Regional input-output tables and trade flows: an integrated and interregional non-survey approach. Regional Studies. Regional analyses require detailed and accurate information about dynamics happening within and between regional economies. However, regional input-output tables and trade flows are rarely observed and they must be estimated using up-to-date information. Common estimation approaches vary widely but consider tables and flows independently. By using commonly used economic assumptions and available economic information, this paper presents a method that integrates the estimation of regional input-output tables and trade flows across regions. Examples of the method implementation are presented and compared with other approaches, suggesting that the integrated approach provides advantages in terms of estimation accuracy and analytical capabilities.

Measurements of Lagrangian single-point and multiple-point statistics in a quasi-two-dimensional stratified layer system are reported. The system consists of a layer of salt water over an immiscible layer of Fluorinert and is forced electromagnetically so that mean-squared vorticity is injected at a well-defined spatial scale ri. Simultaneous cascades develop in which enstrophy flows predominately to small scales whereas energy cascades, on average, to larger scales. Lagrangian correlations and one- and two-point displacements are measured for random initial conditions and for initial positions within topological centers and saddles. Some of the behavior of these quantities can be understood in terms of the trapping characteristics of long-lived centers, the slow motion near strong saddles, and the rapid fluctuations outside of either centers or saddles. We also present statistics of Lagrangian velocity fluctuations using energy spectra in frequency space and structure functions in real space. We compare with complementary Eulerian velocity statistics. We find that simultaneous inverse energy and enstrophy ranges present in spectra are not directly echoed in real-space moments of velocity difference. Nevertheless, the spectral ranges line up well with features of moment ratios, indicating that although the moments are not exhibiting unambiguous scaling, the behavior of the probability distribution functions is changing over short ranges of length scales. Implications for understanding weakly forced 2D turbulence with simultaneous inverse and direct cascades are discussed.

One of the standard methods of accounting for inter-population disease spread in equation-based epidemiology models is through a transportation operator. Implicit in the use of the transportation operator, however, is an assumption that daily travel volumes are small compared to overall population sizes, an assumption that can break down for modern rates of international travel or local commuter traffic. Alternative types of coupling have been proposed in the limit that trip durations are much shorter than the infectious period. We present an extension of these phenomenological models that relaxes both assumptions. We show that the approach produces more accurate results when assessing the impact of mitigative actions using modern travel volumes.

Background and purpose Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy. The potential for pathologic misclassification complicates interpretation of published data. One standard treatment option for locoregionally advanced disease is weekly low-dose doxorubicin with concurrent radiation therapy, and was previously developed at our institution. We evaluated our more recent experience with this approach, which included pathologic confirmation of all cases. Materials and methods A retrospective review was performed on patients identified through the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) Cancer Database. Inclusion criteria: pathologically confirmed ATC; locoregional disease encompassable within a radiation portal; treatment with curative intent at MSKCC with planned weekly doxorubicin (10 mg/m2) and concurrent radiation. Principle outcomes assessed were locoregional progression-free survival (LR-PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Thirty-seven patients were included. Median radiotherapy dose was 57.6 Gy, and was ⩾50 Gy in 29 (78%), administered through hyperfractionated or once-daily schedules. One-year outcomes were LR-PFS, 45%; OS, 28%. Conclusion The prognosis of patients with ATC remains grim and our current results appear inferior to those reported previously by our institution. More accurate histologic diagnoses and patient selection in the present series compared to the prior one may be responsible in part. Better therapy is desperately needed for this aggressive disease.

We demonstrate experimentally that the route to a jammed state for a set of bi-dispersed frictional disks, subjected to uni-axial compression from a random initial unjammed state, consists of a consolidation state, a fragile jammed state, and finally a rigid jammed state. In the consolidation regime, the pressure on the sides increases very slowly with the packing fraction {phi} and there are no detectable stress chains. In the fragile jammed state, stress chains are visible, the pressure increases exponentially with {phi}, and the fraction of moving disks drops exponentially. Eventually, a final regime where particle displacements are below our resolution and the pressure varies approximately linearly with {phi} is reached. We argue that this scenario is generic for ather mal frictional compressed particles.

Submitted for the MAR08 Meeting of The American Physical Society Mixing and entrainment of oceanic overflows: Implications for global climate evolution ROBERT ECKE, JUN CHEN, PHILIPPE ODIER1, MICHAEL RIVERA, Los Alamos National Laboratory — Oceanic overflows are important elements of the Earth’s global thermohaline circulation but the mixing and entrainment that occur for such overflows is poorly understood. In particular, as overflow water moves down an inclined slope its stability is governed by the competition between stratification, which stabilizes the flow, and vertical shear, which tends to destabilize the flow. The properties of our laboratory experiment are designed to mimic oceanic overflows to the extent achievable on laboratoryaccessible length scales. The flow exits a nozzle and flows along an inclined plane such that there is gravitational forcing of the flowing gravity current. Velocity and density fields are measured simultaneous using particle image velocimetry and planar laser induced fluorescence. The flow structure and dynamics of mixing at different downstream locations are investigated for a different levels of stratification and shear. The role of turbulence is examined by comparing cases of turbulent and laminar gravity currents. The implication of these results for ocean simulations and for understanding global climate are discussed. 1permanent address: ENS Lyon, France Robert Ecke Los Alamos National Laboratory Date submitted: 14 Dec 2007 Electronic form version 1.4

We study experimentally the force fluctuations felt by a probe disk as it is dragged at a nominally constant rate through a two-dimensional bi-disperse system of randomly packed photo-elastic disks. As the packing fraction increases from loose packing to a value where the disks are jammed, lines of connected force - stress chains - develop that couple the entire domain. We consider the transition from an unjammed state with no long range force distribution to a jammed state with stress chains spanning the system size. We characterize this transition using the measured force fluctuations and the determination of stress chains as visualized by the photo-elastic disks. Length and time scales obtained from these measurements are used to describe both the transition to jamming and the nature of the jammed state. The reorganization of disks and the force fluctuations have a stick-slip character in the jammed state.

The mixing and entrainment processes existing in oceanic overflows, e.g., Denmark Strait Overflow (DSO), affect the global thermohaline circulation. Owing to limited spatial resolution in global climate prediction simulations, the small-scale dynamics of oceanic mixing must be properly modeled. A series of experiments are performed in an Oceanic Overflow Facility to study the mixing and entrainment of a gravity current along an inclined plate, flowing into a steady ambient medium. At small values of the Richardson number, the shear dominates the stabilizing effect of the stratification and the flow at the interface of the current becomes unstable, resulting in turbulent mixing. In addition, the level of turbulence is enhanced by an active grid device. Using PIV and PLIF to measure, respectively, the velocity and density fields, we characterize the statistical properties of the mixing. We also study the entrainment of the ambient fluid by the flow. An accurate parametrization of the mixing and entrainment can be a valuable input for ocean circulation models.

The Carnegie Mellon Laptop Orchestra (CMLO) is a collection of computers that communicate through a wireless network and collaborate to generate music. The CMLO is the culmination of a course on Computer Music Systems and Information Processing, where students learn and apply techniques for audio and MIDI programming, real-time synchronization and scheduling, music representation, and music information retrieval.

We present experimental measurements of density and velocity obtained from the mixing zone of buoyancy driven turbulence initiated by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in a small aspect ration chamber (a chamber who's vertical height is significantly larger than its lateral dimesion). The mixing front propogates at a slightly slower rate than the expected t{sup 2} behavior obtained from earlier experiments and numerics. Once the front has propogated significantly far away, we observe that the mixing zone develops to a statistically stationary state. In this stationary state, the spectral distributions of energy and density deviate from the familiar k{sup -5/3} ubiquitous to turbulence in three dimensions.

The mixing phenomenon of ocean currents, which have different densities as well as velocities, are important to ocean dynamics and global climate modeling. One example is the outflow of the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian Seas, where dense Arctic water overflows a ridge and spills downslope in a density-driven plume until it reaches the deep abyss of the Atlantic Ocean. On the way down it mixes with ambient water of different temperature and salinity. This process affects the global thermohaline circulation, which is a significant element in changes of the global climate. Laboratory experiments are conducted to investigate this problem. A turbulent jet is introduced into a water tank along an inclined plate. The density difference between the jet and the tank water produces a stably stratified boundary current. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) are applied to obtain simultaneous measurement of velocity field and density field along the slope at different downstream locations. On-going efforts are also discussed.

Purpose - To identify important features of a method to evaluate and improve university electronic library services.Design/methodology/approach - Three iterations of the survey instrument designed by the Association of Research Libraries and two usability studies were conducted at the University of New Mexico Libraries.Findings - The findings of three LibQUAL + (TM) surveys (2001, 2002, and 2003) and two usability studies (in 2001 and 2003) at the University of New Mexico (UNM) are presented.Research limitations/implications - The small number of demographic measures on the usability instrument prevented analyzing whether any demographic variables influenced user outcomes and the small number of participants in the usability studies (while useful for the purpose of the studies) was too small for statistical analysis.Practical implications - Using the findings and the experience of applying the results of the usability studies, recommendations are made for an improved usability instrument that is more targeted.Originality/value - This paper provides information to library managers who desire to evaluate and improve their library's electronic resource service provision and offers practical help to conduct a usability study.