Elastohydrodynamic theory for wet oblique collisions

This paper presents a model for oblique collisions of spherical particles with a plane surface covered with a thin liquid layer. Elastohydrodynamic theory developed previously for fully immersed collisions [Davis, Serayssol and Hinch 1986 JFM 63 479-497] is modified for the normal component of motion to account for the finite thickness of the liquid layer. The resulting time evolution of the film thickness profile is then used along with sliding lubrication to determine the tangential component of motion. The critical Stokes number (dimensionless ratio of particle inertia and viscous forces), below which no rebound is seen, is predicted in terms of the physical properties of the materials involved in the collision, as described by a compliance parameter representing a dimensionless measure of elastic deformation due to viscous forces. Beyond the critical Stokes number, the normal restitution coefficient is found to increase with the Stokes number and the compliance parameter, asymptoting to the dry restitution coefficient at high Stokes numbers. The lubrication suction resistance during rebound is limited by cavitation. The tangential restitution is independent of the impact angle and is linearly dependent on the ratio of the fluid layer thickness to the sphere radius, in addition to depending on the Stokes number and compliance parameter. The tangential restitution is found to be close to unity and is generally higher for a larger value of the compliance parameter. Moreover, the tangential restitution is seen to increase with the Stokes number at small compliance and decrease with the Stokes number at large compliance. The change in rotational velocity exhibits trends that are the reverse of the tangential restitution. Finally, closed-form expressions have been developed for describing the restitution coefficients and dimensionless change in rotational velocity.     

Complementary Tasks to Measure Working Memory in Distinct Prefrontal Cortex Subregions in Rats.

Acquisition of odor-guided or visually-guided delayed win-shift behavior was evaluated in rats after lidocaine-induced inactivation within the agranular insular area of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) or the prelimbic area of the PFC. Additional sites and tasks were used to control for neuroanatomical and behavioral specificity of lidocaine inactivation of the agranular insular and prelimbic areas. Results showed that acquisition of the odor-guided delayed win-shift task was dependent on the agranular insular area, whereas acquisition of the visually-guided version was dependent on the prelimbic area. This dissociation suggests that the stimulus modality used is critical for revealing working memory functions of different PFC subregions. The described methods provide a complementary means to study working memory in PFC subregions using a radial-arm maze. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Note on the Statistical Dynamics of Two Mutually Phase-Locked Oscillators

This note demonstrates that the behavior of two mutually synchronized phase-locked oscillators using delay compensation is equivalent to that of a first-order loop with the loop parameters degraded by the residual uncompensated delays of the system. In particular, the probability density of phase differences between the two oscillators is derived and the numerical results are also presented. The cycle slipping rate is easily obtained from this density.     

Influence of sex, estrous cycle, and drug-onset age on cocaine self-administration in rats (Rattus norvegicus).

The influence of sex, phase of the estrous cycle, and age of drug onset on cocaine self-administration was examined. Adult male, adult female, and adolescent male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were evaluated using low fixed-ratio (FR) schedules of drug delivery with a single fixed cocaine unit dose or a range of cocaine unit doses with a single FR schedule. Sex differences in adults were observed for mg/kg consumption of the 3.0-mg/kg unit dose, with consumption being significantly less in estrus females than in males. Over the estrous cycle, mg/kg consumption of this unit dose was significantly less during estrus than during metestrus-diestrus. Differences due to age of drug onset were also observed, with mg/kg consumption of the 3.0-mg/kg unit dose being significantly less in adolescent males than adult males or adult females during metestrus-diestrus. In contrast, these various groups did not have significantly different mg/kg intakes of cocaine unit doses     

Magnesium deficiency alters aggressive behavior and catecholamine function.

Magnesium is an abundant mineral in the brain and is important for monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis and receptor binding. It should, therefore, have behavior-altering effects. Three experiments were conducted to determine the influence of magnesium deficiencies on aggressive behavior and catecholamine function in mice. There were concentration- and time-dependent reductions in offensive aggressive behavior with magnesium deficiencies. Defensive behavior was affected in a manner opposite to that of offensive behavior. Upon administration of low doses of apomorphine and l-amphetamine, less dopamine- and norepinephrine-related behavior occurred with less magnesium in the diet. These reductions also showed a time dependency. These data demonstrate that magnesium has an influence on aggressive behavior in mice. Also, a magnesium deficiency is capable of altering the potency of catecholamine stimulating drugs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

LIQUID PHASE BACKMIXING IN BUBBLE COLUMN REACTORS—A NEW CORRELATION

Bubble column reactors are widely used in many industrial applications due to their simplicity of operation. Although simple to operate, bubble columns are difficult to scale-up due to the uncertainties in the estimation of some non-adjustable design parameters. One of these design parameters is the liquid phase backmixing.

The present work proposes a new correlation to estimate the liquid phase backmixing in bubble column reactors. The correlation is based on principles originally developed for flow through porous media and uses experimental data obtained over a wide range of operating conditions. This correlation is simple to use and requires parameters which are easily available or can be measured on a small scale apparatus. The proposed correlation shows a significant improvement over available literature correlations and is applicable to three phase systems as well.     

Cognitive task performance after lidocaine-induced inactivation of different sites within the basolateral amygdala and dorsal striatum.

To determine whether discrete components of amygdaloid and striatal memory systems could interact to guide behavior in a radial arm maze, conditioned cue preference (CCP) and win–stay accuracy were examined after lidocaine inactivation of either the rostral (rBLA) or caudal (cBLA) basolateral amygdala, the lateral (1DST) or medial (mDST) dorsal striatum, or a control site in rats. CCP expression was blocked only after rBLA or cBLA inactivation. IDST inactivation prevented attainment of criteria win–stay performance, whereas rBLA and mDST inactivation delayed it. Control site inactivation did not influence performance in either task. These findings suggest that the amygdala works independently of other memory systems to regulate learned responses in the CCP task, the rBLA may work cooperatively with the 1DST to guide behavior in the win–stay task, and the mDST is less critical than the 1DST for attaining criteria performance in the win-stay task. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Advancing the spontaneous hypertensive rat model of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

To advance the spontaneous hypertensive rat (SHR) model of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), experiments examined the SHR in tasks recognized to assess functioning of the prefrontal cortex or dorsal striatal. Tasks included odor-delayed win-shift (nonspatial working and reference memory), win-stay (habit learning), and attentional set-shifting (attention and behavioral flexibility). In Experiment 1, the SHR strain was compared with Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar-Kyoto Hypertensive (WKHT) strains on the first 2 tasks. In Experiment 2, oral methylphenidate (1.5 mg/kg) and vehicle (water) were evaluated on all 3 tasks in SHR and WKY strains. Results demonstrated that the SHR made significantly more errors in the odor-delayed win-shift, win-stay, and attentional set-shifting tasks compared with the WKY. Similar performances in the WKY and WKHT indicated that deficits observed in the SHR were not related solely to hypertension. Treating the SHR with methylphenidate eliminated strain differences in all 3 tasks. These findings provide evidence that the SHR is a valid model for studying ADHD-associated neurocognitive deficits. Moreover, the current behavioral approach is appropriate to assess novel medications developed to target ADHD-associated neurocognitive deficits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modulation of the discriminative stimulus and rate-altering effects of cocaine by competitive and noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists

Preschool antecedents of the use of defense mechanisms were longitudinally studied using data from 90 nursery school children who were again evaluated at age 23. Defense use was determined by coding Thematic Apperception Test (H.A. Murray, 1943) stories with a method previously shown to be reliable and valid. The findings indicated continuity between preschool personality and subsequent defense use for male participants but little continuity for female participants. Young men's use of the age-inappropriate defense of denial was predicted by indications at ages 3-4 of low ego resiliency and psychological difficulties in the areas of emotion, intellect, impulse control, and social interactions.     

E-cadherin regulates anchorage-independent growth and survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Integrin-basement membrane interactions provide essential signals that promote survival and growth of epithelial cells, whereas loss of such adhesions triggers programmed cell death. We found that HSC-3 human squamous carcinoma cells survived and grew readily as monolayers, but when they were suspended as single cells, they ceased proliferating and entered into the apoptotic death pathway, characterized by DNA fragmentation. In contrast, if the suspended carcinoma cells were permitted to form E-cadherin-mediated multicellular aggregates, they not only survived but proliferated. However, aggregated normal keratinocytes were unable to survive in suspension culture and rapidly became apoptotic. Anchorage independence and resistance to apoptosis of HSC-3 cell aggregates required high levels of extracellular Ca2+ and was inhibited with function-perturbing anti-E-cadherin antibody. Resistance to suspension-induced apoptosis in cell aggregates paralleled the up-regulation of Bcl-2 but occurred in the absence of focal adhesion kinase activation. Analysis of suspension-induced death in a set of cloned squamous epithelial cell lines with different levels of E-cadherin expression revealed that receptor-positive cell clones evaded apoptosis and proliferated in three-dimensional aggregate culture, whereas cadherin-negative clones failed to survive. Collectively, these observations indicate that cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesions generate a compensatory mechanism that promotes anchorage-independent growth and suppresses apoptosis.