cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of meteorological inputs in estimating dispersion from surface releases

Abstract Currently used models for dispersion in the surface layer are explicitly based on Monin–Obukhov (M–O) theory. Because M–O variables such as the surface friction velocity and M–O length are not always accessible or M–O similarity might not hold at the site of interest, there is a need for a model that uses alternative meteorological inputs. Here, we examine the use of near-surface profiles of turbulence and wind speeds instead of M–O variables. We use data from the Prairie Grass experiment (1958, Project Prairie Grass, a field program in diffusion, Vol. 1, Geophysics Research Paper No. 59. Air Force Cambridge Research Center, Bedford, MA) because of its completeness in terms of meteorological inputs as well as spatial coverage of concentration measurements. The maximum surface concentrations and the crosswind plume spreads are first explained using an M–O theory-based model proposed by van Ulden (1978, Simple estimates for vertical dispersion from sources near the ground. Atmospheric Environment 12, 2125–2129), whose performance has already been documented in the literature. The performance of this model is compared with those of models using alternative meteorological inputs. The results from the study indicate that, under stable conditions, models that use profiles of winds and turbulence do not perform as well as van Ulden's model. On the other hand, under unstable conditions, the differences in model performance are much smaller. This supports other studies that indicate that relatively simple dispersion models can be used to estimate concentrations in urban areas, where the boundary layer is often unstable even during the night.
Meteorologically adjusted urban air quality trends in the Southwestern United States

Abstract Cities in the Southwestern United States (Southwest) are often close to violating tropospheric ozone (ozone) and particulate matter (PM) federal air quality standards, and local climate and weather conditions play a large part in determining whether or not pollutant levels exceed the federally mandated limits and by what magnitude. The Kolmogorov–Zurbenko (KZ) filter method has been used in a number of studies in the Eastern United States to determine meteorological controls on ozone concentrations and to separate out those effects in order to examine underlying trends. The Southwest, however, experiences a different climate regime than other parts of the country, and atmospheric controls on air quality in the region have not been examined in this manner. This paper determines which meteorological variables most influence ozone and PM in the Southwest and examines patterns of underlying pollutant trends due to emissions. Ozone and PM data were analyzed over the time period 1990–2003 for the Southwest's five major metropolitan areas: Albuquerque, NM; El Paso, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Phoenix, AZ; and Tucson, AZ. Results indicate that temperature and mixing height most strongly influence ozone conditions, while moisture levels (particularly relative humidity) are the strongest predictors of PM concentrations in all five cities examined. Meteorological variability typically accounts for 40–70% of ozone variability and 20–50% of PM variability. Long-term ozone trends are highly variable, but records from most stations indicate increasing concentrations over the last decade. Long-term trends in PM concentrations were relatively flat in all five cities analyzed but contained coincident extremes unrelated to meteorology.
Predicting Perceived Quality of Drug Treatment Programs Using Latent Variable Models.

Key personnel in 294 drug treatment facilities in Los Angeles County provided objective information on program services, activities, and staffing, and subjective ratings of the quality or effectiveness of their programs. The present paper assessed the influence of program-related constructs on Perceived Quality of the treatment programs using a latent variable modeling approach. The latent variable Perceived Quality was indicated by ratings of the effectiveness of counseling services, staff and overall program. It was found that a greater Programmatic Focus (a clear philosophy and emphasis) and more Program Intensity (frequency of services) significantly predicted greater Perceived Quality. Group Therapy Focus and Methadone Program had significantly negative effects. Individual Therapy Focus had a positive but not statistically significant effect on Perceived Quality.
Effectiveness of a nurse-managed, lay-led tobacco cessation intervention among ohio appalachian women.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a nurse-managed, lay-led tobacco cessation intervention delivered to adult women in Ohio Appalachia. Methods: A randomized controlled experimental design included intervention participants ( n = 147) enrolled in a nurse-managed, lay-led protocol that incorporated nicotine replacement and behavioral counseling. Control participants ( n = 155) received a personalized letter from their clinic physician, who advised them to quit smoking and requested they schedule a clinic appointment to discuss cessation. Results: Self-reported and cotinine-validated quit rates were significantly higher among intervention group participants compared with control group participants at 3-and 6-month follow-up ( P < 0.02). At 12 months, self-reported abstinence was 19.1% (intervention group) and 9.0% (control group), with cotinine-validated rates of 12.2% and 7.1%, respectively ( P = 0.13). Prolonged abstinence rates were significantly different between groups at 3, 6, and 12 months ( P < 0.02). Logistic regression analyses indicated adjusted odds of cotinine-validated quitting was associated with cigarette consumption per day (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-0.99) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score ≥ 16 (odds ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.90). Conclusions: A lay-led approach that is managed by a nurse may serve as an effective cessation strategy among this high-risk population. Additional efforts are needed to sustain long-term abstinence, even after intensive intervention. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(12):3451–8)
Martensitic transformation cycling effects in Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys

The effects of transformation cycling between the parent (P) and martensite (M) phases of selected Cu-Zn-Al: alloys were studied. Using differential scanning calorimetry it was observed that the martensite start temperature, Ms, progressively shifts upward with cycling. Also, the proportion of the microstructure actually undergoing P↔M transformation decreases. Transmission electron microscope observations reveal dislocation substructures generated by martensite transformation and reversion.
Mean offset optimization for multi-patterning overlay using Monte Carlo simulation method

The overlay performance and alignment strategy optimization for a triple patterning (LELELE) were studied based on the Monte Carlo simulation method. The simulated results show that all of the combined or worst case overlay, alignment strategy, mean target of the upper level, and mean tolerance of the lower level are dependent on the means of the lower level. A dynamic mean control method is proposed to be integrated into the APC system to improve the overlay performance.
Infection and Natural History of Emergency Department–Placed Central Venous Catheters

Study objectives Central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI, hereafter referred to in this paper as "bloodstream infection") is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infection. To our knowledge, there are no previously published studies designed to determine the rate of bloodstream infection among central venous catheters placed in the emergency department (ED). We design a retrospective chart review methodology to determine bloodstream infection and duration of catheterization for central venous catheters placed in the ED. Methods Using hospital infection control, administrative, and ED billing databases, we identified patients with central venous catheters placed in the ED between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008, at one academic, urban ED with an annual census of 57,000. We performed a structured, explicit chart review to determine duration of catheterization and confirm bloodstream infection. Results We screened 4,251 charts and identified 656 patients with central venous catheters inserted in the ED, 3,622 catheter-days, and 7 bloodstream infections. The rate of bloodstream infection associated with central venous catheters placed in the ED was 1.93 per 1,000 catheter-days (95% confidence interval 0.50 to 3.36). The mean duration of catheterization was 5.5 days (median 4; range 1 to 29 days). Among infected central venous catheters, the mean duration of catheterization was 8.6 days (median 7; range 2 to 19 days). A total of 667 central venous catheters were placed in the internal jugular (392; 59%), subclavian (145; 22%), and femoral (130; 19%) veins. The sensitivity of using ED procedural billing code for identifying ED-placed central venous catheters among patients subsequently admitted to any ICU was 74.9% (95% confidence interval 71.4% to 78.3%). Conclusion The rate of ED bloodstream infection at our institution is similar to current rates in ICUs. Central venous catheters placed in the ED remain in admitted patients for a substantial period.
Effects of oil from the 2010 Macondo well blowout on marsh foraminifera of Mississippi and Louisiana, USA.

Foraminifera responded to both heavy and light oiling of marshes relative to unoiled control sites by changes to both standing stock and depth of habitation (DOH) in sediment following the 2010 Mac...
Blood cultures for febrile patients in the acute care setting: Too quick on the draw?

Purpose To review the fever literature and determine how 38.3 degrees C was deemed the optimal fever threshold that predicts bacteremia. Data sources PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane database, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health. Conclusions A temperature of 38.3 degrees C has come to be the threshold value that typically triggers diagnostic fever evaluation for bacteremia in hospitalized patients. Studies that define predictors of bacteremia provide conflicting results, and most bacteremia predictor models have not been externally validated. Therefore, current fever guidelines are based on consensus opinion rather than large clinical trials identifying a specific threshold with high sensitivity and a high negative predictive value. Implications for practice The use of a single temperature threshold of 38.3 degrees C for the prediction of bacteremia is not sufficient in all patients. Additional factors should be considered, including patient population, supporting clinical signs and symptoms, and the patient's medical history.
Age and size at sexual maturity for the winter skate, Leucoraja ocellata, in the western Gulf of Maine based on morphological, histological and steroid hormone analyses

We determined age and size at sexual maturity in male and female winter skates, Leucoraja ocellata, from the western Gulf of Maine. Age estimated from vertebral band counts resulted in an Index of Average Percent Error (IAPE) of 5.6%, suggesting that this method represents an accurate approach to the age assessment of L. ocellata. Size at sexual maturity was assessed by evaluating three endpoints: steroid hormone concentrations, and morphological and histological criteria. Our results suggest that 50% maturity in males occurs at a total length of 730 mm and at 11 years of age. For females, our results suggest that 50% maturity occurs at a total length of 760 mm and between 11 and 12 years of age. Collectively, our study suggests that analyzing a combination of reproductive parameters offers an accurate estimation of sexual maturity in the winter skate. Moreover, our results indicate that L. ocellata is a late-maturing and long-lived species, characteristics which make it highly susceptible to over-exploitation by commercial fisheries.
A model for homeopathic remedy effects: low dose nanoparticles, allostatic cross-adaptation, and time-dependent sensitization in a complex adaptive system

This paper proposes a novel model for homeopathic remedy action on living systems. Research indicates that homeopathic remedies (a) contain measurable source and silica nanoparticles heterogeneously dispersed in colloidal solution; (b) act by modulating biological function of the allostatic stress response network (c) evoke biphasic actions on living systems via organism-dependent adaptive and endogenously amplified effects; (d) improve systemic resilience. The proposed active components of homeopathic remedies are nanoparticles of source substance in water-based colloidal solution, not bulk-form drugs. Nanoparticles have unique biological and physico-chemical properties, including increased catalytic reactivity, protein and DNA adsorption, bioavailability, dose-sparing, electromagnetic, and quantum effects different from bulk-form materials. Trituration and/or liquid succussions during classical remedy preparation create “top-down” nanostructures. Plants can biosynthesize remedy-templated silica nanostructures. Nanoparticles stimulate hormesis, a beneficial low-dose adaptive response. Homeopathic remedies prescribed in low doses spaced intermittently over time act as biological signals that stimulate the organism’s allostatic biological stress response network, evoking nonlinear modulatory, self-organizing change. Potential mechanisms include time-dependent sensitization (TDS), a type of adaptive plasticity/metaplasticity involving progressive amplification of host responses, which reverse direction and oscillate at physiological limits. To mobilize hormesis and TDS, the remedy must be appraised as a salient, but low level, novel threat, stressor, or homeostatic disruption for the whole organism. Silica nanoparticles adsorb remedy source and amplify effects. Properly-timed remedy dosing elicits disease-primed compensatory reversal in direction of maladaptive dynamics of the allostatic network, thus promoting resilience and recovery from disease. Homeopathic remedies are proposed as source nanoparticles that mobilize hormesis and time-dependent sensitization via non-pharmacological effects on specific biological adaptive and amplification mechanisms. The nanoparticle nature of remedies would distinguish them from conventional bulk drugs in structure, morphology, and functional properties. Outcomes would depend upon the ability of the organism to respond to the remedy as a novel stressor or heterotypic biological threat, initiating reversals of cumulative, cross-adapted biological maladaptations underlying disease in the allostatic stress response network. Systemic resilience would improve. This model provides a foundation for theory-driven research on the role of nanomaterials in living systems, mechanisms of homeopathic remedy actions and translational uses in nanomedicine.
Lifetime aware resource management for sensor network using distributed genetic algorithm

In this work we consider lifetime-aware resource management for sensor network using distributed genetic algorithm (GA). Our goal is to allocate different detection methods to different sensor nodes in the way such that the required detection probability can be achieved while the network lifetime is maximized. The contribution of this paper is twofold. Firstly, the resource management problem is formulated as a constraint optimization problem and is solved using a distributed GA. Secondly, empirical analysis results are provided that reveals the relationship between the configuration parameters and the quality of the search. A regression model is designed to estimate the runtime of the distributed GA given the configuration parameters. The model is utilized to find energy efficient configurations of the algorithm.
Dissection of a composite volcanic earthquake at Santiaguito, Guatemala

[1] Volcano earthquake sources associated with eruptions at Santiaguito volcano in Guatemala are complex. Rock fracture, fluid flow, and gas expansion occur at variable time scales and induce superposed ground motions, including both static and dynamic deformation, and atmospheric pressure disturbances. Dissection of this composite event is facilitated through extra-seismic observations, such as infrasound, geodetic, and visual monitoring. Multi-parametric investigation of an eruptive event on Jan. 4th 2009 reveals increased degassing, apparent as both geodetic tilt and harmonic seismo-infrasonic tremor, preceding an explosive event. The explosive event itself entails surface dome uplift, multiple eruptive pulses, and subsequent re-equilibration of the volcanic edifice manifested in derived tilt. We report here on an integrated approach to discerning the physical processes at the actively effusing and exploding Santiaguito volcano and describe the composite earthquake that occurs here.
On global consistency of a bivariate survival estimator under univariate censoring

Abstract Simple extensions of the nonparametric bivariate survival estimator of Lin and Ying (Biometrika 80 (1993) 573) are proposed which permit consistent estimation over the entire support of the censored data distribution. These extensions utilize a simple class of stopping times. Large sample uniform consistency of the proposals is also established.
Retrievals from the Limb Ozone Retrieval Experiment on STS107

The Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite will produce ozone profiles using the limb scatter technique. While this technique has been used in the 1980s for mesospheric retrievals with data from the Solar Mesospheric Explorer, its use for the stratosphere and upper troposphere is relatively recent. To increase the scientific experience with this method, the Limb Ozone Retrieval Experiment LORE was flown on-board STS107 in 2003. A significant amount of data from thirteen orbits was down-linked during the mission and exists for analysis. LORE was an imaging filter radiometer, consisting of a linear diode array, five interference filters (plus a blank for dark current) and a simple telescope with color correcting optics. The wavelengths for the channels were 322, 350, 602, 675 & 1000 nm and can be viewed as a minimum set of measurements needed for ozone profiling from 50 km to 10 km. The temporal sampling of the channels, along with the shuttle orbital and attitude (e.g. pitch) motions present a challenge in retrieving precise ozone profiles. Presented are the retrieval algorithms for determination of the channel's altitude scale, cloud top height and aerosol extinction. Also shown are a sub-set of flight data and the corresponding retrieved ozone profiles.
Arthroscopic Glenoid Osteochondral Allograft Reconstruction Without Subscapularis Takedown: Technique and Literature Review

Failure to address glenoid deficiency/osteochondral defects can lead to persistent shoulder instability despite a surgical stabilization procedure. In patients with significant glenoid bone loss, osteoarticular allograft transplantation has the potential benefit of restoring normal glenohumeral anatomy. It may also reduce the risk of recurrent instability and permit near-normal postoperative range of motion while avoiding the complications of nonanatomic reconstruction techniques. Numerous open methods of anatomic glenoid reconstruction have been described, including the use of iliac crest autograft, distal tibia allograft, and glenoid allograft. Our purpose is to review the literature regarding the surgical treatment of glenoid bone deficiency. We also describe a novel technique of arthroscopic anteroinferior glenoid reconstruction using glenoid osteochondral allograft without subscapularis takedown. The potential risks and benefits of our technique are also discussed.
Texture classification based on comparison of second-order statistics. I. Two-point probability density function estimation and distance measure

The two-point probability density function (2P-PDF) gives a full description of the first- and second-order statistics of a random process. We propose a framework for texture classification based on a distance measure between 2P-PDF’s after equalization of first-order statistics. This framework allows extraction of the structural information of the process independently of the dynamic range of the image. We present two methods for estimating the 2P-PDF of texture images, and we establish some criteria for efficient computation. The theoretical framework for noise-free texture images is validated with four texture ensembles.
Kinetics of hydrogen trapping at voids

Presentation d'un modele cinetique du piegeage de l'hydrogene dans les impuretes. Application au fer, a l'acier inoxydable et au nickel
Chemisorption and the properties of metal clusters

Abstract In an earlier [C.W. Bauschlicher, D.H. Liskow, C.F. Bender and H.F. Schaefer, J. Chem. Phys. 62 (1975) 4815] we reported model studies of the chemisorption of atomic hydrogen on the (0001) surface of metallic beryllium. Four distinct sites for chemisorption were considered and the surface was modeled by clusters as large as Be 10 . In the present paper, this work has been extended in two directions. First, two distint Be 13 clusters have been studied in an analogous manner. Second, the predicted chemisorption characteristics have been correlated with several properties of the isolated metal clusters. Metal cluster properties investigated include the ionization potential, cohesive energy, and singlet—triplet separation. The various sites for chemisorption are compared and electronic structure considerations discussed.
A new technique for fractionating powders

Abstract Existing techniques for fractionating powders are reviewed critically. The design of a new process involving aspects of fluidization, elutriation and sieving is discussed. The advantages and possible application of the new technique, termed felvation, are outlined. Quantitative data on the separation of chromium powder on 10μ, 18μ and 25μ electroformed sieves are given.
Activity settings as the unit of analysis: A theoretical basis for community intervention and development

Theory, methods, and action develop within context, one of which is the intellectual climate of an era. Community psychology is directly and indirectly interactive with many intellectual currents, such as postmodernism, semiotics, hermeneutics, and dialogism. These ideas are discussed as they impact on community psychology, with an emphasis on the reemergence of meaning as a central condition of psychology and community. Meaning is of key importance to the unifying concept in the transactional theoretical model which is presented. How this model might serve as a conceptual framework for an asset approach to community intervention and development is discussed. Increasingly, it is recognized that the development of theory to guide community research and action is necessary to advance intervention and to realize the potential of community psychology. It is argued that community psychology is positioned by concepts and practice squarely at the point of emerging thought, and can make fuondational contributions to general social science. The next article in this special section illustrates concepts of this model in an early education program and the remaining article illustrates the influence of ecocultural factors.
Changes in mouse brain diazepam receptor binding after phenobarbital administration

Specific 3H-diazepam binding was measured in vitro in adult mouse (strain, Crl=CD-1) brain after four days of an inductive dose of phenobarbital pretreatment (i.p.). Sexual dimorphism was observed in 3H-diazepam brain binding, female mice had significantly higher benzodiazepine binding than males without any differences in apparent affinity constants (KD). Phenobarbital pretreatment caused a significant decrease in the maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) as well as in dissociation rate constants in both sexes.
Climate, racial category, and body proportions in the U.S.

In 1955, Newman and Munro reported correlations between physical characteristics and climate in a white male U.S. Army sample. For example, the body weight-to-mean annual temperature correlation was −0.460. Because the men descended from relatively recent immigrants to North America, physical clines implicitly derived from differential lifetime growth rather than from natural selection. Consequently, both causation and adaptive function of Bergmann's and Allen's biogeographic rules in humans were called into question. Analysis of male and female data from the 1988 U.S. Army anthropometric survey offers new insights to the 1955 study findings. Using state means of the male subsample identifying themselves as white, as did Newman and Munro, no significant correlations were found between climatic variables and height, weight, BMI, or other body proportions. With individual data rather than state mean values, neither white male nor white female samples showed morphology to climate correlations. Relationships seen in the earlier white sample have disappeared, possibly due to a more uniform growth environment and mobility in the U.S. Black males and females showed some body trait to climate correlations but only at r values of around 0.10. Using state means from the combined sample (racial identification ignored), strong correlations are seen. As examples, mean annual temperature correlates to male relative sitting height at r = −0.634 and to female relative forearm length at r = 0.645. However, these values are evidently spurious, being products of the higher percentages of whites enlisting from colder areas of the U.S. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 17:393–402, 2005.© 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On comparison of modeled surface flux variations to aircraft observations

Evaluation of models of air–surface exchange is facilitated by an accurate match of areas simulated with those seen by micrometeorological flux measurements. Here, spatial variations in fluxes estimated with the parameterized subgrid-scale surface (PASS) flux model were compared to flux variations seen aboard aircraft above the Walnut River Watershed (WRW) in Kansas. Despite interference by atmospheric eddies, the areas where the modeled sensible and latent heat fluxes were most highly correlated with the aircraft flux estimates were upwind of the flight segments. To assess whether applying a footprint function to the surface values would improve the model evaluation, a two-dimensional correlation distribution was used to identify the locations and relative importance of contributing modeled surface pixels upwind of each segment of the flight path. The agreement between modeled surface fluxes and aircraft measurements was improved when upwind fluxes were weighted with an optimized footprint parameter φ, which can be estimated from wind profiler data and surface eddy covariance. Variations of the flight-observed flux were consistently greater than those modeled at the surface, perhaps because of the smoothing effect of using 1 km pixels in the model. In addition, limited flight legs prevented sufficient filtering of the effects of atmospheric convection, possibly accounting for some of the more prominent changes in fluxes measured along the flight paths. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Effects of Antenatal Corticosteroids on Cortisol and Heart Rate Reactivity of Preterm Infants

Administration of glucocorticoids (GCs) during pregnancy is an established practice for reducing morbidity and mortality of fetuses at risk of preterm delivery. However, preliminary research indicates that exposure to exogenous GCs in utero may be associated with suppressed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. The aim of this study was to determine whether preterm neonates who are exposed to antenatal corticosteroids show evidence of a suppressed stress-response system during their first few weeks of life, in contrast to infants who are not exposed. The sample (51% female) included 57 neonates, with 74% exposed to steroids. Mean gestational ages (GAs) were 32.6 weeks for exposed and 34.7 weeks for nonexposed infants. Although neonates in the two groups differed in gender, birth weight, and morbidity, these factors were controlled for in data analyses. Infants' salivary cortisol and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after they received a standardized caregiving "stressor" while in the newborn intensive care unit. Infants exposed to GCs in utero had lower basal cortisol levels and higher HRs than their nonexposed peers. In contrast to infants who received no GCs, they also exhibited minimal HR or cortisol reactivity to the stressor. Findings suggest that preterm infants who were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids experience a suppressed response to stress. As preterm children develop, this dysregulation has numerous implications for later development of stress-related cardiovascular and mental health problems. Further research is needed to determine whether these postnatal effects of antenatal corticosteroids persist over time.
Role of VEGF family members and receptors in coronary vessel formation.

The specific roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members and their receptors (VEGFRs) in coronary vessel formation were studied. By using the quail heart explant model, we found that neutralizing antibodies to VEGF-B or VEGF-C inhibited tube formation on the collagen gel more than anti–VEGF-A. Soluble VEGFR-1, a receptor for VEGF-A and -B, inhibited tube formation by 87%, a finding consistent with that of VEGF-B inhibition. In contrast, addition of soluble VEGFR-2, a receptor for VEGF family members A, C, D, and E, inhibited tube formation by only 43%. Acidic FGF-induced tube formation dependency on VEGF was demonstrated by the attenuating effect of a soluble VEGFR-1 and -2 chimera. The localization of VEGF R-2 and R-3 was demonstrated by in situ hybridization of serial sections, which documented marked accumulations of transcripts for both receptors at the base of the truncus arteriosus coinciding with the temporal and spatial formation of the coronary arteries by means of ingrowth of capillary plexuses. This finding suggests that both VEGFR-2 and R-3 may play a role in the formation of the coronary artery roots. In summary, these experiments document a role for multiple members of the VEGF family and their receptors in formation of the coronary vascular bed. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Interactive Navigation of Heterogeneous Agents Using Adaptive Roadmaps

We present a novel algorithm for collision-free navigation of a large number of independent agents in complex and dynamic environments. We introduce adaptive roadmaps to perform global path planning for each agent simultaneously. Our algorithm takes into account dynamic obstacles and interagents interaction forces to continuously update the roadmap based on a physically-based dynamics simulator. In order to efficiently update the links, we perform adaptive particle-based sampling along the links. We also introduce the notion of "link bands" to resolve collisions among multiple agents. In practice, our algorithm can perform real-time navigation of hundreds and thousands of human agents in indoor and outdoor scenes.
High-efficiency 60 GHZ antenna fabricated using low-cost silicon micromachining techniques

In this paper, a miniature, multi-functional Si-based packaging technology which can reduce the size and cost and increase the performance of a wide range of millimeter wave systems is proposed. High density capacitors, low temperature coefficient resistors, high-Q inductors, low-loss transmission lines, filters and antennas can all be built within the Si package using standard semiconductor fabrication methods with very high manufacturing precision compared to conventional packaging technologies. Fine pitch metal bumps can be used to attach RF IC's and other components, while bonding can provide hermetic sealing where required. Vias through the Si package eliminates inductive bond wires and minimize parasitics at millimeter wave frequencies. By integrating both antenna and an RF IC in one single package, all high frequency signals are confined within the package and only baseband signals connected to the external package.
High-Resolution Speech Signal Reconstruction in Wireless Sensor Networks

Data streaming is an emerging class of applications for sensor networks that has very high bandwidth and processing power requirements. In this paper, a new approach for speech data streaming is proposed, which is based on a distributed scheme. This scheme focuses on balancing the energy consumption among nodes in a sensor network by allowing lowresolution streams from multiple nodes to be fused at a central processing node in order to produce an enhanced resolution speech signal. Simulations and experimental results with real microphone signals are presented.
THE WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY AND WAGE ARREARS IN RUSSIA

About one-third of households with elderly were not paid their wages during the mid-1990s in Russia. Applying matching estimations to a nationally representative survey, the study shows that wage arrears had detrimental effects on the well-being of the elderly in these families. Salaries in households with wage arrears dropped by almost two-thirds, income fell by more than one-third, and poverty doubled. Behavioral responses were only partly effective. The net revenue loss amounted to five-sixths of the wage shock for men, and nine-tenths of the wage shock for women. The elderly cut back on food expenses by reducing food purchases and adjusting their diet towards cheaper calories, economising on expenses equal to around one-quarter of the wage reduction. Caloric and protein intakes dropped, although less than income, and the nutritional content of food consumption with regard to vitamins and minerals deteriorated. Wage arrears worsened male health more than female health, even though the decline in income was comparable. Functional limitations rose by 8% for men and 3% for women, and self-rated health declined by 2.5% for men and 0.5% for women. Old-age men with arrears were almost twice as likely to die before the next survey round, and functional limitations of surviving men rose by more than 10%. By contrast, there was no impact on the next round's health status of old-age women. A rich data set is used to discount alternative explanations, including feedback from health to income, other economic factors, health service access, health behavior, and environmental conditions. (JEL: I12, I30, J14, J30)
Effect of Streptomycin on Chlorophyll Accumulation in Euglena gracilis

Bleaching (interference with chlorophyll accumulation) by streptomycin (SM) is more effective when dark-grown Euglena gracilis cells are exposed to SM in the dark for several days than when exposure of dark- or light-grown cells is exclusively in light. Cells are also bleached when exposed to SM while lacking both chlorophyll and chloroplasts (i.e., exposed to SM in the dark and subcultured to SM-free medium before transfer to light). Bleaching therefore involves inhibition of the formation of a plastid or pigment precursor, rather than breakdown of chlorophyll or interference with replication of mature chloroplasts. Bleaching by SM B prevented by addition to the medium of any of several fin cations, including Mg. Therefore it is proposed that bleaching results from chelation of Mg by SM. thus blocking a Mg-requiring step in chlorophyll synthesis. Disruption by SM of chloroplast structure and/or development is considered a secondary consequence of the bleaching action, resulting from the essentiality of intact chlorophyll molecules for normal chloroplast structure.
Pivotal role of signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)4 and Stat6 in the innate immune response during sepsis.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)4 and Stat6 are transcription factors that provide type 1 and type 2 response, respectively. Here, we explored the role of Stat4 and Stat6 in innate immunity during septic peritonitis. Stat4−/− and Stat6−/− mice were resistant to the lethality compared with wild-type (WT) mice. At the mechanistic level, bacterial levels in Stat6−/− mice were much lower than in WT mice, which was associated with increased peritoneal levels of interleukin (IL)-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), and C10, known to enhance bacterial clearance. In Stat4−/− mice, hepatic inflammation and injury during sepsis were significantly ameliorated without affecting local responses. This event was associated with increased hepatic levels of IL-10 and IL-13, while decreasing those of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 and KC. Sepsis-induced renal injury was also abrogated in Stat4−/− mice, which was accompanied by decreased renal levels of MIP-2 and KC without altering IL-10 and IL-13 levels. Thus, Stat6−/− and Stat4−/− mice appeared to be resistant to septic peritonitis by enhancing local bacterial clearance and modulating systemic organ damage, respectively, via balancing cytokine responses. These results clearly highlight an important role of local type 1 and systemic type 2 cytokine response in protective immunity during sepsis, which can be regulated by Stat proteins.
Ethnobotany and Its Significance for Cannabis Studies in the Himalayas

(1977). Ethnobotany and Its Significance for Cannabis Studies in the Himalayas. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 337-339.
Inhibition of Foxo1 Protects Pancreatic Islet β-Cells Against Fatty Acid and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Apoptosis

OBJECTIVE— β-Cells are particularly susceptible to fatty acid–induced apoptosis associated with decreased insulin receptor/phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt signaling and the activation of stress kinases. We examined the mechanism of fatty acid–induced apoptosis of mouse β-cells especially as related to the role played by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress–induced Foxo1 activation and whether decreasing Foxo1 activity could enhance cell survival. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— Mouse insulinoma (MIN6) cells were administered with fatty acids, and the role of Foxo1 in mediating effects on signaling pathways and apoptosis was examined by measuring Foxo1 activity and using dominant-negative Foxo1. RESULTS— Increasing fatty acid concentrations (100–400 μmol/l palmitate or oleate) led to early Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation that preceded induction of ER stress markers and apoptosis. Foxo1 activity was increased with fatty acid administration and by pharmacological inducers of ER stress, and this increase was prevented by JNK inhibition. Fatty acids induced nuclear localization of Foxo1 at 4 h when Akt activity was increased, indicating that FoxO1 activation was not mediated by JNK inhibition of Akt. In contrast, fatty acid administration for 24 h was associated with decreased insulin signaling. A dominant-negative Foxo1 adenovirus (Adv-DNFoxo) conferred cells with protection from ER stress and fatty acid–mediated apoptosis. Microarray analysis revealed that fatty acid induction of gene expression was in most cases reversed by Adv-DNFoxo, including the proapoptotic transcription factor CHOP (C/EBP [CCAAT/enhancer binding protein] homologous protein). CONCLUSIONS— Early induction of JNK and Foxo1 activation plays an important role in fatty acid–induced apoptosis. Expressing a dominant-negative allele of Foxo1 reduces expression of apoptotic and ER stress markers and promotes β-cell survival from fatty acid and ER stress, identifying a potential therapeutic target for preserving β-cells in type 2 diabetes.
Linear stability of generalized equations. Part I: basic theory

Dedicated to Anthony V. Fiacco on the occasion of his 65th birthday. We consider a class of generalized equations involving set-valued maps, which formulate many problems from mathematical programming, complementarity theory and mathematical economics. Many results concerning the stability behavior of the solution sets of this class of generalized equations have been established, mainly focusing on "qualitative" characterizations. We develop a theory concentrating on "quantitative" characterizations of the stability behavior of solutions of generalized equations, and establish conditions which ensure the solution set of a generalized equation is "quantitatively" stable. In Part II of the paper, we use the concepts and methods developed here to treat norlinear programming problems.
Support for fully interactive playout in disk-array-based video server

In a video-on-demand (VOD) system, it is desirable to provide the user with interactive browsing functions such as “fast forward” and “fast backward.” However, these functions usually require a significant amount of additional resources from the VOD system in terms of storage space, retrieval throughput, network bandwidth, etc. Moreover, prevalent video compression techniques such as MPEG impose additional constraints on the process since they introduce inter-frame dependencies. In this paper, we devise methods to support variable rate browsing for MPEG-like video steams and minimize the additional resources required. Specifically, we consider retrieval for a disk-array-based video server and address the problem of distributing the retrieval requests across the disks.Our overall approach for interactive browsing comprises (1) a storage method, (2) placement and sampling methods, and (3) a playout method, where the placement and sampling methods are two alternatives for video segment selection. The segment sampling scheme supports browsing at any desired speed, while minimizing the variation on the number of video segments skipped between samplings. On the other hand, the segment placement scheme supports completely uniform segment sampling across the disk array for some specific speedup rates. Experiments for the visual effect of the proposed segment skipping approach have been conducted on MPEG data. It is shown that the proposed method is a viable approach to video browsing.
Optimizing denileukin diftitox (Ontak®) therapy

Denileukin diftitox (Ontak) is a novel recombinant fusion protein consisting of peptide sequences for the enzymatically active and membrane translocation domain of diphtheria toxin linked to human IL-2. Denileukin diftitox specifically binds to IL-2 receptors on the cell membrane, is internalized via receptor-mediated endocytosis and inhibits protein synthesis by ADP ribosylation of elongation factor 2, resulting in cell death. This article focuses on the clinical trial that led to the US FDA approval of the drug for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in 1999, and other investigational studies for hematologic malignancies, recurrent and refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma, graft-versus-host disease and autoimmune disease, demonstrating the activity and adverse effects of the drug.
A Case Study of Nearshore Drag Coefficient Behavior during Hurricane Ike (2008)

AbstractOver the past decade, numerous field campaigns and laboratory experiments have examined air–sea momentum exchange in the deep ocean. These studies have changed the understanding of drag coefficient behavior in hurricane force winds, with a general consensus that a limiting value is reached. Near the shore, wave conditions are markedly different than in deep water because of wave shoaling and breaking processes, but only very limited data exist to assess drag coefficient behavior. Yet, knowledge of the wind stress in this region is critical for storm surge forecasting, evaluating the low-level wind field across the coastal transition zone, and informing the wind load standard along the hurricane-prone coastline. During Hurricane Ike (2008), a Texas Tech University StickNet platform obtained wind measurements in marine exposure with a fetch across the Houston ship channel. These data were used to estimate drag coefficient dependence on wind speed. Wave conditions in the ship channel and surge level ...
Glucose suppression of glucagon: relationship to pancreatic beta cell function?

Plasma insulin and glucagon responses during 4h, 50 g oral glucose tolerance tests were assessed in 35 adults subdivided into four groups: weight-matched obese control and obese diabetic; lean control and lean, insulin-requiring diabetic subjects. Average basal glucagon levels were not significantly different among the four groups despite relative fasting hyperinsulinemia in obese subjects. Patterns of plasma glucagon suppression and plasma insulin excursions after oral glucose loading differentiated the four groups from one another. In obese controls, brisk hyperinsulinemia was associated with sustained suppression of glucagon from 60 through 240 min. In lean controls, significant glucagon suppression also occurred at 60 min but was not sustained. Subnormal plasma insulin increments during the initial 60 min of the test in obese diabetic subjects was attended by a delayed onset of glucagon suppression at 90 min which was also unsustained. In lean diabetic subjects no suppression of glucagon was observed ...
Mixed-Drove Spatio-Temporal Co-occurence Pattern Mining: A Summary of Results

Mixed-drove spatio-temporal co-occurrence patterns (MDCOPs) represent subsets of object-types that are located together in space and time. Discovering MDCOPs is an important problem with many applications such as identifying tactics in battlefields, games, and predator-prey interactions. However, mining MDCOPs is computationally very expensive because the interest measures are computationally complex, datasets are larger due to the archival history, and the set of candidate patterns is exponential in the number of object-types. We propose a monotonic composite interest measure for discovering MDCOPs and a novel MDCOP mining algorithm. Analytical and experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is correct and complete. Results also show the proposed method is computationally more efficient than na?ve alternatives.
Endangered Species and the Safe Minimum Standard

The safe minimum standard of conservation is a decision rule for problems like endangered species preservation that involve irreversibility and uncertainty. It has been motivated as the minimax-loss solution to a two-person game against nature. However, two equally plausible games can be used to model decisions involving endangered species. For one game, the safe minimum standard, and therefore preservation, is preferred. For the other game, extinction is preferred. Although the safe minimum standard is intuitively appealing, it cannot be motivated by game theory.
Unusual Albian (Early Cretaceous) Brachyura (Homoloidea: Componocancroidea New Superfamily) from Montana and Wyoming, U.S.A.

Brachyuran specimens collected from the Albian (Early Cretaceous) age Shell Creek Shale in Montana and Wyoming provide the basis for description of two new species, Zygastrocarcinus waagei and Componocancer roberti. The former represents only the fourth species of a genus that is endemic to the Cretaceous of mid-continental North America. The latter species is assigned to a new superfamily, Componocancroidea; new family, Componocancridae; and new genus, Componocancer, within Heterotremata. Componocancer exhibits a combination of primitive and derived features that is unique among Brachyura.
When links change: how additions and deletions of single navigation links affect user performance

This study examined user performance for Web sites in which a critical navigation link may have changed over the course of two visits. These second visits occurred either immediately after the first visit, one week later, or three weeks later. A shortcut link to the information was either consistently present, consistently absent, or varied between user visits. Results indicated when a pertinent navigation link was removed users searched through more pages and were less accurate in finding target information. When a link was added after the first visit, only about half of the users used it; however, even users who didn't use the added link still showed a performance improvement in their subsequent visit, suggesting that completing a single previous search on a site will lead to relatively long-term memories that can influence subsequent searches.