Our data suggest a novel mechanism whereby pathological-length polyglutamine (polyQ) proteins promote the spermine synthetic pathway, increasing polyQ-aggregation and cell death. As detected in a cell-free turbidity assay, spermine promotes aggregation of thio-polyQ62 in a dose-dependent manner. Using a stable neuronal cell line expressing pathological-length [polyQ57-yellow fluorescent protein...

We propose a dynamic model for studying the time evolution of fish stocks in an environment divided into two adjacent zones with different fishing policies. We analyze two particular harvesting methods: constant fishing effort and profit maximization. In this case, some agents engage in competition based on maximization of individual profit whereas others cooperate. The asymptotic behavior of t...

We use land use data from Guatemala to estimate the impact of a community forest concession policy on avoided deforestation when accounting for group heterogeneity. Our analysis includes communities with significant forestry experience, along with communities comprising recent settlers with primarily agricultural backgrounds. Employing a matched difference-in-differences approach, we compare de...

We conduct a benefit-cost analysis of a relicensing agreement for two hydroelectric dams in Michigan. The agreement changed daily conditions from peaking to run-of-river flows. We consider three categories of costs and benefits: producer costs of adapting electricity production to the new time profile of hydroelectric output; benefits of reductions in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions;...

The opening of new markets or trade routes has resulted in the deliberate or accidental introduction of new species, while the growth in the volume of trade has increased the frequency of species introductions. We model the connection between landscape heterogeneity, resource extraction, the level of biodiversity, and the level of trade. We show that the invasion risks of trade reduce the socia...

We extend a Kalman filter model for count data to reflect observations irregularly spaced in time. The model is applied to estimate risk of rare events; bycatch of endangered leatherback turtles in a swordfish fishery off Oregon and California. Incidental takes of turtles are modeled as a Poisson process. The results suggest that take risk is better estimated by regarding the entire history of ...

We examine theoretically the emergence of participatory comanagement agreements that share between state and user the management of resources and the benefits from use. Going beyond useruser interactions, our state-user model addresses a critical question—when will comanagement arise?— in order to consider the right baseline for evaluating comanagement’s forest and welfare impacts. We then comp...

In this paper we develop a bioeconomic model of timber harvesting that includes dynamic interactions between mountain pine beetle (MPB) and a lodgepole pine forest with a disaggregated size structure. The model is used to investigate the consequences of alternative public management strategies on forest dynamics in the presence of MPB outbreaks. Management practices similar to those commonly pr...

A series of arylidene anabaseines were synthesized to probe the functional impact of hydrogen bonding on the human 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activation and desensitization. The aryl groups were either hydrogen bond acceptors (furans), donors (pyrroles) or neither (thiophenes). These compounds were tested against a series of point mutants of the ligand binding domain residue Q5...

Livestock supply must challenge the growth of final demand in the developing countries. This challenge has to take into account its ecological effects since the dairy and livestock sectors are clearly pointed out as human activities which contribute significantly to environmental deterioration. Therefore, livestock activity models have to include desirable and undesirable outputs simultaneously...