cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Categorical Perception of Sound Frequency by Crickets

Partitioning continuously varying stimuli into categories is a fundamental problem of perception. One solution to this problem, categorical perception, is known primarily from human speech, but also occurs in other modalities and in some mammals and birds. Categorical perception was tested in crickets by using two paradigms of human psychophysics, labeling and habituation-dishabituation. The results show that crickets divide sound frequency categorically between attractive ( 16 kilohertz) sounds. There is sharp discrimination between these categories but no discrimination between different frequencies of ultrasound. This demonstration of categorical perception in an invertebrate suggests that categorical perception may be a basic and widespread feature of sensory systems, from humans to invertebrates.
Seeking equity in the national information infrastructure

Available evidence indicates that there is a growing gap between the information rich and information poor. That gap is part of a larger struggle for control of information resources and for the societal power that accompanies such control. New institutional arrangements are needed to spread the benefits of modern information technologies to all segments of the population. Achieving social equity objectives requires governmental leadership and funding. But current legislative proposals for shaping the National Information Infrastructure (NII) lack clear statements as to how the social equity objectives enunciated by the President and Vice President would be accomplished. These proposals seem to make insufficient provision for expanding the development of more than 150 computerized community information systems (CCIS) created by grass‐roots organizations over the past several years. Locally controlled information delivery systems supported by a federally sponsored system of National and Regional Institutes...
Extended velocity overshoot in InGaAs collectors for high-speed heterojunction bipolar transistors

As III-V device fabrication technology continues to improve and performance limiting parasitics are eliminated, the intrinsic speed of any given device structure and options for increasing that speed are of greater interest to device researchers and technologists. One approach to improving heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) high-frequency performance is to reduce the transit time across the collector space charge region by carefully tailoring the electric field in the collector in such a fashion as to extend or enhance velocity overshoot in the space charge region. This technique was first described1 and demonstrated2-3 for AlxGa1-x As/GaAs HBTs. Recently, structures composed of materials lattice matched to InP substrates4-5 have emerged as champions in the race for high-speed and optical applications honors. Because these devices have utilized conventional collector structures, further gains can be achieved by application of collectors designed for enhanced or extended velocity overshoot. This is easily seen by noting that the extended velocity overshoot condition is more easily achieved in In0.53Ga0.47 As than in GaAs, in large part due to the larger ? — L conduction band separation (?E?L — 0.55 eV for In0.53Ga0.47AS; ?E?L = 0.33 eV for GaAs). In this paper, we present Monte Carlo simulation results demonstrating the efficacy of the extended velocity overshoot approach for reducing transit times across the collector for a number of ln0.53Ga0.47As collector structures.
Determination of lipid phase transition temperatures in hybrid bilayer membranes.

The main gel-to-liquid-crystal (LC) phase transition temperature, Tm, of the lipid monolayer in hybrid bilayer membranes (HBMs) was investigated using vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS)....
Electron microscopic observations on fibrinoid and histiotroph in the junctional zone and villi of the human placenta

The surfacr of syncytiotrophoblast covering primary villi in the early human placenta may be smooth, lacy, exhibit a brush border with highly developed straight or branched microvilli, or display projections. These projections may have microvilli and they may contain granules, vacuoles and mitochondria. By contrast, syncytium of the basal or junctional zone has longer and straighter microvilli and numerous projections often extend as long, recurving streamers which penetrate into and engulf the cytolyzed detritus of decidual cells. These streamers contain granules, vacuoles and microvilli. Granular detritus is evident between the microvilli, adherent to their surfaces and in the bays and superficial vacuoles at or just beneath the surface plasma membrane, indicating that phagocytosis and pinocytosis occur in the basal trophoblast. In occasional areas in the intervillous space and regularly in the basal junctional zone, clots composed of fibrin fibrils occur. Associated with them are amorphous masses of similar electron density. These represent different degrees of maternal blood clotting, possibly associated with clotting agents released after damage to fetal cells. Fibrin clots and associated leucocytes adhere to the surface of the syncytium, penetrate into it and between the Langhans' cells, occasionally replacing the trophoblastic layers entirely. In such areas, transudates of maternal blood have direct access to the connective tissues of the fetal villus.
Toward More Natural Human-Robot Dialogue

A primary goal of the field of Human-Robot Interaction is to allow for natural human-robot interactions, and thus robot architectures must eventually be able to understand truly natural human speech. And yet, despite the abundance of research devoted to language understanding, most robots capable of participating in linguistic interactions are only able to understand relatively simple utterances (e.g., commands), and do not consider those utterances’ deeper implications. We believe that this suggests a shortcoming of the current state of the art: humans do not typically restrict themselves to commands, and humans’ intentions are often not derivable from the semantic content of the utterances they employ. Indeed, most human language is intentionally indirect and ambiguous so as to conform with social conventions (e.g., politeness). If we desire truly natural human-robot interactions, we must thus go beyond the command-based paradigm characterizing most current robot architectures. While a few architectures have made first steps toward a deeper understanding of human utterances, these have not attempted to represent a robot’s certainty in its beliefs or perceptions. As human utterances are rife with both intentional and incidental ambiguity, we believe such systems are ill-equipped for use in the real world. Our research seeks to address the shortcomings of current architectures by developing mechanisms for natural language understanding and generation. These mechanisms use the robot’s goal-based, social, and environmental knowledge
Parental instrumental feeding, negative affect, and binge eating among overweight individuals

Parental instrumental feeding (i.e., rewarding children with food for perceived correct behaviors and punishing by taking away food for perceived incorrect behaviors) and negative affect are independently associated with binge eating in adulthood. However, less is known about interactions between these variables and binge eating. This study examined the relationship of retrospective reports of parental feeding practices and negative affect to binge eating. Participants were 165 overweight and obese undergraduate students at a large Mid-Atlantic University. High parental instrumental feeding strengthened the relationship between negative affect and binge eating. Also, individuals who reported low parental feeding practices reported similar binge eating regardless of negative affect. These findings suggest that overweight and obese individuals whose parents used more instrumental feeding practices are most likely to engage in binge eating in response to negative affect.
The Man at the End of the Machine

Thomas, called the twin, who was one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, we have seen the Lord, he answered unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands, and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe. Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. Peace be with you he said. Then, he spoke to Thomas. Put your finger here. Look, here are my hands. Give me your hand. Put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe. Thomas replied? “my Lord and my God. “
Satellite remote sensing for global landslide monitoring

Rain-induced landslides rank among the most devastating natural disasters. Nearly every year worldwide they cause billions of dollars in property damage and thousands of deaths. Society has dealt with landslide hazards primarily by trying to locate development away from known hazard zones, but such an approach has limitations. Overpopulation and associated sprawl into hazardous areas, plus environmental impacts such as deforestation and mining, increasingly put large numbers of people at risk from landslides. Yet most developing countries, particularly those in high-risk areas of the tropics, lack the data infrastructure and analysis capabilities required to minimize injuries and deaths due to landslides. The challenges facing the science community include better understanding the surface and meteorological processes that lead to landslides and determining how new technology and techniques might be applied to reduce the risk of landslides to people across the globe.
Homeland security preparedness and planning in US city governments: A survey of city managers

This article examines homeland security preparedness and planning with the aim of generating some future research themes related to organizational, collaborative, and adaptive management elements of homeland security. It analyzes survey data from city managers in the US and their views on the current state of homeland security. The key results indicate that there is a high level of collaboration between and among city government and other levels of government in homeland security preparedness and planning, supporting an element of the adaptive management theory. However, with regard to using performance systems to gain accountability in homeland security this was not commonly occurring. The federal government's color-coded homeland security advisory system is viewed by 32% of city managers who responded to the survey as being ineffective. The largest administrative/management homeland security concerns were lack of money and personnel limitations.
Analysis of Heparan Sulfate Oligosaccharides with Ion Pair-Reverse Phase Capillary High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Microelectrospray Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry†

Heparan sulfate, a cell surface bound glycosaminoglycan polysaccharide, has been implicated in numerous biological functions. Heparan sulfate molecules are highly complex and diverse, yet deceivingly look simple and similar, rendering structure−function correlation tedious. Current chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques have limitations for analyzing glycosaminoglycan samples that are in low abundance and that are large in size, due to their highly acidic nature arising from a large number of sulfate and of carboxylate groups. A new methodology was developed using capillary ion-paired reverse-phase C18 HPLC directly coupled to ESI-TOF-MS to address the above issues. On the basis of HS disaccharide analysis, dibutylamine was found to be the best suited for HS analysis among many ion-pairing agents investigated. Next, analysis of oligosaccharides derived from heparosan, the precursor for heparan sulfate, was undertaken to demonstrate its greater applicability in a more complex structural analysis...
Selectin inhibitors: a patent review

Importance of the field: Selectins play a significant and well-documented role in inflammation and immune response. They initiate tethering and rolling of blood borne leukocytes leading to their activation, adhesion and subsequent extravazation into tissues. This is important for healthy immune response and tissue repair. However, dysregulation of selectins leads to exacerbation of disease. Atherosclerosis, restenosis, deep venous thrombosis and tumor metastasis are just a few of the diseases in which selectin blockade has been demonstrated to ameliorate disease pathology. Thus, selectins remain attractive targets for amelioration of disease.Areas covered in this review: Summarized here are new patents/patent applications on selectin inhibition published since our last review in 2003 and any significant changes or progress made in demonstrating clinical safety and efficacy of therapeutics covered by patents/patent applications reviewed in 2003.What the reader will gain: A comprehensive review of new devel...
The new pictorial structural covariance method for qualitative quantum chemistry. III: Fused polycyclics and their ions

The number of non-bonding (NBMOs), bonding, and anti-bonding MOs, the HOMO-LUMO types, reactivity to electro- or nucleophiles, qualitative relative stabilities of the neutral species, their anions or cations, are readily deduced for pi-polycyclics “on the blackboard” directly from the structural formulae utilizing the recently presented pictorial quantum rules. Among others, the bicyclo [p.q.0] pi-hydrocarbons are treated extensively and are found to fall into ten distinct homolog classes. In addition to the customary pi-aromatic or pi-anti-aromatic types, classes of compounds with other behaviour (e.g. one here called “anti-Kekule”) are found. When an anti-aromatic ring is fused with another anti-aromatic or with a pi-aromatic ring, the resulting bicyclo-molecule is not anti-aromatic. In another series, the heptalene and other (4k + 3), (4k′ + 3) bicyclics have two electrons in a single NBMO, making them “anti-Kekule”. The method is able to distinguish between the properties of pairs of isomers such as (s-indacene; as-indacene) and (1.2,5.6-dibenzpentalene; 1.2,4.5-dibenzpentalene).
Quality control of murine monoclonal antibodies using isoelectric focusing affinity immunoblot analysis

Quality control of murine hybridoma secretory products was performed using two variations of the isoelectric focusing affinity immunoblot analysis. The first approach employed antigen-coated nitrocellulose placed on top of an acrylamide gel containing isoelectrically focused ascites to bind antigen specific monoclonal antibody (MoAb). Murine antibody bound to the insolubilized antigen was then detected with enzyme-conjugated anti-mouse IgG. In a second variation, focused ascites proteins were passively blotted onto nitro-cellulose and specific monoclonal antibody was detected with enzyme-conjugated antigen. Several batches of ascites containing anti-human IgG antibodies that were produced by 6 hybridomas over a 1-3 year period were assessed by IEF-affinity immunoblot analysis. Both immunoblot approaches permitted effective monitoring of immunoreactive antibody for pI microheterogeneity. IEF-affinity immunoblot patterns of unprocessed ascites displayed specific MoAb banding patterns with narrow pI ranges (less than or equal to 0.6 pH units), in contrast to the reported 5.5-8.0 pI range of polyclonal mouse IgG. Banding patterns obtained in the IEF affinity immunoblot typically displayed 3-5 major dense bands flanked by 2-4 minor fainter bands. Batches of ascites obtained years apart produced similar immunoblot patterns, indicating constant antibody production and confirming the stability of these hybridoma clones. Minor bands appeared in 2 earlier lots of ascites, suggesting possible modification of antibody during storage. IEF affinity immunoblot analysis is a useful tool for monitoring MoAb pI microheterogeneity as an indicator of antibody quality without the need for isolation of monoclonal antibody from culture medium or ascites.
Determination of surface profile statistics from electromagnetic scattering data

A new reverse Monte Carlo method for the determination of the surface profile statistics from differential reflection data for the scattering of electromagnetic radiation from rough surfaces is presented. The method is used to extract the power spectrum of the surface profile from scattering data recently measured by West O’Donnell [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A12, 390 (1995)]. Excellent agreement with the power spectrum of the surface profile measured by contact profilometry is obtained.
Oxygen consumption (V̇O2) during trotting on a 10% decline

Summary Reasons for performing study: Although there have been reports of oxygen consumption measurements of horses running on the level and incline, there are no measurements during decline locomotion. This may be due, in part, to the potential for muscle damage produced by eccentric contractions. In man, running on a 10% decline, VO2 decreased by 35% and stride frequency (SF) decreased by 3% when compared to level locomotion. Hypothesis: The rate of O2 consumption and SF would be decreased in horses on a 10% decline when compared to the level. Methods: Six horses (average 467 ± 68 kg) were acclimated to trotting on the level and decline prior to data collection. VO2 under moderate conditions was measured (using open flow respirometry) during trotting between 2.25 and 4.0 m/sec (at 0.25 m/sec increments) on a treadmill on the level and declined 10%. Stride frequencies were counted manually. Results: VO2 decreased (P<0.009) on the decline by an average of 45% (range 42–47%), and SF was 2.7% slower. The speed at which the minimum Cost of Transport occurs on the decline was faster than on the level. SF was reduced on the decline. No evidence of muscle soreness was noted in response to the downhill running. Conclusions and potential relevance: Downhill trotting, eccentric exercise, can be done safely in the horse and requires almost half the energetic costs as trotting on the level. It is not known whether this is the optimum downhill gradient or if the horse adjusts its preferred speed to accommodate downhill trotting.
Null Spaces of Differential Operators, Polar Forms, and Splines

In this article we consider a class of functions, called D-polynomials, which are contained in the null space of certain second order differential operators with constant coefficients. The class of splines generated by these D-polynomials strictly contains the polynomial, trigonometric, and hyperbolic splines. The main objective of this paper is to present a unified theory of this class of splines via the concept of a polar form. By systematically employing polar forms, we extend essentially all of the well-known results concerning polynomial splines. Among other topics, we introduce a Schoenberg operator and define control curves for these splines. We also examine the knot insertion and subdivision algorithms and prove that the subdivision schemes converge quadratically.
Analysis of soil carbon transit times and age distributions using network theories

[1] The long-term soil carbon dynamics may be approximated by networks of linear compartments, permitting theoretical analysis of transit time (i.e., the total time spent by a molecule in the system) and age (the time elapsed since the molecule entered the system) distributions. We compute and compare these distributions for different network configurations, ranging from the simple individual compartment, to series and parallel linear compartments, feedback systems, and models assuming a continuous distribution of decay constants. We also derive the transit time and age distributions of some complex, widely used soil carbon models (the compartmental models CENTURY and Rothamsted, and the continuous-quality Q-Model), and discuss them in the context of long-term carbon sequestration in soils. We show how complex models including feedback loops and slow compartments have distributions with heavier tails than simpler models. Power law tails emerge when using continuous-quality models, indicating long retention times for an important fraction of soil carbon. The responsiveness of the soil system to changes in decay constants due to altered climatic conditions or plant species composition is found to be stronger when all compartments respond equally to the environmental change, and when the slower compartments are more sensitive than the faster ones or lose more carbon through microbial respiration.
Female sexual-offenders: personality pathology as a mediator of the relationship between childhood sexual abuse history and sexual abuse perpetration against others.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to examine, in an all female sample, possible mechanisms for the relationship between a history of childhood sexual abuse and the likelihood of perpetrating sexual abuse as an adult. It was hypothesized that Borderline and Antisocial Personality Disorder tendencies would mediate the relationship between these two forms of abuse. METHOD: One hundred forty two female participants (61 sex-offenders and 81 non-sex offenders) were recruited from a woman's prison in the Midwest. The participants completed measures that included a childhood history of sexual abuse, socially desirable responding, primary and secondary psychopathy, and Borderline Personality Disorder tendencies. RESULTS: Participants in the sexual-offender group reported more frequent instances of childhood sexual abuse (p Language: en
Cognitive factors and CS-UCS interval effects in the differential conditioning and extinction of skin conductance responses ☆

Mandel and Bridger (1967) found resistance to extinction of differentially conditioned skin conductance responses by subjects, who, according to a post-conditioning questionnaire, believed pre-extinction instructions that the shock-UCS would no longer be administered. The present study was intended to: (1) determine whether or not an extraordinarily noxious shock-UCS is required to produce such results; (2) eliminate possible retrospective falsification effects associated with the use of a post-conditioning questionnaire by monitoring subjects' UCS expectancies continuously throughout extinction as well as acquisition trials; (3) attempt to confirm that resistance to extinction is stronger with a 0.5 sec CS-UCS interval than with an 8 sec interval; and (4) test several predictions regarding UCS expectancies during the intertrial intervals of acquisition. After receiving 16 instructed acquisition trials, two groups (N = 20 in each) exposed to either a 0.5 sec or 8 sec CS-UCS interval were fully instructed regarding discontinuation of the UCS during the pending 20 extinction trials. Reliable differential conditioning was obtained during the first extinction trial block for subjects who, according to the expectancy monitoring measure as well as a post-conditioning questionnaire, did not expect UCS administration. The extent of resistance to extinction did not differ between the two groups. Consistent with predictions from a cognitive viewpoint, the expectancy monitoring data of the two groups differed significantly during the intertrial intervals of acquisition.
The Yellowstone Ranger: The Social Control and Socialization of Federal Law Enforcement Officers

Within this article the social control mechanisms and socialization process of Yellowstone rangers is explored, and the impact of these phenomena on ranger behavior are discussed. It was found that various control mechanisms are employed by social control agents to direct ranger role development and to limit the discretionary judgements of rangers. As rangers progress in their socialization process they begin to internalize the "low key" enforcement policy and ranger role, and gradually become social control agents themselves.
Effects of dopamine on haemodynamics and myocardial energetics in man: comparison with effects of isoprenaline and l-noradrenaline

Summary The effects of dopamine (DOPA) on haemodynamics, coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen requirements were compared with those of l-noradrenaline and isoprenaline (isoproterenol) in patients after open-heart surgery, performed because of mitral valvular and congenital heart disease. The patients were in low cardiac output state but not in shock. DOPA increased heart rate less than isoprenaline, averaging 22 and 31 beats/min, and was less arrhythmogenic. DOPA increased mean arterial pressure by an average of 7 mmHg, whereas isoprenaline had little effect; noradrenaline uniformly increased all measurements of arterial pressure. DOPA and isoprenaline increased cardiac index by an average of 1.01 and 0.94 l min −1 m −2 ; noradrenaline did not significantly improve peripheral perfusion. DOPA and isoprenaline decreased systemic vascular resistance by an average of 465 and 549 dynes s cm −5 ; noradrenaline increased resistance in all patients. For similar cardiac outputs average urine flow increased more with DOPA (75 ml/h) than with isoprenaline (28 ml/h). DOPA increased coronary blood flow and myocardial O 2 consumption by an average of 28 and 3.60 ml min −1 100 g −1 , noradrenaline by 16 and 1.93 and isoprenaline by 62 and 4.25 ml min −1 100 g −1 respectively. Arterial-coronary sinus O 2 differences remained unchanged (normal) with DOPA and noradrenaline and decreased with isoprenaline, on average by 1.10 ml/100 ml. Myocardial lactate utilization was normal before and during catecholamine administration. It is concluded that, in its haemodynamic effects, DOPA is intermediate between noradrenaline and isoprenaline. The effects of DOPA on coronary blood flow and myocardial O 2 consumption are closer to those of noradrenaline than of isoprenaline. DOPA increases coronary blood flow according to myocardial metabolic demand; it is not a potent primary coronary vasodilator. DOPA, although increasing myocardial O 2 consumption more than noradrenaline, is by far less O 2 -demanding than isoprenaline. DOPA appears to be the superior vasoactive agent among the three catecholamines for the treatment of low cardiac output state in patients with preserved coronary reserve.
Noncommuting spherical coordinates

Restricting the states of a charged particle to the lowest Landau level introduces a noncommutativity between Cartesian coordinate operators. This idea is extended to the motion of a charged particle on a sphere in the presence of a magnetic monopole. Restricting the dynamics to the lowest energy level results in noncommutativity for angular variables and to a definition of a noncommuting spherical product. The values of the commutators of various angular variables are not arbitrary but are restricted by the discrete magnitude of the magnetic monopole charge. An algebra, isomorphic to angular momentum, appears. This algebra is used to define a spherical star product. Solutions are obtained for dynamics in the presence of additional angular dependent potentials.
Anelastic Deformation of a Thermoplastic-Matrix Fiber Composite at Elevated Temperature; Part III: Structure and Thermomechanical Properties of AS4/PACM-12 Composite

Structural characterization of AS4-graphite fiber/PACM-12§ matrix com posites was conducted using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Wide-Angle X-Ray Diffraction (WAXD) analyses. The DSC results indicate the significant effect of processing variables on the morphology, microstructure and crystallmity of the fiber rein forced semicrystalline thermoplastic matrix prepreg and unidirectional laminates. From WAXD results the crystallinity was determined. Time-temperature dependent thermo mechanical properties of the laminates were evaluated using dynamic mechanical spec troscopy and creep compliance measurements. Dynamic mechanical spectra revealed the matrix-dominated time-temperature dependent behavior of the laminate under torsional loading. Elevated temperature creep compliance in the longitudinal direction showed time- temperature independent behavior whereas transverse creep deformation was found to be significantly time-temperature-stress dependent.
Noncontact optical characterization of thermal and mechanical properties of thin films

We demonstrate a new purely optical based real-time method for excitation and detection of acoustic and thermal disturbances in thin films. The technique is applied to the determination of viscoelastic properties of unsupported and silicon-supported polyimide thin (approximately 1 micron) films. By comparing data from supported films with that from unsupported films, we demonstrate the sensitivity of this technique to delaminations. We then present calculations that suggest how the same technique may be used to probe film-substrate adhesive quality.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Rise (and Fall) of the Arena Football League

After 22 seasons of competition, the Arena Football League (AFL) suspended operations in 2009. Play resumed in 2010, but attendance has declined dramatically. We examine the determinants of the demand for tickets to AFL games using data from the league’s first incarnation from 1987 to 2008; we find that the honeymoon effect for first-generation AFL teams was very short. Teams lost about 1,700 fans per game on average in their second year of operation, a sizeable loss given league average of 11,000 fans. Our results also suggest that Major League Baseball (MLB) serves as a direct competitor to the AFL, and this offers insights into why the AFL has struggled in its second incarnation (2010–2012).
A new hexactinellid sponge from the Cretaceous of Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic

Over 20 specimens of the new genus and species Nunavutospongia irregulara, an irregular stump-like to columnar, or fan- to blade-shaped, hexactinosid hexactinellid sponge, have been recovered from exposures of the Upper Cretaceous upper Kanguk Formation on Devon Island, Nunavut Territory, in the Canadian High Arctic. The species and genus are characterized by dermal surfaces with prominent radial, irregularly vertical, rib-like flanges that have a single linear series of separated oscula perforating their rounded crests. The thin, but persistent dermal layer of fused hexactine-based spicules has rays thicker than those of the similarly fused endosomal, quadrangularly arranged, hexactines of the principal skeleton. Ostia of coarse exhalant canals, and finer inhalant canals, are extensively and uniformly developed, but irregularly placed, in the dermal layer. A thin, less prominent, gastral layer of thickened spicules lines the short, internally tapered spongocoel openings. The skeleton exposed in the commo...
Effects of hippocampal kainic acid lesions on striatolimbic dopamine D1-, D2-, and D4-like receptors

Abstract Changes in D 1 -, D 2 - and D 4 -like dopamine receptor binding in rat caudate–putamen, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus were examined by quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography after unilateral injections of kainic acid into hippocampus to degenerate local intrinsic neurons and remove hippocampal–striatal projections. Radioligands were: [ 3 H]SCH-23390 for D 1 -like (D 1 /D 5 ) receptors, [ 3 H]nemonapride alone for D 2 -like (D 2 /D 3 /D 4 ) receptors and with 300 nM S[−]-raclopride and other masking agents for D 4 -like receptors. Kainic acid injections produced massive local hippocampal losses of D 1 -like (75%), D 2 -like (77%) and D 4 -like (79%) receptor binding but did not significantly alter D 1 -, D 2 - or D 4 -like receptor density in caudate–putamen or nucleus accumbens. Most D 1 -, D 2 - and D 4 -like receptors in rat hippocampus evidently arise on intrinsic postsynaptic neurons whereas none was detected on presynaptic terminals of hippocampal–striatal afferents innervating the striatal complex.
Recent Studies in Adolescent Psychiatry Introduction

This special section is intended as a contribution to the burgeoning literature on adolescence and, in particular, to a growing reassessment of traditional concepts and traditional approaches that has recently emerged in the context of systematic research in an area long dominated by impressionistic and anecdotal reports. A major stimulus to this process of reevaluation has been the longitudinal study of normative adolescent populations by Offer (1969, 1975) and by Rutter and his associates (1976), among others. These studies have put into serious question the long-accepted notion of "normal adolescent turmoil." This latter point of view was first enunciated around the turn of the century by Stanley Hall, one of the pioneers in the serious psychological study of adolescence. It became codified in the early psychoanalytic literature on adolescence and was most firmly and influentially enunciated in Anna Freud's classic paper on adolescence (1958), in which she advanced the view that adolescent turmoil is not only normative but desirable. In her opinion, the clinician would be well advised to look with serious question at an adolescent who did not show a significant amount of turmoil during this period, since it was likely that he would prove to be maturationally or developmentally immature, emotionally constricted or poorly differentiated. In a subsequent communication, Miss Freud (1969) spoke of adolescence as a "developmental disturbance." Peter BIos (1979), one of the most influential students of adolescent development, has essentially continued in this line, emphasizing in his discussions a normal, inevitable, and indeed desirable role in adolescent development for instinctual and ego regression. To some degree this idea of the necessity and inevitability of adolescent turmoil has been fostered by the ideas of Erik Erikson (1956), whose concept of a normative developmental crisis in adolescence around the consolidation of "identity" has been perverted into the
Dielectric spectroscopy measurements for moisture prediction in Vidalia onions

Abstract Microwave sensing offers an opportunity to determine nondestructively the amount of moisture in materials by sensing the dielectric properties of the material. Dielectric properties of Vidalia onions grown in southeastern Georgia were measured with an open-ended coaxial-line probe and network analyzer in the range from 200 MHz to 20 GHz. Frequency dependence and moisture dependence of dielectric properties were analyzed for moisture contents between 8% and 91%. Moisture content was linearly correlated with the dielectric constant at higher frequencies for the entire moisture range. A density-independent function that incorporates both the dielectric constant and loss factor was tested across multiple frequencies and moisture ranges. Use of this function enabled prediction of moisture content with high accuracy ( R 2 = 0.99) up to 40% moisture content.
Some Notes on Himalayan Mapping

The Himalaya, the southern frontier of Central Asia, has been for centuries a geographic enigma akin to the headwaters of the Nile and the wanderings of the Lop Nor. The earlier problems of location and elevation were solved, for the most part, by the pioneering efforts of the Surveyor General of India and the Survey of India, conducted since the mid-nineteenth century. Unfortunately, virtually all of the maps produced by the Surveyor General of India are officially restricted and thus normally not available. Far from satisfying our curiosity of the Himalaya, the Surveyor General and the Survey generated a host of questions regarding the population, cultures, and human ecology of that mountain system. These questions have attracted the full attention of numerous scholars representing many disciplines. Among geographers interested in the Himalaya, the cartographic work of Professor Pradyumna P. Karan is well known.
Mechanisms of non-contact ACL injuries

In soccer one of the most common knee injuries is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, which usually occurs through non-contact mechanisms. Female soccer players are at higher risk of sustaining non-contact ACL injuries than male soccer players. A good understanding of ACL loading mechanisms is the basis for a good understanding of the mechanisms of non-contact ACL injuries, which in turn is essential for identifying risk factors and developing prevention strategies. Current literature demonstrates that sagittal plane biomechanical factors, such as small knee flexion angle, great posterior ground reaction force and great quadriceps muscle force, are the major ACL loading mechanisms. A great posterior ground reaction force may be associated with a great quadriceps muscle force, which would cause great anterior draw force at the knee. A small knee flexion is associated with a large patella tendon-tibia shaft angle and ACL elevation angle, which would result in great ACL loading. Current literature also demonstrates that the ACL is not the major structure of bearing knee valgus-varus moment and internal-external rotation loadings. Knee valgus-varus moment and internal-external rotation moment alone are not likely to result in isolated ACL injuries without injuring other knee structures.
Are surgeons ethically obligated to treat Medicare patients despite substantial reductions in reimbursement? Introduction.

The US Congress created Medicare in 1964 as a means to provide financial coverage of health care costs to US citizens over the age of 65 years. The ensuing rapid growth of health care costs induced the federal program to search for ways to control the disproportionately high rate of cost increase, and reimbursement of physicians' charges for services rendered became a prime target of cost control. According to the Congressional Budget Office,1 between 1972 (8 years after their creation) and 2011, federal spending on Medicaid and Medicare rose 5-fold from 1.1% of the gross domestic product to 5.5% in 2011 and is projected to rise to at least 8.4% by 2030 and to 10% by 2037. It seems likely that cardiothoracic surgeons will be particularly hard hit by the cost-saving measures that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will almost certainly impose in the next few years, because current trends are likely to continue. For example, reimbursement for coronary artery bypass grafting fell from $3957 in 1989 to $2049 (48%) in 2006.2 Moreover, the Affordable Care Act cuts $716 billion from Medicare over the next 10 years, and it does not take much imagination to guess that a good deal of that sum will come from physicians' reimbursements through the “sustainable growth rate” mechanism.3 As reimbursement declines, the margin between practice overhead costs and revenue will decrease. Some physicians already have stopped accepting new Medicare patients into their practices, and as financial pressure increases, those numbers are likely to increase. Is there a point at which cardiothoracic surgeons would be justified in refusing to accept new Medicare patients? An ethical obligation to care for Medicare patients is implied by the American Medical Association Code of Medical Ethics,4 which states: “A physician shall, while caring for a patient, regard responsibility to the patient as paramount.” Our own American Association for Thoracic Surgery Code of Ethics5 echoes this principle: “When caring for patients, members must hold the patient's welfare paramount.” The American Medical Association Code of Medical Ethics4 also provides support for the alternative view that there is no obligation to provide care: “A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide medical care.” At the 2012 Annual Meeting of The American Association Thoracic Surgery, the Ethics Forum sponsored a debate on the question of whether surgeons are ethically obligated to treat Medicare patients even when facing substantial reductions in reimbursement. Edward Verrier argued the proponent's view and Tea Acuff the contrary view. Their discussion focused on a brief vignette that describes a situation typical of many cardiothoracic surgeons.
Mathematical Modelling of Immune Response in Tissues

We have developed a spatial–temporal mathematical model (PDE) to capture fundamental aspects of the immune response to antigen. We have considered terms that broadly describe intercellular communication, cell movement, and effector function (activation or inhibition). The PDE model is robust to variation in antigen load and it can account for (1) antigen recognition, (2) an innate immune response, (3) an adaptive immune response, (4) the elimination of antigen and subsequent resolution of the immune response or (5) equilibrium of the immune response to the presence of persistent antigen (chronic infection) and the formation of a granuloma.
Gradual Emergence of Song Selectivity in Sensorimotor Structures of the Male Zebra Finch Song System

Birdsong is a model system for understanding how motor and sensory information interact to coordinate behavior. Neurons in one potential site of sensorimotor integration, the forebrain nucleus HVc, have premotor activity during singing and auditory activity during playback of the bird’s own song. It is not known whether the high degree of selectivity for learned features of song observed during playback arises in HVc or also in structures afferent to HVc. We recorded in anesthetized adult zebra finches from two structures afferent to HVc: either the nucleus interfacialis (NIf) or the L1 subdivision of the field L complex, and simultaneously from a second electrode in HVc. Correlations in the bursting pattern of ongoing activity of HVc and NIf recordings were observed; these helped to localize the first electrode to NIf recording sites. Most NIf neurons exhibited song-selective responses, but as a population, they were less selective than were HVc neurons. Most L1 neurons were not song-selective. NIf neurons have also been reported to have premotor activity during singing; thus, NIf is another potential site of auditory–motor interactions in the song system. Evidence gathered to date suggests that those brain areas in the passerine forebrain that are recruited during song production also display the most selective learned auditory responses.
Cognitive and Neurobehavioral Dysfunction after Cardiac Bypass Procedures

From a cognitive standpoint, CABG as currently practiced appears to be safe for the great majority of patients, but transient changes involving memory, executive functions, and motor speed may still occur in a subset of patients during the first few days to weeks after CABG. The etiology most likely is multifactorial and includes a synergistic effect of microemboli, hypo-perfusion, and other variables associated with major surgery. Older age and degree of pre-existing cerebrovascular disease have been identified as important risk factors. The short-term cognitive changes appear to be reversible by 3 months after surgery for most patients. Late cognitive decline after CABG,occurring between 1 and 5 years after the surgery, has been well documented,but controlled studies demonstrating that this decline is specifically attributable to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass itself rather than to progression of underlying cerebrovascular disease or other age-related changes are pending.
A model of surface fire, climate and forest pattern in the Sierra Nevada, California

Abstract A spatially explicit forest gap model was developed for the Sierra Nevada, California, and is the first of its kind because it integrates climate, fire and forest pattern. The model simulates a forest stand as a grid of 15×15 m forest plots and simulates the growth of individual trees within each plot. Fuel inputs are generated from each individual tree according to tree size and species. Fuel moisture varies both temporally and spatially with the local site water balance and forest condition, thus linking climate with the fire regime. Fires occur as a function of the simulated fuel loads and fuel moisture, and the burnable area is simulated as a result of the spatially heterogeneous fuel bed conditions. We demonstrate the model’s ability to couple the fire regime to both climate and forest pattern. In addition, we use the model to investigate the importance of climate and forest pattern as controls on the fire regime. Comparison of model results with independent data indicate that the model performs well in several areas. Patterns of fuel accumulation, climatic control of fire frequency and the influence of fuel loads on the spatial extent of fires in the model are particularly well-supported by data. This model can be used to examine the complex interactions among climate, fire and forest pattern across a wide range of environmental conditions and vegetation types. Our results suggest that, in the Sierra Nevada, fuel moisture can exert an important control on fire frequency and this control is especially pronounced at sites where most of the annual precipitation is in the form of snow. Fuel loads, on the other hand, may limit the spatial extent of fire, especially at elevations below 1500 m. Above this elevation, fuel moisture may play an increasingly important role in limiting the area burned.
The Mortgage Meltdown as Normal Accident Wrongdoing

We argue that the mortgage meltdown can be considered a “normal accident”. Our analysis suggests that the mortgage industry’s complex and tightly coupled technology made it vulnerable to failure, irrespective of the level of greed and fraudulent behavior exhibited by mortgage industry executives. Our normal accident analysis also suggests that insufficient regulatory oversight contributed to the debacle. But our analysis suggests that simply increasing the amount of regulation over the mortgage industry is unlikely to reduce its susceptibility to failure. Indeed, if inappropriately designed, increasing the amount of regulation could increase the likelihood of future failure.
Dynamic Stress Factor (DySF): A Significant Predictor of Severe Hypoglycemic Events in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is the current standard used in the clinical treatment of patients with diabetes. However, it has been shown that patients with similar HbA1c values may have widely different fluctuations in blood glucose values over the same period of time, including time spent in hyper- and/or hypo-glycemia. Hence, there exists a need for quantitative measures that can supplement HbA1c in managing patients with diabetes. We introduce and compare the Dynamic Stress Factor, DySF, a newly developed metric that quantifies glycemic volatility based on patient-specific glucose transition density profiles with HbA1c and with currently used glucose variability metrics in predicting severe hypoglycemia in children with type 1 diabetes. DySF, the daily weighted number of large monotonic glycemic transitions that occur within one hour, was calculated for 441 total subjects with type 1 diabetes (146 children, aged 8-14 yrs) to assess the magnitude and frequency of glucose transitions per day. Severe hypoglycemic episodes (HE) were quantified for all subjects and evaluated against HbA1c and existing measures of glucose variability, including SD, MAGE, MODD, and CONGA using logistic regression models. DySF was found to be a predictor of severe HE in children (p = 0.018) with the likelihood of a child, aged 8-14 yrs, experiencing severe hypoglycemia increasing by up to 20% with decreasing values of up to 60% of DySF. Patients of any age who had one or multiple severe hypoglycemic episodes had on average a lower DySF when compared to those with no HE. Additionally, when considering mean glucose levels, DySF/mean was a preliminary predictor of severe HE in patients with HbA1c ≤ 6.5% (p = 0.062). DySF is a dynamic, quantitative, measure of daily glucose “volatility” that separates patients, within the same strata of HbA1c, into visually distinct patient profiles. DySF can be used as a preliminary predictor of clinically severe hypoglycemia in children and “well-controlled” patients with HbA1c ≤ 6.5%.