental results on the characteristics of a new type of fiber ring resonator made with polarization-preserving fiber are reported. By using a splice inside the loop and crossing the fiber birefringent axes at the splice, we obtain greatly improved thermal stability. Further, by analyzing the output polarization state along the birefringent axes of the fiber, we obtain improved fringe modulation depth, additional improvement in thermal stability, and a simultaneous resonant peak and resonant dip output. A theoretical model is described that gives good agreement with the experiment.
Drosophila Kelch functions with Cullin-3 to organize the ring canal actin cytoskeleton

Drosophila melanogaster Kelch (KEL) is the founding member of a diverse protein family defined by a repeated sequence motif known as the KEL repeat (KREP). Several KREP proteins, including Drosophila KEL, bind filamentous actin (F-actin) and contribute to its organization. Recently, a subset of KREP proteins has been shown to function as substrate adaptor proteins for cullin-RING (really interesting new gene) ubiquitin E3 ligases. In this study, we demonstrate that association of Drosophila KEL with Cullin-3, likely in a cullin-RING ligase, is essential for the growth of Drosophila female germline ring canals. These results suggest a role for protein ubiquitylation in the remodeling of a complex F-actin cytoskeletal structure.
Heat transfer between a horizontal tube and a gas-solid fluidized bed

Abstract Experiments have been conducted to measure the heat transfer coefficient between an electrically heated single horizontal tube and air-solid fluidized beds of glass beads, dolomite, sand, silicon carbide and alumina particles. The effect of size, shape and density of the particle, specific heat, air mass fluidizing velocity, tube size, tube material, bed depth, heat flux and distributor design on heat transfer rate has been investigated. Experimental results of heat transfer coefficient, h w , are compared with the predictions of the existing correlations for these quantities. These correlations are found to be inadequate to reproduce the present data. Therefore a correlation has been proposed for h w on the basis of our experimental data and examined to assess its appropriateness on the basis of available data in the literature.
Assignment of proton and carbon‐13 spectra of a sucrose ester from tobacco by inverse detected two‐dimensional heteronuclear correlated NMR spectroscopy

The complete assignment of the proton and carbon chemical shifts of 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-(3S-methylpentanoyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-fructofuranoside, a naturally occurring flavor precursor of tobacco, is presented. These assignments were made by comparison of the spectra obtained from 1H-detected heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence and 1H-detected heteronuclear multiple-bond connectivity two-dimensional NMR experiments.
A Minimum Cost Sequential Test to Monitor Injury Incidence on an Operation

Abstract This paper develops a new statistical approach to monitoring industrial injuries on an operation. It details a sequential procedure which can be used by practitioners to determine if the incidence rate on an operation is “out of control” with respect to an acceptable rate as a function of injury severity and redesign costs. The procedure is based upon the CUSUM test for the exponential distribution. Test implementation, sensitivity, and robustness are also discussed.
Local and Regional Breweries in America's Brewing Industry, 1865 to 1920

Between the end of the Civil War and the enactment of national Prohibition in 1920, America's brewing industry grew to become one of the nation's leading manufacturing industries. During the first thirty years of this period, the industry's growth was propelled by the emergence of a small group of nationally oriented breweries. These firms pioneered a series of important technological, scientific, and organizational innovations, which allowed them to increase annual sales. Yet, after several decades of spectacular growth, they began to see their relative position in the industry decline. From the mid-1890s until Prohibition, hundreds of regional and local breweries reasserted themselves in the market for beer. These firms often were able to provide less expensive beer and to sell it in saloons that they owned or controlled. Together, these two factors enabled regional and local breweries to present a competitive challenge to national firms in the years leading up to Prohibition.
Calling Out and Calling Off the Dogs: Managerial Diagnosis in Public Service Organizations

A framework is presented to describe the behavior of decision makers as they recognize situations that merit action. The framework suggests how decision makers compare norms with perceptions to select deferral, evaluation, and planning responses. This framework is linked to schematics of evaluation and planning processes to illustrate how “managerial diagnosis” determines the effectiveness of these forms of inquiry.
Genomic organization and polymorphism of human angiotensin II type 2 receptor: no evidence for its gene mutation in two families of human premature ovarian failure syndrome.

Abstract Angiotensin II type 2 (AT 2 ) receptor is highly expressed in the fetal tissues and decreases rapidly after birth. AT 2 receptor is re-expressed in the adult atretic ovarian follicles. Recently, it has been reported that AT 2 receptor mediates apoptosis. Primarily, we have cloned human AT 2 receptor cDNA and mapped it to the X-chromosome. To further analyze the organization and function of the AT 2 receptor gene, in this study we cloned the human AT 2 receptor genomic DNA. Human AT 2 receptor gene is composed of three exons and two introns. Primer extension analysis revealed a putative transcription initiation site at 24 bp downstream from TATA box. Furthermore, we identified a polymorphism (C–A) in 3′ untranslated region of exon 3, which may be a useful genetic marker for genetic analysis of human X-linked inherited disease. In this study, we postulated that the patients with premature ovarian failure, which has been reported to be linked with X-chromosome abnormality, have AT 2 receptor mutation that may contribute to the early onset of atresia. We examined the entire coding sequence of this receptor in two different families of sisters with premature ovarian failure (POF) but found no changes in nucleotide sequences.
The Misperception of Sexual Interest

In the current study (N = 199), we utilized a speed-meeting methodology to investigate misperceptions of sexual interest. This method allowed us to evaluate the magnitude of men's overperception of women's sexual interest, to examine whether and how women misperceive men's sexual interest, and to assess individual differences in susceptibility to sexual misperception. We found strong support for the prediction that women would underestimate men's sexual interest. Men who were more oriented toward short-term mating strategies or who rated themselves more attractive were more likely to overperceive women's sexual interest. The magnitude of men's overperception of women's sexual interest was predicted by the women's physical attractiveness. We discuss implications of gender differences and within-sex individual differences in susceptibility to sexual misperception.
Optimizing cursor movement in holistic twig joins

Holistic twig join algorithms represent the state of the art for evaluating path expressions in XML queries. Using inverted indexes on XML elements, holistic twig joins move a set of index cursors in a coordinated way to quickly find structural matches. Because each cursor move can trigger I/O, the performance of a holistic twig join is largely determined by how many cursor moves it makes, yet, surprisingly, existing join algorithms have not been optimized along these lines. In this paper, we describe TwigOptimal, a new holistic twig join algorithm with optimal cursor movement. We sketch the proof of TwigOptimal's optimality, and describe how TwigOptimal can use information in the return clause of XQuery to boost its performance. Finally, experimental results are presented, showing TwigOptimal's superiority over existing holistic twig join algorithms.
Addressing psychosocial issues that impact women's health: proceedings of the 2014 Meeting of the North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The study of women’s health and reproductive medicine involves not only physiology and pathology, but also the many psychological and social factors that interface with human biology to influence the onset and outcome of diseases in women. The North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynecology is a group dedicated to the study of these factors. At its recent meeting in Columbus, Ohio (USA), the society presented the latest research on behavioral and mental health aspects of caring for women. Two of the themes that were featured at this meeting were the psychosocial aspects of treating cancer in women, and the interplay between stress and pregnancy. The North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynecology (NASPOG) is an interdisciplinary group that recognizes the importance of psychological, social and cultural issues impacting the diseases of women and their treatment. The society brings together obstetrician– gynecologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and social workers in an effort to promote research into these issues and to encourage collaboration between various disciplines in caring for women. The society hosts a biennial meeting to showcase the current research and schools of thought involving aspects of women’s mental health. At each meeting, a variety of symposia are organized to highlight particular fields of women’s health that involve psychological and social concerns. The program planners traditionally try to balance topics that involve pregnancy and the postpartum period with gynecological topics and issues of general interest to the care of women. At this year’s conference, which was held from 6–9 April in Columbus, Ohio (USA), the symposia that were featured were:
Using a Content Analysis to Examine the Gendering of Sports Newspaper Personnel and Their Coverage

The purpose of this study was to determine if the coverage given to female and male interscholastic athletics was a function of the gender of the individuals who make up newspaper sports departments. The degree to which males controlled and dominated the newspaper coverage of interscholastic sports was also assessed. The study revealed, from the examination of 1792 articles and 827 photographs, that the newspaper media was clearly the domain of males who made up 91.4% of the reporters, 78.6% of the photographers, 100% of the executive sports editors, and 91.3% of the high school sports editors. The study further determined that there was no association between the gender of the newspaper personnel and the amount of coverage given to female and male interscholastic athletics. Female and male reporters, photographers, and editors were found equally responsible for the under-represented coverage of girls' interscholastic athletics.
Family-Oriented Compliance Counseling: A Therapeutic Strategy for Enhancing Health Status and Lifestyle Change

Compliance is a major challenge for all health care providers, including counselors and therapists. Family-oriented compliance counseling is a process for involving the family to increase compliance and thereby enhance health status and lifestyle change efforts. A straightforward and effective therapeutic strategy for increasing compliance in a family counseling context is described and illustrated.
Access to College: A Reconsideration of the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS)

Student’s access to college is influenced both by their level of academic preparation to do college-level work and the cost of participating in postsecondary education—on this point researchers and policy makers seem to agree (Perna, 2006). The relative importance of each, however, is very much a subject of disagreement and that debate has implications for policy formation, particularly when resources are scarce. In this article, I begin by summarizing the evolution of this debate from the late 1990s through today. Much of this conversation took place on the federal stage in anticipation of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). Next, I examine one particular report issued by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and I respond empirically to several of the critiques levied by the education research community. In this reanalysis of the report on college access by Berkner and Chavez, I make several adjustments to illustrate how a number of methodological limitations affect the ...
Taking the Social Origins of Human Nature Seriously: Toward a More Imperialist Social Psychology

To recognize that human beings are adapted for social living is fundamental to the science of human psychology. I argue that the development of broad social psychological theory would benefit from taking this basic premise more seriously. We need to pay more attention to the implications for personality and social psychology of recognizing that all of the building blocks of human psychology--cognition, emotion, motivation--have been shaped by the demands of social interdependence. In this article I illustrate the generative potential of this basic premise for development of more expansive social theory.
The economic consequences of substance use disorders

One promising approach is the recovery management checkups (RMC) model, which is based on the premise that ongoing monitoring and early re-intervention will impact the long-term trajectory of addiction careers. Results from recent clinical trials of RMCs for adults with substance use disorders indicate that, relative to a control group, RMC subjects spend less time in the community using drugs, experience quicker linkages with substance abuse treatment, have greater treatment engagement, exhibit less long-term substance use, and experience fewer substance use disorder symptoms. This study estimates the incremental cost-effectiveness of RMC relative to a control group in promoting abstinence and reducing the number of substance use-related problems over a 4year follow-up period. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves are presented and discussed.
Acquiescence-Dissent Response Set on an Elementary True-False Achievement Test

A yes-no (true-false) psuedo-achievement test, designed to measure acquiescence-dissent response tendencies, was given to 328 first-grade children. That the obtained distribution of responses differed significantly (.001) from the exptected chance (binomial) distribution indicated that students were influenced by response set. Significantly (.001) more high scores and low scores were obtained than expected by chance. Thus the influence of dissent set in addition to that of acquiescence was suggested. Whether acquiescence-dissent represents one or two variables could not be determined. Implications for the validity of testing the achievement of young children are discussed.
Adaptive Parser-Centric Text Normalization

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a customizable text normalization framework providing for domain adaptability through modular replacement generators. In one embodiment, a method of and computer program product for text normalization are provided. An input sequence comprising a plurality of tokens is received. A plurality of generators is applied to the input sequence to generate a set of candidate replacements of the tokens of the sequence. A plurality of subsets of the set of candidate replacements is determined such that the candidate replacements of each subset are syntactically consistent. A probability is determined for each of the subsets. A subset of the plurality of subsets having the highest probability is selected. Each candidate replacement of the selected subset is applied to the input sequence to generate an output sequence. The output sequence is outputted.
Orthogonal and parallel lattice plasmon resonance in core-shell SiO 2 /Au nanocylinder arrays

Height induced coupling behavior between the plasmonic modes and diffraction orders were studied in the core-shell SiO2/Au nanocylinder arrays (NCAs) using finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. New lattice plasmon modes (LPMs) are observed in the structures with high aspect ratio. Specifically, parallel coupling between the plasmonic modes and diffraction orders is obtained here, which shows different coupling behavior from orthogonal LPMs. Electromagnetic (EM) field distributions indicate that horizontal propagation of the magnetic or electric field component is responsible for the generation of these orthogonal and parallel LPMs, respectively. Radiative loss could be effectively suppressed when the height increases. This is important for the applications of fluorescence enhancement and nano laser. Further studies confirm that the LPMs associated with the superstrate diffraction orders could be well maintained even when the Au coating is imperfect. The interference from the substrate associated LPMs could be eliminated by cutting off the corresponding diffraction waves by inducing a Si3N4 substrate. This study of coupling behavior in the core-shell NCAs enables a novel route to design and optimize the LPMs for applications of bio-sensing and nano laser.
Myocardial Isl+land: A Place With Lots of Rhythm, but No Beat

> “Life is about rhythm. We vibrate, our hearts are pumping blood, we are a rhythm machine, that's what we are.” > > —Mickey Hart As you read these words, an intrinsic rhythm of life ripples through your heart. Your personal “metronome” is required to begin at the earliest stages of embryonic development and continues unceasingly as life unfolds. Understanding the genesis of our rhythm continues to be refined by intense investigation from developmental biologists who are unraveling the intertwined orchestration of myocardial organization, timing, and cardiac precursor cell incorporation. Almost a decade ago, a remarkable publication identified an embryonic stem cell subpopulation essential for cardiac formation expressing a LIM homeodomain transcription factor called Isl1.1 Isl1-null mice fail to develop major cardiac segments resulting in embryonic lethality, convincingly demonstrating an essential role of Isl1+ stem cells in the initial stages of cardiogenesis. Potential significance of these cellular developmental biology observations did not go unnoticed by those committed to the comparatively nascent field of myocardial regeneration who long for a specific cardiac stem cell marker. Following closely on the heels of initial Isl1-related revelations, a spate of high-impact publications touted the potential of Isl1 as a marker for pluripotent cardiac precursors capable of generating all cardiovascular lineages.2–5 Thereafter, as the proverbial saying goes, “then all hell broke loose” and researchers became embroiled in yet another controversy about cardiac stem cell biology.6–9 Fortunately, time discovers truth and a clearer vision emerges, as presented in this issue of Circulation Research by Weinberger et al10 that helps reconcile speculation with reality and dispels some of the hyperbole about Isl1 in the adult heart. Article, see p 1303 At the core of the controversy are the questions of whether Isl1+ cells persist in the adult heart, what types of …
Minimum entropy generation design of a convectively heated pin fin with tip heat loss

This paper studies heat transfer and entropy generation in a pin fin that is convectively heated at its base and losing heat through its tip in addition to the heat loss from its lateral surface. The analysis accounts for the skin friction drags at the base and the tip of the fin as well as the drag owing to forced convection over the lateral surface of the fin. The entropy generation rate is found to be a function of Reynolds and Prandtl numbers of hot and cold fluid flows, fluid friction to heat transfer irreversibility parameters based on hot and cold fluid properties, the ratios of hot fluid/fin and cold fluid/fin thermal conductivities, and the temperatures of the hot and cold fluids. Results illustrate the effects of various parameters on the entropy generation rate and the optimum fin length.
Beyond statistical inference: a decision theory for science.

Traditional null hypothesis significance testing does not yield the probability of the null or its alternative and, therefore, cannot logically ground scientific decisions. The decision theory proposed here calculates the expected utility of an effect on the basis of (1) the probability of replicating it and (2) a utility function on its size. It takes significance tests—which place all value on the replicability of an effect and none on its magnitude—as a special case, one in which the cost of a false positive is revealed to be an order of magnitude greater than the value of a true positive. More realistic utility functions credit both replicability and effect size, integrating them for a single index of merit. The analysis incorporates opportunity cost and is consistent with alternate measures of effect size, such as r2 and information transmission, and with Bayesian model selection criteria. An alternate formulation is functionally equivalent to the formal theory, transparent, and easy to compute.
A comparison of brain and behavioral effects of varenicline and nicotine in rats

We evaluated the effects of the smoking cessation aid varenicline and nicotine on brain activation, locomotor sensitization and cognitive functioning in rats. Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activation on fMRI was measured in awake adult male Sprague-Dawley rats in response to their first dose of varenicline 0.04 mg/kg administered intravenously and compared to saline controls. Other groups of rats were pretreated with daily injections of either varenicline 0.04 mg/kg or saline administered subcutaneously over 5 days, and then imaged on the sixth day while receiving an intravenous dose. The initial dose of varenicline produced patterns of brain activation similar to those previously seen with nicotine, increasing BOLD activation in the auditory, cingulate, insular, prefrontal, retrosplenial, temporal and visual cortices, as well as the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, septum, and ventral tegmental area. However, the sixth dose produced significantly less BOLD activation than the initial dose in the hippocampus, insular cortex, prefrontal cortex, and temporal cortex, suggesting tolerance. Repeated doses of varenicline have thus the opposite effect of repeated nicotine dosing at 24 h intervals, previously shown to produce sensitization of brain activation under the same experimental conditions. We also assessed the effects of varenicline on locomotor sensitization and performance in the Morris water maze. Compared to saline controls, varenicline treated rats showed no evidence of locomotor activation or sensitization, and showed improved performance times on the water maze only on the first day. This study points to different effects of varenicline and nicotine on neuronal and behavioral indices.
A Substitute Inverse for the Basis of a Staircase Structure Linear Program

The constraints of a staircase structure linear program are of the following form: A1x1 = d1; Bt-1 + Atxt = dtt = 2,..., T. Letting mi be the number of constraints m period i the substitute inverse consists of the inverse of T matrices which are mi × mi = 1,..., T, as opposed to the actual inverse which is m × m, m = Σmi. Updating the substitute inverse consists of updating some, but not necessarily all, of the T inverses. This may be done by appending one or more columns and pivoting on them or by adding a dyad matrix. Applications to the PILOT energy model will be discussed.
A ‘metallic tape’ stabilized by an unprecedented (μ5-κ2,κ2,κ2,κ1,κ1-) scorpionate binding mode

The Janus scorpionate ligand, tris(mercaptothiadiazolyl)borate, exhibits extraordinary coordination capacity and versatility, binding from two up to five metal cations as demonstrated by its thallium(I) salt, a compound that serves as a model for metal–surface binding.
Batch reinforcement learning in a complex domain

Temporal difference reinforcement learning algorithms are perfectly suited to autonomous agents because they learn directly from an agent's experience based on sequential actions in the environment. However, their most common algorithmic variants are relatively inefficient in their use of experience data, which in many agent-based settings can be scarce. In particular, they make just one learning "update" for each atomic experience. Batch reinforcement learning algorithms, on the other hand, aim to achieve greater data efficiency by saving experience data and using it in aggregate to make updates to the learned policy. Their success has been demonstrated in the past on simple domains like grid worlds and low-dimensional control applications like pole balancing. In this paper, we compare and contrast batch reinforcement learning algorithms with on-line algorithms based on their empirical performance in a complex, continuous, noisy, multiagent domain, namely RoboCup soccer Keepaway. We find that the two batch methods we consider, Experience Replay and Fitted Q Iteration, both yield significant gains in sample complexity, while achieving high asymptotic performance.
Neurotensin-Deficient Mice Have Deficits in Prepulse Inhibition: Restoration by Clozapine but Not Haloperidol, Olanzapine, or Quetiapine

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex is a commonly used measure of preattentive sensorimotor gating. Disrupted PPI in rodents represents an animal model of the sensorimotor gating deficits characteristic of schizophrenia. The neurotensin (NT) system is implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and NT has been hypothesized to act as an endogenous antipsychotic. In rats, NT receptor agonists restore PPI disrupted by dopamine receptor agonists and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists, and pretreatment with an NT receptor antagonist blocks restoration of isolation rearing induced deficits in PPI by some antipsychotic drugs. The current studies further scrutinized the role of the NT system in the regulation of PPI and in antipsychotic drug-induced restoration of PPI using NT-null mutant mice (NT-/-). NT-/- mice exhibited significantly higher pulse alone startle amplitudes and disrupted PPI compared with NT+/+ mice. Haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg) and quetiapine (0.5 mg/kg) administered 30 min before PPI testing significantly increased PPI in NT+/+ mice but had no effect on PPI in NT-/- mice. In contrast, clozapine (1.0 mg/kg) significantly increased PPI in both NT-/- and NT+/+ mice, whereas olanzapine (0.5 mg/kg) had no effect on PPI in either NT-/- or NT+/+ mice. In a separate experiment, amphetamine (2.0 mg/kg i.p.) significantly disrupted PPI in NT+/+ mice but not NT-/- mice. These results provide evidence that the effects of antipsychotic drugs (APDs) may be differentially affected by the state of NT neurotransmission and, moreover, that APDs differ in their dependence on an intact NT system.
A Functional Interaction between gp41 and gp120 Is Observed for Monomeric but Not Oligomeric, Uncleaved HIV-1 Env gp140

The envelope glycoprotein (Env) is the sole antigenic feature on the surface of HIV and the target for the humoral immune system. Soluble, uncleaved gp140 Env constructs truncated at the transmembrane domain are being investigated intensively as potential vaccine immunogens by many groups, and understanding their structural properties is essential. We used hydrogen/deuterium-exchange mass spectrometry and small-angle X-ray scattering to probe structural order in a panel of commonly used gp140 constructs and matched gp120 monomers. We observed that oligomeric forms of uncleaved gp140, generally presumed to be trimeric, contain a protease-resistant form of gp41 akin to the postfusion, helical bundle conformation and appear to lack specific interactions between gp120 and gp41. In contrast, the monomeric form of gp140 shows significant stabilization of the gp120 inner domain imparted by the gp41 region, demonstrating excellent agreement with past mutagenesis studies. Moreover, the gp140 monomers respond to CD4 binding in manner that is consistent with the initial stages of Env activation: CD4 binding induces structural ordering throughout gp120 while loosening its association with gp41. The results indicate that uncleaved gp140 oligomers do not represent an authentic prefusion form of Env, whereas gp140 monomers isolated from the same glycoprotein preparations in many ways exhibit function and internal structural order that are consistent with expectations for certain aspects of native Env. gp140 monomers may thus be a useful reagent for advancing structural and functional studies.
Impaired Mitochondrial Network Excitability in Failing Guinea Pig Cardiomyocytes

Aims Studies in guinea-pig cardiomyocytes show that reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by a few mitochondria can propagate to their neighbours, triggering synchronized, cell-wide network oscillations via an ROS-induced ROS release (RIRR) mechanism. How mitochondria in cardiomyocytes from failing hearts (HF) respond to local oxidative stress perturbations has not been investigated. Since mitochondrial ultrastructure is reportedly disrupted in HF, and propagation of ROS signals depends on mitochondrial network integrity, we hypothesized that the laser flash-induced RIRR is altered in HF. Methods and results To test the hypothesis, pressure-overload HF was induced in guinea pigs by ascending aortic constriction leading to left ventricular dilatation and decreased ejection fraction after 8 weeks. Isolated cardiomyocytes were studied with two-photon/confocal microscopy to determine their basal oxidative stress and propensity to undergo mitochondrial depolarization/oscillations in response to local laser flash stimulations. The expression of mitofusin proteins and mitochondrial network structure were also analysed. Results showed that HF cardiomyocytes had higher baseline ROS levels and less reduced glutathione, and were more prone to laser flash-induced mitochondrial depolarization. In contrast, the delay between the laser flash and synchronized cell-wide network oscillations was prolonged in HF myocytes compared with shams, and the spatial extent of coupling was diminished, suggesting dampened RIRR and ROS signal propagation. In addition, the expressions of mitofusin proteins in HF myocardium were down-regulated compared with these from sham-operated animals, and the mitochondrial network structure altered. Conclusion The disrupted inter-mitochondrial tethering and loss of structural organization may underlie decreased ROS-dependent mitochondrial coupling in HF.
Livestock Pricing and Markets Performance

Livestock markets have a very important effect on pastoralists' welfare. We analyzed thousands of livestock transactions in three sites in Kenya to examine market performance. Key findings include: (1) markets can exacerbate climate risks for pastoralists because livestock prices often decline during dry periods; (2) a high degree of inter-market price variability and temporal volatility occur that can lead to lower producer prices and discourage trader and pastoralist market participation; and (3) quarantines are a significant source of producer price risk because they impede commerce in the rangelands. Such problems of market inefficiency could be dealt with by investing more resources in roads, telecommunications, and security in pastoral areas. Alternative methods of animal disease control should also be considered since quarantines have a disproportionately negative effect on poor pastoral producers compared to those for highlands consumers or ranchers.
Avaliação de Cultivares de Arroz em Doses Contrastante de Nitrogênio em Solos de Várzea Irrigada

O acompanhamento dos nutrientes atraves da analise de solo e pelo metodo direto de destruicao da planta sao os metodos mais comuns para avaliacao dos nutrientes visando a maxima producao das culturas. Um metodo que vem sendo utilizado em outros paises (Japao e EUA) para estimar o nivel de N e necessidade de adubacao nitrogenada em cobertura na cultura do arroz e o medidor portatil de clorofila, clorofilog CFL 1030 (FAKER®). Diante disso o objetivo desse trabalho foi de avaliar o teor de nitrogenio na folha em plantas de arroz, avaliar o efeito do nitrogenio pelo uso indireto em cultivares de arroz, bem como, as caracteristicas agronomicas. Avaliou-se a altura de plantas, o numero de espigueta por panicula, a massa de cem graos, o teor de nitrogenio foliar, o teor de clorofila e a produtividade de grao. Os cultivares de arroz sao influenciados pelas doses de nitrogenio, para a altura de planta, teor de nitrogenio, clorofila e a massa de cem graos; o cultivar Best 2000 foi o que obteve maior produtividade.
Reversible Sterility Induced by Medroxyprogesterone Injections

150 16-40 year old women divided into 3 groups based on dosage and administration intervals were given injections of 6alpha-methyl 17alph a-hydroxyprogesterone acetate for up to 9 months postpartum to study the drugs contraceptive effectiveness for socially handicapped strongly motivated people. Each group received either 50 100 or 400 mg in each 3-month period. Contraceptive efficiency was 100% during the study. Most common side effects were nervousness irritability nausea weight increase and deviation from normal menstrual cycles. The higher the dose the greater was the deviation from normal menstrual cycles. Menstrual anomalies were reversible. Amenorrhea was well tolerated by the patients who were told it might occur. Endometrial biopsies at the end of treatment showed mild symptoms of endometrial atrophy changing spontaneously to a normal proliferative pattern after a time interval. There were no abnormalities in blood count or kidney and liver function.
Civil Rights in Historical Context: In Defense of Brown

This article is a review of Michael J. Klarman’s From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: the Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality. Professor Finkelman acknowledges that Klarman’s book is quite extensive with an impressive depth of analysis and great quantity of information concerning race law from 1896 until 1960s. Here, Professor Finkelman refutes Klarman’s major arguments and concludes that indeed Brown was central to the changes in civil rights that took place in the 1950s and 1960s. However, while he finds some of Klarman’s arguments and conclusions problematic, Professor Finkelman states that he remains impressed with the illuminating research into case law done by the author.
Differential Age Susceptibility of the Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) to Chitin Synthesis Inhibitors and Thuringiensin

The concentration-response of Cydia pomonella eggs and first instars to chitin synthesis inhibitors diflubenzuron, triflumuron, and CGA 112913 (2,6-difluoro- N -[[[4-[3-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridinyloxy]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]amino]carbonyl]benzamide), and the beta-exotoxin thuringiensin was determined in laboratory bioassays. Phosalone, the insecticide currently used for codling moth control in walnuts, was included in the tests for comparative purposes. Eggs were topically treated and larvae were fed surface-treated synthetic diet. Diflubenzuron and triflumuron were most toxic to 0- to 2-day-old eggs, and CGA 112913 and thuringiensin were nontoxic. In contrast, CGA 112913 was the most toxic compound to first instars: LC50 was 300-fold lower than LC50 for eggs. Triflumuron and diflubenzuron were 6- and 50-fold less toxic to first instars than to eggs, respectively, but still within the same range of toxicity as phosalone. LC50 of thuringiensin against first instars was also similar to that of phosalone. To determine the most sensitive period in the egg stage to triflumuron, hatch rates of 0- to 2-day-old eggs were compared with 2- to 4-day-old eggs. Because mortality of treated 2- to 4-day-old eggs was significantly lower than mortality of 0- to 2-day-old eggs, the critical stage for chitin synthesis occurs between 0 and 2 days. If applied to eggs, timing of sprays may be important.
Binding of simultaneously administered inorganic selenium and mercury to a rat plasma protein.

SummarySimultaneous administration of 5 μmoles of HgCl2 and of SeO32-/kg along with traces of 203HgCl2 and 75SeO32- to a rat radically alters plasma protein binding of 75Se and 203Hg from that found when each element is given alone. After simultaneous administration both elements are present in the plasma in much greater quantities due to their binding to a single plasma protein. When the doses of the elements are varied the molar ratio of selenium to mercury in the protein remains close to 1. Dialysis data suggest that selenium is attached to a sulfhydryl group of the protein and that mercury is attached to selenium. This protein may play a role in preventing acute inorganic mercury toxicity by preventing a large part of the mercury dose from reaching target tissues.
Fatty acids of pulmonary surfactant phosphatidylcholine from fetal rabbit lung tissue in culture. Biosynthesis of n-10 monoenoic fatty acids.

We have previously reported that fetal rabbit lung tissue in organ culture produces a lamellar body material (pulmonary surfactant) with a lower percentage of disaturated phosphatidylcholine than is typically found in rabbit lung in vivo (Longmuir, K.J., C. Resele-Tiden, and L. Sykes. 1985. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 833: 135-143). This investigation was conducted to identify all fatty acids present in the lamellar body phosphatidylcholine, and to determine whether the low level of disaturated phosphatidylcholine is due to excessive unsaturated fatty acid at position sn-1, sn-2, or both. Fetal rabbit lung tissue, 23 days gestation, was maintained in culture for 7 days in defined (serum-free) medium. Phospholipids were labeled in culture with [1-14C]acetate or [U-14C]glycerol (to follow de novo fatty acid biosynthesis), or with [1-14C]palmitic acid (to follow incorporation of exogenously supplied fatty acid). Radiolabeled fatty acid methyl esters obtained from lamellar body phosphatidylcholine were first separated by reverse-phase thin-layer chromatography (TLC) into two fractions of 1) 14:0 + 16:1 and 2) 16:0 + 18:1. Complete separation of the individual saturated and monoenoic fatty acids was achieved by silver nitrate TLC of the two fractions. Monoenoic fatty acid double bond position was determined by permanganate-periodate oxidation followed by HPLC of the carboxylic acid phenacyl esters. Lamellar body phosphatidylcholine contained four monoenoic fatty acids: 1) palmitoleic acid, 16:1 cis-9; 2) oleic acid, 18:1 cis-9; 3) cis-vaccenic acid, 18:1 cis-11; and 4) 6-hexadecenoic acid, 16:1 cis-6. In addition, 8-octadecenoic acid, 18:1 cis-8, was found in the fatty acids of the tissue homogenate. The abnormally low disaturated phosphatidylcholine content in lamellar body material was the result of abnormally high levels of monoenoic fatty acid (principally 16:1 cis-9) found at position sn-2. Position sn-1 contained normal levels of saturated fatty acid. The biosynthesis of the unusual n-10 fatty acids was observed from the start of culture throughout the entire 7-day culture period, and was observed in incubations of tissue slices of day 23 fetal rabbit lung. This is the first report of the biosynthesis of n-10 fatty acids (16:1 cis-6 and 18:1 cis-8) in a mammalian tissue other than skin, where these fatty acids are found in the secretory product (sebum) of sebaceous glands.
Occupational Health Surveillance Results of 214 Medical Radiation Workers in Nanchang City

[Objective]To evaluate the occupational health condition of medical workers in Nanchang City.[Methods]Health examination was performed on 214 medical radiation workers from 49 medical institutions in Nanchang City,according to the" Radiation Workers' Health Management Approach".The personal health records were established and were put into the information base.SPSS 12.0 software was applied for statistical analysis.[Results]Of 214 medical radiation workers,121 were detected abnormality.The abnormal detection rate was 56.54%.Abnormalities were detected in:Ophthalmic 36.45%(lens opacity was 12.15%):abdominal B-(liver,gallbladder,spleen) 33.64%;blood pressure 14.49%;ECG 12.61%;peripheral blood 11.68%;liver function 6.54%;renal function 4.67%;peripheral blood lymphocyte chromosome aberration rate ≤%;and the micronucleus rate is among 0～5%.Within the reference range,abnormal detection rate increased with the age and length of working time.There is no significant difference between men and women,or between different levels of medical institutions.[Conclusion]No medical radiation workers attending this health examination were detected having radiation injuries or related suspected diseases.More than half of them are in sub-health status,which grows with the age and length of service.It's recommended that more attention should be paid to the living habits,diet,and exercise to improve workers' physical fitness while doing the radiological protection well.The 25 persons that are abnormal in peripheral blood can't meet the national radiation workers' health condition standards.They should be temporarily out of radiation work for further health examinations to make sure if they are suitable for radiation jobs.
Detection of reporter gene expression in murine airways

We have shown that to overcome the low levels of expression from gene transfer vector-mediated beta-galactosidase expression in lung, it is essential to replace the cytoplasmic beta-galactosidase gene with a nuclear targeted beta-galactosidase gene. We found that lung should be sectioned and fixed prior to staining for beta-galactosidase expression and that en bloc staining of intact lung is inefficient at staining positively transduced cells located deeper in the lung spaces. For GFP fluorescence, it is important to inflate the lungs with fixative prior to freezing and subsequent sectioning. For processing of nasal tissues for beta-galactosidase expression, we expand on a protocol used in previously reported gene transfer studies.