cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statoil ASA: Global Energy Company

Jan Muska, a financial analyst with Fidelity Investments, must evaluate Statoil ASA for possible inclusion in the company's Energy Fund portfolio. During the period January 1, 2001‐September 15, 2006, Statoil's stock, which was listed as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), outperformed the S&P 500 by a wide margin. In August 2006, an ING analyst issued a report changing the firm's rating on Statoil from buy to hold. In October 2006, ValuEngine issued a market “outperform” rating and set a target price of $28.40 per share. With conflicting analyst opinions on Statoil's value, Muska must prepare his own evaluation of Statoil's financial performance and valuation and make a recommendation to the portfolio manager of Fidelity's Energy Fund.
Rethinking Mayan Resistance: Changing Relations between Federal Teachers and Mayan Communities in Eastern Yucatan, 1929–1935

RESUMEN En las escuelas federales abiertas en el oriente de Valladolid ent e 1928 y 1935, se suponia que las comunidades Mayas rechazaron a los maest os en defensa de su cultura e identitad. De hecho, la esistencia cont a las escuelas fue por ot as causas: el apoyo economico exigido por las escuelas a las comunidades, el echazo de la coeducacion, y la envidia de los politicos. Vista desde esta perspectiva, es necesario modificar substancialmente la idea de resistencia etnica de los Maya.
Application of an adaptive fuzzy system to clustering and pattern recognition

This paper presents a modular, unsupervised neural network architecture which can be used for clustering and classification of complex data sets. The adaptive fuzzy leader clustering (AFLC) architecture is a hybrid neural-fuzzy system which learns on-line in a stable and efficient manner. The system uses a conventional fuzzy K-means clustering algorithm as a learning rule embedded within a control structure similar to that found in the adaptive resonance theory (ART-1) network. AFLC adaptively clusters analog inputs into classes without a priori knowledge of the entire data set or of the number of clusters present in the data. The classification of an input takes place in a two stage process; a simple competitive stage and a distance metric comparison stage. It is shown that the definition of the distance metric can be adjusted as necessary to fit the characteristics of the input data. The AFLC algorithm using two different distance definitions is discussed and then the operating characteristics are described. The performance of the algorithm is presented through application of the algorithm to clustering computer generated normally distributed data, the Anderson & Fisher Iris data, and data generated from projections of 3-D objects in constrained motion.
The token economy: An evaluative review.

Token economies have been applied in a wide range of settings. While there are several advantages to the use of this procedure, there are obstacles that may impede its implementation and therapeutic efficacy. These include: staff training, client resistance, circumvention of the contingencies, and non-responsiveness of subjects. Studies employing token programs with psychiatric patients, retardates, children in classroom settings, delinquents, and autistic children are reviewed. Although token economies are successful while in operation, the issue of generalization of behavior gains or resistance to extinction has not been given careful consideration. Inasmuch as generalization is perhaps the most crucial issue, several procedures are presented that are designed to facilitate maintenance of performance when reinforcement is withdrawn. Methodological suggestions for investigations on token reinforcement in applied settings are presented.
Occurrence of N-acetyl-L-glutamic acid in the human brain.

SUMMARY A substance apparently identical with N-acetyl-l-glutamic acid was isolated from an aqueous extract from human brain by a combination of paper and ion exchange chromatography. The isolated substance does not react with ninhydrin reagent but yields glutamic acid upon acid hydrolysis. Acetyl hydrazide was identified by paper chromatography of hydrazinolysates of the isolated substance and N-acetyl-l-glutamic acid. The configuration was determined with l-specific hog kidney acylase.
Reactions of halobenzenes with methanol on the microporous solid acids hbeta, HZSM-5, and HSAPO-5: halogenation does not improve the hydrocarbon pool.

The reactions of fluorobenzene, 3-fluorotoluene, and three isomers of difluorotoluene, chlorobenzene, and bromobenzene with excesses of methanol were investigated on the large-pore catalysts HBeta (*BEA) and HSAPO-5 (AFI), and on the medium-pore HZSM-5 (MFI). Flow reactor studies in pulse mode with GC−MS detection revealed that the fluorobenzene derivatives were readily methylated at, for example, 375 °C, but not even pentamethylfluorobenzene was obviously active as a reaction center for methanol-to-olefin (MTO) catalysis. Carbon-labeling studies revealed that small amounts of methylbenzenes were formed by defluorination, and these aromatic hydrocarbons seemed to account for the small yields of olefins (and their secondary reaction products) observed. Loss of one fluorine was also evident in the products for one of the difluorotoluene isomers. On HSAPO-5 the activity order for ring-methylation of halobenzenes was F > Cl ≫ Br. On HZSM-5, chlorobenzene and especially bromobenzene lost halogen through a rout...
State-scale evaluation of renewable electricity policy: The role of renewable electricity credits and carbon taxes

Abstract We have developed a state-scale version of the MARKAL energy optimization model, commonly used to model energy policy at the US national scale and internationally. We apply the model to address state-scale impacts of a renewable electricity standard (RES) and a carbon tax in one southeastern state, Georgia. Biomass is the lowest cost option for large-scale renewable generation in Georgia; we find that electricity can be generated from biomass co-firing at existing coal plants for a marginal cost above baseline of 0.2–2.2 cents/kWh and from dedicated biomass facilities for 3.0–5.5 cents/kWh above baseline. We evaluate the cost and amount of renewable electricity that would be produced in-state and the amount of out-of-state renewable electricity credits (RECs) that would be purchased as a function of the REC price. We find that in Georgia, a constant carbon tax to 2030 primarily promotes a shift from coal to natural gas and does not result in substantial renewable electricity generation. We also find that the option to offset a RES with renewable electricity credits would push renewable investment out-of-state. The tradeoff for keeping renewable investment in-state by not offering RECs is an approximately 1% additional increase in the levelized cost of electricity.
Deciphering the neural code: neuronal discharge variability is preferentially controlled by the temporal distribution of afferent impulses

Abstract Neuronal discharge variability has typically been studied as a function of stimulus rate in the context of a Poisson point process. Here we report that novel discharge behavior is elicited in a model cerebellar Purkinje cell when the timing of afferent impulses follows a pulsed Gaussian stimulation paradigm. We show that under these circumstances effective convergence superseded frequency of activation as the independent variable controlling cell discharge. This provides strong evidence that firing rate alone is an insufficient foundation for the neural code.
Combined use of duplex imaging and magnetic resonance angiography for evaluation of patients with symptomatic ipsilateral high-grade carotid stenosis

Abstract Purpose: Advances in cerebral vascular imaging suggest that patients with critical levels of carotid artery stenosis (>70%) who have symptoms can be identified accurately and necessary information about the intracranial and extracranial circulation obtained before surgery without conventional angiography. We have used carotid duplex imaging in combination with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to evaluate 20 patients with symptomatic ipsilateral high-grade carotid stenosis. Methods: All patients underwent CT and magnetic resonance imaging brain scans, as well as MRA and conventional arteriography of the cerebral circulation. Magnetic resonance angiograms were obtained with two-dimensional phase contrast and time-of-flight techniques. Phase contrast was used for intracranial vascular imaging and for determining qualitative flow velocities and the direction of blood flow in the circle of Willis. Two-dimensional time of flight was used to assess the carotid bifurcations. Results: Twenty patients with symptoms (six with strokes, 11 with transient ischemic attacks, and three with amaurosis fugax) had duplex evidence of high-grade carotid stenoses. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance brain scans were positive for cerebral infarction in six patients with clinical strokes. Comparison of MRA with conventional angiography was 91% accurate for high-grade stenoses and occlusions (sensitivity 100% and specificity 90% for stenosis; sensitivity/specificity was 100% for complete occlusion). Comparison of duplex imaging with conventional angiography demonstrated 86% accuracy for detection of severe stenosis or occlusion (sensitivity 94% and specificity 89% for stenosis; sensitivity and specificity were 100% for complete occlusion). Conclusions: This study suggests that combined use of MRA and duplex imaging is accurate for detection and evaluation of high-grade carotid stenoses in patients with symptoms. (J VASC SURG 1993;17:832-40.)
Introduction and Integration of Classroom Routines by Expert Teachers

ABSTRACTSuccessful teachers use the first days of school to establish and rehearse routines which permit instruction to proceed fluidly and efficiently. Routines, shared socially scripted patterns of behavior, serve to reduce the cognitive complexity of the instructional environment. Identified routines were divided into three classes: management, instructional support, and teacher-student exchange. The establishment of routines was examined in the classrooms of six expert teachers, focusing on: (1) the role routines played in the evolving classroom structure; (2) the similarities and differences among teachers in the use of routines; (3) the retention of routines in each of the three identified classes by the teachers; and (4) a detailed look at the most pervasive routines. Teachers were observed to build on their simple routines to form more elaborate strings of action, thus increasing the variety and complexity in the classroom.
Gut fungi of isopods: the genus Palavascia

The genus Palavascia is revised, and the first record and new species of this genus in the Southern Hemisphere is described from the Patagonia region of Argentina. Palavascia patagonica shares some similarities with the other two species of the genus but it possesses very distinct features such as a U-shaped extension at its base and a ringed holdfast. The worldwide distribution of the genus is analyzed and new records and hosts for P sphaeromae are reported. Evolutionary hypotheses for the origin of the isopod-fungi relationship are proposed.
Decays of millisecond isomers in odd-oddN=81 nuclei146Tb,148Ho and150Tm

Following reactions induced by 245 MeV60Ni ions, isomers have been identified in the odd-oddN=81 isotones146Tb,148Ho and150Tm with half-lives of 1.18(2), 2.35(4) and 5.2(3) ms, respectively. Their decays have been characterized byγ-ray spectroscopy. The isomers are interpreted as (πh11/2 νh 1 2/−1 ) 10+ states decaying to members ofπh11/2 νd 3 2/−1 andπh 11 2/−1 multiplets. The observed level spectra and M1 branching ratios are found to be in good agreement with shell model predictions based on empirical and Schiffer-Trueπν−1 residual interactions.
Maternal pheromone: A demonstration of its existence in the mouse (Mus musculus)☆

Abstract A series of preference tests were conducted to determine whether the mouse produces a pup-attracting odor during lactation, similar to the case of the albino rat. Mouse pups preferred to be near the odor of lactating mice rather than the odor of virgin females, and the pups did not appear to discriminate between their own mothers and unfamiliar lactating females. Thus, the mouse, like the rat, appears to produce a maternal pheromone during lactation.
Effect of internal void placement on the heat transfer performance – Encapsulated phase change material for energy storage

The effect of an internal air void on the heat transfer phenomenon within encapsulated phase change material (EPCM) is examined. Heat transfer simulations are conducted on a two dimensional cylindrical capsule using sodium nitrate as the high temperature phase change material (PCM). The effects of thermal expansion of the PCM and the buoyancy driven convection within the fluid media are considered in the present thermal analysis. The melting time of three different initial locations of an internal 20% air void within the EPCM capsule are compared. Latent heat is stored within an EPCM capsule, in addition to sensible heat storage. In general, the solid/liquid interface propagates radially inward during the melting process. The shape of the solid liquid interface as well as the rate at which it moves is affected by the location of the internal air void. The case of an initial void located at the center of the EPCM capsule has the highest heat transfer rate and thus fastest melting time. An EPCM capsule with a void located at the top has the longest melting time. Since the inclusion of a void space is necessary to accommodate the thermal expansion of a PCM upon melting, understanding its effect on the heat transfer within an EPCM capsule is necessary.
Selenium and other elements in juvenile striped bass from the San Joaquin Valley and San Francisco Estuary, California.

Concentrations of selenium and other trace elements were determined in 55 whole body samples of juvenile anadromous striped bass (Morone saxatilis) from the San Joaquin Valley and San Francisco Estuary, California. The fish (≤1 yr old—the predominant life stage in the San Joaquin Valley) were collected in September–December 1986 from 19 sites in the Valley and 3 sites in the Estuary, and analyzed for the following elements: aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), boron (B), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), magnesium (Mg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn). When compared to concentrations in whole freshwater fish measured by surveys from other waters, a few samples contained higher levels, of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Se. The median concentrations of Al, As, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se, and Sr also differed significantly (P⩽0.05) among sites. However, only Se concentrations were highest (up to 7.9 μg/g dry weight) in samples from Valley sites exposed to agricultural subsurface (tile) drainwater; concentrations were lower in samples collected elsewhere. Water quality variables—especially those strongly influenced by tile drainwater (conductivity, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, and total hardness)—were also significantly correlated (P⩽0.05) with Se concentrations in fish. Selenium concentrations in striped bass from the Estuary were only one-fourth to one-half the concentrations measured in the most contaminated fish from the San Joaquin River.
History of Oncolytic Viruses: Genesis to Genetic Engineering

Since the turn of the nineteenth century, when their existence was first recognized, viruses have attracted considerable interest as possible agents of tumor destruction. Early case reports emphasized regression of cancers during naturally acquired virus infections, providing the basis for clinical trials where body fluids containing human or animal viruses were used to transmit infections to cancer patients. Most often the viruses were arrested by the host immune system and failed to impact tumor growth, but sometimes, in immunosuppressed patients, infection persisted and tumors regressed, although morbidity as a result of the infection of normal tissues was unacceptable. With the advent of rodent models and new methods for virus propagation, there were numerous attempts through the 1950s and 1960s to force the evolution of viruses with greater tumor specificity, but success was limited and many researchers abandoned the field. Technology employing reverse genetics later brought about a renewal of interest in virotherapy that allowed the generation of more potent, tumor-specific oncolytics. Here, examination of early oncolytic virotherapy before genetic engineering serves to highlight tremendous advances, yet also hints at ways to penetrate host immune defenses, a significant remaining challenge in modern virotherapy research.
Crystal structure of an RNA double helix incorporating a track of non-Watson-Crick base pairs.

The crystal structure of the RNA dodecamer duplex (r-GGACUUCGGUCC)2 has been determined. The dodecamers stack end-to-end in the crystal, simulating infinite A-form helices with only a break in the phosphodiester chain. These infinite helices are held together in the crystal by hydrogen bonding between ribose hydroxyl groups and a variety of donors and acceptors. The four noncomplementary nucleotides in the middle of the sequence did not form an internal loop, but rather a highly regular double-helix incorporating the non-Watson-Crick base pairs, G.U and U.C. This is the first direct observation of a U.C (or T.C) base pair in a crystal structure. The U.C pairs each form only a single base-base hydrogen bond, but are stabilized by a water molecule which bridges between the ring nitrogens and by four waters in the major groove which link the bases and phosphates. The lack of distortion introduced in the double helix by the U.C mismatch may explain its low efficiency of repair in DNA. The G.U wobble pair is also stabilized by a minor-groove water which bridges between the unpaired guanine amino and the ribose hydroxyl of the uracil. This structure emphasizes the importance of specific hydrogen bonding between not only the nucleotide bases, but also the ribose hydroxyls, phosphate oxygens and tightly bound waters in stabilization of the intramolecular and intermolecular structures of double helical RNA.
Asymptotic behavior of the distribution of the stock price in models with stochastic volatility: the Hull–White model

Abstract In the present Note, we study the asymptotic behavior of the distribution density of the stock price process in the Hull–White model. The leading terms in the asymptotic expansions at zero and infinity are found for such a density and the corresponding error estimates are given. Similar problems are solved for time averages of the volatility process, which are also of interest in the study of Asian options. To cite this article: A. Gulisashvili, E.M. Stein, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 343 (2006).
Compatibility conditions for time-dependent partial differential equations and the rate of convergence of Chebyshev and Fourier spectral methods

Abstract Compatibility conditions for partial differential equations (PDEs) are an infinite set of relations between the initial conditions, the PDE, and the boundary conditions which are necessary and sufficient for the solution to be C ∝ , that is, infinitely differentiable, everywhere on the computational domain including the boundaries. Since the performance of Chebyshev spectral and spectral element methods is dramatically reduced when the solution is not C ∝ , one would expect that the compatibility conditions would be a major theme in the spectral literature. Instead, it has been completely ignored. Therefore, we pursue three goals here. First, we present a proof of the compatibility conditions in a simplified form that does not require functional analysis. Second, we analyze the connection between the compatibility conditions and the rate of convergence of Chebyshev methods. Lastly, we describe strategies for slightly adjusting initial conditions so that the compatibility conditions are satisfied.
Analytic solutions of a nonlinear convective equation in population dynamics

Analytic solutions are presented for a simple nonlinear convective equation of use in population dynamics. In spite of its simplicity the equation predicts rich behavior including a velocity inversion transition. Stability considerations are also presented.
Note on the sequence dependent setup scheduling problem (SDSSP) with earliness and tardiness penalties

Two issues were discovered in a published SDSSP formulation by Zhu and Heady.The index range for i in constraints (5a) and (5b) is incorrect.Two new constraints are needed. In the paper: "Minimizing the Sum of Earliness/Tardiness in Multi-machine Scheduling: A Mixed Integer Programming Approach" by Zhiwei Zhu and Ronald B. Heady, published in Computers & Industrial Engineering 38 (2000) 297-305, they present two formulations. Both their triple index and double index mathematical formulations address the sequence dependent setup scheduling problem (SDSSP) with earliness and tardiness penalties. These formulations were compared to the network flow based formulation of Anderson et al. in the paper: "An Efficient Network-Based Formulation for Sequence Dependent Setup Scheduling on Parallel Identical Machines", published in Mathematical and Computer Modeling, Volume 57, Issues 3-4, February 2013, p. 483-493. Through this comparative analysis, an omission in the double index Zhu and Heady formulation was discovered.
EFG-independent Translocation of the mRNA:tRNA Complex is Promoted by Modification of the Ribosome with Thiol-specific Reagents

Translation of polyphenylalanine from a polyuridine template by the ribosome in the absence of the elongation factors EFG and EFTu (and the energy derived from GTP hydrolysis) is promoted by modification of the ribosome with thiol-specific reagents such as para-chloromercuribenzoate (pCMB). Here, we examine the translational cycle of modified ribosomes and show that peptide bond formation and tRNA binding are largely unaffected, whereas translocation of the mRNA:tRNA complex is substantially promoted by pCMB modification. The translocation movements that we observe are authentic by multiple criteria including the processivity of translation, accuracy of movement (three-nucleotide) along a defined mRNA template and sensitivity to antibiotics. Characterization of the modified ribosomes reveals that the protein content of the ribosomes is not depleted but that their subunit association properties are severely compromised. These data suggest that molecular targets (ribosomal proteins) in the interface region of the ribosome are critical barriers that influence the translocation of the mRNA:tRNA complex.
Computational Architectures Based on Coupled Oscillators

Recent advances in device technology have opened the door to exploration of new computing paradigms. These paradigms are geared to exploit the behavior of emerging devices such as coupled oscillator arrays. Coupled oscillators are one such device technology that offloads some of the computational complexity to the devices exploiting the physics of the device to perform computation, rather than relying purely on Boolean logic. In this work, we explore the variety of available coupled oscillator architectures. Additionally, we evaluate some basic computation using these architectures in the image processing domain, with an eye towards more complex algorithms and applications.
Polyamines as tumor markers.

(1981). Polyamines as Tumor Markers. CRC Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 1-34.
Atomistic Simulations of the Force-Induced Dissociation of Retroviral RNA Kissing-Loops

Retroviruses require two copies of their ssRNA genomes in order to form infectious virus particles. This is accomplished via a Dimerization Initiation Site (DIS), which forms a rivet-like “kissing-loop” that binds the two genomes together. Retroviral DIS kissing-loops have been shown to be unusually resistant to heat denaturation or mechanical pulling, given the small number (2-6) of Watson-Crick base-pairs involved. High mechanical stability is apparently required for retroviral fitness, as mutations that destabilize the DIS loop in-vitro also result in greatly reduced virus infectivity rates in-vivo. DIS kissing-loops are therefore attractive targets for antiretroviral therapeutic design; however, we must first understand the physical determinants that give rise to enhanced DIS kissing-loop stability.The Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus (MMLV) serves as a particularly tractable model system due to its simplicity, as it composed of two GACG tetraloops held together by just two intermolecular base-pairs. Single-molecule pulling experiments (by Pan Li at SUNY Albany) have shown that it requires as much force to break these two loop-loop base pairs as is required to unfold an entire 11-bp hairpin. Using a combination of equilibrium and non-equilibrium all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we have developed a detailed model for the kinetic intermediates of the force-induced dissociation of the MMLV DIS kissing-loop. We find that the transition state geometry allows for an equal distribution of the applied force among all of the intermolecular hydrogen-bonds, which is intrinsically more stable that the sequential h-bond breaking exhibited by simple RNA hairpins. In addition, we observe that stacking interactions with adjacent, unpaired loop adenines are able to further stabilize the complex, and that the breaking of these stacking interactions are the rate-limiting step for force-induced dissociation of the MMLV DIS complex.
Linguistic Performance of Hard-of-Hearing and Normal-Hearing Children

A repetition task was employed to investigate syntactic patterns of hard-of-hearing children. The subjects were 11 students enrolled in public-school classes for the hard-of-hearing. A matching con...
Design oriented structural analysis.

Recent developments in computer-aided structural design indicate a need for computerized structural analysis techniques which are efficient for the repetitive analysis of large complex structures undergoing design modifications. This paper describes such a technique based on a Taylor series approach. Results are presented for an idealized aircraft fuselage midsection to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the technique. The results show that satisfactory analyses of modified structures may be obtained with the proposed technique, even for large changes in member sizes, for only a small fraction of the computational cost of a full reanalysis.
Coulometric-acidimetric titrations in anhydrous acetic acid

Abstract A technique for the coulometric generation of hydrogen ions in an acetic acid-acetic anhydride-sodium perchlorate electrolyte by anodically oxidizing a mercury electrode is described. Accurate coulometric titrations of sodium acetate and potassium hydrogen phthalate have been carried out. The technique should be applicable to many of the basic substances which can be titrated volumet-rically in acetic acid.
Breakover phenomena in field-controlled thyristors

The occurrence of breakover in the forward-blocking anode current-voltage characteristics of field-controlled thyristors is analyzed. It is demonstrated that this breakover occurs due to gate current flow which causes a debiasing of the gate potential in the presence of any series gate resistance. Based upon this mechanism, analytical expressions have been derived which describe the anode current-voltage breakover characteristics. These theoretical expressions have been found to be in very good agreement with the measured data obtained from asymmetrical field-controlled thyristors fabricated with various device thicknesses. From the analysis presented in this paper, it can be concluded that the occurrence of breakover in the forward-blocking characteristics of field-controlled thyristors can be minimized by ensuring low series gate resistances which biasing the devices and by using gate bias voltages well in excess of the minimum value required to block any desired anode voltage.
Clinician perceptions of factors influencing referrals to a smoking cessation program.

Referral of patients to smoking cessation telephone counseling (i.e., quitline) is an underutilized resource by primary care physicians. Previously, we conducted a randomized trial to determine the effectiveness of benchmarked feedback on clinician referrals to a quitline. Subsequently, we sought to understand the successful practices used by the high-referring clinicians, and the perceptions of the barriers of referring patients to a quitline among both high and non-referring clinicians in the trial. We conducted a qualitative sub-study with subjects from the randomized trial, comparing high- and non-referring clinicians. Structured interviews were conducted and two investigators employed a thematic analysis of the transcribed data. Themes and included categories were organized into a thematic framework to represent the main response sets. As compared to non-referring clinicians, high-referring clinicians more often reported use of the quitline as a primary source of referral, an appreciation of the quitline as an additional resource, reduced barriers to use of the quitline referral process, and a greater personal motivation related to tobacco cessation. Time and competing demands were critical barriers to initiating smoking cessation treatment with patients for all clinicians. Clinicians reported that having one referral source, a referral coordinator, and reimbursement for tobacco counseling (as a billable code) would aid referral. Further research is needed to test the effectiveness of new approaches in improving the connection of patients with smoking cessation resources. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00529256
Algorithms for a Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas: The Case for Proportional-Integral-Derivative Control

Closed-loop insulin delivery continues to be one of most promising strategies for achieving near-normal control of blood glucose levels in individuals with diabetes. Of the many components that need to work well for the artificial pancreas to be advanced into routine use, the algorithm used to calculate insulin delivery has received a substantial amount of attention. Most of that attention has focused on the relative merits of proportional-integral-derivative versus model-predictive control. A meta-analysis of the clinical data obtained in studies performed to date with these approaches is conducted here, with the objective of determining if there is a trend for one approach to be performing better than the other approach. Challenges associated with implementing each approach are reviewed with the objective of determining how these approaches might be improved. Results of the meta-analysis, which focused predominantly on the breakfast meal response, suggest that to date, the two approaches have performed similarly. However, uncontrolled variables among the various studies, and the possibility that future improvements could still be effected in either approach, limit the validity of this conclusion. It is suggested that a more detailed examination of the challenges associated with implementing each approach be conducted.
On the Laplacian Eigenvalues of Gn,p

We investigate the Laplacian eigenvalues of sparse random graphs Gnp. We show that in the case that the expected degree d = (n-1)p is bounded, the spectral gap of the normalized Laplacian ℒ(Gn,p) is o(1). Nonetheless, w.h.p. G = Gnp has a large subgraph core(G) such that the spectral gap of ℒ(core(G)) is as large as 1-O (d1/2). We derive similar results regarding the spectrum of the combinatorial Laplacian L(Gnp). The present paper complements the work of Chung, Lu and Vu [8] on the Laplacian spectra of random graphs with given expected degree sequences. Applied to Gnp, their results imply that in the dense case d ≥ ln2n the spectral gap of ℒ(Gn,p)is 1-O (d1/2) w.h.p.
Automated modular fixture planning: Geometric analysis

Abstract Attendant Processes such as fixture and die design are often a necessary but time-consuming and expensive component of a production cycle. Coupling such attendant processes to product design via feature-based CAD will lead to more responsive and affordable product design and redesign. In the context of on-going research in automating fixture configuration design, this paper presents a fundamental study of automated fixture planning with a focus on geometric analysis. The initial conditions for modular fixture assembly are established together with geometric relationships between fixture components and the workpiece to be analyzed. Of particular focus is the design of alternative locating points and components, together with examples of 3-D fixture designs.
Imputation Method Adjusted for Covariates for Nonrespondents in Instruments with Applications

In clinical research, measurement instruments (or questionnaires) consisting of a number of items (questions) are often used to assess treatment effect, e.g., quality-of-life assessment, and clinical disease activity index. In many situations, instead of an individual component, it is of interest to provide an assessment of the treatment effect in some overall measures, e.g., subscale or total score. In practice, these types of data often suffer from incompleteness. A common method is to simply ignore all the item nonrespondents from the analysis. Although this method is statistically valid under the assumption of missing completely at random (MCAR), it suffers from decreasing power/efficiency. In this paper, we propose a regression imputation approach adjusted for covariates with item nonrespondents in the instrument. The proposed method provides consistent estimators, which are asymptotically normal. A bootstrap procedure is also proposed to estimate the asymptotic variance of the derived estimators. A ...
Parameters affecting the electron beam sensitivity of poly(methyl methacrylate)

Poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, is used as a model polymer to determine quantitatively the effect of molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and tacticity on electron beam sensitivity. The heterotactic, syndiotactic, and isotactic stereoforms of PMMA were synthesized with molecular weights ranging from 104 to 107 and dispersivities from 1.2 to about 10. The G-values as determined by gamma radiation are about 1.3 and are independent of the three parameters. However, the solubility rate of PMMA is very dependent on the tacticity, and the relative solubility rates are in the order syndiotactic < heterotactic ≪ isotactic. The weight-average molecular weight ratio was found to give a better correlation with solubility rate ratio than the number-average molecular weight ratio. The molecular size of the developer solvent was shown to have a much greater effect on the solubility rate than the molecular weight of the resist. An optimal developer solvent for PMMA can be systematically selected from a homologous series of n- alkyl acetates which enhance the resist sensitivity.
Union Blues: Melville's Poetic In(ter)ventions

Both Walt Whitman and Herman Melville wrote poetry about the Civil War, and while Whitman's is better known, Melville's Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War (1866) remains an interesting experiment in improvisation, a kind of “blues” lament for a loss that could not be reconstructed. Melville pursues several key questions: Is art meaningful in the face of chaos? Can imagination counter traumatic events? Melville's poetry provides no sure answers and is therefore troubling, if not annihilating, to the concept of art as therapeutic. But the question of whether art is useful in times of conflict was one that long engaged Melville. Much could be said about Moby-Dick and irresponsible bloodshed. This essay revisits Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile (1855), which anticipates the tenor, form, and loss of hope that comes to the fore in Battle-Pieces. I make this turn to the serial novel for several reasons. First, I will demonstrate that what some call Potter's incoherence is evidence of Melville's lost faith in narrative; second, Potter is about war and politics, as is the poetry; and third, I will show that it was not until Melville faced the Civil War in a poetic form of his own that he understood the Republic as lost.
Concurrent programming with shared objects in networked environments

Concurrent and distributed computing, using portable software systems or environments on general purpose networked computing platforms, has recently gained widespread attention. Many such systems have been developed, and several are in production use. This project proposes the use of object-oriented techniques to enhance application development and ease of use, and to relieve developers of the complexities inherent in message passing environments. The authors support the relatively well understood shared-object concurrent computation model while providing facilities designed to aid the programmer with partitioning, scheduling, and synchronization in a straightforward, efficient, and portable manner. They describe a shared object toolkit for the PVM distributed computing system and present preliminary results and experiences. >
Association of beta-glucosidase with intact cells of Thermoactinomyces.

The location of the beta-glucosidase activity in a whole culture broth of the thermophilic organism Thermoactinomyces has been studied. Little beta-glucosidase activity was found in the culture filtrate, while the culture solids contained the major part of the activity of the whole culture broth. The activity does not appear to be adsorbed to the culture solids; rather there is evidence that it is an intracellular soluble enzyme(s). The pH and temperature optima for a crude beta-glucosidase preparation were determined to be pH 6.5 and 50-55 degrees C. Enzyme activity studies indicate that the same enzyme(s) accounts for the beta-glucosidase and the cellobiase activities. The validity of using the filter paper activity of culture filtrates from Thermoactinomyces to predict the total saccharification of cellulosic materials to glucose is discussed.
Evaluation of Gen-Probe Amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct Test by Using Respiratory and Nonrespiratory Specimens in a Tertiary Care Center Laboratory

The performance of the Amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct (AMTD) test (Gen-Probe Inc., San Diego, Calif.) was assessed in a large tertiary care mycobacteriology laboratory. Both acid-fast smear-positive and smear-negative respiratory and nonrespiratory clinical specimens were analyzed. From February 1998 to 4 October 2001, AMTD assays were performed on 391 respiratory specimens and 164 nonrespiratory specimens. The AMTD assay was compared to the “gold standard” of combined culture and clinical diagnosis. The overall sensitivity for all specimens, including those for which no smear result was available, was 91.2%. The overall sensitivities of the assay, including acid-fast smear-positive and -negative specimens, were 97.8 and 77.3% for respiratory and nonrespiratory specimens, respectively. The corresponding specificities for respiratory and nonrespiratory specimens were 99.1 and 98.5%, respectively. The overall specificity for all specimens was 98.9%. Positive and negative predictive values were 93.9 and 99.7% and 91.7 and 96.4% for respiratory and nonrespiratory specimens, respectively. The time saved by using the AMTD test for making a diagnosis of tuberculosis instead of using culture was 8.99 days. Inhibitors to the AMTD assay were found in 3.1% of respiratory specimens and 3.1% of nonrespiratory specimens. The assay, used in a general mycobacteriology laboratory setting, represents an important advance in improving the speed and accuracy of diagnosis in the management of patients with tuberculosis.
Ability and Personality Predictors of Salary, Perceived Job Success, and Perceived Career Success in the Initial Career Stage

Using longitudinal data from a sample of recent college graduates, we examined the effects of ability (general mental ability and emotional intelligence) and personality (Big Five and proactive personality) on extrinsic (i.e., salary) and intrinsic (i.e., perceived job and career success) indicators of career success. Results from regression analyses indicated that gender, extroversion, and agreeableness were the strongest predictors of salary. Emotional stability and proactive personality predicted perceived job success, while extroversion was significantly related to perceived career success. Neither of the ability measures significantly predicted our indicators of extrinsic or intrinsic career success. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
The influence of mesoscale topography on the stability and growth rates of a two-layer model of the open ocean

Abstract The influence of mesoscale topography on the baroclinic instability of a two-layer model of the open ocean is considered. For westward velocities in the top layer (U), and for a sinusoidal topography independent of x or longitude (a cross-stream topography), the critical value of U (Uc ) leading to instability is the same as when there is no topography. The wavelength of the unstable perturbation corresponding to U c is shortened. For a given wavevector (k) of the perturbation the system becomes stable (as also in the absence of topography) for large values of |U|. The minimum value of the shear leading to stability is, however, significantly reduced by the topography. For sufficiently large values of the height of the topographic features, instabilities appear which are localized within a narrow range of the shear. These instabilities are studied for a topography that depends both on x and y. For a cross-stream topography the growth rates are somewhat smaller than those without topography and th...
Sites of Desire, Economies of Pleasure: Sexualities in Asia and the Pacific

Sites of Desire, Economies of Pleasure: Sexualities in Asia and the Pacific. Lenore Manderson and Margaret Jolly, eds. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1997. xii. 367 pp., figures, notes, bibliography, index.
IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON BLOOD GROUPS X. THE PREPARATION OF BLOOD GROUP A AND B SUBSTANCES AND AN INACTIVE SUBSTANCE FROM INDIVIDUAL HORSE STOMACHS AND OF BLOOD GROUP B SUBSTANCE FROM HUMAN SALIVA

Blood group substances have been isolated from the saliva of human beings of blood group B and from the linings of individual horse stomachs. The properties of the human B substances are similar to those of hog and human blood group substances previously isolated. The horse substances showed lower hexosamine and reducing sugar and higher total and non-hexosamine nitrogen than do the materials from the other species. Materials isolated from individual horse stomachs possess either A or B activity or both. Certain stomachs yielded products of identical analytical composition but with neither blood group A, B, or O activity as measured by their ability to inhibit isoagglutination. Fucose has been identified as a constituent of the horse blood group substances.
Silica particles cause NADPH oxidase-independent ROS generation and transient phagolysosomal leakage

Chronic inhalation of silica particles causes lung fibrosis and silicosis. Silica taken up by alveolar macrophages causes phagolysosomal membrane damage and leakage of lysosomal material into the cytoplasm to initiate apoptosis. We investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this membrane damage by studying the spatiotemporal generation of ROS. In macrophages, ROS generated by NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) was detected in phagolysosomes containing either silica particles or nontoxic latex particles. ROS was only detected in the cytoplasm of cells treated with silica and appeared in parallel with an increase in phagosomal ROS, as well as several hours later associated with mitochondrial production of ROS late in apoptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of NOX activity did not prevent silica-induced phagolysosomal leakage but delayed it. In Cos7 cells, which do not express NOX2, ROS was detected in silica-containing phagolysosomes that leaked. ROS was not detected in phagolysosomes containing latex particles. Leakage of silica-containing phagolysosomes in both cell types was transient, and after resealing of the membrane, endolysosomal fusion continued. These results demonstrate that silica particles can generate phagosomal ROS independent of NOX activity, and we propose that this silica-generated ROS can cause phagolysosomal leakage to initiate apoptosis.
A Critique of the Motivations Behind Negative Action Against Asian Americans in U.S. Universities: The Model Victims

To deal effectively with negative action against Asian Americans, it is crucial to first understand the motivations behind negative action. This Article posits that these motivations are complex—they are an intricate tapestry of racism and benevolence interwoven with both conscious and unintentional aspects. In theorizing about and critiquing these motivations by unpacking a 4-quadrant matrix, it seeks a deeper understanding of how to deal with negative action against the “Model Victims.” This Article further suggests that the tensions arising from negative action flow from the Supreme Court’s adoption of a pure diversity rationale for affirmative action; it is necessary to have a more nuanced conception of college diversity that remains true to the spirit of remediation for America’s legacy of racial injustice while simultaneously seeking to dismantle stereotypes and racism. Finally, it discusses the possible ways for Asian Americans to deal with negative action going forward. Only by seriously grappling with its own history and the cultural scripts that disadvantage Asian Americans—and all groups of color—can America hope to effectuate its ideals of true meritocracy.
Commentary: Risk/Benefit Ratio of Androgen Deprivation Treatment for Sex Offenders

Androgen deprivation treatment (ADT) significantly lowers testosterone. That, in turn, can decrease sexual drive, facilitating better self-control and lower recidivism rates among sexually disordered offenders. Potential side effects can include: decreases in bone density; development of a metabolic syndrome involving weight gain, accompanied by changes in glucose and lipid metabolism; and rarely, depression. In the presence of a proper treatment protocol designed either to prevent or to minimize side effects, particularly the development of osteoporosis, the risks associated with ADT are generally within the same range as those associated with many other commonly prescribed psychotropic interventions.
Enhanced heat transfer in air cooled heat sinks using aeroelastically fluttering reeds

The thermal performance of air cooled heat sinks is significantly enhanced by deliberate formation of unsteady small-scale vortical motions within the fin channels that result in significant increases in the local heat transfer coefficient at the fins' surfaces, and in the mixing between the thermal boundary layers and the cooler core flows. These small-scale motions are induced by autonomous aeroelastic fluttering of a cantilevered planar thin-film reed that is placed in the center plane of each fin channel. The thermal performance enhancement in the absence and presence of reed actuation is characterized in a mm-scale model of the rectangular air-cooled heated fin channels. Of particular interest are the increases in power dissipation and the associated fluid power over a range of flow rates. It is shown that the cooling flow rate that is needed to sustain a given heat flux at a fixed wall temperature is nearly two times lower in the presence of reed actuation. Therefore, the reeds can lead to a four-fold increase in thermal performance as measured by the ratio of power dissipated to fluid power. The thermal effectiveness of the reeds is tested in a multi-channel heat sink, and it is shown that the improvement in heat transfer relative to the base flow is similar to that of the model channel.