cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estradiol, but not raloxifene, improves aspects of spatial working memory in aged ovariectomized rhesus monkeys.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) alleviates many postmenopausal symptoms but whether it also benefits cognitive function remains controversial. Further, since estrogen increases the risk of breast and uterine cancers, a new class of compounds, called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) is being considered as possible alternative to ERT. The SERM raloxifene is particularly interesting because, like estrogen, it improves lipid metabolism and reduces bone loss, without adverse effects on the breast or uterus. Little is known, however, about its effect upon cognitive function. We used a rhesus monkey model of human menopause to examine the effects of ERT and raloxifene on cognitive function. We tested 5 aged females (21–24 years old) ovariectomized long-term (10–16 years) on a battery of age-sensitive tasks, including the Delayed Response (DR), the Delayed Non-Matching-to-Sample-10 min (DNMS-10 min) and the spatial-Delayed Recognition Span Test (DRST). Monkeys were tested 5 days a week on each task for 9 consecutive months, while undergoing treatments with placebo, ethinyl estradiol (EE2), and raloxifene in alternating 28-days blocks. EE2 transiently enhanced the working memory component of the spatial-DRST, but did not affect performance on the other tasks of the battery. Raloxifene had no effect on cognitive performance. These findings indicate that estradiol is able to enhance some aspects of spatial working memory in aged monkeys despite many years of estrogenic deprivation. Further, they suggest that raloxifene does not affect cognitive function after long-term ovarian hormone deprivation.
A Place in the World

As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But as I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally.—Charles ChaplinI stood outside the Mon...
Multi-recycling of transuranic elements in a PWR assembly with reduced fuel rod diameter

Abstract This paper examines the multi-recycling of transuranic (TRU) elements (Pu-Np-Am-Cm) in standard Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) assemblies. The original feed of TRU comes from legacy spent UOX fuel. For all subsequent recycling passes, TRU elements from the previous generation are employed, supplemented by TRU from legacy UOX fuel, as needed. The design criteria include: 235 U enrichment requirements to remain below 5 w/o, TRU loading limits to avoid return to criticality under voided conditions, and assembly power peaking factors. In order to carry out multiple recycling passes within the design envelope, additional neutron moderation is required and achieved by reducing the fuel pellet diameter by about 13%, thus keeping the assembly design compatible with current PWR core internals. TRU transmutation rates and long-term ingestion radiotoxicity results are presented for 15 recycling passes and compared to standard UOX and MOX once-through cycles. The results also show that TRU fuel isotopics and radiotoxicity tend towards an equilibrium, enabling further additional recycling passes.
Local ICA for the Most Wanted Face Recognition

Facial disguises of FBI Most Wanted criminals are inevitable and anticipated in our design of automatic/aided target recognition (ATR) imaging systems. For example, man's facial hairs may hide his mouth and chin but not necessarily the nose and eyes. Sunglasses will cover the eyes but not the nose, mouth, and chins. This fact motivates us to build sets of the independent component analyses bases separately for each facial region of the entire alleged criminal group. Then, given an alleged criminal face, collective votes are obtained from all facial regions in terms of 'yes, no, abstain' and are tallied for a potential alarm. Moreover, and innocent outside shall fall below the alarm threshold and is allowed to pass the checkpoint. Such a PD versus FAR called ROC curve is obtained.
Worldviews in Foreign Policy: Realism, Liberalism, and External Conflict

International relations studies have been unable to determine whether realist or liberal theories better fit state behavior in various situations, possibly because these studies have attributed motive and action to the states rather than to the decision-makers within them. This article develops a new, more direct approach to resolving this problem. Hypotheses were tested regarding conditions under which decision-makers are likely to articulate a problem representation consistent with liberal or realist elements of a worldview. This was done by content analysis of statements about 36 foreign conflicts by the governments of three “bystander” nations—the United States, Canada, and India—over a 16-year period. The findings indicate that systemic and situational factors are far more important than domestic factors. States tend to represent wars in congruence with liberalism primarily when their security is already assured by another power or when the conflict does not involve allies, rivals, or fellow democracies. Thus, most of the expectations of realism are supported at the psychological level.
Photoadaptation and growth of Zostera marina L. (eelgrass) transplants along a depth gradient

Photosynthetic and growth responses were assessed in Zostera marina L. transplants within and beyond the natural extent of an eelgrass meadow in Great Harbor, Woods Hole, MA. Transplant survival and rapid growth inshore of the shallow edge of the meadow (0.5 and 0.8 m water depth) indicated a periodic disturbance factor maintaining the shallow edge of the meadow. Transplant mortality, reduced growth, and a negative carbon balance of eelgrass transplanted offshore the deep edge of the meadow (7 and 10m) supported the hypothesis of light-limited eelgrass growth in the deep regions of the Great Harbor meadow. Photoadaptive responses occurred along the water depth gradient, and both photosynthesis and growth responses were used to assess the genetic vs. phenotypic components of eelgrass response to the water depth gradient. Reciprocal transplants between shallow (1.3 m) and deep (5.5 m) areas within the eelgrass meadow indicated photosynthetic and growth responses were primarily a result of growth habitat rather than genetic differentiation within the eelgrass meadow.
Evaluation of a School Lunch Program

In order to evaluate the relative merits of two commercial hot lunch programs, data were collected using a rating of consumption, a parental questionnaire, and a child's questionnaire. The data fro...
Total syntheses of (±)-cycloseychellene and (±)-seychellene

Abstract Total syntheses of (±)-cycloseychellene (1) and (±)-seychellene (2) from 2,5-dimethylcyclohexanone (3) are described.
DYNAP: software for estimating crustal deformation from geodetic data

Abstract The acronym DYNAP (DYNamic Adjustment Program) identifies a software package for estimating crustal dynamic parameters from a collection of geodetic data. DYNAP accepts various data types including horizontal directions and angles, distances, azimuths, zenith distances, and intersite vectors such as those obtainable with the Global Positioning System (GPS) or with Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). DYNAP incorporates the “simultaneous reduction” technique whereby crustal dynamic parameters are estimated simultaneously along with station positional coordinates and various “nuisance” parameters, all via the least squares process. The estimated crustal dynamics parameters come in groups of six or fewer where each group corresponds to a prespecified geographic region and period of time. The six parameters convert mathematically to yield the three components of the horizontal strain rate tensor, the horizontal rotation rate, and the two components of the vertical tilt rate vector. DYNAP's applicability is illustrated with two examples. The first involves over 60 years of triangulation/trilateration data in the Cascadia subduction zone of northwestern California. Here a maximum shearing rate was found of 0.161 ± 0.074μ radians/yr with the corresponding axis of maximum contraction oriented N25° E ± 14°. The second involves a 1980 triangulation/trilateration survey and a 1986 GPS survey both spanning the Imperial fault of southern California. Here a maximum dextral shearing rate was found of 1.073 ± 0.171μ radians/yr in the direction of N31°W ± 5°.
Infrared optogalvanic spectroscopy in the helium positive column using an F-center laser☆

Abstract Using optogalvanic spectroscopy with a tunable cw F-center laser, we have detected helium transitions from the n =4 to the n =6 states between 2.61 μm and 2.7 μm. The observed sensitivity is in agreement with the predictions of a steady state model of the positive column discharge.
Ligand Specific Chromatography

(1974). Ligand Specific Chromatography. Separation and Purification Methods: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 1-86.
Raz four-corner suspension for severe cystocele: Poor results

The Raz four-corner suspension for the treatment of severe (grades 3 and 4) cystocele has yielded poor results, and is the subject of this paper. During a 10-month period from June 1988 to April 1989, 27 patients with severe cystocele and genuine stress incontinence were treated by the Raz four-corner suspension. Each patient had full preoperative urodynamic evaluation. Twenty-two patients were available for follow-up examinations at 3.5–4 years. At the 6-week postoperative examination all patients had excellent support of the anterior vaginal wall, including the restoration of the anterolateral vaginal wall sulci. However, within 10 months, 6 patients had recurrence of cystoceles of grade 2 or more. These results led to the abandonment of this procedure. On long-term follow-up examination at 3.5–4 years, 59% (13/22) of the patients had recurrence of cystoceles of grade 2 or more. The possible causes for these poor results are discussed. At present therefore, the Raz four-corner suspension for severe cystoceles is not recommended.
Some river wavelets

Wavelet analysis is described, and a Haar wavelet analysis is carried out, for time series data on the flow rate of the Nile River at Aswan and also on the stages of the Rio Negro at Manaus. A goal of the analysis is to present a wavelet analysis for some time series data particularly looking for jumps in mean level. The work begins with review of techniques for estimating mean levels in the presence of additive noise and then proceeds to the particular case of wavelets and the construction of so-called “improved estimates” by shrinkage. The results of the analyses are consistent with earlier ones.
La construcción del canon y la cuestión del valor literario

Este ensayo plantea la premisa de que en todo estudio literario esta presente, de una u otra forma, la pregunta por el valor. Desde aqui, centrandose en la critica y algunas problematicas respecto a esta, se desarrolla una breve panoramica sobre el tema del juicio y del «valor literario», partiendo por algunos preceptos del New Criticism, pasando, entre otros, por algunas refl exiones de Wayne Booth, hasta llegar, acercandose y poniendo en tension su concepto de canon, a Harold Bloom.
An interactive digital design system for corn modeling

An interactive digital design system for corn modeling is presented in this paper. The system is designed and developed based on the growth model of corn, thus the digital design for corn is suitable for biological and physiological characteristics according to the natural growth process of corn. The framework is supported by the agricultural knowledge model in steps: knowledge model, mathematical model, geometric model and display model. Specially, a template-based method is implemented for leaf modeling. The system is composed of several key function modules: computer graphic design, template, geometric modeling, database support, data processing and graphic-user interface, and developed by C++ program language based on OpenGL graphic library. The main functions of this system include plant type design, organs of corn model design, plant model design, corn colony design, display of colony and calculation of light distribution in the plant canopy layer. As an interactive digital design tool for corn modeling, the system provides a convenient way for rapid three-dimensional data acquisition and construction.
Development implications of colonial land and human settlement schemes in Cameroon

Abstract This article analyses the implications of colonial land-use policies for contemporary development efforts in Cameroon. The discussion draws extensively, but not exclusively, on the experience of five of the country's urban centres, Douala, Yaounde, Bamenda, Buea and Tiko, in which some of the most notorious colonial land acquisition and land-use planning schemes were implemented. It is argued that the residual effects of these schemes significantly impede contemporary development efforts, particularly in the following areas, transportation, urbanization, resource distribution, food self-sufficiency, and tradition/culture. It is concluded that, despite the tendency on the part of the post-colonial leadership to vigorously maintain these policies, they were never designed with post-colonial development endeavours in mind. Rather, they were crafted specifically to promote colonial and imperial development objectives. Therefore, post-colonial authorities will do well to enact more innovative land-use legislation in concert with prevailing socio-economic conditions and development objectives.
Standardizing sustainable development? The Forest Stewardship Council's plantation policy review process as neoliberal environmental governance.

Abstract Trans-nationally-scaled, multi-stakeholder, non-governmental product certification systems are emerging as important elements of neoliberal environmental governance. However, analysts question the extent to which they represent effective alternatives to the damaging impacts of neoliberalized, global production. They call for work examining the environmental politics arising in these new arenas of regulation, where social movements advocating environmental conservation and social justice interact with business interests in debates over how to use neoliberal tools to govern global commodity chains. This article examines The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) process to revise tree plantation certification standards. First, it considers the political process surrounding standard-setting and argues that tensions between rigor, legitimacy, and acceptability restrain the political struggles over standards within voluntary, multi-stakeholder environmental governance organizations. It proffers findings at odds with the expectation that mainstreaming diminishes the rigor of social and environmental standards. Second, it speculates on the implications of this form of neoliberal environmental governance for promoting more sustainable productions of nature. The review process failed to adequately consider the role of plantation certification in strategies for natural forest conservation. Neither did it adequately consider vital questions of the appropriate scale and location of production, the community actors best suited to deliver both forest conservation and poverty alleviation, or the need to encourage reduced consumption. The reliance on a neoliberal framework and values limits the scope of action. These contradictions suggest that FSC certification is an important part of what needs to be a broader movement questioning current practices of environmentally damaging production and complicit, complacent, consumption.
Voltage-controlled nano-addressing for nanosystem communication

Abstract An outstanding challenge for realizing a nanosystem is nano-addressing, i.e., how to precisely access a nanoscale wire in an array for communication between a nanosystem and the outside world. Existing nano-addressing methods are based on implementation of binary decoders, which requires unrealistic precise layout control in nanotechnology. Presented in this paper is a voltage-controlled nano-addressing scheme, which differentiates each nanoscale data line by its electrical parameters (e.g., voltages), instead of requiring unique physical structures. As a result, the proposed voltage-controlled nano-addressing scheme enables bottom-up self-assembly and aggressive scaling of nano-addressing circuits with the rest of a nanosystem. A novel nano-addressing circuit includes two address lines which form resistive voltage dividers, and provide gate voltages for two rows of transistors which gate the nanoscale data lines. For two proposed nano-addressing metrics, resolution and accuracy, the proposed circuit achieves single data line resolution by applying high voltage drops to the address lines or by deploying high subthreshold slope transistors, while an adaptive addressing method achieves addressing accuracy only depending on the uniformity of the address lines, and external time domain variations. SPICE simulations based on compact CNFET models demonstrate the effectiveness of voltage-controlled nano-addressing.
A new high-velocity oxygen fuel process for making finely structured and highly bonded inconel alloy layers from liquid feedstock

High-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray processes are used in applications requiring the highest density and adhesion strength, which are not achievable in most other thermal spray processes. Similar to other thermal spray processes, however, a normal HVOF process is unable to apply fine powders less than 10 µm via a powder feeder. The advantages of using smaller and even nanosized particles in a HVOF process include uniform microstructure, higher cohesion and adhesion, full density, lower internal stress, and higher deposition efficiency. In this work, a new process has been developed for HVOF forming of fine-grained Inconel 625 alloy layers using a liquid feedstock containing small alloy particles. Process investigations have shown the benefits of making single and duplex layered coatings with full density and high bond strength, which are attributed to the very high kinetic energy of particles striking on the substrates and the better melting of the small particles.
Optically stimulated luminescence in KCl:Cu x-irradiated at room temperature

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) has been observed in single crystals of KCl:Cu x-irradiated at room temperature. It is shown that electrons are liberated from anion sites during the OSL process. The OSL predominantly involves emission due to radiative transition (d↔s) of monovalent copper ions present in the lattice. The OSL emission shows a strong temperature dependence indicating a thermally assisted process. Electron-hole recombination followed by energy transfer to the Cu activator is suggested as a possible OSL mechanism in KCl:Cu. Preliminary results of OSL in KBr:Cu are also presented.
Effect of Chronic Blockade of the Kallikrein-Kinin System on the Development of Hypertension in Rats

Abstract —The kallikrein-kininogen-kinin system is an important vasodilator and vasodepressor component of the cardiovascular system. Acting mainly through B2 receptors, kinins may counterbalance the pressor effect of angiotensin II, salt, and mineralocorticoids plus salt. Using rats lacking the bradykinin precursors low- and high-molecular-weight kininogen or a B2 kinin receptor antagonist (icatibant), we investigated whether absence or blockade of the kallikrein-kinin system alters blood pressure (BP) in rats given (1) chronic infusion of Ang II, (2) a normal or high salt diet, or (3) chronic administration of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) plus salt. We confirmed the genotype and phenotype of Brown Norway Katholiek rats (BNK) and found that they had a G-to-A point mutation on the kininogen gene compared with Brown Norway (BN) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, very low levels of high-molecular-weight kininogen (17±3 ng/mL) compared with BN and SD (1814±253 and 2397±302 ng/mL, respectively; P <0.01), and plasma low-molecular-weight kininogen concentrations below detectable limits compared with 1773±74 and 1781±140 ng/mL for BN and SD, respectively. Basal BP was the same in BNK and BN. Chronic infusion of icatibant did not alter BP in BN or Wistar rats. At doses that blocked the acute effect of bradykinin, icatibant did not potentiate the pressor effect of a chronic subpressor or pressor dose of angiotensin II in male and female Wistar rats nor that of a high salt diet (2%) plus unilateral nephrectomy in male Wistar rats. Moreover, blockade of the kallikrein-kininogen-kinin system in either BN rats given a very high dose of icatibant or kinin-deficient rats (BNK) did not potentiate the pressor effect of angiotensin II (nonpressor dose) or a high salt (3% NaCl) diet given for 2 weeks. Established DOCA-salt hypertension was not exaggerated in rats treated with icatibant but was partially attenuated by ramipril (1.5 mg · kg−1 · d−1 for 7 days; P <0.002). This antihypertensive effect was abolished by icatibant ( P <0.002, ramipril versus ramipril plus icatibant). These results suggest that endogenous kinins do not participate in the maintenance of normal blood pressure or antagonize the development of hypertension induced by chronic infusion of angiotensin II, a high salt diet, or DOCA-salt. However, kinins appear to play an important role in the antihypertensive effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in DOCA-salt hypertension.
Promoting Strategic Learning

Learning strategies can supply the approaches and techniques students need to become successful and independent learners
Near-Infrared Imaging Polarimetry of Embedded Young Stars in the Taurus-Auriga Molecular Cloud

We describe near-infrared (JHK) imaging polarimetry of 21 embedded protostars in the Taurus-Auriga molecular cloud. These objects display extended, highly polarized reflection nebulae with V-shaped, unipolar, and bipolar morphologies. Most sources have PK ? 5%-20% in an 8'' aperture; a few objects have PK 5%. The polarization increases toward shorter wavelengths and is generally aligned perpendicular to the long axis of the reflection nebula. We develop an analytic scattering model for the near-IR colors and polarizations of embedded protostars. Our Taurus data require visual extinctions, AV ? 25-60 mag, comparable to those predicted for models of collapsing clouds. The ratio of scattered flux to intrinsic source flux ranges from Fs/F0 ? 0.001 at 1.25 ?m to Fs/F0 ? 0.015 at 3.5 ?m. These results indicate that the observed ratio of scattered light to direct (extincted) light increases from Fs/Fd ~ 0.1 at 3.5 ?m to Fs/Fd ~ 25 at 1.25 ?m. Our data further require intrinsic colors of 0.6 J-H 0.9, 0.3 H-K 0.6, and 0.4 K-L 1.2 for the central sources of Taurus protostars. We adopt the Terebey, Shu, & Cassen solution for an infalling, rotating protostellar cloud and use a two dimensional Monte Carlo radiative transfer code to model the near-IR polarization data for this sample. Our results indicate envelope parameters in agreement with previous estimates from broadband spectral energy distributions and near-IR images. We estimate infall rates, ${u{M}{"705F}}$ --> ~(2-5) ? 10 -->?6 M? yr-1; centrifugal radii, Rc ~ 10-50 AU; and opening angles of the bipolar cavity, ?h ? 10?-20?, for a typical object. Standard grain parameters can explain the near-IR colors and polarizations of Taurus protostars. The polarization maps show that Taurus grains have a high maximum polarization at K, Pmax,K 80%. The large image sizes of this sample further imply a high K-band albedo, ?K ? 0.3-0.4. Model polarization maps indicate that the size of the polarization disk increases with the size of the instrumental point-spread function. Relating the morphology of polarization vectors to disk or envelope properties thus requires some care and a good understanding of the characteristics of the instrument.
Benthic determinants of settlement for planktonic larvae: availability of settlement sites for the tube-building polychaete Spirorbis spirillum (Linnaeus) settling onto seagrass blades

Abstract In northwestern Gulf of Mexico bays planktonic larvae of Spirorbis spirillum (Linnaeus), a sessile tube-building polychaete, settle disproportionately on the bases of growing blades of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum Banks et Konig. Experimental relocation of blades and removal of epiphytic organisms demonstrated that searching larvae avoid epiphytic algae associated with distal regions of blades. Epiphyte-free space is readily accessible to S. spirillum larvae because larvae also tend to settle deeper in the water column where space is produced by plant growth. Observed settlement rates and the distance that S. spirillum settles from conspecifics and algae ( > 0.7 mm) were used to calculate free space “required” by settling larvae. Space required by settling larvae over time very rarely exceeded free space produced by growing seagrass blades (only 2 of 37 dates examined). Increased free space (through additions of blades cleared of epiphytes) within enclosures did not increase numbers of S. spirillum settling within experimental areas indicating high space availability for settlement. Larvae appear to search efficiently for space produced rapidly by blade growth. As a result, the benthic population size is susceptible to changes in the rate at which larvae arrive from the plankton, rather than to local changes in the opening of space for settlement. If, in other systems, larvae are capable of searching significantly large areas, as found in this study, then the contribution of changes in space availability to settlement variability must be carefully considered.
A Comparative Study Of Dopant Activation And Deactivation In Arsenic and Phosphorus Implanted Silicon

Comparative As and P beamline implantations were subjected to a series of low, high, low, high anneals and evaluated after each step. Following high temperature anneals, there is an increase in carrier concentration, a decrease in mobility, and an increase in the concentration of mobility scattering defects.
Increased prevalence of mutant null alleles that cause hereditary fructose intolerance in the American population

Mutations in the aldolase B gene (ALDOB) impairing enzyme activity toward fructose-1-phosphate cleavage cause hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI). Diagnosis of the disease is possible by identifying known mutant ALDOB alleles in suspected patients; however, the frequencies of mutant alleles can differ by population. Here, 153 American HFI patients with 268 independent alleles were analyzed to identify the prevalence of seven known HFI-causing alleles (A149P, A174D, N334K, Δ4E4, R59Op, A337V, and L256P) in this population. Allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization analysis was performed on polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified genomic DNA from these patients. In the American population, the missense mutations A149P and A174D are the two most common alleles, with frequencies of 44% and 9%, respectively. In addition, the nonsense mutations Δ4E4 and R59Op are the next most common alleles, with each having a frequency of 4%. Together, the frequencies of all seven alleles make up 65% of HFI-causing alleles in this population. Worldwide, these same alleles make up 82% of HFI-causing mutations. This difference indicates that screening for common HFI alleles is more difficult in the American population. Nevertheless, a genetic screen for diagnosing HFI in America can be improved by including all seven alleles studied here. Lastly, identification of HFI patients presenting with classic symptoms and who have homozygous null genotypes indicates that aldolase B is not required for proper development or metabolic maintenance.
Molecular and crystal structure of the adduct of cyclohexylisonitrile and praseodymium tricyclopentadienide

Abstract The crystal structure of (C5H5)3Pr·CNC6H11 was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The monoclinic unit cell of dimensions a = 8.298(3), b = 21.66(1), c = 11.943(4) A, and β = 104.98(3)° contains four molecules in general positions of space group P21/c. Each molecule is composed of three C5H5 rings in a nearly exact trigonal array, η5-bonded to the Pr atom at a distance of 2.53 A to the centroid of each ring, plus a single CNC6H11 adduct attached to the Pr atom along the trigonal axis at 2.65 A. The presence of a CN triple bond in the isonitrile moiety and the nearly linear CNC configuration add credence to the previous proposal that there is a pure donor bond from the isonitrile carbon to the metal atom.
Sulfhydryl groups of natural actomyosin essential for the Ca2−-sensitive response: location and properties

Abstract 1. 1. Certain sulfhydryl groups in natural actomyosin are essential for Ca2+ sensitivity. These are located on the heavy chains of the myosin molecule. 2. 2. Reaction of these sulfhydryl groups is influenced by ATP and ATP analogs. ATP exhibits a pronounced protective effect, with ADP and pyrophosphate being less effective. 3. 3. The critical sulfhydryl groups are most susceptible to reaction at low ionic strength and in the presence of actin. 4. 4. The reaction of this site does not produce the same effects as the reaction of the S1 sulfhydryl groups. 5. 5. The inhibition of ATPase activity by troponin B or troponin B plus tropomyosin is also removed under conditions similar to those which eliminate Ca2+ sensitivity.
Non-linear sliding-mode controller and objective function for surge tanks

Abstract A non-linear feedback controller is proposed for the ‘averaging’ control of surge tanks subject to step flowrate disturbances. The controller operates by discont-inuously switching between two non-linear feedback rules. A switching function is constructed that results in a sliding-mode that brings the system to a steady state with a finite, bounded, and ultimately monotonic response. The properties of the controller are thoroughly described using a phase plane analysis. The effects of transducer errors are analysed and a controller tuning procedure is described. It is shown that a liquid volume setpoint can be introduced if the relative volume measurement error is less than 26.42 %. A simplified implementation using a piece-wise linear switching function is also proposed for which simulations and phase plane analysis show little performance degradation. Finally, it is shown that (he idealized ‘Ramp Controller’ proposed by McDonald el al. (1986) can be derived from a continuous and differentiable ...
Asymptotically Optimal Regression Prediction Intervals and Prediction Regions for Multivariate Data

This paper presents asymptotically optimal prediction intervals and prediction regions. The prediction intervals are for a future response $Y_f$ given a $p \times 1$ vector $\bx_f$ of predictors when the regression model has the form $Y_i = m(\bx_i) + e_i$ where $m$ is a function of $\bx_i$ and the errors $e_i$ are iid from a continuous unimodal distribution. The prediction intervals have coverage near or higher than the nominal coverage for many techniques even for moderate sample size $n$, say $n >$ 10(model degrees of freedom). The prediction regions are for a future vector of measurements $\bx_f$ from a multivariate distribution. The nonparametric prediction region developed in this paper has correct asymptotic coverage if the data $\bx_1, ..., \bx_n$ are iid from a distribution with a nonsingular covariance matrix. For many distributions, this prediction region appears to have good coverage for $n > 20 p$, and this region is asymptotically optimal on a large class of elliptically contoured distributions. Hence the prediction intervals and regions perform well for moderate sample sizes as well as asymptotically.
Free vascularized fibular transfer for femoral head osteonecrosis: donor and graft site morbidity.

Background: Autogenous vascularized fibular transfer is used effectively for a variety of complex reconstructive procedures. Published series demonstrating the morbidity associated with its harvest have, understandably, been relatively small, and graft site (hip) complications have not been reported. This report describes both the donor and the graft site morbidity associated with use of vascularized fibular transfer to treat osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Methods: Between 1990 and 2006, 1270 free vascularized fibular grafts were used to treat osteonecrosis of the femoral head in 946 consecutive patients. All procedures and follow-up examinations were performed by one of two surgeons. Subjective and objective findings were recorded on standardized examination sheets at routine postoperative intervals. Data were analyzed to determine the morbidity associated with donor and graft sites. Results: There were 215 complications (a 16.9% rate) at the time of follow-up, at an average of 8.3 years, after the 1270 procedures. Of these complications, 146 (11.5%) and sixty-nine (5.4%) were referable to the donor and graft sites, respectively. A major complication requiring an additional surgical procedure or chronic pain management occurred after fifty-four (4.3%) of the 1270 procedures. Conclusions: A measurable but acceptable morbidity risk is associated with vascularized fibular transfer for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the hip. Major complications are not frequent, and many minor complications are transient and improve over time. Risks can be minimized when specific technical principles are followed. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Disinfection of reusable elastomeric respirators by health care workers: A feasibility study and development of standard operating procedures

Background This was a feasibility study in a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) to be used by health care workers to disinfect reusable elastomeric respirators under pandemic conditions. Registered and licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, aides, clinical technicians, and physicians took part in the study. Methods Health care worker volunteers were provided with manufacturers' cleaning and disinfection instructions and all necessary supplies. They were observed and filmed. SOPs were developed, based on these observations, and tested on naive volunteer health care workers. Error rates using manufacturers' instructions and SOPs were compared. Results When using respirator manufacturers' cleaning and disinfection instructions, without specific training or supervision, all subjects made multiple errors. When using the SOPs developed in the study, without specific training or guidance, naive health care workers disinfected respirators with zero errors. Conclusion Reusable facial protective equipment may be disinfected by health care workers with minimal training using SOPs.
Green's Theorem for Sign Data

Sign data are the signs of signal added to noise. It is well known that a constant signal can be recovered from sign data. In this paper, we show that an integral over variant signal can be recovered from an integral over sign data based on the variant signal. We refer to this as a generalized sign data average. We use this result to derive a Green's theorem for sign data. Green's theorem is important to various seismic processing methods, including seismic migration. Results in this paper generalize reported results for 2.5D data volumes in which Green's theorem applies to sign data based only on traditional sign data recovery.
Melon Chlorotic Leaf Curl Virus: Characterization and Differential Reassortment with Closest Relatives Reveal Adaptive Virulence in the Squash Leaf Curl Virus Clade and Host Shifting by the Host-Restricted Bean Calico Mosaic Virus

The genome components of the Melon chlorotic leaf curl virus (MCLCuV) were cloned from symptomatic cantaloupe leaves collected in Guatemala during 2002. The MCLCuV DNA-A and DNA-B components shared their closest nucleotide identities among begomoviruses, at 90 and 81%, respectively, with a papaya isolate of MCLCuV from Costa Rica. The closest relatives at the species level were other members of the Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV) clade, which is endemic in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Biolistic inoculation of cantaloupe seedlings with the MCLCuV DNA-A and -B components resulted in the development of characteristic disease symptoms, providing definitive evidence of causality. MCLCuV experimentally infected species within the Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae. The potential for interspecific reassortment was examined for MCLCuV and its closest relatives, including the bean-restricted Bean calico mosaic virus (BCaMV), and three other cucurbit-infecting species, Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), SLCV, and SMLCV. The cucurbit viruses have distinct but overlapping host ranges. All possible reassortants were established using heterologous combinations of the DNA-A or DNA-B components. Surprisingly, only certain reassortants arising from MCLCuV and BCaMV, or MCLCuV and CuLCrV, were viable in bean, even though it is a host of all of the “wild-type” (parent) viruses. The bean-restricted BCaMV was differentially assisted in systemically infecting the cucurbit test species by the components of the four cucurbit-adapted begomoviruses. In certain heterologous combinations, the BCaMV DNA-A or -B component was able to infect one or more cucurbit species. Generally, the reassortants were less virulent in the test hosts than the respective wild-type (parent) viruses, strongly implicating adaptive modulation of virulence. This is the first illustration of reassortment resulting in the host range expansion of a host-restricted begomovirus.
The Question of Power in Hobbes's Doctrine of Right

The question of power is central to the study of politics. Thomas Hobbes has been hailed as the author of the greatest political philosophy written in the English language, and indeed as the philosopher of power par excellence. Nonetheless, I argue that Hobbes's concept of political power has not been understood: in particular, his concept of power qua causal capacity, as opposed to power qua authority. The analysis of power qua authority is well known and is provided by Hobbes's doctrine of right; however, the concrete meaning of this doctrine emerges only in light of a clear grasp of the causal capacity underpinning it. And on this point, I argue that Hobbes markedly changes his analysis over the course of his writings, and that the changed analysis of capacity power is matched by a changed social ontology and a changed diagnosis of the problem of politics. In light of these changes, the tendency to offer juridical accounts of Hobbes's political philosophy can be seen to be gravely problematic.The changed analysis also has larger theoretical significance, which is of interest even to those with little investment in the historical details of the early modern period. Specifically, the analysis of political power as a stable object of possession is shown to be untenable; and correspondingly, fluctuations and aberrations from the power to which a political agent may be entitled are found to be centrally relevant to theoretical inquiry. Even without the broadly scholastic background that shapes Hobbes's early position, both the idea of power as a stable possession and the theoretical preoccupation with power as entitlement to the neglect of effective power recur in political theory. They are in as much need of critique today as in Hobbes's time. The challenge for the political philosopher is not merely to establish a science of entitled power elaborated through a doctrine of right; it is also necessary to understand the real determinants of effective power as systematically and precisely as possible, in order to bring that effective power to coincide with right.
Memory-based Control of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems Part II- Applications

In the first part of the paper we presented a memory-based approach for nonlinear system control. The method is not to assume the system is described by a linear model plus perturbations; not to linearize the system; not to estimate certain parameters based on the linear parametric assumption; not to determine the bounds on certain nonlinear functions; not to use infinite switch frequencies; not to involve ad hoc membership functions; not to run the system repeatedly for the same task. Instead, the control scheme is solely based upon certain memorized information such as current system response, previous system response and past control experience. Fundamentally, the desired control signal in the scheme is "learned" and generated from observing and processing the most recent experience stored in a memory. These features are confirmed via applying this method to via numerous examples considered by other researchers in the literature. Simulation results are presented here.
The rhomboid protease family: a decade of progress on function and mechanism

Rhomboid proteases are the largest family of enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds within the cell membrane. Although discovered to be serine proteases only a decade ago, rhomboid proteases are already considered to be the best understood intramembrane proteases. The presence of rhomboid proteins in all domains of life emphasizes their importance but makes their evolutionary history difficult to chart with confidence. Phylogenetics nevertheless offers three guiding principles for interpreting rhomboid function. The near ubiquity of rhomboid proteases across evolution suggests broad, organizational roles that are not directly essential for cell survival. Functions have been deciphered in only about a dozen organisms and fall into four general categories: initiating cell signaling in animals, facilitating bacterial quorum sensing, regulating mitochondrial homeostasis, and dismantling adhesion complexes of parasitic protozoa. Although in no organism has the full complement of rhomboid function yet been elucidated, links to devastating human disease are emerging rapidly, including to Parkinson's disease, type II diabetes, cancer, and bacterial and malaria infection. Rhomboid proteases are unlike most proteolytic enzymes, because they are membrane-immersed; understanding how the membrane immersion affects their function remains a key challenge.
Coreference Resolution for Structured Drug Product Labels

FDA drug package inserts provide comprehensive and authoritative information about drugs. DailyMed database is a repository of structured product labels extracted from these package inserts. Most salient information about drugs remains in free text portions of these labels. Extracting information from these portions can improve the safety and quality of drug prescription. In this paper, we present a study that focuses on resolution of coreferential information from drug labels contained in DailyMed. We generalized and expanded an existing rule-based coreference resolution module for this purpose. Enhancements include resolution of set/instance anaphora, recognition of appositive constructions and wider use of UMLS semantic knowledge. We obtained an improvement of 40% over the baseline with unweighted average F1-measure using B-CUBED, MUC, and CEAF metrics. The results underscore the importance of set/instance anaphora and appositive constructions in this type of text and point out the shortcomings in coreference annotation in the dataset.
Finger inverse kinematics using error model analysis for gesture enabled navigation in virtual environments

In this paper we provide a new method for solving the hand fingers inverse kinematics problem. Given the finger's end-effector position with respect to the finger's metacarpal joint, the finger's four degrees of freedom joint angles are uniquely solved directly without iterations. The solution of a closely related, simpler inverse kinematics problem is used as a rough estimate of the finger's MCP and abduction angles. The error model of the estimate is used to correct the prediction. The error analysis is done a priori and is used directly in real-time. The method provides accurate results and is computationally efficient
Molecular genetic analysis of volatile-anesthetic action

The mechanism(s) and site(s) of action of volatile inhaled anesthetics are unknown in spite of the clinical use of these agents for more than 150 years. In the present study, the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to investigate the action of anesthetic agents because of its powerful molecular genetics. It was found that growth of yeast cells is inhibited by the five common volatile anesthetics tested (isoflurane, halothane, enflurane, sevoflurane, and methoxyflurane). Growth inhibition by the agents is relatively rapid and reversible. The potency of these compounds as yeast growth inhibitors directly correlates with their lipophilicity as is predicted by the Meyer-Overton relationship, which directly correlates anesthetic potency of agents and their lipophilicity. The effects of isoflurane on yeast cells were characterized in the most detail. Yeast cells survive at least 48 h in a concentration of isoflurane that inhibits colony formation. Mutants resistant to the growth-inhibitory effects of isoflurane are readily selected. The gene identified by one of these mutations, zzz4-1, has been cloned and characterized. The predicted ZZZ4 gene product has extensive homology to phospholipase A2-activating protein, a GO effector protein of mice. Both zzz4-1 and a deletion of ZZZ4 confer resistance to all five of the agents tested, suggesting that signal transduction may be involved in the response of these cells to volatile anesthetics.
A simulation of factors impeding water quality trading

While there is substantial evidence that nonpoint sources have lower nutrient reduction costs than point sources, experience with water quality trading (WQT) reveals a common theme: little or no trading activity. The success of WQT seems, in part, to depend on the struc- ture of the market created to bring buyers and sellers together to transact exchanges. To examine the ways that various market imperfections may affect the performance of a WQT market, a model is constructed which simulates a hypothetical point-nonpoint market. This paper focuses on answering the following question: How can WQT programs be designed in ways that take into account factors that result in non-optimal contracting and what are the implications (if there are any) for determining trading ratios? Here, we find that apart from any implications for environmental risk or political-economic factors, there is an economic welfare justification for high trading ratios in certain situations with limited trading infor- mation and/or other barriers to trade. Limited information and other barriers to trade which inhibit the optimal contracting of trades introduces a random element to market participation, creating a risk that high-cost sellers (low-value buyers) will transact to displace low-cost sellers (high-value buyers) who could have traded for greater gain.