cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Invisibilidad to Participation in State Corporatism: Afro-Ecuadorians and the Constitutional Processes of 1998 and 2008

In this article I briefly discuss the process that led in 1998 to the first Ecuadorian Constitution to adopt multiculturalism as a fundamental principle in its description of the nation and that for the first time gave special collective rights to Indigenous peoples and, in a less obvious way, to Afro-Ecuadorians. I then discuss some of the processes by which the second multicultural Constitution was adopted in 2008 in Ciudad Alfaro by a Constituent Assembly dominated by the party Alianza Pais, founded by the current President, Rafael Correa, a proponent of “21st century socialism.” My discussions are done with the objective of commenting on the Afro-Ecuadorian activism and political organizing that took place since the late 1970s and also right before or, for the 2008 Constitution, during the actual processes of constitutional writing. I discuss Afro-Ecuadorian participation in corporatism, which mostly developed since the end of the 1990s along with the corporatist integration of other sectors of Ecuado...
Degree of polarization of statistically stationary electromagnetic fields

The analysis presented in this paper resolves an outstanding controversial issue of statistical optics, concerning the existence of the degree of polarization of any random, statistically stationary electromagnetic field. We show that the second-order electric spectral correlation matrix at any point in such a field may be uniquely expressed as the sum of three matrices, the first of which represents a completely polarized contribution. The ratio of the average intensity of the polarized part to the total average intensity provides a unique and unambiguous definition of the spectral degree of polarization of the electric field. It may be expressed by a simple formula in terms of the eigenvalues of the correlation matrix of the electric field and it reduces, for the two-dimensional case, to the usual well-known expression for the degree of polarization of beam-like fields. The results of this paper are of special interest for near-field optics.
Magnetic and transport properties of amorphous U-As-Cu films☆

The addition of Cu to amorphous U-As films lowers the resistivity and extends the compositional range of ferromagnetism. Although the saturation magnetization of these materials is small, they have large coercive fields, anomalous Hall effects and magneto-optical rotations which may be due in part to strong spin-orbit interactions. The uranium f-d transition found in the binary U-As is depressed and broadened by Cu.
Plasma renin activity levels in hypertensive persons: their wide range and lack of suppression in diabetic and in most elderly patients.

Abstract Background The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) maintains hemodynamic integrity by modulating both volume and vasoconstriction through a cybernetic feedback control mechanism. In addition, angiotensin II, the active component of the RAS, can be vasculotoxic and, in hypertensive individuals, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution and determinants of plasma renin activity (PRA) in a representative sample of hypertensive persons. Methods We systematically measured PRA in 4170 untreated participants in a systematic work site-based, hypertension treatment program. Results In this multiethnic employed population, patients were classified as follows: low renin, 4.5 ng/mL/h (10%). Low renin patients were more likely to be African American, female, and slightly older. However, the majority of women and African American individuals were not low renin. The 469 diabetic subjects distributed across renin categories, as did the group as a whole. Conclusions This systematic study of PRA in a large community sample of hypertensive patients reveals a wide distribution of activity level, with identifiable differences according to ethnicity, age, and sex but not diabetic status. However, these demographic differences were more quantitative than qualitative and do not provide a useful basis for estimation of the activity of the RAS. Instead, in hypertensive subjects, direct measurement of PRA is necessary, both for prognosis and for guiding hypertensive therapy.
Multiattribute decision analysis of clinical errors: a case study of computerized arrhythmia detectors

Two types of errors are observed in the process of medical decision making: false positives and false negatives. For various detection criteria these errors are usually plotted to form detection curves. The problem of identifying optimum detection criteria that minimize the impact of these errors is addressed. Usually this involves trade-offs that are determined by the attitudes of the medical decision maker, types of disease, and clinical settings. Utility theory is the theoretical technique developed to quantify subjective elements of decision making. Techniques of utility theory were employed to experimentally obtained data on errors committed by an automated arrhythmia monitor. Two cardiologists were interviewed to assess their utility functions and a multiattribute decision-analysis technique was used. From the utility functions the best detection criteria for the automated arrhythmia detector were determined. This research also highlights various behaviors in medical setting: risk neutral, risk averse , and risk seeking. The effects of various diseases and clinical settings on decision making were also shown.
Observations of the Global Characteristics and Regional Radiative Effects of Marine Cloud Liquid Water

The large-scale spatial distribution and temporal variability of cloud liquid water path (LWP) over the world's oceans and the relationship of cloud LWP to temperature and the radiation budget are investigated using recent satellite measurements from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I), the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE), and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP). Observations of cloud liquid water on a 2.5 deg x 2.5 deg and are used over a 53-month period beginning July 1987 and ending in December 1991. The highest values of cloud liquid water (greater than 0.13 kg/sq m) occur largely along principal routes of northern midlatitude storms and in areas dominated by tropical convection. The zonally averaged structure is distinctly trimodal, where maxima appear in the midlatitudes and near the equator. The average marine cloud LWP over the globe is estimated to be about 0.113 kg/sq m. Its highest seasonal variability is typically between 15% and 25% of the annual mean but in certain locations can exceed 30%. Comparisons of cloud LWP to temperature for low clouds during JJA and DJF of 1990 show significant positive correlations at colder temperatures and negative correlations at warmer temperatures. The correlations also exhibit strong seasonal and regional variation. Coincident and collocated observations of cloud LWP from the SSM/I and albedo measurements from the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) and the NOAA-10 satellite are compared for low clouds in the North Pacific and North Atlantic. The observed albedo-LWP relationships correspond reasonably well with theory, where the average cloud effective radius (r(sub e)) is 11.1 microns and the standard deviation is 5.2 microns. The large variability in the inferred values of r(sub e) suggests that other factors may be important in the albedo-LWP relationships. In terms of the effect of the LWP on the net cloud forcing, the authors find that a 0.05 kg/sq m increase in LWP (for LWP less than 0.2 kg/sq m) results in a -25 W/sq m change in the net cloud forcing at a solar zenith angle of 75 deg.
Data exchange for machine shop simulation

Manufacturing simulation systems normally provide interfaces for data import and export using proprietary formats. Dependent data interfaces limit simulation applications in the manufacturing industry. This paper describes a mechanism for transferring data between a traditional database and XML files, which represent a machine shop data model developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The data model is described by XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and UML (Unified Modeling Language). The data transfer mechanism is based on Document Object Model (DOM), XML Path Language (XPath), and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) database engines. A prototype implementation is also described in this paper.
Feedback control of CSD in a KCL crystallizer with a fines dissolver

On-line crystal size distribution control in an 18 L KCl crystallizer, equipped with a fines dissolver, was experimentally studied using inferential control of nuclei density. The control algorithm used was proportional control of inferred nuclei density by manipulation of fines removal rate. A sudden 5–8°C drop in the temperature of the crystallizer was used as a standard upset, which produced a fairly reproducible burst of nuclei. Nuclei density was then estimated from the fine crystal distribution in the fines loop using a light-scattering instrument. The control study was implemented by a computer program that used the current value of nuclei density to calculate updated set points of the fines removal rate. Simple proportional control of nuclei density in response to changes in fines removal rate was shown to be an effective way to minimize fluctuations in the product crystal size distribution that are caused by nucleation disturbances.
Are There Sex-Related Asymmetries in Foot Size?

Foot size was measured in 7-, 11-, and 15-yr.-old right-handed children (ns = 21, 22, and 19). Significant asymmetries were found in two groups: 15-yr.-old boys (longer right than left feet) and 11-yr.-old girls (longer left than right feet). Among the other age × sex groups, the avenge margins of difference were not significantly different from zero. The results are compared with those reported by Levy and Levy (1978), who found sex-related asymmetries in foot size across a wide age range.
Design Equations for Wire Mesh Bearing Dampers in Turbomachinery

In a previous ASME paper the second author reported experiments on wire mesh bearing dampers (WMD) incorporated in a power turbine rotor-bearing system in order to enable a direct comparison between WMD and squeeze film dampers (SFD). The results showed that both WMD and SFD perform equally well for reducing the rotordynamic amplitudes of vibration. Moreover the WMD were found to have significant advantages over SFD. The damping provided by the wire mesh is independent of temperature changes and presence of turbine oil. Experiments by another investigator showed that WMD are capable of sustaining more than twice the unbalance as compared to SFD, which promises possible application to withstand blade loss loads. This paper presents empirically developed non-dimensional design equations for WMD, capable of predicting stiffness and damping for a wire mesh ‘donut’ subject to changes in various design, installation, and operational parameters.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Direct imaging of extra-solar planets with stationary occultations viewed by a space telescope

The use of a telescope in space to detect planets outside the solar system by means of imaging at optical wavelengths is discussed. If the 'black' limb of the moon is utilized as an occulting edge, a hypothetical Jupiter-Sun system could be detected at a distance as great as 10 pc, and a signal-to-noise ratio of 9 could be achieved in less than 20 min with a 2.4 m telescope in space. An orbit for the telescope is proposed; this orbit could achieve a stationary lunar occultation of any star for a period of nearly two hours.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: Regulation of hematopoiesis and involvement in the progression of blood diseases

Abstract The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a basic helix–loop–helix protein that belongs to the superfamily of environment-sensing PAS (Per–ARNT–Sim) proteins. A large number of ligands have been described to bind AhR and promote its nuclear translocation. In the nucleus, the AhR and its dimerization partner the AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) form a DNA-binding complex that acts as a transcriptional regulator. Animal and human data suggest that, beyond its mediating responses to xenobiotic and/or unknown endogenous ligands, the AhR has a role, although as yet undefined, in the regulation of cell cycle and inflammation. The AhR also appears to regulate the hematopoietic and immune systems during development and adult life in a cell-specific manner. While accidental exposure to xenobiotic AhR ligands has been associated with leukemia in humans, the specific mechanisms of AhR involvement are still not completely understood. However, recent data are consistent with a functional role of the AhR in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs). Studies highlighting AhR regulation of HSCs/HPCs provide a rational framework to understand their biology, a role of the AhR in hematopoietic diseases, and a means to develop interventions for these diseases.
A three‐echelon, multi‐item model for recoverable items

The main objective of this paper is to develop a mathematical model for a particular type of three-echelon inventory system. The proposed model is being used by the Air Force to evaluate inventory investment requirements for alternative logistic structures. The system we will model consists of a group of locations, called bases, and a central depot. The items of concern in our analysis are called recoverable items, that is, items that can be repaired when they fail. Furthermore, each item has a modular or hierarchical design. Briefly, the model is used to determine the stock levels at each location for each item so as to achieve optimum inventory-system performance for a given level of investment. An algorithm for the computation of stock levels for each item and location is developed and illustrated. Some of the ways the model can be used are illustrated with Air Force data.
An evaluation of tissue metallothionein and genetic resistance to cadmium toxicity in mice.

The role of metallothionein or metallothionein-like proteins (MT) in genetic resistance to the testicular and hepatic toxicity of cadmium was examined in inbred strains of mice. Mice of two strains resistant (AJ and C3HHEJ) or susceptible (129J and DBA2J) to cadmium-induced testicular necrosis were administered sc 30 μmol CdCl2/kg. The uptake of cadmium and the induction of MT in tissues were determined after 6 hr. The results showed that accumulation of cadmium in liver and kidney tissues of the four strains was very similar. MT levels were elevated up to 20-fold in the liver and up to almost 8-fold in the kidney, resulting in cadmium to MT molar ratios of 6.7 to 10.0 in the liver and 1.2 to 1.9 in the kidney. The greatest in crease in hepatic MT as well as the cadmium to MT ratio was in the C3HHEJ strain which is susceptible to cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity. Testicular cadmium levels were significantly elevated in the two susceptible strains. The basal levels of MT-like protein in the testis were generally higher than those in the kidney. Although, only the testis of 129J (susceptible) showed an increase in this protein after 6 hr, both susceptible strains injected with cadmium had significantly higher levels of the protein as compared to the resistant strains. The 30,000-Da cadmium-binding protein in AJ and CD-1 (susceptible) mouse strains was found to cross-react with the anti-MT-serum. Necrotic changes were visible in the testes of the susceptible strains as a result of cadmium administration. Immunohistochemically, there were no significant differences in the localization of MT in the liver, kidney or testis among the four strains. MT or an MT-like protein was concentrated mainly in the interstitial tissue of the mouse testis, but was also detected in the seminiferous tubules. It is concluded that the strain differences in acute toxicity of cadmium are probably not due to low MT concentration in tissues of the susceptible strains.
Lipoprotein(a) inhibition of plasminogen activation by tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Here experimental evidence is presented demonstrating that Lp(a) inhibits the activation of Pg by the physiologic activator tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) bound to fibrinogen fragments. The competitive inhibition constant, Kie, of the Lp(a) inhibition is 22 nM, or 8.6 mg/dL which corresponds to normal plasma levels
Nanomechanical properties of self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate) as a function of processing temperature.

Understanding the wear characteristics of bone cement and its alternatives is critical to improving the quality and longevity of hip replacements. A novel composite material, self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate), has been previously developed for potential use as a pre-coat material for hip implants. The goal of this work was to examine the properties of self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate) as a function of processing temperature. Nanoindentation tests were performed to measure hardness and modulus of self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate) at the nanoscale. Nanoscratch tests were performed parallel, orthogonal, and longitudinal to composite fibers to measure residual scratch depths. Significant differences were found in the hardness, modulus, and residual scratch depth as a function of processing temperature when compared to poly(methyl methacrylate). As processing temperature is increased, hardness decreased and residual scratch depths increased. Data also showed that fiber orientation plays a critical role in scratch resistance. Scratching orthogonal to fiber orientation produced the least residual scratch depth ranging from 524 nm at 105°C to 838 nm at 150°C, compared to a residual scratch depth for poly(methyl methacrylate) of 842 nm. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005
Poverty, Justice and Social Justice

Is Christianity essentially collectivist? The philosopher Antony Flew, examines some recent statements from the church.
On the Isaacs equation of differential games of fixed duration

The conditions under which the value function of fixed-duration differential games satisfies the Isaacs equation are relaxed.
Crystal structure determination of dichlorobis[l-(2-Pyridylmethyl)imidazole]copper(II A polymeric copper complex

Abstract The crystal structure of the title compound has been determined from three dimensional X-ray data. The crystal belongs to the space group P - with Z = 2 (for a monomeric unit) with unit cell dimensions a = 7.75(2), b = 9.81(2), c = 14.63(1) A, α = 14.50(5), β = 80.15(5), γ = 87.77(5)°. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method and refined by least-squares techniques to R 10.4 for 1656 observed reflections. The copper is in a roughly trigonal bipyramidal environment. The crystal structure consists of polymeric chains of copper centers linked by attachment of the pyridyl group to the adjacent copper ion.
Transient Heat Transfer Response During Application of an Electric Field in Convective Boiling of R-404A in a Horizontal Smooth Tube

The influence of mass flux and applied voltage on the transient heat transfer response in convective boiling of R-404A in a horizontal smooth tube was investigated. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) forces generated both enhancement and suppression in the heat transfer. Upon application of a DC electric field, enhancement or suppression of heat transfer varied significantly until the convective boiling process reached steady state. The initial enhancement or suppression depended on the electric field strength and the momentum of the flow. The electric current was studied to determine the contributing terms of the EHD force. Results are presented showing that heat transfer can be significantly enhanced or suppressed within 15 seconds of electric field application. Finally, the potential of using time varying electric fields to enhance and/or control two-phase heat transfer is discussed.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Learning dependent subsidies for lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries

Abstract Governments subsidize diffusion of a variety of energy technologies believed to provide social benefits. These subsidies are often based on the idea that stimulating learning and industry development will lower costs to make the technology competitive, after which point the subsidy can be removed. We investigate two questions related to the design of subsidy programs. One question is how net public investment changes with the time interval over which subsidies are reduced, i.e. semi-annually, annually, etc. Governments prefer to reduce subsidies more often to lower public costs, producers prefer longer time periods for a more stable investment environment. The second question addressed is uncertainty in learning rates. Learning rates describe the fractional cost reduction per doubling of cumulative production; slower learning implies more government investment is needed to reach a cost target. We investigate these questions via a case study of subsidizing electric vehicles (EV) in the United States. Given the importance of lithium battery cost in the price of an EV, we gather historical data to build an experience curve that describes cost reductions for lithium-ion vehicle batteries as a function of cumulative production. Our model assumes vehicle batteries experience the same learning as consumer electronics, yielding a learning rate of 22%. Using learning rates ranging from 9.5–22%, we estimate how much public subsidy would be needed to reach a battery cost target of $300/kWh battery. For a 9.5% learning rate, semi-annual, annual and biannual tapering costs a total of 24, 27, and 34 billion USD respectively. For 22% learning, semi-annual, annual and biannual tapering costs a total of 2.1, 2.3, and 2.6 billion USD respectively. While the tapering does affect program cost, uncertainty in learning rate is the largest source of variability in program cost, highlighting the importance of finding realistic ranges for learning rates when planning technology subsidies.
Effects of propagation through atmospheric turbulence on photon statistics

The theory of the photon statistics of a beam propagated over a horizontal path in air is described and applied to the counting distribution and fade probability for weak laser pulses. Good agreement is obtained between theory and experiment for values of the refractive-index structure constant within an expected range and for various simplifying assumptions, including the assumption of a log-normal distribution for the fluctuations of the mean photon number due to atmospheric turbulence.
Increased content of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan in human colorectal carcinoma metastases compared with the primary tumor as determined by an anti-chondroitin-sulfate monoclonal antibody.

To determine if the amount of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) in human colorectal tumor tissue correlates with the tumor's aggressiveness we immunochemically determined the CSPG levels in colorectal carcinomas at different stages. A total of 50 specimens—4 polyps, 15 stage B tumors, 9 stage C tumors, 12 stage D tumors, 7 liver metastases, and 3 lymph node metastases—were examined. Tumor tissues were extracted with 4 M guanidine hydrochloride containing protease inhibitors. The extracts were serially diluted and blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes. Reactivity of a chondroitin sulfate-specific mouse monoclonal antibody (CS-56) was determined by biotinylated goat antimouse Ig and avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex. After comparing tissues from tumors at different stages (classified by the presence or absence of metastasis), we could not find a positive or negative correlation between the amount of CSPG in primary colorectal carcinoma tissues and the tumor's metastatic potential. However, the metastatic foci in the liver or lymph node contained higher amounts of CSPG than the primary tumors did. Immunohistochemical staining of colon carcinoma tissue with CS-56 revealed that CSPG is predominantly localized in fibrotic portions in the tumor tissues. Two-year follow-up studies indicated that a high level of CSPG in primary tumors was not predictive of recurrence.
Recycling topology as topos in music and narrative: Machaut, Bach, Möbius, Coetzee, Josipovici, and composition

This essay celebrates idea-recycling within and among various media and disciplines, and across several fault-lines. From an initial and informally mathematical account of that Mobius topology informing the recycling symbol, the essay turns and twists its attention to musical and literary analogues of the Mobius strip as performed before and after the strip acquired its name. Recycling material from Guillame de Machaut to J.S. Bach and J.M. Coetzee, the essay pursues the visible sound and aural linguistics of such Mobius topoi, concerning itself along the way with how Gabriel Josipovici narratively recycles and dislocates his 1972 short story ‘Mobius the Stripper’ into the contrapuntally more complex Goldberg: Variations (2002; 2007), a musical revisitation of Mobius topology also visible in Josipovici’s latest novel, Infinity (2012). Such recycling dis-locates (in geological terminology, to cause a fault), re-thinks, re-composes, and so also re-locates a medieval moment lodged in the Machaut rondeau, ‘Ma fin est mon commencement, et mon commencement ma fin.’
Evidence for fish dispersal from spatial analysis of stream network topology

AbstractDeveloping spatially explicit conservation strategies for stream fishes requires an understanding of the spatial structure of dispersal within stream networks. We explored spatial patterns of stream fish dispersal by evaluating how the size and proximity of connected streams (i.e., stream network topology) explained variation in fish assemblage structure and how this relationship varied with local stream size. We used data from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program in wadeable streams of the Mid-Atlantic Highlands region (n = 308 sites). We quantified stream network topology with a continuous analysis based on the rate of downstream flow accumulation from sites and with a discrete analysis based on the presence of mainstem river confluences (i.e., basin area >250 km2) within 20 fluvial km (fkm) from sites. Continuous variation in stream network topology was related to local species richness within a distance of ∼10 fkm, suggesting an influence of ...
Scale in GIS: An overview

Scale has many meanings, but in GIS two are of greatest significance: resolution and extent. Ideally models of physical process would be defined and tested on scale-free data. In practice spatial resolution will always be limited by cost, data volume, and other factors. Raster data are shown to be preferable to vector data for scientific research because they make spatial resolution explicit. The effects of resolution are discussed for two simple GIS functions. Three theoretical frameworks for discussing spatial resolution are introduced and explored. The problems of cross-scale inference, including the modifiable areal unit problem and the ecological fallacy, are described and illustrated.
Learning predictive representations from a history

Predictive State Representations (PSRs) have shown a great deal of promise as an alternative to Markov models. However, learning a PSR from a single stream of data generated from an environment remains a challenge. In this work, we present a formalism of PSRs and the domains they model. This formalization suggests an algorithm for learning PSRs that will (almost surely) converge to a globally optimal model given sufficient training data.
Dynamical symmetries in a unitary algebraic model of coupled local modes of benzene

Abstract Degeneracies resulting from dynamical symmetries in the coupling of anharmonic oscillators are investigated in terms of an SU(6) algebraic model for benzene local modes. Predicted combination and overtone spectra are discussed for ν = 2 levels of C 6 H 6 and C 6 D 6 . The latter has an approximate SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) dynamical symmetry for the mode coupling, resulting in approximate degeneracies beyond those required by D 6 h symmetry. It is conjectured that dynamical symmetries for the coupled, anharmonic hamiltonian account for these degeneracies of coupled, anharmonic systems.
Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: meta-analysis of patellar tendon versus hamstring tendon autograft.

Purpose: No graft tissue has consistently shown superiority over others for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Bone–patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) and doubled hamstring tendon (semitendinosus and gracilis) (HT) are the most commonly used autologous grafts. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of ACL reconstruction using either BPTB or HT grafts. Type of Study: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched the MEDLINE database (1966 to April 2003) for English-language randomized or prospective studies comparing BPTB and 3- or 4-strand HT grafts used for ACL reconstruction. For inclusion, studies were required to follow identical rehabilitation protocols within each study, and provide subjective or objective outcome data after a minimum average 2-year follow-up. Comparison data between BPTB and HT for each identified outcome measure were combined using a random-effects model meta-analysis. Results: Eleven reports fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. Outcomes favoring BPTB were found in the following outcome measures: normal Lachman examination (relative risk [RR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83–0.99; P = .025), normal pivot-shift (RR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88–1.0; P = .067), KT-1000 manual-maximum side-to-side difference of ≤3 mm (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.55–1.01; P = .057), and fewer reconstructions resulting in flexion loss >5° (RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01–1.96; P = .04). Intermediate level laxity was more common with the HT graft, as shown by higher rates of abnormal Lachman >0 (RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.99–1.5; P = .06), pivot-shift >0 (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.96–1.75; P = .09), and KT-1000 manual-maximum side-to-side differences >3 mm (RR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.13–2.39; P = .01). Outcome measures that favored HT were absence of patellofemoral crepitance (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01–1.15; P = .03), fewer results with extension loss >5° (RR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.3–1.03; P = .06), and kneeling pain. The incidence of instability, as defined by Lachman grade 2, pivot-shift grade 2, or KT-1000 manual-maximum side-to-side difference >5 mm, was not significantly different between the 2 grafts. All other outcome measures were not significantly different. Conclusions: The data presented in this meta-analysis show that the incidence of instability is not significantly different between the BPTB and HT grafts. However, BPTB was more likely to result in reconstructions with normal Lachman, normal pivot-shift, KT-1000 manual-maximum side-to-side difference Level of Evidence: Level I.
The socialist sixties: crossing borders in the second world

This volume uses Soviet, Eastern European and Cuban societies ‘as a springboard from which to explore global interconnections and uncover new and perhaps surprising patterns of cultural cross-polli...
Disposable devices for measuring intraocular pressure: a clinical study to assess their accuracy.

We conducted a study to compare the accuracy of two commercially available disposable tonometry devices (the acrylic biprism, Tonosafe™ and the silicone shield, Tonoshield™) with the standard Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT). A total of 80 eyes of 40 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A (40 eyes) had the intraocular pressure IOP measured using GAT and the acrylic biprism (Tonosafe™), while Group B (40 eyes) had IOP measured using GAT and the disposable silicone shield (Tonoshield™). IOP was measured using the GAT both before and after the disposable device and average of the two standard Goldmann readings was compared with the IOP measured using the disposable devices. The mean difference in IOP in Group A was 0.29 mmHg (SD 0.54) (P=0.0018) while in Group B the mean difference in IOP was 2.09 mmHg (SD 1.23) (P<0.0001). The Altman–Bland method was used to assess the agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. This shows a positive bias of 0.29 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11–0.46) when using the disposable acrylic biprism and a positive bias of 2.09 (95% CI 1.69–2.48) with the silicone shield. The IOP recorded using the disposable acrylic biprism (Tonosafe™) was in close agreement with the standard GAT. However, IOP readings obtained with the silicone shield (Tonoshield™) tend to be higher than with the standard GAT. These facts should be kept in mind when recording IOP in clinical situations.
Evolution of spatial resolution in breast CT at UC Davis.

Purpose: Dedicated breast computed tomography (bCT) technology for the purpose of breast cancer screening has been a focus of research at UC Davis since the late 1990s. Previous studies have shown that improvement in spatial resolution characteristics of this modality correlates with greater microcalcification detection, a factor considered a potential limitation of bCT. The aim of this study is to improve spatial resolution as characterized by the modulation transfer function (MTF) via changes in the scanner hardware components and operational schema. Methods: Four prototypes of pendant-geometry, cone-beam breast CT scanners were designed and developed spanning three generations of design evolution. To improve the system MTF in each bCT generation, modifications were made to the imaging components (x-ray tube and flat-panel detector), system geometry (source-to-isocenter and detector distance), and image acquisition parameters (technique factors, number of projections, system synchronization scheme, and gantry rotational speed). Results: Characterization of different generations of bCT systems shows these modifications resulted in a 188% improvement of the limiting MTF properties from the first to second generation and an additional 110% from the second to third. The intrinsic resolution degradation in the azimuthal direction observed in the first generation was corrected by changing the acquisition from continuous to pulsed x-ray acquisition. Utilizing a high resolution detector in the third generation, along with modifications made in system geometry and scan protocol, resulted in a 125% improvement in limiting resolution. An additional 39% improvement was obtained by changing the detector binning mode from 2 × 2 to 1 × 1. Conclusions: These results underscore the advancement in spatial resolution characteristics of breast CT technology. The combined use of a pulsed x-ray system, higher resolution flat-panel detector and changing the scanner geometry and image acquisition logic resulted in a significant fourfold improvement in MTF.
Prostaglandin E2: Biosynthesis and effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in rat skin

The biosynthesis of prostaglandins from [1-14C] arachidonic acid by homogenates of rat skin was investigated. PGE2 was identified as a major product by silicic acid chromatography, two reverse phase partition chromatographic systems, and by thin layer chromatography. Two minor products were also detected, one of which had chromatographic mobilities similar to PGF2α. The stimulatory effects of PGE2 on the production of CO2 and lipids from differentially labeled glucose by rat skin and human skin were demonstrated in vitro. Data from experiments with [1-14C] glucose and [6-14C] glucose indicated that PGE2, like, insulin, stimulated both the pentose cycle and the glycolytic pathway of glucose metabolism in the skin. Although the effects of PGE2 on glucose metabolism are similar to those of insulin, the maximum degree of stimulation caused by PGE2 was less than that by insulin.
Ush1c216A knock-in mouse survives Katrina.

Abstract Usher syndrome is the most common cause of inherited deafness found in combination with blindness. All Usher patients suffer progressive retinitis pigmentosa, with the degree of hearing impairment and the presence or absence of vestibular function differing among subtypes. A cryptic splice site mutation (216G → A) in exon 3 of the USH1C gene on chromosome 11p, which encodes a PDZ-domain protein, harmonin, was found in Acadian Usher type IC patients in south Louisiana. In vitro analysis using constructs containing the mutant 216A and subsequent analysis of patient cell lines revealed a deletion of 35 bases in the transcript. In order to analyze the impact of this frame-shift mutation, we created a knock-in mouse model containing the human 216G → A mutation. A targeting construct was made containing 5′ and 3′ homology arms, each 4 kb in length, and a 650 base pair fragment containing exons 3 and 4 of human USH1C cloned from an Acadian patient homozygous for the 216A mutation. W4/129S6 embryonic stem (ES) cells were electroporated with the targeting construct, and after 10 days of neomycin selection, clones were picked and screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analysis for homologous recombination. Two positive clones for targeted insertion were microinjected into C57BL/6 blastocysts which were then transplanted into pseudo-pregnant females. Chimeras were bred with Cre recombinase-expressing mice for simultaneous deletion of the neomycin gene and germline transmission of the 216A allele. Homozygous Ush1c216A (216AA) mice are hyperactive, display circling and head tossing behavior, and do not have a Preyer reflex at 21–25 days old. RT-PCR analysis of the cochlea and retina from 216AA mice shows the same 35 base deletion characteristic of Usher IC patients.
Structure of 2-acetoxy-1,2-di(1-adamantyl)ethanone

The structure of 2-acetoxy-1,2-di(1-adamantyl)ethanone is reported. The steric requirements of the two adamantyl groups affect the structure in three ways—a slight elongation of the central bond, a small expansion of the angles about the central bond, and a conformation in which the C(sp2)-connected adamantyl group virtually bisects the large substituents attached to the sp3 carbon.
Mutational Robustness of Morphological Traits in the Ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila

Ciliate nuclear architecture, in particular the sequestration of a transcriptionally silent germline genome, allows for the accumulation of mutations that are "hidden" from selection during many rounds of asexual reproduction. After sexual conjugation, these mutations are expressed, potentially resulting in highly variable phenotypes. Morphological traits are widely used in ciliate taxonomy, however, the extent to which the values of these traits are robust to change in the face of mutation remains largely unknown. In this study, we examine the effects of mutations accumulated in the germline genome to test the mutational robustness of four traits commonly used in ciliate morphological taxonomy (number of somatic kineties, number of postoral kineties, macronuclear size, and cell size). We found that the number of postoral kineties is robust to mutation, confirming that it should be preferentially used in taxonomy. By contrast, we found that, as in other unicellular and multicellular species, cell and macronucleus sizes change in response to mutation. Thus, we argue that cell and macronucleus sizes, which are widely used in taxonomy, should be treated cautiously for species identification. Finally, we found evidence of correlations between cell and macronucleus sizes and fitness, suggesting possible mutational pleiotropy. This study demonstrates the importance of, and methods for, determining mutational robustness to guide morphological taxonomy in ciliates.
Zn-metalloprotease sequences in extremophiles

The Zn-metalloprotease family contains conserved amino acid structures such that the nucleotide fluctuation at the DNA level would exhibit correlated randomness as described by fractal dimension. A nucleotide sequence fractal dimension can be calculated from a numerical series consisting of the atomic numbers of each nucleotide. The structure's vibration modes can also be studied using a Gaussian Network Model. The vibration measure and fractal dimension values form a two-dimensional plot with a standard vector metric that can be used for comparison of structures. The preference for amino acid usage in extremophiles may suppress nucleotide fluctuations that could be analyzed in terms of fractal dimension and Shannon entropy. A protein level cold adaptation study of the thermolysin Zn-metalloprotease family using molecular dynamics simulation was reported recently and our results show that the associated nucleotide fluctuation suppression is consistent with a regression pattern generated from the sequences's fractal dimension and entropy values (R-square ~ 0.98, N =5). It was observed that cold adaptation selected for high entropy and low fractal dimension values. Extension to the Archaemetzincin M54 family in extremophiles reveals a similar regression pattern (R-square = 0.98, N = 6). It was observed that the metalloprotease sequences of extremely halophilic organisms possess high fractal dimension and low entropy values as compared with non-halophiles. The zinc atom is usually bonded to the histidine residue, which shows limited levels of vibration in the Gaussian Network Model. The variability of the fractal dimension and entropy for a given protein structure suggests that extremophiles would have evolved after mesophiles, consistent with the bias usage of non-prebiotic amino acids by extremophiles. It may be argued that extremophiles have the capacity to offer extinction protection during drastic changes in astrobiological environments.
Changing the Landscape: The Study of Argentine Jewish Women and New Historical Vistas

In September 1941 a diverse set of women in Argentina created the Junta de la Victoria (Junta of Victory). In this organization, Jewish women figured prominently. One of the largest and best publicized of the antifascist organizations that arose in this nation in the 1930s and early 1940s, the Junta recruited an estimated 45,000 women to support the Allied cause in World War II. Yet we know little about it or its Jewish membership. The case of the long-forgotten Junta de la Victoria calls attention to broader gaps in the historiography on Argentina, on its Jews, and on its women. Jewish women have played critical roles in Argentina and its sizable Jewish community, the largest in Latin America and the third largest in the hemisphere. They helped create communal organizations, farm settlements, labor unions, and human rights groups. However, Argentine Jewish women are virtually absent from the secondary his torical sources. Studying them is vital for its own sake, to recover the voices and tell the untold stories of the unheard half of the Jewish population.1 Yet it is also crucial for another reason, as the example of the Junta demonstrates. In the course of my research on the history of Argentine Jewish women from 1880 to 1955, I conducted interviews with Jewish women of varied ethnic and class backgrounds. My informants discussed what was important to them in their own lives,2 and they often raised issues that had not occurred to me. One matter of importance to women of Eastern European backgrounds was their participation in the Junta de la Victoria. Once alerted, I began to find discussion of the Junta in written sources as well. My interviewees belied the notion
The feasibility of using compression to increase memory system performance

We investigate the feasibility of using instruction compression at some level in a multi-level memory hierarchy to increase memory system performance. Compression effectively increases the memory size and the line size reducing the miss rate at the expense of increased access latency due to decompression delays. We analytically evaluate the impact of compression on the average memory access time for various memory systems and compression approaches. Our results show the benefit of using compression is sensitive to the miss rates and miss penalties at the point of compression and to a lesser extent the amount of compression possible. For high performance workstations of today, compression already shows promise; as miss penalties increase in future, compression will only become more feasible. >
The Impact of Mission-Oriented Initiatives on University Research: The Case of Nanotechnology

We examine how the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), a most recent U.S. government’s mission-oriented initiative launched in 2000, impacts the nature of university research in nanotechnology. We characterize the NNI as a policy intervention that targets the commercialization of technology and a focused research direction to promote national economic growth. As such, we expect that the NNI has brought about unintended consequences in terms of the direction of university-industry knowledge flows and the characteristics of university research output in nanotechnology. Using the difference-in-differences analysis of the U.S. nanotechnology patents filed between 1996 and 2007, we find that, for U.S. universities, the NNI has increased knowledge inflows from the industry, diminished the branching-out to novel technologies, reduced the research scope, and decreased the likelihood of technological breakthroughs, as compared to other U.S. and non-U.S. research institutions. Our findings suggest that, at le...
Study of matrix-induced effects in multi-residue determination of pesticides by online gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE Multi-residue determination of pesticides in a complex matrix by online gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GPC-GC/MS) is increasingly concerned for its high throughput, efficiency and accuracy. Study of matrix-induced suppression or enhancement of the instrument signals is important for the application of this technique. METHODS Matrix suppression and enhancement effects for 176 pesticides were studied by online GPC-GC/MS and post-extraction addition. Suppression effects induced by co-eluted compounds were examined in the matrices tea and human breast milk. The prepared matrix was studied to confirm the results by deliberate addition of phthalates or caffeine to the matrix of Chinese cabbage. RESULTS Both suppression and enhancement effects induced by co-eluted matrix were found. The different results may depend on the concentration of the matrix. Enhancement effects for carbamate and polar pesticides were found because of the blocking of active sites in the instrument by the large volume injection (LVI) technique combined with on-column and programmed temperature vaporization (PTV) mode. The results can explain the significant difference in instrument signals between isomers or native and isotope labels in some matrices. CONCLUSIONS Online GPC-GC/MS with combined PTV and on-column LVI mode is presumed to be applicable for the multi-residue method including the studied pesticides if calibrated by matrix-matched standards. However, further cleanup steps should be deloped to remove co-eluted matrix if remarkable suppression effects are found. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.