cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ovarian Cancer Survival: Steady Improvement, Despite Rhetoric to the Contrary

The words convey a similar message and they sound authoritative: “Over the past ‘several decades’ there has been limited, if any, improvement in outcome for women diagnosed with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.” This pronouncement is often followed, or preceded, by a statement that “new drugs or management paradigms are urgently required to improve the anticipated dismal survival outcome in this clinical setting.” Although the need for new/novel strategies (which will hopefully result from the current and rapidly evolving understanding of the biology of ovarian cancer) is surely not in question, the specific issue to be addressed in this commentary is the objective validity of the basic premise that clinically relevant progress in the malignancy has been essentially nonexistent.
Application of the Extended Kalman Filter to Control of a Shape Memory Alloy Arm

This paper presents a robust nonlinear control that uses a state variable estimator for control of a single degree of freedom rotary manipulator actuated by Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wire. A model for SMA actuated manipulator is presented. The model includes nonlinear dynamics of the manipulator, a constitutive model of the Shape Memory Alloy, and the electrical and heat transfer behavior of SMA wire. The current experimental setup allows for the measurement of only one state variable which is the angular position of the arm. Due to measurement difficulties, the other three state variables, arm angular velocity and SMA wire stress and temperature, cannot be directly measured. A model-based state estimator that works with noisy measurements is presented based on the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). This estimator predicts the state vector at each time step and corrects its prediction based on the angular position measurements. The estimator is then used in a nonlinear and robust control algorithm based on Variable Structure Control (VSC). The VSC algorithm is a control gain switching technique based on the arm angular position (and velocity) feedback and EKF estimated SMA wire stress and temperature. The state vector estimates help reduce or avoid the undesirable and inefficient overshoot problem in SMA one-way actuation control.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Structural dynamics of the Streptomyces lividans K+ channel (SKC1): oligomeric stoichiometry and stability.

SKC1, a 160-residue potassium channel with two putative transmembrane (TM) segments was recently identified from Streptomyces lividans. Its high levels of expression, small size, and ease of purification make SKC1 an ideal candidate for high-resolution structural studies. We have initiated the structural characterization of this channel by assessing its oligomeric behavior, stability in detergent, general hydrodynamic properties, and preliminary secondary structure content. SKC1 was readily expressed and purified to homogeneity by sequential metal-chelate and gel filtration chromatography. Standard SDS−PAGE, together with chemical cross-linking analysis indicated that SKC1 behaves as a tightly associated tetramer even in the presence of SDS. Using a gel shift assay to assess its oligomeric state, we determined that SKC1 is stable as a tetramer in most detergents and can be maintained in nonionic detergent solutions for extended periods of time. The tetramer is also stable at relatively high temperatures, ...
Proton transfer from metal hydrides to metal alkynyl complexes. Remarkable carbon basicity of (C5H5) (PMe3)2Ru-C≡C-CMe3

The reactions of transition-metal hydrides with metal alkynyl compounds are virtually unexplored. The only previous systematic study is Lukehart's synthesis of bridging vinylidene complexes from formal addition of a Pt-H bond across the carbon-carbon triple bond of several metal alkynyl compounds. Davison and Selegue have shown that unsaturated carbon ligands bonded to late transition metals generally undergo ..beta..-attack by electrophiles and ..cap alpha..-attack by nucleophiles. This suggested that metal vinylidene complexes might be formed by proton transfer from metal hydrides to metal alkynyl complexes. This communication reports the first kinetic and thermodynamic measurements on this type of reaction and provides evidence that certain ruthenium alkynyl complexes are remarkably strong carbon-centered bases.
Critical Interactions in Binding Antibody NC41 to Influenza N9 Neuraminidase: Amino Acid Contacts on the Antibody Heavy Chain†

Antibody NC41 binds to the subtype N9 neuraminidase (NA) of influenza virus A/tern/Australia/ G70c/75 and inhibits its enzyme activity. To address the molecular mechanisms by which antibodies interact with neuraminidase and the requirements for successful escape from antibody inhibition, we made amino acid substitutions in heavy chain CDRs of NC41. Antibody proteins expressed as a single-chain Fv (scFv) fused with maltose-binding protein were assayed for binding to NA by ELISA. Association constants (Ka) for wild-type and mutant scFvs are as follows: wild type, 2 x 10(7) M-1; Asn31-->Gln, 2 x 10(7) M-1; Glu96-->Asp, 1 x 10(7) M-1; Asp97-->Lys, 6 x 10(6) M-1; and Asn98-->Gln, 8 x 10(6) M-1. The Ka for intact NC41 antibody was 4 x 10(8) M-1 in the same assay, reflecting increased stability compared to that of the scFv. Mutations in the scFv antibody had less of an effect on binding than mutations in their partners on the NA, and modeling studies suggest that interactions involving the mutant antibody side chains occur, even without taking increased flexibility into account. Asp97 forms a salt link with NA critical contact Lys434; of the four mutants, D97K shows the largest reduction in binding to NA. Mutant N98Q also shows reduced binding, most likely through the loss of interaction with NA residue Thr401. Substitution N31Q had no effect on Ka. NC41 residue Glu96 interacts with NA critical contact Ser368, yet E96D showed only a 2-fold reduction in binding to NA, apparently because the H bond can still form. Asp97 and Asn98 provide the most important interactions, but some binding is maintained when they are mutated, in contrast to their partners on the NA. The results are consistent with maturation of the immune response, when the protein epitope is fixed while variation in the antibody paratope allows increasing affinity. Influenza viruses may exploit this general mechanism since single amino acid changes in the epitope allow the virus to escape from the antibody.
Photochemical production of reactive oxygen species by C60 in the aqueous phase during UV irradiation.

The objective of this study was to investigate photochemical production of singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide radical anion (O2•-) by C60 in water. It was demonstrated that photoexcited C60 in the aqueous phase efficiently mediated transfer of absorbed energy to oxygen and produced singlet oxygen when associated with surfactant (Triton X100 and Brij 78) or polymer (polyvinylpyrrolidone), which is consistent with previously observed behavior in organic solvents. However, when C60 was present as colloidal aggregate suspension, prepared through solvent exchange or sonication, this intrinsic character was lost. Similarly, C60 associated with surfactant mediated electron transfer from electron donor (triethylamine) to oxygen producing superoxide radical, while C60 aggregates and C60 associated with polymer did not. These results suggest that the ability of C60 to mediate energy and electron transfer may be affected by the degree of C60 aggregation in the aqueous phase as well as characteristics of associated ...
Car occupant death according to the restraint use of other occupants: a matched cohort study.

Context A car occupant could be killed if struck by another occupant who was catapulted forward, backward, or sideways in a crash. Objective To estimate the association between death of a car occupant (the target) and restraint use by other occupants. Design Matched-pair cohort study comparing the outcomes of 2 target occupants in the same passenger car that crashed. Setting United States traffic crashes in 1988-2000, using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Subjects Target pairs, at least 1 of whom died: 61 834 front-seat pairs, 5278 rear-seat pairs, and 21 127 pairs on the left or right side. Main outcome measures Adjusted risk ratio (RR) for death within 30 days of a crash. Results The risk of death was greater for a restrained front target occupant in front of an unrestrained occupant compared with a restrained front target in front of a restrained occupant (adjusted RR, 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.31). For a restrained rear target occupant behind an unrestrained occupant compared with a restrained rear target occupant behind a restrained occupant, the adjusted RR was 1.22 (95% CI, 1.10-1.36). For a restrained side target occupant sitting next to an unrestrained occupant compared with a restrained side target occupant sitting next to a restrained occupant, the adjusted RR was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.08-1.22). Among unrestrained target occupants, the adjusted RRs were, for front targets, 1.04 (95% CI, 0.97-1.12), rear targets, 1.22 (95% CI, 1.10-1.36), and side targets, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.80-0.92). Conclusion Persons who wish to reduce their risk of death in a crash should wear their own restraint and should ask others in the same car to use their restraints.
Influence of dynamic strain aging on the apparent activation volume for deformation

Abstract There is sufficient evidence that dynamic strain aging is a very significant factor in the deformation of commercial titanium in the intermediate temperature range (0.3–0.4)T m where T m is the melting temperature. In this paper the influence of dynamic strain aging on the apparent activation volume for deformation is examined on the basis of the published data available. The rapid increase in activation volume above about 0.3T m can be explained very well by the dynamic strain aging associated with oxygen atoms. The gradual decrease in activation volume below 200 K could result from a decrease in the Taylor factor with the increasing contribution of twinning.
Human cyclooxygenase-2 is a sequence homodimer that functions as a conformational heterodimer.

Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases 1 and 2, also known as cyclooxygenases (COXs) 1 and 2, convert arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandin endoperoxide H2. Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases are targets of nonspecific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2-specific inhibitors called coxibs. PGHS-2 is a sequence homodimer. Each monomer has a peroxidase and a COX active site. We find that human PGHS-2 functions as a conformational heterodimer having a catalytic monomer (Ecat) and an allosteric monomer (Eallo). Heme binds tightly only to the peroxidase site of Ecat, whereas substrates, as well as certain inhibitors (e.g. celecoxib), bind the COX site of Ecat. Ecat is regulated by Eallo in a manner dependent on what ligand is bound to Eallo. Substrate and nonsubstrate fatty acids (FAs) and some COX inhibitors (e.g. naproxen) preferentially bind to the COX site of Eallo. AA can bind to Ecat and Eallo, but the affinity of AA for Eallo is 25 times that for Ecat. Palmitic acid, an efficacious stimulator of human PGHS-2, binds only Eallo in palmitic acid/murine PGHS-2 co-crystals. Nonsubstrate FAs can potentiate or attenuate actions of COX inhibitors depending on the FA and whether the inhibitor binds Ecat or Eallo. Our studies suggest that the concentration and composition of the free FA pool in the environment in which PGHS-2 functions in cells, the FA tone, is a key factor regulating PGHS-2 activity and its responses to COX inhibitors. We suggest that differences in FA tone occurring with different diets will likely affect both base-line prostanoid synthesis and responses to COX inhibitors.
Creating significant learning experiences in introductory artificial intelligence

We introduced an arcade-style gaming environment for use in a mixed undergraduate and graduate introductory artificial intelligence (AI) course. Our primary goal in this course was to provide students with a "significant learning experience" [3]. We achieved this goal by creating projects based in the game environment that illustrate several major AI topic areas. These projects were designed to be challenging, enjoyable, and to demonstrate AI programming in a realistic environment. Each of the projects was designed to be feasible for all the students yet flexible enough to allow the stronger students to explore alternative solutions. We evaluated our success in achieving these goals through student evaluations, comments, and exam grades.
Multiple pathways to self-reported depression and psychological adjustment among adolescents

This study built upon earlier work documenting a theoretically derived model of four antecedents of depression, defined by a composite of global self-worth, affect (cheerful to depressed, and hope (hopefulness or hopelessness), among normative samples of adolescents. The four antecedents were: (a) perceived competence/adequacy in peer-salient domains (perceived appearance, peer likability, and athletic competence); (b) peer support; (c) perceived competence/adequacy in parent-salient domains (scholastic competence and behavioral conduct); and (d) parent support. However, not all components are observed in the profiles of individual adolescents. Thus, in this study, we examined the multiple pathways among those reporting depressive reactions (defined by the composite) as well as the different routes to positive adjustment, among those with high scores on the composite. Six profiles were identified among each group. For those reporting depressive reactions, perceived deficiencies in both peer- and parent-salient domains were particularly critical predictors. In contrast, for those reporting positive adjustment, peer and parent support were central components. The discussion emphasized the need to consider individual profile differences in planning interventions for adolescents at risk.
Secondary School Calculus: Preparation or Pitfall in the Study of College Calculus?.

This study investigated the effects of various levels of secondary school calculus experience on performance in first-year college calculus, with focus on student performance on conceptual and procedural exam items. Analysis of covariance, with mathematics SAT score as a covariate, was employed to explore differences among four groups of students. Students who had a year of secondary school calculus, advanced placement or otherwise, differed significantly in performance from students who had either no calculus or a brief introduction to calculus prior to college. A brief secondary school introduction to calculus, in comparison with no secondary school calculus, provided an initial advantage in the college course. This slight advantage reappeared on the final exam and on the procedural subscale of the final exam. Students who had studied a full year of secondary school calculus performed significantly better than other groups throughout the first-semester course. The advantage was revealed more strongly in procedural than in conceptual items. There were no significant differences among the four groups of students on outcome measures in the second-semester course. Students with more secondary school calculus background were more likely to continue into the second semester of college calculus.
Environmental Justice, Sustainability, and Education at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: A Search for Synergy

This article considers the latest movement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a more sustainable direction (toward environmental health that enables current and future social and economic needs to be met) and its focus on environmental justice (supporting nondiscrimination relating to environmental and human health). Ways to bridge EPA’s implementation of environmental justice tools and sustainable solutions are identified, often by examining EPA resources, to find areas of overlap. EPA’s environmental education efforts—programs that help inform the decisions learners make about the environment—offer additional insights. The suggestions for collabora tion and coordination across EPA programs and activities were selected with the intent to create the best impacts with limited resources and to open a dialog on the best ways to coordinate pushes for sustainable and just solutions both inside and outside EPA.
Direct vector-field method to obtain angle-domain common-image gathers from isotropic acoustic and elastic reverse time migration

We have developed an alternative (new) method to produce common-image gathers in the incident-angle domain by calculating wavenumbers directly from the P-wave polarization rather than using the dominant wavenumber as the normal to the source wavefront. In isotropic acoustic media, the wave propagation direction can be directly calculated as the spatial gradient direction of the acoustic wavefield, which is parallel to the wavenumber direction (the normal to the wavefront). Instantaneous wavenumber, obtained via a novel Hilbert transform approach, is used to calculate the local normal to the reflectors in the migrated image. The local incident angle is produced as the difference between the propagation direction and the normal to the reflector. By reordering the migrated images (over all common-source gathers) with incident angle, common-image gathers are produced in the incident-angle domain. Instantaneous wavenumber takes the place of the normal to the reflector in the migrated image. P- and S-wave separ...
Agent based control scheme for a smart power system including renewable energy sources

In this paper, a PV energy source has been connected to a flywheel (FW) for short term energy storage in addition to a battery (BAT) for long term energy storage. The purpose of this system is to serve as a part of a shipboard power system as means to deal with large transient loads. In order to make a robust power system for such loads, we propose a flywheel connected to a dc motor and connect this flywheel system to the common dc bus through a bidirectional dc/dc converter. An agent based control scheme has been applied to this system to make the system more robust against single point failures, reduce the amount of information needed to be transferred, and make it easier to add or remove other sources to the system in the future. We have designed and simulated, and then developed an experimental setup for the proposed system. The simulations and experimentals show that the system is very robust specifically for transient loads.
The regulation of Rubisco activity

The processes of photosynthesis and photorespiration are initiated by Rubisco, but the enzyme must be activated before it will catalyse either the carboxylation or oxygenation of ribulose bisphosphate. Rubisco is activated in vitro by CO 2 and Mg 2+ . The dual roles of CO 2 as both an activator and a substrate led to anomalously high K m (CO 2 ) values until the activation requirement was recognized. During activation, CO 2 forms a carbamate at the e-amino of a lysine residue on the large subunit of Rubisco. Under conditions thought to exist in the chloroplast during photosynthesis (10 μm CO 2 , 5 mM Mg 2+ and pH 8.0), Rubisco is only partially active since the K act (CO 2 ) is in the range 25-30 μm CO 2 . Thus the mechanism of activation as deduced from in vitro studies is incomplete. Higher activation levels can be obtained by preincubating Rubisco with phosphorylated metabolites, but these occupy ribulose bisphosphate binding sites and thus inhibit catalysis. Recently, a naturally occurring effector, which binds tightly to Rubisco and inhibits activity, has been found. This compound is synthesized in the dark and metabolized upon illumination, but its identity and physiological function are not yet known. In leaves, Rubisco is nearly fully activated at high light intensities. By analysing an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant deficient in the ability to activate Rubisco, we have determined that a soluble protein is required for the in vivo activation process. This enzyme, designated Rubisco activase, reduces the high K act (CO 2 ), observed with the isolated enzyme, to physiological levels in an illuminated reconstituted assay system containing washed thylakoid membranes, Rubisco and ribulose bisphosphate.
Oye Oye lo que Ustedes no Saben: Creativity, Social Power, and Politics in the Oral Practice of Chismeando

People in interaction are in a continual state of engagement in socioculturally framed activities. Our participation in these practices involves our knowledge and use of generic-specific linguistic resources, the instantiations of which move between the expected and the creative. The focus of this article is the locally situated nature of such interplay in the oral practice of chismeando (gossiping) by a group of Dominican women. Specifically I focus on one participant's strategic, creative use of some of the features to transform the nature of her involvement in the intragroup practice. Her actions are discussed in terms of the social powers they engender and the politics of her participation. I suggest that such attention to the everyday experiences of a group helps build an understanding not only of the linguistic and paralinguistic articulations of the practices themselves but, and certainly more importantly, of the sociohistorical lives of the people who construct and participate in them.
Prolonging small feeding volumes early in life decreases the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants.

Objective. Approximately 90% of infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) do so after being fed. Previous prospective studies have shown that infants given small enteral feedings for the first 7 to 10 days of feeding do not have an increased risk for NEC compared with those given no feedings. Although neonatologists now commonly increase feeding volumes, no study has compared the risk for NEC between infants fed these small volumes and those fed volumes that are increased slowly. The purpose of this study was to compare the risks and benefits of small and increasing feeding volume. Methods. In a randomized, controlled trial, we randomly assigned 141 preterm infants in the newborn intensive care unit to be fed 10 days using 1 of 2 schedules. One group was fed 20 mL/kg/d for the first 10 study days (minimal). The other group (advancing) was fed 20 mL/kg/d on study day 1; feeding volume was increased by 20 mL/kg/d up to 140 mL/kg/d, which was maintained until study day 10. The main outcome measure was incidence of NEC; secondary outcomes were maturation of intestinal motor patterns, time to reach full enteral feedings, and incidence of late sepsis. Results. The study was closed early because 7 infants who were assigned to advancing feeding volumes developed NEC, whereas only 1 infant fed minimal feeding volumes did, or 10% versus 1.4%. Although infants who were fed minimal volumes established full enteral feeding volumes later than infants who were fed advancing volumes, maturation of intestinal motor patterns and the incidence of late sepsis and feeding intolerance was similar in the 2 groups. Conclusion. Given that advancing feeding volumes increase the risk of NEC without providing benefits for motor function or feeding tolerance, neonatologists should consider using minimal feeding volumes until future trials assess the safety of advancing feeding volumes.
Comparison of Kalman and least squares filters for locating autonomous very low frequency acoustic sensors

The Marine Physical Laboratory has designed, fabricated, and taken to sea self-contained, freely drifting acoustic sensors which can measure signal propagation and ambient ocean noise in the 1-20-Hz band for up to 25-hour periods. The deployment of several freely drifting floats forms an array of sensors whose outputs can be combined after the experiment with a beamformer. A Kalman filter and a least-squares estimator have been developed to estimate float positions from travel-time measurements. Computer simulation is used to compare filter performance-under several deployment scenarios. Results show that the Kalman filter performs better than the least-squares filter when the floats are subjected to small-magnitude accelerations between measurements. Neither filter was sensitive to relatively major changes in deployment geometry as long as the sound-speed profile is known exactly. >
Specifying External Relations: Definition of and Actors in an Organization's Environment

Organization-environment concerns have become an increasingly important topic for both academic researchers and organizational practitioners. Unfortunately, some of the academic perspectives on organization-environment relations have emphasized the study of constructs within an organization's environment more than specific activities that an organization may adopt with actors in its environment. This paper proposes a three-step process for bridging academic research and organizational practice around organization-environment relations. First, distinctions between environments as nonmanipulable elements and niches as manipulable elements can be made. Resource dependence, efficiency, and uncertainty perspectives on environments have particular application at organization-niche interfaces. Ecology and uncertainty perspectives have relevance at the organization-environment interface. Second, niches can be at least partially identified through methods used to define strategic groups or populations. Classificat...
Historical Changes in Stocking Densities on Texas Rangelands

Stocking density, both current and past, is a major determinant of the nature and condition of rangelands. Despite this fact, there have been few detailed examinations of historical trends in stocking density. We used data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture to track the density of domestic livestock from the early 1900s to the present, for six rangeland regions in the State of Texas: (1) the Edwards Plateau; (2) the Trans-Pecos; (3) the Lampasas Cut Plain; (4) the South Texas Plains; (5) the Rolling Plains; and (6) the High Plains. We find that stocking densities have declined across the state—ranging from a decline of about 40% in some regions to as much as 75% in the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau regions. The period of sharpest decline, which began in the middle of the last century, reflects important, but not fully understood, socioeconomic changes. These most likely include changing land ownership, fragmentation of land holdings, and increasing emphasis on wildlife conservation. Other factors potentially contributing to the destocking of Texas rangelands include woody plant encroachment and a rise in predation. We argue that the dramatic reduction in stocking densities documented here has profound socioeconomic, ecological, and hydrological implications that need to be better understood.
Latanoprost increases the severity and recurrence of herpetic keratitis in the rabbit.

Abstract PURPOSE: To determine whether topically applied latanoprost increases the severity of acute herpes simplex keratitis, the rate of recurrence of herpes keratitis, or both, in the rabbit. METHODS: To determine the effect on severity of acute herpetic keratitis, the corneas of New Zealand white rabbits were infected with either the less-corticosteroid-sensitive McKrae strain or the corticosteroid-sensitive F(MP)E strain of herpes simplex virus type 1. Rabbits were randomly assigned to twice-a-day treatment with latanoprost 0.005%, dexamethasone sodium phosphate 0.1%, or balanced saline solution within 3 days of infection and evaluated daily for up to 13 days after infection. The severity of keratitis was graded in a masked manner. To determine the effect on recurrences of herpetic keratitis, animals infected with McKrae strain herpes simplex virus type 1 that survived to day 32 after infection were randomized to treatment with latanoprost 0.005% or balanced saline solution and evaluated for the presence of corneal lesions from postinfection day 32 to day 47. RESULTS: In the severity studies, treatment of F(MP)E-infected corneas with latanoprost or dexamethasone significantly worsened herpetic keratitis; by postinfection day 5, F(MP)E-infected eyes treated with dexamethasone or latanoprost demonstrated significantly higher severity scores than the eyes treated with balanced saline solution ( P = .0001 and .008, respectively). Scores of McKrae-infected corneas treated with latanoprost or dexamethasone were not significantly different from scores of balanced saline solution–treated corneas. In the recurrence study, treatment with latanoprost significantly increased the appearance of clinical recurrences in McKrae-infected eyes, compared with balanced saline solution treatment ( P = .0064). CONCLUSION: Latanoprost may worsen acute herpetic keratitis in the rabbit eye and increase the risk of recurrences in latently infected animals.
Combined Budesonide/Formoterol Turbuhaler Treatment of Asthma

OBJECTIVE:To provide product information; review and analyze the clinical literature studying combination therapy, budesonide, and formoterol in asthmatics; and to define the role for this therapy in asthma treatment.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search (1990–September 2001) was conducted to identify the primary literature. Bibliographies were reviewed for further relevant citations.STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION:All randomized, blinded, controlled studies at least 3 months in duration exploring the efficacy of the combination of budesonide and formoterol (in 1 or separate formulations) compared with other treatments were selected to be included in the review of clinical studies.DATA SYNTHESIS:The combination of budesonide and formoterol was more effective than increasing the dose of budesonide in patients with moderate or severe persistent asthma and in patients with mild asthma not previously controlled with inhaled corticosteroids. Milder corticosteroid-naive asthmatics did not derive benefit compared with i...
Decentralized continuous robust controller for mobile robots

A composite system model for the wheeled mobile robot is proposed. The overall system can be thought of as a composite of two subsystems; one is the vehicle with m degrees of freedom, and the other is the robot arm with n degrees of freedom. The interconnections between them are unknown interactive forces. To overcome the effects of the unknown interactive forces and some mismatches between the estimated parameter values and the actual ones, a decentralized continuous robust controller is proposed. Conditions are derived for stability when the interconnections are not known. The theoretical analysis and computer simulation results show that the performance of the continuous robust controller is much better than that of the nonrobust controller. An interesting conclusion is that one can choose arbitrarily large weighting gains to decrease the trajectory errors without increasing the magnitude of the physical control torques. >
Comparison of ESwab with Traditional Swabs for Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Using Two Different Walk-Away Commercial Real-Time PCR Methods

The ESwab system (Copan Diagnostics) was evaluated as a nasopharyngeal specimen collection device to be used for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detection by the GeneXpert and BD Max MRSA assays. Different MRSA strains and dilutions of each strain were tested in triplicate. ESwabs proved to be a suitable collection system for the two assays tested.
Objective and Subjective Texture Evaluation of Irradiation Sterilized Meat Products

Instrumental measures of textural properties and texture panel evaluations were obtained on several meat products irradiated using various dose-temperature conditions. Both the panel results and the instrumental data revealed several irradiation treatments that produced a tougher meat than the nonirradiated controls. Further studies indicated this toughening was due to a freezing-irradiation interaction.
Density, Expansivity, and Viscosity of Molten Alkali Silicates

The densities nd vi cositie of melts in the systems Li2O–SiO2, Na2O–SiO2, and K2O–SiO2 were measured with a restrained sphere apparatus over the temperature range 1000° to 1400°C. At the higher temperatures in this range the density in each system decreased with increasing alkali content. On a mole basis the thermal expansivity of the potassium silicates was greater than that of the sodium and lithium silicates. Comparisons on the basis of moles of alkali per unit volume of glass showed that to a first approximation the viscosity of the systems investigated was almost independent of the kind of alkali ion involved.
Bias in Natural Actor-Critic Algorithms

We show that several popular discounted reward natural actor-critics, including the popular NAC-LSTD and eNAC algorithms, do not generate unbiased estimates of the natural policy gradient as claimed. We derive the first unbiased discounted reward natural actor-critics using batch and iterative approaches to gradient estimation. We argue that the bias makes the existing algorithms more appropriate for the average reward setting. We also show that, when Sarsa(λ) is guaranteed to converge to an optimal policy, the objective function used by natural actor-critics has only global optima, so policy gradient methods are guaranteed to converge to globally optimal policies as well.
Mapping Eight Male-Sterile, Female-Sterile Soybean Mutants

In soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), mutations in genes involved in meiosis can lead to altered chromosome pairing and result in nonfunctional gametes. Mutability of the w 4 fl ower color locus in soybean is due to an unstable allele desig- nated w 4 -m (mutable). Several germinal rever- tant studies using the w 4 -m system resulted in generation of mutants for necrotic roots, chlo- rophyll-defi ciency, and sterility. In the present study, six male-sterile, female-sterile mutant lines were identifi ed from an independent muta- tional event that involved T366H (female-partial sterile mutant), which was a germinal revertant of w 4 -m. In addition, two spontaneous muta- tions were identifi ed that resulted in male-sterile, female-sterile mutants. The objectives of this study were to investigate if the newly identifi ed six male-sterile, female-sterile germinal revertant mutants were allelic to previous germinal rever- tant steriles or are novel mutants and to molecu- larly map the locations of these six mutants along with two spontaneous male-sterile, female-ster- ile mutants. Three of the six mutants identifi ed in the germinal revertant study mapped to the st8 region on chromosome Gm16 (molecular linkage group (MLG) J). The other three mutants mapped to a novel location on chromosome Gm14 (MLG B2). Of the two spontaneous mutants, one mapped to chromosome Gm02 (MLG D1b) and the second one mapped to Gm18 (MLG G).
Energetic electron anisotropies in the magnetotail: Identification of open and closed field lines

Unidirectional anisotropies in the energetic electron fluxes (E ≳ 200 keV) have been observed in the earth's magnetotail with the Caltech Electron/Isotope Spectrometer on IMP-8. The anisotropies occur during periods of enhanced fluxes and provide essential information on the topology (open or closed) of the magnetotail field lines which are associated with recently identified acceleration regions.
CrossMine: efficient classification across multiple database relations

Most of today's structured data is stored in relational databases. Such a database consists of multiple relations which are linked together conceptually via entity-relationship links in the design of relational database schemas. Multirelational classification can be widely used in many disciplines, such as financial decision-making, medical research, and geographical applications. However, most classification approaches only work on single "flat" data relations. It is usually difficult to convert multiple relations into a single flat relation without either introducing huge, undesirable "universal relation" or losing essential information. Previous works using inductive logic programming approaches (recently also known as relational mining) have proven effective with high accuracy in multi-relational classification. Unfortunately, they suffer from poor scalability w.r.t. the number of relations and the number of attributes in databases. We propose CrossMine, an efficient and scalable approach for multirelational classification. Several novel methods are developed in CrossMine, including (1) tuple ID propagation, which performs semantics-preserving virtual join to achieve high efficiency on databases with complex schemas, and (2) a selective sampling method, which makes it highly scalable w.r.t. the number of tuples in the databases. Both theoretical backgrounds and implementation techniques of CrossMine are introduced. Our comprehensive experiments on both real and synthetic databases demonstrate the high scalability and accuracy of CrossMine.
CC4-02: Comparative Effectiveness of Chemotherapy Regimens for Advanced Lung Cancer

Background/Aims Research has demonstrated that platinum-based chemotherapy may prolong short-term survival and improve symptom control in patients with advanced (stage IIIb-IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Newer chemotherapy agents (e.g., taxanes, antimetabolites, monoclonal antibodies, drugs targeting EGFRs), used as singlet, doublet, or triplet regimens, may improve survival. However, these agents are expensive and may produce side effects requiring hospitalization. Little is known regarding variation in both use (singlet vs. doublet vs. triplet regimens) and outcomes (survival, hospitalizations, cost) in community practices over time for non-aged populations, adjusting for comorbidities.
Surrogate clinical endpoints to predict overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer trials—are we in a new era?

Surrogate endpoints for clinical trials in oncology offer an alternative metric for measuring clinical benefit, allowing for shorter trial duration, smaller patient cohorts, and single arm design. The correlation of surrogate endpoints with overall survival (OS) in therapeutic studies is a central consideration to their validity. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published an analysis of fourteen clinical trials in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and discovered a strong association between response rate and progression free survival. Furthermore, a correlation between response rate and OS is demonstrated when analyzing the experimental treatment arm separately, minimizing bias from patient crossover. We also highlight multiple, important considerations when using response as an endpoint in clinical trials involving NSCLC patients.
Mechanism and Kinetics of Ethanol Coupling to Butanol over Hydroxyapatite

The mechanism and kinetics for ethanol coupling to n-butanol over hydroxyapatite (HAP) were investigated at 573–613 K. In situ titration experiments show that the active sites for acetaldehyde and butanol formation are different. In combination with FTIR studies, it was found that ethanol dehydrogenation is catalyzed by Ca–O sites, whereas condensation of acetaldehyde is catalyzed by CaO/PO43– pairs. Measurements of the reaction kinetics at various ethanol (3.5–9.4 kPa) and acetaldehyde (0.055–0.12 kPa) partial pressures reveal that direct condensation involving two ethanol molecules does not play a significant role in butanol formation; instead, n-butanol is formed via a Guerbet pathway. At a constant acetaldehyde pressure, enolate formation is rate-limiting, and ethanol inhibits acetaldehyde condensation rates by competitive adsorption. A model of the reaction kinetics consistent with all experimental observations is developed.
Beyond Troxel: The Pragmatic Challenges of Grandparent Visitation Continue

This article focuses on and analyzes the pragmatic challenges of court-ordered grandparent visitation. The article argues that these challenges must be considered when the court is determining whether grandparent visitation is appropriate, and if visitation is appropriate, the court must consider them in fashioning the visitation order. Finally, the article argues that these challenges are best tolerated if visitation is based on the harm standard and if an order is granted, it is one that the parent will be inclined to obey.
Wave Energy Converter Array Optimization: A Review of Current Work and Preliminary Results of a Genetic Algorithm Approach Introducing Cost Factors

Currently, ocean wave energy is a novel means of electricity generation that is projected to potentially serve as a primary energy source in coastal areas. However, for wave energy converters (WECs) to be applicable on a scale that allows for grid implementation, these devices will need to be placed in close relative proximity to each other. From what’s been learned in the wind industry of the U.S., the placement of these devices will require optimization considering both cost and power. However, current research regarding optimized WEC layouts only considers the power produced. This work explores the development of a genetic algorithm (GA) that will create optimized WEC layouts where the objective function considers both the economics involved in the array’s development as well as the power generated. The WEC optimization algorithm enables the user to either constrain the number of WECs to be included in the array, or allow the algorithm to define this number. To calculate the objective function, potential arrays are evaluated using cost information from Sandia National Labs Reference Model Project, and power development is calculated such that WEC interaction affects are considered. Results are presented for multiple test scenarios and are compared to previous literature, and the implications of a priori system optimization for offshore renewables are discussed.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Berry and seed characteristics associated with stenospermy in vinifera grapes

SummaryBerries from stenospermic grape accessions contain partially formed seed that are variable in size, number and texture of the inviable seed traces. Methods of detecting the stenospermic character usually require some degree of subjectivity or sensory evaluation. In this study, berry and seed trace variables were examined in 28 accessions of Vitis vinifera L. for their association with the stenospermic trait. It was shown that seed germination was an unreliable indicator of the stenospermic trait. Seeded and stenospermic grape accessions were separated most clearly on the basis of sinker frequency. Standardized procedures are given for determining the frequency of sinkers from grape accessions.
Analysis of the Status of Voltage and Reactive Power Control in Jiangsu Grid and Its Solution

Firstly,the method of reactive power balance is used for analysis on the lack of reactive power in Jiangsu Grid in summer 2008 in this paper,then the data of the systems of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition(SCADA)in Jiangsu Electric Power Design Institute are statistically compared,finally the main problems of reactive power and voltage in summer 2009 from the view of management and capacity allocation are pointed out,and corresponding suggestions are presented.This paper can be used for reference for optimization of reactive power and voltage control in the future.
Enhanced biotransformation of theophylline in marihuana and tobacco smokers

Single oral doses of theophylline were administered to 7 chronic marihuana smokers, to 7 chronic users of both marihuana and tobacco, and to 43 appropriate control subjects. Theophylline was cleared from the blood more rapidly in both marihuana and tobacco smokers with a mean increase in total clearance from 52 ml/kg/hr in nonsmokers to 74 ml/kg/hr in subjects who smoked either material alone. There was an additive increase in clearance to 93 ml/kg/hr in those who smoked both substances. Concern over enhanced metabolism of other drugs is probably warranted in tobacco and cannabis smokers.
'Morphing' class filter: an interactive tool for continuous adjustment of tissue type related contrast.

The proposed class filter increases tissue type related contrast in MR images of brain. During the first phase of the filtering process tissue type classes are defined. This is done by operator intervention, or by a semiautomatic process based either on a supervised or unsupervised classifier, respectively. During the second phase a pixel intensity transform makes pixels of the same tissue class appear 'more similar' while the pixel intensities of different classes will become 'more different', in effect increasing the tissue type related contrast. For example, normal mixture cluster analysis is performed on an MR image set obtained by varying pulse sequence (PS) parameters and provides unsupervised definition of classes while taking advantage of much greater information content of the whole image set in comparison to that of a single image. The algorithm permits continuous transition ('morphing') between the original image and the tissue classification image that has been calculated from the input image set by simple sliding cursor-bar on the computer screen under the physician's control. Consequently, the resulting images do not require retraining of the physician who is already familiar with the appearance of standard MR images and they make mental integration of information from a large input image set possible and easier.
Three-dimensional ultrasound imaging.

Purpose of review Ultrasound guidance is frequently utilized for needle placement and observation of local anesthetic spread when performing peripheral nerve blocks. Although there is evidence that ultrasound technology can reduce complications, there are limitations to 2-dimensional (2-D) ultrasound. Three-dimensional (3-D) and especially real-time 3-D (4-D) ultrasound may allow for optimized and well tolerated needle positioning and enhanced observation of local anesthetic spread around the target structure. This article reviewed the current literature regarding the use of 3-D and 4-D ultrasound technology in a regional anesthesia setting. Recent findings Several investigations have utilized 3-D ultrasound as a tool to study anatomical spatial relationships, evaluate local anesthetic spread, or optimize nerve block needle or catheter positioning. However, this was mostly achieved by retrospectively generating a 3-D image after the performance of the actual nerve blocks or studying anatomy on volunteers. There are only a few case reports available demonstrating the feasibility of 4-D ultrasound for nerve block performance. Summary At present, there are limited data regarding the use of 3-D ultrasound and a complete lack of randomized controlled clinical trials evaluating the potential benefits of real-time 3-D (4-D) ultrasound. This may be in part due to technical limitations associated with these techniques.