Detecting Determinism in High Dimensional Chaotic Systems

A method based upon the statistical evaluation of the differentiability of the measure along the trajectory is used to identify in high dimensional systems. The results show that the method is suitable for discriminating stochastic from deterministic systems even if the dimension of the latter is as high as 13. The method is shown to succeed in identifying determinism in electro-encephalogram signals simulated by means of a high dimensional system.Comment: 8 pages (RevTeX 3 style), 5 EPS figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. E (25 apr 2001

Multiple functional neurosteroid binding sites on GABAA receptors

Neurosteroids are endogenous modulators of neuronal excitability and nervous system development and are being developed as anesthetic agents and treatments for psychiatric diseases. While gamma amino-butyric acid Type A (GABAA) receptors are the primary molecular targets of neurosteroid action, the structural details of neurosteroid binding to these proteins remain ill defined. We synthesized neurosteroid analogue photolabeling reagents in which the photolabeling groups were placed at three positions around the neurosteroid ring structure, enabling identification of binding sites and mapping of neurosteroid orientation within these sites. Using middle-down mass spectrometry (MS), we identified three clusters of photolabeled residues representing three distinct neurosteroid binding sites in the human α1β3 GABAA receptor. Novel intrasubunit binding sites were identified within the transmembrane helical bundles of both the α1 (labeled residues α1-N408, Y415) and β3 (labeled residue β3-Y442) subunits, adjacent to the extracellular domains (ECDs). An intersubunit site (labeled residues β3-L294 and G308) in the interface between the β3(+) and α1(-) subunits of the GABAA receptor pentamer was also identified. Computational docking studies of neurosteroid to the three sites predicted critical residues contributing to neurosteroid interaction with the GABAA receptors. Electrophysiological studies of receptors with mutations based on these predictions (α1-V227W, N408A/Y411F, and Q242L) indicate that both the α1 intrasubunit and β3-α1 intersubunit sites are critical for neurosteroid action

Surveillance and maintenance report on decontamination and decommissioning and remedial action activities at the Oak Ridge Y-12 plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Fiscal year 1996

The Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) and Remedial Action (RA) programs are part of the Environmental Restoration (ER) Division and are funded by the Office of Environmental Management (EM-40). Building 9201-4 (known as Alpha-4), three sites located within Building 9201-3 (the Oil Storage Tank, the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment Fuel Handling Facility, and the Coolant Salt Technology Facility), and Building 9419-1 (the Decontamination Facility) are currently the facilities at the Y-12 Plant included in the D&D program. The RA program provides surveillance and maintenance (S&M) and program management of ER sites at the Y-12 Plant, including selected sites listed in Appendix C of the Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA), sites listed in the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment (HSWA) permit Solid Waste Management Unit (SWM-U) list, and sites currently closed or undergoing post-closure activities under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) or the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). This report communicates the status of the program plans and specific S&M activities for the D&D and RA programs

Using Topological Statistics to Detect Determinism in Time Series

Statistical differentiability of the measure along the reconstructed trajectory is a good candidate to quantify determinism in time series. The procedure is based upon a formula that explicitly shows the sensitivity of the measure to stochasticity. Numerical results for partially surrogated time series and series derived from several stochastic models, illustrate the usefulness of the method proposed here. The method is shown to work also for high--dimensional systems and experimental time seriesComment: 23 RevTeX pages, 14 eps figures. To appear in Physical Review

ANALYSING ATMOSPHERIC IMPACTS OF REGIONAL TRUCK EMISSIONS USING AN INTEGRATED MODELLING APPROACH

Transportation technology is providing new ways to mitigate multipollutant emissions co-emitted from on-road sources. Zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) are more common in passenger vehicles and other light-duty vehicles; however, they remain a relatively new technology for most medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. As more trucks are adopting zero-emission technology, we need to evaluate whether these mitigation strategies are sufficient in meeting regional reduction goals. Previous studies have evaluated the multipollutant impacts of trucks and other vehicles; however, these methods estimate vehicle activity by empirical data such as surveys, which, unlike process-based models, are not amenable to evaluating significant future technology adoption. This research presents a new method to quantify the atmospheric impacts and evaluate mitigation strategies of zero-emission technology in trucks at a regional scale using an integrated assessment model (IAM). This model establishes a connection between EMME, a travel demand model, MOVES, a mobile emissions simulator, and EASIUR, a regression model that produces marginal damage estimates. The IAM estimates a baseline and compares the total damages of alternative scenarios, using different ZEV adoption rates applied to trucks. The annual, ground-level emissions were estimated for the following pollutants using the developed IAM: primary PM2.5, NOX, SO2, NH3, CO2, CH4, and N2O. The results from the application of the IAM to the baseline scenario show that the total annual damages resulting from atmospheric emissions from trucks for the Province of Ontario in 2012 is approximately $1.82 Billion (2005 USD). Most of these damages are in Southern Ontario, with Toronto, Peel and York being the top three contributors. Adoption of ZEV decreases these damages linearly. Ontario has an adoption rate goal for ZEV of 5$89 Million (2005 USD) in benefits annually from trucks alone. This result varies by up to ±25% according to the sensitivity analysis related to the travel and emissions models. Future work should focus on the relationship between emissions to damages, which likely remain the largest source of uncertainty

Site-specific effects of neurosteroids on GABA(A) receptor activation and desensitization

This study examines how site-specific binding to three identified neurosteroid-binding sites in the

BESC knowledgebase public portal†

The BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) is undertaking large experimental campaigns to understand the biosynthesis and biodegradation of biomass and to develop biofuel solutions. BESC is generating large volumes of diverse data, including genome sequences, omics data and assay results. The purpose of the BESC Knowledgebase is to serve as a centralized repository for experimentally generated data and to provide an integrated, interactive and user-friendly analysis framework. The Portal makes available tools for visualization, integration and analysis of data either produced by BESC or obtained from external resources

Impact of the California Lead Ammunition Ban on Reducing Lead Exposure in Golden Eagles and Turkey Vultures

Predatory and scavenging birds may be exposed to high levels of lead when they ingest shot or bullet fragments embedded in the tissues of animals injured or killed with lead ammunition. Lead poisoning was a contributing factor in the decline of the endangered California condor population in the 1980s, and remains one of the primary factors threatening species recovery. In response to this threat, a ban on the use of lead ammunition for most hunting activities in the range of the condor in California was implemented in 2008. Monitoring of lead exposure in predatory and scavenging birds is essential for assessing the effectiveness of the lead ammunition ban in reducing lead exposure in these species. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of the regulation in decreasing blood lead concentration in two avian sentinels, golden eagles and turkey vultures, within the condor range in California. We compared blood lead concentration in golden eagles and turkey vultures prior to the lead ammunition ban and one year following implementation of the ban. Lead exposure in both golden eagles and turkey vultures declined significantly post-ban. Our findings provide evidence that hunter compliance with lead ammunition regulations was sufficient to reduce lead exposure in predatory and scavenging birds at our study sites

Controlled Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Acetate Mediated by a Bis(imino)pyridine Vanadium Complex

Source type: Prin