cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An empirical study of a software reuse reference model

Abstract In software engineering there is a need for technologies that will significantly decrease effort in developing software products, increase quality of software products and decrease time-to-markets. The software development industry can be improved by utilizing and managing software reuse with an “empirically validated reference model” that can be customized for different kinds of software development enterprises. Our research thesis is that software development based on a software reuse reference model improves the competitive edge and time-to-market of many software development enterprises. The definition and study of such a model has been carried out using four steps. First, the reference model developed here is based on the existing software reuse concepts. Second, this reference model is an empirical study which uses both legacy studies and lessons learned studies. Third, the impact of the reference model on software development effort, quality, and time-to-market is empirically derived. Fourth, an initial set of successful cases, which are based on the software reuse reference model utilization, are identified. The main contribution of this paper is a reference model for the practice of software reuse. A secondary contribution is an initial set of cases from software development enterprises which are successful in the practice of reuse in terms of decreased effort, increased quality and a high correlation in their application of our software reuse reference model activities.
Is There a Dark Side to Government Supportfor Nonprofits

The relationship between government social spending and private donations to the nonprofit sector is an issue that is relevant to both public administrators and nonprofit managers. Does government funding displace philanthropy, or encourage it? This article introduces the debate into the public administration literature. First, I survey and interpret the empirical work performed to date in this area by economists. Second, I retest this question across four nonprofit subsectors using data on both federal and state/local spending. My survey of the literature shows mixed results, although a broad pattern indicates that crowding out" tends to dominate, particularly in the areas of social service provision and health. My empirical results are consistent with these findings, although they must be interpreted cautiously from a policy perspective: While results are statistically significant, the degree of crowding out is generally small. On the other hand, the claim that government funding stimulates giving seems to lack both statistical and policy significance. A debate of increasing intensity in the public economics literature surrounds the relationship between government subsidies and private donations to the nonprofit sector. One hypothesis is that public spending displaces or "crowds out" private giving; competing hypotheses, however, say that subsidies leverage ("crowd in") philanthropy, or alternatively that the two sources of funds are independent. This question has practical implications for both nonprofit firms and public administrators.
'Generic' or 'follow-on' biologics: scientific considerations and safety issues.

(2003). ‘Generic’ or ‘follow-on’ biologics: scientific considerations and safety issues. Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy: Vol. 3, No. 7, pp. 1019-1022.
Stature estimation and calibration: Bayesian and maximum likelihood perspectives in physical anthropology

Many applied problems in physical anthropology involve estimation of an unobservable quantity (such as age at death or stature) from quantities that are observable. Two of the more disparate subdisciplines of our discipline, paleoanthropology and forensic anthropology, routinely make use of various estimation methods on a case-by-case basis. We discuss the rationales for making estimations on isolated cases, taking stature estimation from femoral and humerus lengths as an example. We show that the entirety of our discussion can be placed within the context of calibration problems, where a large calibration sample is used to estimate an unobservable quantity for a single skeleton. Taking a calibration approach to the problem highlights the essentially Bayesian versus maximum likelihood nature of the question of stature estimation. On the basis of both theoretical arguments and practical examples, we show that inverse calibration (regression of stature on bone length) is generally preferred when the stature distribution for a reference sample forms a reasonable prior, while classical calibration (regression of bone length on stature followed by solving for stature) is preferred when there is reason to suspect that the estimated stature will be an extrapolation beyond the useful limits of the reference sample statures. The choice between these two approaches amounts to the decision to use either a Bayesian or a maximum likelihood method.
Measurement of Steady State and Transient Aircraft Tire Forces

Abstract Studies of aircraft directional control during takeoff and landing are best carried out with programmed simulators in which the pilot interacts directly with the aircraft systems. A vital input to such simulations is accurate tire force data, which at the present time are difficult to obtain because of lack of experimental facilities. This paper describes new test equipment for measuring aircraft tire forces which is now available at the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, Wright‐Patterson Air Force Base. Sample data are presented and discussed which pertain to conventional and experimental radial ply aircraft tires.
Probability of a ductile fracture

Abstract The present paper studies ductile fracture by a random fractal and calculates the fracture probability q of a ductile fracture. The fracture probability q is sensitive to the number n (microvoid size) and the probability p of forming microvoids. There are two critical probabilities p c1 and p c2 . When p ⩾ p c 2 = 1-1/ n 2 , the fracture probability q is 100%, the ductile fracture occurs with probability 1; when p c2 > p > p c1 , there is a positive probability q (1> q >0), the fracture probability q increases with increasing probability p and/or decreasing number n ; when p p c1 , the fracture probability q is zero (in fact less than 0.00001), the fracture does not occur. The critical probabilities p c1 and p c2 increase with increasing n . When 1-1/ n 2 > p >1-1/ n , though a ductile fracture does not occur, there is at least a macrovoid which passes through the transverse plane of the specimen.
"I Follow the Blue..." A Primary Teacher and the Impact of Packaged Curricula

In the primary grades, literacy teachers often face dual and competing challenges. On one hand, they are expected to provide developmentally appropriate practice in a contextually-sensitive manner. On the other hand, they are often charged with using packaged literacy curricula that contains components that are developmentally inappropriate for young learners. This piece provides a case study of the impact of mandated packaged curricula on one such teacher's beliefs and pedagogy.
The Practice and Infrastructure of Dental Public Health in the United States

Dental public health is a unique and challenging American Dental Association-recognized specialty because the patient is the entire community or population, such as a school, neighborhood, city, state, or the nation, with a focus on vulnerable populations. Limited resources are maximized through prevention, policies, programs, and organized community efforts to respond to great unmet needs. Although dental public health professionals are few in number, millions of people every day have better oral health because of these professionals, who work on the local, state, and national level.
Optimal on-off control of an air conditioning and refrigeration system

This paper presents an optimal compressor on-off control algorithm for air conditioning and refrigeration (AC&R) systems with relay feedback loop. A generic cost function involving temperature variation from the set-point, power consumption and compressor on-off cycling frequency is introduced for minimization. The optimal control scheme is tested on an AC&R system model, and three simulation scenarios for different control considerations are given to demonstrate the potential of the optimal on-off control on temperature regulation, component wear reduction, and fuel consumption saving.
Dynamical Interaction between Thermally Activated Glide of Screw Dislocation and Self-Interstitial Clusters in Bcc Fe

Constant strain rate molecular dynamics simulations under the modified boundary conditions were performed to elucidate the interaction processes between the kink motion of screw dislocation and the glissile self-interstitial atom cluster loops in bcc Fe by using an EAM potential for Fe fitted to ab initio forces. The junction formation and the helical dislocation mechanisms were identified as two possible interaction processes. In the junction mechanism, the initial Burgers vector 1/2 of the cluster loop was transformed into . In the helical dislocation mechanism first the absorption, followed by the formation of the helical dislocation and the emission of the cluster loop through Hirsch mechanism was observed. Substantial hardening was seen as result of the interactions. The stress-strain plots obtained for different loop sizes, temperature and strain rates were used to estimate the strengthening factors.
Characterization and in vitro selection for iron efficiency inPyrus andCydonia

Responses to low Fe were characterized in tissue cultures ofPyrus amygdaliformis andCydonia oblonga (quince), two species used as rootstocks for pear. Cultured shoots and plantlets ofP. amygdaliformis had a higher chlorophyll concentration and Fe2+/total Fe ratio than those ofC. oblonga when grown under low Fe conditions. This tolerance to low Fe was correlated with high Fe3+-reducing ability and medium acidification. The adaptive responses were manifested in roots of plantlets, shoot bases, root cultures, and cell suspension cultures. Shoots were regenerated from leaves of quince and subjected to Fe-deficient conditions. Two somaclonal variants (IE-1 and IE-2) were recovered; each displayed higher ability to reduce Fe3+ and acidify the medium. These variants may be useful as rootstocks for regions with calcareous soils, which limit Fe availability.
Viral genome silencing by neuronal sirtuin 1

Neurotropic viruses remain dormant in sensory neurons for years, but upon reactivation, they can produce multiple disease states including pain symptoms. Latent viral DNA is extrachromosomal, maintained as a circular episome bound to histones. Here, we show the regulation of an adenoviral genome by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent histone deacetylator Sirt1 in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Pharmacological modulation of Sirt1 and Sirt1 overexpression both affected viral transgene expression. We propose that age or stress-related neuronal NAD+ depletion may be a trigger for viral reactivation.
On the overhauser mechanism of chemically induced nuclear polarization as suggested by Adrian

Abstract The recently proposed Overhauser mechanism of nuclear polarization for certain types of reaction is compared with the conventional radical pair mechanism. It is concluded that both mechanisms will work in these reactions if the lifetimes of the free radicals are of the same order of magnitude or longer than the nuclear T 1 .
Distinct Structural Elements in the First Membrane-spanning Segment of the Epithelial Sodium Channel

Epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs) comprise three subunits that have been proposed to be arranged in either an α2βγ or a higher ordered configuration. Each subunit has two putative membrane-spanning segments (M1 and M2), intracellular amino and carboxyl termini, and a large extracellular loop. We have used the TOXCAT assay (a reporter assay for transmembrane segment homodimerization) to identify residues within the transmembrane segments of ENaC that may participate in important structural interactions within ENaC, with which we identified a candidate site within αM1. We performed site-directed mutagenesis at this site and found that, although the mutants reduced channel activity, ENaC protein expression at the plasma membrane was unaffected. To deduce the role of αM1 in the pore structure of ENaC, we performed tryptophan-scanning mutagenesis throughout αM1 (residues 110–130). We found that mutations within the amino-terminal part of αM1 had effects on activity and selectivity with a periodicity consistent with a helical structure but no effect on channel surface expression. We also observed that mutations within the carboxyl-terminal part of αM1 had effects on activity and selectivity but with no apparent periodicity. Additionally, these mutants reduced channel surface expression. Our data support a model in which the amino-terminal half of αM1 is α-helical and packs against structural element(s) that contribute to the ENaC pore. Furthermore, these data suggest that the carboxyl-terminal half of αM1 may be helical or assume a different conformation and may be involved in tertiary interactions essential to proper channel folding or assembly. Together, our data suggest that αM1 is divided into two distinct regions.
Dynamic hierarchical control for distributed problem solving

Abstract Distributed problem solving (DPS) has become one of the central topics in AI. Much research has been concerned with finding an appropriate distributed control regime. We propose the concept of dynamic, hierarchical control (DHC) for distributed problem solving. In many domains, DPS has a natural hierarchy or a subproblem hierarchy can be imposed by utilizing appropriate decomposition techniques. DHC aims at exploiting the power inherent in the hierarchical approach. It also enables the control of the problem solving process to fit the structure of a domain. This results in well-coordinated cooperation and coherent negotiation among distributed controllers. We have used the DHC to perform plant combine production planning (PCPP). This task involves the activity of a network of production units, each with possibly different characteristics, collaborating to produce various items under dynamically changing conditions. We also describe the general structure of a single controller which adopts a blackboard and a knowledge source (KS) scheduling mechanism to carry out dynamic process execution. The paper describes the results of our first solution to this problem. Finally, we discuss on-going research that aims at handling additional problems.
Markers of cellular senescence are elevated in murine blastocysts cultured in vitro: molecular consequences of culture in atmospheric oxygen

We aimed to determine whether embryo culture induces markers of cellular senescence and whether these effects were dependent on culture conditions. Murine blastocysts were derived in vitro and in vivo and assessed for 2 primary markers of senescence: senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) and phosphorylated H2A.X (γ-H2A.X), the latter being a mark of DNA oxidative damage. Expression of senescence-associated genes p21, p16, and interleukin 6 (IL6) were also assessed. Compared with in vivo–derived blastocysts, in vitro embryos had high levels of SA-β-gal, nuclear γ-H2A.X, and p21 mRNA expression, indicating that a senescence-like phenotype is induced by in vitro culture. To determine the role of culture conditions, we studied the effect of oxygen (5 % vs 20 %) and protein supplementation on senescence markers. Blastocysts in reduced oxygen (5 %) had low levels of both SA-β-gal and γ-H2A.X compared with blastocysts cultured in ambient oxygen. Senescence markers also were reduced in the presence of protein, suggesting that antioxidant properties of protein reduce oxidative DNA damage in vitro. Elevated SA-β-gal, γ-H2A.X, and p21 suggest that in vitro stress can induce a senescence-like phenotype. Reduced oxygen during embryo culture minimizes these effects, providing further evidence for potential adverse effects of culturing embryos at ambient oxygen concentrations.
Population cycles produce periodic range boundary pulses

Classical theories of biological invasions predict constant rates of spread that can be estimated from measurable life history parameters, but such outcomes depend strongly on assumptions that are often unmet in nature. Subsequent advances have demonstrated how relaxing assumptions of these foundational models results in other spread patterns seen in nature, including invasions that accelerate through time, or that alternate among periods of expansion, retraction, and stasis of range boundaries. In this paper, we examine how periodic population fluctuations affect temporal patterns of range expansion by coupling empirical data on the gypsy moth invasion in North America with insights from a model incorporating population cycles, Allee effects, and stratified diffusion. In an analysis of field data, we found that gypsy moth spread exhibits pulses with a period of 6 yr, which field data and model simulations suggest is the result of a 6-yr population cycle in established populations near the invasion front. Model simulations show that the development of periodic behavior in range expansion depends primarily on the period length of population cycles. The period length of invasion pulses corresponded to the population cycle length, and the regularity of invasion pulses tended to decline with increases in population cycle length. A key insight of this research is that dynamics of established populations, behind the invasion front, can have strong effects on spread. Our findings suggest that coordination between separate management programs targeting low-density spreading and established outbreaking populations, respectively, could increase the efficacy of efforts to mitigate gypsy moth impacts. Given the variety of species experiencing population fluctuations, Allee effects, and stratified diffusion, insights from this study are potentially important to understanding how the range boundaries of many species change.
Fermion masses and mixings in SO(10) (II). Probing grand unification through neutrino oscillations

Abstract In a class of grand unified models based on SO(10), the mixing angles in the lepton sector are related by symmetry arguments to the measured quark mixing angles. The mixing angles relevant in neutrino oscillations are estimated to be sin2 2θ c μc ⋍ 0.02 , sin2 2θ μτ ⋍ (0.36–1.3) × 10 −2 and sin2 2fθcτ }- (0.04–2) × 10−4. A variety of considerations unrelated to neutrino oscillations enable us to estimate the neutrino masses as well. The heaviest (essentially “tau”) neutrino lies in the range 0.5–8 eV, the “muon” neutrino is close to 10−3 eV, while the “electron” neutrino turns out to be substantially lighter. These predictions can be confronted with recent, ongoing, and proposed neutrino oscillation experiments. As a by-product, one obtains a new understanding of the well-known asymptotic relation mμ = 3ms.
A study of the low-lying states of 23Mg

Nine excited states of 23Mg have been investigated by the 24Mg(3He, αγ)23Mg reaction at 3He bombarding energies of 6.37 and 8.05 MeV. Alpha-gamma angular correlations were measured using a collinear geometry. From these measurements and in conjunction with known ln values, spin and parity assignments of 52+, 72(+)(32), 12+, 92(+)(52), 12−(32−), 32+(52+), 32−, (52+), and 12+ are established for the levels at 0.451, 2.048, 2.356, 2.712, 2.768, 2.904, 3.792, 3.968 and 4.353 MeV, respectively. Branching ratios were determined for these levels and also the γ-ray mixing ratios for most of the transitions. The decay modes of the 2.712 and 2.768 MeV levels were determined by a coincidence experiment utilizing a Ge(Li) detector. The results of this experiment are compared with other measurements, and weighted averages for the branching and mixing ratios are obtained. The predictions of the strong coupling collective model are compared with these averages.
Terahertz imaging and spectroscopy for landmine detection

Pulsed THz (100 GHz - 30 THz) Imaging Spectroscopy combines three ways of mine detection in one system, high resolution radar, depth ranging, and infrared spectroscopy. It allows minefield detection, single mine imaging, and near-zero false alarm due to the capabilities of explosives / plastic identification using spectroscopy with working distances to 1000 feet. We have previously demonstrated imaging capabilities with 1 mm spatial resolution on a rubber O-ring embedded in sand. The estimated transmission depth in moist sand is 1 to 3 cm, which should be sufficient for imaging anti-personnel mines. In this work, we present initial results investigating the feasibility of THz spectroscopy in the frequency range from 1 to 10 THz to detect and identify explosives and related compounds (ERCs). A major component of this effort is chemical modeling to obtain spectroscopic information on ERCs and environmental background. A time-domain THz system using femtosecond laser pulses is also being developed.
The Epigenetics of Early Lymphocyte Development

The mammalian genome is highly structured, both spatially and functionally. Chromosomes are organized into specific territories, which are further folded into euchromatic or heterochromatic compartments. The euchromatic compartment often contains domains decorated with activating epigenetic marks, whereas heterochromatic regions lack activating marks or bear repressive ones. During lymphocyte development, gene segments move between these compartments. Additionally, some genes undergoing changes in transcriptional activity also display elaborate alterations in chromatin folding. Lineage-specific transcription factors help mediate these reconfigurations. Herein, I describe how genetic loci encoding for key regulators switch nuclear neighborhoods and reorganize their 3D structures to drive cell fate.
Cannulated screw unraveling: a case series and literature-based review of an under-recognized complication

Partially threaded cannulated screws have enhanced the orthopedic surgeon’s ability to fix periarticular fractures. There are many reports of complications and hardware failure during screw removal, but those during fracture fixation are under-reported and under-recognized in the literature. We describe a 21-year-old healthy man with a grade 1 open displaced medial epicondylar humerus fracture. Upon fracture fixation in the OR using a partially threaded cannulated screw over a Kirschner wire, the threads of the screw unraveled. The operating surgeon felt increased resistance and the unraveling was demonstrated on intra-operative fluoroscopy. The screw was removed by hand without hardware retention and a new K-wire and cannulated screw were used for definitive fixation. We found seven previous cases reporting a similar complication with mixed presentations and results. All occurred in young healthy patients, six of which were males. Six of the seven cases made no mention of a tactile change in resistance during fixation and only one of the seven pre-drilled the cortex prior to placement of the cannulated screw. We believe that screw unraveling is an under-reported complication of fracture fixation with cannulated screws that should be recognized by the orthopedic community. We found intra-operative fluoroscopy integral to the recognition of the problem in our case and recommend its use in fracture fixation with cannulated screws. We also suggest pre-drilling of cortices, especially when operating on young patients with strong bone.
Effect of drop coalescence on mass transfer rate

Abstract Disperse-phase-controlled mass transfer rates from individual liquid drops suspended in a second liquid phase are measured optically immediately after the drop has been formed by coalescence of two smaller droplets. The net effect on mass transfer of the act of coalescence is determined by comparison to similar measurements made on the initial droplets in the absence of coalescence. The transfer rates immediately after coalescence are high rapidly fall to zero, rebound to an intermediate value and finally decay to the level expected for an undisturbed drop. The net effect on total mass transferred is detrimental in a clean system subject to interfacial instability but appears to be beneficial for contaminated systems or where no surface movements are spontaneously generated.
Paramount Matrices and Synthesis of Resistive N-Ports

A method of reducing the main diagonal elements of a paramount matrix and its inverse without destroying their paramount character is described. It is shown that in not more than 2n steps the irreducible remainder of a given matrix can be found. Also, the conditions are formulated for a paramount matrix with nonpositive off-diagonal eliements to be the impedance matrix of an n -port network with the minimum number of independent circuits.
Comparing different levels of interaction constraints for deriving visual problem isomorphs

Interaction and manual manipulation have been shown in the cognitive science literature to play a critical role in problem solving. Given different types of interactions or constraints on interactions, a problem can appear to have different degrees of difficulty. While this relationship between interaction and problem solving has been well studied in the cognitive science literatures, the visual analytics community has yet to exploit this understanding for analytical problem solving. In this paper, we hypothesize that constraints on interactions and constraints encoded in visual representations can lead to strategies of varying effectiveness during problem solving. To test our hypothesis, we conducted a user study in which participants were given different levels of interaction constraints when solving a simple math game called Number Scrabble. Number Scrabble is known to have an optimal visual problem isomorph, and the goal of this study is to learn if and how the participants could derive the isomorph and to analyze the strategies that the participants utilize in solving the problem. Our results indicate that constraints on interactions do affect problem solving, and that while the optimal visual isomorph is difficult to derive, certain interaction constraints can lead to a higher chance of deriving the isomorph.
Radius of 8 B halo from the asymptotic normalization coefficient

The experimental asymptotic normalization coefficient determined from peripheral transfer reactions is used to obtain the root-mean-square radius of the wave function for the loosely bound proton in ${}^{8}\mathrm{B}.$ It is shown that the asymptotic region contributes most and that matching of the interior wave function with the asymptotic part yields a nearly model-independent radius. We obtain $〈{r}^{2}{〉}^{1/2}=4.20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.22 \mathrm{fm}$ for the root-mean-square (rms) radius of the last proton, much larger than the rms radius of the ${}^{7}\mathrm{Be}$ core. This large value and the fact that the asymptotic part of the proton wave function contributes $85%$ to the rms radius are good sign that ${}^{8}\mathrm{B}$ is a halo nucleus.
A strong signature of balancing selection in the 5′ cis-regulatory region of CCR5

CCR5 encodes a cell surface chemokine receptor molecule that serves as the principal coreceptor, with CD4, for HIV-type 1 (HIV-1). Varied HIV-1 susceptibility and time to progression to AIDS have been associated with polymorphisms in CCR5. Many of these polymorphisms are located in the 5′ cis-regulatory region of CCR5, suggesting that it may have been a target of natural selection. We characterized CCR5 sequence variation in this region in 400 chromosomes from worldwide populations and compared it to a genome-wide analysis of 100 Alu polymorphisms typed in the same populations. Variation was substantially higher than expected and characterized by an excess of intermediate-frequency alleles. A genealogy of CCR5 haplotypes had deep branch lengths despite markedly little differentiation among populations. This finding suggested a deviation from neutrality not accounted for by population structure, which was confirmed by tests for natural selection. These results are strong evidence that balancing selection has shaped the pattern of variation in CCR5 and suggest that HIV-1 resistance afforded by CCR5 5′ cis-regulatory region haplotypes may be the consequence of adaptive changes to older pathogens.
Metacercariae of Diplostomum spathaceum in the Eyes of Fishes from Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming

Fish were collected from Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming (USA). Metacercariae of Diplostomum spathaceum was found in the lens of 11 of 12 longnose suckers (Catostomus Catostomus). The mean number of metacercariae per sucker was 59 and the average age of the fish was 11.6 yr. There was no correlation between age and intensity of parasites (r = 0.24). Of 10 cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki) examined, there were metacercariae present in six. The metacercariae were found outside of the lens tissue in the trout; they occurred in the vitreous humor and the retina. These may be a different species from those found in the suckers.
LIE ALGEBRAS AND LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Certain symmetry properties possessed by the solutions of linear differential equations are examined. For this purpose, some basic ideas from the theory of finite dimensional linear systems are used together with the work of Wei and Norman on the use of Lie algebraic methods in differential equation theory.
Open Peritoneal Drainage in Experimental Peritonitis in Dogs

Peritonitis was induced In 12 dogs by creation of an avascular jejunal loop. After 24 hours, the avascular jejunal loop was removed, and purulent material was removed by aspiration. The abdominal incision in six experimental dogs was left open under a bandage, while the incision was closed in six control dogs. All six open abdomen, and four control, dogs survived the 8 days of the study. The number of bacteria in the peritoneal exudate in experimental animals was less than in control animals. At the end of the 8 day study, experimental animals were more active, had better appetites, and were less likely to have fever, vomition, diarrhea, and dehydration. Experimental animals weighed significantly less than control animals. There were no differences between groups with respect to biochemical and hematologic parameters. At necropsy, experimental animals had fewer adhesions and less peritoneal fluid accumulation than control animals. Complications of open peritoneal drainage included persistent fluid loss, weight loss, adhesions of abdominal viscera to the bandage, and contamination of the peritoneal cavity with cutaneous organisms.
Protection Strategies and Fault Avoidance in Free Space Optical Mesh Networks

Although fiber technology has been advanced to produce a wide range of fiber types to meet specific needs, new fiber deployment requires long-term planning and installation until full service is established. There are many applications that demand high-data rate connectivity urgently, be it Internet, voice, video or all three. Such applications are due to a natural emergency, a large short term event, or enterprise that needs immediate and private service; free space optical or wireless optical is an optical communication method that meets such needs. Additionally, it is apparent that FSO full-duplex point-to-point links have limited service availability. In addition to natural and man- made link failures, atmospheric conditions may also cause failures because the optical beam is highly attenuated by fog and other airborne particles. As a consequence, only mesh FSO provides enhanced service availability if proper fault detection and protection strategies are incorporated on the node and network level. In this paper, we review the FSO technology, we discuss the mesh FSO topology, and we describe fault detection, fault avoidance and protection strategies of the FSO mesh when one or more of its links fail. We also discuss engineering and traffic management and security issues.
An overview of the rare parotid gland cancer

Cancer of the parotid gland is relatively rare, but carries poor prognosis owing to its prevailing distant metastases. In addition to the disease's basic epidemiology and pathology, we review some current discoveries of its tumorigenesis molecular mechanism. Based on published salivary gland cancer clinical trial data, non-surgical antitumor efficacies amongst a range of chemotherapy, radiation, and concurrent therapy regimens are compared. We also present the current development status of novel radiation therapy and targeted therapeutics, focusing on intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) blockages, which are showing promise for improving parotid gland cancer management.
Stable effectivity functions and perfect graphs

Abstract We consider the problem of characterizing the stability of effectivity functions (EFF), via a correspondence between game theoretic and well-known combinatorial concepts. To every EFF we assign a pair of hypergraphs, representing clique covers of two associated graphs, and obtain some necessary and some sufficient conditions for the stability of EFFs in terms of graph-properties. These conditions imply, for example, that to check the stability of an EFF is an NP-complete problem. We also translate some well-known conjectures of graph theory into game theoretic language and vice versa.
Morphological and ecological convergence in two natricine snakes

Similar morphologies between species may be due to shared ancestry or convergent evolution . Understanding instances of morphological and ecological convergence is central to evolutionary ecology because they help us understand the fit between organism and environment. Two species of stream-dwelling natricine snakes, Thamnophis rufipunctatus and Nerodia harteri present a model system for studying ecological and morphological convergence and adaptation. The species are allopatric and both live in shallow riffles in streams and forage visually for fish. We studied morphological similarity, trait evolution and functional significance of ecologically relevant traits in these and related species, and used mitochondrial DNA sequences for the ND4 gene to estimate their phylogenetic relationships. Character mapping of head length and head width supported the hypothesis of independent evolution of head shape in T . rufipunctatus and N . harteri . The elongate snout is a derived trait in these two taxa that is associated with reduced hydrodynamic drag on the snakes’ heads when in a swift current, compared to other species with the ancestral blunt snout. We hypothesize that lower hydrodynamic drag facilitates prey capture success in these species that are known to forage by holding their position in currents and striking at fish prey. The elongate snout morphology has also resulted in a diminished binocular vision field in these snakes, contrary to the hypothesis that visually orientated snakes should exhibit relatively greater binocular vision. Convergent evolution of the long snout and reduced hydrodynamic drag in T. rufipunctatus and N. harteri are consistent with the hypothesis that the long snout is an adaptation to foraging in a swift current. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 85 , 363‐371. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: adaptation - binocular vision field - convergent evolution - hydrodynamic drag - Nerodia - Thamnophis - whole organism performance.
Compliant manipulation for peg-in-hole: Is passive compliance a key to learn contact motion?

We examine the usefulness of passive compliance in a manipulator that learns contact motion. Based on the notice that humans outperforms robots with the contact motion, we follow two aspects of human manipulation: passive compliance and learning. As imitation of human's arm and learning, we use a robot arm with passive compliant joints and it learns a policy for peg in hole by the proposed gradient descending method. We present that the passive compliance provides with quick and stable learning as well as a slow control sampling time.
Predictors of Susceptibility to Peer Influence Regarding Substance Use in Adolescence

The extent to which peer influences on substance use in adolescence systematically vary in strength based on qualities of the adolescent and his or her close friend was assessed in a study of 157 adolescents (age: M = 13.35, SD = 0.64), their close friends, and their parents assessed longitudinally with a combination of observational, analogue, sociometric, and self-report measures from early to mid adolescence. The degree to which adolescents changed their levels of substance use in accord with their peers’ baseline levels of use was predicted by a range of theoretically salient factors including: observed teen lack of autonomy and social support in prior interactions with mothers, low teen refusal skills, and the level of social acceptance of their close friend. Findings suggest the importance of both internal factors (e.g., autonomy and relatedness struggles) and external factors (e.g., social status of friends) in explaining why vulnerability to peer influence processes may be much greater for some adolescents than others. Although peer relationships provide an essential milieu in which adolescents can develop social skills and learn appropriate social behavior, adolescent conformity to the negative norms of some of their peers also serves as a major risk factor for outcomes from delinquency and substance use to risky sexual behavior (DiIorio et al., 2001; Hops, Andrews, Duncan, Duncan, & Tildesley, 2000; Prinstein, Boergers, & Spirito, 2001; Urberg, Degirmencioglu, & Pilgrim, 1997). Yet, exposure to the peer world is crucial and unavoidable during adolescence, as failure to form strong bonds by the time one reaches adulthood has also been linked to a range of negative outcomes including depression, conflictual marital relationships, and even an increased likelihood of early mortality (House, Landis, & Umberson, 1988; Klerman, Weissman, Rounsaville, & Chevron, 1984; Miller, Smith, Turner, Guijarro, & Hallet, 1996). Given the normative increase in deviant behavior that occurs in adolescence, virtually all teenagers can expect to be exposed to significant levels of problematic behavior within their broader peer groups (Moffitt, 1993). Among youth identified as
Population genetics of euphydryas butterflies. I Genetic variation and the neutrality hypothesis.

Twenty-one populations of the checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas editha, and ten populations of Euphydryas chalcedona were sampled for genetic variation at eight polymorphic enzyme loci. Both species possessed loci that were highly variable from population to population and loci that were virtually identical across all populations sampled. Our data indicate that the neutrality hypothesis is untenable for the loci studied, and therefore selection is indicated as the major factor responsible for producing these patterns. Thorough ecological work allowed gene flow to be ruled out (in almost all instances) as a factor maintaining similar gene frequencies across populations. The Lewontin-Krakauer test indicated magnitudes of heterogeneity among standardized variances of gene frequencies inconsistent with the neutrality hypothesis. The question of whether or not to correct this statistic for sample size is discussed. Observed equitability of gene frequencies of multiple allelic loci was found to be greater than that predicted under the neutrality hypothesis. Genetic differentiation presisting through two generations was found between the one pair of populations known to exchange significant numbers of individuals per generation. Two matrices of genetic distance between populations, based on the eight loci sampled, were found to be significantly correlated with a matrix of environmental distance, based on measures of fourteen environmental parameters. Correlations between gene frequencies and environmental parameters, results of multiple regression analysis, and results of principle component analysis showed strong patterns of association and of "explained" variation. The correlation analyses suggest which factors might be further investigated as proximate selective agents.
Interannual Variability of Water Demand and Summer Climate in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Abstract The effects of interannual climate variability on water demand in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are assessed. This city provides an ideal setting for examining the effects of climate on urban water demand, because at present the municipal water supply is derived entirely from groundwater, making supply insensitive to short-term climate variability. There is little correlation between interannual variability of climate and total water demand—a result that is consistent with several previous studies. However, summertime residential demand, which composes about one-quarter of total annual demand in Albuquerque, is significantly correlated with summer-season precipitation and average daily maximum temperature. Furthermore, regressions derived from year-to-year changes in these variables are shown to isolate the climatic modulation of residential water demand effectively. Over 60% of the variance of year-to-year changes in summer residential demand is accounted for by interannual temperature and precipitat...
Continuous Salinity and Temperature Data from San Francisco Estuary, 1982-2002: Trends and the Salinity-Freshwater Inflow Relationship

Abstract The U.S. Geological Survey and other federal and state agencies have been collecting continuous temperature and salinity data, two critical estuarine habitat variables, throughout San Francisco estuary for over two decades. Although this dynamic, highly variable system has been well studied, many questions remain relating to the effects of freshwater inflow and other physical and biological linkages. This study examines up to 20 years of publically available, continuous temperature and salinity data from 10 different San Francisco Bay stations to identify trends in temperature and salinity and quantify the salinity–freshwater inflow relationship. Several trends in the salinity and temperature records were identified, although the high degree of daily and interannual variability confounds the analysis. In addition, freshwater inflow to the estuary has a range of effects on salinity from −0.0020 to −0.0096 (m3 s−1) −1 discharge, depending on location in the estuary and the timescale of analyzed dat...
REduce Driveline Trauma through StabIlization and Exit Site ManagemenT: Results of the RESIST Study

s S207 finding diminishes by 12 months. This suggests hemodynamic differences between axial flow and centrifugal flow may correspond with differences in functional capacity. Patient Demographics Gender (N)MaleFemale 21 (81%)5 ( 19%) Age (Average , Range) 51 (22-72) Etiology (N)Non-ischemic cardiomyopathyIschemic cardiomyopathy 19(73%) 7 (27%) Device (N)HMIIHW 18 (69%)8 (31%) Indication for Support (N)Bridge to TransplantDestination Therapy 20 (77%)6 (23%) Duration of Support in Months (Average, range) 27.7 (9-43.4)
Skipping School and Using Drugs: A Brief Report.

Empirical evidence suggests that the setting of drug use is an important factor in an adolescent's decision to use drugs. In this study, one salient setting is examined–truancy from school. A total of 1000 eleventh grade students from one district in the Mid-Western United States were invited to participate in an in-school anonymous survey in 2006. Truancy was a common behaviour among the surveyed students and drug use while skipping school was a common behaviour among truants. The establishment of truancy as a setting for drug use may have important implications. Limitations, implications and future directions are discussed. This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (grant number K01 DA017810).
Space Time Coding with Unequal Modulations

Use of unequal modulation schemes in a system utilizing space time block coding is investigated. Employing mixed modulations in a space-time system offers finer granularity in the system performance without the receiver complexity increase associated with a larger set of modulation formats. It is shown that for the optimum performance of the system, the power per stream should be adjusted accordingly. Another consideration is that the stream using the lower modulation order has a higher robustness, so it is possible to reduce the complexity of detection process by using maximum-likelihood detection only on the stream with the higher modulation order.
Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) Song Differentiation in an Island-Mainland Comparison: Analyses of a Complex Cultural Trait

Abstract Members of the genus Zosterops are known for their colonizing ability and extensive phenotypic differentiation on numerous islands. There have been morphological and biochemical analyses of some Zosterops populations, but little study has been devoted to patterns of vocal communication signals, known to be important pre-mating barriers in many bird species and in possible diversification of taxa. I report on the song system of one subspecies of Zosterops in a mainland population and an island population 15 km distant. I used both a traditional subjective classification of song elements and the multivariate procedure of linear discriminant analyses (LDA) of measured sound features. The syllables constituting songs exhibited a low level of stereotypy, disallowing a lexicon of syllable ‘types’ to be constructed for individuals or a population. New syllables were continuously produced as a bird uttered more and more songs, possibly indicating an extremely large repertoire or an open-ended generation ...
Phase velocity taper design algorithms for optimizing broadband power and efficiency in coupled-cavity TWTs

The output circuit section of a traveling-wave tube (TWT) routinely contains an RF phase velocity taper in order to increase RF output power and efficiency. By slowing the phase velocity in approximate synchronism with the decelerating electron beam bunches, the taper increases power transfer from the beam to the RF wave. Recently, a phase velocity taper design algorithm based on the computational optimization technique of simulated annealing was developed and implemented into the NASA multi-dimensional large-signal coupled-cavity TWT computer model. The design algorithm was applied to the Hughes 961HA 59-64 GHz 75-Watt coupled-cavity TWT and the resulting simulated annealing taper provided a very significant increase in the computed RF output power and efficiency at center frequency. This paper describes an improved single frequency simulated annealing algorithm and two new broadband algorithms developed to design phase velocity tapers for optimizing RF efficiency and power over a frequency range.
Mating Success and Spermatophore Composition in Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

ABSTRACT Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) resistance management for transgenic (or Bt) corn hinges on understanding the mating behavior and biology of this adaptable insect pest. During mating, the male transfers sperm and additional, previously uncharacterized material, to the female in the form of a spermatophore. We investigated the composition of rootworm spermatophores. Proteins were found to be a major component, and the stable isotope 15N was used to assess the fate of spermatophore nitrogen in mated female beetles and their eggs. We also performed longevity studies on mated and virgin females under three different diet treatments and investigated the relationships between morphometric characteristics and spermatophore volume of mating pairs of beetles. The stable isotope analysis determined that nitrogen provided to the female in the spermatophore was incorporated into the eggs. We found that virgin female beetles on a corn diet lived significantly longer than mated f...