893 research outputs found
ENRICHING JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE: SEEKING TO IMPROVE THE RETENTION VOTE PHASE OF AN APPOINTIVE SELECTION SYSTEM
This article discusses the problems and potential solutions with the system of judicial appointment in the state of Nebraska. The article focuses on how improving public awareness about the existing system, its goals, and its current weaknesses, and implementing steps to address those weaknesses, will help to keep everyone moving toward the best possible system. While changing attitudes and interest in judicial retention elections is certainly not an easy task, it is only through seeking such change that reformers of an elective retention system can hope to near its potential effectiveness
Observation of small scale structure using sextupole lensing
Weak gravitational lensing seeks to determine shear by measuring induced
quadrupole (elliptical) shapes in background galaxy images. Small impact
parameter (a few kpc) gravitational lensing by foreground core masses between 2
10^{9} and 2 10^{12} M_\odot will additionally induce a sextupole shape with
the quadrupole and sextupole minima aligned. This correlation in relative
orientation of the quadrupole and sextupole provides a sensitive method to
identify images which have been slightly curved by lensing events. A general
theoretical framework for sextupole lensing is developed which includes several
low order coefficients in a general lensing map. Tools to impute map
coefficients from the galaxy images are described and applied to the north
Hubble deep field. Instrumental PSFs, camera charge diffusion, and image
composition methods are modelled in the coefficient determination process.
Estimates of Poisson counting noise for each galaxy are used to cut galaxies
with signals too small to reliably establish curvature. Curved galaxies are
found to be spatially clumped, as would be expected if the curving were due to
small impact parameter lensing by localized ensembles of dark matter haloes.
Simulations provide an estimate of the total required lensing mass and the
acceptable mass range of the constituent haloes. The overdensities and
underdensities of visible galaxies and their locations in the Hubble foreground
is found to be consistent with our observations and their interpretation as
lensing events.Comment: 40 pages, 44 figure
lmmunocontraception in White-Tailed Deer
lmmunocontraception may have management application for white-tailed deer populations in parks and preserves. where hunting 1s illegal or impractical. This study examines physiological aspects of immunocontraception with porcine zonae pellucidae in 53 fertile white-tailed does. In separate studies, we employed protocols of three and two porcine zonae pellucidae (PZP) injections as well as two different protocols using one injection. Each one-injection vaccination consisted of one dose of porcine zonae pellucidae as in other protocols plus a second controlled-release dose of the material delivered via an osmotic minipump implant or injected, biodegradable polymer microspheres. We monitored fawn production for 1 to 3 years in all does and measured serum PZP antibody titers at various times after treatment in 15 randomly selected PZP does and in 2 control does. All three-injection PZP does were give a single PZP booster inoculation after 1 year. None of the two- or three-injection does and none of the one-injection does with a minipump produced fawns the first year after treatment, whereas two of seven does given a single injection with controlled-release microspheres produced fawns. In 49 control-doe breeding seasons, the pooled incidence of fawn production was 93.8 percent. Regarding reversibility of infertility, the incidence of fawn production was 75 % within 2 years after treatment was discontinued. Serum anti-PZP antibody titers were present only after PZP treatment, and highest titers occurred in does given two or three separate PZP injections. PZP-treated does showing \u3e50% of maximal antibody titers at the onset of a breeding season did not produce fawns; those showing \u3c33% of maximal titers did. These data demonstrate in white-tailed does that (1)multiple-injection PZP vaccination can produce complete contraception for at least one breeding season, (2) the contraceptive effect is reversible within 2 years in most does, (3) an elevated anti-PZP antibody titer occurs after PZP vaccination, and (4) multiple-injection PZP vaccination produces a sustained antibody response through at least one breeding season. In separate field studies of wild, free-roaming deer in three locations, we successfully lured does to within darting range using bait stations. In two locations, we attempted and achieved remote delivery PZP vaccination of 60-9- percent of does. In the one location for which we have data on fawn production, the fawning incidence was 0/10, 6/9, and 8/9 for two- and one-injection porcine zonae pellucidae and untreated controls, respectively. In the same location, we monitored seasonal aspects of activity, behavior, and physical condition. We also determined that there is a good potential for remote assessment of pregnancy in does using measurement of pregnancy-specific elevations of steroid metabolites in fecal samples
lmmunocontraception in White-Tailed Deer
lmmunocontraception may have management application for white-tailed deer populations in parks and preserves. where hunting 1s illegal or impractical. This study examines physiological aspects of immunocontraception with porcine zonae pellucidae in 53 fertile white-tailed does. In separate studies, we employed protocols of three and two porcine zonae pellucidae (PZP) injections as well as two different protocols using one injection. Each one-injection vaccination consisted of one dose of porcine zonae pellucidae as in other protocols plus a second controlled-release dose of the material delivered via an osmotic minipump implant or injected, biodegradable polymer microspheres. We monitored fawn production for 1 to 3 years in all does and measured serum PZP antibody titers at various times after treatment in 15 randomly selected PZP does and in 2 control does. All three-injection PZP does were give a single PZP booster inoculation after 1 year. None of the two- or three-injection does and none of the one-injection does with a minipump produced fawns the first year after treatment, whereas two of seven does given a single injection with controlled-release microspheres produced fawns. In 49 control-doe breeding seasons, the pooled incidence of fawn production was 93.8 percent. Regarding reversibility of infertility, the incidence of fawn production was 75 % within 2 years after treatment was discontinued. Serum anti-PZP antibody titers were present only after PZP treatment, and highest titers occurred in does given two or three separate PZP injections. PZP-treated does showing \u3e50% of maximal antibody titers at the onset of a breeding season did not produce fawns; those showing \u3c33% of maximal titers did. These data demonstrate in white-tailed does that (1)multiple-injection PZP vaccination can produce complete contraception for at least one breeding season, (2) the contraceptive effect is reversible within 2 years in most does, (3) an elevated anti-PZP antibody titer occurs after PZP vaccination, and (4) multiple-injection PZP vaccination produces a sustained antibody response through at least one breeding season. In separate field studies of wild, free-roaming deer in three locations, we successfully lured does to within darting range using bait stations. In two locations, we attempted and achieved remote delivery PZP vaccination of 60-9- percent of does. In the one location for which we have data on fawn production, the fawning incidence was 0/10, 6/9, and 8/9 for two- and one-injection porcine zonae pellucidae and untreated controls, respectively. In the same location, we monitored seasonal aspects of activity, behavior, and physical condition. We also determined that there is a good potential for remote assessment of pregnancy in does using measurement of pregnancy-specific elevations of steroid metabolites in fecal samples
cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein Is Essential for the Upregulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Transcription, But Not the Behavioral or Endocrine Responses to Antidepressant Drugs
Antidepressant drugs activate the cAMP signal transduction pathway through a variety of monoamine neurotransmitter receptors. Recently, molecular studies have identified a role for cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the mechanism of action of chronically administered antidepressant drugs. However, the function of CREB in the behavioral and endocrine responses to these drugs has not been thoroughly investigated. We have used CREB-deficient mice to study the effects of two antidepressants, desipramine (DMI) and fluoxetine (FLX), in behavioral, endocrine, and molecular analyses. Behaviorally, CREB-deficient mice and wild-type mice respond similarly to DMI and FLX administration in the forced swim test and tail suspension test. Furthermore, the ability of DMI to suppress an acute corticosterone response after swim stress is maintained in CREB-deficient mice. However, upregulation of a molecular target of CREB, BDNF, is abolished in the CREBdeficient mice after chronic administration of DMI. These data are the first to demonstrate that CREB activation is upstream of BDNF mechanistically in response to antidepressant drug treatment. Therefore, although behavioral and endocrine responses to antidepressants may occur by CREB-independent mechanisms, CREB is critical to target gene regulation after chronic drug administration, which may contribute to long-term adaptations of the system to antidepressant drug treatment
The photometric properties of a vast stellar substructure in the outskirts of M33
We have surveyed sq.degrees surrounding M33 with CFHT MegaCam in the
g and i filters, as part of the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey. Our
observations are deep enough to resolve the top 4mags of the red giant branch
population in this galaxy. We have previously shown that the disk of M33 is
surrounded by a large, irregular, low-surface brightness substructure. Here, we
quantify the stellar populations and structure of this feature using the PAndAS
data. We show that the stellar populations of this feature are consistent with
an old population with dex and an interquartile range in
metallicity of dex. We construct a surface brightness map of M33 that
traces this feature to mags\,arcsec. At these low surface
brightness levels, the structure extends to projected radii of kpc from
the center of M33 in both the north-west and south-east quadrants of the
galaxy. Overall, the structure has an "S-shaped" appearance that broadly aligns
with the orientation of the HI disk warp. We calculate a lower limit to the
integrated luminosity of the structure of mags, comparable to a
bright dwarf galaxy such as Fornax or AndII and slightly less than $1\$ of the
total luminosity of M33. Further, we show that there is tentative evidence for
a distortion in the distribution of young stars near the edge of the HI disk
that occurs at similar azimuth to the warp in HI. The data also hint at a
low-level, extended stellar component at larger radius that may be a M33 halo
component. We revisit studies of M33 and its stellar populations in light of
these new results, and we discuss possible formation scenarios for the vast
stellar structure. Our favored model is that of the tidal disruption of M33 in
its orbit around M31.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 17 figures. ApJ preprint forma
Neural modelling, control and optimisation of an industrial grinding process
This paper describes the development of neural model-based control strategies for the optimisation of an industrial aluminium
substrate disk grinding process. The grindstone removal rate varies considerably over a stone life and is a highly nonlinear function
of process variables. Using historical grindstone performance data, a NARX-based neural network model is developed. This model
is then used to implement a direct inverse controller and an internal model controller based on the process settings and previous
removal rates. Preliminary plant investigations show that thickness defects can be reduced by 50% or more, compared to other
schemes employed
Neural modelling, control and optimisation of an industrial grinding process
This paper describes the development of neural model-based control strategies for the optimisation of an industrial aluminium
substrate disk grinding process. The grindstone removal rate varies considerably over a stone life and is a highly nonlinear function
of process variables. Using historical grindstone performance data, a NARX-based neural network model is developed. This model
is then used to implement a direct inverse controller and an internal model controller based on the process settings and previous
removal rates. Preliminary plant investigations show that thickness defects can be reduced by 50% or more, compared to other
schemes employed
Probabilistic classification of acute myocardial infarction from multiple cardiac markers
Logistic regression and Gaussian mixture model (GMM) classifiers have been trained to estimate the probability of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients based upon the concentrations of a panel of cardiac markers. The panel consists of two new markers, fatty acid binding protein (FABP) and glycogen phosphorylase BB (GPBB), in addition to the traditional cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase MB (CKMB) and myoglobin. The effect of using principal component analysis (PCA) and Fisher discriminant analysis (FDA) to preprocess the marker concentrations was also investigated. The need for classifiers to give an accurate estimate of the probability of AMI is argued and three categories of performance measure are described, namely discriminatory ability, sharpness, and reliability. Numerical performance measures for each category are given and applied. The optimum classifier, based solely upon the samples take on admission, was the logistic regression classifier using FDA preprocessing. This gave an accuracy of 0.85 (95% confidence interval: 0.78–0.91) and a normalised Brier score of 0.89. When samples at both admission and a further time, 1–6 h later, were included, the performance increased significantly, showing that logistic regression classifiers can indeed use the information from the five cardiac markers to accurately and reliably estimate the probability AMI
PAndAS in the mist: The stellar and gaseous mass within the halos of M31 and M33
Large scale surveys of the prominent members of the Local Group have provided
compelling evidence for the hierarchical formation of massive galaxies,
revealing a wealth of substructure that is thought to be the debris from
ancient and on-going accretion events. In this paper, we compare two extant
surveys of the M31-M33 subgroup of galaxies; the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological
Survey (PAndAS) of the stellar structure, and a combination of observations of
the HI gaseous content, detected at 21cm. Our key finding is a marked lack of
spatial correlation between these two components on all scales, with only a few
potential overlaps between stars and gas.The paucity of spatial correlation
significantly restricts the analysis of kinematic correlations, although there
does appear to the HI kinematically associated with the Giant Stellar Stream
where it passes the disk of M31. These results demonstrate that that different
processes must significantly influence the dynamical evolution of the stellar
and HI components of substructures, such as ram pressure driving gas away from
a purely gravitational path. Detailed modelling of the offset between the
stellar and gaseous substructure will provide a determination of the properties
of the gaseous halo of M31 and M33.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journal. Figure quality reduced. High quality version available at
http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/Arxiv_Papers/PAndAS_Mist
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