cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proficiency Testing in Forensic Toxicology: A Feasibility Study

This study has shown that a national proficiency testing program in forensic toxicology is feasible. Samples that resemble typical case specimens were prepared and shipped to approximately 100 laboratories. Participation varied between 61 and 73%. Tissue samples obtained from laboratory animals can be used to simulate those encountered by forensic toxicologists. This has been demonstrated using liver homogenates from animals administered pentobarbital and methaqualone and propoxyphene and acetaminophen. There was a large coefficient of variation however, for the quantitation of acetaminophen in liver. The qualitative data obtained during the course of this study showed a very low incidence of false positives. However, there was a disappointingly low percentage of positive responses for (a) low concentrations of secobarbital and (b) the opiate narcotics (morphine and codeine) in blood, despite the fact that sensitive immunoassay procedures are available for detecting these particular compounds in blood samples. The quantitative determination of drugs and metabolites, other than ethanol, shows wide interlaboratory variation. This variation is presumably not a result of the use of different analytical techniques, since gas liquid chromatography was used by the majority of participants to quantitate drugs and metabolites. Forensic toxicologists are willing to participate in a voluntary proficiency testing program conducted by an independent agency. The performance data developed in this study can serve as a baseline for current forensic toxicology laboratory functional capability in the assessment of future changes and improvements in analytical forensic toxicology.
Grammar, Intonation and Discourse Information

The paper extends the theory of syntax and intonation in [13] and [14] to a wider inventory of categories of discourse meaning.
Clinical Supervision of Psychotherapy: Essential Ethics Issues for Supervisors and Supervisees

Clinical supervision is an essential aspect of every mental health professional's training. The importance of ensuring that supervision is provided competently, ethically, and legally is explained. The elements of the ethical practice of supervision are described and explained. Specific issues addressed include informed consent and the supervision contract, supervisor and supervisee competence, attention to issues of diversity and multicultural competence, boundaries and multiple relationships in the supervision relationship, documentation and record keeping by both supervisor and supervisee, evaluation and feedback, self-care and the ongoing promotion of wellness, emergency coverage, and the ending of the supervision relationship. Additionally, the role of clinical supervisor as mentor, professional role model, and gatekeeper for the profession are discussed. Specific recommendations are provided for ethically and effectively conducting the supervision relationship and for addressing commonly arising dilemmas that supervisors and supervisees may confront.
Speaker independent digit recognition with reference frame-specific distance measures

This work defines novel distance measures for speech recognition which: 1. Model the statistical interaction between adjacent speech frames, 2. Model the statistical characteristics of different speech sounds individually, 3. Are specifically designed to differentiate between confusable speech sounds. Speaker independent recognition tests performed on the Texas Instruments multi-dialect isolated digit data base give substitution rates as low as 0.6 % with a vocabulary of 11 digits.
Sigma receptors regulate contractions of the guinea pig ileum longitudinal muscle/myenteric plexus preparation elicited by both electrical stimulation and exogenous serotonin

Sigma receptors are specific, highly localized binding sites in limbic and sensorimotor structures of the brain that interact with many psychotropic drugs. These agents include the psychotomimetic benzomorphan opiates, the psychotomimetic drug phencyclidine and its analogs, as well as numerous typical and atypical antipsychotics such as haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and the novel drugs BMY 14802 and rimcazole. So far, no physiological function has been assigned to these binding sites. We have synthesized a number of novel sigma receptor- active drugs derived from the selective sigma ligand N,N′-di(o- tolyl)guanidine (DTG). DTG and its congeners were found to inhibit contractions of the guinea pig ileal longitudinal muscle/myenteric plexus (LMMP) preparation evoked by electrical stimulation. In addition, the sigma ligands noncompetitively antagonized contractions of the LMMP preparation evoked by serotonin (5-HT). The 5-HT-evoked contractions were found to be largely due to 5-HT9s activation of 5-HT3 receptors to release ACh. The activity of DTG congeners in inhibiting electrically or 5-HT-evoked contractions of the LMMP highly correlated with their potency to inhibit binding of both 3H-DTG and (+)3H-3-PPP [3(3-OH-phenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine] to sigma receptors in guinea pig brain homogenates. Two DTG congeners that did not bind to sigma receptors also showed no activity in the bioassay. Many other (but not all) sigma receptor ligands showed a high correlation between their potency to inhibit electrically evoked contractions of the LMMP and their sigma receptor binding affinity. The benzomorphans (+)SKF 10,047 and (+)cyclazocine potentiated electrically evoked contractions of the LMMP. Sigma ligands also inhibited the contractions of the LMMP in the presence of the opiate antagonist naloxone and in preparations in which opioid receptors had been inactivated by treatment with the irreversible opiate antagonist beta-chlornaltrexamine. Control experiments suggested that the sigma ligands act via a neuronal mechanism to inhibit ACh release evoked by electrical stimulation or by stimulation with 5-HT. These results suggest that there are functional sigma receptors on cholinergic nerve terminals or within the myenteric plexus and that these receptors can inhibit stimulated ACh release through an opioid receptor-independent mechanism. However, sigma receptor activation in the ileum has the same effect on ACh release as activation of naloxone-sensitive opioid receptors. The LMMP may be an in vitro bioassay system for characterizing the mechanism of action of sigma receptors and for determining the biological efficacy of drugs known to bind to sigma receptors in radioligand binding assays.
Interrelationships in Rats among Dietary Vitamin B6, Glycine and Hydroxyproline. Effects of Oxalate, Glyoxylate, Glycolate, and Glycine on Liver Enzymes

Urinary endogenous oxalate was increased by feeding vitamin B6-deficient or control rats with 5.2% hydroxyproline, or 3% glycine plus 5.2% hydroxyproline. The activities of liver lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) , malic enzyme (ME), and ATP citrate lyase were decreased in vitamin B6-DEFICIENT RATS, AND THEIR LIVEr G6PD was further decreased by the addition of glycine and hydroxyproline to their diets. Supplementing control diets with the two amino acids decreased the activities of rat liver LDH, G6PD, and ATP citrate lyase. The effects of glycine and hydroxyproline feeding on the enzymes studied did not appear related to alterations in insulin availability. Since in vitamin B6-deficient rats, there are increases in urinary levels of oxalic and glycolic acids, and glycine, and increases in tissue levels of glyoxylic acid and glycine, the effects of these metabolites on the activities of the above mentioned enzymes were measured. Oxalic acid inhibited the activities of LDH, G6PD, and ME. Glyoxylic acid inhibited LDH and ME, but not G6PD. Glycolic acid inhibited G6PD and ME, but not LDH. ATP citrate lyase was not affected by these substances. Glycine had no effect on the enzymes studied. Diets which increased oxalate excretion generally reduced or did not alter liver and kidney levels of oxalate, glycolate, and glyoxylate. However, the feeding of glycine and hydroxyproline increased kidney oxalate, and liver and kidney glyoxylate in vitamin B6-deficient rats.
Dietary Selenium Increases Selenoprotein W Levels in Rat Tissues

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of dietary selenium (Se) on tissue levels of selenoprotein W (Se-W) in rats. Se dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity and Se levels were also determined for comparative measurements. In the first experiment, rats were fed a basal diet deficient in Se or supplemented with either 0.1 or 4.0 mg Se (as selenite) per kg diet for 6 wk. Se-W levels were significantly higher in muscle, spleen and testes of rats fed 0.1 mg Se per kg diet compared to those fed the deficient diet (controls), and those fed 4.0 mg Se per kg diet had significantly higher levels in muscle, brain and spleen (P < 0. 05) than those fed 0.1 mg Se per kg diet. No further increases, however, occurred in the tests. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) of mRNA encoding Se-W in muscle with each increase of dietary Se. In the second experiment rats were fed the basal diet or this diet plus 0.01, 0.03, 0.06, 0.1, 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0 mg Se per kg diet. The levels of Se-W in muscle did not increase (P < 0.05) until 0.06 mg Se per kg diet were fed to rats. A very marked increase (P < 0.05) occurred when 1.0 mg Se per kg diet was fed with no further increases with higher levels. There was a linear increase of Se-W in brain (r = 0.89) and spleen (r = 0.98) with the Se concentration in the diet up to 0.1 mg Se per kg where a plateau was reached. The testes showed a different pattern in that a very marked increase (P < 0.01) occurred when only 0.01 mg Se per kg diet was fed where an inflection was reached. Except for muscle, GPX activities reached a plateau in all tissues when diets containing 0.06 to 0.1 mg supplemental Se per kg were fed. The Se concentration in these tissues increased at a linear rate with the Se concentration in the diets up to 0.1 mg Se per kg where it continued to rise at a different rate. The results indicate that in rats, the regulation of Se-W by Se is different for various tissues and differs from that for GPX.
Terms-of-trade policy in a model with non-produced means of production☆

Abstract Terms-of-trade policies between agriculture and industry are analysed in a two-sector Sraffian model. If both sectors use only produced means of production and labor, it can be shown that an improvement in agriculture's terms of trade always leads to higher profits in agriculture. However, when non-produced means of production are introduced an exogenous increase in the relative price of agricultural commodities may cause the rate of profit in agriculture to increase, remain constant, or even decrease. Two preconditions are identified for the case in which a favorable movement in agriculture's terms of trade decreases that sector's profit rate. First at least one quality of competitively priced land must be scarce relative to the total output required. Second, the initial, economy-wide rate of profit must be positive. Finally, the effect of an input subsidy used in conjunction with terms-of-trade policy is considered. It is shown that under certain conditions reducing the price of production inputs can also cause profits to fall and rents to rise in agriculture.
Gelatinization kinetics of rice starch studied by non-isothermal calorimetric technique: influence of extraction method, water concentration and heating rate

Abstract Different rice starch samples were obtained varying extraction solution, soaking temperature and length. Gelatinization properties were determined at different water concentrations by differential scanning calorimetry at constant heating rate, revealing no influence by the extraction parameters. Gelatinization kinetics were studied on starch extracted for 6 h with 0.2% NaOH, at 30 °C with the aim of comparing some mathematical methods, in order to find whether this technique could be used to estimate the kinetic parameters. Activation energy and order of reaction were calculated at different water:starch ratios and heating rates, to partly simulate the wide variety of conditions for processes where starch gelatinization is involved. Water content influenced both gelatinization enthalpy and E a , while heating rate influenced the temperature. Non-isothermal DSC was able to characterize the gelatinization process only if the kinetics of the process were already known, since all the tested models well fitted experimental data but gave quite different values of E a .
Renormalization of Self‐Organized Critical Models

: Self-organized criticality refers to a mechanism whereby complex dissipative dynamical systems naturally evolve to a self-sustaining critical point, exhibiting correlations on all length scales and time scales. A recent theory based on a real space renormalization group approach sheds light on fundamental aspects of the phenomenon.
Myosin light chain isoform expression among single mammalian skeletal muscle fibers: species variations.

Extensive heterogeneity in myosin heavy chain and light chain (MLC) isoform expression in skeletal muscle has been well documented in several mammalian species. The initial objective of this study was to determine the extent of heterogeneity in myosin isoform expression among single fibers in limb muscles of dogs, a species for which relatively little has been reported. Fibers were isolated from muscles that have different functions with respect to limb extension and limb flexion and were analyzed on SDS gels, with respect to myosin isoform composition. The results of this part of the study indicate that there are at least four distinct fiber types in dog limb and diaphragm muscles, on the basis of MLC isoform expression: conventional fast (expressing fast-type isoforms of MLC1 (MLC1F) and MLC2 (MLC2F), plus MLC3), conventional slow (expressing slow-type MLC1 (MLC1S) and MLC2 (MLC2S)), hybrid (expressing MLC1S, MLC1F, MLC2S, MLC2F and MLC3) and a second slow fiber type, designated as S1F. S1F fibers express MLC1F, along with MLC1S and MLC2S and relatively low levels of MLC3. The fraction of slow fibers that are S1F fibers varies among dog limb muscles, being greater in limb extensors than flexors. Furthermore, the mean level of MLC1F in S1F fibers is greater in extensors than flexors (mean levels range from ~3% to 50% of total MLC1). The study was, therefore, extended to include six additional species, spanning a broad range in adult body size to more thoroughly characterize heterogeneity in MLC isoform expression among mammals. The results indicate that there are distinct patterns in MLC isoform expression among fast and slow fibers among different species. Specifically, large-size mammals have two distinct types of slow fibers, based upon MLC isoform composition (conventional and S1F fibers), whereas small mammals exhibit variations in MLC isoforms between different types of fast fibers, including a fast fiber type that expresses MLC1S (designated as F1S fibers). S1F fibers were absent in rodent muscles and F1S fibers were not found in large mammals. We conclude that extensive variation exists in MLC isoform expression in mammalian skeletal muscle fibers, yet there are distinct patterns among different species and among muscles within an individual species.
On the generation of exact solutions for evaluating numerical schemes and estimating discretization error

Abstract In this paper we further develop the Method of Nearby Problems (MNP) for generating exact solutions to realistic partial differential equations by extending it to two dimensions. We provide an extensive discussion of the 2D spline fitting approach which provides Ck continuity (continuity of the solution value and its first k derivatives) along spline boundaries and is readily extendable to higher dimensions. A detailed one-dimensional example is given to outline the general concepts, then the two-dimensional spline fitting approach is applied to two problems: heat conduction with a distributed source term and the viscous, incompressible flow in a lid-driven cavity with both a constant lid velocity and a regularized lid velocity (which removes the strong corner singularities). The spline fitting approach results in very small spline fitting errors for the heat conduction problem and the regularized driven cavity, whereas the fitting errors in the standard lid-driven cavity case are somewhat larger due to the singular behaviour of the pressure near the driven lid. The MNP approach is used successfully as a discretization error estimator for the driven cavity cases, outperforming Richardson extrapolation which requires two grid levels. However, MNP has difficulties with the simpler heat conduction case due to the discretization errors having the same magnitude as the spline fitting errors.
Lowe and Baldwin on Modalities

A recent exchange of views involving E. J. Lowe and Tom Baldwin1 raises several important issues about modality. The soundness of Saul Kripke's argument for the necessity of identity is brought into doubt; the adequacy of standard modal syntax in expressing essentialist claims is questioned; the univocality of 'Da = a' is challenged. I propose to put down these challenges, and in the process make the relationship of essentialism, reference with proper names, and standard modal syntax a little clearer.
Cooperative effects on multiphoton ionization and third-harmonic generation in the region near three-photon resonance

Three-photon resonance enhancement of third-harmonic generation and multiphoton ionization is treated for a slab geometry configuration. Striking pressure effects which become important at concentrations $n\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{10}^{12}$ ${/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{3}$ for narrow-bandwidth short-pulse lasers are predicted for both the third-harmonic signal and the multiphoton ionization. For example, part of the third-harmonic signal exists the slab simultaneously with the laser pulse while another part is time delayed for small detunings from resonance. At intermediate detuning from the three-photon resonance the two parts can interfere. Multiphoton ionization yields near three-photon resonance are strongly suppressed under certain conditions, and peaks may occur for proper detunings on both sides of the three-photon resonance. A detailed experimental verification is suggested for Xe.
A Versatile Low Temperature Spectral Attachment

The use of low temperature spectra (1) is likely to become an increasingly important analytical tool. Infrared bands are sharpened considerably and frequently split at liquid-nitrogen temperatures. Luminescent intensities are enhanced, and phosphorescence is frequently measureable only in rigid media at low temperatures. This communication describes a versatile spectral attachment for making low temperature absorption measurements routinely in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions, as well as luminescence measurements in the visible and ultraviolet regions.
Funding Faction or Buying Silence? Grants, Contracts, and Interest Group Lobbying Behavior

During the past decade, numerous congressional bills and amendments have attempted to curtail lobbying by nonprofit organizations that receive federal grants. These policy efforts grow out of an assumption that federal funds are encouraging advocacy at levels that are excessive and encourage additional government spending. Using survey data on more than 700 organizations based in Washington, DC, this article tests this assumption. The data show that for the most part, organizations receiving federal grants and contracts lobby no more frequently than similar organizations that do not receive such benefits. The exception is contacting federal agencies, which charitable organizations receiving federal funds do slightly more often than similar organizations without such funds. A multivariate analysis assesses federal funding together with other variables theorized to affect lobbying—federal tax status, resource levels, and the nature of the lobbying issue—confirming that while these other variables affect lobbying levels, federal funding does not.
Reflections on the language of medieval Novgorod

One of the last scholarly contributions perhaps even the very last that my friend and erstwhile Stockholm fellow student, Anders Sjoberg, managed to complete before his sudden, untimely death on 30 August, 1990, was a paper published in the festschrift for L'ubomir Durovic in which he argued, against A. A. Zaliznjak (Sjoberg 1990, 425), "that it is possible to explain the forms kele and xeri" for regular Nsg ceh (adj.) and serb (subst.) "against the background of the sound change laws of the Novgorod-Pskov dialect." According to Sjoberg,
Recombination rate and protein evolution in yeast

Theory and artificial selection experiments show that recombination can promote adaptation by enhancing the efficacy of natural selection, but the extent to which recombination affects levels of adaptation across the genome is still an open question. Because patterns of molecular evolution reflect long-term processes of mutation and selection in nature, interactions between recombination rate and genetic differentiation between species can be used to test the benefits of recombination. However, this approach faces a major difficulty: different evolutionary processes (i.e. negative versus positive selection) produce opposing relationships between recombination rate and genetic divergence, and obscure patterns predicted by individual benefits of recombination. We use a combination of polymorphism and genomic data from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to infer the relative importance of nearly-neutral (i.e. slightly deleterious) evolution in different gene categories. For genes with high opportunities for slightly deleterious substitution, recombination substantially reduces the rate of molecular evolution, whereas divergence in genes with little opportunity for slightly deleterious substitution is not strongly affected by recombination. These patterns indicate that adaptation throughout the genome can be strongly influenced by each gene's recombinational environment, and suggest substantial long-term fitness benefits of enhanced purifying selection associated with sexual recombination.
Spinocerebellar degeneration and cerebral hypomyelination in a family

The proband is a 24-year-old woman who developed symptoms of a spinocerebellar degeneration in early childhood. Neurological examination revealed normal cognitive function, optic atrophy, dysarthria, titubation, action tremors, increased deep tendon reflexes, Babinski's signs, and a spastic scissoring gait. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an abnormal increased signal on long TR images involving white matter throughout the cerebral hemispheres, most striking in the subcortical white matter, and to a lesser degree in the brainstem, compatible with diffuse hypomyelinating or dysmyelinating diseases. Metabolic and chromosomal studies were normal. Her 49-year-old mother developed similar symptoms in her 20s and is now wheelchair-bound. Findings on neurological examination and MRI were similar to her daughter but more severe. The proband's maternal grandfather had a female cousin who had a neurological illness beginning in her 20s with similar symptoms and signs and died at the age of 44 years. Spinocerebellar degenerations are a group of syndromes with similar clinical manifestations but heterogeneous etiology. We report a family with spinocerebellar degeneration with distinct MRI findings compatible with hypomyelination or dysmyelination which has not heretofore been described. This family may represent a new spinocerebellar syndrome due to an abnormality of as yet an undetermined gene.
Synthesis and characterization of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing terminal phosphates. NMR, UV spectroscopic and thermodynamic analysis of duplex formation of [d(pGGAATTCC)]2, [d(GGAATTCCp)]2 and [d(pGGAATTCCp)]2

Derivatives of the oligomer [d(GGAATTCC)]2 with 5' (5'-P), 3' (3'-P) and both 5' and 3' (5',3'-P2) terminal phosphate groups have been synthesized and studied by temperature dependent UV and NMR spectroscopic methods. Thermodynamic studies of the helix to strand transition indicate that addition of 3' phosphate groups has very little effect on the delta G degree for helix formation at 37 degrees C while addition of 5' phosphate groups adds approximately -0.5 kcal/mole to the delta G degree for duplex formation. The helix stabilization by 5' phosphate groups occurs at salt concentrations of 0.1 M and above, and is primarily enthalpic in origin. Tm studies as a function of ionic strength also indicate that the oligomers fall into two groups with the parent and 3'-P derivatives being similar but less stable than the 5'-P and 5',3'-P2 derivatives. Imino proton and 31P NMR studies also divide the oligomers into these same two groups based on spectral comparisons and temperature induced chemical shift and linewidth changes. 31P NMR analysis suggests that addition of 5' phosphate groups results in a small change in phosphodiester torsional angles in the g,t to g,g direction, indicating improved base stacking at the 5' end of the modified oligomer. No such changes are seen at the 3' end of the oligomer on adding 3' phosphate groups.
Age-associated changes in rat hepatocytes: An early decline in synthesis of a specific protein by endoplasmic reticulum

Isolated hepatocytes from rats of disparate age were compared for their capacity to incorporate radioisotopic leucine into proteins of subcellular fractions. Determinations of isotope ratios of component microsomal proteins derived from such experiments reveal an age-associated decline in incorporation of leucine into a specific protein of the endoplasmic reticulum. The onset of this decline is detectable at as early as 6 months of age and the depression of synthesis is complete in animals 20 months of age or older.
Resource Use by Pharmacy Graduate Students: Dissertations and Theses as Collection Development Tools

This citation analysis of locally produced theses and dissertations was undertaken to discover the identity and characteristics of resources most used by graduate students in the College of Pharmacy. Resources are examined for material type, age, and subject dispersion. Core lists of frequently used titles—both journals and monographs—were developed. The presented data should assist in decisions regarding acquisition and retention. The study may interest others who are planning local citation analyses as well as those interested in pharmaceutics.
The design of an interactive and dynamic representation of the firm

Interpretation and audit of financial information is a significant undertaking that must rest on a fuller understanding of the firm and its operations. A pictorial representation of firm activity offers promise for supporting this requirement. After reviewing the literature related to visualizations, we describe the design of an interactive animated version of the cycle model. Business Animator assists users in developing an intuitive sense about the cycle model itself, while exploring and visualizing how firms at various stages of growth, sustenance, and decay are affected by specific operating decisions. Principles and findings from the accounting and information systems literatures were used to drive the design of the representation and software used to control it. This resulting system adds depth to traditional accounting representations by conveying information about the momentum of the firm's activities, the rate of change at which various activities are occurring. The animation facilitates identification of backlogs or breaks in operating processes, thus increasing understanding of the firm's financial health.
Plume Distortion and Apparent Attenuation Due to Concentration Averaging in Monitoring Wells

Mathematical models that simulate common monitoring well sampling demonstrate the distortions that vertical concentration averaging causes during the mapping and modeling of an idealized, three-dimensional contaminant plume emanating from a simple source of constant solute concentration. The apparent extent of the plume, mapped using simulations of a regular grid of screened monitoring wells, ranged from a worst case of 0% of the original plume area for long screens (4 m) in a low-permeability formation to 90% for short screens (1 m) in a high-permeability formation. When well design and purging procedure were inconsistent among wells, the mapped plume exhibited spurious directional skewing, bifurcation, zones of low concentration, intermittent sources, or multiple sources. Although the study plume was not retarded, calibrating a transport model to the monitoring well data resulted in retardation factors of up to 23. If first-order decay was assumed, the apparent decay constant was found to be as much as 1.8 × 10-7 sec-1 (T1/2= 45 days). Apparent retardation or decay was inconsistent from well to well, depending on the saturated screen length, the degree of screen desaturation during purging, and the distance from the source. The study indicates that the quantitative assessment of contaminant distributions and transport processes requires discrete vertical sampling in the common situation where concentrations vary sharply with depth, even in the most ideal hydrogeologic environment. If screened monitoring wells are used, screen lengths and placements should be appropriate to the contamination situation being assessed and inherent biases must be considered. Even so, vertical concentration averaging biases and the resulting inconsistencies can result in highly misleading evaluations of ground-water contamination problems.
Estimating the global potential of forest and agroforest management practices to sequester carbon

Forests play a prominent role in the global C cycle. Occupying one-third of the earth's land area, forest vegetation and soils contain about 60% of the total terrestrial C. Forest biomass productivity can be enhanced by management practices, which suggests that, by this means, forests could store more C globally and thereby slow the increase in atmospheric CO2. The question is how much C can be sequestered by forest and agroforest management practices. To address the question, a global database of information was compiled to assess quantitatively the potential of forestry practices to sequester C. The database presently has information for 94 forested nations that represent the boreal, temperate and tropical latitudes. Results indicate that the most promising management practices are reforestation in the temperate and tropical latitudes, afforestation in the temperate regions, and agroforestry and natural reforestation in the tropics. Across all practices, the median of the mean C storage values for the boreal latitudes is 16 tCha[−1 (n=46) while in the temperate and tropical latitudes the median values are 71 tCha−1 (n=401) and 66 tCha−1 (n=170), respectively. Preliminary projections are that if these practices were implemented on 0.6 to 1.2×109 ha of available land over a 50-yr period, approximately 50 to 100 GtC could be sequestered.
Differential effect of prior event information on reaction time with respect to paranoid vs nonparanoid symptomatology

Abstract The effect on reaction time, of prior information concerning the imperative stimulus, was investigated with respect to the dimension of paranoid vs nonparanoid symptomatology of schizophrenia. In the first experiment, the auditory warning signal was followed by the imperative stimulus, which was a straight line, a triangle or a rectangle. Prior information was provided by means of correlation between pitch of the warning signal and shape of the imperative stimulus. The task was to depress the telegraph key promptly at the onset of the imperative stimulus. Twenty chronic undifferentiated schizophrenics, 20 paranoid schizophrenics and 20 alcoholics participated in the experiment. Reaction time of the chronic undifferentiated schizophrenics increased, and reaction time of the paranoid schizophrenics decreased, when the prior event information was provided. In the second experiment, the imperative stimulus consisted of not only different shapes but also different colors. Reaction times of 20 chronic undifferentiated and 20 paranoid schizophrenics were again affected in opposite directions by prior information. In the third experiment, the imperative stimulus was either 1, 3 or 5 dark dots. Twenty each of the chronic undifferentiated and paranoid schizophrenics participated in the experiment. The opposite effects of prior information on reaction time with respect to the dimension of paranoid vs nonparanoid symptomatology, were again demonstrated. It was concluded that paranoid vs nonparanoid symptomatology is based on two elementary processes which are dichotomous and characteristically different from each other.
An evaluation of the protein mass of particulate matter

Abstract This research study provides the characterization of mass percent of protein-based particulate matter in total ambient particulate matter collected in a metropolitan area of NC. The project determined the percentages of protein-based ambient bioaerosols for particles in the 2.5–10 μm range and for particles in the range of 2.5 μm or less in 298 samples taken over a six-month period. The analysis of total protein mass was used as an all-inclusive indicator of biologically based aerosols. These organic bioaerosols may have nucleated with inorganic non-biological aerosols, or they may be combined with inert aerosols. The source of these bioaerosols may be any combination of pollen, mold, bacteria, insect debris, fecal matter, or dander, and they may induce irritational, allergic, infectious, and chemical responses in exposed individuals. Ambient samples of PM 2.5 and PM 10−2.5 were analyzed for gravimetric mass and total protein mass. The results for 19 of 24 sample periods indicated that between 1% and 4% of PM 10−2.5 and between 1% and 2% of PM 2.5 mass concentrations were made of ambient protein bioaerosols. (The remaining 5 of 24 sample periods yielded protein results which were below detectable limits.)
The psycho-social factors in surviving stress

Abstract The link between stress and survivorship is receiving prominent attention in medical and psychosocial research. The dynamics of this linkage are not fully understood. However, it is known that stress, if not properly coped with, can have severe pathological consequences on one's immune, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. These consequences can be deadly. This paper explores six key intervening factors that can mitigate the impact of stress: (a) childhood adaptation; (b) personality hardiness; (c) expectation of stresses; (d) compartmentalization of stress; (e) social support; and (f) environment. Suggestions are given for practical procedures and approaches one can use in coping with stress, thereby increasing one's chances for survivorship. In closing, the reader is reminded of the overwhelming amount of evidence that relates stress to survivorship. However, it has also been pointed out that one can deal with stress. Furthermore, the above discussion suggests ways that have proven to b...
ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE AS A DRIVER OF SUPERIOR QUALITY

We explore theoretically and empirically how efforts to enhance environmental performance may enable other types of manufacturing improvements. Drawing on a unique data set comprised of detailed surveys of 42 automotive assembly plants, associated quality metrics, and in-depth qualitative data from 17 automotive assembly plants, we show that attaining superior environmental performance can be a significant driver of superior quality. We highlight the synergistic and reciprocal nature of environmental and broader manufacturing improvement efforts, and show that environmental improvement tools and know-how can be an important source of competitive advantage. (ENVIRONMENT; QUALITY; TQM; LEAN PRODUCTION; COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE)
Size of repair patches in the DNA of ultraviolet-irradiated HeLa cells

Abstract Repair replication in ultraviolet-irradiated HeLa-S3 cells was examined to determine the size distribution of the repair patches in the parental DNA. DNA containing patches of repair replication labeled with [ 3 H]BrdUrd was isolated by CsCl isopycnic sedimentation. The repaired DNA was rebanded in alkaline CsCl after sonication (to reduce molecular weight to 0.2 · 10 6 ) or without sonication. The peak of repair label coincided with that of the parental density DNA in the larger fragments, and even in the very small fragments the two peaks nearly coincided. No large repair patches were evident, in contrast to the result in Escherichia coli in which most of the repair label appears in extremely large patches. From the shift observed in the smallest fragments (about 5 % of the distance between fully light parental DNA and BrdUrd-containing heavy DNA) the average size of repair patches in HeLa DNA was calculated to be about 30 nucleotides.
Optimal placement of available sections in structural eigenvalue problems

Basic principles governing the optimum design of a structure of given geometry to resist buckling are restated, expanded, and generalized. The specific case of column buckling is cast in a complementary energy format. This format is used to treat the discrete optimality problem of finding the best location and length of cover plates of given cross-sectional area. Both necessary and sufficient optimality conditions are derived, and an iterative design-analysis sequence is established, whose convergence is proved. A simple numerical example demonstrates the procedure. Although the strict proof of sufficiency is confined to simply supported and cantilever columns, a possible extension to other cases is introduced at the end of the paper.
U.S. Role in East-West Trade: An Appraisal

This article reviews major factors involved in U.S. participation in East-West trade, including centralization and the structure of decision making in Eastern Europe, tariff and nontariff barriers, and the significance of financing and the level of debt in the Socialist countries. It also examines ways of ascertaining market potentials, new forms of trade, such as industrial cooperation and countertrade arrangements. It concludes with an assessment of outstanding issues in the future development of East-West trade.
Extended radiation source imaging with a prototype Compton imager.

Abstract This paper reports results from a prototype Compton imager (PCI) which consists of three planes of silicon pixel detectors as a scattering detector followed by an array of CsI(Tl) crystals as an absorbing detector. The CsI(Tl) array is mounted directly behind the silicon detectors. Simple back-projection algorithms are not sufficient to resolve extended shapes, but iterative algorithms provide the necessary de-convolution. List-mode maximum likelihood expectation maximization (LM-MLEM) is an iterative algorithm that reconstructs the most probable source distribution for a given data set. LM-MLEM attempts to reconstruct an image by finding successive approximations to the true source data. Each data set imaged is different, but the number of iterations required for convergence is typically 10–30 for the PCI. In this paper, reconstructed images of point and extended sources using measured PCI data are presented. Data are corroborated using GEANT4 simulations.
Modeling performance of thin fibrous coatings with orthogonally layered nanofibers for improved aerosol filtration

Abstract Advances in nanofiber fabrication techniques (e.g., electrospinning) have come to allow control over fiber distribution and orientation such that an ordered coating with fibers arranged in layers orthogonal to one another can potentially be produced. Such coatings can serve as a nano-sieve that can be designed and placed on the downstream side of a conventional nonwoven fibrous filter to enhance its performance (collection efficiency for a given pressure drop). This paper presents a thorough analysis of the performance characteristics of these thin coatings to guide the fabrication process in terms of the coatings' microstructural properties. In particular, we have found a correlation such that, for coatings composed of a given fiber size, there exists a corresponding particle size for which a coating's performance becomes independent of variations in fiber-to-fiber spacing (i.e., coating's non-homogeneity). We have also found that a coating's performance improves when its mass is distributed across more than one pair of orthogonal layers.
The Pragmatic-Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary (PRECIS) instrument was useful for refining a randomized trial design: experiences from an investigative team.

Abstract Objective A recently published instrument (PRECIS) was designed to assist investigative teams in understanding the various design decisions that need to be made regarding pragmatic vs. explanatory trials. Our team used this instrument during an investigators' meeting to organize our discussion regarding the design of a planned trial and to determine the extent of consensus among the study investigators. Study Design and Setting The study was descriptive in nature and occurred during an investigator meeting. After reading and reviewing the 10 PRECIS criteria, the team made quantitative judgments of the planned study regarding each PRECIS criteria to reflect initial, ideal, and final study design perceptions. Results Data indicated that the final study design was more explanatory in nature than the preliminary plan. Evidence of consensus was obtained. Conclusion The investigative team found that applying PRECIS principles were useful for (1) detailing points of discussion related to trial design, (2) making revisions to the design to be consistent with the project goals, and (3) achieving consensus. We believe our experiences with PRECIS may prove valuable for trial researchers in much the same way that case reports can provide valuable insights for clinicians.
Density of states of quasi-one-dimensional charge-density and spin-density waves.

Making use of the quasi-two-dimensional model of charge-density waves, we analyze the electron density of states of ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_{3}$ observed by the electron tunneling technique. The model provides excellent description of both the observed density of states and the temperature dependence of the energy gap.
Isoscalar giant monopole resonance and its overtone in microscopic and macroscopic models

We calculate the transition density for the overtone of the isosclar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) from the response to an appropriate external field $\hat{f}_\xi(r)$ obtained using the seemiclassical fluid dynamic approximation and the Hartree-Fock (HF) based random phase approximation (RPA). We determine the mixing parameter $\xi$ by maximizing the ratio of the energy weighted sum for the overtone mode to the total energy weighted sum rule and derive a simple expression for the microscopic transition density associated with the overtone mode. This macroscopic transition density agrees well with that obtained from the HF-RPA calculations. We also point out that the ISGMR and its overtone can be clearly identified by considering the response to the electromagnetic external field $\hat{j}_o(qr)$ .
Solving shortest length least-squares problems via dynamic programming

If the matrixA is not of full rank, there may be many solutions to the problem of minimizing ‖Ax−b‖ overx. Among such vectorsx, the unique one for which ‖x‖ is minimum is of importance in applications. This vector may be represented asx=A+b. In this paper, the functional equation technique of dynamic programming is used to find the shortest solution to the least-squares problem in a sequential fashion. The algorithm is illustrated with an example.
Effective densities in local-density approximations of the nucleon-nucleon effective interaction

Abstract The choice of an effective local density for a finite-range density-dependent effective interaction is considered. The effect appears in the second-order perturbation energy for a density-independent bare force. Analysis of this energy shows that other finite-nucleus effects are more important than the uncertainties arising from the use of a c.m. density, or arithmetic or geometric mean density. The latter uncertainties are found to be 1 4 −1 MeV /A for most nuclei. Since the actual uncertainties in fitted phenomenological interactions are only a fraction of these, we feel that any of these local densities can be used without introducing large errors.
The NRDC in the electrical and electronics industry

The National Research Development Corporation was set up 27 years ago by the British Government to promote practical technology by sponsoring the development of new inventions and innovations from public and private sources. For this purpose it can borrow up to £50 million from the Treasury, of which only one-half has been taken up so far. This means that ample resources are still available to invest with industry and university to launch or accelerate new inventive projects, taking them, if necessary, through to their production and marketing phases. The NRDC is very active in the electrical and electronics industry, and this article describes some of this work
A brief period of hypoxia causes proteolysis of cytoskeletal proteins in hippocampal slices

Breakdown products (BDPs) resulting from the partial proteolysis of spectrin were examined in hippocampal slices after periods of hypoxia lasting for 5 or 10 min. The concentration of a approximately 155 kDa BDP increased nearly twofold after 5 min of hypoxia; further increases were not seen with 10 min episodes or 10 min of hypoxia followed by reoxygenation. The hypoxia-induced proteolysis was blocked by prior infusion of a newly introduced inhibitor of calpain (calpain inhibitor I, 200 microM). Together with previously published data showing improved recovery of hippocampal slices from hypoxia in the presence of calpain inhibitors, these data suggest that activation of calpain may contribute significantly to the pathophysiology of ischemia.
Barbarism and religion

This fifth volume in John Pocock's acclaimed sequence on Barbarism and Religion turns to the controversy caused by Edward Gibbon's treatment of the early Christian church. Examining this controversy in unprecedented depth, Pocock challenges the assumption that Gibbon wrote with the intention of destroying belief in the Christian revelation, and questions our understanding of the character of 'enlightenment'. Reconsidering the genesis, inception and reception of these crucial chapters of Decline and Fall, Pocock explores the response of Gibbon's critics, affirming that his reputation as an unbeliever was established before his history of the Church had been written. The magnitude of Barbarism and Religion is already apparent. Religion: The First Triumph will be read not just as a remarkable analysis of the making of Decline and Fall, but also as a comment on the collision of belief and disbelief, a subject as pertinent now as it was to Gibbon's eighteenth-century readers.