cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning in near-potential games

Except for special classes of games, there is no systematic framework for analyzing the dynamical properties of multi-agent strategic interactions. Potential games are one such special but restrictive class of games that allow for tractable dynamic analysis. Intuitively, games that are “close” to a potential game should share similar properties. In this paper, we formalize and develop this idea by quantifying to what extent the dynamic features of potential games extend to “near-potential” games. We first show that in an arbitrary finite game, the limiting behavior of better-response and best-response dynamics can be characterized by the approximate equilibrium set of a close potential game. Moreover, the size of this set is proportional to a closeness measure between the original game and the potential game. We then focus on logit response dynamics, which induce a Markov process on the set of strategy profiles of the game, and show that the stationary distribution of logit response dynamics can be approximated using the potential function of a close potential game, and its stochastically stable strategy profiles can be identified as the approximate maximizers of this function. Our approach presents a systematic framework for studying convergence behavior of adaptive learning dynamics in finite strategic form games.
Phased mission effectiveness using a nonhomogeneous Markov reward model

Abstract The requirements for industrial systems often include the dependable performance of a sequentially-dependent set of tasks, each of which may require different component loadings and configurations. The performance evaluation of such systems is termed phased mission analysis. A new approach to this analysis is presented that is based on a nonhomogeneous Markov reward model in which the concept of a state transition is generalized to include phase changes as well as failures and repairs. This model allows time-dependent failure rates for those phases without repair, and incorporates cumulative reward measures to provide figures of merit for work performed.
Gfi1 and Gfi1b Repress Rag Transcription in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells In Vitro

Growth factor independence genes (Gfi1 and Gfi1b) repress recombination activating genes (Rag) transcription in developing B lymphocytes. Because all blood lineages originate from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and different lineage progenitors have been shown to share transcription factor networks prior to cell fate commitment, we hypothesized that GFI family proteins may also play a role in repressing Rag transcription or a global lymphoid transcriptional program in other blood lineages. We tested the level of Rag transcription in various blood cells when Gfi1 and Gfi1b were deleted, and observed an upregulation of Rag expression in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Using microarray analysis, we observed that Gfi1 and Gfi1b do not regulate a lymphoid or pDC-specific transcriptional program. This study establishes a role for Gfi1 and Gfi1b in Rag regulation in a non-B lineage cell type.
Antidepressant and neurocognitive effects of isoflurane anesthesia versus electroconvulsive therapy in refractory depression.

Background Many patients have serious depression that is nonresponsive to medications, but refuse electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Early research suggested that isoflurane anesthesia may be an effective alternative to ECT. Subsequent studies altered drug, dose or number of treatments, and failed to replicate this success, halting research on isoflurane's antidepressant effects for a decade. Our aim was to re-examine whether isoflurane has antidepressant effects comparable to ECT, with less adverse effects on cognition.
Friedmann Cosmological Model with both Radiation and Matter

THE discovery1 and investigation2,3 of the cosmic black-body radiation have opened the door to fairly reliable calculations of such evolutionary phenomena as the temperature–density history of the universe, primordial element formation4, expansion anisotropy5 and galaxy formation6. The isotropy of this radiation3,5 supports the current practice of idealizing the universe as spatially homogeneous and isotropic and as filled with pressureless matter and isotropic radiation.
TOWARD INTEGRATION OF TWO SYSTEM THEORIES BY MESAROVIC AND WYMORE

Abstract A function, mapping certain aspects of the Wymore system into the Mesarovic time system ;and vice versa, is established. Furthermore, the state concepts in the Wymore and Mesarovic theories differ only in terms of information content. The mapping defined can be utilized in introducing new concepts to both theories.
AT4 receptor binding characteristics: D-amino acid- and glycine-substituted peptides.

Abstract The ability of angiotensin IV (AIV) analogs to compete for [ 125 I]AIV binding in heat-treated bovine adrenal membranes was examined. Angiotensin IV displayed a K i of 2.63 ± 0.12 n M . Peptides containing mono-substitutions with glycine or the corresponding d -amino acid in positions one, two, or three possessed K i s greater than 100 n M . Conversely, substitutions at positions four, five, and six produced peptides with K i s less than 8 n M . These data suggest that the N- terminal domains of the AIV peptide are critical for receptor binding, while the C- terminal domains play a less decisive role in receptor specificity.
General approach for obtaining joint representations in signal analysis and an application to scale

A general approach for obtaining joint representations in signal analysis is presented. The method is applied to scale representations. We define a new scale operator and show that it leads to joint representations of the Altes and Marinovic type and we also define joint representations with inverse frequency and show that it leads to Bertrand-Bertrand type distributions. We derive the uncertainty principle for scale and obtain the minimum time-scale uncertainty signal.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Use of particle beam LC/FTIR spectrometry for the structural analysis of globular proteins: preliminary studies with beta-lactoglobulin

The Particle Beam apparatus can be used to desolvate proteins in preparation of IR measurements. Several experiments have been designed to determine whether the operation of the particle beam apparatus causes alternation to the complex structural features of globular proteins, and whether it produces a solid-state spectrum representative of the aqueous solution structure. (beta) -Lactoglobulin ((beta) LG), a milk protein with a structure well- characterized by infrared spectrometry, was chosen for this study. It is shown here that the structural integrity of this protein is maintained when nebulized, desolvated from solution, and deposited onto the IR-substrate. It is also possible to induce structural changes in proteins with the particle beam and a carrier-liquid concentration gradient.
Post-Katrina perinatal mood and the use of alternative therapies.

Purpose and Design: The purpose of this cross-sectional, exploratory study is to describe perinatal moods and complementary alternative therapy (CAT) use among childbearing women living in New Orle...
Canalization of the redbanded leafroller moth sex pheromone blend

Previous attempts to shift the (Z)-11-/(E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate ratio of pheromone components in the redbanded leafroller moth (RBLR), Argyrotaenia velutinana, by several selection protocols showed that this ratio is strongly canalized. Analysis of the complete seven-component blend, however, showed that a Geneva laboratory stock of RBLR had a lower percent (20%) of the E9–12:OAc minor component compared to the E11–14:OAc component than a population of RBLR from North Carolina (31%). Hybrid populations from these two cultures were used in a two-way family truncation selection scheme in which families were selected for either the lowest (low line) or the highest (high line) ratio of E9–12:OAc/E11–14:OAc. After three generations of selection, the low line had 14% E9–12:OAc relative to E11–14:OAc and the high line had 42%. The selection pressure was removed in generations 4–9, and the low line remained unchanged at 14% E9–12:OAc; but in the high line, it drifted to 53%. Studies were conducted to estimate heritability and realized heritability. The realized heritability calculated for each generation of selection averaged 1.14 for the low line and 1.50 for the high line. These calculations, along with estimated heritability values of 0.416 and 0.644 for reciprocal crosses, indicate some plasticity in the E9–12:OAc/E11–14:OAc ratio. This ratio was positively correlated to the total amount of 12-carbon components to 14-carbon components, but was negatively correlated to the Z/E ratio of Δ11-tetradecenylacetates. The results of two studies on the canalization of various components of the RBLR sex pheromone blend indicate that there is limited potential in this insect for manipulation of the blend ratios in the laboratory.
Common Mechanism for Repellents and Attractants in Bacterial Chemotaxis

The migrational response of Salmonella typhimurium away from compounds such as phenol, indole, acetic acid, and leucine occurs because the bacteria tumble less frequently while descending gradients of repellents. This contrasts with their response of tumbling less frequently while ascending gradients of attractants. The results of competition experiments suggest that repellents, like attractants, operate through specific receptors, and the algebraic additivity experiments indicate that repellents and attractants utilize a common memory mechanism for taxis.
Gender differences in anxiety disorders: prevalence, course of illness, comorbidity and burden of illness.

Women have consistently higher prevalence rates of anxiety disorders, but less is known about how gender affects age of onset, chronicity, comorbidity, and burden of illness. Gender differences in DSM-IV anxiety disorders were examined in a large sample of adults (N ¼20,013) in the United States using data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies (CPES). The lifetime and 12-month male:female prevalence ratios of any anxiety disorder were 1:1.7 and 1:1.79, respectively. Women had higher rates of lifetime diagnosis for each of the anxiety disorders examined, except for social anxiety disorder which showed no gender difference in prevalence. No gender differences were observed in the age of onset and chronicity of the illness. However, women with a lifetime diagnosis of an anxiety disorder were more likely than men to also be diagnosed with another anxiety disorder, bulimia nervosa, and major depressive disorder. Furthermore, anxiety disorders were associated with a greater illness burden in women than in men, particularly among European American women and to some extend also among Hispanic women. These results suggest that anxiety disorders are not only more prevalent but also more disabling in women than in men.
THE SUPREME COURT AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT: 1975–1976

(1976). THE SUPREME COURT AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT: 1975–1976. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 17-30.
SU‐C‐BRF‐05: Design and Geometric Validation of An Externally and Internally Deformable, Programmable Lung Motion Phantom

Purpose: Most clinically-deployed strategies for respiratory motion management in lung radiotherapy (e.g., gating, tracking) use external markers that serve as surrogates for tumor motion. However, typical lung phantoms used to validate these strategies are rigid-exterior+rigid-interior or rigid-exterior+deformable-interior. Neither class adequately represents the human anatomy, which is deformable internally as well as externally. We describe the construction and experimental validation of a more realistic, externally- and internally-deformable, programmable lung phantom. Methods: The outer shell of a commercially-available lung phantom (RS- 1500, RSD Inc.) was used. The shell consists of a chest cavity with a flexible anterior surface, and embedded vertebrae, rib-cage and sternum. A 3-axis platform was programmed with sinusoidal and six patient-recorded lung tumor trajectories. The platform was used to drive a rigid foam ‘diaphragm’ that compressed/decompressed the phantom interior. Experimental characterization comprised of mapping the superior-inferior (SI) and anterior-posterior (AP) trajectories of external and internal radioopaque markers with kV x-ray fluoroscopy and correlating these with optical surface monitoring using the in-room VisionRT system. Results: The phantom correctly reproduced the programmed motion as well as realistic effects such as hysteresis. The reproducibility of marker trajectories over multiple runs for sinusoidal as well as patient traces, as characterized by fluoroscopy, wasmore » within 0.4 mm RMS error for internal as well as external markers. The motion trajectories of internal and external markers as measured by fluoroscopy were found to be highly correlated (R=0.97). Furthermore, motion trajectories of arbitrary points on the deforming phantom surface, as recorded by the VisionRT system also showed a high correlation with respect to the fluoroscopically-measured trajectories of internal markers (R=0.92). Conclusion: We have developed a realistic externally- and internally-deformable lung phantom that will serve as a valuable tool for clinical QA and motion management research. This work was supported through funding from the NIH and VisionRT Ltd. Amit Sawant has research funding from Varian Medical Systems, VisionRT and Elekta.« less
Proton Spectra From 800-{MeV} Protons on Selected Nuclides

The emission of protons from targets of $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, Li, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{27}\mathrm{Al}$, $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$, $^{51}\mathrm{V}$, $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}$, and Pb under bombardment from 800 MeV protons has been studied using a high resolution proton spectrometer. Spectra were measured at laboratory scattering angles of 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 7\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 11\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 13\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 15\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, and 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} with special emphasis on the quasifree region. Outgoing momenta corresponding to the region of pion production were examined at 11\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 15\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Absolute cross sections have been derived by reference to known ($p$,$p$) scattering data at 800 MeV. The quasifree scattering has been compared to a distorted-wave impulse approximation analysis by summing over the unobserved (struck) nucleon. The systematics of proton production and the applicability of the distorted-wave impulse approximation analyses are discussed.NUCLEAR REACTIONS ($p$,${p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) on $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, Li, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{27}\mathrm{Al}$, $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$, $^{51}\mathrm{V}$, $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}$, Pb; ${E}_{p}=800$ MeV, ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{L}=5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} \mathrm{to} 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$; quasielastic scattering, DWIA analysis.
Decrease in tensile strength and in mass of burning wood

Changes in ultimate tensile strength and mass (weight) of burning redwood were measured, and a correlation between the ultimate tensile strength and mass loss was developed. A simple model was employed for calculating the mass loss. The accuracy of this model was assessed by comparing calculated mass loss values to the data.
Lowest 4 f → 5 d Transition of Trivalent Rare-Earth Ions in Ca F 2 Crystals

The lowest $4f\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5d$ ultraviolet absorption band of eleven (Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb) of the fourteen trivalent rare-earth (RE) ions in host Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ crystals has been measured. The room temperature absorption cross section [${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$] and half-width [${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$] of these bands for the first-half series of ${\mathrm{RE}}^{3+}$ are larger than that of the second-half series (from ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{3+}$ on), possibly because of some spin-forbiddenness in the transition of the latter. Typically, they are \ensuremath{\sim}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and \ensuremath{\sim}1700 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, respectively, for the former and \ensuremath{\sim}3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and \ensuremath{\sim}1300 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, respectively, for the latter at typical concentration of \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$. The oscillator strength is estimated to be \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ for the first half-series and \ensuremath{\sim}4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ for the second half-series ${\mathrm{RE}}^{3+}$. At liquid nitrogen temperature the band sharpens and shifts \ensuremath{\sim}200 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ toward lower wave number, probably because of increasing crystal field in the contracted lattice; a zero-phonon line and some vibrational structure are also developed in ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$-and ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$-doped Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$. The location of the band ranges from \ensuremath{\sim}33 000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ (${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$) to \ensuremath{\sim}71 000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ (${\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}$), with that of ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}$ and ${\mathrm{Lu}}^{3+}$ outside (\ensuremath{\gtrsim}80 000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) of the transparent region of Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ crystal. Compared with the data available for the free ions ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$, and ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}$, the location of the lowest $4f\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5d$ transition of ${(\mathrm{RE})}^{3+}$ ions in Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ is found to be lowered \ensuremath{\sim}18 000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ in the crystal environment. The energy of the lowest $4f\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5d$ transition is described satisfactorily by a formula due to J\o{}rgensen for $4{f}^{n}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4{f}^{n\ensuremath{-}1} 5d$ transitions in the free ion, decreased by 18 000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.
Pyrimethamine treatment does not ameliorate lymphoproliferation or autoimmune disease in MRL/lpr-/- mice or in patients with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is an inherited disorder of lymphocyte apoptosis leading to childhood onset of marked lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, autoimmune cytopenias, and increased risk of lymphoma. Most cases are associated with heterozygous mutations in the gene encoding Fas protein. Prolonged use of immunosuppressive drugs that do ameliorate its autoimmune complications fail to consistently lessen lymphoproliferation in ALPS. A case series had described children with ALPS, whose spleens (SPL) and lymph nodes decreased in size when treated weekly with pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine; parallel in vitro studies showed only pyrimethamine to promote apoptosis. On the basis of that experience, we undertook additional in vitro lymphocyte apoptosis assays, and measured SPL weights, lymphocyte numbers, and immunophenotypes in Fas-deficient MRL/lpr−/− mice to gain further insights into the utility of combined pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine or pyrimethamine alone. Moreover, seven children with ALPS enrolled in a study of escalating dose of pyrimethamine alone given twice weekly for 12 weeks to determine if their lymphadenopathy and/or splenomegaly would diminish, as assessed by standardized computerized tomography. Neither pyrimethamine alone or with sulfadoxine in the MRL/lpr−/− mice, nor pyrimethamine alone in ALPS patients proved efficacious. We conclude that these drugs do not warrant further use empirically or as part of clinical trials in ALPS Type Ia as a lympholytic agent. Am. J. Hematol., 2007. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Surface-conductivity enhancement of PMMA by keV-energy metal-ion implantation

Abstract An experiment has been proposed to measure the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) with high precision at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Spallation Neutron Source. One of the requirements of this experiment is the development of PMMA (Lucite) material with a sufficiently conductive surface to permit its use as a high-voltage electrode while immersed in liquid He. At the ORNL Multicharged Ion Research Facility, an R&D activity is under way to achieve suitable surface conductivity in poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) using metal ion implantation. The metal implantation is performed using an electron-cyclotron-resonance (ECR) ion source and a recently developed beam line deceleration module that is capable of providing high flux beams for implantation at energies as low as a few tens of eV. The latter is essential for reaching implantation fluences exceeding 1 × 1016 cm−2, where typical percolation thresholds in polymers have been reported. In this contribution, we report results on initial implantation of Lucite by Ti and W beams with keV energies to average fluences in the range 0.5–6.2 × 1016 cm−2. Initial measurements of surface-resistivity changes are reported as function of implantation fluence, energy, and sample temperature. We also report X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) surface and depth profiling measurements of the ion implanted samples, to identify possible correlations between the near surface and depth resolved implanted W concentrations and the measured surface resistivities.
Enhancement of photoinduced anisotropy and all-optical switching in biomaterials

Enhancement of photo-anisotropic effects is demonstrated in Bacteriorhodopsin films by using two laser beams with orthogonal polarization. The technique is applied for achieving a novel all optical switch with facility of output sign control.
Paget's disease of the nipple.

Paget’s disease of the breast is a disorder of the nipple–areola complex that, while rare, is often associated with an underlying carcinoma. It is characterized by eczematoid changes of the nipple. Two theories have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of Paget’s disease. The Epidermotropic, which is the most accepted theory, suggests that Paget’s cells originate from ductal cancer cells that had migrated from the underlying breast parenchyma. It is supported by the predominance of breast cancer markers found in Paget’s disease. This article provides an overview of Paget’s disease of the breast with special attention to immunohistochemistry and raises the question of new therapeutic approaches.
Review and critique of the Institute of Medicine report "the future of drug safety".

In September 2006 an Institute of Medicine (IOM) ad hoc committee on the Assessment of the US Drug Safety System released its report entitled “The Future of Drug Safety: Promoting and Protecting the Health of the Public”. The committee's report includes 25 recommendations that “will bring the strengths of the preapproval process (data, regulatory authority, organizational function and capabilities, and resources) to the postapproval phase in order to fulfill a lifecycle approach to the study, regulation, and communication about the risks and benefits of drugs.” Copies of the report are available from the National Academies Press (800–624–6242), and the full text is available at http://www.nap.edu. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2007) 81, 158–161. doi:10.1038/sj.clpt.6100083
The Foundations of Technology Distance Education: A Review of the Literature to 2001

Abstract Distance education is a very popular and intriguing area in the present realm of education. Institutions of higher learning throughout the United States and around the world are quickly embracing distance education to serve thousands of students. This literature review of the foundations of technology distance education culminates in the year 2001, a year where higher education institutions faced myriad decisions for the future. Definitions, theoretical discussion, and categorical analysis are proffered.
High-speed gas chromatography: the importance of instrumentation optimization and the elimination of extra-column band broadening.

Abstract This review provides a summary of chromatographic theory as it applies to high-speed gas chromatography. A novel method for determining the optimal linear flow velocity, u ¯ opt , from specific experimental parameters, is discussed. An in-depth theoretical understanding of u ¯ opt and its relation to experimental parameters is presented, in the absence of extra-column band broadening, as a means of method evaluation and optimization. Recent developments in high-speed GC are discussed, in the context of the theory presented within this review, to ascertain the influence of extra-column band broadening. The theory presented herein can be used as a means of evaluating the various areas of GC instrumentation (injection, separation, detection, etc.) that need further development to further minimize the effects of extra-column band broadening. The theoretical framework provided in this review, can be, and is, readily used to evaluate high-speed GC results presented in the literature, and thus, the general practitioner may more readily select a specific capillary length and/or internal diameter for a given application. For example, it is theoretically shown, and prior work cited, that demonstrates a peak width of ∼1 ms is readily achievable in GC, when extra-column band broadening is eliminated.
AAGE guide to the meetings

Compilation of abstracts from 2011 meetings of Gerontological Society of America and American Anthropological Association. Details on AAGE member involvement and events
Circulatory and renal effects following transfusion of human blood and its components to dogs.

The cardiovascular effects of the transfusion of human blood and of some of its components were studied in dogs. Human blood, hemoglobin, globin and red cell stroma produced significant circulatory depression. The reaction to stromal materials was considered to represent a combination of peripheral pooling and myocardial depression. The reactions to human hemoglobin and globin indicated primary vasoconstriction as the initial abnormality. The reaction to human blood, apparently, was a combination of the reactions to stroma and hemoglobin, with an anaphylactoid response after second blood transfusions.
Capturing time-of-flight delay for transient analysis based on scattering parameter macromodel

The delay associated with transmission line networks consists of the exponentially charging time and a pure propagation delay. This propagation delay, so called time-of-flight delay, is particularly evident in long lines. When the time-of-flight is comparable to the input rise-time, it is difficult to capture the time-of-flight with a finite sum of exponentials. Therefore the time-of-flight must be captured explicitly from the transfer function of the circuit. In this paper, we give a precise definition of the time-of-flight together with some basic properties, and present an efficient method to capture the time-of-flight for general interconnect networks. Based on our scattering parameter macromodel, we can easily capture the time-of-flight during the network reduction while using lower order model to evaluate the charging delay. By capturing the time-of-flight delay, the accuracy of system responses can be greatly improved without significantly increasing computing time.
Facilitating level three cache studies using set sampling

We discuss some of the difficulties present in trace collection and trace-driven cache simulation. We then describe our multiprocessor tracing technique and verify that it accurately collects long traces. We propose sampling as a method to reduce required disk space, enable simulations to run faster, and effectively enlarge the trace buffer of our hardware monitor, decreasing trace distortion. To this end, we investigate time sampling and two types of set sampling. We conclude that the second set sampling technique achieves the most accurate results. The miss rate for the second set sampling method is calculated as the number of misses to sampled sets divided by the total number of references scaled by the sample size. We determined that a 10% sample size was the most accurate while still reducing required disk space.
Fun and Games: The Validity of Games for the Study of Conflict

The validity of gaming techniques has come under increasing attack in recent years The present article examines claims for and criticisms of the use of games in the study of conflict. Gaming proponents have cited four major functions of games: (a) an analogy, or model, of actual conflict situations, (b) a heuristic device to provide new ways of thinking, (c) a device to separate rational solutions to conflict from those affected by psychological and sociological factors, and (d) a simple experimental tool to test theoretically relevant hypotheses about conflict. Critics have attacked the use of games by pointing out (a) the triviality of game results, (b) a possible lack of reproducibility of the findings, (c) the difficulty of relating game choices to motivation, (d) the inappropriateness of many generalizations made from such studies, (e) the nondynamic nature of the game situation, and (f) the lack of isomorphism between game situations and naturally occurnng conflicts. Examination of these advantages ...
Outfoxing a Rash: Clinical Example of Human–Wildlife Interaction

Increasing human–wildlife contact can manifest in a variety of clinical conditions that may be overlooked by both human health and veterinary professionals. We report on an outbreak of scabies infection in a community, affecting both animals and humans, and representing the effects of an emerging infectious disease in a wildlife population. These cases underscore the potential importance of “animal sentinel” events for human, animal, and ecosystem health. The treatment given to the human cases of infection ranged from aggressive therapy to watchful waiting, with similar outcomes. There is a need for further collaborative, evidence-based research by human and veterinary health professionals into the optimal treatment and prevention of infections resulting from cross-species transmission.
Developing the interview protocol for video-recorded child sexual abuse investigations: A training experience with police officers, social workers, and clinical psychologists in Hong Kong

A series of training programs which focused on culturally relevant questioning skills and video-recorded interviews in child sexual abuse cases were designed for social workers, police officers, and clinical psychologists in Hong Kong. An interview protocol was developed with four stages: rapport building, free narrative of account, questioning, and closure. The content analysis of 74 role-played interviews of video-recorded investigation revealed 119 questions and statements that were rated by these professionals and their instructor as helpful techniques in interviewing children suspected of having been sexually abused. Although each professional interviewed child victims with a unique style, they all found that maintaining a balanced perspective to play their roles in protecting the child, assessing the child, and collecting evidence was the most important aspect in an investigative process.
Environmental cooperation: Panacea or myth

Abstract An environmental strategy based on cooperation with business and industry rather than confrontation is being advocated by many environmentalists. This paper argues that the conditions necessitating the confrontation strategy in the past have not changed sufficiently to warrant reliance on voluntary constraint. Cooperativists advocate that environmentalists and utilitarians repress extremist tendencies, moving closer to a conservation ethic. Although cooperation appears sensible, it is too idealistic to expect business voluntarily to constrain economic activities for the public welfare. Neither is there ample evidence to suggest that business will adopt a long‐range (steady‐state) economic perspective. Thus, although cooperation could work if everyone agreed that restraint was the most desirable land ethic, it is clear that this consensus has not yet been achieved. Until it is, we must continue to rely on activism and institutionalized coercion.
A comparative study of pricing strategies for IP telephony

This paper we present a comparative study of a few simple but representative usage-based pricing strategies. For the current best-effort Internet, we introduce a QoS sensitive pricing mechanism which takes into account the fact that the quality of received audio degrades as the number of hops traversed by the audio packets increases. We compare the QoS sensitive pricing with flat pricing, congestion sensitive pricing, and a hybrid scheme that combines QoS sensitive and congestion sensitive pricing schemes. Our study is based on a two class user model; type 1 users pay any price for the best QoS and type 2 users request the best QoS at a cost that is less than some maximum price they are willing to pay. Experimental results show the following: i) The QoS sensitive pricing has the lowest blocking probability and also the lowest service distance (the average distance between the client and the servicing gateway) for type 1 calls of any of the schemes. However, it does so by forcing type 2 calls away from the home gateway and hence gives a lower QoS to these calls. ii) The congestion sensitive pricing scheme adapts to the current load at a gateway and hence is good at providing a low service distance to type 2 calls. Unfortunately, it does this by increasing the blocking probability of a type 2 call. iii) The combination of congestion sensitive and QoS sensitive pricing is quite effective and incorporates the best elements of both schemes: it has a very low blocking probability (close to that of QoS sensitive pricing) while retaining a low service distance of type 2 calls. However, at very high loads, the correlation between price and distance breaks down resulting in an increase in the service distance of type 1 calls.
Design by Dragging: An Interface for Creative Forward and Inverse Design with Simulation Ensembles

We present an interface for exploring large design spaces as encountered in simulation-based engineering, design of visual effects, and other tasks that require tuning parameters of computationally-intensive simulations and visually evaluating results. The goal is to enable a style of design with simulations that feels as-direct-as-possible so users can concentrate on creative design tasks. The approach integrates forward design via direct manipulation of simulation inputs (e.g., geometric properties, applied forces) in the same visual space with inverse design via 'tugging' and reshaping simulation outputs (e.g., scalar fields from finite element analysis (FEA) or computational fluid dynamics (CFD)). The interface includes algorithms for interpreting the intent of users' drag operations relative to parameterized models, morphing arbitrary scalar fields output from FEA and CFD simulations, and in-place interactive ensemble visualization. The inverse design strategy can be extended to use multi-touch input in combination with an as-rigid-as-possible shape manipulation to support rich visual queries. The potential of this new design approach is confirmed via two applications: medical device engineering of a vacuum-assisted biopsy device and visual effects design using a physically based flame simulation.
Histological Analysis of Acute Toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in Zebrafish

Previous studies have demonstrated that acute exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) by injection leads to inhibition of caudal fin regeneration in zebrafish. Since the TCDD exposure in these studies is systemic, it is possible that pathology in organs other than the fin could result in inhibition of fin regeneration. Therefore, histopathology of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) organs was characterized following abdominal cavity injection of a TCDD dose (70 ng/g). The most pronounced histopathologic changes 5 days post-injection included lipidosis and hypertrophy of liver hepatocytes and hypertrophy of gill lamellae. Effects of TCDD exposure on immunolocalization of the zebrafish aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT2), the heterodimer partner of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR2), and an AHR regulated gene cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) was also determined. ARNT2 was immunolocalized to the gastrointestinal tract, gill lamellae, kidney, ventricle of the heart, caudal fin, brain and liver of zebrafish. TCDD exposure had no measurable effect on ARNT2 abundance or localization. CYP1A was immunolocalized in TCDD exposed fish as a biomarker for cells with an activated AHR pathway. CYP1A was not detected in any tissue from vehicle exposed fish. Significant TCDD-dependent induction of CYP1A was detected in the proximal tubules of the kidney, in liver hepatocytes and in the gastrointestinal tract of TCDD exposed fish. Significant but lower TCDD-dependent CYP1A expression was evident in the gill, caudal fin and ventricle of the heart. Overall, TCDD exposure in adult zebrafish leads to histopathology similar to that reported in other fish species, and it appears unlikely that the histopathology in these organs completely explains the inhibition of fin regeneration.
Efficacy and spatial distribution of ultrasound-mediated clot lysis in the absence of thrombolytics

Ultrasound and microbubble (MB) contrast agents accelerate clot lysis, yet clinical trials have been performed without defining optimal acoustic conditions. Our aim was to assess the effect of acoustic pressure and frequency on the extent and spatial location of clot lysis. Clots from porcine blood were created with a 2-mm central lumen for infusion of lipid-shelled perfluorocarbon MBs (1×107 ml-1) or saline. Therapeutic ultrasound at 0.04, 0.25, 1.05, or 2.00 MHz was delivered at a wide range of peak rarefactional acoustic pressure amplitudes (PRAPAs). Ultrasound was administered over 20 minutes grouped on-off cycles to allow replenishment of MBs. The region of lysis was quantified using contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. In the absence of MBs, sonothrombolysis did not occur at any frequency. Sonothrombolysis was also absent in the presence of MBs despite their destruction at 0.04 and 2.00 MHz. It occurred at 0.25 and 1.05 MHz in the presence of MBs for PRAPAs > 1.2 MPa and increased with PRAPA. At 0.25 MHz the clot lysis was located in the far wall. At 1.05 MHz, however, there was a transition from far to near wall as PRAPA was increased. The area of clot lysis measured by ultrasound imaging correlated with that by micro-CT and quantification of debris in the effluent. In conclusion, sonothrombolysis with MBs was most efficient at 0.25 MHz. The spatial location of sonothrombolysis varies with pressure and frequency indicating that the geometric relation between therapeutic probe and vascular thrombosis is an important variable for successful lysis clinically.
Pharmacologic Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the current data on pharmacologic interventions intended to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.DATA SOURCES:Searches of MEDLINE (1966–July 2002) and an extensive manual review of journals were performed using the key search terms diabetes mellitus, metformin, acarbose, troglitazone, orlistat, nateglinide, risk reduction, and prevention.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All articles identified from the data sources were evaluated, and all information deemed relevant was included for this review. Randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses were included if the primary outcome measure was prevention of diabetes and/or change in the rate of progression to diabetes.DATA SYNTHESIS:Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a growing epidemic. Major risk factors include obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, and impaired fasting glucose. Complications of diabetes result in significant morbidity and mortality and are a substantial public health issue. Four randomized, blinded, contro...
Soil Changes Caused by Municipal Wastewater Applications in Eastern South Dakota

: Wastewater from a municipal treatment plant was applied in rapid infiltration basins for four years to determine a poorly drained soils effectiveness in removing influent N and P and the soil changes that might limit their removal. About half the total PO4-P lost from the influent was sorbed in the upper 91 cm of the soil and the other half was sorbed by the soil below the perforated pipe, which was used to drain the basins and collect the effluent for analysis. Drying of the basin soils converted more sorbed PO4-P to Ca phosphates but the total sorbed was about the same. The in. fluent N decreased, probably by volatilization, because the two basins with surface soil lost soil N rather than gained soil N. The soil total Ca, Mg, and K contents did not change significantly but Na increased slightly. Changes in the physical characteristics of the soils were slight and would have little effect on the longevity of a rapid infiltration basin.
Theoretical study on cracking behavior in two-phase alloys Cr–Cr2X (X=Hf, Nb, Ta, Zr)

To examine the importance of thermal expansion mismatch on cracking in two-phase Cr–Cr2X (X=Hf, Nb, Ta, Zr) alloys, we have calculated the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of Cr and Laves-phase Cr2X alloys by local-density-functional approach. A Debye model is used to approximate the phonon contribution through the elastic acoustic response. The sound velocities are determined by the calculated elastic constants and associated anharmonicity. The calculation shows that the CTE of Cr at high temperatures is notably larger than those of Cr2X. If the difference in CTE between Cr and Cr2X is a primary source of crack initiation, our results fail to explain the experimental observation that, among these four Cr–Cr2X alloy systems, the ingot cracking is present mainly in Cr–Cr2Nb. We suggest that for the cracking to occur,the presence of thermal mismatch stresses are retained by a hard and supersaturated Cr matrix (e.g. due to the relatively high solubility of Nb in Cr in the case of Cr–Cr2Nb). On the other hand, the softer Cr matrix can accommodate thermal misfit dislocations plastically even though the CTE difference between Cr and Cr2X is large. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Disaster triage: START, then SAVE--a new method of dynamic triage for victims of a catastrophic earthquake

Triage of mass casualties in situations in which patients must remain on-scene for prolonged periods of time, such as after a catastrophic earthquake, differs from traditional triage. Often there are multiple scenes (sectors), and the infrastructure is damaged. Available medical resources are limited, and the time to definitive care is uncertain. Early evacuation is not possible, and local initial responders cannot expect significant outside assistance for at least 49-72 hours. Current triage systems are based either on a shorter time to definitive care or on a longer time to initial triage. The Medical Disaster Response (MDR) project deals with the scenario in which specially trained, local health-care providers evaluate patients immediately after the event, but cannot evacuate patients to definitive care. For this type of scenario, a dynamic triage methodology was developed that permits the triage process to evolve over hours or even days, thereby maximizing patient survival and resulting in a more efficient use of resources. This MDR system incorporates a modified version of "Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment" (START) that substitutes radial pulse for capillary refill, coupled with a system of secondary triage termed, "Secondary Assessment of Victim Endpoint" (SAVE). The SAVE triage was developed to direct limited resources to the subgroup of patients expected to benefit most from their use. The SAVE assesses survivability of patients with various injuries and, on the basis of trauma statistics, uses this information to describe the relationship between expected benefits and resources consumed. Because early transport to an intact medical system is unavailable, this information guides treatment priorities in the field to a level beyond the scope of the START methodology. Pre-existing disease and age are factored into the triage decisions. An elderly patient with burns to 70% of body surface area is unsalvageable under austere field conditions and would require the use of significant medical resources-both personnel and equipment-and would be triaged to an "expectant area." Conversely, a young adult with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 who requires only airway maintenance would use few resources and would have a reasonable chance for survival with the interventions available in the field, and would be triaged to a "treatment" area. The START and SAVE triage techniques are used in situations in which triage is dynamic, occurs over many hours to days, and only limited, austere, field, advanced life support equipment is readily available. The MDR-SAVE methodology is the first systematic attempt to use triage as a tool to maximize patient benefit in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic disaster.
Wireless control of passive systems subject to actuator constraints

Actuator constraints such as saturation can impose severe constraints on networked control systems. For instance delays in wireless control systems of unstable plants combined with actuator constraints may make it impossible to stabilize a system. In this paper the conditions are derived that show when actuator saturation, a common memoryless nonlinearity, in series with a passive system causes the loss of passivity. However, using a non-linear controller known as a inner-product recovery block, the overall passivity of the system is recovered. Furthermore, we note specific sector conditions in which strictly-input passivity and strictly-output passivity can be recovered. Finally, it is shown how the inner-product recovery block can be used to maintain an l2 m-stable wireless control network.
Protein open-access liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Each year increasing numbers of proteins are submitted for routine characterization by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). This paper reports a solution that transforms routine LC/MS analysis of proteins into a fully automated process that significantly reduces analyst intervention. The solution developed, protein open-access (OA) LC/MS, consists of web-enabled sample submission and registration, automated data processing, data interpretation, and report generation. Sample submissions and results are recorded in a LIMS that utilizes an Oracle database. The protein sequence is captured during the sample submission process, stored in the database, and utilized to determine the theoretical protein molecular weight. This calculated mass is used to set the parameters for transformation of the mass-to-charge spectra to the mass domain and evaluate the presence or absence of the desired protein. Three protein OA-LC/MS instruments have been deployed in our facility to support protein characterization, purification, and modification efforts. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interfacial reaction-induced morphological instabilities in thin Al/Pt and Al/Pd films

Aluminum films 1–6 kA thick deposited on Pt or Pd layers developed voids after annealing between 200 and 275°C. Void formation was also observed when the Pt layer was deposited above the Al film. The amount of Al surrounding the voids increased as the voids grew. The rate of void growth decreased as the thickness of the initial Al film increased. The driving force appears to be surface tension. The controlling mechanism is diffusion along the Al/Pt or Al/Pd interface made possible by compound formation there.