cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuous Nash equilibria

Abstract A topological space of players is introduced (as opposed to a measure space of players). We prove the existence of continuous Nash equilibria for continuous games. Intuitively this result says that there is an equilibrium where players with similar characteristics choose similar actions. Conceptual and technical issues are discussed in relation to non-cooperative games in general and large games (games with an atomless measure space of players) in particular.
Inertia as a Factor in the Dynamic Strength of Brittle Materials

Previous strength determinations of ceramics subject to impulsive loads were interpreted in terms of a theory based on material inertia. Recent experiments are described, which show (1) that the dynamic strengthening mechanism is athermal, as required by the inertial theory, and (2) that microcrack growth, rather than initiation, is suppressed by the inertial effect.
Lidar Monitoring of Clouds and Aerosols at the Facility for Atmospheric Remote Sensing

We report on findings from ongoing polarization lidar research at the University of Utah Facility for Atmospheric Remote Sensing (FARS). This facility was established in 1987, and the current total of lidar and radiometric measurements is approx. 2,900-h. Research at FARS has been applied to the climatological investigation of cirrus cloud properties for basic research and satellite measurement validation (currently in its 13th year), and studies of contrails, mixed phase clouds, and volcanic and Asian dust aerosols. Among the techniques utilized for monitoring cloud and aerosol properties are triple-wave length linear depolarization measurements, and high (1.5-m by 10-Hz) resolution scanning observations. The usefulness of extended time lidar studies for atmospheric and climate research is illustrated.
Labeling effects of infant health and parent demographics on nurses' ratings of preterm infant behavior

Nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) provide early influences on hospitalized infants' neurobehavioral and social-emotional development. Hence it is important to examine their perceptions of preterm infants. This research employed a 2 × 2 factorial design to examine the labeling effects of infant health status and parent demographics on 52 NICU nurses' ratings of premature infant behavior, attractive ness, general health, and responsiveness to developmental intervention. Behavioral descriptors were provided to orient participants to the infant behaviors they were to observe. MANCOVA and univariate ANCOVAs revealed significant differences as a function of the infant health variable, but not parent demographics, on the Premature Infant Behavior, Attractiveness, and General Health scales. Ratings were significantly more positive for the infant described as healthy compared with the one identified as having lung damage. The results extend the prematurity prejudice literature and highlight the need to recognize the operations of stereotypes and the possibility of self-fulfilling prophecies. Future research directions are outlined.
Divergent Biochemical Fractionation, Not Convergent Temperature, Explains Cellulose Oxygen Isotope Enrichment across Latitudes

Recent findings based on the oxygen isotope ratios of tree trunk cellulose indicate that the temperature of biomass production in biomes ranging from boreal to subtropical forests converge to an average leaf temperature of 21.4°C. The above conclusion has been drawn under the assumption that biochemically related isotopic fractionations during cellulose synthesis are not affected by temperature. Here we test the above assumption by heterotrophically generating cellulose at different temperatures and measuring the proportion of carbohydrate oxygen that exchange with water during cellulose synthesis and the average biochemical fractionation associated with this exchange. We observed no variation in the proportion of oxygen that exchange with different temperatures, which averaged 0.42 as it has been observed in other studies. On the other hand, the biochemical oxygen isotope fractionation during cellulose synthesis is affected by temperature and can be described by a 2nd order polynomial equation. The biochemical fractionation changes little between temperatures of 20 and 30°C averaging 26‰ but increases at lower temperatures to values of 31‰. This temperature sensitive biochemical fractionation explains the pattern of cellulose oxygen isotope ratios of aquatic plants encompassing several latitudes. The observed temperature sensitive biochemical fractionation also indicates that divergent biochemical fractionation and not convergent leaf temperature explains the increase in oxygen isotope enrichment of cellulose across several biomes.
Optimizing video encoding for adaptive streaming over HTTP

Adaptive streaming over Hyper-Text Transport protocol (HTTP) is the new trend in video delivery on the Internet and is expected to be supported by consumer electronic devices such as Blu-ray players and DVRs. Proprietary solutions have been around for a couple of years and standardization efforts are entering the final stage. In order to make this platform successful, optimized content preparation algorithms are needed. We propose a contentbased segmentation process for adaptive streaming over HTTP. This solution offers a good balance between network delivery requirements and rate-distortion (RD) performance. Resulting video stream is tailored for better quality of experience (QoE) for the end user. Experiments confirm that our algorithm outperforms popular segmentation techniques and saves10% of bandwidth on average for the same objective quality levels. This saving is significant given the volume of traffic that video delivery generates every day on the Internet.
Aurora on Uranus: A Faraday disc dynamo mechanism

A mechanism is proposed whereby the solar wind flowing past the magnetosphere of Uranus causes a Faraday disk dynamo topology to be established and power to be extracted from the kinetic energy of rotation of Uranus. An immediate consequence of this dynamo is the generation of Birkeland currents that flow in and out of the sunlit polar cap with the accompanying production of polar aurora. The power extracted from planetary rotation is calculated as a function of planetary dipole magnetic moment and the ionospheric conductivity of Uranus. For plausible values of ionospheric conductivity, the observed auroral power requires a magnetic moment corresponding to a surface equatorial field of the order of 4 Gauss, slightly larger than the value 1.8 Gauss given by the empirical 'magnetic Bodes law'.
Development of a SCALE Tool for Continuous-Energy Eigenvalue Sensitivity Coefficient Calculations

Two methods for calculating eigenvalue sensitivity coefficients in continuous-energy Monte Carlo applications were implemented in the KENO code within the SCALE code package. The methods were used to calculate sensitivity coefficients for several criticality safety problems and produced sensitivity coefficients that agreed well with both reference sensitivities and multigroup TSUNAMI-3D sensitivity coefficients. The newly developed CLUTCH method was observed to produce sensitivity coefficients with high figures of merit and low memory requirements, and both continuous-energy sensitivity methods met or exceeded the accuracy of the multigroup TSUNAMI-3D calculations.
Teachers' salient beliefs about a problem-solving demonstration classroom in-service program

Each year science teachers have the opportunity to participate in a variety of in-service pro- grams, with the most traditional yearlong in-service agendas consisting of a preprogram, program, and follow-up program. One alternative to the traditional program is the inclusion of demonstration classrooms within the follow-up segment. This study specifically explored the beliefs of in-service teachers about one such program; the Problem-Solving Demonstration Classroom in-service program. To capture participants' beliefs, open-ended interviews, focus groups, and observations were conducted throughout a yearlong Problem-Solving Demonstration Classroom in-service program. The collected data were inductively ana- lyzed to identify the salient beliefs of participants. The results of this study suggest that the Problem- Solving Demonstration Classroom in-service program provided participating teachers an opportunity to address their instructional needs pertaining to problem solving, develop a view of the student in the con- text of problem solving, redefine their understanding of problem solving, reflect upon their own instruc- tional practice, and engage in a collegial and mentoring dialogue with peers. This preliminary investiga- tion suggests that the demonstration classroom program may be one variation to the traditional yearlong in-service program that is worthy of further exploration. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 36: 141 - 158, 1999 The current menu of professional development strategies for science educators includes conventions, workshops, institutes, in-service programs, and academic coursework. In the Unit- ed States, these programs are often supported by the Department of Education's Dwight D. Eisenhower mathematics and science funds; Regional Educational Laboratories; National Sci- ence Foundation's initiatives in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology; the Nation- al Diffusion Network; and major organizations (e.g., National Science Teachers Association, Na- tional Association of Biology Teachers). The funding provided by these organizations is often substantial. In 1992, the National Science Foundation allocated approximately $50 million to stimulate curricular content and pedagogical change in science and mathematics (Suter, 1993), while the Eisenhower program spent $246 million to improve the skills of teachers and quality of instruction in science and mathematics (Crudup, 1993). In addition to large-scale organiza- tions, regional agencies, state agencies, and local districts expend funds for the professional de- velopment of in-service teachers. The financial support provided for a variety of professional development activities is one indicator of organizational and agency commitment to the im- provement of mathematics and science education.
Is the variable stiffness pediatric colonoscope more effective that a standard adult colonoscope for outpatient adult colonoscopy? a randomized controlled trial

Is the variable stiffness pediatric colonoscope more effective that a standard adult colonoscope for outpatient adult colonoscopy? a randomized controlled trial
An Optimized Protocol for Rearing Fopius arisanus, a Parasitoid of Tephritid Fruit Flies

Fopius arisanus (Sonan) is an important parasitoid of Tephritid fruit flies for at least two reasons. First, it is the one of only three opiine parasitoids known to infect the host during the egg stage1. Second, it has a wide range of potential fruit fly hosts. Perhaps due to its life history, F. arisanus has been a successfully used for biological control of fruit flies in multiple tropical regions2-4. One impediment to the wide use of F. arisanus for fruit fly control is that it is difficult to establish a stable laboratory colony5-9. Despite this difficulty, in the 1990s USDA researchers developed a reliable method to maintain laboratory populations of F. arisanus10-12. There is significant interest in F. arisanus biology13,14, especially regarding its ability to colonize a wide variety of Tephritid hosts14-17; interest is especially driven by the alarming spread of Bactrocera fruit fly pests to new continents in the last decade18. Further research on F. arisanus and additional deployments of this species as a biological control agent will benefit from optimizations and improvements of rearing methods. In this protocol and associated video article we describe an optimized method for rearing F. arisanus based on a previously described approach12. The method we describe here allows rearing of F. arisanus in a small scale without the use of fruit, using materials available in tropical regions around the world and with relatively low manual labor requirements.
A Markov decision process approach to multi-timescale scheduling and pricing in smart grids with integrated wind generation

In this study, we tackle the challenge of integrating volatile wind generation into the bulk power systems, by lever-aging multi-timescale scheduling and pricing with two classes of energy users - traditional energy users and opportunistic energy users (e.g., electric vehicles or smart appliances). In day-ahead scheduling, with the distributional information of wind generation and energy demands, decisions on the optimal procurement of conventional energy supply and the day-ahead retail price are made; in real-time scheduling, with the realization of wind generation, the load of traditional energy users, the real-time prices are announced to manage the demand of opportunistic energy users so as to achieve system-wide reliability. Focusing on the case when the opportunistic energy users are persistent, i.e., they stay in the system until a real-time retail price is acceptable, we formulate the scheduling problem as a multi-timescale Markov decision process with special characteristics. We then show that it can be recast, explicitly, as a classic Markov decision process with continuous state and action spaces, the solution to which can be found via standard techniques.
Oxidative chemistry of nickel porphyrins

The oxidative chemistry of nickel(II) porphyrins is reviewed. Whether electron abstraction occurs from the metal to yield Ni(III) or from the porphyrin to yield Ni(II) π cation radicals is discussed in terms of the relative energy levels of the metal and porphyrin orbitals. The effects of axial ligands in further modulating this ordering as well as the orbital occupancy of Ni(III) are also reviewed. Structural considerations, based on existing stereochemical data for Ni(I), high spin Ni(II) and related Ni(III) tetraaza complexes, are used to predict the metrics of Ni(III) porphyrins for which no structural data are available.
Calcium mobilization and sensitivity in intact and triton skinned aorta from thyropathologic rats.

Abstract Calcium mobilization and sensitivity in aortic rings from hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, and euthyroid rats was examined. The magnitudes of contractions were measured in rings consecutively exposed to phenylephrine (1 μM) incubated in normal physiological saline (PSS), in calcium-free PSS and in normal PSS containing nifedipine (1 μM). By comparing the generated tension under these three conditions it was possible to estimate the contributions of calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), of influx through voltage gated calcium channels (VGCC), and of influx through receptor operated calcium channels (ROCC). The comparison revealed no change in the contribution of SR calcium release in the three thyroid states, but showed increased VGCC influx and decreased ROCC influx in hyperthyroid rings. No changes were seen in the hypothyroid state. When rings were chemically “skinned” with triton X-100 and subsequently contracted with increasing concentrations of free calcium, dose response curves were not significantly different among rings from the three thyroid states. This suggests that changes in tension development in hyperthyroid aortic tissue may be due, in part, to alterations in membrane calcium influx rather than to SR calcium release or modified calcium activation of contractile elements.
Sources of variation affecting ratio factors for estimating total daily milk yield from individual milkings.

Abstract Morning and evening test-day milk weights were collected by Dairy Herd Improvement Association supervisors on all Dairy Herd Improvement Association herds in 16 New York counties from September, 1967, through September, 1968. There were 184,521 test-day records on 19,905 cows of five dairy breeds in 555 herds. Analysis of variance of the ratio of daily production to morning and evening production indicated herd production and age at calving were of no practical significance as sources of variation affecting multiplicative correction factors for single-milking testing schemes. Month of lactation, milking interval, and month of lactation by milking interval interaction were important. Adjustments for milking interval were the most important correction of individual milkings in a single-milking testing scheme. Multiplicative factors removed a larger part of the production effect than additive correction factors, thus reducing the effect of age and stage of lactation.
Interface state recombination in organic solar cells

Recombination in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells based on polycarbazole/fullerene blends are studied through measurements of the solar-cell response. Different recombination mechanisms are analyzed, including recombination of the charge-transfer exciton, Auger recombination, and recombination at interfacial localized states. The measured recombination kinetics, the temperature dependence of the current-voltage characteristics, the dark forward bias diode current, and modeling studies, all indicate that the dominant recombination is through interface states between the polymer and fullerene domains, with an estimated density of order ${10}^{11}\text{ }{\text{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$. Modeling studies indicate that a tenfold reduction in the interface state density could potentially double the solar-cell efficiency.
Structural characterization of Ti and Pt thin films on GaAs (100) substrate

In an attempt to understand the Schottky barrier behavior of Ti/Pt/GaAs and Pt/Ti/ GaAs bimetal Schottky diodes, we have investigated the interfacial morphology of Ti and Pt thin films on GaAs(l00) substrate. The characterization was based on coverage profiling of Auger electron spectroscopy in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy. Emphasis was placed on film uniformity and atomic interdiffusion. The results showed Ga and As outdiffusion in Pt/GaAs interface and some oxygen incorporated in Ti film, but no evidence of clustering for both metal/GaAs systems.
MgO-Supported [Ir6(CO)15]2−: Catalyst for CO Hydrogenation

Neutral and anionic iridium carbonyl clusters were synthesized from (Ir(CO){sub 2}(acac)) adsorbed on {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and on MgO surfaces, respectively. The samples were characterized as CO hydrogenation catalysts and found to have low activities at 21.4 atm, 250{degrees}C, and H{sub 2}/CO molar ratios of 1-3. Both catalysts gave Schulz-Flory distributions of hydrocarbon products. At low conversions (<2%), the {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-supported catalyst gave mainly paraffins, whereas the MgO-supported catalyst gave hydrocarbon products with relatively high olefin to paraffin ratios. The {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-supported catalyst that had been used for 1 day in a flow reactor was dark gray, indicating the formation of metallic iridium aggregates. However, the used MgO-supported catalyst was reddish brown, and its infrared spectrum showed that predominant iridium-containing species was (Ir{sub 6}(CO){sub 15}){sup 2-}, which could be extracted from the surface by cation metathesis. 29 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.
Retransplantation of patients with severe posttransplant hepatitis B in the first allograft.

Background.The outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTX) in patients retransplanted for severe hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the first allograft has been poor due to high rates of HBV reinfection and even more aggressive disease in the second graft. Recent data suggest that hepatitis B immunog
Multistage bilevel programming problems

In this article, we first examine some modeling scenarios for a multistage bilevel programming problem and develop the solution techniques based on certain reformulations of the original problem. The optimality conditions obtained for a class of multistage problems are given in terms of the second order subdifferentials of Mordukhovich.
Thin Oil Film Volatility and Its Mechanism

The evaporation loss of lubricating oils is an issue of particular importance in lubrication. It is known that the volatility of oil has a significant effect on oil consumption. Portions of oil can evaporate under high temperature conditions, potentially altering oil properties such as viscosity. In this paper, the volatility of the thin oil films was studied. Different kinds of oils were used for the test. The work was to investigate the effect of the different working conditions on the volatility of lubricating oil. Conditions such as the oil film thickness, contacting surface area and the surface material were studied. Encouraging results were obtained with respect to the effect of working conditions on the volatility of thin oil films. This emphasizes that the working conditions play a significant role in the evaporation rate and an appropriate set hand to be considered to minimize the loss.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
GROUND-STATE DEGENERACY OF POTTS ANTIFERROMAGNETS : HOMEOMORPHIC CLASSES WITH NONCOMPACT W BOUNDARIES

Abstract We present exact calculations of the zero-temperature partition function Z ( G , q , T =0) and ground-state degeneracy W ({ G }, q ) for the q -state Potts antiferromagnet on a number of families of graphs G for which (generalizing q from Z + to C ) the boundary B of regions of analyticity of W in the complex q plane is noncompact, passing through z =1/ q =0. For these types of graphs, since the reduced function W red = q −1 W is nonanalytic at z =0, there is no large- q Taylor series expansion of W red . The study of these graphs thus gives insight into the conditions for the validity of the large- q expansions. It is shown how such (families of) graphs can be generated from known families by homeomorphic expansion.
Effect of capillary pressure in nanobubbles on their adhesion to particles under foam flotation. Part 3

The energy possibility of the transition of free bubbles A to adherent bubbles M, or the A → M (TAM) transition, is calculated on substrates with different wetting abilities: extremely hydrophilic (Φ), extremely hydrophobic (Γ), and with incomplete wetting ability (Hx), where x is the substrate surface fraction covered by a monolayer of collector molecules). Calculations of TAM for bubbles with a diameter (de) of 2 mm to 20 nm on Φ, Γ, and Hx substrates showed that the change in specific energy (ΔG/V) in a bubble in the case of TAM depends on the value of de, substrate wetting ability, and surface area of its contact with the bubble. According to the results of studies, high capillary pressure (Pc) in nanobubbles M promotes their instantaneous spreading over the substrate. Herewith, Pc decreases considerably. The adhesion and spreading processes occur as a single process, irreversibly, one-way, and fast, because they are not complicated by counterprocesses. Upon a decrease in equatorial diameter de and wetting ability of the substrate, the decrease in G/V reaches several million J/m3. The actual simultaneity of the processes of bubble adhesion and spreading is illustrated by microphotographs of larger bubbles with a luminescent apolar reagent eliminating the effect of wetting hysteresis that is easily overcome in nanobubbles in the case of high Pc values.
Thin-film silica sol-gels doped with ion-responsive fluorescent lipid bilayers

A metal ion sensitive, fluorescent lipid-b i layer material (5oA PSIDA/DSPC) was successfully immobilized in a silica matrix using a tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) sol-gel procedure. The sol-gel immobilization method was quantitative in the entrapment of seif-assembled Iipid-bilayers and yielded thin films for facile configuration to optical fiber piatforms. The silica matrix was compatible with the solvent sensitive lipid bilayers and provided physical stabilization as well as biological protection. Immobilization in the silica sol-gel produced an added benefit of improving the bilayer's metal ion sensitivity by up to two orders of magnitude. This enhanced performance was attributed to a preconcentrator effect from the anionic surface of the silica matrix. Thin gels (193 micron thickness) were coupled to a bifurcated fiber optic bundle to produce a metal ion sensor probe. Response times of 10 - 15 minutes to 0.1 M CUCIZ were realized with complete regeneration of the sensor using an ethylenediarninetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution.
Apamin Does Not Inhibit Human Cardiac Na+ Current, L-type Ca2+ Current or Other Major K+ Currents

Author(s): Yu, Chih-Chieh; Ai, Tomohiko; Weiss, James N; Chen, Peng-Sheng | Abstract: BackgroundApamin is commonly used as a small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) current inhibitor. However, the specificity of apamin in cardiac tissues remains unclear.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that apamin does not inhibit any major cardiac ion currents.MethodsWe studied human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells that expressed human voltage-gated Na+, K+ and Ca2+ currents and isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes. Whole-cell patch clamp techniques were used to determine ionic current densities before and after apamin administration.ResultsCa2+ currents (CACNA1c+CACNB2b) were not affected by apamin (500 nM) (data are presented as median [25th percentile;75th percentile] (from -16 [-20;-10] to -17 [-19;-13] pA/pF, P = NS), but were reduced by nifedipine to -1.6 [-3.2;-1.3] pA/pF (p = 0.008). Na+ currents (SCN5A) were not affected by apamin (from -261 [-282;-145] to -268 [-379;-132] pA/pF, P = NS), but were reduced by flecainide to -57 [-70;-47] pA/pF (p = 0.018). None of the major K+ currents (IKs, IKr, IK1 and Ito) were inhibited by 500 nM of apamin (KCNQ1+KCNE1, from 28 [20]; [37] to 23 [18]; [32] pA/pF; KCNH2+KCNE2, from 28 [24]; [30] to 27 [24]; [29] pA/pF; KCNJ2, from -46 [-48;-40] to -46 [-51;-35] pA/pF; KCND3, from 608 [505;748] to 606 [454;684]). Apamin did not inhibit the INa or ICaL in isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes (INa, from -67 [-75;-59] to -68 [-71;-59] pA/pF; ICaL, from -16 [-17;-14] to -14 [-15;-13] pA/pF, P = NS for both).ConclusionsApamin does not inhibit human cardiac Na+ currents, L-type Ca2+ currents or other major K+ currents. These findings indicate that apamin is a specific SK current inhibitor in hearts as well as in other organs.
Intraoperative blood transfusion of one or two units of packed red blood cells is associated with a fivefold risk of stroke in patients undergoing elective carotid endarterectomy.

Objective Transfused blood can disrupt the coagulation cascade. We postulated that packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion may be associated with thromboembolic phenomena. We used propensity matching to examine the relationship between intraoperative PRBC transfusion and stroke during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods We selected CEA procedures from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2005-2009. We excluded bilateral, redo, and emergent procedures. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors for stroke. We then calculated a transfusion propensity score to match patients who received one or two units of transfused PRBC intraoperatively with patients of similar risk profiles who had not been transfused. Results Our criteria resulted in 12,786 elective CEA patients. Of these, 82 (0.6%) received a one- to two-unit intraoperative transfusion. Thirty-day stroke rates were 1.4% (179/12,704) in the nontransfused group and 6.1% (5/82) in the transfused group (Fisher exact test, P = .007). In forward stepwise multivariable regression of risk factors, only hemiplegia, stroke history, and transient ischemic attacks were predictive of 30-day stroke. We used these same variables to calculate transfusion propensity. We matched 80 transfused patients with 160 controls, thus, creating two groups with very similar risk profiles differing only by their transfusion status. In the matched groups, there was a fivefold increase in the risk of stroke in transfused patients (Fisher exact test, P = .043) Conclusions Intraoperative transfusion of one to two units of PRBCs is associated with a fivefold increase in stroke risk. This holds true after consideration of stroke risk variables and operative duration as a surrogate for technical difficulty. The increased risk may be related to several effects of transfused blood on the coagulation inflammation cascade.
Outcomes-based research: What is it and how do we do it?

Although there is no generally agreed on definition, outcomes research involves a set of disciplines distinct from biomedical science devoted to looking beyond traditional measures such as mortality and morbidity) Outcomes of interest for the clinical research scientist generally include a wide range of variables relating not only to the illness itself, but also the health care provided during the illness episode. 2 Outcomes research measures are designed to systematically assess clinical practice with special attention to patient-centered data. These measures can be characterized as patient-relevant or "outcomes that matter." Examples could include experiences, function, complications of illnesses and treatment, and the impact of symptoms. Surgical experiences might include reoperation, complications, and number of employment days missed. Outcomes-based research first achieved prominence as the response to the discovery of regional variation in the application of certain health services without discernible differences in outcomes
Assessing Climate Change in the Contiguous United States Using a Modified Thornthwaite Climate Classification Scheme

Climate change across the contiguous United States is investigated using a modified version of Thornthwaite's climate classification scheme. This approach allows both moisture and thermal conditions to be examined simultaneously for a better assessment of multivariate climate change. Changes in area of different climate types over time is determined using the climate year approach and the spatial nature of climate change is examined by computing climate types based on averages from three thirty-year periods over the twentieth century. Over the study period from 1895 to 2005, statistically significant changes in areal coverage of different climate types have occurred. In the eastern half of the country, climate divisions have become wetter and changed to moister climate categories. The most prominent change has occurred in the Deep South, where the climate has changed to both a lower thermal category and a wetter moisture category. Much of the country has experienced positive temperature trends, but only c...
SU-FF-J-02: 3D Target Localization Using Cone-Beam CT for Head and Neck IMRT Patients

Purpose: To evaluate clinical effectiveness of target localization using cone‐beam CT(CBCT) for H&N IMRTtreatment.Method and Materials: All H&N patients treated with an IRB approved protocol were imaged on the first day of treatment and weekly thereafter with Varian On‐Board Imager. After the patient was aligned with skin markers, 2D kilovoltage portal images were acquired and compared to the planning DRRs for set‐up corrections (2D‐based correction). Then, CBCTimages were acquired and registered with the planning CT by matching both soft tissue and bony landmarks, which generated the 3D‐based corrections. The difference between two correction measurements yielded the treatment isocenter variation using the 3D/3D matching method. Dose distributions with different isocenter deviations were re‐constructed on the planning CT. The treatment DVHs of PTVs and critical structures were compared with those in the original plan. Results: A total of 12 CBCT were analyzed for 3 patients during their first 4‐weeks of treatment. Compared to set‐up variations, anatomical shrinkage/deformation was negligible. The mean isocenter deviations after 2D‐based corrections were 1.1mm in AP direction (max 3.0mm), 2.6mm in lateral direction (max 5.0mm), and 3.8mm in SI direction (max 6.0mm). For the worst isocenter deviation, the reconstructed mean PTV dose was reduced by 3.6% from the planned mean value. For two patients, the mean brainstem dose increased from 33% to 49.5% and from 36.9% to 66.8%, respectively, in worst cases after 2D‐based correction. Other critical structures that received significantly higher doses were cord (max dose changed from 41.8% to 64%), eye (mean dose changed from 37.5% to 83.9%) and parotid (mean dose changed from 58% to 72.5%). Conclusion: For H&N IMRTtreatment,CBCTimage‐guidance improves localization accuracy compared to 2D‐based technique and should be the method of choice for target localization when tight margins are applied. Partially supported by Varian research grant.
Building and leveraging information in dynamic environments: The role of IT infrastructure flexibility as enabler of organizational responsiveness and competitive advantage

Understanding how IT contributes to a firm's competitive advantage has long been of interest. While managers have made significant investments in IT, inflexible legacy systems hinder their ability to respond quickly to market opportunities. Our study examined how the flexibility of an organization's IT infrastructure enhanced information generation and dissemination and that this increased their ability to respond to rapidly changing environments. Our discussion of these information building and information leveraging effects was grounded in the resource-based view of the firm. We empirically tested our model using data collected from senior executives of 105 manufacturing and service firms. We found that IT infrastructure flexibility was positively related to information generation and dissemination. Moreover, information generation was significantly related to organizational responsiveness. Finally, organizational responsiveness was positively related to the firm's competitive advantage. These results showed the importance of developing a flexible IT infrastructure that can be quickly adapted and reconfigured to meet information processing demands in dynamic environments.
Cryoablation or Radiofrequency Ablation of the Small Renal Mass: A Meta-analysis

Background: The incidence of renal cell carcinoma(RCC) is rising due to incidental detection of small renal masses(SRMs). While surgical resection remains the standard of care, cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation(RFA) have emerged as minimally-invasive treatment alternatives. We performed a comparative meta-analysis evaluating cryoablation and RFA as primary treatment for SRMs.
Solution to the bundle-to-bundle mapping problem of geometric optics using four freeform reflectors

Here we present a method for the coupled design of four freeform reflective surfaces that will control a bundle of rays. By this, we mean that given an input bundle of rays, we can construct an optical system that will map it to a given output bundle, where a ray-to-ray correspondence is realized as per the prescribed data. The method makes use of the Cartan–Kahler theorem of exterior differential systems. Sample imaging applications are given.
Association analyses of clustered competing risks data via cross hazard ratio.

SUMMARY Bandeen-Roche and Liang (2002, Modelling multivariate failure time associations in the presence of a competing risk. Biometrika 89, 299–314.) tailored Oakes (1989, Bivariate survival models induced by frailties. Journal of the American Statistical Association 84, 487–493.)’s conditional hazard ratio to evaluate cause-specific associations in bivariate competing risks data. In many population-based family studies, one observes complex multivariate competing risks data, where the family sizes may be >2, certain marginals may be exchangeable, and there may be multiple correlated relative pairs having a given pairwise association. Methods for bivariate competing risks data are inadequate in these settings. We show that the rank correlation estimator of Bandeen-Roche and Liang (2002) extends naturally to general clustered family structures. Consistency, asymptotic normality, and variance estimation are easily obtained with U-statistic theories. A natural by-product is an easily implemented test for constancy of the association over different time regions. In the Cache County Study on Memory in Aging, familial associations in dementia onset are of interest, accounting for death prior to dementia. The proposed methods using all available data suggest attenuation in dementia associations at later ages, which had been somewhat obscured in earlier analyses.
Detecting constructions of nonlinear integral systems from input-output data: an application of neural networks

If the input-output relation of a multi-input system can be represented by some kind of integral with respect to a nonnegative monotone set function, which is not necessarily additive, then the construction of the system may be entirely described by the monotone set function. After obtaining input-output data from such a system, the set function can be optimally determined by using a specially designed neural network algorithm.
Cloning and characterization of HARP/SMARCAL1: a prokaryotic hepA-related SNF2 helicase protein from human and mouse.

Abstract The SNF2 gene family consists of a large group of proteins involved in transcriptional regulation, maintenance of chromosome integrity, and various aspects of DNA repair. We cloned a novel SNF2 family human cDNA, with sequence identity to the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase-binding protein HepA and named the human hepA-related protein (HHARP/SMARCAL1). In addition, the mouse ortholog (Mharp/Smarcal1) was cloned, and the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog (CEHARP) was identified in the GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the HARP proteins share a high level of sequence similarity to the seven motif helicase core region (SNF2 domain) with identifiable orthologs in other eukaryotic species, except for yeast. Purified His-tagged HARP/SMARCAL1 protein exhibits single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase activity, consistent with it being a member of the SNF2 family of proteins. Both the human and the mouse genes consist of 17 exons and 16 introns. The human gene maps to chromosome 2q34–q36, and the mouse gene is localized to the syntenic region of chromosome 1 (between markers Gls and Acrg). HARP/SMARCAL1 transcripts are ubiquitously expressed in human and mouse tissues, with testis presenting the highest levels of mRNA expression in humans.
On the theory and application of universal classification to signal detection

The authors apply methods of universal classification to the problem of classifying one of M deterministic signals in the presence of dependent non-Gaussian noise.
Polyurethanes from aromatic bischlorformates

Linear polyurethanes, having high molecular weight, were prepared by interfacial polycondensation from halogen substituted aromatic bischloroformates and aliphatic diamines, piperazines, and aromatic diamines. Examples of specific intermediates are hexamethylenediamine, piperazine, homopiperazine (see formula), m-phenylendiamine, and the bischloroformates of 2,2-bis (4-hy-droxy-3,5-dichlorophenyl) propane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dibromophenyl) propane, and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane: In comparison with corresponding unhalogenated polyurethanes, the polymers from this study, particularly those based on piperazines, had high glass transition and softening temperatures. Polyurethanes in this class, like most ring-containing polyurethanes, do not have sufficient thermal stability at their high melting points for easy melt for easy melt forming. They were more soluble in a variety of common solvents and had excellent resistance to ultraviolet light. Surprisingly, the irregularity introduced into the polymer chain by the use of such intermediates as homopiperazine (formula above) or 2-methylpiperazine did not inhibit crystallization. On the other hand the symmetry provided by trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine greatly reduced solubility in many solvents. Several polyamides and a polyurea from homopiperazine are included.
Observation of the effects of inoculation with a domestic lyophilized non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine derived from Vero cells

Objective To observe the immunogenicity of and reaction to a low-dose intradermal injection of a lyophilized rabies vaccine derived from Vero cells without adjuvant for a pre-exposure group.Methods In accordance with informed consent,a population in close contact with dogs was selected and 244 individuals with class I exposure to rabies received pre-exposure immunization.In a randomized,single-blind manner,subjects were divided into two groups: group A,an intradermal injection(ID) group of 122 individuals receiving an intradermal injection of 0.1ml vaccine at each site on D 0,7,and 28,and group B,an intramuscular injection(IM) group of 122 individuals receiving a full-volume(0.5 ml) PVRV injection in the deltoid on D 0,7,and 28.Local and systemic responses to the vaccine were observed with the different routes of injection.An indirect sandwich ELISA assay was used to analyze antibody levels.Results For the ID group,the incidence rates for local redness and swelling,induration,pain,and itching were 1.09%,0.27%,0.27%,and 10.66%,respectively.For the IM group,the incidence rates were 0.82%,0.27%,1.64%,and 0.82%,respectively.For the ID group,the incidence rates for systemic reactions in the form of fever,rash,headaches,and fatigue and weakness were 0.27%,0.27%,0.55%,and 0.82%,respectively,while similar incidence rates for the IM group were 0.55%,0.27%,0.55%,and 0.82%,respectively.Adverse effects often occurred following the 1st and 2nd injection.The respective seroconversion rates for the ID injection group and IM group were 94.21% and 95.08% after D 42 of immunization,and the difference in seroconversion rates was not statistically significant(P0.05).Conclusion The domestic lyophilized rabies vaccine derived from Vero cells resulted in mild adverse reactions and had good immunogenicity.A domestic lyophilized rabies vaccine derived from Vero cells can,when given in low-dose intradermal injections without adjuvant,be used to vaccinate a pre-exposure group.
Documents as prototypes: designing written drafts for communication across cross-disciplinary teams

L'article discute de l'utilisation de prototypes visuels pour ameliorer la communication et la cooperation entre les membres d'une equipe interdisciplinaire impliques dans la conception d'un produit. Le systeme est applique au processus de conception et de revision d'un document, le brouillon faisant office de prototype. En fonction du stade de developpement du document, on peut determiner le degre de fidelite adequat du prototype vis-a-vis du produit fini de facon a ameliorer la communication entre les differents acteurs du projet.
Location memory in 8-month-old infants in a non-search AB task: Further evidence

When an object is hidden in a location A and then in a location B, 8-month-old infants tend to search in A if forced to wait 3 s before retrieving the object, and to search randomly in A or B if forced to wait 6 s before retrieving the object ( Diamond, 1985 ). Most investigators have attributed infants' perseverative and random search errors to some immature memory mechanism (e.g., Bjork & Cummings, 1984; Harris, in press; Kagan, 1974; Schacter, Moscovitch, Tulving, McLachlan, & Freedman, 1986; Sophian & Wellman, 1983; Wellman, Cross, & Bartsch, 1987) . Baillargeon and Graber (1988) recently tested this hypothesis. They reasoned that if infants' search errors reflect memory difficulties, infants should perform poorly in any task requiring them to keep track of changes in an object's hiding place. The task Baillargeon and Graber devised was a non-search task. In this task, an object was hidden behind one of two screens; after 15 s, a hand retrieved the object from behind the correct screen (possible event) or from behind the incorrect screen (impossible event). The results indicated that the infants still remembered the object's location after the 15-s delay. The present experiments were similar to the experiment carried out by Baillargeon and Graber (1988) except that longer delays were used. In Experiment 1, the object remained hidden for 30 s, and in Experiment 2, for 70 s. The results of the experiments yielded evidence that the infants still remembered the object's hiding place after the delays. Such results point to a remarkable gap between search and non-search assessments of 8-month-old infants' location memory. Like the findings of Baillargeon and Graber (1988) , the present findings cast serious doubts on accounts that attribute infants' search errors to inadequate memory mechanisms. In the conclusion section, we speculate on alternative explanations for these errors.
The Cerebral Cortex

The Introduction gives a brief description of the human cerebral cortex, both in its macroscopic (Fig. E1 — 1) and microscopic features. There is a description of the fundamental units of the nervous system, the neurones or nerve cells, and of their connectivities by means of very intimate contacts called synapses (Fig. E1 — 2). Activation of one type of these synapses excites the neurone and causes it in turn to discharge impulses, which are brief electrical messages travelling along its axon. Activation of the other set of synapses inhibits the neurone and tends to prevent the discharge of impulses. Each neurone has hundreds, or even thousands, of synapses on its surface and discharges impulses only when synaptic excitation is much stronger than inhibition. Impulses are almost the only means of fast transmission in the central nervous system.
Choline Deficiency and Chemical Carcinogenesis

We have reviewed the current status of our knowledge concerning the biologic effects of dietary choline (lipotrope) deficiency in modifying chemical carcinogenesis in experimental animals and discussed its possible mechanisms. Choline deficiency produces various pathologic lesions, involving virtually every organ of the body, as a result of a decrease in phospholipid and acetylcholine synthesis and in the supply of labile methyl groups. The liver is the only organ in which a relationship has been consistently demonstrated between choline deficiency and chemically induced tumors. The deficient diet enhances the initiating potency of several carcinogens and acts as a strong cocarcinogen. Diet also exerts a strong promoting effect, though the possibility that it is a complete carcinogen cannot be ruled out. Phase I enzymes of the carcinogen metabolizing system are uniformly depressed by choline deficiency, but very little information is available regarding the effects of diet on Phase II enzymes that detoxify carcinogen metabolites. Possible modifications of carcinogen-induced DNA damage and their repair processes have not been adequately scrutinized. Solid evidence suggests that feeding a choline-deficient diet leads to enhanced liver cell proliferation, an inadequate supply of methyl groups for transmethylation reactions, and membrane lipid peroxidation. Induced cell proliferation and hypomethylation of DNA may alter the state of gene expression, including that of specific cellular oncogenes. Lipid peroxidation may alter the structure and function of membrane receptors related to liver cell growth or may directly damage cellular DNA. Thus these alterations, individually or in combination, could play a critical role in the diet-induced modification of chemical carcinogenesis.