cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Iron Prevents Ferritin Turnover in Hepatic Cells

It has long been assumed that iron regulates the turnover of ferritin, but evidence for or against this idea has been lacking. This issue was addressed using rat hepatoma cells with characteristics of hepatocytes subjected to a continuous influx of iron. Iron-pretreated cells were pulsed with [(35)S]Met for 60 min or with (59)Fe overnight and harvested up to 30 h thereafter, during which they were/were not cultured with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC; 180 microm). Radioactivity in ferritin/ferritin subunits of cell heat supernatants was determined by autoradiography of rockets obtained by immunoelectrophoresis or after precipitation with ferritin antibody and SDS-PAGE. Both methods gave similar results. During the +FAC chase, the concentration of ferritin in the cells increased linearly with time. Without FAC, the half-life of (35)S-ferritin was 19-20 h; with FAC there was no turnover. Without FAC, the iron in ferritin had an apparent half-life of 20 h; in the presence of FAC there was no loss of (59)Fe. Without FAC, concentrations of ferritin iron and protein also decreased in parallel. We conclude that a continuous influx of excess iron can completely inhibit the degradation of ferritin protein and that the iron and protein portions of ferritin molecules may be coordinately degraded.
Lipid oxidation: Biologic effects and antioxidants—A review

The detection and measurement of lipid oxidation in biological systems and some biologic effects of this oxidation are reviewed. The role of lipid oxidation in the process of photocarcinogenesis and the protective effect of antioxidants against this process also are discussed. The mechanism of such protection is unknown and studies directed at elucidating the mechanism of antioxidant effect in photocarcinogenesis and in some other pathological conditions believed to involve, lipid oxidation are needed. In addition to this, epoxidation of lipids observed in monolayer studies requires further investigation, particularly in the presence of some other unsaturated molecules. The possible significance of such a study—particularly in the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens, where formation of epoxides is generally accepted as active intermediates-is also discussed. In addition, present knowledge on the role of lipid peroxides in the destruction of proteins and biomembranes, in chemically induced toxicity and in generation of singlet oxygen is presented.
Cloning and sequence of the human adrenodoxin reductase gene.

Abstract Adrenodoxin reductase (ferrodoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.18.1.2) is a flavoprotein mediating electron transport to all mitochondrial forms of cytochrome P450. We cloned the human adrenodoxin reductase gene and characterized it by restriction endonuclease mapping and DNA sequencing. The entire gene is approximately 12 kilobases long and consists of 12 exons. The first exon encodes the first 26 of the 32 amino acids of the signal peptide, and the second exon encodes the remainder of signal peptide and the apparent FAD binding site. The remaining 10 exons are clustered in a region of only 4.3 kilobases, separated from the first two exons by a large intron of about 5.6 kilobases. Two forms of human adrenodoxin reductase mRNA, differing by the presence or absence of 18 bases in the middle of the sequence, arise from alternate splicing at the 5' end of exon 7. This alternately spliced region is directly adjacent to the NADPH binding site, which is entirely contained in exon 6. The immediate 5' flanking region lacks TATA and CAAT boxes; however, this region is rich in G + C and contains six copies of the sequence GGGCGGG, resembling promoter sequences of "housekeeping" genes. RNase protection experiments show that transcription is initiated from multiple sites in the 5' flanking region, located about 21-91 base pairs upstream from the AUG translational initiation codon.
Buffer standards for the physiological pH of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (BES) from (278.15 to 328.15) K.

Abstract This paper reports the results for the pH of six buffer solutions free of chloride ion with compositions: (a) BES (0.03 mol kg−1) + NaBES (0.09 mol kg−1); (b) BES (0.02 mol kg−1) + NaBES (0.04 mol kg−1); (c) BES (0.04 mol kg−1) + NaBES (0.08 mol kg−1); (d) BES (0.04 mol kg−1) + NaBES (0.04 mol kg−1) (e) BES (0.05 mol kg−1) + NaBES (0.05 mol kg−1); and (f) (0.06 mol kg−1) + NaBES (0.06 mol kg−1). The remaining eight buffer solutions (g)–(n) have saline media of the ionic strength I = 0.16 mol kg−1, matching closely to that of the physiological sample. Conventional paH values, designated as pH(s), for all six buffer solutions (a)–(f) without the chloride ion and eight buffer solutions with the chloride ion (g)–(n) at I = 0.16 mol kg−1 from (278.15 to 328.15) K have been calculated. The operational pH values for five buffer solutions at T = 298.15 K and T = 310.15 K have been determined based on the difference in the values of the liquid junction potentials between the blood phosphate standard and the experimental buffer solutions. Five of these buffers are recommended as secondary standards for the physiological pH range 7.5–8.5.
Application of Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry and Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry to the Analysis of the Site-Specific Carbohydrate Heterogeneity in Erythropoietin

High-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) were applied to the analysis of the site-specific carbohydrate heterogeneity in erythropoietin (EPO) used as a model of the sialylated glycoprotein. N-linked oligosaccharides were released from recombinant human EPO expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells enzymatically and reduced with NaBH(4). Many different sialylated oligosaccharides of EPO were separated and characterized by LC/MS equipped with a graphitized carbon column (GCC). Glycosylation sites and the preliminary glycosylation pattern at each glycosylation site were determined by LC/MS of endoproteinase Glu-C-digested EPO. The detailed site-specific carbohydrate heterogeneity caused by the differences in the molecular weight, branch, linkage, and sequence was elucidated by GCC-LC/MS of the N-linked oligosaccharides released from the isolated glycopeptides. Structural details of the isomers were analyzed by LC/MS/MS, and it was indicated that di- and trisialylated tetraantennary oligosaccharides are attached to Asn24, 38, and 83, whereas their isomers, di- and trisialylated triantennary oligosaccharides containing N-acetyllactosamines, are combined with Asn24. Our method is useful for the determination of glycosylation sites, the site-specific carbohydrate heterogeneity of glycoproteins, and the carbohydrate structure.
Phase Contrast Imaging Methods to Study Waves and Turbulence in High Temperature Tokamak Plasmas

Summary form only given. Phase contrast imaging diagnostic (PCI) is an internal reference beam interferometric technique which has been used successfully in high temperature tokamak plasma experiments to image line integrated plasma density fluctuations. The PCI technique utilizes a 18 deep grooved "phase plate" which is inserted into an expanded beam path, and with the aid of a detector array one is able to measure wavelengths and correlation lengths of fluctuations propagating perpendicular to the laser beam. In the Alcator C-Mod and DIII-D tokamak PCI experiments, a CO2 laser beam is used to probe low frequency (f = 1 MHz) instabilities and in addition, in C-Mod high power launched ICRF waves (80 MHz) are also monitored. The fluctuations studied in the past in Alcator C-Mod include the so-called "quasi-coherent mode" (a ballooning mode localized to the edge pedestal), semi-coherent TAE-like modes, including Alfven wave cascades, low frequency turbulence, and high power launched ICRF waves. The ICRF waves are detected by a heterodyne technique using optical modulation of the laser beam. The ICRF wave propagation studies have confirmed mode conversion into kinetic ion cyclotron waves (the shear wave branch) and electrostatic ion Bernstein waves. In DIII-D, PCI has been used to study low frequency turbulence during L to H mode transition, ELMs, and coherent edge modes during the quiescent H-mode. Signatures of zonal flows have also been observed in past experiments. While most of the past studies were limited to wavelengths equal or longer than the ion gyro-radius (ki = 1, f = 1 MHz ), new upgrades to the electronics and optics will allow detection of wavelengths and frequencies in the electron gyro-radius regimes (ke = 1, f = 20 MHz). This new capability will allow us to study the electron temperature gradient modes and the trapped electron mode, both being candidates for determining electron transport in magnetically confined plasmas. While spatial localization of long wavelength modes along the PCI laser beam is usually not possible, in the short wavelength regimes in a sheared magnetic field localization can be achieved by using a rotating masking plate in conjunction with the phase plate
Survival and Cost-Effectiveness of Stocked Fall Fingerling and Spring Yearling Muskellunge in Wisconsin

Abstract Stocking hatchery-reared muskellunge Esox masquinongy is important to Wisconsin's muskellunge management program. Typically, large (8–12-in) fingerlings are stocked in fall; however, these fish have poor short-term (30–60-d) survival. To assess survival and cost-effectiveness (maximizing return per dollar invested), both over winter and to age 18 months, I compared success of fish stocked as fall fingerlings (FF) and spring yearlings (SY). Overwinter survival of FF averaged 19% (N = 14; range, 2.7–43.3%). Mortality was highest from stocking through late fall, then declined over winter. In three lakes stocked with both FF and SY, SY survived better (19%) than FF (4%) to age 18 months. Cost analysis based on survival over winter revealed no consistent economic advantage in stocking larger, more expensive fingerlings within the 8–12-in range unless precise information is known about potential predators. Cost comparisons indicated SY were one to four times more cost-effective than FF to age 18 months...
The root CV-template as a property of the affix: Evidence from Yawelmani

In this article, I have provided support for a skeletal core independent of any phonemic material. This is not a new theoretical claim, but rather adds to a small but growing literature (McCarthy 1979, 1981, Halle and Vergnaud 1980, Harris 1980, Marantz 1982, Yip 1982). However, the analysis here is an important addition because the skeleta are added to the grammer in an unfamiliar manner: affixes may determine the skeletal template of a root; if not, a default template is supplied, determined by a lexical diacritic on each verb root. Interestingly, recent work on Norwegian tone by Withgott and Halvorsen (in prep) suggests that when a suffix bears tone in Norwegian, the suffixal tone pattern surfaces on the word. With no affixes or with a toneless suffix, the underlying (or default) tone of the word surfaces. This parallels in tone the example in templates that Yokuts provides.
Sensitivity comparisons of various analogue computer simulations

Given a linear time-invariant differential equation, there are many ways to simulate it in an analogue computer. In this paper comparisons of these various simulations are given. It is shown that the dummy variable method is the best in terms of easiness to set up and number of components used. However, if the sensitivity is considered, the Jordan canonical form simulation is the best.
Direct evidence of deep water intrusions onto the continental shelf via surging internal tides

[1] Near-bottom diurnal thermocline shoaling and diurnal baroclinic currents were observed from time series data of water temperature, salinity, pressure, and velocity collected from August 2006 to January 2007 in the nearshore zone off the Huntington Beach where the local inertial frequency is higher than the diurnal frequency (poleward of the diurnal critical latitude). During the stratified season, the deep offshore cold (dense) water, when shoaled into shallow water along the bottom, was often trapped for a few hours and dissipated in the nearshore region (water depth of 10–20 m) during the ebb phase of the diurnal surface tide. It appears that perturbations propagating onshore along the shoaled isopycnals can form an upslope surging front and an internal bolus. Our data allow the application of theoretical/lab criteria for internal hydraulic jumps, internal bolus formation, and internal wave breaking and all criteria are fulfilled during a part of the tidal shoaling cycle. Nonlinear advection associated with the internal boluses causes higher (close to ω−3) spectral falloff rate of near-bottom temperature with frequency ω than the canonical Garret-Munk spectra (ω−2) in the range of 0.1–1.0 cph, implying strong scattering of tidal energy toward smaller scales. We are able to directly calculate the offshore eddy heat flux by cold water intrusion onto the shelf resulting from this process. Similar impacts and implications are expected for the biogeochemical quantities, as well as for the role of subinertial internal waves on turbulent mixing in the immediate proximity of the generating region, i.e., sloping bottom.
A model of racially changing neighborhoods

Abstract The present paper describes a simple mathematical model for neighborhoods under-going a racial transition. It is shown that such neighborhoods can be described by 2 parameters which take into account a wide diversity of situations.
A colorimeter for measurement of picomole quantities of urea

We described a new colorimeter for the measurement of picomole quantities of urea in nanoliter volume fluid samples. The diacetyl monoxime reaction was used to produce a colored product from urea. The method is capable of resolving differences of 10 pmoles between samples containing 0 to 225 pmoles.
Post-Homicide Reactions: Grief, Mourning and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following a Drunk Driving Fatality:

This article examines the impact of gender, religious beliefs, subjective health status, individuals' past experience with death, social support, and time since the death on the extent of mourning, the extent of grieving, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. It is proposed that the mode of death complicates the nature and course of bereavement after the death of a primary family member in a drunk driving collision. The unnecessary and violent nature of the death of drunk driving victims adds to the depth and extent of the psychological response to trauma. It is proposed that the models of grief utilized to conceptualize the grieving process are inadequate as a sole measure of the response of this type of death. Therefore, the inclusion of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder was provided for a more comprehensive understanding of this type of grief response. Survey data were collected on 171 primary family members of drunk driving victims (spouses, parents, siblings, or children) randomly se...
The motion of whips and chains

Abstract We study the motion of an inextensible string (a whip) fixed at one point in the absence of gravity, satisfying the equations η t t = ∂ s ( σ η s ) , σ s s − | η s s | 2 σ = − | η s t | 2 , | η s | 2 ≡ 1 with boundary conditions η ( t , 1 ) = 0 and σ ( t , 0 ) = 0 . We prove local existence and uniqueness in the space defined by the weighted Sobolev energy ∑ l = 0 m ∫ 0 1 s l | ∂ s l η t | 2 d s + ∫ 0 1 s l + 1 | ∂ s l + 1 η | 2 d s , when m ⩾ 3 . In addition we show persistence of smooth solutions as long as the energy for m = 3 remains bounded. We do this via the method of lines, approximating with a discrete system of coupled pendula (a chain) for which the same estimates hold.
VEIN GRAFTS IN RECONSTRUCTIVE MICROSURGERY OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY

This paper describes surgical techniques and results of lower extremity microsurgical reconstruction using vein grafts. During a 5 year period, free tissue transfers were used to reconstruct 118 lower extremity defects in 109 patients. In 28 of these cases (24%), saphenous vein grafts were used when reconstruction would otherwise have been difficult or impossible. A preliminary arteriovenous fistula was established between the proximal arterial source and the final venous drainage in the majority (26) of cases. Venous drainage was left intact at the point of entry into the deep venous system in 23 cases. Three complications included anastomotic clotting in 2 patients and postoperative blow-out of the vein graft in another; all were treated without flap loss. Flap survival was 86% in vein grafted patients and 94% in those cases in which vein grafts were not used. Flap loss was related in each case to the nature of the pre-existing condition, rather than to vein grafting per se.
Measurement of plasma and tissue triiodothyronine concentration in the rat by radioimmunoassay.

This paper reports a radioimmunoassay method for triiodothyronine (T3) and the application of this assay to the study of plasma and tissue T3 concentration in the rat. Several antisera formed to a T3-bovine fibrogen complex in guinea pigs and T3-thyroglobulin complex in rabbits are shown to have low or no cross reactivity with T4, monoiodotyrosine, diiodotyrosine, tetraiodothyroacetic acid (TETRAC) and reverse T3. Cross reactivity with T3 derivatives, triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC), and triiodothyropropionic acid (TRIPROP) was variable, some antisera differentiating moderately well and others not at all. An extraction method is described which removes approximately 85% of added 125I-T3 or unlabelled T3 from tissues and in the final step represents 57% of total tissue T3. Mean plasma T3 in 5 normal male rats was 58 ± 6.0 ng⁄100 ml (SEM), in liver 769 ± 56 ng⁄100 g, and kidney 627 ± 39 ng⁄100 g. Tissue to plasma concentration gradients for liver and kidney were 13.3 and 1.0.8, respectively. (Endociinology ...
FT-IR quantification of the carbonyl functional group in aqueous-phase secondary organic aerosol from phenols

Recent findings suggest that secondary organic aerosols (SOA) formed from aqueous-phase reactions of some organic species, including phenols, contribute significantly to particulate mass in the atmosphere. In this study, we employ a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic technique to identify and quantify the functional group makeup of phenolic SOA. Solutions containing an oxidant (hydroxyl radical or 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde) and either one phenol (phenol, guaiacol, or syringol) or a mixture of phenols mimicking softwood or hardwood emissions were illuminated to make SOA, atomized, and collected on a filter. We produced laboratory standards of relevant organic compounds in order to develop calibrations for four functional groups: carbonyls (CO), saturated C–H, unsaturated C–H and O–H. We analyzed the SOA samples with transmission FT-IR to identify and determine the amounts of the four functional groups. The carbonyl functional group accounts for 3–12% of the SOA sample mass in single phenolic SOA samples and 9–14% of the SOA sample mass in mixture samples. No carbonyl functional groups are present in the initial reactants. Varying amounts of each of the other functional groups are observed. Comparing carbonyls measured by FT-IR (which could include aldehydes, ketones, esters, and carboxylic acids) with eight small carboxylic acids measured by ion chromatography indicates that the acids only account for an average of 20% of the total carbonyl reported by FT-IR.
Antagonizing Bcl-2 family members sensitizes neuroblastoma and Ewing's sarcoma to an inhibitor of glutamine metabolism.

Neuroblastomas (NBL) and Ewing’s sarcomas (EWS) together cause 18% of all pediatric cancer deaths. Though there is growing interest in targeting the dysregulated metabolism of cancer as a therapeutic strategy, this approach has not been fully examined in NBL and EWS. In this study, we first tested a panel of metabolic inhibitors and identified the glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) as the most potent chemotherapeutic across all NBL and EWS cell lines tested. Myc, a master regulator of metabolism, is commonly overexpressed in both of these pediatric malignancies and recent studies have established that Myc causes cancer cells to become “addicted” to glutamine. We found DON strongly inhibited tumor growth of multiple tumor lines in mouse xenograft models. In vitro, inhibition of caspases partially reversed the effects of DON in high Myc expressing cell lines, but not in low Myc expressing lines. We further showed that induction of apoptosis by DON in Myc-overexpressing cancers is via the pro-apoptotic factor Bax. To relieve inhibition of Bax, we tested DON in combination with the Bcl-2 family antagonist navitoclax (ABT-263). In vitro, this combination caused an increase in DON activity across the entire panel of cell lines tested, with synergistic effects in two of the N-Myc amplified neuroblastoma cell lines. Our study supports targeting glutamine metabolism to treat Myc overexpressing cancers, such as NBL and EWS, particularly in combination with Bcl-2 family antagonists.
Life with epilepsy: 1960–1992

Too often epilepsy is viewed simply as a neurological process with the complicated psychosocial elements ignored. Sadly, when the seizures are controlled, the psychological problems may persist. It is critical for the clinician to appreciate such, for the pressures from these problems could result in recurrent seizures as well as seriously influencing the patient's life in a very negative manner. This autobiographical poem depicts how epilepsy affected one patient's education, careers, relationships and even child rearing. It is hoped that this forceful description will enlighten clinicians such that they can be better advocates for their patients and educators to the community of what the true havoc of epilepsy might be unless the whole is treated.
Breakdown by Treeing in Epoxy Resins

Insulating materials can fail through internal growth of tree-like breakdown channels. These "trees" are commonly nonconducting hollow interconnecting tubules. Conduction in such trees occurs by small discharges. The paper describes a test for treeing resistance and considers the effects of electric stress, resin composition, cure, etc., on breakdown time for typical epoxy systems. The rank of materials in treeing resistance varies with stress and shows no obvious correlation with other breakdown properties.
Age and Environmental Concern some specification of effects

Abstract Two major explanations of the well-documented inverse relationship between age and environmental concern have been suggested: 1) the differences are due to the socio-biological process of aging, or 2) important historical events have affected birth cohorts differently. Palmore's (1978) method is used in this study to distinguish possible aging, cohort, and (additionally) period effects explaining time series differences by age groups in the General Social Survey data. The analysis suggests that the decline in environmental concern among most age groups can be accounted for by period effects, but that an aging effect is important among young adults. Implications for environmental education are discussed.
Localization and sub-cellular shuttling of HTLV-1 Tax with the RNAi machinery component Drosha

The innate ability of the human cell to silence endogenous retroviruses through RNA sequences encoding microRNAs, suggests that the cellular RNAi machinery is a major mean by which the host mounts a response against contemporary retroviruses, such as HIV-1 and HTLV-1. Several recent publications have identified cellular miRNAs that target and hybridize to specific sequences of both the HIV-1 and HTLV-1 transcripts. However, much like the variety of host immune responses to retroviral infection, the virus itself contains mechanisms that assist in the evasion of viral inhibition through manipulation of the cellular RNAi pathway. Retroviruses can hijack both the enzymatic and catalytic components of the RNAi pathway, in some cases to produce novel viral miRNAs that can either assist in active viral infection or promote a latent state of infection. Here, we propose that HTLV-1 viral proteins contribute to the dysregulation of the RNAi pathway by altering expression of key components of the pathway. A survey of uninfected and infected cell lines revealed that Drosha was present at lower levels in all HTLV infected lines. Additionally, transfection of HeLa cells with Tax shows colocalization of Tax and Drosha in the nucleus (speckles), suggesting that the HTLV-1 viral transactivator physically interacts with Drosha and targets it to specific areas of the cell. This data suggests the direct interaction of HTLV-1 viral components with RNAi machinery proteins which may lead to their dysregulation in infected cells.
The Observed Squeezed Limit of Cosmological Three-Point Functions

The squeezed limit of the three-point function of cosmological perturbations is a powerful discriminant of different models of the early Universe. We present a conceptually simple and complete framework to relate any primordial bispectrum in this limit to late time observables, such as the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature bispectrum and the scale-dependent halo bias. We employ a series of convenient coordinate transformations to capture the leading nonlinear effects of cosmological perturbation theory on these observables. This makes crucial use of Fermi normal coordinates and their conformal generalization, which we introduce here and discuss in detail. As an example, we apply our formalism to standard slow-roll single-field inflation. We show explicitly that Maldacena's results for the squeezed limits of the scalar bispectrum [proportional to (${n}_{s}\ensuremath{-}1$) in comoving gauge] and the tensor-scalar-scalar bispectrum lead to no deviations from a Gaussian universe, except for projection effects. In particular, the primordial contributions to the squeezed CMB bispectrum and scale dependent halo bias vanish, and there are no primordial ``fossil'' correlations between long-wavelength tensor perturbations and small-scale perturbations. The contributions to observed correlations are then only due to projection effects such as gravitational lensing and redshift perturbations.
Expression cloning and characterization of a renal electrogenic Na+/HCO3- cotransporter.

Bicarbonate transporters are the principal regulators of pH in animal cells, and play a vital role in acid–base movement in the stomach, pancreas, intestine, kidney, reproductive system and central nervous system. The functional family of HCO3− transporters includes Cl−–HCO3− exchangers, three Na+/HCO3− cotransporters1–3, a K+/HCO3− cotransporter4,5, and a Na+-driven Cl− –HCO3− exchanger6,7. Molecular information is sparse on HCO3− transporters, apart from Cl− –HCO3− exchangers ('anion exchangers'), whose complementary DNAs were cloned several years ago8–11. Attempts to clone other HCO3− transporters, based on binding of inhibitors, protein purification or homology with anion exchangers, have so far been unsuccessful. Here we monitor the intracellular pH and membrane voltage in Xenopus oocytes to follow the expression of the most electrogenic transporter known: the renal 1:3 electrogenic Na+/HCO3−cotransporter from the salamander Ambystoma tigrinum. We now report the successful cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a cation-coupled HCO3− transporter. The encoded protein is 1,035 amino acids long with several potential membrane-spanning domains. We show that when it is expressed in Xenopus oocytes, this protein is electrogenic, Na+ and HCO3− dependent, and blocked by the anion-transport inhibitor DIDS, and conclude that it is the renal electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC).
Microscopic derivation of transfer operator in PTQM — The missing term in IBFM?

Abstract One-particle transfer operator in the SU(6) particle-quadrupole phonon coupling model (PTQM) is derived employing leading RPA diagrams for quadrupole phonons. Two of the three terms in this PTQM transfer operator coincide with the corresponding terms in the standard transfer operator of IBFM, but the third term is a new one. For the first time, the equivalence between IBM/IBFM and TQM/PTQM is explicitly violated.
Effectiveness of Capital Regulation at U.S. Commercial Banks, 1985 to 1994

Unless priced and administered appropriately, a governmental safety net enhances risk-shifting opportunities for banks. This paper quantifies regulatory efforts to use capital requirements to control risk-shifting by U.S. banks during 1985 to 1994 and investigates how much risk-based capital requirements and other depositinsurance reforms improved this control. We find that capital discipline did not prevent large banks from shifting risk onto the safety net. Banks with low capital and debt-to-deposits ratios overcame outside discipline better than other banks. Mandates introduced by 1991 legislation have improved but did not establish full regulatory control over bank risk-shifting incentives. THE SAVINGS AND LOAN INSURANCE DEBACLE taught U.S. taxpayers that they cannot rely on bank or government accounting reports to signal how well or how poorly insured institutions are being supervised. To ameliorate incentive conf licts that might f low from the absence of this signal, in 1991 Congress imposed on federal regulators an obligation to control taxpayer exposure to loss from bank risk-taking in a proactive market-mimicking manner. The operational framework by which regulators strive to meet this obligation seeks to monitor and to discipline the extent to which a bank’s capital position can comfortably absorb the risk exposures that the bank pursues. Despite this pattern of monitoring and control, the nation’s 100 largest banks lost almost one-fourth of their market capitalization in the third quarter of 1998 ~Matthews ~1998!!. That bank stock could lose so much value so quickly indicates that risk-modeling systems for managing bank and taxpayer loss exposure are less effective than advertised. The root problem is that, even though bank accountants face incentives to understate risks and to overstate capital, regulators seem disinclined to constrain circumvention opportunities by enforcing market-based standards and definitions for measuring bank risk and bank capital instead of accounting-based ratios and definitions. The academic foundations for undertaking risk-based supervision of bank capital positions lie in Merton ~1977!. Viewing a deposit guarantee as a put option written by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ~FDIC!, Mer* Hovakimian is from Baruch College and Kane from Boston College. The authors thank Christopher James, Stephen Kane, Alan Marcus, Loretta Mester, James Moser, George Pennacchi, two anonymous referees, and especially the editor for helpful comments on earlier drafts of the paper.
Reliability-based analysis and design optimization of electrostatically actuated MEMS

This paper studies the feasibility, potential, and limitations of using high fidelity electromechanical simulation for the reliability-based analysis and design optimization of electrostatically actuated Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS). A reliability-based analysis and design optimization framework is presented that accounts for stochastic variations in structural parameters and operating conditions. A First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) is embedded into a design optimization procedure by a modular nested loop approach. The steady-state electromechanical problem is described by a three-field formulation and solved by a staggered procedure, coupling a structural finite element model and a finite element discretization of the electrostatic field. The motion of the electrostatic mesh is described by a fictitious elastic structure. The coupled electromechanical design sensitivities and imperfection sensitivities are efficiently evaluated by direct and adjoint approaches. The computational framework is verified by the analysis and optimization of a three-dimensional MEMS device. The appropriateness of the FORM approximation on the non-linear problem is investigated by a comparison with Monte Carlo simulation results. While computationally significantly more expensive than deterministic electromechanical optimization, the example illustrates the importance of accounting for uncertainties and the need for reliability-based optimization methods in the design of MEMS.
Demo: A remote sensor placement device for scalable and precise deployment of sensor networks

The goal of this work is to develop a new autonomous capability for remotely deploying precisely located sensor nodes without damaging the sensor nodes in the process. Over the course of the last decade there has been significant interest in research to deploy sensor networks. This research is driven by the fact that the costs associated with installing sensor networks can be very high. In order to rapidly deploy sensor networks consisting of large numbers of sensor nodes, alternative techniques must be developed to place the sensor nodes in the field.The goal of this work is to develop a new autonomous capability for remotely deploying precisely located sensor nodes without damaging the sensor nodes in the process. Over the course of the last decade there has been significant interest in research to deploy sensor networks. This research is driven by the fact that the costs associated with installing sensor networks can be very high. In order to rapidly deploy sensor networks consisting of large numbers of sensor nodes, alternative techniques must be developed to place the sensor nodes in the field.To date much of the research on sensor network deployment has focused on strategies that involve the random dispersion of sensor nodes [1]. In addition other researchers have investigated deployment strategies utilizing small unmanned aerial helicopters for dropping sensor networks from the air. [2]. The problem with these strategies is that often sensor nodes need to be very precisely located for their measurements to be of any use. The reason for this could be that the sensor being used only have limited range, or need to be properly coupled to the environment which they are sensing. The problem with simply dropping sensor nodes is that for many applications it is necessary to deploy sensor nodes horizontally. In addition, to properly install many types of sensors, the sensor must assume a specific pose relative to the object being measured.In order to address these challenges we are currently developing a technology to remotely and rapidly deploy precisely located sensor nodes. The remote sensor placement device being developed can be described as an intelligent gas gun (Figure 1). A laser rangefinder is used to measure the distance to a specified target sensor location. This distance is then used to estimate the amount of energy required to propel the sensor node to the target location with just enough additional energy left over to ensure the sensor node is able to attach itself to the target of interest. We are currently in the process of developing attachment mechanisms for steel, wood, fiberglass (Figure 2).In this demonstration we will perform a contained, live demo of our prototype pneumatic remote sensor placement device along with some prototype sensor attachment mechanisms we are developing.
Modular assembly of yeast cytochrome oxidase.

Previous studies of yeast cytochrome oxidase (COX) biogenesis identified Cox1p, one of the three mitochondrially encoded core subunits, in two high–molecular weight complexes combined with regulatory/assembly factors essential for expression of this subunit. In the present study we use pulse-chase labeling experiments in conjunction with isolated mitochondria to identify new Cox1p intermediates and place them in an ordered pathway. Our results indicate that before its assimilation into COX, Cox1p transitions through five intermediates that are differentiated by their compositions of accessory factors and of two of the eight imported subunits. We propose a model of COX biogenesis in which Cox1p and the two other mitochondrial gene products, Cox2p and Cox3p, constitute independent assembly modules, each with its own complement of subunits. Unlike their bacterial counterparts, which are composed only of the individual core subunits, the final sequence in which the mitochondrial modules associate to form the holoenzyme may have been conserved during evolution.
Maintenance by L-DOPA treatment of estrous cycles and LH response to estrogen in aging female rats.

Abstract Nineteen, non-cycling female rats, 13–15 months of age, were fed 125 mg L-DOPA/15 g feed daily, and nineteen control rats of the same age were provided feed without L-DOPA. Sixteen of the L-DOPA fed rats each demonstrated 1–7 (average = 3) vaginal estrous cycles during the 75-day period of treatment, whereas no cycles were observed in the untreated controls. All animals were then ovariectomized and the post-castration rise in LH was monitored. Four weeks after ovariectomy, serum LH levels in the L-DOPA treated old female rats were significantly higher than in the non-treated old female rats. A single injection of 20μg of estradiol benzoate (EB) significantly lowered serum LH in the L-DOPA treated rats, but no effect was observed in the non-treated controls. A second injection of EB three days later produced a significantly greater LH surge in the old rats given L-DOPA than in the non-L-DOPA treated controls. These results indicate that prolonged L-DOPA administration can partially prevent the dec...
Air-cooling extension - performance limits for processor cooling applications

The last two decades have seen a steady increase in microprocessor performance as silicon technology continues to scale in accordance with Moore's law. This increasing performance of the microprocessors is also associated with an increase in thermal design power and an increase in both average power density and local power density, commonly referred to as "hot spots". The thermal solutions must ensure that the junction temperature of the processor (die temperature) does not exceed temperatures in the 90-110/spl deg/C range, typically at the hot spots, to ensure device performance and reliability. The majority of OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) within the microelectronics industry would like to achieve this by extending the application of air-cooling technologies. The objectives of this paper are: 1) to present the air-cooling extension for a range of "reasonable" boundary conditions; and 2) to introduce some novel technologies, which may substantially extend the air-cooling applications.
Two-dimensional kinematics of the jog and lope of the stock breed western pleasure horse

Kinematic studies of western pleasure horses are limited and were performed before current changes in the stock breed association judging standards on the western pleasure gaits. The objective was to measure the kinematics of the jog and lope of the stock breed western pleasure horse. Reflective markers attached along palpation points of the joint centres of the left forelimb and hind limb of four stock breed western pleasure horses were tracked for five strides for each gait for each horse. Both the jog and lope were determined to be four-beat stepping gaits. During the jogging stance, the elbow (159.7 ± 6.6°), carpal (179.9 ± 1.1°), fore (227.6 ± 2.7°) and hind fetlocks (227.4 ± 6.9°), stifle (159.5 ± 6.5°) and tarsal (166.5 ± 6.5°) joints demonstrated peak extension. The same joints demonstrated during swing peak flexion with the hind fetlock joint having double peaks of flexion (195.7 ± 3.2°, 182.3 ± 2.1°). During loping stance, the elbow (153.4 ± 4.2°), carpal (179.7+0.4°), and fore (228.3 ± 9.7°, 229.8 ± 10.0°) and hind fetlock (232.1 ± 2.6°) joints of the leading limbs demonstrated peak extension with tarsal peak extension (157.0 ± 9.6°) occurring at lift-off. Peak flexion occurred during swing for the elbow (105.1 ± 3.1°), carpus (119.8 ± 6.1°), hip (83.5 ± 5.4°), stifle (129.8 ± 9.6°) and tarsus (127.5 ± 6.1°). Kinematic measurements will assist in objectively defining the stock breed western pleasure gaits.
Benefits and risks of combination therapy for hepatitis B

In successful antiviral therapy of hepatitis B, drug combinations, particularly combinations without cross-resistance, can delay or prevent the emergence of drug-resistant mutants. Because drug-resistant mutants are archived and may limit future therapeutic options, prevention is important for long-term therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, combining drugs may achieve synergistic or additive antiviral effects compared with single drug therapy. Undesirable aspects of combination therapy include higher treatment costs and possibly lower adherence rates (due to pill number or complexity of regimen). Potentially harmful effects of combination therapy include higher rates of side effects, reduced efficacy due to drug competition, and the risk of multidrug-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) if combination therapy is insufficient to prevent resistance. Combination therapy has been shown to reduce the rate of drug resistance in chronic hepatitis B, but only when drugs with a low barrier to resistance are used (lamivudine, adefovir). Combination therapies may achieve greater degrees of HBV DNA suppression, but this has not been associated with higher rates of seroconversion (hepatitis B e antigen or hepatitis B surface antigen) compared to single drug therapy. The benefit of combination therapy has yet to be demonstrated with agents that are associated with a high barrier to resistance (tenofovir, entecavir). The use of combination therapy is recommended in specific patient groups: those with decompensated cirrhosis, those coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus and HBV who are on antiretroviral therapy, those who have undergone liver transplantation, and those with drug-resistant HBV infection. There is insufficient evidence to recommend combination therapy as first-line therapy for all patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Electrically small microstrip antenna with height discontinuity

With the proposed scheme, the size of a microstrip antenna can be reduced as much as desired. However the antenna efficiency as well as the bandwidth will be lowered because of the reduced aperture area, which will be communicated further in the future.
Challenges of Treating Information as a Public Resource: The Case of Parcel Data

Land parcels are the foundation for many aspects of public and community life. This report presents the findings of a study of information about land parcels in New York State. It identifies stakeholders and their interests as well as the needs and issues associated with the uses of parcel data in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. We describe the attributes of parcel data, discuss its value to a variety of stakeholders, present typical data flows across organizational boundaries, and illustrate a wide range of uses. We then present the main issues and policy challenges associated with treating parcel data as a collective public resource, and conclude with a set of policy principles for guiding future investments.
G protein–coupled receptor 21 deletion improves insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obese mice

Obesity-induced inflammation is a key component of systemic insulin resistance, which is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. A major driver of this inflammation/insulin resistance syndrome is the accumulation of proinflammatory macrophages in adipose tissue and liver. We found that the orphan GPCR Gpr21 was highly expressed in the hypothalamus and macrophages of mice and that whole-body KO of this receptor led to a robust improvement in glucose tolerance and systemic insulin sensitivity and a modest lean phenotype. The improvement in insulin sensitivity in the high-fat diet–fed (HFD-fed) Gpr21 KO mouse was traced to a marked reduction in tissue inflammation caused by decreased chemotaxis of Gpr21 KO macrophages into adipose tissue and liver. Furthermore, mice lacking macrophage expression of Gpr21 were protected from HFD-induced inflammation and displayed improved insulin sensitivity. Results of in vitro chemotaxis studies in human monocytes suggested that the defect in chemotaxis observed ex vivo and in vivo in mice is also translatable to humans. Cumulatively, our data indicate that GPR21 has a critical function in coordinating macrophage proinflammatory activity in the context of obesity-induced insulin resistance.
Sensitive and High‐Throughput Isolation of Rare Cells from Peripheral Blood with Ensemble‐Decision Aliquot Ranking

This paper describes an approach called ensemble decision aliquot ranking (eDAR) for isolating rare cells from peripheral blood. eDAR has a recovery of over 93% (n=9) with a zero false positive rate (n=8) , and provides direct easy access to individual isolated live cells for downstream single-cell manipulation and analysis. We anticipate eDAR will enable new studies of various types of rare cells that circulate in blood.
Physical limits to sensation and perception.

FOUNDATIONS 456 Signals and Noise, Detectability and Discriminability 456 Noise from Classical Statistical Mechanics 459 Noise from Quantum Mechanics 460
Phytoremediation of Ionic and Methyl Mercury Pollution

Our long-term objective is to enable highly productive plant species to extract, resist, detoxify, and/or sequester toxic organic and heavy metal pollutants (Meagher, 2000) applying scientific strategies and technologies from a rapidly developing field called phytoremediation. The phytoremediation of toxic elemental and organic pollutants requires the use relatively different approaches (Meagher, 2000). Our current specific objectives are to use transgenic plants to control the chemical species, electrochemical state, and aboveground binding of mercury to (a) prevent methylmercury from entering the food-chain, (b) remove mercury from polluted sites, and (c) hyperaccumulate mercury in aboveground tissues for later harvest. Various parts of this strategy are being critically tested by examining different genes in model plants and field species and comparing the results to control plants as we recently reviewed (Meagher et al., 2000; Rugh et al., 2000). A positive spin-off from this work on mercury has been a strategy for the phytoremediation of arsenic (Dhankher et al., 2002) and cadmium.
Inner ear and maternal reproductive defects in mice lacking the Hmx3 homeobox gene

The Hmx homeobox gene family is of ancient origin, being present in species as diverse as Drosophila, sea urchin and mammals. The three members of the murine Hmx family, designated Hmx1, Hmx2 and Hmx3, are expressed in tissues that suggest a common functional role in sensory organ development and pregnancy. Hmx3 is one of the earliest markers for vestibular inner ear development during embryogenesis, and is also upregulated in the myometrium of the uterus during pregnancy. Targeted disruption of the Hmx3 gene results in mice with abnormal circling behavior and severe vestibular defects owing to a depletion of sensory cells in the saccule and utricle, and a complete loss of the horizontal semicircular canal crista, as well as a fusion of the utricle and saccule endolymphatic spaces into a common utriculosaccular cavity. Both the sensory and secretory epithelium of the cochlear duct appear normal in the Hmx3 null animals. The majority of Hmx3 null females have a reproductive defect. Hmx3 null females can be fertilized and their embryos undergo normal preimplantation development, but the embryos fail to implant successfully in the Hmx3 null uterus and subsequently die. Transfer of preimplantation embryos from mutant Hmx3 uterine horns to wild-type pseudopregnant females results in successful pregnancy, indicating a failure of the Hmx3 null uterus to support normal post-implantation pregnancy. Molecular analysis revealed the perturbation of Hmx, Wnt and LIF gene expression in the Hmx3 null uterus. Interestingly, expression of both Hmx1 and Hmx2 is downregulated in the Hmx3 null uterus, suggesting a hierarchical relationship among the three Hmx genes during pregnancy.