cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase response versus positive and negative division delay in animal cells.

Abstract The time of median cell division in V79 Chinese hamster cells following high serum pulses was determined for two synchronous cell generations following mitotic selection. Differences in cell cycle time for each pair of pulse and control cultures were computed and plotted as a function of time of serum pulse. This phase response curve for hamster cells with an 8.5 h cell cycle shows a characteristic biphasic pattern. Beginning 0.5 h after mitotic selection, pulses with serum produce delays in the midpoint of the subsequent mitotic waves. Delay is maximum at 1.5 h. Delays give way abruptly to advances at 2.5 h and the amount of advance then decreases as pulses are given between 3 and 5 h into the cycle. At 5 h decreasing advances become delays, with increasing delays due to serum pulses occurring between 5 and 6 h. Delays again give way abruptly to advances at 6 h and again the amount of advance decreases through the late portion of the cycle. Pulses very late in the cycle appear to generate phase delays. This biphasic response to serum is interpreted as an expression of an underlying time-keeping oscillator whose period is nominally of 4 h duration.
The anaemia of chronic disorders: studies of iron reutilization in the anaemia of experimental malignancy and chronic inflammation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of defective reutilization of iron in the pathogenesis of the anaemia of chronic disease (ACD). Normal rats with or without splenectomy and rats with Walker 256 carcinosarcoma with or without splenectomy were studied. The reutilization of 59Fe labelled heat-damaged red cells (59Fe DRBC), the sequestration of 59Fe DRBC in major organs, red cell mass, 51Cr red cell survival, serum iron, plasma erythropoietin and routine haematological parameters were measured. Three weeks after tumour implantation in rats a moderate degree of anaemia was noted. The maximum 59Fe reutilization in the tumour group and tumour with splenectomy group (63 ± 6% and 56 ± 9%, respectively) was not significantly different than observed in the normal group (64 ± 6%) or normal with splenectomy group (53 ± 7%). Excessive iron sequestration in liver and spleen was not observed in animals with cancer. Red cell survival in the tumour group was slightly decreased as compared to normal. Plasma erythropoietin levels were appropriately increased for the degree of anaemia in rats with cancer. This type of experiment was repeated in a second group of anaemic animals with turpentine induced abscesses. Reutilization of 59Fe DRBC in rats with inflammation was normal. These results indicate that adult rats with anaemia of malignancy or chronic inflammation do not have a decreased reutilization of red cell iron. Thus RE blockade of iron is not a major factor in anaemia of chronic disease in this experimental model. Furthermore, these experiments confirm the importance of decreased red cell production in the anaemia of malignancy.
Protonation of (PCP)PtH to give a dihydrogen complex

Protonation of (PCP)PtH (PCP = η3-2,6-(tBu2PCH2)2C6H3) in CD2Cl2 at −78 °C with [H(OEt2)2]+BAr‘4- [Ar‘ = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] gives the PtII dihydrogen complex [(PCP)Pt(H2)]+. The H2 ligand is expelled when the solution is warmed to room temperature, but the dihydrogen complex is re-formed when H2 is added.
The Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory Distortion

Memory distortion occurs in the laboratory and in everyday life. This article focuses on false recognition, a common type of memory distortion in which individuals incorrectly claim to have encountered a novel object or event. By considering evidence from neuropsychology, neuroimaging, and electrophysiology, we address three questions. (1) Are there patterns of neural activity that can distinguish between true and false recognition? (2) Which brain regions contribute to false recognition? (3) Which brain regions play a role in monitoring or reducing false recognition? Neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies suggest that sensory activity is greater for true recognition compared to false recognition. Neuropsychological and neuroimaging results indicate that the hippocampus and several cortical regions contribute to false recognition. Evidence from neuropsychology, neuroimaging, and electrophysiology implicates the prefrontal cortex in retrieval monitoring that can limit the rate of false recognition.
pH, Definition and measurement at high temperatures

In this review paper, the NBS scale and its limitations are briefly discussed. The magnitude of liquid junction potentials and some calculated values are presented. The use of a molality scale for hydrogen electrode concentration cells at high temperatures is described, and results from measurements on ionization equilibria are summarized. Use of this scale is also recommended for certain circumstances with cells without liquid junction. As an alternative activity scale, use of the Pitzer ion-interaction treatment for ions is recommended for special cases. Finally, reference data are presented for γ±HCl in HCl(aq) to 350°C and (HCl+NaCl)(aq) to 200°C that were derived by use of the Pitzer ion-interaction treatment.
Correlation-aware techniques for sparse support recovery

Sparse support recovery techniques guarantee successful recovery of sparse solutions to linear underdetermined systems provided the measurement matrix satisfies certain conditions. The maximum level of sparsity that can be recovered with existing algorithms is O(M) where M denotes the size of the measurement vector. This paper shows how this can be improved to O(M2) by assuming certain prior knowledge about the correlation structure of the measurements. The theory for correlation aware framework for support recovery is developed, which involves the Khatri-Rao (KR) product of the measurement matrix. Necessary and sufficient conditions for unique recovery of the sparse support are provided for this new framework which outperforms the more traditional CS techniques in terms of required size of the measurement vector. It also gives rise to interesting questions of constructing classes of measurement matrices which can exploit the prior correlation knowledge in an effective way. 1
Olanzapine antipsychotic treatment of adolescent rats causes long term changes in glutamate and GABA levels in the nucleus accumbens

Abstract Atypical antipsychotic drugs (AAPDs) are widely used in children and adolescents to treat a variety of psychiatric disorders. However, little is known about the long-term effects of AAPD treatment before the brain is fully developed. Indeed, we and others have previously reported that treatment of adolescent rats with olanzapine (OLA; a widely prescribed AAPD) on postnatal days 28–49, under dosing conditions that approximate those employed therapeutically in humans, causes long-term behavioral and neurobiological perturbations. We have begun to study the mechanisms of these effects. Dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5HT) regulate many neurodevelopmental processes. Currently approved AAPDs exert their therapeutic effects principally through their DAergic activities, although in schizophrenia (SZ) and some other diseases for which AAPDs are prescribed, DAergic dysfunction is accompanied by abnormalities of glutamatergic (GLUergic) and γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) transmission. Here, we use proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H MRS) to investigate the effects of adolescent OLA administration on GABA and GLU levels. We found that the treatment caused long-term reductions in the levels of both GLU and GABA in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of adult rats treated with OLA during adolescence. The NAc is a key node in the brain's “reward” system, whose function is also disrupted in schizophrenia. Further research into potential, OLA-induced changes in the levels of GLU and GABA in the NAc and other brain areas, and the dynamics and mechanisms of those changes, are an essential step for devising new adjunct therapies for existing AAPDs and for designing new drugs that increase therapeutic effects and reduce long-term abnormalities when administered to pediatric patients.
Attitude control of a spinning rocket via thrust vectoring

Two controllers are developed to provide attitude control of a spinning rocket that has a thrust vectoring capability. The first controller has a single-input/single-output design that ignores the gyroscopic coupling between the control channels. The second controller has a multi-input/multi-output structure that is specifically intended to account for the gyroscopic coupling effects. A performance comparison between the two approached is conducted for a range of roll rates. Each controller is tested for the ability to track step commands, and for the amount of coupling impurity. Both controllers are developed via a linear-quadratic-regulator synthesis procedure, which is motivated by the multi-input/multi-output nature of second controller. Time responses and a singular value analysis are used to evaluate controller performance. This paper describes the development and comparison of two controllers that are designed to provide attitude control of a spinning rocket that is equipped with thrust vector control. 12 refs., 13 figs., 2 tabs.
Profiles of Self-reported Parenting Competence and Stress Among Women With/Without Histories of Childhood Sexual Abuse

One aspect of women’s interpersonal functioning that may be affected by child sexual abuse (CSA) is parenting. The purpose of our study was to examine parenting profiles among women (N = 264) with/without histories of CSA. We performed a latent profile analysis (LPA) to establish profile membership based on women’s self-reported measures of parenting competence and stress. The best fitting model consisted of a three-class solution representing profiles of low competence/high stress (Class 1: 20.83 %), average competence and stress (Class 2: 59.85 %) and high competence/low stress (Class 3: 19.32 %). We also performed a multinomial logistic regression utilizing the estimates generated from the LPA to examine additional correlates of class membership. Our results revealed that women with a history of CSA were represented in all three classes; yet, there was no significant difference in women with histories of CSA across the three classes and CSA was not associated with class membership. We found that daily living hassles, women’s sense of personal mastery, acceptability of their child and having a partner were associated with class membership. Membership in Class 1 (low competence/high stress) was predicted by higher scores on daily hassles and lower scores on acceptability of child, compared to Class 2. There were three variables that predicted membership in Class 3, compared to Class 2: personal mastery, acceptability of child and having a partner. None of the other variables were significantly associated with class membership, including a history of CSA. Our findings indicate that regardless of CSA history, all women have strengths and capabilities which should be enhanced in order to promote parenting competence.
Variations of hybrid damping

ABSTRACT Damping is important to structures and can be achieved through the addition of viscoelastic materials (VEM). The dampingof the VEM is enhanced if a constraining layer is attached to the VEM. If this consiraining layer is active, the treatment iscalled active constrained layer damping (ACLD). In the last few years, ACiD has proven to be superior in vibration conirolto active or passive damping. The active element makes ACLD more effective than passive constrained layer damping. Italso provides a fail-safe in case of breakdown of the active element that is not present for purely active control. It is shownthat the conirol effort needed to damp vibration using ACLD can be significantly higher than purely active control. In orderto combine the inherent damping of passive control with the effectiveness of the active element, this paper will exploredifferent variations of active, passive and hybrid damping. Some of the variations include: passive constrained layerdamping (PCLD) separate from active element but on the same side ofbeam, PCLD separate from active on the opposite sideof the beam, and active element underneath PCLD. The discreUzed system equations will be obtained using assumed modesmethod and Lagrange's equation. The damping will be modeled using the Golla-Hughes-McTavish (GHM) method. Theoptimal placement and size of the active, passive, ACLD and hybrid treatments will be found using different schemes. Theissue of overshoot and setthng time of the output and control force using LQR will be addressed, as well as the control effort,passive and active vibration suppression, and LQR cost function. It will be shown that the hybrid treatments are capable ofgreater vibration control for lower control effort for different optimization schemes.Keywords: passive damping, active damping, ACLD, optimal control, hybrid damping, optimal placement and size
The Summer of Friendship by Fire: A Doctoral Student Reminisces about Lessons in Diversity

The journey toward becoming a multicultural person is not easy and is never finished. As an educational administrator in a tri-cultural state, I felt comfortable that I was proficient in dealing with diversity. Only when I began a doctoral program at a major Texas university was my naivety exposed. I quickly learned that experience in working with diverse populations and the ability to relate effectively to people of different ethnic backgrounds were vastly different. The two years I spent deeply immersed in a multiculturally rich cohort of doctoral students changed me. My eyes were opened to injustices that I had never before seen as I vicariously experienced life through the eyes of the “other.” Today, I am a professor at a regional university. My experiences, focused through the lens of theory, are the basis for the message to my students. I have traveled the road before and can now point the way toward a broader definition of acceptance and tolerance.
The direct construction of wave rays

In the construction of refraction diagrams for ocean waves the rays (orthogonals) can be drawn more accurately if the approximate formula Δα = (ΔL/Lave) tan α, used by Johnson, O'Brien, and Isaacs [1948] in the preparation of refraction protractors, is replaced by Δα = sin-1 [(1 + ΔL/L) sin α] − α. In these formulas, α is the angle between wave crest and depth contour and L the wave length taken at the beginning of any contour interval; Δα and ΔL are the corresponding changes over the contour interval. A modified procedure for the construction of rays is presented.
Trans-acting factors in chromosomal instability.

Abstract The hypothesis that trans-acting factors affect chromosome stability was explored using human X Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids. Two types of hybrids were examined. In either case, the human parent consisted of human diploid fibroblasts, the chromosomes of which tended to be lost from the hybrid cell. Comparisons were made between hybrid clones in which the hamster parent had a very stable karyotype (line CHO) and clones from a hamster parent with an unusual ongoing unstable karyotype (line CHX). Chinese hamster-human hybrid cell clones were expanded, and metaphase spreads were analyzed with an in situ hybridization procedure that uses biotin-labeled human genomic DNA as probe. Analyses of chromosome numbers and interspecies translocations were made after 20, 60, and 100 population doublings. Throughout the experiments, the generation of human-hamster—translocated chromosomes was more frequent in the hybrid cells with the CHX background. In addition, these cells also generated human acentric fragments, which were rare in cells with the CHO background. These results favor explanations for the instability of the CHX line that involve ongoing production of a diffusible clastogenic factor.
Detection of bacterial infection with a fiber optic microendoscope

We present the use of fiber optic microendoscopy to image bacterial infection in the skin and lungs using an animal model. The contact probe microendoscope we have constructed has a 4 µm resolution, a 750 µm field of view, and a 1 mm outer diameter. Well resolved regions of bacterial infection were imaged for subcutaneous inocula of 106 to 101 CFU and intra-tracheal inocula of 108 to 106 CFU. Results reveal a linear relationship between average fluorescence and CFU, suggesting potential for using this device for quantitative analysis. Detection limits of 104 CFU for skin samples and 107 CFU for lung tissue were determined. In addition, bacteria were also qualitatively visible in lung tissue down to 106 CFU. Confocal imaging was used to confirm the presence of bacteria in tissue samples.
Significant correlation of the American Urological Association symptom score and a novel urodynamic parameter : Detrusor contraction duration

AbstractPurpose: Various investigators have reported the lack of specificity of the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score and its poor correlation with urodynamic parameters. A retrospective study was performed to ascertain the correlation of the AUA symptom score with various urodynamic parameters, including detrusor contraction duration.Materials and Methods: The urodynamic records of 120 consecutive patients with moderate (scores 8 to 19) or severe (scores greater than 19) symptoms were retrospectively analyzed to ascertain if the AUA symptom score correlated with the urodynamic parameters of maximum detrusor pressure, detrusor pressure at maximum flow, compliance, involuntary detrusor contractions and, a novel parameter, detrusor contraction duration.Results: There were 63 men (mean age 59.7 years) and 57 women (mean age 58.8 years). Men AUA symptom score plus or minus standard deviation was 17.8 plus/minus 3.7 and 15.4 plus/minus 2.9, respectively. There was no correlation between any u...
Statistical Considerations in Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics

Critical defect size distributions are estimated for various metals and for hot pressed silicon nitride using the Monte Carlo method. With regard to the critical flaw size computation, results obtained for the numerous materials are compared to the sensitivity or probability of detection of particular flaw sizes based on existing nondestructive evaluation techniques. In several instances, defect detection is the limiting factor. Comparison of flaw estimates for the silicon nitride to fractographic observations demonstrates capability of order of magnitude accuracy. The technique is also used to explore the influence of variable parameters in a simple crack growth law. An important result was the nonnormality of life estimates, even though normal distributions were used for input variables. The consequence is a much lower probability of occurrence for the modal value of the life distribution than might be anticipated. With regard to the Monte Carlo method, the paper demonstrates that selection of the appropriate number of simulations must rely on consideration of third and higher order moments of the resulting statistical distributions. A large number of simulations were needed in order to obtain convergence of these moments. This, in turn, provides criteria for required number of simulations in the defect size and life computation. In summary, the paper illustrates the importance of statistically based fracture mechanics materials selection criteria. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the simple series approximation technique generally underestimates mean values and variance, particularly for large variances in operating stress and materials properties. Most importantly, the technique provides probability distributions for realistic fatigue life estimates.
Diuresis and Natriuresis Caused by Activation of VR1-Positive Sensory Nerves in Renal Pelvis of Rats

To test the hypothesis that activation of the vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) expressed in sensory nerves innervating the renal pelvis leads to diuresis and natriuresis, a selective VR1 receptor agonist, capsaicin (2.4 nmol), or vehicle was perfused intravenously or into the left renal pelvis of anesthetized rats at a rate without changing renal perfusion pressure. Mean arterial pressure was not altered by capsaicin administered intravenously or into the renal pelvis. Capsaicin perfusion into the left renal pelvis but not intravenously caused significant increases in urine flow rate and urinary sodium excretion bilaterally in a dose-dependent manner, which were abolished by capsazepine, a selective VR1 receptor antagonist, given ipsilaterally to the renal pelvis or by ipsilateral renal denervation. Capsaicin given intravenously or into the left renal pelvis increased plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels to the same extent. Increased plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels induced by capsaicin (68.9+/-2.8 pg/mL) perfusion into the renal pelvis was prevented either by capsazepine (22.5+/-10.1 pg/mL) given ipsilaterally into the renal pelvis or by ipsilateral renal denervation (25.9+/-2.3 pg/mL). Taken together, our data show that unilateral activation of VR1-positive sensory nerves innervating the renal pelvis leads to bilateral diuresis and natriuresis via a mechanism that is independent of plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels. These data suggest that VR1-positive sensory nerves in the kidney enhance renal excretory function, a mechanism that may be critically involved in sodium and fluid homeostasis.
Impacts of Inductance on the Figures of Merit to Optimize Global Interconnect

With aggressive scaling of CMOS technology, different performance parameters: latency, bandwidth, repeater power consumption and area, and delay variation of global interconnects are not scaling accordingly with those of devices and local interconnects. There have been various optimization schemes to minimize the discrepancy of performance between the devices and global interconnect lines. But these optimization schemes are based on RC delay concepts, which assume that the total inductance is less than a critical inductance and the system is over damped; hence the impact of inductance can be ignored. This paper will attempt to identify the limitations of thesefigures ofmerit (FOMs), and address the impact of line inductance on the methodology of global interconnect width and spacing optimization, and on different FOMs. The paper will examine the impacts of inductance on various performance parameters, such as, band width, delay, delay uncertainty, and repeater power and area, which were previously based on RC models.
Antioxidant enzymes and DPPH-radical scavenging activity in chilled and heat-shocked rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings radicles.

Chilling whole rice seedlings at 5 °C significantly increased the time needed to recover linear growth and reduced the subsequent linear rate of radicle growth. Subjecting nonchilled seedlings to a 45 °C heat shock for up to 20 min did not alter subsequent growth, whereas a 3 min heat shock was optimal in reducing growth inhibition caused by 2 days of chilling. The activity of five antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 1.11.1.11), glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2), and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX; EC 1.11.1.7)] and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl)-radical scavenging activity were measured in heat-shocked and/or chilled radicles. Heat shock slightly increased the activity of CAT, APX, and GR and suppressed the increase of GR and GPX activity during recovery from chilling. Increased CAT, APX, GR, and DPPH-radical scavenging activity and protection of CAT activity during chilling appear to be correlated with heat shock-induce...
Application of Mixture Theory in the Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Asphalt Concrete

Asphalt concrete is a heterogeneous mixture of three constituents of asphalt binder, aggregate, and air void. The local volume fractions of these constituents vary spatially and therefore result in the spatial gradients of the local volume fractions. The local volume fractions and their spatial gradients are important field variables in mixture theory that predicts the mixture behavior out of the structure of the mixture and the properties of the constituents. In this paper, the fundamentals of mixture theory and a general method for solving boundary value problems using mixture theories were presented. A simplified mixture theory for two-constituent mixtures of solids and air voids was proposed to model the initial stress distribution of asphalt concrete under static loading. The analytical solutions of simple two-dimensional (2D) and one-dimensional (1D) cases using the simplified theory were obtained to illustrate how this theory predicts the effective stress distribution of a heterogeneous mixture. Methods to quantify the two field variables of the mixture theory, namely the local void volume fraction and its gradient, are developed using x-ray tomography imaging. The quantified void local volume fraction and its gradient for the specimens of mixes with known performance indicated a promising perspective for using mixture theory to evaluate the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete.
Satellite detection of transient enhanced primary production in the western Mediterranean Sea

Extensive ship sampling of chlorophyll a and primary production of CO2 in the western Mediterranean Sea was conducted contemporaneous with Nimbus-7 coastal zone color scanner imagery. This approach resulted in an empirical model for estimating integrated water-column primary production from satellite imagery. Precision was adequate to resolve short-term fluctuations in primary production associated with a mesoscale circulation feature.
Acute toxicity of 3,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) in male Sprague-Dawley rats: effects on hepatic oxidative stress, glutathione and metals status.

Although polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) production, and new uses for PCBs, was halted in the 1970s in the United States, PCBs continue to be used in closed systems and persist in the environment, accumulating in fatty tissues. PCBs are efficacious inducers of drug metabolism and may increase oxidative events and alter many other biochemical and morphologic parameters within cells and tissues. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a single, very low dose of PCB 126 (3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl), a coplanar, dioxin-like PCB congener and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist, on the redox status, metals homeostasis, antioxidant enzymes, and cellular morphology. To examine these parameters, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a purified AIN-93 basal diet containing 0.2 ppm selenium for two weeks, then administered a single i.p. injection of corn oil (5 ml/kg body weight) or 1 μmol PCB 126/kg body weight (326 μg/kg body weight) in corn oil. Rats were maintained on the diet for an additional two weeks before being euthanized. This dose of PCB 126 did not later feed intake or growth, but significantly increased liver weight (42%) and hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 (CYP1A) enzyme activities (10–40-fold increase). Hepatic zinc, selenium, and glutathione levels were significantly decreased 15%, 30%, and 20%, respectively, by PCB 126. These changes were accompanied by a 25% decrease in selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity. In contrast, hepatic copper levels were increased 40% by PCB 126. PCB 126-induced pathology was characterized by hepatocellular hypertrophy and mild steatosis in the liver and a mild decrease in cortical T-cells in the thymus. This controlled study in rats fed a purified diet shows that even a single, very low dose of PCB 126 that did not alter feed intake or growth, significantly perturbed redox and metals homeostasis and antioxidant and enzyme levels in rodent liver.
SCVIR annual meeting film panel session: diagnosis and discussion of case 6.

An 84-year-old man presented with the chief complaint of episodic hemoptysis, increasing in frequency and severity over the course of the previous three and a half weeks. He denied any associated chest pain. Comorbid conditions included chronic congestive heart failure (ejection fraction ,20%), coronary artery disease with stable angina, and a previous myocardial infarction and Kaposi sarcoma (HIV seronegative). He had undergone two coronary artery bypass grafting procedures (5 and 15 years earlier) and transurethral resection of a malignant bladder tumor. He was admitted to another facility where computed tomography (CT) of the chest was performed and a focal abnormality of the descending thoracic aorta was identified. Nitroprusside and esmolol infusions were administered to reduce blood pressure and shear stress. The patient was emergently transferred to the care of the cardiothoracic surgery team at our hospital with a diagnosis of aortobronchial fistula. On admission, he was hemodynamically stable with an unremarkable physical examination. Hemoptysis had ceased. Laboratory tests revealed a hematocrit level of 36%, a platelet count of 155,000/cm, an international normalized ratio of 1.2, a partial thromboplastin time of 31.2 seconds, and a creatinine level of 1.3 mg/dL. Unfortunately, the CT scan from the other hospital could not be located, so the study was repeated and further investigation with aortography was performed.
Designer Drugs of Abuse

Designer drugs of abuse represent a major health risk to those who use them. The toxic effects of these agents are very dangerous when they are correctly identified, but they are especially dangero...
The cost of carbon dioxide abatement from state renewable portfolio standards

Abstract Renewable portfolio standards (RPSs) have become a popular tool for state governments to promote renewable electricity generation and to decrease carbon dioxide emissions within a state or region. Renewable portfolio standards are a policy tool likely to persist for many decades due to the long term goals of many state RPSs and the likely creation of a federal RPS alongside any comprehensive climate change bill. Even though RPSs have become a popular policy tool, there is little empirical evidence about their costs. Using the temporal and regional variation in RPS requirements, I estimate the long-run price elasticity of supply of renewable electricity generation to be 2.67 (95% CI of 1.74, 3.60). Using my preferred elasticity estimate, I calculate the marginal cost of abatement from RPSs is at least $11 per ton of CO2 compared to a marginal cost of abatement of $3 per ton in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Economic impact of aminoglycoside toxicity and its prevention through therapeutic drug monitoring.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of aminoglycoside antibacterials with the goal of minimising toxicity and maximising effectiveness has become routine. Successful management of serious infections requires the ability to achieve therapeutic peak concentrations, while maintaining low trough concentrations will assist in avoiding nephrotoxicity. Reported nephrotoxicity rates range from 1.7 to 58% and depend on the definition used, the patient group studied, concomitant drug therapy used and whether TDM services have been provided. TDM services have been shown to reduce aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity. The costs of providing TDM averages $US301.87 (1997 values) per patient and the cost for each use of nephrotoxicity is estimated at $US4583 (1997 values). In order for the costs of providing a TDM service to 100 patients ($US30,187) to be offset by cost savings due to decreasing nephrotoxicity, the service would need to be able to reduce nephrotoxicity by 6.6%, resulting in a saving of $US30,248. The ability to achieve this saving is dependent on the characteristics of the population in which aminoglycoside therapy is used. In populations where high rates of nephrotoxicity (e.g. > 15%) would be expected, TDM services are cost justified. In populations where nephrotoxicity is low (e.g. < 5%), TDM service is not justified for this purpose. In order to provide a cost-efficient approach to TDM, resources should be focused on providing service to high risk patient groups.
Computer simulations of a dynamic visual perception model

The human visual system must operate in a rapidly changing environment, as objects, eyes and observer are continually moving. This fact must, to a great extent, determine how the system analyses its retinal input. We argue that perception should be regarded as a dynamic process in which patterns of neural activity are developed and change in ways which reflect changes in the visual field. A model is described to suggest how the visual system may keep track of perceived objects as their images move on the retina. We postulate that at some level of the visual system, the position of these objects relative to the observer is represented by a pattern of neural activity. Such a pattern of activity must move as a unit as the object it represents moves: the pattern cannot be continually regenerated during motion. In the model we propose, information is represented by activity in two-dimensional, homogeneous layers of neuron-like elements. A number of these layers are arranged in parallel, and activity within separate layers represents object position and the components of retinal image velocity due to object and observer motion. Object velocity, which cannot be directly sensed at the level of the retina, is isolated and represented analogically. This representational isolation of object- and observer-related velocity allows us to explain several illusions of motion perception, including induced motion and the “waterfall effect”.
Further Comments on the Effect of Nicarbazin on the Egg

ABSTRACT THE spectacular “bleaching” action of Nicarbazin on brown-shelled eggs (Ott et al., 1955; McLary, 1955) has undoubtedly led to consideration of the use of this drug for control of shell color where this factor is of marketing importance (Sherwood et al., 1956a). But reports of undesirable effects of Nicarbazin on production, egg weight, and yolk mottling (Baker et al., 1956; Ott et al., 1956; Polin et al., 1956; Polin and Porter, 1956; and Sherwood et al., 1956b) indicate that its use on laying flocks would be severely limited. On the other hand, these same papers carry the suggestion that the severity of the effect on the egg may vary considerably from one group of birds to another. The present report extends observations on the bleaching action to birds laying the sometimes hard-to-market “tinted” egg and shows that undesirable effects vary considerably among groups of birds. PROCEDURE Standard laying ration containing . . .
Soil organic matter in arid and semiarid ecosystems: Sources, accumulation, and distribution

Abstract Accumulation of organic carbon and formation of humus in arid and semi‐arid soils are reviewed with special attention to sources and distribution of organic matter, factors affecting humus formation and accumulation, transfer of organic debris to soil organic matter, and organic matter management. The character of vegetation is a major factor determining rate of organic decomposition and the quality, quantity, and distribution of soil organic matter, but the influence of other soil‐forming factors is sufficient to complicate the pattern and process of humus formation. Over a broad scale moisture and temperature are especially important. Patterns of soil organic matter distribution and litter decomposition are characteristic for arid and semiarid environments; they vary with the state of the system but involve complex interrelations. Trends in soil humus research and approaches needed to answer crucial ecological questions are reviewed.
Incorporation of 14CO2 in the dark by some plant tissues

The levels of fixation of 14CO2 in the dark by various plant tissues are compared. Most of the activity was found in the malate present. Mechanisms are suggested for the processes of degradation of malate and distribution of the activity.
Image Boundary Detection Using Array Systems

Two methods are described for detecting boundary contours of uniformly shaded images utilizing sensor array systems. Image perturbation was used to improve the detecting accuracy. It is shown that the contour detecting accuracy is closely related to the amplitude of the perturbation signal in the linear array system. A negligible detection error was obtained for all examples considered when the amplitude of the perturbation signal was set equal to one-half the center-to-center array element spacing. The least square filter was of limited benefit in the case of the square array system.
The Challenges and Tensions in Reconstructing Teacher - Parent Relations in the Context of School Reform: A case study

This paper relates the experience of a group of inner-city middle-school teachers and parents, and university personnel who actively engaged in a joint project to improve parental involvement at the school. Teachers, parents, and university personnel uncovered constraining forces within the organization and culture of the school that continuously mediated teacher - parent relations. The experiences related in this paper have implications for current educational policy calling for development of school norms, standards and systems of guidance to develop real and meaningful parental participation in schools.
Electrochemical performance of AB2 metal hydride alloys measured at −40 °C

Abstract The low-temperature (−40 °C) electrochemical performance of Y-, Si-, Fe-, Cu-, and Mo-partially substituted AB 2 metal hydride alloys was studied. The surface area and catalytic ability of these alloys were obtained from the double-layer capacitance and the product of the double-layer capacitance and charge-transfer resistance from AC impedance measurement, respectively. With the increase in amount of substitution, the surface areas in these substituted alloys showed different degrees of increase: Y-addition exhibited the largest increase, followed by Si-addition, and then Cu-, Mo-, and Fe-additions. The surface catalytic abilities of Si-containing alloys were the highest and followed by those of Mo-containing alloys. Cu-, Y-, and Fe-additions reduced the surface catalytic ability. The resistance at −40 °C benefited from the incorporations of Si, Mo, and Y, and deteriorated with the incorporations of Cu and Fe. In the best scenario of a single element-substituted AB 2 alloy, the resistance at −40 °C is still higher than that from a commercially available AB 5 alloy. Since the contributions to the low temperature performance of AB 2 alloys from various modifiers are not the same, the combination of several modifiers is possible for further optimization.
Direct labeling of DNA-adducts formed from carcinogenic diol-epoxides with a fluorescent reporter compound specific for the cis vic-diol group.

Abstract The fluorescent reporter group, N-(5-FLUORESCEINYL),N′-(3-BORONATOPHENYL)THIOUREA (FABA)has been synthesized. This boronate group makes the reporter specific for cis vic-diols. The reporter group is bound to DNA-adducts formed from the reaction of calf-thymus DNA and benzanthracene trans-10,11-dihydrodiol,8,9-epoxide (anti), benzo(a)anthracene-trans-3,4-dihydrodiol-1,2-epoxide (anti) but is not bound to 3-methylcholanthrene-11,12 dihydro-epoxide. Femtomole quantities of adduct may be detected.
The Recognition Specificity of the CHD1 Chromodomain with Modified Histone H3 Peptides

Abstract Histone tail peptides comprise the flexible portion of chromatin, the substance which serves as the packaging for the eukaryotic genome. According to the histone code hypothesis, reader protein domains (chromodomains) can recognize modifications of amino acid residues within these peptides, regulating the expression of genes. We have performed simulations on models of chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 1 complexed with a variety of histone H3 modifications. Binding free energies for both the overall complexes and the individual residues within the protein and peptides were computed with molecular mechanics–generalized Born surface area. The simulation results agree well with experimental data and identify several chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 1 residues that play key roles in the interaction with each of the H3 modifications. We identified one class of protein residues that bind to H3 in all of the complexes (generally interacting hydrophobically), and a second class of residues that bind only to particular H3 modifications (generally interacting electrostatically). Additionally, we found that modifications of H3R2 and H3T3 have a dominant effect on the binding affinity; methylation of H3K4 has little effect on the interaction strength when H3R2 or H3T3 is modified. Our findings with regard to the specificity shown by the latter class of protein residues in their binding affinity to certain modifications of H3 support the histone code hypothesis.
κ-Opioid receptor antisense oligonucleotide injected into rat hippocampus causes hypertension

Bi-hippocampal microinjection treatment (1 microg per side, twice a day for 5 days) with an antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the rat kappa-opioid receptor, caused hypertension in normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats and increased the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Systolic blood pressure in WKY rats increased from 121+/-4 to 153+/-6 mm Hg, and in SHR systolic blood pressure increased from 153+/-4 to 183+/-5 mm Hg. Similar results were observed with mean blood pressure, however, there were no changes in heart rate. No significant responses were seen with either vehicle or missense injections. Radioligand binding studies indicated that there was a significant decrease in apparent kappa-opioid receptor density due to antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatment. The results are in accord with our earlier suggestions that the kappa-opioid system in the hippocampus may have a role in the neural control of blood pressure.
Cooperative catabolic pathways within an atrazine-degrading enrichment culture isolated from soil

Atrazine degradation previously has been shown to be carried out by individual bacterial species or by relatively simple consortia that have been isolated using enrichment cultures. Here, the degradative pathway for atrazine was examined for a complex 8-membered enrichment culture. The species composition of the culture was determined by PCR-DGGE. The bacterial species included Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Caulobacter crescentus, Pseudomonas putida, Sphingomonas yaniokuyae, Nocardia sp., Rhizobium sp., Flavobacterium oryzihabitans, and Variovorax paradoxus. All of the isolates were screened for the presence of known genes that function for atrazine degradation including atzA,-B,-C,-D,-E,-F and trzD,-N. Dechlorination of atrazine, which was obligatory for complete mineralization, was carried out exclusively by Nocardia sp., which contained the trzN gene. Following dechlorination, the resulting product, hydroxyatrazine was further degraded via two separate pathways. In one pathway Nocardia converted hydroxyatrazine to N-ethylammelide via an unidentified gene product. In the second pathway, hydroxyatrazine generated by Nocardia sp. was hydrolyzed to N-isopropylammelide by Rhizobium sp., which contained the atzB gene. Each member of the enrichment culture contained atzC, which is responsible for ring cleavage, but none of the isolates carried the atzD,-E, or -F genes. Each member further contained either trzD or exhibited urease activity. The enrichment culture was destabilized by loss of Nocardia sp. when grown on ethylamine, ethylammelide, and cyanuric acid, after which the consortium was no longer able to degrade atrazine. The analysis of this enrichment culture highlights the broad level bacterial community interactions that may be involved in atrazine degradation in nature.
Magnets for the retention of a sectional intraoral prosthesis: A case history

Abstract A possible solution to the problem of rehabilitating patients who have undergone surgical removal of both maxillae has been suggested. A method of constructing a two-section intraoral prosthesis with the use of attracting magnets as positive locking devices has been described. The potential value of magnets as useful devices in maxillofacial prosthesis has been discussed.
Boson factorization approximation for anharmonic nuclear vibrations

Abstract A new approach is proposed for treating anharmonic nuclear vibrations, based on a kind of Hartree factorization applied to the Hamiltonian in a boson representation. The method is illustrated with the exactly solvable model of Lipkin, Meshkov and Glick.
Effect of the Age of the Rat at the Time of Hemicastration on the Weight, Estimated Secretory Activity and Δ5-3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Activity of the Remaining Ovary

Changes in ovarian weight and ovarian Δ6-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity were measured at intervals of 1, 2 and 4 weeks after hemicastration of rats of different ages. The changes in the 2 ovarian indices were often not parallel. The extent of the response obtained in weight or in enzymic activity after any of the above intervals was dependent on the age of the rat when hemicastration was performed. The significance of these findings is discussed with regard to the mechanisms responsible for the compensatory changes. It was also observed that removal of one ovary from prepuberal rats caused a delay in the onset of puberty. It would appear that the hormonal secretion of the ovary of the prepuberal rat plays a critical role in the normal maturation of the hypothalamic-hypophysial axis and in determining the time of onset of puberty. (Endocrinology 77: 909, 1965)
Bankruptcy resolution capacity and economic fluctuations

Abstract In this paper, I build a partial equilibrium model and uncover a relationship between regional macroeconomic fluctuations and bankruptcy resolution capacity that depends on the cyclicality of bankruptcy. If the frequency of bankruptcy is countercyclical, the model predicts that fluctuations are more severe in regions with lower bankruptcy resolution capacity. This is because, in these regions, banks’ bad-loan recovery costs are higher (due to the length of the bankruptcy proceedings) and their lending is more sensitive to macroeconomic shocks that impact the likelihood of bankruptcy. Therefore, shocks that increase the frequency of bankruptcy and decrease output at the same time, for example, are amplified due to a lower level of bank lending. I draw opposite conclusions when bankruptcy is procyclical (i.e., economic fluctuations are less severe in regions with low bankruptcy resolution capacity). In the second half of the paper, I find evidence indicating that bankruptcy is countercyclical and that in the U.S. states with lower bankruptcy resolution capacity, economic fluctuations, consistent with the model’s predictions, are more severe.
Structure of monoubiquitinated PCNA and implications for translesion synthesis and DNA polymerase exchange

DNA synthesis by classical polymerases can be blocked by many lesions. These blocks are overcome by translesion synthesis, whereby the stalled classical, replicative polymerase is replaced by a nonclassical polymerase. In eukaryotes this polymerase exchange requires proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) monoubiquitination. To better understand the polymerase exchange, we developed a means of producing monoubiquitinated PCNA, by splitting the protein into two self-assembling polypeptides. We determined the X-ray crystal structure of monoubiquitinated PCNA and found that the ubiquitin moieties are located on the back face of PCNA and interact with it through their canonical hydrophobic surface. Moreover, the attachment of ubiquitin does not change PCNA's conformation. We propose that PCNA ubiquitination facilitates nonclassical polymerase recruitment to the back of PCNA by forming a new binding surface for nonclassical polymerases, consistent with a 'tool belt' model of the polymerase exchange.