cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neural Circuits for Taste: Excitation, Inhibition, and Synaptic Plasticity in the Rostral Gustatory Zone of the Nucleus of the Solitary Tracta

The rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNST) plays a key role in modulating, organizing and distributing the sensory information arriving at the central nervous system from gustatory receptors. However, except for some anatomical studies of rNST synapses, the neural circuits responsible for this first stage in synaptic processing of taste information are largely unknown. Over the past few years we have used an in vitro brain slice preparation of the rNST to study synaptic processing, and it has become apparent that the rNST is a very complex neural relay. Synaptic potentials recorded in rNST neurons resulting from stimulation of afferent taste fibers are a composite of excitatory and inhibitory post synaptic potentials. Pure excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) can be isolated by using gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor blockers to eliminate the inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSP). Application of glutamate ionotropic receptor blockers effectively eliminates all postsynaptic activity, indicating that glutamate is the transmitter at the first central synapse in the taste pathway. Stimulation of the afferent taste fibers originating from the anterior (chorda tympani) and posterior (glossopharyngeal) tongue results in a postsynaptic potential that is a complex sum of the two individual potentials. Thus, rNST neurons receive convergent synaptic input from the anterior and posterior tongue. The IPSP component of the synaptic potentials in rNST results from stimulation of interneurons. If these IPSPs are initiated by tetanic stimulation they undergo both short-term and long-term changes. Short-term changes result in the development of biphasic depolarizing IPSPs, and long-term changes result in potentiation of the IPSPs that can last over an hr in some neurons. This remarkable synaptic plasticity may be involved in the mechanism of learned taste behaviors. Synaptic transmission in rNST consists of excitation combined with inhibition. The inhibition does not simply depress excitation but probably serves many roles such as shaping and limiting excitation, coordinating the timing of synaptic events and participating in synaptic plasticity. Knowledge of these synaptic mechanisms is essential to understanding how the rNST processes taste information.
Neuroticism Predicts Acculturative Stress in Mexican American College Students.

Neuroticism is a risk factor for mood and anxiety disorders and a strong predictor of subjective stress in non-Hispanics. This study examined neuroticism as a predictor of subjective acculturative ...
Quantitation and Stability of Verapamil Hydrochloride using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

AbstractA high-performance liquid chromatography method for the quantitation of verapamil hydrochloride in pharmaceutical dosage forms has been developed. The method is precise and accurate with a relative standard deviation of 0.63% based on six injections. No preliminary extraction procedure is required to assay injections and a very simple extraction procedure is needed for tablets. There is no interference from the excipients and the method appears to be stability-indicating. The optimum pH range of stability is about 3.2 to 5.6 and the phosphate buffer and ionic strength have very little effect on the stability. Verapamil hydrochloride appears to be a very stable compound since in 105 days at 50°, the aqueous solutions (0.5 mg/ml) did not decompose.
Understanding of dopant-induced osteogenesis and angiogenesis in calcium phosphate ceramics

General trends in synthetic bone grafting materials are shifting towards approaches that can illicit osteoinductive properties. Pharmacologics and biologics have been used in combination with calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics, however, they have recently become the target of scrutiny over safety. The importance of trace elements in natural bone health is well documented. Ions, for example, lithium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, silicon, strontium, etc., have been shown to increase osteogenesis and neovascularization. Incorporation of dopants (trace metal ions) into CaPs can provide a platform for safe and efficient delivery in clinical applications where increased bone healing is favorable. This review highlights the use of trace elements in CaP biomaterials, and offers an insight into the mechanisms of how metal ions can enhance both osteogenesis and angiogenesis.
Improving the performance of question answering with semantically equivalent answer patterns

In this paper, we discuss a novel technique based on semantic constraints to improve the performance and portability of a reformulation-based question answering system. First, we present a method for acquiring semantic-based reformulations automatically. The goal is to generate patterns from sentences retrieved from the Web based on lexical, syntactic and semantic constraints. Once these constraints have been defined, we present a method to evaluate and re-rank candidate answers that satisfy these constraints using redundancy. The two approaches have been evaluated independently and in combination. The evaluation on 493 questions from TREC-11 shows that the automatically acquired semantic patterns increase the MRR by 26%, the re-ranking using semantic redundancy increases the MRR by 67%, and the two approaches combined increase the MRR by 73%. This new technique allows us to avoid the manual work of formulating semantically equivalent reformulations; while still increasing performance.
Ruby-based decay-time thermometry: effect of probe size on extended measurement range (77–800 K)

Abstract A fluorescence lifetime-based fiber-optic thermometer has been designed and characterized to carry out wide-range and real-time temperature measurements, over a region from 77 K (liquid nitrogen) to 800 K. Computer-assisted data acquisition and digital signal-processing techniques which are used permit the taking of real-time temperature measurements. The results of the study have shown that the use of a smaller-size sensor element is preferable to avoid problems due to the redistribution of fluorescence and thus any resulting errors in the calibration, which is compared with the results of theoretical models. The extension of the work to the lower temperature range (
HYDRODYNAMIC CHROMATOGRAPHY: THREE DIMENSIONAL LAMINAR DISPERSION IN RECTANGULAR CONDUITS WITH TRANSVERSE FLOW

Experimental observations1,9 indicate much poorer separations than are predicted by two dimensional theory. The purpose of this work is to explain these differences and suggest ways in which system performance can be improved. The large effect of span-wise variation in axial velocity caused by side walls on hydrodynamic separations carried out in rectangular conduits with transverse flow is studied theoretically. As the aspect ratio increases, the steady stale retentivity (convection coefficient) approaches an asymptotic value obtained by neglecting side wall effects. However, the dispersion coefficient does not reduce to that for a flow with no side walls. Indeed, the asymptotic steady state dispersion coefficient is at least six times larger than that obtained by two dimensional theory which neglects side wall effects. As the transverse Peclet number increases, the effect of side walls on the dispersion coefficient becomes much larger. The present three dimensional theoretical predictions, in contrast t...
Cell surface labeling by iodine monochloride.

Abstract 1. 1. Human red cell membranes were trace iodinated with [ 125 I]ICI and the distribution of label in membrane components examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 2. 2. With intact erythrocytes over 84% of the bound iodine was associated with the membrane. 3. 3. Two membrane components accounted for almost all of the label, band 3 and PAS-1. 4. 4. Spectrin was not labeled in resealed ghosts.
A king named Nicki: strategic queerness and the black femmecee

This article explores the deployment of race, queer sexuality, and femme gender performance in the work of rapper and pop musical artist Nicki Minaj. The author argues that Minaj's complex assemblage of public personae functions as a sort of “bait and switch” on the laws of normativity, where she appears to perform as “straight” or “queer,” while upon closer examination, she refuses to be legible as either. Rather than perpetuate notions of Minaj as yet another pop diva, the author proposes that Minaj signals the emergence of the femmecee, or a rapper whose critical, strategic performance of queer femininity is inextricably linked to the production and reception of their rhymes. This article engages a pair of music video releases that reflect the range of Minaj's gender performances as cinematic lenses into the strategic moves that Minaj is able to make from her femmecee stance. King Nicki's hypervisibility as a black femmecee and refusal to cede to any regime of recognition confound the multiple common s...
Summing up Sendai: progress integrating climate change science and fisheries

Murawski, S. A. 2011. Summing up Sendai: progress integrating climate change science and fisheries. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1368–1372.
MAGLEV GUIDEWAY DESIGN ISSUES

This paper reports results from guideway analyses conducted as part of the National Maglev Initiative (NMI), a government-industry effort from 1989 to 1994, formed to encourage the development of U.S. maglev technology and to assess its potential application within the U.S. transportation system. Covered here are some key guideway design issues that were common to the designs assessed for the NMI, and to maglev guideways in general. They represent aspects that will need additional attention in future efforts to produce structurally sound and economical maglev guideways. These recommendations come from the analyses conducted by a team from the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories, the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Illinois, and Alfred Benesch and Company. The recommendations focus on design philosophy and the development of general design criteria, guideway maintenance and the provision for future alignment adjustment in both the guideway and the magnets, foundation design, and the long-term performance of guideway materials and reinforcement. Generally, one of the main challenges to guideway designers is to produce a structure that will be easily maintainable to the narrow tolerances and precise alignment required for practical high-speed maglev operation.
On the separability of catalytic deactivation kinetics

Abstract An analysis of deactivation kinetics for a number of model surfaces reveals that formulation in terms of a separable activity factor is correct only fo Further there is no apparent general correlation between the separable analysis and the correct treatment.
Ambulatory Device for Urinary Incontinence Detection in Female Athletes

Urinary incontinence (UI) has been known as a prevalent concern among parous and elderly women. However, recent studies have shown an unexpectedly high occurrence of UI in young physically fit female athletes who are actively participating in vigorous physical activities. Those study results motivated us to explore the relationship between daily intensive exercise and the occurrence of UI. As the first step to advance our understanding of this problem, an ambulatory device was developed for recording urological response to the intense force levels to which female athletes are subjected. The device consists of three types of wearable sensors, including 1) a +/– 25g tri-axial accelerometer, 2) a 360° biaxial inclinometer and 3) a urinary leakage detector or ULD. It also contains a compact data logger for real-time data recording with high frequency and precision (125 Hz, 16-bit A/D converter). The accelerometer and inclinometer help to determine the force levels developed in the body during physical activities at which urinary leakage occurs. Two types of ULD sensors have been designed: (1) copper lattice ULD, and (2) thermistor array ULD. Copper lattice ULD senses the UI based on the fact that urine drops reduce the resistance of the copper lattice resulting in a voltage change. The thermistor array ULD makes use of the finding that leaked urine is warmer than the surface of the skin, such that the integrated thermal components respond to urine leakage differently. In addition, a thermoelectric cooler is applied to produce a constant reference temperature. The entire device is small, lightweight, nonintrusive, and can be worn comfortably by subjects on their wrists or low back for at least 3 hours of continuous data recording. The test results from the recruited female athletes show that the three sensors can simultaneously record the intensity of activity and the corresponding urine leakage. However, for the copper lattice ULD, substantial sweat developed during the vigorous activity which produced an artifact and prevented the device from detecting the occurrence of urine leakage. The recently designed thermistor array ULD is less sensitive to sweat, resulting a more reliable sensor than is provided by the copper lattice ULD. The wearable sensor based device enables us to determine if urinary incontinence in female athletes occurs during vigorous physical activities or as a result of the fatigue caused by these activities. This conclusion facilitates the understanding of the mechanism of UI and assists trainers and coaches with the design of an appropriate training program that reduces the occurrence of UI in these female athletes.
Tree-ring δ 13 C tracks flux tower ecosystem productivity estimates in a NE temperate forest

We investigated relationships between tree-ring δ13C and growth, and flux tower estimates of gross primary productivity (GPP) at Harvard Forest from 1992 to 2010. Seasonal variations of derived photosynthetic isotope discrimination (Δ13C) and leaf intercellular CO2 concentration (c i ) showed significant increasing trends for the dominant deciduous and coniferous species. Δ13C was positively correlated to growing-season GPP and is primarily controlled by precipitation and soil moisture indicating that site conditions maintained high stomatal conductance under increasing atmospheric CO2 levels. Increasing Δ13C over the 1992–2010 period is attributed to increasing annual and summer water availability identified at Harvard Forest and across the region. Higher Δ13C is coincident with an enhancement in growth and ecosystem-level net carbon uptake. This work suggests that tree-ring δ13C could serve as a measure of forest GPP and be used to improve the calibration and predictive skill of ecosystem and carbon cycle models.
Protein-a antibody-binding (paab) technique for detection of tumor-associated membrane antigen (tama) of lewis lung carcinoma.

Xenoantisera were prepared in rabbits against intact paraformaldehyde-fixed Lewis lung carcinoma (LLCa) cells and membrane solubilized proteins extracted with Triton X-100 and 3M KCI. The antisera were analyzed for antibodies to tumor-associated membrane antigens (TAMA) by means of a solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). THe immunoassay employed 125-labelled Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SPA) to detect specific antibody binding to glutaraldehyde-fixed Lewis lung tumor target cells. The protein-A antibody-binding (PAAB) method is rapid, sensitive and reproducible. The PAAB revealed a possible LLCa-TAMA as evidenced by the reactivity of xenoantisera raised to LL paraformaldehyde tumor cell vaccine (TCV) and LL tumor Triton X-100 (TTri) and 3M KCI (TKCI) extracts of membrane preparations. The reactivity of our antisera followed linear dose-response kinetics but the degree of reactivity decreased from anti-TCV to anti-TTri to anti-TKCI respectively. The LL-TAMA demonstrated specificity since our antisera did not significantly cross-react with normal C56BL/6 cellular antigens or other known murine tumor-associated surface antigens of virally and chemically-induced tumor systems.
Frequency domain least-squares system identification

A frequency domain least-squares (FDLS) parameter-based system identification algorithm is defined in order to identify model parameters from vector spectrum analyser data. The input consists of sines and cosines at known frequencies and the output is the magnitude and phase angle of the response as measured by the spectrum analyser. Cosine, sine and complex exponential formulations each have different and important characteristics: the cosine formulation is found to identify the real part of the system; the sine formulation identifies the imaginary part of the system; and the complex exponential formulation identifies the complete system. However, if group delay is added to the measurements (as is always present in actual spectrum analyser data), the real part of the delayed transfer function contains information from both the real and the imaginary parts of the original transfer function. Thus, in practice the cosine formulation has been found to perform as well as the complex formulation without the ne...
Methanogenesis in Arizona, USA dryland streams

Methanogenesis was studied in five streams of central and southern Arizona by examining the distribution of methane in interstitial water and evasion of methane in three subsystems (hyporheic, parafluvial and bank sediments). In Sycamore Creek, the primary study site (studied during summer and early autumn), methane content of interstitial water exhibited a distinct spatial pattern. In hyporheic (sediments beneath the wetted channel) and parfluvial zones (active channel sediments lateral to the wetted channel), which were well oxygenated due to high hydrologic exchange with the surface stream and had little particulate organic matter (POM), interstitial methane concentration averaged only 0.03 mgCH4-C/L. Bank sediments (interface between the active channel and riparian zone), in contrast, which were typically vegetated, had high POM, low hydrologic exchange and concomitantly low dissolved oxygen levels, had interstitial concentration averaging 1.5 mgCH4-C/L. Methane emission from Sycamore Creek, similar to methane concentration, averaged only 3.7 mgCH4-C·m−2·d−1 from hyporheic and parafluvial zones as opposed to 170 mgCH4-C·m−2·d−1 from anoxic bank sediments. Methane in four additional streams sampled (one sampling date during late winter) was low and exhibited little spatial variation most likely due to cooler stream temperatures. Interstitial methane in parafluvial and bank sediments of all four streams ranged from only 0.005 to 0.1 mgCH4-C/L. Similarly methane evasion was also low from these streams varying from 0 to 5.7 mgCH4-C·m−2·d−1. The effects of organic matter and temperature on methanogenesis were further examined by experimentally manipulating POM and temperature in stoppered flasks filled with hyporheic sediments and stream water. Methane production significantly increased with all independent variables. Methane production is greatest in bank sediments that are relatively isolated hydrologically and lowest in hyporheic and parafluvial sediments that are interactive with the surface stream.
Allosteric Modulation of Drp1 Mechanoenzyme Assembly and Mitochondrial Fission by the Variable Domain

The mechanoenzyme dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) hydrolyzes GTP to power mitochondrial fission, a process required for organelle biogenesis, quality control, transport, and apoptosis. The pleckstrin homology domain of dynamin is essential for targeting to and severing of lipid tubules, but the function of the corresponding variable domain (VD, or insert B) of Drp1 is unknown. We replaced the VD of Drp1 with a panel of linker sequences of varying length and secondary structure composition and found that the VD is dispensable for mitochondrial recruitment, association with the Drp1-anchoring protein Mff (mitochondrial fission factor), and basal and protonophore-induced mitochondrial fragmentation. Indeed, several ΔVD mutants constitutively localized to the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) and fragmented mitochondria more efficiently than wild-type Drp1. Consistent with an autoinhibitory role of the VD, we identified Arg-376 in the Drp1 stalk domain as necessary for Mff interaction, assembly into spirals, and mitochondrial fission. Switching the length of N- and C-terminal α-helical segments in the VD-replacing linker converted Drp1 from constitutively active and OMM-localized to inactive and cytosolic. Other hypoactive ΔVD mutants formed stable and characteristically shaped aggregates, including extended filaments. Phosphorylation of a PKA site bordering the VD disassembled the filamentous ΔVD mutant and accelerated cytosolic diffusion of full-length Drp1. We propose a model for regulation of Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission, in which posttranslational modifications in or near the VD alter the conformation of a membrane-proximal oligomerization interface to influence Drp1 assembly rate and/or geometry. This in turn modulates Arg-376-dependent OMM targeting of Drp1 via multivalent interactions with Mff.
Anti-DNA antibodies cross-react with C1q.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that involves multiple organ systems and typically presents as a chronic inflammatory disease. Antibodies to double-stranded (ds) DNA are present in approximately 70% of patients and form nucleic acid containing immune complexes which activate dendritic cells through engagement of toll-like receptors, leading to a pro-inflammatory, pro-immunogenic milieu. In addition, anti-dsDNA antibodies deposit in kidneys to initiate glomerulonephritis. Antibodies to C1q have also been implicated in lupus nephritis and are found in 30–50% of patients. C1q is a known suppressor of immune activation and C1q deficiency is the strongest risk factor for SLE. We previously identified a subset of anti-DNA antibodies that binds the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. We now show that both mouse and human anti-DNA antibodies with this specificity bind C1q. These antibodies bind to Clq in glomeruli and exhibit decreased glomerular deposition in the absence of C1q. We propose that this subset of anti-DNA antibodies participates in lupus pathogenesis through direct targeting of C1q on glomeruli and also through removal of soluble C1q thereby limiting the ability of C1q to mediate immune homeostasis.
Improvement of Binary Transmission by Null-Zone Reception

In the customary methods of transmitting binary data the receiver, as a result of the decision process made on each transmitted pulse, prints out one of two symbols. Schemes are considered here in which the receiver prints out one of three symbols (single-null zone reception) or one of four symbols (double-null zone reception). These extra symbols permit the receiver to indicate when the a posteriori probabilities of the two transmitted states are nearly equal. Single-null zone reception is shown to be capable, under optimum conditions, of achieving about one-half of the improvement in information rate theoretically attainable by increasing the number of receiver levels without limit. Double-null reception, which splits the null zone and thereby retains polarity information, offers only a slight additional increase in rate. It affords a significant advantage over single-null reception, though, because it is much less sensitive to variations in null level.
Rapid Profiling of an Evolving Bed Form Using Planar Laser Sheet Illumination

Traditional methods of measuring the profile of a scour hole or bed form have poor temporal resolution and may require the temporary cessation of the flow in order to be executed. These are undesirable characteristics since many hydraulic flows have unsteady water-sediment interfaces that can display considerable differences between their "dynamic" (flow on) and "static" (flow off) states. The present technical note discusses the application of planar laser sheet illumination to the erosion of a cohesionless granular bed due to a planar turbulent wall jet. The measurements allow for the quantitative study of the evolution of the bed in its earliest stages. In some cases an ephemeral bed form is observed to form prior to the development of the main bed form. Additionally, the measurements illustrate the oscillatory nature of the bed form under certain conditions. The experiments therefore demonstrate the great potential of this experimental technique for gaining previously inaccessible information on scour processes.
La ciencia en la literatura española decimonónica

Some scientific phenomena, such as the train, the aerostatic balloons, or references to chemistry, or physics, are the few cases that can be found in the press or in the literary works. However, in the context of the Spanish Romanticism, sciences nurture literary works, especially Becquer. Philosophically, sciences are an unavoidable element for the poet / artist, since scientific knowledge allows him or her to know the universe about which he or she wanted to write. Light and colour are indispensable elements in Romantic literature, which combine in the shape of total art sciences and the arts.
Sexual signaling on a cellular level: lessons from plant reproduction.

In this essay, I convey the results of some of our recent studies of reproduction in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Our work has been influenced by the investigations of a large and interactive community of researchers studying a variety of plant systems, including lily, tobacco, maize, and plants from the mustard family (for recent reviews, see Cheung et al., 2000 ; Dixit and Nasrallah, 2001 ; Johnson and Preuss, 2002 ). This essay does not attempt to review the large body of work from the field; rather, it focuses on the questions of interest to my laboratory.
Investigating the Effectiveness of Special Education An Analysis of Methodology

The enormous literature on remedial procedures with mildly handicapped children contains many convincing demonstrations that specific instructional techniques can be effective in accomplishing narrowly defined goals. However, when the focus of evaluation shifts to more complex programs that are designed to achieve a more complete remediation of academic skill deficits, the results have often been discouraging. This Topical Review critically examines previous attempts to evaluate the efficiacy of special education programs for mildly handicapped children. The author suggests that serious methodological flaws in these evaluation efforts make our present knowledge in this area very weak. The final section of the review proposes a methodology that is designed to address and overcome many of the limitations of previous research.—JKT
Decline in platelet microparticles contributes to reduced hemostatic potential of stored plasma

Abstract Introduction In an effort to administer life-saving transfusions quickly, some trauma centers maintain thawed plasma (TP). According to AABB, TP is approved for transfusion for up to five days when stored at 1 - 6 °C. However, the alterations in microparticles (MP) contained in the plasma, which are an integral component of plasma's hemostatic capacity, are not well characterized. We report on MP changes in TP between its initial thaw (FFP-0) and five days (FFP-5) of storage. Materials and Methods FFP units (n = 30) were thawed at 37 °C and kept refrigerated for five days. Phenotypes of residual cells, which include platelets, erythrocytes, leukocytes, monocytes, endothelial cells, and MP counterparts of each cell type, were analyzed by flow cytometry. Functional assays were used for MP procoagulant activity, plasma thrombin generation, and clotting properties (thromboelastography). Results In FFP-0 the majority (94%) of residual cells were platelets, along with significant levels of platelet MPs (4408 × 103/L). FFP-5 showed a decline in MP count by 50% (p Conclusions Decline in MP with storage contributes to FFP-5's reduced ability to provide the hemostatic potential exhibited by FFP-0, suggesting the presence of platelet MPs in freshly TP may be beneficial and protective in the initial treatment of hemorrhage.
Integrating multi-source biological data for transcriptional regulatory module discovery

The design principles of gene transcriptional regulation networks in cells have been puzzles due to their unknown dynamic and nonlinear mechanisms. Although high-throughput biotechnologies have generated unprecedented amounts of data, the integration of multi-source data to better understand the process of gene regulation has been a challenge in post genomics era. Gene expression data are limited in providing information about the underlying causal relationships among genes. Prior biological knowledge such as protein binding data and gene ontology annotation, albeit limited in quantity, reflects physical processes of gene regulation. In this paper, we introduce a computational framework for utilizing time course gene expression patterns, protein binding data, and gene ontology information to infer transcriptional regulatory modules. The proposed method mainly consists of three parts: (1) a fuzzy c-means clustering approach that exploits gene functional category information to define gene clusters; (2) a network motif detection tool that classifies the transcription factors into different kinds of regulatory modules based on protein binding data; and (3) a recurrent neural network model for each transcription factor that mimics the architecture of the predicted regulatory module. A hybrid of genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization method is applied to search for gene cluster that may be regulated by the transcription factor and to determine the parameters of the recurrent neural network. The proposed method is tested on yeast cell cycle process. The inferred gene transcriptional regulatory networks are compared with previously reported results in the literature.
A Theory of Sentence Memory as Part of A General Theory of Memory

We describe an ACT-R model for sentence memory that extracts both a parsed surface representation and a propositional representation. In addition, if possible for each sentence, pointers are added to a long-term memory referent which reflects past experience with the situation described in the sentence. This system accounts for basic results in sentence memory without assuming different retention functions for surface, propositional, or situational information. There is better retention for gist than for surface information because of the greater complexity of the surface representation and because of the greater practice of the referent for the sentence. This model's only inference during sentence comprehension is to insert a pointer to an existing referent. Nonetheless, by this means it is capable of modeling many effects attributed to inferential processing. The ACT-R architecture also provides a mechanism for mixing the various memory strategies that participants bring to bear in these experiments.
Diffuse reflection of light from a matt surface

A theoretical discussion of certain hypotheses to explain diffuse reflection. That diffuse reflection of light from a matt surface can be explained by the hypothesis of countless small mirrors, (Bouguer’s hypothesis) was denied by L. Grabowski. His objections to the hypothesis are not entirely valid. Three ideal surfaces are assumed and the laws of diffuse reflection from these are calculated and compared with experimental results. The agreement is only fair but perhaps as good as can be expected under the circumstances. The ideal surfaces are defined, statistically, and as the surface of ideal foam respectively.
Complementary and Alternative Medicines

Older adults are the largest per capita consumers of prescription medications and over-the-counter complementary and alternative medicines in the United States. A recent study identified that older adults are using more drugs than 5 years ago, including drugs newly released on the market as well as dietary supplements, known as complementary and alternative medicines. One study found that about 13% of adults aged 65 years or older used an herbal product within the previous 12 months. Increased use has resulted from increasing evidence supporting the health benefits of dietary supplements, such as omega-3 fish oils, in reducing cardiovascular events. Nahin and colleagues studied the relationship between prescription medications and dietary supplements by analyzing medication use in patients aged 75 years or older enrolled in the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study. Dietary supplements were defined according to the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act and included vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, and amino acids. In the study, investigators found that 82.5% of patients used at least 1 dietary supplement, and 54.5% used 3 or more. The average number of prescription medications used per patient was 3.5 which was similar to the average number of dietary supplements. The majority (83%) of prescription medication users also used supplements. The most commonly used dietary supplements were a multivitamin; iron; vitamins E, C, D, B, and A; calcium; glucosamine and chondroitin; zinc; magnesium; garlic; ginkgo biloba; saw palmetto; and echinacea. Complementary and alternative medicines are considered dietary supplements. In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which defined a dietary supplement. Dietary supplements cannot be labeled with health claims but can be labeled with statements of
Thermodynamic Properties of the Alkaline Earth Hydroxides

With the recent flurry of experimental and theoretical studies on many of the alkaline earth hydroxides, the time is appropriate for a thorough critique of the thermodynamic properties of these mono-and dihydroxides. We have started such a process, recently completed a thorough examination of the literature, and have generated annotated bibliographies on the thermodynamically-related information on the mono-and dihydroxides of the alkaline earth metals. In addition, the process of extracting all the pertinent data and constructing tabular and graphical summaries of the information has started. Until recently, the lack of sufficient experimental and theoretical data required that estimation schemes be used to produce the required thermochemical tables of all gas phase tables. Since 1983, considerable experimental data has been generated in the area of the spectroscopic properties of the monohydroxides. Four (Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) monohydroxides (and their corresponding deuterated species) are now well-characterized spectroscopically, and new experimental studies have confirmed the enthalpy of formation values for the condensed phase dihydroxides. In this presentation, the historical development of the thermodynamic properties of the mono-hydroxides are emphasized.
Response to Contribution of Endothelial Nitric Oxide to Blood Pressure in Humans

We thank Drs Schlaich and Schmieder1 for their interest in our research2 and for providing us with an opportunity to put our results in context. Given the dominant effect of the autonomic nervous system in counteracting alterations in cardiovascular function, we are not surprised that Schlaich and Schmieder1 were unable to show significant changes in renal plasma flow during systemic administration of NO synthase inhibitors, hence our effort to …
Moral luck and the talent problem

My objective in this project is to explore the concept of moral luck as it relates to sports. I am especially interested in constitutive luck. As a foundation I draw from both Bernard Williams and Thomas Nagel’s classic handling of moral luck, generally. Within the philosophy of sport are similar explorations of this nexus by Robert Simon and David Carr that also factor into the present work. My intent is to put a new lens in front of a puzzle drawn from Torbjorn Tannsjo’s well-known article ‘Is Our Admiration of Sports Heroes Facistoid?’ Specifically, the idea that we might admire an athlete who excels without having worked hard for it (i.e. though talent per se). If we may call this puzzle ‘the talent problem,’ the questions driving the present work are as follows: (1) what is the relationship between moral luck and the talent problem, and (2) can this relationship provide a prescription for morally assessing the talent problem? The thesis that this exploratory work suggests that more complex games (and...
Thigh compartment syndrome, presentation and complications.

To describe the patient population, etiology, and complications associated with thigh compartment syndrome (TCS). TCS is a rare (0.3% of trauma patients) condition of elevated pressure within a constrained space that may cause necrosis of all tissues within the compartment resulting in severe local (infection, amputation) and systemic complications (renal insufficiency, even death). Retrospective cohort This study examines the course of treatment of nine consecutive patients with thigh compartment syndrome sustained during an eight-year period at our Level 1 trauma centre, admitting more than 2,000 trauma patients yearly. Patients developing TCS were young (average 34.8 years) and likely to have a vascular injury on presentation (55.5%). A tense and edematous thigh was the most consistent clinical exam finding prompting the compartment release (77.8%). Average time from admission to the operating room was 19.8 ± 6 hours and 3/9 (33%) were noted to have ischemic muscle changes upon compartment releases. Complications ranging from infection to amputation developed in 4/9 (44.4%) patients. TCS is associated with high energy trauma and it is difficult to diagnose in non-cooperative - obtunded and polytrauma patients. Vascular injuries are a common underlying cause and require prompt recognition and team work including surgical intensive care, interventional radiology, vascular and orthopaedic surgery in order to avoid severe medical and legal consequences.
GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION OF QUANTITATIVE CHARACTERS IN POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA

Of the Nearctic species of Drosophila not affected in their distribution by the activities of man (as D. melanogaster, D. simulans, D. funebris as well as a few other species certainly are), the longest and most intensive studies from the standpoint of population genetics have been carried out on D. pseudoobscura. Beginning in 1937 (Dobzhansky and Queal, 1938) and continuing to the present (see, for example Dobzhansky, 1963, and Dobzhansky et al., 1964) Dobzhansky and collaborators have shown seasonal, altitudinal, geographic, and temporal variation in cryptic characters throughout the distribution of this species. In contrast, variation in morphological characters has seldom been investigated, and then only to enable the investigator to distinguish D. pseudoobscura. from its sibling species, D. persimilis, by other than cytological methods. Mather and Dobzhansky (1939) found that the two species (then considered races of the same species) differed in the number of teeth in the sex combs in the male. Reed et al. (1942) calculated a special wing index by means of which these species could be identified. Rizki (1951) showed that a dependable index, which distinguishes males of the two species, is obtainable from the length and width of the penis lamina. Spassky (1957) found additional morphological differences which enable one to classify etherized males to species without dissecting the flies. The purpose of the present paper is to fill a gap in information regarding geographic variation in quantitative characters in Drosophila pseudoobscura. This species is eminently suitable for such studies: except for an isolated population occurring near Bogota, Colombia (Dobzhansky et al., 1963) its distribution is continuous from British Columbia to Guatemala, and in the United States from the West Coast eastward to a point near Austin, Texas. Furthermore, as Dobzhansky and Epling (1944) have emphasized, this is a truly euryokous species (tolerant of a wide variety of environmental factors) since it can be found in low desert areas as well as at timberline.
Facile syntheses of unsolvated UI3 and tetramethylcyclopentadienyl uranium halides.

In the course of comparing the reaction chemistry of (C5Me5)3U, 1, and its slightly less crowded analogue (C5Me4H)3U, 2, new syntheses of UI3, (C5Me4H)3U, (C5Me4H)3UCl, 3, and (C5Me5)3UCl, 4, have been developed. Additionally, (C5Me4H)3UI, 5, and (C5Me4H)2UCl2, 6, have been identified for the first time. A facile synthesis of unsolvated UI3 is reported that proceeds in high yield with inexpensive equipment from iodine and hot uranium turnings. Both UI3 and UI3(THF)4 react with KC5Me4H in toluene to make unsolvated (C5Me4H)3U in higher yield than in previous reports that involve reduction of tetravalent (C5Me4H)3UCl, 3. A more atom-efficient synthesis of complex 3 is also reported that proceeds from reduction of t-BuCl, PhCl, or HgCl2 by 2. Similarly, (C5Me4H)3U reacts with PhI or HgI2 to generate (C5Me4H)3UI. These studies also provided a basis to improve the synthesis of (C5Me5)3UCl from 1 by employing t-BuCl or HgCl2 as the halide source. Like (C5Me5)3UCl, the (C5Me4H)3UCl complex reacts with HgCl2 to f...
Examining the Leadership of Off-Campus Center Administrators Through the Lens of Invitational Leadership

Abstract This qualitative, multicase study was designed to examine off-campus centers and their administrators in creating an effective learning environment for adult learners. The administrators were analyzed through the invitational leadership theory, which is a holistic approach that nurtures the belief that everyone is intrinsically motivated and that it is the leaders’ responsibility to unleash individuals’ true potential. This leadership theory has not been utilized within the realm of off-campus centers. Data revealed three themes: (a) intense collaboration, (b) motivational influence, and (c) inherited sense of kinship. Implications of the study concluded that preparatory programs should incorporate the aspects of optimism and intentionality as essential leadership characteristics when training leaders and also that adult market-driven educational needs should drive programs and services offered at an off-campus center.
What's Bad About Wellness?

With great interest, employers in the United States are using wellness programs to reduce insurance costs and monitor the health of their employees. While these programs are often embraced as benign in their assessments and positive in their outcomes, this perspective fails to consider the discriminatory effects on people with disabilities. The case of Seff v. Broward County in 2012 addressed the question of whether wellness programs violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Finding a safe harbor in the ADA for bona fide insurance plans, the court concluded that the initiative did not violate the act, even though employees were penalized monetarily. This article argues that wellness programs institutionalize disability bias and a false perception of health attainability. People with substantial physical or mental impairments will not be able to control many aspects of their health, even with concerted efforts. Embedded in this approach is the notion of responsibility for and control over all aspects of one’s health, including disability. This kind of orientation further perpetuates a neoliberal approach to society where autonomy trumps community-based supports and acceptance of differences.
THE INITIATION OF GENETIC RECOMBINATION IN E. coli: STUDIES ON CUTTING in trans AS A FUNCTION OF TIME

ABSTRACT Recombination enzymes are thought to act by cutting DNA molecules and joining them in register. Treatment with crosslinking agents can greatly increase the frequency of recombination. Experiments were performed with E. coli to biophysically detect the cutting of induced recombination. Phage λ DNA in E. coli (λ) lysogens was cut ‘in trans ’ if superinfecting λ phages contained incised psoralen crosslinks in their DNA. Cutting in trans behaved as expected of a step in damage-induced recombination mediated by the bacterial enzymes. The present studies were undertaken to assess the amount of time required for cutting in trans under normal conditions and whether undamaged molecules that were cut in trans would be repaired on further incubation. Wild type cells, recA, recF and lexA mutants were tested.
Sex chromosome loss and the pseudoautosomal region genes in hematological malignancies.

// Stephanie Weng 1 , Samuel A. Stoner 1 and Dong-Er Zhang 1,2 1 Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA 2 Department of Pathology and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Correspondence to: Dong-Er Zhang, email: // Keywords : sex chromosome, hematological malignancy, pseudoautosomal region, sex chromosome loss, haploinsufficiency Received : July 13, 2016 Accepted : September 07, 2016 Published : September 15, 2016 Abstract Cytogenetic aberrations, such as chromosomal translocations, aneuploidy, and amplifications, are frequently detected in hematological malignancies. For many of the common autosomal aberrations, the mechanisms underlying their roles in cancer development have been well-characterized. On the contrary, although loss of a sex chromosome is observed in a broad range of hematological malignancies, how it cooperates in disease development is less understood. Nevertheless, it has been postulated that tumor suppressor genes reside on the sex chromosomes. Although the X and Y sex chromosomes are highly divergent, the pseudoautosomal regions are homologous between both chromosomes. Here, we review what is currently known about the pseudoautosomal region genes in the hematological system. Additionally, we discuss implications for haploinsufficiency of critical pseudoautosomal region sex chromosome genes, driven by sex chromosome loss, in promoting hematological malignancies. Because mechanistic studies on disease development rely heavily on murine models, we also discuss the challenges and caveats of existing models, and propose alternatives for examining the involvement of pseudoautosomal region genes and loss of a sex chromosome in vivo . With the widespread detection of loss of a sex chromosome in different hematological malignances, the elucidation of the role of pseudoautosomal region genes in the development and progression of these diseases would be invaluable to the field.
Role of museums and botanical gardens in ecosystem services in developing countries: case study and outlook

AbstractUnprecedented environmental challenges require new tools. Knowledge based on scientific research is critical for the creation of environmental awareness and education in order to bring about behavioural changes in society at large. Well-structured museums and botanical gardens in developing countries can play significant roles in research, education, and conservation even when governmental institutions are weak and underfunded. The paper offers a case study of the nascent Palestine Institute of Sustainability and Palestine Museum of Natural History with a botanical garden. The related SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis concludes that, despite some limitations and challenges, this is a successful model that should be replicated in other impoverished communities.
Surprising Times: Editor’s Introduction to Volume 11

A not so old and apparently not Chinese curse condemns one to live in interesting times. Of course all times are interesting in some way or other; 2016 was not only interesting but surprising.One i...