cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Universal Quantum Computation with Gapped Boundaries.

This Letter discusses topological quantum computation with gapped boundaries of two-dimensional topological phases. Systematic methods are presented to encode quantum information topologically using gapped boundaries, and to perform topologically protected operations on this encoding. In particular, we introduce a new and general computational primitive of topological charge measurement and present a symmetry-protected implementation of this primitive. Throughout the Letter, a concrete physical example, the ${\mathbb{Z}}_{3}$ toric code [$\mathfrak{D}({\mathbb{Z}}_{3})$], is discussed. For this example, we have a qutrit encoding and an abstract universal gate set. Physically, gapped boundaries of $\mathfrak{D}({\mathbb{Z}}_{3})$ can be realized in bilayer fractional quantum Hall $1/3$ systems. If a practical implementation is found for the required topological charge measurement, these boundaries will give rise to a direct physical realization of a universal quantum computer based on a purely Abelian topological phase.
The cyclicity question

In this paper we survey the current state of knowledge on the problem of whether division algebras can be written as cyclic algebras.
Antibacterial activity of exogenous glutathione and its synergism on antibiotics sensitize carbapenem-associated multidrug resistant clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii.

A major clinical impact of A. baumannii is hospital-acquired infections including ventilator-associated pneumonia. The treatment of this pathogen is often difficult due to its innate and acquired resistance to almost all commercially available antibiotics. Infections with carbapenem-associated multidrug resistant A. baumannii is the most problematic. Glutathione is a tripeptide thiol-antioxidant and antibacterial activity of exogenous glutathione was reported in some bacteria. However, clinical relevance and molecular details of the antibacterial activity of glutathione are currently unclear. Seventy clinical isolates of A. baumannii including 63 carbapenem-associated multidrug resistant isolates and a type strain A. baumannii ATCC 19606 were used to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) and time-killing activity with meropenem and/or glutathione were also determined in the carbapenem-associated multidrug resistant isolates. In addition, the roles of exogenous glutathione in multidrug efflux pumps and β-lactamase production were examined. Levels of MIC and MBC were ranged from 10 to 15mM of exogenous glutathione. All tested carbapenem-associated multidrug resistant isolates were sensitized by all tested antibiotics in combination with subinhibitory concentrations of glutathione. FIC levels of glutathione with carbapenem (meropenem) were all 2log10 within 12h, suggesting glutathione synergistically interacts with meropenem. The roles of multidrug efflux pumps and β-lactamase production were excluded for the glutathione-mediated antibiotic susceptibility. Overall results demonstrate that the antibacterial activity of glutathione is clinically relevant and its synergism on antibiotics sensitizes clinical isolates of A. baumannii regardless of their resistance or susceptibility to antibiotics. This finding suggests that exogenous glutathione alone and/or in combination with existing antibiotics may be applicable to treat infections with carbapenem-associated multidrug resistant A. baumannii.
Retention of Discriminations and an Analysis of Learning Set

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the retention of discriminations and an analysis of learning set. Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) trained on numerous object-discrimination problems show progressive improvement in the rate of learning successive problems. If training is extended sufficiently, they eventually come to solve most problems with a maximum of one error, performance on subsequent trials being virtually errorless. The stimulus-preference error factor is only temporarily suppressed during learning-set performance. The mechanism involved in learning-set performance is based on conditional discriminations formed regarding prior-trial events stored in a relatively short-term storage. These conditional discriminations form the substance of hypothesis behavior, temporarily overriding other response tendencies, and masking the slow-rate habit-formation mechanism of the naive monkey, which remains unmodified in the learning-set-experienced monkey. Monkeys can shift the stimulus dimensions involved in a hypothesis with considerable facility, if the required pattern of response is maintained. Shifts between learning sets, requiring hypotheses involving contradictory response patterns, are of much greater difficulty.
Approximations and Asymptotic Expansions

One of the primary areas to which Ramanujan made fundamental contributions, but for which he received no recognition until recent times, is asymptotic analysis. Asymptotic formulas, both general and specific, can be found in several places in his second notebook, but perhaps the largest concentration lies in Chapter 13. Several contributions pertain to hypergeometric functions, and an excellent survey of several of these results has been made by R. J. Evans [1]. The unorganized pages in the second and third notebooks also contain many beautiful theorems in asymptotic analysis. This chapter is devoted to proving these theorems and a few approximations as well.
Male Social Status and Women's Work

Female labor force participation varies significantly even among countries with similar levels of economic development. Recent studies have shown that gender norms can help explain these differences in women's work, but the channels through which norms impact women's employment decisions are not well understood. We present novel data on spouses' preferences and perceptions of community attitudes about female labor in rural India and document associations with female work. We find that the perceived social cost of women's work falls on men and that husbands' opposition to female labor is associated with their wives' lower take-up of employment.
Characteristics of Water-Well Yields in Part of the Blue Ridge Geologic Province in Loudoun County, Virginia

Loudoun County, Virginia, which is located about 50 km to the west of Washington, DC, was the site of intensive suburban development during the 1980s and 1990s. In the western half of the county, the source of water for domestic use has been from wells drilled into the fractured crystalline bedrock of the Blue Ridge Geologic Province. A comprehensive digital database that contains information on initial yield, location, depth, elevation, and other data for 3651 wells drilled in this 825.5-km2 area was combined with a digital geologic map to form the basis for a study of geologic and temporal controls on water-well yields. Statistical modeling procedures were used to determine that mean yields for the wells were significantly different as a function of structural setting, genetic rock type, and geologic map unit. The Bonferroni procedure then was used to determine which paired comparisons contributed to these significant differences. The data were divided into 15 temporal drilling increments to determine if the time-dependent trends that exist for the Loudoun County data are similar to those discovered in a previous study of water-well yields in the Pinardville 7.5-min quadrangle, New Hampshire. In both regions, trends, which include increasing proportions of very low yield wells and increasing well depths through time, and the counterintuitive result of increasing mean well yields through time, were similar. In addition, a yield-to-depth curve similar tothat discovered in the Pinardville quadrangle was recognized in this study. Thus, the temporal model with a feed-forward-loop mechanism to explain the temporal trends in well characteristics proposed for the New Hampshire study appears to apply to western Loudoun County.
COPS: a system for constructing multiple blackboards

ABSTRACT COPS is an environment for distributed problem solving. It provides facilities for distributing blackboards and problem-solving processes over networks of heterogenous computers. Sets of rules, called ambassadors, can be placed at each blackboard, to handle matters of interest to remote processes.
Dietary Calcium and Obesity

The incidence of obesity in the United States is reaching epidemic proportions, and it is estimated that 97 million adults are overweight or obese (1). Obesity substantially increases morbidity from a variety of diseases, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Recent studies also support an association between obesity and increased risk of several types of cancers including endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon (1). Despite efforts to reduce the prevalence of obesity, the incidence has risen since 1960, and in the last decade 55% of adults age 20 yr or older are overweight and obese. Clearly, obesity is a multifactorial disease that involves interactions with genetics and environment; its rapid rise in the last several decades demonstrates that environmental factors play a substantial role in the recent development and increase in the incidence of this disease.
Research on the use of financial statement information for forecasting profitability

Research on the use of financial statement information for forecasting profitability has two objectives: (i) to generate improved forecasts of profitability and accurate estimates of firm value; and (ii) to identify market inefficiencies with respect to financial statement information. For these areas of research, this article describes the evolution, provides examples and shares implications of the research. It also discusses opportunities for future research. The article highlights that financial statement analysis research has slowly evolved and has received limited attention from academics. The article argues that there are vast opportunities for impactful research on fundamental analysis and market inefficiencies.
Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

The past decade has witnessed a revolution in the treatment of multiple myeloma as a result of introduction of several new effective drugs, which in conjunction with increased use of autologous stem cell transplantation and improved supportive care strategies have resulted in significantly improved survival outcomes for these patients. The survival of patients with myeloma has more than doubled in the past decade, a success story unparalleled by any other cancer. In addition to the improved armamentarium of therapeutic options, there has been a better understanding of the basic disease biology as well as the heterogeneity seen in the disease, in particular the genetic heterogeneity. This has led to development of risk stratifications systems that is increasingly allowing us to individualize the therapy of patients with multiple myeloma. The general approach to treatment of patients with myeloma can be grouped into seven discrete steps as shown in Table 8.1. A systematic approach to the treatment allows us to judiciously use the available therapeutic options allowing the best possible outcomes for these patients.
Energy expenditure and dietary intake of female collegiate tennis and soccer players during a competitive season

This study examined energy expenditure, dietary behavior, and energy balance of female tennis and soccer student-athletes during a competitive season. A sample of 18 (Mage = 19.86±1.35) Division I female collegiate student-athletes (5 tennis and 13 soccer players) were followed for four days. Physical activity was assessed with accelerometers and dietary behavior with daily food logs. Daily energy expenditure for the game/match, practice, and rest days was 2,848±304kcals, 2,622±248kcals, and 1,833±959kcals, respectively, with a statistically significant main effect (F(2,16) = 82.291, p < .001, η2= .91). Daily dietary intake ranged from 1,833±959 to 1849±371kcals, with no significant interaction between different days. There were no sport specific differences in energy expenditure or dietary behaviors. Athletes consumed 4.30±2.07 g/kg carbohydrates, 1.57±.98 g/kg protein, and 1.27±.80 g/kg fats daily. There was a significant main effect in dietary intake (F(2,16) = 7.311, p = .006, η2= .48), with a difference between game/match and recovery days (t(17) = 3.83, p = .001, d = 1.19). This study showed a negative energy balance among female student-athletes. The findings indicate that the lack of carbohydrate intake during game/match days contributed to this negative energy deficit.
UNIT 15.1 Modification of Cysteine

This unit describes a number of methods for modifying cysteine residues of proteins and peptides. A general procedure for alkylation of cysteine residues in a protein of known size and composition with haloacyl reagents or N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) is presented, and alternate protocols describe similar procedures for use when the size and composition are not known and when only very small amounts of protein are available. Alkylations that introduce amino groups using bromopropylamine and N-(iodoethyl)-trifluoroacetamide are also presented. Two procedures that are often used for subsequent sequence analysis of the protein, alkylation with 4-vinylpyridine and acrylamide, are described, and a specialized procedure for 4-vinylpyridine alkylation of protein that has been adsorbed onto a sequencing membrane is also presented. Reversible modification of cysteine residues by way of sulfitolysis is described, and a protocol for oxidation with performic acid for amino acid compositional analysis is also provided. Gentle oxidation of cysteine residues to disulfides by exposure to air is described. Support protocols are included for recrystallization of iodoacetic acid, colorimetric detection of free sulfhydryls, and desalting of modified samples. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: cysteine; disulfide; alkylation; dithiothreitol; TCEP; cysteine modification
Action Learning for Coral Detection and Species Classification

This paper presents a method for exploring and monitoring coral reef habitats using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with an onboard camera. To accomplish this task, the vehicle needs to learn to detect and classify different coral species, and also make motion decisions for exploring larger unknown areas while trying to detect as more corals (with species labels) as possible. We propose a systematic framework that integrates object detection, occupancy grid mapping, and reinforcement learning methods. To enable the vehicle to adjudicate decisions between exploration of larger space and exploitation of promising areas, we propose a reward function that combines both an information-theoretic objective for environment spatial coverage and an ingredient that encourages coral detection. We have validated the proposed method through extensive simulations, and the results show that our approach can achieve a good performance even by training with a small number of images (50 images in total) collected in the simulator.
Sociedade e governança global: perspectivas para as ações coletivas no direito e na política em um mundo fragmentado

La sociedad internacional desde el proceso de gobernanza global ha intensificado las criticas sobre la insuficiencia de las instituciones internacionales y el derecho internacional en si mismo para dar voz a esta sociedad. Los modelos democraticos de la sociedad estan en crisis, lo que se manifiesta en discusiones sobre la representatividad de la participacion y la legitimidad de los actores politicos involucrados en las decisiones que afectan el futuro de la humanidad. El proposito de este articulo es enfatizar la necesidad de modernizar las instituciones internacionales y el derecho internacional. El mundo de hoy es mas cosmopolita y ordenado a partir de las estructuras de gobernanza global y las practicas multilaterales desarrolladas a lo largo de los anos. El derecho internacional sigue siendo de gran importancia en el ordenamiento de la sociedad global. El estudio es cualitativo y descriptivo, desarrollado a traves de referencias bibliograficas que abordan los principales temas senalados a lo largo del trabajo. De ello se deduce que las perspectivas de accion colectiva en derecho y politica en el mundo actual de fragmentacion y nacionalismo requeriran la modernizacion de las instituciones y el derecho internacional en si. La sociedad internacional tiene dificultades debido a la fragmentacion del propio sistema internacional en el que vivimos para impulsar una mejor eficacia del sistema de gobernanza global.
Concentration-Based Polynomial Calculations on Nicked DNA

In this paper, we introduce a novel scheme for computing polynomial functions on a substrate of nicked DNA. We first discuss a fractional encoding of data, based on the concentration of nicked double DNA strands. Then we show how to perform multiplication on this representation. Next we describe the read-out process, effected by releasing single strands. We show how to perform simple mathematical operations such as addition and subtraction, as well as how to scale constant values using probabilistic switches. We also describe two complex operations: calculating a vector dot product and computing a general polynomial function. We conclude by discussing potential applications of our scheme, practical challenges, and future research directions.
Interdisciplinary Primary Care Team Expertise and Diabetes Care Management.

BACKGROUND Interdisciplinary primary care team expertise can aid patient self management of type 2 diabetes, but small community health centers (CHCs) may not have the volume to consistently provide interprofessional care. We examine whether care team role expertise is associated with patients' experiences of chronic care and whether the relationship is stronger for small CHC sites. METHODS Surveys of 1277 adults with diabetes (2012; response rate = 47%) that assessed nonphysician team roles involved in managing their chronic care, including community health workers, diabetes educators, nutritionists, pharmacists, mental health providers, and other general staff, were integrated with clinical and administrative data from 14 CHCs. Random effects regression models estimated the association of team expertise, CHC size, and 1) patients' experiences of chronic care; and 2) hemoglobin A1c control, controlling for patient comorbidities, sex, race/ethnicity/primary language, age, and insurance coverage. RESULTS Care teams with community health workers ( β = 7.67, P < .01), diabetes educators ( β = 6.05, P < .01), nutritionists ( β = 5.21, P < .01), and other general staff ([Formula: see text] =4.96, P = .02) were associated with better patients' experiences of chronic care, but not hemoglobin A1c control. Patients of small CHC sites reported better experiences of care ( β = 2.15, P = .03) with each additional team role reported, but the relationship was not significant for large CHCs. CONCLUSIONS Patients with access to care team expertise in self-management support, including diabetes educators, nutritionists, community health workers, and other general staff report better experiences of chronic care. These team roles may reduce barriers to patient self management and improve patients' overall experiences of chronic care, particularly in small CHC sites.
Electrical storm in patients with left ventricular assist devices: Risk factors, incidence, and impact on survival.

Background Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and electrical storm (ES) are recognized complications following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation; however, their association with long term-outcomes remains poorly understood. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical impact of ES in a population of patients undergoing LVAD implantation at a quaternary care center in the United States. Methods This was an observational retrospective study of patients undergoing LVAD implantation from 2009 to 2020 at Duke University Hospital. The incidence of ES (≥3 sustained VA episodes over a 24-hour period without an identifiable reversible cause) was determined from patient records. Risk factors for ES were identified using multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results Among 730 patients undergoing LVAD implant, 78 (10.7%) developed ES at a median of 269 (interquartile range [IQR] 7–766) days following surgery. Twenty-seven patients (34.6%) developed ES within 30 days, while 51 (65.4%) presented with ES at a median 639 (IQR 281–1017) days after implant. Following ES, 41% of patients died within 1 year. Patients who developed ES were more likely to have a history of VAs, ventricular tachycardia ablation, antiarrhythmic drug use, and perioperative mechanical circulatory support around the time of LVAD implant than patients without ES. Conclusion ES occurs in 1 in 10 patients after LVAD and is associated with higher mortality. Risk factors for ES include a history of VAs, VT ablation, antiarrhythmic drug use, and perioperative mechanical circulatory support. Optimal management of ES surrounding LVAD implant, including escalation of medical therapy, catheter ablation, or adjunctive sympatholytic therapies, remains uncertain.
Preventing the use of preschool suspension and expulsion: implementing the pyramid model

This paper describes the approach used by two demonstration sites to implement Pyramid Model Practices at fidelity and address behavioral issues without the use of suspension and expulsion. The art...
دوہے کے نئے ابعاد

Abstract: Doha is something like “Matla” –opening couplet 0f a ghazal- characterized with spontaneity set in a particularly simplistic and pastoral life. Both of its lines rhyme with each other and they balance in weight. Doha enjoys a peculiar field of relevance. A definite form, specific inference and dedicated language make integral parts of a Doha. This beautiful genre of literature flourished in the hands of religious enthusiasts like Sofis, Sunnats, and Saadhus. However, this progress of Doha is heavily indebted to an all-times-active institution of our society called theatre proper. Khawaja dil Muhammad played the most important role in the proclamation of "Doha" after the creation of Pakistan. His collection "Peet Ki Reet" was published in the specific tone of Doha. Later a book of Jameel o din aali came forward after some time. He made it famous and progressed it through "Mushairas". Many more poets came on the scene through his ignition and Doha got renowned in the sub-continent. Also some changes accrued in its formation. Dr. Faraz Hamidi and Dr. Manazir Harganvi promoted it by mingling it with other genres of literature. Doha poetry of three poets, Dr. Tahir Saeed Haroon and Mohsin Maleeh Abadi has been made topic of this article in particular. It has been tried to depict that the scope of Doha is powerful and this genere will continue to exist with importance in the future.
High dose valacyclovir for cytomegalovirus prophylaxis following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

INTRODUCTION Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common and clinically significant viral infections following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Currently available options for CMV prophylaxis and treatment present challenges related to side effects and cost. METHODS In this retrospective medical record review, the incidence of clinically significant CMV infection (CMV disease or reactivation requiring preemptive treatment) following allogeneic HCT was compared in patients receiving valacyclovir 1 g three times daily versus acyclovir 400 mg every 12 h for viral prophylaxis. RESULTS Forty-five patients who received valacyclovir were matched based on propensity scoring to 35 patients who received acyclovir. All patients received reduced-intensity conditioning regimens containing anti-thymocyte globulin. Clinically significant CMV infection by day + 180 was lower in the valacyclovir group compared to the acyclovir group (18% vs. 57%, p = 0.0004). Patients receiving valacyclovir prophylaxis also had less severe infection evidenced by a reduction in CMV disease, lower peak CMV titers, delayed CMV reactivation, and less secondary neutropenia. CONCLUSION Prospective evaluation of valacyclovir 1 g three times daily for viral prophylaxis following allogeneic HCT is warranted. Due to valacyclovir's favorable toxicity profile and affordable cost, it has the potential to benefit patients on a broad scale as an option for CMV prophylaxis.
Effect of photodegradation on molecular size distribution and quality of dissolved black carbon

The effects of photodegradation on the molecular size distribution and composition of dissolved black carbon (DBC) were explored using a surface water dissolved organic matter (DOM) sample from a terrigenous-influenced, fire-impacted Everglades area canal. The original and photodegraded DOM samples were fractionated using size exclusion chromatography and DBC was quantified via benzene polycarboxylic acid (BPCA) analysis. Size fractionation revealed that DBC was unequally distributed along the DOM molecular weight (MW) continuum and was preferentially associated with high MW (HMW) fractions. The photo-decomposition of HMW DBC generated less condensed DBC photo-products that preferentially re-associated with, and became enriched in, low MW (LMW) DOM size fractions. DBC composition in whole and size-fractionated DOM, as determined from relative BPCA distributions, was not considerably altered with short term photodegradation. This indicated that the size of the conjugated aromatic ring structure may drive the association of DBC compounds with different DOM MW fractions. HMW DBC was also more photo-labile than LMW DBC, which suggests that DBC associated with DOM over a range of size fractions may not exhibit the same degree of photo-reactivity, thereby resulting in different environmental fates for pyrogenic OM.
Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Body Composition and Health in HIV/AIDS During HAART Therapy

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has affected people on a global basis. It has been shown that dietary fats may play a role in the parthenogenesis of the infection and disease progression. By examining the effects of saturated, unsaturated, and omega-3 fatty acids on HIV infection, it was found that HIV infection could be halted with the consumption of these dietary fats. The virus can be then further immobilized with prolonged antiretroviral therapy and clinical sessions. Dietary fats have the ability to reduce problems related to body composition and health in persons with HIV.
Circadian Regulation of Macronutrient Absorption

Various intestinal functions exhibit circadian rhythmicity. Disruptions in these rhythms as in shift workers and transcontinental travelers are associated with intestinal discomfort. Circadian rhythms are controlled at the molecular level by core clock and clock-controlled genes. These clock genes are expressed in intestinal cells, suggesting that they might participate in the circadian regulation of intestinal functions. A major function of the intestine is nutrient absorption. Here, we will review absorption of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids and circadian regulation of various transporters involved in their absorption. A better understanding of circadian regulation of intestinal absorption might help control several metabolic disorders and attenuate intestinal discomfort associated with disruptions in sleep-wake cycles.
The AIS Grand Vision Project: What, Why, and How

In 2014, the AIS Council formed a Task Force to develop a proposal for an AIS Grand Vision Project that aims to address the risks and side effects associated with ICT such as privacy, cyber-attacks, gaming addiction, fraud and cyber-crimes, global warming, sustainability, etc. As first steps, AIS leadership agreed to organize panels on this topic at AIS conferences and launch a special issue with JAIS. The Bright ICT Initiative aims to design an ICT-enabled “bright” future through globallycoordinated, funded research programs in partnership with academia, industry, government, and international organizations. The scope of the initiative encompasses the development of relevant technologies, business models, public policies, international agreements, standards, and metrics. Given that the proposed AIS Grand Vision Project is still in an early stage, our panel aims to stimulate further discussion on it in order to raise awareness within our community, build community consensus about its plans and objectives, and propose effective approaches to realizing the Vision. All AIS members are invited and urged to play a role in the project, and this panel provides one opportunity to learn how to get involved.
Maternal psychological and physiologic correlates of fetal-newborn health status

Abstract Data were obtained from 32 primigravid women in pregnancy and in labor. Anxiety in labor, measured by a self-report inventory, and plasma epinephrine were significantly correlated with the fetal heart rate pattern in active-phase labor (3 to 10 cm of cervical dilatation.) The fetal heart rate pattern was significantly correlated with Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes. Conflict in the acceptance of pregnancy, measured in prenatal interviews, predicted anxiety and epinephrine levels in labor and the 5-minute Apgar score.
Doddering Dotards: Flattery, Parrhesia, and Old Man Demos in Aristophanes' Knights

There has been a great deal of recent interest in the ancient Athenian concept of parrhesia, or free speech. After an initial interest in the idea as a possible salve to democratic problems, theorists have also begun to probe the limits and complications of parrhesia. Especially interesting is the relationship between flattery and parrhesia in comedy. As John Zumbrunnen notes, “speaking frankly to the audience, after all, was not the poet’s only goal.” How can a comedian speak with parrhesia since he also wants to win first prize and is therefore tempted to flatter? Moreover, how does he get an audience looking for entertainment to seriously consider his claims and, quite possibly, his indictments of that same audience? In this essay, I explore these questions, probing Aristophanes’ critique of flattery (kolakeia), his own use of it, and his presentation of the figure of old man (γeρον-) Demos as a way to both deliver and temper his skewering of Athenian rhetorical practices.
A JCA-based implementation framework for threshold cryptography

The Java Cryptography Architecture, JCA in short, was created to allow JCA-compliant cryptography providers to be plugged into a JCA-aware application at run time. This configurable feature makes JCA widely used and assures its success. However, the public key cryptographic service interfaces defined by JCA are based on the conventional public key cryptography, which is a single-sender-single-receiver model, and does not accommodate the group-based public key cryptography well. Especially, it does not support the threshold cryptography (TC), an important type of group-based public key cryptography, which has been shown to be a useful tool to enhance system security. As a step towards the systematic application of group-based public key cryptography, this article proposes an extension to the JCA framework to integrate threshold cryptography. Under this extension, various TC providers implementing different TC primitives can be plugged into a security application at run-time. This extension also makes it easy for a existing JCA-aware application to be migrated to use threshold cryptography. An example provider of threshold RSA is implemented under this framework extension. It is our belief that such an extension would help speed up the adoption of threshold cryptography.
The maximum entropy principle: A critical discussion

There is a thin line between quasi-religious belief and a yet-to-be-proven scientific hypo-thesis, and that thin but important line is the empirical test. Before being proven, a scientifichypothesis is an insight, a hunch, and perhaps even a belief, but what separates it fromreligion is that it is testable (at least, in principle).The claim that complex systems evolve to maximize entropy has been around for sometime, as noted by Kleidon (2004). But anything that does not grow to infinity is maximizedunder some constraint. Volk (2007) provides examples of systems that appear not to evolveto a state of maximum entropy, but Kleidon (2007) rejects these examples claiming thatVolk has not properly represented the constraints on these systems.For example, Kleidon (2007) rejects Volk’s(2007) example of a hypothetical tree withsuperfluous entropy-producing black leaves by saying that this is a pseudo-counter-examplebecause, as Volk (2007) agrees, such a tree would not satisfy constraints imposed byDarwinian selection.Let us say, paralleling the discussion of Kleidon (2007) and Volk (2007) appearing inthis issue, that we have a system with sunlight falling on a ball in space. If the ball weremirrored, the sunlight would be reflected as low-entropy sunlight. If the ball were black, thesunlight would be absorbed and radiated as high-entropy heat. So, the maximum entropyprincipal might be applied to conclude that all balls in space must be black. So, is a greyball in space a refutation of the maximum entropy principle? No, advocates say, ifconstraints on the system are properly understood, you will see that this ball became asblack as it could become; it became black “to the extent possible”.Kleidon (2007) notes that he is claiming that the system evolves to maximize entropyproduction “to the extent possible.” So, any state of the system that generates more entropy(our black orb in space) is deemed “impossible,” and the people who present that state as acounter-example are presenting an “impossible” state of the system (it is like those science
Pulse compression in a silver gallium sulfide, mid-infrared, synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator

Experiments and numerical modeling of optical pulse compression in a silver gallium sulfide synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator show that compression depends strongly on the signal-idler group velocity difference.
Ascorbic acid abrogates microparticle generation and vascular injuries associated with high-pressure exposure

We hypothesized that pathological changes associated with elevations in annexin V-positive microparticles (MPs) following high-pressure exposures can be abrogated by ascorbic acid in a murine model. Mice exposed for 2 h to 790-kPa air and killed at 2 or 13 h postdecompression exhibited over threefold elevations in circulating MPs, as well as subgroups bearing Ly6G, CD41, Ter119, CD31, and CD142 surface proteins. There was evidence of significant neutrophil activation, platelet-neutrophil interactions, and vascular injury to brain, omentum, psoas, and skeletal muscles assessed as leakage of high-molecular-weight dextran. Prophylactic ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg ip) administration prevented all postdecompression neutrophil changes and vascular injuries. Ascorbic acid administration immediately after decompression abrogated most changes, but evidence of vascular leakage in the brain and skeletal muscle at 13 h postdecompression persisted. No significant elevations in these parameters occurred after injection of ascorbic acid alone. The findings support the idea that MP production occurring with exposures to elevated gas pressure is an oxidative stress response and that antioxidants may offer protection from pathological effects associated with decompression.
Seasonal measurements of acetone and methanol: Abundances and implications for atmospheric budgets

[1] Acetone and methanol have been measured hourly at a rural mountain site in California for a full year, providing a unique data set for analyzing the factors controlling their seasonal cycles. Their mixing ratios showed clear maxima in summer and late spring respectively, and were mostly correlated with atmospheric temperature with highest values during heat waves. Lowest values occurred during winter coincident with the periods of lowest temperature (0.15 ppb for acetone and 0.4 ppb for methanol). The acetone to methanol ratio changed seasonally with a minimum in spring and maxima in late summer and fall, likely reflecting higher springtime methanol emissions. The ratio was highest during fall and winter, probably a result of secondary acetone production from diffuse anthropogenic sources. Large decreases of both gases were observed when frontal passages brought free tropospheric air of Pacific origin to the site as indicated by back trajectory analysis. Neither wet nor dry deposition could explain these periodic decreases. Our results confirm previous assessments showing large acetone and methanol abundances over rural areas indicative of large biogenic sources. Their high degree of correlation at all times suggests a strong link between their biogenic emission sources and only a small influence of anthropogenic sources, at least at this site. The free tropospheric background mixing ratios concur with published measurements from aircraft over the Pacific, and are consistent with a substantial, diffuse source from hydrocarbon oxidation.
Roles of microorganisms in the deterioration of rockfish.

Seven species of microorganisms indigenous to fish were inoculated into sterile fish muscle, obtained from Sebastodes alutus and Sebastalobus alascanus, and the production of total volatile acids (TVA) and total volatile bases (TVB) was determined during storage at 1 C. No production of TVA and TVB was noted in sterile fish, fish inoculated with Pseudomonas type III species (PIII-985), or fish inoculated with Flavobacterium (F-1070). The inactivity of PIII-985 was due to its low maximal growth level, whereas the inactivity of F-1070 was due to its slow growth rate. Pseudomonas type I species (PI-950), Pseudomonas type II species (PII-952), and two Achromobacter (Acinetobacter) species (A-981 and A-70) grew and actively produced TVA and TVB. TVB levels increased steadily even after the microbial number reached a maximum, whereas TVA levels declined toward the end of the storage period. It appeared that a minimal microbial growth level of 108 cells/g was needed before detectable levels of TVA or TVB could be produced. Regardless of genera, microorganisms which grew well in fish were able to produce TVA and TVB.
Expression, purification, and crystallization of the catalytic domain of protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1.

The catalytic domain of SHP-1, a SH2-domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase, has been crystallized by the vapor diffusion method using polyethylene glycol as the precipitant. The crystals belong to the monoclinic space group P21 with unit cell dimensions a = 42.12 A, b = 87.94 A, c = 43.22 A, alpha = 90.0 degrees, beta = 120.12 degrees, and gamma = 90.0 degrees. There is one catalytic domain of SHP-1 per asymmetric unit. X-ray was diffracted to at least 2.5 A and the crystals are appropriate for high-resolution structure determination.
Fault tolerance and self-checking techniques in microprocessor-based system design

Fault tolerant design is receiving considerable attention at present in order to safeguard against improper operation of digital systems in critical applications. A number of multiprocessor systems featuring hardware fault tolerance are now available commercially. The paper presents an overview of some of the work done so far in the application of fault tolerance techniques to improve the reliability and availability of microprocessor-based systems. An alternative approach to enhance the reliability of a system is to apply self-checking techniques, primarily through the use of error detecting codes. By merging the fault tolerance and the self-checking techniques, the reliability and the maintainability of microprocessor-based systems can be significantly improved.
The Importance of Competency-based Clinical Supervision and Training in the Twenty-first Century: Why Bother?

Providing clinical supervision is challenging. Responding to the provocative question, “Why competency-based clinical supervision?” this paper provides the rationale of greater accountability in transforming supervision practice to a competency-based one. This emphasizes a focus on strength-based competency assessment and continuous professional development. Competence, an essential defining ethical component, is described. The progression of historical development of competency-based approaches in psychology, the range of available competency-based applications, and the benefits of competency-based supervision practice are discussed.
The Immune System and Its Ecology

In biology, the ‘ecological orientation’ rests on a commitment to examining systems, and the conceptual challenge of defining that system now employs techniques and concepts adapted from diverse disciplines (i.e., systems philosophy, cybernetics, information theory, computer science) that are applied to biological simulations and model building. Immunology has joined these efforts, and the question posed here is whether the discipline will remain committed to its theoretical concerns framed by the notions of protecting an insular self, an entity demarcated from its environment, or will shift its focus of interest to a wider context. An ecological perspective emphasizes the interchange between the organism and its environment, the processing of information, and the regulation arising from responses to this larger context. Moving from the first attempts at modeling the immune system as a closed network, immunologists have joined the general interest in systems analysis, and that move might portend a signifi...
Iatrogenic post-catheterization pseudoaneurysm.

Pseudoaneurysms that occur after catheterization are becoming more common. Some attribute this situation to the use of larger sheaths for intervention and performing endovascular procedures in patients with anticoagulation or platelet inhibition. In the author's opinion, management of this complication is relatively straightforward in most cases, and post-catheterization pseudoaneurysms should be handled primarily by interventional radiologists.
Vitamin A megatherapy for retinal abnormalities

A recent paper suggests that supplementing the diet with large amounts of vitamin A may overcome some inherited blindness. But it also raises some serious questions.
Correlation between the δ34S of pyritic and organic sulfur in coal and oil shale

The δ34S of pyritic (Y) and organic (X) sulfur in high-sulfur Illinois Basin coals and the Saline Zone of the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, U.S.A., oil shale of the Green River Formation exhibit a linear relationship (Y = 1.16X − 4.8; R2 = 0.98). This relationship implies that a common mechanism resulted in the incorporation of sulfur in two different depositional settings. They were formed in an environment where bacterial sulfate reduction and plant assimilation were the two major pathways of sulfur incorporation and where dissolved sulfate concentration was high. Bacterial sulfate reduction has apparently produced large kinetic isotope fractionation effects in the high-sulfate-concentration environment. In contrast, low-sulfur coals from the Illinois Basin and the Leached and Mahogany Zones of the Piceance Creek were apparently formed in environments where the dissolved sulfate concentration was lower and where bacterial sulfate reduction, if it occurred, did not produce significant kinetic isotope fractionation.
Immunologic issues in VCFS/chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Abstract Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) is characterized by conotruncal cardiac defects, palatal defects, and dysmorphic facies. VCFS is considered part of the spectrum of chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Although the immunodeficiency was once thought to occur in patients with the clinical phenotype of DiGeorge syndrome, it is now known that any patient with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome may have a T cell defect. Fortunately, the majority of patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome have a mild to moderate immunodeficiency. These patients may develop recurrent infections or autoimmune disease, but infections are seldom life threatening. Less than 1% have the most serious form of the immunodeficiency requiring bone marrow or thymus transplantation.
Housing Conditions and Satisfactions of Central Appalachian Coal Miners.

Data on conditions of and satisfaction with housing of the Appalachian coal miner were examined to determine relationships between housing deprivation, housing satisfaction, and various demographic and housing characteristics. A proportionate random sample was selected from rank-and-file coal miners em ployed at mines located in McDowell County, West Virginia. A questionnaire was developed, pilot tested, revised and mailed to 687 miner families. A total of 438 usable questionnaires (63%) were returned. Findings revealed the majority of miners in this study were not housing deprived; however, they lacked some amenities enjoyed by workers of similar incomes in other geographic locations. Miners were generally satisfied with their housing and exhibited more satisfaction with housing variables than with community variables. Housing deprivation was significantly correlated with housing satisfaction: as housing conditions improved so did housing satisfaction.
Training Programmes that Equip Managers to Deal with a Diverse Workforce

In 1964, the Congress of the United States passed the Civil Rights Act. Title VII of this act prohibited employers from engaging in employment discrimination based purely on race, colour, religion, gender and national origin. Such a national policy marked the beginnings of a culturally diverse workforce. However, over the years, employers have remained reluctant to hire individuals who were, in their minds, significantly different from their traditional workforce.
Comments on Whaley's note

Abstract Valuation by duplication is a useful conceptual technique but it does not yield unique formula. Many duplicating portfolios, some simpler than the three security portfolio in Roll and Whaley, exist for this problem. Valuing the actual single security will generally yield conceptually and computationally simpler solutions.
Managing menorrhagia in a familial case of factor V deficiency.

Abstract Background Factor V deficiency is a rare coagulation disorder. Excessive uterine bleeding is common in affected women. We describe a case of 2 siblings with Factor V deficiency and menorrhagia who achieved control of bleeding with differing treatments. Cases Patient 1 is a 16-year-old female with Factor V deficiency and menorrhagia which was previously controlled with oral contraceptives (OC). She developed heavy bleeding treated with fresh frozen plasma, anti-inhibitor coagulant complex (AICC), and OC taper. A levonorgestrel IUD was placed with good control of her menorrhagia. Patient 2 is the 12-year-old sister of Patient 1. She was treated with AICC, aminocaproic acid, and her menorrhagia was ultimately controlled with continuous OCs. Summary and Conclusion Factor V deficiency is a rare cause of menorrhagia. Various treatment modalities are available. In these adolescent sisters desiring future fertility, menorrhagia was managed with OCs and an IUD.
Challenges and Future Trends of Distributed Computing Systems

Due to the rapid progress in computer hardware, software, internet, sensor networks, mobile communications, and multimedia technologies, distributed computing systemshave recently evolved drastically to improve and expand various applications with better quality of services and lower cost, especially those involving human factors.Recent development in services and cloud computing are good examples. However, the challenges for distributed computing systems to satisfy increasing demands for various applications become also greater. Besides reliability, performance and availability, many other attributes, such as security, privacy, trustworthiness, situation awareness, flexibility and rapid development of various applications, have also become important.We have invited an excellent panel to discuss the challenges and future trends of distributed computing systems to meet these challenges from various perspectives. Each panelist will give a brief presentation at the beginning of the session, and then we will open the discussions from the floor.