cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global mapping of ecosystem disservices: the unspoken reality that nature sometimes kills us

Increasingly, we view nature through a utilitarian lens that leads us to attempt to measure and manage the services that species, habitats and ecosystems provide. Surprisingly, we have tended to consider only the positive values of ecosystems, their ecosystem services. In addition to providing our food and water, Nature also kills us, primarily through disease. If we are to effectively manage the terrestrial Earth, we need to also manage species, habitats and ecosystems so as to minimize such ‘ecosystem disservices’. I consider what we know about the spatial pattern of one disservice, pathogen prevalence and how changes in habitat influence it. I consider the effects of habitat changes on pathogen prevalence and, consequently, ecosystem disservices. In the end, we need to weigh both the costs and the benefits of particular ecosystems, habitats and species – to consider the bad with the good. Doing so requires that we learn much more about the biota than we currently know.
Toxicity of Aluminum Exposure to the Neonatal and Immature Rabbit

Abstract To assess aluminum toxicity to the neonatal and immature rabbit, rabbits received 20 sc Al lactate injections of 0 or 400 μmol Al/kg during the first month postpartum or 0, 25, 100, or 400 μmol Al/kg during the second month postpartum. Results were compared to studies in which pregnant, lactating, or adult rabbits received comparable Al injections. Aluminum injections to neonatal rabbits decreased milk consumption, but not as severely as seen in neonatal rabbits of does receiving Al during gestation or lactation. Reduction in body weight gain was greater in adult rabbits than in any group of rabbits exposed to Al at a younger age. Increased carpal joint width, suggestive of poor bone calcification, was observed in rabbits receiving 400 μmol Al injections during the second postnatal month, but not in any other Al-exposed group. Tissue Al accumulation, particularly in reticuloendothelial organs, the kidney and skeletal system, seems to be most pronounced in adult rabbits. Clearance of Al from these tissues is extremely slow. Learning and memory changes were not observed after Al treatment of neonatal and immature rabbits, compared to the biphasic effect (enhancement after low doses, attenuation after high doses) seen in gestationally exposed rabbits and the attenuation observed in adult rabbits. Taken together, these results demonstrate prolonged effects of reduced body weight, impairment of bone formation, and tissue Al accumulation following Al exposure that are not readily reversed with termination of exposure. The results show that the immature rabbit is most susceptible to Al-induced skeletal toxicity and the mature rabbit most susceptible to Al-induced behavioral toxicity.
Timing of deformation and accretion of the Antimonio terrane, Sonora, from paleomagnetic data

At present, few paleomagnetic data exist to test tectonic models that link northern Mexico with the evolution of the southern Cordillera of North America. We present new paleomagnetic data for the Antimonio terrane in northwest Mexico. A moderate-inclination, dual-polarity yet secondary magnetization in Triassic-Jurassic strata of the Antimonio Formation and a primary remanence in Cretaceous igneous rocks (combined result: D = 338.9°, I = 57.4° α 95 = 5.6°, k = 34.8; N = 20 sites) are interpreted to indicate stability of the Antimonio terrane with respect to the craton since the Late Cretaceous. A more important result, however, is a shallow-inclination, dual-polarity magnetization in Antimonio Formation strata that fails a fold test ( D = 186.7°, I = −28.4°; α 95 = 7.6°, k = 28.2; N = 14 sites). We interpret the shallow-inclination magnetization as a secondary remanence acquired during accretion of the Antimonio terrane to the North American margin in the Middle or Late Jurassic, or during deformation within an essentially autochthonous Jurassic continental arc.
On the Numerical Integration of the Rolling Ball Equations Using Geometrically Exact Algorithms

In this paper, new types of numerical integration algorithms developed by the authors are described. The main aim of the algorithms is to numerically integrate differential equations that evolve on geometric objects, such as the rotation group and Euclidean group. The algorithms provide iterates that lie on the prescribed geometric object, either exactly or to some prescribed accuracy, independent of the order of the algorithm. In this sense the algorithms can be called geometrically exact integration algorithms. The paper also describes the application of these new algorithms to the nonholonomic dynamic equations that describe a ball rolling on a flat table, using the kinematic evolution in the Euclidean group.
Antipromotional activity of dietary N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide in two-stage skin tumorigenesis in CD-1 and SENCAR mice

The activity of the synthetic retinoid, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR), as a promoter and as an inhibitor of tumor promotion in mouse skin was investigated using CD-1 and SENCAR mice. Dietary administration of 4-HPR inhibited skin tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in both mouse strains, although protective activity was observed only at high TPA doses. Dietary 4-HPR had no promoting activity in mice receiving initiation and no TPA promotion. These data suggest that retinoid promotion of skin tumorigenesis may be specific to retinoic acid, and is not necessarily characteristic of the entire chemical class.
Ethylene and wound-induced cyanide-resistant respiration climaxes in potato: The synergistic role of CO2 and the selective role of lycorine

When treated with ethylene in O2, conditioned potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank) tubers – that is, tubers kept at room temperature for 10 days or more – yield slices that are CN− resistant. Ten % CO2 in the gas mixture not only synergizes the effect of ethylene, but replaces the need for conditioning as well. The response to CO2 is more pronounced with increasing time from harvest. By contrast fresh slices from untreated tubers are CN− sensitive, as are slices from tubers incubated in O2 or O2 plus CO2. The suggestion is made that CN− resistance is constitutive, and that treatment with ethylene/CO2 in O2 confers on potato tuber tissue a resistance to the extensive degradation of membrane phospholipids that normally attends slicing and leads to the loss of CN− resistance. In this connection respiration inhibition by imidazole, an inhibitor of fatty acid α-oxidation, is extensive in slices of untreated tubers, and sharply diminished in slices of ethylene-treated tubers in proportion to their CN− resistance. The coextensive rise of respiration rate and CN− resistance in aged potato slices has led to the presumption that the CN−-resistant path mediates the respiration climax. Accordingly the alkaloid, lycorine, has been considered to inhibit the development of CN− resistance in aging potato slices because it curtails the wound-induced respiration. A comparison was carried out on the effect of lycorine on CN−-sensitive and CN−-resistant fresh slices – the latter obtained from ethylene/CO2-treated tubers. Lycorine suppressed the development of the wound-induced respiration without restricting the development of CN− resistance.
Electronic States in a Perturbed Periodic Lattice

Solutions of the one-dimensional Schr\"odinger equation for a periodic potential modified by a perturbing potential are expressed as $\ensuremath{\psi}(x)=\ensuremath{\Sigma}{k}^{}\ensuremath{\varphi}({x}_{k})a(x\ensuremath{-}{x}_{k})$. The function $a(x\ensuremath{-}{x}_{k})$ is a Wannier function localized around the $k\mathrm{th}$ atom of the crystal and associated with a particular permitted band; the coefficients $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ satisfy a differential equation of infinite order. W.B.K. solutions of the equation for $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ are obtained. In the permitted band, $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ is oscillatory; in the neighboring forbidden bands $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ decreases exponentially with distance from a band edge. Various types of perturbing potentials are considered and quantum conditions are derived for impurity states and for states in which the permitted band is crossed.
Promises to keep

I describe a personal odyssey beginning in the early years of behavior therapy when, as a student, I had the good fortune to work and train with the founding pioneers. I continue with a description of the status of behavior therapy in the early 1980s when I was heading up a number of behavior therapy institutions and made, at that time, some predictions about the future of behavior therapy, at least one of which was very wrong. I conclude with observations on distortions to the original goals of behavior therapy that have occurred over the decades and outline some objectives that have yet to be realized.
Monitoring peripheral blood CD4+ adenosine triphosphate activity in a liver transplant cohort: insight into the interplay between hepatitis C virus infection and cellular immunity

Peripheral blood CD4+ adenosine triphosphate [ATP (ng/mL)] release [ImmuKnow Immune Cell Function Assay (ATP)] correlates to immunoreactivity. We hypothesized that ATP levels could provide insight into hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and recurrent liver disease in liver transplantation (LT). We studied our center's LT cohort, in which ATP levels had been measured off protocol from February 2005 through July 2006. Of the 280 LTs performed since 1993, 114 (58.2%) fit the selection criteria, with a mean age of 49 +/- 10 years. LT (alone/combination) indications included HCV (58%), alcoholic liver disease (41%), hepatocellular carcinoma (16%), and other (33%). Four hundred seventy-seven ATP levels were obtained: 3 (1-17) per patient 25 months (4 days to 19 years) from the time from transplantation. Final diagnoses were normal allograft function (n = 166, 35%), recurrent disease (n = 199, 42%), septic event (n = 34, 7%), other (n = 51, 11%), and undetermined (n = 27, 6%). Two hundred eighty-one ATP levels were obtained [3 (1-18) per patient] in 66 HCV(+) patients. Forty-five (68%) developed biopsy-proven recurrent liver disease [188/281 (67%) ATP levels]. The median ATP level (ng/mL) was 162 (1-761); it was lower in HCV(+) patients (151 +/- 109) versus HCV(-) patients (211 +/- 139; P 1, and low ATP were independently associated with recurrent HCV. In conclusion, after LT, global cellular immune function appears depressed at baseline in HCV(+) patients versus HCV(-) patients and more so in HCV(+) recurrent disease.
Exploring the optimal site for modifications of pyranmycins with the extended arm approach.

Continuing from the syntheses and the antibacterial studies of a library of pyranmycins, we further probed the proximity around ring III of pyranmycin by introducing an “extended arm” that has hydroxyethyl or aminoethyl groups at the O-2‘ ‘, O-3‘ ‘, or O-4‘ ‘ positions. The results from the antibacterial studies reveal the optimal structural motif is the attachment of an extended arm with a terminal hydroxyl group at the O-3‘ ‘ position.
Toward a General Theory of Criminal Justice: Low Self-Control and Offender Noncompliance

Building on an extension of self-control theory to criminal justice, the current study explored Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory with data from a sample of 208 male parolees selected from the midwestern United States. Ordered logit regression models linked offender low self-control to an array of outcomes, including social interactions with prison staff, correctional substance abuse, physical assaults against correctional staff, weapon carrying, placement in a disciplinary unit, infraction history, and retaliation against another inmate. Overall, the study demonstrated promising empirical links between low self-control and criminal justice noncompliance as one or both self-control measures (attitudinal Grasmick scale and 3-item disputatiousness scale) were significantly related to every criminal justice outcome net the effects of 20 controls for criminal career, demographic, social background and risk factors, and various correctional risk measures.
Greater ecosystem carbon in the Mojave Desert after ten years exposure to elevated CO 2

The response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change remains a large source of uncertainty in the global carbon budget. Now results from a ten-year ecological manipulation experiment in the Mojave Desert provide direct evidence that CO2 fertilization can substantially increase ecosystem carbon storage in arid ecosystems.
Anodic cyclization reactions and the synthesis of (−)-crobarbatic acid

Abstract A synthesis of (−)-crobarbatic acid is reported along with the first use of a vinyl-substituted ketene dithioacetal as a coupling partner for an anodic cyclization reaction. The use of the vinyl-substituted ketene dithioacetal enables the construction of a cyclic product having a tetrasubstituted carbon with a relative stereochemistry opposite to that originally obtained from the cyclization.
Receptivity and Our Knowledge of Intrinsic Properties

This is a marvelous book. Langton offers a fresh interpretation of Kant, the main tenets of which she states in a few bold propositions and then goes on to elaborate with great clarity and care. She supports her interpretation with a wealth of citations accompanied by insightful commentary. The "Humility" of her title is the thesis that we can have no knowledge of the intrinsic properties of things, which is Langton's gloss on the Kantian slogan that we can have no knowledge of things as they are in themselves. The central argument she finds in Kant for this thesis proceeds from premises to which I believe many contemporary philosophers would give their assent. It is therefore an argument to which we should give careful consideration.
Optimal choice of a surveillance operation using information theory

We consider the problem of choosing among a suite of potential reservoir surveillance operations. We frame the problem in terms of two questions: (1) Which surveillance operation is the most useful? (2) What is the expected value of the reduction in uncertainty in the reservoir variable J (e.g., cumulative oil production) that would be achieved if we were to conduct each surveillance operation to collect and history match the data obtained? Note that the objective is to answer these questions with an uncertain reservoir description and without any actual measurements. We propose a procedure based on information theory to answer these questions. We apply the proposed method to two simple problems, a nonlinear toy problem and a simple waterflooding problem. The results are verified by an exhaustive history-matching procedure, which is reasonably rigorous but very computationally demanding. We find that the mutual information approach is a fast and reliable alternative to the history-matching approach.
Robust Land–Ocean Contrasts in Energy and Water Cycle Feedbacks*

Abstract Building on recent observational evidence showing disproportionate increases in temperature and aridity over land in a warming climate, this study examines simulated land–ocean contrasts in fully coupled projections from the Third Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3) archive. In addition to the projection of disproportionate changes in temperature and moisture over land, the analysis reveals contrasts in clouds and radiative fluxes that play a key role in the eventual equilibration of the planetary energy budget in response to forcing. Despite differences in magnitude, the nature of the feedbacks governing the land–ocean contrast are largely robust across models, notwithstanding the large intermodel differences in cloud parameterizations, and suggest the involvement of fundamental constraints. The model responses are consistent with previously proposed ideas maintaining that relative humidity (RH) over land decreases with warming because precipitation and the hydrological cycle are gover...
On the coronae of rapidly rotating stars. III - An improved coronal rotation-activity relation in late type dwarfs

While it has previously been claimed that X-ray luminosity, or surface flux, varies as a power of the rotational velocity in G dwarfs, it is demonstrated that a single power law does not provide an acceptable fit to all the data. The data are describable by a power law, with a break in slope near a 12-day period which occurs at the same rotational period as the bifurcation in Vaughan and Preston's (1980) chromospheric study of G dwarfs. It is speculated that the two breaks are both related and due to a change in the stellar dynamo mode, which, at a rotation period of 12 days, corresponds to an age of one billion years for single G dwarfs.
Recent insights into neurofibromatosis type 1: clear genetic progress.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant neurogenetic disorder in which affected patients develop both benign and malignant tumors at an increased frequency.' Neurofibromatosis type 1 affects approximately 1 in 3000 individuals worldwide, without regard to sex, race, or ethnic background. The hallmark of the clinical disorder is the development of pigmentary lesions (cafe au lait spots, skinfold freckling, and Lisch nodules), distinctive skeletal lesions (sphenoid wing dysplasia and pseudoarthrosis), and tumors, such as optic pathway gliomas and neurofibromas. In addition to these clinical features, 40% to 60% of children with NF1 manifest specific learning disabilities, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and deficits in visuospatial processing.
Examining the problems of computer-based anxiety: a systemic approach

This paper describes the results of a large experiment that developed specific metrics for evaluating anxiety caused by computer-based information systems. The results suggest that this problem, especially prevalent among managers, may be one of the most significant ones in today's work-place. A three-step solution sequence is suggested, designed to recognize the problem and take full advantage of existing means for dealing with it efficiently.
Pharmacoeconomic implications of new therapies in sepsis.

Severe sepsis is a major healthcare problem, characterised by a high incidence, mortality and cost. New breakthroughs in treatment are quite diverse, including: (i) more effective regimens for generic, inexpensive broad anti-inflammatory agents (corticosteroids); (ii) a recombinant protein (drotrecogin-alfa [activated]); and (iii) a protocol-based treatment approach (early goal-directed therapy). Economic analyses of new sepsis agents should adopt the societal perspective, which requires prolonging the time horizon beyond that currently typically studied in sepsis trials, so that patient-centred outcomes can be more fully captured. Sepsis affects a very diverse group of patients, and if findings are to be generalisable, careful attention must be paid to study entry criteria and differences in effects and costs across different patient subgroups. Existing care patterns for sepsis are also quite diverse, with the consequence that the incremental effects on costs and outcomes could vary widely by practice pattern, again affecting generalisability. Furthermore, many sepsis patients receive multiple other therapies, which together with therapies under study may have varied and unintended, potentially costly or dangerous adverse effects, which could have a large influence on cost-effectiveness estimates. Finally, there are a number of large yet potentially hidden costs of sepsis, such as the long-term costs of managing patients who develop sepsis or the costs of introducing different interventions into clinical practice. Such costs must also be addressed in economic analyses. The search for new anti-sepsis strategies remains vigourous and exciting. We recommend wider incorporation of economic analyses into the study of potential new therapies, with appropriate attention to the caveats discussed above. Clinical demand to use new agents must be balanced against the economic consequences of their use.
Energy absorption and X-ray studies of kink formation in zinc single crystals

Abstract Kink formation in single crystals of zinc was studied dynamically and statically in such a manner that it was possible to measure the energy absorbed during the process. The experiments reveal that two consecutive stages are involved. 1. (a) A uniform bending of the crystal takes place accompanied by an absorption of energy. For the crystals with the pole of the basal plane at about 75° from the specimen axis the energy absorbed was 2.6 × 10 5 ergs; for 83° crystals the energy absorbed was 4.0 × 10 5 ergs. Laue patterns taken after the bending had occurred show asterism and a slight rotation of the basal plane. 2. (b) With an absorption of additional energy a sharp kink is produced. For the 75° crystals the additional energy was .7 × 10 5 ergs; for the 83° crystals the additional energy was 1.2 × 10 5 ergs. After the kink was formed the sections on either side of the kink became straight and relatively parallel. Asterism from these sections decreased in going from stage ( a ) to stage ( b ). Severe asterism was obtained from the kink. X-ray studies show, in agreement with Hess and Barrett, that the basal plane in the kink is rotated relative to the basal plane in the rest of the specimen, about an axis within the basal plane which is perpendicular to the active slip direction. In addition, the plane has bent about this axis. Finally, a qualitative dislocation model is presented which also is quite similar to that of Hess and Barrett.
Mechanism of benzylsuccinate synthase probed by substrate and isotope exchange.

Benzylsuccinate synthase catalyzes the first step in the anaerobic metabolism of toluene through an unusual reaction in which toluene is added to fumarate to produce (R)-benzylsuccinate. We have exploited the broad substrate range of the enzyme to demonstrate that the enzyme can catalyze the exchange of p-cresol with the benzyl portion of benzylsuccinate to form (4-hydroxybenzyl)-succinate, indicating that the reverse reaction (disproportionation of benzylsuccinate to toluene and fumarate) must have occurred. Even though the equilibrium constant for the reverse reaction is extremely unfavorable, Keq≈ 8 × 10-11 M at 4 °C, the enzyme catalyzes the reverse reaction at a rate only 250-fold slower than the forward reaction. Furthermore, using deuterium-labeled benzylsuccinate we observe partial exchange of deuterium with the solvent. This provides the first direct evidence that the migrating hydrogen is transferred to a labile site on the protein during catalysis, which is consistent with the participation of ...
Visualization of Endothelial Cell Structure During Machine Perfusion Preservation of Livers

The development of machine perfusion preservation (MPP) of kidney has led to significant improvements and greater success rates in kidney transplantation by providing superior preserved tissue and viable non-heart-beating donor tissue. However, machine perfusion of livers has not been successful in improving preservation. Currently, the major cause of damage associated with MPP of livers remains unclear. Previous studies showed increased vascular resistance and blockages during and after 24hrs MPP but no direct evidence existed. Utilizing a novel two colors fluorophores labeling, an intravital microscopic study was conducted to obtain real time images and confocal microscopy to get detailed images in order to correlate fluorescent-tagged endothelial cells (ECs) with red cell stasis. Fluorescein isothiocynate (FITC) was used to label red blood cells (RBCs) and DiI acetylated low-density lipoprotein (DiI acLDL) was used to mark ECs. Structure of ECs was recorded and assessed during 24hrs MPP with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution at 4°C with a flow rate of 4ml/min. Images recorded from intravital microscopy and confocal microscopy show ECs rounding over a period of 24 hrs and subsequent red blood cells stasis after 24hrs MPP and during rewarming.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The neutrino response of low-density neutron matter from the virial expansion

Abstract We generalize our virial approach to study spin-polarized neutron matter and the consistent neutrino response at low densities. In the long-wavelength limit, the virial expansion makes model-independent predictions for the density and spin response, based only on nucleon–nucleon scattering data. Our results for the neutrino response provide constraints for random-phase approximation or other model calculations, and we compare the virial vector and axial response to response functions used in supernova simulations. The virial expansion is suitable to describe matter near the supernova neutrinosphere, and this work extends the virial equation of state to predict neutrino interactions in neutron matter.
Acute retrograde dissection of the ascending thoracic aorta.

Abstract The clinical, aortographic and pathologic features of six patients with acute retrograde dissection of the ascending thoracic aorta are presented and appropriate guidelines for surgical treatment are proposed. Although acute dissection of the aorta was the clinical diagnosis in these patients, clinical features were not helpful in identifying the pattern or extent of dissection. Aortography demonstrated that the site or sites of intimal tear occurred adjacent to the origin of the innominate artery (three patients) or left subclavian artery (two patients); an intimal tear was not seen in one patient. Five of the six patients also had acute or chronic (or both) antegrade dissection of the descending thoracic aorta. Retrograde dissection of the ascending aorta occurred in the outer portion of the media. The primary histologic changes were fragmentation of elastic fibers and fibrosis of the media. Three patients died, including two of the five patients who were treated surgically; the other three patients survived. Immediate replacement of the ascending aorta with a Dacron graft is recommended to prevent lethal complications due to extension of retrograde dissection, even though dissection may involve both the ascending and descending aorta and the site of intimai disruption may not be resected. The aortic arch or descending thoracic aorta, or both, can be replaced later, utilizing total body hypothermia and temporary circulatory arrest, if further dis-section or enlargement of the aorta occurs after emergency operation on the ascending aorta.
Energy Harvesting From Arrays of Long Barium Titanate Nanowires

In this paper, a piezoelectric nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) is fabricated using newly developed ultra-long (∼45μm) aligned barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanowire (NW) arrays that exhibit piezoelectric behavior for harvesting mechanical vibrational energy. The novel BaTiO3 NW NEMS is fabricated to have resonance at frequencies below 500 Hz for efficient energy harvesting since ambient mechanical vibrations typically exists in the 1 Hz to 1 kHz range. The maximum AC power harvested from the BaTiO3 NEMS is evaluated by impedance matching at resonant frequency. In addition, NEMS energy harvester comprised of seedless solution grown aligned ZnO NW arrays is also fabricated and direct vibration excitation experiments are performed to determine the peak AC power at optimal load resistor. Here, we clearly report the superior power harvesting capability from long ferroelectric BaTiO3 NW arrays than semiconducting ZnO NWs for the same electrode area when excited with the same sinusoidal base acceleration of 1g RMS at resonant frequency.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Sleep deprivation amplifies striatal activation to monetary reward.

Background Sleep loss produces abnormal increases in reward seeking but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. The present study examined the influence of one night of sleep deprivation on neural responses to a monetary reward task in a sample of late adolescents/young adults. Method Using a within-subjects crossover design, 27 healthy, right-handed late adolescents/young adults (16 females, 11 males; mean age 23.1 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) following a night of sleep deprivation and following a night of normal sleep. Participants' recent sleep history was monitored using actigraphy for 1 week prior to each sleep condition. Results Following sleep deprivation, participants exhibited increased activity in the ventral striatum (VS) and reduced deactivation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during the winning of monetary reward, relative to the same task following normal sleep conditions. Shorter total sleep time over the five nights before the sleep-deprived testing condition was associated with reduced deactivation in the mPFC during reward. Conclusions These findings support the hypothesis that sleep loss produces aberrant functioning in reward neural circuitry, increasing the salience of positively reinforcing stimuli. Aberrant reward functioning related to insufficient sleep may contribute to the development and maintenance of reward dysfunction-related disorders, such as compulsive gambling, eating, substance abuse and mood disorders
Law of log determinant of sample covariance matrix and optimal estimation of differential entropy for high-dimensional Gaussian distributions

Differential entropy and log determinant of the covariance matrix of a multivariate Gaussian distribution have many applications in coding, communications, signal processing and statistical inference. In this paper we consider in the high-dimensional setting optimal estimation of the differential entropy and the log-determinant of the covariance matrix. We first establish a central limit theorem for the log determinant of the sample covariance matrix in the high-dimensional setting where the dimension p ( n ) can grow with the sample size n . An estimator of the differential entropy and the log determinant is then considered. Optimal rate of convergence is obtained. It is shown that in the case p ( n ) / n ? 0 the estimator is asymptotically sharp minimax. The ultra-high-dimensional setting where p ( n ) n is also discussed.
Effects of two insect growth regulators and a neonicotinoid on various life stages of Aphytis melinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

The effect of two insect growth regulators and a neonicotinoid insecticide were tested on immature stages and adults of the parasitoid Aphtyis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a key natural enemy of California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), in California. No significant effects of the insect growth regulators on survival or development to the adult stage were found when the parasitoid was treated at any of the egg, larval, or pupal stages. The broad-spectrum neonicotinoid acetamiprid also showed no significant effect on the development of A. melinus to the pupal stage, probably because immature stages of this ectoparasitoid are protected under the cover of its armored scale host. However, 48 h exposure of adults to acetamiprid residues following emergence resulted in high levels of wasp mortality. Aphytis melinus adults treated with either of the two insect growth regulators as larvae survived 48 h exposure to pesticide residues as adults and showed levels of fecundity comparable with control insects. We conclude that the two insect growth regulators are compatible with augmentative releases of A. melinus but that treatments of acetamiprid should be avoided in situations where biological control by this parasitoid is important.
A Monolothic 4-Channel/Stereophonic Decoder for an FM Broadcast System With Pilots

The General Electric Company has expanded the 2-channel FM stereo broadcast systeml into a discrete 4-channel system2,3,4, that is compatible with present day stereo and monaural receiver equipments. Future receiver systems designed to decode the discrete 4-channel signal must incorporate a low cost decoder which is also functionally compatible with monaural and stereo transmissions. Consideration in the design of the decoder include the format of the composite signal, desired performance levels, technology selection and cost.
Transfer of visible radiation in the atmosphere

Abstract The problem of the transfer of visible radiation in the terrestrial atmosphere is addressed from the visual-air-quality point-of-view. Attention is therefore focused on computations of the luminance, dominant wavelength, and spectral purity of the sky radiation requiring radiance values for a number of wavelengths in the 0.38–0.78 μm interval of the electromagnetic spectrum. These colorimetric parameters are determined, for five different plane-parallel atmospheric models, from values of the radiances at 23 unequally spaced wavelengths. The diffuse radiation is evaluated after taking into account all orders of scattering, but after neglecting the polarization aspects of the scattered radiation. The atmospheric models studied are for average, cloudfree, mid-latitude summer conditions, and vary from an aerosol-free, absorption-free model at one end to a model with a very large amount of aerosols and absorption by ozone, water vapor and oxygen at the other. These models are assumed to rest on a ground obeying Lambert's law of reflection. Discussion of results is confined to variations of the aforementioned colorimetric parameters as a function of the zenith angle of observation in a vertical plane passing through the sun and the observer, but for several positions of the sun, and for several atmospheric conditions. For a few selected cases, results obtained after including all orders of scattering are compared with those obtained after consideration of the first scattering of the incoming solar, and outgoing ground-reflected radiation. The main features of the sunlit sky for various cloud free atmospheric conditions and for various sun's positions are, qualitatively speaking, well-reproduced by the model calculations. Attention is drawn to the need for a detailed comparison of the colorimetric measurements taken simultaneously with the observations of various atmospheric parameters of crucial importance, and computations carried out with the input parameters representative of the experimental conditions; and also to the need for including absorption by other gases and sphericity of the earth-atmosphere system in future modeling studies.
An Experimental Study on the Effect of Adsorbing and Non-Adsorbing Block Sizes on Diblock Copolymer Adsorption.

To design diblock copolymers with optimum performance as stabilizers for colloidal dispersions, it is important to understand the relationships between surface coverage, layer thickness and block sizes. This work is an experimental study to gain this understanding using low polydispersity diblock copolymer of dimethyl amino ethyl methacrylate (DMAEM) and n-butyl methacrylate, adsorbed on narrow size distribution silica particles in 2-propanol. Both blocks are soluble in 2-propanol, whereas only DMAEM block adsorbs on silica in 2-propanol. With copolymers of constant degrees of polymerization of ca. 200 and ca. 700, our experimental results show that very steep maximums both in adsorbed amount and in hydrodynamic layer thickness exist. The existence of these maximums was first predicted by the self-consistent field theory using a lattice model. For the adsorption regime dominated by packing of the non-adsorbing block, the hydrodynamic layer thickness was found to scale on the order of 0.53, which is less that that of previous work.
Long-term retention under conditions of intentional learning and the keyword mnemonic

This study was designed to assess long-term retention following either keyword learning or rote rehearsal under conditions of intentional learning. A 2 condition (keyword vs. rote rehearsal) × time (immediate vs. delay) completely randomized design was used, with 24 Tagalog language nouns serving as the learning material. All subjects had uniformly high levels of retention on the immediate test of cued recall. However, on the delayed test of cued recall (2 days later), keyword learners had forgotten almost twice the number of items as had subjects who had rehearsed the same material by rote. Long-term forgetting was also greater for the keyword condition than for rote rehearsal when subjects were assessed by a test of associative matching. This pattern of results replicates earlier research that has revealed a detrimental long-term effect of the keyword mnemonic under conditions of incidental learning.
Magnitude of the negative summating potential varies with perilymph calcium levels

Abstract Previous results demonstrated that nimodipine, an l -type of Ca 2+ channel antagonist, abolished the negative summating potential (SP) recorded from anesthetized guinea pigs (Bobbin et al., 1990), suggesting that Ca 2+ is involved in generation of the negative SP. Therefore we examined the effect of changing concentrations of perilymph Ca 2+ on this cochlear potential. Perilymph spaces of guinea pig cochleae were perfused with artificial perilymph solutions containing zero mM Ca 2+ , zero mM Ca 2+ with 2 mM EGTA, 30 mM Mg 2+ and increasing levels of Ca 2+ (2, 4, 8, 16 mM) at a rate of 2.5 μl/min for 10 min. Immediately after each period of perfusion the compound action potential of the auditory nerve (CAP), cochlear microphonics (CM) and the negative SP evoked by 10 kHz tone bursts of varying intensities were recorded from a wire inserted in the basal turn scala vestibuli. Decreasing the level of Ca 2+ decreased the magnitude of the negative SP, whereas increasing the level of Ca 2+ progressively increased the magnitude of the negative SP. Mg 2+ (30 mM) suppressed the CAP to the same extent as zero mM Ca 2+ with 2 mM EGTA, but only slightly increased the magnitude of the negative SP. These results support the hypothesis that Ca 2+ and l -type Ca 2+ channels are involved in the function of the hair cells and the generation of the negative SP. Mg 2+ appears to be a selective antagonist of the Ca 2+ channel involved in transmitter release.
Identification of glutamine chain lengths of endogenous Folypoly-γ-glytamates in rat tissues

Abstract A simplified procedure for the determination of the glutamate chain lengths of endogenous tissue folate is described. Natural pteroylpoly-γ-glutamates in tissue extracts, irrespective of their one-carbon moiety, were converted by a reductive cleavage procedure to a homologous series of p -aminobenzoylpoly- γ -glutamates, differing only in glutamate chain length. Desalting and concentration of the extracts were achieved by absorbing the derivatives on active charcoal followed by their elution with ethanol: ammonia. Aminobenzoylpolyglutamates were separated by DEAE- cellulose chromatography and quantitated by a colorimetric procedure for primary aromatic amines. The major endogenous folates in rat liver and kidney were pteroylpentaglutamate derivatives with smaller amounts of pteroyltetra- and hexaglutamate.
Structures and strictures: Some functional limitations on the course of cognitive growth.

A functional (as opposed to structural) theory of intellectual development is presented, and used to generate specific performance models for Piagetian tasks involving the control of variables. On the basis of these models, it is concluded that intelligent, field independent 7- and 8-year-olds should be able to acquire the control of variables scheme, even though they have not yet acquired either conservation of weight or the combinatorial system. Preliminary data (n = 52) are presented to support this conclusion. They are discussed with regard to Piaget's formal theory of intellectual development, and the functional limitations of development on learning.
Two Wrongs Can Make a Right: Dimers of Prolactin and Growth Hormone Receptor Antagonists Behave as Agonists

Prolactin (PRL) and GH have two distinct binding sites (site 1 with high affinity; site 2 with low affinity) that each interact with a PRL receptor (PRLR) to form a functional receptor dimer that activates signal transduction. The G129R mutation in PRL and the G120R mutation in GH disrupt the structural integrity of site 2 such that the ligands retain the ability to bind to the first receptor with high affinity, but act as receptor antagonists. In this study, we examined the ability of monomeric and dimeric forms of these ligands, human (h) PRL and hGH, and their antagonists (hPRL-G129R and hGH-G120R) to 1) bind to PRLRs; 2) induce conformational changes in PRLRs; 3) activate signaling pathways associated with the PRLR; and 4) mediate cell proliferation in vitro. In contrast to monomeric hPRL-G129R, homodimeric hPRL-G129R induced PRLR dimerization; activated Janus family of tyrosine kinases 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, Ras/Raf/MAPK kinase/Erk, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling; and stimulated Nb2 cell proliferation. Similarly, homodimeric hGH-G120R was able to mediate signaling via the PRLR and to stimulate Nb2 cell proliferation. These experiments demonstrate that a ligand must have two functional binding sites, but that these may be site 1 plus site 2 or two site 1's, to elicit receptor-mediated signal transduction. The size of the ligand plays less of a role in receptor activation, suggesting that the extracellular portion of the PRLR (and possibly the GH receptor) is rather flexible and can accommodate larger ligands. These findings may have implications for designing multifunctional therapeutics that target this class of cytokine receptors.
Dental microwear variation in complete molars of Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus

Dental microwear analysis is an important addition to the field of paleoecology, and has proven useful for inferring dietary preferences in extant and extinct species. New techniques involving the use of low-magnification light microscopy have become very popular for use with large specimens that pose logistical problems for analysis with traditional scanning electron microscopy. In this study, the dental microwear of two complete molars from the extant elephants, Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus was examined using low magnification light microscopy. The African elephant molar had a higher percentage of scratches versus pits when compared to the Asian elephant. Previous studies on elephant teeth have examined only a sample area of each lamella, and based on this study, much variation is present within a single molar from anterior to posterior lamellae as well from buccal to lingual sides of these plates, and so analysis of a sample area of enamel may not be providing consistent information on diet preference.
Control of a biomolecular motor-powered nanodevice with an engineered chemical switch

The biophysical and biochemical properties of motor proteins have been well-studied, but these motors also show promise as mechanical components in hybrid nano-engineered systems1,2,3,4. The cytoplasmic F1 fragment of the adenosine triphosphate synthase (F1-ATPase) can function as an ATP-fuelled rotary motor4,5,6,7 and has been integrated into self-assembled nanomechanical systems as a mechanical actuator4,8. Here we present the rational design, construction and analysis of a mutant F1-ATPase motor containing a metal-binding site that functions as a zinc-dependent, reversible on/off switch. Repeated cycles of zinc addition and removal by chelation result in inhibition and restoration, respectively, of both ATP hydrolysis and motor rotation of the mutant, but not of the wild-type F1 fragment. These results demonstrate the ability to engineer chemical regulation into a biomolecular motor and represent a critical step towards controlling integrated nanomechanical devices at the single-molecule level.
Utility of bronchoalveolar lavage in assessing pneumonia in immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients

Abstract purpose: To determine if initial results obtained from diagnostic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in immunosuppressed renal transplant patients with pulmonary infiltrates, fever, or hypoxemia can affect therapeutic decisions, morbidity, and mortality. design: A retrospective study of all BAL specimens obtained from renal transplant patients from January 1985 through June 1991. Initial results of Gram stain, cytology, cell differential count, and semi-quantitative bacterial cultures, all available within 24 hours of bronchoscopy, were compared with clinical outcomes and final diagnosis. setting: University hospital nephrology-transplant/pulmonary service. patients: Seventy renal transplant patients with a suspected pneumonia were stratified into 3 groups. A total of 48 patients underwent 58 bronchoscopies. Group 1 was comprised of 32 BALS that yielded 1 or more infectious organisms and was considered diagnostic. Group 2 (n = 26) were those BALs in which no organism was isolated and were thus nondiagnostic. Twenty-two additional immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients with pneumonia were considered by the admitting transplant nephrologist to have an uncomplicated community-acquired lung infection and thus were empirically treated and did not undergo BAL (Group 3). methods: BAL fluid analysis included cell differential count, cytopathologic examination, and culture for mycobacteria, legionella, fungi, viruses, and bacteria using a semi-quantitative technique. Etiologic diagnosis and the time of onset of the infectious processes were recorded. Therapeutic outcome and mortality were determined for each group. results: Thirty-nine etiologic organisms were found in 32 patients, with 6 patients having more than 1 infection. Twenty-two patients had 26 negative BALs, and 8 of these patients were clinically believed to have a volume overload state. Eight of 13 (61%) patients with bacterial pneumonia had BAL neutrophil counts greater than 20%, whereas 11 of 13 (84%) patients without bacterial pneumonia had neutrophil counts less than 20% (p conclusion: BAL is a useful procedure in the diagnosis of an infectious process in immunosuppressed renal transplant patients where initial results can alter therapy in more than 70% of cases.
Self-tracking of carbon monoxide levels by smokers*

Self-tracking of carbon monoxide (CO) levels was assessed and trained in three current smokers. Single subject withdrawal-reinstatement (ABAB) designs were employed to evaluate the effects of verbal feedback (as to actual CO levels) on subjects' CO estimates. Alveolar CO measures and estimates were obtained from three to five times per day for each subject. Results indicated that with feedback, subjects could be taught to accurately track their CO levels. Further, with sufficient practice, this improved discrimination could be maintained in the absence of feedback. Results are discussed in terms of the potential utility of CO feedback training in a self-management approach to controlling smoking risk.
High-resolution electron microscope study of the grain boundary phase in rapidly quenched Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet alloys

The grain boundary phase in rapidly quenched Nd- Fe- B magnets has been characterized by high- resolution transmission electron microscopy. The grain boundary phase structure is the same in both isotropic and oriented magnets; it is ordered face- centered cubic with a lattice parameter of 5.58 A. The composition of this phase has not been determined directly, but is most likely a Nd/Fe ratio of 3, with possibly some interstitial B. In both isotropic and oriented magnets, some grain boundaries are completely free of any second phase, and when the grain boundary phase is present, its thickness is highly variable.