cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age effects on heart rate, sustained potential, and P3 responses during reaction-time tasks☆

Relationships between physiological responses and slowed reaction time (RT) among elderly subjects were tested in 48 healthy young, middle-aged, and elderly men (mean ages 24, 45, and 71 years) using simple and choice RT tasks. There were age reductions in P3 amplitude and heart rate (HR) deceleration, but no effects of age on P3 latency. Sustained potential (SP or CNV) amplitude paradoxically increased with age, possibly indicating weaker inhibitory function. P3 amplitude, SP amplitude, and HR deceleration were most strongly correlated with RT among younger subjects, but SP amplitude was correlated with RT in the elderly group during the choice task. HR deceleration shared a small amount of variance with SP amplitude and RT in the young group. There was no HR-SP-RT relationship in the older groups. Choice-simple task differences in P3 amplitude and RT were correlated in the young and elderly groups. The results suggest that HR, SP, and P3 responses may reflect physiological processes related to the slower RTs of healthy elderly subjects.
Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry - Vol. 40 - N° 1 - p. 122-124
Putting the Management into Innovation & Media Management Studies: A Meta-Analysis

The study of management of innovation is crucial to media management research, helping explain how technology diffusion affects the communication industry and providing a glimpse into its future. This meta-analysis looks at the recent history of mass communication scholarship (1983–2008), addressing newsroom changes to determine whether a mainstream managerial theory—sociotechnical literature—garners adequate use. The researchers discovered numerous references—mostly indirect—to sociotechnical systems (STS) theory, yet found sporadic use of a true managerial emphasis as expressed through the analysis of STS theory's principles- and frames-specific theoretical framework. Implications of the findings and future, alternative directions for research are proposed. ACCESS TO FULL TEXT
Student life: Is there time for reflection?

Today's students are constantly on the go-studying, attending classes, working, or participating in extracurricular activities. Absent is the time for them to stop and think about what they want from life, and why. By using a simple four-step exercise in the classroom, it's possible to get students thinking about their ambitions and the future. First, by drawing a "lifeline," students can identify peaks and valleys in their lives and note any patterns. Second, the students jot down those things they hope to accomplish and experience and examine their basic motivations. Next, they develop a brief vision statement that describes their ideal image of the future. Finally, step four gives students the opportunity to practice mentally the skills and attitudes required to achieve their vision of themselves in their ideal future.
Campylobacter infection and Guillain–Barré syndrome: public health concerns from a microbial food safety perspective

Abstract Campylobacteriosis is a leading bacterial food-borne illness in developed countries. Guillain–Barre syndrome is the most common acute flaccid paralysis due to an autoimmune disorder in nature. A considerable number of Guillain–Barre syndrome patients present with a prior history of campylobacteriosis, and Guillain–Barre syndrome is considered a sequela of infections caused specifically by Campylobacter jejuni . Because Campylobacter is normally contracted through consumption of contaminated foods including those derived from food animals, food safety measures aimed at the disruption of oral transmission will not only reduce the prevalence of campylobacteriosis but also potentially lessen the incidence of Guillain–Barre syndrome. An emerging public health concern regarding Campylobacter is the issue of microbial food safety due to increasing numbers of antimicrobial-resistant isolates. Part of the reason to address this emerging microbial food safety concern is to institute and maintain better monitoring and control programs, which require a collective effort among public health authorities.
FROG MUSCLES START STRETCHED

![Figure][1] The limb muscles of a frog produce high levels of power to propel the animal into the air during a jump. To do this, they generate large forces quickly, and contract over relatively long distances (up to 30% of their resting length). However, the notion of muscles generating high
Nicotine delivery kinetics and abuse liability.

It is well established that nicotine meets all criteria of a highly addictive drug. However, as recognized by the U.S. surgeon general, the nicotine delivery system itself is an important determinant of the toxic and addictive effects engendered by nicotine use. Therefore, altering the form of nicotine dosing may allow for selective therapeutic action in efforts to develop safer and less addictive nicotine replacement therapies. While it is the case that initial tobacco use often escalates to compulsive use accompanied by tolerance and physical dependence, this is not usually observed with nicotine replacement therapies. These observations are consistent with laboratory data indicating that (a) nicotine polacrilex and transdermal systems deliver nicotine more slowly and at lower dose levels than tobacco-based forms, and (b) human data suggesting that the abuse liability of these systems is substantially lower than that of the tobacco-based nicotine delivery systems. Because the drug dosage form can be systematically manipulated and evaluated, further research in developing alternative nicotine delivery forms may hold substantial promise in the treatment of tobacco dependence. Psychological research methods can play an important part in their evaluation.
A critical exploration of sponsorship, infrastructure, and new organizations

This research focuses on the effects of public sponsorship, and regional infrastructure on the emergence and survival of new organizations. Propositions are tested regarding the joint effects of sponsorship and infrastructure on industrial development in a randomly selected sample of fourteen regions. The data include six measures of infrastructure, sponsorship as measured by the total dollars spent for economic development and their individual and joint effects on the number of firms and employees in “high technology” industries for the years 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1984. This preliminary analysis suggests that variation in the infrastructure and level of sponsorship within a region is related to the birth and survival of new organizations.
Binary symmetric decision feedback systems

In a simple binary decision feedback system the receiver, as a result of a decision process made on each received message, either accepts and prints the corresponding symbol, or rejects the message as too ambiguous and reports the rejection to the sender. The information in the ambiguous message is discarded, and the sender subsequently repeats the message. This process permits a trade-off between information rate and error probability.
Chromodynamics and jet acollinearity in e + e - annihilation: Determining the Quark-Gluon coupling

Abstract Acollinearity of the quark and antiquark jets produced in e + e − collisions is an obvious signature of gluon emission. We discuss the computation of acollinearity distributions in perturbative QCD and compare the results with recent data. Teh measurements provide us with a direct determination of the running coupling constant α S .
Light distribution in mesic grasslands: Spatial patterns and temporal dynamics

Spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of light distribution were investigated using lacunarity analysis, a multi-scale measure of spatial heterogeneity, in three mesic grasslands with different disturbance regimes. Frequency dis- tributions of relative light intensity (RLI) were similar for the two non-disturbed grasslands, despite different composition (forbs vs. caespitose grass) resulting from different historical disturbance regimes prior to 1985, and different from the annually disturbed grassland. Spatial heterogeneity of light distribution was greater at all scales in the native, annually disturbed grassland than in the two non-disturbed grasslands. The disturbance regime affected temporal dynamics of the spatial patterns of light distribution in each grassland. The annually disturbed grassland exhibited a dramatic decrease in lacunarity (heterogeneity) from early to late April, likely the result of considerable growth of a cool-season grass. A general decrease in lacunarity occurred in the native, non-disturbed grassland, although the magnitude was much less than in the annually disturbed grassland. The reverted, non-disturbed grass- land did not exhibit an appreciable change in lacunarity until later in the growing season, and then only at smaller scales. Combining the frequency distribution of RLI and the lacunarity curves provided an effective approach to assess relationships between the dynamics of spatial pattern of light distribution and ecological processes as influenced by different distur- bance regimes. Integrating lacunarity analysis with more tra- ditional measurements of grassland ecosystems (plant spatial distribution and arrangement and plant species composition and architecture) may be an effective way to assess functional consequences of structural changes in grassland ecosystems.
Circadian analysis of mononuclear cells in the rat following pinealectomy and superior cervical ganglionectomy

Abstract The role of the pineal gland and adrenocorticosteroids in circadian rhythmicity of immune function was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats that either had been pinealectomized (PX) or had undergone superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGX), which functionally denervates the pineal. For both experiments, conducted between August and October, rats were entrained to a 10-h light:14-h dark cycle and fed ad libitum. The circadian rhythm in monocytes (ANOVA, p
Effect of π—π stacking on the atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene

Abstract The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene (St) was carried out in the presence of varying equivalents (eq) of hexafluorobenzene (HFB) to probe the effect of pi–pi stacking on the rate of the polymerization and the resulting tacticity of polystyrene (PSt) formed. The extent of interaction between the electron deficient face of the HFB and the electron rich face of the styrenic or polystyrenic phenyl ring was also examined as a function of reaction solvent, incorporating both non-aromatics (hexanes and THF) and aromatics (benzene and toluene). It was found that in all cases the rate of the ATRP of St was slowed by the addition of HFB to the reaction mixture, with increasing amounts of HFB (1 full eq. compared to St) retarding the rate to a relatively greater extent compared to smaller amounts (0.5 eq). Additionally, when aromatic solvents were used instead of hydrocarbons the effect of HFB on the rate of the ATRP was minimized, consistent with the solvent itself competing with the styrenic phenyl groups for pi–pi stacking interactions with HFB. The decreased rate in the presence of HFB is consistent with a reduced ability of the terminal phenyl group on the PSt chain to stabilize the active polymer radical, pushing the equilibrium further to the dormant alkyl halide. This interaction between the dormant alkyl bromide and HFB was verified by 1 H NMR, with 1-bromoethylbenzene used as the alkyl bromide. When the ATRP of non-aromatic vinyl monomers was studied (butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate), the effect of HFB on the system was almost unnoticeable as expected due to their inability to participate in pi–pi stacking interactions. The tacticity of the PSt formed in the presence of HFB was compared to PSt formed in its absence by observing the C1 resonance on 13 C NMR, but no change in the shape or chemical shift of the signal was observed.
Characteristics and emissions of heavy-duty vehicles in Tennessee under the MOBILE6 model

Heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) classifications used for modeling emissions in the MOBILE6 model have been expanded from 2 classifications in MOBILE5 to 16 classifications in MOBILE6. The new classifications are based on vehicle weight and fuel used (i.e., gasoline or diesel). The heavier vehicles have higher emissions, so it is important to use correct vehicle weight distributions. Tennessee's HDV registration data show a distribution very similar to the national defaults, but with more vehicles in the heaviest weight category (HDV8B). More than 50% of Tennessee's HDVs fall in the lightest vehicle category (HDV2B). The biggest difference in truck characteristics in Tennessee versus national defaults in MOBILE6 is the higher HDV fraction on Tennessee rural Interstates. Also, the ratio of single-unit trucks to trailer trucks varies considerably by facility type. The emissions of volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide per mile of travel of gasoline-fueled single-unit trucks can be 2.5 to 5 times higher tha...
Callers and satellites: chorus behaviour in anurans as a stochastic dynamic game

Males often compete for mates using alternative tactics whose relative success could be simultaneously influenced by four factors: subsequent behaviour, physiological state, the frequency of expression of alternative tactics and the density of competing males. Here the payoV st o two alternative male mating tactics (call and satellite) were examined in anurans using a stochastic dynamic game. The basic model considers an iteroparous species with a prolonged breeding season and fairly low energetic costs and predation risks. The model assumes that female chorus attendance is aVected by weather, time of year and male chorusing intensity. Results show that interactions between energetic costs of calling, density-dependent predation risk and female arrival rates, and frequency-dependent mating success produce distinct temporal waves of male chorusing despite continuously favourable environmental conditions. Relative to second-year males, first-year males attended choruses less often and were more likely to become satellites. When the energetic costs of calling were increased, waves became shorter and less frequent, and some older calling males switched to satellite behaviour. Satellites were less common when breeding season length was constrained by extrinsic factors such as seasonal weather patterns. Extrinsic constraints may also aVect system stability: if female arrival rates are independent of male chorusing intensity, an evolutionarily stable strategy occurs only if the breeding season is short. Even without extrinsic constraints, the breeding season may be short if predation rates on adults are suYciently high, or if satellites intercept a large fraction of incoming females. Thus, the 'explosive' breeding systems observed in many anuran species could result from either biotic or abiotic causes. ? 1996 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Effect of loading parameters on the fatigue behavior of impact damaged composite laminates

The long-term mechanical fatigue of AS4/3501-6 graphite/epoxy quasi-isotropic laminates has been investigated to determine the influence of loading parameters on impact-induced delamination growth during constant amplitude, block, and spectrum fatigue loading. From the observed fatigue damage growth it is suggested that conservative damage tolerance criteria in the presence of barely visible impact damage should be based on static loading tests and a limited number of fatigue tests to determine the load levels that initiate delamination growth. For the type of impact damage and laminate configuration investigated in this study the fatigue limit is found to be 60% CSAI (compression strength after impact) in constant-amplitude compression-compression loading, and 65% CSAI under the spectrum loading conditions. Furthermore, the results of spectrum loading tests suggest that the durability testing can be accelerated by omitting from the standardized test sequence load levels in which the stress range is less than 20% CSAI.
The Landing [Ethically Speaking]

I can't describe the thrill of stepping out of an open door of an airplane and falling toward the ground. Once the parachute opens, the slow descent beneath the deployed canopy is relaxing, until the ground gets near. The last few seconds are fast and dangerous, requiring good judgment, with no time to think. We want the landing to be safe. The phrase ?land on your feet? means that everything is okay after a difficult experience. A good landing is a primary goal in parachuting, flying in an airplane, or, if you are a cat, falling from a tree or building. A cat usually lands on its feet when it falls to the ground (http://animal.discovery.com/pets/why-do-cats-land-on-their-feet.htm), because it has the body mechanics and inner-ear functions that allow it to take corrective action dur ing the fall. Veterinarians have found that cats frequently survive falls from fifth-floor apartments better than from the first or second floor, because they have more time to position themselves and prepare for the landing.
PULMONARY VENOUS AIR EMBOLISM FOLLOWING ACCIDENTAL PATIENT LACERATION OF A HEMODIALYSIS CATHETER

As the number of patients at home with indwelling central venous catheters increases, more complications from their use will present to the emergency department. We report a case of pulmonary venous air embolism after a patient inadvertently severed the distal few centimeters of an indwelling central venous catheter.
Mass-Spectrometric Detection of Cosmic-Ray-Produced Kr 81 in Meteorites and the Possibility of Kr-Kr Dating

${\mathrm{Kr}}^{81}$, the first detected cosmic-ray-produced radioactive nucleus heavier than the Fe-Ni group, was found to be present in meteorites. The radiation age of the Macibini meteorite is calculated from the measured isotopic composition of krypton. This dating method should be applicable to most stone and stony-iron meteorites.
Understanding the Transformation, Speciation, and Hazard Potential of Copper Particles in a Model Septic Tank System Using Zebrafish to Monitor the Effluent

Although copper-containing nanoparticles are used in commercial products such as fungicides and bactericides, we presently do not understand the environmental impact on other organisms that may be inadvertently exposed. In this study, we used the zebrafish embryo as a screening tool to study the potential impact of two nano Cu-based materials, CuPRO and Kocide, in comparison to nanosized and micron-sized Cu and CuO particles in their pristine form (0–10 ppm) as well as following their transformation in an experimental wastewater treatment system. This was accomplished by construction of a modeled domestic septic tank system from which effluents could be retrieved at different stages following particle introduction (10 ppm). The Cu speciation in the effluent was identified as nondissolvable inorganic Cu(H2PO2)2 and nondiffusible organic Cu by X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT), and Visual MINTEQ software. While the nanoscale mat...
TRP channels as target sites for insecticides: physiology, pharmacology and toxicology

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are attracting attention from various research areas including physiology, pharmacology and toxicology. Our group has focused on TRPA1 channels and revealed their expression pattern, ion channel kinetics and pharmacological characteristics. From Integrated Pest Management point of view, TRP channels could be a possible new target site of pest control agents as well as the primary or secondary target site for known insecticides. We have examined expressed TRPA1 channels using physiological and pharmacological methods to clarify the function of these channels. Here, we show that the TRPA1 is activated by the insecticide and natural toxin allyl isothiocyanate which is known as insecticide.
Can Minimum Wages Cause a Big Push? Evidence from Indonesia

Big Push models suggest that local product demand can create multiple labor market equilibria: one featuring high wages, formalization, and high demand and one with low wages, informality, and low demand. I demonstrate that minimum wages may coordinate development at the high wage equilibrium. Using data from 1990s Indonesia, where minimum wages increased in a varied way, I develop a difference in spatial differences estimator which weakens the common trend assumption of difference in differences. Estimation reveals strong trends in support of a big push: formal employment increases and informal employment decreases in response to the minimum wage. Local product demand also increases, and this formalization occurs only in the non-tradable, industrializable industries suggested by the model (while employment in tradable and non-industrializable industries also conforms to model predictions).
Uncertainty in global CCN concentrations from uncertain aerosol nucleation and primary emission rates

Abstract. The indirect effect of aerosols on climate is highly uncertain and limits our ability to assess anthropogenic climate change. The foundation of this uncertainty is uncertainty in the number of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), which itself stems from uncertainty in aerosol nucleation, primary emission and growth rates. In this paper, we use a global general circulation model with aerosol microphysics to assess how the uncertainties in aerosol nucleation, emission and growth rates affect our prediction of CCN(0.2%) concentrations. Using several nucleation rate parameterizations that span six orders of magnitude of globally averaged nucleation rates, the tropospheric average CCN(0.2%) concentrations vary by 17% and the boundary layer average vary by 12%. This sensitivity of tropospheric average CCN(0.2%) to the nucleation parameterizations increases to 33% and 20% when the total primary emissions are reduced by a factor of 3 and the SOA condensation rates are increased by a factor of 3.5, respectively. These results show that it is necessary to better understand global nucleation rates when determining CCN concentrations. When primary emissions rates are varied by a factor of 3 while using a binary nucleation parameterization, tropospheric average CCN(0.2%) concentrations also vary by 17%, but boundary layer average vary by 40%. Using the fastest nucleation rate parameterization, these changes drop to 3% and 22%, respectively. These results show the importance of reducing uncertainties in primary emissions, which appear from these results to be somewhat more important for CCN than the much larger uncertainties in nucleation. These results also show that uncertainties in nucleation and primary emissions are more important when sufficient condensable material is available to grow them to CCN sizes. The percent change in CCN(0.2%) concentration between pre-industrial times and present day does not depend greatly on the nucleation rate parameterization used for our base case scenarios; however, because other factors, such as primary emissions and SOA, are uncertain in both time periods, this may be a coincidence.
The NMDA antagonist MK-801 suppresses behavioral seizures, augments afterdischarges, but does not block development of perforant path kindling☆

Abstract The role of N- methyl - d - aspartate (NMDA) in the development and expression of kindled seizures was assessed using a crossover design. Rats were stimulated once daily in the perforant path for 10 consecutive days 30 min following daily administration of saline or the NMDA antagonist MK-801 (1.0 mg/kg) (phase I). Five to 10 days elapsed prior to an additional 10 stimulations with the drug treatments reversed (phase II). A separate group of animals was stimulated following saline administration in both phases of the study. MK-801 produced a significant increase in afterdischarge (AD) threshold and a suppression of behavioral seizure development during the first 10 stimulations. However, upon removal of the drug, an immediate increase in seizure stage and the number of animals displaying generalized seizure signs (clonic component) was observed. Paradoxically, MK-801 also produced an increase in mean AD duration in the perforant path and dentate gyrus over the first 10 stimulations. Upon reversal of the dose treatments in phase II of the study, AD duration increased in animals treated with MK-801 for the first time and decreased in animals taken off MK-801 and stimulated drug free. The augmentation in AD associated with MK-801 was partially attributed to an increase in secondary or rebound AD. Rebound ADs occurred more frequently, had a decreased latency and longer duration in drugged compared to control animals, irrespective of the phase of the study. These data indicate that MK-801 possesses anticonvulsant properties with respect to behavioral seizure and is less effective as an antiepileptogenic agent- i.e., significant kindling development occurred with MK-801 in the absence of overt behavioral expression of the kindled response. A dissociation between seizure stage and AD duration suggests that independent mechanisms may control the electrographic and behavioral indices of kindling.
Shift And Rotation Invariant Object Reconstruction Using The Bispectrum

Triple correlations and their Fourier transforms, called bispectra, have properties desirable for image sequence analysis. Specifically, the triple correlation of a 2-d sequence is shift -invariant, it vanishes for a zero-mean colored Gaussian random field, and can be used to uniquely recover the original sequence to within a linear phase shift. An FFTbased algorithm for reconstructing a 2-d sequence from its bispectrum is reviewed and tested. The bispectrum is also applied to estimate a randomly translating and rotating object from a sequence of noisy images. The technique does not require solution of the correspondence problem, and is insensitive to additive colored Gaussian noise of unknown spectral density. Some simulation results for the random translation case are presented.
The effect of thermal trauma in mice on cytotoxicity of lymphocytes.

SummaryThe effect of thermal trauma on cellular immunity was studied in inbred mice using an in vitro assay for cytotoxic lymphocytes from spleen, lymph node, and peripheral blood. Burned BALB/c mice sensitized with EL-4 tumor cells from C57BL/6N mice showed a significant decrease in cytotoxicity of spleen, lymph node, and peripheral blood lymphocytes. This depression of cytotoxicity occurred in spleen lymphocytes when the burn was given as early as 7 days before sensitization or as late as 13 days afterwards. Similar results were obtained with peripheral blood lymphocytes, but in the case of lymphocytes from lymph nodes diminished cytotoxicity was observed only when the animals were burned after sensitization. No evidence was found for an inhibitor of cytotoxicity in serum from burned mice or for “suppressor” cells in the spleen after thermal injury. The reduced cytotoxicity of lymphocytes in burned animals could be of critical importance in the impairment of some manifestations of cellular immunity afte...
Dynamic Properties of Magnetic Bubbles

In the previous chapter we saw that the energy of a magnetic bubble is a function of the applied bias field HB, the film thickness h, the magnetic parameters of the film, e.g., 4πM and K, and the presence of permalloy overlays. We would therefore expect that any gradient in the magnitude of one of these parameters across the film would be reflected in a force tending to move a bubble toward lower energy. Indeed, a bubble will move into a region of lower bias, a thicker portion of the film, or under a spot of permalloy overlay. The usual method of propelling bubbles is to create an effective bias field gradient and in this chapter we concentrate on understanding the motion of a bubble due to a simple bias field gradient. That motion is controlled by the gyromagnetic behavior of magnetic moments in a magnetic field and can be very complicated when driven by high field gradients. To understand the basic principles we shall first consider the motion of a planar wall segment both without and then with Bloch lines. Following that we apply the same considerations to circular bubbles to gain an understanding of such concepts as bubble mobility, coercive force, dynamic deflection, velocity saturation, overshoot and creep.
Spatial distributions of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope ratios in human hair across the central United States.

We present data on the carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) and sulfur (δ34S) isotope ratios of human hair collected in the central portions of the USA. These elements are incorporated into hair from the diet and thus provide a record of dietary inputs that may also document geospatial patterns. We detected regional differences in hair δ34S values across the USA, with the lowest values in the northern Great Plains and increasing values towards the east, west and south. In contrast, no statistically significant patterns were detected in the spatial variation of human hair δ13C and δ15N values. Using δ34S values and a Geographic Information System approach, we created a map (‘sulfur isoscape’). The accuracy of the map was tested using hair samples not included in its generation. We conclude that sulfur isotope analysis may represent a new tool to investigate the movements and/or region-of-origin of humans. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Empirical analysis of the effects of parasitic elements on the half- width leaky wave antenna

Microstrip leaky wave antennas offer the potential for a low-profile, wide-bandwidth antenna element that can be arrayed if desired. An effort has commenced at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop an array of these thin profile novel radiators in order to enhance efficiency and bandwidth. Understanding the effects of coupling and propagation effects of parasitic elements in an array environment is an essential stepping stone in this process.
Simplified backside-contact solar cells

Experimental and modeling results for a family of simplified backside-contact designs are presented. This simplification hinges upon the demonstration of a self-aligned metalization technique as well as an optimization of heavily doped, compensated regions in the solar cell. The resulting devices can be fabricated without mask alignment and require as few as one mask. A 10.5 cm/sup 2/ one-sun cell that achieves 21.9% efficiency is presented as an example of the potential for these device designs. Prospective performance for concentrator cells of this type is also discussed. >
Face recognition using shape and texture

We introduce in this paper a new face coding and recognition method which employs the Enhanced FLD (Fisher Linear Discrimimant) Model (EFM) on integrated shape (vector) and texture ('shape-free' image) information. Shape encodes the feature geometry of a face while texture provides a normalized shape-free image by warping the original face image to the mean shape, i.e., the average of aligned shapes. The dimensionalities of the shape and the texture spaces are first reduced using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The corresponding but reduced shape find texture features are then integrated through a normalization procedure to form augmented features. The dimensionality reduction procedure, constrained by EFM for enhanced generalization, maintains a proper balance between the spectral energy needs of PCA for adequate representation, and the FLD discrimination requirements, that the eigenvalues of the within-class scatter matrix should not include small trailing values after the dimensionality reduction procedure as they appear in the denominator.
Interactions Between Wildlife and Civil Aircraft in Mississippi

ROOLVLRQVEHWZHHQDLUFUDIWDQGZLOGOLIHKDYHLQFUHDVHGPDUNHGO \�VLQFH�oUVWUH - corded in 1905. These strikes threaten human safety and cost the United States civil aviation industry >$677 million annually. We examined the Federal Aviation Administration's national wildlife strike database records from 1990-2010 to characterize reported strikes with civil aircraft in Mississippi. We hypothesized that daily foraging patterns and seasonal differences would affect strike frequency for birds. We summarized 381 reported strikes (366 birds, 14 PDPPDOV��DQG���UHSWLOH��FRPSULVLQJ�i���VSHFLHV��%LUGVWULNHVSH U������DLUFUDIWRSHUDWLRQV� (take-off and landing counted as separate operations) increased between 1990-2010. The monthly number of reported strikes per 1000 operations peaked July-September, coinciding with late breeding season and fall migration. Bird strikes per 1000 operations occurred more often during runway approach than during take-off, and more often at dusk than during other times of day. These patterns mirrored nationally observed wildlife-strike patterns. Our results may aid airport biologists in Mississippi to prioritize species management and more effec- tively implement timing and types of animal control efforts.
A p-multigrid spectral difference method with explicit and implicit smoothers on unstructured triangular grids

The convergence of high-order methods, such as recently developed Spectral Difference (SD) method, can be accelerated using both implicit temporal advancement and a p-Multigrid approach. A good combination of these two can significantly improve the efficiency of the SD method for steady flow problems. In this paper, we demonstrate a p-Multigrid approach developed for a 2D Euler solver using the SD method. A fast preconditioned Lower-Upper Symmetric Gauss Seidel (LU-SGS) implicit method is developed and tested for both linear scalar, and nonlinear Euler equations. Meanwhile, a five-stage Runge-Kutta explicit method is employed for comparison. We are able to achieve significant speedup (up to two orders) using both p-Multigrid method and the implicit smoother while maintaining very stable convergence property and nearly ideal order of accuracy. The numerical results are very promising, and indicate that the approach has great potential for 3D flow problems.
Conformational change of pseudouridine 55 synthase upon its association with RNA substrate

Pseudouridine 55 synthase (Psi55S) catalyzes isomerization of uridine (U) to pseudouridine (Psi) at position 55 in transfer RNA. The crystal structures of Thermotoga maritima Psi55S, and its complex with RNA, have been determined at 2.9 and 3.0 A resolutions, respectively. Structural comparisons with other families of pseudouridine synthases (PsiS) indicate that Psi55S may acquire its ability to recognize a stem-loop RNA substrate by two insertions of polypeptides into the PsiS core. The structure of apo-Psi55S reveals that these two insertions interact with each other. However, association with RNA substrate induces substantial conformational change in one of the insertions, resulting in disruption of interaction between insertions and association of both insertions with the RNA substrate. Specific interactions between two insertions, as well as between the insertions and the RNA substrate, account for the molecular basis of the conformational change.
Phased array multipath detection: Power delay profile vs. information theoretic criteria

For a realistic outdoor propagation scenario, there are often many multipath components, perhaps more than an array can successfully resolve. An N element array is only capable of resolving N - 1 different signals. Information theoretic criteria are expected to become more accurate as the number of samples increases; however, in this case increasingly large sample windows saturate the array. This may be due to multipath components that arrive simultaneously, but from different directions. Beamforming the array to particular spatial clusters may allow finer PDP measurements as well as reducing the number of signals in that particular beamspace; further research is required. Waveforms that are close enough in time such that they are not separable in delay may be distinguishable in space, which would lead to disagreement between PDP detection and algorithms like MDL or AIC. Steering the array toward different incoming signals and performing subsequent delay spectrum measurements could indicate if this is occurring. Covariance matrices can also be calculated after despreading; however, the capture time was not long enough to record enough despread symbols. Further work with longer capture times (or shorter PN sequence lengths) may be warranted.
Nature's strategy for optimizing power generation in insect flight muscle.

The most important mechanical function of the actomyosin motor in striated muscles is to generate power, particularly in systems that operate in an oscillatory manner. Since all striated muscles have the same basic motor protein (myosin II), the question arises as to what structural modifications of the sarcomere have evolved to allow oscillatory work and power generated by the motor proteins to not only be amplified, but also to be so well tuned to the operating frequency of the muscle system. In this chapter we discuss key structural features of the myofilament lattice that have evolved to enhance oscillatory work and power output, using Drosophila indirect flight muscle (IFM) as an example. Insect flight muscle is particularly endowed with powerenhancing features since insect flight requires higher power output per gram body weight than other forms of animal locomotion (Marden, 2000; Tregear, 1983). These features include 1) strengthening the weak links of the sarcomere, 2) orienting the head of the myosin molecule for optimum power generation, and 3) modifying the kinetics of the myosin head. We focus on alternative forms of myosin II and proteins associated with the thick filament that serve these functions (Fig. 1), particularly those in which mutations have been generated and whose muscle properties have been examined in vivo and in vitro.
Quantitation of rat hepatic stellate cell contraction: stellate cells' contribution to sinusoidal resistance.

Although it has been hypothesized that contraction of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) regulates blood flow by modulating sinusoidal resistance, neither HSC contraction nor relaxation has been directly quantitated. To test this hypothesis, a force transducer was employed to directly measure the magnitude and rate of contraction and relaxation by primary rat HSC (4.7 × 105 ± 0.2 × 105 cells) cultured within a collagen gel. Serial exposures to 10% fetal bovine serum stimulated 81 ± 14 and 82 ± 10 dyn of contractile force, respectively. Subsequent stimulation with 2 nM endothelin-1 (ET-1) resulted in the development of 185 ± 25 dyn of force. Contractions began within 10 s of ET-1 stimulation, and the half time of maximal force development was <5 min. Removal of agonist resulted in complete or nearly complete relaxation within 45 min. These results suggest that the magnitude and rate of HSC contraction and relaxation are capable of modulating blood flow via sinusoidal constriction.
CLF networks with dynamic attention phase

We introduce the notion of dynamic nodal allocation of receptor neurons in CLF (conjunctions of localised features) networks. The attention phase is modified to create new receptor neurons for each class and input region only if no existing receptor neuron is activated by the current input. The generalization phase then utilizes backpropagation between the middle and output layers only to resolve interclass ambiguities. The power of the network is demonstrated on the problem of handwritten numeral recognition. To test and improve the results, several experiments were used. The learning algorithm seems to be robust enough for a larger training set including more classes of symbols, and/or a wider range of writing styles.
Primary Cultures of Embryonic Chicken Neurons for Sensitive Cell-Based Assay of Botulinum Neurotoxin: Implications for Therapeutic Discovery

Botulinum toxin is an exceedingly potent inhibitor of neurotransmission across the neuromuscular junction, causing flaccid paralysis and death. The potential for misuse of this deadly poison as a bioweapon has added a greater urgency to the search for effective therapeutics. The development of sensitive and efficient cell-based assays for the evaluation of toxin antagonists is crucial to the rapid and successful identification of therapeutic compounds. The authors evaluated the sensitivity of primary cultures from 4 distinct regions of the embryonic chick nervous system to botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) cleavage of synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kD (SNAP-25). Although differences in sensitivity were apparent, SNAP-25 cleavage was detectable in neuronal cells from each of the 4 regions within 3 h at BoNT/A concentrations of 1 nM or lower. Co-incubation of chick neurons with BoNT/A and toxin-neutralizing antibodies inhibited SNAP-25 cleavage, demonstrating the utility of these cultures for the assay...
Mitigation of tropospheric InSAR phase artifacts through differential multisquint processing

We propose a technique for mitigating tropospheric phase errors in repeat-pass interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). The mitigation technique is based upon the acquisition of multisquint InSAR data. On each satellite pass over a target area, the radar instrument will acquire images from multiple squint (azimuth) angles, from which multiple interferograms can be formed. The diversity of viewing angles associated with the multisquint acquisition can be used to solve for two components of the 3D surface displacement vector as well as for the differential tropospheric phase. We describe a model for the performance of the multisquint technique, and we present an assessment of the performance expected
Dysarthria and Apraxia of Speech Associated With FK-506(Tacrolimus)

The immunosuppressive agent FK-506 (tacrolimus) is one of the agents most commonly used to prevent rejection after liver transplantation. Neurologic toxicity related to FK-506 has been reported, including speech disorders; however, a detailed analysis of the speech disorder associated with use of FK-506 has not been presented. Herein we describe a patient who exhibited mutism, then severe apraxia of speech with a concomitant hypokinetic, spastic, and ataxic dysarthria after administration of FK-506. His residual mixed dysarthria, without radiographic evidence of a structural lesion, suggests dysfunction of one or more neurochemical systems. The pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying this intriguing entity remain obscure.
Synaptic Physiology: Plenty of Models to Choose from

Do graded potential synapses work the same way as action potential synapses? Recent work emphasizes the differences and suggests that graded potential synapses are not all the same either.
Valuation Models and Their Efficacy Predicting Stock Prices

Using several valuation models, this study estimates stocks prices of all companies included in the Dow Jones Industrial, Transportation, and Utility Indexes over several time periods. The estimated values are then compared with actual stock prices to test the accuracy of the models used in the valuation process. The test results show that the estimated stock prices using discounted cash flow, market-valueadded, and multiplier methods differ greatly from their actual prices, indicating that valuation have limited application value. The weak performance of valuation models may lead investors and students to become cynical about the valuation theory and discount or discard the fundamental idea behind the intrinsic value calculation.
Contribution of flagella and invasion proteins to pathogenesis of Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis in chicks

To explore the relative contribution that flagella and Salmonella invasion proteins make to the virulence of Salmonella enteritidis in poultry, 20-day-old chicks were challenged orally and by subcutaneous injection with wild-type strain SE-HCD, two non-flagellated mutants (fliC::Tn10 mutant and flhD::Tn10 mutant) and two Salmonella invasion protein insertion mutants (sipD and iacP). When injected subcutaneously, wild-type SE-HCD was the only strain to cause substantial mortality and morbidity and to grow well in organs. The flhD mutant of SE-HCD was invasive when given orally, whereas wild-type SE-HCD and the fliC mutant were significantly attenuated. Salmonella invasion protein mutants were not invasive by either route. These results suggest that temporary suppression of Class I regulators of flagellin biosynthesis may aid oral infection in poultry.
Soluble erythropoietin receptor contributes to erythropoietin resistance in end-stage renal disease.

Background Erythropoietin is a growth factor commonly used to manage anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. A significant clinical challenge is relative resistance to erythropoietin, which leads to use of successively higher erythropoietin doses, failure to achieve target hemoglobin levels, and increased risk of adverse outcomes. Erythropoietin acts through the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) present in erythroblasts. Alternative mRNA splicing produces a soluble form of EpoR (sEpoR) found in human blood, however its role in anemia is not known. Methods and Findings Using archived serum samples obtained from subjects with end stage kidney disease we show that sEpoR is detectable as a 27kDa protein in the serum of dialysis patients, and that higher serum sEpoR levels correlate with increased erythropoietin requirements. Soluble EpoR inhibits erythropoietin mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (Stat5) phosphorylation in cell lines expressing EpoR. Importantly, we demonstrate that serum from patients with elevated sEpoR levels blocks this phosphorylation in ex vivo studies. Finally, we show that sEpoR is increased in the supernatant of a human erythroleukaemia cell line when stimulated by inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha implying a link between inflammation and erythropoietin resistance. Conclusions These observations suggest that sEpoR levels may contribute to erythropoietin resistance in end stage renal disease, and that sEpoR production may be mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Effects of sensory or motor nerve deafferentation on oromotor function in mice.

Objective. To investigate the effect of sensory or motor nerve damage to the tongue using a mouse model. Study Design. Animal study. Setting. Research laboratory. Subjects and Methods. Adult male and female mice from inbred strains B6 (n = 19) and D2 (n = 25). Following lick training, bilateral lingual–chorda tympani nerve cuts (LX) (n = 6 B6, n = 7 D2), unilateral hypoglossal nerve cuts (HX) (n = 7 B6, n = 9 D2), or sham surgery (n = 6 B6, n = 9 D2) was performed. Mice were lick tested postsurgically with both water and sucrose (4 days total). Following testing, post mortem dissections and microscopic analysis of tongue papillae were performed. Results. In both strains, HX and LX mice demonstrated a significant reduction in volume per lick (VPL) in the surgical groups relative to shams. Neither motor nor sensory nerve transection affected local lick rate. In most LX mice in both strains, taste papillae were reduced compared with HX or sham mice. Conclusion. Mice of either strain with either a sensory or a motor nerve injury have a significant loss of VPL during ingestion of either a neutral (water) or preferred (sucrose) stimulus. This reduction in VPL reflects a deficit in licking. Lick rate was not affected by deafferentation. A reduction in fungiform papillae following LX but not HX mice was noted.