cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous input and state estimation for nonlinear systems with applications to flow field estimation

This paper studies the problem of simultaneous input and state estimation (SISE) for nonlinear dynamical systems with and without direct input-output feedthrough. We take a Bayesian perspective to develop a sequential joint input and state estimation approach. Our scheme gives rise to a nonlinear Maximum a Posteriori optimization problem, which we solve using the classical Gauss-Newton method. The proposed approach generalizes a number of SISE methods presented in the literature. We illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme for nonlinear systems with direct feedthrough in an oceanographic flow field estimation problem involving submersible drogues that measure position intermittently and acceleration continuously.
The effect of spin-glass ordering on the specific heat of CuMn

Abstract High-precision measurements have shown the nature of the specific heat anomaly associated with the transition to the spin-glass phase in Cu Mn, and have been used to determine the entropy as a function of the field and temperature.
Children use canonical sentence schemas: a crosslinguistic study of word order and inflections.

Abstract We propose that children construct a canonical sentence schema as a preliminary organizing structure for language behavior. The canonical sentence embodies the typical features of complete clauses in the input language, and serves as a framework for the application of productive and perceptual strategies. The canonical sentence schema offers a functional explanation of word-order and inflectional strategies based on the child's attempts to quickly master basic communication skills in his or her language. The present research explores sensitivity to the canonical sentence form and to word-order and inflectional perceptual strategies for comprehending simple transitive sentences in monolingual children aged 2;0 to 4;4 in four languages: English (ordered, uninflectional), Italian (weakly ordered, weakly inflectional), Serbo-Croatian (weakly ordered, inflectional), Turkish (minimally ordered, inflectional). The results show that children fail to respond systematically to sequences that violate the canonical sentence form of their particular language. They develop distinct word-order and inflectional strategies appropriate to the regularities of their language. The early behavioral emergence of linguistically appropriate canonical sentences and processing strategies suggests a behavioral foundation for linguistic constraints on the surface form of sentences.
Effects of adrenalectomy on the presence of a maturation-delaying pheromone in the urine of female mice

Abstract A sequence of three experiments investigated whether ovariectomy affects the production and/or excretion of a pheromone from grouped female mice which delays puberty in young females. The first two experiments demonstrated that ovariectomy does not influence the presence of the puberty-delaying pheromone in either excreted or bladder urine of group-caged females. The third experiment showed that the blocking effect associated with the urethras of singly caged female mice which inhibits the activity of the maturation-delaying pheromone is not affected by ovariectomy.
The Impact of Business Size on Employer ADA Response

More than 10 years have passed since the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) came into effect for employers of 15 or more employees. Americans with disabiliti...
MODEL COMPARISON IN THE ONE-WAY BETWEEN-SUBJECTS DESIGN: AN SAS IMPLEMENTATION '

Summary.-A statistical test is developed based on the comparison of sums of squared errors associated wich cwo competing models. A model based on cell means is compared to a representation chat specifies the means for the treatment conditions. Comparing models is more general than the traditional Ho in analysis of variance wherein all the cell means are assumed equal. The rest statistic, Proportional Increase in Error, is computed using the SAS statistical system. Tests of hypotheses involving several independent means are typically analyzed via a one-way, between-subjects analysis of variance. The null hypothesis, Ho, states that all group means are equal. The test statistic for this hypothesis is the F ratio of MSB/MSw. Recent presentations of design (Judd & McCleland, 1989; Maxwell & Delaney, 1990) have sought to broaden the formulation of Ho by using a model-comparison approach. In a model-comparison approach, evaluation of an independent variable is done by formulating two different models that might account for the data of an experiment. Statistical tests are developed as a comparison of the sum of squared errors associated with the competing models (Neter, Wasserman, & Kutner, 1985). The model-comparison approach as presented by Maxwell and Delaney (1990) provides a more general perspective about the formulation of Ho than is found in traditional texts on analysis of variance. More specifically, the traditional approach can be viewed as using a grand means model (Woodward, Bonett, & Brecht, 1990) where the SStOtd about the over-all mean is partitioned into two independent components. One component represents variation among the group treatment means while the second corresponds to the pooled variation within each group. In contrast, the model-comparison approach includes this formulation and, in addition, handles cases wherein restrictions on the group means are hypothesized. In particular, the formulation would permit researchers to evaluate whether a set of mean values differs significantly from a target set. The target set could represent normative mean values obtained some years ago so the current study is viewed as a replication test; the explicit set of means could be developed from a theoretical perspective; or the target set could represent normative developmental values.
Theory and practice : how do we teach our students about light?

As optical scientists and engineers we have an educational paradigm that stresses passing knowledge from teacher to student. We are also taught to use inductive reasoning to solve problems. Yet many of the fundamental questions in optics such as the topic of this conference "What are photons?" require that we use retroductive reasoning to deduce the possible and probable cause of the observations and measurements we make. We can agree that we don't have all the answers for many fundamental questions in optics. The retroductive reasoning process requires a different way of thinking from our traditional classroom setting. Most of us learned to do this through working in a research lab or industry. With the amount of information and new discoveries to consider, it makes it difficult to cover everything in the classroom. This paper looks at transformational learning techniques and how they have been applied in science and engineering. These techniques show promise to prepare our students to learn how to learn and develop skills they can directly apply to research and industry.
Vaccinia virus transcription: Hybridization of mRNA to restriction fragments of vaccinia DNA

Abstract Differences in the transcription pattern of vaccinia mRNA synthesized in vivo and in vitro were revealed by hybridization of these RNAs to Hind III restriction fragments of vaccinia DNA that had been resolved by electrophoresis in agarose gels, denatured, and transferred to strips of nitrocellulose filters. Sequences homologous to all Hind III fragments were synthesized in vitro by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase in the presence of vaccinia DNA as a template. In vitro , the virion-associated RNA polymerase efficiently transcribed regions of the genome corresponding to all Hind III fragments except Hind III · J and Hind III · L. RNA synthesized in vivo in the presence of cycloheximide contained sequences homologous to all Hind III fragments including Hind lII · J but not Hind III · L. Sequences homologous to fragments J and L as well as all others were synthesized in vivo in the presence of hydroxyurea. It therefore appears that a region localized in Hind III · L is transcribed efficiently in vivo only after uncoating of the genome is completed. When RNAs synthesized at early (0–3 hr) or late (4–8 hr) times after infection in the absence of inhibitors were hybridized to Hind III fragments, some portion of nearly every fragment was found to be transcribed under both conditions. Densitometric analysis of autoradiograms of the filter strips revealed that the amount of RNA hybridizing to certain restriction fragments varied in the two samples. Through hybridization competition experiments in which labeled late RNAs were competed with unlabeled early RNAs, it was found that regions of the genome located within Hind lII fragments A, (D, E), and (G, H) are transcribed to a greater extent at late times than at early times after infection. Similarly, it was found that sequences hybridizing to Hind III fragments A, B, F, K, and M were more abundant in RNA synthesized by the core-associated RNA polymerase in vitro , than in “early” RNA synthesized in vivo .
Is Consistency a Domain-General Individual Differences Characteristic?

We explored randomness in responding in two ways across six experiments. First, we predicted that people would differ from each other in randomness in a stable way when tested in the same domain across two sessions; people who responded more randomly in a particular domain in one session also should respond more randomly in a second session whereas people who responded less randomly in one session also should respond less randomly in a second session. Second, we predicted that there would be some domain general randomness; people's randomness in one domain should predict their randomness in another domain. We used consistency coefficients across blocks of a session as an inverse measure of randomness and found (a) consistency coefficients correlated across sessions within the same domain and (b) consistency coefficients in one domain correlated with consistency coefficients in other domains.
Inverse limits with subsets of [0,1]×[0,1]

Abstract The characterization of chainable continua as inverse limits on [0,1] has resulted in many papers which have contributed to our knowledge of both inverse limits and chainable continua. Quite simple maps on [0,1] give rise to quite complicated inverse limits. In this paper we begin an investigation of continua that can be represented by inverse limits of closed subsets of the unit square I2=[0,1]×[0,1]. We show that some of the usual properties of inverse limits are valid in this situation, give numerous examples, and provide conditions under which the inverse limit is a continuum.
Mutation analysis in the long isoform of USH2A in American patients with Usher Syndrome type II

Usher syndrome type II (USH2) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by moderate to severe hearing impairment and progressive visual loss due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). To identify novel mutations and determine the frequency of USH2A mutations as a cause of USH2, we have carried out mutation screening of all 72 coding exons and exon–intron splice sites of the USH2A gene. A total of 20 USH2 American probands of European descent were analyzed using single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing methods. Ten different USH2A mutations were identified in 55% of the probands, five of which were novel mutations. The detected mutations include three missense, three frameshifts and four nonsense mutations, with c.2299delG/p.E767fs mutation, accounting for 38.9% of the pathological alleles. Two cases were homozygotes, two cases were compound heterozygotes and one case had complex allele with three variants. In seven probands, only one USH2A mutation was detected and no pathological mutation was found in the remaining eight individuals. Altogether, our data support the fact that c.2299delG/p.E767fs is indeed the most common USH2A mutation found in USH2 patients of European Caucasian background. Thus, if screening for mutations in USH2A is considered, it is reasonable to screen for the c.2299delG mutation first.
Investigating the Neural Basis of the Auditory Continuity Illusion

In this study, we investigated one type of auditory perceptual grouping phenomena—the auditory continuity illusion (also called temporal induction). We employed a previously developed, neurobiologically realistic, large-scale neural network model of the auditory processing pathway in the cortex, ranging from the primary auditory cortex to the prefrontal cortex, and simulated temporal induction without changing any model parameters. The model processes tonal contour stimuli, composed of combinations of upward and downward FM sweeps and tones, in a delayed match-to-sample task. The local electrical activities of the neuronal units of the model simulated accurately the experimentally observed electrophysiological data, where available, and the model's simulated BOLD-fMRI data were quantitatively matched with experimental fMRI data. In the present simulations, intact stimuli were matched with fragmented versions (i.e., with inserted silent gaps). The ability of the model to match fragmented stimuli declined as the duration of the gaps increased. However, when simulated broadband noise was inserted into these gaps, the matching response was restored, indicating that a continuous stimulus was perceived. The electrical activities of the neuronal units of the model agreed with electrophysiological data, and the behavioral activity of the model matched human behavioral data. In the model, the predominant mechanism implementing temporal induction is the divergence of the feedforward connections along the auditory processing pathway in the temporal cortex. These simulation results not only attest to the robustness of the model, but further predict the primary role of the anatomical connectivity of the auditory processing areas in mediating the continuity illusion.
Estrogen Receptor α L543A,L544A Mutation Changes Antagonists to Agonists, Correlating with the Ligand Binding Domain Dimerization Associated with DNA Binding Activity

A ligand-dependent nuclear transcription factor, ERα has two transactivating functional domains (AF), AF-1 and AF-2. AF-1 is localized in the N-terminal region, and AF-2 is distributed in the C-terminal ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the ERα protein. Helix 12 (H12) in the LBD is a component of the AF-2, and the configuration of H12 is ligand-inducible to an active or inactive form. We demonstrated previously that the ERα mutant (AF2ER) possessing L543A,L544A mutations in H12 disrupts AF-2 function and reverses antagonists such as fulvestrant/ICI182780 (ICI) or 4-hydoxytamoxifen (OHT) into agonists in the AF2ER knock-in mouse. Our previous in vitro studies suggested that the mode of AF2ER activation is similar to the partial agonist activity of OHT for WT-ERα. However, it is still unclear how antagonists activate ERα. To understand the molecular mechanism of antagonist reversal activity, we analyzed the correlation between the ICI-dependent estrogen-responsive element-mediated transcription activity of AF2ER and AF2ER-LBD dimerization activity. We report here that ICI-dependent AF2ER activation correlated with the activity of AF2ER-LBD homodimerization. Prevention of dimerization impaired the ICI-dependent ERE binding and transcription activity of AF2ER. The dislocation of H12 caused ICI-dependent LBD homodimerization involving the F-domain, the adjoining region of H12. Furthermore, F-domain truncation also strongly depressed the dimerization of WT-ERα-LBD with antagonists but not with E2. AF2ER activation levels with ICI, OHT, and raloxifene were parallel with the degree of AF2ER-LBD homodimerization, supporting a mechanism that antagonist-dependent LBD homodimerization involving the F-domain results in antagonist reversal activity of H12-mutated ERα.
Pittsburgh air quality study overview

Ambient sampling for the Pittsburgh Air Quality Study (PAQS) was conducted from July 2001 to September 2002. The study was designed (1) to characterize particulate matter (PM) by examination of size, surface area, and volume distribution, chemical composition as a function of size and on a single particle basis, morphology, and temporal and spatialvariabil ity in the Pittsburgh region; (2) to quantify the impact of the various sources (transportation, power plants, biogenic sources, etc.) on the aerosol concentrations in the area; and (3) to develop and evaluate the next generation of atmospheric aerosolmonitoring and model ing techniques. The PAQS objectives, study design, site descriptions and routine and intensive measurements are presented. Special study days are highlighted, including those associated with elevated concentrations of daily average PM2.5 mass. Monthly average and diurnal patterns in aerosol number concentration, and aerosol nitrate, sulfate, elemental carbon, and organic carbon concentrations, light scattering as well as gas-phase ozone, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide are discussed with emphasis on the processes affecting them. Preliminary findings reveal day-to-day variability in aerosol mass and composition, but consistencies in seasonal average diurnal profiles and concentrations. For example, the seasonal average variations in the diurnalPM 2.5 mass were predominately driven by the sulfate component. r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
X-ray lithography system development at IBM: overview and status

This paper describes the work conducted at IBM to study the feasibility of x-ray lithography for production of high-density silicon chips. The system approach to x-ray lighography adopted at IBM which considers the interaction of all the components is presented. In particular, the following areas are described in some detail: x-ray sources, masks, resists, exposure tools, prototype devices fabricated with x-ray lighography, and the resolution of x- ray lighography. In addition, the status of the Advanced Lithography Facility which house the compact electron storage ring x-ray source, procured by IBM from Oxford Instruments, is presented.
Family cohesion, expressiveness and conflict in alcoholic families

Summary This study estimated family cohesiveness, expressiveness, and conflict in a primary care sample of alcoholics and non–alcoholics with and without a family history of alcoholism. Subjects completed the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule alcohol subscale, based on DSM–III criteria, and a family environment scale. Alcoholics with a family history of alcoholism (Alc + FH+) reported significantly less cohesion and expressiveness, and more conflict in their present families than did either non–alcoholics with a family history of alcoholism (Alc − FH +) or non–alcoholics with no family history of alcoholism (Alc − FH −). Non-alcoholics who grew up in alcoholic families (Alc − FH +) reported present family relationships similar to non–alcoholics with no family history of alcoholism (Alc − FH −). Results suggest a family history of alcoholism alone was not associated with differences in perceptions of present family relationships. The findings of this study raise questions about the general perception that individuals who grew up in alcoholic families experience more family dysfunction in adulthood. The presence of two factors together–family history and alcohol problems in the subject–produced the perception of family dysfunction.
Mixed Method Measurement of Homicide Events in Comparative Research: An Illustration of the Potential of Qualitative Comparative Analysis

The purpose of the paper is to present some alternative conceptual and methodological approaches to the study of homicide in a comparative context. The authors argue that: (1) international homicid...
High yield solution-liquid-solid synthesis of germanium nanowires.

High yields of crystalline Ge nanowires were synthesized for the first time in a conventional solvent of trioctylphosphine by disproportionating GeI2 in the presence of Bi nanoparticle growth seeds at 350 °C and atmospheric pressure.
A Mutation in the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane Peptidase 2-Like Gene (Immp2l) Affects Mitochondrial Function and Impairs Fertility in Mice

The mitochondrion is involved in energy generation, apoptosis regulation, and calcium homeostasis. Mutations in genes involved in mitochondrial processes often result in a severe phenotype or embryonic lethality, making the study of mitochondrial involvement in aging, neurodegeneration, or reproduction challenging. Using a transgenic insertional mutagenesis strategy, we generated a mouse mutant, Immp2lTg(Tyr)979Ove, with a mutation in the inner mitochondrial membrane peptidase 2-like (Immp2l) gene. The mutation affected the signal peptide sequence processing of mitochondrial proteins cytochrome c1 and glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase 2. The inefficient processing of mitochondrial membrane proteins perturbed mitochondrial function so that mitochondria from mutant mice manifested hyperpolarization, higher than normal superoxide ion generation, and higher levels of ATP. Homozygous Immp2lTg(Tyr)979Ove females were infertile due to defects in folliculogenesis and ovulation, whereas mutant males were severely subfertile due to erectile dysfunction. The data suggest that the high superoxide ion levels lead to a decrease in the bioavailability of nitric oxide and an increase in reactive oxygen species stress, which underlies these reproductive defects. The results provide a novel link between mitochondrial dysfunction and infertility and suggest that superoxide ion targeting agents may prove useful for treating infertility in a subpopulation of infertile patients.
On path lengths modulo three

We show that between any two nodes of a cubic, planar, three-connected graph there are three paths whose lengths are 0, 1, and 2 modulo 3, respectively. The proof is by a rather extensive case analysis. Counterexamples show that all three hypotheses (i.e., planarity, degree-three, and three-connectivity) are necessary.
3DPO's strategy for matching three-dimensional objects in range data

A strategy for recognizing and locating three-dimensional objects in range data is presented. The strategy combines information derived from models of the objects and edges and surfaces detected in the data to efficiently match objects. Given a set of objects to be found, the set of object features are partitioned into subsets having similar intrinsic properties. An ordered tree of features to be considered is set up for each subset. These search trees are designed to maximize the use of the information as it is obtained and minimize the time required to recognize objects. A detailed example of this approach being used to recognize moderately complex castings in a jumble is presented.
JUVENILE SPECIMENS OF THE PTEROSAUR GERMANODACTYLUS CRISTATUS, WITH A REVIEW OF THE GENUS

Two juvenile specimens of the pterodactyloid pterosaur Germanodactylus cristatus are identified from the Solnhofen Limestone of southern Germany. The specimens had been referred to the nominal species Pterodactylus kochi and P. micronyx. They have edentulous tips on the upper and lower jaws; their skulls are taller and less elongate and have fewer teeth than similarly sized specimens assigned to P. antiquus and P. micronyx; and they have tall neural spines on their cervical vertebrae. In addition, they exhibit a distinctive suite of skeletal proportions that distinguishes them from similarly sized specimens assigned to P. antiquus and P. micronyx. The specimens do not exhibit any trace of a cranial crest, which supports the interpretation that the cranial crest developed late in ontogeny, probably as the individual approached skeletal and/or sexual maturity. The taxonomy of Germanodactylus is reviewed and revised diagnoses are presented.
BIPEDAL ROBOT WALKING CYCLE FORCES AND TORQUES PREDICTION AND AN INVERSE SYSTEM AND GAIN SCHEDULING BASED CONTROL

This paper shows an overview of the walking model by grouping them into two large groups: the models with the concentrated mass and models with distributed mass. As an example of the models with concentrated mass, a mass-spring inverted pendulum model is shown, accompanied with a short analysis. As an example of a more complex model, a 13 DOF walking robot model is analyzed including the model kinematics, dynamics and controls accompanied with numerical solutions (simulations) for particular desired joint trajectories, recorded from a real human walking cycle. Kinematic and Dynamic analysis is discussed including results for joint torques and ground force necessary to implement the prescribed walking motion. This analysis is accompanied with a limited comparison with available experimental data. Finally, an inverse plant and tracking error linearization based controller design approach is described accompanied with results analysis and conclusions about the controller performances.
What is the role of dopamine in reward: hedonic impact, reward learning, or incentive salience?

What roles do mesolimbic and neostriatal dopamine systems play in reward? Do they mediate the hedonic impact of rewarding stimuli? Do they mediate hedonic reward learning and associati˝e prediction? Our review of the literature, together with results of a new study of residual reward capacity after dopamine depletion, indicates the answer to both questions is 'no'. Rather, dopamine systems may mediate the incenti˝e salience of rewards, modulating their motivational value in a manner separable from hedonia and reward learning. In a study of the consequences of dopamine loss, rats were depleted of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and neostriatum by up to 99% using 6-hydroxydopamine. In a series of experiments, we applied the 'taste reactivity' measure of affective reactions gapes, .. . . etc. to assess the capacity of dopamine-depleted rats for: 1 normal affect hedonic and aversive reactions , 2 modulation of hedonic . . affect by associative learning taste aversion conditioning , and 3 hedonic enhancement of affect by non-dopaminergic pharmacological . manipulation of palatability benzodiazepine administration . We found normal hedonic reaction patterns to sucrose vs. quinine, normal . learning of new hedonic stimulus values a change in palatability based on predictive relations , and normal pharmacological hedonic enhancement of palatability. We discuss these results in the context of hypotheses and data concerning the role of dopamine in reward. We review neurochemical, electrophysiological, and other behavioral evidence. We conclude that dopamine systems are not needed either to mediate the hedonic pleasure of reinforcers or to mediate predictive associations involved in hedonic reward learning. We conclude instead that dopamine may be more important to incenti˝e salience attributions to the neural representations of reward-related stimuli. Incentive salience, we suggest, is a distinct component of motivation and reward. In other words, dopamine systems are necessary for ' wanting' incenti˝es, but not for 'liking' them or for learning new 'likes' and 'dislikes'. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Reflexivity and the Psychologist

Psychologists tend to examine their activities in experimentation with the same objective scientific attitude as they routinely assume in the experimental situation. A few psychologists have stepped outside this closed expistemic practice to undertake reflexive analysis of the psychologist in the laboratory. Three cases of such critical reflexive analysis are considered to better understand the strategies and consequences of confronting what Steve Woolgar has called ‘the horrors of reflexivity’. Reflexive work of William James, Horace Mann Bond, and Saul Rosenzweig are examined: working in the early years of modern experimental psychology these scientists identified limitations in the dominant natural science model of experimentation. Attending to the scientist's own cognitions, social status, and unconscious processes respectively, James, Bond, and Rosenzweig criticized this natural science model and presented methodological and epistemic alternatives. The relative neglect of their constructive observati...
Reduction of Calcium Currents by Lambert–Eaton Syndrome Sera: Motoneurons Are Preferentially Affected, and L-Type Currents Are Spared

Previous work has demonstrated that Lambert-Eaton syndrome (LES) antibodies reduce calcium currents in nonneuronal cells and neurons and reduce the amplitude of extracellularly recorded currents at mouse motor nerve terminals. We compared effects of LES sera on whole-cell currents of cultured nerve and muscle. LES sera more strongly reduced calcium currents in motoneurons than in sensory neurons. Motoneuronal potassium currents were unaffected. The sera minimally affected calcium currents in skeletal and cardiac muscle. In motoneurons, both low voltage-activated (LVA) and high voltage-activated (HVA) components of calcium current were decreased, demonstrating that the sera targeted more than one calcium channel type. The HVA current remaining in LES-treated motoneurons was little affected by micromolar omega-conotoxin MVIIC but was reduced > 70% by micromolar nimodipine. This pharmacological profile contrasts with untreated cells and suggest that LES sera primarily spare L-type currents in motoneurons.
Photochemical products in urban mixtures enhance inflammatory responses in lung cells.

Complex urban air mixtures that realistically mimic urban smog can be generated for investigating adverse health effects. “Smog chambers” have been used for over 30 yr to conduct experiments for developing and testing photochemical models that predict ambient ozone (O3) concentrations and aerosol chemistry. These chambers were used to generate photochemical and nonirradiated systems, which were interfaced with an in vitro exposure system to compare the inflammatory effects of complex air pollutant mixtures with and without sunlight-driven chemistry. These are preliminary experiments in a new project to study the health effects of particulate matter and associated gaseous copollutants. Briefly, two matched outdoor chambers capable of using real sunlight were utilized to generate two test atmospheres for simultaneous exposures to cultured lung cells. One chamber was used to produce a photochemically active system, which ran from sunrise to sunset, producing O3 and the associated secondary products. A few ho...
A formal theory approach to lawsuits and corporate deviant behavior: building a more efficient system

Abstract This paper discusses the problems in the efficient implementation of tort reform. Current, and many proposed reforms, fail to provide a Pareto optimal solution. The problems with current policies lie in the fact that they only alter the incentive structures of one actor in the tort system. A truly efficient system needs to alter incentive structures for both potential litigants and potential defendants. Using economic modeling, the paper argues that efficient tort reform can be achieved by utilizing decoupled tax incentives.
Severity of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Progression to Cirrhosis Are Associated With Atherogenic Lipoprotein Profile

Background & Aims Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated independently with increased cardiovascular mortality. Although NAFLD is associated with dyslipidemia, it is not clear whether recently identified markers of cardiovascular risk indicate liver disease progression in patients with histologically confirmed NAFLD. We evaluated an extensive panel of serum markers of cardiovascular risk in nondiabetic patients with histologically proven NAFLD. Methods We performed a case–control study in which we compared serum levels of laboratory markers of cardiovascular risk among 81 nondiabetic subjects with histologically confirmed NAFLD vs lean (N = 81) and obese (N = 81) individuals without NAFLD (based on liver fat score, controls). For ex vivo studies, liver tissues were obtained from subjects undergoing elective cholecystectomy or from a tissue repository. Results Subjects with NAFLD had increased serum levels of insulin, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B; increased size and concentration of very large density lipoprotein particles; increased concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles and small dense LDL (sdLDL) cholesterol, and an increased percentage of sdLDL, compared with controls. Although nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was associated with a worse profile of serum atherogenic markers than NAFLD, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Despite hyperinsulinemia, triglyceride and apolipoprotein B levels, concentrations of LDL particles and LDL cholesterol, and sdLDL-related parameters decreased significantly in patients with cirrhosis. Ex vivo studies showed that patients with NAFLD had increased sensitivity of hepatic triglyceride levels and cholesterol synthesis to insulin, and that sensitivity increased the development of cirrhosis. Conclusions Atherogenic dyslipidemia is related to increased insulin-induced hepatic lipid synthesis in patients with NAFLD. Reduced dyslipidemia in patients with cirrhosis is associated with increased insulin resistance and possibly failed lipid synthesis.
Improving Bluetooth network performance through a time-slot leasing approach

Bluetooth is a promising technology aimed at supporting short-range wireless communication. To achieve the advantage of simplicity and low-power, the master/slave model is used. However, this model has some drawbacks since no direct link exists between any two slaves in a piconet. Consequently, slave-to-slave communications must go through the master, and the master has to use extra bandwidth to forward the packets exchanged between slaves. We propose a time-slot leasing (TSL) and an enhanced TSL (ETSL) approach to address these drawbacks. Simulation results demonstrate that the TSL approach, especially the ETSL approach, can significantly improve the system performance compared to the standard master/slave model.
A Conic Integer Programming Approach to Stochastic Joint Location-Inventory Problems

We study several joint facility location and inventory management problems with stochastic retailer demand. In particular, we consider cases with uncapacitated facilities, capacitated facilities, correlated retailer demand, stochastic lead times, and multicommodities. We show how to formulate these problems as conic quadratic mixed-integer problems. Valid inequalities, including extended polymatroid and extended cover cuts, are added to strengthen the formulations and improve the computational results. Compared to the existing modeling and solution methods, the new conic integer programming approach not only provides a more general modeling framework but also leads to fast solution times in general.
COUNTER DIFFUSION OF Rb86 AND Sr89 IN COMPACTED SOIL

Summary Counter-diffusion coefficients of Rb86 and Sr89 counter diffusing against H+ ions were measured in Dundee silt loam and Sharkey clay soils at differing soil bulk-densities. The cation exchange complex of each soil was saturated with either Rb+, Sr++, or H+ and washed free of salts before making diffusion measurements. The water content of the soil on an oven-dry weight basis was maintained at a constant value for all bulk-densities; 14.2 and 28.0 per cent for the Dundee and Sharkey soils respectively. These moisture contents correspond to a tension of 2/3 bar for sieved soil. The diffusion coefficients were dependent upon concentration. Average counter-diffusion coefficients were calculated and related to soil bulk-density. Soil compaction of Dundee silt loam had little or no effect upon the counter diffusion of Rb86. The average counter-diffusion coefficients of Sr89 in Dundee silt loam and Sharkey clay were significantly and linearly related to bulk-density; as bulk-density increased the average counter-diffusion coefficients increased. The average counter-diffusion coefficients were approximately 0.5–0.75 of the corresponding self-diffusion coefficients measured previously in these soils. The applicability of counter- and self-diffusion data to practical field problems are discussed.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Rectal Carcinoma Can Reduce Treatment Breaks and Emergency Department Visits

Purpose. To compare the acute toxicities of IMRT to 3D-conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) in the treatment of rectal cancer. Methods and Materials. Eighty-six patients with rectal cancer preoperatively treated with IMRT (n = 30) and 3DCRT (n = 56) were retrospectively reviewed. Rates of acute toxicity between IMRT and 3DCRT were compared for anorexia, dehydration, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, radiation dermatitis, fatigue, pain, urinary frequency, and blood counts. Fisher's exact test and chi-square analysis were applied to detect statistical differences in incidences of toxicity between these two groups of patients. Results. There were fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits in the group treated with IMRT compared with 3DCRT (P = 0.005) and no treatment breaks with IMRT compared to 20% with 3DCRT (P = 0.0002). Patients treated with IMRT had a significant reduction in grade ≥3 toxicities versus grade ≤2 toxicities (P = 0.016) when compared to 3DCRT. The incidence of grade ≥3 diarrhea was 9% among 3DCRT patients compared to 3% among IMRT patients (P = 0.31). Conclusions. IMRT for rectal cancer can reduce treatment breaks, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and all grade ≥3 toxicities compared to 3DCRT. Further evaluation and followup is warranted to determine late toxicities and long-term results of IMRT.
Attenuation of propagation through rain for an earth--Satellite path correlated with predicted values using radar

During the summer of 1974 and spring of 1975, measurements of attenuation of propagation through rain were made at Wallops Island, VA, using 13 and 18 GHz transmitters operating in the uplink mode toward the ATS-6 satellite. Simultaneously, rain reflectivity levels were measured along the earth-satellite path using a high resolution ( 0.4\deg beamwidth) S -band radar having a scanning antenna. Four raingages and two disdrometers were also located in the vicinity of the transmitters. The radar and disdrometer data were used in a modeling program to predict attentuation levels which were subsequently compared to the directly measured fades over nearly simultaneous time intervals. Predicted attentuation levels were obtained for three drop size distributions; namely, those of Joss et al. for thunderstorm activity, Marshall-Palmer, and the average distribution measured in the vicinity of the transmitter (APL distribution). Comparisons between predicted and measured attenuation levels showed the APL dropsize distribution gave the smallest rms difference of 1.3 dB at 13 and 18 GHz although the rms difference corresponding to Marshall-Palmer was close to this value. Although the sample sizes were relatively small, the good agreement suggests the validity of using radar to model path attenuation to obtain attenuation statistics.
INDUCED DRAG SAVINGS FROM GROUND EFFECT AND FORMATION FLIGHT IN BROWN PELICANS

SUMMARY Cine films of brown pelicans flying in formation were used to measure altitudes and wing tip spacing (WTS, distance perpendicular to the flight path between wing tips of adjacent birds at maximum span) for birds flying in ground effect, and vertical displacements and WTS for birds flying out of ground effect. Views were near coplanar with the plane of flight paths, and maximum wing span was used for scale. Induced drag savings in ground effect averaged 49% for gliding. Average WTS varied considerably with no evidence for systematic positioning near an optimum. There were also no differences in average WTS between flapping and gliding in or out of ground effect. Vertical displacements out of ground effect varied less than WTS but more than vertical displacements in ground effect. Few birds had wing beat frequencies similar to the bird ahead as would be needed to track vertical variation in trailing wing tip vortex positions. Imprecision in WTS may be due to unpredictable flow fields in ground effect, and difficulty in maintaining position under windy conditions out of ground effect.
INFLUENCE OF FEEDING REGIME ON BODY SIZE, BODY CONDITION AND A MALE SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTER IN SCHIZOCOSA OCREATA WOLF SPIDERS (ARANEAE, LYCOSIDAE): CONDITION-DEPENDENCE IN A VISUAL SIGNALING TRAIT

Abstract Male Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz) wolf spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae) have tufts of elongated, dark bristles on the patella and tibia of the forelegs, which are involved in visual signaling. Previous research has suggested that these tufts are used by females as a criterion in mate choice, raising the question of whether they might serve as indicators of male condition. We tested the hypothesis that tufts are condition-dependent indicator traits with a laboratory rearing study subjecting spiders to lifelong feeding regimens representing successful (high food) and unsuccessful (low food) foraging history, after which males were measured upon reaching adulthood. Mortality varied significantly with experimental treatment, and had a disproportionate impact on some egg sacs assigned to the low food treatment. Age at sexual maturity and several body size measures varied significantly with feeding history. Well-fed spiders survived better, matured earlier, were significantly larger, and were in relatively b...
Theoretical consequences of the Mutagenic Chain Reaction for manipulating natural populations

The use of recombinant genetic technologies for population manipulation has mostly remained an abstract idea due to the lack of a suitable means to drive novel gene constructs to high frequency in populations. Recently Gantz and Bier showed that the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology could provide an artificial drive mechanism, the so-called Mutagenic Chain Reaction (MCR), which could lead to rapid fixation of even a deleterious introduced allele. We establish the equivalence of this system to models of meiotic drive and review the results of simple models showing that, when there is a fitness cost to the MCR allele, an internal equilibrium exists that is usually unstable. Introductions must be at a frequency above this critical point for the successful invasion of the MCR allele. These modeling results have important implications for application of MCR in natural populations.
Is capital deepening process male-biased? The case of Turkish manufacturing sector

Abstract This paper analyzes the effects of technological change, capital intensity and increased trade activity on the gender- and skill-differentiated employment in the Turkish manufacturing industry subsectors during the 1990–2001 period. The primary objective is to find out the changes in relative employment opportunities for women workers as industries respond to increased international competition by pursuing the high road of increasing productivity. I use the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) method to examine the determinants of skill- and female-intensity of employment. I find evidence for capital deepening having gender biased employment effects for the period 1990–2001. Specifically, I find that for the manufacturing industry as a whole capital had a preference for skilled males over skilled females controlling for the effects of trade. When I focus on the individual sectors, I find that some sectors had skilled-male labor complementarity with capital as well.
Modeling Gliomas Using PDGF-Expressing Retroviruses

Despite decades of research, very modest advancements have been made in terms of improving outcomes in patients with gliomas. This highlights the need for preclinical animal models that more closely recapitulate the histopathology, molecular and cellular biology, and genetic heterogeneity of the human disease. Retroviral glioma models, particularly those driven by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), combine several of the desirable features of other model systems (i.e., xenografts and transgenic mice) yet avoid their limitations. They have proven to be powerful tools to address questions regarding cell of origin, genetic lesions necessary for tumor formation, tumor cell interactions with the brain’s microenvironment, and testing of experimental therapeutic modalities. In this chapter, we compare and contrast the existing PDGF retrovirus models with other systems and discuss what lessons and insights these models have provided so far to the extremely challenging field of glioma research.
Politics, Office Politics, and Legal Ethics: A Case Study in the Strategy of Judgment

This article argues that the core of legal ethics curriculum should be decision theory. That means that legal ethics courses should integrate rational choice theory (in the form of game theory) and limitations on rational choice (in the form of lessons from social psychology) so that the course becomes a study in the nature of judgment. The point of the curriculum should be to explain what makes good judgment good, and to illustrate risks that might cause lawyers to make errors in judgment. To ground these rather abstract points, the article develops them through a case study of a real lawyer. Her name is Jesselyn Radack. A graduate of Brown University and the Yale Law School, Ms. Radack worked in the Professional Responsibility Advisory Office of the Department of Justice (PRAO). Ms. Radack claims the Department forced her out of her job in retaliation for giving the Department advice it did not want to hear about its treatment of John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban." The Department claimed she exercised poor judgment and did a poor job. I discuss Ms. Radack's story in detail (and reach conclusions that differ from accounts of the case published to date.) I then explain how rational choice theory implies conclusions that differ from those Ms. Radack reached, and offer conjectures grounded in social psychology that might explain how someone in Ms. Radack's position might reach conclusions that differ from those implied by rational choice theory. I conclude with recommendations for integrating decision theory into the legal ethics curriculum.
Timing of umbilical cord clamping after birth for optimizing placental transfusion

Purpose of reviewA brief delay in clamping the umbilical cord after birth offers health benefits to the newborn, with no adverse effects to the mother or her infant. Yet, in most obstetric practice, the cord is clamped soon after birth. A summary of the current evidence on delayed cord clamping and
Differentiation between Inshore and Offshore Spotted Dolphins in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

Multivariate analyses were performed on 36 morphometric and meristic skull measurements taken on 613 spotted dolphins ( Stenella attenuata ) from the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Corrections were made to account for sexual dimorphism. Findings extend previous results which indicate sharp demarcation between two stocks: a larger, more robust coastal or inshore form; and a smaller, more terete pelagic or offshore stock. Sample means from 5° latitude-longitude blocks were projected onto principal component I and showed separation of four inshore from 19 offshore blocks, primarily on the basis of size involving most morphometric characters. A second component with high loadings on tooth counts summarized differences of three southern inshore blocks (adjacent to Central America) from a fourth, more northerly block located at the Gulf of California. Cluster analyses provided a similar summary of interblock associations. Principal components and cluster analysis based on individual specimens were also used to identify seven individuals with questionable affinity. The remaining 606 specimens (575 offshore, 31 inshore) were used to generate a discriminant axis and associated classification functions that correctly allocated all specimens. The best character for distinguishing between offshore and inshore specimens is Tooth Width. Classificatory information is provided to enable other researchers to assign unknown specimens.