cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pre- and postsynaptic actions of noradrenaline and clonidine on myenteric neurons.

Abstract Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists inhibit nicotinic excitatory postsynaptic potentials and reduce calcium dependent action potentials in myenteric neurons. To test the hypothesis that adrenergic inhibitory effects on action potential configuration and on inhibition of acetyicholine release from the nerve terminal are analogous processes, the pharmacological characteristics and underlying mechanisms of these two effects were compared in neurons of the myenteric plexus in the guinea pig. Both clonidine and noradrenaline reduced the nicotinic fast excitatory postsynaptic potential in a concentration dependent manner, although the maximum effect produced by noradrenaline was greater. The specific alpha-2 antagonist RX781094 blocked the action of noradrenaline, with an apparent K d value of3.8 ± 1 nM . Clonidine was similarly antagonized by low concentrations of this compound. The potassium channel blocker barium prevented inhibition of the fast excitatory postsynaptic potential by clonidine but not by noradrenaline. Action potentials recorded from after-hyperpolarization neurons with cesium chloride filled electrodes were prolonged in duration due to the blockade by cesium of outward potassium movement. Under these conditions, noradrenaline reduced action potential duration and slowed the rate of rise of the calcium dependent component in the presence of tetrodotoxin. RX781094 antagonized the latter effect with an estimated apparent K d of5.8 ± nM . The rate of rise of the calcium dependent action potential was not affected by clonidine (30 nM to 1 /gmM). In the absence of potassium channel blockers noradrenaline caused hyperpolarizations which were blocked by RX781094. It has been previously shown that clonidine hyperpolarizes myenteric neurons via an adrenergically mediated increase in potassium conductance. 17 It was concluded that the characteristics of presynaptic inhibition of release by noradrenaline and clonidine parallel the respective actions of these agonists on action potential configuration. While all clonidine effects could be explained on the basis of an increase in potassium conductance, noradrenaline exerted an additional inhibitory action which persisted in the presence of potassium channel blockade by barium or cesium.
An alternative to "A public choice theory of the Great Contraction"

In the October 1988 edition of this journal Anderson, Shughart and Tollison (1988: 4) argued that "restrictive monetary policy of the Fed in the 1929-1933 period was ... rational, self-interested behavior." They contend that what Friedman and Schwartz wrongly interpreted as inept monetary policy was actually the calculated campaign of a bureaucracy bent on consolidating its power base. They imply that the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, in order to purge nonmember banks, purposely disregarded policy options that would have greatly reduced bank failures, increased the money supply, and hastened economic recovery. Anderson et al. (hereafter AST their regressions a meaningless mathematical exercise; and their public choice interpretation of Fed intentions, a mirage. Although the percentage of commercial banks belonging to the Fed steadily increased during the Great Contraction, AS&T's 5 to 1 failure rate ratio is seriously misleading. It is based upon a severely limited historical context and misinterpretations of both hazard rates and rates of change.
A Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Instrument for Analyzing Dust Wipe Samples for Lead: Evaluation with Field Samples

Dust wipe samples collected in the field were tested by nondestructive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) followed by laboratory analysis with flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS). Data were analyzed for precision and accuracy of measurement. Replicate samples with the XRF show high precision with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.97 (P<0.0001) and an overall coefficient of variation of 11.6%. Paired comparison indicates no statistical difference (P=0.272) between XRF and FAAS analysis. Paired samples are highly correlated with an R2 ranging between 0.89 for samples that contain paint chips and 0.93 for samples that do not contain paint chips. The ICC for absolute agreement between XRF and laboratory results was 0.95 (P<0.0001). The relative error over the concentration range of 25 to 14,200 μg Pb is −12% (95% CI, −18 to −5). The XRF appears to be an excellent method for rapid on-site evaluation of dust wipes for clearance and risk assessment purposes, although there are indications of some confounding when paint chips are present.
Synthesis of two rigid diacylglycerol analogues having a perhydro furo[3,2-b]furan bis-γ-butyrolactone skeleton. 3.

Abstract The stereoselective synthesis of two rigid diacylglycerol analogues starting from L-arabinose is described. The construction of the desired bicyclic bis-butyrolactone structure was accomplished via intramolecular radical cyclization. Both compounds ( 3a and 3b ) showed poor binding affinity for PK-C.
Tissue distribution of N‐14C‐azure C (methylthionine) in the rat

Abstract The distribution of radioactivity at 5‐, 10‐, and 15‐min intervals following the intravenous administration of N ‐ 14 C‐azure C was determined. The concentrations of radioactivity observed indicated that radioactive derivatives of azure C would not be useful pancreas or parathyroid scanning agents.
Magnetic focusing in the Sco X-1 radio source

There has been much theoretical discussion of the confinement of the radio jets associated with extragalactic radio sources. There are now several examples of sources where the minimum pressure inferred in the jets appears to exceed the external gas pressure, which suggests that magnetic pinching may be playing an important part in the confinement. This issue has been highlighted by recent remarkable observations, using the Very Large Array, of the radio lobes associated with the galactic X-ray source Sco X-1 by Fomalont et al. We argue here that these results necessitate magnetic focusing and that this also strengthens the case for magnetic focusing in the extragalactic sources. We show that a sufficient overpressure with respect to the ambient interstellar medium can be achieved if the radius of the jet is reduced by a factor 10–100, and the converging flow becomes dissipative. The radio lobes which form at that point quickly die out again due to electron expansion losses in the now rapidly diverging jet. On the basis of this model it is predicted that the Faraday rotation changes sign across the radio lobes, and that the shape of the lobes should be conical with the apex pointing towards Sco X-1.
Correction of deletions in mammalian cells by gene conversion.

We have constructed substrates to study the conversion of deletions in mammalian cells both extrachromosomally and after the stable integration of the substrates into the chromosome. These substrates were designed to study gene conversion without the complication of reciprocal recombination events. The substrates contain insertion or deletion mutations of the neomycin resistance gene (neo)and an internal, homologous fragment of the neo gene neo-526,such that gene conversion from neo-526to the mutated neogene restores a functional neogene. We have shown that extrachromosomally insertions of 10 bp or deletions of 22 or 167 bp are converted to wild-type at similar frequencies (1–6 × 10−4 Chromosomal gene conversion occurred at frequencies of about 10−6–10−7 per cell generation. As expected from the experimental design, all recombination events analyzed in mammalian cells using these substrates appear to be due to gene conversion.
Elevation of intracellular calcium levels in outer hair cells by trimethyltin.

Abstract Outer hair cells are thought to modulate sensitivity of the peripheral auditory system to sound and they are frequently targets of injury by ototoxicants. These cells show an unusual motility that is thought to be critical to their physiological role and it is known that persistent contraction can be stimulated by an enhancement in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca 2+ ]i). Trimethyltin (TMT) disrupts functioning in the outer hair cell in vivo and produces a persistent contraction of these cells in vitro . Experiments were designed to determine whether TMT can alter [Ca 2+ ]i levels in isolated outer hair cells maintained in primary culture and to determine the source of such an increase. Parallel positive and negative controls were included to ensure that cell depolarization using K + did produce the expected enhancement of [Ca 2+ ]i and that exogenous glutamate stimulation produced no shift in [Ca 2+ ]i. Outer hair cells do not have glutamate receptors. The [Ca 2+ ]i of isolated outer hair cells from guinea pigs were monitored dynamically using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fura 2, after application of TMT (30 μM −1 mm), KCl (70 mm) or glutamate (100 μM). Cells exposed to TMT show a slow but persistent [Ca 2+ ]i increase that is observed with TMT concentrations as low as 30 μM and is maximal at 100 μM. The elevation in [Ca 2+ ]i cannot be attenuated by using low calcium medium or by pretreating the cells with nifedipine, an L-type Ca 2+ -channel blocker. This suggests strongly that elevation of [Ca 2+ ]i in outer hair cells by TMT is not mediated by Ca 2+ channels or by a general impairment in the cells' ability to exclude extracellular Ca 2+ but, rather, results from release of calcium from intracellular stores.
Induced chemical defenses in a freshwater macrophyte suppress herbivore fitness and the growth of associated microbes

The freshwater macrophyte Cabomba caroliniana induces a chemical defense when attacked by either the crayfish Procambrus clarkii or the snail Pomacea canaliculata. Induction by either consumer lowers the palatability of the plant to both consumers. When offered food ad libitum, snails feeding on non-induced C. caroliniana grew 2.6–2.7 times more than those feeding on induced C. caroliniana. Because snails fed less on induced plants, this could be a behavioral effect (reduced feeding), a physiological effect of the induced metabolites on the consumer, or both. To assess these possibilities, we made artificial diets with lipid extracts of induced versus non-induced C. caroliniana and restricted control snails to consuming only as much as treatment snails consumed. Growth measured as shell diameter was significantly lower on the diet containing extract from induced, as opposed to non-induced, plants; change in snail mass was more variable and showed a similar, but non-significant, trend. Thus, snails may reduce feeding on induced plants to avoid suppression of fitness. The induced defenses also suppressed growth of co-occurring microbes that might attack the plant through herbivore-generated feeding scars. When two bacteria and three fungi isolated from C. caroliniana surfaces were cultured with the lipid extract from induced and non-induced C. caroliniana, both extracts inhibited the microbes, but the induced extract was more potent against three of the five potential pathogens. Thus, induced plant defenses can act against both direct consumers and microbes that might invade the plant indirectly through herbivore-generated wounds.
Dynamics of cross-polarization-stimulated orientation scattering in a nematic liquid-crystal film

We have studied the dynamic evolution of stimulated cross-polarization scattering in a nematic liquid-crystal film. The effect is initiated by two-beam coupling between a cw incident polarized laser and its orthogonally polarized multifrequency noise components scattered by fluctuations in the director axis. Complex time- and intensity-dependent oscillations and energy exchanges among the pump and stimulated waves were observed. Imparting an ac modulation to the film further amplified the characteristic oscillations while it suppressed the background noise. The conditions for stimulated laser generation and the observed frequency spectra of the intensity oscillations are in good agreement with a quantitative theory that accounts for the temporal-spatial dependence of the wave mixing process.
Solutions of a Certain Partial Differential Equation.

The partial differential equation ∂u/∂t = x(∂^2u/∂x^2 – u) is readily seen to possess the two particular solutions U1 = xe^(-x tanh t) sech^2t, U2 = e^(-x coth t).
Relationship between cardiac glycogen and tolerance to anoxia in the Western painted turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of anoxia on tissue glycogen and blood was studied in the Western painted turtle, Chrysemsys picta bellii. 2. 2. Normal turtles were found to have high concentrations of cardiac glycogen. 3. 3. During anoxia there was rapid depletion of cardiac glycogen slow depletion of skeletal muscle and liver glycogen, and a rapid, marked elevation in blood glucose. 4. 4. The high initial cardiac glycogen concentration alone did not account for the prolonged tolerance of the turtles for anoxia, since the ventricles were almost completely-depleted of glycogen in a fraction of the total time the animals survived in nitrogen.
Mutations in the Sindbis Virus Capsid Gene Can Partially Suppress Mutations in the Cytoplasmic Domain of the Virus E2 Glycoprotein Spike

Abstract Assembly and budding of alphaviruses are postulated to occur by protein–protein interactions between sites on the cytoplasmic domain of the transmembranal envelope E2 glycoprotein and on the surface of the nucleocapsid protein subunits. Genetic data to support this model have been obtained by isolating revertants of two slow-growth mutants of Sindbis virus and analyzing the sequences of the genes encoding their structural proteins. The slow-growth phenotypes of the mutants were previously shown to result from site-directed mutations of 2 amino acids in the sequence corresponding to the 33 amino acids at the carboxyl terminus of E2, which are localized to the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane. Putative revertants of these two mutants with faster growth rates were isolated by sequential passaging of virus grown on insect cells or chicken embryo fibroblasts. Sequence analysis of plaque-purified viruses that grew significantly better than the original mutant revealed that the original E2 mutation was present and that there were additional amino acid changes in the virus capsid. Two of the latter were introduced separately into the wild-type virus cDNA and into the genomes of the original mutants. The new strains of virus that contained both capsid and E2 mutations produced many more extracellular particles than those with the E2 mutations alone, indicating substantial suppression of the original E2 mutation. Both capsid mutations appear to be localized near a hydrophobic pocket of the capsid, which is postulated to be the site for docking of hydrophobic amino acids of the E2 cytoplasmic domain. This genetic study provides strong support for the current models of alphavirus assembly.
On the pole assignment in linear systems with fixed order compensators

The theory of pole assignment in linear time invariant systems with incomplete state measurements is generalized to include the case in which a controllable observable plant of order n is augmented by a compensator of fixed dimensionality p (0≤p<n). The maximum sot of eigenvalues that can be preassigned arbitrarily is specified. The results previously available are shown to be particular cases of the theory proposed in the present paper, and Davison's (1970) algorithm is extended so as to apply to fixed order compensators design.
Competition between different metabolic demands for oxygen consumption in the kidney

Abstract 1. 1. Experiments were done in isolated perfused rat kidneys. When sodium reabsorption (TNa) was increased 42% by raising the pressure of perfusion and thereby increasing glomerular nitration rate 39% oxygen consumption (QO2) remained unchanged (3.7 vs 3.4 mmol. min−1, g−1). 2. 2. In kidneys where gluconeogenesis was stimulated by pretreatment with methylprednisolone (3 mg per 100 g i.m. for 3 days) gluconeogenesis fell 77% when TNa was increased 58% while QO2 remained constant. 3. 3. Inhibition of gluconeogenesis with 3-mercaptopicolinate (0.15 mM) resulted in an 18% in QO2 when TNa was increased by 56%. 4. 4. These experiments indicate that TNa and gluconeogenesis can compete for energy requirements in the kidney. The renal tubular cells appear to be able to borrow from non-transport energy requiring processes to pay for the cost of transport.
Psychological Considerations in Dentistry

Dentistry is practiced in the context of the dentist-patient relationship, a relationship that develops according to the psychology of both the patient and the dentist. Potential complications of the relationship have their source in the dentist’s character and emotional needs, the patient’s character, and, on occasion, the patient’s actual psychological illness.
Thermal stabilization of human albumin by medium- and short-chain n-alkyl fatty acid anions.

A comprehensive study of the thermal stabilization of defatted human albumin monomer by n-alkyl fatty acid anions (FAAs), formate through n-decanoate, was carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The concentration of each ligand affording maximum thermal stabilization was determined; n-nonanoate provides the greatest stabilization but is only marginally better than n-octanoate and n-decanoate. The use of reversible thermodynamics and a two-state denaturation model for albumin has been validated. Standard free energies of binding, calculated from increases in free energy of denaturation, for n-butanoate and longer FAAs, are linear with n-alkyl chain length whereas those for formate, acetate, and n-propionate deviate from linearity; those for acetate and n-propionate are even greater than that of n-butanoate, thereby suggesting, in addition to the common class of sites available to all such ligands, the presence of an additional class of lower affinity binding sites available only to these shortest ligands. Competition experiments involving acetate and n-octanoate and involving n-pentanoate and n-octanoate confirmed the binding of acetate to lower affinity sites unavailable to n-octanoate and n-pentanoate. Furthermore, an equation is provided, allowing computation of the transition temperature as a function of the free energy for any reversible process causing a change in thermal stability of a protein undergoing reversible, two-state denaturation. With this equation, modeling the competition experiments by using the binding parameters determined by DSC provides additional support for the class of lower affinity sites, which play a significant role in thermal stabilization of albumin at higher concentrations of these shortest FAAs. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 81: 235–248, 2006 This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Quantum-mechanical description of coherent spontaneous emission

In this paper we consider the general problem of coherent spontaneous emission of a system of N two-level atoms coupled to a single-mode e.m. field (1). The system shall be considered enclosed in a travelling-wave cavity in order to avoid the complications due to the spatial degree of freedom of the e.m. field. Following DICKE (1), the initial state is assumed to have definite population difference 2d, and co-operation number J ; no photon is initially present. The first assumption on the initial state implies that the atoms radiate coherently and the second that the system starts evolving via purely spontaneous emission. The first quantum-mechanical s tatement of this problem has been lucidly made by DICK]~ (1) several years ago, and the solution was found in the framework of first-order t ime-dependent perturbation theory. In the following our aim is to remove such limitation, giving a full quantum solution, at least in the case where the co-operation number J is much bigger than 1. The interaction Hamiltonian is
meeting summary: Second Northeast Regional Operational Workshop

Abstract The Second Northeast Regional Operational Workshop, focusing on hydrometeorology in the northeastern United States, was held 7–8 November 2000 in Albany, New York. Sessions in cold season events, warm season events, and operational techniques were presented. A special session, conducted by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, was devoted to a review of Eta Model performance for the 24–26 January 2000 east coast snowstorm. A summary of workshop presentations is provided.
Roles of two homotetrameric kinesins in sea urchin embryonic cell division

Abstract To improve our understanding of the roles of microtubule cross-linking motors in mitosis, we analyzed two sea urchin embryonic kinesin-related proteins. It is striking to note that both of these proteins behave as homotetramers, but one behaves as a more compact molecule than the other. These observations suggest that these two presumptive motors could cross-link microtubules into bundles with different spacing. Both motors localize to mitotic spindles, and antibody microinjection experiments suggest that they have mitotic functions. Thus, one of these kinesin-related proteins may cross-link spindle microtubules into loose bundles that are “tightened” by the other.
IESP Exascale Challenge: Co-Design of Architectures and Algorithms

There is a large gap between the peak performance of supercomputers and the actual performance realized by todayâs algorithms. This architectureâalgorithm performance gap will get even wider with the increase in computing power being driven by a rapid escalation in the number of cores incorporated into a single chip rather than increases in the clock rate. In order to improve the effectiveness of peta and exascale systems we need to have a paradigm shift where architectures and algorithms are co-designed.
The relationship of student‐faculty out‐of‐class communication to instructor immediacy and trust and to student motivation

Since research has established the important and positive relationship between informal student‐faculty interactions and student retention, this study investigated the relationship between immediacy, trust, and student motivation and student‐faculty out‐of‐class communication (OCC). Results indicate that verbal immediacy and student motivation are related to OCC.
Blood-protein allele frequencies and phylogenetic relationships in Macaca: A review.

Allele-frequency data have been assembled for 35 blood-protein loci in 17 of 19 recognized species of Macaca based on 29 published electrophoretic studies; studies of inbred captive colonies have been excluded. Data for 22 polymorphic loci are tabulated in detail for 43 geographic populations of these species. Calculated FST values provide a measure of intergroup genetic differentiation at various hierarchical levels-troop, locality, province, country or island, species, species group; polymorphism indices measure genetic variation. The greatest intraspecific genetic differentiation occurs at the level of island populations within species. The pattern of genetic variation among island populations appears to be relictual, suggesting that the reduced genetic variability of island populations of macaques is a result of postisolation genetic drift rather than founder effect. Interspecific relationships were investigated by means of a jackknifed Fitch-Margoliash algorithm, using Papio as outgroup. Phylogenetic inferences based on morphology and zoogeography. The reduced genetic variability that frequently characterizes insular macaque populations complicates phylogenetic interpretation of blood-protein evidence.
Human Capital Formation and General Equilibrium Treatment Effects: A Study of Tax and Tuition Policy

Policies to promote human capital formation have been advocated as a remedy for reducing the economy-wide problem of rising wage inequality. These policies are national in character and are designed to substantially alter the proportion of the work-force that is skilled. Yet the methods used to evaluate these policies are partial equilibrium in nature and do not take account of the consequences of the changes in skill prices that are produced by the policies. This paper summarises our research on general equilibrium evaluation of tuition and tax policies. We compare estimates of policy impact from our approach with those obtained from conventional partial equilibrium ‘treatment effect’ approaches to policy evaluation, and find substantial differences. Conventional partial equilibrium approaches present an overly optimistic view of what tax and tuition policy can achieve because they ignore the change in human capital investment levels induced by the change in prices due to the policy. In addition, conventional partial equilibrium approaches fail to provide an accurate assessment of the welfare consequences of these policies.
FCAPT uvby Photometry of the mCP Stars HD 20629, HR 3724, 45 Leo, and HD 192678

The Four College Automated Photoelectric Telescope obtained differential Stromgren uvby observations of the magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars HD 20629, HR 3724, 45 Leo, and HD 192678. HD 20629, a moderately large amplitude variable, has a period of 2.9934 days. Analyses of this new photometry with published uvby values show that HR 3724 and 45 Leo had periods of 33.984 and 1.44404 days, respectively, for at least 30 yr. New observations of HD 192678 refine the period of this small- amplitude variable to 6.4193 days. Online material: color figures, extended table
Early Events of the Heat Shock Response

The 70-kilodalton heat shock protein (hsp-70) is central to the cellular stress response: almost all organisms express an hsp-70 analog. Hsp-70 is thought to protect the cell against stress-initiated protein denaturation and aggregation by binding hydrophobic residues exposed upon protein unfolding. Despite decades of research using biochemical and biophysical techniques, the exact mechanism with which hsp-70 interacts with its co-chaperones and selects its target proteins is still unknown. We use FRET fluorescence microscopy to watch fluorescently labeled hsp-70 bind unfolding protein targets with spatial and temporal resolution both in vitro and in live cells. Proteins are unfolded via steady state heating and infrared temperature jump with a time resolution of 50 ms. We find that hsp-70 binds a destabilized mutant of phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) at ∼40°C in vitro and in cells, which is very close to the protein melting temperature. We also find that when temperatures are increased up to 50°C, hsp-70 does not bind a stable PGK mutant, which melts at 55°C. Other tested protein substrates are also bound by hsp-70 in a melting temperature dependent interaction in cells. These results and future experiments will help us shed light on the molecular mechanism used by hsp-70 to protect the cell against protein denaturation and aggregation.
On the Programmability and Performance of Heterogeneous Platforms

General-purpose computing on an ever-broadening array of parallel devices has led to an increasingly complex and multi-dimensional landscape with respect to programmability and performance optimization. The growing diversity of parallel architectures presents many challenges to the domain scientist, including device selection, programming model, and level of investment in optimization. All of these choices influence the balance between programmability and performance. In this paper, we characterize the performance achievable across a range of optimizations, along with their programmability, for multi- and many-core platforms - specifically, an Intel Sandy Bridge CPU, Intel Xeon Phi co-processor, and NVIDIA Kepler K20 GPU - in the context of an n-body, molecular-modeling application called GEM. Our systematic approach to optimization delivers implementations with speed-ups of 194.98×, 885.18×, and 1020.88× on the CPU, Xeon Phi, and GPU, respectively, over the naive serial version. Beyond the speed-ups, we characterize the incremental optimization of the code from naive serial to fully hand-tuned on each platform through four distinct phases of increasing complexity to expose the strengths and weaknesses of the programming models offered by each platform.
City of lights? The waning elitism of US correspondents in Paris between 1998 and 2010

This qualitative study presents findings from in-depth interviews conducted with US foreign correspondents based in France in 1998 and in 2010. This longitudinal research investigated differences in the sociodemographic profiles of an elite group of reporters and attempted to discern the evolution of journalistic practices at two distinct time periods. Results suggested an overall waning elitism among correspondents, an erosion of Paris’s international news value for US media, as well as the deontological threat posed by the Internet for a comprehensive and thorough foreign coverage. Overall, through the longitudinal analysis of Paris-based correspondents, this study presents the gradual neglect of France by American media.
Path integrator contributions to hippocampal map formation

Skaggs and McNaughton's (J. Neurosci. 18(20) (1998) 8455) experiment in which rats shuttled between two visually identical boxes provided a clear demonstration of stable partial remapping in hippocampal place cells. Any satisfactory theory of hippocampal map formation must account for both the degree of remapping and the stability of the partially remapped state. We suggest that a weak path integrator (PI) input causes the remapping observed in this experiment. A computer simulation shows that while Hebbian learning on CA3 recurrent connections can draw maps together, concurrent Hebbian potentiation of the PI projection onto CA3 helps to stabilize the partially remapped state.
Challenges in Securing India's Water Future

The agriculture sector in India accounts for more than 85% of the total water use for irrigation. Within irrigation, the share of groundwater in the net irrigated area is around 50% to 55%, which is responsible for two-thirds of the total agricultural production. Agriculture also accounts for non-point-source pollution that arises from excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides. The Green Revolution was partly based on increased fertilizer use and intensive irrigation. During the past three decades, food production was tripled and poverty witnessed a decline. However, agriculture intensification led to overexploitation and pollution of groundwater resources, causing degradation of the environment and depletion of natural resources. Over and above, absence of significant public investment in surface water-based irrigation infrastructure, free or highly subsidized electricity, unregulated groundwater pumping, and irrational pricing policies have promoted cropping choices independent of resource endowments ...
Internet use leads cancer patients to be active health care consumers

Abstract Objective This study examines whether cancer patients’ Internet use leads them to prefer a more active role in medical decision making and whether the effects of Internet use on active participation preferences vary according to patients’ education levels. Methods Randomly drawn sample ( N = 2013) from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry, comprised of breast, prostate, and colon cancer patients, completed mail surveys in the fall of 2006 (overall response rate = 64%). Of 2013 baseline respondents, 85% agreed to participate in follow-up survey ( N = 1703). Of those who agreed, 76% ( N = 1293) completed follow-up surveys in the fall of 2007. Results Cancer patients’ Internet use for health information at wave one led them to want to be more active participants in medical decision making at wave two ( β = .06, p Conclusion Higher levels of Internet use among cancer patients may lead patients to want to be more actively involved in medical decision making. Practice Implications Considering the beneficial effects of patients’ active participation in medical decision making, it will be worthwhile for health educators to recommend Internet use to cancer patients.
Nanotechnology progress and future opportunities: 2000–2020

Nanotechnology R&D has changed its focus, industrial relevance and governance since 2000 when was proposed in various national programs as a key science and technology development for 21st century [1]. This presentation outlines the progress in foundational knowledge development, its current status supporting about $80 billion production incorporating nanoscale components only in the United States, and likely evolution towards a general purpose technology by 2020. Nanotechnology has already powerful implications in knowledge foundation, advanced materials, catalysts, nanoelectronics, molecular medicine, energy conversion and storage. While general trends publications, patent publications, nanotechnology market and R&D funding continue to grow at an average annual rate of about 25%, the content of research and complexity of the new applications is changing significantly about 2010. In the next decade, the focus of R&D is expected to shift to direct measurements on three-dimensional domains, science - based design of fundamentally new products based on complex nanosystems, and serving new areas of relevance such as quantum information systems. An increased focus will be on system nanotechnology as applied to sustainable resources including water, food, energy, materials and clean environment.
APPLICATION OF A DISSOLUTION-DIFFUSION MODEL TO THE RELEASE OF 5-FLUOROURACIL FROM POLYMER MICROSPHERES

A theoretical discussion of drug release from microspheres is provided and a model-based predictive algorithm developed. The model verification step includes literature data describing the release profile of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) from poly(lactic acid) polymer. Material balance equations were written to describe drug transport from a porous sphere. The model included combined effects of dissolution, diffusion, and void fraction on the release of 5-FU and was validated against in vitro experimental data. Analyses, conducted on published 5-FU release test data, revealed that the process was governed by a dissolution-diffusion mechanism. Approximately 1.5 million microspheres were formed; the drug density, diffusivity, and dissolution rate constant were estimated at 1.110 g/cm3, 2.324 × 10−15 m2/s, and 17.60 g/m3h, respectively. The dissolution rate was faster than the rate of diffusion by a ratio of 12.79 to 1. Manipulation of the microsphere porosity was an effective way to influence the diffusion-controll...
Bilateral medial temporal lobe damage does not affect lexical or grammatical processing: evidence from amnesic patient H.M.

In the most extensive investigation to date of language in global amnesia, we acquired data from experimental measures and examined longitudinal data from standardized tests, to determine whether language function was preserved in the amnesic patient H.M. The experimental mea- sures indicated that H.M. performed normally on tests of lexical memory and grammatical function, relative to age- and education-matched control par- ticipants. Longitudinal data from four Wechsler subtests (Information, Com- prehension, Similarities, and Vocabulary), that H.M. had taken 20 times between 1953 (preoperatively) and 2000, indicated consistent performance across time, and provided no evidence of a lexical memory decrement. We conclude that medial temporal lobe structures are not critical for retention and use of already acquired lexical information or for grammatical process- ing. They are, however, required for acquisition of lexical information, as evidenced in previous studies revealing H.M.'s profound impairment at learn- ing new words. Hippocampus 2001;11:347-360. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Analysis of thermal ignition in supersonic flat-plate boundary layers

The ignition of the supersonic boundary layer flow of a combustible mixture over a flat plate is studied through both direct numerical integration and activation energy asymptotics. Since ignition can be induced through either internally generated viscous heating or heat transfer from a hot wall, analyses are conducted for both an adiabatic wall and an isothermal wall whose temperature can be either higher or lower than the maximum frozen temperature in the flow. The analyses provide a description of the flow structure under various ignition situations, especially the extent of flow non-similarity and the interaction between the inner reaction region and the outer frozen regions. Explicit expressions for the ignition distance are obtained for all ignition situations, and the corresponding effects of the physical parameters on the ignition delay are also assessed. Specifically, it is demonstrated that, for low free-stream Mach number M∞, the ignition distance increases linearly with M∞ because of the decreased residence time, and for high M∞ it decreases exponentially with M∞ because of viscous heating. Results from the asymptotic analyses are found to compare well with those obtained from the direct numerical integration.
Penicillin interaction with guanosine

Abstract Because of the widespread use of penicillins as antibacterial agents, the question of how penicillin affects the function and structure of nucleic acids becomes of biological importance. This communication reports a nuclear magnetic resonance study which shows that penicillin-G interacts with guanosine in dimethyl sulfoxide and can break the strong guanosine-cytidine pairing by forming a binary hydrogen-bonded complex of penicillin-guanosine. The binding sites in penicillin are the carboxylate and the carbonyl groups, while the NH and NH 2 groups of guanosine act as hydrogen donors.
Sentencing: Must justice be even-handed?

The question considered is whether a convicted criminal has been treated unjustly if the only reason he receives a much heavier sentence than another criminal convicted of the same crime is that he came before a different judge. The answer offered is that such a criminal would not be treated unjustly. The principle of equality in punishment, properly understood, does not forbid even such gross disparities in sentence (though it also does not require them). The paper discusses the 1978 Model Sentencing and Corrections Act in detail and has important consequences for the current movement to reform punishment to assure “just deserts”.
Psychosurgery for Obesity

Because of the current widespread performance of antiobesity surgery, more common than coronary bypass in the USA, this editorial is compulsory reading for all people treating obese patients. The explosive increase in antiobesity surgery over the last decade [1] emanated from: i) perfection of safer, less traumatic laparoscopic surgical approaches, especially beneficial for obese patients, ii) increasing public awareness of the magnitude and severity of obesity owing to industryfunded ‘infomercials’ with the promise of new drugs and products (including laparoscopic circumgastric bands) and, finally, iii) broader acceptance of the research supporting a biological basis of the disease of obesity, no longer vilified as an immoral character disorder unworthy of costly cosmetic operations (except in some religious, ideological quarters). Nevertheless, surgical treatment is still grossly underutilized. Expanded access is rejected as being an unrealistic means to curb the epidemic [2] although operations are the only methods for achieving durable medically significant weight loss with proven cardiometabolic benefit, indeed reducing mortality and adding years of improved quality of life [3, 4]. Surgical treatment is no longer too risky or too expensive: although the upfront investment is large, it is amortized after 4 years without taking into account patient productivity [5]. No other treatment consistently delivers maintained weight loss beyond 4 years [6–8]. Just the same: all attention should be focused on prevention of obesity rather than treatment. There are several important problematic aspects of peerreviewed publications on antiobesity surgery that must be clarified. The following attempts to address three issues. Before discussing two broad translatable problems, it is necessary to have a clear generic understanding of the most common operations. Most Common Operations
Binding of yeast frataxin to the scaffold for Fe-S cluster biogenesis, Isu.

Friedreich ataxia is caused by reduced activity of frataxin, a conserved iron-binding protein of the mitochondrial matrix, thought to supply iron for formation of Fe-S clusters on the scaffold protein Isu. Frataxin binds Isu in an iron-dependent manner in vitro. However, the biological relevance of this interaction and whether in vivo the interaction between frataxin and Isu is mediated by adaptor proteins is a matter of debate. Here, we report that alterations of conserved, surface-exposed residues of yeast frataxin, which have deleterious effects on cell growth, impair Fe-S cluster biogenesis and interaction with Isu while altering neither iron binding nor oligomerization. Our results support the idea that the surface of the β-sheet, adjacent to the acidic, iron binding ridge, is important for interaction of Yfh1 with the Fe-S cluster scaffold and point to a critical role for frataxin in Fe-S cluster biogenesis.
COINTEGRATION BETWEEN U.S. WHEAT MARKETS

. Average monthly price data from twelve hinterland markets and the Houston port price for wheat are studied in a cointegration framework using the Engle-Granger “two-step” procedure and Johansen's maximum likelihood procedure. Out-of-sample forecasts from an error correction model are compared to those from a vector autoregression fit to levels and a univariate autoregression fit to first differences. This comparison suggests that modeling these (cointegrated) data as a levels vector autoregression, rather than as an error-correction process, results in significantly higher error bias, but lower error variance, at long horizons.
Distribution of boron in the Tip Top pegmatite, Black Hills, South Dakota

Experimental evidence has shown the importance of boron on the crystallization behavior of granitic systems; however, the intercrystalline and intracrystalline distribution of boron in mineral phases crystallizing from granitic systems is not well documented. The distribution of boron between coexisting phases in the Tip Top pegmatite, South Dakota, is as follows: beryl ca = quartz ca = triphylite ca = montebrasite ca = potassium feldspar < biotite < albite < muscovite < spodumene << tourmaline. The bulk boron content of the Tip Top pegmatite decreases significantly with the termination of tourmaline crystallization. The significant decrease in boron in the inner zones of the pegmatite is consistent with the depletion of boron in the granite melt by either the crystallization of tourmaline from the granitic melt or the partitioning of boron into an exsolved aqueous solutions. 35 references.
The effect of acyl-group composition on the rate of acyltransferase-catalyzed synthesis of lecithin

Abstract The acyltransferase rates for 66 combinations of substrates (6 acylglycerolphosphorylcholines and II acylcoenzyme A derivatives) were measured using an enzyme preparation from pig liver. The results support the earlier findings with ratliver enzymes showing that the position to be acylated was more significant than the composition of fatty acids in the I-acylglycerolphosphorylcholine.
Evaluation of Sunflower Meal as a Protein Supplement for Lactating Cows

Abstract Isonitrogenous concentrate rations containing 60% of the crude protein from either soybean meal (50% crude protein) or sunflower meal (37% crude protein) were fed at 1 kg/3kg milk produced to 10 cows each during a 16-wk lactation trial. All cows received corn silage ad libitum and 2.5kg alfalfa-brome hay daily. Milk yields and composition were not affected by diet. Averages for soybean meal and sunflower meal fed cows were: milk, 21.2 and 21.1 kg/day; fat, 3.96 and 3.87%; protein, 3.44 and 3.44%; and solids-not-fat, 8.85 and 8.89%. Milk casein nitrogen, serum protein nitrogen, and nonprotein nitrogen concentrations were not affected by ration. Feed composition and changes in body weight were not affected by ration. Ruminal ammonia 3 to 4h postfeeding was slightly higher (8.62 versus 7.17mg/100ml) in sunflower meal-fed cows, possibly reflecting the greater solubility of the sunflower meal protein in the rumen. Volatile fatty acids in the rumen were not affected by ration although concentrations of several acids tended to be higher in cows fed sunflower meal. Rumen pH was lower in sunflower meal-fed cows. Protein from sunflower meal is equivalent to that from soybean for lactating cows.
Adaptive identification, observation, and control of certain linear systems

It has been recently shown that adaptive observers may achieve an arbitrarily-fast rate of convergence if the dynamic order of the observer is sufficiently large. This paper investigates the behavior of an adaptive observer with regard to the choice of design parameters and to the magnitude of parameter, ignorance for the case where arbitrarily-fast convergence is guaranteed and the lower-order cases for which assurance of arbitrarily-fast convergence has not been given. A controller for the arbitrarily-fast placement of plant poles of stable systems is presented, also with evaluation
Synthesis and thermal reactions of 3-trimethylsilyl-1-pyrazoline

Abstract The compound 3-trimethylsilyl-1-pyrazoline has been synthesized by addition of diazomethane to vinyltrimethylsilane at room temperature. In contrast, addition of trimethylsilyldiazomethane to ethylene at 55°C yields 1-trimethylsilyl-2-pyrazoline exclusively. The thermal isomerization of 3-trimethylsilyl-1-pyrazoline to 1-trimethylsilyl-2-pyrazoline has been followed kinetically by proton NMR spectroscopy and the reverse reaction has been detected by gas phase pyrolysis. Thermal elimination of nitrogen from either pyrazoline leads to cyclopropyltrimethylsilane, allyltrimethylsilane and E - and Z -1-propenyltrimethylsilane. The relative rates of methylene-H migration to radical centers α and γ to silicon are approximately equal.
SU-FF-T-24: Comparison of Endobronchial HDR Brachytherapy Using CT Imaging and Conventional Simulator Filming

Purpose: To compare the clinical merit of endobronchial HDR based on CTimaging and conventional simulator films. Method and Materials: The tumor locations within the lung and trachea were first identified and defined with bronchoscopy (FigA). Next a catheter was inserted in conjunction with a dwell position x‐ray marker. Subsequently, the patient underwent either simulator filming or CT scanning for HDR treatment planning. For simulator filming, two orthogonal films were taken to define the tumor location and dose reference points (FigB&C). For CT, the area containing the bronchial target was scanned (FigD). Unlike simulator filming, 3D contouring of the tumor and the reference dose points can be obtained with CT in compliance with actual clinic requirements. Isodose distributions and tumordose volume histograms (DVH) in both techniques were compared. Results: The simulator filming technique has an advantage of time efficiency. FigC shows the isodose distribution using simulator films. The treatment time durations on each dwell position are fairly constant. Since the tumor volume was defined by estimation, DVHs have little significance. Also, there is a magnification deviation of the tumor volume if the catheter is not always along the gantry axis. For large patients (lateral separation > 40cm), image quality diminishes resulting in uncertainty of isodose distribution coincidence to the tumor. FigE illustrates the CTimages isodose distribution. The isodose distribution in each CTimage changes from slice to slice and conformal to the tumor, thus reducing dose toxicity to adjacent tissues. It is in contrast to the monotonic one of the simulator films plan. The DVH is now more significance for analysis. Conclusions: Despite procedure time and cost saving with conventional simulator filming, CTimaging is favored for endobronchial HDR in terms of isodose conformity to the tumor and normal functional tissue toxicity reduction.