cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of flow shop scheduling anomalies

Abstract Anomalies in flow shop scheduling are rare; only two anomalies have been reported. We present five new anomalies for the permutation flow shop models with the minimum makespan objective and seven more anomalies for the minimum total flow time objective. These anomalies (including the existing ones) are divided into three types corresponding to an increased processing time of a single operation, the addition of a job and the addition of a machine. We derive two properties which, when satisfied, eliminate the possibility of certain anomalies. We conclude that restrictions such as no-delay schedules, no job waiting or no machine idle time (after it starts processing) often result in anomalies. We also show that anomalies can also occur in non-permutation flow shops (four new anomalies presented).
Examination of monocyte adherence to endothelium under hyperglycemic conditions.

Abstract Increased nonenzymatic glycation of proteins has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular disease. The authors have shown by 3H-NaBH4 reduction of nonenzymatic glycation adducts that endothelial cell membrane proteins undergo increased nonenzymatic glycation in vitro when exposed to elevated concentrations of glucose. Increased nonenzymatic glycation also was found in vivo for microvascular endothelial cells isolated from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats compared with control rats. Cultured monocytes have previously been reported to express receptors for certain nonenzymatic glycation adducts. The authors have further investigated whether monocyte interactions with endothelium are altered by the presence of nonenzymatic glycation adducts on endothelium. Adherence assays were performed in the presence of elevated concentrations of glucose with decreased NaCl levels to maintain normal osmolarity (as occurs physiologically). Although monocyte adherence to endothelium and levels of early nonenzymatic glycation adducts increased under these conditions, the increased adherence appears to be due to the altered NaCl levels. In fact, freshly isolated monocytes (in contrast to what has been found for macrophages and activated monocytes) were shown not to express appreciable numbers of receptors for nonenzymatic glycation adducts.
Methods and Results for Rotation of Diamagnetic Robots Using Translational Designs

Magnetic micro-robots have a variety of potential applications for biomedical manipulation and microassembly. However, providing independent degrees of freedom to individual magnetic micro-robots can be hindered by the large numbers of local coils or traces required to achieve all degrees of freedom. In this paper, we explore the use of novel control strategies and mechanical constraints to provide additional rotational degrees of freedom to underactuated multipole magnetic robots originally designed with only translational degrees of freedom. By carefully applying repulsive impulse forces and changing the center of rotation, we show that a dynamic in-plane rotation of 3500 deg/s can be achieved. By using other geometries of mechanical constraints such as a wheel on axle, we can also demonstrate 1800 deg/s out-of-plane rotation.
Considering healthcare value and associated risk factors with postoperative urinary retention after elective laminectomy.

Abstract BACKGROUND Mitigating common complications such as postoperative urinary retention (POUR) following elective spine surgery is prudent. Identifying patients at risk for POUR and recognizing associated factors, to avoid a more complicated postoperative episode should be a priority and easily achievable. Understanding the financial burden of complications, such as POUR, is also important for value-based healthcare, not only for providers, but for employers and payors as well. PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to examine patient and surgical factors that may lead to increased risk for POUR and its associated cost following elective lumbar laminectomies. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING This is a retrospective study of the incidence of postoperative urinary retention after elective one- and two-level primary lumbar laminectomies. PATIENT SAMPLE We followed patients undergoing one- and two-level primary elective lumbar laminectomies performed between April 2014 and December 2016. OUTCOME MEASURES Patient factors included age, gender, body-mass index, and comorbidities. Surgical factors included surgical time, intraoperative fluid volume requirements, anesthesia type, and surgical levels involved. Other outcome variables included length of stay, discharge disposition, 30-day all-cause readmissions and emergency department visits, 90-day complications, and variable direct costs. METHODS The incidence of POUR was evaluated and compared with patient and surgical factors and cost-specific variables to identify correlations and potential risk for POUR after one- and two-level primary lumbar laminectomies. RESULTS Analysis included 333 patients – 203 one-level laminectomies and 130 two-level laminectomies. The overall incidence of POUR was 17.4%. Age, male gender, and history of urinary retention were significantly associated with POUR. There was a significantly increased risk of POUR with increased surgical time, but not with anesthesia type. There were also no significant differences in body-mass index, other study comorbidities, intraoperative fluid requirements, readmission, emergency department visit, and complication rates between groups. On average, patients with POUR had a significantly longer length of stay than patients without POUR. In addition, more POUR patients were discharged to acute rehabilitation facilities and had higher average variable direct cost compared tonon-POUR patients. CONCLUSIONS POUR is a significant risk after elective laminectomy. This study supports several widely accepted beliefs regarding POUR risk, while challenging others. It also highlights the burden of POUR development after surgery. At our institution, we developed a protocol supported by these findings.
Geometric Mean of Concentrations and Reversal Permanent Charge in Zero-Current Ionic Flows via Poisson-Nernst-Planck Models

This work examines the geometric mean of concentrations and its behavior in various situations, as well as the reversal permanent charge problem, the charge sharing seen in x-ray diffraction. Observations are obtained from analytical results established using geometric singular perturbation analysis of classical Poisson-Nernst-Planck models. For ionic mixtures of multiple ion species Mofidi and Liu [{\em SIAM J. Appl. Math. {\bf 80} (2020), 1908-1935}] centered two ion species with unequal diffusion constants to acquire a system for determining the reversal potential and reversal permanent charge. They studied the reversal potential problem and its dependence on diffusion coefficients, membrane potential, membrane concentrations, etc. Here we use the same approach to study the dual problem of reversal permanent charges and its dependence on other conditions. We consider two ion species with positive and negative charges, say Ca$^+$ and Cl$^-$, to determine the specific conditions under which the permanent charge is unique. Furthermore, we investigate the behavior of geometric mean of concentrations for various values of transmembrane potential and permanent charge.
Removal of Alumina Inclusions from Molten Steel by Ceramic Foam Filtration

The efficiency of removal of solid alumina inclusions by filtration and the distribution of inclusions captured through the thickness of the filter was investigated for an aluminum killed 316 stainless steel casting. A mold design was developed using modeling software to produce two castings that fill simultaneously, one with a filter and the other without a filter. The design was optimized to produce the filtered casting and unfiltered casting from a single ladle pour, while also matching the fill rates and avoiding turbulence and reoxidation during pouring. Samples from the filters and the castings were analyzed using an SEM with EDS and automated feature analysis to measure the efficiency of inclusion removal for a 10 ppi zirconia foam filter. Results showed that inclusion removal efficiency depends strongly on the initial inclusion concentration and that the alumina inclusions are captured within the filter at the filter web-steel interface. This study also documented that inclusion floatation inside the mold cavity plays a role in reducing the inclusion concentration in the casting. The distribution of alumina inclusions captured through the filter thickness was quantified using elemental mapping and the inclusion distribution was found to decrease exponentially, following first-order capture kinetics.
The assessment of sarcopenia using psoas muscle thickness per height is not predictive of post-operative complications in IBD

Background Sarcopenia is associated with postoperative complications in inflammatory bowel disease. It has most commonly been defined using the skeletal muscle index, computed after analysis of cross-sectional muscle area at L3. Psoas muscle thickness normalized to height (PMTH), which is easier to derive, is a potential surrogate of SMI and sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis. We investigate whether sarcopenia defined by PMTH has utility in predicting post-operative outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods We performed a retrospective study of adults undergoing IBD-related surgery from 2009 to 2019 at two hospitals. Sarcopenia was defined by sex-specific PMTH at the umbilicus on cross-sectional imaging using a 50th percentile median cutoff. Predictive models were created using variables (BMI, age, sex, smoking status, albumin, INR, platelets, hemoglobin, hypertension, diabetes, CAD, medications) that may be associated with complications (mortality, reoperation, readmission, transfusions, ICU admission, infection, DVT/PE), and sarcopenia for comparison. Results 85 patients with IBD were included. Lower albumin level (OR = 0.52, p = 0.039) and biologic use (OR = 5.92, p = 0.006) were associated with postoperative complications. There was no significant difference using PMTH compared to a model incorporating hypoalbuminemia and biologic use in predicting complications. Sarcopenia on univariate analysis was associated with a lower 30 day rate of reoperation (p = 0.04). Conclusions A low status of PMTH was not associated with increased postoperative complications, however hypoalbuminemia and biologic use were. PMTH as a surrogate for sarcopenia requires further study, ideally with prospective studies comparing PMTH with accepted radiographic surrogates for sarcopenia, to determine its role in clinical decision making.
Protein tagging in Tetrahymena.

Publisher Summary The use of gene fusions to produce tagged proteins is a common method for studying protein function. In Tetrahymena , tagged proteins can be introduced into the cell on a high copy plasmid or can be targeted to the correct chromosomal locus through homologous recombination. General aspects of protein tagging are discussed in the chapter in the specific context of gene structure and of DNA-mediated transformation in Tetrahymena . The methods for transforming Tetrahymena with tagged genes should also be applicable to introduction of any in vitro mutated gene that is expressed but either lacks a phenotype or has a phenotype that is unknown. Protein tagging using gene fusions provides a powerful approach for studying protein function in vivo and in vitro . Fusing a sequence encoding an epitope, an affinity ligand, or an autofluorescing protein to a gene of interest can be used to facilitate localization of proteins in situ or in vivo , to rapidly purify proteins and protein complexes and to study protein–protein and protein–nucleic acid interactions.
A novel cavity ringdown heterodyne spectroscopy: 1/spl times/10/sup -10/ sensitivity with microwatt light power

Summary form only given. We present a novel technique in cavity ringdown spectroscopy that permits 1/spl times/10/sup -10/ absorption sensitivity with microwatt level light power. Heterodyne detection is employed between two alternating cavity modes, with one of them interacting with a molecular resonance.
Feasible functions over co-inductive data

Proof theoretic characterizations of complexity classes are of considerable interest because they link levels of conceptual abstraction to computational complexity. We consider here the provability of functions over co-inductive data in a highly expressive, yet proof-theoretically weak, variant of second order logic L+*, which we believe captures the notion of feasibility more broadly than previously considered pure-logic formalisms. Our main technical result is that every basic feasible functional (i.e. functional in the class BFF, believed to be the most adequate definition of feasibility for second-order functions) is provable in L+*.
The Italian Renaissance in its historical background

A fresh and readable account of one of the great epochs in European history, this book will appeal to the general reader as well as to students of history and art. This second edition, which has been revised and updated by the author, gives more ample treatment to the 'reception' of the Renaissance in England.
The influence of teaching method on performance of suicide assessment in baccalaureate nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Student nurses identify many barriers to assessing patients’ risk for suicide. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study developed and tested an innovative active learning strategy using simulated standardized patients to determine its effectiveness in teaching suicide assessment skills to a sample of 34 junior and senior baccalaureate nursing students. DESIGN: This study employed an experimental, two-group posttest design and three National League for Nursing/Laerdal Simulation Evaluation instruments. After reading about suicide assessment, the experimental group was exposed to a simulated standardized patient portraying a suicidal patient. The control group received a recorded lecture on suicide assessment. RESULTS: The experimental group demonstrated a significant difference in student scores of self-confidence, satisfaction, and student perceptions of the educational practices (active learning, collaboration, and appeal to diverse learning styles) when compared to the lecture format. CONCLUSION: Suicide...
Everything You Know About the Bush Environmental Record is Wrong

Conventional wisdom says that George W. Bush has "declared war on the environment." Yet actual instances of Bush anti-environmental policies are few, while the new president has received no credit for significant actions to reduce air pollution. What's the political and media dynamic that makes everyone feel so sure that Bush is anti-environment?
Tutorial: grid computing: the hype and the truth

Increasingly, scientific discovery is driven by computationally intensive analyses of massive data-collections stored in a distributed fashion. Technology trends indicate that the rates at which networks and storage elements double in capacity or halve in price are approximately 8 and 12 months, respectively. This promising recent trend is propelling several scientific research groups to undertake projects never before foreseen -- notable examples being high-energy physics experiments (CMS), studies of gravitational waves (LIGO), digital sky surveys (SDSS), SETI@Home, Folding@Home, and Evolution@Home, etc. The common denominator in all of these projects is the propensity to use distributed data stores, which has thrust to the forefront the need to efficiently manage data access in massively distributed communities.
Functions of L1 in the collaborative interaction of beginning and advanced second language learners: Functions of L1 in collaborative interaction of learners

This study investigates the functions served by language in classroom interaction among learners of Spanish at different levels of language competency. Learners collaborated on the production of a writing task. We develop and illustrate a taxonomy of language functions. Our goals are to shed light on the general role of L1 in the L2 classroom and to gain insight into the use of L2 as a tool for thought. We find that the frequency of L2 use among advanced-level participants far exceeds that of beginning-level students. We discuss the implications of this with respect to the role of language in general as a psychological tool and the possibility of an L2 serving in this capacity. We also discuss the pedagogical implications of our findings. Este estudio investiga las funciones que sirve el lenguaje en la interaccion en el aula entre estudiantes de espanol a diferentes niveles de dominio linguistico. Los estudiantes colaboraron en una tarea de expresion escrita. Se desarrolla e ilustra una taxonomia de las funciones identificadas con el proposito de esclarecer el papel que juega la primera lengua en el aula de segundas lenguas y de contribuir al entendimiento del uso de la segunda lengua como instrumento del pensamiento. Los resultados indican que la frecuencia de uso de la segunda lengua entre el grupo de nivel avanzado supera con creces al uso entre el grupo de principiantes. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados con respecto al rol del lenguaje en general como instrumento sicologico y la posibilidad de que una segunda lengua pueda funcionar de este modo. Se discuten tambien implicaciones pedagogicas de los resultados.
Inverse Dynamics Based Tuning of a Fuzzy Logic Controller for a Single-Link Flexible Manipulator

Since its introduction to engineering applications, fuzzy logic has attracted many researchers because of its simplicity and robustness. Experience with a system is translated into heuristic rules which can be used to control that system. This article proposes a novel method for a generalized inverse dynamics based fuzzy logic controller (FLC) of a single-link flexible manipulator. The deflection of the flexible link was modeled using the assumed modes method. The control action is distributed between two FLCs: A joint angle controller and a tip controller. Each controller produces a torque value. The torque values are summed, and the resulting control action is used to drive the manipulator. A novel method for varying the ranges of the variables of the two controllers as a function of the motion parameters and the inverse dynamics of the system is presented. The relative shapes and distribution of the fuzzy membership sets (with respect to each other) are kept fixed. Simulation results show that joint trajectory tracking is accomplished, and that the residual vibration of the flexible link is suppressed.
Intravenous fat emulsion acutely suppresses neutrophil chemiluminescence.

The immediate effect of intravenous fat emulsion on neutrophil oxidant release was studied. Opsonized nonencapsulated S. aureus was used to stimulate neutrophil activity. Luminol enhanced chemiluminescence was followed over 15 min and recorded as peak output (P; mV), integral under the curve (I; V·sec) and rate of increase (R; mV/sec). Eighteen chronically ill patients receiving glucose based total parenteral nutrition were studied before and after a 4- to 6-hr test infusion of 500 ml of 10% fat emulsion. P decreased from 719 ± 46 to 461 ± 42 mV (p < 0.001), I decreased from 169 ± 17 to 111 ± 12 V·sec (p < 0.001) and R decreased from 6.9 ± 1.0 to 4.0 ± 0.6 mV/sec (p < 0.001). Preincubation of normal whole blood with fat emulsion in vitro did not adversely affect chemiluminescence (11 studies), nor did incubation of normal neutrophils with patient postinfusion plasma (10 studies). We conclude that fat emulsion infusion acutely suppresses neutrophil chemiluminescence. The suppression is not a direct effect ...
The effect of nonlocal interactions on the dynamics of the Ginzburg-Landau equation

Nonlocal amplitude equations of the complex Ginzburg-Landau type arise in a few physical contexts, such as in ferromagnetic systems. In this paper, we study the effect of the nonlocal term on the global dynamics by considering a model nonlocal complex amplitude equation. First, we discuss the global existence, uniqueness and regularity of solutions to this equation. Then we prove the existence of the global attractor, and of a finite dimensional inertial manifold. We provide upper and lower bounds to their dimensions, and compare them with those of the cubic complex Ginzburg-Landau equation. It is observed that the nonlocal term plays a stabilizing or destabilizing role depending on the sing of the real part of its coefficient. Moreover, the nonlocal term affects not only the diameter of the attractor but also its dimension.
Mass spectrometry-based quantification of myocardial protein adducts with acrolein in an in vivo model of oxidative stress

Acrolein exposure leads to the formation of protein-acrolein adducts. Protein modification by acrolein has been associated with various chronic diseases including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Here we report an analytical strategy that enables the quantification of Michael-type protein adducts of acrolein in mitochondrial proteome samples using liquid chromatography in combination with tandem mass spectrometry and selected ion monitoring (LCMS/MS SRM) analysis. Our approach combines site-specific identification and relative quantification at the peptide level of protein–acrolein adducts in relation to the unmodified protein thiol pool. Treatment of 3-month old rats with CCl4, an established in vivo model of acute oxidative stress, resulted in significant increases in the ratios of distinct acrolein-adducted peptides to the corresponding unmodified thiol-peptides obtained from proteins that were isolated from cardiac mitochondria. The mitochondrial proteins that were found adducted by acrolein were malate dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] flavoprotein 1, cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIb isoform 1, ATP synthase d chain, and ADP/ATP translocase 1. The findings indicate that protein modification by acrolein has potential value as an index of mitochondrial oxidative stress.
SU‐GG‐J‐132: Estimate Absorbed Dose Using Micro PET Imaging of Rat Brain Tumor with I‐124 Infusion Followed by F‐18 Injection

OBJECTIVE: This study was to estimate absorbed dose using micro PETimaging of the rat braintumor with I‐124 Infusion followed by F‐18 Injection METHOD: Two tumor‐bearing rats were infused intratumorally with 2.1 uCi I‐124 Gd Tagged Metallofullerenes. A 2‐hour post I‐124 infusion PET scan was performed on each animal to identify the infusion site and possible free I‐124 distribution. Following I‐124 imaging, 32 uCi and 182 uCi of F‐18 FDG were administered respectively by IP injection to highlight brainanatomy at different imagecontrasts. Each animal was imaged for 5 minutes using a uPET scanner, 350 – 550 keV energy window, without transmission scanning. F‐18 imaging started 5 and 45 minutes subsequently after the IP injection. Image reconstruction algorithms (FBP, 3D OSEM, 3D Re‐Projection with or without Hanning Filter) were used for comparison. Image processing and analysis were conducted on ASIPro VM platform. The infusion site and tumor were measured by FWHM from Gaussian fit of count profiles. Absorbed dose was estimated using MIRD based on RoI counts from the PETimages.RESULT: The post infusion PET scan showed high I‐124 concentration in tumor and minimum free iodine in the rest of body. The 3D OSEM reconstruction improved spatial resolution and contrast compared with the FBP and 3DRP algorithms. The infusion site was 5.21 mm (FWHM). Tumor dose of I‐124 (19.8 Gy) was accurate because of high contrast of I‐124 image, and the dose for F‐18 depended on the RoI definition. CONCLUSION: Radiation dosimetry using PET scan depends on image quantification which is affected by the reconstruction algorithm selected and the acquisition or processing protocol. Radiation dosimetry using PET scan depends on image quantification which is affected by the reconstruction algorithm selected and the acquisition or processing protocol.
An evaluation of phase I cancer clinical trial designs

Phase I clinical trials are designed to identify an appropriate dose for experimentation in phase II and III studies. I present the results from a simulation study to evaluate the performance of nine phase I designs involving the standard design, the two-stage modified Storer's design, the two-stage Korn's design, the one-stage modified continual reassessment method (CRM) designs, and the two-stage modified CRM designs. I compare the performance of the above phase I designs in terms of the following criteria: (i) the proportion of the recommended maximum tolerated dose (MTD) at each dose level; (ii) the proportion of patients treated at each dose level; (iii) the average number of patients to complete the trial; (iv) the probability of toxicity observed; and (v) the average number of cohorts to complete the trial. In general, the one-stage modified CRM II and CRM III designs perform well compared with the other designs considered in this study. The one-stage modified CRM II and III designs require much fewer numbers of cohorts than do the two-stage modified CRM II and III designs. The one-stage modified CRM II and III designs avoid the criticisms of the original CRM by reducing the average number of cohorts and toxicity incidences, while estimating the MTD more accurately than does the standard design.
Needle core biopsy guided with mammography: a study of cost-effectiveness.

PURPOSE: To analyze the cost-effectiveness of needle core biopsy (NCB) in a breast cancer screening program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A computer model was used to compare two hypothetical groups of women: those who undergo annual mammographic screening and those observed without screening. All clinically significant outcomes for each group were included in the model, which reflected the state of a woman's health each year beginning at age 40 years and ending at age 85 years. RESULTS: The marginal cost per year of life saved by screening was reduced a maximum of 23% (from $20,770 to $15,934) with use of NCB instead of surgical biopsy. The cost of NCB had less effect on cost-effectiveness than the number of women who underwent NCB. CONCLUSION: When used for the same indications as surgical biopsy, NCB substantially reduces the cost of a breast cancer screening program.
Carabid beetle diversity and community composition as related to altitude and seasonality in Andean forests

Carabid beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) diversity and community composition was investigated along an altitudinal gradient from 1400 m to 3400 m in southeastern Peru, utilizing recently published data of the first systematic inventory of carabid beetles in the region. The study transect is located in one of the highest biological diversity regions in the world. Active and passive collection techniques were used to examine temporal (rainy and dry seasons) and spatial (altitude) structure of adult carabid beetle assemblages. After adjusting for collection effort, species richness, as estimated by the Mao Tau richness estimator, peaked at 2000 m, some 600 meters above the lowest sampled altitude in this study. Similarity between species assemblages from different altitudinal sites was ≤52%. Species richness was approximately 10% higher in the rainy season than the dry season, with 64% of species occurring in both seasons. Despite the importance of multi-seasonal survey sampling for Neotropical habitats, most ...
Economic Value of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Care: A Structured Literature Review

Study objective The evaluation of the impact of out-of-hospital emergency care is a relatively new research focus. As such, there is a compelling need to determine how finite health care resources should be used in this setting. The objective of this study is to conduct a structured review of published economic evaluations of out-of-hospital emergency care to assess its economic value. Methods A structured literature search and structured review of articles pertaining to the economic value of out-of-hospital care was performed. The bibliographic database MEDLINE was searched for pertinent English-language articles published between 1966 and 2003. The search used the medical subject headings "emergency medical services" and "emergency medical technician" and was limited to the subheading "economics" and crossed with the medical subject heading "economics." The titles generated by this search were systematically reviewed and limited by topic. Abstracts from the identified titles were reviewed to select a final set of pertinent articles. These articles were further limited based on explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. Authors used a previously published structured evaluation tool to review the final set of identified articles for quality and content. Results The initial MEDLINE search identified 3,533 citations. From this set, 535 potentially relevant abstracts were reviewed. From the abstract review, 46 articles were identified, along with an additional 14 from searching the secondary references. Of these 60 articles, 32 met the review inclusion criteria and were subjected to a full structured review. These studies predominantly addressed the cost of cardiac arrest (n=13, 41%), major trauma (n=8, 25%), and emergency medical services treatment in general (n=8, 25%). Only 14 studies considered the costs and consequences of competing alternatives. Of these, 2 were cost-benefit and 12 were cost-effectiveness evaluations. Two of the 14 studies met all 10 criteria for high-quality economic evaluation, whereas 2 others met none. Conclusion There is a paucity of out-of-hospital care literature that addresses cost and economic value. The extant literature is limited in scope, poor in quality, and evaluates small subsets of out-of-hospital emergency care costs. Favorable cost-effectiveness has not been firmly established for most aspects of out-of-hospital emergency care.
Development of a computational environment for the General Curvilinear Ocean Model

The General Curvilinear Ocean Model (GCOM) differs significantly from the traditional approach, where the use of Cartesian coordinates forces the model to simulate terrain as a series of steps. GCOM utilizes a full three-dimensional curvilinear transformation, which has been shown to have greater accuracy than similar models and to achieve results more efficiently. The GCOM model has been validated for several types of water bodies, different coastlines and bottom shapes, including the Alarcon Seamount, Southern California Coastal Region, the Valencia Lake in Venezuela, and more recently the Monterey Bay. In this paper, enhancements to the GCOM model and an overview of the computational environment (GCOM-CE) are presented. Model improvements include migration from F77 to F90; approach to a component design; and initial steps towards parallelization of the model. Through the use of the component design, new models are being incorporated including biogeochemical, pollution, and sediment transport. The computational environment is designed to allow various client interactions via secure Web applications (portal, Web services, and Web 2.0 gadgets). Features include building jobs, managing and interacting with long running jobs; managing input and output files; quick visualization of results; publishing of Web services to be used by other systems such as larger climate models. The CE is based mainly on Python tools including a grid-enabled Pylons Web application Framework for Web services, pyWSRF (python-Web Services-Resource Framework), pyGlobus based web services, SciPy, and Google code tools.
Does surgeon experience affect outcomes in pathologic stage I lung cancer

Abstract Objective The study objective was to evaluate the influence of surgeon experience on outcomes in early-stage non–small cell lung cancer. Methods In an institutional database, patients undergoing operations for pathologic stage I non–small cell lung cancer were categorized by surgeon experience: within 5 years of completion of training, the low experience group; with 5 to 15 years of experience, the moderate experience group; and with more than 15 years, the high experience group. Results From 2000 to 2012, 800 operations (638 lobectomies, 162 sublobar resection) were performed with the following distribution: low experience 178 (22.2%), moderate experience 224 (28.0%), and high experience 398 (49.8%). Patients in the groups were similar in age and comorbidities. The use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was higher in the moderate experience group (low experience: 62/178 [34.8%], moderate experience: 151/224 [67.4%], and high experience: 133/398 [33.4%], P P P = .163). Five-year overall survival in the moderate experience group was 76.9% compared with 67.5% in the low experience group ( P P = .006). In a Cox proportional hazard model, increasing age, male gender, prior cancer, and R1 resection were associated with an elevated risk of mortality, whereas being operated on by surgeons with moderate experience and having a greater number of mediastinal (N2) lymph node stations sampled were protective. Conclusions The experience of the surgeon does not affect perioperative outcomes after resection for pathologic stage I non–small cell lung cancer. At least moderate experience after fellowship is associated with improved long-term survival.
Population structure of the planktonic copepod Calanus pacificus in the North Pacific Ocean

The pelagic copepod Calanus pacificus ranges nearly continuously across temperate-boreal regions of the North Pacific Ocean and is currently divided into three subspecies—C. pacificus oceanicus, C. pacificus californicus, C. pacificus pacificus—based on subtle morphological differences and geographic location. The relation between geography and genetic differentiation was examined for 398 C. pacificus individuals sampled from six widely distributed locations across the North Pacific, including an open ocean site and coastal sites on both sides of the North Pacific basin. For each individual copepod, the DNA sequence was determined for a 421-bp region of the mitochondrial coxI gene (mtCOI). A total of sixty-three different mtCOI sequences, or haplotypes, were detected, with a sequence divergence between haplotypes of 0.2–3.1%. The number and distribution of haplotypes varied with sampling location; 12 haplotypes were distributed across multiple sampling locations, and 51 occurred at only one location. Five genetically distinct populations were detected based on FST values. Haplotype minimum spanning networks, nucleotide divergence and FST values indicated that individuals from coastal sites in the North Pacific Ocean were more closely related to each other than to individuals from the open ocean site at Station P. These results provide genetic support for the designation of two subspecies—a coastal subspecies that consists of what is currently referred to as C. p. pacificus and C. p. californicus and an open ocean subspecies C. p. oceanicus. This work also indicates that planktonic copepods with potentially high dispersal capacity can develop genetically structured populations in the absence of obvious geographic barriers between proximate locales within an ocean basin.
Competitive advantage in alliance governance: resolving the opportunism minimization–gain maximization paradox

This paper offers a model of alliance governance that explicitly recognizes that managers of alliances simultaneously face the objectives of maximizing gains from trade while minimizing the threat of opportunism in the transaction—an apparent paradox. Our model shows that both the gains from trade and the threat of opportunism are influenced by firm characteristics (cooperative capabilities and trustworthiness) as well as transaction attributes (information asymmetry and asset specificity). The paradox may be resolved by strong form trustworthiness combined with relationship management capabilities because these characteristics allow the pursuit of gains from trade while simultaneously limiting the threat of opportunism. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Landsat Thematic Mapper observations of debris avalanche deposits in the Central Andes

Remote sensing with the Landsat Thematic Mapper of debris avalanche deposits in the Central Andes between 18 and 27 deg S revealed, for the first time, the presence of 28 breached volcanic cones and 11 major volcanic debris avalanche deposits, several of which cover areas in excess of 100 sq km. It is concluded that such avalanche deposits are normal products of the evolution of large composite volcanoes, comparable with lava and pyroclastic flow deposits. A statistical survey of 578 composite volcanoes in the same area indicated that a majority of cones which achieve edifice heights between 2000 and 3000 m may undergo sector collapse. The paper describes morphological criteria for identifying breached composite cones and volcanic debris avalanches using orbital images.
Alternative Views of Property Rights: Implications for Agricultural Use of Natural Resources

Farmers' property rights1 to use natural resources are currently undergoing fundamental redefinitions as a consensus is forming for a mutually supportive agricultural and resource policy (Batie, Shabman, and Kramer). At the most general level, there is a "shift in constraints." In the past, many resource policies were constrained by a concern for how well they served the interests of agriculture. Increasingly the question is now asked: "How do agricultural programs and policies conform to goals of environmental protection and enhancement?" The implications for agricultural land use rights are clear. "Rights to use land are being conditioned on effects that uses have on others, principally users of water and aquatic environments" (Braden, p. 21). These fundamental changes suggest a challenge to natural resource economists who wish to provide assistance in policy analysis and design. However, natural resource economics has several differing methodological perspectives that suggest various research approaches to natural resource problems.2 Furthermore, the various research agendas stemming from the methodologies differ in their usefulness in the policy process and suggest different roles for the natural resource economist. This paper identifies two major methodological constructs. Then it proceeds to identify the implications of these constructs for possible roles resource economists can assume in policy analysis and research. Implications of Economic Methodologies on Policy Analysis
CELLULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATIONS OF BACTERIAL CHEMOTAXIS

Abstract The temporal and spatial evolution of the density of populations of chemotactic bacteria have previously been modeled by phenomenological cell balance equations based on cell motion restricted to one dimension. These one-dimensional balance equations have been used to interpret the results of experiments involving three-dimensional motion of bacterial populations with symmetry in two of the three dimensions. We develop a computer simulation to rigorously model the movement of a large population of individual chemotactic bacteria in three dimensions. Results of the simulation are compared with results using a one-dimensional phenomenological model in order to verify the range of validity of this model under situations involving one-dimensional gradients of chemical attractants.
Dissolution in molten silicates: effects of solid solution

Abstract The effects of solid solution and solid state diffusion on crystal dissolution in a multicomponent liquid was examined by studying exact and approximate solutions to equations governing isothermal-isobaric diffusive dissolution of a crystalline solid solution in binary and ternary liquids. The dissolution rate is proportional to the square root of time in diffusive dissolution. The effect of solid state diffusion is to change the dissolved crystal composition from that in the interior of the crystal to that at the crystal-melt interface, which depends on the relative rate of diffusion in the solid to the rate of dissolution. If the dissolution rate is much faster than the diffusive exchange rate in the solid, the dissolved crystal will retain its interior or far-field composition that has not been affected by diffusion (referred to as Regime I dissolution). The dissolution rate is proportional to the diffusion rate in the liquid, independent of the crystallographic orientation of the dissolving crystal. If the dissolution rate is much slower than the rate of diffusion in the solid, the dissolved crystal will have its solidus composition at the crystal-melt interface (termed Regime II dissolution). The dissolution rate is proportional to the diffusion rate in the solid and hence dependent of the crystallographic orientation of the dissolving crystal if the degree of undersaturation is extremely small (i.e.,
The Need for Critical Analysis of Case-Series Reporting in Pediatric Surgery

E VIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (EBP) has gained broad support from the health care community for its emphasis on making clinical decisions based on the weight of experimental evidence. The need for highquality EBP is particularly great in the field of Pediatric Surgery, where many surgical diseases in children are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and utilization of health care resources. Currently, no clear consensus guidelines exist for the treatment of many of these conditions. 1.2 The randomized, controlled clinical trial (RCT) represents the gold standard of clinical research designs and forms the foundation of high-quality EBP. The impact of well-designed RCTs on the medical care of children has been significant. This perhaps is no better illustrated than by the dramatic decrease in pediatric cancer mortality after establishment of the Cooperative Oncology Study Groups over the last 3 decades.3 In the field of pediatric surgery, the impact of high-quality randomized data on clinical practice has been limited. In a recent review, Hardin et ai' uncovered an alarming paucity of RCTs within the pediatric surgery literature (constituting less than 0.3% of all clinical research studies; Fig 1 ).' They found the majority of clinical practice in pediatric surgery to be based on nonrandomized data in the form of retrospective observational studies (largely case series and case reports), editorials, and expert opinion. For the majority of surgical conditions, very little prospective evidence was available. Together, single-institution case reports and case series data constituted over 97% of the published clinical evidence.' This reliance on relatively inferior evidence is likely attributable to the difficulty in conducting prospective clinical research in pediatric surgery. Solomon and McLeod4-6 have characterized specific obstacles to conducting RCTs for surgical diseases, including the rarity of many surgical conditions, diminishing funding in support of clinical trials, difficulty with standardizing surgi-
780-1 Exercise-induced ST Segment Depression is Associated with Increases in Endothelin-1

We have shown previously that plasma [N02](a metabolite of nitric oxide) rises sharply during exercise in normal subjects, but does not increase significantly in patients with exercise-induced ST depression and angiographically normal coronary arteries. To determine if venous plasma endothelin1, a potent endothelial-dependent vasoconstrictor, changes with exercise, we studied 17 subjects (7 with normal exercise ECGs and 10 with exerciseinduced ST depression ≥0.1 mV after the J point) using symptom-limited exercise treadmill tests. Plasma endothelin-l levels were measured using a radioimmunoassay at baseline (Basal), peak exercise (Peak), and 5 minutes post-exercise (post). Results Plasma Endothelin-l (pg/ml) Basal Peak Post Peak-Basal Normal 2.9 ± 0.7 1.6 ± 0.5 2.2 ± 0.6 -1.4 ± 0.7 ST ↓ 3.9 ± 0.9 7.5 ± 2.1 * 5.2 ± 1.4 +3.6 ± 1.8 * mean ± SEM * p l 0.05 vs Normal Exercise time and peak HR x SBP were similar between the two groups (13,7 ± 0.8 vs 13.3 ± 0.5 min and 30.0 ± 2.7 vs 29.9 ± 1.4 mmHg·beats/min·l 03, respectively). The normaI subjects were younger than those with exercise-induced ST depression (37 ± 3 vs 57 ± 3 years, p l 0.01). Conclusions Endothelin-l, a potent vasoconstrictor, falls with exercise in normal subjects, but increases in patients with exercise-induced ST segment depression. Endothelin-l may be one of the mediators of exercise-induced coronary insufficiency.
Nuclear bridges within multinucleated giant cells in subacute encephalitis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Six cases of subacute encephalitis in AIDS were examined with special reference to the nuclear morphology of multinucleated giant cells (MGC's). Although rare in some, all cases showed nuclear bridges which were thin strands connecting individual nuclei. Even more frequently observed were nuclear processes which were probably parts of nuclear bridges or disconnected ends of nuclear bridges. Nuclear bridges and processes were not features of mitosis but were composed of nucleoplasm. They appear to be a feature of MGC's in AIDS but may not be limited to this condition.
Studies on the hydration of tricalcium silicate pastes III. Influence of admixtures on hydration and strength development

Abstract A study has been made of the influence of calcium salts, as set-controlling admixtures, on the hydration of tricalcium silicate. It is found that some admixtures modify the morphology of C-S-H gel and for calcium hydroxide. Changes in capillary porosity distribution can be correlated with changes in the morphology of the outermost C-S-H gel. It is concluded that capillary porosity, as controlled by the degree of hydration is still the dominant factor controlling tensile strength.
Two numbers for growth, innovation and high performance: Working and optimal employee energy

Executive summary There is a lot of talk about employees being an important asset for driving business success; however, the question not answered is “What is it about employees that is critical for driving firm growth, innovation and high performance?” In this paper, that question is answered, and it is done by focusing on a simple, easy and fast method of measuring, optimizing and directing employee energy. Why energy? The answer lies in a large body of research focused on the drivers of individual and firm performance. Energy is the ability to do work, and firms that optimize and direct employee energy to meet critical goals create long-term competitive advantage that drives sustained growth. The research learning on energy is highlighted, and lessons from firms that have been measuring and managing energy are shared in an effort to help leaders understand how to use energy as a leadership tool.
Modeling of conduction mode laser welding process for feedback control

The response of conduction mode laser weld pool dimensions, specifically weld width, to a step change in power input has been modeled using two-dimensional heat flow analysis. The goal is to develop a simplified model suitable for feedback control. The weld pool geometry was approximated by a tear-drop shape. The workpiece thermal properties were assumed to be lumped and temperature-independent. The result was a first-order weld pool thermal model. A series of experiments was performed using different welding conditions (plate thickness, step power changes, and welding speeds) to validate the model. The weld pool image was recorded using a vision system and digitized. The process time constant as calculated by the model was of the order of 10 -4 seconds. The response of the laser machine, estimated by the least squares method, was found to be about 10 -2 seconds, which is much slower than that of the weld pool. Thus, within the constraints of the assumptions on which the model is based, the entire laser welding process is considered to be dominated by the laser machine dynamics.