cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ancestral Hierarchy and Conflict

Ancestral Pan, the shared predecessor of humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees, lived in social dominance hierarchies that created conflict through individual and coalitional competition. This ancestor had male and female mediators, but individuals often reconciled independently. An evolutionary trajectory is traced from this ancestor to extant hunter-gatherers, whose coalitional behavior results in suppressed dominance and competition, except in mate competition. A territorial ancestral Pan would not have engaged in intensive warfare if we consider bonobo behavior, but modern human foragers have the potential for full-scale war. Although hunter-gatherers are able to resolve conflicts preemptively, they also use mechanisms, such as truces and peace pacts, to mitigate conflict when the costs become too high. Today, humans retain the genetic underpinnings of both conflict and conflict management; thus, we retain the potential for both war and peace.
Leveraging Six Sigma with industrial engineering tools in crateless retort production

This paper integrates Six Sigma objectives/concepts and industrial engineering tools within a quality framework, which are used to improve damaged can claims on a crateless retort production system. An overview of the canning industry and crateless retort processing is provided. Three experiments and a series of analysis tools are discussed. The root-cause analysis showed a correlation between can damage and can fill weight using design of experiments (DOE)-based Six Sigma techniques. Manufacturing system improvement projects and the implementation of a closed-loop control system are discussed as the measures used to continuously improve damaged can claims.
Application of the solitary wave theory to shoaling oscillatory waves

The celerities of shallow-water waves were studied in the laboratory as a function of wave height and wave length or period. The experimental celerities were compared to the theoretical values obtained from the oscillatory (Stokian) wave theory, the solitary wave theory, and the cnoidal wave theory. The last was found to be experimentally valid for the transition but is practically inapplicable for prediction. On the basis of this comparison, an effective wave length could be defined below which the Stokian theory applies, and above which the solitary wave theory gives better results.
Lesion effects on tactual to visual cross-modal matching in the rhesus monkey

Abstract Rhesus monkeys with lesions of the lower portion of the prefrontal convolution and the region between the intraparietal and superior temporal sulci, regions known to receive multimodal sensory projections, were assessed on performance of a tactual to visual cross-modal matching task. Also assessed were normal monkeys and monkeys with lesions of the anterior cingulate cortex. Contrary to expectations, the monkeys with lesions of the multimodal areas, as well as the normal monkeys, performed significantly above chance, while the animals with anterior cingulate lesions performed at a chance level.
Qualitative and quantitative aspects of intercalator-induced DNA strand breaks.

Abstract The intercalating agents, adriamycin and ellipticine, were previously found to produce DNA strand breaks associated with DNA-protein crosslinks in mouse leukemia L1210 cells. The current work explores the nature of the agents that produce this effect and the quantitative relationship between the breaks and crosslinks. The protein-associated DNA breaks were produced by a wide variety of intercalators in addition to the above-mentioned compounds: actinomycin D, daunomycin, ethidium and lucanthone (miracil D). Treatment with several drugs that bind to DNA without intercalation, or that inhibit DNA synthesis without binding to DNA, did not cause DNA breaks. The strand break and crosslink frequencies were quantitated by means of alkaline elution methods. The strand break and crosslink frequencies were found to be within a factor of 2 of each other over a range of concentrations of adriamycin and ellipticine. It is proposed that intercalation-induced distortion of the DNA helix leads to strand scission by a nuclease which becomes bound to one terminus of the break so as to form a DNA-protein crosslink.
Amine oxidases, programmed cell death, and tissue renewal.

Embryonal carcinoma cells, with embryonic (ECaE) or trophectodermal (ECaT) potential, have been used in a colony assay to determine regulatory mechanisms in the blastocyst. The mechnism that regulates ECaE and results in chimera formation is dependent upon a soluble factor in blastocoele fluid and contact with trophectoderm. Two mechanisms contribute to the regulation of ECaT: one involves a factor in blastocoele fluid and the other contact with either trophectoderm or inner cell mass which results in differentiation of the cells into trophectoderm, and the other involves the killing of at least 40% of the cells by blastocoele fluid alone. This cytotoxic activity probably causes the programmed cell death that occurs in the inner cell mass during blastulation as it loses the potential to differentiate into trophectoderm. A toxic activity similar to that of normal blastocysts has been obtained from embryoid bodies. This activity is caused by amine oxidase-dependent catabolism of polyamines, and it is postulated that programmed cell death in the embryo and chalone activity in the adult may have similar mechanisms.
Analysis Of Heat Losses And Casing Temperatures Of Steam Injection Wells With Annular Coolant Water Flow

Circulating coolant water from the ground level through the annulus between insulated steam tubing and the casing of injection wells was investigated analytically. Calculations indicated that the annular water flow decreased the percent energy loss to the surrounding rock and reduced casing temperatures. The analysis has application to oil recovery in deeper wells and for higher pressure and, thus, temperature steam. (12 refs.)
Exporting: Does Sales Volume Make a Difference? — Reply

While it is intuitively logical that different types of firms need different types of export assistance, the difficulty comes in developing and testing various approaches to segmenting firms for export development purposes. To date, four types of possible segmentation schemes have been developed in the export assistance literature. One deals with grouping firms according to their size. The others segment firms by grouping them into various international stages according to their export experience,by attitudes of management within the firms, and by the degree to which firms are product or manufacturing oriented. In research reported earlier (Czinkota and Johnston 1981), we have empirically tested each of these approaches and found that the stages of internationalization best segment firms with respect to exporting. The size of a firm as an export determinant is a distant second in usefulness. Yet the effect of the structural variable of firms' size on exporting is worth continued research because current policy uses size as the criterion for export promotion assistance.
Elastic-plastic analysis of small cracks in tubes

Analytical methods for predicting the elastic or elastic-plastic behavior of large circumferential through-wall cracks in tubes subjected to bending, tension, or combined bending and tension are well developed. Gilles and Brust (1991) and Gilles et al. (1991) summarize five such methods and provide a number of comparisons between analytically predicted results and experimental data. These techniques consist of developing a method for estimating the value of the J-integral. Classical J-tearing theory is utilized for the analyses. A method has also been recently developed to estimate J for a through-wall crack in a pipe weld (Rahman et al., 1991; Rahman and Brust, 1992). Unfortunately, the ability of these J-estimation techniques to predict the crack growth behavior for small cracks ({<=} 12 percent of the circumference) has not been established, even though such small cracks are often the concern in practical structures. Indeed, the finite element solutions compiled in the GE/EPRI handbook (Kumar et al., 1984) appear quite inadequate for small-size cracks (Gilles and Brust, 1991; Gilles et al., 1991). This paper presents the results of a series of finite element solutions for small cracks tabulated in the spirit of the handbook (Kumar et al., 1984). The theoretical background for the developmentmore » and use of simplified elastic-plastic fracture methods is fully discussed in Gilles and Brust (1991). Here, the authors provide the solutions for J-integral and the crack opening displacements for small crack problems under pure bending. Ongoing work will complete these solutions for tension and for combined tension-bending loads.« less
The malevolence of ‘benevolent assimilation’: cultural critique in early Philippine literature in English

: Two Filipino novels that were written in English during the American colonial period, Maximo Kalaw's The Filipino Rebel: A romance of the American colonization of the Philippines and Juan C. Laya's His Native Soil, are explicitly interested in analyzing American colonialism and its effects on the Philippines. Maximo Kalaw examines the political system of the colonial Philippines and lays bare the inherent corruption in a system that pretends to be democratic, while still under American control. Juan C. Laya questions American racial tolerance and the transformative power of capitalism. Though each comments on the colonization and explores issues of collaboration with and resistance to the American regime, they do not speak with one voice. Indeed, the debates that characterize the late twentieth-century post-colonial studies, particularly with regard to the potential for resistance in the colonial setting, are clearly evident in this early colonial fiction. The texts reveal strong differences as to whether resistance is at all possible and, if it is, how it operates and to what effect; however, what they share in common is a desire to expose the malice behind the American policy of ‘benevolent assimilation’.
Ultrasonic Velocities in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

IN a recent communication, Mr. S. V. Subrahmaniam1 has reported measurements of ultrasonic velocities in aqueous solutions of cadmium iodide and mercuric chloride. I have made a detailed investigation of the variation of ultrasonic velocities in a number of aqueous solutions of electrolytes with concentration and temperature. The electrolytes that show the rather unusual behaviour of decreasing sound velocity with increasing concentration are the following: (1) cadmium bromide, (2) cadmium iodide, (3) zinc iodide, (4) strontium iodide, (5) lead acetate, (6) uranyl chloride, and (7) uranyl nitrate. The detailed results were published2,3; the conclusions reached in those studies are as follows :
Decision support requirements in flexible manufacturing

Abstract Flexible manufacturing systems are being installed by many organizations in an effort to improve productivity. Because efficient operation of these systems is such a complex task, their capacity is often underutilized. The concept of computer-based decision support systems promises to remedy the situation. This paper defines the components of a decision support system which will enable the user to get the maximum benefit from a flexible manufacturing system. The structure of this decision support system parallels the organizational activities involved in running the flexible manufacturing system. This structure should be implemented using appropriate hardware and software components.
Sudden Stratospheric Warmings as Catastrophes

The sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) process is qualitatively studied using a conceptual and numerical approach guided by catastrophe theory. A simple example of a catastrophe taken from nonlinear dynamics is given, and results from previous modelling studies of SSW are interpreted in light of catastrophe theory. Properties of this theory such as hysteresis, cusp, and triggering essential to SSW are numerically demonstrated using the truncated quasi-geostrophic beta-plane model of Holton and Mass (1976). A qualitative explanation of the transition from the steady regime to the vacillation regime is given for the Holton and Mass model in terms of the topographically induced barotropic Rossby wave instability. Some implications for the simulation and prediction of SSW are discussed.
Two-Point Descriptions of Wake Turbulence with Application to Noise Prediction

Measurements of the four-dimensional two-point correlation tensor of a fully developed airfoil wake are presented. These data allow examination of the characteristic eddies of the turbulence through proper orthogonal decomposition and linear stochastic estimation. A simple generic technique has been developed to extrapolate the correlation tensor function from the Reynolds stress field based on the hypothesis that its form is largely determined by the constraints imposed by inhomogeneity and continuity. Estimates for the plane wake compare favorably with measurements, and, interestingly, proper orthogonal modes and characteristic eddy structures inferred from the estimates are similar to those obtained from measurements. This implies that these measures of the correlation function are largely determined by fairly basic physical information, suggesting some simplification of the turbulence-modeling problem for applications such as aeroacoustics.
Lymphoid follicles are generated in high-grade cervical dysplasia and have differing characteristics depending on HIV status.

The exact role of the mucosal immune response in the pathogenesis of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related premalignant and malignant diseases of the genital tract is poorly understood. We used immunohistochemical analysis to characterize immune cells in normal cervix ( N = 21), HIV-negative high-grade dysplasia ( N = 21), and HIV-positive high-grade dysplasia ( N = 30). Classical germinal centers were present in 4.7% of normal cervix, 33% of high-grade lesions from HIV-negative women, and 3.3% of high-grade lesions from HIV-positive women ( P = 0.003). HPV16 E7 antigen was detected in a subset of germinal centers, indicating that the secondary immune response was directed in part against HPV. Lymphoid follicles were present in 9.5% of normal cervix, 57% of HIV-negative high-grade dysplasia, and 50% of HIV-positive high-grade dysplasia ( P = 0.001 normal versus high-grade). A novel type of lymphoid aggregate, consisting predominantly of CD8 + T cells, was detected in 4.8% of normal cervix, 0% of HIV-negative high-grade dysplasia, and 40% of HIV-positive high-grade dysplasia ( P + T cell-dominant aggregates ( P = 0.02). In summary, the types of lymphoid follicle in lesions from HIV-positive women were significantly different from those from HIV-negative women, and these differences are associated with the worse clinical outcome in HIV-positive women.
Scatter compensation in digital chest radiography using the posterior beam stop technique

A new scatter compensation technique for computed radiography based on posterior beam stop (PBS) sampled scatter measurements and the bicubic spline interpolation technique was proposed. Using only a single exposure, both the clinical image and an array of scatter measurements, which were interpolated into a smooth scatter-only image, were simultaneously acquired. The scatter was subtracted from the clinical image to generate the primary-only image. To gauge the accuracy of scatter estimation, both quantitative and interpolation errors were evaluated. The PBS measurements were compared against the standard beam stop method at 16 locations in an anatomical phantom, resulting in quantitative errors of 2.7% relative to the scatter or 6.8% relative to the primary. Also measured were the interpolation error over 64 interpolation sample locations and 64 midpoint sample locations in the anatomical phantom. The combined interpolation error was 1.9% relative to the scatter or 8.0% relative to the primary. At the interpolation sample locations, the errors were identical between the phantom radiograph and digital portable chest radiographs from five patients. By summing the quantitative and interpolation errors in quadrature, the overall error of the PBS SISTER (scatter interpolation-subtraction technique for radiography) method was 3.3% relative to the scatter or 10% relative to the primary, which was adequate for dual-energy imaging purposes (less than 10% error relative to the scatter or 20% relative to the primary). The change of image contrast, noise, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at six locations in the anatomical phantom were quantitatively analyzed. Contrast and noise were equally enhanced in all anatomical regions, resulting in approximately the same SNR before and after compensation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Island and Step Morphology in InAs(001) Homoepitaxy

Epitaxial growth of InAs(001) is investigated using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations based on calculations employing ab initio density functional theory (DFT). Simulated islands are elongated along the [110] direction. Steps along the [110] direction (A-steps) are straight whereas steps in the perpendicular direction (B-steps) are rough. The observed anisotropy in step structure and island morphology is correlated to the detailed microscopic processes of nucleation and growth and the underlying reconstruction of the surface. The supporting calculations employing DFT reveal low energy for steps along [110] direction (A-steps).
Geographic and Temporal Analysis of Folate-Sensitive Fetal Malformations

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential geographic and temporal clustering of folate-sensitive fetal malformations as a prelude to a targeted preconception curriculum in folic acid supplementation. METHODS: Our comprehensive prenatal anomaly database was queried to select fetal malformations presumed to be sensitive to preconception folate insufficiency. Evidence of geographic clustering was evaluated by distribution of individual cases using zip codes of maternal residence. Potential temporal clustering of anomalies was sought by tabulating the frequency of each anomaly category during 5 consecutive 2-year intervals between 1992 and 2001. RESULTS: Over a 10-year period, approximately 2000 fetal anomalies were identified, of which 400 (20%) were considered potentially folaic sensitive. We found geographic clustering of ventral wall defects as well as obstructive uropathy by zip code analysis. Significant increases in the frequencies of cardiac defects (P <.001) and obstructive uropathy (P <.001) were noted during the epoch of this study. A moderate increase in anomaly frequency was also seen in the diagnostic subcategory of gastroschisis, in which 15 of 27 total gastroshisis cases occurred in 2000-2001. CONCLUSION: Geographic dustering and temporal trends in anomaly rates weave noted in certain folate-sensitive malformation categories. Identification of specific, high-incidence regions may provide an opportunity for targeted interventions designed to supplement the national folic and campaign.
Effects of set-size and selective spatial attention on motion processing.

In order to investigate the effects of divided attention and selective spatial attention on motion processing, we obtained direction-of-motion thresholds using a stochastic motion display under various attentional manipulations and stimulus durations (100-600 ms). To investigate divided attention, we compared motion thresholds obtained when a single motion stimulus was presented in the visual field (set-size=1) to those obtained when the motion stimulus was presented amongst three confusable noise distractors (set-size=4). The magnitude of the observed detriment in performance with an increase in set-size from 1 to 4 could be accounted for by a simple decision model based on signal detection theory, which assumes that attentional resources are not limited in capacity. To investigate selective attention, we compared motion thresholds obtained when a valid pre-cue alerted the subject to the location of the to-be-presented motion stimulus to those obtained when no pre-cue was provided. As expected, the effect of pre-cueing was large when the visual field contained noise distractors, an effect we attribute to "noise reduction" (i.e. the pre-cue allows subjects to exclude irrelevant distractors that would otherwise impair performance). In the single motion stimulus display, we found a significant benefit of pre-cueing only at short durations (< or =150 ms), a result that can potentially be explained by a "time-to-orient" hypothesis (i.e. the pre-cue improves performance by eliminating the time it takes to orient attention to a peripheral stimulus at its onset, thereby increasing the time spent processing the stimulus). Thus, our results suggest that the visual motion system can analyze several stimuli simultaneously without limitations on sensory processing per se, and that spatial pre-cueing serves to reduce the effects of distractors and perhaps increase the effective processing time of the stimulus.
Epidemiology of hepatitis B

An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 hepatitis B virus infections occur annually in the United States. With acute infection, symptoms develop in fewer than 5% of infants, 5 to 15% of children between the ages of 1 and 5 years and 33 to 50% of older children and adults. However, the risk of chronic infection after acute infection is inversely proportional to age. The risk of chronic infection is highest for infants who acquire infection during the perinatal period (70 to 90%), lower for children younger than 5 years (20 to 50%) and lowest for older children and adults (5 to 10%). Therefore although only approximately 8% of acute infections in the United States occur in children younger than 10 years, these infections account for 20 to 30% of all chronic infections. Children usually acquire infection from infected mothers at the time of birth or from infected household contacts. The risk of hepatitis B virus transmission between children in day-care centers and schools is very low. Among adults and adolescents sexual activity and injecting drug use are the most common risks for acquisition of infection, yet at least 30% of reported hepatitis B among adults cannot be associated with an identifiable risk factor. Because chronic hepatitis B virus infection is associated with long term consequences of cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma, prevention of chronic infection is the most important reason for vaccination against hepatitis B. Routine infant immunization is the most feasible, cost-effective means to control hepatitis B virus transmission.
S70-02 Forensic psychiatry and older people - a UK perspective

The number of older people in prison has quadrupled in the UK in recent years, such that older prisoners now make up 2.6% of the total prison population, despite the fact that the number of offences committed by older adults has remained static. Older prisoners have high levels of psychiatric and physical morbidity, and forensic psychiatric services are receiving increasing numbers of referrals of older adults. In the past, few of these referrals resulted in admissions to secure psychiatric beds, however, reflecting a reluctance by forensic psychiatrists to admit older adults, who were perceived as being at risk from younger patients. Over the past 10 years, however, specialist secure inpatient units have been established in the UK for the assessment and management of older mentally disordered offenders. This seminar will explore the research evidence and clinical experience relating to this group of patients.
On the geometry of the OSA uniform color scales committee space

The arrangement in space of the sample points of the OSA Uniform Color Scales system is described and related to the cuboctahedron, a geometric figure often used to describe the system. The closest-packed arrangement, in which each point has 12 nearest neighbors, is emphasized.
AD HOC MODEL BUILDING USING TIME‐VARYING PARAMETER MODELS*

Decision support for managers and policy makers, such as required in planning and evaluation efforts, often requires ad hoc behavioral modeling to account for context-specific phenomena and to handle data limitations. This paper introduces a systematic approach useful for meeting these requirements in which time-varying parameter estimation plays an important role. A case study evaluating the impacts of public policy actions on residential natural gas conservation illustrates the approach.
A capacity analysis framework for the IEEE 802.11e contention-based infrastructure basic service set

We propose a multimedia capacity analysis framework for the Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) function of the IEEE 802.11e standard. Our analysis shows that the multimedia capacity of the EDCA function for each Access Category (AC) can accurately be estimated by appropriately weighing the service time predictions of a saturation model over different number of active stations. We propose a simple and generic cycle time model to derive the service time in saturation which we employ in the calculation of an accurate station- and AC-specific queue utilization ratio. Based on the estimated queue utilization ratio, we design a simple model-based admission control scheme. We show that the proposed call admission control algorithm maintains satisfactory user-perceived quality for coexisting voice and video connections in an infrastructure Basic Service Set (BSS) and does not present over-or under-admission problems of previously proposed models in the literature.
Reprogrammable logic array using M-R elements

A reprogrammable logic array has been designed with features such as rapid infinite reprogrammability with a single power supply, nonvolatile configuration storage, and radiation hardness using magnetoresistive (MR) memories. A prototype layout was made for simulation and analysis. The results indicated that all the above features could be achieved along with an approximately 20-ns delay time in the logic array structure using 2- mu m CMOS. The sense amplifier reliably detected simulated stored bits subjected to all errors and offsets arising from temperature and manufacturing inconsistencies. It was also discovered that the MR memory consumed only 10-15% of the die area. >
PERSONALITY CORRELATES OF COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION: A RESEARCH NOTE

Research i~ reported indicating significant relationships between communication apprehension and 18 of 21 personality variables studied. High communication apprehension was found to be associated with a wide range of socially maladaptive personality characteristics. Communication apprehension is a broad-based fear or anxiety related to the act of communication held by a large"number of individuals. High communication apprehensives are persons for whom apprehension about participating in communication outweighs the projected gain from communicating in a given situation (Phillips, 1968; McCroskey, 1970). Such persons anticipate negative feelings and outcomes from communication, and will avoid communication, if possible, or suffer from a variety of anxiety-type feelings when forced to communicate.
STUDIES ON BACILLUS MURISEPTICUS, OR THE ROTLAUF BACILLUS, ISOLATED FROM SWINE IN THE UNITED STATES

In the United States organisms, which culturally are mouse septicemia or swine erysipelas bacilli, have been isolated from the tonsils of five of sixteen pigs examined. These pigs all had hog-cholera, but it is probable that the bacilli were in the tonsils before they were infected with hog-cholera, and there is no evidence that they played any part in the disease. The distribution of the infection seemed to be restricted as most of the pigs from which the bacilli were obtained came from one litter. As we do not have clinical rotlauf, or swine erysipelas, in this country, as these organisms, in Europe, have been found in a large percentage of apparently normal swine, and as the disease is produced with difficulty by the injection of cultures, the question may be raised whether they are not secondary invaders rather than the primary cause of the disease with which they have been associated, or else whether the resistance of swine on the European continent does not differ from that of our breeds as a result of differences in foods. It is possible that the mouse septicemia bacilli found in this country may differ culturally from those present in animals with swine erysipelas. With this in mind, the carbohydrate reactions, as well as other cultural characters not necessary for the identification of the bacilli isolated, have been studied. The disease produced by the injection of these bacilli into mice and pigeons has been studied and shown to be largely an intracellular process. The organisms are taken up by the endothelial cells lining the veins and capillaries; there they multiply and soon kill the cells. It has also been shown that the only type of cell in the blood stream which contains bacteria is the endothelial leucocyte, and the probabilities are that the free phagocytes have been detached from the lining of the vessels. The disease is acute, and the indications are that in the cells the bacilli find a favorable medium for their growth. While phagocytosis may in general be an immune reaction, in this case it appears to favor the parasite rather than the host.
Executive functions in children: Introduction to the special series

The six articles in this series address different aspects of cognitive skills and behavioral functioning commonly described as executive functions. These functions actually represent several aspects of cognition, including the allocation of cognitive resources, planning, problem solving, response inhibition, self‐monitoring and regulation, and the maintenance of mental sets. Executive functions are prominent components of the construct of working memory (Pennington, 1994). In developmental psychology, executive functions are typically subserved under the rubric of metacognition. In cognitive neuroscience, models of attention and memory make liberal use of constructs described in this special issue under executive functions. Historically, neuropsychology has viewed executive functions as virtually interchangeable with the functions of the frontal lobes.
PHOSPHOINOSITIDE LIPIDS AS SIGNALING MOLECULES: Common Themes for Signal Transduction, Cytoskeletal Regulation, and Membrane Trafficking

Signaling roles for phosphoinositides that involve their regulated hydrolysis to generate second messengers have been well characterized. Recent work has revealed additional signaling roles for phosphoinositides that do not involve their hydrolysis. PtdIns 3-P, PtdIns 3,4,5-P3, and PtdIns 4,5-P2 function as site-specific signals on membranes that recruit and/or activate proteins for the assembly of spatially localized functional complexes. A large number of phosphoinositide-binding proteins have been identified as the potential effectors for phosphoinositide signals. Common themes of localized signal generation and the spatially localized recruitment of effector proteins appear to underlie mechanisms employed in signal transduction, cytoskeletal, and membrane trafficking events.
Nonlinear Position Control of DC Motor Using Finite-Horizon State Dependent Riccati Equation

DC motors are often used for accurate positioning in industrial machines. Precise equations describing DC motors are nonlinear. Accurate nonlinear control of the motion of the DC motors is required. In this paper, an online technique for finite-horizon nonlinear tracking problems is presented. The idea of the proposed technique is the change of variables that converts the nonlinear differential Riccati equation to a linear Lyapunov differential equation. The proposed technique is effective for wide range of operating points. Simulation results for a realistic DC motor are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Serologic Survey of Selected Canine Pathogens Among Free-Ranging Jackals in Kenya

Serum samples from 76 free-ranging adult jackals of three species from four localities in Kenya were examined for circulating antibodies against four canine pathogens: rabies virus, canine parvovirus (CPV-2), canine distemper virus (CDV), and Ehrlichia canis. Samples were collected between April 1987 and January 1988. Among black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas), the most sampled species, the mean prevalence of antibodies to CPV-2, CDV, rabies virus, and E. canis was 34% (14 positive/55 sampled), 9% (4/55), 3% (1/28), and 2% (1/36), respectively. There were no significant differences among sampling locations. In one area, antibody prevalence of CPV-2 was significantly higher for golden jackals (C. aureus; 9/16) than for C. mesomelas (5/26). Only three side-striped jackals (C. adustus) were sampled, but antibodies to CPV-2 and CDV were present. As jackals often are the most abundant wild carnivore in African ecosystems, they could serve as an important indicator species to monitor the potential of exposure...
Fructose: A Key Factor in the Development of Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension

Diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome are becoming leading causes of death in the world. Identifying the etiology of diabetes is key to prevention. Despite the similarity in their structures, fructose and glucose are metabolized in different ways. Uric acid, a byproduct of uncontrolled fructose metabolism is known risk factor for hypertension. In the liver, fructose bypasses the two highly regulated steps in glycolysis, glucokinase and phosphofructokinase, both of which are inhibited by increasing concentrations of their byproducts. Fructose is metabolized by fructokinase (KHK). KHK has no negative feedback system, and ATP is used for phosphorylation. This results in intracellular phosphate depletion and the rapid generation of uric acid due to activation of AMP deaminase. Uric acid, a byproduct of this reaction, has been linked to endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and hypertension. We present possible mechanisms by which fructose causes insulin resistance and suggest actions based on this association that have therapeutic implications.
Afrocentric cultural values and beliefs: movement beyond the race and ethnicity proxy to understand views of diabetes.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to estimate the benefit of using a cultural characteristics scale to help diabetes educators understand how African Americans cope with diabetes. Illness representations are influenced by culture. Race and ethnicity as a proxy for culture provides an incomplete understanding of the mechanism by which cultural values influence representations of diabetes.MethodsA descriptive correlational design was employed by recruiting hospitalized adults with type 2 diabetes at 3 metropolitan northeast coast sites. The TRIOS Afrocentric cultural characteristics measure and the Illness Perception Questionnaire were administered by paper-and-pencil to a diverse sample. Black race and African American ethnicity was used as a proxy for culture and compared to levels of agreement on an Afrocentric cultural scale to determine the relative ability to explain variance in illness representations of diabetes.ConclusionThe TRIOS measure adapted to diabetes care explained variance in illness re...
Analysis of superoxide production in single skeletal muscle fibers.

Due to their high energetic profile, skeletal muscle fibers are prone to damage by endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby causing alterations in muscle function. Unfortunately, the complexity of skeletal muscle makes it difficult to measure and understand ROS production by fibers since other components (e.g., extracellular collagen and vascular vessels) may also generate ROS. Single cell imaging techniques are promising approaches to monitor ROS production in single muscle fibers, but usually the detection schemes for ROS are not specific. Single cell analysis by capillary electrophoresis (aka chemical cytometry) has the potential to separate and detect specific ROS reporters, but the approach is only suitable for small spherical cells that fit within the capillary lumen. Here, we report a novel method for the analysis of superoxide in single fibers maintained in culture for up to 48 h. Cultured muscle fibers in individual nanoliter-volume wells were treated with triphenylphosphonium hydroethid...
The "Two Presidencies" Thesis and the Reagan Administration

The major claim of the "Two Presidencies" thesis is that presidents fare better with Congress on foreign policy than on domestic policy. President Reagan (1981-88) received a "two presidencies" voting response from the House and Senate only when his party was a minority. The Republican Senate majority of 1981-86 produced no such effect. When "two presidencies" occurs, the extra support for this conservative president comes predominantly from Southern Democrats in coalition with Republicans on foreign policy but not on domestic policy. The phenomenon continues to exist but signals presidential weakness rather than strength
Sequence and S1 nuclease mapping of the 5′ region of the dihydrofolate reductase—thymidylate synthase gene of Leishmania major

Abstract The 5' structure of mRNA transcribed from the dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) gene of the protozoan parasite Leishmania major has been characterized. S1 nuclease mapping identifies a heterogenous 5' structure which is not affected by growth phase or developmental stage. The DNA sequence of the 5' region of the DHFR-TS gene does not reveal homology with other trypanosomatid genes, eukaryotic consensus genetic elements, or the mammalian DHFR promoter element. This latter finding is especially significant as we show that the 5' region of the E. coli DHFR gene exhibits homology to the mammalian DHFR promoter element, despite their greater evolutionary distance.
A linear mixed model for predicting a binary event from longitudinal data under random effects misspecification

The use of longitudinal data for predicting a subsequent binary event is often the focus of diagnostic studies. This is particularly important in obstetrics, where ultrasound measurements taken during fetal development may be useful for predicting various poor pregnancy outcomes. We propose a modeling framework for predicting a binary event from longitudinal measurements where a shared random effect links the two processes together. Under a Gaussian random effects assumption, the approach is simple to implement with standard statistical software. Using asymptotic and simulation results, we show that estimates of predictive accuracy under a Gaussian random effects distribution are robust to severe misspecification of this distribution. However, under some circumstances, estimates of individual risk may be sensitive to severe random effects misspecification. We illustrate the methodology with data from a longitudinal fetal growth study.
A Brief History of Laryngeal Imaging: Informing our Current Clinical Practice

This article provides an overview of the history of laryngeal illumination as it informs current clinical practice. We argue that two pioneers, G. Paul Moore and Hans von Leden, were critical to th...
Survey of Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Egg Parasitoids in Wheat, Soybean, and Vegetable Crops in Southeast Virginia

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) cause significant damage to many different crops and horticultural commodities in Virginia. However, little is known about the species diversity or impact of stink bug egg parasitoids in the state. A survey was conducted in 2005 and 2006 (May through September) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and several vegetable crops by collecting natural egg masses of various stink bug species and by monitoring sentinel egg masses. A total of 570 Euschistus servus (Say) eggs in 26 egg masses, 11,197 Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) eggs in 939 egg masses, 15 Podisus maculiventris (Say) eggs in 2 egg masses, and 546 Acrosternum hilare (Say) eggs in 18 egg masses were field collected and returned to the laboratory, where emerging parasitoids were identified to species. In addition, 2,512 laboratory-reared E. servus eggs and 230 P. maculiventris eggs were placed as sentinels into crop fields and collected after 7 d, and parasitoid or stink bug emergence was recorded. Four species of hymenopteran parasitoids in the family Scelionidae were recovered from stink bug eggs: Telenomus podisi Ashmead, Trissolcus basalis Wollaston, Trissolcus edessae Fouts, and Trissolcus euschisti Ashmead. In addition, one parasitoid in the family Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) was recovered. Parasitism rates were highest in E. servus with 89.7 and 49.2% of egg masses and individual eggs parasitized, respectively. The predominant parasitoid species was T. podisi.
Evaluation of vegetable production management practices to reduce the ecological risk of pesticides

The ability of agricultural management practices to reduce the ecological risks of pesticides was evaluated. Risk quotients, a mathematical description of the relationship between exposure and toxicity, and hazard ratings, a rank of the potential risk of pesticides to aquatic environments, were calculated for conventional and alternative cultivation practices for tomatoes: Poly-Bare, raised beds covered with polyethylene mulch with bare-soil furrows; Poly-Rye, raised beds covered with polyethylene mulch with cereal rye (Secale cereale) grown in the furrows; and Vetch, raised beds and furrows planted with hairy vetch seed (Vicia villosa). Evaluations were conducted using measured pesticide concentrations in runoff at the edge-of-field and estimated environmental concentrations in an adjacent creek and a theoretical pond receiving the runoff. Runoff from Poly-Bare presented the greatest risk to ecosystem health and to sensitive organisms, whereas the use of Vetch minimized these risks. Previous studies have shown that harvest yields were maintained and that runoff volume, soil loss, and off-site transport of pesticides measured in runoff were reduced using the alternative management practices (Poly-Rye and Vetch). Together, these results indicate that the alternative management practices (Poly-Rye and Vetch) have a less adverse impact on the environment than the conventional management practice (Poly-Bare) while providing growers with an acceptable economic return. In addition, the present study demonstrates the need to consider the management practice when assessing the potential risks and hazards for certain pesticides.
Generation of continuous-time two integrator loop OTA filter structures

Generation of two integrator loop filter structures using operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) and capacitors (TAC) is presented. A direct block diagram approach is used to generate the TAC filter structures. The basic filter building blocks consist of a lossless integrator, lossy integrators and the three types of summers. They are implemented using OTAs as the active components. The resulting TAC second-order filter structures, some previously reported and others new structures, are generated in an orderly way. It is shown that the selection of the best structure depends on the particular application or design specifications. The generated TAC biquadratic structures are only very suitable for monolithic filters since typically only OTAs and two capacitors are needed. A TAC filter structure homologous to the conventional KHN op amp filter structure is presented. Programmability of omega /sub p/, Q/sub p/ and voltage gain is considered. >
Shrub (Prosopis velutina) encroachment in a semidesert grassland: spatial–temporal changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen pools

Recent trends of increasing woody vegetation in arid and semiarid ecosystems may contribute substantially to the North American C sink. There is considerable uncertainty, however, in the extent to which woody encroachment alters dryland soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) pools. To date, studies assessing SOC and TN response to woody plant proliferation have not explicitly assessed the variability caused by shrub age or size and subcanopy spatial gradients. These factors were quantified via spatially intensive soil sampling around Prosopis velutina shrubs in a semidesert grassland, using shrub size as a proxy for age. We found that bulk density increased with distance from the bole (P< 0.005) and decreased with increasing shrub size (P = 0.056), while both SOC and TN increased with shrub size and decreased with distance from the bole (P<0.001 for both). Significant (and predictable) spatial variation in bulk density suggests that use of generic values would generate unreliable estimates of SOC and TN mass, and subcanopy SOC pools could be overestimated by nearly 30% if intercanopy bulk density values were applied to subcanopy sites. Predictive models based on field-documented spatial patterns were used to generate integrated estimates of under-shrub SOC and TN pools, and these were compared with results obtained by typical area-weighting protocols based on point samples obtained next to the bole or at a specified distance from the bole. Values obtained using traditional area-weighting approaches generally overestimated SOC pools relative to those obtained using the spatially integrated approach, the discrepancy increasing with increasing shrub size and proximity of the point sample to the bole. These discrepancies were observed at the individual plant scale and for landscapes populated by various shrub size classes. Results suggest that sampling aimed at quantifying shrub encroachment impacts-on SOC and TN pools will require area-weighting algorithms that simultaneously account for shrub size (age) and subcanopy spatial patterns.
Soy Protein Isoflavones and Their Effect on Bone in Postmenopausal Women

A high intake of soy is thought to be responsible for a lower incidence of osteoporosis in Asian countries compared to the Western countries. A review of randomized control trials that studied the effect of soy isoflavones on bone density reported no significant difference from placebo at the spine and hip in 11 out of 14 trials involving 2,971 postmenopausal women. The amount of isoflavones studied ranged from 40 to 300 mg/day and the proportion of genistein and daidzein varied amongst studies. Meta-analyses reported inconsistent results probably because the included studies varied in each meta-analysis. Despite these facts their use in bone health has generally been promoted by nutritional and holistic sources that do not follow the concept of evidence-based studies.
Adaptive management of social-ecological systems: The path forward

Adaptive management remains at the forefront of environmental management nearly 40 years after its original conception, largely because we have yet to develop other methodologies that offer the same promise. Despite the criticisms of adaptive management and the numerous failed attempts to implement it, adaptive management has yet to be replaced with a better alternative. The concept persists because it is simple, allows action despite uncertainty, and fosters learning. Moving forward, adaptive management of social-ecological systems provides policymakers, managers and scientists a powerful tool for managing for resilience in the face of uncertainty.