cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive control of a millimeter-scale flapping-wing robot.

Challenges for the controlled flight of a robotic insect are due to the inherent instability of the system, complex fluid–structure interactions, and the general lack of a complete system model. In this paper, we propose theoretical models of the system based on the limited information available from previous work and a comprehensive flight controller. The modular flight controller is derived from Lyapunov function candidates with proven stability over a large region of attraction. Moreover, it comprises adaptive components that are capable of coping with uncertainties in the system that arise from manufacturing imperfections. We have demonstrated that the proposed methods enable the robot to achieve sustained hovering flights with relatively small errors compared to a non-adaptive approach. Simple lateral maneuvers and vertical takeoff and landing flights are also shown to illustrate the fidelity of the flight controller. The analysis suggests that the adaptive scheme is crucial in order to achieve millimeter-scale precision in flight control as observed in natural insect flight.
Marriage protects men from clinically meaningful elevations in C-reactive protein: results from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP).

Objective Minor elevations in C-reactive Protein (CRP, > 3 mg/L) are a nonspecific marker of systemic inflammation and predict the future onset of cardiovascular disease. This report examines the association between marital status and CRP levels after accounting for a range of relevant of demographic, subjective and objective health indicators, and psychological variables.
Intracortical inhibition and facilitation in human facial motor area: difference between upper and lower facial area.

Abstract Objective : To investigate the intracortical inhibitory and excitatory systems in the motor cortical representation of upper and lower facial muscles. Methods : Paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to 7 healthy volunteers, with the interstimulus interval (ISI) between the conditioning stimulus (CS) and test stimulus, varied from 1 to 20 ms. CS was set at 90% of motor threshold. Muscle evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from first dorsal interosseus (FDI), orbicularis oculi (o. oculi) and mentalis muscles. Result : TMS evoked MEPs in o. oculi on both ipsi- and contralateral sides in all subjects. In the paired-pulse study, MEP amplitude in the mentalis decreased at short ISIs of 1–3 ms, followed by increases at 12–20 ms. These effects were similar to those in the FDI. O. oculi did not show a distinct inhibitory period at short ISIs and facilitation at long ISIs was detected but was significantly less than in FDI and mentalis. In o. oculi, there was no significant difference between the effects of ipsilateral and contralateral CS on the MEPs. Conclusion : The bi-hemispheric control of volitional movement and the modulation from brainstem projections appear to markedly influence intracortical inhibitory and excitatory systems in the motor cortical representation of o. oculi.
Optimum stability conjecture for the role of interface kinetics in selection of the dendrite operating state

Abstract We develop a model that allows interface kinetics to be incorporated in a simple way in the determination of the dendrite operating state. The model is based on an optimum stability conjecture, according to which the dendrite tip radius is related to the wavelength of the fastest growing Fourier component in a linear stability analysis that includes consideration of interface kinetics. The basic idea is similar to that of the marginal stability hypothesis but leads to a value of the selection parameter σ = 2κ d 0 /( V ϱ 2 ) that decreases as the Peclet number Pe = V ϱ/(2κ) is increased ( V = dendrite growth velocity, ϱ = dendrite tip radius, κ = thermal diffusivity and d 0 = capillary length). This results in 1/σ being a linear function of 1/ϱ. The Ivantsov equation for the dimensionless supercooling S in terms of Pe is modified to account for capillarity and kinetics by using the dendrite tip temperature instead of the melting temperature in the original Ivantsov equation. This yields a complete parametric solution to the problem, and the resulting “scaling laws” are exhibited for the case of two spatial dimensions. We also reexamine the data of Rubinstein and Glicksman for dendritic growth in pivalic acid for which σ varies by about 100% over the measured range of supercooling. The value of 1/σ is nearly linear in 1/ϱ, in agreement with the optimum stability conjecture. Comparison with the present theory results in a kinetic coefficient of μ = 0.218cm/s·K. The resulting calculated values of V and ϱ are found to be in better agreement with experiment than for constant σ, but still show considerable discrepancy at small supercoolings, probably due to convection. This stability theory is based on a planar geometry rather than on a parabolic geometry, the modification of the Ivantsov relation is crude, and the theory completely neglects treatment of anisotropy of either capillarity or interface kinetics, which are known to be important from microscopic solvability theory. Nevertheless, we identify a dimensionless group m = μ/ T M γ(κ L V ) which must be small for interface kinetics to be important ( T M = absolute melting temperature, γ = crystal-melt surface free energy, and L V = latent heat per unit volume).
Before the transport team arrives: neonatal stabilization.

The expeditious and safe transport of the seriously ill neonate begins with the doctors and nurses at the referring facilities. They have the responsibility for the initial stabilization and play an important role in the future outcome of the seriously ill neonate. Nurses need to be able to identify
Influence of drying methods on the characteristics of a vegetable paste formulated by linear programming maximizing antioxidant activity

Abstract The linear programming is a successful method that can be applied in foods formulation. A vegetable paste was formulated by this method in order to maximize the antioxidant activity. The optimized paste was dried in spouted bed (80, 90 and 100 °C) and it was compared to the dried product in conventional tray (65 °C). The linear programming was suitable to quantify the selected the raw materials (six vegetables and soybean oil), resulting in a paste with high total antioxidant activity (81.3% inhibition DPPH). The best results were found in spouted bed drying at 100 °C, resulting in a product like a homogeneous powder with smooth surface particles, that presented the total phenolic compounds of 4.9 mg GAE g −1 dry matter , the total antioxidant activity of 81.6% inhibition DPPH and the lowest color difference. The dried product in spouted bed showed superior results to the product of tray dryer in relation to its characteristics and bioactive compounds.
Microglial cells initiate vigorous yet non-protective immune responses during HSV-1 brain infection.

Abstract Central nervous system (CNS) infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 triggers neuroinflammatory responses leading to peripheral immune cell infiltration into the brain. Previous in vitro studies from our laboratory, using primary human brain cells, implicated microglia as the cellular source of infection-induced chemokines, such as CXC ligand 10 (CXCL10) and CC ligand 2 (CCL2). Here, we evaluated the role of microglial cells in HSV-induced neuroimmune responses using an in vivo murine model of herpes encephalitis. Data obtained during this study demonstrated robust levels of CXCL10, CCL2 and CXCL9 detectable in the brains of infected BALB/c mice between 5 and 8 days post-infection (p.i.). Microglial cells were identified as a source of this HSV-induced chemokine production. Additional experiments established that induction of these immune mediators preceded the presence of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD45 mRNA in the brain, and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the presence of infiltrating CD3+ cells. Further analysis suggested that microglia-derived chemokines drive peripheral immune cell chemotaxis, as antibodies to CXCL10 and CCL2 blocked the migration of murine splenocytes toward HSV-infected microglia by approximately 59.3 ± 4.1% and 17.5 ± 1.4%, respectively. Taken together, these results demonstrate that a vigorous microglia-driven cascade of pro-inflammatory immune responses is not sufficient to protect susceptible mice from HSV-1 brain infection.
A logical framework for software proof reuse

We describe a logical framework PR for verification of reusable software components. Within our system, developers can employ the advantages traditionally associated with software reuse to reduce the cost of software verification by reusing abstract proofs and specifications. One can construct an algorithm with parameters, a specification with parameters, and a proof that the algorithm satisfies the specification provided the parameters satisfy certain conditions. Proofs in PRwill themselves contain parameters for subproofs concerning those conditions. In this framework, typing, type checking, and proof checking are decidable.
ON THE CONSISTENCY OF LEAST SQUARES ESTIMATORS FOR A THRESHOLD AR(1) MODEL

. For the SETAR (2; 1,1) model where {at(i)} are i.i.d. random variables with mean 0 and variance σ2(i), i = 1,2, and {at(l)} is independent of {at(2)}, we consider estimators of φ1, φ2 and r which minimize weighted sums of the sum of squares functions for σ2(1) and σ2(2). These include as a special case the usual least squares estimators. It is shown that the usual least squares estimators of φ1, φ2 and r are consistent. If σ2(1) ≠σ2(2) conditions on the weights are found under which the estimators of r and φ1 or φ2 are not consistent.
Relevance: a review of and a framework for the thinking on the notion in information science

Information science emerged as the third subject, along with logic and philosophy, to deal with relevance-an elusive, human notion. The concern with relevance, as a key notion in information science, is traced to the problems of scientific communication. Relevance is considered as a measure of the effectiveness of a contact between a source and a destination in a communication process. The different views of relevance that emerged are interpreted and related within a framework of communication of knowledge. Different views arose because relevance was considered at a number of different points in the process of knowledge communication. It is suggested that there exists an interlocking, interplaying cycle of various systems of relevances.
Jeopardy© in Abnormal Psychology

A version of the Jeopardy© game is described for use in an ahorma1 psychology course. This game can increase student interaction, encourage the application of information, and add a light touch to a subject that is sometimes distressing to students.
Phenotypic regional functional imaging patterns during memory encoding in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Background Reliable blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) phenotypic biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are likely to emerge only from a systematic, quantitative, and aggregate examination of the functional neuroimaging research literature. Methods A series of random-effects activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analyses were conducted on studies of episodic memory encoding operations in AD and MCI samples relative to normal controls. ALE analyses were based on a thorough literature search for all task-based functional neuroimaging studies in AD and MCI published up to January 2010. Analyses covered 16 fMRI studies, which yielded 144 distinct foci for ALE meta-analysis. Results ALE results indicated several regional task-based BOLD consistencies in MCI and AD patients relative to normal control subjects across the aggregate BOLD functional neuroimaging research literature. Patients with AD and those at significant risk (MCI) showed statistically significant consistent activation differences during episodic memory encoding in the medial temporal lobe, specifically parahippocampal gyrus, as well superior frontal gyrus, precuneus, and cuneus, relative to normal control subjects. Conclusions ALE consistencies broadly support the presence of frontal compensatory activity, medial temporal lobe activity alteration, and posterior midline "default mode" hyperactivation during episodic memory encoding attempts in the diseased or prospective predisease condition. Taken together, these robust commonalities may form the foundation for a task-based fMRI phenotype of memory encoding in AD.
The diagnostic interview schedule: its development, evolution, and use.

The DIS has been a response to the new opportunities for highly-reliable, large-scale psychiatric diagnostic surveys that arose with the development of well-define diagnostic criteria and fully described algorithms for combining them. Because it has made use of the power of computers to store and combine many bits of data for a given individual, it offers approaches to diagnosis that are flexible enough to serve the current needs of a broad variety of kinds of investigations and, we hope, to meet future needs as algorithms change.
A hesitant defense of introspection

Consider the following argument: when a phenomenon P is observable, any legitimate understanding of P must take account of observations of P; some mental phenomena—certain conscious experiences—are introspectively observable; so, any legitimate understanding of the mind must take account of introspective observations of conscious experiences. This paper offers a (preliminary and partial) defense of this line of thought. Much of the paper focuses on a specific challenge to it, which I call Schwitzgebel's Challenge: the claim that introspection is so untrustworthy that its indispensability for a genuine understanding of the mind only shows that no genuine understanding of the mind is possible.
Reduced state BCJR algorithms for one- and two-dimensional equalization

We consider BCJR-like soft-input soft-output (SISO) iterative detection algorithms for ID and 2D binary-input ISI channels with AWGN. The complexity of BCJR algorithms grows exponentially with the size of the ISI mask and is an important concern with their implementation. We consider new techniques to reduce the complexity of BCJR algorithms by decreasing the effective number of states in the trellis. The proposed state reduction technique does particularly well for mixed phase sequence ISI masks, which have higher weights for the center taps and lower weights for the peripheral taps. Other complexity reduction techniques proposed in the literature perform poorly for such masks. Moreover, the complexity of the proposed state reduction technique is comparable to other reduced complexity techniques reported in the literature. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed state reduction technique.
Oaths, Ordeals, and the Kenyan Courts: A Policy Analysis

This article analyzes the Kenyan judicial system's use of Kamba oaths and ordeals and discusses the issues arising from postcolonial policies of coopting traditional institutions of social control. During 1969 a high official in the Kenyan judicial system formulated a policy for applying the kithitu ordeal in civil suits among Kamba disputants at the level of the High Court in Nairobi and at the levels of the district courts in Machakos. This study attempts to demonstrate that coopting an uncentralized laissez-faire method of dispute settlement in a centralizing system of civil justice is counterproductive for the courts and the citizenry.John Roberts' cross-culturally tested ideas on oaths, ordeals, and power are used in making a policy assessment regarding current government utilization of oaths and ordeals in Kenya. The theoretical analysis and the public policy recommendation are relevant to policy makers in Kenya and in other pluralistic postcolonial nations in which traditional institutions of socia...
Social Influence Online: A Tale of Gender Differences in the Effectiveness of Authority Cues

This study examined the extent to which communicator salience manipulated by varying communication modes, authority-based social influence, and gender affect persuasion in online environments by utilizing a 2 by 2 between subjects design. Participants of the experiment were either presented with an authority-based influence attempt or no influence attempt. They then engaged in a persuasive interaction with a same-sex confederate via computer-mediated communication CMC or face-to-face. Results revealed that men in the Authority condition who interacted via CMC were more persuaded then men in the Peer condition who interacted via CMC. Additionally, men reported more confidence when interacting via CMC and reported that their decision was more influenced by the confederate online. Moreover, perceptions of the confederate varied by gender and communication mode. Analysis suggests that authority based influence tactics via CMC are more effective for men than for women.
Temperature and state-dependence of feeding and gastric evacuation in juvenile Pacific halibut

Relationships between nutritional state, behavioural response to prey and gastric evacuation rates were examined in juvenile Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis feeding on squid. Pacific halibut reared at 2, 6 and 10° C were fasted for 1 or 7 days to generate variation in energetic state. The 7 day fast resulted in measurable declines in condition indices at 10 and 6° C but not at 2° C. At 10° C, all Pacific halibut consumed the first meal offered, but fish previously fasted for 7 days took significantly longer to locate and consume the meal than fish fasted for only 1 day. At 2° C, Pacific halibut fasted for 7 days did not generally consume the first meal offered, but resumed feeding 2·1 days sooner, on average, than fish fasted for only 1 day. The gastric evacuation rate of the squid meal was best described by a power model with near-exponential curvature (a = 1·011). The evacuation rate was strongly temperature-dependent (Q10 = 3·65) but displayed the same degree of variability at each temperature. The evacuation rate in Pacific halibut was not affected by feeding history, body size or energetic state. Furthermore, individual variation in gastric evacuation rate was not correlated with feeding responsiveness at any temperature. These results indicate a general plasticity in the behavioural but not physiological aspects of energy acquisition.
THE ROLE OF MESOCOSM STUDIES IN ECOLOGICAL RISK ANALYSIS

Mesocosms have been primarily used as research tools for the evaluation of the fate and effects of xenobiotic chemicals at the population, community, and ecosystem levels of biological organization. This paper provides suggestions for future applications of mesocosm research. Attention should be given to the configuration of mesocosm parameters to explicitly study regional questions of ecological interest. The initial physical, chemical, and biological conditions within mesocosms should be considered as factors shaping the final results of experiments. Certain fundamental questions such as the ecological inertia and resilience of systems with different initial ecological properties should be addressed. Researchers should develop closer working relationships with mathematical modelers in linking computer models to the outcomes of mesocosm studies. Mesocosm tests, linked with models, could enable managers and regulators to forecast the regional consequences of chemicals released into the environment.
Clinical and hemodynamic comparison of 15:2 and 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratios for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

(7.7 0.9 to 15.7 2.4; p < .0001); and mixed venous oxygen saturation (26 5to365, p<.05). Hemodynamics improved further with the ITD. Oxygenation and arterial pH were similar. Only one of nine pigs had return of spontaneous circulation with 15:2, vs. six of nine with 30:2 (p < 0.03). Humans: Fatigue and quality of CPR performance were evaluated in 20 BLS-certified rescuers randomized to perform CPR for 5 mins at 15:2 or 30:2 on a recording CPR manikin. There were no significant differences in the quality of CPR performance or measurement of fatigue. Significantly more compressions per minute were delivered with 30:2 in both the animal and human studies. Conclusions: These data strongly support the contention that a ratio of 30:2 is superior to 15:2 during manual CPR and that the ITD further enhances circulation with both C:V ratios. (Crit Care Med 2006; 34:1444‐1449)
OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND DENITRIFICATION BELOW THE PERUVIAN UPWELLING

Rates of oxygen consumption and denitrification were calculated from the respiratory electron transport activity of deep and intermediate water plankton of the Peru Current upwelling, and compared to rates calculated for the deep water under other oceanic regions. Oxygen consumption off Peru ranged from 1.13 ± 0.85 μl 02 h−1 l−1 at the sea surface to 0.6 ±0.4 x 10 −3 μl 02 h −1 l−1 at depths below 1000 m. The depth-dependence in oxygen consumption in the Peru up-welling at 15°S was described by the exponential function R= 1.5 Z−1.03 (r2 = 0.99) where R is oxygen consumption in μl 02 h−1 l−1 and Z is depth in meters. In the intermediate water (100–500 m), oxygen consumption in oxygenated waters and denitrification in anoxic waters decreased seaward from the coastal zone along a gradient from high to low surface productivity.
Technology and Student Learning: Towards a Learner-Centered Teaching Model

There is a need to reform teacher education programs through the creation of active learning environments that support and improve the depth and scope of student learning. Specifically, teachers should provide intellectually powerful, learner-centered, and technology-rich environments for students without undermining sound pedagogical practices. This article explores a model that could improve education programs with a focus on three pedagogical areas: (a) emphasis on a learner’s unique identity; (b) providing active learning environments; and (c) integrating technology into classroom instruction. The focus on the three parameters is grounded on the need to develop a solid pedagogical model that requires teachers to think about what students are learning, the process of learning, the environments supporting student learning, and ways in which current learning position the students for future learning (weimer, 2002). This article is also intended to stimulate reflections on key strategies to foster active, learnercentered environments in the classroom.
Timing errors in real-time systems and their detection

Most real-time applications require a high degree of reliability. Past research efforts have not fully addressed issues peculiar to real-time systems. Recently much attention has been focused on formal methods to verify timing properties of real-time systems. Despite the contribution of these formal methods, the dynamic method for analyzing timing properties is still necessary because of the inherent limitations of formal methods and imperfect program execution environment. The authors present a dynamic timing analysis method for identifying the causes of timing errors in real-time systems. >
Free-base cocaine smoking.

Six healthy male, paid subjects smoked 50 mg of free-base cocaine in a specially designed glass pipe under a rigidly controlled smoking protocol. The method of heating the pipe and the temperature that produced the most efficient and consistent vaporization of the drug had been determined experimentally. The psychological and cardiovascular effects of smoking free-base cocaine were recorded. Approximately 26% of th original material was recovered from the pipe after smoking. Simulated smoking experiments in vitro indicated that only 44% of the material not trapped in the pipe was cocaine and that over 90% of this cocaine was delivered during the first four puffs (i.e., during the first 2 min of simulated smoking). These findings indicate that of the original 50 mg of cocaine free base placed in the pipe's bowl, only 32% could have been inhaled (16.3 +/- 0.6 mg). The cocaine free base inhaled induced psychological and cardiovascular effects similar to, or slightly more intense and pleasurable than, the effects of 20 mg of cocaine HCl (18 mg of cocaine base) taken intravenously by the same subjects and also induced a slightly more intense craving for another dose.
Indigenizing Children's Literature.

In this article the author situates the analysis of two popular children’s books in theoretical frameworks emerging from American Indian Studies. Using a new historicist lens, she discusses Anne Rockwell’s (1999) Thanksgiving Day and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s (1935/1971) Little House on the Prairie and suggests that these books function as obstacles for the understanding of the Other in American and global society.
Quantitative modeling of the neural representation of objects: how semantic feature norms can account for fMRI activation.

article i nfo Recent multivariate analyses of fMRI activation have shown that discriminative classifiers such as Support Vector Machines (SVM) are capable of decoding fMRI-sensed neural states associated with the visual presentation of categories of various objects. However, the lack of a generative model of neural activity limits the generality of these discriminative classifiers for understanding the underlying neural representation. In this study, we propose a generative classifier that models the hidden factors that underpin the neural representation of objects, using a multivariate multiple linear regression model. The results indicate that object features derived from an independent behavioral feature norming study can explain a significant portion of the systematic variance in the neural activity observed in an object-contemplation task. Furthermore, the resulting regression model is useful for classifying a previously unseen neural activation vector, indicating that the distributed pattern of neural activities encodes sufficient signal to discriminate differences among stimuli. More importantly, there appears to be a double dissociation between the two classifier approaches and within- versus between-participants generalization. Whereas an SVM-based discriminative classifier achieves the best classification accuracy in within-participants analysis, the generative classifier outperforms an SVM-based model which does not utilize such intermediate representations in between-participants analysis. This pattern of results suggests the SVM-based classifier may be picking up some idiosyncratic patterns that do not generalize well across participants and that good generalization across participants may require broad, large-scale patterns that are used in our set of intermediate semantic features. Finally, this intermediate representation allows us to extrapolate the model of the neural activity to previously unseen words, which cannot be done with a discriminative classifier.
Bio-inspired responsive polymer pillar arrays

High-aspect-ratio (HAR) pillar arrays offer large surface area, well-defined surface topography, and large mechanical compliance. In this Prospective, we showcase micro- and nanopillar array systems that exploit the responsiveness and/or harness the mechanical instabilities for myriad surface-mediated applications, including tunable wetting, adhesion, optical properties, and actuation. In each application, we start with biological examples with HAR pillar structures, and discuss strategies to fabricate responsive HAR polymer pillar structures. We then discuss approaches to tune the surface topography, such as via bending, tilting, expansion or contraction, and collapsing of the pillars, and the resulting change of surface and optical properties, and their dynamic actuation. In each system, we discuss the controllability and recoverability of pillar deformation.
Inhibitory effects of voluntary wheel exercise on apoptosis in splenic lymphocyte subsets of C57BL/6 mice.

Two-month-old mice were placed in cages with (Ex) or without exercise running wheels with free access to the wheel 24 h/day for 10 mo. An equal amount of food for both groups was provided daily. Ex...
Ladies Last: Masculinization of the American War Film in the 1920s

Abstract:This article argues that during the 1920s, the war film underwent a process of masculinization as the film industry was valorizing a particular type of rugged masculinity. I examine 1920s war films to demonstrate the methods of promotion and exhibition that led to the solidification of the war genre as masculine.
A design methodology for optimal parallel coupled cyclic computing

Digital technology has advanced to the point where it is now possible to consider the design of specialized hardware for selected classes of problems. For maximum performance, this usually implies a parallel computer architecture. However, the design of application-specific parallel computing systems is a complex process due to the vast number of architectural choices that must be made. This thesis is a significant step toward providing a complete methodology for designing such application-specific systems. Specifically, this research develops a methodology for the design and evaluation of parallel computer architectures which efficiently solve a broad class of numerical problems based upon coupled cyclic algorithms. This process, called the Primitive Design Methodology, is based on the concept of computation and communication primitives. It provides a sound basis for the selection of architectural features which result in an optimal system, according to specified optimality criteria. The methodology is applied to the design of optimal computer architectures for four important numerical algorithms. These include two linear system programs and two Navier-Stokes solvers. They are representative of the class denoted as coupled cyclic algorithms, which consist of numerous parallel tasks that need to communicate among themselves during execution, while using an iterative or time-stepping approach to numerical calculations. The type of parallel computing hardware considered here is the MIMD processor array, consisting of a host computer which connects to an array of independent processing elements through a communication network. The concept of primitives forms the central mechanism of the Primitive Design Methodology. These primitives are used to define both the algorithms and the architectural features. A Primitive Specification Language, PSL, is developed to allow succinct descriptions of the primitives. A new tool called Primitive Analysis is used to describe and quantify these elementary operations which constitute the algorithms of interest. The most basic principle at the heart of this research is that, for a given algorithm, a computing system which efficiently supports that set of primitives will exhibit superior performance and cost-effectiveness over systems which do not.
Manipulating the Sign: A Semiotic View of Li Shangyin’s Allusiveness

Focusing on the formal and semantic allusive process in some of Li Shangyin’s (ca. 812-858 ) allusive poems, this paper demonstrates how the (inter-) textual space functions “as a principle of organization for making signs out of linguistic items.” (Michael Riffaterre)
Townsend: The Clear Choice

Recent polls suggest the 2002 (Maryland) gubernatorial race between Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Robert Ehrlich is extremely close. On issues important to many minority voters, however, the candidates are miles apart.For example, both candidates embrace the notion of affirmative action, but they disagree on its coverage. Townsend supports both economic·based and race-based programs while Ehrlich favors only economic·based efforts.
Binding of angiotensin I and angiotensin II to plasma proteins precipitated by ammonium sulfate.

SummaryAngiotensin I and angiotensin II, when added to rat or human plasma, co-precipitate with the later protein fractions, when the plasma is subjected to fractional precipitation by ammonium sulfate. The maximal specific activity of angiotensin II is with the last step (which is mainly albumin) while that of angiotensin I is with an intermediate step. Both angiotensins also coprecipitate with purified albumin when it is precipitated by ammonium sulfate. These results lead us to the conclusion that both angiotensin I and angiotensin II bind to albumin and that angiotensin I also binds to some other protein. We were unable to identify this other protein. Chelating agents, such as EDTA and BAL, do not prevent the binding of either angiotensin to proteins precipitated by ammonium sulfate. Whether a similar binding occurs in vivo still remains unknown.I thank Miss Carrie Lee for her assistance during the early phases of this investigation.
Crystal structure of steenstrupine: A rod structure of unusual complexity

Steenstrupine possesses an exceedingly complex crystal structure. At least 21 different elements may play some role in the structure. A possible end-member formula could be Na14Ce63+(Mn2+Mn3+)Fe23+(Zr,Th)4+(OH)2(PO4)6(Si6O18)2·3H2O, space group\(R\bar 3m\),a=10.460(4),c=45.479(15) A,Z=3.
Trade-offs in low-income women’s mate preferences

A sample of 460 low-income women completed a mate preference questionnaire and surveys that assessed family background, life history, conscientiousness, sexual motives, self-ratings (e.g., looks), and current circumstances (e.g., income). A cluster analysis revealed two groups of women: women who reported a strong preference for looks and money in a short-term mate and commitment in a long-term mate, and women who reported smaller differences across mating context. Group differences were found in reported educational levels, family background, sexual development, number of children, and motives for having sex. Implications for understanding individual differences in women’s mate-preference trade-offs are discussed.
Application of Microseparation Arrays to the Detection of Biotoxins in Aerosol Backgrounds

We are investigating the use of parallel separation channels that utilize orthogonal separation techniques as a platform for a biosensor to accurately identify protein biotoxins. Two separation techniques were initially chosen for proof of concept demonstration—capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE)—and have been implemented in our compact “µChemLab™” device. This device integrates automated high-voltage control of microchip-based separations with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection and on-board data analysis. The effectiveness of this two-channel approach was evaluated using biotoxin-spiked aerosol samples.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Pokeweed Mosaic Virus (PkMV)-New Jersey Isolate and Its Comparison to PkMV-MD and PkMV-PA

ABSTRACT Pokeweed mosaic virus (PkMV) causes systemically mosaic symptoms on pokeweed (Phytolacca americana L.) plants. The genome of the PkMV-NJ (New Jersey) isolate was cloned by PCR and sequenced by the Sanger sequencing method. The sequence comparison indicates that PkMV-NJ is more divergent from the other two sequenced isolates, PkMV-MD and PkMV-PA.
Flow of funds modeling for localized financial markets : an application of spatial price and allocation activity analysis models

Abstract : A comprehensive examination of recent and proposed institutional and regulatory changes impacting local financial markets and a summary of the most important applications of mathematical programming to individual financial intermediaries and financial markets are presented. While U.S. financial markets face myriad regulatory and structural changes, there has been no systematic examination of the effects of these changes on local financial markets. Building on the concepts of self-dual quadratic programming models and mathematical models of individual intermediaries, a generalized perfect competition spatial price and allocation activity analysis model for localized financial markets is developed. The model provides an improved capability to reflect the topology of localized financial markets. There are two key structural aspects of the model; (1) activity analysis formulation of individual intermediary operations, and (2) simultaneous endogenous determination of pricing and flow of funds patterns in spatially separate source and use of funds markets. These aspects allow significant detail in modeling the financial intermediation process and considerable flexibility for policy analyses.
Preoperative urine culture is unnecessary in asymptomatic men prior to prostate needle biopsy.

To determine the clinical utility of preoperative urine cultures in asymptomatic men undergoing prostate needle biopsy (PNB). One hundred fifty asymptomatic men had urine cultures obtained 14-days prior to PNB. As per study protocol, positive cultures were not treated. Antibiotic prophylaxis prior to PNB included ciprofloxacin 500 mg the night before and morning of the biopsy. Repeat urine cultures were obtained immediately prior to PNB with colony-forming units (CFUs) annotated. Infectious complications post-biopsy were recorded. Of the 150 men, six patients (4%) had evidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria with > 10,000 CFU/mL on office urine culture. Repeat urine cultures on morning of biopsy in all 150 patients noted a mean bacterial count of 55 CFU/mL (range 0–1000). All six patients with positive office urine cultures had < 100 CFU/mL at time of PNB. Following biopsy, four patients (2.7%) developed an infectious complication including two with sepsis and two with culture-positive UTIs. The causative organism in all cases was quinolone-resistant E. coli. None of the six patients with preoperative positive urine cultures developed an infectious complication following PNB. In this prospective observational study, under 5% of asymptomatic men had positive office cultures prior to PNB. Furthermore, repeat urine culture on the morning of biopsy showed resolution in these patients, and none developed post-biopsy infectious complications. Routine office urine culture in the asymptomatic male prior to PNB was unnecessary.
Trends in Attitudes and Practice Patterns of Physical Therapists in Addressing Childhood Obesity in Schools.

PURPOSE This study investigated trends in attitudes of school physical therapists about intervention for childhood obesity. METHODS A survey was developed to quantify attitudes. Two cases investigated the influence of attitudes on choices in treatment frequency. Factor analysis further delineated reasons for treatment frequency recommendations. RESULTS Attitudes did not change. Variability in responses decreased. Personal characteristics had evolving influence. In 2008, the perception of the PT's role in childhood obesity intervention had a greater influence on the choice to treat, but in 2015 the perception of the seriousness had a bigger effect on that decision. DISCUSSION Changing demographics of the therapists, increasing prevalence of obesity, and recent attention to the problem may have contributed to the trends. CONCLUSION There is no consensus as to the role of school physical therapy with intervention for obesity, but influential variables are emerging and practice patterns are evolving.
The effectiveness of a video based preference assessment in identifying social reinforcers

Stimulus preference assessments have been established as an effective way to identify potential reinforcers. Less is known, however, about the effectiveness of these assessments at predicting poten...
Numerical inverse scattering for the sine-Gordon equation

Abstract We implement the numerical inverse scattering transform (NIST) for the sine-Gordon equation in laboratory coordinates on the real line using the method developed by Trogdon et al. (2012). The NIST allows one to compute the solution at any x and t without having spatial discretization or time-stepping. The numerical implementation is fully spectrally accurate. With the help of the method of nonlinear steepest descent, the NIST is demonstrated to be uniformly accurate.
Field-Cycling NMR Applied to Macromolecular Structure and Dynamics

Field-cycling NMR (FCNMR) is defined as use of a sequence in which the main field is changed by more than a few millitesla,in order to study resonance and relaxation at a variety of fields,usually much lower than the observation field (Figure 1). Preparation often consists simply of waiting for nuclear magnetization to approach a high value. The entire field cycle takes place in a time shorter than,or sometimes comparable to,the relaxation time of the prepared spin species at the low field,and the detection part of the cycle is often a simple free induction decay after a 90° pulse,or some form of adiabatic rapid passage.
Conduct disorder: A neurodevelopmental perspective

Abstract According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, conduct disorder (CD) comprises “A repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated…” (p. 469). Although criteria for CD can be met in a number of ways, in this chapter we review more serious forms of the disorder, which typically emerge in early childhood through interactions between and among (1) neurobiological vulnerabilities (e.g., genetic, neural, hormonal) and (2) environmental risk factors (e.g., coercive parenting, abuse, deviant peer affiliations, neighborhood criminality). We therefore emphasize the complex, ontogenic nature of CD, which is more accurately described along a developmental spectrum of externalizing behavior than as a discrete diagnostic category. We specify a common developmental progression of early-onset CD, review well-understood neurobiological and environmental mechanisms, and briefly discuss treatment strategies at different ages.
Dexmedetomidine Pharmacokinetics and a New Dosing Paradigm in Infants Supported With Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

BACKGROUND:Dexmedetomidine is increasingly used off-label in infants and children with cardiac disease during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and in the postoperative period. Despite its frequent use, optimal dosing of dexmedetomidine in the setting of CPB has not been identified but is expected to dif
A Situated Dialogue System for Learning Structural Concepts in Blocks World

We present a modular, end-to-end dialogue system for a situated agent to address a multimodal, natural language dialogue task in which the agent learns complex representations of block structure classes through assertions, demonstrations, and questioning. The concept to learn is provided to the user through a set of positive and negative visual examples, from which the user determines the underlying constraints to be provided to the system in natural language. The system in turn asks questions about demonstrated examples and simulates new examples to check its knowledge and verify the user’s description is complete. We find that this task is non-trivial for users and generates natural language that is varied yet understood by our deep language understanding architecture.
Socio-environmental Conflict, Political Settlements, and Mining Governance: A Cross-Border Comparison, El Salvador and Honduras

During the mid-2000s, Honduras and El Salvador implemented mining moratoria. By 2017 El Salvador had legislated a globally unprecedented ban on all forms of metal mining, while in Honduras mining w...
Autoimmune hepatitis: Appraisal of current treatment guidelines

Autoimmune hepatitis affects patients of all ages and gender, across all geographic regions. Although still rare, its incidence and prevalence are increasing. Genetic predisposition conveyed by human leucocyte antigen is a strong risk factor for the disease and may be responsible in part for the wide variation in presentation in different geographic regions. Our understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms is evolving and may lead to development of more targeted immunotherapies. Diagnosis is based on elevated levels of serum aminotransferases, gamma globulins, autoantibodies and characteristic findings on histology. Exclusion of other causes of chronic hepatitis is important. Although undiagnosed disease is associated with poor outcomes, it is readily treatable with timely immunosuppressive therapy in the majority of patients. International guidelines are available to guide management but there exists a disparity in the standard treatment regimens. This minireview aims to review the available guidelines and summarize the key recommendations involved in management of this complex autoimmune disease.
Age, growth, and age at maturity of bonefish (Albula species) among Cuban habitats

Bonefish (Albula spp.) are a prized sportfish among avid anglers worldwide. Two morphologically indistinguishable species of bonefish (Albula vulpes and Albula goreensis) occur in coastal areas of the tropical western Atlantic. Growth rates of A. vulpes, which supports an economically important sport fishery, differ among locations where they have been studied, but many locations have not yet been examined. To investigate bonefish growth in Cuba, specimens were obtained from fish markets at three sites around the periphery of the island from November 2016 to January 2017. Sagittal otoliths (for aging) and fin clips (for genetics) were collected from each fish, and sex was determined by examining gonads. A total of 218 bonefish were sampled, with size ranging from 187-530mm fork length (FL), genetic testing indicated that 134 were A. vulpes, 59 were A. goreensis, and seven were hybrids. The oldest fish collected were eight and nine years old for A. vulpes and A. goreensis respectively. A. vulpes females reached larger sizes than males. The overall von Bertalanffy growth model of the two-different species were significantly different. A. vulpes grew to larger sizes than A. goreensis. Almost all A. vulpes greater than 210 mm FL in Cuba were reproductively mature, while 50% size at maturity in Florida occurs at a mean size between 418 mm and 488 mm FL. The insight of different growth patterns between A. vulpes and A. goreensis allows for better management of the species, and further distinguishes differences in the biology of A. vulpes and A. goreensis.
Designing for Participation and Change in Digital Institutions.

Whether we recognize it or not, the Internet is rife with exciting and original institutional forms that are transforming social organization on and offline. Issues of governance in these Internet platforms and other digital institutions have posed a challenge for software engineers, many of whom have little exposure to the relevant history or theory of institutional design. Here, we offer one useful framework with an aim to stimulate dialogue between computer scientists and political scientists. The dominant guiding practices for the design of digital institutions to date in human-computer interaction, computer-supported cooperative work, and the tech industry at large have been an incentive-focused behavioral engineering paradigm, a collection of atheoretical approaches such as A/B-testing, and incremental issue-driven software engineering. One institutional analysis framework that has been useful in the design of traditional institutions is the body of resource governance literature known as the "Ostrom Workshop". A key finding of this literature that has yet to be broadly incorporated in the design of many digital institutions is the importance of including participatory change process mechanisms in what is called a "constitutional layer" of institutional design---in other words, defining rules that allow and facilitate diverse stakeholder participation in the ongoing process of institutional design change. We explore to what extent this consideration is met or could be better met in three varied cases of digital institutions: cryptocurrencies, cannabis informatics, and amateur Minecraft server governance. Examining such highly varied cases allows us to demonstrate the broad relevance of constitutional layers in many different types of digital institutions.
Horner’s Syndrome Following Varicella Vaccination

A 52-year-old female with no significant past medical history presented with disseminated herpes zoster as well as a Horner’s syndrome and retinal haemorrhages 3 weeks after receiving the varicella...