cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduced Polymer Mobility near the Polymer/Solid Interface as Measured by Neutron Reflectivity

Neutron reflectometry is used to measure polymer mobility over distances less than 200 A as a function of distance from an attractive solid surface and molecular size. Effective diffusion coefficients, Deff, are determined from the rates of interdiffusion between supported bilayers of deuterated and hydrogenated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The thickness of the d-PMMA layer is varied from less than the radius of gyration, Rg, of the bulk polymer to 11Rg for three molecular weight pairs of polymers. Deff dramatically decreases in samples with d-PMMA layers less than 3Rg thick and approaches bulk interdiffusion rates from layers greater than 5Rg thick.
The use and abuse of therapeutic modalities in breast cancer.

Radical mastectomy was introduced by Halsted (1) and by Meyer (2) as a logical approach to a disease that was presumed to be homogeneous and to progress in a stepwise fashion before spreading systemically. This concept of time-related growth and spread provided the raison d’etre for a classification by stage, programs aimed at “early” diagnosis, and en bloc radical mastectomy. In a 1956 appraisal of breast cancer surgery, Pack and Ariel (3) stated that “the radical mastectomy of Halsted and Meyer represents one of the finest cancer operations devised because it embodies the principle of treatment whereby the primary tumor, the intervening lymphatics and the regional lymph nodes are removed en mass.” Despite this authoritative enunciation of the prevailing opinion, there were those who, at that time, called attention to the failure of radical mastectomy to reduce the death rate from breast cancer and emphasized treatment-independent variations in the behavior of breast cancer in individual patients (4-6). Such intrinsic heterogeneity in the clinical course of breast cancer was generalized by MacDonald as the concept of Biological Predeterminism (7). This concept was a direct challenge to the classical stage/prognosis concept and its emphasis on educational campaigns, aimed at early diagnosis. While biological predeterminism emphasized the limited potential for controlling breast cancer by early diagnosis and radical surgery, it did not, per se, provide any insight into the basis of the heterogeneity in the clinical behavior of the disease. The existence of prognostically significant heterogeneity among cancer tissues was first demonstrated by Broders, who called attention to the importance of histological grading of the degree of cancer tissue differentiation (8). The prognostic value of such grading of breast cancers was emphasized by Bloom (9), while Black and Speer called particular attention to the prognostic significance of
The Huguenots in the French Economy, 1650–1750

I. Introduction, 423. — II. The place of the Protestant nobility and peasantry, 424. — III. The Protestant bourgeoisie; its economic superiority and commercial importance, 426. — IV. Its industrial position; its role in private and public finance, 430. — V. Various hypotheses as to the generalized relationship of Protestantism and capitalism, 432. — VI. Predestination and man's calling. Protestantism and individualism. Rationalization of economic activity. Attitude toward interest, 435. — VII. The Huguenots as a "penalized minority," 439. — VIII. Conclusions, 443.
Minimal string difference encodings

Abstract Given two strings s and t, a difference encoding is a third string that contains sufficient information to derivet t from s . An algorithm is presented which derives a difference encoding that can be represented in the fewest number of bits relative to the string edit operators insert, delete, replace , and skip . This algorithm has practical significance for distributed text processing applications.
Review of Fenfluramine in the Treatment of the Developmental Disabilities

Fenfluramine, a serotonin reducing agent, has been the subject of intense research effort in recent years. A variety of biochemical studies summarized suggest that some autistic children and many nonautistic severely retarded individuals have elevated blood serotonin concentrations. The research on fenfluramine's clinical efficacy is thoroughly reviewed from a methodological perspective. All studies assessing the drug's effects on blood serotonin have observed reductions in whole blood serotonin to about 50% of baseline concentrations. Although there were early reports of drug enhancement of IQ, there is no good evidence that this is the case. However, there are data to suggest that fenfluramine may enhance social relatedness, reduce stereotypic behavior, lessen overactivity, and improve attention span in some autistic children, although these results do not appear consistently across studies. The animal literature on the neurotoxicity of fenfluramine is reviewed, and a number of limitations in this research are identified that raise questions about its relevance to the pharmacotherapy of children.
Oncogene Pathway Activation in Mammary Tumors Dictates FDG-PET Uptake

Increased glucose utilization is a hallmark of human cancer that is used to image tumors clinically. In this widely used application, glucose uptake by tumors is monitored by positron emission tomography (PET) of the labeled glucose analog F-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG). Despite its widespread clinical use, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that determine FDG uptake - a tool that can monitor tumor heterogeneity - remain poorly understood. In this study, we compared FDG uptake in mammary tumors driven by the Akt1, c-MYC, HER2/neu, Wnt1 or H-Ras oncogenes in genetically engineered mice, correlating it to tumor growth, cell proliferation and levels of gene expression involved in key steps of glycolytic metabolism. We found that FDG uptake by tumors was dictated principally by the driver oncogene and was not independently associated with tumor growth or cellular proliferation. Oncogene downregulation resulted in a rapid decrease in FDG uptake, preceding effects on tumor regression, irrespective of the baseline level of uptake. FDG uptake correlated positively with expression of hexokinase-2 (HK2) and HIF-1α and associated negatively with PFK-2b expression and p-AMPK. The correlation of HK2 and FDG uptake was independent of all variables tested, including the initiating oncogene, suggesting that HK2 is an independent predictor of FDG uptake. In contrast, expression of Glut1 was correlated with FDG uptake only in tumors driven by Akt or HER2/neu. Together, these results showed that the oncogenic pathway activated within a tumor is a primary determinant of its FDG uptake, mediated by key glycolytic enzymes that provide a framework to interpret effects on this key parameter in clinical imaging.
Water precautions in children with tympanostomy tubes.

Abstract Purpose: The necessity and effectiveness of talking precautions around water with children who have tympanostomy tubes is a source of some controversy among otolaryngologists. This study was undertaken to survey the practice standards of otolaryngologists treating these children. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,266 board-certified otolaryngologists practicing (mean 14.8 years in practice) in the southern and eastern United States were surveyed to determine current recommendations. Results: Among those surveyed, 13.1% forbid children with tympanostomy tubes from swimming, whereas 3.1% feel that no water precautions are needed. Limitations are placed in the depth of swimming by 68% and the type of swimming water by 18%. The most commonly recommended form of protection is the use of ear plugs, which is favored by 53.4%. Liberalization of recommendations concerning the need for water precautions was noted by 79% of respondents who cited personal experience as the single most influential factor. An overwhelming percentage of respondents indicated they would be willing to alter their current practice based on new information generated from a clinical trial. Conclusion: This survey demonstrates that diversity of opinion does exist among otolaryngologists relative to their recommendations for water precautions after placement of tympanostomy tubes. This survey demonstrates the need for a prospective randomized clinical trial designed to address this issue.
Loss of murine tumor thymidine kinase activity in vivo following 5-fluorouracil (FUra) treatment by incorporation of FUra into RNA.

Abstract The effects of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) treatment on thymidine kinase (TKase) activity were examined in vivo in CD8F1 mice bearing first generation CD8F1 mouse mammary tumors. TKase activity was not affected by low dose FUra25 (25 mg/kg), a dose which substantially inhibited thymidylate synthase (TSase), but was severely inhibited 24 hr following treatment with FUra100, a weekly maximally tolerated dose, as judged by activity measurements and labeling of DNA with [3H]thymidine. The amount of (FU)RNA was increased markedly with increasing FUra dose from 0.4 nmol/mg DNA at FUra25 to 2.2 nmol/mg DNA at FUra100. At FUra100, TKase activity gradually declined over 24 hr to
Misclassification of current benzodiazepine exposure by use of a single baseline measurement and its effects upon studies of injuries.

Purpose Measurement of drug exposure is a major methodologic challenge for pharmacoepidemiologic studies of acute effects of medications taken intermittently. If the effect is plausible only during periods of active drug use, daily (or even more frequent) exposure measurement is optimal. Benzodiazepines, episodically used hypnotics and anxiolytics, impair psychomotor function and some epidemiologic studies have reported users have increased risk of unintentional injuries. However, several prospective cohort studies of this question defined benzodiazepine exposure status from a single baseline measurement, and these have not consistently reported increased risk. We used data from an historical cohort study to demonstrate the extent of misclassification potentially induced by this practice. Methods The cohort consisted of 2510 Tennessee nursing home residents 65 years of age or older identified in a prior study of antidepressants and falls. Both baseline users (any in 7 days preceding start of follow-up) and current use (use on a given day of follow-up) of benzodiazepines were determined from facility medication administration records, which record information on drugs given to the resident each day. Falls were ascertained from nursing home incident reports and medical records. The effect of benzodiazepine exposure for each ascertaiment method was estimated from incidence rate ratios adjusted for multiple fall risk factors by Poisson regression. Results The 666 baseline benzodiazepine users had current use on 44.6% (95%CI, 40.2–49.2%) of follow-up person-days; baseline non-users had current use for 3.7% of days (2.8–4.7%). Misclassification increased with length of follow-up and with quintile of fall risk. The adjusted fall incidence rate ratios for the baseline user and current use definitions were 1.02 (95%CI, 0.95–1.10) and 1.44 (1.33–1.56), respectively. Conclusion These findings strongly suggest that to avoid potentially serious misclassification, studies of the acute effects of benzodiazepines and other drugs taken intermittently need to track exposure on a day-by-day basis. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mitochondrial DNA recombination in Brassica campestris

Abstract The structure of the mitochondrial genome in plants is unclear, but appears to consist of mostly linear DNA with some other structures, including branched molecules and subgenomic circles. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) recombination was analyzed in Brassica campestris, which has one of the smallest mitochondrial genomes (218 kb) in higher plants. Field-inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE) separated mtDNA into discrete populations that each represents the entire genome. Electron microscopy revealed large, mostly linear molecules trapped in the wells, slower migrating populations with mostly linear DNA and a low level of circular and networked mtDNA molecules of 10–140 kbp, and a fast migrating population of 10–50 kbp linear mtDNA. Some smaller than genome size circular molecules and circles with tails were observed, and may represent recombination or rolling circle replication intermediates. Hybridization of end-labeled mtDNA suggests there may be specific ends (or recombination hotspots) for some linear molecules. Analysis of mtDNA enriched by BND-cellulose and separated by two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis shows the presence of complex recombination structures and the presence of significant single-stranded regions in mtDNA. These findings provide further evidence that DNA recombination contributes to the complex structure of mtDNA in plants.
Surface phase transitions upon reduction of epitaxial WO3(100) thin films

Abstract The surface structure and morphology of WO 3 (1 0 0) thin films were studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and low-energy electron diffraction. The films experienced a net-reducing environment when annealed in oxygen at 800 K leading to surface phase transitions from p (2×2) to p (4×2), and from p (4×2) to a mix p (4×2) and p (3×2). Increasing the annealing temperature to 830 K in ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) led to a fully p (3×2) reconstructed surface. Continued UHV annealing above 800 K caused (1×1) islands to appear on the p (3×2) surface and the film color to darken. Eventually, prolonged UHV annealing led to a (1×1)-terminated surface with straight steps oriented in [0 0 1] or [0 1 0] directions due to crystallographic shear planes. The randomly spaced steps on the (1×1) surface indicated variations in the local stoichiometry in the film. An added row model proposed for the p (4×2) structure is also shown to be consistent with the p (3×2) structure. The formation of the p (4×2) structure from the p (2×2) structure was attributed to W 5+ migration into the bulk to form the troughs between the added rows. Reduction of the p (4×2) structure caused the troughs to narrow rather than deepen, suggesting that W 5+ or added row surface diffusion competes with migration of reduced W ions into the bulk when the p (3×2) structure forms. The STM images also show evidence that the (1×1) structure forms through coalescence of the added rows.
Transforming growth factor beta 1-like immunoreactivity in the pituitary gland of the rat: effect of estrogen.

We have recently shown that transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) is produced in the rat pituitary gland and inhibits the secretion of PRL and the estrogen-induced growth of lactotropes. In this study, we sought to ascertain whether TGF beta 1 inhibits lactotropic functions by an autocrine or paracrine mechanism. Our techniques consisted of localizing the pituitary distribution of the growth factor immunoreactivity and measuring changes in pituitary TGF beta 1 and PRL levels in the presence and absence of estrogen in ovariectomized animals. With the use of standard immunohistochemical techniques, we observed that in cyclic females and ovariectomized rats, 60 +/- 7% of the cells exhibiting TGF beta 1-like immunoreactivity in the anterior pituitary were lactotropes. In addition, the melanotropes in the intermediate lobe appeared to be TGF beta 1 immunopositive. Treatment with estrogen for 7 days reduced the number of TGF beta 1-immunoreactive lactotropes. Immunoreactive TGF beta 1 was also detectab...
Error correction and quantitative subanalysis of optical coherence tomography data using computer-assisted grading.

Purpose To demonstrate feature subanalysis and error correction of optical coherence tomography (OCT) data by using computer-assisted grading. Methods The raw exported StratusOCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA) scan data from 20 eyes of 20 patients were analyzed using custom software (termed OCTOR) designed to allow the user to define manually the retinal borders on each radial line scan. Measurements calculated by the software, including thickness of the nine standard macular subfields, foveal center point (FCP), and macular volume, were compared between two graders and with the automated Stratus analysis. Mean and range of differences for each parameter were calculated and assessed by Bland-Altman plots and Pearson correlation coefficients. Additional cases with clinically relevant subretinal findings were selected to demonstrate the capabilities of this system for quantitative feature subanalysis. Results Retinal thickness measurements for the various subfields and the FCP showed a mean difference of 1.7 mum (maximum, 7 microm) between OCTOR graders and a mean difference of 2.3 microm (maximum of 8 microm) between the OCTOR and Stratus analysis methods. Volume measurements between Stratus and OCTOR methods differed by a mean of 0.06 mm(3) (in reference to a mean macular volume of 6.81 mm(3)). The differences were not statistically significant, and the thicknesses correlated highly (R(2) > or = 0.98 for all parameters). Conclusions Manual identification of the inner and outer retinal boundaries on OCT scans can produce retinal thickness measurements consistent with those derived from the automated StratusOCT analysis. Computer-assisted OCT grading may be useful for correcting thickness measurements in cases with errors of automated retinal boundary detection and may be useful for quantitative subanalysis of clinically relevant features, such as subretinal fluid volume or pigment epithelial detachment volume.
FliHy experimental facilities for studying open channel turbulent flows and heat transfer

Abstract The FliHy (Flibe Hydrodynamics) facility was constructed at UCLA to study open channel turbulent flow and heat transfer of low-thermal and -electrical conductivity fluids. At present, water is used as a stimulant fluid for molten salt, e.g. Flibe. A similarity analysis matched the dimensionless parameters in the experiment with those in the ARIES-RS First Wall design. Unlike previous studies of open channel flow, the goal of the present one is to study supercritical flow regimes (Fr>1), in which the surface waves are amplified and heat transfer is enhanced due to surface renewal. The paper describes the facility and gives the results of measurements of the flow thickness and their analysis.
Geographic Variation in Health Care: The Role of Private Markets

The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care has documented substantial regional variation in health care utilization and spending, beyond what would be expected from such observable factors as demographics and disease severity. However, since these data are specific to Medicare, it is unclear to what extent this finding generalizes to the private sector. Economic theory suggests that private insurers have stronger incentives to restrain utilization and costs, while public insurers have greater monopsony power to restrain prices. We argue that these two differences alone should lead to greater regional variation in utilization for the public sector, but either more or less variation in spending. We provide evidence that variation in utilization in the public sector is about 2.8 times as great for outpatient visits ( p p = 0.09) as in the private sector. Variation in spending appears to be greater in the private sector, consistent with the importance of public sector price restraints.
Effects of motor activity on the elicitation and modification of the startle reflex in rats

In order to examine the effects of efferent processes on the elicitation and modification of startle behavior, we administered startle-eliciting stimuli to rats while they were engaged in spontaneous motor activity. When tone bursts (Experiment 1) or electric shocks (Experiment 2) were used to elicit the reflex, its amplitude was substantially less when the rats were active than when they were quiet. Grooming, face washing, and consuming were associated with the greatest reduction. The ability of a 50-dB auditory prepulse to inhibit a subsequent auditory startle was also reduced during activity (Experiment 3). The amount of inhibition produced by a prepulse was decreased even when the baseline startle responses were equated in quiet and activity by varying the intensity of the eliciting stimulus, indicating that the reduction was not due to an artificial “floor effect” (Experiment 4). The study demonstrated that both sensory and motor events affect reflexive responses in the rat, as is known for the human.
Biochemical and Functional Comparisons of mdx and Sgcg(-/-) Muscular Dystrophy Mouse Models.

Mouse models have provided an essential platform to investigate facets of human diseases, from etiology, diagnosis, and prognosis, to potential treatments. Muscular dystrophy (MD) is the most common human genetic disease occurring in approximately 1 in 2500 births. The mdx mouse, which is dystrophin-deficient, has long been used to model this disease. However, this mouse strain displays a rather mild disease course compared to human patients. The mdx mice have been bred to additional genetically engineered mice to worsen the disease. Alternatively, other genes which cause human MD have been genetically disrupted in mice. We are now comparing disease progression from one of these alternative gene disruptions, the γ-sarcoglycan null mouse Sgcg−/− on the DBA2/J background, to the mdx mouse line. This paper aims to assess the time-course severity of the disease in the mouse models and determine which is best for MD research. The Sgcg−/− mice have a more severe phenotype than the mdx mice. Muscle function was assessed by plethysmography and echocardiography. Histologically the Sgcg−/− mice displayed increased fibrosis and variable fiber size. By quantitative Evan's blue dye uptake and hydroxyproline content two key disease determinants, membrane permeability and fibrosis respectively, were also proven worse in the Sgcg−/− mice.
Combining regression diagnostics with simulation metamodels

Abstract In a 1983 article in this journal Kleijnen proposed a lack-of-fit cross-validation test for validating regression metamodels in computer simulation. His procedure utilizes additional information frequently available in simulation to obtain independent estimates of the response variance at each design point. Kleijnen notes that one drawback of his strategy is the need to run a large number of regressions. We demonstrate that the statistic upon which this inference procedure is based is analogous to the R-Student statistic commonly used in regression diagnostics and show that only a single regression need be computed to implement the test. Kleijnen's procedure is then extended to include weighted least squares, and again, major computational simplifications are identified. For both ordinary least squares and weighted least squares, extensions of modern regression diagnostic tools also are developed to supplement traditional inferential model building strategies.
Pion-nucleon scattering at low energies

We study pion-nucleon scattering at tree level with a chiral Lagrangian of pions, nucleons, and $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ isobars using a $K$-matrix unitarization procedure. Evaluating the scattering amplitude to order ${Q}^{2}$, where $Q$ is a generic small momentum scale, we obtain a good fit to the experimental phase shifts for pion center-of-mass kinetic energies up to 50 MeV. The fit can be extended to 150 MeV when we include the order-${Q}^{3}$ contributions. Our results are independent of the off-shell $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ parameter.
Materials and Surface Properties Optimization to Prevent Biofouling of a Novel Bacterial Concentrator

Abstract Traditionally, bacterial pathogens in the blood have been identified using culture-based methods that can take several days to obtain results. This can lead to physicians making treatment decisions based on an incomplete diagnosis, which can increase the patient's risk of death. One major limitation to the development of faster diagnostic methods is that bacteria are found in very low concentrations in the blood, thus to detect them one either needs to increase their numbers by culturing the bacteria or effectively isolate and concentrate them from the blood. We are developing a device that purifies as few as 10 bacteria from 10 milliliters of whole blood, and concentrates the bacteria into a ∼30 microliter volume through a combination of preferential cell lysis and centrifugation steps. To enable the efficient capture of so few bacteria in a sea of billions of blood cells, the material properties of the device were optimized. Critical parameters include material selection, manufacturing method, surface roughness, and surface chemistry. In this paper, we present the design of this novel concentrator, optimization of these parameters, and the achieved performance.
Selective reduction of dienes/polyenes using sodium borohydride/catalytic ruthenium(III) in various liquid amide aqueous mixtures

Abstract An efficient method to effect selective reduction of several structurally diverse dienes and an unsymmetrical triene is reported. The reduction is facile at 0 °C in a liquid amide aqueous solution containing sodium borohydride in the presence of 15 mol % ruthenium(III) chloride. The chemoselectivity of the reaction is controlled by proper choice of the liquid amide solvent.
Academic Library Regional Accreditation

Autoe-valuation des bibliotheques universitaires par rapport aux normes regionales d'habitation
A similarity solution for a blast in free space

Abstract A similarity solution is given for a spherical blast in free space. The solution given satisfies the equations of gas dynamics, vis.: (a) conservation of mass; (b) conservation of momentum; and (c) conservation of energy.In addition, the usual gas laws are assumed to apply, namely: (d) p = pRT and (e) U = RT γ − 1 = P ϱ(γ − 1) The solution obtained in the first part applies exactly to the case of a contained explosion, that is, an explosion such that along the boundary of the sphere (exploding region) an equalizing pressure is at all times maintained which is just equal to the boundary pressure. This condition is one which, physically, can occur if the containment could, for example, be maintained by means of a magnetic or similar field external to the bulk of the gas. It is then shown that the solution obtained may also be approximately valid without a containing boundary pressure but with a rim (or boundary) shock wave satisfying the ideal gas Rankine-Hugoniot shock conditions, although this is speculative.
Shared medical appointments in a pharmacy-based erectile dysfunction clinic.

Approximately 30 million American men have erectile dysfunction (ED).[1][1] The disorder is age-related, with an estimated 39% of 40-year-old men and 67% of 70-year-old men suffering from ED.[2][2] ED is an important medical issue to patients in Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMCs), considering
National Dominance and Urban Exploitation.

This article examines the role of 70 U.S. cities in the national urban system. Greater dominance of cities is found to be positively related to the long-term (per capita) debt of cities. This relat...
Simulations of Chemical Flooding-Comparison with Experimental Data

A compositional simulator is used to model chemical flooding; computed results are compared to laboratory studies. Special representations were devised to model the surface tension and phase behavior of types II(-) and III on ternary diagrams. Continuous core-flood experiments were modeled. Results from models with high dispersion levels compare favorably to the data for cumulative recovery and fractional flow of oil with several different injection compositions. Core-flood experiments have been simulated for situations involving a slug injection of microemulsion. Results obtained for models with high dispersion levels compare favorably with experimental data for cumulative recovery and fractional flow of oil. The model parameters were changed to allow a sensitivity analysis. For parameters representative of these laboratory studies the results are not strongly dependent on the dispersion level. Standard data was used for relative permeability, and the detrapping parameters can be changed to simulate other cases or to improve the comparison with experiment. 14 references.
A mammalian gene with introns instead of exons generating stable RNA products

THE nucleoli of eukaryotic cells are the sites of ribosomal RNA transcription and processing and of ribosomal subunit assembly. They contain multiple small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), several of which are essential for rRNA maturation1. The U3, U8 and U13 snoRNA genes are transcribed independently, whereas U14–U24, as well as E3, are located within introns of protein-coding genes, most of whose functions are linked to translation. These snoRNAs are co-transcribed with their host pre-mRNAs and released by processing from excised introns1,2. Here we show that, in addition to U22, seven novel fibrillarin-associated snoRNAs, named U25–U31, are encoded within different introns of the unusually compact mammalian U22 host gene (UHG). All seven RNAs exhibit extensive (12–15 nucleotides) complementarity to different segments of the mature rRNAs, followed by a C/AUGA ('U-turn') sequence. The spliced UHG RNA, although it is associated with polysomes, has little potential for protein coding, is short-lived, and is poorly conserved between human and mouse. Thus, the introns rather than the exons specify the functional products of UHG.
Finite-amplitude solutions for interchange instabilities driven by magnetic buoyancy

Magnetic buoyancy instabilities may be a significant cause of flux loss from the solar interior. This paper extends the linear theory for such instabilities, which has been widely studied, into the...
Continuous Reverse Nearest Neighbor Monitoring

Continuous spatio-temporal queries have recently received increasing attention due to the abundance of location-aware applications. This paper addresses the Continuous Reverse Nearest Neighbor (CRNN) Query. Given a set of objects O and a query set Q, the CRNN query monitors the exact reverse nearest neighbors of each query point, under the model that both the objects and the query points may move unpredictably. Existing methods for the reverse nearest neighbor (RNN) query either are static or assume a priori knowledge of the trajectory information, and thus do not apply. Related recent work on continuous range query and continuous nearest neighbor query relies on the fact that a simple monitoring region exists. Due to the unique features of the RNN problem, it is non-trivial to even define a monitoring region for the CRNN query. This paper defines the monitoring region for the CRNN query, discusses how to perform initial computation, and then focuses on incremental CRNN monitoring upon updates. The monitoring region according to one query point consists of two types of regions. We argue that the two types should be handled separately. In continuous monitoring, two optimization techniques are proposed. Experimental results prove that our proposed approach is both efficient and scalable.
How do flow peaks and durations change in suburbanizing semi-arid watersheds? A southern California case study

s u m m a r y Forty-three US Geological Survey gauges with records greater than �15 yrs located in watersheds less than �250 km 2 were used to model the effects of suburbanization on streams in semi-arid southern California. The watersheds spanned a gradient of urban development, ranging 0–23% total impervious area in 2001. With little flow control at the subdivision scale, most impervious area in the region is relatively well-connected to surface-drainage networks and hydrologically effective. Consequently, total impervious area was an effective hydrologic surrogate for urbanization, emerging from an expansive array of geospatially-derived hydrologic variables as a statistically-significant ( p < 0.05) predictor of instantaneous peak-flow rates at the 1.5- and 2-yr recurrence intervals and the durations of all geomorphically-important flows. To represent the effects of urbanization on flow durations, we developed duration density functions by using power functions (typical R 2
Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Parameters: Rationale for Antibacterial Dosing of Mice and Men

Investigations over the past 20 years have demonstrated that antibacterials can vary markedly in the time course of antimicrobial activity. These differences in pharmacodynamic activity have implications for optimal dosage regimens. The results of more recent studies suggest that the magnitude of the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters required for efficacy are relatively similar in animal infection models and in human infections. However, there is still much to learn. Additional studies are needed to further correlate pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters for many antibacterials with therapeutic efficacy in a variety of animal infection models and in human infections. The potential value of using pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters as guides for establishing optimal dosing regimens for new and old drugs and for new emerging pathogens and resistant organisms, for setting susceptibility breakpoints, and for reducing the cost of drug development should make the continuing search for the therapeutic rationale of antibacterial dosing of mice and men worthwhile.
Estimation in Multiserver Queuing Simulations

This paper presents methods for computing point and interval estimates of descriptors of simulated queuing systems. The methods, which rely on the renewal process representation of certain processes, extend the results of Crane and Iglehart, and the author. In particular, the paper shows that computation of three sample quantities suffices to generate point and interval estimates for twelve system descriptors.
Nyström approximation of Wishart matrices

Spectral methods requiring the computation of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a positive definite matrix are an essential part of signal processing. However, for sufficiently high-dimensional data sets, the eigenvalue problem cannot be solved without approximate methods. We examine a technique for approximate spectral analysis and low-rank matrix reconstruction known as the Nystrom method, which recasts the eigendecomposition of large matrices as a subset selection problem. In particular, we focus on the performance of the Nystrom method when used to approximate random matrices from the Wishart ensemble. We provide statistical results for the approximation error, as well as an experimental analysis of various subset sampling techniques.
New Ideas for Ethics Research: Thoughts from Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing

In combination, the set of papers in this issue represent a multi-disciplinarian examination of scholarly work in ethics within the business community. They are the product of the 5th annual "Ethical Dimensions in Business: Reflections from the Business Academic Community" conference which was held at the University of Notre Dame on November 29th and 30th, 2007. That conference and the corresponding papers are an answer to a call to productive business scholars within the various business domains -
Robust Design of Spectrum-Efficient Green Optical Backbone Networks

We propose an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based optical network design focussing on minimizing the total power consumption of the network to make the network green. OFDM is a promising technology for next-generation optical networks to support high capacity and heterogeneity in network traffic by having flexible bandwidth allocation per wavelength. Another paradigm for supporting traffic heterogeneity and high bandwidth demands is mixed-line-rate (MLR) networks where wavelengths can have discrete capacities of 10/40/100 Gbps which are single carrier based. In this study, we compare the energy efficiency of an OFDM-based network versus a MLR network. We formulate mixed integer linear program (MILP) models to design energy-efficient MLR and OFDM-based networks with two scenarios: (1) with fixed average traffic per source-destination pair of the network, and (2) with uncertainties in the traffic that an actual network may have. For scenario (2), we employ a robust optimization technique which is called τ-robust optimization. Our results show that OFDM outperforms MLR in terms of energy efficiency especially when the traffic in the network takes random peaks in some of the links.
Income Inequality among Female Heads of Households: Racial Inequality Reconsidered

This paper investigates the factors that might have influenced earnings inequality among female heads of households over an extended period. The study used the generalized entropy measures of inequality in short-run as well as long-run income for the period 1978–86. The results suggest that short-run inequality has generally increased. These fluctuations are due partially to the existence of transitory components which distort our view. The measured long-run inequality shows a decline in the early years because of the smoothing of the transitory components. Race in conjunction with age, education and marital status is used to investigate their effects. Race and education are shown to be the most influential factors. The mobility profiles show the existence of permanent inequality among female heads of households.
Rock glaciers and related periglacial landforms in the Sierra Nevada, CA, USA; inventory, distribution and climatic relationships

Abstract Rock glaciers and related periglacial rock-ice features (RIFs) are abundant yet overlooked landforms in the Sierra Nevada, California, where they occur in diverse forms. We mapped 421 RIFs from field surveys, and grouped these into six classes based on morphology and location. These categories comprise a greater range of frozen-ground features than are commonly described in rock-glacier surveys. Mapped features extended from 2225 to 3932 m (modern, mean 3333 m), occurred mostly on NNW to NNE aspects, and ranged in apparent age from modern to relict (late Pleistocene). Many of the smaller features mapped here are not readily discernible with remote (e.g., air photo) observation; field surveys remain the best approach for their detection. We interpreted the presence of outlet springs, basal lakes, suspended silt in outlet streams, and fringing phreatophytic vegetation, in addition to morphologic indications of current rock movement, as evidence for interstitial ice, either persistent or seasonal. The six classes were distinct in their geographic settings and morphologic conditions, indicating process-level differences. To assess modern climate, we intersected mapped locations with the 30 arcsec PRISM climate model. Discriminant analysis indicated significant differences among the climate means of the classes with the first three canonical vectors describing 94% of the differences among classes. Mean annual air temperatures (MAAT) for modern features ranged from 0.3 to 2.2 °C; mean precipitation ranged from 1346 to 1513 mm. We calculated differences between modern and Pleistocene temperatures in two ways, one based on elevation differences of modern and relict RIFs (662 m) and standard lapse rate, the other using PRISM estimates. For the first, we estimate the difference in MAAT as −3.9 °C (range −2.2–to 7.9 °C); from PRISM, the difference was −3.3 °C (range −1.0 to –6.1 °C). In that persistent snowfields and glaciers are retreating in the Sierra Nevada under warming climates, RIFs will likely become increasingly important in prolonging water storage during the warm season and providing small but distributed water reserves for biodiversity and runoff. Their presence and water contributions would benefit by further hydrologic study.
The evolution of the basicranium in the Henophidia (Reptilia: Serpentes)

In lizards, a short Vidian canal pierces the base of the basipterygoid process. In snakes, the anterior opening of the primitively short Vidian canal lies on the dorsal surface of the basisphenoid, trapped in an intracranial position by downgrowths of the frontal and parietal which meet the lateral edges of the basisphenoid-parasphenoid complex. This condition is observed in anilioid snakes which retain other primitive features in the braincase: the paroccipital process and the spheno-occipital tubercle (Aniliidae only) and participation of the basioccipital in the apertura lateralis of the recessus scalae tympani. Subsequent evolution within booid snakes shows a shift of the anterior opening of the Vidian canal around the anterior edge of the basisphenoid, thus acquiring a secondary extracranial position. This occurs in parallel within boine and pythonine snakes. Dinilysia shows a parallel development of die condition observed in advanced booid snakes. Pseudoboa, with its short Vidian canal opening in-tracranially, demonstrates that caenophidians originated from a basal henophidian or pre-henophidian stock. The Acrochordidae show a basicranium that can be interpreted as either primitive henophidian or primitive caenophidian.
EEG in simulated stresses of space flight with special reference to problems of vibration.

Abstract The effects of shaking on the electrical brain activity as recorded in cortical and subcortical structures of four pig-tailed macaques ( Macaca nemestrina ) are described. Shaking was performed over a continuous spectrum from 5–40 c/sec, at a peak acceleration of 2 G over the greater part of the spectrum. Driving of brain rhythms at the shaking frequency was noted in the midbrain reticular formation, the nucleus centrum medianum, the visual cortex and the hippocampal system. An essentially different distribution of driving was produced by photic stimulation. Control procedures indicated that this rhythmic driving was abolished or greatly reduced by pentobarbital anesthesia in both cortical and subcortical structures. It did not arise through sway artifacts in recording leads nor was it due to magnetic flux leakage in the vicinity of the shaking transducer. The driving was maximal in the frequency range from 9–15 c/sec. At frequencies from 15–20 c/sec, evidence was found of driving at half the shaking frequency. The driving was frequently dissociated in simulataneous records from adjacent brain structures, and from leads in symmetric bilateral placements. Concurrent behavioral performance in an oddity-discrimination test indicated an increase in errors, lack of attention and longer latency of responses at shaking frequencies around 11 c/sec, associated with maximal rhythmic EEG driving. An isolated instance of seizure induction during shaking under pentobarbital anesthesia is described. Special requirements for EEG recording in manned space flight are discussed.
A Method to Select Human–System Interfaces for Nuclear Power Plants

Abstract The new generation of nuclear power plants (NPPs) will likely make use of state-of-the-art technologies in many areas of the plant. The analysis, design, and selection of advanced human–system interfaces (HSIs) constitute an important part of power plant engineering. Designers need to consider the new capabilities afforded by these technologies in the context of current regulations and new operational concepts, which is why they need a more rigorous method by which to plan the introduction of advanced HSIs in NPP work areas. Much of current human factors research stops at the user interface and fails to provide a definitive process for integration of end user devices with instrumentation and control and operational concepts. The current lack of a clear definition of HSI technology, including the process for integration, makes characterization and implementation of new and advanced HSIs difficult. This paper describes how new design concepts in the nuclear industry can be analyzed and how HSI technologies associated with new industrial processes might be considered. It also describes a basis for an understanding of human as well as technology characteristics that could be incorporated into a prioritization scheme for technology selection and deployment plans.
Development of Failure Master Curve for Asphalt Mastics Characterization

Low temperature performance grading currently relies solely on Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) for determining low temperature creep stiffness (S) and rate of modulus relaxation (m-value) at 60 s, both determined at low stress-strain levels, in the pre-failure zones. This aspect raises questions with regard to applicability of properties derived from the linear viscoelastic range for prediction of asphalt binder thermal cracking behavior. Furthermore, many researchers have reported a discrepancy between field cracking severity and predictions based on asphalt binder properties since the asphalt binder-aggregate interaction is non-existent in asphalt binder testing. Therefore evaluation of asphalt mastics properties which could save a considerable amount of time and equipment in comparison to mixture testing should be prioritized. These challenges indicate that considering fracture properties of asphalt mastics could be a better approach for prediction of thermal cracking in asphalt pavements. It is believed that development of failure master curves for the damage characterization of asphalt mastics at different temperatures and loading rates would be beneficial for better characterization of resistance to thermal cracking. Therefore, this study presents framework and preliminary results on the development of such asphalt mastic failure master curves using the new BBR-SENB test for damage resistance characterization. The complexity of the visco-elastic behavior of asphalt mastics in terms of time and temperature dependency is also recognized by the sensitivity of the failure properties to changes in loading time and temperature.
Automatic Localization of Cochlear Implant Electrodes in CT

Cochlear Implants (CI) are surgically implanted neural prosthetic devices used to treat severe-to-profound hearing loss. Recent studies have suggested that hearing outcomes with CIs are correlated with the location where individual electrodes in the implanted electrode array are placed, but techniques proposed for determining electrode location have been too coarse and labor intensive to permit detailed analysis on large numbers of datasets. In this paper, we present a fully automatic snake-based method for accurately localizing CI electrodes in clinical post-implantation CTs. Our results show that average electrode localization errors with the method are 0.21 millimeters. These results indicate that our method could be used in future large scale studies to analyze the relationship between electrode position and hearing outcome, which potentially could lead to technological advances that improve hearing outcomes with CIs.
Recent advances in capillary pumped loop technology

A capillary pumped loop (CPL) is a two-phase heat transfer device capable of transporting a large heat load over long distances with very small temperature differences across the system. The CPL has been under extensive developments over the past two decades. Significant technology advances have been made and the CPLs are the baseline for instrument thermal control of several spacecraft, including the Earth Observing System, Mars Surveyor Program, and Hubble Space Telescope. Some technology issues still exist and need to be resolved in order to improve the performance and reliability of CPL systems. This paper describes the current status of the CPL technology and discusses future development needs.
Inotropic responses change during postnatal maturation in rabbit.

Inotropic response to four different types of pharmacological stimuli were compared in isolated right ventricular papillary muscles from newborn (24–48 h of age), immature (14–16 days), and adult (...