cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robustness of Gaian feedbacks to climate perturbations

The Gaia hypothesis postulates that life regulates its environment to be favorable for its own survival. Most planets experience numerous perturbations throughout their lifetimes such as asteroid impacts, volcanism, and the evolution of their host star's luminosity. For the Gaia hypothesis to be viable, life must be able to keep the conditions of its host planet habitable, even in the face of these challenges. ExoGaia, a model created to investigate the Gaia hypothesis, has been previously used to demonstrate that a randomly mutating biosphere is in some cases capable of maintaining planetary habitability. However, those model scenarios assumed that all non-biological planetary parameters were static, neglecting the inevitable perturbations that real planets would experience. To see how life responds to climate perturbations to its host planet, we created three climate perturbations in ExoGaia: one rapid cooling of a planet and two heating events, one rapid and one gradual. The planets on which Gaian feedbacks emerge without climate perturbations are the same planets on which life is most likely to survive each of our perturbation scenarios. Biospheres experiencing gradual changes to the environment are able to survive changes of larger magnitude than those experiencing rapid perturbations, and the magnitude of change matters more than the sign. These findings suggest that if the Gaia hypothesis is correct, then typical perturbations that a planet would experience may be unlikely to disrupt Gaian systems.
Retrospective Chart Review on Declaration of Brain Death across a Hospital System (5103)

Objective: To review Brain Death Declaration within a hospital system to determine if the patient consistently meets AAN Guidelines for determining brain death. Background: Patients whom suffer from a devastating neurologic injury such as intracranial hemorrhage, malignant ischemic stroke, or cardiac arrest resulting in anoxic brain injury will often progress to brain death given natural progression of injury. Determining Brain Death not only varies by state but also across hospital systems. This variability lends to patients prematurely declared as brain dead when not all prerequisite criteria were met. Design/Methods: Retrospective chart review of 773 patients referred to Life Alliance for Organ Donation with evidence of severe brain injury defined as GCS Results: Out of 773 patients, 34 were declared brain dead. 22 (64.7%) fulfilled prerequisite and diagnostic guidelines as set by AAN and state for determination of brain death. Of the 12 (35.3%) patients who did not, most were from absence of second physician exam (7 (58.3%)), presence of underlying metabolic derangements (4 (33.3%)), and hypothermia (2 (16.7%)). Of the 11 whom were too unstable for apnea testing, most were subsequently confirmed with ancillary TCD (9 (81.8%)). Only 13/34 (38.2%) had documentation supporting diagnostic criteria had been met. Conclusions: Variations in provider specialty, hospital unit, and patient not meeting prerequisites for determining brain death results in patients receiving an inappropriate declaration of Brain Death until ancillary testing obtained. Consistency in accurate declaration and documentation of Brain Death when prerequisite criteria met improved to 17/21 (80.9%) when either Neurology or Neurosurgery were the primary team and patient admitted to the Neuroscience ICU. Implementation of a standardized method for Brain Death determination including meeting prerequisite criteria, proper documentation, and provider education will result in more accurate and timely declaration across the hospital system. Disclosure: Dr. Williamson has nothing to disclose. Dr. O’Phelan has nothing to disclose.
Toward an understanding of the endogenous nature of group identification in games

Abstract It is commonly assumed that identification with a social group is constant throughout the play of a one-shot game in the absence of feedback. Our experiment provides evidence that challenges this assumption. Subjects play one of two versions of the prisoner's dilemma game. These versions are distinguished by the relative attractiveness of the uncooperative action. The version with a relatively attractive uncooperative action is referred to as the Easy Game and the other as the Difficult Game. Subjects who play the Difficult Game, exhibit a change in group identification which is related to their selected action. No such relationship exists within the Easy Game. Additionally, the change primarily occurs after the action is selected rather than upon inspection of the game.
Bayesian Inference of Fire Evolution Within a Compartment Using Heat Flux Measurements

The dynamical evolution of a multiple fuel package fire leaves thermal signatures. For practical and theoretical reasons, it is important to determine conditions in which one can identify the path the system took by conducting a set of experiments that cover the space of all possible paths. An experimental fire compartment capable of producing repeatable and highly customizable fire-evolution scenarios is presented. Instrumented propane burners are configured in the compartment each with a simple critical heat flux ignition model. Heat flux sensors are located around the burner configuration to provide temporal incident heat flux measurements. Data from several hypotheses representing possible scenarios are compared to data generated using some true configuration using a Bayesian methodology. The Bayesian methodology is able to illicit the correct fire-evolution scenario from the set of hypotheses with a high degree of confidence. The information content provided by each sensor is analyzed to highlight the importance of sensor location in determining the fire-evolution. Posteriors for the hypotheses using two different error structures are also compared over the sensors to highlight the importance of choosing the correct error structure.
Algunas nuevas sobre Alphonso Hordognez

In a recent article Gesiot (2019) has showed that part of the dedicatory letter of the Italian translation of Celestina is an adaptation, recast and translation of two main works: the Decameron and Tirant lo Blanch . In addition to the passages already indicated by the mentioned scholar, we will point out other literary borrowings and some general considerations about what these new findings mean about the translator of the Spanish masterpiece.
PEP Talk: Prostate Education Program, "Cutting Through the Uncertainty of Prostate Cancer for Black Men Using Decision Support Instruments in Barbershops".

The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of using decision support instruments (DSI) to assist African-American (AA) men in making a prostate cancer (CaP) screening decision. This nonrandomized pretest-posttest comparison study assessed two DSI that were either culturally tailored or culturally nonspecific. CaP knowledge, intention to screen, and preferences were assessed before and after exposure to DSI using a convenience sample of 120 AA men aged 40 years and above. Participants interested in screening were referred to healthcare providers through a community-based patient navigator to obtain prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. We followed up 3 months after to determine if participants screened for CaP. CaP knowledge increased following exposure to both DSI in equivalent proportions. While similar proportions of men ultimately intended on having a PSA test following both DSI, bivariate analysis revealed that the culturally tailored DSI demonstrated a statistically significant increase in intention to screen. Participants’ degree of certainty in their decision-making process with regard to CaP screening increased following the culturally tailored DSI (p < .001). The majority of participants planned on discussing CaP screening with a healthcare provider upon completion of the study. Barbershop-based health education can change the knowledge, preferences, intentions, and behaviors of this at-risk population. At 3 months follow-up, half (n = 58) of the participants underwent PSA testing, which led to the diagnosis of CaP in one participant. Community-led interventions for CaP, such as cluster-randomized designs in barbershops, are needed to better assess the efficacy of DSI in community settings.
Regulation of Phosphate Accumulation in the Unicellular Cyanobacterium Synechococcus

The phosphorus contents of acid-soluble pools, lipid, ribonucleic acid, and acid-insoluble polyphosphate were lowered in Synechococcus in proportion to the reduction in growth rate in phosphate-limited but not in nitrate-limited continuous culture. Phosphorus in these cell fractions was lost proportionately during progressive phosphate starvation of batch cultures. Acid-insoluble polyphosphate was always present in all cultural conditions to about 10% of total cell phosphorus and did not turn over during balanced exponential growth. Extensive polyphosphate formation occurred transiently when phosphate was given to cells which had been phosphate limited. This material was broken down after 8 h even in the presence of excess external orthophosphate, and its phosphorus was transferred into other cell fractions, notably ribonucleic acid. Phosphate uptake kinetics indicated an invariant apparent Km of about 0.5 μM, but Vmax was 40 to 50 times greater in cells from phosphate-limited cultures than in cells from nitrate-limited or balanced batch cultures. Over 90% of the phosphate taken up within the first 30 s at 15°C was recovered as orthophosphate. The uptake process is highly specific, since neither phosphate entry nor growth was affected by a 100-fold excess of arsenate. The activity of polyphosphate synthetase in cell extracts increased at least 20-fold during phosphate starvation or in phosphate-restricted growth, but polyphosphatase activity was little changed by different growth conditions. The findings suggest that derepression of the phosphate transport and polyphosphate-synthesizing systems as well as alkaline phosphatase occurs in phosphate shortage, but that the breakdown of polyphosphate in this organism is regulated by modulation of existing enzyme activity.
Response functions for neutron skyshine analysis

Neutron and associated secondary photon line-beam response functions (LBRFs) for point monodirectional neutron sources are generated using the MCNP Monte Carlo code for use in neutron skyshine analysis employing the integral line-beam method. The LBRFs are evaluated at 14 neutron source energies ranging from 0.01 to 14 MeV and at 18 emission angles from 1 to 170 deg, as measured from the source-to-detector axis. The neutron and associated secondary photon conical-beam response functions (CBRFs) for azimuthally symmetric neutron sources are also evaluated at 13 neutron source energies in the same energy range and at 13 polar angles of source collimation from 1 to 89 deg. The response functions are approximated by an empirical three-parameter function of the source-to-detector distance. These response function approximations are available for a source-to-detector distance up to 2,500 m and, for the first time, give dose equivalent responses that are required for modern radiological assessments. For the CBRFs, ground correction factors for neutrons and secondary photons are calculated and also approximated by empirical formulas for use in air-over-ground neutron skyshine problems with azimuthal symmetry. In addition, simple procedures are proposed for humidity and atmospheric density corrections.
Theory of the Strongly Coupled 2-D Plasma with the 1/r Potential

The classical two-dimensional (2-d) Coulomb fluid of electrons trapped in surface states above a liquid-helium surface is a fascinating one-component-plasma (ocp) configuration which has been of experimental and theoretical interest since the early 1970’s. In the actual laboratory setup1, extra electrons are deposited in a monolayer just above the free surface of liquid helium and are confined there by means of image binding. The electrons are accordingly constrained to execute only horizontal (parallel-to-the-surface) motions, and they interact via the ϕ (r) = e2/r potential (r is the horizontal range). A compensating uniform positive background is provided by an electrode placed below the liquid surface. At a temperature T ~ 0.5K and over the range 105 < n< 109 cm-2 of areal densities realized in the Grimes-Adams experiments1c,1d, β EF<.06 and 1.5 < Γ=β e2√πn< 150; we may therefore consider the electrons to be classical strongly correlated particles.
And The Winner Is: Inviting Hollywood into the Neuroscience Classroom

Both short excerpts from, and full-length presentation of feature films have been used with success in undergraduate instruction. Studies of such use of films has revealed that incorporation of film viewing within courses can promote both content mastery and the development of critical thinking skills. This article discusses and provides examples of successful use of two methods that may be used to incorporate a variety of full-length feature films into neuroscience instruction. One, the “neuro-cinema” pairs the presentation of a film featuring extensive neuroscience content with primary literature reading assignments, group discussion and writing exercises. The second, a neuroscience film series, features group discussion of movies of perhaps more limited relevance to neuroscience. An additional goal of this article is provide the reader with initial resources for the selection of potential film titles for use in neuroscience education. Three extensive tables are included to provide a wide range of title suggestions appropriate for use in activities such as the neuro-cinema, the neuroscience film series, or for more limited use as short “clips” in classroom instruction.
Selective Activation of Cancer Stem Cells by Size-Specific Hyaluronan in Head and Neck Cancer

We determined that human head and neck cancer cells (HSC-3 cell line) contain a subpopulation displaying cancer stem cell (CSC) properties and are very tumorigenic. Specifically, we investigated whether different sizes of hyaluronan (HA) (e.g., 5 kDa, 20 kDa, 200 kDa, or 700 kDa-HA-sizes) play a role in regulating these CSCs. First, we observed that 200 kDa-HA (but not other sizes of HA) preferentially induces certain stem cell marker expression resulting in self-renewal and clonal formation of these cells. Further analyses indicate that 200 kDa-HA selectively stimulates the expression of a panel of microRNAs (most noticeably miR-10b) in these CSCs. Survival protein (cIAP-1) expression was also stimulated by 200 kDa-HA in these CSCs leading to cisplatin resistance. Furthermore, our results indicate that the anti-miR-10 inhibitor not only decreases survival protein expression, but also increases chemosensitivity of the 200 kDa-HA-treated CSCs. These findings strongly support the contention that 200 kDa-HA plays a pivotal role in miR-10 production leading to survival protein upregulation and chemoresistance in CSCs. Together, our findings suggest that selective activation of oncogenic signaling by certain sizes of HA (e.g., 200 kDa-HA) may be instrumental in the formation of CSC functions leading to tumor cell survival and chemoresistance in head and neck cancer progression.
Rush-hour traffic: self-presentation of defendants in speedy traffic court cases

Much work examines self-presentation styles; however, little work explores how people present themselves in traffic court. Utilizing observatory research, we aim to better understand differences in physical presentation and demeanor in traffic court. Further, judges that work in traffic court were interviewed to see how they understood the importance of presentation of self. Data indicate that most of those who appear in traffic court aim to present themselves professionally and behave with respect while in court. This appears to be a wise decision because judges tended to think that presentation of self was an important variable in their courtroom and how they evaluated cases. Still, differences in presentation of self appeared in the courtroom especially with regard to dress – extremely casual to orange jumpsuits. Finally, we argue that while modern defendants aim to present professionally the overall ‘professional’ presentation of self, even in the courtroom, is casual dress.
A new liquid encapsulant for IC packaging

The new SYCAR resin is shown to have the desirable characteristics for a liquid encapsulant. Unlike epoxy-based encapsulants, this resin consists of a silicon-carbon backbone which is highly crosslinked during the cure reaction. The desirable characteristics of this resin include a low level of ionic contamination, low moisture absorption, high glass transition temperature, excellent dispensability, and long shelf life. Package level reliability results indicated that the SYCAR encapsulant outperformed the leading domestic and Japanese encapsulants and met the 144 h of autoclave, 1000 h of bias humidity, and 1000 cycles of thermal shock requirements for mold compounds. >
Quantifying the impact of sub-grid surface wind variability on sea salt and dust emissions in CAM5

Abstract. This paper evaluates the impact of sub-grid variability of surface wind on sea salt and dust emissions in the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CAM5). The basic strategy is to calculate emission fluxes multiple times, using different wind speed samples of a Weibull probability distribution derived from model-predicted grid-box mean quantities. In order to derive the Weibull distribution, the sub-grid standard deviation of surface wind speed is estimated by taking into account four mechanisms: turbulence under neutral and stable conditions, dry convective eddies, moist convective eddies over the ocean, and air motions induced by mesoscale systems and fine-scale topography over land. The contributions of turbulence and dry convective eddy are parameterized using schemes from the literature. Wind variabilities caused by moist convective eddies and fine-scale topography are estimated using empirical relationships derived from an operational weather analysis data set at 15 km resolution. The estimated sub-grid standard deviations of surface wind speed agree well with reference results derived from 1 year of global weather analysis at 15 km resolution and from two regional model simulations with 3 km grid spacing. The wind-distribution-based emission calculations are implemented in CAM5. In terms of computational cost, the increase in total simulation time turns out to be less than 3 %. Simulations at 2° resolution indicate that sub-grid wind variability has relatively small impacts (about 7 % increase) on the global annual mean emission of sea salt aerosols, but considerable influence on the emission of dust. Among the considered mechanisms, dry convective eddies and mesoscale flows associated with topography are major causes of dust emission enhancement. With all the four mechanisms included and without additional adjustment of uncertain parameters in the model, the simulated global and annual mean dust emission increase by about 50 % compared to the default model. By tuning the globally constant dust emission scale factor, the global annual mean dust emission, aerosol optical depth, and top-of-atmosphere radiative fluxes can be adjusted to the level of the default model, but the frequency distribution of dust emission changes, with more contribution from weaker wind events and less contribution from stronger wind events. In Africa and Asia, the overall frequencies of occurrence of dust emissions increase, and the seasonal variations are enhanced, while the geographical patterns of the emission frequency show little change.
Technical and economical challenges in microprocessor packaging in the year 2000

Summary form only given. In this paper, we will trace the evolution of the microprocessor and its packaging technologies. It is seen that the packaging of these components have evolved from a passive mechanical enclosure to an active thermal/electrical management platform. Major advances in materials, design, modeling and integration were necessary to meet today's high-performance microprocessor packaging needs. Problems such as switching noise, EMI emission, power distribution and thermal management will become more aggravated. While multichip modules (MCM) have demonstrated excellent performance capabilities, their usage is hampered by poor economics and a lagging infrastructure.
Canine Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In a study of 110 primary hepatic neoplasms in dogs, 55 hepatocellular carcinomas and two combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinomas were diagnosed. These neoplasms were classified into the following 11 groups based on histo-architectural pattern: trabecular, peliod, cobblestone, peritheliomatous, anaplastic, pseudoglandular, pleomorphic, scirrhous, clear cell, solid, and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma. The neoplastic hepatocytes varied from almost normal to highly anaplastic spindle cells. Pleomorphic and giant cells were common in some groups, rare or absent in others. Metastasis was found in 61% (35 of 57), in contrast to a much higher percent in man, indicating the possibility of a different pathogenesis in the dog.
Nucleation, growth and structural development of mylonitic shear zones in granitic rock

Abstract Well-exposed shear zones in granitic rock of the Sierra Nevada are preserved in various degrees of development, facilitating interpretation of the mechanisms of shear-zone nucleation and growth. Field relations suggest that these shear zones formed by shear localization within pre-existing aplite dikes that served as tabular zones of inherent weakness. Crossing dikes provide a measure of the offset at several points along the shear zones. Apparently, the shear zones grew in width as they accumulated offset, and propagated longitudinally by end-to-end linkage of approximately coplanar aplite dike segments. Propagation caused discontinuous dikes or dike segments to be joined, giving the shear zones a forked, or eye-shaped, trace pattern. Some shear zones have developed opening fractures at their tips, analogous to the splay fractures that form near the tips of small faults. These shear zones provide an excellent opportunity to study the processes involved in natural shear-zone formation in granitic rocks where shear is localized along pre-existing zones of inherent weakness. They may serve as useful analogs for the growth and development of larger-scale faults that involve ductile shearing.
Phylogenetic Analysis of ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase Subunits Reveals a Role of Subunit Interfaces in the Allosteric Properties of the Enzyme

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) catalyzes a rate-limiting step in glycogen and starch synthesis in bacteria and plants, respectively. Plant AGPase consists of two large and two small subunits that were derived by gene duplication. AGPase large subunits have functionally diverged, leading to different kinetic and allosteric properties. Amino acid changes that could account for these differences were identified previously by evolutionary analysis. In this study, these large subunit residues were mapped onto a modeled structure of the maize (Zea mays) endosperm enzyme. Surprisingly, of 29 amino acids identified via evolutionary considerations, 17 were located at subunit interfaces. Fourteen of the 29 amino acids were mutagenized in the maize endosperm large subunit (SHRUNKEN-2 [SH2]), and resulting variants were expressed in Escherichia coli with the maize endosperm small subunit (BT2). Comparisons of the amount of glycogen produced in E. coli, and the kinetic and allosteric properties of the variants with wild-type SH2/BT2, indicate that 11 variants differ from the wild type in enzyme properties or in vivo glycogen level. More interestingly, six of nine residues located at subunit interfaces exhibit altered allosteric properties. These results indicate that the interfaces between the large and small subunits are important for the allosteric properties of AGPase, and changes at these interfaces contribute to AGPase functional specialization. Our results also demonstrate that evolutionary analysis can greatly facilitate enzyme structure-function analyses.
Quantitation of related proteins by Western blot analysis

A spectrophotometric assay for quantitation of related proteins following Western blot analysis is described. Proteins were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose. In the system utilized in this study, immobilized interleukin-1 (IL-1) proteins were identified by ELISA reaction using a rabbit antibody specific for IL-1 beta. Subsequently, the membrane was probed with goat anti-rabbit antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase and IL-1 proteins were detected by incubation with 4-chloro-1-naphthol and hydrogen peroxide. The stained IL-1 bands were cut out, exposed to the peroxidase chromogenic substrate, o-phenylenediamine (OPD), and hydrogen peroxide and the rate of reaction was determined spectrophotometrically at 490 nM. A linear relationship between enzyme activity and IL-1 concentration was observed from 10 to 1000 ng/lane. Thus, this represents a sensitive and specific method for quantitating small amounts of IL-1 in complex protein mixtures.
MECHANISMS OF CELL POLARITY : SORTING AND TRANSPORT IN EPITHELIAL CELLS

The recent discovery of widely distributed targeting determinants, which govern the polarized cell-surface distribution of plasma membrane proteins in epithelial cells, has significantly changed our view of how polarized cells generate functionally distinct membrane domains. Together with the surprising finding that the same determinants are recognized on both the biosynthetic and the endocytic pathways, it now appears likely that a common epigenetic code may exist that controls molecular sorting of membrane proteins in a wide variety of polarized, and perhaps even non-polarized, cell types.
Optimal design of statically determinate beams for given deflection

Abstract A necessary and sufficient condition for global optimality of a statically determinate sandwich beam that is to have a given deflection at a specified cross-section was given in ref. 1. The present note contains a much simpler derivation of this condition, establishes an analogous condition for beams with segmentwise constant cross-section and indicates the appropriate modification when a lower bound is prescribed for the bending stiffness.
Distributional impact of rotavirus vaccination in 25 GAVI countries: estimating disparities in benefits and cost-effectiveness.

Background: Other studies have demonstrated that the impact and cost effectiveness of rotavirus vacci-nation differs among countries, with greater mortality reduction bene?ts and lower cost-effectiveness ratios in low-income and high-mortality countries. This analysis combines the results of a country level model of rotavirus vaccination published elsewhere with data from Demographic and Health Surveys on within-country patterns of vaccine coverage and diarrhea mortality risk factors to estimate within-country distributional effects of rotavirus vaccination. The study examined 25 countries eligible for funding through the GAVI Alliance.Methods: For each country we estimate the bene?ts and cost-effectiveness of vaccination for each wealth quintile assuming current vaccination patterns and for a scenario where vaccine coverage is equalized to the highest quintile’s coverage. In the case of India, variations in coverage and risk proxies by state were modeled to estimate geographic distributional effects.Results: In all countries, rates of vaccination were highest and risks of mortality were lowest in the top two wealth quintiles. However countries differ greatly in the relative inequities in these two underlying variables. Similarly, in all countries examined, the cost-effectiveness ratio for vaccination ($/Disability-Adjusted Life Year averted, DALY) is substantially greater in the higher quintiles (ranging from 2–10 times higher). In all countries, the greatest potential bene?t of vaccination was in the poorest quintiles. However, due to reduced vaccination coverage, projected bene?ts for these quintiles were often lower. Equitable coverage was estimated to result in an 89% increase in mortality reduction for the poorest quintile and a 38% increase overall.Conclusions: Rotavirus vaccination is most cost-effective in low-income groups and regions. However in many countries, simply adding new vaccines to existing systems targets investments to higher income children, due to disparities in vaccination coverage. Maximizing health bene?ts for the poorest children and value for money require increased attention to these distributional effects.
Development of the beam transport and control systems of the Yale ESTU tandem

Abstract The ESTU tandem at the Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory at Yale University has a demonstrated capability of accelerating heavy ion beams with a terminal potential in excess of 21 MV. To exploit this resource properly, high mass resolution is required at the ion source and charge selection in the terminal. A new ion injector, including a compact 90° magnet and high output sputter and charge exchange sources, has been assembled and tested. A new terminal, containing two foil strippers, a recirculating charge stripper and an off-axis electrostatic quadrupole charge separator has been designed, built and tested and awaits installation. Test results will be presented for these devices and the performance of the accelerator will be reviewed.
Metalloregulatory Properties of the ArsD Repressor

Abstract The plasmid-encoded arsenical resistance (ars) operon of plasmid R773 produces resistance to trivalent and pentavalent salts of the metalloids arsenic and antimony in cells of Escherichia coli. The first two genes in the operon, arsR and arsD, were previously shown to encode trans-acting repressor proteins. ArsR controls the basal level of expression of the operon, while ArsD controls maximal expression. Thus, action of the two repressors form a homeostatic regulatory circuit that maintains the level of arsexpression within a narrow range. In this study, we demonstrate that ArsD binds to the same site on the ars promoter element as ArsR but with 2 orders of magnitude lower affinity. The results of gel shift assays demonstrate that ArsD is released from the arsDNA promoter by phenylarsine oxide, sodium arsenite, and potassium antimonyl tartrate (in order of effectiveness), the same inducers to which ArsR responds. Using the quenching of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence to measure the affinity of the repressor for inducers, apparent K d values for Sb(III) and As(III) of 2 and 60 μm, respectively, were obtained. These results demonstrate that the arsR-arsD pair provide a sensitive mechanism for sensing a wide range of environmental heavy metals.
The fiscal effects of statehood: New Mexico and Arizona, 1903–1919

The residents of US territories often vote against statehood for fear government will use its greater sovereignty to impose a heavier tax burden. On the other hand, public choice theory predicts that fiscal decentralization limits government’s size. The financial reports of New Mexico and Arizona were examined before and after statehood in 1912. Graphical and regression analyses of the ratios of receipts and expenditures to property values and US GNP suggest that the relative price of government rose far more in the two new states than in a control state, Nevada, thus supporting the claims of statehood’s opponents.
Determination of Trace Isoflavone Phytoestrogens in Biological Materials by Capillary Electrochromatography

Capillary electrochromatography using a specialty monolithic matrix was utilized in developing a rapid and highly efficient separation of isoflavones in biological materials. Without a preconcentration technique, it is relatively easy to reach ppm−ppb concentrations of these compounds in soy-based foods and verify them structurally using a photodiode array detector. With on-column preconcentration, we were able to measure low-ppb levels in human serum. Using blood samples from human volunteers, whose diet was supplemented by a soy-based product, the method has been validated for high-throughput screening of isoflavones in clinical studies.
Instabilities in networks of reactors coupled by photochemical feedback

Abstract We study homogeneous networks of monostable photochemically coupled reactors. The homogeneous steady state of such networks can undergo stationary or oscillatory pattern-forming instabilities. We derive analytical expressions for the thresholds of these instabilities and determine the most unstable mode of the system. We apply our results to the Lengyel–Epstein model of the chlorine dioxide–iodine–malonic acid reaction.
Investigation of low temperature SiO2 plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Low temperature (<270 °C) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of SiO2 thin films using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and O2 plasma was investigated. Depositions were carried out in a PECVD reactor with a helical resonator discharge source. Transmission infrared spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and wet etch rate measurements were used to characterize the deposited films as a function of rf power, gas composition, and substrate temperature. Most pronounced effects were observed when the substrate temperature and TEOS:O2 flow ratio ℜR were varied. Good quality SiO2 films can be obtained at high temperature and/or low ℜR. For R≳0.1, while the deposition rate was weakly dependent on temperature between 260 and 100 °C, it increased almost by a factor of 2 between 100 and 45 °C. This is also accompanied by drastic changes in film properties such as refractive index, increase in OH and –OC2H5 content, and decrease in film density. Studies using in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier t...
Blue sucker stock characteristics in the Wabash River, Indiana–Illinois, USA

Blue sucker, Cycleptus elongatus (Lesueur), populations have declined because of habitat degradation and overharvest, and little information exists on the population characteristics and stock dynamics of this species. We examined size and age structure, mortality, growth and condition of blue sucker in the Wabash River, Indiana–Illinois, USA. A total of 356 fish collected by electric fishing from June 2003 to April 2006 ranged from 238 to 775 mm total length and 85 to 5288 g wet weight. Age ranged from 3 to 16 years and annual mortality ranged from 22 to 25%. Annual growth was greatest among younger age classes (range 48–141 mm yr−1) and declined after age 6, likely at the onset of reproductive maturity. Variation in the relative condition factor (range 66–141) was heteroscedastic over the size range of fish sampled, perhaps attributable to seasonal differences in reproductive condition among mature fish.
Chloroplast DNA Replication : Mechanism, Enzymes and Replication Origins

Chloroplasts contain circular DNA molecules which are found in low copy number in proplastids but are amplified to very high copy number in actively dividing leaf cells. A double displacement loop (D-loop) mechanism for chloroplast DNA (ctDNA) replication has been proposed, and pairs of replication origins which fit this model have been identified in some species. It appears that ctDNA replication is under the control of at least some nuclear gene products, as genes for DNA polymerase, topoisomerases, DNA primase and other accessory replication proteins have not been reported in the sequenced chloroplast genomes, and ctDNA replication remains active in the absence of active chloroplast transcription or translation. Only a few chloroplast replication proteins have been isolated, and to date most have not been characterized in detail. The mechanism by which ctDNA copy number is regulated during plant development is not known. In this review we summarize the current understanding of ctDNA replication.
Direct projections from the masseteric nerve to the mesencephalic nucleus.

The caliber spectrum of the nerve to the masseter muscle of the cat was found to be unimodal, ranging from 1 to 16 μ, with the majority of the fibers in the 4-8 μ range. The upper 25%, which includes the afferent propriococoptive fibers, averaged 10.4 μ. The nerve to the masseter was stimulated and evoked potentials were recorded from the ipsi- and contralateral mesencephalic nuclei of the trigeminus and from the contralateral nerve. The average latencies were 0.846, 0.935 and 1.46 msec respectively. The mesencephalic nucleus was stimulated and evoked potentials were recorded from the contrlateral nucleus with an average latency of 0.385 msec. Analysis of the latencies of the responses recorded from the ipsilateral nucleus suggested that about half of the fibers of the nerve to the masster projected directly and the other half projected by way of an intervening synapse. A similar distribution of the fibers to the contralateral nucleus was deduced from the recorded latencies. Potentials recorded in the nuclei as a result of stimulation of the contralateral nucleus demonstrated that there were direct internuclear pathways without intervening synapses. The latencies of potentials recorded in the nerve as a result of stimulation of the contralateral nerve indicated that there was always at least one synapse intervening. It was also shown that there were direct projections from the nerve of the masseter to the contralateral motor nucleus of V. The work confirms our earlier report of bilateral projections from a muscle of mastication to the mesencephalic nuclei and provides a pathway for bilteral simultaneous activation of the muscles of mastication resulting from stimulation of unilateral tension receptors.
Millimetre-Wave Radio Source in Taurus

RECENT microwave observations by Kuzmin and Salomonovich1 and by myself of the radio emission from Taurus have revealed the presence of an unusual radio source located approximately 9 min. of arc east of Taurus-A. Kuzmin and Salomonovich observed the source with the 22-m. radiotelescope of the Lebedev Institute of Physics operating at 8-mm. wave-length and with a pencil beam-width of 2 min. of arc to the half-power points. While taking drift curves on Taurus-A, these workers detected a new source approximately 35s east of Taurus-A. The reported flux density at 8-mm. wave-length is 1.30 × 10−24 ± 25 per cent W./m.2 (c.p.s.), the brightness temperature, TB, is 7 ± 25 per cent ° K., the angular width in right ascension is 2.5 min. of arc and the flux density ratio to Taurus-A is 0.26. Kuzmin and Salomonovich conclude that the source is a thermal emitter with an emission measure of 2.7 × 106, as would certainly be expected from a source initially discovered at 8-mm. wave-length.
A comparison between mitochondrial DNA and the ribosomal internal transcribed regions in prospecting for cryptic species of platyhelminth parasites

We examined the relative merits of mitochondrial DNA loci and ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers for their use in prospecting for cryptic species of platyhelminth parasites. Sequence divergence at ITS1 and ITS2 was compared with divergence at 2 mtDNA loci (NADH dehydrogenase-1 and cytochrome c oxidase I) between closely related species of trematodes and cestodes. Both spacers accumulated substitutions substantially more slowly than mtDNA, which clearly shows a higher level of divergence among species relative to intra-specific variation. Besides a slow rate of substitution, other caveats that may be encountered when using ITS sequences as a prospecting marker are discussed. In particular, we note recent studies that suggest the existence of substantial levels of intra-individual variation in ITS sequences of flatworms. Because it is likely that closely related species share this phenomenon, it may confound the detection of cryptic species, especially if small sample sizes are studied. Although potential limitations of mtDNA are also recognized, the higher rate of evolution and smaller effective population size of this marker increases the probability of detecting diagnostic characters between cryptic species.
Asymptotic behavior of non-autonomous lattice systems

Abstract The asymptotic behavior of non-autonomous infinite-dimensional lattice systems is studied. It is shown that the non-autonomous lattice reaction–diffusion system has a compact uniform attractor. The uniform asymptotic compactness of the system is established by showing that the tails of the solutions are uniformly small when time goes to infinity. The upper semicontinuity of uniform attractors is also obtained when the infinite-dimensional reaction–diffusion system is approached by a family of finite-dimensional systems.
Supercooling preservation and transplantation of the rat liver

The current standard for liver preservation involves cooling of the organ on ice (0-4 °C). Although it is successful for shorter durations, this method of preservation does not allow long-term storage of the liver. The gradual loss of hepatic viability during preservation puts pressure on organ sharing and allocation, may limit the use of suboptimal grafts and necessitates rushed transplantation to achieve desirable post-transplantation outcomes. In an attempt to improve and prolong liver viability during storage, alternative preservation methods are under investigation. For instance, ex vivo machine perfusion systems aim to sustain and even improve viability by supporting hepatic function at warm temperatures, rather than simply slowing down deterioration by cooling. Here we describe a novel subzero preservation technique that combines ex vivo machine perfusion with cryoprotectants to facilitate long-term supercooled preservation. The technique improves the preservation of rat livers to prolong storage times as much as threefold, which is validated by successful long-term recipient survival after orthotopic transplantation. This protocol describes how to load rat livers with cryoprotectants to prevent both intracellular and extracellular ice formation and to protect against hypothermic injury. Cryoprotectants are loaded ex vivo using subnormothermic machine perfusion (SNMP), after which livers can be cooled to -6 °C without freezing and kept viable for up to 96 h. Cooling to a supercooled state is controlled, followed by 3 h of SNMP recovery and orthotopic liver transplantation.
Low-lying electronic states of Li2+ and Li2−

Potential curves for the eight lowest lying electronic states of Li 2 + and the two lowest-lying states of Li 2 − are obtained by valence configuration calculations which-utilize an effective core potential. The calculated ionization potential of the ground state of Li 2 is found to b. 5.16 eV and its electron affinity is 0.429 eV. Both values are in excellent agreement with recent experimental values and with value deduced from other high quality ab initio quantum mechanical treatments. When our potential curve for the Li 2 + (1 2 Σ g + state, is corrected for the core—valence correlation error we obtain spectroscopic constants which agree nicely with the experimental values of Bernheim, Gold and Tipton (BGT). For example, we find D e = 10460 ± 140 cm −1 while BGT report D e = 10469 ± 6 cm −1 .
Cell-free translation of soil-borne wheat mosaic virus RNAs.

Abstract The genome of soil-borne wheat mosaic (SBWMV) virus appears to be composed of two RNAs. Three strains have the same large RNA, designated 1.0L RNA, but differ in the size of the smaller RNA, designated 0.5L RNA for wild type (WT), 0.4L RNA for mutant Lab 2, and 0.35L RNA for mutant Lab 1, where L corresponds to approximately 6700 nucleotide residues. The major translation products of 1.0L RNA in rabbit reticulocyte lysates had apparent molecular weights of 180,000 (180K), 152K, 135K, 80K, and 45K. None of these were precipitated with antiserum against virions. The 0.5L RNA stimulated the synthesis of products of 90K, 28K, and 19.7K, the 0.4L RNA of 66K, 28K, and 19.7K, the 0.35L RNA of 55K, 28K, and 19.7K. Protein of 19.7K comigrated with viral coat protein and was the predominant product in all cases. Immunoprecipitation, peptide mapping, and the time course of appearance of products suggest that the larger products of RNA Its (0.5L, 0.4L, and 0.35L RNA) arise from readthrough. The pattern of products is consistent with formation of 0.4L and 0.35L by internal deletions in the 3′ region of 0.5L RNA. Extracts of SBWMV-WT-infected wheat contained polypeptides that corresponded to the translation products of 0.5L RNA in electrophoretic mobility and immunological reactivity.
Obesity in infants, children, and adolescents in the United States I. Identification, natural history, and aftereffects

Abstract This review examines the indentification, natural history and after-effects of obesity in children and adolescents in the United States. Although the use of the triceps skinfold to establish the diagnosis of obesity is widely accepted, a precise relationship of excessive adiposity with morbidity has not yet been clearly established. Available epidemiologic studies suggest a uniform incidence of the disease throughout childhood and adolescence. The aftereffects of obesity include effects on growth, psychological dysfunction, orthopedic disorders, hypertension, and maturity onset diabetes mellitus. An important but neglected concept in the study of obesity is the potentially synergistic metabolic abnormaliites induced by the disease which may contribute to its persistence.
Sexual jealousy: Gender differences in response to partner and rival

Young women (N = 64) and men (N = 52) were asked to imagine discovering that their romantic partner had been sexually unfaithful. Fewer men than women gave positive endorsements to sets of aggressive actions against the unfaithful partner and against the rival. Gender differences did not appear in the motive for taking action against the rival, but more men than women endorsed releasing frustration as the motive for aggressive action against the partner. The genders appeared equally interested in maintaining the relationship with the unfaithful partner, preventing future infidelity, and attracting another partner. More men than women said they were uncertain about their partner's sexual fidelity. The results were interpreted as evidence that women are devalued more than men by an act of sexual infidelity, resulting in men's greater frustration with the partner's transgression but relative behavioral indifference to both the transgressing partner and rival. Men's greater uncertainty about a partner's infidelity may provide the basis for, as suggested by other data, men's greater tendency to ensure that a partner's infidelity and consequent devaluation never occur.
The information tableau of a linear allocation model

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the information tableau of a linear allocation model. The objective of the chapter is to generalize and illustrate this approach for linear allocation models such as a system of linear demand equations. Theil proposes to follow Kruska's suggestion by averaging information decomposition over all p! orderings. The chapter also describes the application of ideas to a first-difference form of the Deaton–Muellbauer AIDS model. It is pointed out that the two entropies in the column below T are considerably closer to their upper limit than the other entropies in the same row. This shows that there is more diversity among the contributions to T, therefore, confirming the tendency toward compensation that was mentioned in the chapter. The results recommend that the methodology can be applied to any univariate or multivariate linear regression model.
Near-threshold measurements of the spin dependence of electron-impact ionization

The spin dependence of the electron-impact ionization of Na has been measured up to 2 eV above threshold with high precision to search for the existence of characteristic oscillations which would support the Coulomb-dipole theory of threshold ionization. The authors have been unable to observe any statistically significant oscillations. The present results are fully consistent with the Wannier theory.