Basal cochlear lesions result in increased amplitude of otoacoustic emissions

We have measured the changes in transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) during and after ototoxic amikacin treatment in an animal (chinchilla) model. TEOAE and DPOAE were recorded from 6 adult chinchillas over a 6-week time course starting just before a 5-day or 7-day treatment period with amikacin sulphate (400 mg/kg/day, i.m.). After final recordings, cochlear morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Generally, both DPOAE and TEOAE amplitudes change during and after treatment in a systematic fashion. High-frequency components change first, followed by lower-frequency components. We note that there is often a long latency to the onset of changes in otoacoustic emissions (OAE), and that these changes can continue for weeks after treatment. Most importantly we report that when the basal region of the cochlea is damaged in the frequency region above the OAE recording bandwidth (0.6-6 kHz for TEOAE; 1-6.7 kHz for DPOAE), we often find an increase in OAE amplitudes. More specifically, we note that as a cochlear lesion progresses apically, there is often a transient increase in a frequency-specific OAE before it reduces or is lost. Our results suggest that the increase in OAE amplitudes precedes the expression of detectable cochlear pathology.     

Status, communality, and agency: Implications for stereotypes of gender and other groups.

Four studies addressed the hypothesis, based on correspondence bias, that low- relative to high-status individuals are perceived as more communal and less agentic. Study 1 instantiated status in terms of occupations, and findings were as expected. The findings of Study 2 reconciled those of Study 1 and of A. H . Eagly and V. J. Steffen (see record 1984-23015-001) in that they demonstrated that high-status occupations are differentially construed in terms of their interpersonal communal demands. The hypothesis received clear support in Studies 3 and 4, in which a general instantiation of status independent of occupations, social roles, and gender was adopted. The findings are discussed in terms of gender stereotypes and social role theory of gender (A. H. Eagly, 1987) as well as in terms of other stereotypes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An efficient k-means clustering algorithm: analysis andimplementation

In k-means clustering, we are given a set of n data points in d-dimensional space R^d and an integer k and the problem is to determine a set of k points in Rd, called centers, so as to minimize the mean squared distance from each data point to its nearest center. A popular heuristic for k-means clustering is Lloyd's (1982) algorithm. We present a simple and efficient implementation of Lloyd's k-means clustering algorithm, which we call the filtering algorithm. This algorithm is easy to implement, requiring a kd-tree as the only major data structure. We establish the practical efficiency of the filtering algorithm in two ways. First, we present a data-sensitive analysis of the algorithm's running time, which shows that the algorithm runs faster as the separation between clusters increases. Second, we present a number of empirical studies both on synthetically generated data and on real data sets from applications in color quantization, data compression, and image segmentation     

Efficient Randomized Algorithms for the Repeated Median Line Estimator

The problem of fitting a straight line to a finite collection of points in the plane is an important problem in statistical estimation. Recently there has been a great deal of interest is robust estimators, because of their lack of sensitivity to outlying data points. The basic measure of the robustness of an estimator is its breakdown point, that is, the fraction (up to 50%) of outlying data points that can corrupt the estimator. One problem with robust estimators is that achieving high breakdown points (near 50%) has proved to be computationally demanding. In this paper we present the best known theoretical algorithm and a practical subquadratic algorithm for computing a 50% breakdown point line estimator, the Siegel or repeated median line estimator. We first present an O(n\log n) randomized expected-time algorithm, where n is the number of given points. This algorithm relies, however, on sophisticated data structures. We also present a very simple O(n log ² n) randomized algorithm for this problem, which uses no complex data structures. We provide empirical evidence that, for many realistic input distributions, the running time of this second algorithm is actually O(n log n) expected time. Received January 25, 1995; revised May 17, 1996. Communciated by L. J. Guibas.     

Method for testing the aquatic toxicity of sediment extracts for use in identifying organic toxicants in sediments

Biologically directed fractionation techniques are a fundamental tool for identifying the cause of toxicity in environmental samples, but few are available for studying mixtures of organic chemicals in aquatic sediments. This paper describes a method for extracting organic chemicals from sediments and then re-introducing them into water column toxicity tests in a way that mimics, at least in part, the partitioning processes that govern bioavailability in sediment. This involves transferring solvent extracts of sediment into triolein and then placing the mixture inside low-density polyethylene dialysis tubing in a configuration similar to semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) used for environmental monitoring. For four model compounds, SPMDs were shown to effectively maintain water column exposure in static systems for 10-14 d, with partition coefficients similar to K(OW). Toxicity tests indicated that the SPMDs were compatible with four of five freshwater organisms tested and could be used to measure both lethal and sublethal end points. An example application showed good correspondence between organism responses in intactsediment and extracts in SPMDsfor both field-collected and spiked sediments. The SPMD-based method offers a simple, flexible test design, amenable to several different test organisms, and the ability to work with complex mixtures of contaminants while maintaining partitioning behavior similar to that within intact sediments.     

Effects of impression management and self-deception on the predictive validity of personality constructs.

This study tests whether 2 types of response distortion (self-deception and impression management) affect the predictive validity of 2 of the "Big 5" personality dimensions, conscientiousness and emotional stability, in 2 applicant samples of long-haul semitruck drivers (n?=?147 and n?=?139). As hypothesized, conscientiousness (p?=?–.26 and –.26) and emotional stability (p?=?–.23 and –.21 ) were valid predictors of voluntary turnover in the 2 samples. Also as hypothesized, conscientiousness was a valid predictor of supervisory ratings of performance (p?=?.41 and .39 ) in the 2 samples. Although not hypothesized, emotional stability was also significantly related to supervisor ratings of performance (p?=?.23 and .27). Results from structural equations modeling indicated that applicants did distort their scores on both personality dimensions and the distortion occurred both through self-deception and impression management; however, neither type of distortion attenuated the predictive validities of either personality construct. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A critical review of ultralow-volume aerosols of insecticide applied with vehicle-mounted generators for adult mosquito control

This review of ultralow-volume (ULV) ground aerosols for adult mosquito control includes discussion on application volume, aerosol generators, droplet size, meteorology, swath, dispersal speed, assay methods, insecticide efficacy, and nontarget effects. It summarizes the efficacy of ULV insecticidal aerosols against many important pest and disease-bearing species of mosquitoes in a wide range of locations and habitats in the United States and in some countries of Asia and the Americas. Fourteen conclusions were drawn from the review. 1) ULV ground aerosol applications of insecticide are as efficacious against adult mosquitoes as high- or low-volume aerosols. 2) ULV aerosols with an optimum droplet size spectrum can be produced by several types of nozzles including vortex, pneumatic, and rotary. Droplet size of a particular insecticide formulation is dependent primarily on nozzle air pressure or rotation speed and secondarily on insecticide flow rate. 3) Label flow rates of insecticide for ULV aerosol application can be delivered accurately during routine operations with speed-correlated metering systems within a calibrated speed range, usually not exceeding 20 mph. 4) The most economical and convenient method of droplet size determination for ULV aerosols of insecticide is the waved-slide technique. 5) The efficacy of ULV ground aerosols against adult mosquitoes is related to droplet size because it governs air transport and impingement. The optimum droplet size for mosquito adulticiding is 8-15 microns volume median diameter (VMD) on the basis of laboratory wind-tunnel tests and field research with caged mosquitoes. 6) In general, ULV aerosols should be applied following sunset when mosquitoes are active and meteorological conditions are favorable for achieving maximum levels of control. Application can be made during daytime hours when conditions permit, but rates may have to be increased. The critical meteorological factors are wind velocity and direction, temperature, and atmospheric stability and turbulence. 7) Maximum effective swaths are obtained with aerosols in the optimum VMD range during favorable meteorological conditions in open to moderately open terrain. The insecticide dosage must be increased in proportion to increased swath to maintain the same level of mosquito control. 8) Dispersal speed within a range of 2.5-20 mph is not a factor affecting efficacy if insecticide rate and optimum droplet size are maintained. 9) The results of caged mosquito assays are comparable with reductions in free-flying natural populations. 10) The field efficacies of mosquito adulticides applied as ULV ground aerosols are predictable from the results of laboratory wind-tunnel tests. 11) Results of field tests in open to moderately open terrain during favorable meteorological conditions indicated that ULV insecticidal aerosol application rates producing 90% or more control of Anopheles, Culex, and Psorophora spp. are below or approximately equal to maximum United States Environmental Protection Agency label rates. Against some Aedes spp., some pyrethroid insecticides must be synergized to produce 90% control at label rates. 12) Results of field tests in residential areas with moderate to dense vegetation and in citrus groves or other densely wooded areas showed that insecticide rates of ULV ground aerosols must be increased 2-3-fold to obtain 90% or more control of adult mosquitoes. However, the maximum rates on some insecticide labels would have to be increased to allow higher application rates. 13) Applications of ULV ground aerosols of insecticide in accordance with label directions following sunset do not pose a serious threat to humans, nontarget beneficial animals, or automotive paints. 14) Some aerosol generators operated at high RPM levels exceed the OSHA 8-h hearing hazard criteria of 90 dBA and may require hearing protectors for operators.     

Analytical melting model for extrusion: Melting rate of fully compacted solid polymers

The melting mechanism inside screw extruders is presently analyzed using numerical, iterative methods that are too complex to be used widely by practicing engineers. Our theoretical and experimental investigations of the melting mechanism have produced simple, analytical equations for predicting the melting rate of fully compacted solid polymers without iterative calculations. The accuracy of these equations was found to be satisfactory. Consideration of the temperature and shear dependencies of the melt viscosity was found to be essential for the accurate prediction of the melting rate.     

SPLICE, a computer program for automated extraction of information from GenBank sequence entries

SPLICE, a software tool for the extraction of sequences from files in GenBank tape format, has been developed. The program can analyze the features table in this format and use any of the information provided to write the corresponding sequences into a standard sequence file format suitable for use with sequence analysis programs. Sequences that are present as several subsequent fragments in a single GenBank file, such as those encoding a peptide, can be spliced together by the program. Further, sequences that are present in more than one Genbank file, such as an exon which spans several different files, can also be spliced into one sequence. SPLICE runs under the MS/DOS and Unix operating systems, can be called as a sub-process by other programs and can process batches of files.