cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
African Americans and the Marijuana Legalization Paradox: Do Race-Specific Murder Victimization Rates and Race-Specific Drug Arrest Rates Explain It?

Why is support for marijuana legalization among African Americans notably modest given that such a policy would drastically reduce the number of African Americans arrested annually for nonviolent drug offenses? In this article I assess whether the urban frustration argument is an adequate explanation for Blacks’ generally low levels of support for marijuana legalization. I analyzed merged Supplemental Homicide Report and Drug Arrest data and General Social Survey data to determine the extent to which race-specific murder victimization rates and race-specific drug arrest rates in U.S. cities are predictive of support for marijuana legalization among Blacks and Whites between 1990 and 2000. Findings indicate that Blacks’ level of support for marijuana legalization is greatest in those cities with the highest Black drug arrest rates. Consequently, these findings provide no support for the urban frustration argument.
The impact of technology on the hotel industry.

Abstract This article discusses applications of technology to the hospitality environment. Front office information processing systems such as reservations, guest accounting and room management systems are discussed, as well as their impact on the efficiency of operations. Effects of developments in telecommunications and, more recently, teleconferencing on the lodging (hotel) industry are discussed. Technology benefits, such as energy management and the safety and security of guests and their property, are discussed. This article also clarifies the issues that must be considered in the application of new technology and examines future trends.
Characterization of microsatellite markers isolated from members of Oreocarya (Boraginaceae)

Genus Oreocarya (Boraginaceae) contains approximately 62 species, many rare or uncommon. The genus is endemic to western North America with a center of diversity in the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin of the U.S. Rarer members are often restricted to regionally uncommon soil types. Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from three taxa, Oreocarya bakeri, O. revealii, and O. paradoxa, and were screened for variability in 56 individuals of O. revealii and O. paradoxa. Cross amplification was assessed using 7 additional taxa. Diversity was observed to be high, with mean numbers of alleles per locus ranging from 4.0 to 15.5. Mean expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.32 to 0.87 and 0.16 to 0.70, respectively. With its frequent development of soil restricted lineages, Oreocarya is an interesting system for investigations of edaphically associated rarity. The development of these new loci will aid evolutionary and conservation investigations in this system.
Retransplantation for late liver graft failure: Predictors of mortality

As patient survival after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) improves, late complications, including late graft failure, more commonly occur and retransplantation (re-OLT) is required more often. Survival after re-OLT is poorer than after primary OLT, and given the organ shortage, it is essential that we optimize our use of scarce donor livers. We sought to identify variables that predict poor outcome after late re-OLT. Among adults who underwent OLT between September 1989 and October 1997, we identified transplant recipients who survived greater than 6 months (n = 964) and analyzed those who required late re-OLT (>/=6 months after primary OLT). We recorded the indication for the initial OLT and interval from OLT to re-OLT. We also analyzed data collected at the time of re-OLT, including age, sex, indications for primary OLT and re-OLT, United Network for Organ Sharing status, preoperative laboratory values (white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, albumin, bilirubin, creatinine, and prothrombin time), Child-Pugh-Turcotte score, number of rejection episodes before re-OLT, and interval between OLT and re-OLT. In addition, we analyzed surgical factors (including procedure performed and use of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets), postoperative immunosuppression, and donor factors (age, ischemic time). Forty-eight patients (5%) underwent late re-OLT at a median of 557 days (range, 195 to 2,559 days) post-OLT. Survival rates after re-OLT at 90 days, 1 year, and 5 years were 71%, 60%, and 42%, respectively. Patients surviving 90 days or greater after re-OLT had an 85% chance of surviving to 1 year. Sepsis was the leading cause of death (15 of 25 deaths; 60%). Recipient age older than 50 years (P =.04), preoperative creatinine level greater than 2 mg/dL (P =.004), and use of intraoperative blood products (packed red blood cells, P =.001; fresh frozen plasma, P =.002; platelets, P =.004) had significant impacts on survival. Late re-OLT was associated with increased mortality. Careful patient selection, with particular attention to recipient age and renal function, may help improve results and optimize our use of scarce donor livers.
Artifactual selves: a response to Lynne Rudder Baker

Baker’s critique of my view of the self as a fiction captures some of its points well but misses the possibility of a theorist’s fiction, like the Equator or a center of gravity, which is not an illusion, but rather an abstraction, like dollars, poems, and software—made of no material but dependent on material vehicles. It is an artifact of our everyday effort to make sense of our own (and others’) complex activities by postulating a single central source of meaning, intention, and understanding. This is revealed in an example of the heterophenomenological method in action.
Prothoracicotropic Hormone Elicits a Rapid, Developmentally Specific Synthesis of β Tubulin in an Insect Endocrine Gland

Abstract The production of ecdysteroid (molting) hormones by the insect prothoracic gland is controlled primarily by a brain neuropeptide hormone, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH). PTTH stimulates also the specific synthesis of three proteins in the prothoracic glands of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta (Rybczynski and Gilbert, 1994). Here, one of these proteins, p50 is identified as a β tubulin. The ability of PTTH to stimulate β tubulin synthesis increased dramatically late on Day 3 of the 10-day fifth larval instar. At this time and later, β tubulin synthesis in response to PTTH in vitro could be detected in some prothoracic glands 5-10 min after the onset of stimulation, and newly synthesized β tubulin entered the microtubule pool within 12 min. Levels of β tubulin in the glands of fifth instar larvae, measured by immunoblot, changed in a tissue-specific manner that paralleled or presaged circulating ecdysteroid levels. The accumulation of β tubulin in PTTH-stimulated prothoracic glands resulted from increased transcription and translation and not from a decreased protein turnover rate. Pulse-chase experiments indicate that the newly synthesized β tubulin had a very short half-life in vitro (≈0.5 hr). Studies with cycloheximide and actinomycin D indicated that β tubulin synthesis and ecdysteroid synthesis are coregulated and that β tubulin synthesis is regulated in a unique manner relative to most other prothoracic gland proteins. We conclude that β tubulin levels may play an important role in ecdysteroidogenesis, perhaps by influencing the dynamics of microtubule-dependent secretion or inter-organelle movement of ecdysteroid precursors.
Hydrostatic Flow Injection and Diffusional Injection in Reverse Direction Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography: Theory and Application

Abstract The effect of injection time on separation in reverse direction micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography is investigated. In this study, hydrostatic and diffusion injection were studied. The empirical data have been compared with theoretical models for both cases.
Making economic knowledge: Reflections on Golinski's constructivist history of science

While most scientists and philosophers of science privilege scientific knowledge, and have sought demarcations of science from non-science to justify the privilege, sociologists of science, small numbers of philosophers of science, anthropologists, and some scientists themselves have been attracted to a new way of talking about science. Prefigured by Ludwik Fleck (1935/1979) and Gaston Bachelard (1934/1984), nurtured by the controversies over Thomas Kuhn's work, and instantiated in the Edinburgh School's Strong Program, the naturalistic turn portrays science as a human activity, part of the woof and warp of culture itself. Yet curiously historians of science have been less involved in this recent reconceptualization of both science and scientific knowledge.
Maternal Immunization with Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in the Chinchilla Otitis Media Model ♦ 843

Maternal Immunization with Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in the Chinchilla Otitis Media Model ♦ 843
Thalamostriatal projections from the medial posterior and parafascicular nuclei have distinct topographic and physiologic properties

The dorsolateral striatum (DLS) is critical for executing sensorimotor behaviors that depend on stimulus-response (S-R) associations. In rats, the DLS receives it densest inputs from primary somatosensory (SI) cortex, but it also receives substantial input from the thalamus. Much of rat DLS is devoted to processing whisker-related information, and thalamic projections to these whisker-responsive DLS regions originate from the parafascicular (Pf) and medial posterior (POm) nuclei. To determine which thalamic nucleus is better suited for mediating S-R associations in the DLS, we compared their input-output connections and neuronal responses to repetitive whisker stimulation. Tracing experiments demonstrate that POm projects specifically to the DLS, but the Pf innervates both dorsolateral and dorsomedial parts of the striatum. The Pf nucleus is innervated by whisker-sensitive sites in the superior colliculus, and these sites also send dense projections to the zona incerta, a thalamic region that sends inhibitory projections to the POm. These data suggest that projections from POm to the DLS are suppressed by incertal inputs when the superior colliculus is activated by unexpected sensory stimuli. Simultaneous recordings with two electrodes indicate that POm neurons are more responsive and habituate significantly less than Pf neurons during repetitive whisker stimulation. Response latencies are also shorter in POm than in Pf, which is consistent with the fact that Pf receives its whisker information via synaptic relays in the superior colliculus. These findings indicate that, compared with the Pf nucleus, POm transmits somatosensory information to the DLS with a higher degree of sensory fidelity.
Preventing human error: The impact of data entry methods on data accuracy and statistical results

Human data entry can result in errors that ruin statistical results and conclusions. A single data entry error can make a moderate correlation turn to zero and a significant t-test non-significant. Therefore, researchers should design and use human computer interactions that minimize data entry errors. In this paper, 195 undergraduates were randomly assigned to three data entry methods: double entry, visual checking, and single entry. After training in their assigned method, participants entered 30 data sheets, each containing six types of data. Visual checking resulted in 2958% more errors than double entry, and was not significantly better than single entry. These data entry errors sometimes had terrible effects on coefficient alphas, correlations, and t-tests. For example, 66% of the visual checking participants produced incorrect values for coefficient alpha, which was sometimes wrong by more than .40. Moreover, these data entry errors would be hard to detect: Only 0.06% of the errors were blank or outside of the allowable range for the variables. Thus, researchers cannot rely upon histograms and frequency tables to detect data entry errors. Single entry and visual checking should be replaced with more effective data entry methods, such as double entry.
Effects of cocaine and alcohol use in pregnancy on neonatal growth and neurobehavioral status.

Effects on fetal growth and neonatal behavior of cocaine and alcohol use in pregnancy were investigated in infants born to women in a low-income, predominantly black population. Despite the increased use of cocaine by pregnant women and the accompanying public concern, behavioral studies of exposed neonates are limited in number and scope. In most studies, confounding factors (e.g., polydrug abuse, prematurity, infant health status) have not been controlled so the actual effects of cocaine and other drug exposure are not clear. Accordingly, this study investigated effects of prenatal drug exposure although controlling experimentally for other factors known to be associated with poor outcomes in infants: prematurity, other illicit drug use, associated diseases (e.g., sexually transmitted diseases [STDs]), and duration of drug use. In addition, other factors statistically controlled were: experimenter effects, timing of assessment, and effects of duration, amount, and frequency of cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine exposure. One hundred and seven full-term infants were assessed at 2, 14, and 28 days using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) by testers blind to infant status. Growth factors (i.e., birthweight, length, head circumference) were also assessed.
From “Big Ideas” to deliberate action: Curriculum revision and alignment in an American special education teacher preparation program

Abstract Curriculum design is a complicated and time consuming process, especially when considering multiple standards from national, state, and local levels. This is further complicated for teacher preparation programs that offer a variety of specializations and use multiple delivery formats. Although, many models of curriculum development exist, this paper presents an overview of how one American special education program used the model described by Kame'enui, E. J., Carnine, D. W., Dixon, R. C., Simmons, D. C., & Coyne, M. D. (2002) to articulate and organize key dimensions of the program. Although the model has been often emphasized for K-12 environments, this manuscript describes how it is also useful for the university setting.
Performance benefits of large execution atomic units in dynamically scheduled machines

In this paper we identify three types of atomic units, or indivisible units of work: architectural atomic units (defined by architecture level interrupts and exceptions), compiler atomic units (defined by compiler code generation) and execution atomic units (defined by run-time interruptibility). We discuss trade-offs for these units and show that size has different performance implications depending on the atomic unit. We simulate a number of different implementations of the VAX architecture, focusing on different execution atomic unit sizes. We show that significant performance benefits can be achieved by having large execution atomic units in dynamically scheduled machines.
Magnetostrictive actuator-based micropositioner and its application in turning

The surface finish of a turned part is primarily generated from process parameters such as feed, tool geometry, and cutting speed. A micropositioner system utilizing a magnetostrictive material, Terfenol-D, as a linear motor is presented as a means to actively control the process. The system has an actuator clamped in a flexor that is rigid in the feed and main cutting force directions, yet is flexible in the radial direction. Using control algorithms implemented on a digital computer, the system can provide a means to compensate for deleterious vibrations. The system has also been used to manipulate the tool position in the radial direction so that non-circular turning can be accomplished.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Perinatal exposure to environmental estrogens and the development of obesity

Dietary substances and xenobiotic compounds with hormone-like activity can disrupt the programming of endocrine signaling pathways that are established during perinatal differentiation. The consequences of this disruption may not be apparent until later in life but increasing evidence implicates developmental exposure to environmental hormone-mimics with a growing list of adverse health effects including reproductive problems and increased cancer risks. Obesity has recently been proposed to be yet another adverse health consequence of exposure to endocrine disrupting substances during development. There is a renewed focus on identifying contributions of environmental factors to the development of obesity since it is reaching worldwide epidemic proportions, and this disease has the potential to overwhelm healthcare systems with associated illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Here, we review the literature that proposes an association of perinatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, in particular those with estrogenic activity, with the development of obesity later in life. We further describe an animal model of developmental exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) to study mechanisms involved in programming for obesity. Our experimental data support the idea that adipocytes and the mechanisms involved in weight homeostasis are novel targets of abnormal programming of environmental estrogens, some of which are found in our foods as naturally occurring substances or inadvertently as contaminants.
The transcaruncular approach to the medial orbital wall.

Objective: To demonstrate the safety and use of the transcaruncular approach as a surgical technique that provides rapid exposure of the medial orbital wall and apex through a small cosmetic conjunctival incision. Methods: The transcaruncular anterior orbitotomy incision is made through the conjunctiva, between the plica and caruncle, with dissection to a subperiorbital plane along the medial orbital wall. This technique was used in 49 patients (58 orbits) between July 1995 and December 2000. The patients' ages ranged from 5 to 89 years (mean, 50 y). Results: The transcaruncular anterior orbitotomy approach provided appropriate surgical exposure in all cases of orbital decompression for thyroid-related orbitopathy (in 33 orbits [26 patients]); for biopsy of medial orbital or orbital apex masses in 12 patients; and for drainage of an orbital abscess or marsupialization of a mucocele in 7 orbits (6 patients). Five patients (6 orbits) underwent a transcaruncular approach for release of medial rectus entrapment after fracture. The single complication was 1 patient who required a revision procedure for treatment of medial fornix scarring with resolution of diplopia. Conclusions: The transcaruncular approach provides a safe, rapid, and cosmetically pleasing surgical approach to the medial orbital wall and orbital apex. This technique can be used for a variety of indications.
Principle for the rugate polarizer

A rugate filter deposited in an embedded prism makes an excellent polarizer. The fundamental principle behind its performance is not Brewster’s condition as for a MacNeille polarizer, but is based on a simple angle condition.
Yeast Extracellular Proteases

Many species of yeast secrete significant amounts of protease(s). In this article, results of numerous surveys of yeast extracellular protease production have been compiled and inconsistencies in the data and limitations of the methodology have been examined. Regulation, purification, characterization, and processing of yeast extracellular proteases are reviewed. Results obtained from the sequences of cloned genes, especially the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Bar protease, the Candida albicans acid protease, and the Yarrowia lipolytica alkaline protease, have been emphasized. Biotechnological applications and the medical relevance of yeast extracellular proteases are covered. Yeast extracellular proteases have potential in beer and wine stabilization, and they probably contribute to pathogenicity of Candida spp. Yeast extracellular protease genes also provide secretion and processing signals for yeast expression systems designed for secretion of heterologous proteins. Coverage of the secretion of foreign proteases such as prochymosin, urokinase, and tissue plasminogen activator by yeast in included.
An adaptive controller for the administration of closed-circuit anesthesia during spontaneous and assisted ventilation.

Although reduced waste of expensive anesthetic gases is a strong incentive to use closed-circuit anesthesia, manual methods of performing closed-circuit anesthesia are labor intensive and thus not widely used. Automation of closed-circuit anesthesia delivery may reduce the work. A pressure-basedadaptive controller was designed and tested on mongrel dogs to evaluate the feasibility of automating closed-circuit anesthesia using an accessory to an existing clinical anesthesia machine and a gas analyzer. The controller was found stable and responsive with good control of oxygen concentration and acceptable control of halothane end-tidal concentration. Theresponse time for oxygen was 5.23±1.26 minutes, and that for halothane was 2.67±1.83 minutes. The averagepeak overshoot for halothane at the start of the experiment was 26.9%. This pressure controller differs from previously published closed-circuit anesthesia controllers that measure gas volume changes within a mechanical ventilator. A pressure-based controller is easily attached to a standard anesthesia machine and is compatible with modes of ventilation other than controlled mechanical ventilation. The controller used in this study is not designed for clinical use, but was developed to investigate the feasibility of pressure as a basis for gas volume control in closed-circuit anesthesia administration.
Imperial Legacy: Lessons from British Rule in Iraq?

At a time when Iraqis are bracing themselves for another round of ‘reconstruction’ it seems important to stress some matters of fundamental importance which the would-be ‘reconstructers’ will need to bear in mind.
Integrating the Computer into a Business School Curriculum

The results of a study of computer utilization in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford are presented. The benefits and costs of a dedicated time-sharing system acquired by the Business School to supplement the central campus computer facility are discussed. The study showed that the time-sharing system produced many benefits, including improved service and a lower per student cost for computing. The implications of the Stanford experience for other schools are discussed.
Treatment outcomes of injured children at adult level 1 trauma centers: are there benefits from added specialized care?

Abstract Background Accidental traumatic injury is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The authors hypothesized that no mortality difference should exist between children seen at ATC (adult trauma centers) versus ATC with added qualifications in pediatrics (ATC-AQ). Methods The National Trauma Data Bank, version 7.1, was analyzed for patients aged Results A total sample of 53,702 children was analyzed, with an overall mortality of 3.9%. The adjusted odds of mortality was 20% lower for children seen at ATC-AQ (odds ratio, .80; 95% confidence interval, .68–.94). Children aged 3 to 12 years, those with injury severity scores > 25, and those with Glasgow Coma Scale scores Conclusions Improved overall survival is associated with pediatric trauma patients treated at ATC-AQ.
Crystallin-αB Regulates Skeletal Muscle Homeostasis via Modulation of Argonaute2 Activity

The core functional machinery of the RNAi pathway is the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), wherein Argonaute2 (Ago2) is essential for siRNA-directed endonuclease activity and RNAi/microRNA-mediated gene silencing. Crystallin-αB (CryAB) is a small heat shock protein involved in preventing protein aggregation. We demonstrate that CryAB interacts with the N and C termini of Ago2, not the catalytic site defined by the convergence of the PAZ, MID, and PIWI domains. We further demonstrate significantly reduced Ago2 activity in the absence of CryAB, highlighting a novel role of CryAB in the mammalian RNAi/microRNA pathway. In skeletal muscle of CryAB null mice, we observe a shift in the hypertrophy-atrophy signaling axis toward atrophy under basal conditions. Moreover, loss of CryAB altered the capability of satellite cells to regenerate skeletal muscle. These studies establish that CryAB is necessary for normal Ago2/RISC activity and cellular homeostasis in skeletal muscle.
Specific physiological roles of cytosolic phospholipase A2 as defined by gene knockouts

Abstract The cytosolic 85 kDa phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is a unique member of the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) superfamily. Because PLA2 activity and eicosanoid production are important in normal and pathophysiological states we and the laboratory of Shimizu created a mouse deficient in cPLA2 (cPLA2−/− mouse). cPLA2−/− mice develop normally but the females have severe reproductive defects. cPLA2−/− mice suffer smaller infarcts and fewer neurological deficits after transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and have less injury after administration of a dopaminergic selective neurotoxin. cPLA2−/− mice have a more rapid recovery from allergen-induced bronchoconstriction and have no airway hyperresponsiveness. Peritoneal macrophages from cPLA2−/− mice fail to produce prostaglandins, leukotriene B4 and cysteinyl leukotrienes after stimulation. Bone marrow-derived mast cells from cPLA2−/− mice fail to produce eicosanoids in either immediate or delayed phase responses. Thus the cPLA2 knockout mouse has revealed important roles of cPLA2 in normal fertility, generation of eicosanoids from inflammatory cells, brain injuries and allergic responses. Furthermore the cPLA2−/− mouse reveals that the many other forms of PLA2 cannot replace many functions of cPLA2. The importance of cPLA2 in inflammation and tissue injury suggests that pharmacological targeting of this enzyme may have important therapeutic benefits.
On the Role of Mixing in Promoting Competition between Growing Hailstones

Abstract Mixing processes within the hall growth zone are examined as they pertain to competition within a population of growing hailstones. Mixing is demonstrated to produce broader particle spectra than predicted by the deterministic type of model. Mixing is also noted to promote unequal competition through spectral broadening and cannot be assumed to assure equal competition in the sense implied by Sulakvelidze et al. (1974) in regard to hall suppression by beneficial competition. Treatment of particles in ensemble fashion likewise assumes equal competition. If the number of particles contained within an ensemble is very large, the resulting particle spectra may be narrower than if the particles were partitioned among several ensembles. This type of nonphysical competition is termed “numerical competition” and may lead to serious errors in model predictions of hail growth and fallout.
Mineral nutrient recovery from pyrolysis systems

Bioenergy plants such as sorghum, bioenergy rice, corn stover, and switchgrass can be thermochemically converted by pyrolysis to produce bio-oil, synthesis gas from noncondensable gases, and biochar. The biochar fraction can be recycled back to the production field to improve soil physical qualities and nutrient status. Although previous publications have described the beneficial effects of pyrolysis biochar on soil physical properties; relatively little has been published on the recovery of mineral nutrients from pyrolysis co-products. This work quantified the recovery of nutrients (P, K, Ca, and Mg) from pyrolysis coproducts from various feedstocks using two distinct reactors. Nutrient mass balances, on a feedstock basis, were calculated for comparison of the two reactors' efficiency in the recovery of the nutrients. The results revealed the recovery of nutrients varied by (1) species, (2) reactor design, and (3) correlated highly with nutrient mass loss in biochar. Computations also revealed P recoveries of 93% (fixed-bed reactor) and 58% and 55% (fluidized-bed reactor) for pyrolyzed sorghum. The recovery of key mineral nutrients in pyrolysis coproducts (primarily biochar) is directly related to the feasibility of nutrient recycling through biochar. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2012
I-dots in the handwriting of a clinical sample.

Handwriting of 40 alcoholic and 32 schizophrenic hospital patients was examined for consistency or omission of i-dots. It was hypothesized that the hospital group would show the same personality ch...
Uploadable Executable Specification Concept for Spacecraft Autonomy Systems

Current spacecraft autonomy systems suffer from two main problems. First, autonomy designs cannot be adequately reviewed by system engineers, resulting in a potential loss of desired system behavior between system-level requirements and software implementation. Second, current autonomy systems cannot fully assess the systems-level impact of modifications and then quickly and safely upload those modifications to the spacecraft pre-and post-launch. These problems are addressed by the development of executable specification techniques to directly support system engineers with formalized models that translate into operational functionality. This paper describes a concept of combining a standard executable specification technique with a concept of software design using uploadable forms. This paper goes on to describe the features of this concept which include: interactive visual design and display capabilities that allow any domain expert to understand and/or perform the design; operational support capabilities that allow the on-board autonomy functionality to be modified or disabled in real-time without patching or modifying existing code; and graphical stand-alone simulation and automated verification capabilities that allow autonomy designs to proven safe prior to upload.
Duality and Distance Constraints for the Nonlinear p-Center Problem and Covering Problem on a Tree Network

The problem of locating a fixed number, p, of facilities centers on a network, where there are constraints on the center locations and where the centers provide a service to customers demand points located at vertices of the network is addressed. The cost or "loss" of servicing a given demand point is a nonlinear function of the distance between the demand point and the closest center. We consider the case where the network has special structure a tree network, i.e., there is a unique shortest path between any two points on the network. We also provide and interpret a dual to this problem and give polynomially bounded procedures for solving both problems. The primal location problem is solved with the aid of a related problem for which we also give a dual.
Factors Associated With Improved Immunization Rates for Urban Minority Preschool Children

Urban, poor, preschool children are noted for having low immunization rates. To determine factors related to completion of immunization, vaccine records of 479 3-year-old children from an inner-city pediatric clinic were reviewed. Complete immunization was defined as four diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis doses, three oral polio vaccine doses, one measles-mumps-rubella dose, and one Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine dose. Seventy percent of our patients were up-to-date by 2 years of age. The administration of all age-appropriate vaccines at a single visit for patients 15 months and older, the establishment of a continuous primary-care relationship, earlier age at first immunization, and lower birth weight were significantly associated with higher immunization levels in our study.
Percutaneous catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with important morbidity and mortality. Antiarrhythmic therapy is recommended as initial therapy but is associated with modest efficacy and significant side effects. Over the past several years, catheter ablation has been demonstrated to provide effective and safe curative therapy for atrial fibrillation. Future investigations will assess advances in catheter ablation technology and will help to define the precise role of catheter ablation relative to alternative therapies, such as rate-control and antiarrhythmic therapy.
Epithelial and Fibroblastic Proliferation in Bovine Cutaneous Papillomatosis

The pathogenesis of the experimental bovine papilloma was investigated by the serial biopsy technique on lesions produced by epidermal scarification or intradermal injection using two strains of BPV. The purpose was to determine the time and sequence of stimulation of the epithelial cells and connective tissue. Following a morphological dormant phase, the first reaction was a fibroblastic proliferation. In papillomas developing from epidermal scarification, this was not marked and was followed by epidermal hyperplasia which progressed to the mature papilloma Fibroplasia in lesions produced by intrademal injection was always greater. Eight to ten % of the developing fibromas had a whorled histologic pattern.The percentage of sites inoculated showing fibroblastic change, although subtle, was high while the percentage going on to epithelial change was often much less, especially when inoculated by the intradermal route.The Feulgen technique did not reveal intranuclear or cytoplasmic bodies of any kind.
Evidence for amorphous like behavior in small grain thin film polycrystalline solar cells

Solar cells based on CdTe, CuInSe/sub 2/ or the alloys of Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ have grain sizes on the order of one micron. It has been suggested that materials with these size grains could have an exponential distribution of localized states within the bandgap similar to amorphous materials such as a-Si:H. The current voltage characteristics of a number of CdTe, CuInSe/sub 2/ and Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ based solar cells made by various processes and manufacturers are measured as a function of light intensity and temperature. These measurements are then analyzed and compared for evidence of this amorphous like behavior.
Comments on 'Green economics: setting the scene. Aims, context, and philosophical underpinnings of the distinctive new solutions offered by green economics'

This article critiques the paper by Kennet and Heinemann, 'Comments on green economics: setting the scene. Aims, context and philosophical underpinnings of the distinctive new solutions offered by green economics'. Their task is difficult since green economics holistically embraces ideas from a wide spectrum of multi-disciplinary fields. The purpose of this paper is to pose clarification questions and offer suggestions for future research such as whether we should amend or supplant neoclassical economics; the role of the corporation, the specific meaning of the precautionary principle and sustainability; the role of education in promoting green economics and how to transit between our current economic system based on over-stimulated consumption and unrestricted economic growth to an economy based on the principles of green economics. Kennet and Heinemann (2006) largely succeed in their task of setting the scene for green economics. These comments are offered in the friendly manner of stimulating further research and discussion.
Extraction of Lidar-Based Dune-Crest Elevations for Use in Examining the Vulnerability of Beaches to Inundation During Hurricanes

Abstract The morphology of coastal sand dunes plays an important role in determining how a beach will respond to a hurricane. Accurate measurements of dune height and position are essential for assessing the vulnerability of beaches to extreme coastal change during future landfalls. Lidar topographic surveys provide rapid, accurate, high-resolution datasets for identifying the location, position, and morphology of coastal sand dunes over large stretches of coast. An algorithm has been developed for identification of the crest of the most seaward sand dune that defines the landward limit of the beach system. Based on changes in beach slope along cross-shore transects of lidar data, dune elevation and location can automatically be extracted every few meters along the coastline. Dune elevations in conjunction with storm-induced water levels can be used to predict the type of coastal response (e.g., beach erosion, dune erosion, overwash, or inundation) that may be expected during hurricane landfall. The vulne...
Measuring the wavelength of light with a self-calibrating grating.

A novel scheme for making absolute wavelength measurements with a grating spectrograph is proposed. A grating with special multiple rulings is illuminated with a reference laser of known wavelength to project a ruler-like diffraction pattern of equidistant wavelength calibration lines directly onto the unknown spectrum.
Review: home visiting with multidimensional assessment and multiple visits is effective in low-risk elderly persons.

Source Citation Stuck AE, Egger M, Hammer A, Minder CE, Beck JC. Home visits to prevent nursing home admission and functional decline in elderly people. Systematic review and meta-regression analys...
Effect of chronic heart failure on the pharmacokinetics of eplerenone following single and multiple dosing

This study determined the effect of chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) on the single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of eplerenone (EPL). EPL is a highly selective aldosterone blocker indicated for the treatment of hypertension with demonstrated morbidity/mortality benefits in acute myocardial infarction patients with left ventricular heart failure. Eight subjects with CHF and 8 matched-control subjects (matched for age, sex, and weight) were enrolled in a 2-period, open-label, single- and multiple-dose study. After a single 50-mg dose and multiple once daily 50-mg doses, pharmacokinetic parameters were determined for EPL, its inactive ring-open form, SC-70303, and the inactive metabolite, SC-71597. No statistically significant differences in any EPL, SC-70303, or SC-71597 pharmacokinetic parameters were observed between CHF and control subjects. Following multiple-dosing, EPL CL/F was insignificantly lower (<27.4%) in CHF subjects compared with control subjects resulting in an insignificant increase in EPL AUC (<37.7%) and Cmax (<29.7%). As expected from the pharmacology of EPL, mean serum aldosterone and active renin values increased in both subject groups following administration of EPL. CHF subjects had a reduction in mean Na+ retention scores from 1.88 pre- to 0.5 post-treatment. EPL was well tolerated in both subject groups. These results indicate that dose adjustment based on pharmacokinetic alterations does not appear necessary in CHF patients. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P37–P37; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.141
The human footprint in the west: a large-scale analysis of anthropogenic impacts.

Anthropogenic features such as urbanization, roads, and power lines, are increasing in western United States landscapes in response to rapidly growing human populations. However, their spatial effects have not been evaluated. Our goal was to model the human footprint across the western United States. We first delineated the actual area occupied by anthropogenic features, the physical effect area. Next, we developed the human footprint model based on the ecological effect area, the zone influenced by features beyond their physical presence, by combining seven input models: three models quantified top-down anthropogenic influences of synanthropic predators (avian predators, domestic dog and cat presence risk), and four models quantified bottom-up anthropogenic influences on habitat (invasion of exotic plants, human-caused fires, energy extraction, and anthropogenic wildland fragmentation). Using independent bird population data, we found bird abundance of four synanthropic species to correlate positively with human footprint intensity and negatively for three of the six species influenced by habitat fragmentation. We then evaluated the extent of the human footprint in relation to terrestrial (ecoregions) and aquatic systems (major rivers and lakes), regional management and conservation status, physical environment, and temporal changes in human actions. The physical effect area of anthropogenic features covered 13% of the western United States with agricultural land (9.8%) being most dominant. High-intensity human footprint areas (class 8-10) overlapped highly productive low-elevation private landholdings and covered 7% of the western United States compared to 48% for low- intensity areas (class 1-3), which were confined to low-productivity high-elevation federal landholdings. Areas within 1 km of rivers were more affected by the human footprint compared to lakes. Percentage human population growth was higher in low-intensity human footprint areas. The disproportional regional effects of the human footprint on landscapes in the western United States create a challenge to management of ecosystems and wildlife populations. Using footprint models, managers can plan land use actions, develop restoration scenarios, and identify areas of high conservation value at local landscapes within a regional context. Moreover, human footprint models serve as a tool to stratify landscapes for studies investigating floral and faunal response to human disturbance intensity gradients.
Autonomy support for autonomous motivation in medical education

Background : Medical students often study only to fare well in their examinations or pursue a specific specialty, or study only those topics that they perceive to be useful in medical practice. The motivation for study in these cases comes from external or internal pressures or from the desire to obtain rewards. Self-determination theory (SDT) classifies this type of motivation as controlled motivation and the type of motivation that comes from genuine interest or personal value as autonomous motivation. Autonomous motivation, in comparison with controlled motivation, has been associated with better learning, academic success, and less exhaustion. SDT endorses autonomous motivation and suggests that autonomy support is important for autonomous motivation. The meaning of autonomy is misinterpreted by many. This article tries to focus on how to be autonomy-supportive in medical education. Discussion : Autonomy support refers to the perception of choice in learning. Some of the ways of supporting autonomy in medical education are small group teaching, problem-based learning, and gradual increase in responsibility of patients. Autonomy-supportive teaching behavior is not a trait and can be learned. Autonomy support in medical education is not limited to bringing in changes in the medical curriculum for students; it is about an overall change in the way of thinking and working in medical schools that foster autonomy among those involved in education. Research into autonomy in medical education is limited. Some topics that need to be investigated are the ideas and perceptions of students and teachers about autonomy in learning. Conclusion : Autonomy support in medical education can enhance autonomous motivation of students for medical study and practice and make them autonomy-supportive in their future medical practice and teaching. Keywords: autonomous motivation; controlled motivation; self-determination theory; autonomy (Published: 6 May 2015) Citation: Med Educ Online 2015, 20: 27951 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v20.27951
A cost recovery model for tertiary canal improvement projects, with an example from Egypt.

Abstract The potential farm-level gains from improvements in a tertiary canal vary among farmers according to their location along the canal. An economic model describing that variation is developed using the concept of irrigation success, which considers the degree to which water volume and quality, and the timing of irrigation events match the requirements of plants throughout a season. A bid-rent model in which farm-level costs and returns are viewed as a function of irrigation success is used to describe the appropriate roles of public agencies in supporting or financing tertiary canal improvement projects and to evaluate cost recovery programs. An empirical version of the model is used to develop cost recovery alternatives for Egypt's Irrigation Improvement Project. A potentially viable cost recovery program is designed using the following criteria: (1) the net benefits of the improvement project are non-negative for all the farmers after making any required payments; (2) the net benefits are the same for all the farmers required to make annual payments, and (3) the total revenue collected each year is equal to the average annual cost of the project. Such a program would require estimated payments of $175 per ha for middle-reach farmers and $412 per ha for tail-end farmers along a typical canal in Egypt's Irrigation Improvement Project. The net benefits for farmers in each of those groups would be an estimated $102 per ha. Head-end farmers would not be required to pay an annual fee, though they would receive a net gain equal to an estimated $40 per ha reduction in annual pumping costs. Alternative programs that require smaller payments from middle-reach and tail-end farmers, while imposing costs also on head-end farmers, are designed using a combination of fixed and variable charges. Volumetric water charges ranging from $4.00 to $7.00 per 1000 m3 are examined, in conjunction with annual assessments ranging from $40 to $170 per ha. The installation of single-point pumping stations at the head ends of improved tertiary canals provides an opportunity to implement volumetric charges in cooperation with water user associations.
Effects of variable rainfall intensity on the unsaturated zone response of a forested sandy hillslope

[1] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of single-storm rainfall variability on the timing of the unsaturated zone soil water content response. To investigate this, we monitored rainfall rate and soil water content at three soil profiles about 8 m apart along a downslope transect on a sandy forested hillslope. We also conducted one-dimensional numerical simulations of soil water content response in order to compare observed and expected wetting velocities. Results show that during relatively low intensity storms, wetting rates were comparable in each soil profile and were adequately represented in the numerical results. However, storms with highly variable, high-intensity rainfall rates produced an increase in wetting velocity with soil depth in two of three soil profiles, and the numerical simulations did not adequately replicate this response. Therefore it appears that variability in rainfall intensity, and in particular the sequence of rainfall variability, may cause all or part of the soil profile undergoing wetting to switch from a slow displacement process to a much faster accelerating process. We speculate that this transition is related to the initiation of preferential flow. This switching process may help reconcile the disparate findings of old versus new water in stormflow reported by Mosley (1979, 1982), Pearce et al. (1986), and Sklash et al. (1986), and it may help explain the rapid development of high pore pressures that lead to slope instability (e.g., Montgomery et al., 2002; Iverson, 2000).