cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability of improvements in exercise performance and quality of life following bilateral lung volume reduction surgery in severe COPD.

Study objective To evaluate the long-term stability of improvements in exercise capacity and quality of life (QOL) after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). Design Case-series analysis. Setting University hospital. Patients Twenty-six patients with severe airflow obstruction (mean FEV 1 of 0.67±0.18 L) and moderate to severe hyperinflation (mean total lung capacity of 7.30±1.90 L). Intervention and measurements All patients underwent bilateral LVRS via median sternotomy. Serial measurement of lung function, symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise tests, 6-min walk distances (6MWD), and sickness impact profile (SIP) scores were done before, and at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after surgery. Results FEV 1 (0.93±0.29 vs 0.68±0.19 L, p<0.001) increased while residual volume (3.47±1.2 vs 4.77±1.5 L, p<0.001) decreased significantly at 3 months post-LVRS compared to baseline, and these changes were maintained at 12 to 18 months follow-up. Similarly, the increase in 6MWD at 3 months post-LVRS (340±84 vs 251±114 m, p<0.001) was sustained at all follow-up times. On cardiopulmonary exercise testing, total exercise time (9.0±1.8 vs 6.1±1.9 min, p<0.001), oxygen uptake at peak exercise ( V ˙ O 2 O 2 peak) (14.9±4 vs 11.9±3 mL/kg/min, p<0.001), maximum oxygen pulse (7.43±2.37 vs 5.85±1.96 mL/beat, p<0.005), and maximum minute ventilation ( V ˙ O 2 Emax) (30.3±10 vs 23.5±7.1 L/min, p<0.001) increased significantly at 3 months post-LVRS. On serial study following LVRS, total exercise time remained significantly greater at 6 (8.5±1.38 min) and 12 months (8.71±2.0 min) post-LVRS compared to baseline (5.81±1.9 min, p<0.05). V ˙ O 2 O 2 peak tended to be higher at all follow-up periods (3 months, 16.1±4.3; 6 months, 14.5±2.6; 12 months, 14.1±3.5 mL/kg) compared to baseline (12.6±3.9 mL/kg, p=0.08). Similarly, maximum O 2 pulse tended to be higher in all follow-up studies (3 months, 8.45±2.7; 6 months, 7.6±1.7; 12 months, 7.42±2.1 mL/beat) compared to baseline (6.39±2.5 mL/beat, p=0.06). Higher V ˙ O 2 Emax continued to be observed at 6 (30±10 L/min) and 12 months (28±10 L/min) post-LVRS, compared to baseline (23±7 L/min, p=0.02). VEmax post-LVRS was significantly higher at 3 and 6 months compared to baseline on post-hoc analysis (p Conclusion We conclude that bilateral LVRS via median sternotomy in selected patients with severe, diffuse emphysema improves exercise performance and QOL at 3 months following LVRS and these improvements are maintained for at least 12 to 18 months in follow-up.
SU-D-213CD-04: Dosimetric Evaluation of HexaPOD as a Tool for Patient Setup Verification Accuracy

Purpose: To quantify the dosimetric accuracy of 6 degrees vs. 3 degrees of motion for patient positioning for cone‐beam CT and HexaPOD Evo RT system (Elekta, Inc.) using the ArcCHECK (Sun Nuclear Corporation, software v.6.0) QA phantom. Methods: The average absolute values of our daily reported patient hexapod shift data were recorded and averaged for 18 patients. Using the CT scans of ArcCHECK, a QA plan was created in the Pinnacle (v.9.0) treatment planning system. By setting up ArcCHECK according to the QA plan and measuring the dose on Elekta Synergy, the baseline data was established. Next, an artificial shift was introduced in our phantom setup. A cone‐beam CT scan of the phantom was obtained and images adjusted. The resulting translational and rotational shifts were recorded. The table was then moved according to the translational shifts only, and another measurement was taken. Next, using hexapod translational and rotational shifts, the table was moved in 6 degrees of motion, and the dose was re‐measured. Results: For 18 IMRT patients, the average translational shifts were: x= 0.53 cm, y=0.38 cm and z= 0.516 cm, and average rotational shifts were pitch=0.979°, roll=0.8° and yaw= 0.67°. The ArcCHECK phantom measured results were quantified using 3%, 3mm distance to agreement gamma analysis criteria when comparing measured to planned dose. Our measurements showed that an average 97.3% of the points agreed in plans with no shift. After the artificial shift was introduced, and cone‐beam CT translational shifts were applied, 76.3% of points agreed. When both rotational and translational shifts were applied using Hexapod, an average of 93.4% of points agreed. Conclusions: Using hexapod for imaging and patient positioning results in a significantly more accurate dose delivery as compared to using only CBCT, as shown by our ArcCHECK QA phantom results.
Unsteady Vortex Flows Produced by Trailing Edge Articulation

The unsteady vortex flows produced by biologically inspired tail articulation are investigated. The application is to provide active means of reducing tonal noise due to upstream wake interaction with downstream propellers on underwater vehicles. By reducing the wake velocity defect, the periodic unsteady propeller blade pressure fluctuations that are the source of the noise should be reduced. Accordingly, experiments to measure the flows produced by an upstream stator fitted with a movable trailing edge were carried out in a water tunnel for Reynolds numbers in the range 75,000 <Re <300,000. A stator model with a hinged flapping trailing edge section operated at frequencies up to 21 Hz corresponding to a range of Strouhal number 0.0<St<0.18. Velocity measurements of the articulating stator wake were carried out by laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and particle image velocimetry (PIV). Reduced mean and rms LDV data show that trailing edge articulation generates vortex structures with dependence on both Strouhal number and articulation amplitude. Estimates of the time mean stator drag that were obtained by integrating the mean wake profiles were used to estimate optimal Strouhal numbers in terms of wake elimination. Instantaneous phase-averaged measurements via PIV show a transition in the unsteady stator wake flow regimes as St is increased, from a deflected vortex sheet to a series of rolled up, discrete vortices. Measurements of the wake high-light the characteristics of the vortex structures and provide a means to estimate the impact on downstream propellers.
Local delamination in laminates with angle ply matrix cracks. Part 1: Tension tests and stress analysis

Quasi-static tension tests were conducted on AS4/3501-6 graphite epoxy laminates. Dye penetrant enhanced x-radiography was used to document the onset of matrix cracking and the onset of local delaminations at the intersection of the matrix cracks and the free edge. Edge micrographs taken after the onset of damage were used to verify the location of the matrix cracks and local delamination through the laminate thickness. A quasi-3D finite element analysis was conducted to calculate the stresses responsible for matrix cracking in the off-axis plies. Laminated plate theory indicated that the transverse normal stresses were compressive. However, the finite element analysis yielded tensile transverse normal stresses near the free edge. Matrix cracks formed in the off-axis plies near the free edge where in-plane transverse stresses were tensile and had their greatest magnitude. The influence of the matrix crack on interlaminar stresses is also discussed.
Prescribed Fire and Herbicide Effects on Soil Processes During Barrens Restoration

Prescribed fire has become a common tool of natural area managers for removal of non-indigenous invasive species and maintenance of barrens plant communities. Certain non-native species, such as tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), tolerate fire and may require additional removal treatments. We studied changes in soil N and C dynamics after prescribed fire and herbicide application in remnant barrens in west central Kentucky. The effects of a single spring burn post-emergence herbicide, combined fire and herbicide treatments, and an unburned no-herbicide control were compared on five replicate blocks. In fire-plus-herbicide plots, fescue averaged 8% at the end of the growing season compared with 46% fescue cover in control plots. The extent of bare soil increased from near 0 in control to 11% in burned plots and 25% in fire-plus-herbicide plots. Over the course of the growing season, fire had little effect on soil N pools or processes. Fire caused a decline in soil CO 2 flux in parallel to decreased soil moisture. When applied alone, herbicide increased plant-available soil N slightly but had no effect on soil respiration, moisture, or temperature. Fire-plus-herbicide significantly increased plant-available soil N and net N transformation rates; soil respiration declined by 33%. Removal of non-native plants modified the chemical, physical, and biological soil conditions that control availability of plant nutrients and influence plant species performance and community composition.
Collective structures in the odd-Z transitional nuclei 115,117I and 121,123Sb.

Collective properties of odd-Z /sup 115,117/I and /sup 121,123/Sb nuclei have been investigated via /sup 106/Cd(/sup 12/C,p2n)/sup 115/I, /sup 106/Cd(/sup 14/N,2pn)/sup 117/I, /sup 112/Sn(/sup 12/C,..cap alpha..p2n)/sup 117/I, and /sup 120,122/Sn(/sup 7/Li,..cap alpha..2n) /sup 121,123/Sb reactions, using in-beam ..gamma.. excitation, ..gamma..-..gamma.. coincidence, ..gamma..-W(theta) and pulsed-beam-..gamma.. measurements. The two collective features common to the Z>50 transition region were observed; the first, the occurrence of ..delta..J = 1 bands built on low-lying (9/2)/sup +/ states, was found in all four nuclei, and the second, ..delta..J = 2 bands built on (11/2)/sup -/ states, was seen in /sup 115,117/I. The (9/2)/sup +/ and (11/2)/sup -/ band heads involve a 1g/sub 9/2/ proton hole and a 1h/sub 11/2/ quasiproton, respectively. The systematics of these band structures in the Z>50 transition region, which have been extended in this study, are presented and discussed in terms of collective interpretations.
Steroid requirements for regulation of the α4 subunit of the GABAA receptor in an in vitro model

The alpha4 subunit of the GABA(A) receptor (GABAR) has relatively low expression in the CNS, but is increased in vivo following 48 h administration of the GABA-modulatory steroid 3alpha-OH-5alpha[beta]-pregnan-20-one (THP or [allo]pregnanolone) to female rats. The purpose of the following study was to determine the optimal conditions for steroid-induced upregulation of alpha4 expression in an in vitro model. To this end, we used the IMR-32 cell, a neuroblastoma cell line, which normally expresses alpha4 mRNA at low levels. In undifferentiated IMR-32 cells, 48 h administration of THP increased alpha4 expression when ambient THP levels were reduced by the 5alpha-reductase blocker 4MA, suggesting that the background steroid milieu affects steroid regulation of this subunit. Following neuronal differentiation in serum-free medium, 48 h THP treatment significantly increased alpha4 expression two-fold following application of nerve growth factor (NGF) suggesting that development of neuronal processes facilitates this effect of the steroid. In the absence of NGF treatment, combined administration of 17beta-estradiol (E2) plus THP also increased alpha4 expression to a similar extent as THP following NGF treatment. In addition, E2 alone effectively increased alpha4 expression to maximal levels following NGF treatment. In contrast, neuronal differentiation in the absence of serum deprivation did not increase alpha4 levels. These results suggest that both THP and E2 can increase expression of the GABAR alpha4 subunit, but that this effect is dependent upon the background steroid milieu as well as the degree of neuronal development. These findings demonstrate optimal conditions for steroid-induced upregulation of the alpha4 subunit in an in vitro system.
Molecular Epidemiology of Anthrax Cases Associated with Recreational Use of Animal Hides and Yarn in the United States

To determine potential links between the clinical isolate to animal products and their geographic origin, we genotyped (MLVA-8, MVLA-15, and canSNP analysis) 80 environmental and 12 clinical isolates and 2 clinical specimens from five cases of anthrax (California in 1976 [n = 1], New York in 2006 [n = 1], Connecticut in 2007 [n = 2], and New Hampshire in 2009[n = 1]) resulting from recreational handling of animal products. For the California case, four clinical isolates were identified as MLVA-8 genotype (GT) 76 and in the canSNP A.Br.Vollum lineage, which is consistent with the Pakistani origin of the yarn. Twenty eight of the California isolates were in the A.Br.Vollum canSNP lineage and one isolate was in the A.Br. 003/004 canSNP sub-group. All 52 isolates and both clinical specimens related to the New York and Connecticut cases were MLVA-8 GT 1. The animal products associated with the NY and CT cases were believed to originate from West Africa, but no isolates from this region are available to be genotyped for comparison. All isolates associated with the New Hampshire case were identical and had a new genotype (GT 149). Isolates from the NY, CT and NH cases diverge from the established canSNP phylogeny near the base of the A.Br.011/009. This report illustrates the power of the current genotyping methods and the dramatically different epidemiological conditions that can lead to infections (i.e., contamination by a single genotype versus widespread contamination of numerous genotypes). These cases illustrate the need to acquire and genotype global isolates so that accurate assignments can be made about isolate origins.
Geriatric sleep apnea syndrome: A preliminary description

We compared 8 patients diagnosed with geriatric sleep apnea syndrome (GSAS) with 12 healthy older controls (GCON) matched on age, sex, weight, education, and socioeconomic standing. GSAS was diagnosed if patients had an apnea + hypopnea index (AHI) greater than or equal to 10 and an impairment involving at least two of the following: hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, or daytime hypersomnolence. In addition to significant differences on selection variables (e.g., AHI, frequency of hypertension, Multiple Sleep Latency Test), GSAS patients had significantly more sleep disturbance, were sleepier on subjective measures, were more depressed, and had lower scores on tests of nonverbal problem solving and nonverbal memory. Thus, GSAS resembles SAS described in middle-aged populations. More research is needed to determine the most efficient diagnostic parameters for identifying pathological levels of SDB in older persons.
Effect of tillage on corn response to potassium fertility

Abstract An experiment was conducted over two years on a Typic Haplaquoll and an Aquic Argiudoll to determine the effect of tillage on the response of two corn hybrids (Zea mays) to soil K fertility. Four tillage systems were used: moldboard plow, chisel plow, disk, and no‐till. The soil K treatments were 336 and 560 kg exchangeable K/ha and 336 kg exchangeable K + 73 kg banded K/ha. Increase in exchangeable soil K increased midseason leaf K each year. Banded K increased leaf K only in the drier year. Tillage affected grain yields only in the growing season with the higher precipitation. The lowest grain yields were obtained with the no‐till system, the highest with the chisel system. Potassium treatment did not affect grain yields. It was concluded that K fertility recommendations developed for moldboard plow systems are adequate for reduced tillage systems.
Flare asymmetry as seen in offband H-alpha filtergrams

Narrow-band H-alpha filtergrams at + or - 1 A and + or - 2 A from the line center were used to study the asymmetry of flares. Of the 60 flares studied, 92% show red asymmetry while 5% show blue asymmetry. Typically, the filtergrams show a striking dominance of the red wing over the blue wing from onset until late in the decay phase. The difference in intensity of the flare emissions is further augmented by the extensiveness of the emission area in the brighter wing. New kernel-like emissions were often found many minutes after the flare maximum. Spatially, they are displaced from the previous kernels. The late emissions show the same asymmetry as that of the earlier part of the flare.
Risk factors for bulimia nervosa: a controlled study of parental psychiatric illness and divorce.

Abstract Twenty five women with normal-weight bulimia nervosa were compared with 25 age- and weight-matched women without bulimia nervosa on measures of parental psychiatric illness. Case and control probands, as well as their parents, completed the Family History Research Diagnostic Criteria (FH-RDC) interview and a battery of self-report instruments. Case probands and controls were divided into two groups based on evidence for parental psychiatric illness. The assignment of parental psychiatric illness was made by (a) a positive parental history of alcoholism or depression from the FH-RDC; or (b) evidence of parental major depression, alcoholism, or personality disorder from the self-report measures. Parental psychiatric illness occured significantly more frequently for case probands compared to the control probands (64% vs. 24%, odds ratio = 5.6, 95% Cl = 1.7–19.2). Parental psychiatric illness was also associated with parental divorce (Fisher's exact p = .023) and a trend toward lower ratings of paternal but not maternal relationship by case probands. This study suggests parental psychiatric illness may be a risk factor for bulimia nervosa and may contribute to environmental effects through increased rates of divorce and impaired paternal relationships.
Ammonia Volatilization from Broiler Litter: Effect of Soil Water Content and Humidity

Broiler litter is commonly applied to grasslands as fertilizer where it undergoes N losses through NH₃ volatilization. Ammonia losses represent not only a loss of plant-available N but also a source of environmental contamination. Previous research has shown that NH₃ volatilization from broiler litter is affected by environmental conditions, but the effects of atmospheric water and soil water content (WC) are not well understood. We conducted a study at constant 94% relative humidity (RH) to evaluate rewetting of broiler litter and another study at 32% RH to evaluate drying of broiler litter. We also conducted two laboratory studies to evaluate the effect of soil WC (0.03 vs. 0.13 g H₂O g⁻¹) at either 32 or 92% RH on NH₃ volatilization from surface-applied broiler litter. Results of the drying and rewetting studies showed that broiler litter can absorb or lose water at a relatively fast rate depending on RH. Ammonia volatilization was greater from wet soil (0.13 g g⁻¹ soil WC) than from drier soil (0.03 g g⁻¹ soil WC) under the high RH (92%), with losses of 21 and 11% of total N, respectively. In contrast, NH₃ loss was only slightly greater in wet (0.13 g g⁻¹ soil WC) vs. dry (0.03 g g⁻¹ soil WC) soil at 32% RH, with losses of 5.2 and 3.2% of total N, respectively. These findings indicate that both soil WC and RH may play an important role in NH₃ volatilization. Further research should evaluate the effect of diurnal RH changes on NH₃ loss from surface-applied broiler litter.
Lipoinjection for unilateral vocal cord paralysis.

Injection of Teflon® paste is a commonly accepted procedure to improve the caliber of voice in unilateral vocal cord paralysis. There are several drawbacks to Teflon injection, among them respiratory obstruction (from overinjected Teflon) and unsatisfactory voice quality (Teflon causes stiffness of the vocal folds). This paper is a preliminary report on lipoinjection instead of Teflon injection into a paralyzed vocal fold. Fat appears to impart a soft bulkiness to the injected cord, while allowing it to retain its vibratory qualities. It is autologous material and can be retrieved if excessively overinjected. The fate of autologous fat injected into a paralyzed vocal cord remains unknown. Most of the literature on lipoinjection concerns repairs of depressed scars or breast augmentation. Our longest follow-up has been 12 months. Three patients have had this procedure, and the results appear to be very encouraging.
Temporal dynamics and determinants of whole brain tissue volume changes during recovery from alcohol dependence

Brain shrinkage and its partial reversibility with abstinence is a common neuroimaging finding in alcohol dependent individuals. We used an automated three-dimensional whole brain magnetic resonance imaging method (boundary shift integral) in 23 alcohol dependent individuals to measure the temporal dynamics of cerebral tissue and spinal fluid volume changes over a 12-month interval and to examine the major determinants of brain tissue change rates during abstinence and non-abstinence. We found more rapid brain tissue gain during the first month of sobriety than in the following months. The most rapid volume recovery was observed in abstinent individuals with the greatest baseline brain shrinkage and drinking severity. The rapid reversal of brain volume gains in non-abstinent individuals and tissue volume changes are modulated by duration of abstinence and non-abstinence periods, as well as recency of non-abstinence. Age, family history density of alcoholism, relapse severity, and duration or age of onset of heavy drinking were not major determinants of brain shrinkage and brain volume recovery rates. Treatment providers may use this tangible information to reinforce the biomedical benefits of sobriety. Previous quantitative measurements of brain volumes in alcohol dependent individuals performed after several weeks of abstinence likely underestimated the full extent of chronic alcohol-associated brain shrinkage.
Role-based domain discovery in decentralized secure interoperations

Multi-domain collaborative environments are becoming a reality as can be witnessed in emerging Internet-based enterprise applications. Access control to ensure secure interoperation in such multi-domain environments is a crucial challenge. Decentralized secure interoperation approaches are becoming promising since it requires no centralized administration and thus can accommodate very large scale collaborations. In decentralized secure interoperation approaches, the resource-requesting domain itself needs to first identify the specific domains that contains the requested resources since there is no centralized administrative domain. Such a problem becomes more challenging when Role Based Access Control (RBAC) is employed since the permissions over resources are encapsulated as roles and the least privilege principle has to be ensured. In this paper, we define such a problem as role-based domain discovery problem and propose efficient solutions to address it. In particular, we use a role mapping algorithm to ensure the least privilege principle and propose three discovery approaches to identify the domains containing the requested resources: Linear Propagation Approach (LPA), Broadcasting Approach (BA), and Hybrid Approach (HA). We conduct a comprehensive simulation to evaluate and compare the three proposed discovery approaches using various criteria.
Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase and Calbindin Delineate Sex Differences in the Developing Hypothalamus and Preoptic Area

Throughout the hypothalamus there are several regions known to contain sex differences in specific cellular, neurochemical, or cell grouping characteristics. The current study examined the potential origin of sex differences in calbindin expression in the preoptic area and hypothalamus as related to sources of nitric oxide. Specific cell populations were defined by immunoreactive (ir) calbindin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus (POA/AH), anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPv), and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN). The POA/AH of adult mice was characterized by a striking sex difference in the distribution of cells with ir-calbindin. Examination of the POA/AH of androgen receptor deficient Tfm mice suggests that this pattern was in part androgen receptor dependent, since Tfm males had reduced ir-calbindin compared with wild-type males and more similar to wild-type females. At P0 ir-calbindin was more prevalent than in adulthood, with males having significantly more ir-calbindin and nNOS than have females. Cells that contained either ir-calbindin or ir-nNOS in the POA/AH were in adjacent cell groups, suggesting that NO derived from the enzymatic activity of nNOS may influence the development of ir-calbindin cells. In the region of AVPv, at P0, there was a sex difference with males having more ir-nNOS fibers than have females while ir-calbindin was not detected. In the VMN, at P0, ir-nNOS was greater in females than in males, with no significant difference in ir-calbindin. We suggest that NO as an effector molecule and calbindin as a molecular biomarker illuminate key aspects of sexual differentiation in the developing mouse brain.
Hayek and economic ignorance: Reply to Friedman

Abstract Markets can be said to overcome ignorance in two senses. First, in an imaginary world of economic equilibrium, market prices can signal to consumers how they may alter their behavior so as to conform to supply and demand conditions of which they are ignorant. This is a point that was underscored by F.A. Hayek and, now, by Jeffrey Friedman. But the more important manner in which markets overcome ignorance was identified by Hayek's mentor, Ludwig von Mises, and is not mentioned by Friedman: when market prices are not perfectly aligned to supply and demand conditions (and they never are), they present profit opportunities to entrepreneurs who are alert to make such discoveries. Their profit‐motivated actions then reallocate resources in a pattern more efficiently reflecting the true supply and demand conditions. It is this way of overcoming ignorance that most clearly separates the market arena from the political arena, because no corresponding corrective discovery process exists in politics.
MO-F-BRA-04: Voxel-Based Statistical Analysis of Deformable Image Registration Error via a Finite Element Method

Purpose Clinical implementation of adaptive treatment planning is limited by the lack of quantitative tools to assess deformable image registration errors (R-ERR). The purpose of this study was to develop a method, using finite element modeling (FEM), to estimate registration errors based on mechanical changes resulting from them. Methods An experimental platform to quantify the correlation between registration errors and their mechanical consequences was developed as follows: diaphragm deformation was simulated on the CT images in patients with lung cancer using a finite element method (FEM). The simulated displacement vector fields (F-DVF) were used to warp each CT image to generate a FEM image. B-Spline based (Elastix) registrations were performed from reference to FEM images to generate a registration DVF (R-DVF). The F- DVF was subtracted from R-DVF. The magnitude of the difference vector was defined as the registration error, which is a consequence of mechanically unbalanced energy (UE), computed using 'in-house-developed' FEM software. A nonlinear regression model was used based on imaging voxel data and the analysis considered clustered voxel data within images. Results A regression model analysis showed that UE was significantly correlated with registration error, DVF and the product of registration error and DVF respectively with R2=0.73 (R=0.854). The association was verified independently using 40 tracked landmarks. A linear function between the means of UE values and R- DVF*R-ERR has been established. The mean registration error (N=8) was 0.9 mm. 85.4% of voxels fit this model within one standard deviation. Conclusions An encouraging relationship between UE and registration error has been found. These experimental results suggest the feasibility of UE as a valuable tool for evaluating registration errors, thus supporting 4D and adaptive radiotherapy. The research was supported by NIH/NCI R01CA140341.
Energy consumption patterns in the Canadian and world economies The use of a ternary primary energy diagram

Abstract A new method is presented for showing the distribution of primary energy forms by use of the ternary diagram. An arbitrary division of energy sources into oil, other exhaustibles, and inexhaustibles (renewables sources and uranium) is made, but other choices may be made if desired. The ternary primary energy diagram is an effective means of showing important changes and characteristics of the energy system, both in terms of the historical record and to illustrate the routes available to reduce, for instance, petroleum dependence. Trends in the pattern of Canada's energy consumption are identified, and with the help of the ternary diagram, some options for energy policy are evaluated.
Hands-on Exercises for IT Security Education

We have developed a collection of instructional hands-on lab assignments that can be used to help teach security courses or courses with a security component in information technology (IT). Our labs cover a wide spectrum of principles, ideas and technologies along with well-developed open source tools. Lab descriptions are publicly accessible from our web page. All of the labs have been tested in a virtual environment and utilized in our security courses. Feedback from the students has been positive. In this paper, we will present the lab design, topics covered in our labs, lab environments and student evaluation results. We will share our experience in transferring advanced technology to IT security education and lessons learned from this practice.
Synthesis Framework for Generating County-Level Freight Data Using Public Sources for Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis

Current publicly available national commodity flow databases have been restricted to the metropolitan level [e.g., freight analysis framework (FAF), Commodity Flow Survey, etc.], which is of little use to regional freight planning. Some local agencies have conducted regional surveys to obtain freight data in areas as small as the travel analysis zone or ZIP code level, but high costs and uncertainties associated with these surveys are hindrances to the availability and usefulness of the data. This paper presents a framework to synthesize high geography resolution freight outbound and inbound shipment data using the publicly existing commodity flow data, primarily FAF. Furthermore, the paper investigates the cross-county interdependency and spatial clusters of shipment generation in terms of spatial autocorrelation by using the generated county-level inbound and outbound flows. The outcome of this study is of two significances: (a) to provide an applicable data synthesis framework that generates the high geography resolution commodity flow data with acceptable accuracy; and (b) to understand the spatial characteristics of commodity flow across counties nationally.
STATUS BRAND MANAGEMENT AND GIFT PURCHASE: A DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS

The study identifies major factors that contrast gift decisions for different status signature clothes. Gift buying represents a significant proportion of purchases in many product classes and is a pervasive retail consumption pattern. Specialty clothing retail sales surpassed the $9 billion figure in 1983. Factors that discriminate status brands for gift purchases can be used to develop market strategies to increase purchases. Strategies are provided for brand managers, fashion marketers, and store buyers to better meet consumer needs and wants in the gift‐buying process.
Placental production of nitric oxide and endothelin in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies

Objective: To examine the production rates of nitric oxide (NO) and en-dothelin in normal and preeclamptic placentas. We hypothesized that if placental production of NO is decreased and/or that of endothelin is increased in preeclampsia, these compounds could contribute to the pathophysiology of placental vasoconstriction.Methods: Human placental tissues were obtained from women with normal pregnancies (n = 8) and women with preeclampsia (n = 6). Tissues (350 mg) were incubated in DMEM for 48 h.Results: Both normal and preeclamptic placentas produced NO and endothelin progressively during the 48 h of incubation. The concentrations after 48 h for nitrite were 29 ± 8 nmol/mg protein for normal placentas and 34 ±11 nmol/mg protein for preeclamptic placentas. For endothelin, the concentrations after 48 h were 20 ± 3 fmol/mg and 23 ± 3 fmol/mg, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences for either NO or endothelin between normal and preeclamptic placentas, P ± 0.5.Conclusion: Whole place...
Electrical characterization of self-assembled In 0.5 Ga 0.5 As/GaAs quantum dots by deep level transient spectroscopy

We have investigated electron emission from self-assembled In0.5Ga0.5As/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) grown by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE). Through detailed deep level transient spectroscopy comparisons between the QD sample and a reference sample, we determine that trap D, with an activation energy of 100 meV and an apparent capture cross section of 5.4×10−18 cm2, is associated with an electron quantum level in the In0.5Ga0.5As/GaAs QDs. The other deep levels observed, M1, M3, M4, and M6, are common to GaAs grown by MBE.
High Atmospheric Nitrate Inputs and Nitrogen Turnover in Semi-arid Urban Catchments

The influx of atmospheric nitrogen to soils and surfaces in arid environments is of growing concern due to increased N emissions and N usage associated with urbanization. Atmospheric nitrogen inputs to the critical zone can occur as wet (rain or snow) or dry (dust or aerosols) deposition, and can lead to eutrophication, soil acidification, and groundwater contamination through leaching of excess nitrate. The objective of this research was to use the δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O values of atmospheric nitrate (NO3 −) (precipitation and aerosols) and NO3 − in runoff to assess the importance of N deposition and turnover in semi-arid urban watersheds. Data show that the fractions of atmospheric NO3 − exported from all the urban catchments, throughout the study period, were substantially higher than in nearly all other ecosystems studied with mean atmospheric contributions of 38% (min 0% and max 82%). These results suggest that catchment and stream channel imperviousness enhance atmospheric NO3 − export due to inefficient N cycling and retention. In contrast, catchment and stream channel perviousness allow for enhanced N processing and therefore reduced atmospheric NO3 − export. Overall high fractions of atmospheric NO3 − were primarily attributed to slow N turn over in arid/semi-arid ecosystems. A relatively high fraction of nitrification NO3 − (~30%) was found in runoff from a nearly completely impervious watershed (91%). This was attributed to nitrification of atmospheric NH4 + in dry-deposited dust, suggesting that N nitrifiers have adapted to urban micro niches. Gross nitrification rates based on NO3 − Δ17O values ranged from a low 3.04 ± 2 kg NO3-N km−2 day−1 in highly impervious catchments to a high of 10.15 ± 1 kg NO3-N km−2 day−1 in the low density urban catchment. These low gross nitrification rates were attributed to low soil C:N ratios that control gross autotrophic nitrification by regulating gross NH4 + production rates.
An Initial Evaluation of the Design of Pediatric Psychology Consultation Service with Children with Diabetes

The objective of this study was to review the process of psychology consultation with an outpatient pediatric diabetes service, and provide data regarding assessment and outcome. The purpose was to demonstrate that the inclusion of psychology in the care of the child would enhance the effectiveness of treatment delivery. Over a one-year period, 91 psychological consultations were reviewed for information related to reasons for referral, diagnosis, and treatment. Processes of assessment and collaboration are described. Nearly half of all the participants that were referred for a consultation met the criteria for a psychiatric disorder, including Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, mood disorder or anxiety. Paired t-tests revealed significant improvement in metabolic control from referral to the next clinic appointment. Psychological consultation appears to have a positive impact on selected health outcomes. Given the large number of children with psychiatric disorder, psychological intervention may facilitate adherence and reduce complications associated with poor metabolic control.
Influence of Surface Observations in Mesoscale Data Assimilation Using an Ensemble Kalman Filter

AbstractThe assimilation of surface observations using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) approach was successfully performed in the Advanced Research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) coupled with the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART) system. The mesoscale cycling experiment for the continuous ensemble data assimilation was verified against independent surface mesonet observations and demonstrated the positive impact on short-range forecasts over the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) domain throughout the month-long period of June 2008. The EnKF assimilation of surface observations was found useful for systematically improving the simulation of the depth and the structure of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and the reduction of surface bias errors. These benefits were extended above PBL and resulted in a better precipitation forecast for up to 12 h. With the careful specification of observation errors, not only the reliability of the ensemble system but also the quality of the fol...
Hawaii bibliographic database

The Hawaii bibliographic database has been created to contain all of the literature, from 1779 to the present, pertinent to the volcanological history of the Hawaiian-Emperor volcanic chain. References are entered in a PC- and Macintosh-compatible EndNote Plus bibliographic database with keywords and abstracts or (if no abstract) with annotations as to content. Keywords emphasize location, discipline, process, identification of new chemical data or age determinations, and type of publication. The database is updated approximately three times a year and is available to upload from an ftp site. The bibliography contained 8460 references at the time this paper was submitted for publication. Use of the database greatly enhances the power and completeness of library searches for anyone interested in Hawaiian volcanism.
PEAKSEEK: A Statistical Processing Algorithm for Radiation Spectrum Peak Identification

An accurate analysis of radiation data is essential in many nuclear related applications. In the intelligent Model Assisted Sensing System (iMASS) development, nuclear resonance florescence (NRF) spectra of radioactive isotopes are used for detection of nuclear material in cargo containers at US ports. The NRF spectrum of a particular radioactive isotope has a unique signature at unique energy levels. This paper presents a statistical processing algorithm, Peakseek, developed to identify radiation peaks in NRF spectra with a certain degree of confidence. The algorithm tracks the changes in the count rate (theta) of the NRF spectrum and identifies the point of abrupt change in the count rate, i.e., energy level. Identification of abrupt changes in the count rate is performed on the basis of a generalized likelihood ratio statistical test.
Optimum Operating Conditions for Class C Amplifiers

A theoretical analysis of the plate efficiency and output of a triode operating as a class C amplifier is made. A linear amplifier with any desired operating angle is described. Three cases in the operation of a triode as a class C amplifier are analyzed for the load impedance which will give maximum output. It is shown that for a given tube, plate voltage, and plate loss, there is a definite value of load impedance, C bias, and grid excitation voltage, which will give maximum output. A rapid method of determining these optimum operating conditions is shown and checked experimentally.
Structural vascular changes in hypertension: role of angiotensin II, dietary sodium supplementation, and sympathetic stimulation, alone and in combination in rats.

Elevated circulating angiotensin (Ang) II levels, dietary sodium, and sympathetic stimulation are recurrent themes of hypertension research, but their in vivo interaction in physiologically meaningful doses has not been adequately investigated. In this study, the interaction of a subpressor dose of Ang II (50 ng · kg −1 · min −1 SC), 2% NaCl diet, and sympathetic stimulation in the form of overnight cold exposure was investigated in the development of hypertension and of structural vascular changes in male Sprague-Dawley rats. There were 8 experimental groups: sham operation and treatment (control), Ang II, 2% NaCl diet, cold exposure (5°C), Ang II plus 2% NaCl diet, Ang II plus cold exposure, cold exposure plus 2% NaCl diet, and Ang II plus 2% NaCl diet plus cold exposure (triple treatment). For each group, the duration of treatment was 12 weeks. Morphometric measurements of maximally dilated, in situ fixed, second-order (250 to 320 μm OD), intermediate-size (100 to 150 μm OD), and small (50 to 100 μm OD) mesenteric arteries were performed, and wall-to-lumen ratios (W/L) were calculated. During the 12-week study, the blood pressure (BP) load (the area under the systolic BP curve) of rats receiving the combined treatment of Ang II and 2% NaCl diet was increased ( P P P P P
The Effect of Feeder Hotspots on the Predictability and Home Range Use of a Small Bird in Winter

Few studies address how resources and predation risk affect movement patterns and the overall spatial use of prey species. Although movement is generally considered to be dangerous, at large scales, movement may be important for predator avoidance and the predictability of such movement may be key. We examine the movement patterns of a small bird (Junco hyemalis) in winter to better understand how these birds might respond to the trade-off of unpredictable movements for predator avoidance with the foraging benefits of visiting large, predictable food sources. We manipulated resources by adding feeders to junco home ranges and compared the movement patterns of these flocks to those without access to feeders. Juncos with access to feeders were more spatially and temporally predictable, had reduced movement rates and smaller home range sizes. Our results suggest that the influence of resource distribution on junco movements is high. Juncos with highly productive and predictable resource hotspots may place more value on resources than remaining unpredictable. Consequently, they may be employing non-movement methods of anti-predator behavior, such as vigilance, at feeders, although this requires further investigation.
Motion perception deficits from midline cerebellar lesions in human

Although visual motion processing is commonly thought to be mediated solely by visual cortical areas, this human lesion study suggests that the cerebellum also has a role. We found motion direction discrimination deficits in a group of patients with acute midline cerebellar lesions. Unlike normals and patients with hemispheric cerebellar lesions, these patients with midline lesions were unable to discern a global motion vector in a local stochastic motion display. This resembles the perceptual defect reported following cortical area MT lesions in primates. This motion perception deficit may result from damage to a cerebellar mechanism involved in perceptual stabilization. Disruption of this comparator mechanism is sufficient to produce a severe motion perception deficit even though cortical visual processing mechanisms are still intact.
Human ovarian tumor cells: a potential model for thecal cell steroidogenesis.

Ovarian thecal cell production of C19 steroids (i.e. dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, and testosterone) is necessary to provide substrate for granulosa cell biosynthesis of estrogen; however, excessive production of C19 steroids can lead to disorders associated with androgen excess. Because of difficulties in obtaining adequate numbers of thecal cells, the biomolecular regulation of C19 steroid production and expression of steroidogenic enzymes is not well defined. We have overcome this obstacle by developing a highly dependable and unique human ovarian thecal-like tumor (HOTT) cell culture model system from an ovarian tumor found to produce excessive amounts of C19 steroids. Aliquots of freshly dispersed tumor cells were frozen for future use. Once placed in monolayer culture, HOTT cells proliferated and could be maintained for extended periods. Acutely, cultured HOTT cells increased progesterone and cAMP production in response to 2 h of forskolin treatment. These cells were, however, unresponsiv...
The dynamics and radiant intensity of large hydrogen flames

Measurements of the spectral radiant intensity and structure of large turbulent hydrogen diffusion flames, with mass flow rates from 5.4 to 68kg/sec, are presented. These measurements are compared with predictions of the reacting, buoyant flowfield and radiant intensities, utilizing the flowfield and infrared radiation computer codes originally developed to determine rocket and jet aircraft exhaust plume characteristics. The predictions of radiant intensity are shown to be within the data fluctuations (±25%) and the predicted length of the diffusion flame is consistent with the data. However, the predicted flame width is somewhat smaller than that obtained from thermovision measurements of the flame (1.9–3.3 microns). This is attributed to the failure of the turbulence model used in the flowfield code to accurately treat the large density gradients across the flame. It is shown that, for the conditions of these tests, the radiant intensity does not scale linearly with mass flow rate. The ratio of radiant intensity to rate of heat release, F, is demonstrated to vary from 0.153 at very low velocities (small Froude numbers) to 0.086 at the high velocities (large Froude numbers). This trend of decreasing F with increasing velocity is consistent with the experimental observations of Brzustowski et al. 1 The reasonable agreement between the theoretical predictions and data suggests that these codes, and selected laboratory experiments, may be used to develop scaling relations for radiant intensity and flame structure which include effects of optical depth, mass flow rate, velocity, pipe radius, and Froude number.
Use of next-generation DNA sequencing to analyze genetic variants in rheumatic disease

Next-generation DNA sequencing has revolutionized the field of genetics and genomics, providing researchers with the tools to efficiently identify novel rare and low frequency risk variants, which was not practical with previously available methodologies. These methods allow for the sequence capture of a specific locus or small genetic region all the way up to the entire six billion base pairs of the diploid human genome. Rheumatic diseases are a huge burden on the US population, affecting more than 46 million Americans. Those afflicted suffer from one or more of the more than 100 diseases characterized by inflammation and loss of function, mainly of the joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. While genetics studies of many of these diseases (for example, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease) have had major successes in defining their genetic architecture, causal alleles and rare variants have still been elusive. This review describes the current high-throughput DNA sequencing methodologies commercially available and their application to rheumatic diseases in both case–control as well as family-based studies.