cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Preliminary Study of the Economic Implications From Court Service Delivery Consolidation in Rural Iowa: Phase I Report

This report .is designed-to foster discussion among citizens, leaders and policymakers regarding an important public Issue of concern to lowans. Iowa State University" seeks to providie accurate research-based information on relevant issues and neither endorses nor opposes proposals regarding the issues analyzed. The research contained-herein was. conducted with partial, support from^ the Iowa Agriculture and:Home Economics Experiment Station :(TAHEES), the Iowa Cooperative 'Extension Service ,(CES). and funding frbm local officials in 40 Iowa counties.collected by. Rural. Counties Against Regionalization (RCAR). RCAR funding was solely-used for funding research assistance with the understanding that the goal of the project was to develop objective, information sources for making ' ' reasonable judgements regarding consolidation issues. The project director expressedly avoided' receiving financial gain from the project so as to prevent conflicts of interest, bias in research, and/or'any appearance thereof^;
Error analysis of idealized nanopore sequencing

This numerical study provides an error analysis of an idealized nanopore sequencing method in which ionic current measurements are used to sequence intact single-stranded DNA in the pore, while an enzyme controls DNA motion. Examples of systematic channel errors when more than one nucleotide affects the current amplitude are detailed, which if present will persist regardless of coverage. Absent such errors, random errors associated with tracking through homopolymer regions are shown to necessitate reading known sequences (Escherichia coli K-12) at least 140 times to achieve 99.99% accuracy (Q40). By exploiting the ability to reread each strand at each pore in an array, arbitrary positioning on an error rate versus throughput tradeoff curve is possible if systematic errors are absent, with throughput governed by the number of pores in the array and the enzyme turnover rate.
Biallelic genome modification in F(0) Xenopus tropicalis embryos using the CRISPR/Cas system.

Summary Gene inactivation is an important tool for correlation of phenotypic and genomic data, allowing researchers to infer normal gene function based on the phenotype when the gene is impaired. New and better approaches are needed to overcome the shortfalls of existing methods for any significant acceleration of scientific progress. We have adapted the CRISPR/Cas system for use in Xenopus tropicalis and report on the efficient creation of mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for oculocutaneous albinism. Biallelic mutation of this gene was detected in the F0 generation, suggesting targeting efficiencies similar to that of TALENs. We also find that off-target mutagenesis seems to be negligible, and therefore, CRISPR/Cas may be a useful system for creating genome modifications in this important model organism. genesis 51:827–834. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alterations in adrenergic receptor signaling in heart failure.

In the failing heart, several changes occur in cardiac adrenergic receptor-signal transduction pathways. The most striking of these changes occur in β-ARs, and of the changes in β-adrenergic receptors, β1-receptor down-regulation is the most prominent. Other changes include uncoupling of β2-adrenergic receptors and increased activity of the inhibitory G-protein, Gi. Most of these changes appear to be related to increased activity of the adrenergic nervous system, i.e. increased exposure to norepinephrine. Antagonists of the adrenergic nervous system improve left ventricular function and outcome in patients with heart failure. This fact supports the notion that activation of these neurohormonal systems exerts a net long-term detrimental effect on the natural history of chronic heart failure and that myocardial adrenergic desensitization phenomena are at least partially adaptive in the setting of left ventricular dysfunction.
Justifying the Pay System Through Status: Gender Differences in Reports of What Should Be Important in Pay Decisions

We explored students' beliefs about what should be important in determining an employee's pay. Ratings of 12 different work input items fell into 4 factors reflecting different methods of status attainment: 3 were achievement-related and 1 was ascriptive. Overall, participants reported that the 3 achievement-related factors should be more important in pay decisions than the ascriptive factor, but the precise amount of importance assigned to each factor differed by gender. Women said more importance should go to the 3 achieved status factors, and men said more should go to the ascribed status factor. We use system justification theory to explain that the system in which unequal distribution of pay occurs is justified through status beliefs.
Selective severe cellular immunodeficiency: Effect of thymus transplantation and transfer factor administration

Abstract Two sisters from one family with a selective cellular immunodeficiency are described. The first girl born was admitted to the hospital at 10 months of age with generalized vaccinia following smallpox vaccination. Thymus-dependent immunity could not be demonstrated, whereas humoral immunity was present. She was treated with several thymus transplants and transfer factor injections, resulting in healing of the vaccinia lesions and partial, but transient, restoration of the thymus-dependent immunity. In spite of this success she developed a lymphosarcoma and died at the age of 3 years. Her younger sister was admitted at the age of 1.5 years and was suffering then from a fatal graft-versus-host reaction following a blood transfusion given elsewhere. Clinical and immunological findings of the two patients are presented in detail.
Directional Statistics, I

In many natural and physical sciences the measurements are directions—either in two- or three-dimensions. This chapter briefly introduces this novel area of statistics, and provides a good starting point for further exploration. A basic parametric model called the Fisher-von Mises distribution is introduced and nonparametric methods such as goodness of fit tests are discussed. Further references are given for exploring related topics such as correlation and regression. Keywords: Directional data; rotational invariance; circular and spherical models; Langevin; Fisher-von Mises distribution; angular correlation; circular regression; nonparametric methods
Entropy is a Mathematical Formula

The microscopic explanation of entropy has been challenged from both experimental and theoretical point of view. The expression of entropy is derived from the first law of thermodynamics indicating that entropy or the second law of thermodynamics is not an independent law.
A region on BTA14 that includes the positional candidate genes LYPLA1, XKR4 and TMEM68 is associated with feed intake and growth phenotypes in cattle(1).

Summary Feed cost for beef cattle is the largest expense incurred by cattle producers. The development of genetic markers to enhance selection of more efficient animals that require less feed while still achieving acceptable levels of production has the potential to substantially reduce production costs. A genome-wide marker association approach based on the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip TM was used to identify genomic regions affecting average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and residual feed intake traits in a population of 1159 crossbred steers. This approach identified a region on BTA14 from 22.02 to 23.92 Mb containing several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have significant association with at least one of the traits. Two genes in this region, lysophospholipase 1 (LYPLA1) and transmembrane protein 68 (TMEM68), appeared to be logical positional and functional candidate genes. LYPLA1 deacylates ghrelin, a hormone involved in the regulation of appetite in the rat stomach, while TMEM68 is expressed in bovine rumen, abomasum, intestine and adipose tissue in cattle, and likely affects lipid biosynthetic processes. SNPs lying in or near these two genes were identified by sequencing a subset of animals with extreme phenotypes. A total of 55 SNPs were genotyped and tested for association with the same population of steers. After correction for multiple testing, five markers within 22.79‐ 22.84 Mb, located downstream of TMEM68, and between TMEM68 and the neighbouring gene XKR4, were significant for both ADFI and ADG. Genetic markers predictive of feed intake and weight gain phenotypes in this population of cattle may be useful for the identification and selection of animals that consume less feed, although further evaluation of these markers for effects on other production traits and validation in additional populations will be required.
The Drosophila trithorax group proteins BRM, ASH1 and ASH2 are subunits of distinct protein complexes

The trithorax group gene brahma (brm) encodes an activator of Drosophila homeotic genes that functions as the ATPase subunit of a large protein complex. To determine if BRM physically interacts with other trithorax group proteins, we purified the BRM complex from Drosophila embryos and analyzed its subunit composition. The BRM complex contains at least seven major polypeptides. Surprisingly, the majority of the subunits of the BRM complex are not encoded by trithorax group genes. Furthermore, a screen for enhancers of a dominant-negative brm mutation identified only one trithorax group gene, moira (mor), that appears to be essential for brm function in vivo. Four of the subunits of the BRM complex are related to subunits of the yeast chromatin remodeling complexes SWI/SNF and RSC. The BRM complex is even more highly related to the human BRG1 and hBRM complexes, but lacks the subunit heterogeneity characteristic of these complexes. We present biochemical evidence for the existence of two additional complexes containing trithorax group proteins: a 2 MDa ASH1 complex and a 500 kDa ASH2 complex. These findings suggest that BRM plays a role in chromatin remodeling that is distinct from the function of most other trithorax group proteins.
Full Mouth Implant Rehabilitation with Staged Approach: 6‐Year Clinical Follow‐Up

Objective The transition of patients from failing dentition to complete arch implant rehabilitation often requires that the patient is rendered edentulous and has to wear a removable complete denture for varying periods of time. In order to avoid removable provisionalization, the staged treatment approach allows for fixed interim prosthesis throughout the rehabilitation process, patient comfort, and prosthodontic control. Clinical considerations The purpose of this clinical report is to describe a combination of staged approach with guided flapless surgery for minimally invasive treatment. The patient had fixed interim prostheses during the entire rehabilitation process. The various implant prosthodontic stages are illustrated for the complete arch prosthetic rehabilitation and the 6-year follow-up outcome is reported. A patient with debilitated dentition was treated with this combined protocol and was followed for 6 years after definitive prosthesis insertion. Conclusion Implant and prosthesis success rates were 100% with minor biologic and no technical complications encountered up to 6-year recall. Guided surgery has the advantage of prosthetically driven implant placement and minimal postoperative sequelae, whereas the staged approach allows for fixed provisionalization throughout the entire treatment period. Clinical Significance As the computer-guided surgery protocols continue to evolve and improve, further clinical studies are necessary to assess accuracy and make this exciting technology even safer for the average clinician. The clinical significance of this case report lies in the treatment sequence combined with cutting edge technology for maximum patient comfort and prosthodontic control. Guided flapless surgery with prosthodontically driven implant placement led to predictable rehabilitation with no major complications after 6 years. A staged approach with fixed interim prostheses was used throughout the entire rehabilitation period, optimizing patient satisfaction and comfort. Natural canine guidance was the occlusal scheme of choice.
PARADOXICAL EFFECTS OF CYCLOHEXIMIDE ON THE ULTRA-RAPID INDUCTION OF TWO HEPATIC mRNA SEQUENCES BY TRIIODOTHYRONINE (T3)

Triiodothyronine (T3) rapidly induces the accumulation of two hepatic mRNA sequences (spot 14 and spot CyT) in thyroidectomized rats as revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of in vitro translated products of isolated poly(A) containing RNA. T3 acting alone induced a 29-fold increase of spot 14 within 4 h, an increase which was completely inhibited by the concomitant administration of cycloheximide. On the other hand, CyT could be detected only after the administration of cycloheximide, and the combined action of cycloheximide and T3 resulted in a 4-fold increase in CyT 4 h after administration of both agents. These observations suggested that the early cellular action of T3 is contingent on the participation of rapidly turning over protein and mRNA.
Asymmetry in p − n and p − p Scattering from Targets Bombarded with 285-Mev Polarized Protons

Asymmetries in neutron and proton production have been observed in the quasi-elastic scattering of 285-Mev, 65\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4% polarized protons by carbon, lithium, and beryllium targets. The neutrons and protons were counted in coincidence with the associated scattered protons. The quasi-elastic neutron data are not antisymmetric about 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} cm. The proton asymmetries are much smaller than the asymmetries from a free hydrogen target.
Dense graphs with small clique number

We consider the structure of Kr-free graphs with large minimum degree, and show that such graphs with minimum degree δ>(2r − 5)n/(2r − 3) are homomorphic to the join Kr − 3∨H, where H is a triangle-free graph. In particular this allows us to generalize results from triangle-free graphs and show that Kr-free graphs with such a minimum degree have chromatic number at most r +1. We also consider the minimum-degree thresholds for related properties. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 66:319-331, 2011
Evaluation of a new digital panoramic system: a comparison with film.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic eAcacy of the Orthophos DS digital panoramic system (Sirona, Bensheim, Germany) for the detection of dento-alveolar disease in comparison with film. Methods: Five patients selected for admission to the School of Dentistry had a panoramic radiograph obtained with the Orthophos Plus (Sirona, Bensheim, Germany) system, a digital panoramic image obtained with the Orthophos DS (Sirona, Bensheim, Germany) system and a full mouth series. The ground truth was determined from the full mouth series by a panel of board certified oral and maxillofacial radiologists using the Delphi method. Four observers scored both the film and digital panoramic images for the presence of caries and marginal periodontitis. Results were statistically analysed using ROC analysis and ANOVA. Results: There was no significant diAerence (P=0.704) between the two modalities for the detection of caries but there was a significant diAerence (P=0.015) for the detection of periodontal disease where conventional panoramic film performed better than the digital image. Conclusions: Though the conventional film was better than the digital image for the detection of periodontal disease, further studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of this result in relation to the potential advantages of digital technology.
Historic 2005 toxic bloom of Alexandrium fundyense in the west Gulf of Maine: 1. In situ observations of coastal hydrography and circulation

An extensive Alexandrium fundyense bloom occurred along the coast of the Gulf of Maine in late spring and early summer, 2005. To understand the physical aspects of bloom's initiation and development, in-situ observations from both a gulf-wide ship survey and the coastal observing network were used to characterize coastal circulation and hydrography during that time period. Comparisons between these in-situ observations and their respective long term means revealed anomalous ocean conditions during May 2005: waters were warmer and fresher gulf-wide due to more surface heating and river runoff; coastal currents were at least two times stronger than their climatological means. Surface winds were also anomalous in the form of both episodic burst of northeaster storms and downwelling favorable mean condition. These factors may have favored more vigorous along-shore transport and near shore aggregation of toxic A. fundyense cells (a red tide) in 2005.
Structure insensitivity and its dependency on surface coverage — Interplay between kinetics and thermodynamics

Surface catalytic reactions with nonuniformly reactive adsorbates may exhibit structure insensitive behavior regardless of the extent of surface coverage when there occurs an interplay between kinetics and thermodynamics. Some example cases are discussed.
Flux, sorting, and supercomputer organization for AI applications

A central issue for the design of massively parallel computers is their ability to sort. The authors consider organizations that are suitable for fast sorting, both those that use point-to-point connections and those that connect processors with multipoint nets. They show that for fast sorting and minimal area, nets must connect at least ..sqrt..n nodes each, if the network has n nodes. They then discuss some of the ways that fast-sorting networks can be used to speed up other processes, such as combinatorial search.
Photoreduction of ferredoxin and its use in NAD(P)+ reduction by a subcellular preparation from the photosynthetic bacterium, Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum

Abstract 1. A subcellular system derived entirely from the photosynthetic green sulfur bacterium, Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum , reduced NAD + and NADP + in light-dependent reactions. 2. The rate of NAD + reduction was twice that of NADP + . 3. The reduction of NAD(P) + required chlorophyll-containing particles, ferredoxin, and a soluble protein fraction, which catalyzed a reduction of NAD(P) + with reduced ferredoxin. The soluble protein fraction could be replaced by purified ferredoxin-NADP reductase from spinach chloroplasts. The chlorophyll-containing particles photoreduced ferredoxin with sodium sulfide or 2-mercaptoethanol as the electron donor. 4. The rate of NAD + reduction was comparable to the over-all rate of CO 2 assimilation by C. thiosulfatophilum cells.
Life and Death of Deep-Sea Vents: Bacterial Diversity and Ecosystem Succession on Inactive Hydrothermal Sulfides

ABSTRACT Hydrothermal chimneys are a globally dispersed habitat on the seafloor associated with mid-ocean ridge (MOR) spreading centers. Active, hot, venting sulfide structures from MORs have been examined for microbial diversity and ecology since their discovery in the mid-1970s, and recent work has also begun to explore the microbiology of inactive sulfides—structures that persist for decades to millennia and form moderate to massive deposits at and below the seafloor. Here we used tag pyrosequencing of the V6 region of the 16S rRNA and full-length 16S rRNA sequencing on inactive hydrothermal sulfide chimney samples from 9°N on the East Pacific Rise to learn their bacterial composition, metabolic potential, and succession from venting to nonventing (inactive) regimes. Alpha-, beta-, delta-, and gammaproteobacteria and members of the phylum Bacteroidetes dominate all inactive sulfides. Greater than 26% of the V6 tags obtained are closely related to lineages involved in sulfur, nitrogen, iron, and methane cycling. Epsilonproteobacteria represent Aquificae , which are common in active vents, were absent from both the V6 tags and full-length 16S rRNA data sets. In both analyses, the proportions of alphaproteobacteria, betaproteobacteria, and members of the phylum Bacteroidetes were greater than those found on active hydrothermal sulfides. These shifts in bacterial population structure on inactive chimneys reveal ecological succession following cessation of venting and also imply a potential shift in microbial activity and metabolic guilds on hydrothermal sulfides, the dominant biome that results from seafloor venting. IMPORTANCE Hydrothermal chimneys are globally dispersed seafloor habitats associated with mid-ocean ridge spreading centers. Active, hot, venting chimneys have been examined for microbial ecology since their discovery in the late 1970s, but the microbiology of inactive chimneys, which may persist for thousands of years, has only recently been explored. We studied bacterial diversity on inactive hydrothermal sulfide chimney samples from 9°N on the East Pacific Rise to learn their bacterial community composition, potential ecological roles, and succession from active venting to inactive chimneys. Many bacteria on inactive sulfide chimneys are closely related to lineages involved in sulfur, nitrogen, iron, and methane cycling, and two common groups found on active chimneys are nearly absent from inactive vents, where they were replaced by groups likely involved in the elemental cycling mentioned above. Our findings reveal that ecological succession occurs on hydrothermal sulfides after active venting ceases and also imply a potential shift in microbial metabolic guilds.
The Feasibility of the Projected Federal DEBT

A relation, familiar in the literature on the feasibility of persistent government deficits, is restated to accommodate the Office of Management and Budget projections. It is then shown that U.S. budget policy was not on a long-run feasible course in the period from fiscal year 1982 through fiscal year 1987; but, when monetization of the debt and taxes on interest are taken into account, the projected debt is on a potentially feasible course.
The Dynamics of Fisherian Sex-Ratio Evolution: Theoretical and Experimental Investigations

Numerous species have primary sex ratios of 0.5, but few studies have experimentally addressed the evolutionary processes resulting in these equal sex ratios. A model based on Fisher's principles for sex-ratio evolution using a single-locus, three-factor (W, X, Y) system of sex determination was used to generate predictions concerning the dynamics of sex-ratio evolution. Predictions of this model were tested experimentally with the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus. The three-factor system of sex determination found in this species provides the genetic variability in sex ratio necessary to test sex-ratio evolution. Experimental populations were established with biased sex ratios. The sex ratios in these populations converged toward 0.5 along the predicted pathways, but in some cases the allele and genotype frequencies deviated quantitatively from predicted values. Differences between the observed and predicted allele and genotype frequencies likely result from sources of selection other than sex-ratio sele...
Modeling prevention alternatives for nonpoint source pollution at a Wellfield in Florida

: Agricultural and urban activities in the West Wellfield Interim Protection Area (WWIPA), located in West Dade County in South Florida, have the potential to impact both the environmentally sensitive Everglades and the Biscayne Aquifer. The Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN (HSPF) is used to simulate surface runoff, ground water recharge, and transport of sediments, nutrients, and pesticides in the WWIPA, as a basis to quantify impacts and evaluate alternatives. Presented are four model test runs that consider current conditions, the effect of future urbanization of the agricultural land, as well as two preventive actions to minimize pollution levels. Preventive actions include application of minimum required rates of fertilizers and replacement of fertilizers by sewage sludge. Model results show that under current practices, sediments, nutrients, and pesticides are present in surface runoff and nutrients enter the ground water, and that both urbanization and preventive actions result in pollutant reductions.
Intestinal NF-κB is activated, mainly as p50 homodimers, by platelet-activating factor

Abstract NF-κB, a transcription factor, upregulates gene transcription of many inflammatory mediators. Here, we examined the activity of NF-κB in the rat small intestine, and how it may be affected by platelet-activating factor (PAF), an important mediator for intestinal injury and inflammation. Ileal nuclear extracts from sham-operated and PAF (1.5 μg/kg)-injected rats were prepared for the assessment of NF-κB DNA-binding activity, and the identification of NF-κB subunits. The experiment was also performed on neutrophil-depleted rats to examine whether the PAF effect is neutrophil-dependent. Cellular NF-κB was localized by immunohistochemistry. We found that: (a) NF-κB is constitutively active in rat small intestine; (b) PAF at a dose below that causing shock and bowel necrosis enhances DNA-binding activity of NF-κB within 30 min after injection; activated NF-κB contains predominantly p50 subunits; (c) immunohistochemistry showed that PAF induced translocation of p50 into the nucleus of cells of the lamina propria, as well as of the epithelium; and (d) the effect of PAF is abrogated by neutrophil depletion, suggesting a role of neutrophils in NF-κB activation. Our study suggests that NF-κB is weakly active constitutively in the intestine, and inflammatory stimuli such as PAF activate NF-κB and enhance its DNA-binding activity in the intestine, which contains predominantly p50 subunits.
Schizophrenia genetics: uncovering positional candidate genes

The efforts to decipher the genetic causes of schizophrenia, one of the most devastating mental illnesses, have reached a turning point. Several linkage findings in schizophrenia have been replicated and, in the last few years, have been followed by systematic fine-mapping efforts to identify positional susceptibility genes. Here, we outline the evidence supporting each of the proposed positional candidate genes and identify some general areas of caution in their interpretation. Several of these findings hold considerable promise both for understanding the neuropathology of this brain disorder, the causes of which remain a mystery, but also for development of novel, mechanism-based treatments for the patients.
Correlation between energy loss and ion-induced electron emission of 1 MeV protons channeled along the 〈100〉 axis of a thin silicon crystal

Abstract Energy loss of channeled ions and ion-induced electron emission (IIEE) are principally governed by electronic stopping. The authors report experimental observations of the angular dependence of the energy loss and the corresponding IIEE yields of channeled protons near the 〈100〉 direction in a thin silicon crystal. The Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) yield drops to a minimum in the channeled condition as also do the transmitted-ion energy loss and the IIEE yields (forward, backward and total). For 1 MeV protons, the effective IIEE yields in the channeled condition are reduced in approximately the same proportion as the electronic stopping power. The present data support a modification of Schou's theory of IIEE.
Meta-interpreters for rule-based inference under uncertainty

One of the key challenges in designing expert is a credible representation of uncertainty and partial belief. During the past decade, a number of rule-based belief languages were proposed and implemented in applied systems. Due to their quasi-probabilistic nature, the external validity of these languages is an open question. This paper discusses the theory of belief revision in expert systems through a canonical belief calculus model which is invariant across different languages. A meta-interpreter for non-categorical reasoning is then presented. The purposes of this logic model is twofold: first, it provides a clear and concise conceptualization of belief representation and propagation in rule-based systems. Second, it serves as a working shell which can be instantiated with different belief calculi. This enables experiments to investigate the net impact of alternative belief languages on the external validity of a fixed expert system.
GOOD COFFEE WATER NEEDS BODY

. Some recent ground-water contamination problems have been caused by inadequate waste disposal during years long past and forgotten. Effluent from a livery stable abandoned during the late 1930's contaminated a well in North Dakota; wastes from a gas works plant that operated during the period 1815 to 1830, contaminated a well in Norwich, England; and a well, drilled through a 17th century Black Plague burial pit along England's southern coast, produced hydrogen sulfide. Other examples include wastes from an outdoor privy and the effects of using cavernous limestone terrain for waste disposal.
Comparative ion insertion study into a nanostructured vanadium oxide in aqueous salt solutions

We present a comparative study for the electrochemical insertion of different cations into a nanostructured vanadium oxide material. The oxide is hydrothemally synthesized and electrically characterized by variable temperature measurements. The electrochemical reactions are performed in aqueous chloride solutions of lithium, sodium, potassium, and ammonium, and the electrochemical behavior of various cycles are correlated with visual changes in the vanadium oxide nanosheets as observed by scanning electron microscopy. We note an increase in the specific charge per cycle in the cases of sodium and ammonium ions only, correlated with minimal physical changes to the nanosheets. The differing behavior of the various ions has implications for their use in electrical energy storage applications.
Contending discourses in Shici law on the doctrine of Wilayat Al‐faqih

(1996). Contending discourses in Shici law on the doctrine of Wilayat Al‐faqih. Iranian Studies: Vol. 29, No. 3-4, pp. 229-268.
Elimination of 137Cs and 59Fe and its relationship to metabolic rates of wild small rodents

Elimination of $sup 137$Cs and $sup 59$Fe by three species of wild rodents was measured in laboratory and field experiments to determine whether excretion rates of these nuclides are influenced directly by general metabolic (CO$sub 2$ production) rates. Sigmodon hispidus and Peromyscus leucopus were used in both field and laboratory experiments, and Reithrodontomys humulis was investigated only in the laboratory. Final-component biological half-lives (T/ sub b/) of $sup 59$Fe for Sigmodon averaged 108 days in winter, 144 days in spring, and means ranged from 176 to 242 days under various laboratory conditions (ambient temperature, cold-exposure, irradiation, and chemical metabolic inhibition); for Peromyscus, values were 50 days in winter, 47 days in spring, and 289 days (at ambient temperature only) in the laboratory; for Reithrodontomys mean values ranged from 121 to 178 days at different laboratory treatment levels. Biological half-lives of final-component $sup 137$Cs elimination for Sigmodon averaged 7.5 days in winter, 7.9 days in spring, and means ranged from 7.7 to 8.6 days at the different treatment levels in the laboratory. Laboratory mean values for Reithrodontomys ranged from 3.5 to 3.9 days. For Peromyscus, T/sub b/ values averaged 3.4 days in winter, 3.6 days in spring, and 3.5 days inmore » the laboratory. The data suggested that elimination of $sup 59$Fe is influenced by metabolic rates of rodents in the field, but laboratory experiments were unable to demonstrate any predictable relationship. Neither did the rate of final- component $sup 137$Cs loss from rodents appear to be influenced by metabolic rate. However, final-component Y-axis intercept values of $sup 137$Cs exhibited a linear correlation with metabolic rates, and equations were derived from these intercept values to predict metabolism in the field for two species. (auth)« less
Bilateral internal carotid absence: a case report of a rare congenital anomaly

Abstract Background Bilateral internal carotid artery agenesis (ICAA) is a rare developmental anomaly of unknown etiology that is often associated with disruption of adequate perfusion to the central nervous system. Nevertheless, some patients remain asymptomatic due to collateral circulation involving the communicating arteries of the Circle of Willis. Secondary to the hemodynamical stress through the collateral circulation, affected patients are at an increased risk of developing subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracranial aneurysms. Methods and results We report an unusual case of a 62-year-old man with bilateral ICAA who expired following two asystolic events during minor surgery. Conclusion This case emphasizes the plasticity of the cerebral collateral circulation during development, to the point of normal cerebral perfusion throughout life with no ischemic complications.
Managing dyslipidemia in chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than patients in the general population. One potentially modifiable risk factor for CVD in patients with CKD is dyslipidemia. In the current manuscript we review observational and trial data assessing dyslipidemia and its treatment in this patient population. RESULTS: Observational studies have noted a “reverse epidemiology” in patients with CKD such that low total cholesterol levels are associated with a higher mortality rate. The complex lipid profile of patients with CKD also raises questions as to whether lipid-lowering therapy will be beneficial in this patient population. Although there are only a few trials assessing the relationship between lipid-lowering therapy and CVD outcomes in CKD patients, many lipid-lowering medications are both safe and effective. In addition, there is suggestive evidence that statin therapy, in particular, also may reduce inflammation and slow the decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients during the earlier stages of CKD. CONCLUSION: Because of the high rate of CVD in patients with CKD and the overall safety of most medical therapies for dyslipidemia in CKD, current guidelines from the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative recommend aggressive therapy of dyslipidemia. These guidelines do, however, acknowledge the paucity of trial data in this patient population. There are 3 ongoing randomized controlled trials that are assessing the effect of statin therapy on CVD outcomes. These studies will hopefully provide definitive answers as to the appropriate treatment of dyslipidemia in CKD.
Shock-tube measurements of absolutegf-values for singly ionized chromium

Abstract Mixtures of chromium carbonyl and argon, heated by reflected shock waves to temperatures of approximately 8000°K, were used to measure the emission intensity of ionized chromium lines. A 3 in. dia. shock tube was employed, with the light being observed along the shock tube axis in order to observe the curves of growth directly. Absolutegf-values for 21 lines of singly ionized chromium in the spectral range 3118–4559Aare presented. Results are compared with values obtained from arc spectra by Corliss and Bozman .(1) The values presented here are, on the average, a factor of 9 below the latter measurements. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
Investigating Sec14 Domain Lipid Binding using Structural Modeling

Interactions between proteins and lipids play important roles in cellular processes, including signaling and growth, and a detailed molecular understanding of protein-lipid binding partners can improve our understanding of these processes. The widely occurring Sec14 family of proteins is known to bind phospholipids. While the family's lipid binding domain is highly conserved across species, each protein has a unique binding specificity profile. Being able to predict this profile based on the sequence of a particular Sec14 domain would be useful in understanding the physiological roles of these proteins. To this end, we used a combination of homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations to develop a structural model of the Patellin1 (PATL1) Sec14 domain. This model provided a structural explanation for the previously measured preference of PATL1 for phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate lipids. The PATL1 model was further evaluated through in vitro lipid binding measurements. Observations from the PATL1 lipid binding model were used to predict the lipid binding profile of yeast Sec14 which was also confirmed by in vitro lipid binding. Thus, structural modeling of Sec14 domains can be used to predict the lipid binding of Sec14 domain containing proteins, leading to hypotheses about the in vivo localization and possible functions of these proteins. This structural information will also be useful in efforts to engineer Sec14 domains with desired lipid binding specificity.
Crystal Structure of the Catalytic Domain of the Bacillus cereus SleB Protein, Important in Cortex Peptidoglycan Degradation during Spore Germination

The SleB protein is one of two redundant cortex-lytic enzymes (CLEs) that initiate the degradation of cortex peptidoglycan (PG), a process essential for germination of spores of Bacillus species, including Bacillus anthracis. SleB has been characterized as a soluble lytic transglycosylase that specifically recognizes spore cortex PG and catalyzes the cleavage of glycosidic bonds between N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) and N-acetylglucosamine residues with concomitant formation of a 1,6-anhydro bond in the NAM residue. We found that like the full-length Bacillus cereus SleB, the catalytic C-terminal domain (SleBC) exhibited high degradative activity on cortex PG in vitro, although SleB's N-terminal domain, thought to bind PG, was inactive. The 1.85-A crystal structure of SleBC reveals an ellipsoid molecule with two distinct domains dominated by either α helices or β strands. The overall fold of SleB closely resembles that of the catalytic domain of the family 1 lytic transglycosylases but with a completely different topological arrangement. Structural analysis shows that an invariant Glu157 of SleB is in a position equivalent to that of the catalytic glutamate in other lytic transglycosylases. Indeed, SleB bearing a Glu157-to-Gln mutation lost its cortex degradative activity completely. In addition, the other redundant CLE (called CwlJ) in Bacillus species likely has a three-dimensional structure similar to that of SleB, including the invariant putative catalytic Glu residue. SleB and CwlJ may offer novel targets for the development of anti-spore agents.
Living Arrangement and Loneliness Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Older Adults

Purpose of the Study: L oneliness is a key health risk for older adults. Utilizing the loneliness model, we examine the relationship between living arrangement and loneliness among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults, taking into consideration potential correlates including social resources and personal constraints. Design and Methods: W e use data from a national survey of LGB adults aged 50 and older (N = 2,444). Types of living arrangement include living with a partner or spouse, living alone, and living with someone other than a partner or spouse. Results: Compared with LGB older adults li ving with a partner or spouse, both those living alone and living with others reported higher degrees of loneliness, even after controlling for other correlates. The results of a multivariate regression analysis reveal that social support, social network size, and internalized stigma partially account for the relationship between living arrangement and loneliness. Implications: Li ving arrangement was found to be an independent correlate of loneliness among LGB older adults. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce loneliness for those living alone and those living with someone other than a partner or spouse in part by enhancing social resources and reducing risks of internalized stigma. Eliminating discriminatory policies against same-sex partnerships and partnered living arrangements
Combined use of narcotic and narcotic antagonist in the supplementation of anaesthesia

1. Alphaprodine (Nisentil®) hydrochloride and levallorphan tartrate were used m a 50:1 ratio as supplement to inhalation anaesthesia in 252 patients. 2. In the dosage employed, this combination is safe and provides good analgesia with a minimum of undesirable effects. 3. The reduction of thiopental requirements and the very high proportion of patients awake and responding within 5 minutes after completion of surgery make the use of this combination desirable in the conduction of balanced anaesthesia.
Testing equality of survival functions based on both paired and unpaired censored data.

SUMMARY. We introduce two test procedures for comparing two survival distributions on the basis of randomly right-censored data consisting of both paired and unpaired observations. Our procedures are based on generalizations of a pooled rank test statistic previously proposed for uncensored data. One generalization adapts the Prentice-Wilcoxon score, while the other adapts the Akritas score. The use of these particular scoring systems in pooled rank tests with randomly right-censored paired data has been advocated by several researchers. Our test procedures utilize the permutation distributions of the test statistics based on a novel manner of permuting the scores. Permutation versions of tests for right-censored paired data and for two independent right-censored samples that use the proposed scoring systems are obtained as special cases of our test procedures. Simulation results show that our test procedures have high power for detecting scale and location shifts in exponential and log-logistic distributions for the survival times. We also demonstrate the advantages of our test procedures in terms of utilizing randomly occurring unpaired observations that are discarded in test procedures for paired data. The tests are applied to skin graft data previously reported elsewhere.
Continuous production of [11C]urea for medical application

Abstract A continuous [ 11 C]urea production procedure has been developed at the University of Kentucky Van de Graaff accelerator. The no-carrier-added [ 11 C]CO 2 , produced from a natural B 2 O 3 target via the 11 B(p, n) 11 C reaction, was continuously converted to [ 11 C]ammonium cyanate, which was thermally transformed to [ 11 C]urea within 10 min of the end of irradiation. With this method, the radiochemical yield of [ 11 C]urea was increased by 15–20% over that produced by previously reported methods using [ 11 C]CO 2 as the starting material, while the post irradiation processing time was reduced by two-thirds. About 8–10 mCi of [ 11 C]urea have been produced from 25–30 mCi of [ 11 C]CO 2 . This corresponds to a radiochemical yield of 35% with calculated specific activity of 175 mCi/μmol. Problems encountered with the catalysts and the solutions with a plausible mechanism promoting the yields is discussed.
Between a Hieroglyph and a Spatula: Authorlessness in Eighteenth-Century French Theater

One of the curious but salient characteristics of Enlightenment literature is that it often takes great pains to organize not the visibility but the disappearance of the author from its fiction. In this essay, I look at several works by Diderot and Beaumarchais where authorlessness is a form of ciphered authorial presence, that is, a particular mode of authorship capable of articulating both the aesthetic autonomy of the literary work and its inscription in moral and legal modes of individual appropriation. I argue that to account for these representations of authorlessness gives us a clearer picture of what literary authorship meant for those who helped define it in the second half of the eighteenth century.
Estimates of growth rates for municipal-waste incineration and environmental control costs for coal utilization in the U.S.

Abstract We use the logistics curve to estimate likely future growth rates for applications of municipal waste incinerators. A similar procedure is applied to show that current trends suggest that 59 and 76% of total capital costs will be required by the years 2000 and 2010, respectively, for environmental controls of coal burners.
Strange anti-baryons from quark-gluon plasma

Abstract Experimental results on strange anti-baryon production in nuclear S→W collisions at 200 A GeV are described in terms of a simple model of an explosively disintegrating quark-lepton plasma (QGP). The importance of the strange anti-baryon signal for the identification of the QGP state and for the diagnosis of its properties is demonstrated.
Strongly connective degree sets I: nonabelian solvable quotients

When G is a finite nonabelian group, we associate the common-divisor graph Γ(G) with G by letting nontrivial degrees in cd(G) be the vertices and making distinct vertices adjacent if they have a common nontrivial divisor. A set \(\mathcal{C}\) of vertices for this graph is said to be strongly connective for cd(G) if there is some prime which divides every member of \(\mathcal{C},\) and every vertex outside of \(\mathcal{C}\) is adjacent to some member of \(\mathcal{C}.\) When G has a nonabelian solvable quotient, we show that if Γ(G) is connected and has a diameter of at most 2, then indeed cd(G) has a strongly connective subset.
Democracy’s Labor Disjunctive Memory in a Bolivian Workers’ Union

Despite recent constitutional reforms, Bolivian democracy struggles to reconcile the inclusive rhetoric of state reform, the expansion of rights, and special attention to previously ignored groups, on the one hand, with continued poverty, inequality, and a history of state abandonment of the majority, on the other. This “disjunctive democracy” produced a series of standoffs, often violent, between the state and popular-indigenous coalitions between 2000 and 2005. Throughout, popular memory was one vehicle for protest in which distinct democratic commitments—one constitutional or representative, the other participatory and direct—collided. The response of one exceptional labor union to the era’s neoliberal democratization, that of the Manaco Shoe Factory in Quillacollo, highlights this disjunctive democracy. The centrality in workers’ accounts of the political struggle of the k’araku (union assembly), with its remembered ideals of reciprocity, trust, accountability, and collective unity, differentiates pop...
On the Distribution of Type II Errors in Hypothesis Testing

When a statistical test of hypothesis for a population mean is performed, we are faced with the possibility of committing a Type II error by not rejecting the null hypothesis when in fact the population mean has changed. We consider this issue and quantify matters in a manner that differs a bit from what is commonly done. In particular, we define the probability distribution function for Type II errors. We then explore some interesting properties that we have not seen mentioned elsewhere for this probability distribution function. Finally, we discuss several Maple procedures that can be used to perform various calculations using the distribution.
IEEE Computer Society: four decades of service, 1951-1991

The author traces the society's development decade by decade, highlighting the systems, technology, and professional interests that guided the society's growth in membership and services. He begins with the society's roots in the activities of committees formed in the mid-forties by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Institute of Radio Engineers, but sets the official start date in 1951, when the IRE created the Professional Group on Electronic Computers. >