Three-dimensional analysis of mandibular landmarks, planes and shape, and the symphyseal changes associated with growth and orthodontic treatment

OBJECTIVE: To test reliability of 3D mandibular landmarks, planes of reference and surfaces and assess their correlation to conventional 2D cephalometric measurements. To analyze changes in three-dimensional shape of the symphysis due to growth and orthodontic treatment. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of CBCTs of healthy orthodontic patients. 32 subjects were included, 16 males and 16 females. Mean ages of 10.6 ± 1.5 years and 15.0 ± 0.9 years before and after treatment, respectively. The mean follow up time was 4.3 years. Subjects free of any craniofacial anomalies, and no observable pathology on panoramic radiograph were. 15 subjects had CVM 1 and 17 subjects had CVM 2 before orthodontic treatment. All subjects had CVM 5 after orthodontic treatment. For the first phase, 3D mandibular landmark identifications were digitized. Planes and landmarks were constructed and compared with conventional 2D mandibular measurements. For the second phase, mandibles were isolated by removing surrounding structures. Pearson correlation and paired t-test were performed to test for correlation and differences between 2D and 3D measurements, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.4. Software. MorphoJ software (Version 2.0, www.flywings.org.uk) was used for symphysis shape analysis; and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) between pre-treatment and post-treatment was used for statistical analysis of the symphysis. RESULTS: We found statistical significant positive correlation between 2D and 3D pre-treatment ramus height (P-value =0.01), post-treatment ramus height (P-value < 0.0001), pre-treatment corpus length (P-value 0.0003), post-treatment corpus length (P-value 0.04), pre-treatment gonial angle (P-value <0.0001), and post-treatment gonial angle (P-value=0.05). Also, statistically significant differences in 2D ramus height (P=0.001), 3D ramus height (P-value=0.002), 2D corpus length (P-value <0.01), and 3D corpus length (P-value <0.01). For symphysis shape comparing between pre-treatment and post-treatment, we found that there is no statistically significant difference between them (P-value= 0.99). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated statistically significant positive correlation between certain 2D and 3D measurements, pre-treatment and post-treatment differences in 2D and 3D measurements showed consistent results. Symphysis shapes do break out as distinctly separate groups, but the differences between the means is small

Software correlators as testbeds for RFI algorithms

In-correlator techniques offer the possibility of identifying and/or excising radio frequency interference (RFI) from interferometric observations at much higher time and/or frequency resolution than is generally possible with the final visibility dataset. Due to the considerable computational requirements of the correlation procedure, cross-correlators have most commonly been implemented using high-speed digital signal processing boards, which typically require long development times and are difficult to alter once complete. "Software" correlators, on the other hand, make use of commodity server machines and a correlation algorithm coded in a high-level language. They are inherently much more flexible and can be developed - and modified - much more rapidly than purpose-built "hardware" correlators. Software correlators are thus a natural choice for testing new RFI detection and mitigation techniques for interferometers. The ease with which software correlators can be adapted to test RFI detection algorithms is demonstrated by the addition of kurtosis detection and plotting to the widely used DiFX software correlator, which highlights previously unknown short -duration RFI at the Hancock VLBA station.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Proceedings of Science [PoS(RFI2010)035]. Presented at RFI2010, the Third Workshop on RFI Mitigation in Radio Astronomy, 29-31 March 2010, Groningen, The Netherland

The Role of Microenterprises in Economic Growth: A Panel Study of Wisconsin Counties 1977 to 1997

In this study I examine the role of microenterprises (firms with between one and four employees) in Wisconsin economic growth. Using a panel of Wisconsin counties from 1977 to 1997 I estimate an expanded Carlino-Mills type model of growth. Results suggest that nearly 50 percent of all businesses in Wisconsin are microenterprises and this share is relatively stable over time. Results also indicate that a higher percentage of businesses classified as microenterprises tend to be associated with counties with lower population levels, slower population growth, but higher levels of employment and income growth. Results also vary by type of industry. These results suggest that care must be taken when promoting microenterprises as a major engine of economic growth: results vary by measure of economic growth as well as type of industry.

Wisconsin and the Agricultural Economy

In this applied research project I attempt to explore general trends within the Wisconsin agricultural sectors as they relate to the larger Wisconsin economy. Using two metrics of economic activity, income and jobs, I explore recent historical trends. In essence, the analysis finds that production agriculture went through a significant downward phase that has appeared to stabilize over the most recent period. Income from agriculture has become increasingly unstable adding significant uncertainity to the industry. Agricultural processing, however, remains a strong source of income and employment growth. While production agriculture appears to have stabilized and food processing has grown, the rest of the state's economy has grown at a much greater clip, meaning that agriculture as a percent of the Wisconsin economy has declined over time. In addition to the historical analysis a detailed economic impact assessment was undertaken using the most recent data available; 2000. I examine on-farm dairy production and processing, farm production broadly defined and agricultural processing broadly defined. In addition, I examine the role of horticulture, a small but growing part of Wisconsin's agricultural economy. In general, farm production is a modest contributor to the the Wisconsin economy, but food processing is a more significant part of the economy.

A Trade Area Analysis of Wisconsin Counties: Updated for 2010

For updated Trade Area Analysis (TAA) of Wisconsin counties we use the sales tax data as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for 2010. Only those counties that have elected to collect the optional county sales tax are included in the analysis. Because sales tax data are used one must keep in mind that the analysis focuses only on taxable sales and may not reflect the total level of activity in the county. Using Pull Factors and measures of Surplus and Leakage the relative strengths, and weaknesses, of local retail and service markets are identified. Changes in Pull Factors from 2005 to 2010 are provided to gain insights into growing and declining sectors. Finally, an update of simple Wisconsin retail market thresholds estimates (i.e., number of customers required to support an establishment) is also provided.

The Economic Impact of Milk Production on the Wisconsin Economy

The intent of this study is to introduce and report a new method for assessing the economic impact of milk production on the Wisconsin economy. Previous agricultural impact studies have used methods with inherent lags in the timing of the relevant data. In addition, previous studies treated dairy farms as a single entity and did not separate out milk production. Dairy farms are multi-product firms producing milk, cull cows for meat as well as crops. This study focuses on just milk production. By using current annual data from the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics a more timely analysis is provided. In addition an annual moving average of production levels is used to minimize the role of yearly fluctuate.

Excitation and characterization of long-lived hydrogenic Rydberg states of nitric oxide

High Rydberg states of nitric oxide (NO) with principal quantum numbers between 40 and 100 and lifetimes in excess of 10 $\mu$s have been prepared by resonance enhanced two-color two-photon laser excitation from the X $^2\Pi_{1/2}$ ground state through the A $^2\Sigma^+$ intermediate state. Molecules in these long-lived Rydberg states were detected and characterized 126 $\mu$s after laser photoexcitation by state-selective pulsed electric field ionization. The laser excitation and electric field ionization data were combined to construct two-dimensional spectral maps. These maps were used to identify the rotational states of the NO$^+$ ion core to which the observed series of long-lived hydrogenic Rydberg states converge. The results presented pave the way for Rydberg-Stark deceleration and electrostatic trapping experiments with NO, which are expected to shed further light on the decay dynamics of these long-lived excited states, and are of interest for studies of ion-molecule reactions at low temperatures.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

ASTER multispectral thermal data and finding water

Conference item - published without an abstract

Trade Area Analysis of Select Wisconsin Counties: Update for 1999

The development of a community's retail market should be an integral part of the community development process. Some, however, might argue that the retail sector develops naturally following other types of economic development such as growth in the manufacturing sector or an influx of tourists. To a degree this is true. Several factors, however, may prevent this process from being completely efficient.

An Updated Trade Area Analysis of Wisconsin Counties for 2006

The intent of this functional research project is to apply the tools of Trade Area Analysis (TAA) to retail and service sales data for Wisconsin Counties. For this analysis we use the sales tax data as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for 2006, the most current year the data are available. Only those counties that have elected to collect the optional county sales tax are included in the analysis. Through Pull Factors and measures of Surplus and Leakage the relative strengths, and weaknesses, of local retail and service markets are identified.