cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serum FGF23 Levels in Normal and Disordered Phosphorus Homeostasis

We investigated if the circulating levels of the phosphaturic factor FGF23 are elevated in subjects with XLH. Although we failed to find a statistically significant increase, FGF23 levels were significantly correlated with the degree of hypophosphatemia in XLH. In contrast, FGF23 levels were markedly increased in subjects with ESRD and correlated inversely with the degree of hyperphosphatemia. Introduction: Inactivating mutations of PHEX cause renal phosphate wasting in X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) because of the accumulation of a phosphaturic hormone called phosphatonin. The recent discovery that FGF23 is the circulating phosphaturic factor in autosomal dominant hypophosphatemia raises the possibility that FGF23 is phosphatonin. Methods: Fasting serum FGF23 levels and serum biochemical parameters were measured using a human FGF23 (C-terminal) ELISA assay in 11 subjects with XLH and 42 age-matched controls, 5 subjects with hypophosphatemia of unknown cause, and 14 hyperphosphatemic subjects with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Associations between variables were examined using the Spearman's correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. Results and Conclusions: FGF23 (RU/ml) concentrations were not different (p = 0.11) between control and hypophosphatemic XLH subjects, but were significantly increased in hyperphosphatemic subjects with ESRD (p < 0.001). Western blot analysis found the presence of both full-length and C-terminal FGF23 fragments in serum from ESRD subjects. There was a strong inverse correlation between FGF23 and serum phosphorus (r = −0.60) and calcium and phosphorus (Ca × P) product (r = −0.65) in XLH, and a strong positive relationship between FGF23 and Pi (r = 0.50) and Ca × P product (r = 0.62) in ESRD. FGF23 levels were variably elevated in subjects with hypophosphatemia of unknown cause, one of which had tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO). Removal of the tumor resulted in rapid reduction in serum FGF23 levels. These findings suggest that FGF23 has a possible role in mediating hypophosphatemia in XLH and TIO, but the overlapping levels of FGF23 in hypophosphatemic disorders and normal subjects indicate that serum phosphorus and FGF23 can also be independently regulated.
SUSTAINED SILENT READING: PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION

(1996). SUSTAINED SILENT READING: PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION. Reading & Writing Quarterly: Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 403-406.
Improvement in Gain Stability of the Superheterodyne Mixer Through the Application of Negative Feedback

The superheterodyne mixer may be stabilized by the employment of the difference-frequency voltage as negative feedback. This results in increased gain stability and, for the case of the mixer couple, in increased gain-bandwidth product. Two mixer circuits using feedback are described. Generalized design curves are shown and a design procedure is outlined. A description of the experimental mixers and a discussion of the experimental results conclude the paper.
Fielding a cross shore array of gages in an energetic coastal environment

With decades of experience deploying and recovering gages in the near shore coastal environment we have learned a thing or two about what works and what doesn't. Capturing some of this technical knowledge here may be useful to those working in or planning instrument deployments in the challenging surf zone and cross shore areas. Both the working techniques and some of the failed attempts will be shared for the benefit, and entertainment, of those interested in the challenges of these areas. Techniques employed to obtain deployment durations of up to 6 years will be discussed, as well as, the basic working components or practical aspects, which will be presented in topics such as; Survey Techniques, Instrument Mounts, Pipes and Pods, Antifouling Techniques, Cables and Splices, Deployment Vessels, Diver Operations, Troubleshooting and Fault Isolation. Up-close pre and post deployment pictures and even vendor information will give a real nuts and bolts look at the deployment techniques. Years of experience have given us some knowledge, but if we don't share it, it stays in peoples' heads and goes away with them. It is the authors' hope that an ongoing information exchange or working group will be established for the mutual benefit of those interested. This way the knowledge that is out there can be passed on.
Carchemish ša kišad puratti

Perhaps no other site in the region of northern Syria and south-eastern Anatolia played as important a role in the history of the early first millennium B.C. as Carchemish, “on the banks of the Euphrates.” It is one of the best-documented sites of the period, due to a combination of Neo-Assyrian references and the excavated material of the site itself, including inscriptions, reliefs and large-scale architectural projects initiated by the rulers of Carchemish. All of these documents attest to its immense wealth and power. The site was first explored in the 1870's on behalf of the British Museum, once George Smith had determined that the modern town of Djerabis must be ancient Carchemish; and was subsequently excavated and published under the Museum's auspices. Several encyclopedic compendia published in recent years have summarized in cogent syntheses the information known about Carchemish. Nevertheless, I would like to include this present review of the material as a tribute to Richard D. Barnett – whose own work has been closely associated with the site in particular and with North Syria in general – in order to add a few points regarding the nature of Carchemish and the role played by the state in the history and art-history of the times.
Real-time global Raman imaging and optical manipulation of suspended carbon nanotubes

We demonstrate confocal, direct Raman imaging of carbon nanotubes based on the detection of the $G$-band using an electron multiplying charge coupled detector. Individual carbon nanotubes and bundles of nanotubes are observed in real-time over a large area using global illumination. We use the technique to show that suspended nanotubes can be manipulated selectively with a focused laser beam and describe the relevant physical mechanisms.
The Influences of Optimal Matching and Social Capital on Communicating Support

The optimal matching and social capital perspectives frame present research expectations and interpretations of the network, esteem, informational, and emotional support communication of 3 computer-mediated communication social support groups, each having a different health-promoting purpose. Past research has shown differences in the support communication provided by different groups but has offered little explanation for these differences. The present study uses a comparative analysis of optimal matching and social capital influences to compare and analyze differences in the support communication provided by Alcoholics Anonymous, cancer caregivers, and transgender identity support groups. Results show different patterns of support communication enacted in each. These results provide support for optimal matching and social capital predictions, indicating that the life stressor and group structure affect the social support provided. However, results also demonstrate a need for greater refinement in interpreting the effects of these influences. Each group communicates network, esteem, informational, and emotional support somewhat differently in response to the life stressor and in enacting bridging and bonding social capital. The present comparisons provide a fuller analysis of the optimal matching and social capital influences upon the support communicated in groups than afforded by past research studies and suggests research opportunities for future research.
Degradation of d-glucose with acetic acid and methylamine☆

Abstract Thirteen products have been isolated from degradation of d -glucose with methylamine and acetic acid. Two compounds are responsible for the caramel odor observed in this degradation and have been identified as acetylformoin and 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2 H )-furanone. Two new compounds, 2-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-1-methylpyrrole and 5-hydroxymethyl-1-methylpyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde are reported for the first time. Eleven of the 13 compounds isolated are derivatives of furan or pyrrole.
Proviral Silencing in Embryonic Cells Is Regulated by Yin Yang 1

Embryonic cells transcriptionally repress the expression of endogenous and exogenous retroelements. Trim28, a key player in this silencing, is known to act in a large DNA-bound complex, but the other components of the complex are not fully characterized. Here, we show that the zinc finger protein Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is one such component. YY1 binds to the long terminal repeat (LTR) region of both exogenous and endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Deletion of the YY1-binding site from the retroviral genome leads to a major loss of silencing in embryonic cells and a coordinated loss of repressive histone marks from the proviral chromatin. Depletion of YY1 protein results in marked upregulation of expression of exogenous viruses and of selected ERVs. Finally, we report an embryonic cell-specific interaction between YY1 and Trim28. Our results suggest a major role for YY1 in the silencing of both exogenous retroviruses and ERVs in embryonic cells.
Ultra-linear pulser for testing fast integrating ADCs

Abstract A simple pulser employing a VMOS FET has been built and tested. Over the range of injected charge from 15 to 500 pC, the pulser is found to be linear to better than 0.04%.
A FRET-based assay for the discovery of West Nile Virus NS2B-NS3 protease inhibitors

Abstract The West Nile Virus (WNV) has been a worldwide epidemic since the early 1990s. Currently there are no therapeutic treatments for WNV infections. One particular avenue of treatment is inhibition of the NS2B-NS3 protease, an enzyme that is crucial for WNV replication. In our effort to increase the number of NS2B-NS3 protease inhibitors, we report a novel FRET-based high throughput assay for the discovery of WNV NS2B-NS3 protease inhibitors. For this assay, a FRET-based peptide substrate was synthesized and kinetically characterized with the NS2B-NS3 protease. The new substrate exhibits a Km of 3.35 ± 0.31 μM, a kcat of 0.0717 ± 0.0016 s−1 and a kcat/Km of 21,400 ± 2000 M−1 s−1.
Modeling the effects of HER/ErbB1-3 coexpression on receptor dimerization and biological response.

The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER/ErbB) system comprises the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER1) and three other homologs, namely HERs 2–4. This receptor system plays a critical role in cell proliferation and differentiation and receptor overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis in cancers of the epithelium. Here, we examine the effect of coexpressing varying levels of HERs 1–3 on the receptor dimerization patterns using a detailed kinetic model for HER/ErbB dimerization and trafficking. Our results indicate that coexpression of EGFR with HER2 or HER3 biases signaling to the cell surface and retards signal downregulation. In addition, simultaneous coexpression of HERs 1–3 leads to an abundance of HER2-HER3 heterodimers, which are known to be potent inducers of cell growth and transformation. Our new approach to use parameter dependence analysis in experimental design reveals that measurements of HER3 phosphorylation and HER2 internalization ratio may prove to be especially useful for the estimation of critical model parameters. Further, we examine the effect of receptor dimerization patterns on biological response using a simple phenomenological model. Results indicate that coexpression of EGFR with HER2 and HER3 at low to moderate levels may enable cells to match the response of a high HER2 expresser.
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) reared in brood combs containing high levels of pesticide residues exhibit increased susceptibility to Nosema (Microsporidia) infection

Nosema ceranae and pesticide exposure can contribute to honey bee health decline. Bees reared from brood comb containing high or low levels of pesticide residues were placed in two common colony environments. One colony was inoculated weekly with N. ceranae spores in sugar syrup and the other colony received sugar syrup only. Worker honey bees were sampled weekly from the treatment and control colonies and analyzed for Nosema spore levels. Regardless of the colony environment (spores+syrup added or syrup only added), a higher proportion of bees reared from the high pesticide residue brood comb became infected with N. ceranae, and at a younger age, compared to those reared in low residue brood combs. These data suggest that developmental exposure to pesticides in brood comb increases the susceptibility of bees to N. ceranae infection.
Analysis of the Optimum Precoder in SC-FDMA

The third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) radio standard has adopted a special form of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) method for the uplink of multiple access networks. This method which is called single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) applies a precoding to each user data set in each OFDM symbol to control its peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). Some recent works have proposed minimization of the variance of the instantaneous power of the output signal of the transmitter as a means of reducing PAPR to near its minimum value. However, the studies so far have been based on intuitions and observation of some numerical results. The goal of this paper is to develop a mathematical procedure to further establish the significance of this method. We formulate the problem in the form of a method of Lagrange multipliers and analyze its second-order conditions to confirm analytically that the optimal window is indeed a strict local minimizer. We also analyze and compensate the noise enhancement penalty of the optimal window. Our analysis also leads us to find new window functions that further reduce the PAPR and improve the BER performance.
Universal scaling of the tail of the density of eigenvalues in random matrix models

Abstract Large random matrices have eigenvalue density distributions limited to a finite support. Near the endpoint of the support, when the size N of the matrices is large, one can study a scaling region of size N−μ in which the cross-over from a non-zero density to a vanishing density takes place. This cross-over is shown to be universal (for random hermitian matrices with a unitary-invariant probability distribution), in the sense that it depends only on the order of multicriticality of the problem. For a multicritical point of odd order k, the large-N density vanishes as |λ−λ c | k− 1 2 near λc. The cross-over function of the scaling variables (λc−λ)Nμ and (gc−g)Nν (where g is the coupling constant characterizing the potential or equivalently the cosmological constant of 2D quantum gravity) is related to the resolvent of the Schrodinger operator in which the potential is the scaling function which satisfies the string equation. The exponents are found to be μ= 2 (2k+1) and ν= 2k (2k+1) .
The RAB5-GEF Function of RIN1 Regulates Multiple Steps During Listeria monocytogenes Infection

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogenic bacterium that invades intestinal epithelial cells through a phagocytic pathway that relies on the activation of host cell RAB5 GTPases. Listeria monocytogenes must subsequently inhibit RAB5, however, in order to escape lysosome-mediated destruction. Relatively little is known about upstream RAB5 regulators during L. monocytogenes entry and phagosome escape processes in epithelial cells. Here we identify RIN1, a RAS effector and RAB5-directed guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), as a host cell factor in L. monocytogenes infection. RIN1 is rapidly engaged following L. monocytogenes infection and is required for efficient invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. RIN1-mediated RAB5 activation later facilitates the fusion of phagosomes with lysosomes, promoting clearance of bacteria from the host cell. These results suggest that RIN1 is a host cell regulator that performs counterbalancing functions during early and late stages of L. monocytogenes infection, ultimately favoring pathogen clearance.
Electroconvulsive therapy-induced cortisol release after dexamethasone in depression.

ECT-induced cortisol release was distinctly seen, and fell along a course of ECT in each of 12 inpatient male melancholies (p = 0.00024, binomial), with dexamethasone given to diminish the elevated ba
A comparison of aerobraking and aerocapture vehicles for interplanetary missions

Several design features for employing aerobraking and aerocapture techniques on interplanetary spacecraft are described. Recent studies have identified silica fabrics mounted on carbon composite ribs as suitable aerobraking spacecraft shield materials. Aerocapture is best achieved with a biconic aeroshell design, with the aeroshell supported by Al honeycomb panels and allowing primitive aerodynamic maneuverability. The aeroshell would be covered with thermal protection materials capable of elevated temperatures of magnitudes that are a function of the expected atmospheric density, the surface area, the entry speed, spacecraft mass and maneuverability. Both technologies are concluded ready for implementation and development costs are estimated for various missions, showing that aerocapture will provide for greater payload masses, except for a Jupiter mission.
Moments of truncated bivariate log-normal distributions☆

Abstract In this paper, we derive the expressions for the moments of truncated bivariate log-normal distributions. The results are then applied to test the Houthakker effect in futures markets.
Pragmatic Bioethics and the Big Fat Moral Community

By articulating a Peircean strain of bioethical inquiry, Elizabeth Cooke admirably attempts to avert the anti-realism, subjectivism and focus on consensus that afflict much so-called “pragmatic” bioethics. Yet, like many of her Deweyan colleagues, she falls prey to the egalitarian conviction that inquiry should be undertaken by huge numbers of like-minded individuals, proceeding in accordance with an authoritative canon of rules of discourse. In this essay, I argue that Cooke’s egalitarianism is inconsistent with her apparent commitment to Peirce, and that an alternative, libertarian account of inquiry is better and truer to Peirce.
794–4 Compensated Pulmonic Insufficiency: Is the Right Ventricular Response to Exercise Normal?

Chronic right ventricular (RV) volume overload due to pulmonic insufficiency (PI) can unpredictably lead to irreversible RV failure. We sought to assess the effect of chronic volume overload on RV exercise response. 10 patients (2 male, 8 female, mean age 24 yrs) with compensated moderate to severe PI due to surgically corrected Tetralogy of Fallot or pulmonic stenosis and 7 controls (4 male, 3 female, mean age 29 yrs) were studied on a symptom limited stationary cycle progressive ramp protocol with measurement of VO2 and respiratory quotient. Stress echocardiography was performed at rest and during exercise (mid = RQ 0.85, 100% = peak). RV function was described as end diastolic RV area (RVEDA), end diastolic RV/LV area ratio (RV/LV) and percent systolic RV area change (%RVAΔ), the latter a reflection of RV ejection fraction. Results patients (P) controls (c) rest mid 100% rest mid 100% RVEDA * 28.5 26.4 24.7 19.2 16.1 13.8 RV/LV ** 0.98 0.95 0.97 0.56 0.53 0.49 %RVAΔ† 0.37 0.36 0.34 0.34 0.41 0.43 By ANOVA P vs C * P l 0.005 ** p l 0001 Although there was no significant difference in percent systolic RV area change at rest, in patients RV systolic function declined during exercise as compared with an increase in controls, †p l 0.001. Cardiac index, HR, and BP did not significantly differ between patients and controls. VO2 max was reduced in patients with PI (23.0 vs 38.8 ml/kg/min, p l 0.001), but was not predicted by any resting echocardiographic variable. However, in controls larger RVEDA was associated with a greater exercise capacity. The change in RV systolic performance during exercise was associated with resting RVEDA, RV/LV and %RVAΔ, p l 0.005. Conclusion Patients with compensated significant PI have an abnormal RV response to exercise demonstrable by stress echocardiography. This may have implications for the timing of pulmonic valve replacement.
Configuration and Size Effects on Bond Stress-Slip and Failure Modes of RC Connections

AbstractBond slip of RC structures occurs wherever primary cracks are present. These cracks usually appear at the beam-column and column-foundation joints, for example, when structures are subjected to seismic loadings. As a result, it is imperative to consider bond slip in performing an accurate evaluation of the response of RC structures. The distributions of stress and strain in an embedded rebar vary depending on the geometry, such as concrete cover and embedment length, which are referred to here as configuration effects. Because bond stress and bond slip can be defined as functions of stress and strain of the embedded rebar, respectively, the relationships of bond stress and bond slip also differ. This, in turn, leads to different crack patterns: splitting cracks, shearing-off failures, or no cracks in the concrete. These differing crack patterns also cause distinct governing failure modes involving splitting failure, shearing-off failure, and bar fracture, respectively. Consequently, the relationsh...
Carbon monoxide in the Earth's atmosphere: indications of a global increase

Systematic measurements of CO have been taken over the past six to eight years at sites ranging from within the Arctic Circle to the South Pole, and the results are discussed. The rates of increase of the globally averaged concentration are between 0.8 percent and 1.4 percent per year depending on the statistical method used for estimating the trends. These increases may have gone on for much longer because more than half of the atmospheric CO now comes from anthropogenic sources. The rates of increase are largest at midnorthern and tropical latitudes, where most of the sources are located.
Accessing the switchboard via set forcing

We force a property of cardinals first proved relatively consistent by Sargsyan, that of being supercompact but not -supercompact, starting from a model of set theory which does not satisfy and that contains supercompact cardinals.
International Tutelage and Domestic Political Will: Building A New Civilian Police Force in El Salvador

Under peace accords signed in January of 1992, a new civilian police force replaced the military as the sole agency responsible for providing internal security in El Salvador. This new institution has the potential to substantially transform the relationship of citizen and state, to improve both human rights and public safety, and, eventually, to reduce tensions in civil-military relations. Despite extensive international participation in and verification of this project, however, implementation proved difficult. Political polarization and lack of political will on the part of the government initially undercut the civilian character of the project, while the international community proved unable or unwilling to provide sufficient material assistance. Significant improvements took place under a new presidential administration, which had greater will to implement the project as designed.
Trends in treatment of localized prostate cancer by radical prostatectomy: Observations from the Commission on Cancer National Cancer Database, 1985–1990

Abstract Objective. Tumor registry data were studied to assess the magnitude and nature of the trend toward increased use of radical prostatectomy for the treatment of newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer. Methods. The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons National Cancer Data Base aggregates data from hospital tumor registries located throughout the United States. Data from this resource on 4,531 patients treated in 1985, 25,028 treated in 1988, and 21,697 treated in 1990 were reviewed. Results. The data indicate that selection of radical prostatectomy increased markedly over this interval. Use of radical prostatectomy was greatest in younger men in every year studied. The proportion of patients treated by radical prostatectomy was greatest in the western United States and least in New England and the mid-Atlantic region. Radical prostatectomy was associated with patients' socioeconomic status and race as well as with the hospital's caseload of patients with cancer. Conclusions. The pattern of care for localized prostate cancer is changing significantly. Further research is needed to assess whether these variations reflect differences in access to care or patterns of patient preference.
Precipitation in a CrCr2Nb alloy

The microstructure of a Cr-Cr{sub 2}Nb two-phase alloy containing 12 at.% Nb was examined in the as-cast and annealed conditions using optical and electron microscopy techniques. In the as-cast condition, a Cr solid-solution matrix and a eutectic mixture of Cr solid solution and C15 Cr{sub 2}Nb coexist. In the Cr matrix, adjacent to the Cr-Cr{sub 2}Nb interface, dislocations are observed and are likely a consequence of the thermal mismatch between the two phases. The matrix solid solution, away from the eutectic Cr{sub 2}Nb, also exhibits a high dislocation density and intense deformation bands; no solid-state precipitation of Cr{sub 2}Nb in the matrix had occurred. Upon annealing for as little as 3 h at 1,200 C, however, precipitation occurs; these precipitates, with the C15 crystal structure, have a rod morphology with a hexagonal cross-section and faceted end-caps. These precipitates are twinned, the twinning system being the same as in the eutectic Cr{sub 2}Nb. Mismatch dislocations are observed in the precipitate/matrix interface and dislocations arising from thermal contraction mismatch are also present in the Cr matrix adjacent to the precipitate matrix interface. The precipitate-matrix orientation relationship was (101){sub m}{parallel}(1{bar 1}1){sub p} and [{bar 1}01]{sub m}{parallel}[{bar 1}01]{sub p}. Exposure at 1,200 C formore » extended times results in some precipitate coarsening. A second type of precipitate with a cube-on-cube orientation with the matrix and a lattice parameter of a {approx_equal} 11.5 {angstrom} was occasionally observed, persisted upon extended annealing, and was identified as an M{sub 6}C-type carbide (M = Cr, Nb) that may be stabilized by other interstitial contaminants such as oxygen.« less
Self-monitoring as a mediator of weight loss in the SMART randomized clinical trial.

Background Integral components of behavioral weight-loss treatment include self-monitoring of diet and physical activity along with feedback to participants regarding their behaviors. While providing feedback has been associated with weight loss, no studies have examined the impact of feedback frequency on weight loss or the mediating role of self-monitoring adherence in this relationship.
Eye of the Beholder: Phone-Based Text-Recognition for the Visually-Impaired

Blind and visually-impaired people cannot access essential information in the form of written text in our environment (e.g., on restaurant menus, street signs, door labels, product names and instructions, expiration dates). In this paper, we present and evaluate a mobile text-recognition system capable of extracting written information from a wide variety of sources and communicating it on-demand to the user. The user needs no additional hardware except an ordinary, Internet- enabled mobile camera-phone - a device that many visually-impaired individuals already own. This approach fills a gap in assistive technologies for the visually- impaired because it makes users aware of textual information not available to them through any other means.
Membrane responses to extracellular ATP in rat isolated white adipocytes.

We used whole-cell and perforated-patch voltage-clamp methods to study the membrane electrical properties of isolated rat epididymal and inguinal white adipocytes. We examined cells from both Sprague-Dawley and Zucker lean and Zucker obese (fa/fa) rats. A delayed-rectifier potassium current was present and similar in unstimulated white fat cells from all these sources. The potassium current activated rapidly with depolarization positive to about –30 mV and showed slow inactivation. Stimulation with extracellular ATP activated both hyperpolarizing and depolarizing conductances. ATP exposure also increased cell membrane capacitance by an average of 16%, suggesting that ATP activates exocytosis. Exposure to norepinephrine had little electrophysiological effect. We conclude that white adipocytes are very similar to brown adipocytes in their resting electrophysiological profile and in their responses to extracellular ATP.
Hangman’s Fracture in an Osteogenesis Imperfecta Patient

Background Traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis, also known as a hangman’s fracture, is a well-described entity but is relatively uncommon. There are only two published reports of these fractures occurring in pediatric patients with osteogenesis imperfecta, a disorder that predisposes patients to long bone fractures. Case Description We present a unique case of an adult woman with osteogenesis imperfecta who sustained an Effendi type II hangman’s fracture. Conclusion Effendi type II fractures can be conservatively managed via rigid or nonrigid cervical orthosis.
Rejoinder to David Friedman on the Economics of Anarchy

The received wisdom once stated that anarcho-capitalism would collapse into Hobbes's state of nature, with life nasty, short, and brutish. The problem of competing governments is the problem of externality par excellence. But David Friedman, among others, has argued persuasively that privately financed arbitration agencies can overcome the basic externalities problems behind social order. Unfortunately the matter is not so simple, because the state a coercive monopoly on the use of force may reemerge. Like most advocates of libertarian anarchy, Friedman wishes to have it both ways. Private protection agencies are supposed to be able to produce public goods by cooperating. But somehow collusion, which is a public good for the firms in question (if not for all of society), is supposed to be impossible or unstable. My initial piece argued that the same mechanisms that encourage interagency cooperation also would allow agency collusion. Friedman's comment has not changed my mind about the soundness of this conclusion. The industry for protection services is particularly vulnerable to collusion because it is what I call a network industry. Specifically, the industry is characterized by the following features:
Mechanisms of Bacillus subtilis spore resistance to and killing by aqueous ozone.

AIMS To determine the mechanisms of Bacillus subtilis spore killing by and resistance to aqueous ozone. METHODS AND RESULTS Killing of B. subtilis spores by aqueous ozone was not due to damage to the spore's DNA, as wild-type spores were not mutagenized by ozone and wild-type and recA spores exhibited very similar ozone sensitivity. Spores (termed alpha-beta-) lacking the two major DNA protective alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins exhibited decreased ozone resistance but were also not mutagenized by ozone, and alpha-beta- and alpha-beta-recA spores exhibited identical ozone sensitivity. Killing of spores by ozone was greatly increased if spores were chemically decoated or carried a mutation in a gene encoding a protein essential for assembly of the spore coat. Ozone killing did not cause release of the spore core's large depot of dipicolinic acid (DPA), but these killed spores released all of their DPA after a subsequent normally sublethal heat treatment and also released DPA much more readily when germinated in dodecylamine than did untreated spores. However, ozone-killed spores did not germinate with either nutrients or Ca(2+)-DPA and could not be recovered by lysozyme treatment. CONCLUSIONS Ozone does not kill spores by DNA damage, and the major factor in spore resistance to this agent appears to be the spore coat. Spore killing by ozone seems to render the spores defective in germination, perhaps because of damage to the spore's inner membrane. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY These results provide information on the mechanisms of spore killing by and resistance to ozone.
The Expression of Heat Shock Protein 70 Decreases with Age in Lymphocytes from Rats and Rhesus Monkeys

The ability of cells to express heat shock proteins in response to a stress such as heat is universal to all organisms and is believed to play a critical protective role. Therefore, it was of interest to determine the influence of aging on the ability of lymphocytes to express the heat shock protein hsp70 in response to a heat shock (42.5 degrees C for 1 h). Splenic lymphocytes isolated from old (24-26 months) rats showed a marked decrease in the induction of hsp70 protein levels or hsp70 synthesis when compared to lymphocytes isolated from young (4-5 months) rats. An age-related decrease in the induction of hsp70 levels by heat also was observed in peripheral lymphocytes isolated from rhesus monkeys. The decline with age in the induction of hsp70 by lymphocytes from rats was paralleled by a decrease in the induction of hsp70 mRNA and the nuclear transcription of hsp70. In addition, it was found that the ability of extracts from heat-shocked lymphocytes to bind the heat shock element (HSE) decreased approximately 50% with age. Therefore, it appears that the reduced ability of lymphocytes from old rats to express hsp70 in response to a heat shock occurs at the level of transcription because of an alteration in the ability of the heat shock transcription factor to bind the HSE on the promoter of the hsp70 gene. The age-related decrease in the induction of hsp70 appears to be physiologically important because the viability of spleen lymphocytes exposed to high temperatures decreases significantly with age.
The effect of species diversity on metal adsorption onto bacteria

Abstract In this study, we measure proton, Pb, and Cd adsorption onto the bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans, Thermus thermophilus, Acidiphlium angustum, Flavobacterium aquatile, and Flavobacterium hibernum, and we calculate the thermodynamic stability constants for the important surface complexes. These bacterial species represent a wide genetic diversity of bacteria, and they occupy a wide range of habitats. All of the species, except for A. angustum, exhibit similar proton and metal uptake. The only species tested that exhibits significantly different protonation behavior is A. angustum, an acidophile that grows at significantly lower pH than the other species of this study. We demonstrate that a single, metal-specific, surface complexation model can be used to reasonably account for the acid/base and metal adsorption behaviors of each species. We use a four discrete site non-electrostatic model to describe the protonation of the bacterial functional groups, with averaged pKa values of 3.1 ± 0.3, 4.8 ± 0.2, 6.7 ± 0.1, and 9.2 ± 0.3, and site concentrations of (1.0 ± 0.17) × 10−4, (9.0 ± 3.0) × 10−5, (4.6 ± 1.8) × 10−5, and (6.1 ± 2.3) × 10−5 mol of sites per gram wet mass of bacteria, respectively. Adsorption of Cd and Pb onto the bacteria can be accounted for by the formation of complexes with each of the bacterial surface sites. The average log stability constants for Cd complexes with Sites 1–4 are 2.4 ± 0.4, 3.2 ± 0.1, 4.4 ± 0.1, and 5.3 ± 0.1, respectively. The average log stability constants for Pb complexes with Sites 1–4 are 3.3 ± 0.2, 4.5 ± 0.3, 6.5 ± 0.1, and 7.9 ± 0.5, respectively. This study demonstrates that a wide range of bacteria exhibit similar proton and metal adsorption behaviors, and that a single set of averaged acidity constants, site concentrations, and stability constants for metal–bacterial surface complexes yields a reasonable model for the adsorption behavior of many of these species. The differences in adsorption behavior that we observed for A. angustum demonstrate that genetic differences do exist between the cell wall functional group chemistries of some bacterial species, and that significant exceptions to the typical bacterial adsorption behavior do exist.
THE WORD FROM YALE

Romantic Re-Vision: Culture and Consciousness in Nineteenth-Century American Painting and Literature by Bryan Jay Wolf, Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 1982, 272 pp., 63 ills, $30 hardback, $15.95 paperback
Alternative stochastic specifications of the frontier production function in the analysis of agricultural credit programs and technical efficiency

Abstract The effect of subsidized credit on the technical efficiency of traditional farmers in Southeastern Brazil is analyzed under two alternative stochastic specifications for the production frontier. It is found that the choice of stochastic specification significantly influences inferences regarding the effect of subsidized credit on measured technical efficiency.
Relationships between psychological safety climate facets and safety behavior in the rail industry: A dominance analysis

The goals of this study were twofold: (1) to confirm a relationship between employee perceptions of psychological safety climate and safety behavior for a sample of workers in the rail industry and (2) to explore the relative strengths of relationships between specific facets of safety climate and safety behavior. Non-management rail maintenance workers employed by a large North American railroad completed a survey (n = 421) regarding workplace safety perceptions and behaviors. Three facets of safety climate (management safety, coworker safety, and work-safety tension) were assessed as relating to individual workers' reported safety behavior. All three facets were significantly associated with safety behavior. Dominance analysis was used to assess the relative importance of each facet as related to the outcome, and work-safety tension evidenced the strongest relationship with safety behavior.
Toward a More Complete Science of Human Behavior: Behaviorology Plus Institutional Economics

In this essay, I explore what economic science in partnership with behaviorological science might offer in constructing a more complete science of human behavior. My focus is on institutional economists, a community of heterodox economists who have an evolutionary understanding of culture and thus a close affinity to the behaviorological view of culture. I contrast mainstream (neoclassical) economics with institutional economics, provide an overview of the latter, and suggest some topics of mutual interest: namely, the instrumental-ceremonial dichotomy, the analysis of power relations, methodological individualism, and the definition of institution augmented with the concept of macrocontingency. I conclude with a call for the cross-disciplinary collaboration of institutional economists, cultural materialists, critical Marxists, radical behaviorists, and other evolutionary/materialistic behavioral scientists.
Enhancing the robustness of distributed compression using ideas from channel coding

We investigate the self error resilience of practical distributed source coding (DSC) approaches at the presence of residual transmission errors. It is firstly shown that the existing asymmetric syndrome-former inverse-syndrome-former framework (ASIF), although simple, general and optimal for the noiseless-channel case, is not sustainable to transmission errors. The vulnerability stems from the underlying binning approach. Using ideas from channel coding, we illuminate a subtle relation between the binning approach and the parity approach, and demonstrate, through the examples of convolutional codes, how the former can be transformed to the latter for stronger self error resilience. Simulation results confirm that the new scheme is much more robust and less error-sensitive than the existing ASIF scheme
Introduction: Translational Science Lectures

Among the most significant trendsin science over the past decade is onetoward translational research—workthat spans the continuum from labo-ratory science to practical applica-tion. The translational model, some-times also known as ‘‘bench tobedside,’’ seeks to build bridges acrossresearch areas and disciplines, promot-ingcross-fertilizationofideas.Muchofthe best work in behavior analysis is ofthis translational character. To high-light this research in behavior analysis,a special program track at the 2009Association for Behavior AnalysisInternational (ABAI) convention wascreated. Cosponsored by the ABAIPractice and Science Boards, the key-note events in this special track weretwo sessions—one on stimulus controlin autism and one on behavioralmomentum—withthecontributingau-thors invited to submit papers forpublication in The Behavior Analyst.The result is the present collection ofpapers.Stimulus Control in AutismIn the early days of autism researchand practice, consequence strategiesfor increasing skills and decreasingbehavioral challenges were empha-sized (Ferster, 1961). Lovaas’s earli-est autism work employed simplediscrimination procedures drawn di-rectly from the laboratory (Lovaas,1967). However, even in the earlyyears it was recognized that autism isdistinguished by unusual responses toantecedentstimuli(Lovaas&Schreib-man, 1971). It is widely recognizedtoday that lack of control by, andinappropriate responses to, anteced-ent stimuli are important distinguish-ing features of autism (AmericanPsychiatric Association, 1994, p. 72).Specifically, children and youth withautism may exhibit no spoken lan-guageinresponsetosocialorlanguagestimuliemanatingfromothers,ormayfailtorespondtosymbolicmeaningofwords or other symbols (AmericanPsychiatric Association, 1994, p. 75).McIlvane’s paper examines trans-lational behavior analysis, linkingnonhuman laboratory research oncomplex stimulus control proceduresto studies with individuals with au-tism and other developmental dis-abilities. Based on matching-to-sam-ple methodology originally developedby Sidman and Tailby (1982), McIl-vane, Dube, and colleagues haveconducted extensive research demon-strating that many individuals whohad heretofore been believed to beincapable of developing symboliclanguage skills, could be taught suchskills (McIlvane et al., in press). Theirmethods derived directly from non-human laboratory research and lab-oratory research with individualswith developmental disabilities. McIl-vane argues that translational behav-ior analysis is a two-way street, withknowledge generated by applied re-search feeding back and enrichingsubsequent laboratory investigations.Koegel, Shirotova, and Koegelexamine a problem practitioners inschools and home-based therapysettings often encounter when work-ing with young children with autism
E-015 Onyx embolization of facial arteriovenous malformations

Introduction Vascular malformations of the head and neck encompass a wide range of lesions, including lymphatic malformations, hemangiomas, venous malformations and true arteriovenous malformations. Treatment of these lesions is challenging because of the vital structures in the region as well as the need to preserve function and aesthetics. The mainstay of treatment has been reconstructive surgery and glue embolization. Onyx is an ideal embolization material; however, its use has been limited due to concerns of tattooing the skin. We present three cases of high flow facial arteriovenous malformations effectively embolized transarterially and/or percutaneously with Onyx without complication. Case presentation Patient No 1 is a 22-year-old man with arteriovenous malformation of the right lower lip with a high flow fistulous component. The patient presented because of prominence of the lower lip and daily episodes of pulsatile bleeding from the lip. Patient No 2 is 16-year-old woman with a left malar arteriovenous malformation (AVM) who presented because of asymmetric prominence of her left cheek that was intermittently painful and occasional episode of epistaxis. Patient No 3 is an 11-year-old girl with a large left maxillary AVM who presented with multiple episodes of epistaxis, bleeding from her mouth after brushing her teeth and emesis consisting of swallowed blood. Results The three patients were successfully embolized utilizing either a transarterial or percutaneous approach with Onyx. Specifically, patient No 1 had embolization of the facial artery and lower lip AVM in two stages. There was some tattooing of the lower lip which was acceptable as it was within the planned resection field. There were no other areas of tattooing along the remainder of the lip, lateral commisure or chin. Patient No 2 had transarterial embolization of the descending palatine artery and sphenopalatine arteries with cure. No tattooing of the left check or nasolabial fold was seen. She has persistent hypertrophy of the left cheek soft tissues and is planned for reconstructive molding of the cheek. Patient No 3 had embolization of the sphenopalatine artery, descending palatine artery and facial artery as well as direct percutaneous embolization of her maxillary AVM. No tattooing of her cheek, lips, oral mucosa or gums were noted. Conclusion Transarterial and percutaneous embolization of facial AVMs can be safely performed with little risk of tattooing the skin or mucosal surfaces.
Spatial Measurement of Viability in Tissue Phantoms and Ex Vivo Bladder Tissue in Response to Photothermal Therapy and Single Walled Carbon Nanohorns

Cancer is one of the most deadly diseases and leading cause of death. Laser based photothermal therapy can provide a minimally invasive alternative to surgical resection. The selectivity and effectiveness of laser therapy can be greatly enhanced when photoabsorbing nanoparticles such as nanoshells, single walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, or single wall carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) are introduced into the tissue[1]. Quantitative methods for measuring tumor response to nanoparticle enhanced laser therapies are critical for determining appropriate laser parameters and nanoparticle properties needed to achieve maximum therapeutic benefit. We have previously reported a new method for measuring two dimensional (2D) spatial viability distributions in cell monolayers in response to laser irradiation and nanoparticles. This method has been refined to allow determination of cell viability in three dimensions (3D) within a more physiologically representative tumor volume. This refined method was used to determine the viability of breast cancer cells suspended within sodium alginate tissue phantoms following treatment with SWNHs and external laser irradiation. The tumor treatment volume was accurately quantified in response to varying laser treatment parameters and nanoparticle concentrations. Spatial cellular viability was also measured in ex vivo pig bladders in response to SWNHs and laser irradiation to provide a more anatomically relevant environment. These new measurement methods enable quantification of spatial viability and therapeutic effectiveness, using 3D tumor environments which are more representative than cell monolayers.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Creating Difference: Neo-Liberalism, Neo-Conservatism and the Politics of Educational Reform

This article raises questions about current educational reform efforts now underway in a number of nations. Research from a number of countries is used to document some of the hidden differential effects of two connected strategies—neo-liberal inspired market proposals and neo-liberal, neo-conservative, and middle class managerial inspired regulatory proposals, including national curricula and national testing. This article describes how different interests with different educational and social visions compete for dominion in the social field of power surrounding educational policy and practice. In the process, it documents some of the complexities and imbalances in this fiel do f power. These complexities and imbalances result in “thin” rather than “thick” morality and tend toward the reproduction of both dominant pedagogical and curricular forms and ideologies and the social privileges that accompany them.