cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purple Nutsedge Control by Halosulfuron or Imazaquin/MSMA in Turfgrass in the Tropics

ABSTRACT Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the extent of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control in bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) turf by halosulfuron (methyl 5- [[(4, 6-dimethoxy-2-pyriiTUdinyl)-amino]carbonylaminosulfonyl]-3-chloro-l-H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate) or imazaquin (2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(l-methyIethyl)-5-oxo-lH-imidazol-2-yl]-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid)/MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate), and to determine the extent of purple nutsedge regrowth from basal bulbs after foliar treatment with these herbicides. Excellent initial control (> 80%) of emerged shoots of purple nutsedge occurred with halosulfuron or imazaquin + MSMA. However, purple nutsedge shoots emerged within 3 or 4 weeks after all treatments, and nutsedge shoot density increased with time. With a rapid increase in purple nutsedge shoot density, the extent of control deteriorated rapidly, even after two applications of halosulfuron. Both halosulfuron at 70 g ha−1 and imazaquin at 0.42 kg ha−1 + MSMA at ...
Organic Remains Seen in Oolites After Conversion to Fluorite

ABSTRACT Conversion of carbonate grains to fluorite gives a microporous pseudomorph in which the contained organic material may be dyed and observed. Photographs show the application of this technique to in-situ observation of perforating algae and other organisms in Bahama oolites. Other possible applications are to ancient carbonates and to carbonates trapped by blue-green algae.
A Survey on Sensitivity-based Nonlinear Model Predictive Control

Abstract This survey explores recent results in the development of optimization algorithms and formulations for moving horizon estimation (MHE), nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) and dynamic real-time optimization (D-RTO), with extrapolative nonlinear dynamic (e.g., first principle) models. We consider Nonlinear Programming (NLP) and NLP sensitivity as natural tools for formulation and efficient solution of optimization problems for these three tasks. For MHE, we develop a maximum likelihood formulation that directly incorporates nonlinear models, and is seamlessly adapted to updating the arrival costs. This approach is also extended easily to M-estimators, which essentially eliminate biased estimates due to gross errors. For NMPC, we develop formulations that incorporate well-understood stability and robustness properties, even for large, complex plant models. Finally, recent work has extended these capabilities from setpoint tracking objectives to more general stage costs that are economically based, thus leading to a robustly stable strategy for D-RTO. In concert with these problem formulations, the realization of MHE, NMPC and D-RTO requires the application of a fast NLP solver for time-critical, on-line optimization, as well as efficient NLP sensitivity tools that eliminate computational delay, and guarantee stability and robustness. Algorithms that meet these demands are explored and outlined for these tasks. Finally, a number of challenging distillation case studies are presented that demonstrate the effectiveness of these optimization-based strategies.
Extending the Applicability of the Flow Boiling Correlation to Low Reynolds Number Flows in Microchannels

Proceedings from the first international conference on microchannels and minichannels, April 24-25, 2003. The complete proceedings can be found at www.asme.org .
Learning Disability and Cultural-Economic Disadvantage: The Case for a Relationship:

A case is presented to reveal the existence of a relationship between learning disabilities and cultural-economic disadvantage. Evidence from a variety of sources is presented suggesting that the p...
Higher-order terms in the strong-coupling expansion for the renormalized effective potential

This is the third of,three papers on the strong-coupling expansion of the renormalized effective potential in gP' quantum field theory in d-dimensional Euclidean space-time. %e first assume that the renormalized strong-coupling expansion for the coefficients of the effective potential in the continuum field theory is a series in powers of M' /g, where M is the renormalized mass and g is the bare coupling constant. The first term in this series was obtained in the previous paper. Here we estimate the next terms in the series. The results indicate that our assumption is unlikely to be true. Some alternatives are briefly discussed.
Boulder Creek Batholith, Colorado Part III. Fingerprinting Discordant Zircon Ages in a Complex Intrusion

The apparent ages (32 lead/alpha and 6 Pb 206 /U 238 ) of zircon as plotted on an isochron map of the Boulder Creek batholith define the following pattern: (1) very high ages (1600 to 1900 m.y.) within the outermost border zone on the southwest, south, and southeast; (2) transitional high ages (1300 to 1600 m.y.) within an inner border zone on the east and widening to the south and west to include about one-third of the batholith; (3) transitional low ages (1000 to 1300 m.y.) throughout much of the interior of the northern half; and (4) very low ages (1000 m.y. or less) limited to a small area within the northeast corner. The area of minimum age is shown to be part of the reduced-age aureole surrounding the 77 m.y. hornblende granodiorite stock at Jamestown that intrudes the Silver Plume Granite of the Longs Peak-St. Vrain batholith in the region immediately to the north of the minimum-age area of the Boulder Creek batholith. A southeastward elongation of the area of minimum age is attributed to channelway control of the solutions responsible for the recrystallization of the zircon by those northwest-trending breccia reefs that are cut by, or strike toward, the Laramide intrusion. Statistical studies of five zircon separates used for isotopic work showed that the frequency of grains having partial, or complete, rims of colorless zircon on purple to semiopaque zircon cores increased inversely with measured Pb 206 /U 238 age along a smooth curve that, when extrapolated, connected the point representing age of emplacement (0 percent rims) and the point representing the approximate age of re-crystallization (100 percent rims). Consequently, in the Boulder Creek zircon rim frequency gives a useful estimate of the amount of lead lost relative to uranium and thorium from a given sample during its recrystallization. The microstudy indicated: (1) the surface separating core and rim is a major discontinuity; (2) the greater part of the rims appear to be true overgrowths; and (3) the highest frequency of rims is found in the most metamict zircon. However, in any one sample a significant fraction of the most metamict zircon has been sheltered from reaction, presumably by inclusion within relatively impervious minerals, and remains free of rims. These observations coupled with the map evidence of selective channelway control point to warm solutions rather than dry heat as the agent of recrystallization and lead loss.
COMPLEMENTATION BETWEEN TRYPTOPHAN SYNTHETASE MUTANTS OF NEUROSPORA CRASSA.

Abstract Studies of complementation in vivo and in vitro in the tryptophan synthetase system of Neurospora have shown the following: 1. The enzymes produced by heterokaryons between allelic tryptophan synthetase ( l -serine hydro-lyase (adding indole), EC 4.2.1.20) mutants of Neurospora are not identical to the wild-type enzyme in terms of their affinities for substrates, cofactor nor in their thermostabilities; 2. complementation patterns in vitro and in vivo are not identical; 3. an increase in enzyme activity attained by mixing the partially purified extracts results from the formation of a new enzyme molecule (enzyme in vitro ) as revealed by heat inactivation studies; 4. the thermostability of the enzyme in vitro is different from that of wild-type enzyme. The thermostabilities of enzymes in vitro are similar but not identical to that of corresponding heterokaryon enzymes. The significance of these findings is discussed with respect to the possible mechanism of complementation.
Secure Wireless Multicast for Delay-Sensitive Data via Network Coding

Wireless multicast for delay-sensitive data is challenging because of the heterogeneity effect where each receiver may experience different packet losses. Fortunately, network coding, a new advanced routing protocol, offers significant advantages over the traditional Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) protocols in that it mitigates the need for retransmission and has the potential to approach the min-cut capacity. Network-coded multicast would be, however, vulnerable to false packet injection attacks, in which the adversary injects bogus packets to prevent receivers from correctly decoding the original data. Without a right defense in place, even a single bogus packet can completely change the decoding outcome. Existing solutions either incur high computation cost or cannot withstand high packet loss. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme to defend against false packet injection attacks on network-coded multicast for delay-sensitive data. Specifically, we propose an efficient authentication mechanism based on null space properties of coded packets, aiming to enable receivers to detect any bogus packets with high probability. We further design an adaptive scheduling algorithm based on the Markov Decision Processes (MDP) to maximize the number of authenticated packets received within a given time constraint. Both analytical and simulation results have been provided to demonstrate the efficacy and efficiency of our proposed scheme.
Nobel Lecture: Semiconducting and metallic polymers: The fourth generation of polymeric materials*

In 1976, Alan MacDiarmid, Hideki Shirakawa, and I, together with a talented group of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, discovered conducting polymers and the ability to dope these polymers over the full range from insulator to metal (Chiang et al., 1977; Shirakawa et al., 1977). This was particularly exciting because it created a new field of research on the boundary between chemistry and condensed-matter physics, and because it created a number of opportunities:
Structural biology: A receptor unlocked

G-protein-coupled receptors govern many biological functions, yet little is known about the molecular basis of their activity. The structure of a prominent example of these receptors is now revealed. Most hormones and neurotransmitters — and therefore many drugs — work via G protein-coupled receptors, or GPCRs. With the one exception of rhodopsin, the most stable GPCR known, structural data for these proteins are hard to come by. Now several collaborating research groups, publishing in this issue of Nature and also in Science, have exploited a raft of different techniques, including the use of the inverse agonist carazolol to stabilize the receptor structure, to determine the crystal structure of the human β2AR adrenaline receptor. Its structure contrasts markedly with that of 'dark' rhodopsin, which helps explain why it is so hard to prepare diffraction-quality crystals of most GPCRs.
The basics of an exposure control plan.

Abstract Prevention and control of employee injury and exposure begins with an organizational commitment to provide a safe work environment for the employees. An Exposure Control Plan (ECP) helps to ensure this safe environment, and is developed by an organization and administered to provide for the elimination and minimization of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens, which is one of the greatest areas of risk for the health care provider. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 29 CFR 1010.1030, "Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens," outlines the requirements necessary to meet compliance as an institution. However, occupational exposure requirements have changed over the last few years and now incorporate practice advances regarding safety devices (ie, needleless and protected) and their use and implementation. Directives addressing the management of the employee who has been exposed to blood-borne pathogens have also been added. This article focuses on important elements in developing an institutional exposure control plan.
The lamme medal Aldo M. deBellis — 1954 medalist: Establishment of the medal

BENJAMIN Garver Lamme, a graduate mechanical engineer from Ohio State, had a lifetime association with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation as a design and developmental engineer, and later as their chief engineer.
Prevalence and prognostic significance of bacterascites in cirrhosis with ascites

The prevalence and prognostic significance of bacterascites (BA) were prospectively studied in 443 predominantly HBsAg-positive cirrhotic patients with ascites. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), culture-negative neutrocytic ascites (CNNA), and BA were identified in 12.4%, 8.4%, and 10.8%, respectively. Of these, 67%, 70%, and 71%, respectively, had peritonitis-related signs or symptoms. Among patients with SBP or CNNA, the clinical and laboratory data showed no significant difference between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. In contrast, among the patients with BA, the symptomatic group had significantly higher levels of serum total bilirubin and prolonged prothrombin time and significantly lower levels of ascitic fluid total protein than the asymptomatic group. Furthermore, the clinical and laboratory data were relatively similar between patients with asymptomatic BA and those with sterile ascites. In contrast, patients with SBP, CNNA, or symptomatic BA exhibited significantly more severe degrees of liver disease and significantly lower levels of ascitic fluid total protein than those with sterile ascites. There was no statistically significant difference between SBP and bacterascites regarding flora. All patients with SBP, CNNA, or symptomatic BA received antibiotic treatment immediately after paracentesis, as did six of the 14 patients with asymptomatic BA for concurrent respiratory or urinary tract infection, while the remaining eight patients with asymptomatic BA were followed clinically without treatment. Repeated paracentesis in the latter revealed no evidence of SBP or CNNA. The in-hospital mortality for sterile ascites was 22.8%, significantly lower than the 54.5% for SBP, 43.2% for CNNA, and 50% for symptomatic BA, but similar to the 21.4% for asymptomatic BA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An experimental model for the study of spondylotic myelopathy.

Abstract A canine model for the study of spondylotic myelopathy has been developed using a transverse metallic bar placed in the anterior spinal canal through the intervertebral disk space. Varying degrees of anterior spinal cord compression can be accomplished using this technic.
Construction and fertilization of reconstituted human oocytes

Abstract Construction of artificial gametes may be made possible by transferring somatic cells into enucleated oocytes and inducing chromosomal halving of their nuclei. This study examines the possibility of constructing viable human gametes, and their potential for participation in normal fertilization. Spare germinal vesicle-stage oocytes were donated by consenting patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Approximately 62% of in-vitro matured oocytes survived enucleation and subsequent cumulus cell injection. Following micromanipulation and subsequent activation, about 40% of the reconstituted oocytes yielded two pronuclear-like entities. This was not accompanied by extrusion of a polar body, but resulted in the formation of two ‘putative haploid' pronuclei. Therefore selective removal of a female pronucleus marker was required to restore a balanced ploidy. Male pronuclei were identified by association with sperm mitochondria. Additional pronuclei were then removed, allowing further cleavage. Zygotes derived were ‘putatively haploid' in ~38% of cases with a limited number of chromosomes assessed. However, on karyotypic analysis, blastomeres isolated from cleaving embryos showed a chaotic distribution of chromosomes. Oocytes could induce ‘putative haploidization' of transplanted somatic cell nuclei independently of donor cell gender. Fertilization of artificial oocytes was followed by embryonic cleavage despite blastocyst development and chromosomal content possibly being compromised.
Biodiversity on Broadway - Enigmatic Diversity of the Societies of Ants (Formicidae) on the Streets of New York City

Each year, a larger proportion of the Earth's surface is urbanized, and a larger proportion of the people on Earth lives in those urban areas. The everyday nature, however, that humans encounter in cities remains poorly understood. Here, we consider perhaps the most urban green habitat, street medians. We sampled ants from forty-four medians along three boulevards in New York City and examined how median properties affect the abundance and species richness of native and introduced ants found on them. Ant species richness varied among streets and increased with area but was independent of the other median attributes measured. Ant assemblages were highly nested, with three numerically dominant species present at all medians and additional species present at a subset of medians. The most common ant species were the introduced Pavement ant (Tetramorium caespitum) and the native Thief ant (Solenopsis molesta) and Cornfield ant (Lasius neoniger). The common introduced species on the medians responded differently to natural and disturbed elements of medians. Tetramorium caespitum was most abundant in small medians, with the greatest edge/area ratio, particularly if those medians had few trees, whereas Nylanderia flavipes was most abundant in the largest medians, particularly if they had more trees. Many of the species encountered in Manhattan were similar to those found in other large North American cities, such that a relatively small subset of ant species probably represent most of the encounters humans have with ants in North America.
The origin of tensile fracture lineaments

Abstract Fracture-controlled lineaments, commonly seen where brittle basement is exposed at the earth's surface, are generally restricted to a small number of sets, with angles of 45–90° between sets. The length-frequency distribution of lineaments in each set follows a truncated Poisson function. Such lineaments usually show almost no shearing offset, suggesting a tensile origin. A simple mechanical model of tensile fracturing is used to explain the spacing, directions, and length of lineaments, as well as their depth-frequency distribution. Results suggest that the penetration depth of tensile fractures which produce lineaments at the earth's surface is directly related to their length and that the fracture density is inversely proportional to fracture depth. Finally, the angles between lineament sets may be controlled by the ratio of strength of unfractured rock to that of pre-existing fractures, which might heal with time. The most likely source of tension is tectonic uplift. Fractures due to typical uplifts of 0.5–1 km over distances of 10–100 km may penetrate as brittle fractures to several kilometres into the crust, perhaps to the depth at which seismic activity ceases.
Optimal H2 and H∞ fixed‐order dynamic compensation using canonical forms

This paper presents a technique for designing fixed order dynamic compensators in controller canonical form which are robust to both structured and unstructured uncertainty. The formulation uses an approach which combines an H2 and H∞ optimization process. Specifically, a quadratic performance index is minimized subject to a constraint on the H∞ norm of the closed loop transfer function from disturbances to controlled outputs. This provides robustness to unstructured uncertainty. To provide robustness to structured uncertainty, an upper bound is computed for the worst case parameter variations, and it is then included in the derivation of the optimality conditions. A robust controller for a jetfoil boat is used to demonstrate this design technique. For the specific case of no structured uncertainty, the results of this approach using the canonical form compensator are analytically related to the previously published results for a fixed-order dynamic compensator. It is demonstrated that the use of the canonical form greatly simplifies the system of necessary conditions.
Chemoreceptor nerve and type A glomus cell activity following hypoxia, hypercapnia, or anoxia: a morphological study in the rat carotid body.

In the rat carotid body, afferent (sensory) axons account for about 95% of the nerve endings on glomus cells. Many of these sensory nerve endings, whose nerve cell bodies are in the petrosal ganglion, are presynaptic as well as postsynaptic to glomus cells. Typical of presynaptic endings, these carotid body sensory nerve endings possess 60-nm synaptic vesicles and synaptic active zones. Upon stimulation by hypoxia (10% O 2 -90% N 2 ), hypercapnia (10% CO 2 in air), or anoxia (100% N 2 ), these nerve endings showed a significant decrease ( P P
Magnetic properties of amorphous Fe-Nb and Fe-Zr

Abstract Magnetic ordering temperatures and values of the effective hyperfine field have been obtained for a number of amorphous Fe x Nb 100− x and Fe x Zr 100− x alloys for compositions at and above the threshold for magnetic ordering, found at x = 55 and x = 45, respectively. For both sets of samples the effective hyperfine field is found to rise linearly with composition. The magnetic ordering temperatures, while rising monotonically in a-Fe x Nb 100− x , display a maximum at about x = 85 in a-Fe x Zr 100− x .
The Measurement and Consequences of Military Organizational Commitment in Soldiers and Spouses

Based on the work of Meyer and Allen (1997), we derived a set of abbreviated scales to measure affective and continuance organizational commitment and conducted an extensive examination of the fact...
Transport properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate)

Abstract The conductivity and magnetoresistance of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDT/PSS) have been studied as a function of temperature. The room-temperature conductivities are dependent on the pH of the solutions from which the films are cast; values as high as 20 S/cm can be obtained in films cast from solutions with pH values in the range 0–3. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity is characteristic of granular metals (strongly disordered inhomogeneous systems), σ(T) = σ 0 exp [−( T 0 T ) 1 2 ] . The low-temperature magnetoresistance of PEDT/PSS is positive and follows an H2 dependence at low magnetic fields.
Periodic impulse-forcing of non-linear systems: a new method

A new method is developed that allows one to determine the performance of a nonlinear system undergoing impulse-forcing analytically. The method is based on the Carleman linearization procedure, which approximates a non-linear system of equations and a non-linear performance-measure by a linear system of higher order. A general explicit formula is derived which allows the determination of the state equations and of the performance measure as a function of the forcing period. An example illustrates the new method.
Electromagnetic Instabilities, Filamentation, and Focusing of Relativistic Electron Beams

We report nonlinear studies of the Weibel instability of a relativistic electron beam in a plasma. If ${n}_{b}\ensuremath{\ll}{n}_{p}$, the beam splits into self-pinched filaments at density ${n}_{p}$. These filaments then recombine into a single dense beam, from which the return current is expelled. The ratio of final magnetic to final streaming energy is $O(\frac{\ensuremath{\nu}}{\ensuremath{\gamma})}$, and significant plasma heating occurs.
Plasma cortisol and hypothalamic monoamine responses in yellow perch Perca flavescens after intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide

The concentrations of monoamines in the hypothalamus were determined in yellow perch Perca flavescens before and after injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 3 mg kg−1 fish weight) or saline to test for the presence of neurochemical changes potentially associated with changes in plasma cortisol characteristic of intraperitoneal (ip) challenge with LPS. In the first experiment, yellow perch were injected with saline or LPS and the hypothalamus removed and plasma sampled before and at 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, and 6 h after injection. Plasma cortisol was elevated in both saline- and LPS-injected fish through 1.5 h after injection and returned to levels resembling pre-injection by 3 h after injection. Significantly higher amounts of cortisol in plasma from LPS-injected relative to saline-injected fish were observed 6 h following injection. A significant decrease relative to levels observed 0.5–3 h after handling was observed in serotonin concentrations at 6 h following LPS and saline injection with a concomitant increase in the ratio of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid:serotonin. In the second experiment, hypothalamic monoamines were sampled before and at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h after injection with LPS or saline. Significant increases from pre-injection levels were observed in the ratio 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid:serotonin at 9, 12, and 24 h after injection, but no differences were detected between LPS- and saline-injected fish. These results support a model linking serotonergic system activation following handling stress, but no correlations with the sustained elevations of plasma cortisol associated with inflammatory challenge were observed.
3. THE QUESTION OF HISTORY IN PRECOLONIAL INDIA

This essay considers an important and enduring problem in the writing of Indian history: how do we historians approach precolonial narratives of the past? A rich and suggestive new study of South Indian modes of historiography, Textures of Time: Writing History in South India 1600–1800, by Velcheru Narayana Rao, David Shulman, and Sanjay Subrahmanyam, has positioned itself at the center of this debate. For a variety of reasons, precolonial narratives have been demoted to the status of mere information, and genres of South Indian writing have been dismissed as showing that South Indians lacked the ability to write history and indeed lacked historical consciousness. Textures of Time responds to this picture by proposing a novel historical method for locating historical sensibility in precolonial narratives of the past. The authors ask us not to judge all textual traditions in India, especially narratives of the past, on the basis of the verifiability of facts contained in them. Rather they suggest a radical openness of the text, and they argue that a historical narrative is constituted in the act of reading itself. They do this by examining the role of genre and what they call texture in precolonial South Indian writing. This essay examines the strengths and limitations of their proposal. It does so by examining the formation of colonial archives starting in the late-eighteenth century in order to understand the predicament of history in South Asia. Colonial archives brought about a crisis in historiographical practices in India; they not only transformed texts into raw information for the historian to then reconstruct a historical narrative, they also delegitimized precolonial modes of historiography. A better understanding of these archives puts one in a better position to assess the insights of Textures of Time, but it also helps to highlight the problems in its solution. In particular, it reveals how the book continues to use modern criteria to assess premodern works, and in this way perhaps to judge them inappropriately.
Performance modeling of PEM fuel cell operated on reformate

A three-dimensional mathematical model of PEM fuel cell operated on reformate is developed based on our previous established fuel cell model (Zhou and Liu, 2001), by incorporating the adsorption and oxidation kinetics of CO on platinum surface proposed by Springer et al (1997, 2001). This model is capable of studying the effect of CO poisoning as well as the hydrogen dilution effect by inert gases. The adsorption and oxidation kinetics of CO on platinum surface are incorporated in the source terms of the species equations, thus basic form of the mathematical equations are the same as those used for PEM fuel cell operated on pure hydrogen. With this model, we can obtain detailed information on the CO poisoning and variation of CO and hydrogen concentrations inside the anode. The modeling results from this 3D model revealed many new phenomena that cannot be obtained from previous 1D or 2D models. The model can be used to provide guidance for anode design optimizations. In the paper, results of the effects of various operating and design parameters, such as anode flow rate, gas diffuser porosity, gas diffuser thickness, and the width of the collector plate shoulder, are also presented.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Oscillations in Chromospheric Network Bright Points

Intensity oscillations observed in the H and K lines of Ca II in network bright points in the quiet Sun are interpreted in terms of transverse and longitudinal magnetoacoustic waves propagating upward inside magnetic flux tubes. It is supposed that the waves are generated impulsively in the photosphere as transverse waves. As they propagate upward, their velocity amplitude increases exponentially until they become nonlinear in the chromosphere, where they transfer power to longitudinal waves. The impulsive generation produces waves at the cutoff frequency of transverse waves. On the assumption that this frequency signature is transferred to the longitudinal waves, the magnetic field strength implied by the period observed in the chromosphere is consistent with the Zeeman effect observed in the photosphere.
Wage comparison by gender and the effect of job segregation: The case of Taiwan

Abstract This paper examines the wage differential between the genders in a newly industrialized economy-Taiwan. The objective is to verify the existence and magnitude of the Taiwanese wage differential (or discrimination as some would term it) and contrast it with findings in the United States. The gender gap was estimated for the private sector and the public sector respectively. It was found that wage discrimination against females does exist. The magnitude of the “discrimination” falls within the same range as the empirical estimates for the U.S. In Taiwan, however, the wage discrimination appeared to be slightly more severe in the public sector. A measure for the discriminatory effects of the “occupational segregation” was proposed and implemented. Contrary to common belief, the “occupational segregation” was not an important factor in wage discrimination. Nor did the disparity of jobs distribution in terms of “industry” generate any significant level of wage discrimination. The main source of gender discrimination (in terms of wage rates) came from the lower returns to the “productivity” characteristics (experience, education, tenure, etc.) and not from seemingly popular hypotheses of occupational segregation (or, in more general terms, job segregation). This is in sharp contrast to previous studies.
Association of neutral objects with rewards: effects of massed versus distributed practice, delay of testing, age, and sex.

Abstract The “conditioning apparatus” was a spin-wheel game in which the stopping of a pointer on one nonsense syllable resulted in the winning of 2 pennies and the stopping on another syllable resulted in the loss of one penny. Conditioning effects on the syllables were assessed with 3 dependent measures respectively concerning (a) verbal evaluation, (b) reward expeetaney, and (c) instrumental viewing responses. The first major purpose was to determine effects of four levels of massed versus distributed conditioning sessions. The second major purpose was to determine effects of delayed testing after the end of conditioning. Half the Ss were tested the day after the last conditioning session, and the other half were tested 5 weeks later. Incidental purposes of the experiment were to examine effects of age (grades 1, 3, and 5) and sex. All groups significantly differentiated the syllables in the predicted manner. There were no significant differences between groups due to levels of massing practice sessions, age, or sex. The most important finding was that effects were as strong for Ss tested 5 weeks later as for Ss tested the day after the end of conditioning sessions.
Completeness of the SO(4) extended Bethe ansatz for the one-dimensional Hubbard model

Abstract We show how to construct a complete set of eigenstates of the hamiltonian of the one-dimensional Hubbard model on a lattice of even length L . This is done by using the nested Bethe ansatz and the SO(4) symmetry of the model. We discuss in detail how the counting of independent eigenstates is carried out.
Serum Albumin Is Predictive of 30-Day Survival After Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes have been used since 1980 in patients who require prolonged enteral feeding. Purpose: To identify factors associated with poor survival (defmed as survival <30 days) post-PEG. Methods : We assessed a cohort of 64 patients consecutively referred for a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube in a single, tertiary care hospital. Prior to PEG tube placement, we evaluated relevant clinical variables in each patient to determine their effect on 30-day mortality. Results: Of the cohort, 43 of 64 (67.2%) survived at least 30 days after tube placement. One death was attributable to tube placement. Bivariate analyses showed that 30-day survival correlated directly with serum albumin (r = .253; p = .049) and inversely with creatinine (r = —0.255; p = .042). Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, only albumin was identified as an independent predictor of 30-day survival (p =.044). Eighty-three percent of patients with a serum albumin ≥3.0 g/dL su...
Beyond ‘lognormal versus gamma’: discrimination among error distributions for generalized linear models

Abstract The process of model selection includes making an assumption about the distribution of ‘errors’ about the mean response. Generalized linear models (GLMs) offer considerable flexibility in this regard. However, graphical methods for identifying potential error distributions can fail to discriminate among sets of candidate error distributions. I examine an information-theoretic approach to this issue, which ranks candidate models (error distributions) using Akaike's information criterion (AIC). I evaluate the effectiveness of this technique using Monte Carlo simulation by generating pseudorandom data from five skewed distributions: lognormal, gamma, Weibull, log-logistic, and inverse Gaussian. I then fit each data set under all five distributional assumptions, and examine how well AIC identifies the distribution that generated the data. On the basis of the simulations, I suggest that AIC is effective at identifying the data-generating distribution, given moderate to large sample sizes. I then fit four candidate models to data drawn from a mixture of four distributions with common expectations and coefficients of variation (CVs). AIC did not show strong support for a particular candidate model given small samples of ‘mixed’ data, although larger samples selected the gamma distribution for CVs of 0.5 and 1.0, and the Weibull distribution for CVs of 1.5 and 2.0. Finally, I apply this technique in a GLM setting to several fisheries-independent and -dependent data sets to select the error distribution that is best supported by the data. Twenty-one out of 24 fisheries data sets examined showed strong support for one of the five candidate error distributions and the remaining moderate support for two.
Incidence and predictors of pacemaker placement after surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background Bradyarrhythmia requiring pacemaker placement is a relatively common complication after surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). We report our experience with surgical ablation procedures using various energy modalities and lesion sets in an attempt to identify the risk factors associated with postoperative pacemaker requirement. Methods Intraoperative data were collected prospectively, and preoperative and postoperative data were collected retrospectively. Energy modality and lesion sets used were dependent on availability on the date of the procedure and surgeon preference. Results From October 1999 to October 2009, 701 patients underwent surgical ablation for AF at our institution. Forty-five patients (7.6%) required early postoperative pacemaker placement. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics or associated procedures between patients who required pacemaker placement and those who did not. Ninety-day mortality was greater in patients requiring pacemaker placement (15.6% versus 6.6%; p = 0.025). In multivariable analysis, a pacemaker requirement was more likely with the use of microwave energy (odds ratio [OR] 2.87; confidence interval [CI], 1.41 to 5.84; p = 0.004) and a right atrial lesion set (OR, 2.82; CI, 1.07 to 7.45; p = 0.036). Conclusions In conclusion, over our 10-year experience with surgical AF ablations, the incidence of pacemaker requirement was much lower than that reported in series of classic "cut and sew" Maze procedures, even among patients undergoing full biatrial ablations. Although biatrial ablation is currently our favored approach to patients with long-standing or persistent AF, right atrial lesion sets increase the risk of this complication and should be used judiciously.
Solid-phase synthesis of 1,2,5-trisubstituted 4-imidazolidinones.

An efficient method for the preparation of 1,2,5-trisubstituted 4-imidazolidinones is presented. The synthetic approach is based on the formation of an N-[1-(benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl] moiety on the ...
Juvenile Frogs Compensate for Small Metamorph Size with Terrestrial Growth: Overcoming the Effects of Larval Density and Insecticide Exposure

Abstract I reared four species of anurans (Rana sphenocephala [Southern Leopard Frog], Rana blairi [Plains Leopard Frog], Rana clamitans [Green Frog], and Bufo woodhousii [Woodhouse's Toad]) for seven to 12 months in small, outdoor terrestrial enclosures (1 × 2 m) to examine the consequences of larval competition (via density) and contaminant exposure (via the insecticide carbaryl). I added six Rana clamitans, eight Rana sphenocephala, eight Rana blairi, and 10 Bufo woodhousii to terrestrial enclosures shortly after metamorphosis and recaptured them during the following spring. All anurans from low-density ponds were significantly larger than those from high-density ponds, but these size differences did not significantly affect survival to or size at spring emergence. However, R. sphenocephala, R. blairi, and R. clamitans that survived to spring had been larger at metamorphosis on average than those that did not survive; in contrast, B. woodhousii that survived the winter were smaller at metamorphosis on ...
A fully Sinc-Galerkin method for Euler-Bernoulli beam models

A fully Sinc-Galerkin method in both space and time is presented for fourth-order time-dependent partial differential equations with fixed and cantilever boundary conditions. The Sinc discretizations for the second-order temporal problem and the fourth-order spatial problems are presented. Alternate formulations for variable parameter fourth-order problems are given which prove to be especially useful when applying the forward techniques to parameter recovery problems. The discrete system which corresponds to the time-dependent partial differential equations of interest are then formulated. Computational issues are discussed and a robust and efficient algorithm for solving the resulting matrix system is outlined. Numerical results which highlight the method are given for problems with both analytic and singular solutions as well as fixed and cantilever boundary conditions.
Portable reality: Expanding available space

All of the components for creating fully immersive virtual worlds have suddenly become ubiquitous and cheap, often built into devices that we have already in our pockets and on our desktops. These devices have everything they need to become state-of-the-art platforms for immersive games and virtual reality: powerful graphics, high-resolution displays, and precision sensors. Just add some optics, and now a responsive, fully immersive virtual reality platform can be built for next to nothing. And once we can do that, there's nothing to stop us from unleashing a flood of alternate and augmented worlds that can be colocated with our physical surroundings, anywhere and any time. More than just information or annotation, we can begin to imagine a multiplicity of inhabitable, immersive, interactive, networked environments that can be coordinated with our everyday lives. The coming proliferation of virtual and augmented worlds will make manifest the idea that there is far more to reality than we are normally aware of, and that there are countless virtual realms that can now be brought into conscious experience.
Identification of Endogenous Coccidioides posadasii Contamination of Commercial Primary Rhesus Monkey Kidney Cells

ABSTRACT Here we describe the identification of endogenous Coccidioides posadasii contamination in commercial rhesus monkey kidney (RhMK) cells and the subsequent nationwide alert that reduced the risk of laboratory exposure. This extraordinary event highlights the necessity for laboratories to remain vigilant in the use of appropriate biosafety procedures, particularly when working with unknown pathogens.
Protein Modularity, Cooperative Binding, and Hybrid Regulatory States Underlie Transcriptional Network Diversification

SUMMARY We examine how different transcriptional network structures can evolve from an ancestral network. By characterizing how the ancestral mode of gene regulation for genes specific to a-type cells in yeast species evolved from an activating paradigm to a repressing one, we show that regulatory protein modularity, conversion of one cis-regulatory sequence to another, distribution of binding energy among protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, and exploitation of ancestral network features all contribute to the evolution of a novel regulatory mode. The formation of this derived mode of regulation did not disrupt the ancestral mode and thereby created a hybrid regulatory state where both means of transcription regulation (ancestral and derived) contribute to the conserved expression pattern of the network. Finally, we show how this hybrid regulatory state has resolved in different ways in different lineages to generate the diversity of regulatory network structures observed in modern species.
The transport barrier in intraperitoneal therapy

The peritoneal cavity is important in clinical medicine because of its use as a portal of entry for drugs utilized in regional chemotherapy and as a means of dialysis for anephric patients. The barrier between the therapeutic solution in the cavity and the plasma does not correspond to the classic semipermeable membrane but instead is a complex structure of cells, extracellular matrix, and blood microvessels in the surrounding tissue. New research on the nature of the capillary barrier and on the orderly array of extracellular matrix molecules has provided insights into the physiological basis of osmosis and the alterations in transport that result from infusion of large volumes of fluid. The anatomic peritoneum is highly permeable to water, small solutes, and proteins and therefore is not a physical barrier. However, the cells of the mesothelium play an essential role in the immune response in the cavity and produce cytokines and chemokines in response to contact with noncompatible solutions. The process of inflammation, which depends on the interaction of mesothelial, interstitial, and endothelial cells, ultimately leads to angiogenesis and fibrosis and the functional alteration of the barrier. New animal models, such as the transgenic mouse, will accelerate the discovery of methods to preserve the functional peritoneal barrier.
Adaptive neural network control with frequency-shaped optimal output feedback

The concept of a neural-network-based adaptive optimal control scheme for dynamic systems is investigated. The neural network (NN) is used to learn and generate the coefficients of several predesigned discrete-time controllers as a function of external parameters. The result yields a controller whose frequency characteristics are adaptive to internal and external factors. The proposed method relies on the ability of an NN to learn and smoothly interpolate the controller coefficients. Linear optimal output feedback controllers are designed using a class of frequency-shaped quadratic performance measures and are then used to train the NN. These frequency-shaped controllers provide optimum control performance for different bands of input frequencies. The resulting NN-based adaptive optimal controllers can be utilized for extremely complex systems in which conventional nonlinear/adaptive control techniques are forbidding or of no use. The authors discuss an application of the theory and methodology to an adaptive optimal tracking system that is subjected to a wide range of external inputs. >
An object oriented design for the visualization of multi-variable data objects

This paper presents an object-oriented system design supporting the composition of scientific data visualization techniques based on the definition of hierarchies of typed data objects and tools. Traditional visualization systems focus on creating graphical objects which often cannot be re-used for further processing. Our approach provides objects of different topological dimension to offer a natural way of describing the results of visualization mappings. Serial composition of data extraction tools is allowed, while each intermediate visualization object shares a common description and behavior. Visualization objects can be re-used, facilitating the data exploration process by expanding the available analysis and correlation functions provided. This design offers an open-ended architecture for the development of new visualization techniques. It promotes data and software re-use, eliminates the need for writing special purpose software and reduces processing requirements during interactive visualization sessions. >
Cue exposure with coping skills training and communication skills training for alcohol dependence : 6- and 12-month outcomes

Aims. Cue exposure treatment (CET) has shown promise in preliminary studies with alcoholics, and Communication Skills Training (CST) has been found beneficial, especially in intensive treatment programs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CET and CST in a larger controlled study when both were added to intensive treatment programs. Design and interventions. A 2 × 2 design investigated the effects of CET with urge coping skills training compared to a meditation-relaxation control, and CST compared to an education control when all were added to intensive treatment programs for alcoholics. Setting. The sites were the inpatient or partial hospital substance abuse treatment programs at a private psychiatric hospital, a state-funded residential facility and a VA medical center. Participants. Patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence without active psychosis were eligible. Measurements. Participants were assessed for quantity and frequency of drinking, alcohol cue-reactivity, responses to high risk simulations and urge specific coping skills. Findings. Of 100 treated patients, 86% provided 6-month and 84% provided 12-month follow-up data. Patients who received either CET or CST had fewer heavy drinking days in the first 6 months than control patients. In the second 6 months, CET continued to result in fewer heavy drinking days among lapsers and interacted with CST to decrease quantity of alcohol consumed. CST resulted in fewer alcohol-related problems reported at 12 months. CET resulted in greater reductions in urge to drink in a measure of simulated high-risk situations. CET also resulted in greater reports of use of coping strategies during the follow-up, and many of the urge-specific strategies taught in CET were associated with reduced drinking. Conclusions. Both CET and CST continue to show promise as elements of comprehensive alcohol treatment programs. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.