cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congestion and Fiscal Policy in a Two-Sector Economy with Public Capital: A Quantitative Assessment

This paper analyzes the role of public capital when the services it yields is subject to two forms of congestion, which we characterize as relative and aggregate. We employ a two-sector growth model in which there are conventional profit-maximizing private firms, together with "public firms", whose objective is to produce a specified quantity of government investment goods --- determined by government policy --- at minimum cost. We characterize the equilibrium dynamics, and analyze two forms of fiscal disturbances --- an increase in public investment, and a decrease in the tax on capital income --- by simulating a calibrated economy. We contrast the effects of these two types of congestion on both the existing steady-state equilibrium, as well as for the effectiveness of fiscal policy.
Comparative analysis of the sailor assignment problem

In this work the performance of several local search and metaheuristic methods is compared to previously reported work using evolutionary algorithms. The results show that while multiple algorithms are competitive on the Sailor Assignment Problem, the state-of-the-art evolutionary algorithm and a simulated annealing algorithm tend to provide the best performance. Additionally, some relevant features of the Sailor Assignment Problem are analyzed and used to explain the observed performance characteristics.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Consequences of Menstrual Health in Urban Adolescent Females

Abstract Purpose There is a lack of current information concerning the knowledge and attitudes of urban adolescents regarding menstruation. The purpose of this research was to determine: (1) The prevalence of dysmenorrhea, premenstrual symptoms and other menstrual disorders among adolescents who receive their health care at an urban adolescent health center; (2) The attitudes and expectations adolescents have relating to their menstrual period; and (3) The relationship between teens' attitudes and expectations regarding menses and actual menstrual-related morbidities such as school absenteeism. Methods A 35-item, survey was administered to postmenarcheal adolescents ages 12–21 years. Descriptive analysis of the prevalence of the menstrual disorders was completed. Chi-square testing was used to compare the prevalence of menstrual-related morbidities with the level of adolescents' expectations regarding menstruation. Results 91.5% of the respondents were African-American. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was the most prevalent reported menstrual disorder (84.3%) followed by dysmenorrhea (65%), abnormal cycle lengths (13.2%), and excessive uterine bleeding (8.6%). Only 2% of teens report receiving information about menstruation from their health care provider. Negative expectations regarding menstruation were associated with higher rates of school absenteeism and missed activities (P = 0.0790 and P = 0.0297 respectively). Conclusions PMS and dysmenorrhea are prevalent medical disorders among urban adolescents. Morbidities, including school absenteeism, are higher among those with negative period expectations. Since only 2% of teens received information regarding menstruation from their health care provider, it is imperative that health care providers increase their anticipatory guidance regarding normal menstruation. This may aid in the prompt diagnosis and treatment of menstrual disorders, and decrease their associated morbidities.
Effects of 5-fluorouracil on embryonic rat palate in vitro: fusion in the absence of proliferation.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) inhibits the enzyme thymidylate synthetase (TS) which results in inhibition of DNA synthesis. 5-FU is teratogenic in many species, inducing cleft palate, limb, and tail defects. In the present study, gestation day (GD) 14 embryonic rat craniofacial explants were exposed to 5-FU in organ culture with increasing concentrations and durations of exposure. Palates exposed to 5-FU were morphologically abnormal and craniofacial shape, size, and palatal fusion pattern were affected with the severity of effects dependent on concentration and duration of exposure. Cleft palate was induced in vitro as opposing palates overlapped in a narrowed oral cavity. Palates exposed to higher levels of 5-FU were growth inhibited, but fused even though proliferation ceased and few cells were available to participate in elevation and fusion. This was demonstrated as a biphasic concentration-response profile for palatal fusion in which 0.05 to 0.15 μg 5-FU/ml produced decreasing rates of palatal fusion, while exposure to 0.15 to 3.0 μg/ml resulted in progressively increasing rates of fusion. The effects of 5-FU were detected biochemically as a reduction in TS activity which was concentration and time dependent during the first 12 hours, with a return to control levels by 24 hours. During the first day, 5-FU did not alter protein levels, but DNA levels significantly decreased at the high concentration, 2.0 μg/ml. After 5 days in culture, both DNA and protein decreased with increasing 5-FU concentration and duration of exposure. Also by the end of the culture period, 3H-TdR incorporation had decreased in a concentration dependent manner. It is concluded that progressive inhibition of proliferation and growth in organ culture results in two different morphological outcomes: cleft palate resulting from a narrowed oral cavity and increased incidence of anterior palatal fusion under conditions of strong growth reduction. This study demonstrates that elevation and fusion can occur in the absence of growth and proliferation. Based on these observations, severe inhibition of growth or proliferation would not necessarily be sufficient to induce cleft palate. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.1
The effects of training and verbalization on reversal and extra-dimensional learning.

Abstract The effects of undertraining, criterion learning, and overtraining on the subsequent ability of nursery school children to achieve reversal and extradimensional shifts were studied. Sixty-eight Ss were trained on a size sorting discrimination problem and then tested on a reversal shift or an extra-dimensional shift. Three conditions of training were employed, all of which allowed the subjects to solve the training problem but with different amounts of experience. The conditions were: (1) undertraining by informing the subjects of the solution, (2) undertraining as in condition 1, but then giving the Ss 20 additional overtraining trials, and (3) experience with the problem until S achieved an independent solution. The results demonstrated an inverse relationship between the number of trials on the training problem and the number of trials required for reversal learning. The use of language did not facilitate the reversal performance. No relation was found between degree of training and ease of extra-dimensional shifting.
Applications of Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Elevation Data

The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) was flown in February 2000 and collected the first ever high-resolution near-global digital elevation data. The final SRTM data have become widely available at 1 arc-second resolution for the United States and 3 arc-second resolution for other areas. This article reviews the background of the SRTM mission, the data quality characteristics of the SRTM elevation data, and the many applications of SRTM elevation data that have emerged in recent years, including forest ecology, volcanology, glaciology, geomorphology, and hydrology. SRTM data have been particularly useful for areas where previously limited topographic data were available, but results from STRM data also compare reasonably well with those obtained from other highresolution digital elevation models.
Alice Walker's Meridian, feminism, and the “Movement”*

(1989). Alice Walker's Meridian, feminism, and the “Movement”. Women's Studies: Vol. 16, No. 3-4, pp. 317-330.
The role of TRIM21 in necrotizing enterocolitis

INTRODUCTION: Malignant rhabdoid kidney tumors (MRKT) are rare, aggressive pediatric malignancies that respond poorly to current therapeutic regimens. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a key role in tumorigenesis and maintenance of the malignant phenotype in many human tumors, including renal cell carcinoma. We hypothesized that MRKTs would express FAK, and that FAK would have a driver role in the malignant phenotype of this tumor.
Potassium-induced long-term potentiation in rat hippocampal slices.

Abstract We observed that a transient increase in extracellular potassium concentration (50 mM for 40 s) was sufficient to induce long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission in area CA1 of the hippocampal slice. Potassium-induced potentiation of the Schaffer collateral/commissural synapses demonstrated several features characteristic of tetanus-induced LTP: (1) population excitatory post-synaptic potential (EPSP) amplitudes were enhanced to a similar magnitude (on average 70% above baseline) which (2) lasted for more than 20 min; (3) induction was blocked by bath application of the specific N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist d -2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate ( d -APV), and (4) was attenuated by reduction of the concentration of calcium in the extracellular medium. Induction of either potassium-induced LTP or tetanus-induced LTP occluded the subsequent expression of the other. Finally, exposure to high potassium in the absence of electrical stimulation was sufficient to induce LTP. Taken together, these data indicate that brief depolarizing stimuli other than tetanus can induce LTP. Because potassium-induced LTP is not restricted to the subset of afferents examined electrophysiologically, such a method could facilitate analyses of the biochemical events underlying both the induction and expression of LTP.
Ion irradiation induced grain growth in Ni polycrystalline thin films

Ion irradiation induced grain growth in Ni polycrystalline thin films has been studied by transmission electron microscopy. At room temperature, irradiations were carried out with 240 keV Ar, 150–580 keV Kr and 560 keV Xe ions over a wide range of doses. A homogeneous grain growth from 9 to 40 run was observed after irradiations. Initially, the dimension of grains increases with the irradiation dose and the growth saturates in the high dose region. The dimension of a damaged volume generated by a single collision cascade determines the growth rate and the saturated grain size. Elevated temperature irradiations and annealing were performed to compare different mechanisms of grain growth. Samples irradiated with 1015 Kr/cm2 at 200°C show uniformly enlarged grains, comparing to the non-uniform grain growth on the thermally annealed samples. The absence of inhibition of grain growth for the irradiated samples leads to homogeneous grain growth.
The Ability of Estradiol to Induce Fos Expression in a Subset of Estrogen Receptor-α-Containing Neurons in the Preoptic Area of the Ewe Depends on Reproductive Status1

In the ewe, seasonal anestrus results from a change in the hypothalamic responsiveness to estradiol (E2) negative feedback. Considerable evidence has implicated a specific group of dopaminergic neurons (the A15 group) in this seasonally dependent E2 effect, but these neurons do not appear to contain estrogen receptor-α (ERα). This apparent discrepancy raises the possibility that at least one other neural system is also involved in mediating E2 inhibition. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ERα-containing neurons are activated by the negative feedback action of E2 in anestrus. In Exp 1, we examined the effects of E2 on expression of the immediate early gene products, Fos and Fos-related antigens, in ERα-positive cells in anestrous ewes. ERα and Fos/ Fos-related antigens were colocalized using a dual immunofluorescence procedure in sections throughout the hypothalamus from ovariectomized and E2-treated ovariectomized anestrous ewes. A low dose E2 treatment that inhibited LH pulse frequency a...
Differential regulation of the B cell receptor-mediated signaling by the E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl has been implicated in intracellular signaling pathways induced by the engagement of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) as a negative regulator. Here we showed that Cbl deficiency results in a reduction of B cell proliferation. Cbl–/– B cells show impaired tyrosine phosphorylation, reduced Erk activation, and attenuated calcium mobilization in response to BCR engagement. The phosphorylation of Syk and Btk is also down-modulated. Interestingly, Cbl–/– B cells display enhanced BCR-induced phosphorylation of CD19 and its association with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Importantly, Lyn kinase activity is up-regulated in Cbl–/– B cells, which correlates inversely with the Cblmediated ubiquitination of Lyn. Because Lyn has both negative and positive roles in B cells, our results suggested that Cbl differentially modulates the BCR-mediated signaling pathways through targeting Lyn ubiquitination, which affects B cell development and activation.
Flywheel Truing—A Case Study of an Ergonomic Intervention

Using a structured participatory approach, an automotive manufacturing facility identified and analyzed a specific problem related to ergonomics, the manual truing of flywheels. They also identified and implemented a solution. The problem identification, problem analysis, intervention development, and intervention implementation processes were characterized by (1) employee participation, (2) supervisor participation, and (3) strong engineering support. Comparison of the health and safety data pre- and post-intervention revealed a 29% decrease in the incidence of total musculoskeletal disorders, a 78% decrease in the incidence of upper extremity disorders (cumulative trauma disorders), an 82% decrease in restricted or lost days, and a shift in the spectrum and type of morbidity. These observed changes in morbidity corresponded to the effects of the intervention. Analysis of subjective worker assessments of the process and effects of the intervention also were favorable. This case study demonstrates that a ...
A note on surface wind-driven flow

Abstract A simple operationally oriented model of surface wind-driven currents is presented in which Lagrangian surface drift is assumed to be composed of a linear combination of a wave-induced Stokes drift plus a wind-driven Ekman drift. Using this approach, Stokes drift accounts for as much as half the total surface current magnitude. The Lagrangian current is predicted to be about 3.5% of the 10 m wind magnitude directed in the sense of an Ekman spiral about a 20° deviation angle. For comparison to this model, a second model is proposed that accounts for the interaction of Stokes current and Coriolis force. An inference drawn from this model is that there is only weak coupling between Coriolis force and Stokes drift. Such a conclusion, if correct, leads one to focus attention on the Lagrangian model for operationally oriented current estimates. Results of the Lagrangian model agree with observations of investigators for currents at the air-sea interface and may have application in the movement f oil slicks or surface drifters at sea under fetch or duration limited sea states.
Osmoregulation of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Signaling in Inner Medullary Collecting Duct A REQUIREMENT FOR p38 MAPK

Abstract In the inner medullary collecting duct of the terminal nephron, the type A natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-A) plays a major role in determining urinary sodium content. This nephron segment, by virtue of its medullary location, is subject to very high levels of extracellular tonicity. We have examined the ability of medium tonicity to regulate the activity and expression of this receptor in cultured rat inner medullary collecting duct cells. We found that NaCl (75 mm) and sucrose (150 mm), but not urea (150 mm), increased natriuretic peptide receptor activity, gene expression, and promoter activity. The osmotic stimulus also activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). In the latter instance the β isoform was selectively activated. Inhibition of p38 MAPK with SB203580 blocked the osmotic induction of receptor activity and expression, as well as receptor gene promoter activity, whereas inhibition of ERK with PD98059 had no effect. Cotransfection of p38β MAPK together with the receptor gene promoter resulted in amplification of the osmotic stimulation of the latter, whereas cotransfection of dominant negative MKK6, but not dominant-negative MEK, completely blocked the osmotic induction of receptor promoter activity. Collectively, the data indicate that extracellular osmolality stimulates receptor activity and receptor gene expression through a specific p38β-dependent mechanism, raising the possibility that changes in medullary tonicity could play an important role in the regulation of renal sodium handling in the terminal nephron.
Beds, insurance and coffee – a complete retail experience from Tesco online

Tesco online (tesco.com) has developed a sophisticated and extended shopping experience which sets new standards for retailing. This article presents a brief case study of the Tesco online shopping experience in order to illustrate the way in which the online shopping channel can be engaged to extend the offering to the customer. The Tesco homepage offers access to two categories of products: those delivered from store, and those delivered from a warehouse. The shopping experience is supported by good dialogue design and the availability of a range of effective navigation devices designed specifically to support the type of regular shopping trip that supermarket customers can be expected to make. In online supermarket retailing delivery is separated from selection and payment and can be viewed as a distinct component of the service experience. You and Your Child is an interactive online magazine that provides both information and access to the online community supported through iVillage.
The Civil Law and the Common Law: Some Points of Comparison

The interest of jurists in legal systems other than their own and in comparative law has been a matter of long tradition. At any rate, during the twentieth century and especially from about thirty years ago, there has been an extraordinary growth of this interest. Now, with the Common Market and all the other expanding programs of international trade and commerce, it is impossible to overemphasize the importance of understanding the nature and function of legal systems of other countries. In the legal history of Western Europe and of the countries that received their legal systems from these sources, one finds the establishment of the two great legal systems which are often made the basis of comparative law studies. This does not overlook the other legal systems outside of the continental civil law and the common law of the Anglo-Saxon countries. There are of course not only the different legal systems of the Asiatic countries but also within the European continent itself there is the legal system which has long been in effect in the Scandinavian countries, and there are also the more recent developments in the Soviet countries. All legal systems have the same purpose of regulating and harmonizing the human activity within their respective societies, and in each society the legal system forms part of the culture and civilization as well as of the history and the life of its people. The events of their respective history have led toward certain fundamental similarities and differences in their legal systems. In the countries of Western civilization, the two best-known systems are the civil law and the common law, particularly as exemplified in France and in England. The concentration in this article on the civil law and the common law is not intended to derogate from the importance and values of other legal systems. At the same time, it must also be recognized that there are many differences, for example, between the laws of France and Germany, as well as between England and the United States. Nevertheless, in each of these two great systems, civil law and common
Behavioral stress reduces RIP140 expression in astrocyte and increases brain lipid accumulation

Receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140) is highly expressed in the brain, and acts in neurons and microglia to affect emotional responses. The present study reveals an additional function of RIP140 in the brain, which is to regulate brain lipid homeostasis via its action in astrocytes. We found forced swim stress (FSS) significantly reduces the expression level of RIP140 and elevates cholesterol content in the brain. Mechanistically, FSS elevates endoplasmic reticulum stress, which suppresses RIP140 expression by increasing microRNA 33 (miR33) that targets RIP140 mRNA’s 3′-untranslated region. Consequentially, cholesterol biosynthesis and export are dramatically increased in astrocyte, the major source of brain cholesterol. These results demonstrate that RIP140 plays an important role in maintaining brain cholesterol homeostasis through, partially, regulating cholesterol metabolism in, and mobilization from, astrocyte. Altering RIP140 levels can disrupt brain cholesterol homeostasis, which may contribute to behavioral stress-induced neurological disorders.
AN examination of short QQQ option trades

This study shows that unconditional QQQ option selling strategies from January 2001 through November 2004 are generally significantly profitable after transactions costs. However, when straddle and strangle sales are combined with purchases of out of the money puts, few of the strategies are significantly profitable. Profits improve when the QQQ Volatility Index is high relative to time series volatility forecasts, but only when actual volatility is forecast to be moderate. Active delta-hedging reduces profitability, whereas stop loss/take profit orders enhance profitability. Overall, QQQ short volatility trades appear to be less compelling than what others have found with S&P options. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 27:739–770, 2007
Hydroquinone and Resorcinol-Containing Copolyesters

The successful incorporation of hydroquinone in thermal polyesterifications to prepare rigid linear copolyesters is hindered by the leaving group ability of phenols in nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions, the low nucleophilicity of phenols relative to aliphatic alcohols, and its volatility. To overcome these obstacles, with particular regard to improving the properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, we chose an approach whereby dyad-based AB-type mono(acetoxyphenyl) terephthalate monomers are transesterified into PET. In contrast to attempts to copolymerize terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol (EG) and hydroquinone, the transterification of small amounts (<10 mol-%) of the preformed dyad in the absence of aliphatic diol, provides homogeneous random copolymers. Incorporation of larger amounts of aromatic diol gave only partly soluble materials. NMR analysis of the soluble fraction (in 20 vol.-% TEA:CHCl 3 ) indicated that the copolymers are substantially random. Transesterification of mono(4-acetoxyphenyl) terephthalate (hydroquinone-terephthalic acid, 1) and mono(3-acetoxyphenyl) terephthalate (resorcinol-terephthalic acid, 2) into PET allows us to further explore the effect of mesogen structure on the development of liquid crystalline copolyesters.
Developing a Cookbook for Emergency Feeding Programs and Limited Resource Audiences

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify the procedures for designing, developing and testing a cookbook for a special needs audience. More than 150,000 emergency feeding programs operate in the United States. Discussions with advisory panels, consisting of representatives from emergency feeding programs and agencies that work with limited resource audiences, helped to identify the following common problem areas: 1) Although some of these programs are large with well trained staff, most are small and rely on volunteers who often lack experience in meal planning and preparation. 2) The number of people needing food often exceeds the number of meals prepared and staff and volunteers are then faced with the task of quickly supplementing a meal. 3) Individuals who receive bags of food for home consumption may not know how to assemble the provided foods into meals or have simple recipes. To address these needs a cookbook, Fast and Flexible Low Cost Recipes for a Family or Fifty was developed. Recipes chosen were quick and easy to prepare, required no special equipment, used commodity foods, and were adaptable for both quantity (such as a meal program) or home (for inclusion in a food bag) cooking. Recipes were tested for clarity of instructions, ease of preparation, and taste acceptance. Nutrition information including calories and Food Guide Pyramid food groups satisfied per serving was included. The cookbook was distributed to not-for-profit food assistance agency workers at a state-wide videoconference and a follow-up survey has indicated wide acceptance and use.
The immune protein CD3ζ is required for normal development of neural circuits in the retina

Emerging evidence suggests that immune proteins regulate activity-dependent synapse formation in the central nervous system (CNS). Mice with mutations in class I major histocompatibility complex (MHCI) genes have incomplete eye-specific segregation of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon projections to the CNS. This effect has been attributed to causes that are nonretinal in origin. We show that a key component of MHCI receptor, CD3zeta, is expressed in RGCs. CD3zeta-deficient mice have reduced RGC dendritic motility, an increase in RGC dendritic density, and a selective defect of glutamate-receptor-mediated synaptic activity in the retina. Disrupted RGC synaptic activity and dendritic motility is associated with a failure of eye-specific segregation of RGC axon projections to the CNS. These results provide direct evidence of an unrecognized requirement for immune proteins in the developmental regulation of RGC synaptic wiring and indicate a possible retinal origin for the disruption of eye-specific segregation found in immune-deficient mice.
Radiation-induced polymerization of sodium 10-undecenoate in aqueous micelle solutions

Poly(sodium 10-undecenoate) has been prepared by ..gamma.. irradiation of aqueous solutions of the monomer. Polymerization was effective only when the monomer concentration exceeded the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Micelle formation has been observed to produce dramatic enhancements of the rates of a variety of chemical reactions. The principal contribution to the overall catalytic activity often is simply the localization of the reactants within the micelle core. This aspect of micellar catalysis was exploited in the polymerization of sodium 10-undecenoate, where the monomer is both the micelle-forming amphiphile and the reacting species. 2 figures.
A numerical method for calculating the spatial distribution function of quantum statistical thermodynamics

Abstract The Schrodinger equation is used to derive a linear partial differential equation which forms the basis of a numerical method for computing the temperature—dependent spatial distribution function of quantum statistical thermodynamics. The numerical method is used to calculate the spatial distribution function including quantum effects over a wide range of temperatures. The advantages of employing this numerical method are discussed.
Taber Yarn-Sheet Abrasion Test:

A technique is described for the determination of yarn abrasion-resistance free from other wear factors such as flexibility, strength, elongation, and fabric construction. The procedure is based on a sheet of parallel yarns wound under controlled tension and subsequently abraded to failure on a Taber Abraser. The method has been used to evaluate the effect of yarn prop erties as well as fiber type on yarn abrasion-resistance. Results on yarns correlate well with the Taber abrasion-resistance of fabrics made from these yarns, and can be used to determine the inherent yarn abrasion-resistance without the necessitiy of fabric preparation.
The Influence of Energy Source, Energy-Fiber Concentration and Protein Source of the Diet on Certain Egg Quality Characteristics

Abstract THE prevalence of egg quality problems as well as an expanded use of high energy diets for layers has increased interest in the effect of nutrition upon egg quality. It is well known that yolk color depends on the pigment content of the diet and that inadequate mineral and vitamin nutrition results in a high percentage of eggs with defective shells. With these exceptions, however, it has been difficult to find any definite relationship between nutrition and egg quality characteristics. This is especially true for albumen quality. Thompson et al. (1932), Card and Sloan (1934), Lee et al. (1944), and Griminger and Scott (1954) found that the energy content of the diet as well as the kind of cereals used caused no or only small differences in albumen quality. Despite the experimental evidence cited many poultrymen still maintain that high energy diets have a depressing effect upon interior egg quality …
Understanding the nature of face processing impairment in autism: insights from behavioral and electrophysiological studies.

This article reviews behavioral and electrophysiological studies of face processing and discusses hypotheses for understanding the nature of face processing impairments in autism. Based on results of behavioral studies, this study demonstrates that individuals with autism have impaired face discrimination and recognition and use atypical strategies for processing faces characterized by reduced attention to the eyes and piecemeal rather than configural strategies. Based on results of electrophysiological studies, this article concludes that face processing impairments are present early in autism, by 3 years of age. Such studies have detected abnormalities in both early (N170 reflecting structural encoding) and late (NC reflecting recognition memory) stages of face processing. Event-related potential studies of young children and adults with autism have found slower speed of processing of faces, a failure to show the expected speed advantage of processing faces versus nonface stimuli, and atypical scalp top...
Comparison of a warm gutta-percha obturation technique and lateral condensation.

This study was designed to compare a warm gutta-percha obturation technique, Thermafil Plus (Tulsa Dental, Tulsa OK), with lateral condensation for the ability to adapt gutta-percha to the walls of a root canal system. An extracted sectioned and mounted maxillary central incisor had canal irregularities created and was subsequently subjected to multiple obturations using both techniques. Length of fill, replication to working length, number of artificial depressions replicated, quality of replications, number of voids, and general appearance of obturation were all evaluated using standardized criteria. Data evaluation consisted of a one-way analysis of variance on the same type defects between obturation groups followed by a Scheffe post-hoc test. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in each category of evaluation. Gutta-percha using Thermafil was better able to flow into lateral spaces, had fewer voids, and replicated the surface of the root better. It also, however, was extruded out the apical foramen more than in the lateral condensation group.
State of the Transactions Editorial

I has been a year since I assumed the role of TKDE Editor-in-Chief, and I would like to review the progress made in the past year, and present to you my future plans. As outlined in my fi rst EIC Editorial in January 2009, I have made conscious efforts to bring onto the editorial board well-established researchers from different parts of the world with diverse backgrounds and areas of strengths. Among the 18 new associate editors, and a few additional ones who will be joining us soon, are colleagues from Australia, China, India, Japan, and Korea, in addition to those from Europe and North America. I will continue to search for highly qualifi ed editors who are committed and dedicated in handling the review process. In the past year, 19 associate editors have completed their terms or stepped down. Therefore, we have almost the same number of editors as before. Paper submissions have increased by 5 percent from about 690 to about 730. As it is our goal to improve the quality of the journal, we have meanwhile substantially lowered the acceptance rate. Many papers that are out of the scope of TKDE were administratively rejected. I have also run random checks on submissions using cross-checking software, and have rejected a number of papers whose authors did not declare prior work clearly. When authors do not state prior work clearly, reviewers cannot evaluate submissions fairly, especially in terms of novelty and signifi cance of the contributions. With the dedication of the associate editors and more aggressive administrative rejections, we have reduced the turnaround time of fi rst reviews from seven months to 4.4 months. I hope to further shorten the turnaround time, and call on the cooperation of authors, reviewers, and associated editors to do so. To further improve the coverage of the journal, I have sought the help of established researchers to run special issues, such as the forthcoming “Cloud Data Management” and “Keyword Search.” I have also worked with the Steering Committee of the IEEE ICDE (International Conference of Data Engineering) to publish extended versions of its best papers each year as a special issue of TKDE. The fi rst special issue, which will include the best papers of ICDE ’09, will appear soon. I have also individually invited authors to submit experimental and survey articles. It is my hope that the timeliness and appeal of the research topics as well as the raised quality of the papers will together improve the readership and impact of TKDE. In the new year, I plan to further enhance the editorial board as well as the quality and composition of papers. In this regard, I hope to have your continued support as a good journal will benefi t us all, especially our graduate students. I would like to express my appreciation to all the associate editors, guest editors, reviewers, and authors for their hard work, understanding, and support. Thank you very much.
Simulating seasonal soil water balance in contrasting semi-arid vegetation communities

Soil water and nutrient dynamics of a forest ecosystem process model have been modified to simulate productivity and seasonal water use patterns in Artemisia, Agropyron, and Bromus communities in south-central Washington, USA. Measured soil water profiles indicate that each of the three communities exerts substantially different influence on the hydrologic balance of the intermountain sagebrush-steppe, and each requires unique model parameterization to accurately simulate the natural balance between soil water availability and annual carbon accumulation. Yearly simulations predicted soil moisture content for each community for 56 dates in 1992 with R2 values ranging from 0.93 to 0.98. Model relationships between soil water availability, transpiring leaf area, water use efficiency, and respiration costs of substantial below-ground productivity illustrate key ecophysiological considerations for arid land process modeling.
UBL: unsupervised behavior learning for predicting performance anomalies in virtualized cloud systems

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) clouds are prone to performance anomalies due to their complex nature. Although previous work has shown the effectiveness of using statistical learning to detect performance anomalies, existing schemes often assume labelled training data, which requires significant human effort and can only handle previously known anomalies. We present an Unsupervised Behavior Learning (UBL) system for IaaS cloud computing infrastructures. UBL leverages Self-Organizing Maps to capture emergent system behaviors and predict unknown anomalies. For scalability, UBL uses residual resources in the cloud infrastructure for behavior learning and anomaly prediction with little add-on cost. We have implemented a prototype of the UBL system on top of the Xen platform and conducted extensive experiments using a range of distributed systems. Our results show that UBL can predict performance anomalies with high accuracy and achieve sufficient lead time for automatic anomaly prevention. UBL supports large-scale infrastructure-wide behavior learning with negligible overhead.
Mitochondrial DNA variation among 'red' fishes from the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Restriction-site variation in mitochondrial (mt) DNA was used to assess population (stock) structure in three species of ‘red’ fishes from the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf): red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ), red snapper ( Lutjanus campechanus ), and red grouper ( Epinephelus morio ). MtDNA haplotype frequencies among geographic samples of all three species were statistically homogeneous, and phylogenetic analysis and phenetic clustering of mtDNA haplotypes or of geographic samples in each species revealed no evidence of phylogeographic cohesion. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that each species is composed of a single, panmictic population in the Gulf. Autocorrelations of mtDNA haplotype frequencies in red drum were positive in proximal distance classes and negative in distal distance classes, indicating that migration of red drum within the Gulf is inversely related to geographic distance from an estuary or bay of natal origin. Estimates of intrapopulational mtDNA nucleotide sequence diversity differed significantly among geographic samples in all three species. The differences were especially pronounced among samples of red snapper and red grouper. In red drum and red snapper, intrapopulational mtDNA diversities appear temporally stable. Spatial differences in intrapopulational mtDNA diversity imply geographic differences in effective female population size and may signal relevant units for management of fishery resources.
Insulin-like growth factor I expression by tumors of neuroectodermal origin with the t(11;22) chromosomal translocation. A potential autocrine growth factor.

Expression ofinsulin-like growth factor I(IGF-I) mRNA by sometumorcell lines ofneuroectodermal origin hasbeendescribed. Tofurther explore thesignificance ofIGF-I mRNA expression inthese tumors, amoreextensive analysis wasperformed. Most(9of10)neuroectodermal tumorcell lines witha t(11;22) translocation (primitive neuroectodermal tumor IPNETI, Ewing's sarcoma, esthesioneuroblastoma) expressed IGF-ImRNA,whereas 0of15cell lines without thetranslocation (PNET, neuroblastoma) expressed IGF-I. Furthermore, inasmuch asallneuroblastoma (12of12)cell lines examined expressed IGF-II RNA,thepattern ofIGFexpression could distinguish between these closely related tumors. CHP-100, a PNETcell line withthet(11;22) translocation, wasshownto secrete bothIGF-Iprotein andanIGFbinding protein, IGFBP-2. Thiscell line also expressed thetype IIGFreceptor mRNA,andblockade ofthis receptor byamonoclonal antibody(aIR3) inhibited serum-free growth. Thesedatademonstrate that IGF-I expression isaproperty ofneuroectodermal tumors with at(l 1;22) translocation andthat interruption ofan IGF-I autocrine loopinhibits thegrowth ofthese tumorcells. (J.Clin. Invest. 1990. 86:1806-1814.) Keywords: Ewing's sarcoma *insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2*insulin-like growth factor II*neuroblastoma *typeIinsulin-like growth factor receptor
Fungal proteinase expression in the interaction of the plant pathogen Magnaporthe poae with its host

Infection by pathogenic fungi involves breaching the outer layer of the host by either mechanical or enzymatic means. Subtilisin-like proteinases are considered to be important in the infection process of entomopathogenic, nematophagous, and mycoparasitic fungi. Little is known regarding the expression of such proteinases by plant pathogenic fungi. Magnaporthe poae, a fungal pathogen of Kentucky bluegrass, expressed a subtilisin-like proteinase, proteinase Mp1, in the infected roots. Antibody was produced against the purified enzyme. From immunoblot analysis, expression of the proteinase in infected roots correlated with increasing severity of disease symptoms. Sequence analysis of a genomic clone indicated proteinase Mp1 was homologous to other fungal subtilisin-like proteinases. DNA gel blot analysis indicated proteinase Mp1 was encoded by a small gene family.
Rapid Simulation of Laser Processing of Discrete Particulate Materials

The objective of this paper is to develop a computational model and corresponding solution algorithm to enable rapid simulation of laser processing and subsequent targeted zonal heating of materials composed of packed, discrete, particles. Because of the complex microstructure, containing gaps and interfaces, this type of system is extremely difficult to simulate using continuum-based methods, such as the Finite Difference Time Domain Method or the Finite Element Method. The computationally-amenable model that is developed captures the primary physical events, such as reflection and absorption of optical energy, conversion into heat, thermal conduction through the microstructure and possible phase transformations. Specifically, the features of the computational model are (1) a discretization of a concentrated laser beam into rays, (2) a discrete element representation of the particulate material microstructure and (3) a discrete element transient heat transfer model that accounts for optical (laser) energy propagation (reflection and absorption), its conversion into heat, the subsequent conduction of heat and phase transformations involving possible melting and vaporization. A discrete ray-tracking algorithm is developed, along with an embedded, staggered, iterative solution scheme, which is needed to calculate the optical-to-thermal conversion, particle-to-particle conduction and phase-transformations, implicitly. Numerical examples are given, focusing on concentrated laser beams and the effects of surrounding material conductivity, which draws heat away from the laser contact zone, thus affecting the targeted material state.
Anode Interfacial Tuning via Electron-Blocking/Hole-Transport Layers and Indium Tin Oxide Surface Treatment in Bulk-Heterojunction Organic Photovoltaic Cells

The effects of anode/active layer interface modification in bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells is investigated using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) : p o l y(st y rene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and/or a holetransporting/electron-blocking blend of 4,4'-bis[(p-trichlorosilylpropylphenyl)-phenylamino]biphenyl (TPDSi 2 ) and poly[9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-N-[4-(3-methylpropyl)]-diphenylamine] (TFB) as interfacial layers (IFLs). Current-voltage data in the dark and AM1.5G light show that the TPDSi 2 :TFB IFL yields MDMO-PPV:PCBM OPVs with substantially increased open-circuit voltage (V oc ), power conversion efficiency, and thermal stability versus devices having no IFL or PEDOT:PSS. Using PEDOT:PSS and TPDSi 2 :TFB together in the same cell greatly reduces dark current and produces the highest V oc (0.91 V) by combining the electron-blocking effects of both layers. ITO anode pre-treatment was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to understand why oxygen plasma, UV ozone, and solvent cleaning markedly affect cell response in combination with each IFL. O 2 plasma and UV ozone treatment most effectively clean the ITO surface and are found most effective in preparing the surface for PEDOT:PSS deposition; UV ozone produces optimum solar cells with the TPDSi 2 :TFB IFL. Solvent cleaning leaves significant residual carbon contamination on the ITO and is best followed by O 2 plasma or UV ozone treatment.
Comparison of methods for spatially estimating station temperatures in a quality control system

The inverse distance weighting (IDW) and spatial regression test (SRT) methods provide data estimates for a station of interest based on the measurements at neighbouring stations. This paper evaluates the performance of the two approaches across the USA in estimating maximum and minimum daily temperature where the estimates are compared to actual measured data. The performance of these approaches was assessed using the coefficient of efficiency, explained variance, root mean square error, systematic and non-systematic errors. The t-test and variance test were also used to compare the performances of the two methods. In addition, two other versions of the IDW were tested. The first IDW modification was intended to determine the importance of adding a lapse rate correction to the surrounding stations. The second IDW modification used the intermediate estimates from the SRT method and therefore, by comparison to SRT, showed the relative importance of using SRT weights. The spatial regression approach was found to be superior to all versions of the IDW method especially in the coastal and mountainous regions. The spatial regression approach successfully resolves the systematic differences caused by temperature lapse rate with elevation, which is not accounted for in the inverse distance weighting method. Both the SRT and the IDW methods are found to perform relatively poorly when the weather station density is low. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
The differential inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in platelets and vascular tissue in response to aspirin.

Abstract Since aspirin inhibits the platelet as well as vascular prostaglandin synthesis it may therefore, paradoxically induce a thrombotic tendency when used as an antithrombotic agent. The in vivo effect of therapeutic doses of aspirin on the prostaglandin synthetic capacity of the rat platelets and vascular tissue was therefore studied to determine the significance of this paradoxical aspirin effect. A single aspirin dose of 5 mg/kg or greater was found to significantly decrease the synthesis of prostaglandin E by rat platelets. Even the normal augmentation of PGE synthesis by N-ethyl maleimide was significantly reduced by this single aspirin dose. In contrast, doses as high as 20 mg/kg of aspirin failed to reduce the production of 6-keto PGFla by aortic slices from rats pretreated with aspirin. These results indicate that the cyclo-oxygenase enzyme (CO) system in the prostaglandin biosynthetic pathway within blood vessel walls has the capacity to recover from this inhibitory effect of aspirin or it is less susceptible to inhibition than the CO in platelets. This relative resistance of CO to the inhibitory effects of aspirin may serve to protect the organism from excessive thrombotic tendencies brought about by the effect of aspirin on the vascular prostaglandin generating system. These results indicate that an aspirin dose of 5–10 mg/kg would be optimal if aspirin were to be used as an antithrombotic agent.
Temperature dependence of the structure factor of GeS/sub 2/ glass

We have measured the temperature dependence of the first two peaks in the structure factor of GeS/sub 2/ glass. The first peak shows an increase in intensity between 300 and 523 K. The second-peak intensity is practically independent of T in this range. This anomalous behavior is similar to that found in As/sub 2/Se/sub 3/ and As/sub x/S/sub 1-x/ glasses which also appear to have a short-range order corresponding to layers.
Interlibrary Loan Survey: State University of New York College at Geneseo Libraries

ABSTRACT During the fall 1999 semester, the College Libraries at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Arts and Sciences at Geneseo conducted an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) survey of the entire faculty, staff and student body. The purpose of the survey was to find out whether patrons using ILL are satisfied with the service, and to discover the reasons why non-ILL users are not using the service. We received 538 responses in total (a 10% response rate). Of these, 60% were from students and 40% were from faculty and staff.