cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The structure of the inner heliosphere from Pioneer Venus and IMP observations

The IMP 8 and Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) spacecraft explore the region of heliographic latitudes between 8 deg N and 8 deg S. Solar wind observations from these spacecraft are used to construct synoptic maps of solar wind parameters in this region. These maps provide an explicit picture of the structure of high speed streams near 1 AU and how that structure varies with time. From 1982 until early 1985, solar wind parameters varied little with latitude. During the last solar minimum, the solar wind developed strong latitudinal structure; high speed streams were excluded from the vicinity of the solar equator. Synoptic maps of solar wind speed are compared with maps of the coronal source surface magnetic field. This comparison reveals the expected correlation between solar wind speed near 1 AU, the strength of the coronal magnetic field, and distance from the coronal neutral line.
Intra-arterial carboplatin and intravenous etoposide for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors.

Metastatic brain tumors (MBT) are the most frequent complication of systemic cancer and often respond poorly to treatment. Median survival is only 16-24 weeks after conventional radiation therapy. Regional intra-arterial (IA) administration of chemotherapy results in increased tumor uptake of drug and may improve response rates and survival. Twenty-seven patients with MBT who had received prior irradiation were treated with IA carboplatin (200 mg/m2/d) and intravenous (i.v.) etoposide (100 mg/m2/d) for 2 days every 3-4 weeks. Eighteen patients (67%) had received prior systemic chemotherapy for their primary tumor. Patients ranged in age from 19 to 68 years (mean 48.1). Thirteen of 24 evaluable patients had objective responses (54.2%). There were 6 complete responses (25%), 6 partial responses (25%), 1 minor response (4.2%), 7 stable disease (32%), and 5 progressive disease (20.8%). Some patients with multifocal tumors had a mixture of responses. The median time to progression was 16.0 weeks overall and 30.0 weeks in responders (range 6-118 weeks). Overall median survival from the time of protocol initiation was 20.0 weeks. In six responders, death occurred due to systemic illness unrelated to MBT progression. Therapy was well tolerated, with predominantly hematologic toxicity. Angiographic complications were rare. Although these are preliminary results, IA carboplatin and IV etoposide is safe and well tolerated, appears to be active against brain metastases, and warrants further study.
Living in Afghanistan on the Eve of the Russian Invasion

4 Introduction 5 Religion 15 Kabul 18 Bamyan 22 Riding with the Kuchis 31 Summary 33 Works Cited 36
Molecular melodies in high and low C

For 50 years now, one of the enigmas of molecular evolution has been the C-value paradox, which refers to the often massive, counterintuitive and seemingly arbitrary differences in genome size observed among eukaryotic organisms. For example, the genome of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster is 180 megabases (Mb), whereas that of the European brown grasshopper Podisma pedestris is 18,000 Mb. The difference in genome size of a factor of 100 is difficult to explain in view of the apparently similar levels of evolutionary, developmental and behavioural complexity of these organisms.
A proposal for a National Virtual Ocean Center

The President's Commission on Ocean Policy has the charter to conduct the most comprehensive review of the national ocean policy since the Stratton Commission of the 1960s. The Commission seeks to identify the top-priority ocean issues (i.e., establish the national ocean agenda) and recommend the optimal organizational and technical infrastructure to accomplish the agenda. The ocean forecasting community has a loosely coupled mix of the government agencies, the commercial sector, and academia. This proposal for operational oceanography builds on that model. Government provides the computing and communications infrastructure, standards for quality and data communication, and a suite of baseline computing-intensive products. Individual government agencies provide ocean products. These agencies retain their identity in the National Virtual Ocean Center (NVOC). A National Ocean Partnership Program (NOPP)-like council coordinates across agencies to ensure that cross-disciplinary, cross-agency issues are addressed. Partnerships are social infrastructure for cross-agency collaboration. A technical infrastructure for distributed collaboration enables geographically dispersed groups to work together as though they are collocated. The infrastructure also provides seamless and transparent access to computing resources and data. Development of a vigorous commercial sector for the generation of products and their distribution is a priority. The government also facilitates the development and evaluation of ocean forecast systems by researchers from all the sectors by establishing test domains. The results of NVOC will be cross-agency leverage of resources toward multidisciplinary ocean issues and a competitive commercial sector for the innovative generation and distribution of products.
The ins and outs of reason maintenance

To progress significantly beyond current reason maintenance systems, we must formulate their structure and intended behavior precisely enough to analyze computational complexities and tradeoffs independently of the current set of limited implementation proposals. This paper summarizes one such formulation, and indicates some unsolved practical problems for investigation in future reason maintenance sys terns.
Did You Forget to Rollover Your IRA within 60 Days? Maybe You Were Depressed and Should Ask for a Waiver

You must roll qualified plan assets to an IRA within 60 days, but what if you are depressed and miss the deadline?
Prospects for B-Physics in the Next Decade

In these lectures I review what has been learned from studies of b-quark decays, including semileptonic decays (V ub and V cb ), \({{B}^{0}} - {{\bar{B}}^{0}}\) mixing and rare B decays. Then a discussion on CP violation follows, which leads to a summary of plans for future experiments and what is expected to be learned from them.
Regulation of Escherichia coli sigma F RNA polymerase by flhD and flhC flagellar regulatory genes.

Abstract The sigma F RNA polymerase has been characterized biochemically and is known to transcribe several flagellar genes in Escherichia coli. It was found that while the flagellar regulatory genes flhD and flhC are required for sigma F activity, the sizes of their corresponding gene products are inconsistent with their encoding sigma F itself.
Indoor Environmental Exposures Among Children With Asthma Seen in an Urban Emergency Department

BACKGROUND. Current guidelines for asthma management emphasize the control of environmental irritants and allergens within the home. Understanding the prevalence of indoor home exposures within such a population may be important for any emergency department (ED) program that seeks to improve the quality of its asthma care and patient education. OBJECTIVE. We sought to determine the prevalence of indoor home exposures in a cohort of children with moderate to severe asthma who were treated in an urban pediatric ED and to correlate these exposures with household income, prior asthma morbidity, health care utilization, and quality of life (QoL). METHODS. We enrolled a cohort of children with chronic asthma who were 12 months through 17 years of age and who had at least one other unscheduled visit for asthma within the previous 6 months. Trained research assistants interviewed the children’s parent or guardian regarding the prevalence of home exposures to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and common allergens. In addition, data were collected on each patient’s prior asthma history, morbidity, health care utilization, medication use, and QoL. RESULTS. Of the 488 eligible children enrolled, 60.0% were 3 ED visits in the previous 12 months. Home exposure to ETS and potential allergens was high. Exposure to cockroach allergen was significantly associated with household income. Coexistence of exposures was common: significantly more patients reporting ETS exposure also reported exposure to cockroach allergen and mold than those not reporting ETS exposure. Poorer QoL was significantly associated with cockroach exposure, although this effect was limited to those also exposed to ETS. Higher rates of unscheduled health care utilization and persistent asthma symptoms were not associated with exposures. CONCLUSION. Additional investigation is necessary to clarify the role of exposure-avoidance measures as a component of ED-based interventions for asthma care.
Exurban development derived from Landsat from 1986 to 2009 surrounding the District of Columbia, USA

article People's preference for living in rural areas is converting rural landscapes into low-density residential devel- opment (i.e., exurban development). To assess the environmental impacts of exurban development (e.g., habitat fragmentation, threats to wildlife, and increased demand for natural resources), accurate maps of its spatial extent and change over time are needed. Mapping technologies that are based on remote sensing spectral data alone have generally failed to separate exurban development from the surrounding landscape and from other mixed pixels with similar spectra. Although deciduous forests in the eastern United States are thought to have experienced a significant increase in exurbanized area, a rigorous assessment of exurban trends has yet to be undertaken. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel analytic approach to map exurban development and to assess its magnitude and rate in north-central Virginia and western Maryland. We applied spectral mixture analysis to Landsat TM images from 1986 to 2009 at 4 time steps to estimate the fractional cover of vegetation, shade, substrate, and non-photosynthetic vegetation endmembers within each image. Using training data based on aerial photos, we classified the resulting endmember fraction images using a decision tree. Finally, terminal nodes from the decision tree that did not differentiate between exur- ban and urban areas were analyzed using morphological spatial pattern analysis to assess the shape and form of landscape elements. Scattered, isolated pixels were considered representative of exurban development. Overall classification accuracies ranged from 93 to 98%, an improvement of up to 34% over the decision tree alone. Our mapping approach effectively identified 7.3% of north-central Virginia and western Mary- land as exurban development. Exurban development had a substantial expansion in the region, increasing on average 6.1% per year between 1986 and 2009. The mapping of land-cover changes beyond urban fringe provides valuable information for policymakers, planners, and land managers tasked with managing and mitigating the potential adverse consequences of this increasingly common form of landscape change. © 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Role of the human motor cortex in rapid motor learning

Recent studies suggest that the human primary motor cortex (M1) is involved in motor learning, but the nature of that involvement is not clear. Here, learning-related changes in M1 excitability were studied with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) while naive subjects practiced either a ballistic or a ramp pinch task to the 0.5-Hz beat of a metronome. Subjects rapidly learned to optimize ballistic contractions as indicated by a significant increase in peak pinch acceleration and peak force after the 60-min practice epoch. The increase in force and acceleration was associated with an increase in motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude in a muscle involved in the training (flexor policis brevis) but not in a muscle unrelated to the task (abductor digiti minimi). MEPs returned to their baseline amplitude after subjects had acquired the new skill, whereas no practice-induced changes in MEP amplitude were observed after subjects had overlearned the task, or after practicing slow ramp pinches. Since the changes in MEP amplitude were observed only after TMS of M1 but not after direct stimulation of the corticospinal tract, these findings indicate task- and effector-specific involvement of human M1 in rapid motor learning.
1028. Use of Antisense Oligonucleotides To Restore Activity in Mutant p53

Top of pageAbstract The tumor suppressor p53 protects the cell against cancer by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in response to oncogenic stress. Over 50% of human malignancies are associated with missense mutations within the protein's central sequence-specific DNA- binding domain. The C-terminus of p53 contains a regulatory domain that binds to specific structural features of damaged DNA (ends, distortions, modifications caused by gamma irradiation). Deletion or inactivation of the C-terminal regulatory domain (CTRD), using peptides or monoclonal antibodies in culture, has been shown to compensate for missense mutations in the sequence-specific DNA- binding domain. Unfortunately, peptides and monoclonal antibodies are difficult to deliver to cells and are immunogenic when used in vivo. Several RNA antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), modified for increased stability, have been designed to alter the splicing of the p53 pre-mRNA to delete the CTRD. TOV-112D is a human endometrioid carcinoma cell line, which harbors a mutant p53 (Arg175His). We are testing a variety of ASOs in TOV-112D cells to assay for transcriptionally active mutant p53s. Apoptosis and p53 reporter assays will also be used to indicate restored p53 functional activity. The results of these experiments will be presented at the meeting. ASOs are more amenable to therapeutic application in comparison to antibodies and peptides given increased stability of modified RNA, decreased immunogenicity, and relative ease of delivery.
Adaptive parallel tiled code generation and accelerated auto-tuning

Tiling is an important program transformation that is often used to enhance cache locality and to obtain coarse-grained parallelism. In this paper, we address the problem of generating adaptive parametric tiled code for parallel execution contexts; in other words, generating parallel tiled code in which tile sizes can be changed on the fly during execution. Changing of tile sizes during pipelined parallel execution of tiles presents the following fundamental code-generation challenge: the unscanned iteration space may become non-convex. We develop novel solutions for the adaptive parallel tiled code generation problem. Using adaptive tiling, auto-tuning for tile size selection can be accelerated: in a single run of the tiled code, several tile sizes may be tested for their performance and thus expedite auto-tuning. Adaptive tiling is also useful in scenarios where tile sizes need to be dynamically altered to tailor to the changing execution environments, such as dynamically resized caches for power savings. Experimental evaluation on a number of benchmarks demonstrates the effectiveness of the developed approach.
A new technique for collecting binary vapor‐liquid equilibrium data without measuring composition: The method of intersecting isochores

The Burnett coupled isochoric PVT experiment possesses many advantages for determining volumetric properties. In this study, we suggest that it also provides an excellent vehicle for determining VLE data. Incorporating a magnetic densimeter into the apparatus encompasses a VLE experiment in which the phases are not sampled to determine composition. Material balances allow composition calculation; the Gibbs-Duhem equation is not necessary and thus remains available for consistency checks.
Influence of SiO2 PECVD layers on p-GaN rectifiers

Abstract Thin layers (300 A) of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited SiO 2 were grown on p-GaN Schottky rectifiers at different pressures (600–900 mTorr), rf applied powers (50–400 W, 13.56 MHz) and SiH 4 /N 2 O gas flow ratios (1–12.5). Relatively small (10%) changes in reverse breakdown voltage ( V B ) and ideality factor ( n ) were observed under all of these conditions. The main degradation mechanism appears to be creation of additional leakage paths around the periphery of the rectifying contact. Competing mechanisms involving hydrogen passivation of Mg acceptors or creation of nitrogen vacancies are less important under our conditions.
Analysis of Drug Contamination from Parabens in Theophylline Olamine

Contaminants in a commercial enema sample of theophylline olamine were found to be derived from parabens and ethanolamine. These contaminants, whose presence was characterized by the loss of preservatives and solubilizing agent, were isolated directly from the drug sample and identified. A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system was developed to separate completely and to measure quantitatively theophylline, the two impurities, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-hydroxybenzamide, and the remaining parabens. The material balance obtained from the results of quantitative HPLC indicated the formation of these impurities at the expense of parabens. TLC, IR, and UV spectrophotometry and NMR and mass spectrometric analyses were used for identification or for comparisons of the new compound and the known N-(2-hydroxyethyl)benzamide.
Comparison of light-induced and laser-induced fluorescence methods for the detection and quantification of enamel demineralization

The Quantitative Laser-induced Fluorescence (QLF) technique has been used for diagnosis of early caries in permanent teeth (PT). The objective of this study was to determine the caries quantification ability of QLF in deciduous teeth (DT). Sixty sound teeth, thirty DT and thirty PT, were used. All teeth were cleaned to remove debris and equally divided into three groups. Lesions were created in small windows (0.8×2.0 mm 2 ) on buccal or labial surface for 48, 72, or 96 hr. Lesion images were made with a 488 nm argon laser (QLF I) and then with a 370±80 nm violet-blue light (QLF II). Both images were analyzed to determine the mean% change in fluorescence radiance (ΔF). A center section from the lesions was taken for analysis with microradiography. The lesion depth and loss of mineral content (ΔZ) were determined. The correlations between ΔF and lesion depth as well as ΔZ in DT were 0.76 and 0.84 with QLF I, 0.81 and 0.88 with QLF II, respectively. In PT, correlations of 0.07 and 0.53 were found with QLF 1, 0.15 and 0.62 with QLF II, respectively. It can be concluded the ability of QLF to quantify white-spots in DT is better than in PT.
A Micro-Meteorological mission for global network science on Mars: rationale and measurement requirements

Abstract The general circulation of the Martian atmosphere and how it relates to the planet's climate system are the main goals of post-Viking atmospheric science investigations. An unambiguous determination of the wind systems associated with the general circulation requires simultaneous measurements from at least 15–20 globally-distributed surface stations and a single, high inclination, short period orbiter. The required number of stations would be too costly using conventional multi-instrumented lander designs. However, truly global network science for meteorology can be accomplished using landers instrumented for a single measurement, namely pressure. Pressure is the most important meteorological parameter and pressure sensors do not require deployment or orientation. This facilitates the design of relatively simple landers that are sufficiently small and light that the required number can be launched on a single Med-Lite launch vehicle (see the accompanying paper by Merrihew et al. (Planet. Space Sci. 44, 1385–1393, 1996). Of equal importance, the low power demand of the stations would allow them to last for a Martian year and provide the necessary seasonal coverage. The rationale and measurement requirements are given for such a network, and it is shown how it would contribute to the understanding of the Martian general circulation and climate system. In particular, the number and siting of stations is discussed, and the basic science specifications for barometric pressure sensors and an atmospheric sounder. The proposed mission would, for the first time, observationally define the seasonally-varying global wind field on another planet.
Address tracing of parallel systems via TRAPEDS

Trace-driven simulation is an important aid in performance analysis of computer systems. Capturing address traces to use in these simulations, however, is a difficult problem for parallel processor architectures. A technique termed TRAPEDS modifies executable code (at the assembly language level) to dynamically collect the address trace from executing code. TRAPEDS has recently been implemented on both a hypercube multicomputer and a shared-memory multiprocessor. Particular attention is focused on strategies for efficiently and accurately collecting traces from both classes of parallel machines. The iPSC/2 hypercube multicomputer implementation traces both user and system code, and performs simulation on-the-fly to avoid large storage costs. Strategies are detailed for mitigating address trace distortion when collecting operating system traces. The Encore Multimax multiprocessor implementation uses a timer-based approach to reflect the interleaving of the processor traces and stores the traces to disc. Time and space overhead results are presented for both TRAPEDS implementations. Experimental cache simulation results derived from iPSC/2 address traces are presented to illustrate the importance of tracing operating system references.
Growth, survival and toxin production of root-inhibitory pseudomonads on crop residues

Abstract A nonfluorescent rifampicin-resistant Pseudomonas spp capable of producing a toxin inhibitory to the growth of wheat roots was inoculated onto nonsterile wheat straw at 10 4 or 10 6 colony-forming units (cfu) g −1 dry wt and incubated at several water potentials. At the apparent optimum values of between -0.6 and -0.9 MPa, the introduced organisms achieved populations in excess of 10 10 cfu g −1 within 6 days and accounted for up to 80% of the total bacteria recovered on tryptic soy agar. The relative abundance at a given water potential was greater at 5 or 15°C than at 25°C. The threshold water potential of straw at which growth was detected was approximately −2.5 MPa. At water potentials below −2.5 MPa, the numbers of bacteria declined steadily, but they increased dramatically upon rewetting of the straw. In pure culture the bacteria could grow at osmotic (KCl) potentials as low as −4.0 MPa, but growth ceased at a matric (polyethyleneglycol-induced) potential of −1.8 MPa. Toxin was detected at all water potentials allowing growth, but the toxin was produced only during exponential growth. Bacteria inoculated in October on barley residues in the field maintained populations greater than 10 6 cfu g −1 straw throughout the winter and declined in mid-March, after the residues had dried to water potentials below −2.5 MPa. Populations on residues in no-till plots were approximately 10-fold higher than those in tilled plots.
Lesions of the posterior basolateral amygdala block feeding induced by systemic 8-OH-DPAT

We have recently reported that bilateral electrolytic lesions of the posterodorsal amygdala (PDA) in female rats which induce protracted overeating and weight gain also attenuate short-term feeding stimulated by intraraphe infusions of the serotonin (5-HT) 1A agonist, (±)-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, (8-OH-DPAT). Bilateral lesions of the posterior basolateral amygdala (pBLA) in male rats have also been reported to enhance feeding and weight gain, but much less so than PDA lesions do in female rats. The present study was performed to determine if pBLA lesions in female rats might attenuate 8-OH-DPAT feeding and what, if any, relationship exists between 8-OH-DPAT-induced feeding and lesion-induced weight gain. Lesioned rats showed reliable increases in 24-h food intake and weight gain relative to shams during the days between surgery and acute drug-induced feeding tests. 8-OH-DPAT (0, 60, 120 or 240 μg/kg in saline) increased feeding of shams in a dose-dependent manner over 2 h. Feeding at the most effective dose (120 μg/kg) was reduced to vehicle levels in lesioned rats. The feeding induced by this dose correlated inversely (r=−.59, P<.01) with the magnitude of weight gained following lesions. Feeding at the highest dose (240 μg/kg) showed a biphasic effect of feeding inhibition over the first vs. second hour that was unaffected by lesions. These findings imply that either fibers of passage and/or cellular elements in both the PDA and pBLA normally inhibit overeating and weight gain via intact serotonergic mechanisms.
Airborne particulates in New York City.

This study was undertaken to identify seasonal and source effects on the par-ticulate contaminants of the New York City atmosphere and ultimately to relate the concentrations of these contaminants to the tissue concentrations in residents of New York City. Continual weekly samples of particulates have been collected at three stations in the New York area on 8 by 10 in. glass fiber filters at a flow rate of 20 cfm. The sample is ashed with a Tracerlab Low Temperature Asher and leached with nitric acid. Metals analyzed by the Atomic Absorption method include Pb, V, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn. Lead-210, total particulate, and benzene and acetone soluble organic material are also determined. The data have been related to various meteorological parameters over a one year period to define significant seasonal and source influences, as well as site to site variations. Very significant inverse correlations to temperature are obtained for suspended particulates, vanadium, and nickel at both Manhattan and Bronx sit...
Water jet cutting techniques for processing of hard rock material

Abstract The main emphasis in this paper is on the use of high pressure water jets for processing of hard rock materials in the mining and quarrying Industries. On the basis of a brief review of the existing literature and the laboratory results It is shown that the only way that the water jets could be used for these applications is to use them in combination with the mechanical cutters, be it water-jet-assist or mechanical-assist. Further improvement in performance could probably be achieved by incorporating the newly developing techniques, viz., cavitating, percussive or pulsed and abrasive-entrained water Jets into these hybrid systems. Problem areas and controversies existing in the literature are identified and it is strongly recommended that attempts be made to resolve these problems.
The Evolution and Structure of a “Bow–Echo-Microburst” Event. Part II: The Bow Echo

Abstract A bow echo is a bow-shaped radar reflectivity pattern that is often accompanied by downbursts at the apex of the bulge. It appears that there are two types of bow echoes documented in the literature, the squall-line type (SLBE) and the single-cell type (CBE). It is not clear that these two types of bow echoes are dynamically similar. This study presents the first complete case study on the CBE, which occurred on 14 July 1982 during the Joint Airport Weather Studies (JAWS) Project. The stormwide kinematic and thermodynamic structure of this storm was documented in Part I of this paper. This paper examines the initiation and evolution of a vorticity couplet using a vorticity-budget analysis to study the bow-echo structure and the bow-echo-microburst relationship. The elongated-shaped echo assumed a bowed shape below cloud base after the downdraft developed. The bow echo is associated with a cyclonic-anticyclonic vorticity couplet with maximum relative vorticity intensifies of 5×10−3 and −4×10−3s−1 ...
Concentration measurements of methane sources with an OPO-based differential absorption lidar system

The development of a ground-based, eye-safe lidar system for differential absorption lidar measurements of trace gases such as methane in the mid-IR wavelength region and for aerosol measurements at 1.5 micrometers is described. This prototype lidar system will be used for urban ambient trace gases and aerosol detection. An optical parametric oscillator pumped by an injection-seeded frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser is employed as radiation source. The expected minimum detectable range of the system is about 1000 meters for range-resolved measurements of methane and several kilometers for aerosol measurements. The system performance is being tested through measurements of sources of atmospheric methane and aerosols.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Advanced Material Strategies for Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Tissue engineering seeks to restore the function of diseased or damaged tissues through the use of cells and biomaterial scaffolds. It is now apparent that the next generation of functional tissue replacements will require advanced material strategies to achieve many of the important requirements for long-term success. Here we provide representative examples of engineered skeletal and myocardial tissue constructs in which scaffolds were explicitly designed to match native tissue mechanical properties as well as to promote cell alignment. We discuss recent progress in microfluidic devices that can potentially serve as tissue engineering scaffolds, since mass transport via microvascular-like structures will be essential in the development of tissue engineered constructs on the length scale of native tissues. Given the rapid evolution of the field of tissue engineering, it is important to consider the use of advanced materials in light of the emerging role of genetics, growth factors, bioreactors, and other technologies.
Genetics of Alcoholism: A Review of Recent Studies in Human and Animal Models

There is substantial evidence for a significant genetic component to the risk of alcoholism. In searching for genes that contribute to this risk, several approaches may be utilized in order to identify the genetic loci underlying alcoholism susceptibility. Several candidate genes have been evaluated for their role in alcoholism; however, with the exception of the enzymes of alcohol metabolism, results from these studies have been inconsistent. Recently, two large studies have employed a genome screen methodology to identify novel genes contributing to the risk of alcoholism. As an alternative strategy, researchers have utilized mouse and rat models to identify quantitative trait loci influencing alcohol preference. Through the development of congenic lines and transgenic and knock-out animals, candidate genes can be identified and evaluated for their role in alcohol preference.
Effective Group Dynamics in E-Learning: Case Study

Investigating the participant structure that works in online courses helps us design for, and facilitate, collaboration. Learning communities and group work influence collaboration in online course...
Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and Academic Achievement-A Rejoinder to Brown and Trusty

In this brief article, the author responds to Brown and Trusty's assertion that based on the deficiencies of existing comprehensive school counseling program (CSCP) research, school counselors need not focus their time and effort on showing causal connections between their programs and measures of student academic achievement. Rather than defending the specific merits of the CSCP research, this rejoinder article addresses (a) the larger issue of whether Brown and Trusty have mischaracterized a key underlying results-based assumption of CSCPs, as well as (b) the value of multiple research paradigms in CSCP evaluation studies, and (c) the importance of systemic thinking and collaboration within CSCP research.
Conformal curvature flows: From phase transitions to active vision

In this paper, we analyze geometric active contour models from a curve evolution point of view and propose some modifications based on gradient flows relative to certain new feature-based Riemannian metrics. This leads to a novel edge-detection paradigm in which the feature of interest may be considered to lie at the bottom of a potential well. Thus an edge-seeking curve is attracted very naturally and efficiently to the desired feature. Comparison with the Allen-Cahn model clarifies some of the choices made in these models, and suggests inhomogeneous models which may in return be useful in phase transitions. We also consider some 3-dimensional active surface models based on these ideas. The justification of this model rests on the careful study of the viscosity solutions of evolution equations derived from a level-set approach.
Measurement of visual acuity in human and monkey infants: the interface between laboratory and clinic.

Abstract The development of visual acuity has been studied in human and monkey ( Macaca nemestrina ) infants by a combination of preferential looking and operant techniques. Infants of both species demonstrate acuity of about 1 cycle/degree ( 20 600 Snellen equivalent) near birth. Acuity develops gradually in both species, reaching adult levels at 3–5 years in humans and about 1 year in monkeys. Amblyopiogenic conditions, such as strabismus, occur spontaneously in monkey infants as they do in human infants, and normal monkeys reared under deprivation conditions that mimic amblyopiogenic conditions in humans also become amblyopic. These results help to establish the infant monkey as an animal model for human visual development, and provide an important resource for sorting out the developmental causes of human amblyopia. Three major difficulties and limitations involved in the use of these techniques in clinical settings are described. These are that the testing must be done with standardized equipment by trained personnel; that it is not yet known which kinds of clinical cases can be most usefully evaluated; and that the inherent statistical limitations of the available techniques put them at the outer margin of efficiency for routine clinical use.
A cost-effectiveness model of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the short- and long-term costs and clinical and quality of life outcomes with the use of streptokinase (SK) vs tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for acute myocardial infarction (MI). DESIGN: A decision analysis model. PATIENTS: Patients with acute MI who were candidates for thrombolytic therapy and who presented within six hours of symptom onset. MEASUREMENTS: 30-day and one-year mortality, impacts of disabling and nondisabling stroke, reinfarction, hemorrhage, hypotension, anaphylazis, and long-term medical costs. RESULTS: Using 30-day mortality data from the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) trial, the baseline analysis yielded an incremental cost—effectiveness for tPA of $30,300 per additional quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, compared with SK. Using one-year mortality data from the GUSTO trial, the analysis yielded an incremental cost—effectiveness for tPA of $27,400 per additional QALY, compared with SK. The incremental cost—effectiveness of tPA over SK was sensitive to the difference in mortality seen with the two agents, exceeding $100,000 per QALY, for a relative survival advantage of approximately one-third that seen in the GUSTO trial. The incremental cost per QALY of tPA remained under $60,000 if the survival benefit was half that seen in the GUSTO trial. The cost—effectiveness of tPA declined with a shorter projected life expectancy following MI and for inferior (vs anterior) wall infarction. The analysis was modestly sensitive to the costs of the thrombolytic agents. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of its higher cost relative to SK, tPA is a cost-effective therapy for MI under a wide range of assumptions regarding clinical outcomes and costs.
The Censoring of Rebel Without a Cause

(1995). The Censoring of Rebel Without a Cause. Journal of Popular Film and Television: Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 56-63.
Quasi-fixity and multiproduct firms

Abstract A short-run model for the supply response and input demand of a multiproduct firm is developed based on the differential production approach. A simple parameterization of the model is provided.
Three-Dimensional Simulations of Ground Motions in the Seattle Region for Earthquakes in the Seattle Fault Zone

We used the 3D finite-difference method to model observed seismograms of two earthquakes ( M L 4.9 and 3.5) in the Seattle region and to simulate ground motions for hypothetical M 6.5 and M 5.0 earthquakes on the Seattle fault, for periods greater than 2 sec. A 3D velocity model of the Seattle Basin was constructed from studies that analyzed seismic-reflection surveys, borehole logs, and gravity and aeromagnetic data. The observations and the simulations highlight the importance of the Seattle Basin on long-period ground motions. For earthquakes occurring just south of the basin, the edge of the basin and the variation of the thickness of the Quaternary deposits in the basin produce much larger surface waves than expected from flat-layered models. The data consist of seismograms recorded by instruments deployed in Seattle by the USGS and the University of Washington (UW). The 3D simulation reproduces the peak amplitude and duration of most of the seismograms of the June 1997 Bremerton event ( M L 4.9) recorded in Seattle. We found the focal mechanism for this event that best fits the observed seismograms in Seattle by combining Green9s functions determined from the 3D simulations for the six fundamental moment couples. The February 1997 event ( M L 3.5) to the south of the Seattle Basin exhibits a large surface-wave arrival at UW whose amplitude is matched by the synthetics in our 3D velocity model, for a source depth of 9 km. The M 6.5 simulations incorporated a fractal slip distribution on the fault plane. These simulations produced the largest ground motions in an area that includes downtown Seattle. This is mainly caused by rupture directed up dip toward downtown, radiation pattern of the source, and the turning of S waves by the velocity gradient in the Seattle basin. Another area of high ground motion is located about 13 km north of the fault and is caused by an increase in the amplitude of higher-mode Rayleigh waves caused by the thinning of the Quaternary deposits.
Performance of a 1 Gbit/s optically preamplified communication system with error correcting coding

Threshold decoding of a rate 4/5 convolutional code is shown to improve the performance of a 1 Gbit/s optically preamplified on-off keyed (OOK) system by 3.7 dB to achieve a receiver sensitivity of 37 photon/bit (−56.2 dBm). The encoder/decoder is implemented as a single monolithic integrated circuit.
Effect of neutron-irradiation on the spinodal decomposition of Fe-32% Cr model alloy

Abstract A comparison has been performed between the extent of decomposition found in an Fe-32% Cr alloy that was both neutron-irradiated at 290°C and thermally aged for the equivalent time at the same temperature. In addition, these results are compared to data obtained from a series of specimens isothermally aged at 470 and 500°C. These atom probe results indicate that neutron irradiation has a significant effect on both the kinetics of decomposition and the morphology of the chromium-enriched α′ phase. The results are consistent with the neutron irradiation significantly changing the location of the phase field in the phase diagram.
Comparative anatomy of the mammalian hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus

A detailed analysis of the cytoarchitecture, retinohypothalamic tract (RHT) projections, and immunohistochemical localization of major cell and fiber types within the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) was conducted in five mammalian species: two species of opossum, the domestic cat, the guinea pig, and the house mouse. Cytoarchitectural and immunohistochemical studies were conducted in three additional species of marsupial mammals and in the domestic pig. The SCN in this diverse transect of mammalian taxonomy bear striking similarities. First, the SCN are similar in location, lying close to the third ventricle (3V) dorsal to the optic chiasm (OC), with a cytoarchitecture characterized by small, tightly packed neurons. Second, in all groups studied, the SCN receive bilateral retinal input. Third, the SCN contain immunohistochemically similar elements. These similarities suggest that the SCN developed characteristic features early in mammalian phylogeny. Some details of SCN organization vary among the species studied. In marsupials, vasopressin-like immunoreactive (VP-LI) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactive (VIP-LI) cells codistribute primarily in the dorsomedial aspects of the SCN, while in eutherians, VP-LI and VIP-LI cells are separated into SCN subnuclei. Furthermore, the marsupial RHT projects to the periventricular dorsomedial region, whereas the eutherian RHT projects more ventrally in the SCN into the zone that typically contains VIP-LI perikarya.
Pulse unfocusing within laser-fusion reactors

Abstract Most serious laser-fusion reactor studies involve an atmosphere of lithium vapor within the pulse cavity. The laser pulse ionizes the vapor, generating an ‘unfocusing’ refractive medium. Proper account of this effect may necessitate a lower vapor density than previously reported.
University Community Partnerships

University-Community Partnerships have been recognized as a valuable contribution to both the academic community and our cities and towns. In the words of Henry Cisneros, former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Design secretary, “The long-term futures of both the city and the university in this country are so intertwined that one cannot—or perhaps will not—survive without the other.” Increasingly, colleges and university are bringing their time, energy and resources to bear on local problems. They are using their other physical, financial and intellectual capital to facilitate economic development, provide social services, technical assistance and create opportunities for applied research.
Time-resolved reflectance and transmittance measurements of laser-induced free carriers in germanium, silicon, and zinc selenide at 10.6 μm

We present experimental results of reflectance and transmittance measurements of infrared radiation by high-density photogenerated free carriers in polycrystalline germanium, polycrystalline silicon, and chemical vapor deposition zinc selenide windows. Linearly polarized 1064 and 532 nm wavelength light from a Nd:YAG laser with a 130 ps pulse width were used to generate free carriers in the samples. Reflectance and transmittance were measured at a 10.6 μm wavelength using a linearly polarized CO2 laser.
miR-590-5p, miR-219-5p, miR-15b and miR-628-5p are commonly regulated by IL-3, GM-CSF and G-CSF in acute myeloid leukemia

Aberrations in IL-3, GM-CSF and G-CSF induced signaling are frequently reported in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Herein, we utilized a unique human myeloid leukemic cell line, AML-193, which responds to all three cytokines to analyze the regulation at microRNA level. Using real-time PCR-based miRNA expression profiling, we investigated miRNA signatures regulated by IL-3, GM-CSF and G-CSF for n=704 miRNAs. We discovered that in addition to regulating specific miRNAs, these cytokines also regulate common set of miRNAs, which includes miR-590-5p, miR-219-5p, miR-15b and miR-628-5p. Taken together, we have identified novel candidate miRNAs that may be instructive during leukemic and normal hematopoiesis.
Population representative gait speed and its determinants.

PURPOSE Although gait speed is an important measure to obtain from older adults, much is uncertain about the measure. Therefore, using a large population-based sample, I sought to: (1) gain an indication of "normal" gait speed, (2) compare speed measured over 8 and 20 feet, (3) determine the relationship of several independent variables with gait speed. METHODS The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002 provided the following data for individuals (> or = 50 years, n = 1923): gait speed over 8 and 20 feet, age, stature, adiposity, and isokinetic knee extension force. Estimates of normal gait speed were calculated for gender and age strata. Speeds over 8 and 20 feet were compared using a paired t-test and a Pearson correlation. The relationship between the independent variables and gait speed were examined using Pearson correlations and forward multiple regression analysis. RESULTS Mean gait speeds were 3.26 ft/sec and 3.29 ft/sec over 8 and 20 feet, respectively. Speeds over the distances differed significantly (p = .002) but not meaningfully; they were correlated strongly (r = .933, p < .001). Age, stature, knee extension force, and waist circumference correlated significantly (p < .004) with gait speed over both distances. Age, gender, knee extension force, waist circumference, and stature were shown by multiple regression to predict walking speed over both 8 feet (R = .459, p < .001) and 20 feet (R = .506, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS The estimates of normal gait speed provided are slower than many of those previously published but may be more representative of the population. As gait speed measured over 8 and 20 feet are comparable, using the shorter distance appears justifiable. Individuals walk faster who are younger, male, taller, stronger, and have smaller waists.
A three-dimensional model of fungal morphogenesis based on the vesicle supply center concept.

We developed a three-dimensional model of hyphal morphogenesis under the same basic assumption used for the construction of a two-dimensional model. Namely, that the polarized growth of tubular cells (hyphoids) arises from a gradient of wall-building vesicles generated by a vesicle supply center (VSC). Contrary to the 2-D mathematical formulation, the three-dimensional derivation led to an indetermination whose solution required defining a priori the pattern of expansion of the wall, i.e. defining the overall spatial movement of the wall as the newly inserted wall elements displace the existing wall fabric. The patterns of wall expansion can be described by tracing the movement of marker points on the cell surface (point trajectories). Point trajectories were computed for three different modes of wall expansion of the VSC-generated hyphoids: orthogonal, isometric, and rotational. The 3-D VSC models allowed us to either stipulate or calculate the degree of anisotropy for each type of wall expansion. Wireframe models were built to visualize growth anisotropy in each model. Although the overall shape of the three hyphoid models is similar, they differ substantially in point trajectories and anisotropy. Point trajectories are experimentally testable and were the basis for the conclusion that hyphae grow in orthogonal fashion. (Bartnicki-Garcia et al., 2000. Biophys. J.79, 2382-2390.)
Asset pricing for general processes

Abstract This paper presents some asset pricing results for the general case in which asset prices can jump. Asset gains (price plus cumulative dividends) processes are assumed to be special semimartingales. This is the broadest class of processes for which local risk premia exist. The risk premium can be separated into a premium for the continuous part of the return and a premium for the jump part. The jump premium is non-zero only for jumps which occur simultaneously with jumps in the state price density process. The CCAPM holds if consumption rates vary continuously with time, in which case all jump risks are unpriced. More generally, the CCAPM always characterizes the continuous part of the security return.
Editorial Clinically-focused reviews of treatment research and empirically-supported treatments: Introduction to a new feature in Addiction Research and Theory

The field of addiction is ever evolving, particularly in the area of effective treatments for people suffering from problems related to substance use and other addictive behaviors. In the United St...