cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of various ATM switch architectures on VBR video performance

One of the most important components of an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) net- work is the switch. Switch design is not a part of the ATM standards so vendors use a wide variety of techniques to build their switches. In this paper, we present experimental results of switching and multiplexing real-time Variable Bit Rate (VBR) digital video traffic (JPEG, MPEG-1, and MPEG-2) through two different ATM switch architectures. Real-time VBR traffic, such as digital video, is particularly interesting due to its high demands in terms of bandwidth, real-time delivery and processing requirements. Our ex- periments show that the ‘fastest’ switches, i.e., lowest latencies, do not necessarily perform better when transmitting VBR video. The impact of the high speed network components’ characteristics, such as switch fabric architecture, buffering strategies, and higher layer transport protocols (i.e., UDP, TCP/IP), are illustrated through the experimental results.
Synthesis of Photoswitchable Magnetic Au-Fullerosome Hybrid Nanomaterials for Permittivity Enhancement Applications

We designed and synthesized several nanomaterials 3 of three-layered core-shell (γ-FeOx@AuNP)@[C60(>DPAF-C9) 1 or 2]n nanoparticles (NPs). These NPs having e(-)-polarizable fullerosome structures located at the outer layer were fabricated from highly magnetic core-shell γ-FeOx@AuNPs. Fullerosomic polarization of 3 was found to be capable of causing a large amplification of material permittivity that is also associated with the photoswitching effect in the frequency range of 0.5-4.0 GHz. Multilayered synthetic construction allows Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) of photoinduced accumulative surface plasmon resonance (SPR) energy in the gold layer to the partially bilayered C60(>DPAF-C9) 1 or 2-derived fullerosome membrane shell layer in a near-field of direct contact without producing radiation heat, which is commonly associated with SPR.
Pellet injector development and experiments at ORNL

The development of pellet injectors for plasma fueling of magnetic confinement fusion experiments has been under way at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the past 15 years. Recently, ORNL provided a tritium-compatible four-shot pneumatic injector for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) based on the in situ condensation technique that features three single-stage gas guns and an advanced two-stage light gas gun driver. In another application, ORNL supplied the Tore Supra tokamak with a centrifuge pellet injector in 1989 for pellet fueling experiments that has achieved record numbers of injected pellets into a discharge. Work is progressing on an upgrade to that injector to extend the number of pellets to 400 and improve pellet repeatability. In a new application, the ORNL three barrel repeating pneumatic injector has been returned from JET and is being readied for installation on the DIII-D device for fueling and enhanced plasma performance experiments. In addition to these experimental applications, ORNL is developing advanced injector technologies, including high-velocity pellet injectors, tritium pellet injectors, and long-pulse feed systems. The two-stage light gas gun and electron-beam-driven rocket are the acceleration techniques under investigation for achieving high velocity. A tritium proof-of-principle (TPOP) experiment has demonstrated the feasibility of tritium pellet production and acceleration. A new tritium-compatible, extruder-based, repeating pneumatic injector is being fabricated to replace the pipe gun in the TPOP experiment and will explore issues related to the extrudability of tritium and acceleration of large tritium pellets. The tritium pellet formation experiments and development of long-pulse pellet feed systems are especially relevant to the International Tokamak Engineering Reactor (ITER).
2001 and beyond: a challenge for metrology

As the industry moves into the next millennium it faces new challenges that are not only in the fabrication of the sub- 150 nm features but also in the ability to measure those features. The focus of this paper is not as much on the building of machines to measure those small features but rather on the methodologies of interpreting and handling of data and developing intelligence for identifying the edge- positions that have significant contribution on the value of the critical dimensions or CDs.
Computing stable eigendecompositions of matrices

Abstract If a matrix T is known only to within a tolerance ϵ (because of measurement or roundoff errors), then it may be difficult to compute an eigendecomposition of T, since its invariant subspaces are discontinuous functions of its entries. In this paper we show how to compute a stable decomposition of an uncertain matrix T which varies continuously and boundedly as T varies in a ball of radius ϵ.
Phylogenetic Signals in DNA Composition: Limitations and Prospects

The concept of genome signature allows sequence comparisons without alignment. It relies on the premise that oligonucleotide compositions of DNA segments from the same or closely related genomes tend to be more similar than those from distantly related genomes. This concept has been used in detection of lateral gene transfer, phylogenetic classification of metagenome sequences (binning), and in studies of evolution of viruses and plasmids. The goal of this work is to explore limitations of genome signature in phylogenetic classification of DNA sequences and to identify formal representations of genome signature that expose best the phylogenetic relationships among prokaryotes. We found that genome signatures that best represent phylogenetic relationships are those normalized to factor out differences in G + C content and utilizing the standard A-C-G-T alphabet or the degenerate R-Y (purine-pyrimidine) alphabet. The main limitation of all genome signature representations tested is lack of divergence among some distantly related species. "Crowding" of the genome signature space and absence of molecular clock likely contribute to this phenomenon. We introduce "periodicity signatures"--formal representations of periodic sequence patterns related to DNA curvature--which can discriminate between bacterial and archaeal DNA sequences. Interestingly, archaea of the order Halobacteriaceae have periodic signatures similar to bacteria, possibly due to their early divergence from other archaea, extensive lateral gene transfer, or due to their adaptation to high salt environments. Our results have practical implications for development and application of genome signature-based methods for analysis and classification of DNA sequences.
Assessment of Multistage Fracturing Technologies as Deployed in the Tight Gas Fields of Saudi Arabia

The increasing demand for oil and gas resources to support the worldwide development plans means that the petroleum industry is always actively engaged in exploring new frontiers in drilling and production, including tight multilayered reservoirs. It is becoming evident, more than ever, that producing the most oil and gas out of the drilled reservoirs is an absolute necessity. Accordingly, completion techniques have presented themselves as a crucial well construction parameter and a key to optimally producing wells. Several completion techniques have been exhaustively trial tested in Saudi Aramco to determine the most successful completion mode for each reservoir. Among those various techniques, open hole multistage stimulation has demonstrated superior performance in minimizing skin damage and maximizing reservoir contact through efficient propagation of fracture networks within the rock matrix. Overall, the production results from wells completed using open hole multistage stimulation systems — as deployed in the tight gas fields of Saudi Arabia — have been very positive. Of the approximately 40 wells here this new technology was utilized, the majority of the wells have met or exceeded the pre-stimulation expectations for gas production. Various multistage open hole completion systems were run over these 40 wells and the production results varied. This study highlights these systems and discusses their impact during the fracturing operation and the final stabilized well production. This study will also present some case studies in multistage fracturing operations and investigate the operational impact on productivity enhancement. Following the lessons learned and best practices from these experiences, with correct implementation, the findings from this study should increase the probability of having a more successful multistage stimulation job from a productivity standpoint.
Direct medical costs of polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objective To describe the patterns of care and direct medical costs of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) to test the hypothesis that the direct medical costs incurred by patients with PMR are higher than costs incurred by age- and sex-matched population-based controls from the same community. Methods The study population comprised 193 Olmsted County, Minnesota residents who were first diagnosed with PMR between January 1, 1987 and December 31, 1999. Inclusion criteria were as follows: age ≥50 years; bilateral aching and morning stiffness (lasting ≥30 minutes) persisting for at least 1 month and involving the neck, shoulders, or hip girdle regions; and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) ≥40mm/hour. In patients who fulfilled the first 2 criteria, but had a normal ESR, a rapid response to low-dose corticosteroids served as the third criterion. A total of 695 age- and sex-matched subjects without PMR served as control subjects. Billing data from the Olmsted County Healthcare Expenditure and Utilization Database (OCHEUD) were used to provide estimates of nationally representative unit costs in the year 2002 inflation-adjusted dollars. All subjects were followed using the OCHEUD records until December 31, 2002 to assess the total direct medical costs. Generalized quantile regression modeling was used to estimate the effect of PMR on direct medical costs, after adjusting for age, sex, Charlson comorbidity score, number of hospital days, and number of radiographs. Results During the first year following diagnosis, subjects with PMR used a substantially higher number of outpatient services and laboratory tests compared with controls, but during the subsequent 4 years, there were no differences between the 2 groups. In age- and sex-adjusted analysis, PMR was associated with a significant incremental cost of $2,233 at the 10th percentile of costs and $27,712 at the 90th percentile of costs. However, further adjustments for comorbidities, number of hospital days, radiographs, and imaging eliminated the incremental cost difference between the subjects with PMR and control subjects. PMR subjects were significantly more likely to have a history of myocardial infarction (odds ratio [OR] 1.78, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.13, 2.82), peripheral vascular diseases (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.37, 3.60), and cerebrovascular diseases (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.08, 2.39) compared with the controls. Conclusion Incremental direct medical costs associated with the management of PMR can be substantial, especially early in the disease course. These incremental costs appear to originate mainly from comorbid cardiovascular conditions that were shown to be more prevalent among subjects with PMR.
Millennial Undergraduate Research Strategies in Web and Library Information Retrieval Systems

This article summarizes the author's dissertation regarding search strategies of millennial undergraduate students in Web and library online information retrieval systems. Millennials bring a unique set of search characteristics and strategies to their research since they have never known a world without the Web. Through the use of search engines, they have come to expect that searches can be completed using an easy, single search box that produces complete articles on just about any topic. However, the reliability and quality of much of the information on the Web is questionable. Conversely, information that resides in library information retrieval systems is often of high scholarly content, but there is not a single, user-friendly system for millennials to use. A case study investigation was conducted at the State University of New York at Oswego, a public undergraduate university in Central New York. The goal of the study was to identify the search strategies of a sampling of millennial undergraduate s...
Targeted integration of a rAAV vector into the AAVS1 region

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has been reported to integrate in a site-specific manner into chromosome 19 (a site designated AAVS1), a phenomenon that could be exploited for ex vivo targeted gene therapy. Recent studies employing LM-PCR to determine AAV integration loci; however, have, contrary to previous results with less reliable methods, concluded that the proclivity for AAV integration at AAVS1 is minimal. We tested this conclusion employing LM-PCR protocols designed to avoid bias. Hep G2 cells were infected with rAAV2-GFP and coinfected with wt AAV2 to supply Rep in trans. Sorted cells were cloned and cultured. In 26 clones that retained fluorescence, DNA was extracted and AAV-genomic junctions amplified by two LM-PCR methods. Sequencing was performed without bacterial cloning. Of these 26 clones it was possible to assign a genomic integration site to 14, of which 9 were in the AAVS1 region. In three additional clones, rAAV integration junction were to an integrated wt AAV genome while two were to an rAAV genome. We also show that integration of the AAV-GFP genome can be achieved without cointegration of the AAV genome. Based on the pattern of integrants we propose, for potential use in ex vivo targeted gene therapy, a simplified PCR method to identify clones that have rAAV genomes integrated into AAVS1.
Dopamine receptors and cyclic AMP: a decade of progress

Abstract In the past decade, pharmacologist and biochemists have investigated the biochemical events initiated by stimulation of dopamine receptors. This review summarizes one aspect of these investigations — the regulation by dopamine receptors of adenylate cyclase, the enzyme synthesizing cyclic AMP.
FILARIAL INFECTIONS OF MAN.

This review represents information which is considered suitable for graduate and medical students as an introduction to the subject of filarial diseases of man. The article depicts two maps which show the world-wide distribution of the six main genera which represent the etiologic agents of filarial infections, i.e., Wuchereria, Brugia, Loa, Acanthocheilonema, Mansonella and Onchocerca . An additional chart is shown which summarizes the chief epidemiologic and clinical differences, and portrays the main characteristics of adult worms and of the microfilariae. The text is divided into sub-divisions entitled: Life cycle, which describes the types of filariasis encountered; Procedures for examining blood; Clinical and epidemiologic aspects; History; Principal vectors; Antigen-antibody reactions and Control.
Landscape Ideologies, Indigenous Governance, and Land Use Change in the Ecuadorian Amazon, 1960–1992

In recent years, states have ceded governance over large territories to indigenous organizations. This article examines the history of an early case of territorial governance (dating from the 1970s) to probe the social, political, and environmental processes that occur when an indigenous social movement becomes a governing body. It argues that indigenous organizations can quickly learn to “see like states” (Scott 1998) without adopting the particular visions promoted by the state that facilitated their new role. In the case explored here, indigenous leaders created landscape improvement schemes that went beyond those promoted by the state and others in terms of changing the legibility of land use and tenure categories. Furthermore, their schemes had significant impacts on forest cover as evidenced by remotely sensed images. These processes challenge theories that position the state as the primary arbitrator of human-environmental relations as well as theories that dichotomize between states and indigenous organizations.
Cash Flow Management and Manufacturing Firm Financial Performance: A Longitudinal Perspective

Abstract A firm's cash flow policies, which manage working capital in the form of cash receivables from customers, inventory holdings, and cash payments to suppliers, are inexorably linked to the firm's operations. Building on earlier research, this study: (i) extends prior studies by examining the relationships between changes in cash flow measures and changes in firm financial performance using a longitudinal sample of firm data; and (ii) investigates the direction of the relationship between quarterly changes in cash flow positions and firm financial performance. This study is conducted using the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) methodology to analyze a longitudinal sample of eight quarters of cash flow and financial performance data from 1233 manufacturing firms. The analyses find that changes in the widely used Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) metric do not relate to changes in firm performance; however, changes in the less used Operating Cash Cycle (OCC) metric are found to be significantly associated with changes in Tobin's q . This examination of how changes in specific cash flow measures relate to changes in Tobin's q shows that both reductions in Accounts Receivables (measured as Days of Sales Outstanding [DSO]) and reductions in Inventory (measured as Days of Inventory Outstanding [DIO]) relate to firm financial performance improvements that persist for several quarters. Endogeneity tests of whether a firm's cash flow management strategy leads to changes in firm performance or if the cash flow strategy is a byproduct of firm performance suggest that reductions in DSO lead to improved firm financial performance.
Effect of additives on the composition dependent glass transition variation in PS/PP blends

The effect of additives on glass transition behavior in melt processed blends of polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) was studied. Blends of additive-free polystyrene and additive-free polypropylene revealed the known effect of the PS Tg increase in blend compositions where PP surrounds PS. Glass transition behavior in these blends was compared to blends prepared from additive-free PP and commercial grade PS, which contained lubricant additives. The thermal transitions of PS and PP were measured using modulated DSC. Although the behavior of low PS concentration blends was similar in both systems, the characteristics of the high PS blends differed substantially. These differences and the contrast in the PP Tg behaviors were attributed to the migration of additives from the PS phase across the immiscible interface into the PP phase. Similar Tg variations were observed in blends of commercial grade PS and commercial grade PP. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Growth Patterns of First-Generation Southeast Asian Infants

• The growth patterns of Southeast Asian infants appear to differ from those of the National Center for Health Statistics standards for US children. This study examines the length, weight, and head circumference curves of 175 healthy, full-term, US-born Laotian and Cambodian infants seen periodically at a pediatric clinic from birth to 18 months of age. The median length, weight, and head circumference values of these infants were significantly lower than those of the National Center for Health Statistics standards for infants older than 6 months. These differences were more striking in girls than boys. A decision to observe rather than to pursue a diagnostic work-up in an otherwise healthy Southeast Asian infant who exhibits a slow growth pattern may be the most appropriate management style. ( AJDC 1988;142:526-531)
Intensified Charge-Coupled-Device Cameras For A Spatially Resolving Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer

A space- and time-resolving EUV spectrometer (SIRS) for fusion plasma impurity diagnostics is in operation at the DIII-D tokamak at GA Technologies in San Diego. An array of three modified Fairchild CCD cameras behind an EUV-to-visible converter/intensifier is used to record spatially resolved spectra in the 50 to 370 A range. Modifications and extensions to the Fairchild camera electronics allow a wide range of spatial binning on the CCDs and 2 to 50 ms time resolution, as well as computer control of the image format and timing. The CCD images are digitized and stored in buffer memories for computer acquisition. This paper briefly describes the spectrometer and the microchannel plate intensifier detector. The design of the imaging electronics is presented, along with the modifications necessary to obtain good flexibility and imaging quality. Results from photometric calibration work are presented.
Big fast vortices in the d-wave resonating valence bond theory of high-temperature superconductivity

The effect of proximity to a Mott insulating phase on the superflow properties of a d-wave superconductor is studied using the slave-boson U(1)-gauge-theory model. The model has two limits corresponding to superconductivity emerging either out of a ``renormalized Fermi-liquid'' or out of a non-Fermi-liquid regime. Three crucial physical parameters are identified: the size of the vortex as determined from the supercurrent it induces, the coupling of the superflow to the quasiparticles, and the ``nondissipative time derivative'' term. As the Mott phase is approached, the core size as defined from the supercurrent diverges, the coupling between superflow and quasiparticles vanishes, and the magnitude of the nondissipative time derivative dramatically increases. The dissipation due to a moving vortex is found to vary as the third power of the doping. The upper critical field and the size of the critical regime in which paraconductivity may be observed are estimated and found to be controlled by the supercurrent length scale.
Clinical Evaluation of an Experimental Body Shade Guide Based on In‐Vivo Tooth Color Measurements

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an experimental body porcelain tooth shade-guide system based on in-vivo color measurements. This system was tested against two widely used commercial body shade porcelains. Materials and Methods A body porcelain shade guide consisting of 16 tabs was fabricated from available opaques, body, and incisal porcelains and modified with metallic oxide tints. The target Hue, Value and Chroma of these tabs were based on middle-site in-vivo tooth color measurements reported by Goodkind and Schwabacher in 1987. Two control groups of body porcelains were fabricated from Ceramco and Bioform porcelains. A new Dental Shade Comparator was used in a clinical test of these tabs in visually matching middle sites of 300 maxillary anterior teeth of 103 subjects. Results The demographic trends in Hue, Value and Chroma were in agreement with those found in the previous study. Four of the 16 experimental body shade tabs were frequently chosen compared with 13 of 16 Ceramco and 3 of 25 Bioform body shades. Intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability tests showed good agreement using the new Dental Shade Comparator. Conclusions The 20 shade tabs that were most frequently selected as a 1st or 2nd choice ranged from 8.25YR to 1.80Y in Hue, 6.45/to 8.00/in Value and/2.05 to/4.15 in Chroma. The new Dental Shade Comparator is a useful tool in the task of shade matching. The current Ceramco II body shades contain many useful porcelains that should be augmented with higher value and with redder, darker shades.
B cell differentiation. II. Isotype potential of a single B cell.

Abstract Clonal, functionally responsive B cells are important tools for analyzing B cell activation and differentiation. Previously, we developed a method to immortalize murine B lymphoblast cells using an oncogene-carrying retrovital vector. The immortalized B cells express a cell surface phenotype similar to that of normal splenic B cells. These cells were shown to respond to B cell polyclonal mitogens and IL-4. More significantly, these cells could form conjugates with TH2 cells in the presence of a T cell superantigen. The T-B interaction promoted by the T cell super-antigen resulted in B cell differentiation as demonstrated by IgM secretion and switching to IgG1 production. In this report, we analyze Ig isotype potential using two retrovirus-immortalized B cell clones. The clonality of both B cell clones was confirmed by Southern blot analysis using JH probes. It was found that anti-CD3-activated TH1 and TH2 cells promoted clonal B cells to differentiate into IgM-secreting cells. More significantly, activated TH1 cells promoted clonal B cells to switch to IgG2a production, whereas activated TH2 cells promoted clonal B cells to switch to IgG1 production. Thus, depending on which type of T helper cell a given B cell interacts with, a single B cell has the potential to switch to more than one Ig isotype. Addition of rIL-4 and anti-IFN-γ to cultures containing TH1 and B cells resulted in IgG1 production (in addition to IgG2a production). Similarly, addition of IFN-γ, and anti-IL-4 to cultures containing TH2 and B cells resulted in IgG2a production (in addition to IgG1 production). Therefore, interaction of B cells with a given type of T helper cells could commit the B cells to a given Ig isotype. However, the presence of exogenous cytokines could divert B cells to switch to other Ig isotypes.
Lipochoristoma of the Internal Auditory Canal

Objective Lipochoristomas comprise 0.1% of all cerebellopontine angle tumors and may be misdiagnosed as vestibular schwannomas. We describe a lipochoristoma of the internal auditory canal (IAC) and present the salient features of the evaluation, diagnosis, and management. Study Design and Methods Retrospective case review. Results (Case Report) A 51-year-old woman presented with left-sided severe hearing loss, tinnitus, mild episodic vertigo, and facial paresthesias progressive over 1 year. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a small (5 � 4m m) T1 hyperintense lobulated lesion in the distal internal auditory canal. With fat-suppressed images, there was no enhancement of the lesion. A diagnosis of IAC lipochoristoma was made. Conservative management was recommended, and on 17-month follow-up there was no interval growth. The patient remains symptomatically stable with improved equilibrium but persistent left-sided hearing loss. Conclusions Differential diagnosis of an enhancing lesion in the IAC includes acoustic neuroma, meningioma, epidermoid and arachnoid cysts, lipochoristoma, and metastatic tumors. Fat-suppressed MRI sequences aid in a definitive diagnosis of lipochoristomas. Because lipochoristomas may have a tendency for more indolent growth and intimate involvement of the auditory nerve, conservative management with interval imaging is recommended. Surgical treatment is reserved for growing lesions or those with disabling vestibular symptoms.
Assessing pre-service teachers’ skills for analyzing teaching

This study investigated the learning-from-practice skills that pre-service teachers possess when they enter teacher preparation programs in the United States. Two subskills were hypothesized to represent, at least in part, what is required to learn from practice: (1) the ability to collect evidence about students’ learning in order to analyze the effects of instruction, and (2) the ability to use the analysis to revise the instruction. Because it seems likely that different teaching situations and contexts reveal these learning-from-practice skills in different ways and to different degrees, this study examined the skills that pre-service teachers exhibited under two experimental conditions. Thirty pre-service teachers were asked to analyze the effects of a videotaped mathematics lesson on student learning, to support their analysis with evidence, and to use their analysis to revise the lesson. Based on the results, it appears that many entry level pre-service teachers can carry out a cause-effect type of analysis of the relationships between specific instructional strategies and students’ learning, and can use this analysis to make productive revisions to the instruction. However, prospective teachers’ ability to collect evidence that supports their analysis appears to be less developed. In addition, the type of analysis that prospective teachers carried out about the effects of instruction on students’ learning differed dramatically across the two experimental task conditions.
Essays on Efficiency and the Economic Recovery Potential of Russia

In the aftermath of the collapse of Soviet communism, Russia has emerged battered and beleaguered by the difficulties of a new market-oriented eco­ nomic system. Official statistics published by the Russian Statistical Com­ mittee (Roskomstat) indicate that the gross domestic product has fallen to hyper-depressive levels, with few signs of recovery. On October 8, 1994, a conference was held at the Harvard School of Business to consider when, how and to what extent Russia's economy might recover. * It was recognized by all participants that answers to these ques­ tions depended on a wide range of speculative systemic and political eco­ nomic issues, as well as foreign assistance which could not be accurately predicted. Attention therefore was focused on two critical technical deter­ minants: management and the production potential of the residual capital stock inherited from the Soviets, in an effort to ascertain whether recov­ ery, transition and modernization are likely to be seriously impeded by defec­ tive management and an obsolete asset base. Considerable attention was also devoted to appraising whether official statistics were providing a false impression of Russia's economic health, a matter clearly central to any as­ sessment of its recovery potential. Opinions of course varied considerably on all three issues, but there was broad agreement on the following points: I. Russia is in the midst of a severe depression, which is almost cer­ tainly more intense than the Great Depression of 1929 in the West. *The participants wish to thank the National Science Foundation for supporting the first phase of the research on Soviet economic inefficiency, and IREX for financing the Russian phase and the conference.
The IEEE 802.17 media access protocol for high-speed metropolitan-area resilient packet rings

The resilient packet ring (RPR) IEEE 802.17 standards is under development as a new high-speed technology for metropolitan backbone networks. A key performance objective of PRP is to simultaneously achieve high utilization, spatial reuse, and fairness, an objective not achieved by current technologies such as SONET and Gigabit Ethernet or legacy ring technologies, such as FDDI. The core technical challenge for RPR is the design of a fairness algorithm that dynamically throttles traffic to achieve these properties. The difficulty is in the distributed nature of the problem, that upstream ring nodes must inject traffic at a rate according to congestion and fairness criteria downstream. This article provides an overview of the RPR protocol with a focus on medium access and fairness.
Ferrate(VI) oxidation of glycine and glycylglycine: kinetics and products.

Abstract Amino acids and peptides may form potentially harmful disinfection byproducts during the conventional treatment of water and wastewater. Removal of these parent compounds by the use of the environmental-friendly oxidant, ferrate(VI) (Fe VI O 4 2− , Fe(VI)) was assessed by studying the kinetics of the oxidation of glycine (NH 3 + CH 2 COOH, Gly) and glycylglycine (NH 3 + CH 2 CONHCH 2 COOH, Gly–Gly) as a function of pH (4.0–12.4) at 25 °C. This study with Gly–Gly represents an initial investigation of oxidation of peptides by Fe(VI). Generally, the second-order rate constant ( k ) increased with decreased pH in the basic pH region, but this trend was reversed in the acidic pH range. Consideration of the reactivity of three oxidants (H 2 FeO 4 , HFeO 4 − , and FeO 4 2− ) with three species of Gly and Gly–Gly (positive, neutral, and negative) reasonably explained the pH dependence of the rates. At pH 9.0, the molar consumption of Fe(VI) was nearly equal to that of Gly. The reaction of Fe(VI) with Gly at molar ratios of 1.0 and 2.0 ([Fe(VI)]:[Gly]) produced ammonia, carbon dioxide, and acetate. A reaction scheme is proposed which explains the formation of these products. The values of k for oxidation of iminodiacetate and nitriloacetate at pH 7.0 were also determined in order to compare oxidation of amines by Fe(VI). The calculated half-lives at neutral pH for the oxidation of primary and secondary amines were in seconds while decomposition of tertiary amines would occur in minutes. Overall, the reactivity of Fe(VI) with Gly and Gly–Gly indicates the significant potential of Fe(VI) to remove amine- and peptide-containing pollutants in water and wastewater.
Visual and Auditory Memory: Relationships to Reading Achievement.

Abstract In two experiments, visual and auditory memory was tested for good and for poor readers from the upper elementary grades. Under experimenter-blind conditions, no reading group differences existed for single mode presentation in recognition frequency or recognition latency. With a multimodal presentation, latencies for poor readers were similar to those for the single mode presentation. Good readers, however, had significantly faster latencies with multiple input. Generally, results supported dual coding and self-terminating memory search hypotheses for previously encoded stimuli. Implications of the latency differences between reader groups were discussed with respect to the reading process and reading theory.
Representations and Techniques for 3D Object Recognition & Scene Interpretation

One of the grand challenges of artificial intelligence is to enable computers to interpret 3D scenes and objects from imagery. This book organizes and introduces major concepts in 3D scene and object representation and inference from still images, with a focus on recent efforts to fuse models of geometry and perspective with statistical machine learning. The book is organized into three sections: (1) Interpretation of Physical Space; (2) Recognition of 3D Objects; and (3) Integrated 3D Scene Interpretation. The first discusses representations of spatial layout and techniques to interpret physical scenes from images. The second section introduces representations for 3D object categories that account for the intrinsically 3D nature of objects and provide robustness to change in viewpoints. The third section discusses strategies to unite inference of scene geometry and object pose and identity into a coherent scene interpretation. Each section broadly surveys important ideas from cognitive science and artificial intelligence research, organizes and discusses key concepts and techniques from recent work in computer vision, and describes a few sample approaches in detail. Newcomers to computer vision will benefit from introductions to basic concepts, such as single-view geometry and image classification, while experts and novices alike may find inspiration from the book's organization and discussion of the most recent ideas in 3D scene understanding and 3D object recognition. Specific topics include: mathematics of perspective geometry; visual elements of the physical scene, structural 3D scene representations; techniques and features for image and region categorization; historical perspective, computational models, and datasets and machine learning techniques for 3D object recognition; inferences of geometrical attributes of objects, such as size and pose; and probabilistic and feature-passing approaches for contextual reasoning about 3D objects and scenes. Table of Contents: Background on 3D Scene Models / Single-view Geometry / Modeling the Physical Scene / Categorizing Images and Regions / Examples of 3D Scene Interpretation / Background on 3D Recognition / Modeling 3D Objects / Recognizing and Understanding 3D Objects / Examples of 2D 1/2 Layout Models / Reasoning about Objects and Scenes / Cascades of Classifiers / Conclusion and Future Directions
Assessing water quality at large geographic scales: relations among land use, water physicochemistry, riparian condition, and fish community structure.

Data collected from 172 sites in 20 major river basins between 1993 and 1995 as part of the US Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program were analyzed to assess relations among basinwide land use (agriculture, forest, urban, range), water physicochemistry, riparian condition, and fish community structure. A multimetric approach was used to develop regionally referenced indices of fish community and riparian condition. Across large geographic areas, decreased riparian condition was associated with water-quality constituents indicative of nonpoint source inputs—total nitrogen and suspended sediment and basinwide urban land use. Decreased fish community condition was associated with increases in total dissolved solids and rangeland use and decreases in riparian condition and agricultural land use. Fish community condition was relatively high even in areas where agricultural land use was relatively high (>50% of the basin). Although agricultural land use can have deleterious effects on fish communities, the results of this study suggest that other factors also may be important, including practices that regulate the delivery of nutrients, suspended sediments, and total dissolved solids into streams. Across large geographic scales, measures of water physicochemistry may be better indicators of fish community condition than basinwide land use. Whereas numerous studies have indicated that riparian restorations are successful in specific cases, this analysis suggests the universal importance of riparian zones to the maintenance and restoration of diverse fish communities in streams.
Transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation for the treatment of progressive spinal curvature deformities

Transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation has been used to treat spinal curvature. Electrically induced muscle contractions cause partial straightening of the spinal column while the patients sleep. Long-term treatment of 107 patients with progressive idiopathic scoliosis shows a 93% success rate in preventing further progression for curves below 30 degrees while the rate drops to 73% for curves above 30 degrees. In non-idiopathic scoliosis the outcome varied with aetiology and curve magnitude. All kyphosis patients stopped progression.
On the Detachment of Step-Tapered Doublers: Part 2—Evolution of Pressure Loaded Structures

Abstract One-dimensional edge debonding of layerwise step-tapered patches from both flat and cylindrical structures subjected to applied pressure is studied in the context of the general formulation presented in Part 1. Numerical simulations based on analytical solutions of the problems of interest are performed and intricate results presented in the form of threshold curves/delamination paths for various taper angles and support conditions. Configurations corresponding to full contact of the debonded segments, edge contact of the debonded segments and no contact of the debonded segments of the evolving composite structure are included in the model and found to significantly affect the predicted behavior of the debonding structure as does the manner of support. The degree of taper is generally found to influence the onset and characteristics of debonding in a nontrivial manner. It is seen that in many instances, the introduction of edge taper within a wide range of angles often enhances the structures propensity for debonding, rather than diminishing it, both with regard to the critical load level and with regard to the stability and extent of debond propagation.
Non-galvanic Hydrogen Production Using High Steam Pressure Gradients

Equilibrium defect concentrations calculated by numerical modeling based on a point defect model showed that protons and electrons were predominant defects under reducing and high pH2O conditions. ...
On the Subjective Evaluation of Protection-Ratios' Measurements for Co-Channel FM-TV Interference under Variable (S/N) Ratios

The relation between the image impairment grade and the ratio of wanted-to-interference, known as C/I power ratios, for FM co-channel television systems is studied. The variation of C/I ratio with picture impairment grade is investigated for different noise levels, through a series of experiments.
Weblog Technology for Instruction, Learning, and Information Delivery*

Ever since Weblog emerged as an infusive online communication tool over the last decade, its impacts have been witnessed by the Internet society at large. Meanwhile, more and more universities and colleges are offering online classes enhanced by Web technology. In this article, we investigate the role of Weblog combined with face-to-face lectures through a three-phase study that examines college students' perception of Weblog used in class. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) techniques are employed to recognize meaningful patterns from collected data. The findings lie in the aspects of: relationship between level of study and the perceived value of Weblog, the relationship between level of Weblog experience and the perceived value of Weblog, and factors contributing to students' perception of Weblog usage. As the first work of its kind examining Weblog adoption from student perspective, this article provides educators, researchers, and practitioners with conceptual and practical references.
Hyperactivity of Metachloridine against Plasmodium gallinaceum in Chicks Maintained on a Purified Diet.

Summary1. The erythrocytic form of the malarial parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum was found to grow at a comparable rate in chicks fed either a purified diet (C-2) or a commercial stock diet. The antimalarial activity of 7 compounds was approximately the same in parasitized chicks fed either of the above diets, while sulfadiazine and metachlor-idine exhibited a marked increase in effectiveness in those chicks fed the C-2 diet. 2. The hyperactivity of metachloridine in chicks fed the C-2 diet was reversed almost completely when this diet contained 41% soybean meal. Neither the fatty nor protein fractions of soybeans, nor several other dietary nutrients appeared to contain significant amounts of the inhibitor.
Genomic medicine: educational challenges.

I will begin and end this commentary on an optimistic, and perhaps heretical note: I am not concerned about physicians' lack of readiness to embrace genomic medicine. I believe that they will rise to the opportunity and that genomics will take its place as one of the major drivers of progress in modern medicine. I believe this because they have done it before – sweeping technological advancement is not new in medicine, and being prepared to embrace such change is fundamental to our medical education system. I will use as an imperfect example the application of imaging – especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – in routine medical practice. I trained in neurology, as well as in genetics, just as computerized imaging was being introduced in medicine. I saw my first MRI images as a resident and was amazed at their anatomical clarity. I do not understand the physics of MRI. I have some idea that atomic nuclei, magnetism, and radio waves are involved. I remember learning about nuclear magnetic resonance in college chemistry, but have a hard time relating the ppm graphs to the body or brain images I am now accustomed to seeing. I order a lot of MRIs – I think judiciously, but often – given the patients I tend to see (mostly those with neurofibromatosis or tuberous sclerosis complex). I am comfortable looking at the images, but also rely on radiologists for interpretation, as I am aware of my limited interpretive skills and of the pitfalls in the technology. I also appreciate the ability to call up reports and images in the clinic room, often walking my patients through the results. I recognize the limits of this example in illuminating the clinical application of genomics. MRIs look a lot like the body parts I learned about in anatomy, whereas I was not taught in medical school to relate a list of genetic variants to risk of disease. Yet I think the example does serve well to illustrate four principles that do apply to genomic medicine: (1) the value of a basic science background but the ability to use a new technology without deep understanding of the underlying science; (2) the ability to gain competency in the use of a new technology in the context of clinical practice; (3) the need to recognize one's limitations and rely on experienced colleagues; (4) the value of point of care information systems.
Primary Closure of Fasciotomy Incisions with a Skin-Stretching Device in Patients with Burn and Trauma

Closure of fasciotomy wounds is often a clinical problem after successful management of compartment syndrome. Commonly, split-thickness skin grafts or regional composite grafts are used for fasciotomy closure. However, functional and cosmetic results would be improved if primary reapproximation of these wounds were more practical. The main obstacle that must be overcome is excessive tension on the wound edges. A recently developed skin-stretching device (Sure-Closure, Life Medical Sciences, Princeton, N.J.) allows large tissue defects to be closed with approximation of the wound edges. In this report we describe two patients in whom closure of the fasciotomy incisions was successfully accomplished with the skin-stretching device. These patients included an 11 -month-old girl with a circumferential burn of the left arm, and a 42-year-old woman involved in a motor vehicle accident who sustained frostbite and crush injury to her left upper extremity without bone fractures. The skin-stretching device produced excellent functional and cosmetic wound closure results and eliminated the need for additional operative procedures.
Composition and Phosphorus Bioavailability of a Solid By-Product from Anaerobically Digested Waste from Caged Layer Hens,

Abstract A poultry waste digester was constructed at the North Carolina State University Poultry Research Farm to produce methane from the waste of caged layer hens. A solid by-product (SBP) from the digester was recovered and dried for chemical and biological analysis as a feed supplement. Dried SBP was chemically analyzed for minerals, trace elements, and certain vitamins. The SBP was evaluated as a phosphorus (P) supplement in broiler diets. Biological availability of P in the SBP was determined by a slope ratio assay with femur bone ash as the criterion of P availability. Dietary treatments consisted of graded levels of standard available P (AP) supplemented as to provide .2, .3, .4, and .6% AP and graded levels of SBP added to provide 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5% SBP to a corn-soy basal diet. Two treatments, containing 1.5% and 2.5% SBP added to an adequate diet (.4% AP) were used to determine if other factors in SBP were contributing to femur bone ash. The P in SBP was determined to be 90% available to the growing broiler chick. Femur bone ash did not respond to SBP in the diets already adequate in AP. Body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion were not significantly different (P
Biomolecular Systematics of Eutherian Mammals: Phylogenetic Patterns and Classification

The higher-level systematics of the mammalian infraclass Eutheria is investigated with protein sequences of seven polypeptide types combined in an extended tandem alignment. Evolutionary trees constructed from the sequence data by the maximum-parsimony algorithm depict five major lineages of living eutherian orders which are treated as superorders in a phylogenetic classification. Glires (orders Lagomorpha, Primates, and Rodentia) and Therictoi- dea (Carnivora, Chiroptera, Insectivora, Pholidota, and Scandentia) constitute extant sister groups which are allied to the superorders Ungulata (Artiodactyla, Cetacea, and Perissodactyla), Paen- ungulata (Hyracoidea, Proboscidea, Sirenia, and Tubulidentata), and Edentata in that order. As sequence data for extant mammalian taxa continue to accumulate, we anticipate that many remaining questions about eutherian phylogeny will be resolved. (Eutheria; protein sequences; maximum parsimony; consensus tree; phylogenetic classification.)