cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gaining Benefits from Joint Forecasting and Replenishment Processes: The Case of Auto-Correlated Demand

In this paper we consider a cooperative, two-level supply chain consisting of a retailer and a supplier. As in many practical settings, the supply chain members progressively observe market signals that enable them to explain future demand. The demand itself evolves according to an auto-regressive time series. We examine three types of supply chain configurations. In the first setting, the retailer and the supplier coordinate their policy parameters in an attempt to minimize systemwide costs, but they do not share their observations of market signals. In the second setting, resembling many original vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs, the supplier takes the full responsibility of managing the supply chain's inventory, but the retailer's observations of market signals are not transferred to him. In our third setting, reminiscent of collaborative forecasting and replenishment partnerships, inventory is managed centrally, and all demand related information is shared. We propose a set of stylized models to study the three settings and use them to provide managerial insights into the value of information sharing, VMI, and collaborative forecasting.
Raman measurements and joint PDF modeling of a nonpremixed bluff-body-stabilized methane flame

Mixture fraction, temperature, and major species in a recirculation-stabilized nonpremixed methane-air flame are (1) measured using laser Raman scattering and (2) calculated using the joint velocity-composition probability density function (PDF) model, appropriately combined with an elliptic mean flow solver. The Raman system was modified to account for the significant levels of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and incandescence encountered in the rich sooty zone of the flame. The joint PDF contains three velocity components, which are modeled by Langevin equations, and five thermochemical scalar variables with mixing given by linear deterministic relaxation to the mean and chemistry by a four-step steady-state reduced scheme. The flame is characterized by significant finite-rate chemistry, including, unlike a CO/H2/N2 fuel in the same apparatus, strong bimodality in the temperature-mixture fraction scatter plots. Calculations are compared with Raman data on temperature and major species. The agreement is in general reasonable, with the largest discrepancies being caused by the breakdown of the assumption of a chemical steady state for the cool fuel-rich gas at the core of the flame. Large discrepancies are found on the peak CO, as in other similar studies, confirming a need for better measurements of CO than Raman spectroscopy can provide. The model overpredicts the degree of extinction. The radial flux of the mixture fraction calculated directly from the joint PDF is compared with the flux given by an a posteriori gradient diffusion calculation, indicating no (radial) counter-gradient diffusion and a “turbulent Schmidt number” of about 0.4.
Understanding Intention to Leave: A Comparison of Urban, Small-Town, and Rural Child Welfare Workers

This study compared the influence of personal and organizational factors on intention to leave among 2,903 public child protection caseworkers and supervisors residing in urban, small-town, and rural counties in Texas. Although geographical location was not found to be a predictor of intention to leave, underlying factors that may influence and explain the differences between urban, small-town, and rural employees’ intention to leave were identified. Workers residing in urban areas were more likely to have a master's degree and be members of a racial/ethnic minority group, while workers in small-town counties were older and had longer tenure at the agency.
Intracellular signals that mediate thymic negative selection

Antigenic stimulation of CD4/CD8 double positive (DP) thymocytes results in programmed cell death, while the identical stimulation of mature T cells results in proliferation and lymphokine secretion. Using thymocytes from transgenic mice expressing pigeon cytochrome c-specific T cell receptors, we previously demonstrated that major histocompatibility complex class II-transfected L cells were capable of presenting peptide antigen and inducing programmed cell death in DP thymocytes, as well as proliferation and lymphokine secretion in mature CD4 single positive (SP) T cells. We therefore were interested in utilizing this system to compare antigen-induced signal transduction events in DP thymocytes and mature SP T cells. In this report, we demonstrate that significant distinctions between thymocytes and mature T cells are seen upon examination of antigen sensitivity and the phosphatidylinositol signaling cascade.
Commentary on ‘Facing the challenges of learning English as a foreign language in Israel: in response to Ganschow, Sparks and Schneider’

We will respond to Kahn-Horwitz, Roffman and Teitelbaum (1998) by raising two concerns. In their article the authors use the term ‘LD’ loosely to refer to ‘learning differences’, and we would be interested to have more details of the criteria by which these individuals were identified. (Most educators use ‘LD’ to refer to ‘specific learning difficulties’.) Secondly, we would like to encourage the authors to provide a more precise explanation of the instructional methods they recommend for remediation in the foreign language. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Labeled amino acid infusion studies of in vivo protein synthesis with stable isotope tracers and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry

Abstract Infusion of amino acids labeled with stable isotopes and monitoring of the enrichment in individual proteins allows the in vivo determination of the fractional rates of synthesis of human proteins. Interpretation of such studies requires that the specific activity of the tracer at the site of protein synthesis be known. To avoid having to measure amino acyl-ribonucleic acid (t-RNA), methods are described for the isolation, and subsequent evaluation of the enrichment of four amino-acid metabolites in human plasma or urine. The degree to which each metabolite allows intracellular amino acyl-t-RNA enrichment to be estimated by measuring the steady-state protein enrichment during long-term tracer infusion is assessed. Three healthy subjects were used. Four amino acid tracers were infused simultaneously for 16 h and the enrichment in amino acids isolated from apolipoprotein B (apoB) and in the corresponding amino acid metabolites was measured. The pairs of compounds used were [ 15 N]glycine and [ 15 N]hippurate, [1- 13 C]leucine and [1- 13 C]ketoisocaproate, [1- 13 C]lysine and [1- 13 C]aminoadipate, and [ring- 2 H 5 ]phenylalanine and [ 2 H 5 ]phenylacetylglutamine. Enrichment in apoB reached a plateau at the end of the study. Hippurate, ketoisocaproate, and aminoadipate appear to be candidates as precursor equivalents in stable-isotope studies of hepatic protein turnover.
C-terminal peptides from human γ-chains of differing subclass and allotype

Abstract The carboxy-terminal octapeptides of human G-myeloma heavy chains were analyzed for subclass or allotype-related amino acid substitutions. No differences were found among the peptides of three γ1 and six γ2-chains, which included allotypes Gm(1), Gm(−1), Gm(23) and Gm(−23). The carboxy-terminal octadecapeptides of γ1 and γ2 polypeptide chains, therefore, do not contain subclass or allotype-related amino acid substitutions. Five γ4-chains differed at one position from the γ1 and γ2-chains, but were otherwise identical to one another.
Flow sensors based on surface acoustic waves

Abstract The basic theory, experimental performance, and current status of flow sensors based on the use of surface acoustic waves (SAWs) are discussed. The sensor consists of a delay-line stabilized SAW oscillator heated to a suitable temperature above ambient, and placed in the path of the flowing fluid. Convective cooling caused by fluid flow changes the substrate temperature and thereby the oscillator frequency. Attractive properties of this sensor include high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and direct digital output. An example of the performance that has been achieved is illustrated by a 73 MHz sensor that shows greater than 140 kHz change in frequency for variations in flow rate from 0 to 1000 ml/min. One of the limitations of the SAW flow sensor is its slow speed of response. This problem can be overcome by using a Lamb wave device fabricated on a thin membrane.
The Thermoelectric Photometer of the Amherst College Observatory

A thermoelectric photometer, designed and built at the Amherst College Observatory, is described. The instrument is much simpler and considerably less expensive than those which have been described by other authors. It contains a novel method for detecting and controlling variations in the intensity of the photometer lamp independently of the measuring galvanometer. Measures may be made more rapidly with this instrument than with the other types of thermoelectric photometers and the results are equally accurate.
Nutritional quality in formulated foods.

With advances in food technology, fortification of foods for proper nutrition is becoming more complex. Eating patterns are changing; snack foods and formulated products are becoming a larger part of the diet. An added nutrient must be regarded as a food additive and its safety must be established. Meat analogs and meal replacements involve special problems. Additional analytical methods are needed. The optimum quantity of added nutrient must be carefully determined and controlled. Programs must be devised to inform consumers about food quality and safety.
Ceramic arts in Africa

| african arts SPRING 2007 It has been nearly two decades since African Arts published the special issue on African ceramic arts edited by Marla Berns (1989, vol. 22, no. 2). Since then, there has been noteworthy collaborative research on ceramics in particular regions, a number of important localized studies by individual scholars, and several widely distributed catalogues published in conjunction with major exhibitions surveying African ceramic arts. In parts of Africa where ceramic vessels are pervasive some are clearly the focus of artistic elaboration, whether they serve as objects of both utility and beauty in domestic settings or carry symbolic import central to social identity, economic and political status, ritual practice, and belief. Their study reveals the skill and invention of their makers, who are, more often than not, women.1 And yet, ceramics continue to be underrepresented in Africanist art historical literature in proportion to their importance as a form of expressive culture, and signifi cant gaps remain in our awareness and understanding of historic and contemporary ceramic traditions across Africa. This issue brings together the research of a number of scholars whose work exemplifi es some of what has been accomplished in the last two decades.2 The articles foreground important themes in the study of African ceramic arts, most especially documentation and historical reconstruction, iconographic analysis, the elucidation of ritual and social signifi cance, and the celebration of individual artistry. In this introduction we offer some refl ections on our experiences researching and writing about African ceramic arts and we signal some of the limitations of the fi eld’s current state of knowledge in an effort to spark interest in future research. Ceramic Arts in Africa
Pediatric renal biopsy in the ambulatory care environment.

The use of pediatric ambulatory care facilities to perform invasive procedures that have low morbidity is increasingly popular. Over a 2-year period, 46 pediatric renal biopsies were performed in an ambulatory care setting at the Winnipeg Children's Hospital, with the patient discharged the same day. There were no serious complications and adequate tissue was obtained in 45 cases. Renal biopsy may be safely performed on an outpatient basis on carefully selected patients by experienced operators in properly equipped facilities.
Ultra-High Plant Populations and Nitrogen Fertility Effects on Corn in the Mississippi Valley

Populations for high yield and low mycotoxin levels in furrow-irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) have yet to be firmly established for the Midsouth USA. Preplant N applications compared with a split application and the effects on yield, yield components, and mycotoxin levels were also examined. Experiments were conducted at Site WR (102-cm-wide rows, Beulah fine sandy loam) and Site NR (76-cm-wide rows, Dundee silty clay). Plant densities of 71 760, 82 160, 92 560, and 102 960 plants ha -1 were grown in eight-row plots, 9.1 m long at both sites. The N fertility treatments were 112 kg N ha -1 preplant, 224 kg N ha -1 preplant, and 112 kg N ha -1 preplant + 112 kg N ha -1 side-dressed at V6 (six leaves). Yields at Site WR did not differ among populations. Maximum yields at Site NR were at 71 760 plants ha -1 (10.3 Mg ha -1 ) and then declined (b = -0.5065). Kernels per ear declined (b = -40.09 and b = -42.69), kernel weights declined (b = - 0.4328 and b = -0.8172), and stalk lodging increased (b = 0.0103 and b = 0.0251) with increased populations for Sites WR and NR, respectively. These and previous data place the maximum population for corn in the Midsouth at about 70 000 plants ha -1 . No differences in yield occurred between the 224 kg N ha -1 preplant treatment and the split application of N. Yields were generally less with 112 kg N ha -1 per-plant only. Aflatoxin and fumonisin levels at both sites were unaffected by plant population of N fertility.
ASSESSMENT OF STROKE RISK IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: PHYSICIAN ESTIMATE VERSUS CHADS2 RISK SCORE: RESULTS FROM ORBIT-AF

Use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in atrial fibrillation (AF) should be guided by patient stroke risk yet prior studies have found gaps and paradoxical use. We sought to compare physicians' subjective assessment of stroke risk with those derived from the CHADS2 risk scores, and their associations
IL-33 Independently Induces Eosinophilic Pericarditis and Cardiac Dilation ST2 Improves Cardiac Function

Background—IL-33 through its receptor ST2 protects the heart from myocardial infarct and hypertrophy in animal models but, paradoxically, increases autoimmune disease. In this study, we examined the effect of IL-33 or ST2 administration on autoimmune heart disease. Methods and Results—We used pressure-volume relationships and isoproterenol challenge to assess the effect of recombinant (r) IL-33 or rST2 (eg, soluble ST2) administration on the development of autoimmune coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy in male BALB/c mice. The rIL-33 treatment significantly increased acute perimyocarditis (P=0.006) and eosinophilia (P=1.3×10−5), impaired cardiac function (maximum ventricular power, P=0.0002), and increased ventricular dilation (end-diastolic volume, P=0.01). The rST2 treatment prevented eosinophilia and improved heart function compared with rIL-33 treatment (ejection fraction, P=0.009). Neither treatment altered viral replication. The rIL-33 treatment increased IL-4, IL-33, IL-1β, and...
On the use of various filter substrates for quantitative particulate analysis by X-Ray diffraction

Abstract Seven filter substrates, representing both fiber and membrane construction, have been studied for their utility in quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis. Filter material densities, indices of refraction, specific mass densities, mass absorption coefficients, and various properties relative to X-ray diffraction from the loaded filters have been determined. The degree to which these filters are suitable for quantitative X-ray diffraction is primarily dependent upon (1) interfering background scatter; and (2) the mass per unit area of the paniculate load collected. Teflon filters have proven to be superior to all others for specific mass loadings of less than 200 μg cm −2 . For mass loadings greater than 300μg cm −2 , the ‘quartz’ or glass fiber filters provide the most suitable substrate, primarily because of the better particle retention qualities and the lack of a substrate spectrum in the diffraction pattern.
The National Security Council as a Device for Interdepartmental Coordination: An Interpretation and Appraisal

The National Security Council constitutes the most ambitious effort yet made to coordinate policy on the cabinet level in the American federal government. An examination of the experience of the NSC, together with the assumptions and expectations that went into proposing, establishing, and developing it, should help to clarify the problem of policy coordination under the President.Various proposals for a special war cabinet in the United States, usually called a Council of National Defense, date back as far as 1911. The National Defense Act of 1916 established a body by such a name, headed by the Secretary of War. The statute was so watered down from the original proposals, however, that its uses were negligible, except later as a convenient peg for the National Defense Advisory Council (NDAC) and its subsidiaries that Roosevelt called into being in 1940. After World War I, both armed services revived the idea of a more powerful Council in an effort to find some base of support for their military policies, and as a counter to proposals for unification, proposals which they both opposed because these were founded on unrealistic expectations about the sums of money that could be saved through reorganization of the service departments.
Improving the numerical stability of structure from motion by algebraic elimination

Structure from motion (SFM) is the problem of reconstructing the geometry of a scene from a stream of images on which features have been tracked. In this paper, we consider a projective camera model and assume that the internal parameters of the camera are known. Our goal is to reconstruct the geometry of the scene up to a rigid motion (i.e. Euclidean reconstruction.) It has been shown that estimating the pose of the camera from the images is an ill-conditioned problem, as variations in the camera orientation and camera position cannot be distinguished. Unfortunately, the camera pose parameters are an intrinsic part of current formulations of SFM. This leads to numerical instability in the reconstruction of the scene. Using algebraic methods, we obtain a basis for a new formulation of SFM which does not involve pose estimation and thus eliminates this cause of instability.© (2006) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Neural: Mediation of food aversions and anorexia induced by tumor necrosis factor and tumors

Abstract Tumors often cause declines in food intake and body weight, a condition referred to as tumor anorexia. A macrophagederived peptide known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been proposed as an important mediator of cancer anorexia and cachexia. Our work with an animal model of this condition indicates that strong learned aversions to the available diet arise in rats bearing implanted tumors and that these aversions contribute significantly to depressions in food intake and body weight. Lesions of the area postrema and nearby caudal medial nucleus of the solitary tract (APcmNTS) markedly attenuate both the learned aversions and the anorexia induced by tumor growth. A strikingly similar pattern of effects on tumor-induced aversions and anorexia was seen after subdiaphragmatic vagotomy and after capsaicin treatments. The similarity in the effects of all three treatments suggests that they involve interruption of the same system, presumably afferent signals conveyed by the vagus nerve to the nucleus of the solitary tract. The extent to which peripheral TNF administration generates symptoms similar to those produced by tumor growth was also examined. TNF administration was associated with the development of strong aversions to a novel but not a familiar diet. Area postrema lesions were found to significantly attenuate the effects of TNF on novel diet intake and preference. These observations provide parallels between the effects of TNF and the effects of tumor growth on diet aversions and food intake.
Heuristic solution methods for two location problems with unreliable facilities

In this paper, the p-median and p-centre problems are generalized by considering the possibility that one or more of the facilities may become inactive. The unreliable p-median problem is defined by introducing the probability that a facility becomes inactive. The (p, q)-centre problem is defined when p facilities need to be located but up to q of them may become unavailable at the same time. An heuristic procedure is presented for each problem. A rigorous procedure is discussed for the (p, q)-centre problem. Computational results are presented.
LACK OF SEX DIFFERENCES AMONG EAST ECUADORIAN SCHOOL CHILDREN ON GEOMETRIC FIGURE ROTATION AND FACE DRAWINGS

Summary.-No dlfference was shown on two spatial tasks, the Geometric Figure Rotation Task and the Draw-A-Person-With-Face-In-Front for 24 boys and 24 girls (ages 9-10) in eastern Ecuador, where girls still engage in women's traditional tasks, e.g., sewing, needle work, weaving, and knotting, which involve spatial representation. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the frequent findings in modernized western cultures about male advantage in spatial abilities would also pertain in cultures which st~U emphasize women's traditional tasks such as sewing, needle work, weaving, and knotting which require spatial representation. Masters and Sanders (1993) found a statistically significant male advantage on the Mental Rotation Test in a meta-analysis of 14 studes. Similar fiichgs pertain to Voyer, Voyer, and Bryden's (1995) meta-analysis of 286 published stuhes of several spatial abhties. Their most robust ddferences of .94 standard deviation was found for the Mental Rotation Test in favor of males, including children under age 13. The male advantage seemed, there
Characterization of lizard venom hyaluronidase and evidence for its action as a spreading factor.

Abstract 1. 1. Hyaluronidase was isolated from the lizard ( Heloderma horridum horridum ) crude venom. The chemical properties were characterized and compared to the same enzyme from other sources. 2. 2. The enzyme was found to be a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 63,000 daltons. It possesses an isoelectric point and pH optimum of 5.0, and was observed to be extremely temperature sensitive. 3. 3. The role of hyaluronidase as a spreading factor which serves to aid in the diffusion of toxins has been suspected for a long time; yet no experimental proof has been offered until now. 4. 4. It was shown that hyaluronidase promotes the spread of the hemorrhagic area in mice when injected with hemorrhagic toxin. 5. 5. Thus experimental evidence is supplied for the first time that the enzyme plays a role as a “spreading factor” in the toxic action of venom.
Increased expression of inflammation-related genes in cultured preadipocytes/stromal vascular cells from obese compared with non-obese Pima Indians.

Aims/hypothesis: The specific contributions made by the various cell types in adipose tissue to obesity, particularly obesity-related inflammation, need to be clar- ified. The aim of this study was to elucidate the potential role of adipocyte precursor cells (preadipocytes/stromal vascular cells (SVC)). Methods: We performed Affyme- trix oligonucleotide microarray expression profiling of cul- tured abdominal subcutaneous preadipocytes/SVC isolated from the adipose tissue of 14 non-obese (BMI 25±4 kg/m 2 ) and 14 obese (55±8 kg/m 2 ) non-diabetic Pima Indian sub- jects. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to verify the differential expression of several genes in an independent group of subjects. Results: We identified 218 differentially expressed genes with p values less than 0.01. Microarray expression profiling revealed that the expression of inflammation-related genes was significant- ly upregulated in preadipocytes/SVC of obese individ- uals. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed the upregulation of IL8, CTSS, ITGB2, HLA-DRA, CD53, PLA2G7 and MMP9 in preadipocytes/SVC of obese subjects. Conclusions/ interpretation: The upregulation of inflammation-related genes in preadipocytes/SVC of obese subjects may in- crease the recruitment of immune cells into adipose tissue and may also result in changes in the extracellular matrix (tissue remodelling) to accommodate adipose tissue expan- sion in obesity.
Dalcroze, the Body, Movement and Musicality.

What forms the basis of musical expressivity? The Swiss composer and music educator, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, believed that bodily processes, rhythm, and physical motion were the basis of musical exp...
The color difference in orbital fat.

Objective To identify and quantify carotenoids found in white and yellow orbital fat. Methods Specimens of nasal (white) and preaponeurotic (yellow) orbital fat were obtained from patients during upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Carotenoids and retinoids were extracted and subjected to spectral and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses. Results The chromophore content of extracts from unsaponified fat, as measured by absorbance at 425 nm per gram of fat, was 2- to 4-fold higher in preaponeurotic fat than in nasal fat. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis from enzymatically digested fat revealed large amounts of lutein, β-carotene, and retinol and small amounts of other unidentified carotenoids. The amount of β-carotene and lutein in preaponeurotic fat was approximately 4-fold higher than in nasal fat. Conclusions The higher carotenoid content of preaponeurotic fat might cause it to be more yellow than other orbital fat, and lutein and β-carotene might be selectively absorbed from plasma by preaponeurotic fat. Clinical Relevance The results provide baseline information for studies of the physiological features of orbital fat in normal and diseased conditions.
The N-CoR/Histone Deacetylase 3 Complex Is Required for Repression by Thyroid Hormone Receptor

Nuclear receptor corepressors (N-CoR) and silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid receptors (SMRT) have both been implicated in thyroid hormone receptor (TR)-mediated repression. Here we show that endogenous N-CoR, TBL1, and histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), but not HDAC1, -2, or -4, are recruited to a stably integrated reporter gene repressed by unliganded TR as well as the orphan receptor RevErb. Unliganded TR also recruits this complex to a transiently transfected reporter, and transcriptional repression is associated with local histone deacetylation that is reversed by the presence of thyroid hormone. Knockdown of N-CoR using small interfering RNAs markedly reduces repression by the TR ligand binding domain in human 293T cells, whereas knockdown of SMRT has little effect. RevErb repression appears to involve both corepressors in this system. Knockdown of HDAC3 markedly reduces repression by both TR and RevErb, while knockdown of HDAC1 or 2 has more modest, partly nonspecific effects. Thus, HDAC3 is critical for repression by multiple nuclear receptors and the N-CoR HDAC3 complex plays a unique and necessary role in TR-mediated gene repression in human 293T cells.
Polyomavirus JCV excretion and genotype analysis in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of shedding of polyomavirus JC virus (JCV) genotypes in urine of HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). METHODS: Single samples of urine and blood were collected prospectively from 70 adult HIV-infected patients and 68 uninfected volunteers. Inclusion criteria for HIV-infected patients included an HIV RNA viral load < 1000 copies, CD4 cell count of 200-700 x 106 cells/l, and stable HAART regimen. PCR assays and sequence analysis were carried out using JCV-specific primers against different regions of the virus genome. RESULTS: JCV excretion in urine was more common in HIV-positive patients but not significantly different from that of the HIV-negative group [22/70 (31%) versus 13/68 (19%); P = 0.09]. HIV-positive patients lost the age-related pattern of JCV shedding (P = 0.13) displayed by uninfected subjects (P = 0.01). Among HIV-infected patients significant differences in JCV shedding were related to CD4 cell counts (P = 0.03). Sequence analysis of the JCV regulatory region from both HIV-infected patients and uninfected volunteers revealed all to be JCV archetypal strains. JCV genotypes 1 (36%) and 4 (36%) were the most common among HIV-infected patients, whereas type 2 (77%) was the most frequently detected among HIV-uninfected volunteers. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that JCV shedding is enhanced by modest depressions in immune function during HIV infection. JCV shedding occurred in younger HIV-positive persons than in the healthy controls. As the common types of JCV excreted varied among ethnic groups, JCV genotypes associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy may reflect demographics of those infected patient populations.
Admissible simulation relations, set-valued feedback, and controlled invariance

This work is a continuation of the author’s study of simulation relations between nonlinear input–output systems with disturbances. Previously we derived a criterion under which a “pointwise” simulation condition implies simulation by so-called “admissible” inputs and disturbances (that is, inputs and disturbances that yield time-dependent vector fields satisfying C1 Caratheodory conditions). This criterion included a certain constant-rank assumption. In this paper we use the theory of set-valued mappings and differential inclusions to derive analogous results in which the constant-rank assumption is replaced by a compactness provision that augments the pointwise simulation condition. We illustrate our simulation results by deriving a sufficient condition for achieving global controlled invariance of a (possibly singular) nonlinear system through the use of a set-valued feedback law.
Is selective internal radioembolization safe and effective for patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma and venous thrombosis

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of selective internal radioembolization (SIR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein or caval thrombosis (VT), or both. Recent reports have demonstrated that SIR is safe for patients with HCC, but the impact on efficacy of venous thrombosis is unknown. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective single-arm study of the use of Therasphere in patients with unresectable HCC enrolled from January 2004 to June 2007. Patients were categorized into three groups based on VT status and therapy. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were enrolled: 20 patients without VT who received SIR, 15 patients with VT who were treated, and 17 patients (10 with VT) who were not treated because of preprocedure screening failure. Fifty-eight treatments were administered, with a median of two treatments per patient (range of one to three treatments). Child's score was different between groups. Of the VT patients treated, 67% had portal VT, 7% had cava VT, and 26% had both. There were no treatment-related deaths. There was no difference in complications among groups (p = 0.34). Treated patients without thrombosis had a median overall survival of 13.9 months versus 2.7 months for those treated with thrombosis and 5.2 months for the untreated group given best supportive care only (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: SIR is safe in patients with HCC. Although SIR can be delivered with minimal morbidity, there might be no benefit for patients with VT. Continued emphasis on multimodality therapy in this population is needed to improve survival.
Triproline Analogues of Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 with Pro/Leu and Pro/Phe Chimeric Amino Acids in Position 2

Abstract Synthesis of the cis - and trans -isomers of the proline-leucine (3- i -Pr-Pro) and proline-phenylalanine (3-Ph-Pro) chimeric amino acids was accomplished by intramolecular reductive-cycloalkylation of the appropriate azido-olefin. These chimeric amino acids were incorporated into the triprolyl analogues of Pro-Leu-Gly-NH 2 : Pro- cis -3- i -Pr-Pro-Pro-NH 2 ( 3 ), Pro- trans -3- i -Pr-Pro-Pro-NH 2 ( 4 ), Pro- cis -3-Ph-Pro-Pro-NH 2 ( 5 ), Pro- trans -3-Ph-Pro-Pro-NH 2 ( 6 ).
Homogeneous Desulfurization of Thiols and Sulfides by Yb[N(SiMe3)2]2.2 THF. Relevance to Heterogeneous and Biological Desulfurizations and the Synthesis of Lanthanide(II) Sulfides

Yb[N(SiMe 3 ) 2 ] 2 •2THF was found to desulfurize thiols (RSH) and dibenzyl sulfide. With thiols, the extent of desulfurization was a function of the relative stability of the corresponding radical, R•. Radicals were also involved in the desulfurization of dibenzyl sulfide. A unified mechanism involving a series of one-electron redox steps leading to the generation of organic radical intermediates has been proposed
TRPV1: contribution to retinal ganglion cell apoptosis and increased intracellular Ca2+ with exposure to hydrostatic pressure.

Throughout the central nervous system, pressure is a highly relevant and potent stimulus. This is so especially in sensory function and in sympathetic systems, in which various membrane-bound receptors play an important role in transducing pressure to neural signals.1–7 Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a leading risk factor for the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons during traumatic injury and in chronic disease, particularly glaucoma.8–11 However, the mechanisms through which pressure translates to RGC death are not known. To probe these mechanisms, model systems making use of hydrostatic pressure as a stressor for isolated RGCs plated on a rigid surface and exposed to a liquid column are useful. Although these systems do not replicate IOP, the retinochoroidal complex experiences hydrostatic pressure from within the vitreal chamber and from the suprachoroidal space; its gradient is IOP dependent.12,13 Similarly, RGC axons in the optic nerve are exposed continuously to hydrostatic pressure from cerebrospinal fluid.13 It is well established that RGCs exposed to elevated hydrostatic pressure in vitro undergo cellular apoptosis, even in the absence of the multitude of other factors associated with elevated IOP (e.g., glial activation, ischemia). Pressure-induced RGC apoptosis in vitro depends on the magnitude of pressure exposure, correlates with the upregulation of a variety of apoptotic and early-immediate genes, and involves oxidative stress.14–18 These events are similar to those in common animal models of glaucoma,19–25 and this similarity bolsters the use of hydrostatic pressure as a stimulus for probing the RGC response to pressure. Members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of cation-selective ion channels have long been implicated in mechanical and tactile sensitivity.26–34 Like other TRP subunits, activation of the capsaicin-sensitive vanilloid subunit 1 (TRPV1) is associated with a variety of stimuli.35 TRPV1 in sensory ganglia of the spinal cord and in the peripheral nervous system responds to mechanical stimuli involved in several systemic functions, including pressure-induced pain, injury monitoring, and visceral distension.36–48 In addition, like other TRP subunits, TRPV1 activation is associated with a robust Ca2+ conductance that has been linked to apoptotic cell death, including that of neurons and glia.49–52 Similarly, we recently demonstrated that TRPV1 expressed by retinal microglia contributes to a Ca2+-dependent signal involved in nuclear translocation of NFκB and the release of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 with exposure to hydrostatic pressure in vitro.53 Thus, it is reasonable to ask whether RGCs similarly express TRPV1 and whether this expression could contribute to the apoptosis associated with exposure to elevated hydrostatic pressure. Here we demonstrate that TRPV1 expressed by RGCs contributes to pressure-induced apoptosis and that the TRPV1-initiated cascade involves the influx of Ca2+, as in other cell types.49–53
Microwave-assisted extraction of monomethyl arsonic acid from soil and sediment standard reference materials

Arsenic-containing species were extracted from soil and sediment SRM by a mixture (1 + 1) of acetone and hydrochloric acid (10% v/v) in a sealed vessel in a microwave oven during heating to 160 °C at pressures up to 1150 kPa (160 psi). Following separation by anion-exchange HPLC those species which gave a volatile derivative on reaction with borohydride in acid were detected by plasma-source mass spectrometry. The procedure was used to determine the monomethyl arsonate species in SRM 2704 Buffalo River sediment (0.30 ppm), SRM 1944 New York–New Jersey waterway sediment (0.23 ppm) and in SRM 2710 highly elevated Montana soil (1.03 ppm). The method was developed by investigating the recovery of dimethylarsinate added to Buffalo River sediment as a function of various experimental parameters, including the composition of the solvent. For 1 + 1 mixtures of acetone and 5% HCl, methanol and 5% HCl, and isopropanol and 5% HCl, recoveries ranged from 91% to 112%. Similar recoveries were obtained for ultrasound-assisted extractions with the same solvents. The chromatographic eluent was not directly introduced into the mass spectrometer as, compared to the post-column hydride generation procedure, the sensitivity was too low for reliable quantitative measurements, although the chromatographic resolution was better. Problems with signal pulsations were overcome by incorporating pulse dampers into the reagent delivery lines.
Hydrolysis of Third-generation Cephalosporins by Class C β-Lactamases STRUCTURES OF A TRANSITION STATE ANALOG OF CEFOTAXIME IN WILD-TYPE AND EXTENDED SPECTRUM ENZYMES

Bacterial resistance to the third-generation cephalosporins is an issue of great concern in current antibiotic therapeutics. An important source of this resistance is from production of extended-spectrum (ES) β-lactamases by bacteria. The Enterobacter cloacae GC1 enzyme is an example of a class C ES β-lactamase. Unlike wild-type (WT) forms, such as the E. cloacae P99 and Citrobacter freundii enzymes, the ES GC1 β-lactamase is able to rapidly hydrolyze third-generation cephalosporins such as cefotaxime and ceftazidime. To understand the basis for this ES activity, m-nitrophenyl 2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-[(Z)-methoxyimino]acetylaminomethyl phosphonate has been synthesized and characterized. This phosphonate was designed to generate a transition state analog for turnover of cefotaxime. The crystal structures of complexes of the phosphonate with both ES GC1 and WT C. freundii GN346 β-lactamases have been determined to high resolution (1.4–1.5 A). The serine-bound analog of the tetrahedral transition state for deacylation exhibits a very different binding geometry in each enzyme. In the WT β-lactamase the cefotaxime-like side chain is crowded against the Ω loop and must protrude from the binding site with its methyloxime branch exposed. In the ES enzyme, a mutated Ω loop adopts an alternate conformation allowing the side chain to be much more buried. During the binding and turnover of the cefotaxime substrate by this ES enzyme, it is proposed that ligand-protein contacts and intra-ligand contacts are considerably relieved relative to WT, facilitating positioning and activation of the hydrolytic water molecule. The ES β-lactamase is thus able to efficiently inactivate third-generation cephalosporins.
Biodiesel Production From the Microalgae Nannochloropsis by Microwave Using CaO and MgO Catalysts

The needs of world petroleum are increased; in contrast, the fuel productions are getting decreased. Therefore, it has lead to the search for bio-fuel as an alternative energy. There are several different types of biofuel, such as biodiesel, ethanol, bioalcohol, and biogas. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids from a vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol producing fatty acid esters, such as methyl or ethyl ester. The present study aimed to study the effect of temperature (50, 60 and 65°C), reaction time (1 to 5 minutes) dan types of catalyst (CaO dan MgO of 1 and 3 %) in the production of biodiesel from microalgae by the transesterification process using microwave methods. It also studied the characteristics of biodiesel which had the greatest yield in the present study, i.e. flash point, cetane number, density, viscosity, and FAME. The greatest yield was 99.35% and obtained with combination of 3% MgO catalyst quantity at temperature of 60°C, in 3 minutes reaction time. At this process conditions, the biodiesel has a flash point of 122°C, cetane number of 55, density of 0.89, viscosity of 5 cP and FAME of 75.12 %.
Surface profile measurement techniques for large aperture optical thin film membrane structures

Abstract Large aperture thin film optics typically have substantial shape errors which are difficult to quantify with conventional measurement methods, such as interferometry. The interferograms are normally too complex and contain too much information to discern relevant shape information pertinent to (for example) solar energy collection. This has led to the development of the laboratory-oriented, less expensive and less complex measurement procedure presented here. The method is based on well-defined geometric relationships and provides a novel approach to measuring the shape of large optics that are known to have substantial surface distortion. Once the local reflection (surface tilt) angles are determined, the overall shape can be reconstructed and further analyzed using ray tracing software to obtain aberration coefficients if desired. This technique lends itself to being easily scalable to very large membrane structures and the measurement precision is only limited by the equipment chosen.
CrtSmile: a CAD tool for CMOS RF transistor substrate modeling incorporating layout effects

This paper presents a new CAD tool CrtSmile, which automatically incorporates transistor layout effects for CMOS RF transistor modeling with an emphasis on substrate resistance extraction. The RF transistor layouts in the CIF/GDSII format are used to generate a layout dependent substrate model that can be included as a subcircuit with the BSIM3 device model. To support multi-finger RF transistor layout/bulk recognition, a pattern based layout extraction method is presented. CrtSmile incorporates a scalable substrate model for multi-finger transistors, which is dependent on transistor layout/bulk patterns and geometric layout information, such as the number of gate fingers, finger width, channel length, and bulk contact locations. This model is simple to extract and gives good agreement with the measured data for a 0.35μm CMOS process. A low noise amplifier design is evaluated with the new layout dependent substrate model and the proposed tool, showing the importance of CMOS RF transistor layout on substrate resistance modeling.
Extended Coherence Time with Atom-Number Squeezed States

Coherence properties of Bose-Einstein condensates offer the potential for improved interferometric phase contrast. However, decoherence effects due to the mean-field interaction shorten the coherence time, thus limiting potential sensitivity. In this work, we demonstrate increased coherence times with number squeezed states in an optical lattice using the decay of Bloch oscillations to probe the coherence time. We extend coherence times by a factor of 2 over those expected with coherent state Bose-Einstein condensate interferometry. We observe quantitative agreement with theory both for the degree of initial number squeezing as well as for prolonged coherence times.
Kinetic studies on the mechanism of bacterial NAD(P)H:flavin oxidoreductase.

Abstract The reaction of NAD(P)H:flavin oxidoreductase (flavin reductase) from Photobacterium fischeri is proposed to follow a ping-pong bisubstrate-biproduct mechanism. This is based on a steady-state kinetic analysis of initial velocities and patterns of inhibition by NAD + and AMP. The double reciprocal plots of initial velocities versus concentrations of FMN or NADH show, in both cases, a series of parallel lines. The Michaelis constants for NADH (FMN saturating) and FMN (NADH saturating) are 2.2 and 1.2 × 10 −4 m , respectively. The product NAD + has been found to be an inhibitor competitive with FMN but non-competitive with NADH. Using AMP as an inhibitor, noncompetitive inhibition patterns were observed with respect to both NADH and FMN as the varied substrate. In addition, the reductase was not inactivated by treatment with N -ethylmaleimide either alone or in the presence of FMN, but the enzyme was inactivated by N -ethylmaleimide in the presence of NADH. These findings suggest that flavin reductase shuttles between disulfide- and sulfhydryl-containing forms during catalysis.
Two issues in parallel language design

In this article, we discuss two programming language features that have value for expressibility and efficiency: nonstrictness and nondeterminism. Our work arose while assessing ways to enhance a currently successful language, SISAL [McGraw et al. 1985]. The questions of how best to include these features, if at all, has led not to conclusions but to an impetus to explore the answers in an objective way. We will retain strictness for efficiency reasons and explore the limits it may impose, and we will experiment with a carefully controlled form of nondeterminism to assess its expressive power.
An articulated limb motion planner for optimized movement

Task level animation of articulated figures, such as the human body, requires the ability to generate collision-free goal-directed motion of individual limbs in the presence of obstacles. This paper describes a new articulated limb motion planner for goal-directed point-to-point reaching motions. The produced motion avoids obstacles while optimizing an objective function. This two-phase algorithm uses heuristic guided Monte Carlo techniques to create a consistent underlying paradigm. The first phase consists of an existing potential field based random path planner which generates a population of candidate paths. This initial population is fed into the second phase, a genetic algorithm, which iteratively refines the population as it optimizes with respect to the objective function. The refinement process works on the principle of path coherency, the idea that a family of closely related collision-free paths lies in the vicinity of a given collision-free path. This paper focuses on seven different optimization functions. Optimized trajectories produced by the new motion planner are compared to those generated solely by the random path planner. The presented algorithm is flexible in that a wide range of objective functions can be optimized. Applications of the algorithm include task level animation, ergonomics and robotics.
Porphyrin-based sensitizers in the detection and treatment of cancer: recent progress.

It has been known for some time that porphyrins and related compounds have the ability to selectively accumulate in tumor tissues, and to persist there for long periods of time. This property, along with the well-described photophysical and photosensitizing properties of porphyrin-type molecules, has led to their potential use as adjuvants and sensitizers in a variety of medical applications, such as in photodynamic therapy (PDT), boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), radiation therapy (RT) and in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Both PDT and BNCT are binary cancer therapies that involve activation of tissue-localized sensitizers with either light (in PDT) or low-energy neutrons (in BNCT). In both of these therapeutic methodologies, local tumor control with minimal side effects relative to other forms of cancer treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) can be achieved. Porphyrins constitute a major class of pharmacological agents currently under investigation. Photofrin, a porphyrin derivative, has been approved in the USA as a PDT drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and also in Japan, Canada and in eleven European countries. Recently, the FDA approved Visudyne, another porphyrin derivative for the PDT treatment of the 'wet-form' of age-related macular degeneration. In addition to cancer treatment porphyrins are also under investigation for application in the treatment of a variety of other diseases.