cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of uterine nonhistone protein phosphorylation and nuclear protein kinase activity by estradiol-17β

Abstract Changes in the phosphorylation of nonhistone chromosomal proteins have been followed in rat uterus stimulated by 17β-estradiol. Isolated uteri were found to incorporate 32 P i into nonhistone proteins via an endogenous nuclear protein kinase reaction. The rate of 32 P labeling of nonhistone proteins and the activity of nuclear protein kinase(s) were found to be elevated over three- and two-fold respectively in uteri obtained from ovariectomized animals treated with estrogen. A dramatic change was observed in the radioactivity profile of 32 P-labeled proteins fractionated via sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These observations are compatable with the hypothesis that phosphorylation of nonhistone proteins plays a role in the regulation of gene activity in the uterus.
Indoor Wireless Service Signal Distribution via Broadband

Ubiquitous wireless service coverage indoors poses a challenge for cellular service providers. Many subscribers find that there are areas within their residences or offices which have no coverage or poor coverage, leading to dissatisfaction with their service, and a reluctance to "cut the cord" on the wireline phone in favor of wireless service only. As multi-media enabled applications over mobile grow in popularity, the gap between coverage and demand threatens to intensify. Today's in-building coverage solutions involve installation of dedicated fiber or coaxial cable for signal distribution, driving the price of deployment beyond what is affordable for a small-to-medium business or a residence. A mechanism to provide wireless service signal distribution via broadband may drive down cost by leveraging in-building electrical wires. It proposes distribution of digital wireless service signals for traffic and control channels at a relatively low data rate, enabling transmission over broadband. This approach may be used for existing cellular service, as well as emerging 4G (fourth generation) wireless. services.
Recasting the self

Comment on Roberts, Nathaniel. 2016. To Be Cared For: The Power of Conversion and Foreignness of Belonging in a Chennai Slum. Oakland: University of California Press
The Development of the Laws of Thermodynamics

In order to understand what energy is, it is necessary to understand the laws of thermodynamics. The most important step in this process is unraveling the relation of heat to other forms of energy.
Feasibility of extended dosing intervals of denosumab.

PurposeDenosumab is a crucial supportive care agent for patients with advanced cancers affecting the bone. Despite the importance of treatment, logistical and financial obstacles hinder the ability...
Impact of Sweet Potato Starch-Based Nanocomposite Films Activated With Thyme Essential Oil on the Shelf-Life of Baby Spinach Leaves

Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhi) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) have been responsible for an increasing number of outbreaks linked to fresh produce, such as baby spinach leaves, in the last two decades. More recently, antimicrobial biodegradable packaging systems have been attracting much attention in the food packaging industry as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastic packaging. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of antibacterial nanocomposite films on inoculated spinach leaves and on the sensory properties of these leaves during eight days of refrigerated storage. In this study, an antibacterial film comprised of sweet potato starch (SPS), montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclays and thyme essential oil (TEO) as a natural antimicrobial agent was developed. Our results showed that the incorporation of TEO in the film significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the population of E. coli and S. Typhi on fresh baby spinach leaves to below detectable levels within five days, whereas the control samples without essential oil maintained approximately 4.5 Log colony forming unit (CFU)/g. The sensory scores for spinach samples wrapped in films containing TEO were higher than those of the control. This study thus suggests that TEO has the potential to be directly incorporated into a SPS film to prepare antimicrobial nanocomposite films for food packaging applications.
PHOX2B is a reliable immunomarker in distinguishing peripheral neuroblastic tumours from CNS embryonal tumours.

Aims The PHOX2B gene regulates neuronal maturation in the brain stem nuclei associated with cardiorespiratory function and in the autonomic sympathetic and enteric nervous system. PHOX2B expression is a reliable immunomarker for peripheral neuroblastic tumours; however, no systematic evaluation of central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumours was included in the studies. We encountered two cases in which the differential diagnosis included neuroblastoma and CNS embryonal tumour, and we hypothesised that PHOX2B immunostain would be helpful in establishing the diagnosis. Methods and results PHOX2B immunostain was performed on 29 paediatric cases, with adequate controls: one retroperitoneal embryonal tumour in a child with retinoblastoma (index 1), one posterior fossa embryonal tumour in a child with a neuroblastoma (index 2), seven medulloblastomas, four atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (ATRT), four retinoblastomas, six pineoblastomas, four embryonal tumours with multilayered rosettes (ETMR) and two CNS embryonal tumours, not elsewhere classified. Cell lineage immunomarkers (GFAP, OLIG2, synaptophysin, NeuN, CRX, PGP 9.5), immunosurrogates for molecular alterations (beta-catenin, INI1, Lin-28), array CGH and OncoPanel were performed as needed. Medulloblastomas, ATRTs, ETMRs, retinoblastomas and CNS embryonal tumours not elsewhere classified were essentially negative for PHOX2B. Two of six pineoblastomas had significant PHOX2B expression, while the rest were negative. Index 1 was negative for PHOX2B and PGP 9.5 and positive for CRX, consistent with retinoblastoma. Index 2 had diffuse PHOX2B expression, MYCN amplification and no copy number changes of medulloblastoma, in keeping with neuroblastoma. Conclusion PHOX2B antibody is helpful in distinguishing between peripheral neuroblastic and CNS embryonal tumours, which are immunonegative, with the caveat that a subset of pineoblastomas has significant expression.
Enzymes Involved in Processing Glutathione Conjugates

Many potentially toxic electrophiles react with glutathione to form glutathione S-conjugates in reactions catalyzed or enhanced by glutathione S-transferases. The glutathione S-conjugate is sequentially converted to the cysteinylglycine-, cysteine- and N-acetyl-cysteine S-conjugate (mercapturate). The mercapturate is generally more polar and water soluble than the parent electrophile and is readily excreted. Excretion of the mercapturate represents a detoxication mechanism. Some endogenous compounds, such as leukotrienes, prostaglandin (PG) A2, 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ2, and hydroxynonenal can also be metabolized to mercapturates and excreted. On occasion, however, formation of glutathione S- and cysteine S-conjugates are bioactivation events as the metabolites are mutagenic and/or cytotoxic. When the cysteine S-conjugate contains a strong electron-withdrawing group attached at the sulfur, it may be converted by cysteine S-conjugate β-lyases to pyruvate, ammonium and the original electrophile modified to contain an –SH group. If this modified electrophile is highly reactive then the enzymes of the mercapturate pathway together with the cysteine S-conjugate β-lyases constitute a bioactivation pathway. Some endogenous halogenated environmental contaminants and drugs are bioactivated by this mechanism. Recent studies suggest that coupling of enzymes of the mercapturate pathway to cysteine S-conjugate β-lyases may be more common in nature and more widespread in the metabolism of electrophilic xenobiotics than previously realized.
Actor Preference and the Implementation of INS v. Chadha

The initial uproar over the Supreme Court‘s decision to invalidate the legislative veto in INS v. Chadha was deafening. Many feared that such a decision would wreak havoc on the public policymaking process but these fears never came to pass. In many cases Congress ignored the Court and continued to pass legislative vetoes. The executive branch, while often offering token objections, also continued to work as though the legislative veto was still part of the policymaking process. Why did these actors responsible for implementing the Court‘s decision in this case fail to fully and faithfully do so? This article argues that both congressional and executive branch actors had their own preferences that overrode their motivation to implement the Court‘s decision. As a result, these actors largely ignored the Court‘s mandate. By examining this compliance failure in the context of the Chadha case it is possible to explore the inter-branch dynamics that can be involved in the implementation of a Supreme Court decision that directly affects the other two branches of government.
Bad Policy For Good Policies: Article 9's Insurance Exclusion

Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code excludes from its scope any transfer of an interest in a life insurance policy. Thus, any lender whose security is a life insurance policy may not look to the UCC to determine her rights. This Article argues that the exclusion should be eliminated because it leaves insurance governed by antiquated and problematic law. Three specific problems are considered: non-UCC law does not have a satisfactory alternative to UCC perfection; non-UCC law is insufficient to prevent lenders from abusively taking more than their share of value from defaulted policies; and non-UCC law allows insurance companies to hinder securitization through the “reservation problem.” The result is that Americans borrow $121 billion worth of policy loans, almost all of which comes without serious competition. Eliminating the life insurance exclusion will rationalize the law of lending in this area, and improve prospects for a secondary market.
WATER AND IONS IN THE GUT

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the membrane physiology of the gut and its associated structures, which require both biological and physiological analysis. The comparatively limited success in this field is because of difficulties in communication between workers with a biological rationale and those with a physiological rationale. It is not that the insect gut is an unfavorable object of study, but the analysis of the gut has been uneven. The biological dogma is that organisms are not all alike but are adapted to their niches; they are best studied under conditions that mimic the living state as closely as possible. The physiological dogma is that organisms are fundamentally alike and that one is entitled to disregard all complications in the attempt to discover basic physical mechanisms and to isolate the molecules responsible for function. The success of the Cambridge group in applying the electron microprobe to problems of insect ion and water regulation demonstrates the value of a cooperative approach.
Abstract B51: Advancing cancer health disparities research through the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM

Established in 2016, the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM was created with the goal of accelerating ten years9 worth of progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in just five years. A group of research experts, patient advocates, and government and private sector representatives was convened to form a Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) to develop recommendations for accelerating research progress. Working groups in seven key areas focused on identifying opportunities and impediments with input from stakeholders. The BRP released a report detailing 10 transformative research recommendations that, if implemented, could reduce the burden of cancer in the United States. These included the areas of clinical trials, data sharing, cancer immunology, implementation science, pediatric cancer, precision prevention and early detection, and tumor evolution and progression. Reducing cancer disparities is a cross-cutting theme at the forefront of the BRP recommendations. The BRP recommendations consider disparities across a range of research areas, including reducing barriers to participation in and access to clinical trials through the engagement of diverse populations; expanding the use of proven prevention and early-detection strategies to all populations, including urban poor and rural communities; and educating and increasing access to genetic testing and counseling for those at high risk for inherited cancers regardless of socioeconomic or insurance status. Recommendations involving the collection of biospecimens and the expansion of biobanks and databases also have emphasis on including as many diverse patients and samples as possible. When Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act in December 2016, $1.8 billion in funding was authorized for the Cancer Moonshot over the next 7 years. An initial $300 million was appropriated for fiscal year 2017. NCI is implementing the recommendations through new research initiatives designed to accelerate our understanding of cancer. The Moonshot Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) will encourage applicants to consider integrating health disparities into their research efforts. Some examples include access to care through an emerging technologies effort, dissemination and implementation of effective strategies to reduce health disparities and improve quality in underserved populations, and improving smoking-cessation efforts in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. By integrating health disparities into the objectives of the Cancer Moonshot, there is an opportunity to reduce cancer disparities across the cancer continuum in an accelerated time frame. Citation Format: Sonia Rosenfield, Amy E. Kennedy, Diane Palmieri, L. Michelle Bennett. Advancing cancer health disparities research through the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B51.
A Phosphinate-Containing Fluorophore Capable of Selectively Inducing Apoptosis in Cancer Cells

Chemotherapeutic agents generally suffer from off-target cytotoxicity in noncancerous cell types, leading to undesired side effects. As a result, significant effort has been put into identifying compounds that are selective for cancerous over noncancerous cell types. Our laboratory has recently developed a series of near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores containing a phosphinate functionality at the bridging position of a xanthene scaffold, termed Nebraska Red (NR) fluorophores. Herein, we report the selective cytotoxicity of one NR derivative, NR744 , against HeLa (cervical cancer) cells versus NIH-3T3 (noncancerous fibroblast) cells. Mechanistic studies based on the NIR fluorescence signal of NR744 showed distinct subcellular localization in HeLa (mitochondrial) versus NIH-3T3 (lysosomal) that resulted from the elevated mitochondrial potential in HeLa cells. This study provides a new, NIR scaffold for the further development of reagents for targeted cancer therapy.
Electronic Excitation Dynamics in DNA under Proton and α-Particle Irradiation

Electronic excitations are produced when matter is exposed to ion irradiation comprising highly energetic ions. These electronic stopping excitations are responsible for ion beam-induced DNA damage by energetic protons and α-particles, the chemistry and physics of which are central to burgeoning radiation cancer therapies. By simulating the non-perturbative electronic response of DNA to irradiating protons and α-particles, our first-principles dynamics simulations enable us to test the validity of the commonly used linear response theory description, and they also reveal unprecedented details of the quantum dynamics of electronic excitations. In this work, we discuss the extent to which the linear response theory is valid by comparing to the first-principles determination of electronic stopping power, the energy-transfer rate from ions to electronic excitation. The simulations show that electronic excitations induced by proton and α-particle irradiation cause ionization of DNA, resulting in the generation...
Exploration of alkali cation variation on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes by electrolysis of CO2 in molten carbonates

Abstract The electrochemical splitting of CO2 in molten carbonate salt electrolytes can form a valuable product, carbon nanotubes, and with this product a value-incentivized pathway of climate change mitigation by transforming CO2 from a greenhouse gas pollutant into a useful resource. Instability of the anode can provide a challenge for a commercialization of this electrochemical technology. A nickel superalloy (Inconel 718) anode is shown to be highly stable for the scalable controllable, electrosynthesis of nano-carbons from CO2 in molten carbonates salts. Unlike pure nickel anodes that degrade (corrode) in the presence of potassium carbonate containing molten electrolytes, Inconel is stable as an anode even in these electrolytes. This opens up more cost-effective electrolytes (less expensive than lithium carbonate), and the systematic variation of alkali cation carbonates is explored. Coupled with a brass cathode, uniform carbon nanotubes (CNT) are efficiently synthesized by electrolysis of CO2 in either pure Li2CO3 or in ternary electrolytes, Li2CO3-Na2CO3-LiBO2 or Li2CO3-K2CO3-LiBO2. These results increase the foundation of understanding of the electrolytic splitting of carbon dioxide and provide the data for developing a high-efficiency CO2 electroreduction for the production of carbon nanotubes.
Speculations on Future Trends and Conclusions

Chile and Peru continue to benefit from the sustained growth in globalization. There are so many unexplored economic opportunities out there. But, at the end of the day it boils down to good governance, distribution of wealth and trickles down economy. While both countries pose unique challenges, the future is very bright for potential investors if the cards are properly played.
A 1200-year history of environmental changes in Bay Jimmy area, coastal Louisiana, USA

Paleoecological studies from the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) have mostly aimed at understanding long-term paleoenvironmental changes. Only a few studies have been performed in the southern United...
Characterization of Dynamic Material Property of AlSi10 Mg Aluminum Alloy Under High Strain Rate Compressive Loading

The aim of this paper is to characterize the dynamic material property of the aluminum alloy, AlSi10 Mg under high strain rate compressive loading. From literature reviews, it was found that the characteristic of dynamic deformation behaviors of aluminum alloys under both compressive and tensile loading conditions by using split Hopkinson pressure bar techniques were different. In this work, we performed experiments at high strain rate compressive loadings on selective laser melted (SLM) samples with a split Hopkinson pressure bar. The samples were produced at five different layer orientations, such as 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° with three different global energy density (GED) values. The GED value of a sample is related to laser power, scan speed, hatch spacing, and layer thickness of the SLM process. In our study, we found the characteristic material deformation behavior depends on building layer orientations and the GED values.
Geographic variation in palliative care delivery among patients diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer in the USA: Medicare population-based study.

The USA has observed a significant increase in the use of palliative care for patients diagnosed with advanced cancer. However, it is unknown how geographic variation affects patients’ use of palliative care services. We examined temporal and demographic trends in receipt of and timing of palliative care by state and region. A retrospective cohort study of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. Study sample included community-dwelling patients aged ≥ 65 years with metastatic lung cancer who were diagnosed between 2001 and 2015. Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to evaluate temporal trends in receipt of and timing of palliative care by states and census region. The proportion of metastatic lung cancer patients who received palliative care ranged from 16.4% in Washington and 16.3% in Connecticut to 6.4% in Louisiana. From 2001 to 2015, use of palliative care increased from 3.2 to 29.8% in the West region, from 3.3 to 31.9% in the Northeast region, from 3.8 to 36.2% in the Midwest region, and from 0.9 to 23.3% in the South region (all P < 0.001). The median time from the date of cancer diagnosis to the date of first palliative care visit varied geographically, from 44 days in Utah to 66 days in California. Hospital-based palliative care was most common in these states. The substantial geographic variation in the use of palliative care suggesting a need for additional research on geographic disparities in palliative care and strategies that might improve state-level palliative care delivery.
Energy Harvesting Systems Need an Operating System Too

Software support for intermittent devices has emerged as a key area of research in resource-constrained computing. Work in this area aims to ease application development by providing support for making forward progress in the face of frequent power outages. Typically, systems in prior work provide a runtime or a kernel as the system abstraction and are customized for a small set of hardware. In this paper, we propose our vision for the future of intermittent computing and explore extending a general-purpose embedded operating system to handle intermittent workloads. We show how many common OS abstractions benefit the highly constrained intermittent domain and describe the design extensions required to support intermittent devices. We evaluate the system with respect to memory, time, and developer overhead and argue that full OS support is a promising direction for future intermittent systems.
Decontamination of soil contaminated at the surface with Bacillus anthracis spores using dry thermal treatment.

Abstract In the event of a large, aerosol release of Bacillus anthracis spores in a major metropolitan area, soils and other outdoor materials may become contaminated with the biological agent. A study was conducted to assess the in-situ remediation of soil using a dry thermal treatment approach to inactivate a B. anthracis spore surrogate inoculated into soil samples. The study was conducted in two phases, using loam, clay and sand-based soils, as well as biological indicators and spore-inoculated stainless-steel coupons. Initial experiments were performed in an environmental test chamber with temperatures controlled between 80 and 110 °C, with and without added humidity, and with contact times ranging from 4 h to 7 weeks. Tests were then scaled up to assess the thermal inactivation of spores in small soil columns, in which a heating plate set to 141 °C was applied to the soil surface. These column tests were conducted to assess time requirements to inactivate spores as a function of soil depth and soil type. Results from the initial phase of testing showed that increasing the temperature and relative humidity reduced the time requirements to achieve samples in which no surrogate spores were detected. For the test at 80 °C with no added humidity, 49 days were required to achieve soil samples with no spores detected in clay and loam. At 110 °C, 24 h were required to achieve samples in which no spores were detected. In the column tests, no spores were detected at the 2.5 cm depth at four days and at the 5.1 cm depth at 21 days, for two of the three soils. The experiments described in the study demonstrate the feasibility of using dry thermal techniques to decontaminate soils that have been surficially contaminated with B. anthracis spores.
Two Laparoscopic Appendectomy Techniques in Benign Gynecologic Surgery

Study Objective To demonstrate two laparoscopic appendectomy techniques used during gynecologic surgery for benign indications. Design Not applicable. Setting In both videos, patients were placed in the standard dorsal lithotomy position with moderate Trendelenburg tilt throughout the duration of the surgery. Patients or Participants Patients in both videos presented with chronic pelvic pain thought to be secondary to endometriosis. Their symptoms were refractory to medical management. After appropriate counseling, patients opted for diagnostic laparoscopy with possible endometriosis excision. Both patients were counseled on the risks and benefits of concurrent appendectomy at the time of surgery, and both have given their written consent. Interventions With the first technique, an ENDOLOOP ligature was used to double ligate the base of the appendix followed by excision using the laparoscopic scissors. The specimen was removed by using an Endo Catch specimen retrieval device. With the second technique, a 35 mm vascular stapler was used to seal and transect the appendix at the base. The specimen was removed directly from laparoscopic port. Measurements and Main Results We demonstrated two techniques for laparoscopic appendectomy. Both patients tolerated the procedures well, and their postoperative recovery was uneventful. The patient who underwent appendectomy with the stapler, pathology revealed evidence of acute appendicitis. Conclusion Appendiceal endometriosis is observed in 2.6% of patient who underwent surgery for endometriosis. ENDOLOOP ligature and vascular stapler are both well tolerated and effective method used in laparoscopic appendectomy. Gynecologists should attempt to incorporate routine assessment of the appendix during benign gynecologic surgeries and be able to perform concurrent appendectomy should the need arise.
Long-Term Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization of Irrigated Corn

Long-term research shows that phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer must be applied to optimize production of irrigated corn in western Kansas. In 2015, N applied alone increased yields 70 bu/a, whereas P applied alone increased yields only 12 bu/a. Nitrogen and P applied together increased yields up to 129 bu/a. This is below the 10 year average, where N and P fertilization increased corn yields up to 144 bu/a. Application of 120 lb/a N (with P) produced about 98% of maximum yield in 2015, which is 5% more than the 10-year average. Application of 80 instead of 40 lb P2O5/a increased average yields only 1 bu/a. Average grain N content reached a maximum of 0.6 lb/bu while grain P content reached a maximum of 0.15 lb/bu (0.34 lb P2O5/bu).
Research on screening and diagnosis in autism: a work in progress.

In June 1998, the National Institutes of Health Autism Coordinating Committee (NIH/ACC) invited representatives of 13 major medical and other professional academies and associations and six national autism parent research organizations to review research data on screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Ten review papers and more than 4,000 publications were consulted in this effort. This paper highlights some promising areas for research identified in this process. One of the highest priorities is the search for the ultimate diagnostic indicator, a biological marker(s), for example, genetic, metabolic, immunologic, neurologic, that will distinguish autism unequivocally from other developmental disabilities. In the interim, research on infant screening and diagnosis might lower the threshold age for diagnosis to 8–12 months. The role of sensory-motor disorders in early diagnosis needs further research. Earlier and better diagnosis of co-occurring, potentially treatable disorders, including epileptic and epileptiform disorders, has implications both for diagnosis and treatment. Pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic research strategies could help diagnose subtypes and responders versus nonresponders to potential treatments. Better endpoints and outcome measures are needed, including improved procedures for cognitive and neuropsychological testing, more knowledge about verbal and nonverbal communication milestones, and less invasive and more sensitive neuroimaging measures. Critical questions remain regarding regression after apparently normal development, and about possible environmental precipitants. Finally, field trials of the reliability and validity of screening and diagnosis using the newly developed practice guidelines are needed.
The role of vitamin A acid.

Publisher Summary The part that vitamin A plays in vision is not its principle activity. No animal dies of night blindness. It is clear that vitamin A must play some very general role in cellular metabolism or cell structure, a role perhaps particularly associated with epithelial cells, because these undergo such marked changes early in vitamin A deficiency. Yet, until now the visual role of vitamin A is the only one that has been clearly understood. In a recent attempt to pursue this further, in particular to clarify the mechanism of night blindness in vitamin A deficiency, this chapter follows simultaneously a complex of biochemical, physiological, and anatomical changes in single groups of rats, held on a vitamin A-deficient diet. It was observed that after the initial stores of vitamin A in the liver and blood had been exhausted, the level of rhodopsin in the retina began to fall, the visual threshold reciprocally rising, marking the beginning of night blindness.
Legal Rules and Bankruptcy Rates: Historical Evidence from the States

Since the early twentieth century, observers have attributed the wide variation in state bankruptcy rates to variation in state legal rules such as garnishment and bankruptcy exemptions. Recent econometric analyses, however, conclude that legal rules do not matter. We explore the impact of legal rules on bankruptcy rates using a new technique - fixed effects vector decomposition - to exploit historical variation in legal rules. The technique allows us to estimate the impact of time-invariant legal rules in a fixed effects framework. We find that the variation in state legal rules explains much of the variation in state wage earner bankruptcy rates for 1926 to 1932.
Mechanisms of aging: an appraisal of the oxidative stress hypothesis.

The main purpose of this article is to provide a critical overview of the currently available evidence bearing on the validity of the oxidative stress hypothesis of aging, which postulates that senescence-associated attenuations in physiological functions are caused by molecular oxidative damage. Several lines of correlative evidence support the predictions of the hypothesis, e.g., macromolecular oxidative damage increases with age and tends to be associated with life expectancy of organisms. Nevertheless, a direct link between oxidative stress and aging has not as yet been established. Single gene mutations have been reported to extend the life spans of lower organisms, such as nematodes and insects; however, such prolongations of chronological clock time survival are usually associated with decreases in the rate of metabolism and reproductive output without affecting the metabolic potential, i.e., the total amount of energy consumed during life. Studies on genetic manipulations of the aging process have often been conducted on relatively short-lived strains that are physiologically weak, whereby life-span extensions can not be unambiguously assigned to a slowing effect on the rate of aging. It is concluded that although there is considerable evidence implicating oxidative stress in the aging process, additional evidence is needed to clearly define the nature of the involvement.
High speed hybrid silicon modulators and switches

We review recent research on III-V-on-Si modulators and switches for 40 Gb/s and potential 100 Gb/s applications.
An analysis of income transfers in a developing country

Abstract This paper presents descriptive and analytical evidence on the characteristics and determinants of remittances and transfers in Kenya using data from a nationwide household survey. It is found that urban-rural remittances provide only a limited picture accounting for less than half of all transfers and that transfers have very little effect on the over-all distribution of income. In a regression analysis the amount of income transferred tends to be most highly related to education, income level, urban residence, migrant status and length of stay, ownership of a house in the home area, and the number of wives and children living away.
Tolerance and upregulation of acetylcholine receptors follow chronic infusion of d-tubocurarine

The hypothesis that chronic competitive antagonism of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR), even in the absence of immobilization or paralysis, induces proliferation of the receptor and tolerance to the competitive antagonist was tested. Chronic antagonism of the nAChR was achieved in rats by an infusion of d-tubocurarine (dTC) via subcutaneously placed osmotic pumps. After 2 wk of dTC or saline, the neuromuscular pharmacodynamics and nAChR number were examined. No differences in weight gain or mobility were observed between groups. Chronic dTC infusion at 2 wk resulted in a baseline concentration of 0.41 +/- 0.07 (SE) micrograms/ml, which, if achieved acutely, would cause a depression of the twitch tension to 60% of control twitch height. Moreover the experimental group was able to develop a baseline twitch tension of 50 g, similar to that of controls. Despite the baseline dTC concentration in the experimental group, the effective doses of dTC for twitch depression were similar to those of controls. The plasma dTC concentration required for steady-state twitch inhibition was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in the experimental group (0.83 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.50 +/- 0.15 micrograms/ml) as were the extrajunctional nAChR (19.76 +/- 1.77 vs. 13.37 +/- 1.82 fmol/mg protein). The diaphragmatic nAChR were unaltered. This study confirms that chronic doses of dTC cause tolerance to its effects and proliferation of nAChR even in the absence of immobilization. The absence of nAChR changes in the diaphragm may be due to the higher margin of safety of the diaphragm for muscle relaxants than for peripheral muscles. Intensive Care Unit patients receiving chronic infusions of dTC to facilitate mechanical ventilation will require increased doses with time.
A Semilinear Parabolic System for Migration and Selection in Population Genetics

Abstract The semilinear parabolic system that describes the evolution of the gene frequencies in the diffusion approximation for migration and selection at a multiallelic locus is investigated. The population occupies a finite habitat of arbitrary dimensionality and shape. The selection coefficients depend on position; the drift and diffusion coefficients may do so. For two alleles (the scalar case), the global analysis of D. Henry (1981, “Geometric Theory of Semilinear Parabolic Equations,” Lecture Notes in Mathematics, Vol. 840, Springer-Verlag, Berlin) is extended from homogeneous, isotropic migration (corresponding to the Laplacian) to arbitrary migration (corresponding to an arbitrary elliptic operator). For multiple alleles, sufficient conditions are given for the global loss of an allele that is nowhere the fittest. In the case of no dominance with at least one change in the direction of selection, sufficient conditions are established for global convergence to a stable equilibrium with all the intermediate alleles absent and one or two extreme alleles present. Sufficient conditions on the migration pattern for casting the elliptic operator into variational form are proved; in this case, the above results become more explicit.
Determination of trinexapac in wheat by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A quantitative and confirmatory method for the analysis of trinexapac (free acid metabolite of trinexapac-ethyl) in wheat is described. Residues were extracted from wheat with acetonitrile in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7) overnight. The extract was directly injected into the HPLC system. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an octadecylsilica column, and detection was performed by negative ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The precursor ion of trinexapac [M − H]- at m/z 223 was subjected to collisional fragmentation with argon to yield two intense diagnostic product ions at m/z 135 and 179, respectively. Accuracy and specificity for routine analysis of trinexapac were demonstrated. The validated concentration range was 10−200 μg/kg based on a 0.10 g/mL wheat sample extract. Recoveries were within the range of 71−94%, with associated relative standard deviations better than 10%. The limit of detection for trinexapac in wheat was estimated at 5 μg/kg. The method has been applied ...
Dissociative effects of ibotenic and quisqualic acid-induced basal forebrain lesions on cortical acetylcholinesterase-positive fiber density and cytochrome oxidase activity.

Abstract The behavioral effects of excitatory amino acid-induced basal forebrain lesions have been conventionally attributed to the loss of cholinergic neurons innervating cortical areas. However, comparative examinations of quisqualic acid- and ibotenic acid-induced lesions to this region have suggested that the behavioral consequences of ibotenate-induced lesions may not be exclusively related to the loss of cholinergic neurons [Etherington R.et al. (1987)Neurosci. Res. Commun.1, 135–143; Robbins T. W.et al. (1989)Neuroscience28, 337–352]. These findings prompted the present investigation of the effects of quisqualic acid- and ibotenic acid-induced basal forebrain lesions on cortical cholinergic fiber density and cytochrome oxidase activity. Parallel brain sections from rats with unilateral lesions produced by each toxin were examined for cytochrome oxidase activity and acetylcholinesterase-positive fiber density, at a period of four, eight and 20 days postlesion. Quisqualic acid-induced lesions resulted in a greater loss of cortical acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers than did ibotenic acid-induced lesions, but the latter lesions produced a greater reduction in cytochrome oxidase activity. These results suggest that the loss of cortical cholinergic afferents does not contribute to the cortical metabolic decrease induced by infusions of ibotenic acid into the basal forebrain. Thus, the behavioral and metabolic consequences of ibotenic acid-induced lesions may be due to the destruction of an additional, noncholinergic pathway.
Understanding the Regenerative Comparator Circuit

The regenerative comparator circuit which lies at the heart of A/D conversion, slicer circuits, and memory sensing, is unstable, time-varying, nonlinear, and with multiple equilibria. That does not mean, as this paper shows, that it cannot be understood with simple equivalent circuits that reveal its dynamics completely, and enable it to be designed to specifications on static and dynamic offset and noise. The analysis is applied to the StrongArm latch. I. INTRODUCTION Flip-flops used as regenerative amplifiers are found every- where in electronic circuits. It is well-understood that they have two stable states, and that given sufficient time, the circuit will regenerate an input voltage unbalance to reach one of these states. The latched comparator must be symmetric by its very nature, since its binary states are symmetrical. Practical unbal- ances in the circuit arising from transistor and load mismatch lead to uncertainty in the regenerated binary output when a small analog input is applied. This problem of offset is well- known to circuit designers, and since the observed offsets can be much larger than in simple linear amplifiers, a certain mystery attends to "dynamic offsets" that appear only in a latched comparator. This paper clears much of the mystery by visualizing regen- eration. By using one trajectory as a frame of reference, circuit unbalances can in most cases be modelled by a sequence of linear, time-varying equivalent circuits that capture, piecewise, the variation of the circuit with time. Thus, simple expressions are obtained for all offsets, and a straightforward method emerges to null them to a desired accuracy at very small cost in power or chip area.
Effects of wet meadow riparian vegetation on streambank erosion. 2. Measurements of vegetated bank strength and consequences for failure mechanics

We measured the effect of wet meadow vegetation on the bank strength and failure mechanics of a meandering montane meadow stream, the South Fork of the Kern River at Monache Meadow, in California's Sierra Nevada. Streambanks colonized by ‘wet’ graminoid meadow vegetation were on average five times stronger than those colonized by ‘dry’ xeric meadow and scrub vegetation. Our measurements show that strength is correlated with vegetation density indicators, including stem counts, standing biomass per unit area, and the ratio of root mass to soil mass. Rushes appear better than sedges at stabilizing coarse bar surfaces, while sedges are far more effective at stabilizing actively eroding cut banks. Wet meadow floodplain vegetation creates a composite cut bank configuration (a cohesive layer overlying cohesionless materials) that erodes via cantilever failure. Field measurements and a geotechnical model of cantilever stability show that by increasing bank strength, wet meadow vegetation increases the thickness, width, and cohesiveness of a bank cantilever, which, in turn, increases the amount of time required to undermine, detach, and remove bank failure blocks. At Monache Meadow, it takes approximately four years to produce and remove a 1 m wide wet meadow bank block. Wet meadow vegetation limits bank migration rates by increasing bank strength, altering bank failure modes, and reducing bank failure frequency. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Winter and summer performance of potato (Solanum tuberosum) in isohyperthermic regimes

Potato production in isohyperthermic temperature regimes (mean annual soil temperature higher than 22°C) has been considered impractical physiologically and economically. However, recent experiments with potatoes (var. Kennebec) on a clayey, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Tropeptic Eutrustox of Hawaii during the winters of 1980 and 1981 and the summer of 1980, indicate that although seasonal variation in the tropics is minimal when compared to temperate regions, there is enough of a distinction in temperature that potato production is possible and favored during the cooler winter months. Soil temperatures, measured at 20-cm depth, in irrigated plots range from 18 to 20°C in winter and 24 to 26°C in summer. Tuber initiation in winter and summer began at 40 and 55 days after planting, respectively. Maturity was delayed by 20 days in summer. Yields in irrigated plots were 36,000 in winter and 25,000 kg/ha in summer; in nonirrigated plots, yields were 14,600 in winter and 7,900 kg/ha in summer. Nutrient uptake and water and energy use were less efficient in summer. The results indicated that winter is the most suitable season for potato production in the warm tropics.
Proton Conduction in PEM Fuel Cell Cathodes: Effects of Electrode Thickness and Ionomer Equivalent Weight

The dependence of electrode proton resistivity on electrode thickness, Pt loading, ionomer loading, and ionomer equivalent weight (EW) in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell cathodes was investigated using a Pt/Vulcan catalyst. For uniform electrodes, the electrode proton resistivity is independent of the electrode thickness and Pt loading but depends on the ionomer loading and ionomer EW. There is a strong dependence on the ionomer EW when the ionomer/carbon weight (I/C) ratio is lower than 0.8. The electrode proton resistivity strongly depends on relative humidity (RH) and the density of ―SO 3 H groups in the electrode. The electrode proton resistivity becomes nearly independent of ionomer EW in electrodes when high I/C ratios are used. At low I/C ratios and low RH levels, electrodes with 850 EW ionomer exhibit better performance than those with 1050 EW. On the contrary, 850 EW electrodes give lower performance under overhumidified conditions due to electrode flooding.
Host plant species effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in tallgrass prairie

Symbiotic associations between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous in many herbaceous plant communities and can have large effects on these communities and ecosystem processes. The extent of species-specificity between these plant and fungal symbionts in nature is poorly known, yet reciprocal effects of the composition of plant and soil microbe communities is an important assumption of recent theoretical models of plant community structure. In grassland ecosystems, host plant species may have an important role in determining development and sporulation of AM fungi and patterns of fungal species composition and diversity. In this study, the effects of five different host plant species [Poa pratensis L., Sporobolus heterolepis (A. Gray) A. Gray, Panicum virgatum L., Baptisia bracteata Muhl. ex Ell., Solidago missouriensis Nutt.] on spore communities of AM fungi in tallgrass prairie were examined. Spore abundances and species composition of fungal communities of soil samples collected from patches within tallgrass prairie were significantly influenced by the host plant species that dominated the patch. The AM fungal spore community associated with B. bracteata showed the highest species diversity and the fungi associated with Pa. virgatum showed the lowest diversity. Results from sorghum trap cultures using soil collected from under different host plant species showed differential sporulations of AM fungal species. In addition, a greenhouse study was conducted in which different host plant species were grown in similar tallgrass prairie soil. After 4 months of growth, AM fungal species composition was significantly different beneath each host species. These results strongly suggest that AM fungi show some degree of host-specificity and are not randomly distributed in tallgrass prairie. The demonstration that host plant species composition influences AM fungal species composition provides support for current feedback models predicting strong regulatory effects of soil communities on plant community structure. Differential responses of AM fungi to host plant species may also play an important role in the regulation of species composition and diversity in AM fungal communities.
Kinetic modeling of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) degradation in soil slurry by anodic fenton treatment.

Anodic Fenton treatment (AFT) has been shown to be a promising technology in pesticide wastewater treatment. However, no research has been conducted on the AFT application to contaminated soils. In this study, the 2,4-D degradation kinetics of AFT in a silt loam soil slurry were investigated for the first time, and the effects of various experimental conditions including initial 2,4-D concentration, Fenton reagent delivery rate, amount of humic acid (HA) addition, and pH were examined. The 2,4-D degradation in soil slurry by AFT was found to follow a two-stage kinetic model. During the early stage of AFT (the first 4−5 min), the 2,4-D concentration profile followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. In the later stage (typically after 5 or 6 min), the AFT kinetic model provided a better fit. This result is most likely due to the existence of •OH scavengers and 2,4-D sorption on soil. The Fe2+ delivery rate was shown to be a more significant factor in degradation rate than the H2O2 delivery rate when the ...
Utility Functions for Equity and Public Risk

With many large-scale projects, such as power plants, some members of the public will necessarily incur a risk. Public fatalities may result from either normal operations e.g., via pollution or accidents. Often in such cases, a small group of the public incur the risks, whereas a different group of the public receives the benefits from the project. In these circumstances, a major issue concerns the equity or fairness afforded members of the public. This paper develops the concept of an equitable distribution of risk to address this issue. Utility functions are found which are consistent with various basic value attitudes involving risk equity.