cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum Mechanics and the Analysis of Behavior: Reflections and Speculations

Awareness is seen as the interior perception of the wave form of the substance of which the body is composed. Traditional "reality" is limited to exterior perceptions. Mind/body dualism is analogous to what physicists once thought was a contradiction between the corpuscular and the wave nature of light. We are subject both to the laws of classical mechanics and to those that govern quantum events. Determinism is an incorrect assumption for the study of human behavior. A research program is proposed to evaluate the assumptions outlined herein, and the social implications for the scientific study of behavior are examined.
Comorbidity and Seizures

A 21-year-old right-handed Caucasian female began to have worsening depressive symptom, and, later, to develop nausea and headache, 2 months prior to presentation. Upon presentation to the clinic for evaluation, her family reported that she had begun to experience language difficulties, memory disturbance, and auditory hallucinations. Emergency medical personnel were notified after the patient experienced a nocturnal generalized tonic–clonic seizure. During the first several days after admission, she was agitated with stereotyped episodes of stiffening and head jerking, recognized to be seizures, and antiepileptic medication was initiated. Despite this, the patient continued to have frequent seizures during the hospitalization, which culminated in nonconvulsive status epilepticus, confirmed by EEG. The patient was intubated and placed on a continuous infusion of several antiepileptic medications. For days, different combinations of antiepileptic medications were tried, but she continued to remain in status epilepticus. An MRI of the brain, routine laboratory, and urine drug screen were normal. She was healthy otherwise without any known seizure risk factors. There was no exposure to other drugs or toxins, as well as no sign of systemic or central nervous system infection. She ultimately underwent a lumbar puncture in an effort to determine the etiology for her nonconvulsive status epilepticus. The results are shown in Table 10.1.
Preschoolers’ Compliance With Others’ Violations of Fairness Norms: The Roles of Intentionality and Affective Perspective Taking

ABSTRACTYoung children are remarkably compliant with social norms, especially those governing fairness and equality. Yet children also frequently observe and face opportunities to violate those soc...
Functional outcomes of mutualistic network interactions: A community‐scale study of frugivore gut passage on germination

Current understanding of mutualistic networks is grounded largely in data on interaction frequency, yet mutualistic network dynamics are also shaped by interaction quality—the functional outcomes of individual interactions on reproduction and survival. The difficulty of obtaining data on functional outcomes has resulted in limited understanding of functional variation among a network's pairwise species interactions, of the study designs that are necessary to capture major sources of functional variation, and of predictors of functional variation that may allow generalization across networks. In this community‐scale study, we targeted a key functional outcome in plant–frugivore networks: the impact of frugivore gut passage on seed germination. We used captive frugivore feeding trials and germination experiments in an island ecosystem, attaining species‐level coverage across all extant native frugivores and the plants they consume to (a) assess sources of functional variation, (b) separate effects of pulp removal from those of scarification via gut passage, and (c) test trait‐based correlates of gut passage effect sizes. We found antagonistic seed predation effects of a frugivore previously assumed to be a seed disperser, highlighting the need to consider functional outcomes rather than interaction frequency alone. The other frugivores each exhibited similar impacts for individual plant species, with benefits primarily caused by pulp removal rather than scarification, supporting the use of animal functional groups in this context. In contrast, plant species varied widely in impacts of gut passage on germination. Species with smaller seeds and more frugivore partners had larger benefits of gut passage, showing promise for network metrics and functional traits to predict functional variation among plants. Synthesis. Combining network and demographic approaches, we assessed the degree and sources of variation in a key functional outcome of plant–frugivore interactions across an entire network. Using a detailed study design, our work shows how simpler study designs can capture primary sources of functional variation and that functional traits and network metrics may allow generalization across networks. Efficiently measuring and generalizing sources of functional variation within mutualistic networks will strengthen our ability to model network dynamics and predict mutualist responses to global change.
A two-dimensional (2D) systems biology-based discrete liver tissue model: A simulation study with implications for ultrasound elastography of liver fibrosis

Abstract Continuum tissue models that were often used to simulate or analyze the mechanical properties of tissues being imaged may not be biologically realistic. Our primary objective was to establish the feasibility of using systems biology to construct biologically relevant tissue models linking tissue structure, composition and architecture to the ultrasound measurements directly. The first application was designated to model fibrotic liver tissues. The proposed liver tissue model leveraged established histopathology knowledge of fibrotic liver tissues. Particularly, rules of systems biology derived from molecular histopathology were first implemented into an agent-based software platform SPARK to reflect progressions of liver fibrosis with/without steatosis. Then, microscopic compositions of tissues (e.g. cellular components) were converted to computing grids (at the 50–100 μm scale) for wave simulations using an open-source K-Wave. To verify the physical soundness of the proposed model, virtual wave speed measurements (i.e. shear wave speed [SWS] and the speed of sound [SOS]) were performed. Our initial results demonstrated that the simulated SWS values increased with the progression of liver fibrosis (from 1.5 m/s [Fibrosis stage 1] to 4 m/s [Fibrosis stage 4]). Similarly, the simulated SOS values were within the range of clinical data (from 1575 m/s [Fibrosis stage 0–3] to 1594 m/s [Fibrosis stage 4]). In summary, we found that those systems biology simulated fibrotic liver tissues with and without steatosis can reflect spatial characteristics of relevant histology. Also, their mechanical characteristics (i.e. shear/compressional wave speed) were in good agreement with data reported in the clinical literature.
Emerging Economies, Emerging Horizons

This chapter discusses why the rise of emerging economies is important, through what lenses it can be viewed, what discussions it has generated, phases in the rise of emerging economies, what trends and transformations to watch, and their role in international finance.
Research within physical oceanography and submarine geology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography during April 1937 to April 1938

In the past year the researches of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have, as previously, dealt with problems in physical oceanography, chemistry of sea water, sedimentation, and numerous aspects of the biology of the ocean. Studies have been conducted not only by the regular staff of the Institution, which has remained unaltered, but also by visitors who have spent from a few months to a full year at the Institution. Time and space do not permit a discussion of the many researches within biological fields which are being conducted at the Institution, since emphasis will be placed upon progress within studies which are of direct interest to geophysics. In this place, therefore, it must be sufficient to mention that researches have continued on the bacteria of the sea, phytoplankton, zooplankton, on the biochemistry and physiology of marine organisms, and within fish biology. The Scripps Institution is also engaged in a cooperation with the United States Navy Bureau of Construction and Repair on a study of the organisms which cause fouling growth on ships' bottoms.
Transcriptome analysis of cortical tissue reveals shared sets of downregulated genes in autism and schizophrenia

Autism (AUT), schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD) are three highly heritable neuropsychiatric conditions. Clinical similarities and genetic overlap between the three disorders have been reported; however, the causes and the downstream effects of this overlap remain elusive. By analyzing transcriptomic RNA-sequencing data generated from post-mortem cortical brain tissues from AUT, SCZ, BPD and control subjects, we have begun to characterize the extent of gene expression overlap between these disorders. We report that the AUT and SCZ transcriptomes are significantly correlated (P<0.001), whereas the other two cross-disorder comparisons (AUT-BPD and SCZ-BPD) are not. Among AUT and SCZ, we find that the genes differentially expressed across disorders are involved in neurotransmission and synapse regulation. Despite the lack of global transcriptomic overlap across all three disorders, we highlight two genes, IQSEC3 and COPS7A, which are significantly downregulated compared with controls across all three disorders, suggesting either shared etiology or compensatory changes across these neuropsychiatric conditions. Finally, we tested for enrichment of genes differentially expressed across disorders in genetic association signals in AUT, SCZ or BPD, reporting lack of signal in any of the previously published genome-wide association study (GWAS). Together, these studies highlight the importance of examining gene expression from the primary tissue involved in neuropsychiatric conditions-the cortical brain. We identify a shared role for altered neurotransmission and synapse regulation in AUT and SCZ, in addition to two genes that may more generally contribute to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions.
Adolescent intermittent ethanol impairs behavioral flexibility in a rat foraging task in adulthood.

Abstract Alcohol exposure is linked to behavioral flexibility deficits in humans, but it is unclear when the critical exposure occurred or if alcohol exposure alone is sufficient to produce behavior deficits. Increasing evidence shows that binge levels of alcohol during adolescence are particularly harmful to the brain, producing physiological and behavioral effects that can persist into adulthood. The present study determined whether adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) in rats impaired action selection in a discriminative stimulus task using a foraging response. Rats were exposed to ethanol during adolescence (5 g/kg/day, IG, 2-days-on/2-days-off, postnatal day 25–54). In adulthood, they learned to dig for food reward buried in one of two media, cued with one of two odors. AIE and control rats both learned to discriminate between olfactory cues, but AIE rats were impaired when reversing that learned association (first intra-dimensional reversal). However, AIE rats were faster to reinstate the original odor discrimination rule (second reversal), suggesting perseverative behavior. Next, the reward location was cued by digging media rather than odor. Both groups learned this extra-dimensional shift; however, control rats were slower to reach criterion. These findings are consistent with studies of people with substance abuse disorder, who learn new stimulus-response associations similarly to, or better than, control subjects, but perseverate when attempting to replace a well-learned association. These data suggest that adolescent binge-alcohol exposure contributes to behavioral flexibility deficits observed in adulthood.
Oil and Gas on Indian Reservations: Statistical Methods Help to Establish Value for Royalty Purposes

Part of the history of oil and gas development on Indian reservations concerns potential underpayment of royalties due to under-valuation of production by oil companies. This paper discusses a mode...
Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Risks of First Hospitalized Heart Failure and its Subtypes During the Intervention and Extended Postintervention Follow-up of the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Trials.

Abstract Background We assessed whether postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) was associated with incident heart failure (HF) and its subtypes and examined whether there was a modifying effect of age on the associations. Methods and Results Postmenopausal women aged 50–79 enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative HT trials were analyzed. The 16,486 women with a uterus were randomized to receive conjugated equine estrogens (CEE 0.625 mg/day) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA 2.5 mg/day) or placebo, and 10,739 women with prior hysterectomy were randomized to receive CEE (0.625 mg/day) alone or placebo. Incident HF was defined as the first HF hospitalization. HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or preserved EF (HFpEF) was defined as EF Conclusions Postmenopausal HT did not alter the risk of hospitalization for HF or its subtypes during the intervention or cumulative 18.9 years of follow-up, and results did not vary significantly by age at randomization. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT0000611 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00000611?cond=women%27s±health±initiative&rank=5
Aggressive, Multidisciplinary Staged Microsurgical Resection of a Giant Cervicomedullary Junction Chordoma

Chordomas of the cranial base are locally destructive tumors since they are surrounded by significant complex neurovascular structures. Thus, their surgical removal is challenging, recurrence rates are high, and their therapeutic strategies remain controversial. In this video, we present a 47-year-old man with a recent onset of swallowing difficulties, hoarseness, and weight loss for several weeks. In the neurological examination, he had complete paralysis of the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th cranial nerves. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a heterogeneously enhancing expansile invasive mass lesion centered within the clivus and involving the C1, the occipitocervical junction, the retropharynx, and the hypoglossal canal. The decision was made to proceed with multiple staged surgeries. In the first surgical stage, we performed a mastoidectomy with the infralabyrinthine approach to perform a test clip ligation of the sigmoid sinus and to resect the tumor component that extended into the infralabyrinthine space. In the second stage, we performed a far-lateral transcondylar approach for tumor resection and occipitocervical fusion. In the third stage, we used a transoral approach with endoscopic assistance to complete the excision of the remaining tumor in the retropharyngeal space and anterior aspect of C1 and C2 bodies that were not accessible in the first two stages. The surgeries and postoperative course were uneventful. Postoperative MRI showed a gross total resection of the tumor. Histopathology indicated a chordoma. The patient subsequently received proton radiotherapy and has continued to do well without recurrence at 14 months' follow-up. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/uP9OSlKg_rE .
PROMIS PF correlates with HOOS, JR in patients with hip pain.

Abstract Background Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly integrated into reporting requirements tied to reimbursement. There may be advantages to computer adaptive tests that apply to many different anatomical regions and diseases, provided that important information is not lost. Questions 1) Does the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS PF) computer adaptive test correlate with the Hip injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (HOOS, JR: a hip-specific PROM); 2) Is there any difference in the amount of variation explained by various factors (e.g. age, BMI, presence of concomitant knee pain) for both measures? Methods In this prospective, cross-sectional study of 213 patients, we assessed the Pearson correlation of PROMIS PF and HOOS, JR. To investigate the variation explained by various patient-level factors, we constructed two multivariable linear regression models. Results We found a large correlation between PROMIS PF and HOOS, JR (r 0.58, P Conclusions This study adds to the evidence that general measures of physical limitations may provide similar information as joint- or region-specific measures. Level of evidence Level III.
B-Cell Lymphoma in Children or Pediatric Type

The 2017 revised 4th version of WHO classification of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue (2017 WHO) now recognized pediatric-type follicular lymphoma as a definite entity (Swerdlow et al. WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2017). As a subtype of nodal marginal zone lymphoma, pediatric nodal marginal zone lymphoma has distinctive clinicopathological features. Although Burkitt lymphoma may occur both in children and adults, the leukemic variant is predominantly seen in children, and diagnosis may be challenging due to its rarity. Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q aberration is a new provisional entity recognized by 2017 WHO and primarily occurs in children (Swerdlow et al. WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2017).
Atomic Force Microscopy: A New Look at Microbes

Over the last two decades, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has undoubtedly had a considerable impact in unraveling the structures and dynamics of microbial surfaces with nanometer resolution, and under physiological conditions. Moreover, the continuous innovations in AFM-based modalities as well as the combination of AFM with modern optical techniques, such as confocal fluorescence microscopy or Raman spectroscopy, increased the diversity and volume of data that can be acquired in an experiment. It is evident that these combinations provide new ways to investigate a broad spectrum of microbiological processes at the level of single cells. In this book, I have endeavored to highlight the wealth of AFM-based modalities that have been implemented over the recent years leading to the multiparametric and multifunctional characterization of, specifically, bacterial surfaces. Examples include the real-time imaging of the nanoscale organization of cell walls, the quantification of subcellular chemical heterogeneities, the mapping and functional analysis of individual cell wall constituents, and the probing of the nanomechanical properties of living bacteria. It is expected that in the near future more AFM-based modalities and complementary techniques will be combined into single experiments to address pertinent problems and challenges in microbial research. Such improvements may make it possible to address the dynamic nature of many more microbial cell surfaces and their constituents, including the restructuring of cellular membranes, pores and transporters, signaling of cell membrane receptors, and formation of cell-adhesion complexes. Ultimately, manifold discoveries and engineering possibilities will materialize as multiparametric tools allow systems of increasing complexity to be probed and manipulated.
Analyzing and Tuning the Chalcogen-Amine-Thiol Complexes for Tailoring of Chalcogenide Syntheses.

The amine–thiol solvent system has been used extensively to synthesize metal chalcogenide thin films and nanoparticles because of its ability to dissolve various metal and chalcogen precursors. Whi...
Equity in sustainable development: Community responses to environmental gentrification

Sustainable development aims to address economic, social, and environmental imperatives; yet, in practice, it often embodies a neoliberal market logic that reinforces inequalities. Thus, as the social work profession grapples with its role in advancing environmental sustainability, practice models must explicitly attend to social and economic justice. For example, environmental gentrification refers to situations in which the cleanup of contaminated land or the installation of environmental amenities intentionally or unintentionally catalyzes increased housing costs, thereby contributing to the displacement of vulnerable residents. With the goal of contributing to practice knowledge, we conducted a systematic review of peer‐reviewed articles (1997−2017) to learn how community groups have responded to the threat of environmental gentrification. We found that community organizations employ a range of strategies, including blocking development, negotiating for protections, planning alternatives, and allying with gentrifiers. We conclude by exploring ethical implications and practice principles to help social workers engage in truly sustainable development. Key Practitioner Message: • The term environmental gentrification describes situations where improvements to environmental quality increase real estate prices, contributing to the displacement of vulnerable residents; • An environmental justice framework attending to procedural, distributional, and recognition-based claims provides a model for social work practice; • Opportunities exist for social workers to take an intersectional rather than siloed approach to integrate economic, social, and environmental concerns.
Complementary Effects of Mg and Cu Incorporation in Stabilizing the Cobalt-Free LiNiO2 Cathode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Since the discovery of LiNiO2 several decades ago, a new era of electric vehicles demanding high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has recently rebooted the interest in this cathode mater...
Simulated heat waves reduce cognitive and motor performance of an endotherm

Heat waves cause mass mortality of animals, including humans, across the globe annually, which has drawn new attention to how animals cope with high air temperatures. Recent field research has explored behavioral responses to high air temperatures, which can influence reproductive success and mortality. Less well studied are the effects of high air temperatures on cognition, which may underlie behavioral changes. Specifically, it is poorly known if cognitive declines occur at high temperatures, and if cognitive and motor components of behavior are similarly affected. We tested how well zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis), a model for cognition research, performed two learned foraging tasks (color association and detour‐reaching) at mild (22°C) and high (43 and 44°C) air temperatures that occur naturally in their range. We habituated birds to the trial conditions and temperatures on days preceding the test trials and at the trial temperature for 30 min immediately prior to each test trial. Trials lasted less than 10 min. At high air temperatures, zebra finches exhibited heat dissipation behaviors during most tasks, suggesting thermoregulatory challenge. Cognitive performance declined at high air temperatures in two of three measures: Color association was unaffected, but birds missed more food rewards, and did more unproductive behaviors. Motor performance declined at high temperatures on the color association task, including longer times to complete the task, move between food rewards, and process individual seeds. Performance declines varied among components of behavior and among individuals. We combined our behavioral data with existing climate data and predicted that in the austral summer of 2018–2019, zebra finches experienced air temperatures that caused cognitive and motor declines in our captive birds in 34% and 45% of their Australian range, respectively. This study provides novel experimental evidence that high air temperatures cause cognitive and motor performance decline in birds. Further, our results provide insights to how those declines might affect bird ecology and evolution. First, differences in declines among behavioral components may allow identification of behaviors that are most susceptible to decline in the wild. Second, variation in performance declines and heat dissipation behaviors among individuals suggests variability in heat tolerance, which could lead to differential fitness in the wild. Last, these results suggest that high air temperatures cause cognitive declines in the wild and that understanding cognition could help refine predictive models of population persistence.
Transposon-induced inversions activate gene expression in Maize pericarp

Chromosomal inversions can have considerable biological and agronomic impacts including disrupted gene function, change in gene expression and inhibited recombination. Here we describe the molecular structure and functional impact of six inversions caused by Alternative Transpositions between p1 and p2 genes responsible for floral pigmentation in maize. In maize line p1-wwB54, the p2 gene is expressed in anther and silk but not in pericarp, making the kernels white. We identified inversions in this region caused by transposition of Ac and fractured Ac (fAc) transposable elements. These inversions change the position of a p1 enhancer and activate the expression of p2 in the kernel pericarp, resulting in red kernel color. We hypothesize that these inversions place the p2 gene promoter near a p1 gene enhancer, thereby activating p2 expression in kernel pericarp.
Dynamics and heterogeneity of Erk-induced immediate-early gene expression

Summary Many canonical signaling pathways exhibit complex time-varying responses, yet how minutes-timescale pulses of signaling interact with the dynamics of transcription and gene expression remains poorly understood. Erk-induced immediate early gene (IEG) expression is a model of this interface, exemplifying both dynamic pathway activity and a rapid, potent transcriptional response. Here, we quantitatively characterize IEG expression downstream of dynamic Erk stimuli in individual cells. We find that IEG expression responds rapidly to acute changes in Erk activity, but only in a sub-population of stimulus-responsive cells. We find that while Erk activity partially predicts IEG expression, a majority of response heterogeneity is independent of Erk and can be rapidly tuned by different mitogenic stimuli and parallel signaling pathways. We extend our findings to an in vivo context, the mouse epidermis, where we observe heterogenous immediate-early gene accumulation in both fixed tissue and single-cell RNA-sequencing data. Our results demonstrate that signaling dynamics can be faithfully transmitted to gene expression and suggest that the signaling-responsive population is an important parameter for interpreting gene expression responses.
Postnatal Repair of Open Neural Tube Defects: A Single Center with 90-Month Interdisciplinary Follow-Up

After publication of the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) there is confusion regarding which treatment of open neural tube defects (NTD) is best. We report our results of postnatally repaired open NTDs born between 2007–2018 (n = 36) in critical reflection of the MOMS study. Neurosurgical, orthopedic, and urologic data were assessed. We also introduce a new entity: “status post prenatal repair”. FU ranged from 29 to 161 months (mean: 89.1 m) in 7 cases of myeloschisis and 24 myelomeningoceles in the final collective n = 31. The shunt rate was 41.9%, and the endoscopic third ventriculostomy rate was 16.1%. Hydrocephalus requiring treatment was not associated with the anatomical level, but with premature birth (p = 0.048). Myeloschisis was associated with shunt placement (p = 0.008). ROC analysis revealed birth <38.5th week predicts the necessity for hydrocephalus treatment (sensitivity: 89%; specificity: 77%; AUC= 0.71; p = 0.055). Eight (25.8%), patients are wheelchair-bound, 2 (6.5%) ambulate with a posterior walker, 10 (32.3%) with orthosis and 11 (35.5%) independently. One (3.2%) patient underwent detethering at 5.5 years. A total of three patients underwent five Chiari decompressions (9.6%). Further, nineteen orthopedic procedures were performed in nine patients (29.0%). A total of 17 (54.8%) patients self-catheterize, which was associated with an anatomical lesion at L3 or below (p = 0.032) and 23 (74.2%) take anticholinergic medication. In conclusion, shunt dependency is associated with myeloschisis, not with the anatomical defect level. Hydrocephalus treatment is associated with premature birth. In this postnatal cohort with significantly longer follow-up data than the MOMs study, the ambulation rate is better, the shunt rate lower and the secondary tethered cord rate better compared to the MOMS study.
Real Time Graphical Chinese Chess Game Agents Based on the Client and Server Architecture

The client and server architecture is currently widely used in industry; therefore, it is worthwhile to perform further investigations into its usefulness in different applications. To accomplish this, this paper will demonstrate its appropriateness by implementing an Internet based Chinese chess game using client and server architecture. This paper also has value for developers who would like to develop similar applications, such as Western chess, Internet Relay Chat, etc. In implementing the game application, the server program is developed with Java technology while the client program is implemented in C++ with the help of MFC to facilitate the development of a 2D graphical user interface. In the future, the client program can be modified to be a web application. Importantly, the Internet-based graphical Chinese chess agent system can be used to teach students to understand intelligent agents and game playing in an artificial intelligence class, networks, graphics and other relevant techniques in other computer science classes.
Computer Modeling of Clay Structure and Mechanics

Clays are composed of small plate-shaped particles of clay mineral, with lateral dimensions of a few 10's of micrometers or less, many times their thickness. The structural arrangement of the platelets depends on the electrolytic environment of the water through which they settle, but it seems clear that under certain conditions, the structure is one of a more-or-less random arrangement of particles in generally edge-to-face contact.
φ- N bound state

We show that the QCD van der Waals attractive potential is strong enough to bind a $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ meson onto a nucleon inside a nucleus to form a bound state. The direct experimental signature for such an exotic state is proposed in the case of subthreshold $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ meson photoproduction from nuclear targets. The production rate is estimated and such an experiment is found to be feasible at the Jefferson Laboratory.
Update on the Cost of Nuclear Power

We update the cost of nuclear power as calculated in the MIT (2003) Future of Nuclear Power study. Our main focus is on the changing cost of construction of new plants. The MIT (2003) study provided useful data on the cost of then recent builds in Japan and the Republic of Korea. We provide similar data on later builds in Japan and the Republic of Korea as well as a careful analysis of the forecasted costs on some recently proposed plants in the US. Using the updated cost of construction, we calculate a levelized cost of electricity from nuclear power. We also update the cost of electricity from coal- and gas-fired power plants and compare the levelized costs of nuclear, coal and gas. The results show that the cost of constructing a nuclear plant have approximately doubled. The cost of constructing coal-fired plants has also increased, although perhaps just as importantly, the cost of the coal itself spiked dramatically, too. Capital costs are a much smaller fraction of the cost of electricity from gas, so it is the recent spike in the price of natural gas that have contributed to the increased cost of electricity. These results document changing prices leading up to the current economic and financial crisis, and do not incorporate how this crisis may be currently affecting prices.
Chloroperoxidase VIII. FORMATION OF PEROXIDE AND HALIDE COMPLEXES AND THEIR RELATION TO THE MECHANISM OF THE HALOGENATION REACTION

The spectral changes caused by the addition of hydrogen peroxide and halide salts to chloroperoxidase have been investigated and discussed in relation to the halogenation activity of the enzyme. Chloroperoxidase forms a compound with hydrogen peroxide that is spectrally similar to horseradish peroxidase Compound I. The initial peroxide compound can decompose directly back to the native enzyme in a catalatic reaction or react with ethanol to form acetaldehyde. There is no evidence for the participation of a secondary intermediate in these reactions. The initial peroxide compound also reacts with classical peroxidase donors, such as ascorbate, guaiacol, and pyrogallol. A secondary intermediate is formed in this reaction. Thus, chloroperoxidase exhibits characteristics of both peroxidase and catalase. Chloroperoxidase can catalyze the peroxidative chlorination, bromination, and iodination of appropriate donors. At low pH, the addition of halides causes definite spectral changes in the Soret region of the native enzyme. The spectral changes show the same pH dependence as the halogenation activity. Above the pH optimum of the enzyme, the velocity of the chlorination reaction is approximately proportional to the product of the chloride and hydrogen ion concentrations. A model for the halogenation reactions has been proposed in which halide ions compete with a carboxyl group for a location near the heme group. At low pH, protonation of the carboxyl group permits halide ion to supply the negative charge preferred at this location. The close proximity of the halide to the heme enables it to act as a donor for the peroxide compound. The low pH requirement for the binding of halide is responsible for the low pH optimum of the halogenation reactions.
Applications of Symbolic Computing Methods to the Dynamic Analysis of Large Systems

Since the symbolic computing language is very well suited to the operations with algebraic equations, techniques use the transfer function concept as a tool for the analysis of large linear dynamic systems. Techniques were coded in the experimental symbolic computer language FORMAC. The first of these approaches, REDUCE 1, establishes the techniques and a computer program to symbolically reduce arbitrary block diagrams associated with large systems for desired transfer functions. Symbolic closed form solutions are determined in several forms including an expanded form in terms of the driving frequencies and system constants. Programs are also written to numerically evaluate the symbolic solutions. A second computer program, REDUCE 2, is also based on the use of symbolic computing methods and was written to accommodate large engineering systems.
Chlorate salts and solutions on Mars

[1] Chlorate (ClO3−) is an intermediate oxidation species between chloride (Cl−) and perchlorate (ClO4−), both of which were found at the landing site by the Wet Chemistry Lab (WCL). The chlorate ion is almost as stable as perchlorate, and appears to be associated with perchlorate in most terrestrial reservoirs (e.g. Atacama and Antarctica). It is possible that chlorate contributed to the ion sensor response on the WCL, yet was masked by the strong perchlorate signal. However, very little is known about chlorate salts and their effect on the stability of water. We performed evaporation rate experiments in our Mars simulation chamber, which enabled us to determine the activity of water for various concentrations. From this we constructed solubility diagrams for NaClO3, KClO3, Mg(ClO3)2 and Ca(ClO3)2, and determined the Pitzer parameters for each salt. Chlorate salt eutectic temperatures range from 270 K (KClO3) to 204 K (Mg(ClO3)2). Modeling the addition of chlorate to the initial WCL solutions shows that it precipitates in concentrations comparable to other common salts, such as gypsum and epsomite, and implies that chlorates may play an important role in the wet chemistry on Mars.
Identification of feeding stimulants for Pacific coast wireworm by use of a filter paper assay (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Sugars and several plant essential oils were evaluated as feeding stimulants for larvae of Pacific coast wireworm, Limonius canus (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Compounds were evaluated by quantifying biting rates of wireworms on treated filter paper disks, modifying a method used previously in assays with Agriotes wireworms. Independent counts of the same disk showed that the method led to repeatable estimates of biting rate. Higher rates of biting were obtained on filter paper disks if those disks had been treated with sucrose, fructose, glucose, maltose, and galactose, than if the disks were left untreated. Sucrose and fructose were more stimulatory than the other 3 sugars. Biting rates declined with decreasing concentrations of sugars in water. Combining a highly stimulatory sugar (sucrose) with certain plant essential oils in some cases led to non-additive (both synergistic and antagonistic) effects on biting rates. We discuss the possible role for this type of assay in developing insecticide-laced baits for attract-and-kill programs.
Three Current Controversies in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), or pseudotumour cerebri, is a condition of increased intracranial pressure without space-occupying lesion, cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities or venous sinus thrombosis. This manuscript will discuss three controversies in IIH: (1) its nomenclature; (2) existence without papilloedema; and (3) therapeutic venous stenting. The name pseudotumour cerebri is controversial; idiopathic intracranial hypertension, idiopathic intracranial pressure or primary and secondary intracranial hypertension are preferred terms. Some do not believe the condition exists without papilloedema. Our evaluation found idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilloedema (IIHWOP) in ∼6% of cases. IIHWOP patients had more diagnostic lumbar punctures and non-physiological visual field constriction; 93% of IIH patients had venous sinus stenosis. Others suggest treating venous sinus narrowing with stenting, which may be viable in rare cases but should not be first-line treatment.
Heterogeneous summation in human infants.

Summary The law of heterogeneous summation asserts that a whole is equal to the sum of its parts. Gestalt psychology asserts that a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. There is evidence to show that in lower animals, at least, Gestalt's, evolve from ‘heterogeneous summations’, in both phylogenetic and ontogenetic evolution. Two experiments are performed which show that this kind of shift occurs in the development of human infants. The results shed some light on the origins of Gestalt perception.
Uncertainty in paleohydrologic reconstructions from molecular δD values

Abstract Compound-specific δ D measurements can be used for quantitative estimation of source water δ D values, a useful tracer for paleohydrologic changes. Such estimates have quantifiable levels of uncertainty that are often miscalculated, resulting in inaccurate error reporting in the scientific literature that can impact paleohydrologic interpretations. Here, we summarize the uncertainties inherent to molecular δ D measurements and the quantification of source water δ D values, and discuss the assumptions involved when omitting various sources of uncertainty. Using standard protocols from measurement science, we derive the equations necessary to quantify these various sources of uncertainty. We show that analytical uncertainty is usually improperly estimated and that after apparent fractionation between δ D values of source water and molecule, normalization of data to the VSMOW scale introduces the largest amount of uncertainty. Lastly, to facilitate systematic error reporting we provide an Uncertainty Calculator spreadsheet to conveniently calculate uncertainty in δ D measurements.
Assessment of mazindane, a pro-drug form of mazindol, in assays used to define cocaine treatment agents.

Abstract The current studies compared mazindane (5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dihydro-5H-imidazo [2,1a] isoindole) hydrogen sulfate, a water soluble pro-drug of mazindol (5-(4-chlorophenyl-2,3-dihydro-5H-imidazo [2,1-a] isoindol-5-ol), with mazindol in assays used to define cocaine treatment agents. Both compounds enhanced motor activity (LMA) in Swiss Webster mice with ED 50 values of 2.5 mg/kg i.p. for mazindane and 3.9 mg/kg i.p. for mazindol. At 25 mg/kg mazindane displayed toxic effects and death while mazindol was effect/death free at 50 mg/kg. In Sprague–Dawley rats trained to discriminate cocaine from saline both compounds fully substituted for cocaine with mazindane being fourfold more potent in the total session (0.33 vs. 1.3 mg/kg i.p.) and first reinforcer (0.29 vs. 1.2 mg/kg i.p). Complete substitution was observed in rhesus monkeys trained to discriminate cocaine from saline with ED 50 values for mazindane (0.134 mg/kg i.m.) and mazindol (0.119 mg/kg i.m.). Mazindol exhibited little or no activity at 10 −5 M in inhibiting radioligand binding at 14 neurotransmitter sites while mazindane gave weak activity at the histamine H 1 and 5-hydroxytryptamine 5-HT 3 sites. These results demonstrate that mazindane could be a useful alternative to mazindol as a pharmacological tool because of its similar profile of activity and enhanced water solubility.
Social justice or market justice? The paradoxes of public health partnerships with managed care

Public health is increasingly joining forces with managed care, yet the effect of this partnership on public health nursing (PHN) has received little scrutiny. The feasibility and consequences of a public-private alliance raise questions about whether the mission of public health can be sustained in a managed care system and whether managed care's approaches to health care are conducive to providing population-oriented care. Expanding the links between PHN and private organizations is both problematic and promising. Managed care organizations have much to offer, including coordination of services and comprehensive care. However, they may also restrict coverage and create bureaucratic obstacles to obtaining services. The growth of for-profit health care corporations evokes questions about ways in which concern for communities and populations collide with stockholder interests. The task for PHN is to recognize and to dialogue about these complexities so that nursing's voice can be heard as solutions to these dilemmas are created.
Politics and Prophecy

John Mather and George Smoot's discovery of the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation won the Nobel Prize in Physics 2006.
Calbindin D28K gene transfer via herpes simplex virus amplicon vector decreases hippocampal damage in vivo following neurotoxic insults

Increases in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) can lead to neuron death. Preventing a rise in [Ca2+]i by removing Ca2+ from the extracellular space or by adding Ca2+ chelators to the cytosol of target cells ameliorates the neurotoxicity associated with [Ca2+]i increases. Another potential route of decreasing the neurotoxic impact of Ca2+ is to overexpress one of the large number of constitutive calcium-binding proteins. Previous studies in this laboratory demonstrated that overexpression of the gene for the calcium-binding protein calbindin D28K, via herpes simplex virus (HSV) amplicon vector, increases the survival of hippocampal neurons in vitro following energetic or excitotoxic insults but not following application of sodium cyanide. We now report that in vivo hippocampal infection with the calbindin D28K HSV vector increases neuronal survival in the dentate gyrus after application of the antimetabolite 3-acetylpyridine and increases transsynaptic neuronal survival in area CA3 following kainic acid neurotoxicity. The protective effects of infection with the calbindin D28K vector in an intact brain may prove to be beneficial during changes in Ca2+ homeostasis caused by neurological trauma associated with aging and certain neurological diseases.
Membrane proteins: a new method enters the fold.

Since Anfinsen (1) first showed that an amino acid sequence defines a structure, physical biochemists have been trying to decode the structural message in the sequence. To accomplish this goal, proteins have been unfolded and refolded under myriad conditions, with increasingly sophisticated folding probes, and at ever finer temporal resolution. However, this work has been largely confined to water-soluble proteins. For membrane proteins, many more hurdles exist and, to a large extent, we are still trying to devise methods to study folding. A protein chemist entering the membrane protein field would not even find a consensus method for measuring something so fundamental as thermodynamic stability. Folding experiments with membrane proteins are difficult because it can be hard to find ways to unfold them reversibly. Ideally, we would like a method to study the thermodynamics of membrane protein folding, in the context of a true bilayer. Just such a method has now been developed by Hong and Tamm (2) and is reported in this issue of PNAS. Two distinct classes of membrane proteins have been observed to date: β-barrels and α-helical bundles. Both architectures accommodate the powerful drive to satisfy hydrogen bonds in the apolar core of the bilayer (3). For α-helices, the backbone hydrogen bonds are satisfied locally, so an α-helix can be independently stable within the bilayer (4). Thus, it is reasonable to suppose that helical membrane proteins can lose tertiary structure without concomitant loss of secondary structure (4). We can envision a picture (clearly overly simplistic) of a partially unfolded membrane protein consisting of tethered helices floating around in the bilayer (see Fig. 1). The picture for β-barrel protein folding may be fundamentally different. In a β-sheet, backbone hydrogen bonds are long-range interactions, and for a linear sheet, both ends …
The ecological organisation of lake districts: general introduction

1. Here we introduce a special issue of Freshwater Biology that focuses on the landscape-scale spatial and temporal patterns exhibited by multiple lakes within lake districts. We call this patterning, and the processes that lead to it, the ‘ecological organisation of lake districts.’ 2. Papers in this special issue share the common goal of examining landscape-level processes that lead to spatial and temporal patterns of lake characteristics in individual or multiple lake districts. Several papers focus on the degree to which multiple lakes have synchronous among year variability in various physical, chemical, and biological variables. Others focus on the landscape-level processes that lead to spatial patterning of lake characteristics. Finally, a few papers examine the relationship between spatial patterning and temporal dynamics. Papers in this special issue present results from 10 lake districts from North America, Europe, and Antarctica.
A gradient in the thickness of the surface sheath in pseudoplasmodia of Dictyostelium discoideum

The surface sheath surrounding pseudoplasmodia of Dictyostelium discoideum has been preserved with a technique employing ruthenium red, and the appearance and spatial distribution of this material determined by electron microscopy. The sheath has a thickness of ∼ 100 A over the anterior of all pseudoplasmodia, and increases uniformly at a rate of an additional 30 A with each 100 μm towards the posterior, this gradient being irrespective of pseudoplasmodial size or rate of migration. The nature and size variance of this gradient are discussed in relationship to the nature of sheath synthesis, control of polarity, its effects on the rate and direction of polarised locomotion, and its possible implication in pattern formation.