cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retrospective evaluation of a dose-dependent effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on long-term outcome in dogs with cardiac disease.

Background Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are commonly prescribed in dogs, but the ideal dosage is unknown. Hypothesis/objectives In dogs with cardiac disease, a dose-response relationship exists for ACEIs with respect to long-term outcome. Animals One hundred forty-four dogs with cardiac disease, 63 with current or prior congestive heart failure. Methods Retrospective medical record review. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine variables associated with 2-year survival or survival from first-onset congestive heart failure (CHF). Results Median initial ACEI dosage was 0.84 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.56-0.98) mg/kg/day, and 108/144 (75%) of dogs received q12h dosing. No clinically relevant changes in renal function test results, serum electrolyte concentrations, or blood pressure occurred between initial prescription of ACEI and first reevaluation (median, 14 days later). In univariable analysis, higher ACEI dose was associated with increased survival from first-onset CHF (P = .005), and within the subgroup of dogs in CHF at the time of ACEI prescription, higher ACEI dose was associated with improved survival at 2 years (P = .04). In multivariable analysis, q12h dose frequency of ACEI (hazard ratio [HR], 0.30; 95% CI, 0.10-0.88; P = .03) and higher serum potassium concentration at visit 1 (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16-0.97; P = .04) were predictive of 2-year survival. The ACEIs were well-tolerated, with only 8/144 (5.6%) dogs having ACEI dose decreased or discontinued because of adverse effects. Conclusions and clinical importance Twice daily dose frequency might optimize the cardioprotective benefit of ACEIs.
Critical Engagement: Lessons Learned and Implications for HRD About Black Male Faculty Leadership in Higher Education:

The ProblemLimited discussions of the Black male as a leader has taken place in the human resource development literature. Hence, racialization, the process of constructing and attaching meaning to...
Are Attitudes Toward Work Changing? A Note

In response to recent claims that the young are "dropping out" of the work force this paper takes up the question of attitudes toward work. In doing so it offers a consideration of what "work" is widely understood to mean, considers that meaning in light of Robert Merton's analysis of societal expectations and the range of possible responses to them, and examines a variety of data (polls and other direct less indicators of attitude and activity) in an attempt to consider the actuality of that response. Ultimately it argues that conformity to traditional expectations regarding economic advancement may have suffered in the wake of the economic and socioeconomic setbacks of recent decades, among the young especially, and more broadly the population at large.
Four Notes on John Broome’s ‘Rationality versus Normativity’

I argue that Broome's view of the distinction between rationality and normativity needs more to be said for it to be preferable to more mundane views that connect reasons and rationality more intim...
Professor-driven, student-driven, and client-driven design projects

This paper suggests some of the advantages that students may gain from their design project experience. It also suggests the likely special advantages of professor-driven, student-driven, and client-driven projects. A design project in which the specifications are chosen by the professor is valuable in allowing students to apply what they have learned in a course. Such projects are also likely to be adequately challenging to the students. A design project in which the project and its specifications are chosen by the student is valuable in permitting the student to explore his or her interests. It has a good chance of being within the student's capabilities, and is likely to raise the student's self confidence, and be enjoyed by the student. A design project in which the specifications are determined mainly by a client's needs will likely draw on more than what is taught in any one class. It will impose constraints and pressures preparing a student for a job involving design, including time pressures, cost containment pressures, and pressures of meeting important specifications. It will tend to encourage students to brainstorm for ideas and to consider alternative designs. It will tend to encourage adequate testing of the product. It may involve some opportunity for negotiation over the specifications. It will help the student acquire the habit of maintaining a customer focus. The paper concludes that there is no optimum type of design project for all purposes. It suggests that such a mix is likely to be challenging, of interest to the student, and likely to involve realistic design pressures.
Expatriation in the hotel industry: An exploratory study of management skills and cultural training

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the following expatriate issues as related to the hospitality industry, from the perspective of practitioners: the most important management skills hotel expatriates should possess, whether these skills vary by the country of origin of the expatriate and parent company, and the most effective cross‐cultural training activities provided by hotel companies.Design/methodology/approach – Data for this exploratory study was obtained from a sample of 66 respondents from lodging organizations with membership in the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH & RA). Data was collected by means of self‐administered, web‐based surveys.Findings – Participants in this study indicate that expatriate management skills vary in importance for hotel expatriates. The results of the analysis of variance demonstrate that the importance placed on the different expatriate management skills varies based on country of origin of both the expatriate and the parent compan...
A novel valanimycin-resistance determinant (vlmF) from Streptomyces viridifaciens MG456-hF10

A novel valanimycin-resistance determinant (vlmF) was isolated from a cosmid containing Streptomyces viridifaciens DNA that leads to valanimycin production in Streptomyces lividans. Expression of the vlmF gene in both Escherichia coli and S. lividans provided valanimycin resistance. The nucleotide sequence of vlmF consists of 1206 bp and the deduced amino acid sequence encodes a polypeptide with 12 putative transmembrane-spanning segments and a calculated pI of 10·1. VlmF shows significant similarities to other known or putative transmembrane efflux proteins that confer antibiotic resistance, but it appears to be specific for valanimycin. The sequence similarities suggest that VlmF is a member of the DHA12 family within the major facilitator superfamily of transport proteins and that it is probably involved in active valanimycin efflux energized by a proton-dependent electrochemical gradient.
An Introduction to Plant Structure and Development: Periderm, rhytidome, and the nature of bark

Perspective Except in the very youngest regions, the stems and roots of woody plants (specifically, gymnosperms and dicotyledons) are covered by bark consisting of the functional secondary phloem and rhytidome, a complex tissue comprised of successively formed periderms, often of overlapping shell-like morphology, between which are enclosed dead cortical and/or phloem tissues. The outer covering of stems of large monocots differs from that of woody dicotyledons and will be discussed later. The outer bark, consisting primarily of rhytidome, is a protective layer which restricts entrance of both insects and microorganisms and also protects the inner living tissues from temperature extremes. It also inhibits water loss through evaporation, but at the same time allows gaseous exchange through specialized regions in the periderm called lenticels. In addition it supplements the secondary xylem in stiffening young stems (Niklas, 1999), thus, contributing to their ability to withstand the bending forces exerted by excessive wind and/or the weight of ice. Periderm: structure and development Periderm consists of phellem and phelloderm, both derived from a single-layered secondary meristem, the phellogen (Fig. 13.1a, b). Cells of the phellogen are tabular, radially thin, somewhat elongate, and polygonal as viewed tangentially. In many plants the phellogen forms at about the same level in the stem and at about the same time as the vascular cambium. The site of its initiation is highly variable but often is an outer layer of cortical parenchyma one or two layers beneath the epidermis (Fig. 13.1b).
Nonencapsulated Variant of Cryptococcus neoformans I. Virulence Studies and Characterization of Soluble Polysaccharide

A weakly virulent nonencapsulated variant of Cryptococcus neoformans is described. The chemical structure and antigenicity of the soluble polysaccharides produced by the variant strain and a typical virulent strain were compared. The soluble polysaccharides produced by both strains were composed of the same constituent monosaccharides; however, the virulent strain produced a polysaccharide having a greater uronic acid content and a larger molecular size than that of the variant strain. Soluble polysaccharides from the two strains are not closely related immunologically. Soluble polysaccharide obtained from the virulent strain did not affect persistence of the variant strain in mice.
Activation of c-myc Gene Expression by Tumor-Derived p53 Mutants Requires a Discrete C-Terminal Domain

Wild-type p53 plays a key role in tumor suppression by monitoring DNA damage and executing pathways that negatively control cell growth, either by blocking cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle or by inducing apoptosis (for a review, see reference 51). Wild-type p53 regulates these processes, at least in part, by functioning as a transactivator of gene expression. Wild-type p53 binds DNA in a sequence-specific fashion and interacts with various components of the transcription complex (22, 43, 48) to activate the expression of target genes associated with either growth arrest (Waf1 and GADD45) or cell death (Bax) (8, 18, 26). Tumor suppressors are formally defined by a loss of function involved in blocking tumor progression. Consistent with this definition, naturally occurring mutants of p53 are generally defective in sequence-specific DNA binding and consequently do not induce the appropriate target genes, cause cell cycle arrest, or mediate cell death (51). However, in contrast to a classical tumor suppressor, mutation of the p53 gene leads not only to a loss of function but also to a gain of function that promotes the tumorigenicity of various p53-null cell types. Overexpression of mutant p53 in pre-B cells (37, 38, 44), fibroblasts (6), and osteosarcomas (42) dramatically enhances the tumorigenicity of these cells independent of a transdominant negative mechanism. In addition, stable expression of naturally occurring mutant p53 alleles in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells increases tissue invasiveness and enhances tumor formation (15). The gain of function for mutant p53 is also supported by the findings that mutant p53 selectively transactivates several viral and cellular promoters, including the human MDR1 promoter, that are not regulated or are repressed by wild-type p53 (3, 5, 6, 12, 21). Importantly, enhancement of tumorigenicity by mutant p53 correlates with its ability to localize to the nucleus (37) and to transactivate the MDR1 promoter (21), as point mutation in the acidic domain of mutant p53 abolishes its transactivation and tumor-promoting functions. The high frequency of p53 mutations in human cancer and the data indicating that mutant p53 promotes tumorigenicity warrant a detailed analysis of the molecular mechanism of the gain of function of mutant p53 and the cellular targets that may be regulated by this activity. The studies presented here demonstrate that mutant p53 regulates endogenous c-myc gene expression and promoter activity and provide insight into the mechanism of mutant p53 transactivation. These results lead to the novel hypotheses that mutant p53 transactivates the c-myc gene through a single-strand DNA or RNA intermediate and that c-myc is an important target in mutant p53-mediated tumorigenicity.
An integrated computational model of an autonomous, visually guided undersea vehicle

This paper reports progress made on the development of a computational model of a visually guided autonomous underwater vehicle. The model is based on knowledge obtained from laboratory studies in psychophysics and neurophysiology as well as on new developments in computer science. It is embodied in a computer simulation of a predatory SWIMMER-an underwater creature capable of finding food in its simulated undersea world on the basis of an excellent understanding of its visual and spatial environment. Brief discussions of the visual image processing, decision making, and navigational aspects of the simulation are presented. The work can be considered to be either a psychological theory of visual perception or an initial step leading to functional programming for autonomous visual control of an underwater vehicle. >
Decrease of CD4+ T-lymphocytes in children exposed to environmental lead.

The effects of environmental lead on the immune system of young children were assessed by determining the peripheral blood lymphocytes CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, B(CD19+) counts, and natural killer (CD16+ CD56+) cells in 35 preschool children whose mean blood lead level was 140.6 μg/L. The results were compared to an age- and sex-matched control group with a mean blood lead level of 64.3 μg/L. Compared to the controls, a significant reduction in the percentage of CD4+ cells and a significant increase of CD8+ cells were seen in the high-lead group. The negative correlation between the percentage of CD4+ cells and blood lead levels was found to be significant (p<0.01). These results suggest that exposure to environmental lead might result in alterations in the immune function of young children.
Scale-dependent fractal dimensions of topographic surfaces: An empirical investigation, with applications in geomorphology and computer mapping

Fractional Brownian surfaces have been widely discussed as an appropriate model for the statistical behavior of topographic surfaces. The fractals model proposes that topographic surfaces are statistically self-similar, and that a single parameter, the fractal dimension, applies at all scales. This paper presents the results of empirical examinations of 17 topographic samples. Only one of these samples shows the statistical behavior predicted by the fractals model; however, in 15 of the 17 samples, the surfaces' variograms could be adequately described by ranges of scales having constant fractal dimension, separated by distinct scale breaks. For scale ranges between adjacent breaks, surface behavior should be that predicted by the fractals model; the breaks represent characteristic horizontal scales, at which surface behavior changes substantially. These scale breaks are especially important for cartographic representations and digital elevation models, since they represent scales at which there is a distinct change in the relation between sampling interval and the associated error.
Adjusting for Response Error in Panel Surveys: A Latent Class Approach

Estimation of the current distribution of labor force characteristics, as well as individual-level changes in these characteristics, is threatened in the Current Population Survey (CPS) by “rotation group bias.” Similar problems are likely to arise in other surveys that use a rotating panel format (e.g., the Survey of Income and Program Participation—SIPP) or are forced to administer questionnaires in different formats from wave to wave for some fraction of the sample. This article presents an analysis of response error (misclassification error) in the CPS that reconciles observed differences among rotation groups, and we propose that the same general approach can be used to model response bias in other panel surveys such as SIPP. It is hypothesized that the greater prevalence of unemployment observed in the initial CPS interview arises from errors in classifying individuals into labor force statuses. Multiple-group latent class models are developed for the November 1979 CPS file that estimate (1) the “tr...
Assessing Typographic Knowledge Using Timed Tests

While researchers and instructors of technical and professional communication have embraced the importance of visual communication skills in recent years, little systematic effort has been made to develop assessment instruments that measure visual design skills. This paper presents a project that examines timed tests as a means of measuring a student's ability to solve design problems. The process and rationale for the test designs and the results of a series of empirical studies are discussed. The results of the studies suggest that timed tests can be a viable complement to the project-oriented assessment approach suggested by prior studies.
Exploration of conjugate addition routes to advanced tricyclic components of mangicol A

Two synthetic approaches to the cytotoxic marine natural product known as mangicol A are described. The starting material common to both pathways is the cyclopentenonecarboxylate 11. The first tactic involves the 1,4-addition to 11 of the cuprate derivable from iodide 10, while the second proceeds via base-promoted conjugate addition of the regiospecifically generated enolate anion of 41. The first strategy proceeds by a series of efficient steps to tricyclic aldol 21 and subsequently to β-diketone 7. The latter proved to be totally unresponsive to schemes aimed at introduction of a butenyl group. The second approach involves earlier introduction of this substituent as realized in stereocontrolled fashion via transition state 42. While further passage to 44 proved uneventful, this advanced intermediate and analogs thereof proved remarkably recalcitrant to cyclization in the precedented fashion. In no instance was generation of a suitable product realized. These studies serve to underscore the extent to which steric considerations can complicate matters and the extent to which they must be skirted. Finally, a direct enantioselective route to the side chain aldehyde 2 is detailed.
Dissociating contextual and semantic priming in object recognition

Biederman, I. Mezzano@e, R.J., & Rabinowitz, J. (1982). Scene percepLon: DetecLng and judging objects undergoing relaLonal violaLons. Cogni&ve Psychology, 14, 143-­‐177. Gronau, N., Neta, M., & Bar, M. (2008). Integrated contextual representaLon for objects’ idenLLes and their locaLons. Journal of Cogni&ve Neuroscience, 20(3), 371-­‐388. Palmer, S.E. (1975). The effects of contextual scenes on the idenLficaLon of objects. Memory & Cogni&on, 3(5), 519-­‐526. Neuroscience, 23(5), 1263-­‐1273. This work was supported by DARPA N10AP20036, NIH 1R01EY019477-­‐01 and NSF 0842947. These findings suggest that individual objects activate both contextual and semantic associations to facilitate recognition of related objects. Also, contextual and semantic associations among objects can be reliably distinguished. It is important to further examine the differences and commonalities in the mechanisms that subserve contextual and semantic relations. Ra2ng Judge if the target shows a common object or an abstract sculpture
Effects of REM sleep deprivation on a multiple schedule of appetitive reinforcement

The effects of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation (REMSD) on appetitively reinforced responding by rats was studied in two experiments. In Experiment 1, a lever press was maintained on a baseline multiple FR 30 FI 60-s schedule of reinforcement that was reestablished after each experimental manipulation. Animals were then repeatedly exposed to 24, 48, or 96 h of REMSD and equivalent periods of tank control and cage control conditions. For all animals responding was reduced only after 96 h of REMSD, but tolerance to REMSD developed following repeated exposures. Experiment 2, replicated the procedures of Experiment 1 except that the apparatus was modified to prevent ad libitum access to REMSD during operant sessions. Animals were repeatedly exposed to 96 h of REMSD and equivalent periods of tank control and cage control conditions. No reduction in responding was observed in Experiment 2. The current findings, in conjunction with previous research, suggest that REMSD may have qualitatively different effects on responding maintained by positive versus negative reinforcement.
High Rayleigh Number Laminar Natural Convection in an Asymmetrically Heated Vertical Channel

Experiments have been performed to determine local heat transfer data for the natural convective flow of air between vertical parallel plates heated asymmetrically. A uniform heat flux was imposed along one heated wall, with the opposing wall of the channel being thermally insulated. Local temperature data along both walls were collected for a wide range of heating rates and channel wall spacings corresponding to the high modified Rayleigh number natural convection regime. Laminar flow prevailed in all experiments. Correlations are presented for the local Nusselt number as a function of local Grashof number along the channel. The dependence of both average Nusselt number and the maximum heated wall temperature on the modified Rayleigh number is also explored. Results are compared to previous analytical and experimental work with good agreement.
Using Chemical Release Surveillance Data to Evaluate the Public Health Impacts of Chlorine and Its Alternatives

Background: More than 80 million Americans may be at risk of a chemical exposure because they live near one of the 101 most hazardous chemical facilities or near routes used to transport hazardous chemicals. One approach to hazard reduction is to use less toxic alternatives. Chlorine, one of the chemicals posing the greatest public health danger, has several alternatives depending on the application. Methods: We analyzed data collected during 1993-2008 by 17 state health departments participating in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (ATSDR) active chemical incident surveillance program. We conducted descriptive analyses to evaluate whether five chlorine alternatives (calcium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, sodium chlorate, sodium hydrosulfite, and sodium hypochlorite) resulted in less severe incidents. We used chi square and z-score analyses to test significance, where appropriate. Results: During 1993-2008, 2040 incidents involved chlorine, and 1246 incidents involved chlorine alternatives. Nearly 30% of chlorine releases resulted in injured persons, as compared to 13% of chlorine alternatives that resulted in injury. Although similar proportions of persons injured in chlorine or chlorine alternative releases were treated on scene (18% and 14%, respectively) and at a hospital (58% and 60%, respectively), there was a greater proportion of hospital admissions following chlorine releases than there was following releases of chlorine alternatives (10 % vs. 4%) (p Conclusion: Exposures to these five potential chlorine alternatives resulted in a lower proportion of exposed persons requiring hospital admission. To reduce acute public health injuries associated with chemical exposures, users should consider a chlorine alternative when such a substitution is reasonable.
A SURVEY OF PAST AND PRESENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH IN EAST AFRICA

Summary The survey involved visits throughout East Africa to contact those concerned with wildlife research, as well as a review of the available literature. This paper presents the results of the survey. Wildlife research in East Africa is not a unified field and pertinent data come from a variety of disciplines. Broadly speaking there are four major types of research involving wildlife that have been or are being carried out in East Africa: 1. Observations on natural history; 2. Taxonomic and distributional studies; 3. Research in other fields which happens to involve wildlife; 4. Systematic research focused on wildlife itself. To facilitate the use of this report the information on research projects and research workers has been presented under a series of subject headings, as follows: background and early references (p. 62), techniques (p. 63), taxonomy and nomenclature (p. 66), distribution and habitat preferences (p. 67), studies on individual species of large herbivores (p. 67), studies of predators (p. 69), ecological studies, including those of groups of associated animals (p. 69), population dynamics (p. 70), carrying capacity and biomass (p. 71), movements (p. 71), nutrition (p. 72), anatomy and physiology (p. 73), diseases and parasites (p. 73), small mammals (p. 75), birds (p. 75), reptiles (p. 75), primates (p. 76), vermin (p. 76), co-ordination and publication of research (p. 76). Some studies of course appear under more than one heading. Within each heading the research is presented in chronological order. References, where available, are cited and the location of reports, files and sources of further information on each subject is noted.
Smart-grid security issues

This article has given a broadbrush description of issues related to smart-grid security. Designing solutions in at this stage, before widespread deployment, would be beneficial; in some cases solutions exist, whereas in others research investments will be needed. Several open questions about goals still require discussion, especially around such topics as how (and how much) privacy can be supported.
Role of Cognitively Stimulating Home Environment in Children's Academic Intrinsic Motivation: A Longitudinal Study

The short- and long-term, and direct and indirect, relations between cognitively stimulating home environment and academic intrinsic motivation were investigated in a longitudinal study from childhood through early adolescence. Structural equations modeling was used to test the hypothesis that home environment positively predicts academic intrinsic motivation over this period. It was also hypothesized that home environmental processes would positively predict motivation controlling for socioeconomic status (SES). When children were age 8, home environment (comprising both direct observations and parent report) and SES were measured. Academic intrinsic motivation was assessed at ages 9, 10, and 13. Results supported the hypotheses. Home environment had statistically positive and significant, direct and indirect paths to academic intrinsic motivation from childhood through early adolescence, indicating both short- and long-term effects across these ages. Moreover, home environment was significant above and beyond SES. The findings revealed that children whose homes had a greater emphasis on learning opportunities and activities were more academically intrinsically motivated.
The labeling with 8-azido-cyclic adenosine monophosphate of proteins in vesicles of sarcoplasmic reticulum from rabbit skeletal muscle.

Abstract Photoinduced labeling with 8-azido-cyclic AMP of proteins in vesicles from sarcoplasmic reticulum rabbit skeletal muscle has been examined. At concentrations of 0.1 μM or less, specific labeling of three or four bands, representing trace components in the SDS gels, was seen. This labeling was prevented by cyclic AMP. Some of these bands correspond approximately in apparent molecular weight to subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases reported in other systems. Attempts to use this reagent as a probe for protein position in the membrane have been unsuccessful since 8-azido-cyclic AMP passes into and through the membrane. The reagent also appears to partition with a linear concentration dependence into the vesicular membrane itself, presumably into the lipid portion.
Barriers between mental health services and Mexican Americans: An examination of a paradox

The paradox of underutilization of mental health services by Mexican Americans is critically examined. It is argued that Mexican Americans live under high levels of psychological and environmental stress that would ordinarily lead to mental health problems and an increased utilization of mental health services. A number of barriers to the use of mental health services by Mexican Americans are examined. Included among these barriers are such factors as the relationship between social class and treatment offered, stereotypes concerning Mexican American folk psychiatry, limitations imposed by language differences, and the effects of stereotypes between Anglo Americans and Mexican Americans. Paradoxical findings in some studies which show a positive perception of mental health services by Mexican Americans are seen to further underscore the need for more research on the Mexican American's position. Stereotypes and generalizations about Spanish-speaking and bilingual Mexican American's approaches to psychotherapy are challenged in the light of recent empirical findings. Recommendations for future research directions and for improving the delivery of mental health services are presented.
A numerical method for long time solutions of integro-differential systems in multiphase flow

Abstract A numerical method to solve a class of intego-differential equations asociated with multiphase flow problems is described. The system has at least two time scales, a normal time and a long time. As an initial value problem, the solution is aperiodic in the normal time and approaches a periodic oscillation over a long time. The numerical method is designed to give accurate calculations over the long time. The method is efficient, saving storage space and computational time. Sample numerical calculations and numerical convergence checks are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and the accuracy of the method. The system considered describes the forced nonlinear oscillations of a gas bubble in a liquid. We present a systematic numerical study of the phenomenon of the slow growth of the mean bubble radius to a steady value over a long time. The correlation between the phenomena of a sudden burst of large amplitude and resonance in the forced oscillations (at subcritical frequencies) is also studied.
Melt processing of SWCNT-polyimide nanocomposite fibers

Melt processing of SWCNT/Ultem nanocomposite fibers was demonstrated for fibers containing up to 1 wt% SWCNTs. High-resolution electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to evaluate the quality of SWCNT dispersion. SWCNT alignment in the fiber direction was induced by shear forces present during the melt extrusion and fiber drawing processes. This alignment resulted in significantly higher tensile moduli and yield stress in SWCNT/Ultem nanocomposite fibers relative to unoriented nanocomposite films having the same SWCNT concentration.
μ-analysis and synthesis for the uncertainties in static load modeling

Abstract The majority of loads in stability analysis are modeled as static. Choice of load representation characteristics greatly influences stability study results, as well as conventional power system controller design. But it is very hard to identify the exact proportion of load composition. Such inaccuracy may result in poor or even degrading control influence. In this paper, we represent the static load as the composition of constant power, constant current, and constant impedance. We then formulate the load representation inaccuracy into structured uncertainty. Finally we employ the structured singular value ( μ ) analysis and synthesis, which is a newly developed robust control method, to design and analyze the robust controller for TCSC. This controller has low order and can work well under different static load modeling. This controller design scheme is practical in the sense that it can adapt to a wide range of system parameters without significant increase in complexity.
Hyperfine Structure of Many Atomic Levels of Tb 1 5 9 and the Tb 1 5 9 Nuclear Electric-Quadrupole Moment

The hyperfine structure and ${g}_{J}$ values of the 17 lowest-lying atomic levels of ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{159}$ have been measured by the atomic-beam magnetic-resonance technique. Two of the three levels studied in the $4{f}^{9}6{s}^{2}$ configuration had not been seen before, and the present work in $4{f}^{8}5d6{s}^{2}$ provides the first hyperfine-structure information obtained for 11 of the 14 levels studied. The results are analyzed in detail by use of the best eigenvectors available and the effective-operator formalism. After making suitable corrections for hfs and Zeeman interactions with neighboring atomic states, values for a number of radial integrals are deduced by treating them as adjustable parameters. The value obtained for the electric-quadrupole moment of the ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{159}$ nuclear ground state is $Q({\mathrm{Tb}}^{159})=+1.34\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.11$ b, in good agreement with earlier results. This value of $Q$ has been corrected for Sternheimer shielding effects in both the $4f$ and $5d$ electron shells; it results from least-squares fits to the quadrupole hfs measurements in all 17 atomic states studied in both configurations.
Does the Sun work as a nuclear fusion amplifier of planetary tidal forcing? A proposal for a physical mechanism based on the mass-luminosity relation

Abstract Numerous empirical evidences suggest that planetary tides may influence solar activity. In particular, it has been shown that: (1) the well-known 11-year Schwabe sunspot number cycle is constrained between the spring tidal period of Jupiter and Saturn, ∼ 9.93 year, and the tidal orbital period of Jupiter, ∼ 11.86 year, and a model based on these cycles can reconstruct solar dynamics at multiple time scales ( Scafetta, in press ); (2) a measure of the alignment of Venus, Earth and Jupiter reveals quasi 11.07-year cycles that are well correlated to the 11-year Schwabe solar cycles; and (3) there exists a 11.08 year cyclical recurrence in the solar jerk-shock vector, which is induced mostly by Mercury and Venus. However, Newtonian classical physics has failed to explain the phenomenon. Only by means of a significant nuclear fusion amplification of the tidal gravitational potential energy dissipated in the Sun, may planetary tides produce irradiance output oscillations with a sufficient magnitude to influence solar dynamo processes. Here we explain how a first order magnification factor can be roughly calculated using an adaptation of the well-known mass-luminosity relation for main-sequence stars similar to the Sun. This strategy yields a conversion factor between the solar luminosity and the potential gravitational power associated to the mass lost by nuclear fusion: the average estimated amplification factor is A ≈ 4.25 × 10 6 . We use this magnification factor to evaluate the theoretical luminosity oscillations that planetary tides may potentially stimulate inside the solar core by making its nuclear fusion rate oscillate. By converting the power related to this energy into solar irradiance units at 1 AU we find that the tidal oscillations may be able to theoretically induce an oscillating luminosity increase from 0.05–0.65 W/m 2 to 0.25–1.63 W/m 2 , which is a range compatible with the ACRIM satellite observed total solar irradiance fluctuations. In conclusion, the Sun, by means of its nuclear active core, may be working as a great amplifier of the small planetary tidal energy dissipated in it. The amplified signal should be sufficiently energetic to synchronize solar dynamics with the planetary frequencies and activate internal resonance mechanisms, which then generate and interfere with the solar dynamo cycle to shape solar dynamics, as further explained in Scafetta (in press) . A section is devoted to explain how the traditional objections to the planetary theory of solar variation can be rebutted.
Manipulating public health research: the nuclear and radiation health establishments.

AbstractIndustry, government, and the military have systematically suppressed or manipulated epidemiologic research showing detrimental effects on human health from accidental to occupational exposures to ionizing radiation. This leads to conflicts of interest and compromised integrity among scientists in the radiation health establishment, it stifles dissemination of “unwelcome;” findings and endangers public health.
Cardiac CT in Asymptomatic Patients at Risk

Atherosclerosis is a systemic process that can develop as early as the second or third decade of life. A significant percentage of patients who experience acute coronary syndromes often have non-obstructive coronary artery disease and thus cannot be diagnosed by their symptoms or conventional functional stress testing. It has been proposed that early detection of atherosclerosis would generate novel opportunities for primary prevention through changes in lifestyle or even through drug therapy, especially in patients at high cardiovascular risk. Calcium scoring is a simple, reproducible, and widely available test that has been extensively validated over the past two decades. In this article, the utility of calcium scoring and the potential application of CT coronary angiography in asymptomatic patients at risk are reviewed.
Accurate measurement of aerosol electric mobility moments

Abstract A procedure for the accurate determination of moments of aerosol electric mobility distributions was developed. The main apparatus required is a carefully constructed Hewitt (differential) electric mobility analyzer. The method does not require vanishingly small aerosol flow rates to obtain accuracy. The procedure may be considered a primary standard measurement technique, since no calibration with particles of known characteristics is required. One application of the procedure is the determination of the mean and standard deviation of particle size for near-monodisperse aerosols. As an illustration, a Dow LS- 1117-B polystyrene latex aerosol was analyzed. The mean and standard deviation of the particle diameter were found to be 0·80 and 0·018 μm, respectively. The accuracy of the mean dia. determination is estimated to be 2 per cent.
Heterogeneity of GABAA receptor in goldfish retina.

The possibility of GABAA receptor heterogeneity in goldfish retina was studied with immunocytochemical and biochemical approaches: (1) immunoblotted membrane particulates of goldfish retina with mAb 62-3G1; (2) immunoprecipitation of the detergent-solubilized membrane proteins with mAb 62-3G1 followed by the receptor binding assay; (3) photoaffinity labeling of the membrane particulates with 3H-flunitrazepam (FNZ) and visualization of the labeled receptors by SDS-PAGE and fluorography; (4) dry autoradiography of 3H-muscimol and 3H-FNZ binding sites on frozen sections. Immunoblots showed that 62-3G1 reacted with 55–57.5 kDa Mr polypeptides, similar to the muscimol-binding subunit of the receptor complex in bovine brain; while 3H-FNZ photoaffinity labeled the 52.5 kDa and 41–43 kDa Mr polypeptides. Immunoprecipitated receptors bound only 3H-muscimol, not 3H-FNZ. An attempt to precipitate the 3H-FNZ photolabeled polypeptides failed. Dry autoradiography showed 3H-PNZ binding only in the inner plexiform layer (IPL); the binding was enhanced with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and blocked by clonazepam. In contrast, 3H-muscimol was bound in both the outer plexiform layer (OPL) and IPL, similar to that observed with 62-3G1 immunocytochemistry. We suggest that there are two subtypes of GABAA receptor in the goldfish retina: (1) GABAA receptors that are not linked to a benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor are located in the OPL and at amacrine-to-amacrine and amacrine-to-ganglion cell synapses in the IPL and are recognized by 62-3G1; (2) GABAA receptors that are linked to a BZD receptor are located only in the IPL, largely at amacrine-to-bipolar cell synapses and are not recognized by mAb 62-3G1. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Facilitation of transmitter release in the urinary bladders of neonatal and adult rats via α1-adrenoceptors

Age-dependent changes in the effects of the alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine were investigated on neurally evoked contractile responses and basal tone in smooth muscle strips from rat urinary bladder. Phenylephrine facilitated the neurogenic contractions in both neonatal and 7-month-old adult rats. However, phenylephrine increased the basal tone in adult but not neonatal rats. In adult rats, phenylephrine-induced facilitation of neurally evoked contractions occurred before and after the block of cholinergic contractions with 1 microM atropine. In adult rats, the phenylephrine facilitation was reduced at stimulation parameters (20 Hz, 80 shocks and maximal voltage) which activated muscarinic receptor mediated facilitation of acetylcholine release. The results indicate that pre-synaptic alpha1-adrenoceptors facilitate the release of both acetylcholine and the non-cholinergic non-adrenergic transmitter. In summary, alpha1-adrenoceptor-mediated facilitation is less expressed when muscarinic M1 receptor mediated facilitation is functioning; pre-junctional alpha1-adrenoceptors are present in the bladder of both neonatal and adult rats, whereas post-junctional alpha1-adrenoceptors are expressed only in older adult rats.
The economic evaluation of long-run uncertainties☆

Abstract This article looks at the question of uncertainty, as a factor in assessing future costs or benefits, and reviews its treatment in the economics literature. The importance of making an adjustment for uncertainty in the anticipation of the results of an action having long-term effects—in this case environmental damages—is emphasised. Particular attention is focused upon the attitudes toward risk displayed by individuals, and upon the social evaluation of long-term, uncertain, and irreversible actions, particularly where the effect to be evaluated is a stream of adverse consequences. Despite some disagreement in the literature, the author argues that the questions of uncertainty and risk aversion are not relevant solely at the microlevel: the expected social value of proposed activities must also reflect the uncertainty of future effects—and future tastes.
The Utility of Biomarkers in Sorting Out the Complex Patient

Today's patients present with a complexity of illness far more significant than ever before. Risk factors, in particular for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases, often interact with each other at core pathophysiological levels. Biomarkers are inexpensive tools that may help differentiate disease states in complex patients. Ideal biomarkers are both sensitive and specific to the disease state being examined. Natriuretic peptides are the prototype of ideal biomarkers and are adjuncts for the diagnosis and exclusion of heart failure in the dyspneic patient, especially those presenting with comorbidities such as lung disease. Just as natriuretic peptide levels can be considered the arbiter of congestive heart failure, cardiac troponins are decisive for myocardial necrosis. Novel assays with higher sensitivity will aid in earlier diagnosis, albeit with some decreased specificity. Nevertheless, the patient presenting with comorbidities and atypical symptoms of myocardial infarction will not be arbitrarily sent home. In the future, other novel biomarkers, such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin for acute kidney injury, may come to the forefront for diagnosis of disease in the complex patient.
Near native binding of a fluorescent serotonin conjugate to serotonin type 3 receptors.

Abstract Described is the synthesis of 5-hydroxytryptamine-tetramethylrhodamine (5HT∗); an indole nitrogen linked fluorescent conjugate of serotonin. Through a series fluorescence quenching experiments and experiments in the presence of a known competitive antagonist (Granisetron), it was shown that 5HT∗ specifically binds to purified homo-pentameric type-3 human serotonin receptors (5HT3A). The measured dissociation constant and Hill coefficient are Kd = 83 ± 3 nM and n = 3.1 ± 0.3, respectively which is indicative of multi-ligand binding and cooperativity similar to that of unconjugated serotonin.
Genetical and structural analyses of cell-wall formation in Chlamydomonas reinhardi

Fifteen mutant strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardi were isolated which showed defects in some aspect of the process of cell-wall formation. Genetic analyses indicated that most of the mutations were due to single gene changes; two were anomalous in that non-Mendelian segregations were obtained on crossing with other genotypes, and on selfing they frequently gave rise to wild-type phenotypes.Occasional somatic revertants were also obtained from these two strains. On the basis of these analyses it is suggested that there are two levels of control operating in the process of cell wall biogenesis - one concerned with subunit production at the nuclear level and another, possibly concerned with three-dimensional organization, at another level. Electron-microscope analyses of the different mutants showed the mutants to be divided into three main categories: those in which the wall was formed but was not attached to the plasma membrane, those in which the wall was attached to the membrane, and those in which very little wall was formed. In the last class in particular, vesicles containing wall precursors were clearly visible, and were shed through the plasma membrane into the medium.
A General Strategy to Synthesize Ultrastable, Ligand-General Molecular Tension Probes for Visualizing Cell Forces

Cells sense and transduce chemical and physical signals from their environment using a sophisticated set of mechanisms mediated by cell surface receptors such as integrins. Accordingly, there is significant interest in developing probes to investigate chemo-mechanical coupling in cell biology. Our lab has developed a suite of molecular probes that optically report forces exerted by cell surface receptors. These probes are comprised of a molecular spring flanked by a fluorophore-quencher pair and immobilized on a surface such that receptor-specific forces lead to dequenching of the fluorophore.There are a number of challenges pertaining to current molecular tension probe design: 1) immobilization is non-covalent, thus cell forces lead to detachment of probes, 2) protein ligand labeling is random, reducing probe sensitivity, and 3) peptide labeling uses Lys and Cys residues, constraining ligand design. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop site-specific ligation strategies that are modular and well-suited for the diverse number of known or suspected mechano-receptors.In this work, we developed a “universal” strategy to generate molecular tension probes. The approach combines solid phase peptide synthesis along with native chemical ligation (NCL) to conjugate the C-terminus of virtually any biomolecule to fluorescently tagged tension probes. The role of linear PEG polymers (Mw = 2000 and 5000) and zwitterionic silanes were tested in blocking non-specific binding, and modulating sensor conformation. We generated a small library of peptide ligand modified tension probes and compared force response as a function of ligand-receptor interaction. Importantly, this new general strategy for generating molecular tension probes is facile and robust, and allows for long-term force imaging that extends for up to 3 days which is important in a range of processes including developmental biology and cell migration.
A discrete model Boltzmann equation

Abstract A discrete model of the Boltzmann equation is studied, in which the spatial variable is replaced by a finite periodic lattice. The existence of global solutions is proved both for Maxwellian and non-Maxwellian molecules, and a limit is obtained as the lattice spacing tends to zero.