cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hare on utilitarianism and intuitive morality

InMoral Thinking R. M. Hare offers a very influential defense of utilitarianism against “intuitive” objections. Hare's argument is roughly that utilitarianism conflicts with defensible moral intuitions only in unusual cases and that, in such cases, even defensible moral intuitions are unreliable. This paper reconstructs Hare's arguments and argues that they presuppose the success of his problematic “proof” of utilitarianism. Contrary to what many have thought, Hare's negative defense of utilitarianism against intuitive objections is not separable from his “proof”. In the second part of the paper I argue that Hare does not succeed in defending utilitarianism against the objection that it is “too demanding”. The final section of the paper sketches a substantially revised version of Hare's reply to intuitive objections. So revised, the argument is independent of Hare's proof and affords a plausible answer to the objection that utilitarianism is “too demanding”.
The direct and inverse scattering problems for partially coated obstacles

We consider the direct and inverse scattering problems for partially coated obstacles. To this end, we first use the method of integral equations of the first kind together with variational methods to solve a scattering problem for the Helmholtz equation where the scattered field satisfies mixed Dirichlet-impedance boundary conditions on the Lipschitz boundary of the scatterer D. We then use the linear sampling method to solve the inverse scattering problem of determining D from a knowledge of the far-field pattern of the scattered field. Numerical examples are given showing the performance of the linear sampling method in this case.
Quotient spaces and statistical models

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the widespread occurrence of quotient spaces in statistical work. Quotient spaces are intrinsic to probability distributions, residuals and interaction in linear models, covariance functions and variograms of stochastic processes, etc. The theme is that explicit recognition of the quotient space can offer surprising conceptual simplification. The advantages of working directly with the quotient space are hard to describe in general. As the examples demonstrate, the answer lies partly in directness of approach. L'auteur fait ressortir l'ubiquite de la notion d'espace quotient en statistique. Il montre que cette structure est intrinseque aux lois de probabilite, aux residus et aux interactions dans les modeles lineaires, aux fonc-tions de covariance et aux variogrammes des processus stochastiques, etc. Quoiqu'il soit difficile de decrire en toute generalite les avantages lies a l'emploi d'espaces quotients, l'auteur demontre par des exemples que la reconnaissance explicite de cette structure suggere sou vent une approche a la fois plus directe et plus simple au plan conceptuel.
Ethanol and silver effects on ion transport across toad skin.

Abstract 1. 1. Silver stimulated short-circuit current and transepithelial potential difference. 2. 2. Ethanol inhibited transpithelial potential difference. 3. 3. Ethanol had no effect on short-circuit current. 4. 4. Ethanol stimulated unidirectional movements of chloride from outside to inside and from inside to outside.
Two-way counter machines and finite-state transducers†

Consider the emptiness problem for deterministic two-way finite-state automata that are augmented by a bounded-reversal counter and the equivalence problem for deterministic two-way finite-state transducers. The first problem was posed by Ibarra while the second problem restricted to the case that accepting configurations are also halting configurations was posed by Ehrich and Yau. Recently the first problem restricted to devices that accept only bounded languages as well as the restricted version of the second problem have been shown decidable. Here these two problems are shown decidable also in their general form.
A simple Byzantine-fault-tolerant algorithm for a multi-writer regular register

Distributed storage systems have become popular for handling the enormous amount of data in network-centric systems. A distributed storage system provides client processes with the abstraction of a shared variable that satisfies some consistency and reliability properties. Typically, the properties are ensured through a replication-based implementation. This paper presents an algorithm for a replicated read/write register that can tolerate f Byzantine-faulty servers when there are at least a total of 3f+1 replica servers. The targeted consistency condition is weaker than the more frequently supported condition of atomicity, but it is still strong enough to be useful in some important applications. By weakening the consistency condition, the algorithm can support multiple writers more efficiently and more simply than the known multi-writer algorithms for atomic consistency.
A mathematical investigation of games of “take-away”

Abstract Let T be the collection of n -tuples of nonnegative integers, and S⊂T . In a “take-away game of type S with initial position t ”, two players, starting with an initial vector t∈T , alternately subtract elements of S , subject to the remainder being in T , with the winner being the first to arrive at the zero vector. (NIM is such a game, with S consisting of all positive integer multiples of the unit vectors). The elements of T , considered as initial positions, can be classified as theoretical wins, draws, or losses for the first player, decomposing T into three disjoint sets, W(S), D(S) , and L(S) , respectively. Basic relationships among these sets are derived, and applied to the study of specific take-away games. A simple criterion for draw-free games is given, and in the one-dimensional case, a nonlinear shift register can be used as a “digital computer” to determine the winning and losing positions. The possibility of extending this recursive analysis to the entire class of “progressive games” is discussed.
Dissecting the Inhibitory and Potentiation Effects of Desformylflustrabromine on a Muscle-Type Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (NACHR)

Desformylflustrabromine (dFBr) potentiates 4β2 nAChR in vitro (Kim et al. 2007, Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 17: 4855) and reduces nicotine self-administration in vivo (Liu 2013; Psychopharmacology 230: 203). We have reported that dFBr is a potent inhibitor (IC50, ∼1 M) of human (Hα12β1eδ) and Torpedo (Tα12β1γδ) muscle-type nAChRs. We also found, using [3H]dFBr reversible binding and dFBr displacement of [3H]PCP binding, that dFBr binds with high affinity to the muscle-type nAChRs ion channel in the desensitized state. But, when we photolabeled nAChR-rich Torpedo membranes with [3H]dFBr in the presence of agonist, four dFBr binding sites were evident. [3H]dFBr photolabeled amino acids in the ion channel and in three binding sites within the extracellular domain previously identified for nAChRs PAMs galanthamine and physostigmine. The high affinity binding of dFBr in the ion channel precludes the ability to study the functional contribution of dFBr binding within the extracellular domain and to determine whether dFBr acts as inhibitor or potentiator at these sites. Therefore, we are introducing mutations in the muscle-type nAChR ion channel M2 helices to eliminate the channel blocking effect of dFBr. The effect of M2 mutations on the EC50 of ACh and on dFBr inhibition of muscle-type nAChR were examined using two-electrode voltage clamp recording. Serine substitutions of the leucine at M2-9 of each nAChR subunit decreased dFBr IC50 compared with wild-type, consistent with an open channel blocking mechanism. This results confirm our [3H]dFBr the photolabeling results demonstrating that dFBr binds within the ion channel in close proximity to M2-9. The effects of other substitutions at M2-9 and at other positions in the M2 helices on dFBr inhibition of muscle-type nAChR are being tested.
Inhibition of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens TraR quorum-sensing regulator. Interactions with the TraM anti-activator.

Abstract The Agrobacterium tumefaciensquorum-sensing transcriptional regulator TraR and its inducing ligand 3-oxo-octanoyl-l-homoserine lactone control conjugal transfer of the tumor-inducing plasmid, the primary virulence factor responsible for crown gall disease of plants. This regulatory system enables A. tumefaciens to express its conjugal transfer regulon preferentially at high population densities. TraR activity is antagonized by a second tumor-inducing plasmid-encoded protein designated TraM. TraM and TraR are thought to form an anti-activation complex that prevents TraR from recognizing its target DNA-binding sites. The formation and inhibitory function of the TraM-TraR anti-activation complex was analyzed using several different assays for protein-protein interaction, including surface plasmon resonance. The TraR-TraM complex forms readily in solution and is extremely stable (K D of 1–4 × 10−9 m). Directed mutational analysis of TraM identified a number of amino acids that play important roles in the inhibition of TraR, clustering in two regions of the protein. Interestingly, several mutants were identified that proficiently bound TraR but were unable to inhibit its activity. This observation suggests a mechanistic separation between the initial assembly of the complex and conversion of TraR to an inactive form.
Pea aphid dropping behavior diminishes foraging efficiency of a predatory ladybeetle

Antipredator defensive behaviors are a well-studied and often crucial part of prey life histories, but little has been done to quantify how such behaviors affect natural enemies, their foraging, and their effectiveness as biological control agents. We explored how the generalist predatory coccinellid Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) affects the dropping behavior of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae), and in turn, how that defensive behavior affects the foraging efficiency of the predator. Experimental arenas that allowed or prevented pea aphid dropping were compared to determine how dropping influences the foraging of multiple life stages of H. axyridis: second instars, fourth instars, and adults. Dropping reduced predation on aphids by all ladybeetle life stages. Despite older predators inducing more dropping, aphid dropping reduced predation by approximately 40% across all ladybeetle life stages. Aphid dropping and predator consumption of aphids were both correlated with how much the predator moved, which also increased with predator life stage. We suggest that the high rates of dropping induced by H. axyridis and the subsequent decrease in H. axyridis foraging efficiency may partially explain why H. axyridis is less effective at controlling pea aphids than it is at controlling other aphid species that do not drop.
Polymerization of FtsZ at High Pressures: A Molecular Dynamics Study

The prokaryotic protein FtsZ plays an important but poorly understood role in bacterial cell division. Prior research has shown that GTP-bound FtsZ polymerizes in a ring-like structure called the Z-ring at the cell-septum site, where division occurs. The de-polymerization of the Z-ring upon hydrolysis of GTP provides the mechanical forces needed for cell division. The present study explored the hypothesis that polymerization of GTP-FtsZ is inhibited at high pressures_preventing bacteria from dividing_and so explains the observed morphological differences between bacteria samples grown at standard and high pressures, respectively. We have computed Gibbs free energy difference, ΔG, between monomer and dimer forms of GTP-FtsZ from Methanococcus Jannaschii using molecular dynamics simulations. Our results suggest that the difference in Gibbs free energy between the monomer and dimer states of GTP-FtsZ decreases with pressures suggesting that the de-polymerization of FtsZ is enhanced at high pressures. Furthermore, we find that ΔG first decreases slowly with pressures and then drops drastically hinting at a critical pressure value Pcrit, beyond which depolymerization of FtsZ is significantly more likely. Our simulation studies corroborate well with experimental results of enhanced filamentation of bacterial cells at high pressures.
Starting a Functional Assessment of Depression (FAD): Development of a FAD

Despite abundance of treatment outcome studies, researchers have failed to identify a treatment for depression that works for all individuals. A possible solution is to individualize depression treatment. To test whether this strategy will be more effective, an assessment tied to theory of intervention is necessary. This article describes a current effort to develop a new measure of depression, the functional assessment of depression (FAD), based on behavioral assessment strategies. A factor analysis and cluster analysis were performed in an attempt to identify information provided that might prove useful in treatment planning. Future efforts to explore the incremental validity and treatment utility of the FAD are described.
Estimation of the stability of dry horse serum cholinesterase by means of an accelerated storage test.

The thermal inactivation of dry horse serum cholinesterase was found to obey first order kinetics over the temperature range 38–140°. Rogers' (1963) accelerated storage test was applied to this reaction and gave estimates of the rate coefficients and energy of activation of the inactivation reaction which agreed with the values determined in isothermal experiments. The stability of the enzyme preparation at 38° predicted by means of the accelerated storage data coincided with that found by isothermal storage of the enzyme at 38°.
Using Habituation of Looking Time to Assess Mental Processes in Infancy.

Habituation of looking time has become the standard method for studying cognitive processes in infancy. This method has a long history and derives from the study of memory and habituation itself. Often, however, it is not clear how researchers make decisions about how to implement habituation as a tool to study processes such as categorization, object representation, and memory. This article describes the challenges for implementing this tool and describes a set of best practices for its use to study perception and cognition in infancy.
A current-comparator-based load loss standard for in-situ calibration of transformer loss measuring systems

A current-comparator technique for obtaining a load-loss standard with adjustable loss tangent (or power factor) for in-situ calibration of transformer loss-measuring systems is described. The standard, driven by the test voltage through a low-loss, high voltage compressed-gas-dielectric reference capacitor, simulates an inductive load that can be operated with load currents of up to 1000 A. The equivalent rating of the load is determined by the voltage of the high-voltage reference capacitor. Adjustment of the loss tangent (or power factor) is achieved by comparing the load current, using the current comparator, with in-phase and quadrature reference currents derived from the test voltage. The standard features three current ranges of 10 A, 100 A, and 1000 A. The maximum current of each range is available at five different voltage levels which are determined by the voltage rating of the high-voltage reference capacitor. The standard also features a direct-reading loss tangent (tan delta ) adjustment in the range from 0 to 0.1 with five-digit resolution and an accuracy of better than 20 parts per million. >
A reevaluation of the H3 potential

Abstract Ab initio calculations are performed for H 3 to evaluate the accuracy of fitted potentials, primarily in the energy region between 23 and 33 kcal/mol above H+H 2 . The double many-body expansion (DMBE) of Truhlar and co-workers is found to agree with all of the ab initio points to within 1.13 kcal/mol and to have a root mean square deviation with the computed points of 0.42 kcal/mol. We also show that expansion of the one-particle basis set reduces the difference with the DMBE surface slightly.
Structural correlations in comb heteropolymers in good and backbone-selective solvents

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of coarse-grained regular comb heteropolymers have been performed to explore structural correlations at equilibrium in a nonselective solvent and during the transition from coil to micelle in a backbone-selective solvent. We primarily consider the static structure factor measured directly from the simulations. In the good solvent, we consider cases ranging from short to long side chains, with respect to the spacer length. Reasonable agreement with a previously published theoretical structure factor is observed for a limited subset of the comb architectures in a small wavevector range. When the side chains are much longer than the spacers, the side-chain structure factor approaches that of starlike polymers. Additionally, plateau values of the structure factor scale with the side-chain length to the power of 0.736 when the side chains are shorter than the spacers. The transition from an open coil to a collapsed micelle is examined in MD simulations with explicit-solvent particles. Upon a sudden quench the from nonselective solvent to the backbone-selective solvent, the coil-to-micelle transition occurs via a side-chain clusterization mechanism. The time-dependent structure factors measured during the collapse process have plateau values that scale with the average cluster size to the power of 0.9. The origin of these two scaling exponents is still unknown. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 983-993, 2005
Janet Davison Rowley, M.D. (1925–2013)

As she said in writing about Theodore Puck in 2006, “it is impossible to write a comprehensive obituary of [Janet Rowley] in less than a dozen pages.1” Leading pioneer in cancer research and matriarch of cancer genetics and cytogenetics, Janet Davison Rowley, M.D. (Figure 1), died at her home from complications of ovarian cancer on December 17, 2013. How ironic that a woman whose numerous cancer research discoveries led to lifesaving treatments for so many cancer patients succumbed to cancer. Dr.
Moving welfare families into economic self-sufficiency: A model from El Paso Community College

This chapter discusses how El Paso Community College linked welfare-to-work participants to college credit programs that offer realistic pathways to certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor degrees.
The boron trifluoride monoethyl amine complex cured epoxy resins

The curing exotherm pattern is affected by the equivalent ratio of curing agent, boron trifluoride monoethylamine complex (BF3 · MEA), to epoxy resin. The diglycidyl ether of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene (DGEBF) cures more slowly than the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (Epon 828). The glass transition temperatures (Tg's) of BF3 · MEA cured Epon 828 are increased with inceasing concentration of curing agent (0.0450–0.1350 eq.) cured DGEBF. The activation energies for the thermal decomposition for BF3 · MEA (0.0450–0.1350 eq.) cured DGEBF. The activation energies for the thermal decomposition for BF3 · MEA (0.0450 eq./epoxy eq.) cured Epon 828 and DGEBF are almost equivalent 43 and 44 kcal/mol, respectively. DGEBF when added to DGEBA improves the Tg and char yield with the BF3 · MEA curing system. The Tg of both resin systems can be increased by longer post cure, whereas the char yield does not appear to change significantly. No ester group formation is found for the BF3 · MEA-cured DGEBF, although this has been previously reported for the DGEBA system. The BF3 · MEA cure at 120°C is better than at 140°C because of vaporization and degradation of the curing agent at the higher temperature. The rapid gelation of the epoxy resin may be another reason for the lower degree of cure at high temperature.
The cloning of full-length genome segments 2, 5, 6, and 8 of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 17 and studies of their genetic relatedness to United States BTV serotypes

The double-stranded (ds) RNA genome segments 2, 5, 6, and 8, which encode the outer capsid proteins P2 and P5, and the two nonstructural proteins, NS1 and NS2, respectively, of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 17 have been cloned into pBR322. The length of the cloned genes indicates that the entire respective dsRNA genome has been cloned in each case. The four cloned genes were used as 32P-labeled probes to hybridize to PAGE-separated United States BTV serotypes 2, 10, 11, 13, and 17. Of these, the segment 6 clone was identified as being highly conserved and hybridized to all serotypes. Segment 8 was less conserved and segment 5 even less. The segment 2 clone was serotype specific. None of the probes hybridized with dsRNA from epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV).
Superconducting condensation energy and an antiferromagnetic exchange-based pairing mechanism

For the traditional low-${T}_{c}$ superconductors, the superconducting condensation energy is proportional to the change in energy of the ionic lattice between the normal and superconducting state, providing a clear link between pairing and the electron-ion interaction. Here, for the $t\ensuremath{-}J$ model, we discuss an analogous relationship between the superconducting condensation energy and the change in the exchange energy between the normal and superconducting states. We point out the possibility of measuring this using neutron scattering and note that such a measurement, while certainly difficult, could provide important evidence for an exchange interaction-based pairing mechanism.
Letter by Madias Regarding Article, “Peripheral Nociception Associated With Surgical Incision Elicits Remote Nonischemic Cardioprotection via Neurogenic Activation of Protein Kinase C Signaling”

To the Editor: The elegant study of Jones et al1 on peripheral nociception-based remote nonischemic preconditioning, published in the September 15, 2009, issue of Circulation , constitutes an advancement in the field of noninvasive cardioprotection for ischemic/reperfusion injury. Not only were the authors able to establish that peripheral skin nociception, resulting from abdominal surgical incision in their murine model and via the axis of neurogenic signaling–bradykinin stimulation of bradykinin 2 receptors–KATP channels, leads to marked reduction in eventual infarct size, but by implementing topical …
Tractable Shape Grammars

In this paper we explore the theoretical basis for a concept of ‘computation-friendly’ shape grammars, through a formal examination of tractability of the grammar formalism. Although a variety of shape grammar definitions have evolved over time, it is possible to unify these to be backwards compatible. Under this unified definition, a shape grammar can be constructed to simulate any Turing machine from which it follows that: A shape grammar may not halt; its language space can be exponentially large; and in general, its membership problem is unsolvable. Moreover, parametric subshape recognition is shown to be NP. This implies that it is unlikely, in general, to find a polynomial-time algorithm to interpret parametric shape grammars, and that more pragmatic approaches need to be sought. Factors that influence the tractability of shape grammars are identified and discussed.
Two Areas of Probable Holocene Deformation in Southwestern Utah

(Accepted for publication May 22, 1978) ABSTRACT: Anderson, R.E. and Bucknam, R.C., 1979. Two areas of probable Holocene deformation in southwestern Utah. In: C.A. Whitten, R. Green and B.K. Meade (Editors), Recent Crustal Movements, 1977. Tectonophysics, 52: 417-430. Recent geologic studies in southwestern Utah indicate two areas of probable Holocene ground deformation. 1 A narrow arm of Lake Bonneville is known to have extended southward into Escalante Valley as far as Lund, Utah. Remnants of weakly developed shoreline features, which we have recently found, suggest that Lake Bonnevile covered an area of about 800 km 2 beyond its previously recognized limits near Lund. Shoreline elevations show a gradual increase from 1553 m near Lund to 1584 m at a point 50 km further southwest, representing a reversal of the pattern that would result from isostatic rebound. The conspicuously flat floor of Escalante Valley covers an additional 100 km 2 southward toward Enterprise, where its elevation is greater than 1610 m, but no shoreline features are recognizable; therefore, the former presence of the lake is only suspected. The measured 31-m rise over 50 km and the suspected 57-m rise in elevation over 70 km apparently occurred after Lake Bonnevile abandoned this area The abandonment could have occurred as recently as 13,000 years ago, in which case the uplift is mainly of Holocene age. It probably has a deep-seated tectonic origin because it is situated above an inferred 9-km upwarp of the mantle that has been reported beneath the southern part of Escalante Valley on the basis of teleseismic P -wave residuals. 2 Numerous closed topographic basins, ranging from a few hundred square meters to 1 km 2 in area, are found at various elevations along the west margin of the Colorado Plateau northeast of Cedar City. Geologic mapping in that area indicates that the basins are located over complex structural depressions in which the rocks are faulted and folded. Several of the depressions are perched along the walls of the West Fork of Braffits Creek, one of a few north-draining creeks that have incised deeply into the plateau margin. Extremely active modern erosion by the creek has produced a 6-km-long gorge along which excellent exposures provide good evidence that the topographic depressions, as well as the entire valley, are located over a north-trending structural graben in which rocks of Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Quaternary age are complexly deformed. The trough appears to be actively subsiding, as evidenced by inward-dipping youthful scarps and V-shaped trenches found along both walls of the valley. The scarp on the east side is continuous for 1.5 km, and that on the west is discontinuous for the same distance. Charcoal-bearing alluvium from a sequence of faulted sedimentary debris in the inner gorge has yielded discordant dates by the 14 C technique, but the dates suggest that at least 6 m of fault displacement occurred during the Late Holocene.
Captura de lulas (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) pela pesca industrial desembarcada em Santos: Comparação após 4 décadas.

Analysis of the temporal variation of fishery resources’ landed catch is essential to monitor changes and alterations inthe fisheries and related aquatic ecosystems. Thus, analyzing catches after 4 decades represents a comparisonbetween an initial industrial fishing off Southeastern Brazil and a present exploitation phase, considered as decline, andis particularly uncommon due to the atypical data availability. Through the analysis of 1959 and 1999 Santos landing data,this study aims to identify: (a) fleets and gears where squids occurred, with related proportions, (b) differences in thesquid’s fishery between the two periods, and (c) squids fishing grounds used by the industrial fleets in both periods.Squids were caught by pink-shrimp bottom-trawlers, but also occurred in the sea-bob shrimp fleet, pair-bottom trawlersand purse-seiners, especially in 1959. Differences between both periods can be clearly seen. In 1959, squid fishingareas were more restricted and in lower depths, and in 1999, the areas were broader and deeper. The decrease offishing boats, and the significant increase of squids catch volume can be verified, where its relative abundance (kg/tow)was 400 times greater in 1999, showing a great availability increase of those resources in the later period or differenceson exploitation technology between periods. The existence of both “bottom-up” control mechanism (oceanographicvariation-recruitment-fishery production) within the fishery ecosystem, and “top-down” control (fishermen-fisheries-structure of marine communities) should be taken into account in the interpretation on the squids abundance variation.
The Treatment of Severe Raynaud's Phenomenon with Verapamil

Verapamil was evaluated in 16 patients with severe Raynaud's phenomenon. Fifty per cent of patients experienced subjective improvement by history, but only one patient had a substantial reduction in the frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon as assessed by diary analysis. We conclude that verapamil is not effective in most patients with severe Raynaud's phenomenon.
Bounds on the overhead of spectrum sensing in cognitive radio

We study a cognitive radio network in which a secondary user must sense the medium and share this information with a fusion center prior to data transmission. The objective of this work is to derive bounds on the overhead required to convey such information. We formulate a rate-distortion framework to capture this effect and compute upper and lower bounds on the rate-distortion function. We also derive in closed form the optimal value of the sampling period at the secondary user as a function of the primary user traffic. Numerical results demonstrate the accuracy of this optimal value and also captures the tradeoff between the rate and the resulting distortion.
Conditioned taste aversion caused by palatable nontoxic nutrients.

Small intragastric injections of sesame oil produce conditioned aversion to water and flavored water in rats. However, sesame oil is palatable and drunk freely even when ad lib. food and water are available. Removal of the salivary glands does not reduce the voluntary intake of sesame oil. Intraduodenal injections of glucose also produce conditioned aversion.
Ethanol exposure alters the development of serotonergic neurons in chick spinal cord

Exposure to ethanol is known to alter the development of the serotonergic system. However, previous studies have examined large populations of cells and have not determined the effects of ethanol on individual serotonergic neurons. In the present study, the effects of various concentrations of ethanol on the development of single serotonergic neurons in the chick embryo spinal cord were determined using immunohistochemical techniques. Between embryonic day 7 (E7) and E14, ethanol administrations produced in ovo alcohol concentrations of: a) low dose, 30-60 mg/dl, b) medium dose, 150-200 mg/dl or c) high dose, 240-300 mg/dl. In animals exposed to the medium and high ethanol doses, the normal developmental increase in cross-sectional area of the somata was not observed. At all stages examined, the numbers of primary and nonprimary processes were significantly lower in ethanol-treated groups compared to controls. These data indicate that ethanol exposure induces dose-dependent alterations in the development of identified spinal cord neurons. The ethanol-induced changes may be involved in the motor dysfunction observed after embryonic ethanol exposure.
Photon collection from a trapped ion-cavity system

We present the design and implementation of a trapped ion-cavity QED system. A single ytterbium ion is confined by a micron-scale ion trap inside a 2-mm optical cavity. The ion is coherently pumped by near-resonant laser light while the cavity output is monitored as a function of pump intensity and cavity detuning. We observe a Purcell enhancement of scattered light into the solid angle subtended by the optical cavity, as well as a three-peak structure arising from strongly driving the atom. This system can be integrated into existing atom-photon quantum network protocols and is a pathway toward an efficient atom-photon quantum interface.
Stereoelectronic tuning of the structure and stability of the trp cage miniprotein.

Proline residues are critical structural elements in proteins, defining turns, loops, secondary structure boundaries, and polyproline helices. Control of proline conformation therefore may be used to define protein structure and stability. 4-Substituted proline derivatives may be used to control proline ring pucker, which correlates with protein main chain conformation. To examine the use of proline conformational restriction to tune globular protein stability, a series of peptides derived from the trp cage miniprotein was synthesized. Proline at residue 12 of the trp cage miniprotein, which adopts a Cγ-exo ring pucker in the NMR structure, was replaced with 4-substituted proline derivatives, including 4R derivatives favoring a Cγ-exo ring pucker and 4S derivatives favoring a Cγ-endo ring pucker. Eight trp cage peptides were synthesized, five of which included residues that are not commercially available, without requiring any solution phase chemistry. Analysis of the trp cage peptides by circular dichroi...
Measuring Customer Preferences for Load Management Service Options

This paper illustrates the application of consumer research tools to the measurement of customer preferences for load management service options. The key problem is determining the extent to which customers are interested in such options and the tradeoffs they are willing to make between the conveniences of electric service and its cost.
Understanding metal-dielectric-metal absorption interference filters using lumped circuit theory and transmission line theory

Metal-Dielectric-Metal thin film assemblies have been used for more than forty years as absorption filters or reflection filters. Because this filter simultaneously absorbs nearly 100 of the incident radiation at certain wavelengths while reflecting nearly 100 at other wavelengths the filter is called either an absorption interference filter or a reflection interface filter. While the fundamental theory for understanding this filter is well established a combination of lumped circuit theory and distributed circuit theory offers a simpler approach to understanding how the filter works as well as offering a conceptual aid to designing the filter. These theories are combined in this paper to demonstrate this approach. 1.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Linkage of genes affecting tuber color and chlorotic foliage

The gene G which induces iron chlorosis inSolanum vernei when in the homozygous recessive condition is very closely linked to a locus which determines anthocyanin pigment production.
Harmonic decomposition of diastolic heart sounds associated with coronary artery disease

Abstract Previous studies done by our group have indicated heart sounds contain information useful in the detection of occluded coronary arteries. In order to further explore the application of advanced signal processing techniques to noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease, an eigenvector (minimum-norm) method is proposed because of its higher resolution, particularly in the presence of noise. In order to enhance the diastolic heart sounds and eliminate background noise, an adaptive filter was used as a preprocessor. The poles obtained with the minimum-norm method were used to determine the number of the coronary occlusions associated with coronary artery disease. Results showed that normal and abnormal records were incorrectly distinguished in only 18 of 100 cases. After separating normal from abnormal records, the data base including 100 normal and abnormal cases was divided into three groups (A, B and C). Group A, used to classify the patients with three or more occlusions, correctly identified 20 of 27 cases; Group B, used to classify the patients with one or two occlusions correctly identified 24 of 37 cases; and 32 of 36 of Group C, used to classify the patients with no apparent occlusions, were identified correctly. All measurements used a blind protocol without prior knowledge of the actual disease states of the patients to guard against human bias.
Microstructural and chemical evolution near anode triple phase boundary in Ni/YSZ solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract In this study, we report the micro-structural and chemical evolution of anode grain boundaries and triple phase boundary (TPB) junctions of Ni/YSZ anode supported solid oxide fuel cells. A NiO phase was found to develop along the Ni/YSZ interfaces extending to TPBs in the operated cells. The thickness of the NiO ribbon phase remains constant at ~ 5 nm in hydrogen for operating durations up to 540 h. When operating on synthesis gas, an increase in interphase thickness was observed from ~ 11 nm for 24 h of operation to ~ 51 nm for 550 h of operation. YSZ phases are observed to be stable in H 2 over 540 h of operation. However, for the cell operated in syngas for 550 h, a 5–10 nm tetragonal YSZ ( t -YSZ) interfacial layer was identified that originated from the Ni/YSZ interfaces. Yttrium species seem to segregate to the interfaces during operation, leading to the formation of t -YSZ in the Y-depleted regions.
Rapid Crystallization of L-Alanine on Engineered Surfaces using Metal-Assisted and Microwave-Accelerated Evaporative Crystallization.

This study demonstrates the application of metal-assisted and microwave-accelerated evaporative crystallization (MA-MAEC) technique to rapid crystallization of l-alanine on surface-engineered silver nanostructures. In this regard, silver island films (SIFs) were modified with hexamethylenediamine (HMA), 1-undecanethiol (UDET), and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUDA), which introduced -NH2, -CH3, and -COOH functional groups to SIFs, respectively. l-Alanine was crystallized on these engineered surfaces and blank SIFs at room temperature by the MA-MAEC technique. Significant improvements in crystal size, shape, and quality were observed on HMA-, MUDA- and UDET-modified SIFs at room temperature (crystallization time = 144, 40, and 147 min, respectively) as compared to those crystals grown on blank SIFs. By use of the MA-MAEC technique, the crystallization time of l-alanine on engineered surfaces was reduced to 17 s for microwave power level 10 (i.e., duty cycle 100%) and 7 min for microwave power level 1 (duty ...
Temporal and spatial expression patterns of canonical clock genes and clock-controlled genes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus

In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus control endogenous circadian rhythms and entrainment to the environment. A core SCN region of calbindin (CalB)-containing cells is retinorecipient and the cells therein lack rhythmic expression of clock genes and electrical activity. The core is surrounded by a 'shell' of rhythmic oscillator cells. In the present experiments, we studied the spatial arrangement of oscillator cells by examining the spatial and temporal patterns of expression of the canonical clock genes Per1, Per2 and vasopressin mRNA, a clock-controlled gene. Surprisingly, in the SCN shell, the dorsomedial cells were the first to rhythmically express both Per1 and VP mRNA, with gene expression then spreading very slowly through much of the nucleus for the next 12 h then receding to baseline levels. Following a light pulse, Per expression increased after 1 h in the core SCN and after 1.5 h in the shell. Although expression in the shell occurred earlier in light-pulsed animals than in those housed in constant darkness, it still followed the same spatial and temporal expression pattern as was observed in constant darkness. The results suggest that not only is the SCN organized into light-responsive and rhythmic regions but also that the rhythmic region of the SCN itself has an ordered arrangement of SCN oscillator cells.
An Investigation of Self-Assessment Bias in Mental Health Providers:

Previous research has consistently found self-assessment bias (an overly positive assessment of personal performance) to be present in a wide variety of work situations. The present investigation extended this area of research with a multi-disciplinary sample of mental health professionals. Respondents were asked to: (a) compare their own overall clinical skills and performance to others in their profession, and (b) indicate the percentage of their clients who improved, remained the same, or deteriorated as a result of treatment with them. Results indicated that 25% of mental health professionals viewed their skill to be at the 90th percentile when compared to their peers, and none viewed themselves as below average. Further, when compared to the published literature, clinicians tended to overestimate their rates of client improvement and underestimate their rates of client deterioration. The implications of this self-assessment bias for improvement of psychotherapy outcomes are discussed.
Keck Adaptive Optics Images of Uranus and Its Rings

Abstract We present adaptive optic images of Uranus obtained with the 10-m W. M. Keck II telescope in June 2000, at wavelengths between 1 and 2.4 μm. The angular resolution of the images is ∼0.06–0.09″. We identified eight small cloud features on Uranus's disk, four of which were in the northern hemisphere. The latter features are ∼1000–2000 km in extent and located in the upper troposphere, above the methane cloud, at pressures between 0.5 and 1 bar. Our data have been combined with HST data by Hammel et al. (2001, Icarus 153 , 229–235); the combination of Keck and HST data allowed derivation of an accurate wind velocity profile. Our images further show Uranus's entire ring system: the asymmetric ϵ ring, as well as the three groups of inner rings (outward from Uranus): the rings 6+5+4, α+β, and the η+γ+δ rings. We derived the equivalent I / F width and ring particle reflectivity for each group of rings. Typical particle albedos are ∼0.04–0.05, in good agreement with HST data at 0.9 μm.
The effect of apholate and thiotepa on nucleic acid synthesis and nucleotide ratios in housefly eggs

Abstract The nucleic acid synthesis in normal viable housefly eggs and non-viable housefly eggs deposited by flies chemosterilized by apholate and thiotepa has been studied. During normal embryonic development, there is a rapid many-fold increase in DNA after an initial lag period. In the chemosterilized eggs there is almost no increase in DNA, but some accumulation of the deoxyribosidic components of the acid-soluble extract. The effect on the levels of RNA and ribosidic components of the acid-soluble extract is less apparent. The nucleotide ratios of normal housefly eggs has been determined to be similar to that reported for other insect eggs. Apholate-sterilized eggs were significantly lower in adenylic acid than normal fly-egg RNA. The RNA of the thiotepa sterilized eggs was a little lower in guanylic acid and contained an unidentified compound not present in normal egg RNA. When thiotepa P32 was the chemosterilant, all components of the isolated sodium RNA were labelled. This suggests that thiotepa may have been degraded and the resulting inorganic phosphate reincorporated into the RNA. There was no evidence of alkylated guanine in the RNA.
Human factors in pediatric anesthesia incidents

Summary Background: Anesthesia and the operating theater environment is a complex system involving man–machine and human–human interactions. Although we strive for an error free system, we are humans and errors and mistakes will occur. The aim of this study was to investigate the human factors behind events and incidents in pediatric anesthesia at our institution. Methods: This study consisted of a retrospective review and analysis of all contemporaneously reported anesthetic incidents between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2004 at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Where there were anesthetic human factors involved in the event these were classified. Results: There were 668 incidents reported, giving a rate of 2.4% of the 28 023 anesthetics recorded. Airway and respiratory incidents were the most common representing 52.2% of all incidents. A total of 284 anesthetic human factors could be identified and classified. Of these the most common were errors in judgment 43%, failure to check 17.8%, technical failures of skill 9.2%, inexperience 7.7%, inattention/distraction 5.6% and communication issues 5.6%. Conclusions: In our institution anesthetic human factors occur in 42.5% of in-theater incidents in pediatric anesthesia. Knowledge of these is necessary so that changes can be made in practice both by individuals and departments of anesthesia, to make anesthesia as safe as possible.
Kinetics of spontaneous thermal reduction of cis-tetraaquodiamminecobalt(III), cis-diaquobis-(trimethylenediamine)cobalt(III) and 1,2,3-triaquo-N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-diaminopropanecobalt(III) cations in hot aqueous perchloric acid☆

Abstract The spontaneous thermal reduction of cis -Co(NH 3 ) 2 (OH 2 ) 4 3+ and cis -Co(tmd) 2 (OH 2 ) 2 3+ to Co(II) has been spectrophotometrically, and in part chromatographically, investigated in 0·2-1 F HClO 4 (μ = 1·0 M, NaClO 4 ) at 60–90°C (tetraaquo complex) or at 110–130°C (diaquo complex). The observed first-order rate constant in each case has the form k obs = k 1 + k ′ 2 /[H + ]); the hydrogen ion dependence is ascribed to reduction of the singly-deprotonated hydroxoaquo species. At 80·0°C, k 1 = (3 ± 4) × 10 −6 sec −1 and k ′ 2 = (77·5 ± 4·3) × 10 −6 M sec − for cis -Co(NH 3 ) 2 (OH 2 ) 4 3+ reduction; the apparent activation parameters for the acid-dependent ( k ′ 2 ) path are E a = 37·4 ± 0·9 kcal mole −1 , and log PZ (M sec −1 = 19·0 ± 0·6. At 110·2°C, k 1 = (5·19 ± 0·16) × 10 −6 sec −1 and k ′ 2 = (0·90 ± 0·05) × 10 −6 M sec −1 for cis -Co(tmd) 2 (OH 2 ) 2 3+ ; the apparent activation parameters are E a = 35·1 ± 0·9 and 42·2 ± 1· kcal mole −1 for the k 1 and k ′ 2 paths, respectively, and log PZ (sec −1 ) = 14·7 ± 0·3 for the k 1 path, and log PZ (M sec −1 ) = 18·0 ± 0·9 for the k ′ 2 path. Some observations on the rate of spontaneous thermal reduction of 1,2,3-Co(2,3-tri)(OH 2 ) 3 3+ in 0·2-1 F HClO 4 (μ = 1·0 M, NaClO 4 ) at 99°C are also reported. For all aquoamine-cobalt(III) complexes investigated so far the rate of spontaneous reduction to Co(II) appears to increase with increasing number of aquo ligands (and decreasing number of CoN amine bonds).
The determination of mercury in air samples by flameless atomic absorption

Abstract A method is described for the determination of mercury in air by furnace atomic absorption. The porous graphite cups used ordinarily fail to adsorb mercury vapors from the air. When these same porous graphite cups are plated on the inner surface with a thin layer of gold the retention of mercury from an air sample passed through the cup is shown to be quantitative. The sensitivity of the analytical system is 3 × 10−10 g which is equivalent to 0.6 μg m 3 for a 500 cm3 air sample. Relative S.D. is 11.2%. The method described should also prove useful for other types of flameless devices.
Flavorubredoxin, an Inducible Catalyst for Nitric Oxide Reduction and Detoxification in Escherichia coli

Nitric oxide (NO) is a poison, and organisms employ diverse systems to protect against its harmful effects. InEscherichia coli, ygaA encodes a transcription regulator (b2709) controlling anaerobic NO reduction and detoxification. Adjacent to ygaA and oppositely transcribed are ygaK (encoding a flavorubredoxin (flavoRb) (b2710) with a NO-binding non-heme diiron center) and ygbD (encoding a NADH:(flavo)Rb oxidoreductase (b2711)), which function in NO reduction and detoxification. Mutation of either ygaA orygaK eliminated inducible anaerobic NO metabolism, whereasygbD disruption partly impaired the activity. NO-sensitive [4Fe-4S] (de)hydratases, including the Krebs cycle aconitase and the Entner-Doudoroff pathway 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase, were more susceptible to inactivation in ygaK orygaA mutants than in the parental strain, and these metabolic poisonings were associated with conditional growth inhibitions. flavoRb (NO reductase) and flavohemoglobin (NO dioxygenase) maximally metabolized and detoxified NO in anaerobic and aerobic E. coli, respectively, whereas both enzymes scavenged NO under microaerobic conditions. We suggest designation of the ygaA-ygaK-ygbD gene cluster as the norRVWmodulon for NO reduction and detoxification.