cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic algorithm frequency-domain optimization of an anti-resonant electromechanical controller

Abstract The advancement of power electronics over the last two decades has opened the door for greater performance of electromechanical systems in space applications and manufacturing processes. Often, resonance problems limit controller effectiveness when high bandwidths are required, and can even result in component failure. These resonance problems often appear in the form of vibration problems in machine-tool applications and electromechanical actuators. Previous research has provided a method for reducing the effects of resonance in these electromechanical systems, commonly modeled as double-mass–spring–damper systems. Here, the electromechanical actuators specific to thrust vector control applications are addressed. The control solution involves a traditional PID controller with an additional control filter. Genetic algorithms are utilized to optimize the controller gains using a frequency-domain technique. This research provides an approach for multi-parameter controller design using the genetic algorithm. It incorporates traditional frequency-domain loop-shaping objectives directly in optimization.
Linearization of DAEs along trajectories

Over the last decade there has been a considerable amount of research on numerical and analytic aspects of linear and nonlinear differential algebraic equations (DAEs)F(x', x, t, u)=0. Many of these papers have either considered linear equations or based their analysis on linear equations. However, until very recently there has been little rigorous investigation of the relationship between the linearization of a DAE and the original equations. In this paper we carefully examine several aspects of this relationship. Positive results for time varying linearization and counter examples for time invariant linearization are given.
Development and Immediate Impact of a Self-Instruction Curriculum for an Adolescent Indicated Drug Abuse Prevention Trial.

This article describes the development and immediate impact of a self-instruction indicated drug abuse prevention program, Project Towards No Drug Abuse (TND). Self-instruction programming often is used to help youth that are at high risk for dropout and drug abuse to complete their high school education, and is a method of choice among educators at alternative high schools. This article describes the justification for the self-instruction program, keys to good programmed self-learning, and how a 12-session health educator delivered program was converted to a self-instruction format. In addition, the immediate impact of a 3-group experimental trial is presented. Health educator led, self-instruction, and standard care control conditions are compared on knowledge change, and the two program conditions are compared on process ratings. Self-instruction programming can be successfully adapted from a health educator-led format, though the lack of student group interaction in this modality may limit its receptivity among students.
Written Language Comprehension in Younger and Older Adults

This study examined the effects of text genre and repeated reading on written language comprehension in younger (M = 21 years) and older (M = 72 years) healthy adults (N = 54). Participants verified four text-based statements (i.e., explicit, implicit, contradictory, and elaborated) after reading expository, narrative, and procedural texts. Verification accuracy was comparable for both age groups; however, text genre, statement-type, and repeated reading produced significant effects. Expository passages, explicit and implicit statements, and repeated reading yielded superior results. Procedural passages and contradictory and elaborated statements yielded less accurate results. Statement-types invoked multiple levels of cognitive representation across text genres and age groups. Overall, reading time was significantly faster for younger adults, and readingtimes were significantly faster for both age groups during the repeated reading trial. Text genre also influenced reading time, with expository passages ...
Evidence Against a Role for Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Mossy Fiber LTP: the Use of Mutant Mice and Pharmacological Antagonists

Abstract We have used a number of approaches to address a possible role of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in mossy fiber long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. We have used two types of mutant mice—one lacking the mGluR1 subtype of receptor and one lacking the gamma isoform of protein kinase C. In neither type of mouse did we find any alteration in the magnitude of mossy fiber LTP. We next examined whether mGluRs might modulate the magnitude and/or threshold for the induction of mossy fiber LTP. In these experiments we used tetani that were either just subthreshold or just suprathreshold for generating LTP. The mGluR antagonist (+)-α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine [(+)MCPG] did not convert a subthreshold tetanus into a suprathreshold tetanus, nor did (+)MCPG have any effect on the small amount of LTP that was generated by a just suprathreshold tetanus. Based on our studies, we have been unable to identify a role for mGluRs in mossy fiber LTP.
Ultrafine particles from a vented gas clothes dryer

Abstract Ultrafine particles (∼10–100 nm) were measured continuously for 18 months in an occupied townhouse. A major source was determined to be the gas clothes dryer. Although the dryer was vented to the outdoors it consistently produced an order of magnitude increase in the ultrafine concentrations compared to times with no indoor sources. Short-term peak number concentrations exceeded 100,000 cm−3 on a number of occasions. The source strength was conservatively estimated at about 6×1012 ultrafine particles produced per drying episode. These values are underestimates, since the part of the peak below 9.8 nm was not measured. Averaged over 150 h of operation, the number concentration showed a major peak at the smallest size measured (9.8 nm) and a secondary peak at 30 nm. Loss rates of the ultrafines due to diffusion, deposition, and particle growth (1–2 h−1) were high compared to losses due to air exchange (0.1–0.6 h−1). Considering the reported health effects of ultrafines, the widespread use of gas dryers, and the substantial amount of time that gas dryers are operated in many homes, it may be desirable to carry out further research to determine if the results reported here for a single dryer in one home are reproducible under different conditions.
Nullomers: really a matter of natural selection?

Background Nullomers are short DNA sequences that are absent from the genomes of humans and other species. Assuming that nullomers are the signatures of natural selection against deleterious sequences in humans, the use of nullomers in drug target identification, pesticide development, environmental monitoring, and forensic applications has been envisioned. Results Here, we show that the hypermutability of CpG dinucleotides, rather than the natural selection against the nullomer sequences, is likely the reason for the phenomenal event of short sequence motifs becoming nullomers. Furthermore, many reported human nullomers differ by only one nucleotide, which reinforces the role of mutation in the evolution of the constellation of nullomers in populations and species. The known nullomers in chimpanzee, cow, dog, and mouse genomes show patterns that are consistent with those seen in humans. Conclusions The role of mutations, instead of selection, in generating nullomers cast doubt on the utility of nullomers in many envisioned applications, because of their dependence on the role of lethal selection on the origin of nullomers.
Reassessment of Radiocarbon Age Determinations for the Munkers Creek Phase

AbstractThe Munkers Creek phase was initially defined using cultural assemblages from the William Young site in the north central Flint Hills of Kansas. Radiocarbon ages from the type site are suspect due to extremely large standard deviations on all but one date and because of stratigraphic inconsistencies. Recently, samples of curated wood charcoal from stratigraphically separate cultural levels at the William Young site were submitted for dating in an attempt to better ascertain the age range for the site’s Munkers Creek phase cultural components. The new radiocarbon ages are more precise and are stratigraphically consistent. These new assays and all other contemporaneous radiocarbon dates from other Munkers Creek phase contexts have an average age of 5259 ± 26 B.P. with a three sigma range of 5180-5338 B.P. The sum of the areas under the polynomial curves using decadal means indicates the mean to be ∼5240 B.P. The new dates and this statistical analysis have helped to refine our understanding of the t...
Lattice dynamics of solid cubane within the quasi-harmonic approximation

Abstract Solid cubane, which is composed of weakly interacting cubic molecules, exhibits many unusual and interesting properties, such as a very large thermal expansion and a first-order phase transition at T p =394 K from an orientationally ordered phase of R3 symmetry to a non-cubic disordered phase of the same symmetry with a volume expansion of 5.4%, among the largest ever observed. We study the lattice dynamics of solid cubane within the quasi-harmonic and rigid-molecule approximation to explain some of these unusual dynamical properties. The calculated phonon density of states, dispersion curves and thermal expansion agree surprisingly well with available experimental data. We find that the amplitude of thermally excited orientational excitations (i.e. librons) increases rapidly with increasing the temperature and reaches about 35° just before the orientational phase transition. Hence, the transition is driven by large amplitude collective motions of the cubane molecules. Similarly the amplitude of the translational excitations shows a strong temperature dependence and reaches one-tenth of the lattice constant at T=440 K. This temperature is in fair agreement with the experimental melting temperature of 405 K, indicating that the Lindemann criterion works well even for this unusual molecular solid.
The shape of Saturn's moon Titan from Cassini radar altimeter and SAR monopulse observations

We have estimated global elevations on Titan using a combination of nadir-looking altimetry and SAR monopulse measurements acquired by the Cassini spacecraft radar on multiple Titan encounters. These data correspond to a set of one-dimensional tracks spread over much of the moon's surface, but with fewer observations in the southern hemisphere than in the north. We fit the measured points with spheres, biaxial ellipsoids, and a set of spherical harmonic functions to produce global elevation estimates.
Diastolic dysfunction and cerebrovascular redistribution precede overt recipient twin cardiomyopathy in early-stage twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Background Indications for intervention in early-stage (Quintero I and II) twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) are not standardized. Fetal echocardiography can be used to guide the management of early-stage patients. The aim of this study was to identify early cardiovascular findings that may precede progression to overt recipient twin (RT) cardiomyopathy in early-stage TTTS. Methods This was a retrospective review of pregnancies evaluated from 2004 to 2010. Subjects were included when initial evaluation identified Quintero I or II TTTS without evidence of "overt" RT cardiomyopathy, defined on the basis of atrioventricular valve regurgitation, ventricular hypertrophy, and abnormal Doppler myocardial performance indices. Patients elected management with observation or amnioreduction. Pregnancies were grouped by whether the RT developed overt cardiomyopathy. Initial values, including myocardial performance index, diastolic filling time corrected for heart rate (Doppler inflow duration/cardiac cycle length), pulsatility indices of the ductus venosus, umbilical artery, and middle cerebral artery, and cerebroplacental ratio (middle cerebral artery PI/umbilical artery PI), were compared. Results Of 174 pregnancies evaluated with early-stage TTTS, 45 (26%) did not show evidence of RT cardiomyopathy. Follow-up echocardiography identified cardiomyopathy in 20 of 45 RTs (44%). Those RTs with subsequent cardiomyopathy had shorter diastolic filling times corrected for heart rate, higher ductus venosus PIs, lower middle cerebral artery PIs, and lower cerebroplacental ratios on initial echocardiography. Conclusion Diastolic dysfunction and cerebroplacental redistribution precede findings of overt cardiomyopathy in RTs with early-stage TTTS. Assessment of these parameters may allow earlier identification of RTs with cardiac disease and help guide management. Prospective studies are needed to assess the role of echocardiography in patient selection for the treatment of early-stage TTTS.
Prone Versus Supine Breast FDG-PET/CT for Assessing Locoregional Disease Distribution in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Rationale and Objectives Prone 18 F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) may have advantages for breast imaging because of improved separation of deep anatomic structures. There are limited data on whether prone and supine FDG-PET/CT provide similar information regarding breast and axillary disease in the setting of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). The purpose of this study was to compare the information on locoregional disease distribution provided by prone versus supine FDG-PET in newly diagnosed LABC. Materials and Methods In an Institutional Review Board-approved prospective trial, 24 patients with newly diagnosed LABC underwent both supine and prone FDG-PET/CT at the same scanning session. Three readers performed an independent review of all scans and categorized the locoregional disease distribution as breast only (BO)-unifocal, BO-multifocal, BO-multicentric, or breast + axillary involvement. For breast + axillary disease, the readers also assessed the number of involved axillary lymph nodes. Interobserver discrepancies were resolved at a consensus reading session. Results Two scanning sessions were excluded because the prone scan had omitted part of the axilla from the field of view. In the remaining 22 patients, the consensus categorization of anatomic disease distribution was concordant between prone and supine scanning in 21 patients (linear kappa 0.91, 95% confidence interval [0.79–1]). In the 16 patients with breast + axillary disease, equal numbers of involved lymph nodes were identified on prone and supine scanning in 12 patients, whereas in the remaining four patients, prone scanning resulted in a higher number of visualized lymph nodes. Conclusions Prone and supine FDG-PET/CT provided statistically identical information on locoregional disease distribution in LABC. However, prone scanning may perform better than supine for assessing the number of involved lymph nodes. Prone FDG-PET/CT may be useful in future clinical and research efforts, including hybrid PET–magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications.
Synthesis of benzo[3,2]phenanthro[4,5‐bcd]thiophene and chryseno[4,5‐bcd]thiophene

Benzo[2,3]phenanthro[4,5-bcd]thiophene and chryseno[4,5-bcd]thiophene were synthesized, so that their mutagenic and carcinogenic activity can be determined.
A Civic Decline, but from What? America's Exceptional Understandings of Civil Society

Abstract “Liberal” social-welfare policy is often and sometimes rightly blamed for accelerating a widely perceived decline in civic responsibility. But a more comprehensive reckoning shows that state interventions often are only maladroit, counterproductive responses to, not progenitors of, a deeper dislocation of civil society and the civic-republican ethos by powerful an anomic currents of private investment, mass-marketing, and consumption.
Vitamin D and the Breastfed Infant

For infants and children, vitamin D deficiency causes a bone-deforming disease known as rickets. As breastfeeding rates have increased, so have the incidences of rickets. The current recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics, to supplement all breastfed infants with vitamin D, is controversial. The role of the nurse is to understand the vitamin D dilemma, promote breastfeeding, and prevent vitamin D deficiency rickets.
Oxygen diffusion in phospholipid artificial membranes studied by Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance.

Abstract Spin-lattice ( T i ) relaxation mesurements can provide information about the presence of oxygen in the environment of a nucleus, since oxygen, by virtue of its paramagnetic properties, increases T i relaxation rates. Spin-lattice relaxation times were measured for the choline, fatty acid methylene, and fatty acid methyl protons of sonicated dimyristoyl phosphatidyl choline vesicles in D 2 O at several oxygen pressures. The increase in relaxation rate due to oxygen was found to be greater for the fatty acid resonances than for the choline resonance. This was interpreted to indicate the presence of oxygen in the hydrocarbon core of the bilayer. In addition, the T i relaxation data permitted calculation of the oxygen diffusion coefficient in the water and lipid phases.
Humans : Still Vital After All These Years of Automation

OBJECTIVE: The authors discuss empirical studies of human-automation interaction and their implications for automation design. BACKGROUND: Automation is prevalent in safety-critical systems and increasingly in everyday life. Many studies of human performance in automated systems have been conducted over the past 30 years. METHODS: Developments in three areas are examined: levels and stages of automation, reliance on and compliance with automation, and adaptive automation. RESULTS: Automation applied to information analysis or decision-making functions leads to differential system performance benefits and costs that must be considered in choosing appropriate levels and stages of automation. Human user dependence on automated alerts and advisories reflects two components of operator trust, reliance and compliance, which are in turn determined by the threshold designers use to balance automation misses and false alarms. Finally, adaptive automation can provide additional benefits in balancing workload and maintaining the user's situation awareness, although more research is required to identify when adaptation should be user controlled or system driven. CONCLUSIONS: The past three decades of empirical research on humans and automation has provided a strong science base that can be used to guide the design of automated systems. APPLICATION: This research can be applied to most current and future automated systems. Language: en
Two gene duplication events in the evolution of the human heat-stable alkaline phosphatases

Abstract There are at least three alkaline phosphatase (AP) isoenzymes in man: a heat-stable placental enzyme (PLAP), a less heat-stable intestinal form (IAP), and the very heat-labile AP enriched in liver, bone and kidney. In addition to these enzymes, there is a heat-stable activity in the thymus and testis that is similar but not identical to the PLAP (the PLAP-like enzyme). Previous work has demonstrated a close structural relatedness among the IAP, PLAP and PLAP-like enzymes. Thus, it is possible that there are three human genes encoding heat-stable AP enzymes. To test this hypothesis, we have used a PLAP cDNA clone to screen a human genomic library cloned into the phage vector 1EMBL-3. Three sets of clones were isolated, each bearing a distinct coding region homologous to the PLAP cDNA probe. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 5′ ends of these genes allowed comparison of their derived peptide sequences and positive identification of two of the genes. One of the genes encodes the PLAP (the PLAP-1 gene), another encodes the IAP, and a third closely resembles the PLAP-1 gene, but is distinct from it (the PLAP-2 gene). The PLAP-2 gene is highly homologous (> 95%) with the PLAP-1 except in the first exon, where sequences encoding the hydrophobic signal peptide are nearly identical with the same region of the IAP gene. These results demonstrate the existence of a small family of PLAP-related genes which is the result of at least two duplication events during the descent of man.
An Analysis of Polishing Forces in Magnetic Field Assisted Finishing

Magnetic field assisted finishing (MAF) is used to polish free-form surfaces. The material removal mechanism can be described as a flexible “magnetic brush” that consists of ferromagnetic particles and abrasives that arrange themselves in the working gap between the magnet and the work piece. Relative motion between the brush and the work piece causes micro-cutting and improves surface finish. In this study, the contributions of the magnetic and polishing force components to the total force were evaluated. The effect of varying the polishing conditions, such as the working gap and the size of the ferromagnetic iron particles, on polishing forces and surface roughness was also analyzed. It was observed that the polishing forces varied considerably with working gap. Also, the iron particle size was found to have a strong relation to the rate at which the surface roughness decreased. Surface area roughness of 2–3 nm was achieved.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Aligning Visions: Striking a Balance between Personal Convictions for Teaching and Instructional Goals.

AbstractTheory suggests that effective teachers should possess a vision for teaching, but the reality of teaching within the current educational policy climate raises questions about teachers’ autonomy of their instructional decisions and ultimately their personal convictions for teaching. This exploratory study examines 11 teachers’ visions of teaching and the extent to which their reported visions aligned with instructional goals for their students. Findings suggest that teachers’ reported visions aimed to develop dispositional qualities in students despite great concern over the pressures of standardized testing and district mandates.
A cross cultural study of cerebral palsy.

Abstract Two hundred and five cerebral palsy victims, in eight different countries, (France, England, Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, Israel, Belgium and Portugal) were administered a battery of objective and projective psychological tests. The general hypothesis was that sociocultural forces, as well as psychological forces affect the individual's response to his disability, and to disability in general. The major measurement was the Attitudes Toward the Disabled Scale, which was also administered to the personnel of the various institutions visited. Six cards of the Thematic Apperception Test were also administered to measure the Achievement motive.
X rays predicted from flares of uv Ceti stars

KNOWN UV Ceti flare stars are all located within 20 pc of the Sun, and their distribution seems to be isotropic. They are cool, low-luminosity objects with masses less than 0.5 M⊙. Both optical1 and radio2 radiations have been observed during flare events. X rays have also been predicted3,4, but no positive observations have yet been reported. We present here new estimates of X-ray emission, based on the ratio between X-ray and radio flux from solar bursts. It is anticipated that the intensities of the X-ray flares will be more than 10 photons cm−2s−1; within the range of sensitivities of present satellite detectors (approximately 0.5–0.01 photon cm−2 s−1 for a flare duration of 3 min in the energy range 1–10 keV).
Isotropic and anisotropic scaling analysis of nanowire phase change memory

We recently investigated the isotropic scaling properties of nanowire (NW) phase change memory (PCM) [1]. In this paper, we extend our analysis also to anisotropic scaling. By combining electrothermal theory, thermodynamic physics, and numerical simulation, the analysis explains the superiority of NW PCM over conventional thin film PCM, and reveals the different scaling properties of the three widely used operation schemes (constant electric field, constant voltage, and constant current) of NW PCM. It is demonstrated that if the device is isotropically downscaled by a factor of 1/k (k >1), the device operation energy (current) will be decreased by k3 (k) times, and the device operation speed will be increased by k2 times. The impacts of NW radius and length on PCM device performance are analyzed. Based on the analysis results, the suggestions to optimize the NW PCM device design are given.
Dendritic spine dynamics : a key role for kalirin-7

Changes in the structure and function of dendritic spines contribute to numerous physiological processes such as synaptic transmission and plasticity, as well as behavior, including learning and memory. Moreover, altered dendritic spine morphogenesis and plasticity is an endophenotype of many neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Hence, the molecular mechanisms that control spine plasticity and pathology have been under intense investigation over the past few years. A series of recent studies has improved our understanding of spine dynamics by establishing kalirin-7 as an important regulator of dendritic spine development as well as structural and functional plasticity, providing a model for the molecular control of structural plasticity and implicating kalirin-7 in synaptic pathology in several disorders including schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
Relations among Word Meanings in Early Lexical Development.

When deriving the meanings of individual words, children must also discern the relations among words. To ascertain how children interpret such relations, we taught twelve 2-year-olds novel count nouns for related but unfamiliar objects. Although we never specified the relations among words, children's interpretation of the relations was mediated by the similarity of the objects. For dissimilar objects, children interpreted the words as mutually exclusive. For more similar objects, children's performance was consistent with a hierarchical interpretation of meaning. Thus, by 2 years of age, children have the conceptual and lexical abilities necessary for the establishment of hierarchical inclusion relations. The significance of this finding for theories of lexical and conceptual development is discussed.
Super-resolution mapping of photogenerated electron and hole separation in single metal-semiconductor nanocatalysts.

Metal–semiconductor heterostructures are promising visible light photocatalysts for many chemical reactions. Here, we use high-resolution superlocalization imaging to reveal the nature and photocatalytic properties of the surface reactive sites on single Au–CdS hybrid nanocatalysts. We experimentally reveal two distinct, incident energy-dependent charge separation mechanisms that result in completely opposite photogenerated reactive sites (e– and h+) and divergent energy flows on the hybrid nanocatalysts. We find that plasmon-induced hot electrons in Au are injected into the conduction band of the CdS semiconductor nanorod. The specifically designed Au-tipped CdS heterostructures with a unique geometry (two Au nanoparticles at both ends of each CdS nanorod) provide more convincing high-resolution single-turnover mapping results and clearly prove the two charge separation mechanisms. Engineering the direction of energy flow at the nanoscale can provide an efficient way to overcome important challenges in p...
Sertraline treatment for alcohol dependence: interactive effects of medication and alcoholic subtype.

Background: Characteristic behaviors of some alcohol-dependent individuals, e.g., binge drinking, comorbid psychopathology, and some types of alcohol-related problems, have been linked to abnormalities in serotonergic neurotransmission. However, studies that have evaluated serotonergic pharmacotherapy for reducing drinking have yielded conflicting results. One explanation for these findings is a general failure to distinguish alcohol subgroups that may be differentiated on the basis of serotonergic abnormalities. However, in 1996, Kranzler and colleagues reported that Type B alcoholics, who are characterized by high levels of premorbid vulnerability, alcohol dependence severity, and comorbid psychopathology, showed less favorable drinking outcomes in response to treatment with fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, than with placebo. This medication effect was not seen in Type A alcoholics, i.e., those with lower risk/severity of alcoholism and psychopathology. The aim of the present study was to explore the validity of differential responding by alcohol-dependent subtypes using the serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sertraline. Methods: A k-means clustering procedure was applied to a sample of alcohol-dependent subjects enrolled in a 14-week, placebo-controlled trial of 200 mg/day of sertraline, classifying them into lower-risk/severity (Type A: n= 55) and higher-risk/severity (Type B: n= 45) subgroups. Results: A significant interaction between alcoholic subtype and medication condition was found, confirming the findings of Kranzler and colleagues that alcoholic subtypes responded differentially to serotonergic medication. Somewhat at variance with their results, however, the present study showed that the lower risk/severity (Type A) subjects had more favorable outcomes when treated with sertraline compared to placebo. Conclusions: Alcoholic subtypes differentially responded to sertraline when used as a treatment to reduce alcohol drinking, with one subtype having more favorable outcomes. Subtyping alcoholics may help to resolve conflicting findings in the literature on serotonergic treatment of alcohol dependence.
Robust estimation methods for exponential data: a monte-carlo comparison

We compare the performance of seven robust estimators for the parameter of an exponential distribution. These include the debiased median and two optimally-weighted one-sided trimmed means. We also introduce four new estimators: the Transform, Bayes, Scaled and Bicube estimators. We make the Monte Carlo comparisons for three sample sizes and six situations. We evaluate the comparisons in terms of a new performance measure, Mean Absolute Differential Error (MADE), and a premium/protection interpretation of MADE. We organize the comparisons to enhance statistical power by making maximal use of common random deviates. The Transform estimator provides the best performance as judged by MADE. The singly-trimmed mean and Transform method define the efficient frontier of premium/protection.
Apomorphine doses impair the reaction time of fast reacting but not slow reacting rats.

Previously, several studies in our laboratories have linked the ability to initiate movement rapidly (reactive capacity) in several rat strains to markers of nigrostriatal dopamine function. In the present investigation we wished to determine the extent to which fast-reacting (FR) and slow-reacting (SR) rats responded differentially to the effects of dopamine agonist (apomorphine) administration. Fisher 344 rats were operantly conditioned on a shock-avoidance, reactive capacity task which requires extremely fast, ballistic, lever release responses. In FR, but not in SR rats, significant dose-dependent decreases in the per cent of successful avoidance trials were observed in response to apomorphine doses. Moreover, apomorphine brought responding in the FR animals to levels below that of the SR rats. Performance of the SR rats was unaffected by drug treatments. A number of interpretations are consistent with these preliminary data, including the idea that basal differences in speed of reaction and differential responses to a dopamine agonist, antiparkinsonian agent may both be associated with a similar mechanism; differential activation of compartmentalized striatal efferent systems.
Genetic and environmental factors in cretinism: a classification.

The term “cretinism” lacks precise definition. Even the origin of the term is obscure (1). According to Means (2), a cretin is one who “suffers from athyreosis from intra-uterine life or early in infancy at best.” This definition has the advantage that the exact time of thyreoprivia in development is not implied, nor is a functioning thyroid gland at a later date excluded. Thus, a diagnosis of cretinism is not incompatible with the finding of a functioning thyroid, but certain characteristic developmental defects must be present before the diagnosis can be made.
Secondary motions of the knee during weight bearing and non‐weight bearing activities

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that during a weight bearing activity such as walking, a dynamic range (envelope of motion) exists in the relationship between the secondary knee motions (anterior-posterior (AP) translation, internal-external (IE) rotation, and abduction-adduction (Ab-Adduction)) and knee flexion angle. In addition differences in the envelope of motion between a weight bearing and non-weight bearing activity were tested. The hypothesis was evaluated by testing for differences (offsets) in secondary displacements at specific knee flexion angles during the walking cycle and seated leg extension (non-weight bearing). Kinematic measurements were obtained using a previously developed point cluster technique to analyze the six-degrees of freedom movement of the knee. During walking, phase plots of the IE rotation and AP translation versus knee flexion demonstrated significant offsets from one phase of the gait cycle to another at the same flexion angle. During the non-weight bearing activity, no significant offset in the secondary movement was found; the knee followed the same pathway of motion during the flexion and extension phase of this activity. The characteristics of the secondary motions during walking indicated that secondary knee movements are caused by the external forces (muscle, inertial and gravitational) that act on the knee during the various phases of the walking cycle. The boundaries of the envelope appear to reflect the characteristics of the passive restraints. The weight bearing secondary motion AP and IE rotation seen during a walking activity demonstrated an envelope of dynamic laxity that could potentially be used to evaluate functional instabilities at the knee.
Relaxin as a diagnostic tool for pregnancy in the coyote (Canis latrans)

The diagnosis of pregnancy in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) often employs specialized equipment, experienced staff, and the cooperation of the bitch. These procedures can be challenging when the subject is a wild canid, particularly in a field setting. In addition, reproductive hormone assays are unreliable as a diagnostic tool because the estrous profiles of pregnant and pseudopregnant canines are similar. However, research has demonstrated that the hormone relaxin can be detected in maternal blood after embryonic implantation, but remains negligible in non-pregnant females. We investigated the use of relaxin as a diagnostic marker of pregnancy in the coyote (C. latrans). A commercially available canine relaxin enzyme immunoassay (ReproCHEK) was used to test plasma collected from 124 female coyotes over four consecutive breeding seasons. Mating activities of the captive females were observed; then peripheral blood samples were collected at intervals throughout pregnancy, as well as after parturition. Results demonstrated that relaxin could be detected in the plasma of pregnant coyotes after 28 days of gestation, and in some cases as early as 23 days, while non-pregnant females and male coyotes consistently tested negative. Relaxin also remained detectable in the plasma of the majority of females tested 10-12 weeks after parturition. This qualitative assay for relaxin proved to be a reliable diagnostic tool for pregnancy in the coyote. In addition, blood sampling was relatively easy, could be accomplished with minimal handling, and did not require sedation or anesthesia.
Control of Platynota stultana a Tortricid Leaf Roller, in Greenhouses.

In a series of laboratory tests and in field tests in commercial greenhouses, methomyl and Azodrin®(3-hydroxy- N -melhyl- cis -crotonamide dimethyl phosphate) gave excellent control of larvae of the tortricid leaf roller Platynota sultana (Walsingham). Trichlorfon, Matacil® (4-(dimethylamino)- m -tolyl methylcarbamate), and Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner gave as good control as the standard Zectran® (4-dimethylamino-3,5-xylyl methylcarbamate). Eighteen other insecticides gave unsatisfactory control at the doses used, and Dursban® ( O, O -diethyl O -3.5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate), though it gave excellent control, was phytotoxic to rose plants.
Signal enhancement in carbon-filament atomic absorption spectrometry by metal—oxygen reactions

Abstract Investigations of signal enhancement in carbon-filament atomic absorption spectrometry are described. Several enhancements are shown to be due to preferential binding of the oxygen by the added interferent in the gas phase. This prevents the analyte atoms from reacting with the oxygen, thereby preserving or enhancing the atom concentration and thus the absorbance signal.
Potassium-induced enhancement of persistent inward current in hippocampal neurons in isolation and in tissue slices.

Abstract Previous work suggested a role for the voltage-dependent persistent sodium current, I Na,P , in the generation of seizures and spreading depression (SD). Ordinarily, I Na,P is small in hippocampal neurons. We investigated the effect of raising external K + concentration, [K + ] o , on whole-cell persistent inward current in freshly isolated hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. I Na,P was identified by TTX-sensitivity and dependence on external Na + concentration. When none of the ion channels were blocked, I Na,P was not usually detectable, probably because competing K + current masked it, but after raising [K + ] o I Na,P appeared, while K + currents diminished. With K + channels blocked, I Na,P could usually be evoked in control solution and raising [K + ] o caused its reversible increase in most cells. The increase did not depend on external calcium [Ca 2+ ] o . In CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices a TTX-sensitive persistent inward current was always recorded and when [K + ] o was raised, it was reversibly enhanced. Strong depolarization evoked irregular current fluctuations, which were also augmented in high [K + ] o . The findings support a role of potassium-mediated positive feedback in the generation of seizures and spreading depression.
Synthesis and characterization of cycloaliphatic diepoxide crosslinkable core-shell latexes

Abstract New core–shell acrylic latexes designed for crosslinking with cycloaliphatic diepoxide were prepared. The core was prepared using methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The shell contained methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and methacrylic acid. A strong acid acrylate was incorporated into the shell to catalyze the crosslinking reactions, and provide freeze–thaw stability. The crosslinker was co-emulsified with the monomer and added during the latex preparation. The pot-life stability of epoxide was shown to be dependent on latex morphology, initiator system, and reaction conditions. The preparation of stable latex with minimum pre-mature crosslinking required an ambient temperature shell polymerization via a redox initiator system under basic reaction conditions.
Phylogenetic reconstruction with gene rearrangements and gene losses

Reconstructing phylogenies from gene-order data has become very attractive in the research of evolution these years. So far, most methods can only treat genomes with equal gene contents with each gene appearing exactly once in each genome. In this paper, we propose a new distance measurement for genomes with inversions and insertions/deletions that comply with triangle inequality. Based on this distance, we develop a new method to solve the median problem of unequal gene content, which are used to reconstruct both phylogenies and ancestral genomes. We test our method on simulated datasets under various conditions and the experimental results show that our distance measurement can produce more accurate phylogenetic trees compared with other popular methods for unequal genomes. Also our median algorithm produces remarkably more accurate ancestral genomes than the only unequal genome median solver that is currently available.
Application of Lidar to resolving tectonic and glacial fabrics in glaciated terrain: An example from an Archean granite-greenstone belt, northeastern Minnesota

In this study we examine an Archean granite-greenstone terrane in northeastern Minnesota (USA) to illustrate the application of high-resolution Lidar (light detection and ranging) altimetry to mapping regional tectonic fabrics in forested glaciated areas. We describe the recognition of lineaments and distinguish between tectonic and glacial lineament fabrics. We use a 1-m Lidar derived bare earth digital elevation model to construct multiple shaded-relief images for lineament mapping with sun elevation of 45° and varying sun azimuth in 45° intervals. Two suites of lineaments are apparent. Suite A has a unimodal orientation, mean trend of 035, and consists of short (
Women and the Internet: is there an economic payoff?

As the pervasiveness of the Internet spreads rapidly, Peter Drucker’s prediction about the coming of the new organization, labeled as the “knowledge society” [7] or the “virtual corporation” [9] is now a reality. In an information-based economy, any radical shift in our approach toward information and knowledge influences more than an elite group of individuals or firms—it has a far-reaching effect on national and global economies. The Internet is viewed by many as a paradigm shift forcing individuals, firms, businesses, and even societies to rapidly adapt to a newfound virtual world in which agility and responsiveness are the hallmarks of success [5]. At a 1999 meeting of Congress’s Joint Economic Committee Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates told committee members: “We will absolutely see productivity increases coming out of the use of technology for many years to come.” At same meeting, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told the panel that “something special has happened to the American economy in recent years because of computerization.” That “something special” was the increased productivity generated by the Internet and information technology [10]. Bureau of Labor Statistics data at least superficially support this linkage showing the share of employees using a computer at work rising from 25% in 1984 to 52% in 1997. Computer usage, in this context, refers to the use of computers to perform any work-related function, such as word processing, information retrieval, data analysis, and other related tasks. In addition to enhancing productivity, revolutionary technologies such as the Internet revive hopes of removing barriers to economic prosperity, increasing workplace productivity, and improving quality of life. The much-proclaimed anonymity of the Internet user leads to the hypothesis that the Internet may help close racial and gender-based wage gaps. The significant increase in women using the Web since its early origins [8] suggests a relationship between the Internet, gender, and the wage structure, but little or no research has been done in this area. Could the Internet lead to a full realization of the legal concept of equal pay for equal work?
COCKPIT SYSTEM DESIGN FOR GENERAL AVIATION FREE FLIGHT USING A COGNITIVE ENGINEERING APPROACH

The realization of general aviation Free Flight requires advanced cockpit systems to assist pilots in managing information and decision-making. In this paper, the application of cognitive engineering concepts to cockpit system design for general aviation is discussed. The design of an Aircraft Approach and Landing Assistant is presented as an example of this method. Its purpose is to enhance pilot situational awareness, aid pilot decision-making, and reduce pilot workload during the approach and landing phase in an environment with complex weather, traffic and terrain conditions. The ongoing development of the system is based on the cognitive model of general aviation pilots. It is implemented into existing flight software and a real-time, pilot-in-the-loop flight simulation system is developed for its validation. The proposed approach appears to be a promising candidate for designing intelligent cockpit systems and decision-aiding tools for future general aviation Free Flight pilots.
An analysis technique for buried inhomogeneous dielectric objects in the presence of an air-Earth interface

Complex geological structures are modelled in the presence of an air-Earth interface. A cross-borehole configuration of target, source, and receiver is assumed, with the target itself not restricted as to geometrical cross section or complex permittivity value. Two-dimensional method-of-moment formulations are employed, utilizing cylindrical pulse basis functions and point matching. Scattering from buried dielectric objects is computed near the air-Earth interface for both TE and TM incident fields. A Sommerfeld-Green function is used to represent the effect of the air-Earth interface on the incident fields and the impedance matrix. The TE case is examined for scattering of both the copolarized and cross-polarized electric fields, and several examples are given for a cylindrical target at depths that vary from one to twenty four wavelengths, after which the presence of the air-Earth interface can be neglected. Some experimental results utilizing a 1/40th laboratory scale model and a tunnel-like target are also included for comparison. The technique enables the user to investigate electromagnetic scattering from a variety of complex buried objects whose dimensions are typically in or below the resonance region. The simultaneous relaxation of restrictions on cross section, material properties, and burial depth, together with experimental validation, is not found in the literature to date. >
The question of uniqueness in geochemical modeling

Abstract Contrary to prevailing opinion, geochemical models that predict the distribution of species in aqueous fluids do not always give unique results. To constrain calculations of this type, geochemical modelers commonly set the activities of certain dissolved species or fugacities of certain gases and many times assume equilibrium between the fluid and one or more minerals. In such cases, there may be distinct geochemical systems that satisfy equally well the conditions posed by the modeler. The modeling software may locate any of the roots to the governing equations, depending on the point at which iteration begins. Modeling algorithms may favor discovery of one of the roots, but not necessarily the root that is most geochemically meaningful or most appropriate to the problem at hand.
The TRPM ion channel subfamily: molecular, biophysical and functional features

Significant progress in the molecular and functional characterization of a subfamily of genes that encode melastatin-related transient receptor potential (TRPM) cation channels has been made during the past few years. This subgroup of the TRP superfamily of ion channels contains eight mammalian members and has isoforms in most eukaryotic organisms. The individual members of the TRPM subfamily have specific expression patterns and ion selectivity, and their specific gating and regulatory mechanisms are tailored to integrate multiple signaling pathways. The diverse functional properties of these channels have a profound effect on the regulation of ion homoeostasis by mediating direct influx of Ca2+, controlling Mg2+ entry, and determining the potential of the cell membrane. TRPM channels are involved in several physiological and pathological conditions in electrically excitable and non-excitable cells, which make them exciting targets for drug discovery.