cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The ‘SONY NIGHTCLUB’: Rural Brothels, Gender Violence, and Development in Coastal Ecuador

ABSTRACTIn the Ecuadorian public imaginary, Manabi province is constructed as a lawless frontier. Manaba men are characterized for their aggressive masculinity, robust and primitive sexuality, and their proclivity towards resolving conflict with violence. This paper examines community debates about brothels and healthy sexuality in a rural coastal region where the state is expanding its reach into domestic life via the regulation of sexual intimacies and family violence. Local debates about healthy sexuality embody the historically contested and currently changing nature of state–community relationships in this previously marginalized region. While certain community factions invoke modernizing discourses of women's rights in their struggle to shut down brothels and mitigate family violence, others argue for unregulated sexuality as a way to diminish violence. Drawing from over 10 years of ethnographic research on gender, violence, and human rights in Ecuador, this paper reveals the co-construction of rura...
Instrumentation for in Vivo Neutron Activation Analysis in Humans

The application and methods of in vivo neutron activation analysis to measure the chemical composition of the major elements in the human body are still in the early stages of development. However, the technique is being used routinely to measure total body calcium which cannot be accurately measured by any other method at the present time. The instrumentation required for determining the total body content of major elements in humans after exposure to a low level neutron flux includes an automated system to provide a safe, precise, and uniform neutron irradiation throughout the entire body and a sensitive whole body counting system for measuring the gamma rays from the radionuclides produced in the body.
Monte Carlo simulation of light-emitting diode light-extraction characteristics

We employ a Monte Carlo ray-tracing technique to model light-extraction characteristics of light-emitting diodes. By keeping track of the various processes that photons can encounter in a packaged LED, consisting of a semiconductor chip, a reflector dish, and an epoxy magnifying lens, our model can provide valuable information for LED design. The simulations can be performed very effectively on modern workstations. Preliminary results from a sample parametric study indicate that, with some refinement, our method could be used as a computer-aided design tool for optimizing light-extraction efficiencies and for designing LED spatial emission characteristics.
Track Health Monitoring Using Wavelets

This paper presents a defect detection algorithm for rail health monitoring that could potentially be used with limited bogie. Current wheel and track monitoring requires expensive track instrumentation and/or time consuming operation of railway monitoring vehicles. The proposed health monitoring algorithm can potentially be used with a portable data acquisition system that can be relocated from train to train to monitor and diagnose the conditions of the track as a train is driven during typical day-to-day operation. The algorithm processes the data using wavelets and is able to locate defects and provide information that may help to distinguish between various types of rail defects. In recent years, wavelets have been used extensively in signal processing because of their ability to analyze a signal simultaneously in the time and frequency domains. The Fourier transform has been used traditionally in signal processing to locate dominant frequencies in a signal, but it is unable to provide time localization of those frequencies. Unlike the Fourier transform, the wavelet transform uses a set of basis functions with finite energy, which is advantageous for detecting the irregular events that may show up in a transient signal. The wavelets used in the proposed signal processing routine were chosen for optimal signal decomposition through consideration of the signals that are likely to be generated from common rail and wheel defects, including rail cracks, squats, corrugation, and, wheel out-of-rounds. A sample accelerometer signal was generated from information found in existing literature and was then processed using the proposed defect detection algorithm. Results show the potential of this algorithm to locate and diagnose defects from limited bogie vertical acceleration data. This study is intended to present a proof-of-concept for the proposed defect detection algorithm, providing a basis for which a more comprehensive defect detection and diagnosis algorithm can be developed.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
PACS used while on-call: a national survey of radiology program directors and chief residents.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of different diagnostic image viewing platforms used by radiologists while on-call, and to assess the opinions and preferences of radiology program directors and chief residents regarding their use. An online survey was sent electronically to radiology residency program directors and chief residents via the Association of University Radiologists. Forty-two radiology program directors and 25 chief residents completed the survey, yielding response rates of 24.9 and 8.5 %, respectively. From the survey results, 10 different Picture Archiving Communications Systems (PACS) were identified; GE (25 %), Philips (17 %), and Agfa Impax (15 %) were the most prevalent. Interestingly, only 5 % of all respondents use a secondary “Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine” viewer for on-call studies. Perceptions of PACS functionality were generally neutral to weakly positive. Most respondents strongly agreed that it is important to have a single integrated PACS for viewing on-call studies and agreed that the PACS should be integrated into the Electronic Medical Records (EMR). The overwhelming majority of respondents use their institution’s PACS while on-call. The results show there is still a wide variety of PACS platforms used by different institutions; however, GE, Phillips, and Agfa were some of the most prevalent. Most radiologists surveyed have neutral to slightly positive perceptions about the functionality and ease of use of their PACS. Finally, while radiologists agree that PACS should be integrated with EMR, only 53 % of respondents currently have this arrangement.
Applying the bootstrap to the multivariate case: bootstrap component/factor analysis.

The bootstrap method, which empirically estimates the sampling distribution for either inferential or descriptive sstatistical purposes, can be applied to the multivariate case. When conducting bootstrap component, or factor, analysis, resampling results must be located in a common factor space before summary statistics for each estimated parameter can be computed. The present article describes a strategy for applying the bootstrap method to conduct either a bootstrap component or a factor analysis with a program syntax for SPSS. The Holzinger–Swineford data set is employed to make the discussion more concrete.
A Mathematical Model for Aerosol Deposition in the Respiratory Tract of the Guinea Pig

Laboratory animals are used as surrogates in inhalation exposure studies for (1) risk assessments of air pollutants and (2) evaluations of pharmacologic drugs. Herein, a mathematical model is prese...
New Dissipative Leapfrog Finite Difference Scheme for Elastodynamic Simulation in Noninertial Frames

A new approach to numerically solving problems of the elastodynamics of arbitrarily shaped bodies with nonuniform material properties in rotation has been proposed in the present study. The present approach is based on first principles and is well suited to the study of problems of fluid-structure interaction and wave-based structural health monitoring. The governing hyperbolic partial differential equations of elastodynamics are cast in strong conservation form in the noninertial frame of reference and in generalized curvilinear coordinates. The results are obtained directly in the time domain. No special boundary treatment is required at material interfaces, and predictions can be made with and without material damage in a given structure for damage detection of the structure. The effect on the dynamics of a rotating annulus due to centrifugal force and, additionally, Coriolis force at high rates of rotation is studied. The partial differential equations are solved using a new dissipative time-centered leapfrog scheme presented here. A one-dimensional theoretical analysis of the numerical scheme shows that the new scheme has well-defined stability and dissipation characteristics. A comparison of the new scheme with a conventional dissipative time-centered leapfrog scheme shows that much larger time steps can be taken with the new scheme than allowed by the existing scheme. A dissipation-dependence study demonstrates that as the dissipation parameter is decreased, the steady-state solution uniformly approaches the exact solution. For larger values of this parameter, although the natural frequency of the system is not altered, the system vibrations damp too quickly, and the steady-state solution deviates from the exact steady-state solution. The larger the dissipation parameter, the larger this deviation from the exact steady state. The present scheme is very simple to incorporate in a finite difference simulation of elastodynamics in generalized curvilinear coordinates, and it has been used in the software FiDDLE, which solves the velocity-stress system of elastodynamic partial differential equations. It will be used in simulating fluid-elastodynamic interaction of the Mars Science Laboratory canopies and other decelerators such as inflatable aerodynamic devices as well as in wave-based structural health monitoring of these systems. Other applications include elastodynamics of turbomachinery blades, computer disk drive, and cutting-tool industry applications.
Trading memory for randomness

Strategies in repeated games can be classified as to whether or not they use memory and/or randomization. We consider Markov decision processes and 2-player graph games, both of the deterministic and probabilistic varieties. We characterize when memory and/or randomization are required for winning with respect to various classes of /spl omega/-regular objectives, noting particularly when the use of memory can be traded for the use of randomization. In particular, we show that Markov decision processes allow randomized memoryless optimal strategies for all Muller objectives. Furthermore, we show that 2-player probabilistic graph games allow randomized memoryless strategies for winning with probability 1 those Muller objectives which are upward-closed. Upward-closure means that if a set a of infinitely repeating vertices is winning, then all supersets of /spl alpha/ are also winning.
US counter-terrorism: Change in approach, continuity in policy

Although both the Clinton and Bush administrations identified terrorism as a major national security threat, the Clinton administration focused on terrorism primarily as a law enforcement issue while the Bush administration approached terrorism as a military problem. This difference becomes readily apparent when the economic isolation, multilateral cooperation, resource allocation, and retaliation policies of both administrations are compared. Despite significant differences in their respective approaches to these policies, there has been a remarkable consistency in American counter-terrorism policy over the past decade. Fierce, partisan political debate has overshadowed these fundamental policy similarities. The development of American counter-terrorism policy after 9/11 was constrained by time factors as well as also institutional and political forces. Even in this, the most extreme challenge to American national security planning since the rise of the Cold War, bureaucratic institutions have proven the...
Thirsty rats do prefer sucrose solutions

In three experiments it was demonstrated that water-deprived rats preferred sucrose solutions to water or lower concentration sucrose within the first 5 min of a test period. The preferences were as great as those shown by food-deprived rats. An hypothesis is offered to explain the discrepancy between these results and the indiscriminate behavior of rats toward sucrose solutions in bar-pressing situations.
PS2-34: Disparities in Head and Neck Cancer Patient Survival Relative to Race and Gender

Background/Aims Head and neck cancers account for approximately 3% of all cancers in the United States. The majority of these cancer types are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but also include salivary malignancies and others. These cancers are nearly twice as common among men as they are among women. Head and neck cancers are also diagnosed more often among people over age 50 years. Over-all disease specific survival rates are around 50%. There have been previous studies that demonstrate racial and gender disparities in the patterns of treatment and survival, but these studies are performed in academic tertiary centers with populations comprised mainly of referral patients with limited follow up. No studies have been performed within vertically integrated health systems.
Decomposing a plane figure into lines and nodes

Abstract We define a decomposition of a continuous plane figure D into convex subsets of two types: chords and nodes. Suitable sets of chords form the proper lines of D : these often resemble what we informally call ‘lines’. The continuous decomposition can be approximated by the graph representation for binary digitized figures. An application to image vectorization is surveyed.
Bonding of Resins to Phosphoric Acid-Etched Enamel Surfaces of Permanent and Deciduous Teeth

The existence of the "prismless" layer on deciduous enamel can prevent adhesive penetration into the enamel surface. Mechanical retention thus is reduced and could account for the greater loss of adhesive observed in clinical tests after two years from deciduous tooth surfaces compared with permanent tooth surfaces. Removal of the prism less layer results in adhesive penetration.
Prevalence and management of hypertension in the inpatient setting: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension (HTN) is a major cardiovascular risk factor yet control rates remain suboptimal. Thus, improving recognition, treatment, and control of HTN by focusing on novel populations such as hospitalized patients is warranted. Current consensus guidelines do not address inpatient HTN, and little is known about HTN prevalence or patterns of care in this setting. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of English-language studies published in 1976 or later that reported on HTN prevalence and care patterns among adult inpatients. We included MEDLINE-indexed randomized-controlled trials, meta-analyses, and observational studies that: (1) reported estimates of the prevalence of HTN in the inpatient setting, and (2) used HTN diagnosis or treatment as a primary focus. We excluded randomized, controlled trials that recorded measures of inpatient blood pressure but whose focus was not HTN. RESULTS: We identified 9 studies meeting inclusion criteria, and in those studies, HTN was highly prevalent among inpatients, ranging from 50.5% to 72%. Intensification of antihypertensive treatment was inconsistent, and 37% to 77% of hypertensive patients remained hypertensive at the time of discharge. Most patients with inpatient HTN continued to have elevated blood pressures at outpatient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient HTN is prevalent and a large percentage of those with this condition remain hypertensive at the time of discharge and at follow-up. The potential exists for improved recognition and treatment of newly diagnosed and known, but uncontrolled, HTN observed in the inpatient setting. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Ultrasonic study of anharmonicity in amorphous polymers: temperature, pressure and molecular weight effects

Abstract We measure the specific volume, V , and complex ultrasonic modulus, M * , of amorphous polystyrenes with molecular weights, M n , from 0.6 to 1,500 kg/mol. Experiments, at temperatures T , 200⩽ T ⩽600 K, and pressures up to P =100 MPa, probe the transformation from the glass to the melt state, through the glass transition region, near the glass transition temperature, T g . We compute the thermal expansion, θ , which defines T g . We evaluate the thermoelastic anharmonicity parameter, Γ=− 1 2 ( ∂ ln M/ ∂ ln V), that describes coupling between thermal vibrations, i.e. motional pressure, and volume forces, i.e. internal pressure. In the glass, Γ is temperature independent, illustrating equilibration of internal and motional pressure. Near T g , however, Γ increases indicating that the system evolves toward instability. In the melt, Γ becomes typical of equilibrium van der Waals interactions. We discuss implications for the pressure and molecular weight dependence of T g .
Patch clamp recordings from membranes which contain gap junction channels.

The septal membranes of the median and lateral giant axons of earthworm, which contain gap junctions, were exposed by cutting one segment of the cord. Patch recordings were obtained from the exposed cytoplasmic side of the septum. Seal resistances ranged from 2 to 15 G omega. The patch could be excised (detached) or left attached to the whole cell. Two types of channels were observed. One type was blocked by tetraethylammonium (TEA) or Cs+ and had a unitary conductance of 30–40 pS. It appears to be a K+ channel. The other channel type had a unitary conductance of 90–110 pS and was unaffected by TEA+ or Cs+. In the detached configuration the channel was shown to conduct Cs+, K+, Na+, TMA+, Cl- and TEA+ even in the presence of 2 mM Zn2+, 1 mM Ni2+, 1 mM Co2+, and 4 mM 4-aminopyridine. The conductance ratios relative to K+ were 1.0 for Cs+, 0.84 for Na+, 0.64 for TMA+, 0.52 for Cl- and 0.2 for TEA+. The channel appears to be voltage insensitive whether monitored in detached or attached recording mode. Both H+ and Ca2+ reduce the probability of opening. Thus, the 100 pS channel has many of the properties expected of a gap junction channel.
Reduced Testing Protocol for Measuring the Confined Dynamic Modulus of Asphalt Mixtures

Research project NCHRP 9-19 identifies the confined dynamic modulus as one of three favorable indicators for evaluating the rutting potential of a mixture. Though important, dynamic modulus testing at multiple confining pressures takes too long for state highway agencies to use it routinely. Therefore, several methods have been suggested to measure and predict confined dynamic modulus values without the need to run numerous tests. Experimental results show that the linear viscoelastic properties of an asphalt mixture are not affected by different confinements and that all confining stress effects are manifest in the elastic modulus at equilibrium, similar to unbound granular materials. The proposed method uses a Prony series representation of the dynamic modulus curve and master curve shift factors obtained from unconfined testing. This method uses the elastic modulus values predicted from a modified version of the universal material model to predict dynamic moduli at different levels of confinement. Beyo...
Interpretation and evaluation of multiple tracer experiments

Tracer experiments for studying transport processes in multiphase systems are discussed. Such experiments are useful in in vivo physiological studies of transport processes across membranes, in engineering studies of porous packed columns, and in chromatography. In all these processes, the main forward flow is in one continuous phase from which fluid diffuses into a stagnant outer phase (and back). A nondiffusible tracer is used to characterize the flow in the main phase (inside the capillaries of an organ or between the particles of a column), and diffusible tracers are used to study the transport through the interface (membrane or film) and in the outer phase (extravascular space or inside a porous particle). From the concentration history of the different tracers at the outlet, we can reconstruct sojourn time distributions in the different phases. The statistical properties and the relations between the distributions and their moments are discussed. Methods are given for estimating interfacial transport coefficients (or permeabilities) as well as the diffusion coefficients in the outer phase from the moments of the measured distributions. It is also shown that these relations simplify considerably the mathematical modelling of such systems.
Interference of Zinc Chelation with Cancer Cell Proliferation

Abstract Cell division is a complex process tightly regulated by several classes of genes. Cancers occur primarily due to misregulation of this machinery, resulting in uncontrolled growth of cells. We recently showed that the transition metal chelator, TPEN, blocks entry into meiosis of Xenopus oocytes and targets a protein involved in cell cycle: Cdc25c. Cdc25c is a dual specificity phosphatase that plays crucial roles in cell cycle progression particularly during the G2-M transition of the cell cycle. Analysis of recombinant Cdc25c metal content revealed that Cdc25c is a Zn2+-binding metalloprotein (Lu Sun et al., 2005). Based on these findings we hypothesize that Zn2+ is an important cofactor for Cdc25c to adopt the right conformation to recognize and interact with its substrate Cdc2. To test this hypothesis, we used Arabidopsis Cdc25c because the Zn coordinating residues have been identified in this protein. This analysis identified the following residues as potential Zn-coordinating residues: H420, C...
Color constancy. II. Results for two-stage linear recovery of spectral descriptions for lights and surfaces

Our analysis of color constancy in a companion paper [J. Opt. Soc. Am A 10, 2148 (1993)] provided an algorithm that lets one test how well linear color constancy schemes work. Here we present the results of applying the algorithm to a large parametric class of color constancy problems involving bilinear models that relate photoreceptoral spectral sensitivities, surface reflectance functions, and illuminant spectral power distributions. These results, supported by simulation and further analysis, provide a detailed classification of two-stage linear methods for recovering the spectral properties of reflectances and illuminants from reflected lights.
Refusing, limiting, departing: why we should study technology non-use

In contrast to most research in HCI, this workshop focuses on non-use, that is, situations where people do not use computing technology. Using a reflexive pre-workshop activity and discussion-oriented sessions, we will consider the theories, methods, foundational texts, and central research questions in the study of non-use. In addition to a special issue proposal, we expect the research thread brought to the fore in this workshop will speak to foundational questions of use and the user in HCI.
Strong Dynamic Consensus in Byzantine Faulty Systems with Churn

Dynamic distributed systems allow processes to join and leave the system, so the number of processes participating in a computation varies over time. Examples of dynamic distributed systems include peer-to-peer networks, sensor networks, mobile ad-hoc networks, and many more. A fundamental problem in any distributed system is to find consensus among the processes on a common input value. For dynamic distributed systems, it is not entirely clear how the problem should be formulated, as processes can join and leave before consensus is reached. We formulate and solve a strong version of the consensus problem in dynamic distributed systems in the presence of Byzantine faulty processes. We show that one cannot improve upon our algorithm in terms of the bound on the number of processes. For stochastic dynamic distributed systems, we determine the probability that a set of processes can reach strong consensus.
Recall order determines the magnitude of directed forgetting in the within-participants list method

In three experiments, we investigated the effect of recall order on directed forgetting when the within-participants list method is used. Experiment 1 showed that participants tend to recall to-beremembered (R) items before to-be-forgotten (F) items when they can recall items in any order. In Experiment 2, recall order was manipulated (F-R or R-F). The results showed that only the R-F order led to directed forgetting. Finally, in Experiment 3, recall order was also manipulated, and half of the participants were explicitly instructed to use a relational strategy when both F and R items were presented. Again, only the R-F order led to directed forgetting. These results demonstrate that directed forgetting under the list method hinges on the output order in which participants recall the F and R information. Thus, output order should be taken into account by researchers investigating specific mechanisms that lead to directed forgetting.
Pattern of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Failure Dictates the Probability of a Positive Bone Scan in Patients With an Increasing PSA After Radical Prostatectomy

Purpose Physicians often order periodic bone scans (BS) to check for metastases in patients with an increasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA; biochemical recurrence [BCR]) after radical prostatectomy (RP), but most scans are negative. We studied patient characteristics to build a predictive model for a positive scan. Patients and Methods From our prostate cancer database we identified all patients with detectable PSA after RP. We analyzed the following features at the time of each bone scan for association with a positive BS: preoperative PSA, time to BCR, pathologic findings of the RP, PSA before the BS (trigger PSA), PSA kinetics (PSA doubling time, PSA slope, and PSA velocity), and time from BCR to BS. The results were incorporated into a predictive model. Results There were 414 BS performed in 239 patients with BCR and no history of androgen deprivation therapy. Only 60 (14.5%) were positive for metastases. In univariate analysis, preoperative PSA (P = .04), seminal vesicle invasion (P = .02), PSA ve...
Managing for late-successional/old-growth characteristics in northern hardwood-conifer forests

In the northern hardwood region of North America managing for late-successional forest habitats and functions is an important element of ecosystem management. This study tests the hypothesis that uneven-aged practices can be modified to accelerate rates of late-successional forest development. An approach, termed ‘‘structural complexity enhancement’’ (SCE), is compared against conventional uneven-aged systems modified to increase post-harvest structural retention. Experimental treatments, including controls, were applied to 2 ha units and replicated at two multiaged northern hardwood forests in Vermont, USA. Structural objectives include vertically differentiated canopies, elevated large snag and downed log densities, variable horizontal density (including small gaps), and re-allocation of basal area to larger diameter classes. The latter objective is achieved, in part, by cutting to a rotated sigmoid diameter distribution. This is generated from a basal area (34 m 2 ha � 1 ) and tree size (90 cm dbh) indicative of old-growth structure. Forest structure data have been collected over 2 years pre-treatment and 3 years post-treatment. Fifty-year simulations of stand development were run in NE-TWIGS and FVS comparing treatment and no treatment scenarios. Simulations also tested the sensitivity of large tree development to prescription parameters. Leaf area index retention was spatially variable but significantly (P 50 cm dbh) than would have developed without treatment, whereas SCE is likely to recruit five more large trees per hectare than the no treatment scenario. Large tree recruitment rates were related primarily to the form of residual diameter distributions (P = 0.006) and, possibly, to maximum diameter limits. Late-successional characteristics in northern-hardwood systems can be promoted through a variety of modified uneven-aged silvicultural approaches based on the results. # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Associations of the Baltic Sea diet with cardiometabolic risk factors – a meta-analysis of three Finnish studies

Dyslipidaemia, hypertension and low-grade inflammation increase the risk of CVD. In the present meta-analysis, we examined whether adherence to a healthy Nordic diet, also called the Baltic Sea diet, may associate with a lower risk of these cardiometabolic risk factors. In 2001–2007, three cross-sectional Finnish studies were conducted: the Dietary, Lifestyle and Genetic Determinants of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome study ( n 4776); Health 2000 Survey ( n 5180); Helsinki Birth Cohort Study ( n 1972). The following parameters were assessed in these three studies: blood pressure, total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, TAG and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP); a validated FFQ was used to assess the participants' dietary intakes. The Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) was developed based on the healthy Nordic diet. All studies assessed confounding variables, such as physical activity and BMI, based on standardised questionnaires and measurements. The random-effects meta-analysis provided summary estimates for OR and 95 % CI by the BSDS quintiles. In the meta-analysis, the risk of elevated hs-CRP concentration was lower among men (OR 0·58, 95 % CI 0·43, 0·78) and women (OR 0·73, 95 % CI 0·58, 0·91) in the highest BSDS quintile than among those in the lowest BSDS quintile. In contrast, the risk of lowered HDL-cholesterol concentration was higher among women (OR 1·67, 95 % CI 1·12, 2·48) in the highest BSDS quintile than among those in the lowest BSDS quintile. However, no other associations were found. In conclusion, the associations between the adherence to the healthy Nordic diet and cardiometabolic risk factors are equivocal. Longitudinal studies are needed to further examine this hypothesis.
Some consequences of Talbot's conjecture

A recent conjecture put forward by Talbot is used among other possibilities, to arrive at a new result for bounded real functions.
Endovascular treatment of multiple intracranial aneurysms by using Guglielmi detachable coils.

Endovascular treatment of multiple intracranial aneurysms by usingGuglielmi detachable coils.
Seasonal population dynamics and behaviour of insects in models of vector-borne pathogens.

It is clear that the seasonal population dynamics and behaviour of insects and other vectors should be considered in models of vector-borne pathogens. Further data are required to model these adequately, particularly for the behavioural ecology of vectors. These models would then be more valuable for exploring the transmission cycles and development of control strategies. However, it is important to recognize that it is impossible to do everything at once, and all components of vector and host biology cannot and should not be included in every model. Models with many parameters, all of which have high variability, are difficult to analyse. However, it is important to be explicit in model assumptions and, when excluding vector seasonality or behaviour from the model, ensure that it is intentional and not simply by omission. There is a long-standing tradition of incorporating aspects of models from other disciplines into models of vector-borne pathogens, and this is useful when including behaviour, seasonality and other complex interactions in these models. Spatial structure, dispersal and foraging behaviour have been studied extensively in parasitoids (e.g. Wilson & Hassell, 1997; Hassell, 2000; Olson et al., 2000). Demographic stochasticity, variable time periods, seasonal structures and individual behaviour have been considered in the epidemiology of directly transmitted pathogens (e.g. Earn et al., 1998; Keeling & Grenfell, 1998, 2000; Grenfell et al., 2001; Lloyd, 2001). Models of ecological systems increasingly incorporate stochastic effects, spatial structure, community structure and dispersal (e.g. Sklar & Costanza, 1990; Ives et al., 1999; South, 1999; Bjornstad & Grenfell, 2001; King & Schaffer, 2001; Wiegand et al., 2001; Keeling et al., 2002). There are exciting opportunities for considering these ecological factors in vector-borne diseases and exploring the impact on pathogen transmission. The research discussed here provides examples of how some of these aspects can be incorporated into models of vector-borne pathogens. Considering complex structures and models in other disciplines and incorporating relevant aspects into models of vector-borne pathogens will improve the understanding of transmission.
Suprarenal stents and other advances in endovascular aneurysm repair.

The history of endovascular aneurysm repair has already passed through its phases of "endoexuberance" and "endoscepticism" and there is now a balanced and broad understanding of the technology, its limits and advantages. Current endovascular technique and stent-graft design is the refinement of the accumulated endovascular experience til now. It is important to make note of these technological features incorporated in current stent-grafts and the clinical experience that precipitated their introduction as the technology progresses and new applications are proposed.
Active guidance of a handheld micromanipulator using visual servoing

In microsurgery, a surgeon often deals with anatomical structures of sizes that are close to the limit of the human hand accuracy. Robotic assistants can help to push beyond the current state of practice by integrating imaging and robot-assisted tools. This paper demonstrates control of a handheld tremor reduction micromanipulator with visual servo techniques, aiding the operator by providing three behaviors: snap-to, motion-scaling, and standoff-regulation. A stereo camera setup viewing the workspace under high magnification tracks the tip of the micromanipulator and the desired target object being manipulated. Individual behaviors activate in task-specific situations when the micromanipulator tip is in the vicinity of the target. We show that the snap-to behavior can reach and maintain a position at a target with an accuracy of 17.5 ± 0.4µm Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) distance between the tip and target. Scaling the operator's motions and preventing unwanted contact with non-target objects also provides a larger margin of safety.
Movement of DDT and its derivatives into the atmosphere

Air transport is probably the principal method whereby pesticides are dispersed over wide areas and into bodies of water far removed from sites of application. For example, airborne particulates collected at Barbados in the Atlantic Ocean by Risebrough et al. (1968), by Seba and Prospero (1971), and Prospero and Sera (1972) contained organochlorine insecticides, mainly DDT1 and its derivatives. The extensive literature on concentrations of pesticides in air was recently reviewed by Finkelstein (1969). Low levels of pesticides have been observed in the atmosphere over both rural and urban communities (West 1964, Antommaria et al. 1965, Middleton 1965, Tabor 1965 and 1966, Abbott et al. 1966, Cohen and Pinkerton 1966, Jegier 1969, and Stanley et al. 1971). DDT was the predominant insecticide observed during these years of its most extensive use. For example, West (1964) reported that all but two of 18 samples of ambient air collected over four California cities in 1963 contained measurable amounts of DDT; in air sampled at nine localities in the United States, from both rural and urban communities, only DDT was found at all localities (Stanley et al. 1971) .
A Continuum Model of DC and RF Discharges

A continuum model of direct current (dc) and 13.56-MHz radio-frequency (RF) discharges in a parallel-plate configuration is presented. The model consists of equations for electron and ion continuity, Poisson's equation for the self-consistent electric field, and an equation for electron energy. The equations are solved for a single set of conditions and a comparison is made between the structure of a dc and a 13.56-MHz RF discharge. One of the major structural differences is the emergence, under RF conditions, of large electron conduction currents in the quasi-neutral region. This results in substantially higher electron heating in the quasi-neutral region and a consequent shift in the peak ionization rate from the cathode sheath to the quasineutral region. In addition, the RF solutions suggest that equivalent circuit models and ambipolar diffusion models are promising ways to simplify predictions of discharge physics. The ultimate goal of this work is to provide an adequate description of the discharge physics so that discharge chemistry can be understood. The latter is essential in predicting the behavior of plasma film etching and deposition reactors used extensively in electronics materials processing.
Partisan Polarization and the Representation of Women in the U.S. Congress

Existing research on the underrepresentation of women in Congress has overlooked a critical feature of this trend: since the 1980s, the percentage of Democratic women in Congress has increased dramatically while the percentage of Republican women has barely grown. To explain this divergence, I develop a theory of party fit. The theory suggests that the ideological makeup of political parties sends messages about the types of candidates that belong in the party. I argue that the Republican Party disproportionately attracts male candidates because ideological moderates, and thus many Republican women, do not fit in an increasingly conservative and homogeneous Republican Party. Using data from the Candidate Emergence Study (Stone et al. 2004), I find that moderate Republicans in the political pipeline have lower levels of political ambition than conservative Republicans in the pipeline. However, these patterns do not emerge on the Democratic side. The Democratic Party, despite moving slightly to the left, has maintained more ideological diversity in its delegation and therefore attracts a wider range of candidates. This disparity in ambition among potential candidates has implications for the representation of women in Congress and the persistence of polarization in American politics.
ChromoShake: a chromosome dynamics simulator reveals that chromatin loops stiffen centromeric chromatin

ChromoShake is a three-dimensional simulator designed to find the thermodynamically favored states for given chromosome geometries. The simulator has been applied to a geometric model based on experimentally determined positions and fluctuations of DNA and the distribution of cohesin and condensin in the budding yeast centromere. Simulations of chromatin in differing initial configurations reveal novel principles for understanding the structure and function of a eukaryotic centromere. The entropic position of DNA loops mirrors their experimental position, consistent with their radial displacement from the spindle axis. The barrel-like distribution of cohesin complexes surrounding the central spindle in metaphase is a consequence of the size of the DNA loops within the pericentromere to which cohesin is bound. Linkage between DNA loops of different centromeres is requisite to recapitulate experimentally determined correlations in DNA motion. The consequences of radial loops and cohesin and condensin binding are to stiffen the DNA along the spindle axis, imparting an active function to the centromere in mitosis.
A fast eigenvalue-based solution for full-wave analysis of large-scale three-dimensional on-chip interconnect structures

Interconnect design is one of the biggest challenges in high frequency VLSI design. Interconnect design methodology has experienced a series of transitions: from lumped resistance (R), lumped resistance and capacitance (RC), distributed RC, to distributed RLC models. As the clock frequency of microprocessors entered the giga-hertz regime, semiconductor industry started to validate RLC-based interconnect extraction at tens of GHz. Significant mismatch between measurements and RLC models was observed at multi-GHz frequencies on 3D interconnect structures (M.J. Kobrinsky et al., 2003). In contrast, full-wave electromagnetic-based modeling accurately captured the measured behavior over the entire frequency band (M.J. Kobrinsky et al., 2003), (Dan Jiao et al., 2003). This finding demonstrated the importance of electromagnetic analysis in high-frequency on-chip interconnect design.
Case Studies Can Fill a Critical Need in Environmental Engineering Education

Case studies are pedagogic tools that impart learning experiences through simulated problem-solving and discussion-provoking exercises that describe “real-world” situations. Edwin F. Gay, the first dean of Harvard Business School ~HBS!, is credited with adapting the case method of instruction in his college as early as 1911 ~Harvard Business School 2005!. HBS published its first case study in 1921, and today, the college develops approximately 350 cases each year and sells 6,000,000 cases for use in business courses across the world. Although case studies have clearly evolved into powerful and critical components of professional programs in business, medical, law, and military schools, they remain less utilized in modern engineering education. Incorporating the case method throughout a professional curriculum exposes students to a variety of practical situations applicable to their field of study. For example, a typical business student studies up to 500 cases in an MBA program. Case studies provide insights into the approach used by practicing professionals to resolve real-world issues and have a tendency to empower young graduates with a sense of deja vu when they encounter similar situations in the real-world. Such simulated experiential learning is a major component of most professional programs and can fill a critical need in the education of today’s environmental engineers. Case studies are not merely a professor’s stories. They utilize synthesis of knowledge and applied problem solving to illustrate how engineering works in a societal context, and they can serve as highly effective learning tools for preparing a modern environmental engineering workforce. An engineering case program was initiated at Stanford University in 1964 with help from the National Science Foundation and was later adopted by the American Society of Engineering Education ~ASEE!. Today, the program continues under the umbrella of ASEE and houses an Engineering Case Library jointly maintained by the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Carleton University ~ECL 2005!. Perhaps due to its large scope, this resource remains regretfully underutilized by environmental engineering faculty. The Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors ~AEESP! has recently circulated a call for case studies and proposed compiling environmental engineering cases for instructional use by engineering educators. If successful, this effort by AEESP may be a modest establishment of a resource analogous to HBS’s library of business case studies. Kardos and Smith ~1979! described an engineering case as the narration of a “series of events, which reflects an engineering
SEEWeb: making experimental artifacts available

This position paper suggests that some of the technical and methodological challenges facing software testing researchers can be addressed by establishing a repository of experimental software artifacts, in particular, artifacts that are related to software testing empirical research. We introduce the Software Engineering Experiments on the Web (SEEWEB) project, a Web site that is created to be a convenient and usable infrastructure for gathering, organizing, and distributing experimental software artifacts. A common problem in designing software engineering and software testing experiments is finding experimental artifacts that are appropriate for the experiment, convenient to gather and use, and will fit with other experimental artifacts. SEEWEB was initially funded by the NSF and is offered as a service to the community and provides access to experimental artifacts through an interface that allows browsing, searching and downloading. SEEWEB loosely follows the open-source philosophy; experimental artifacts are provided by researchers on an as-is basis with the only payment being citations and acknowledgments to the contributing researchers. SEEWEB can be accessed online through the URL http://www.ise.gmu.edu/seeweb/.
Activity–based costing and managment in the composites product realization process

The realisation of products from composite materials has long been recognized as an engineering challenge. Traditional methods of assigning costs to products during manufacture or predicting costs during design involve the use of accounting methods largely rooted in the role of external reporting. Accordingly the cost information available to design teams was of limited value. In an effort to provide more timely and useful cost information to managers, new methods of viewing product cost are being developed, namely activity–based costing (ABC), and its extensions, activity based management (ABM). These evolving methods of identifying and controlling manufacturing cost give composite design teams a tool for understanding product cost during the initial identification of concepts, and production management teams an effective method of controlling production costs. They are highly suitable for the use in concurrent engineering environment and are in fact essential to the efficient functioning of rapid product development teams. Explicit attention to the application, customer preferences, and value–in–use of the product provides the design team with notion of how much a particular performance characteristic is valued by the customer. In this paper we discuss how the strategy is emphasized by ABM focuses on managing costs in composites design and manufacture while further differentiating the product through increased performance. Emphasis is put on the use of ABC as a means of ensuring the process modification and development is conducted at the appropriate product development stages.
Annexin V disruption impairs mechanically induced calcium signaling in osteoblastic cells

The mechanical environment of the skeleton plays an important role in the establishment and maintenance of structurally competent bone. Biophysical signals induced by mechanical loading elicit a variety of cellular responses in bone cells, however, little is known about the underlying mechanotransduction mechanism. We hypothesized that bone cells detect and transduce biophysical signals into biological responses via a mechanism requiring annexin V (AnxV). AnxV, a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein, has several attributes, which suggest it is ideally suited for a role as a mechanosensor, possibly a mechanosensitive ion channel. These include the ability to function as a Ca2+ selective ion channel, and the ability to interact with both extracellular matrix proteins and cytoskeletal elements. To test the hypothesis that AnxV has a role in mechanosensing, we studied the response of osteoblastic cells to oscillating fluid flow, a physiologically relevant physical signal in bone, in the presence and absence of AnxV inhibitors. In addition, we investigated the effects of oscillating flow on the cellular location of AnxV. Oscillating fluid flow increased both [Ca2+]i levels and c-fos protein levels in osteoblasts. Disruption of AnxV with blocking antibodies or a pharmacological inhibitor, K201 (JTV-519), significantly inhibited both responses. Additionally, our data show that the cellular location of AnxV was modulated by oscillating fluid flow. Exposure to oscillating fluid flow resulted in a significant increase in AnxV at both the cell and nuclear membranes. In summary, our data suggest that AnxV mediates flow-induced Ca2+ signaling in osteoblastic cells. These data support the idea of AnxV as a Ca2+ channel, or a component of the signaling pathway, in the mechanism by which mechanical signals are transduced into cellular responses in the osteoblast. Furthermore, the presence of a highly mobile pool of AnxV may provide cells with a powerful mechanism by which cellular responses to mechanical loading might be amplified and regulated.