cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nationality and the Preferences of the European Public toward EU Policy-Making:

Analyses of covariance for Eurobarometer data from 1990 to 1994 demonstrate a significant effect of individuals' nationalities on their preferences toward the scope and content of European Union policy-making, while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The observed national differences are more pronounced for the scope than for the content dimension. An investigation of the causal mechanisms underpinning these effects concludes that it can be either national identities or nation-specific constellations of political conflict that mediate the effect of nationality for a particular nation. These novel findings qualify the expectations of the European political space approach concerning the existence of an integrated and somewhat autonomous space of political contestation toward the EU, but the observed decline of cross-national differences over time indicates that at least a trend in this direction exists.
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 inhibits TGF-beta2 stimulation of extracellular matrix proteins in optic nerve head cells: role of gremlin in ECM modulation.

Abstract The characteristic cupping of the optic nerve head (ONH) in glaucoma is associated with elevated TGF-beta2 and increased synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. In addition to TGF-beta2, the human ONH also expresses bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and BMP receptors, which are members of the TGF-beta superfamily. We examined the potential effects of BMP4 and the BMP antagonist gremlin on TGF-beta2 induction of ECM proteins in ONH cells. BMP-4 dose dependently inhibited TGF-beta2-induced fibronectin (FN) and PAI-1 expression in ONH astrocytes and lamina cribrosa (LC) cells and also reduced TGF-beta2 stimulation of collagen I, collagen VI, and elastin. Addition of gremlin blocked this BMP-4 response, increasing cellular and secreted FN as well as PAI-1 levels in both cell types. Gremlin was expressed in ONH tissues and ONH cells, and gremlin protein levels were significantly increased in the LC region of human glaucomatous ONH tissues. Interestingly, recombinant gremlin dose dependently increased ECM protein expression in cultured ONH astrocytes and LC cells. Gremlin stimulation of ECM required activation of TGF-beta receptor and R-Smad3. TGF-beta2 increased gremlin mRNA expression and protein levels in ONH cells. Inhibition of either the type I TGF-beta receptor or Smad3 phosphorylation blocked TGF-beta2-induced gremlin expression. In conclusion, BMP4 blocked the TGF-beta2 induction of ECM proteins in ONH cells. The BMP antagonist gremlin reversed this inhibition, allowing TGF-beta2 stimulation of ECM synthesis. Increased expression of gremlin in the glaucomatous ONH may further exacerbate TGF-beta2 effects on ONH ECM metabolism by inhibiting BMP-4 antagonism of TGF-beta2 signaling. Modulation of the ECM via gremlin provides a novel therapeutic target for glaucoma.
Search for Supernova Relic Neutrinos at Super-Kamiokande

Abstract The search for a supernova relic neutrino (SRN) signal at the Super-Kamiokande detector is limited by irreducible backgrounds. New work has improved our cuts to dramatically improve efficiency, lower energy threshold, and better control our backgrounds, and a new likelihood method has been developed for our limit extraction.
Evidence for two distinct amorphous phases in (Zr0.667Ni0.333)1−xBx alloys

Abstract The density, electrical transport, and superconducting properties of amorphous (Zr 0.667 Ni 0.333 ) 1− x B x where 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.25 have been measured. The results, together with the pair correlation function and the deduced density of states at the Fermi surface, suggest that a composition dependent structural transition occurs from one type of amorphous structure to another near x ∼ 0.05.
Validated spherical pendulum model for rotary liquid slosh

A combined spherical pendulum and linear pendulum system is developed to produce the same dynamic in-line and cross-axis reaction weight as liquid exhibiting rotary liquid slosh. An approximate solution of the dynamic equations for the spherical pendulum is used along with cross-axis weight measurements from slosh experiments to develop mass and damping parameters for the spherical pendulum. Similar measurements of in-line weight responses are used to develop the corresponding parameters for the linear pendulum solution. A verification of the spherical pendulum solution is accomplished by comparing the approximate solutions with those predicted by a time-step integration of the nonlinear governing equations. It is found that a constantparameter combined system model cannot be used to represent typical rotary slosh over the entire frequency range within which this type of liquid motion response occurs. Therefore, a model is developed with some parameters constant, and others are allowed to vary as necessary to match the force data.
Dyspnea, arthralgias, and muscle weakness.

A computed tomographic scan shows ground-glass opacities in the lower lobes of both lungs. What is the most likely cause of this patient’s symptoms and radiographic findings?
Absolute hardness and aromaticity: MNDO study of benzenoid hydrocarbons

Absolute hardness calculated by the MNDO method has been shown to be a good measure of aromaticity for 14 benzenoid hydrocarbons. Comparisons among hardnesses at different levels of approximation are given. The parallelism of the aromaticity and hardness concepts in benzenoids is elaborated.
Origins of Stereoselectivity in the trans-Diels-Alder Paradigm

The regioselectivity and stereoselectivity aspects of the Diels-Alder/radical hydrodenitration reaction sequence leading to trans-fused ring systems have been investigated with density functional calculations. A continuum of transition structures representing Diels-Alder and hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadditions as well as a sigmatropic rearrangement have been located, and they all lie very close in energy on the potential energy surface. All three pathways are found to be important in the formation of the Diels-Alder adduct. Reported regioselectivities are reproduced by the calculations. The stereoselectivity of radical hydrodenitration of the cis-Diels-Alder adduct is found to be related to the relative conformational stabilities of bicyclic radical intermediates. Overall, the computations provide understanding of the regioselectivities and stereoselectivities of the trans-Diels-Alder paradigm.
Improving college students' evaluation of text learning using idea-unit standards.

When recalling key definitions from class materials, college students are often overconfident in the quality of their responses. Even with commission errors, they often judge that their response is entirely or partially correct. To further understand this overconfidence, we investigated whether idea-unit judgements would reduce overconfidence (Experiments 1 and 2) and whether students inflated their scores because they believed that they knew answers but just responded incorrectly (Experiment 2). College students studied key-term definitions and later attempted to recall each definition when given the key term (e.g., What is the availability heuristic?). All students judged the quality of their recall, but some were given a full-definition standard to use, whereas other students first judged whether their response included each of the individual ideas within the corresponding correct answer. In Experiment 1, making these idea-unit judgements reduced overconfidence for commission errors. In Experiment 2, s...
Effects of Social Networks on Physical Health Among People with Serious Mental Illness

This study examined the effects of social network characteristics on physical health among people with serious mental illness using social transactions that are reciprocal, and the combination of objective and subjective health measures. The sample consisted of a probability sample of 231 adults with serious mental illness who resided in permanent supportive housing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Path analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between social network characteristics and two aspects of medical comorbidity, objective health and subjective health. Bivariate statistics showed that individuals with medical comorbidity were more likely to have contact with their network members and had a higher level of reciprocal positive tangible support when compared to those who did not have medical comorbidity. The results of the path analyses revealed that none of the social network characteristics were associated with better physical health. The lack of a significant relationship between social networks and better physical health is contrary to prior research findings. However, this is the first study to include both types of social transactions simultaneously as predictors of better physical health for individuals with serious mental illness. A longitudinal study would provide more insight into the temporal relationship of social networks and physical health conditions of people with serious mental illness. Furthermore, the transactional nature of social relationships, particularly for those with mental health issues, requires greater exploration.
Electron Injection Mechanism in Top-gate Amorphous Silicon Thin-film Transistors with Self-Aligned Silicide Source and Drain

We have successfully demonstrated top-gate a-Si TFT with self-aligned nickel silicide source/drsain (S/D). We have shown, by examining contact resistance, the dominant electron injection mechanism is tunneling from silicide S/D to the channel. Further, we show that the contact resistance has no influence on device threshold and little effect on effective mobility down to L=5 mum.
Origin, distribution and diagenesis of phillipsite and clinoptilolite in deep-sea sediments

Abstract Data from Deep Sea Drilling Project Initial Reports have been searched for information on the distribution of the zeolites phillipsite and clinoptilolite with respect to: geographic location; sedimentation rate; general sediment type; age of sediment; depth in core; and various aspects of the coexisting minerals. The results indicate that phillipsite is associated with argillaceous, volcanic, or siliceous sediments, low sedimentation rates, shallow depths in the sediment, and very young sediments. Its dissolution at depth indicates that it may be metastable in the marine environment. Clinoptilolite is associated with calcareous sediments, high silica indicators such as disordered cristobalite, areas and sediments with moderate to high sedimentation rates and sediments of Miocene age and older. The youngest clinoptilolite in calcareous sediments is significantly younger than the youngest clinoptilolite in argillaceous sediments.
The force-velocity relation and intra-abdominal pressure during lifting activities.

An experiment was performed to test the static and dynamic lifting capabilities of the back. Twenty healthy male and female subjects exerted maximal force with the back under isometric and isokinetic lifting positions. Torque about the lumbosacral junction and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) production were monitored under the experimental conditions. Torque production capability was found to increase as trunk angle increased and decreased as angular velocity increased. IAP was found to be primarily a funciton of angle and a weak indicator of torque. A significant IAP-torque onset delay was identified as was a physiological source of IAP.
Testing the Homogeneity of Relative Risk in Case‐Control Studies with Multiple Matching

This paper purposes a simple chi-square test for the homogeneity of relative risk in case-control studies with multiple matching.
18 Circulation Plays an Essential Role in Distributing Hematopoietic Progenitors from the Yolk Sac to the Embryo Proper; Lessons from the Ncx1-Null Mouse.

18 Circulation Plays an Essential Role in Distributing Hematopoietic Progenitors from the Yolk Sac to the Embryo Proper; Lessons from the Ncx1-Null Mouse.
Effects of Lamprey Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-III on Steroidogenesis and Spermiation in Male Sea Lampreys

The biological activities of lamprey gonadotropin-releasing hormone-III (GnRH-III) were determined in the adult male sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. One injection of lamprey GnRH-III at 0.1 or 0.2 μg/g body wt stimulated plasma estradiol and progesterone levels in adult male sea lampreys undergoing final maturation. Four successive injections of lamprey GnRH-III at 0.1 μg/g or lamprey GnRH-I at 0.2 μg/g induced spermiation in 78 or 30% of the lampreys, respectively, compared to 0% in controls by Day 16. In summary, lamprey GnRH-III is biologically active in stimulating the pituitary-gonadal axis in adult male lampreys.
A DNA Damage-Induced, SOS-Independent Checkpoint Regulates Cell Division in Caulobacter crescentus

Cells must coordinate DNA replication with cell division, especially during episodes of DNA damage. The paradigm for cell division control following DNA damage in bacteria involves the SOS response where cleavage of the transcriptional repressor LexA induces a division inhibitor. However, in Caulobacter crescentus, cells lacking the primary SOS-regulated inhibitor, sidA, can often still delay division post-damage. Here we identify didA, a second cell division inhibitor that is induced by DNA damage, but in an SOS-independent manner. Together, DidA and SidA inhibit division, such that cells lacking both inhibitors divide prematurely following DNA damage, with lethal consequences. We show that DidA does not disrupt assembly of the division machinery and instead binds the essential division protein FtsN to block cytokinesis. Intriguingly, mutations in FtsW and FtsI, which drive the synthesis of septal cell wall material, can suppress the activity of both SidA and DidA, likely by causing the FtsW/I/N complex to hyperactively initiate cell division. Finally, we identify a transcription factor, DriD, that drives the SOS-independent transcription of didA following DNA damage.
Shape optimization of free-form steel space-frame roof structures with complex geometries using evolutionary computing

Abstract Recently the authors presented a two-phase genetic algorithm (GA) for minimum weight design of free-form steel space-frame roof structures consisting of discrete commercially available rectangular hollow structural sections (HSS). Subsequently the algorithm was extended to topology optimization of structures. This article presents a new methodology for simultaneous sizing, topology, and shape optimization of free-form steel space-frame roof structures with complex geometries using evolutionary computing. Two methods of altering the geometry of the structure are presented, one a simple method to be used for roof structures with relatively regular geometries, and the other for more complicated geometries. The goal is to achieve additional structural efficiencies by altering the geometry of the roof structure while simultaneously optimizing the roof member and column cross-sectional dimensions and the roof topology. Esthetics is a significant consideration in the structures of the type considered in this research. As such, preserving the general form created by the architect is considered in the proposed shape optimization algorithm. To achieve this, heuristic limits are imposed to avoid drastic or undesirable changes in their architectural form. The methodology is applied to two real-life free-form steel space-frame roof structures. They are two of the thirteen train stations making up the Ottawa Light Rail Transit (OLRT) system to be completed in Ottawa, Canada, in 2018. Efficiencies in the range of 10–16% are reported for the two examples.
Longitudinal flow past cylinders arranged in a triangular array

Abstract The longitudinal viscous flow past arranged in a triangular array of cylinders is studied through boundary perturbation. The velocity distribution is found to 3rd order. Accurate analytic formula for permeability is derived for arbitrary solid fractions. A variety of cylinder shapes are considered. The results are useful in modelling convective heat transfer, porous media, and composite manufacturing.
The effect of size and spacing of seed pieces on the yield and grade of white rose potatoes in Kern County, California

Both total yield and, to a somewhat lesser degree, yield of U. S. No. 1 tubers were increased by increasing the quantity of seed potatoes planted per acre—through closer spacing and/or larger seed pieces. The rate of yield increase declined with each increment of seed potatoes. Planting more than approximately 16 sacks of seed potatoes per acre did not increase the yield sufficiently to justify the greater expense.
Further Exploratory Analysis of the Bridger Range Winter Cloud Seeding Experiment

Abstract Further exploratory analysis of the Bridger Range Experiment was carried out with 6 h data blocks partitioned from the original 24 h experimental units. The analysis was limited to 6 h periods having a rawinsonde observation, Main Ridge temperature ≤−9°C and westerly flow. The results suggest that silver iodide seeding was particularly effective in increasing precipitation in a small fraction of the cases, but had little or no effect most of the time. Seeding appeared to be especially effective when cloud top temperatures were warmer than about −25°C and the wind had a Wong cross-barrier component. Marked decreases in precipitation were not apparent during seeded periods.
Minimal probing: supporting expensive predicates for top-k queries

This paper addresses the problem of evaluating ranked top-k queries with expensive predicates. As major DBMSs now all support expensive user-defined predicates for Boolean queries, we believe such support for ranked queries will be even more important: First ranked queries often need to model user-specific concepts of preference, relevance, or similarity, which call for dynamic user-defined functions. Second, middleware systems must incorporate external predicates for integrating autonomous sources typically accessible only by per-object queries. Third, fuzzy joins are inherently expensive, as they are essentially user-defined operations that dynamically associate multiple relations. These predicates, being dynamically defined or externally accessed, cannot rely on index mechanisms to provide zero-time sorted output, and must instead require per-object probe to evaluate. The current standard sort-merge framework for ranked queries cannot efficiently handle such predicates because it must completely probe all objects, before sorting and merging them to produce top-k answers. To minimize expensive probes, we thus develop the formal principle of "necessary probes," which determines if a probe is absolutely required. We then propose Algorithm MPro which, by implementing the principle, is provably optimal with minimal probe cost. Further, we show that MPro can scale well and can be easily parallelized. Our experiments using both a real-estate benchmark database and synthetic datasets show that MPro enables significant probe reduction, which can be orders of magnitude faster than the standard scheme using complete probing.
Substance use disorders in children and adolescents and the impact on children in families affected by substance use

(2002). Substance use disorders in children and adolescents and the impact on children in families affected by substance use. Substance Abuse: Vol. 23, No. sup1, pp. 133-141.
INFLUENCE OF DIETARY MENHADEN OIL UPON CARCINOGENESIS AND VARIOUS CUTANEOUS REspONSES TO ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

Abstract Recent reports suggest that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) inhibits growth of transplanted tumors and the formation of various chemically induced cancers in animals. Menhaden oil is a source of polyunsaturated lipid with a high content of EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid. We sought to explore the effects of menhaden oil on photocarcinogenesis by employing the hairless mouse/UV-carcinogenesis model. Five groups of 40 SKH-Hr-1 mice received (a) a semipurined equicaloric diet containing either 0.75% corn oil, 4% corn oil. 4% menhaden oil or 12% menhaden oil and (b) an escalating regimen of UV radiation to a cumulative dose of 70 J/cm2. Additional animals were employed to further examine the role of menhaden oil in acute cutaneous responses to UV, i.e., erythema, edema, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induction. After a 2-week feeding period UV-induced ODC activity in mice receiving 12 or 20% menhaden oil was 3 to 13-fold lower than that of corn oil fed animals. Further studies showed that edema was also markedly decreased. Animals receiving menhaden oil required twice the level of irradiance to evoke a comparable erythema as that which occurred in corn oil fed animals. Menhaden oil exerted significant influence upon carcinogenic expression, as manifested in significantly longer tumor latent periods and lower tumor multiplicities when compared to corn oil fed animals. Although the mechanism(s) of these menhaden oil effects remains unknown, it is clear that this unique lipid has a pronounced influence upon cutaneous photoresponses. 15th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Photobiology, Bal Harbor, FL, June, 1987.
Discordance in Lipid Measurements: Can we Capitalize to Better Personalize Cardiovascular Risk Assessment and Treatment?

Lipid measurement is one of the cornerstones of cardiovascular risk assessment and treatment. It is widely accepted that reduction of atherogenic lipids reduces risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. As the study of lipids has yielded deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of lipid metabolism, it has become clear that different techniques to quantify atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins could be complementary. For example, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol can exist in a range of forms from small, dense to large, buoyant, and therefore, discordance may arise between measures of its cholesterol content and particle concentration. In this article, we review the most recent literature on discordance in lipid measurements. We emphasize interesting and important new findings, and aim to bring the reader up-to-date on the topic. We submit that lipid discordances create an opportunity to better personalize the risk assessed for atherogenic cardiovascular disease and the care we give patients with dyslipidemia. We note that while prior research has often examined one lipid measure vs another in their abilities to predict the average risk in a population, recent studies are increasingly asking what lipid discordance in individual patients can tell us about risk. We propose that this latter approach asks the more clinically important question. The message from these studies is consistent: discordance matters. As the field moves forward, we propose standardization of methods for discordance research. In our view, this will best enable us to further clarify the clinical implications of the principle of discordance and best inform personalized cardiovascular care.
Skills, toolkits, contexts and institutions: Clarifying the relationship between different approaches to cognition in cultural sociology

Abstract In this paper we attempt to characterize the key differences and points of convergence between two contemporary approaches to the relationship between culture and cognition in sociology which we label the toolkit and strong practice theory perspectives. We follow recent work at the intersection of culture and cognition in attempting to explicitly formulate the cognitive underpinnings of these two approaches in terms of the assumptions that they make about cultural acquisition, transmission and externalization. Our analysis suggests that in spite of very important differences in emphasis and explanatory range, toolkit and strong practice-theoretical approaches are complementary, although the specific types of modal situation for which each of them is best suited need to be more clearly specified. We develop a framework that shows how the two approaches can be deployed in conjunction as well as specifying the modal settings and situations that each will be more likely to handle best as well as those in which they will run into trouble.
Use of a modified Sternheimer method for achieving analytic, polynomial solutions to the equations of perturbation theory for multiphoton absorption by hydrogenic ions

A modified Sternheimer method is used to provide analytic, polynomial solutions to the equations of perturbation theory for multiphoton absorption by hydrogenic ions. The solutions are in the form of asymptotic series whose coefficients can be rapidly computed by means of two-term recursion formulas. These series eventually lead to divergent solutions as a function of photon energy; however, calculations show that accurate two-photon cross sections can be obtained for the entire excitation spectrum and for the ionization continuum to about 1250 \AA{}. Three-photon ionization cross sections are also calculated and these are shown to be accurate to about 2400 \AA{}.
Sensitivity of Monilinia fructicola from Stone Fruit to Thiophanate-Methyl, Iprodione, and Tebuconazole

Sensitivity in Monilinia fructicola to three fungicides was determined by measuring mycelial growth in fungicide-amended media. Resistance to thiophanate-methyl was found in 39 of 52 isolates (75%) collected from 1992 to 1998 (historic population) and 22 of 100 isolates (22%) collected in 2002 (current population). Three groups having distinct ranges of values for 50% effective concentration (EC50) to thiophanate-methyl were identified. Benzimidazole-sensitive (benS) isolates had EC50 values less than 2.0, low-resistant (benL) isolates between 2.0 and 30.0, and high-resistant (benH) isolates greater than 30.0 μg/ml. One (2%) isolate from the historic and three (3%) isolates from the current population were benH. Inoculation of untreated nectarine blossoms with four isolates from each of the three groups, individually or combined using equal numbers of conidia from each isolate, showed that the benS, benL, and benH isolates were equally pathogenic and competitive. Use of thiophanate-methyl at 300 μg a.i./ml (half dosage) and 600 μg a.i./ml (full dosage) effectively reduced the percentage of blighted blossoms caused by the benS group but not that caused by the benL and benH groups. The benH isolates caused significantly greater percentage of blighted blossoms than the benL isolates at both dosage levels. None of the tested isolates of M. fructicola were resistant to either iprodione or tebuconazole.
FinFET-based SRAM design

Intrinsic variations and challenging leakage control in today's bulk-Si MOSFETs limit the scaling of SRAM. Design tradeoffs in six-transistor (6-T) and four-transistor (4-T) SRAM cells are presented in this work. It is found that 6-T and 4-T FinFET-based SRAM cells designed with built-in feedback achieve significant improvements in the cell static noise margin (SNM) without area penalty. Up to 2/spl times/ improvement in SNM can be achieved in 6-T FinFET-based SRAM cells. A 4-T FinFET-based SRAM cell with built-in feedback can achieve sub-100pA per-cell standby current and offer the similar improvements in SNM as the 6-T cell with feedback, making them attractive for low-power, low-voltage applications.
Processing the acute cocaine FMRI response in human brain with Bayesian source separation

Pharmacological FMRI in humans involves BOLD signal acquisition before, during and after the administration of a drug, and often results in a heterogeneous pattern of drug-induced hemodynamic responses in the brain. Exploratory techniques, including blind source separation, can be useful for BOLD data that contains patterns of cross-dependencies. Bayesian source separation (BSS) is a multivariate technique used to calculate the presence of unobserved signal sources in measured FMRI data, as well as the covariance between data voxels and between reference waveforms. Unlike conventional univariate regression analysis, BSS does not assume independence between voxel time series or source components. In this study, BOLD measurement of the acute effect of an intravenous dose of cocaine, a substance shown previously to engage multiple sites within the orbitofrontal cortex, was processed with BSS. The utility of BSS in pharmacological FMRI applications was demonstrated in multiple examples featuring single-ROI, multiple-ROI and whole-slice data. The flexibility of the BSS technique was shown by choosing different modeling strategies to form the prior reference functions, including approximating the pharmacokinetics of cocaine, interpolating simultaneously measured behavioral data and using observed BOLD responses from known subcortical afferents to the cortex of interest.
Catalytic Reduction of 1-Bromooctane and α , α ′ -Dibromoxylenes by Electrogenerated Cobalt(I) Salen: Formation of Aldehydes

In dimethylformamide containing tetramethylammonium tetrafluoroborate and deliberately added water, stoichiometric quantities of 1-bromooctane and electrogenerated cobalt(I) salen react to give octylcobalt(III) salen. When a solution of octylcobalt(III) salen is irradiated with ultraviolet-visible light, the cobalt-carbon bond is broken to form an octyl radical and cobalt(II) salen within a solvent cage. Introduction of dioxygen causes an insertion reaction that leads to an octylperoxocobalt(III) salen intermediate, which subsequently decomposes to produce 1-octanal in up to 47% yield. Under similar experimental conditions, a two-to-one molar ratio of electrogenerated cobalt(I) salen and α,α'-dibromo-m-xylene gives rise to μ-(1,3-xylenyl)-bis[(salen)cobalt(III)] which can photodecompose, followed by insertion of dioxygen, to afford μ-(l,3-xylenyl)-bis[dioxo(salen)cobalt(III)]. Then the latter intermediate undergoes decomposition to form m-phthaldialdehyde in up to 61% yield. In contrast, the ortho and para isomers of α,α'-dibromoxylene react with electrogenerated cobalt(I) salen, eventually to give a dialdehyde in small quantities (3-10%).
A bound on the rate of a system for encoding an unknown Gaussian autoregressive source

To obtain the rate distortion function of an autoregressive (AR) source when the source parameters are fixed but unknown, it is common simply to insert the estimated parameters into the known-spectrum rate distortion expressions. This approach, although asymptotically correct, ignores any error in estimating the parameters, ignores distortion incurred by the need to encode the parameters for transmission to the receiver, and does not include a component for the side information. We derive a lower bound to the rate distortion performance of a relatively general system for encoding an unknown Gaussian AR source with respect to the mean-squared error (MSE) fidelity criterion. Asymptotically in the estimator frame length n and in the encoder blocklength N, the lower bound equals the usual Gaussian rate distortion function for small distortions. >
The Elimination of Listeria Monocytogenes Attached to Stainless Steel or Aluminum Using Multiple Hurdles

UNLABELLED Ready-to-eat luncheon meats sliced in retail delis have been found to pose the greatest risk of foodborne illness from Listeria monocytogenes among all ready-to-eat foods. Slicers used in delis have many removable parts that are connected with seals and gaskets, with spaces, cracks and crevices that are difficult to clean adequately and may provide a niche for L. monocytogenes survival. Standard cleaning and sanitizing practices used by deli employees may not eliminate Listeria in these niches. Moist heat is known to be more effective against L. monocytogenes than dry heat at the same temperature and time. The study reported here investigated the effects of moist heat combined with quaternary ammonium compounds (5 or 10 ppm), chlorine (10 or 25 ppm) or peracetic acid (10 or 25 ppm) on inactivating L. monocytogenes attached to stainless steel or aluminum coupons cut from commercial deli meat slicer components. All sanitizers when used alone resulted in a 2- to 3-log reduction of L. monocytogenes on stainless steel or aluminum surfaces, while moist heat alone resulted in a 3- to 4-log reduction. When combined with heat the quaternary ammonium was used at 5 ppm, peracetic acid at 10 ppm and chlorine at 10 ppm. When the 2 lethal treatments were combined there was a 5- to7-log reduction as compared to initial inoculation. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The results of this study will provide a better understanding and potential methods for the sanitization of industrial deli meat slicers. In turn, the knowledge gained from this study can reduce the risk of contamination and outbreaks of L. monocytogenes and other food-borne pathogens for consumers.
Access-control disciplines for multi-access communication channels: Reservation and TDMA schemes

Reservation and TDMA schemes are studied for governing the access-control discipline for a network of terminals communicating through a multi-access broadcast channel. A single repeater is employed to allow a fully connected network structure. A channel can be characterized as inducing a Iow propagation-delay value, as for terrestrial radio or fine networks, or as being associated with a higher propagation-delay value, as for a satellite communication channel. A synchronized (slotted) communication medium is considered. Messages are composed of a random number of packets, governed by an arbitrary message-length distribution. The process describing the number of reserved message arrivals within each time frame is assumed to be a sequence of i.i.d, random variables, governed by an arbitrary distribution. (A Poisson arrival stream thus becomes a special case.) The reservation access-control disciplines studied in this paper employ message-switching distributed-control procedures. The performance of each access-control scheme is evaluated according to its delay-throughput function. In particular, schemes are developed to adapt their structure, or protocol, dynamically to the underlying fluctuating network traffic-flow values. A fixed-reservation access-control (FRAC) discipline is studied, employing a fixed periodic pattern of reservation and service periods. The reservation periods are used for the transmission of reservation packets as well as for the integrated service of other groups of network stations. The latter stations can access the channel during these periods, using any proper access control procedure. As a special case, message-delay distributions and moments under a TDMA scheme are obtained. Using dynamic estimates of the underlying message traffic parameters, a dynamic fixed-reservation access-control (DFRAC) scheme is obtained. An analytical technique, which employs a Markov ratio limit theorem, is presented for the derivation of the delay-throughput performance curves of dynamic demand-assignment reservation schemes. To illustrate its application, asynchronous reservation demand-assignment (ARDA) schemes are developed to adapt automatically to the underlying network traffic characteristics. Such schemes establish reservation slots dynamically according to observed network service demands and queue sizes.
Two new families of the FtsZ-tubulin protein superfamily implicated in membrane remodeling in diverse bacteria and archaea

Several recent discoveries reveal unexpected versatility of the bacterial and archaeal cytoskeleton systems that are involved in cell division and other processes based on membrane remodeling. Here we apply methods for distant protein sequence similarity detection, phylogenetic approaches, and genome context analysis to described two previously unnoticed families of the FtsZ-tubulin superfamily. One of these families is limited in its spread to Proteobacteria whereas the other is represented in diverse bacteria and archaea, and might be the key component of a novel, multicomponent membrane remodeling system that also includes a Von Willebrand A domain-containing protein, a distinct GTPase and membrane transport proteins of the OmpA family.
On patterns of deformation in phase transformations and Lüders bands

Materials which contain an unstable portion in the stress-strain relation frequently exhibit patterns of deformation characterized by alternating bands of large and small deformations. Certain metals produce these deformations as they undergo plastic straining or phase transformations. A rate-dependent material law including a field of imperfections is employed in a finite element model to produce a pattern of large and small deformations which resembles those observed experimentally. An essential feature of the formulation is the inclusion of a softening branch to the stress-strain curve to trigger the localization of strains, followed by a hardening branch to arrest it.
Distributive Justice, the Basic Structure and the Place of Private Law

In John Rawls's theory, the role of the principles of justice is to regulate the basic structure of society—its major social, political and economic institu- tions—and to specify the fair terms of cooperation for free and equal persons. Some have interpreted Rawls as excluding contract law, and perhaps the private law as a whole, from the basic structure. However, this interpretation of Rawls is untenable, given the motivations for his emphasis on the basic structure and the highly inclusive characterisations he gives of it. Yet if he includes private law within the basic structure, he seems committed to holding that its design and operations should be regulated by his two principles of justice, which govern the distribution of basic liberties, economic resources and opportunities. This would leave it unclear whether there was any room for values other than distributive values to inform the design of private law. Leaving no role for other values might be unproblematic if distributive justice were a master normative category with equal regulative authority over all basic social institutions. But we should not assume that this 'distributivist paradigm' gives the best interpretation either of private law or of the fair terms of cooperation for a society of free and equal people. We need to think further about how non-distributive values may inform the principles of justice that regulate the institutional structure of society. And we need to ask how much of law, whether public or private, is regulated solely by principles of justice that focus on the distribution of basic liberties, economic resources and opportunities.
William of Tyre and the Maronites

At this time, while the kingdom was elnjoying a temporary state of peace . . . a race of Syrians in the province of Phoenicia . .. underwent a wonderful change of heart. For almost five liundred years these people lhad followed the heretical doctrines of a certain Maro, from wlhom they took the name of Maronites.... Now, however, by divine leading, they were restored to their right minds and abandoned their heresy. They repaired to Aimery, the patriarch of Antioch, . . . renounced the error by which they had been so long enslaved, and returned to the unity of the catholic church.... These people were by no means few in numbers.... They were ... of great service to the Christians in the difficult engagements which they so frequently had with the enemy. Their conversion to the true faith was, therefore, a source of great joy to us. The heresy of Maro and his followers is and was that in our Lord Jesus Christ there exists, and did exist from the beginnilng, one will and one energy only, as may be learned from the sixth council, which, as is well known, was assembled against them and in which they suffered sentence of condemnation.... Now, however, as has been stated, they repented all of these heresies and returned to the catholic churclh.... 1
Positron emission tomography in coronary artery disease.

Purpose of review Mortality and coronary events are dramatically reduced in coronary artery disease by intense lifestyle and pharmacologic management without further improvement by revascularization procedures, thereby requiring definitive noninvasive diagnostic imaging. Consequently, this review summarizes the evidence supporting cardiac positron emission tomography as a definitive, noninvasive, ‘one-stop’ test for routine management of coronary artery disease that is well validated in the scientific literature and illustrated by clinical cases. Recent findings Substantial evidence documents accuracy of positron emission tomography for identifying early or advanced coronary artery disease, quantifying its severity, risk stratification, deciding on revascularization procedures, following progression or regression and for evaluating coronary endothelial function as the basis for preventive treatment. Recent technology like positron emission tomography-computed tomography, however, requires advanced knowledge, training and attention to technical details to avoid common artifactual results and to provide definitive conclusions illustrated in this review. Summary Cardiac positron emission tomography, done correctly with attention to technical details, provides definitive noninvasive assessment of early or advanced coronary atherosclerosis as the basis for invasive procedures or for lifelong intense risk factor management, demonstrates progression or regression of disease, predicts clinical outcomes and serves as the primary definitive noninvasive guide for managing coronary artery disease.
Supervisors' Suggestions for Enhancing Counseling Regulatory Boards' Sanctioned Supervision Practices

Regulatory board-sanctioned supervision is intended to enhance the practice of disciplined counselor licensees and to protect the public. A qualitative research design was used to assess the perceptions of four supervisors who provided board-sanctioned supervision. The themes greater board-generated communication and ethics-related considerations were identified. Suggestions for state counseling regulatory boards are discussed.
Modeling and Activation Detection in fMRI Data Analysis

We employ our previously proposed framework [18] for the analysis of event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. In [18], we use a Gaussian blurring kernel to explicitly model the spatial correlation introduced by the scanner. In the present paper, we propose an improved strategy for estimating the extent of this spatial blurring. We also propose a new algorithm for performing activation detection. We illustrate the promise of our algorithm by comparing it with the widely used general linear model (GLM) method. In synthetic data experiments, under the same probability of false alarm, the probability of correct detection of our method is up to 40% higher than GLM. In real data experiments, through anatomical analysis and benchmark testing using block paradigm results, we demonstrate that our algorithm tends to produce fewer false alarms than GLM.
A study of two-dimensional array transducers for limited diffraction beams

The newly developed limited diffraction beams such as the Bessel beams and X waves have a large depth of field and approximate depth-independent property. They have possible applications in medical imaging, color Doppler imaging, tissue characterization, and nondestructive evaluation of materials, and in other wave related physical branches such as electromagnetics and optics. However, limited diffraction beams are currently produced with an annular array transducer that has to be steered mechanically. In this paper, we study the feasibility of steering these beams with a two-dimensional array, and show that there will be almost no distortion of beams if the effective aperture reduction of the array is properly compensated so that the beams have a constant transverse profile as they are steered. In addition, methods for reducing the complexity of the electronic multiplexing of the array elements are proposed. We also investigate the influences of the interelement distance and the size of array elements on the sidelobes and grating lobes of limited diffraction beams as the beams are steered. They are similar to those previously reported for conventional beams. >
Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of cell-free DNA identifies signature associated with metastatic breast cancer

A number of clinico-pathological criteria and molecular profiles have been used to stratify patients into high- and low-risk groups. Currently, there are still no effective methods to determine which patients harbor micrometastatic disease after standard breast cancer therapy and who will eventually develop local or distant recurrence. The purpose of our study was to identify circulating DNA methylation changes that can be used for prediction of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Differential methylation analysis revealed ~5.0 × 106 differentially methylated CpG loci in MBC compared with healthy individuals (H) or disease-free survivors (DFS). In contrast, there was a strong degree of similarity between H and DFS. Overall, MBC demonstrated global hypomethylation and focal CpG island (CPGI) hypermethylation. Data analysis identified 21 novel hotspots, within CpG islands, that differed most dramatically in MBC compared with H or DFS. This unbiased analysis of cell-free (cf) DNA identified 21 DNA hypermethylation hotspots associated with MBC and demonstrated the ability to distinguish tumor-specific changes from normal-derived signals at the whole-genome level. This signature is a potential blood-based biomarker that could be advantageous at the time of surgery and/or after the completion of chemotherapy to indicate patients with micrometastatic disease who are at a high risk of recurrence and who could benefit from additional therapy.
Generation disrupts memory for intrinsic context but not extrinsic context.

Although generation typically enhances item memory, the effect is subject to a number of theoretically important limitations. One potential limitation concerns context memory but there has been debate about whether generation actually enhances or disrupts memory for contextual details. Five experiments assessed the effect of generation on context memory for perceptual attributes of the study stimulus (intrinsic context). The results indicate that despite enhancing item memory, generation disrupts memory for intrinsic context. This result generalized over different intrinsic details (print colour and font), different generation manipulations, and several methodological factors identified in earlier research as potential moderators of this negative generation effect. Despite the negative generation effect on intrinsic context, contextual details external to the target item (extrinsic context) are not disrupted. In a sixth experiment, a visually based generation task (letter transposition) enhanced context m...
Finite concentration inverse gas chromatography: Diffusion and partition measurements

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) is a very fast, accurate, and reliable technique to measure diffusion coefficients. This technique however, has been limited to measurements in the infinite dilution region, i.e., in the region of negligible amount of solvent in the polymer. We have extended the scope of inverse gas chromatography to measure diffusion coefficients at finite concentrations of the solvent. This involves doping the carrier gas with a solvent of interest to achieve finite concentrations of solvent in the carrier gas and hence in the polymer. The carrier gas is passed through a saturator maintained at constant temperature to achieve this purpose. Diffusion coefficients for polyvinyl acetate–toluene, and polystyrene–toluene systems were determined at finite concentrations. The results were compared with the traditional gravimetric sorption and piezoelectric sorption measurements reported in the literature. The data are in excellent agreement with the values reported, correlate well with the Vrentas–Duda free volume theory, and can also be predicted from infinitely dilute data using the free volume theory. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1279–1290, 1997