cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic Effects of Technological Innovations

This paper reports on research which is both historical and analytical. The historical aspect of this study comprehends the years 1899-1939 and reports on the behavior of costs, wages, output and related physical measures in 5 basic industries plus “all manufacturing.” Generally speaking the ratios of labor and capital inputs to total output during this period do not show the kinds of “substitution effects” that might have been expected during the period covered. The data indicate that technological innovation and investment were, in fact, neutral in terms of labor-capital ratios which prevailed during this period. These are, of course, only long-run phenomena. Transient patterns generally produce changes in the physical ratios which, however, are subsequently offset in value terms. Furthermore only industry aggregates are examined. Evidently, then, any individual firm may find itself out of line with these ratios at any moment of time depending on its status as an innovator, follower, etc. Flow models are developed to interpret and explain these results. In these models the physical substitutions are depicted as being subsequently counterbalanced by market price reactions flowing from these or other investment decisions. These models are, of course, not restricted to the period under consideration and can therefore be used to guide analyses and investigations for subsequent periods. Thus, for instance, consider the investment decisions of management in the period under review---i.e., 1899-1939. These decisions were based on piecemeal analyses and rule-of-thumb guides. Is it the case that more sophisticated techniques---such as those which accompany operations research developments---will produce a difference in the observed ratios of labor to capital inputs in these or other industries? The models and the results presented in this study raise this question in a way that may prove helpful in a subsequent analysis designed to test the effects of operations research---or other factors---on the investment decisions now being undertaken. Alternatively, these models and results may provide helpful guidance in particular applications. Thus, for instance, if persistence is assumed for the phenomena we note, then issues of short-vs. long-run strategy become of major importance for possible consideration and incorporation in any operations research models used to guide investment decisions.
Geospatial Schema Matching with High-Quality Cluster Assurance and Location Mining from Social Network

In this talk, we will present how semantics can improve the quality of the data mining process. In particular, first, we will focus on geospatial schema matching with high quality cluster assurance. Next, we will focus on location mining from social network. With regard to the first problem, resolving semantic heterogeneity across distinct data sources remains a highly relevant problem in the GIS domain requiring innovative solutions. Our approach, called GSim, semantically aligns tables from respective GIS databases by first choosing attributes for comparison. We then examine their instances and calculate a similarity value between them called Entropy-Based Distribution (EBD) by combining two separate methods. Our primary method discerns the geographic types from instances of compared attributes. If geographic type matching is not possible, we then apply a generic schema matching method which employs normalized Google distance with the usage of clustering process. GSim proceeds by deriving clusters from attribute instances based on content and their geographic types (if possible), gleaned from a gazetteer. However, clustering algorithms may produce inconsistent results based on variable cluster quality. We apply novel metrics measuring cluster distance and purity to guarantee high-quality homogeneous clusters. The end result is a wholly geospatial similarity value, expressed as EBD. We show the effectiveness of our approach over the traditional N-gram approach across multi-jurisdictional datasets by generating impressive results. With regard to the second problem, we will predict the location of the user on the basis of his social network (e.g., Twitter) using the strong theoretical framework of semi-supervised learning, in particular, we employ label propagation algorithm. For privacy and security reasons, most of the people on social networking sites like Twitter are unwilling to specify their locations explicitly. On the city locations returned by the algorithm, the system performs agglomerative clustering based on geospatial proximity and their individual scores to return cluster of locations with higher confidence. We perform extensive experiments to show the validity of our system in terms of both accuracy and running time. Experimental results show that our approach outperforms the content based geo-tagging approach in both accuracy and running time.
Inheritance of leaf geranylflavanone production and seed production within and among chemically distinct populations of Mimulus aurantiacus

Most models to account for variation in defensive chemical production in plants assume that defensive chemical production is a quantitative trait determined by the additive effects of many genes, and that defensive chemical production is genetically negatively correlated with fitness. The inheritance of quantities of geranylflavanones and seed production, an estimate of female fitness, was studied in reciprocal crosses between several chemically distinct populations of Mimulus aurantiacus to test those assumptions. Genetic analyses using reciprocal crosses were used to test for maternal or paternal genetic effects. The quantities of individual geranylflavanones of the hybrids generally were inherited with dominance or over-dominance. Reciprocal genetic effects were rarely found. Within populations, leaf resin production in M. aurantiacus was independent of seed production. Results are consistent with previous reports suggesting that any evolutionary change in geranylflavanone production within populations may be constrained by low levels of genetic variation in geranylflavanone production.
The decomposition method for nonlinear dynamical systems

Abstract Nonlinear dynamical systems are shown to represent severe difficulties in modeling. When in addition they are solved by usual perturbative or linearizing methods, the mathematical solution may deviate seriously from the actual physical behavior. The latter problem is significantly alleviated by use of the decomposition method of the author. A number of examples are given.
Morphological and quantitative changes in paternal brood‐pouch vasculature during embryonic development in two Syngnathus pipefishes

Vascular corrosion casts of Syngnathus floridae and Syngnathus fuscus brood pouches were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Morphological and quantitative data on the vasculature of the paternal brood pouch during each stage of embryonic development were investigated to explore potential changes during brooding, to consider interspecific differences and to provide structural evidence for previously reported functional roles of the brood pouch. The brood pouches of both species are highly vascularized structures with cup-like arrangements of brood-pouch vasculature developing around each embryo shortly after fertilization and breaking down before fry release. The density and size of paternally derived blood vessels in contact with the embryos were found to be consistent for S. fuscus once this structure was established early in development. On the contrary, these vasculature measurements varied with early S. floridae brood stages when the embryo still relied heavily on the yolk sac. Diameter measurements of S. fuscus brood-pouch blood vessels were also comparatively smaller during these early developmental stages, suggesting that the structural stability and opportunity for greater transport via slower blood flow may contribute to greater paternal allocation. This is the first study to document changes in brood-pouch vasculature during specific stages of embryonic development, to show regression of this vasculature before fry release and to provide morphological data for two syngnathid species for which information on brood-pouch physiology is available.
Comparing child-rearing practices in parents of children with cancer and parents of healthy children.

This nonexperimental, descriptive study identified parenting behaviors and differences in the reported child-rearing practices between parents of children diagnosed with cancer and parents of healthy children. Two groups of parents were included: 58 parents of children diagnosed with cancer at a large urban children's cancer center and 58 parents of healthy children. The total group of parents ranged from 22 to 58 years with 35.7 and 35.9 years as the mean ages of the two groups. A variety of races were included among the parents and educational backgrounds ranged from high school and vocational to graduate/ doctoral degrees. Each child with cancer selected a healthy friend of the same age, sex, and race who served as their healthy counterpart for this study. Each of these child's parents were then involved in the data collection process. Data were collected over a 2-month period using the Child-Rearing Practices Report (CRPR) in the Q-sort format, in which the parent sorted 91 cards containing 91 items dealing with child-rearing. Items were compared between the two groups using two-tailed t-tests. Using a significance level of alpha = .02, 11 significant differences were found between the two groups in the domains of parental expectations, discipline, expression of emotion, parental concern/worry, and overprotectiveness. In conclusion, the primary types of items that shared or demonstrated significant differences between the two groups of parents were those dealing with discipline and overprotectiveness issues. The items responded to most significantly different were, "I tend to spoil my child" and "I worry about the health of my child," with the parents of children with cancer consistently rating these as more descriptive of them than the parents of healthy children did. Finally, this study suggested that the time of the child's diagnosis with cancer also affected the parents' reported child-rearing practices.
The absence of YCu cation disordering in YBa2Cu3Ox

Abstract X-ray powder diffraction data obtained from HoBa2Cu3Ox are examined to address the question of possible R Cu antisite disorder in the R1:2:3Ox 92 K superconductors. This disordering has been postulated based on analyses of Cu K-edge XANES data from Y1:2:3Ox. We find no evidence for Ho Cu disorder, but instead find that a structural model assuming cation ordering best fits the data. We present chemical and structural arguments against antisite disorder in any of the R1:2:3Ox compounds.
El azar y el destino en Lances de amor y fortuna

El canon de las comedias de Calderon, y del teatro del Siglo de Oro en general, es tan extenso que no es de admirar el que muchas de esas obras hayan quedado ignoradas. Hay un buen numero de comedias que los criticos han considerado menos representativas. Sin embargo, mas de una de esas piezas teatrales dejadas de lado ilustra bastante bien diferentes aspectos de la tecnica dramatica de sus autores. Es precisamente el caso de la comedia Lances de amor y fortuna que es poco conocida y casi no ha sido estudiada. Angel Valbuena Briones dice en su nota preliminar de la edicion de las Obras completas que esta comedia ‘acusa una influencia muy notable del teatro de Tirso de Molina’. Senala el recurso de la barca, el enamoramiento por un retrato y las luchas entre la nobleza catalana; recursos que aparecen en otras obras de Tirso.1 Que yo sepa, no hay un estudio completo de esta comedia.
Oculomotor abnormalities in a patient with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome

We present a case report of an 80-year-old man with Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) and acquired diplopia, strabismus, and other oculomotor abnormalities. This is the first case report of ocular abnormalities in a patient with FXTAS.
Assessing the effect of lexical aspect and grounding on the acquisition of L2 Spanish past tense morphology among L1 English speakers

The present study compares the relative effect of inherent lexical aspect and discursive grounding on the use of L2 Spanish Preterit and Imperfect. The study is based on the analysis of responses to a written 40-item discourse-based forced-choice task among 286 English-speaking learners of Spanish. The analysis of data (repeated measures ANOVA) reveals that as learners gain more experience with the target language, the effect of both lexical aspect and grounding on past tense marking increases. That is, contrary to previous predictions, learners constantly move towards prototypical associations of lexical-narrative factors with morphological markers as knowledge of the second language increases. Second, grounding is the construct that most clearly distinguishes learners from native speakers.
Self-disclosure and liking: Effects for senders and receivers.

This experiment tested the social reward potential of self-disclosure and its impact on a receiver's attraction towards the sender. Further, a sender self-perception effect was tested. Just as a receiver is speculated to use the intimacy level of a disclosure as an indication of sender regard and trust, the self-perception hypothesis maintains that the sender also uses intimacy level to self-attribute liking and trust for the receiver. A forced-compliance procedure with college males was used to have a sender subject send either a high or low intimacy self-disclosure essay. Consistent with the social reward and self-perception hypotheses were measures of sender's behavior as trusting and measures of feelings during the disclosure process. General measures of liking and trust were not successful, however.
Estrogen-mediated exocytosis in the glandular epithelium of prostates in castrated and hypophysectomized dogs

Glandular cells in the prostate of the intact, adult dog contain numerous, large secretory granules that are released by exocytosis. Following hypophysectomy or castration, the glandular epithelium atrophies and the secretory granules degenerate and eventually disappear. Pharmacologic doses of estradiol-17β 17-cyclopentylpropionate cause the regressed glandular cells to synthesize a new population of smaller granules that are also released by exocytosis, even though estrogen is known to inhibit fluid secretion by the canine prostate. Thus, the mechanisms involved in prostatic synthesis and exocytosis of secretory granules are independent of those regulating fluid secretion and are operative in the absence of androgen or pituitary hormones.
Prediction of Protein Binding to DNA in the Presence of Water-Mediated Hydrogen Bonds

We extend our previous analysis of binding specificity of DNA-protein complexes to com- plexes containing water-mediated bridges. Inclusion of water bridges between phosphate and base, phosphate and sugar, as well as proteins and DNA, improves the prediction of specificity; six data sets studied in this paper yield correct predictions for all base pairs that have two or more hydrogen-bonds. Beside massive computation, our approach relies highly on experimental da ta. After deriving protein structures from DNA-protein complexes in which coordinates were established by X-ray diffraction techniques, we analysed all possible DNA sequences to which these proteins might bind, ranking them in terms of Lennard-Jones potential for the optimal docking configuration. Our prediction algorithm rests on the following assumptions: (1) specificity comes mainly from direct hydrogen bonding; (2) electrostatic forces stabilise DNA-protein complexes and contribute only weakly to specificity since they occur at the charged phosphate gr oups; (3) Van der Waals forces and electrostatic interactions between positively charged groups on the protein and phosphates on DNA can be neglected as they contribute primarily to the free energy of stabilisation as opposed to specificity.
Characterization of Nitrogen Fractions During Ripening of a Soft Cheese Made from Ultrafiltration Retentates

Abstract Nitrogen fractions of a soft cheese made from UF retentates were used to characterize the ripening of the cheese. Whole milk was fractionated, using UF and diafiltration to a retentate concentration factor of five times. Control and experimental soft, white cheeses were made from whole milk and UF retentate, respectively. Both cheeses were ripened at 8°C for 21 d and analyzed at 7-d intervals. Nitrogen fractions were separated and discontinuous PAGE was used to characterize total protein and whey protein. A ripening extension index related to rennet activity was determined based on the ratio of soluble N to total N. A ripening depth index related to starter peptidase activity was determined by the ratio nonprotein N/total N. Increases in ripening extension index and ripening depth were higher (48.45 and 18.56%, respectively) in UF cheese than in regular cheese (41.06 and 17.11%, respectively). The N fractions soluble in 20% sodium sulfate were composed mainly of bovine serum albumin, β -lactoglobulin A and B, and α-lactalbumin in fresh and ripened UF cheese. Whey protein N represented about 17 and .5% of total N in UF and regular cheese, respectively. No significant breakdown was detected in the whey protein N fraction in the UF cheese.
Anagrus spp. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) reared from plants collected during winter in south central Washington and north central Oregon

Anagrus daanei S. Triapitsyn, A. erythroneurae S. Trjapitzin and Chiappini, and A. tretiakovae S. Triapitsyn parasitize western grape leafhopper, Erythroneura elegantula Osborn, and Virginia creeper leafhopper, E. ziczac Walsh, eggs during the summer. These leafhoppers overwinter as adults and Anagrus overwinter in leafhopper eggs. Thus, Anagrus must find other leafhopper eggs in which to overwinter. To identify plants on which these parasitoids and their host eggs overwinter, we collected 31 species of plants from 52 sites in the grape growing region of south central Washington and north central Oregon during the winter from 2000 to 2007. A total of 733 female and 1066 male Anagrus was reared from the plants. Twelve plant species harboured Anagrus spp. during the winter. Anagrus erythroneurae was reared from blackberry, Rubus armeniacus Focke; willow, Salix spp.; Wood’s rose, Rosa woodsii Lindley; sweetbrier rose, R. eglanteria L.; rugose rose, R. rugosa Thunberg; and ornamental roses, Rosa spp. L. Anagrus tretiakovae was found on choke cherry, Prunus virginiana L.; rugose rose; Rosa spp.; and blackberry. Only one specimen, from ornamental rose, was tentatively identified as A. daanei. Other specimens were identified as A. atomus L., A. avalae Soyka, A. nr. sp. avalae, A. nr. sp. columbi Perkins, A. nigriventris Girault, and A. nr. sp. nigriventris.
Snapin-Regulated Late Endosomal Transport Is Critical for Efficient Autophagy-Lysosomal Function in Neurons

Summary Neuron maintenance and survival require late endocytic transport from distal processes to the soma where lysosomes are predominantly localized. Here, we report a role for Snapin in attaching dynein to late endosomes through its intermediate chain (DIC). snapin −/− neurons exhibit aberrant accumulation of immature lysosomes, clustering and impaired retrograde transport of late endosomes along processes, reduced lysosomal proteolysis due to impaired delivery of internalized proteins and hydrolase precursors from late endosomes to lysosomes, and impaired clearance of autolysosomes, combined with reduced neuron viability and neurodegeneration. The phenotypes are rescued by expressing the snapin transgene, but not the DIC-binding-defective Snapin-L99K mutant. Snapin overexpression in wild-type neurons enhances late endocytic transport and lysosomal function, whereas expressing the mutant defective in Snapin-DIC coupling shows a dominant-negative effect. Altogether, our study highlights new mechanistic insights into how Snapin-DIC coordinates retrograde transport and late endosomal-lysosomal trafficking critical for autophagy-lysosomal function, and thus neuronal homeostasis.
Evaluation of aloe vera gel gloves in the treatment of dry skin associated with occupational exposure

Abstract Objective: An examination glove that delivers aloe vera (AV) gel to the gloved hand was studied in 30 adult females with bilateral occupational dry skin with or without irritant contact dermatitis (with or without erythema, fissures, and excoriations). Methods: All participants were factory assembly-line workers with repeated superficial skin trauma who attributed their dry, irritated, emollient-dependent skin to a common cause (occupational exposure). Participants were sequentially enrolled (after written informed consent, n=29 evaluable participants) into an open, contralateral comparison study to evaluate efficacy of AV glove use 8 h/day to one hand versus no use to the opposite hand for 30 days, followed by 30 days rest, followed by 10 days of repeated use. Participant's dorsal hands were documented by standardized photos at baseline, during, and at the end of study. Results: Unblinded investigator baseline assessment rated dry skin as mild to moderate (n = 27), or moderate to severe (n = 2). Mean time to noticeable improvement for the AV glove hand was 3.5 days (range: 2-6 days) whereas marked improvement was 10.4 days (range: 7-17 days) for the AV glove hand. No improvement was detected for nonglove hands. Blinded photo assessment was rated independently by dermatology research staff. End-of-study mean global assessment of AV glove hands versus nonglove hands was 1.3 for AV glove hand (0 = no change, 1=good [10%-89% global improvement], 2=marked improvement [90%-100% global improvement]) versus 0 for nonglove hand ( P Conclusion: Dry-coated AV gloves that provide for gradual delivery of AV gel to skin produced a uniformly positive outcome of improved skin integrity, decreased appearance of fine wrinkling, and decreased erythema in the management of occupational dry skin and irritant contact dermatitis. (Am J Infect Control 2003;31:40-2.)
Mechanistic studies of oxene reactions with organic substrates: Reaction paths onMNDO enthalpy surfaces?models for cytochrome P450 oxidations

In a systematic study, the characteristics of triplet oxene models for alkane, alkene, chloroalkane, and aryl oxidations by the cytochrome P450s have been examined using the semiempirical molecular orbital method MNDO and the formalism of statistical mechanics. Specific model substrates chosen were: methane, ethylene, propene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and toluene. It was found that transition state geometries and activation entropies were reliably predicted, but that an empirical factor was necessary to correct overestimation of activation enthalpies. It was determined that both hydroxylations and epoxidation initiated by a O(3P) atom are nonconcerted; and that oxidations of CCl bonds (halosylations) occur by a two-step mechanism similar to hydroxylation. It is shown that the radical mechanisms derived from these studies are consistent with a range of observed properties of cytochrome P450 reactions and provide reasonable explanations for secondary deuterium isotope effects and substituent effects in cytochrome P450 epoxidation of styrenes, suicide inactivation of a P450 enzyme by ethylene, and the characteristics of aerobic CCl4 and CHCl3 metabolism. A triplet oxene mechanism for the initial steps of aromatic epoxidation and hydroxylation is also discussed.
Origin of Ferriferous Ooids: An Sem Study of Ironstone Ooids and Bauxite Pisoids

Debate about the origin of widespread oolitic chamosite-rich Phanerozoic ironstones focuses mainly on the mode of formation of ferriferous ooids themselves. Among the several leading hypotheses, two relate the origin of the ooids to the formation of bauxite pisoids: 1) ooids formed diagenetically in situ in colloidal clay-iron hydroxide rich sediments by dissolution and reprecipitation by a process similar to that forming pisolitic bauxite, and 2) oolitic ironstones formed by placer concentration of laterite ooids. Inasmuch as the process in the two explanations is the same as that forming pisoids in bauxites and laterites, ironstone ooids and bauxite/laterite pisoids should show similar internal fabric of the constituent crystalline particles. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the internal fabric of the ironstone ooids and bauxite/laterite pisoids reveals that the former is characterized by tangential-concentric, and the latter by radial-concentric orientation of the constitutent mineral particles. Accordingly, a common genetic process cannot have produced both ironstone ooids and bauxite/laterite pisoids. Formation of radial fabric is inherent in crystallization-precipitation of inequidimensional crystals from solution on nucleating surfaces. In contrast, tangential fabric is probably produced by mechanical accretion of already existing particulate matter on rolling nuclei (snow balling). Widespread occurrence of both kinds of fabric in Recent carbonate ooids suggests both these processes, whereas ironstone ooids, showing mostly tangential fabric, were probably formed by mechanical accretion of detrital clay (kaolinite) and hydrated iron oxide minerals. Subsequent early diagenetic reactions transformed the kaolinite into chamosite by isomorphous substitution. Sedimentary facies relations and a genetic facies model for the oolitic ironstones are most compatible with a mechanical accretion mode of ironstone ooid formation, and also strongly discount replacement of carbonate oolite for the origin of oolitic ironstones.
Advancing EBIPM Through Education

Various technologies are available for managing invasive plants and restoring desirable plants on rangelands, but acceptable long-term control and restoration can only be achieved when integrated management approaches focus on the ecological processes driving plant community change and not on particular plant species or manipulation practices.1 A conceptual framework, such as the one developed for ecologically based invasive plant management (EBIPM), can help managers visualize and understand the linkages among site assessment, eco- logical processes, vegetation dynamics, and manipulation practices, and make more effective invasive plant manage- ment decisions. DOI: 10.2458/azu_rangelands_v34i6_call
Legacy Specification in the Laryngeal Phonology of Dutch

Dutch consonant cluster assimilations have come to play a central role in the debate over whether laryngeal features are restrictedly privative (single-valued) or must be encoded as binary (marking both positive and negative values). It has been argued, in particular, that the negative specification [–voice] is necessary in order to capture the difference in directionality of assimilation between stop-final and fricative-final clusters in Dutch as well as to accommodate the contrary behavior of the past suffix -de. Under the dimensional theory of laryngeal representation, the present paper provides a fresh analysis of the Netherlandic facts without reference to negative feature values, focusing on the role of phonetic enhancement versus phonology proper. The exposition is anchored in the history of Dutch as a Germanic language that is to a great extent Romance-like in its laryngeal phonology, and takes into consideration evidence from dialects and experimental phonetics.An earlier version of this paper was presented to the Eighth Germanic Linguistics Annual Conference (GLAC 8) at Indiana University, Bloomington, April 26–28, 2002, and a related paper, “Privativity and the Laws of Enhancement”, was held at a Linguistics Student Organization Colloquium, University of Wisconsin–Madison, in March 2002. In addition to two anonymous reviewers for this journal, we owe thanks to Anthony Buccini, Rob Howell, Monica Macaulay, Bert Vaux, and the audiences at both presentations for valuable input. The usual disclaimers apply.
Myosin IIIB Uses an Actin-Binding Motif in Its Espin-1 Cargo to Reach the Tips of Actin Protrusions

Myosin IIIA (MYO3A) targets actin protrusion tips using a motility mechanism dependent on both motor and tail actin-binding activity [1]. We show that myosin IIIB (MYO3B) lacks tail actin-binding activity and is unable to target COS7 cell filopodia tips, yet is somehow able to target stereocilia tips. Strikingly, when MYO3B is coexpressed with espin-1 (ESPN1), a MYO3A cargo protein endogenously expressed in stereocilia [2], MYO3B targets and carries ESPN1 to COS7 filopodia tips. We show that this tip localization is lost when we remove the ESPN1 C terminus actin-binding site. We also demonstrate that, like MYO3A [2], MYO3B can elongate filopodia by transporting ESPN1 to the polymerizing end of actin filaments. The mutual dependence of MYO3B and ESPN1 for tip localization reveals a novel mechanism for the cell to regulate myosin tip localization via a reciprocal relationship with cargo that directly participates in actin binding for motility. Our results are consistent with a novel form of motility for class III myosins that requires both motor and tail domain actin-binding activity and show that the actin-binding tail can be replaced by actin-binding cargo. This study also provides a framework to better understand the late-onset hearing loss phenotype in patients with MYO3A mutations.
Interaction Between the Central and Peripheral Effects of Insulin in Controlling Hepatic Glucose Metabolism in the Conscious Dog

The importance of hypothalamic insulin action to the regulation of hepatic glucose metabolism in the presence of a normal liver/brain insulin ratio (3:1) is unknown. Thus, we assessed the role of central insulin action in the response of the liver to normal physiologic hyperinsulinemia over 4 h. Using a pancreatic clamp, hepatic portal vein insulin delivery was increased three- or eightfold in the conscious dog. Insulin action was studied in the presence or absence of intracerebroventricularly mediated blockade of hypothalamic insulin action. Euglycemia was maintained, and glucagon was clamped at basal. Both the molecular and metabolic aspects of insulin action were assessed. Blockade of hypothalamic insulin signaling did not alter the insulin-mediated suppression of hepatic gluconeogenic gene transcription but blunted the induction of glucokinase gene transcription and completely blocked the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β gene transcription. Thus, central and peripheral insulin action combined to control some, but not other, hepatic enzyme programs. Nevertheless, inhibition of hypothalamic insulin action did not alter the effects of the hormone on hepatic glucose flux (production or uptake). These data indicate that brain insulin action is not a determinant of the rapid (<4 h) inhibition of hepatic glucose metabolism caused by normal physiologic hyperinsulinemia in this large animal model.
Nitric oxide, NOC-12, and S-nitrosoglutathione modulate the skeletal muscle calcium release channel/ryanodine receptor by different mechanisms. An allosteric function for O2 in S-nitrosylation of the channel.

The skeletal muscle Ca2+release channel/ryanodine receptor (RyR1) contains ∼50 thiols per subunit. These thiols have been grouped according to their reactivity/responsiveness toward NO, O2, and glutathione, but the molecular mechanism enabling redox active molecules to modulate channel activity is poorly understood. In the case of NO, very low concentrations (submicromolar) activate RyR1 byS-nitrosylation of a single cysteine residue (Cys-3635), which resides within a calmodulin binding domain.S-Nitrosylation of Cys-3635 only takes place at physiological tissue O2 tension (pO2;i.e. ∼10 mm Hg) but not at pO2 ∼150 mm Hg. Two explanations have been offered for the loss of RyR1 responsiveness to NO at ambient pO2, i.e. Cys-3635 is oxidized by O2 versus O2 subserves an allosteric function (Eu, J. P., Sun, J. H., Xu, L., Stamler, J. S., and Meissner, G. (2000) Cell 102, 499–509). Here we report that the NO donors NOC-12 andS-nitrosoglutathione both activate RyR1 by release of NO but do so independently of pO2. Moreover, NOC-12 activates the channel by S-nitrosylation of Cys-3635 and thereby reverses channel inhibition by calmodulin. In contrast,S-nitrosoglutathione activates RyR1 by oxidation andS-nitrosylation of thiols other than Cys-3635 (and calmodulin is not involved). Our results suggest that the effect of pO2 on RyR1 S-nitrosylation is exerted through an allosteric mechanism.
Hydrophobic coupling of lipid bilayer energetics to channel function.

The hydrophobic coupling between membrane-spanning proteins and the lipid bilayer core causes the bilayer thickness to vary locally as proteins and other “defects” are embedded in the bilayer. These bilayer deformations incur an energetic cost that, in principle, could couple membrane proteins to each other, causing them to associate in the plane of the membrane and thereby coupling them functionally. We demonstrate the existence of such bilayer-mediated coupling at the single-molecule level using single-barreled as well as double-barreled gramicidin channels in which two gramicidin subunits are covalently linked by a water-soluble, flexible linker. When a covalently attached pair of gramicidin subunits associates with a second attached pair to form a double-barreled channel, the lifetime of both channels in the assembly increases from hundreds of milliseconds to a hundred seconds—and the conductance of each channel in the side-by-side pair is almost 10% higher than the conductance of the corresponding single-barreled channels. The double-barreled channels are stabilized some 100,000-fold relative to their single-barreled counterparts. This stabilization arises from: first, the local increase in monomer concentration around a single-barreled channel formed by two covalently linked gramicidins, which increases the rate of double-barreled channel formation; and second, from the increased lifetime of the double-barreled channels. The latter result suggests that the two barrels of the construct associate laterally. The underlying cause for this lateral association most likely is the bilayer deformation energy associated with channel formation. More generally, the results suggest that the mechanical properties of the host bilayer may cause the kinetics of membrane protein conformational transitions to depend on the conformational states of the neighboring proteins.
Environmental Investigations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Oysters after Outbreaks in Washington, Texas, and New York (1997 and 1998)

ABSTRACT Total Vibrio parahaemolyticus densities and the occurrence of pathogenic strains in shellfish were determined following outbreaks in Washington, Texas, and New York. Recently developed nonradioactive DNA probes were utilized for the first time for direct enumeration of V. parahaemolyticus in environmental shellfish samples. V. parahaemolyticus was prevalent in oysters from Puget Sound, Wash.; Galveston Bay, Tex.; and Long Island Sound, N.Y., in the weeks following shellfish-associated outbreaks linked to these areas. However, only two samples (one each from Washington and Texas) were found to harbor total V. parahaemolyticus densities exceeding the level of concern of 10,000 g−1. Pathogenic strains, defined as those hybridizing with tdh and/or trh probes, were detected in a few samples, mostly Puget Sound oysters, and at low densities (usually 10 g−1tdh- and/ortrh-positive V. parahaemolyticus in environmental oysters should be considered extraordinary.
The work of wetland credit markets: two cases in entrepreneurial wetland banking

Wetland banking has been discussed in the policy literature mainly at a high level of abstraction, using economic models or generic examples to illustrate the concepts and tensions within wetland banking. This article illustrates two cases of wetland bank creation in-depth using the methodology of the extended case study, following the process from the initiation of interest in forming a bank through to the approval of credits for sale. The close attention to actual cases serves to move discussion beyond the goodness of models or the supposed rationality of economic actors, towards a consideration of actual market participants in complex situations. Successful wetland credit producers must negotiate a number of different economic, political, interpersonal, and ecological forces which impact their project from a number of different scales. While no optimal solution to this complexity is likely to be reached that is generalizable, the use of entrepreneurial wetland banking as a market-based policy may expand where skillful bankers and regulators together arrive at adequate solutions that are matched to the specificity of their contexts.
The effect of experimental hydronephrosis on clearance data

Partial obstruction of one ureter was created in newborn rats and its effects were studied in the adult rat. The obstructed renal pelvis was found to be enlarged 2-3 times. The weight of the kidney on this side was 85% of the contralateral one. Inulin clearance was measured in a way, which allowed comparison between the conventional technique and a modified technique, designed to circumvent the dilution in the enlarged pelvis. With the conventional technique, filtration was 32% of that in the contralateral kidney, whereas with the new technique true filtration of the hydronephrotic kidney was 82% (p less than 0.001). The modified technique is evaluated and the implications of the functional results are discussed.
High-Order Wide-Band Frequency Domain Identification using Composite Curve Fitting

A method is presented for curve fitting nonparametric frequency domain data so as to identify a parametric model composed of two models in parallel, where each model has dynamics in a specified portion of the frequency band. This decomposition overcomes the problem of numerical sensitivity since lower order polynomials can be used compared to existing methods which estimate the model as a single entity. Consequently, composite curve fitting is useful for frequency domain identification of high-order systems, and/or systems whose dynamics are spread over a large bandwidth. The approach can be extended to identify an arbitrary number of parallel subsystems in specified frequency regimes.
The functional circulatory consequences of myocardial infarction; a biostatistical analysis following Wiggers' schema.

An analysis of what proportion of patients hospitalized with myocardial infarction follow the various circulatory pathways available and at what time in the course of the disease is presented. Patients who died with, but not necessarily because of, thrombosis or embolism outside the coronary vascular bed were withdrawn from the analysis. Almost half of the patients were able to resume usual or lighter activity and to enjoy, after two years, a survival rate similar to a Tennessee population of the same age, sex and racial distribution.
Composted municipal waste reduces infection of citrus seedlings by Phytophthora nicotianae

ABSTRACT Most citrus nurseries and orchards in Florida are infested with Phytophthora nicotianae, the causal agent of Phytophthora root rot. Although fungicides control the disease and increase seedling growth and tree yields, they are not always economically or environmentally sustainable. Amendment of citrus soils with composted municipal waste (CMW) may provide an alternative to fungicides for disease management. Citrus seedling growth decreased with increasing proportions of one CMW source, indicating the potential for phytotoxicity from soluble salts and acetic acid when the proportion of CMW in soil exceeded 20% (vol/vol). When a citrus soil was amended (20% vol/vol) with certain sources of CMW, the incidence of infection of 5-week-old susceptible citrus seedlings by P. nicotianae was reduced from 95% to as low as 5%. Addition of fresh CMW to two different citrus soils reduced colony growth of P. nicotianae after the fungus was incubated in the amended soil for 6 days and then recovered on PARPH sel...
Computation Error Analysis in Digital Signal Processing Systems With Overscaled Supply Voltage

It has been recently demonstrated that digital signal processing systems may possibly leverage unconventional voltage overscaling (VOS) to reduce energy consumption while maintaining satisfactory signal processing performance. Due to the computation-intensive nature of most signal processing algorithms, the energy saving potential largely depends on the behavior of computer arithmetic units in response to overscaled supply voltage. This paper shows that different hardware implementations of the same computer arithmetic function may respond to VOS very differently and result in different energy saving potentials. Therefore, the selection of appropriate computer arithmetic architecture is an important issue in voltage-overscaled signal processing system design. This paper presents an analytical method to estimate the statistics of computer arithmetic computation errors due to supply voltage overscaling. Compared with computation-intensive circuit simulations, this analytical approach can be several orders of magnitude faster and can achieve a reasonable accuracy. This approach can be used to choose the appropriate computer arithmetic architecture in voltage-overscaled signal processing systems. Finally, we carry out case studies on a coordinate rotation digital computer processor and a finite-impulse-response filter to further demonstrate the importance of choosing proper computer arithmetic implementations.
Predicting the future of human gene therapy for cardiovascular diseases: what will the management of coronary artery disease be like in 2005 and 2010?

Abstract Gene therapy is the use of gene delivery as a means to achieve high levels of the therapeutic gene product (ie, “drug” delivery) to treat acquired cardiovascular diseases. Human gene therapy for cardiovascular disease is expected to provide important advances in therapeutic angiogenesis, myocardial protection, myocardial regeneration and repair, restenosis, prevention of bypass graft failure, and risk-factor management. The data from ongoing phase 2 and future phase 3 studies will provide evidence to show whether therapeutic angiogenesis is effective, and these studies will identify the types of patients who may benefit. An important therapeutic target is the cell cycle. Data from the Project in Ex-Vivo Vein Graft Engineering via Transfection (PREVENT) I and II studies suggest that a synthetic DNA decoy can sequester the E2F family of transcription factors and arrest cells at the gap period (G1) checkpoint. This mechanism prevents intimal hyperplasia, which is associated with atherosclerosis and coronary graft failure. Administration of a myocardial protective gene (eg, heme oxygenase) via a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector reduces infarct size in animal models of ischemia and reperfusion. Other studies have shown that fractionated bone marrow stem cells promote myocardial repair and regeneration in myocardial infarction. If applied in humans, it will be possible to use a single administration of gene therapy to provide long-term prophylaxis against secondary coronary events and to promote myocardial repair in patients who have experienced an infarct, as well as in those at high risk of myocardial injury. In the future, new technology using stable gene integration may lead to the development of more effective and lifelong therapy for diabetes, familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia, and other acquired diseases.
Feeding and Development of Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Larvae on Apple Leaves

We present leaf consumption, maximum body weight, head capsule width, and testicular ultrastructure of four sequential instars in codling moth reared solely on apple leaves of Honeycrisp variety. The developmental parameters for Cydia pomonella (L.) larvae fed on leaves are compared with those reared on artificial diet. Head capsules in the second, third, and fourth instars reared on leaves were significantly smaller than those in larvae fed artificial diet. Maximum body weights were significantly lower in all instars fed leaves compared with larvae fed artificial diet. More than 60% of larvae fed leaves molted to the third instar, and ≈3% entered the fifth instar, but none pupated, demonstrating an inability to fully compensate for the reduced nutritive value of a leaf-based diet. A study of testicular ultrastructure revealed that feeding codling moth larvae exclusively on apple leaves allowed formation of testes, but also triggered an intense, abnormal autophagocytosis that caused premature senescence of this tissue.
A direct nonlinear predictor-corrector primal-dual interior point algorithm for optimal power flows

A new algorithm using the primal-dual interior point method with the predictor-corrector for solving nonlinear optimal power flow (OPF) problems is presented. The formulation and the solution technique are new. Both equalities and inequalities in the OPF are considered and simultaneously solved in a nonlinear manner based on the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions. The major computational effort of the algorithm is solving a symmetrical system of equations, whose sparsity structure is fixed. Therefore only one optimal ordering and one symbolic factorization are involved. Numerical results of several test systems ranging in size from 9 to 2423 buses are presented and comparisons are made with the pure primal-dual interior point algorithm. The results show that the predictor-corrector primal-dual interior point algorithm for OPF is computationally more attractive than the pure primal-dual interior point algorithm in terms of speed and iteration count. >
Inelastic muon interactions in nuclear emulsion at 2.5 and 5.0 GeV

The inelastic scattering of high-energy muons from emulsion nuclei was measured with the use of a monoenergetic beam of 2.5 GeV/c and 5.0 GeV/c muons produced at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. Ilford G-5 stacks were exposed perpendicularly to the beam and Ilford K-5 stacks were exposed parallel to the beam. Area scanning resulted in a total of 135 events with four-momentum transfers greater than 26 MeV/c. The observed scattering distribution which extends up to 10 degrees, or a momentum transfer of about 900 MeV/c, is in good agreement with the predictions of the electromagnetic theory assuming single-photon exchange. There were also observed four events with scattering angles greater than 10 degrees which are not inconsistent with the theory. Pion production was observed with the major contribution coming from the 3/2, 3/2 resonance. The cross-sections for this process were found to be (3.6±0.7) and (5.1±0.5) microbarn for muon momenta of 2.5 and 5.0 GeV/c, respectively. Events involving much lower energy exchanges were found to have much larger cross-sections and were consistent with «giant resonance» photodisintegration observations.
Beyond the Imperial Presidency

This is the draft of the final chapter of The Collapse of Fortress Bush: The Crisis of Authority in American Government (New York University Press, 2008). It summarizes nine reasons for being skeptical about claims that the Bush administration has been successful in restoring what Arthur Schlesinger Jr. called the imperial presidency. This is not to dispute that the Bush administration sought to extend presidential power in some respects, or that it engaged in sometimes-pathological attempts to circumvent restraints on presidential power. But proponents of the imperial presidency school neglect the profound ways in which the country has changed since the presidency of Richard Nixon. A bundle of fundamental changes - economic, cultural, political, and institutional - now complicate the exercise of presidential authority. Indeed, some of the pathologies of the Bush administration - such as covert policies, distorted interpretations of the law, and militarization of policy responses - may be understood as ill-advised attempts to deal with the harsher realities of contemporary governance.