cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decreased Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Number in the Central Nervous System of the Tottering (tg/tg) Mouse

The tottering mouse (tg/tg) is a single-locus mutant, phenotypically characterized by the development of epilepsy associated with distinct electroencephalographic abnormalities. Because of reported alterations in muscarinic receptor (mAChR) number in various seizure states, mAChR density was examined in discrete brain regions of tottering (tg/tg) and coisogenic wild-type (+/+) mice. Saturation binding experiments revealed a widespread decrease in membrane mAChR density in the CNS of adult tottering (tg/tg) mice as compared with age-matched control wild-type (+/+) mice. The decrease was most pronounced in the hippocampus, where tg/tg mice exhibited a 40-60% reduction in mAChR density with no change in the affinity of the receptor for antagonists or agonists. At postnatal day 10, before the reported onset of electroencephalographic abnormalities, 114 and 65% increases in mAChR density were observed in the tg/tg hippocampus and cortex, respectively. Following the development of seizure activity at postnatal day 22, mAChR density in the tg/tg hippocampus was reduced by 29%. No change in brain mAChR density was seen in adult heterozygotes (+/tg), which do not develop electroencephalographic or seizure abnormalities. These results indicate that the development of reduced mAChR number in the CNS of the tg/tg mouse is secondary to abnormal neuronal activity, providing further support for the hypothesis that membrane depolarization can cause a decrease in neuronal mAChR density.
Cosmogenic 3He and 21Ne age of the Big Lost River flood, Snake River Plain, Idaho

The Big Lost River flood in southeastern Idaho occurred 20,500 calibrated yr B.P., on the basis of dates derived from cosmogenic 3 He and 21 Ne measurements of samples from flood-deposited boulders and from scour features. This date corresponds to a date of 16,900 14 C yr B.P. and is close in age to several other cataclysmic flood events in western North America; it may mark evidence for widespread warming at the end of the Pleistocene in western North America. The Big Lost River flood was smaller than some other late Pleistocene floods, such as the Bonnevi1le flood and the Missoula floods; thus, some samples exposed after the flood had significant amounts of cosmogenic 3 He and 21 Ne that was acquired before the flood occurred.
Biomarkers for Personalizing Omega-3 Fatty Acid Dosing

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer. PGE2 in colon tissue can be reduced by increasing dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The dose-dependent relationships between dietary EPA, serum EPA:arachidonate (AA) ratio, urinary PGE2 metabolites, and colonic eicosanoids were evaluated to develop biomarkers for prediction of colonic PGE2. Male rats were fed diets containing EPA:ω6 fatty acid ratios of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6 for 5 weeks. Increasing the dietary EPA:ω6 fatty acid ratio increased EPA:AA ratios in serum and in the proximal, transverse, and distal colon (P < 0.001). The urinary PGE2 metabolite was reduced (P = 0.006). EPA-rich diets reduced colonic tissue PGE2 concentrations by 58% to 66% and increased PGE3 by 19- to 28-fold. Other AA-derived eicosanoids were reduced by 35% to 83%. The changes were not linear, with the largest changes in eicosanoids observed with the lower doses. A mathematical model predicts colonic tissue eicosanoids from the EPA:AA ratio in serum and the EPA dose. Every 10% increase in serum EPA:AA was associated with a 2% decrease in the (geometric) mean of PGE2 in the distal colon. These mathematical relationships can now be applied to individualized EPA dosing in clinical trials.
Haynesville and Bossier mudrocks: A facies and sequence stratigraphic investigation, East Texas and Louisiana, USA

Abstract Upper Jurassic Haynesville and Bossier shale-gas plays of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Basin produce from organic-rich, marine transgressive to highstand mudrocks within mixed carbonate-clastic depositional systems. Modern wireline-log suites from ∼200 deep wells were used for detailed correlations, and 10 + cores throughout the upper Kimmeridgian to lower Tithonian basin were incorporated into detailed facies, stratigraphic, and lithologic analyses. The Haynesville Shale lies within a 2nd-order transgressive systems tract (TST) that encompasses back-stepping ramp carbonates (proximal) and marine shales (distal) below a maximum flooding surface (MFS). This shale onlaps retrogradational carbonates and basement highs and is capped by the 2nd-order MFS. Bossier shales and local sandstones prograde basinward above the Haynesville shale and downlap the 2nd-order MFS. They grade upward and updip into the thick, highstand systems tract (HST), fluvio-deltaic sandstones of the Cotton Valley Group. Distally, organic-rich facies developed in restricted Bossier environments, creating another productive gas-shale opportunity. Several preexisting basement highs in the south and carbonate platforms in the northwest and west restrict and partition the basin, thus influencing deposition of highly organic versus nonorganic and siliciclastic-dominated versus carbonate-dominated lithologies. Haynesville and Bossier shales each compose three upward-coarsening cycles that probably represent 3rd-order sequences within the larger 2nd-order TST and early HST, respectively. Most of the three Bossier 3rd-order cycles are dominated by varying amounts of siliciclastics. Deposition of the Haynesville mudrocks occurred below storm-wave base under mostly dysoxic conditionsm allowing settlement of benthic bivalve communities and bioturbating organisms and oscillating periodically to more anoxic conditions on the seafloor. However, most of the sparse faunae found in these mudrocks are of planktonic origin. Bossier mudrocks exhibited more oxygenated and clastic-rich lithologies related to progradation of the clastic shoreline and sea-level highstand. Knowledge of lithologic, stratigraphic, geochemical, and faunal variations across mudrock basins needs to be detailed so that shale-gas basins might be successfully explored.
GUEST ESSAY: THINKING LIKE A GEOGRAPHER

Compared to the geographic wasteland south of your border, geography appears to have fared well in Canada, both as a formal discipline extending our understanding by illuminating the human and physical worlds, and as a subject taught at all levels to create informed and aware citizens. I known you think much remains to be done, and perhaps things always look a bit greener on the other side of the hill, but I hope you will not mind my somewhat envious gaze. In fact, when I received the five volumes of the ‘curriculum guideline’ for geography, issued by the Ontario Ministry of Education for the intermediate and senior divisions of your high schools (ome 1988), my feelings were not so much envy as panic, a panic that rapidly induced something close to intellectual paralysis. Because in a moment I can only describe now as utterly weak and foolish, I started to read them, only to learn that your senior students ‘analyze, interpret … explain … design and develop networks, systems and simulations that involve six or more variables’ (ome 1988, A12). In retrospect, I still think my panic was justified. After 30 years of hard post-doctoral work I have reached the point where I can think about the interactions of maybe three variables, but hardly the combinatorial possibilities of six. Such ineptness would mean that I might just squeeze into your tenth grade and from there slowly work my way over the next two years towards those Olympian heights of analytical thought where dwell Ontario's high school graduates.
Penile straightening maneuvers employed during penile prosthesis surgery: technical options and outcomes

Penile straightening maneuvers employed during penile prosthesis surgery: technical options and outcomes
Viscous flow between rotating discs with injection on the porous disc

A viscous fluid is injected through a rotating porous disc onto a coaxial, rotating solid disc. The resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved by three methods: series expansion for small cross-flow Reynolds numberR, asymptotic expansion for largeR, and numerical integration using a homotopy method. Lift and torque are discussed.
Local control of recurrent clival and sacral chordoma after interstitial irradiation with iodine-125: new techniques for treatment of recurrent or unresectable chordomas

Using new /sup 125/I brachytherapy techniques, we were able to deliver safely a tumor volume dose of 16,000 rads to a previous irradiated, large, recurrent sacral chordoma by means of the intraoperative interstitial implantation of 229 low activity /sup 125/I seeds and 40,000 rads to a previously irradiated, small, recurrent clival chordoma by means of the transnasal needle implantation of two high activity /sup 125/I seeds. Iodine-125 brachytherapy was followed by regression of tumor, lessening of symptoms, and bony recalcification in both cases.
Pair bond formation is impaired by VPAC receptor antagonism in the socially monogamous zebra finch.

Abstract A variety of recent data demonstrate that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and VPAC receptors (which bind VIP, and to a lesser extent, pituitary adenylatecyclase activating peptide) are important for numerous social behaviors in songbirds, including grouping and aggression, although VIP relates to these behaviors in a site-specific manner. In order to determine the global effects of central VPAC receptor activation on social behavior, we here infused a VPAC receptor antagonist or vehicle twice daily into the lateral ventricle of colony–housed male and female zebra finches and quantified a wide range of behaviors. Aggressive behaviors were not altered by ventricular infusions, consistent with known opposing, site-specific relationships of VIP innervation to aggression. Courtship and self-maintenance behaviors were likewise not altered. However, VPAC antagonism produced significant deficits in pair bonding. Antagonist subjects took longer to form a pair bond and were paired for significantly fewer observation sessions relative to control subjects (median 1.5 of 6 observation sessions for antagonist subjects versus 4 for control subjects). Antagonist subjects were also significantly less likely to be paired in the final observation session. Based on the known distribution of VPAC receptors in finches and other vertebrates, we propose that VPAC receptors may mediate pair bonding via a variety of brain areas that are known to be important for the establishment of partner preferences in voles, including the lateral septum, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum.
The rehabilitation of chronic, drug resistant cases of tuberculosis with cycloserine, and successful treatment of virgin cases.

1.Data are presented on 397 cases of tuberculosis treated with cycloserine (CS) alone, or in combination with INH. The original purpose of combining CS and INH was to obtain a CS dose which would enhance the antituberculosis effects of INH, while keeping the toxicity at a minimum. 2.Our data show that the therapeutic efficacy of CS, alone or combined with INH, depends upon the attainment and maintenance of CS plasma levels above 20 mcg./ml. 3.The toxicity of CS has been reduced, a)by the concomitant administration of pyridoxine hydrochloride, which also protects against INH in combination therapy; b)by spreading the daily dose as widely as possible, and c)by insuring that the plasma levels of CS are kept well below 50 mcg./ml. Under this regimen, very few cases had to be discontinued because of toxicity. 4.Cycloserine alone in doses which maintain the plasma level at about 30 mcg./ml. has been shown to induce prompt clinical and roentgenographic improvement, a gain in weight, and rapid reversal of infectiousness, in a large proportion of both resistant and virgin cases of tuberculosis. 5.Bacillary resistance to CS developed but rarely, and in our experience has never been complete, even after continuous administration over several years.
The structure of scrobiculin, a new lichen depside in Lobaria scrobiculata and Lobaria amplissima

Abstract A new depside, scrobiculin, was isolated from Lobaria scrobiculata , which also produces (+)-usnic acid, stictic acid, and norstictic acid, and from Lobaria amplissima . Scrobiculin is proven to be methyl 4′-demethylsekikaiate. The monomethyl derivative formed by reaction with diazomethane is identical to methyl sekikaiate.
Quantum Mechanics of One‐Dimensional Two‐Particle Models. Electrons Interacting in an Infinite Square Well

Solutions of Schrodinger's equation for the system of two particles bound in a one‐dimensional infinite square well and repelling each other with a Coulomb force are obtained by the method of finite differences. For the case of a 4.0‐a.u. well, the energy levels are shifted above those of the noninteracting‐particle model by as much as a factor of 4 although the excitation energies are only about 50% greater. The analytical form of the solutions is also obtained and it is shown that every eigenstate is doubly degenerate due to the ``pathological'' nature of the one‐dimensional Coulomb potential. This degeneracy is verified numerically by the finite‐difference method. The properties of the model system are compared with those of the free‐electron and hard‐sphere models; perturbation and variational treatments are also carried out using the hard‐sphere Hamiltonian as a zeroth‐order approximation. The lowest several finite‐difference eigenvalues converge from below with decreasing mesh size to energies below those of the ``best'' linear variational function consisting of hard‐sphere eigenfunctions. The finite‐difference solutions in general give expectation values and matrix elements more accurately than do the other approximations.
Research opportunities in Computational Economics

In the spring of 1991 the National Science Foundation considered an Initiative in Computational Economics and asked a group of scholars to prepare a report outlining the research opportunities in this field. This article contains the central part of the report which described past contributions and future research opportunities. In addition to the material contained here the report included a section on infastructure and a section with a proposed budget and some action items.
Focused toxicity identification evaluations to rapidly identify the cause of toxicity in environmental samples

Over the past 5 years numerous toxicity studies in California using the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, have reported that pyrethroid insecticides, and less frequently the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos, have been responsible for observed toxicity. As work continues to characterize and mitigate these water quality impacts, an approach is needed to screen samples exhibiting toxicity quickly and cost-effectively to establish if these same substances are again responsible, or if other, more atypical toxicants are responsible. Causality is often determined by a standard toxicity identification evaluation (TIE), but when there is strong historical evidence of a likely toxicant, we propose use of a focused TIE procedure to screen samples using manipulations specifically designed to identify pyrethroid- or chlorpyrifos-related toxicity. The focused tests use reduced temperature, piperonyl butoxide addition, and engineered enzymes specifically designed to hydrolyze certain pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides. The target compounds exhibit unique response profiles to this battery of manipulations, distinct from each other and other non-insecticides. When used in conjunction with analytical chemistry data, the focused approach was successful in identifying cause of toxicity in a variety of urban and agricultural settings.
The impact of e-mail in acquiring and retaining whole-blood donors: a comparative analysis of the Puget Sound Blood Center donor e-mail communication program.

BACKGROUND: With the emergence of e-mail as a common form of communication, it is important to understand the role and impact e-mail can have on acquiring and retaining whole-blood donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Whole-blood donors who opted in to receive e-mail communications (n = 43,232) from the Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC) and as a result participated in one or more of five e-mail marketing campaigns between July 2002 and March 2003 were studied. RESULTS: New donors with e-mail addresses grew by 74 percent over the measurement period compared with 2 percent growth of those without e-mail addresses. Nearly 15,000 prospective donors were reached as a result of donors passing along e-mails they received from PSBC to friends and family. Nearly 5 percent of PSBC e-mail campaign recipients registered to donate online. PSBC e-mail campaigns have outperformed e-mail marketing industry mean open rates by 44 percent and click-through rates by 36 percent. CONCLUSION: E-mail is now a mainstream communication medium. It has proven to be an effective method of reaching new donors and generating new donation registrations. Donors respond more favorably to e-mail communications from PSBC compared with e-mail they receive from other organizations. Deeper understanding of how different segments of blood donors use e-mail may help blood centers adjust their donor acquisition and retention programs. New recruitment methods are needed to grow the overall donor base, and e-mail appears to have the potential to make a significant contribution to meeting this objective.
On legal validity, internal validity, and ecological validity: Comment on Wasby and Brody.

The comment by Wasby and Brody (1997) discusses what was termed a "major problem" in research involving repressed memories in the courtroom. Specifically, the authors note their concern with the legal validity of an experimental control condition in research by Golding, Sego, Sanchez, and Hasemann (1995) and Key, Warren, and Ross (1996), in which an adult brings child sexual assault charges against a defendant after many years, although the adult never forgot about the assault over the years (i.e., a no-repressed condition). Wasby and Brody state that it is important to discuss this "major problem," so that others avoid making the same error in the future. In fact, they stated that using this control condition takes this research in the "wrong direction." Wasby and Brody's criticism is rooted in the belief that legal validity is all that matters in a psychological study investigating a legal issue. It seems as though they have forgotten, however, that all research must also be concerned with developing well-designed, internally valid experiments that can be clearly interpreted by researchers and lawyers alike. In the present context of research on recovered memories in court, the no-repressed condition is critical to a well-designed experiment, especially in the two studies that are mentioned by Wasby and Brody. For example, in Golding et al. (1996), the no-repressed and repressed conditions were included as well as a control condition in which a child reported the sexual assault immediately. In this study, it would not have been enough to know that mock jurors believe the plaintiff less in a repressed condition compared to a child condition (i.e., the plaintiff testifying immediately). If these were the only conditions included in the experiment, one would not be sure if the lower believability was due to the claim of repression or whether having a delay (regardless of the reason for the delay) led to lower believability. By including the no-repressed condition, Golding
Application of a thermodynamic model to the prediction of phase separations in freeze-concentrated formulations for protein lyophilization.

Many of the compounds considered for use in pharmaceutical formulations demonstrate incompatibilities with other components at high enough concentrations, including pairs of polymers, polymers and salts, or even proteins in combination with polymers, salts, or other proteins. Freeze concentration can force solutions into a region where incompatibilities between solutes will manifest as the formation of multiple phases. Such phase separation complicates questions of the stability of the formulation as well as labile components, such as proteins. Yet, phase separation events are difficult to identify by common formulation screening methods. In this report, we use the osmotic virial expansion model of Edmond and Ogston (1) to describe phase-separating behavior of ternary aqueous polymer solutions. Second osmotic virial coefficients of polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG) and dextran T500 were measured by light scattering. Assuming an equilibrium between ice and water in the freeze-concentrated solution, a degree of freeze concentration can be estimated, which, when combined with the phase separation spinodal, describes a "phase separation envelope" in which phase separation tendencies can be expected in the frozen solution. The phase separation envelope is bounded at low temperatures by the glass transition temperature of the freeze-concentrated solution. Scanning electron microscopic images and infrared spectroscopy of protein structure are provided as experimental evidence of the phase separation envelope in a freeze-dried system of PEG, dextran, and hemoglobin.
Non-gaussian statistical parameter modeling for SSTA with confidence interval analysis

Most of the existing statistical static timing analysis (SSTA) algorithms assume that the process parameters of have been given with 100% confidence level or zero errors and are preferable Gaussian distributions. These assumptions are actually quite questionable and require careful attention.In this paper, we aim at providing solid statistical analysis methods to analyze the measurement data on testing chips and extract the statistical distribution, either Gaussian or non-Gaussian which could be used in advanced SSTA algorithms for confidence interval or error bound information.Two contributions are achieved by this paper. First, we develop a moment matching based quadratic function modeling method to fit the first three moments of given measurement data in plain form which may not follow Gaussian distributions. Second, we provide a systematic way to analyze the confident intervals on our modeling strategies. The confidence intervals analysis gives the solid guidelines for testing chip data collections. Extensive experimental results demonstrate the accuracy of our algorithm.
Involvement of multiple transporters in the oral absorption of nucleoside analogues

Abstract Many nucleoside analogues such as azt, ddI, ddC, d4T, 3TC, acv and vacv are currently being used in the treatment of patients infected with HIV, suffering from AIDS, or AIDS-related opportunistic infections. The transport of nucleoside analogues across the gastrointestinal tract is mediated by a number of transporters that fall into three broad categories, i.e., Na+-dependent concentrative transporters, Na+-independent equilibrative transporters and H+/peptide transporters. The first two transporter classes contain a large number of subtypes that are based on the substrate specificity. Recent studies have shown that most of the anti-HIV nucleoside analogues are transported by one or more of the nucleoside transporters. Furthermore, certain analogues, such as acv, appear to be absorbed by non-carrier-mediated diffusion, whereas vacv is apparently transported by non-nucleoside transporters (e.g., the oligopeptide transporter, PepT1 and possibly others). Thus, it is desirable to understand the precise nature of the absorption mechanism of these drugs to improve bioavailability and reduce the variability that is commonly observed in vivo in human patients. A complete understanding of the complex interactions of nucleoside analogues with the various transporters will help in designing better delivery systems and strategies to improve efficacy. In the current report, the mechanisms of nucleoside and nucleoside-analogue transport are reviewed. Also, methods of exploiting prodrugs to improve the bioavailability characteristics of drugs are highlighted.
Zero period process—a description of a process to zero injuries

At the Dupont plant, located in Belle, West Virginia, we have marked three years without an OSHA recordable injury. While earlier speculation suggested that a process might exist to accomplish this sustainable level of performance, the road to actually developing the needed processes was not at all straightforward. We have summarized this work in the paper.
Diagnosing Northern Hemisphere Jet Portrayal in 17 CMIP3 Global Climate Models: Twentieth-Century Intermodel Variability

AbstractThe present study focuses on diagnosing the intermodel variability of nonzonally averaged NH winter jet stream portrayal in 17 global climate models (GCMs) from phase three of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3). Relative to the reanalysis, the ensemble-mean 300-hPa Atlantic jet is too zonally extended and located too far equatorward in GCMs. The Pacific jet varies significantly between modeling groups, with large biases in the vicinity of the jet exit region that cancel in the ensemble mean. After seeking relationships between twentieth-century model wind biases and 1) the internal modes of jet variability or 2) tropical sea surface temperatures (SSTs), it is found that biases in upper-level winds are strongly related to an ENSO-like pattern in winter-mean tropical Pacific Ocean SST biases. The spatial structure of the leading modes of variability of the upper-level jet in the twentieth century is found to be accurately modeled in all 17 GCMs. Also, it is shown that Pacific model bi...
Theorizing Rituals (2 volumes). Edited by Jens Kreinath, Jan Snoek, and Michael Stausberg.

Leiden, the Netherlands: Brill, 2006, 2007. xxv + 777 pp.; xix + 573 pp. $458 hardcover. The Swiss psychiatrist C. G. Jung distinguished two kinds of psychology of religion—one focused on content, ...
Inhomogeneous ferrite microstrip circulator: theory and numerical calculations using a recursive Green's function

A two dimensional recursive Green's function G is developed which is suitable for determining the electromagnetic fields anywhere within a microstrip (or stripline) ferrite circulator. The recursive nature of G is a reflection of the inhomogeneous region being broken up into one inner disk containing a singularity and N annuli. G has the correct properties to allow matching to the external ports, and to allow computing the 3-port s-parameters of a circulator. Because of the general nature of the problem construction, the ports may be located at arbitrary azimuthal angle ? and possess arbitrary line widths. Non-uniformities can occur in the applied magnetic field Happ, magnetization 4?Ms, and demagnetizing factor Nd. All inhomogeneity effects can be put into the frequency dependent tensor elements of the anisotropic permeability tensor. Numerical results are presented for the simpler but immensely practical case of symmetrically disposed ports of equal widths taking into account these radial inhomogeneities. Studies of breaking up the area into various numbers of annuli are undertaken to display the approximation levels required to treat inhomogeneous problems. Convergence properties of the recursive Green's function are presented, and computation speed is shown.
A critique and experimental test of Weick's model of organizing

This study briefly describes Karl Weick's approach to organizing and suggests its appeal to communcation scholars. Weick's model of organizing is then analyzed and clarified. Two hypotheses are proposed based on Weick's discussion of the relationship between the equivocality of information and the number of behavior cycles in organizing. The model is operationalized and tested experimentally. The results do not support Weick's suggested relationships. A reexamination of Weick's approach reveals an inconsistency between a White‐headian process perspective on organizing and a Newtonian process model of organizing. The implications of this dichotomy are suggested.
A computation of the reflection and transmission coefficients for dielectric coated waveguides

A previously developed variational technique for finding the approximate solution to the electromagnetic field inside waveguides of varying shapes and containing non-uniform dielectric and magnetic materials is applied to the specific case of an axisymmetric waveguide containing three layers of different dielectric materials. The magnetic permeability is taken equal to unity. The method enables the problem to be reduced to a two point boundary value problem for a pair of second order, linear, ordinary differential equations. The values of the reflection and transmission coefficients obtained by this method are in good agreement with those derived from solving the partial differential equations for the field.
Substructure of Cu-Zn-Al martensite

Abstract The internal structure of martensite formed at low temperature in Cu-Zn-Al alloys is examined via in situ transformation using cold stage electron microscopy. The substructure of martensite in these alloys is seen to consist of closely-spaced, parallel, irregularly shaped, stacking faults bounded by numerous partial dislocations. The structure of martensite: matrix interfaces is also reported.
A framework of individually-focused teleconferencing (IFT) via an efficient 3D reprojection technique

In this paper, we propose a framework on individually-focused teleconferencing (IFT) which is supported by an efficient 3D reprojection technique. The goal of designing IFT is to provide sufficient 3D pose information to each teleconference participant in order to establish lively communication in a teleconference on low-bandwidth internet. A novel IFT deployment and an efficient 3D reprojection technique are two major contributions of this paper. Our 3D reprojection technique uses a mirror reference view in three-view epipolar geometry. It overcomes the inefficiency in previous techniques and provides visually good recovery of pose information of teleconference participants even though it is theoretically an approximation scheme.
AM1 parameters for zinc

The AM1 semiempirical method has been successfully extended to tin. AM1 heats of formation are slightly better than those obtained by using MNDO, but ionization potential and geometric results have been significantly improved. The AM1 results for organometallic species are especially promising. The correct prediction of the bent sandwich structure for stannocene is indicative of this
A year 2000 summary of offshore wind development in the United States

Abstract This paper presents an overview of the status of offshore wind energy development in the United States. It includes an overview of the research conducted at the University of Massachusetts in the early 1970s on large floating offshore systems and designs for offshore systems sited in the Great Lakes. It also presents a summary of the present US work on offshore energy, including the most recent work in New England as well as national and regional efforts to define the potential offshore wind energy resource. Also included is a review of the regulatory and permitting issues that must be addressed for offshore wind energy systems development. The paper concludes with a summary of current commercial and developmental activities in the US.
Ethmozin: A new antiarrhythmic agent developed in the USSR. Efficacy and tolerance

Ethmozin, a phenothiazine derivative, was developed in the Soviet Union as a new antiarrhythmic agent. We evaluated ethmozin using a controlled single-blinded in-hospital protocol in 14 ambulatory patients with ventricular ectopy ranging from an average of 48 to 1,801 depolarizations per hour and in eight patients with atrial ectopy ranging from 63 to 693 depolarizations per hour. Placebo was administered for the first 3 days, followed by ethmozin from 2.4 to 11.2 mg./Kg./day administered orally every 8 hours for 7 days and concluding with placebo for the final 3 days. Continuous 24-hour long-term electrocardiographic monitoring for 13 days was employed to measure drug efficacy accurately. Six of eight (75 per cent) patients with atrial ectopy and 10 of 14 (71 per cent) patients with ventricular ectopy had statistically significant reductions in ectopy during ethmozin therapy. Atrial ectopy was reduced at a lower dose and plasma level of ethmozin than was ventricular ectopy. With the exception of mild nausea in one patient, no side effects of ethmozin therapy were noted. Ethmozin appears to be a well-tolerated, effective antiarrhythmic agent with a dosage regimen that can promote patient compliance for long-term use.
Charting the path from lack of insurance to poor health outcomes.

Lack of health insurance is a major problem in the United States, and it has significant health consequences.1,2 Compared with the insured, uninsured individuals have a higher prevalence of chronic medical illness, greater physical morbidity, and higher mortality.3,4,5 They face greater barriers to accessing care—they are less likely to have a regular source of medical care, less likely to see a physician when acutely ill, and more likely to delay needed care due to concerns about cost.6 Even when they achieve access to care, it is often a lower quality of care than that received by people with health insurance coverage.7,8,9 Despite all that has been documented in the scientific literature about the health and health care access problems of the uninsured, there is surprisingly little information on how lack of insurance for those with chronic medical conditions affects their day-to-day decisions about their disease management. Much of the context for understanding the values, language, and meanings that the uninsured apply to their health and health care comes from the lay literature.2 Becker provides empiric qualitative data on how those with chronic medical conditions manage their health on an ongoing basis and about how health knowledge and self-care practices may be affected by lack of medical care. The strength of Becker's study is its use of qualitative methods to allow respondents to interpret their individual experiences and the meanings they attach to them. This research found that uninsured people are invested in trying to control their chronic medical conditions to feel better but lack not only adequate health care, but also the tools to manage their illnesses. The study has 4 key take-home messages for physicians who care for the poor and uninsured. First, when faced with a “noncompliant” patient who is not taking medications as prescribed, physicians should delve into the circumstances surrounding that patient's decision. Second, physicians could provide multiple prescription refills to diminish the effect of the health visit cost on the uninsured person's ability to obtain medications. Third, physicians should educate patients about measures beyond medications to achieve effective control of their chronic medical conditions. Finally, in concert with the patient's circumstances and values, physicians should also develop a treatment plan, so that the patient's care does not run out when their prescription does.
Accurate determination of Auger line shape binding energies

Abstract A quantitative comparison between an experimental and a theoretical description of any Auger spectrum requires a common energy reference point such as the Fermi level. With non-conductors this is problematic, because the Fermi level is not well defined and charging may shift the Fermi level. A common approach used to overcome this problem employs spectra containing the Auger peak, core, and valence band (VB) photoemission peaks. It is then necessary only to locate a common reference point in the Auger and VB spectra relative to the core level peak. We have developed a procedure in which a comparison is made between model theoretical and experimental spectra so that a large energy range (about 20 eV) of each spectrum can be utilized to locate the common reference points. We have found that this method enables accurate reference points to be determined even with severe sample charging. The method is precise enough to observe a differential charging effect in the polyethylene (PE) spectra. Although much smaller than that previously reported, a breakdown in the Cini-Sawatzky expression as modified for covalent systems still is suggested for PE. This breakdown can now be attributed to the limited one-dimensional delocalization required in long chain polymers.
19-DEJ-1, a Monoclonal Antibody to the Hemidesmosome-Anchoring Filament Complex, Is the Only Reliable Immunohistochemical Probe for All Major Forms of Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa

• Recently, a monocional antibody, 19-DEJ-1, has been described with binding specificity for an epitope present within the mid-lamina lucida of the dermoepidermal junction directly underneath hemidesmosomes, suggesting recognition of a portion of the anchoring filaments. In an initial survey of specimens from patients with inherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB), it was noted that 9 of 9 specimens of Herlitz junctional EB and approximately 50% of specimens of recessive dystrophic EB lacked staining of the dermoepidermal junction with this antibody. To better define the sensitivity of binding by 19-DEJ-1 in junctional EB skin, 40 consecutive specimens representing the three major subtypes (Herlitz, 14; non-Herlitz, 15; and indeterminate, 11) were examined. No staining was noted along the dermoepidermal junction in any specimen, regardless of junctional EB subtype. Considering the recently discovered variability of binding by GB3 monoclonal antibody in some junctional EB subtypes, based on the present data it appears that the 19-DEJ-1 monoclonal antibody is the only immunohistochemical probe that can be used reliably for diagnosis of all major forms of junctional EB. Furthermore, these data suggest the possible utility of this particular antibody as a probe for identification, at the molecular level, of a basement membrane defect shared among all major forms of junctional EB. ( Arch Dermatol . 1990;126:1187-1190)
Solvent self-diffusion in polymer solutions

Abstract We compare the solvent self-diffusion coefficients in a variety of aqueous and nonaqueous solutions, including polystyrene (PS) in toluene or cyclohexane, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in water, and various biological materials. Remarkably similar changes are observed in the solvent self-diffusion properties relative to those of the neat solvent for all systems; no chemically specific effects can be resolved. Taken together, the transport data indicate substantial changes in the motional properties of the solvent due to interactions with the polymer. The reduction in transport might be determined by nonspecific kinetic effects associated with the presence of relatively immobile solute molecules.
Tourism in Austria a case study of the influence of tourism on ethnic relations

Abstract This study discusses the influence of tourism on ethnic relations between two populations in southern Austria. For many centuries the two populations have co-existed in the same geographical area. This co-existence was based on the exploitation of two separate ecological niches in the same environment — trading and farming. With the coming of tourism in the late 1950's, however, both populations are now cooperating and competing within the same ecological niche, tourism. Tourism has led to increased contact between the two groups and greater participation in each other's affairs. This contact and participation in turn has had the effect of breaking down ethnic boundaries which had remained virtually unchanged for over one thousand years prior to the advent of tourism.
Association of the κ -opioid system with alcohol dependence

Opioid receptors and their endogenous peptide ligands play important roles in the reward and reinforcement of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. The binding of dynorphins to the κ-opioid receptor has been shown to produce aversive states, which may prevent the development of reinforcement. We genotyped SNPs throughout OPRK1, encoding the κ-opioid receptor, and PDYN, which encodes its ligand prodynorphin, in a group of 1860 European American individuals from 219 multiplex alcohol dependent families. Family-based analyses demonstrated associations between alcohol dependence and multiple SNPs in the promoter and 3′ end of PDYN, and in intron 2 of OPRK1. Haplotype analyses further supported the association of PDYN. Thus, variations in the genes encoding both the κ-opioid receptor and its ligand, OPRK1 and PDYN, are associated with the risk for alcohol dependence; this makes biological sense as variations in either should affect signaling through the κ-opioid system.
Asset characteristics of solar renewable energy certificates: market solution to encourage environmental sustainability

The solar renewable energy certificate (SREC) or green certificate outside the USA is a renewable electricity production subsidy and an environmental financial asset created by governments' policy-makers. They are meant to be a Pigouvian market-based solution to monetize social externalities in electricity use and production investment decisions. The asset pricing characteristics of the SREC market is compared with other traditional financial assets to understand the market for environmental assets. Traders of SRECs are the creators of SRECs, the owners or developers of photovoltaic projects that sell SRECs, or buyers, electric utilities that need SRECs to meet their renewable portfolio standard requirements. This creates a thin market and potential problems for efficient price discovery, liquidity and market manipulation. The contribution of this investigation is to increase the understanding of the asset characteristics of SRECs and potentially lead to a more liquid and efficient market and a more socia...
BP4D-Spontaneous: a high-resolution spontaneous 3D dynamic facial expression database

Abstract Facial expression is central to human experience. Its efficiency and valid measurement are challenges that automated facial image analysis seeks to address. Most publically available databases are limited to 2D static images or video of posed facial behavior. Because posed and un-posed (aka “spontaneous”) facial expressions differ along several dimensions including complexity and timing, well-annotated video of un-posed facial behavior is needed. Moreover, because the face is a three-dimensional deformable object, 2D video may be insufficient, and therefore 3D video archives are required. We present a newly developed 3D video database of spontaneous facial expressions in a diverse group of young adults. Well-validated emotion inductions were used to elicit expressions of emotion and paralinguistic communication. Frame-level ground-truth for facial actions was obtained using the Facial Action Coding System. Facial features were tracked in both 2D and 3D domains. To the best of our knowledge, this new database is the first of its kind for the public. The work promotes the exploration of 3D spatiotemporal features in subtle facial expression, better understanding of the relation between pose and motion dynamics in facial action units, and deeper understanding of naturally occurring facial action.
Infrared spectrum of the 10-μ band of 15NH3

Abstract The band origin, the rotational constants, and the inversion constants of the isotopic ammonia 15 NH 3 have been obtained from an analysis of the ν 2 band spectrum around 10 μ. Observed and calculated frequencies are given and compared with those obtained recently from laser spectroscopy.
Structural and Acoustics Behavior of Chiral Truss-Core Beams

The vibration-reduction and sound-absorption properties of a truss-core sandwich beam are analyzed. The core is composed by the assembly of unit cells across both the length and thickness of the proposed beam. The cells have chiral geometry which features cylinders, or nodes, joined by ligaments, or ribs. The resulting assembly is characterized by a number of interesting properties that can be exploited for the design of alternative honeycomb or cellular topologies to be used in sandwich construction. The vibro-acoustic analysis of the considered beam is performed through a finite element model developed using a commercially available Finite Element package. In the model, the sandwich beam is constrained to a rigid baffle and divides two fluid domains of infinite extent. The dynamic performance of the beam is evaluated through the estimation of the vibration amplitudes of the two constraining layers, while the performance of the beam as an acoustic panel with high insulation characteristics is analyzed through the estimation of the sound transmission loss between the two fluid domains. A sensitivity study to investigate the influence of core configuration and geometry on the beam’s performance is presented. The results indicate the design flexibility offered by the proposed design, which allows modifying and optimizing the structural acoustic performance of the beam through proper selection of the core configuration.
Using portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis for on-site study of ceramic sherds at El Hibeh, Egypt

As part of its geoarchaeological research program, the El Hibeh Project of the University of California, Berkeley field-tested at the site of El Hibeh, northern Middle Egypt, the utility of a portable EDXRF unit for obtaining geochemical analyses of pottery suitable for provenance and other ceramic classification studies. When the geochemical ceramic data from the field test are combined with basic petrographic analysis for the pottery sample set, compelling results are generated. In particular, a triangular scattergram using elemental iron, strontium and rubidium data, in parts per million, provides excellent temporal and spatial separation of ceramic fabrics type, origin and date. The geochemical behavior of iron, strontium and rubidium is discussed in relation to geological source materials utilized for pottery manufacture.
The Whole(y) Family: Economies of Kinship in the Progressive Era

In his chapter of the collaboratively written novel The Whole Family (1908), Henry James writes that "one has only to look at any human thing very straight . . . to see it shine out in as many aspects as the hues of the prism; or place itself, in other words, in relations that positively stop nowhere" (167). The comment, typically Jamesian in evoking the multiplicity and complexity of social ties, also conflates human beings and things. His metaphor of the prism suggests that social relations are always refracted by and understood through inanimate objects, and his troping of sociability in terms of visual "shine" rather than tactile feelings or emotions implies that the aura of the commodity may have much to do with the form and experi- ence of human interconnections in modernity. James's remark cap- tures the problems of both the cooperative venture that was The Whole Family and the state of American kinship in the Progressive Era: viewing the family in much less "straight" terms than he pre- tends to, he gestures toward a set of possible liaisons extending lat- erally, "positively stop(ping) nowhere." 1 And The Whole Family even makes literal this "shininess" that either threatens or promises to engender such a complicated sociability: the family at the center of the novel owns a silverplate factory, which turns out to have seri- ous implications for the question of how marital relations in particu- lar can be limited. June Howard has recently situated the novel in terms of the family business of Harper & Brothers publishing house, but there is another "family business" lurking in the novel, one whose past includes much more literal investments in the business of family. 2 The silverplate factory grounds The Whole Family in a historically specific legacy of competition between intensive and extensive families—that of monogamous versus plural marriage in the Oneida Community. The Whole Family consists of 12 chapters published serially in Harper's Bazar, each written by an author affiliated with Harper &