cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some Probability Theory on C[0,1] and D[0,1]

We have seen in Chapter II that to prove asymptotic normality by von Mises’ method it is necessary to show that a statistical functional is differentiable and that the remainder term of its von Mises expansion satisfies the convergence condition (2.7). In this chapter we show that statistical functionals induce functionals on the space D[0,1] of functions on [0,1] with at most discontinuities of the first kind, and that problems of differentiability and convergence can be considered in this setting. Both the differentiability of the functional and the convergence of the remainder depend on the choice of topology on the domain of the functional. A stronger topology will allow more functionals to be differentiable, but will interfere with the convergence of the remainder. We shall use the uniform topology on D[0,1] and we shall show that with this topology the remainder term satisfies the convergence condition (2.7). This result will first be proved on C[0,1], the space of continuous functions on [0,1] with the uniform topology, and then be extended to D[0,1]. In the following chapters we shall show that wide classes of statistical functionals induce Hadamard differentiable functionals on D[0,1] with the uniform topology, and therefore with this choice of topology we are able to construct a broadly applicable von Mises calculus.
The Biochemistry of LTP Induction

This chapter discusses five categories of molecular components and processes that are involved in long-term potentiation (LTP) induction. It is very important not to think of these in isolation from each other—they are functional categories to help organize the complex biochemical machinery of LTP induction and not compartmentalized biochemical processes in the cell. It is a useful intellectual exercise to think up ways to mix and match the categories and allow them to interact. The interactions of these various processes are what allow the synapse to serve in its role as a molecular decision maker. Synapse acts as an immensely complicated information-processing machine. It integrates a plethora of biochemical signals and computes—based on a number of molecular inputs—whether to trigger a lasting molecular change. This model of synaptic function allows for the necessary sophistication required for triggering memory formation in the animal in vivo . The molecular complexity of LTP induction has implications for thinking about memory formation in general terms. The synapse is a complex signal integration machine. To integrate information and decide whether to change its state, it responds to multiple signals and its recent history.
Null Geodesics of Black Holes in String Theory

In this talk, we presented the null geodesics of the static charged black hole in heterotic string theory. The talk is based on a paper published in Physical Review D (Fernando, Phys. Rev. D 85:02403, 2012). In this paper, a detailed analysis of the geodesics are done in the Einstein frame as well as in the string frame. In the Einstein frame, the geodesics are solved exactly in terms of the Jacobi-elliptic integrals for all possible energy levels and angular momentum of the photons. In the string frame, the geodesics are presented for the circular orbits. As a physical application of the null geodesics, we have obtained the angle of deflection for the photons and the quasinormal modes of a massless scalar field in the eikonal limit.
SEIRAS Study of Chloride-Mediated Polyether Adsorption on Cu.

Surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy is used to examine the co-adsorption of a selection of polyethers with Cl– under conditions relevant to superconformal Cu electrodeposition in CuSO...
Exercise in prevention of cardiovascular diseases, as seen in population aged 40+

Aim: The aim of the article is to highlight the level of education regarding exercise in the population aged 40+, and the amount of money spent on exercise by this population. Design: A quantitative descriptive study. Methods: The level of education regarding exercise was ascertained with the help of data obtained by a non-standardized questionnaire. The research set consisted of 1992 respondents aged 40 years and over in the Czech Republic. Results: Data analysis indicated that 52.9% patients had received educated regarding their physical activity at some point. Most respondents aged 40-49 years had not received any educational input. In addition, 34.5% respondents did not agree that regular exercise could have an influence on the developing of cardiovascular diseases. The sum most frequently spent on sports activities monthly was up to 500 CZK (78.3%). The respondents' answers also indicate that 66.8% walk for at least 30 minutes, five or more days a week. Conclusion: Our findings indicate a need to improve levels of education regarding exercise and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Multispecies study: low-dose tributyltin impairs ovarian theca cell cholesterol homeostasis through the RXR pathway in five mammalian species including humans.

Tributyltin (TBT), an organotin chemical used as a catalyst and biocide, can stimulate cholesterol efflux in non-steroidogenic cells. Since cholesterol is the first limiting step for sex hormone production, we hypothesized that TBT disrupts intracellular cholesterol transport and impairs steroidogenesis in ovarian theca cells. We investigated TBT’s effect on cholesterol trafficking, luteinization, and steroidogenesis in theca cells of five species (human, sheep, cow, pig, and mice). Primary theca cells were exposed to an environmentally relevant dose of TBT (1 or 10 ng/ml) and/or retinoid X receptor (RXR) antagonist. The expression of RXRα in sheep theca cells was knocked down using shRNA. Steroidogenic enzymes, cholesterol transport factors, and nuclear receptors were measured by RT-qPCR and Western blotting, and intracellular cholesterol, progesterone, and testosterone secretion by ELISA. TBT upregulated StAR and ABCA1 in ovine cells, and SREBF1 mRNA in theca cells. TBT also reduced intracellular cholesterol and upregulated ABCA1 protein expression but did not alter testosterone or progesterone production. RXR antagonist and RXRα knockdown demonstrates that TBT’s effect is partially through RXR. TBT’s effect on ABCA1 and StAR expression was recapitulated in all five species. TBT, at an environmentally relevant dose, stimulates theca cell cholesterol extracellular efflux via the RXR pathway, triggers a compensatory upregulation of StAR that regulates cholesterol transfer into the mitochondria and SREBF1 for de novo cholesterol synthesis. Similar results were obtained in all five species evaluated (human, sheep, cow, pig, and mice) and are supportive of TBT’s conserved mechanism of action across mammalian species.
Driver Cell Phone Usage Violation Detection using License Plate Recognition Camera Images.

The increased use of digital video and image processing technology has paved the way for extending the traffic enforcement applications to a wider range of violations as well as making the enforcement process more efficient. Automated traffic enforcement has mainly been applied towards speed and red light violations detection. In recent years, there has been an extension to other violation detection tasks such as seat-belt usage, tailgating and toll payment violations. In the recent years, automated driver cell phone usage violation detection methods have aroused considerable interest since it results in higher mortality rates than the intoxicated driving. In this study, we propose a novel automated technique towards driver’s phone usage violation detection using deep learning algorithms. Using an existing license plate recognition camera system placed on an overhead gantry, installed on a highway, real world images are captured during day and night time. We performed experiments using more than 5900 real world images and achieved an overall accuracy of 90.8 % in the driver cell phone usage violation detection task.
Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Repair

Medial patellofemoral ligament repair (MPFL) represents an alternative method of medial soft tissue management in patients with lateral patellar instability. MPFL repair is best indicated in patients with isolated patellar- or femoral-based avulsions, which can be identified on preoperative MRI. MPFL repair technique utilizes small incisions over the site of injury, where sutures anchors are used to repair the residual stump to its anatomic insertion site. Medial reefing, otherwise known as imbrication, is a technique to tighten the medial soft tissues, and is most commonly used as an adjunct to other realignment procedures when mild residual instability remains. Overall, we recommend a systematic and multifactorial approach to patellar instability, with decisions regarding medial soft tissue management based on the MPFL injury pattern on MRI.
Hierarchical measurement strategy for cost-effective interpolation of spatiotemporal data in manufacturing

Abstract High-resolution spatiotemporal data is crucial for characterizing, modeling, and monitoring the space–time dynamics of complex systems in manufacturing. However, the acquisition of such data is generally expensive and time-consuming. Spatiotemporal interpolation aims to predict the values at unmeasured locations using measured data, and emerges as a promising solution to cost-effectively characterizing spatiotemporal processes. Since the interpolation performance is largely influenced by the available measurement data, an intelligent measurement strategy is an important prerequisite to the success of interpolation methods. In this paper, a hierarchical measurement strategy is developed to achieve a balance between interpolation precision and measurement cost in spatiotemporal interpolation. A hierarchical decision-making problem is formulated to determine the observation times and measurement locations at each observation. To expedite the solution search process, hierarchical genetic algorithm is adopted and implemented using high-performance computing. Moreover, a new form of the covariance function is developed using a Bessel additive periodic variogram to more accurately model the periodic spatial variations in spatiotemporal processes. Case studies using real-world data collected from ultrasonic metal welding are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Optimal incentives for teams: a multiscale decision theory approach

We present a novel modeling approach for supervised teams, which can determine optimal incentives when individual team member contributions are unknown. Our approach is based on multiscale decision theory, which models the agents’ decision processes and their mutual influence. To estimate the initially unknown influence of team members on their supervisor’s success, we develop a linear approximation method that estimates model parameters from historic team performance data. In our analysis, we derive the optimal incentives the supervisor should offer to team members accounting for their varying skill levels. In addition, we identify the information and communication requirements between all agents such that the supervisor can calculate the optimal incentives, and such that team members can calculate their optimal effort responses. We illustrate our methods and the results through a systems engineering example.
Toward improving introductory programming student course success rates: experiences with a modified cohort model to student success sessions

This paper describes our experiences with a series of process changes designed to improve CS1 student success rates. In response to experiencing failure rates in the range of 30-40% with a characteristic and typical bimodal distribution, we initiated a project to examine the root cause and develop corrective action processes to better serve our students. In this paper, we describe relevant background research; examine some of our performance data, and outline a set of process changes that have so far helped us improve our success rates. Future evolving plans will also be discussed.
Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage: An Uncommon Manifestation of Vaping-associated Lung Injury.

Vaping involves the use of a device to deliver aerosolized nicotine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oils to the lungs. Vaping continues to increase in popularity; however, because it is a novel drug delivery system there is little evidence regarding its safety and long-term consequences. Here, we present a 22-year-old Caucasian male who was admitted with acute hypoxic respiratory failure and massive hemoptysis. Contrasted computed tomography of the chest demonstrated ground glass opacities throughout all lung fields and bilateral pulmonary emboli. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed increased red blood cell counts in serial aliquots, consistent with the diagnosis of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). An extensive workup did not reveal an etiology for the DAH. However, further history was obtained, and the patient divulged daily vaping of THC. E-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) consists of a myriad of different lung injury patterns. Our case illustrates an uncommon presentation of EVALI with DAH and multiple pulmonary emboli.
Environmental exposures and breast cancer risk in the context of underlying susceptibility: A systematic review of the epidemiological literature

Abstract Background The evidence evaluating environmental chemical exposures (ECE) and breast cancer (BC) risk is heterogeneous which may stem in part as few studies measure ECE during key BC windows of susceptibility (WOS). Another possibility may be that most BC studies are skewed towards individuals at average risk, which may limit the ability to detect signals from ECE. Objectives We reviewed the literature on ECE and BC focusing on three types of studies or subgroup analyses based on higher absolute BC risk: BC family history (Type 1); early onset BC (Type 2); and/or genetic susceptibility (Type 3). Methods We systematically searched the PubMed database to identify epidemiologic studies examining ECE and BC risk published through June 1, 2019. Results We identified 100 publications in 56 unique epidemiologic studies. Of these 56 studies, only 2 (3.6%) were enriched with BC family history and only 11% of studies (6/56) were specifically enriched with early onset cases. 80% of the publications from these 8 enriched studies (Type 1: 8/10 publications; Type 2: 8/10 publications) supported a statistically significant association between ECE and BC risk including studies of PAH, indoor cooking, NO2, DDT; PCBs, PFOSA; metals; personal care products; and occupational exposure to industrial dyes. 74% of Type 3 publications (20/27) supported statistically significant associations for PAHs, traffic-related air pollution, PCBs, phthalates, and PFOSAs in subgroups of women with greater genetic susceptibility due to variants in carcinogen metabolism, DNA repair, oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis and tumor suppressor genes. Discussion Studies enriched for women at higher BC risk through family history, younger age of onset and/or genetic susceptibility consistently support an association between an ECE and BC risk. In addition to measuring exposures during WOS, designing studies that are enriched with women at higher absolute risk are necessary to robustly measure the role of ECE on BC risk.
General editor's preface

The New Cambridge History of India covers the period from the beginning of the sixteenth century. In some respects it marks a radical change in the style of Cambridge Histories, but in others the editors feel that they are working firmly within an established academic tradition. During the summer of 1896, F. W. Maitland and Lord Acton between them evolved the idea for a comprehensive modern history. By the end of the year the Syndics of the University Press had committed themselves to the Cambridge Modern History , and Lord Acton had been put in charge of it. It was hoped that publication would begin in 1899 and be completed by 1904, but the first volume in fact came out in 1902 and the last in 1910, with additional volumes of tables and maps in 1911 and 1912. The History was a great success, and it was followed by a whole series of distinctive Cambridge Histories covering English Literature, the Ancient World, India, British Foreign Policy, Economic History, Medieval History, the British Empire, Africa, China and Latin America; and even now other new series are being prepared. Indeed, the various Histories have given the Press notable strength in the publication of general reference books in the arts and social sciences. What has made the Cambridge Histories so distinctive is that they have never been simply dictionaries or encyclopedias. The Histories have, in H. A. L. Fisher's words, always been “written by an army of specialists concentrating the latest results of special study”. Yet as Acton agreed with the Syndics in 1896, they have not been mere compilations of existing material but original works.
Sparse SAR imaging for a stepped-frequency harmonic radar

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory is studying the feasibility of using stepped-frequency, ultra-wideband (UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for the detection of nonlinear targets with harmonic frequency responses. The approach would filter out all natural clutter and manmade objects in the scene that do not have responses in the harmonic frequency bands. In this paper, we show the formulation of SAR imaging using harmonic responses from nonlinear targets. We also show the degradation in SAR image quality when the radar operates in a restricted and congested frequency spectrum where a significant percentage of the spectrum is either reserved or used by other systems. Fortunately, due to the sparse nature of the nonlinear objects in a typical scene, information in the missing frequency bands can be recovered to reduce the artifacts in SAR imagery. In this paper, we apply our sparse recovery technique to estimate the information in the missing frequency bands. Recovery performance in both raw data and SAR image domain is demonstrated using simulation and measured data from experiment.
The power of plants: how fruit and vegetables work as source of nutraceuticals and supplements

Plants are a rich source of nutraceuticals/supplements/phytonutrients/secondary metabolites. There are many industries, health care systems and academic activities involved in their use and promotion. However, many of these key players are peripherally involved in the science and policy behind their production, processing and utilisation. Here we will explore some key concepts related to the science and innovative strategies on the use of plants and their bioactive compounds for promoting human health and fight chronic diseases. Knowledge of how bioactive compounds are biosynthesized in the plant under different stress conditions and their mode of action against chronic diseases are key elements needed for an effective use of plant bioactives or nutraceuticals. This information can be the basis for developing preventive and therapeutic nutraceuticals to promote human health and could open opportunities for consumers to access low cost-effective use of plants as medicine, revalue crops, create new products and open new markets.
Disproportionate Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Perceived Social Support, Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms in Sexual and Gender Minority Populations.

Deaths from COVID-19 continue to rise, and this virus has asymmetric impacts on marginalized communities though specific impacts on sexual and gender minority communities are not well understood. F...
Comment on “A20 and CYLD Do Not Share Significant Overlapping Functions during B Cell Development and Activation”

Interleukin-6 is a cytokine that plays an important role in both innate and adaptive immunity. Its primary function in adaptive immunity is stimulation of the growth of B cells ([1][1]). In a recent article by Chu et al. ([2][2]), the authors measured IL-6 production in B cells derived from four
J-R Curve Determination for Disk-Shaped Compact Specimens Based on the Normalization Method and the Direct Current Potential Drop Technique

Material ductile fracture toughness can be described by J-integral versus crack extension relationship (J-R curve). As a conventional J-R curve measurement method, unloading compliance (UC) becomes impractical in elevated temperature testing due to relaxation of the material and a friction induced back-up shape of the J-R curve. In addition, the UC method may underpredict the crack extension for standard disk-shaped compact (DC(T)) specimens. In order to address these issues, the normalization method and direct current potential drop (DCPD) technique were applied for determining J-R curves at 24 C and 500 C for 0.18T DC(T) specimens made from type 316L stainless steel. For comparison purchase, the UC method was also applied in 24 C tests. The normalization method was able to yield valid J-R curves in all tests. The J-R curves from the DCPD technique need adjustment to account for the potential drop induced by plastic deformation, crack blunting, etc. and after applying a newly-developed DCPD adjustment procedure, the post-adjusted DCPD J-R curves essentially matched J-R curves from the normalization method. In contrast, the UC method underpredicted the crack extension in all tests resulting in substantial deviation in the derived J-R curves manifested by high Jq values than the normalization ormore » DCPD method. Only for tests where the UC method underpredicted the crack extension by a very small value, J-R curves determined by the UC method were similar to those determined by the normalization or DCPD method.« less
A Piece of a Neuroscientist's Mind

The Great Brain Debate Nature or Nurture?. By John E. Dowling. Joseph Henry Press, Washington, DC, 2004. 197 pp. $24.95, C$32.95. ISBN 0-309-09223-X. Science Essentials. () In a short book-the first in a series in which National Academy of Science members will describe their science and research for general audiences-the author offers a concise primer on the brain and its development.
The Partisan Character of State Supreme Court Retention Elections

Proponents of changing the manner by which state judges are selected most often advocate adopting a system its backers call “merit selection.” A central part of so-called merit selection is the use of retention elections which ask voters to decide whether or not a sitting judge should be retained in office for another term. In a retention election only the incumbent appears on the ballot, with the options of voting either yes or not to the question “Should Judge XXX be retained in office.” In this paper I examine the partisan tendencies of voting in 610 statewide retention elections for state supreme court justices starting with the first such election in 1936 in California, and continuing through the 2011 election in Pennsylvania. The unit of analysis is the county, and the indicator of partisanship is the correlation between the percent voting to retain the justice and the percent voting for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, which I label the “partisan correlation.” The analysis shows a great deal of change at the state level, although the nature of the change varies sufficiently that there is little evidence of change when one looks at all elections. Regression analyses show that the ideological character of the state and any party linkage that can be attributed to the incumbent justice are associated with the direction and magnitude of the partisan correlation. Unsurprisingly, partisan correlations tend to be higher when the percent voting to retain is lower, but the association is not purely (or even largely) due to elections in which there is organized opposition to retention. The results of this analysis make clear that relying on retention elections to decide whether members of state supreme courts should be retained in office does not eliminate political influences, and those influences are not purely a function of controversial decisions by state supreme courts or efforts by groups to remove justices from office.
A 1.7GHz 3V direct digital frequency synthesizer with an on-chip DAC in 0.35 /spl mu/m SiGe BiCMOS

A single-chip direct digital frequency synthesizer with hardware efficient phase-to-amplitude mapping and an integrated DAC achieves over 50dB SFDR in full-Nyquist band at 1.7GHz clock frequency for synthesized output signals up to 850MHz. The IC is implemented in a 0.35 /spl mu/m SiGe BiCMOS process and occupies an area of 4.8/spl times/5.0mm/sup 2/. Power efficiency is 1.76mW/MHz at 3V.
The Traditional View

In this chapter one proposal — the simplest — for using a set-theoretic predicate to make an empirical claim is considered. Some attention is given to questions which arise in connection with this proposal, and proposals subsequently considered, as well. In this connection, the theory of measurement and the question of the “approximate” nature of claims in mathematical physics are discussed briefly. The proposal considered here is shown to be essentially equivalent to the view of how the theory’s statements are obtained from the set-theoretic predicate that was described in Chapter I. Considerable effort is devoted to characterizing a theory relative notion of theoretical term, independently of sweeping epistemological assumptions. This notion is then employed to describe a difficulty that could be encountered in attempting to employ the sentence form proposed here in logical reconstruction. Finally, an attempt is made to relate this difficulty to more traditional discussions of the problem of theoretical terms.
Adaptive antenna arrays for cellular CDMA communication systems

The use of an adaptive antenna array at the base station in the reverse link of cellular communication systems is proposed. Two kinds of adaptive methods are considered. First, the recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm, which is a reference signal based method, is used to adjust the weight coefficients of the array. For eigenstructure based methods, the ESPRIT algorithm is used for angle of arrival (AOA) estimation and the linear least squares estimate (LLSE) is used to determine the adaptive array weights. The improvement in performance is quantified by comparison with the omnidirectional antenna system using realistic simulations. The comparisons of different adaptive arrays are discussed and analyzed.
Conditional expression of RPA190, the gene encoding the largest subunit of yeast RNA polymerase I: effects of decreased rRNA synthesis on ribosomal protein synthesis.

Abstract The synthesis of ribosomal proteins (r proteins) under the conditions of greatly reduced RNA synthesis were studied by using a strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which the production of the largest subunit (RPA190) of RNA polymerase I was controlled by the galactose promoter. Although growth on galactose medium was normal, the strain was unable to sustain growth when shifted to glucose medium. This growth defect was shown to be due to a preferential decrease in RNA synthesis caused by deprivation of RNA polymerase I. Under these conditions, the accumulation of r proteins decreased to match the rRNA synthesis rate. When proteins were pulse-labeled for short periods, no or only a weak decrease was observed in the differential synthesis rate of several r proteins (L5, L39, L29 and/or L28, L27 and/or S21) relative to those of control cells synthesizing RPA190 from the normal promoter. Degradation of these r proteins synthesized in excess was observed during subsequent chase periods. Analysis of the amounts of mRNAs for L3 and L29 and their locations in polysomes also suggested that the synthesis of these proteins relative to other cellular proteins were comparable to those observed in control cells. However, Northern analysis of several r-protein mRNAs revealed that the unspliced precursor mRNA for r-protein L32 accumulated when rRNA synthesis rates were decreased. This result supports the feedback regulation model in which excess L32 protein inhibits the splicing of its own precursor mRNA, as proposed by previous workers (M. D. Dabeva, M. A. Post-Beittenmiller, and J. R. Warner, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:5854-5857, 1986).
Study of nonlinear photoemission effects in III-V semiconductors

Our experience at SLAC with photoemission-based polarized electron sources has shown that the charge limit is an important phenomenon that may significantly limit the performance of a photocathode for applications requiring high intensity electron beams. In the process of developing high performance photocathodes for the ongoing and future SLC high energy physics programs, we have studied the various aspects of the charge limit phenomenon. We find that the charge limit effect arises as a result of the nonlinear response of a photocathode to high intensity light illumination. The size of the charge limit not only depends on the quantum efficiency of the cathode but also depends critically on the extraction electric field. In addition, we report the observation of charge oversaturation when the intensity of the incident light becomes too large. >
Fault calculations in power system subject to multiple faults

Techniques for considering multiple faults at different locations in a three-phase electrical power system are discussed. The faults may be completely user defined; e.g. a single phase-to-ground fault may be specified on any phase and at any combination of locations. The key idea is to specify the fault in phase quantities and utilize the n-port properties of the (Z) matrices. It is important to note that, in general, multiple faults cannot be dealt with by interconnecting sequence networks and solving the resultant single-phase circuit. The problem is that such interconnections impose additional 'across' constraints between faulted buses. The method is demonstrated by an example. >
On the logic of restrictive recognition of peptide by the T-cell antigen receptor

This essay provides an analysis of the inadequacy of the current view of restrictive recognition of peptide by the T-cell antigen receptor. A competing model is developed, and the experimental evidence for the prevailing model is reinterpreted in the new framework. The goal is to contrast the two models with respect to their consistency, coverage of the data, explanatory power, and predictability.
Sex roles and women's response to courtship violence

Attempts to distinguish women who have experienced courtship violence from those who have not based on their sex role characteristics have been unsuccessful. A possible explanation for this failure is that sex roles may better explain a woman's response to violence than predict her victimization. This study examined the impact of a woman's sex role attributes (masculinity) and attitudes (modernity) on the length of time she remained with a former premarital partner after his first use of violence against her. Masculinity was not related to how long a woman stayed with a violent partner. The more modern a woman's sex role attitudes, the shorter the time she remained in the violent relationship. A further descriptive analysis suggested that this relationship may hold only for women who had experienced just one episode of violence. The implications of these findings are discussed, along with the methodological advances and limitations of this study. Finally, recommendations are made for future research.
Internationalization in the educational system of a weak state: examining multiple identities of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s higher education

Higher education has often acted as the nucleus of progressive thought, the instigator of societal transformation, and the center of cultural exchange and understanding. However, in conflict‐ridden societies, higher‐education systems have shown a proclivity towards the multiple personality syndrome: their ability to solidify, connect and unite diverse communities within a society is almost always juxtaposed with higher education’s tendency to separate, regionalize and exclude. This paper analyzes a local setting of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where higher education has had a dichotomous role in the society. Most notably, the analysis scrutinizes the globalizing and ‘EU‐nionizing’ forces and values as they collide with the local tensions, traditions and identities presently existing in the higher education of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Recent developments in the theoretical study of phase separation in manganites and underdoped cuprates

This paper is a brief review of the status of 'phase separation' ideas in manganites and cuprates, mainly focused on the recent efforts by the authors. It is argued that in the last year considerable progress has been made in the understanding of manganites, since the famous colossal magnetoresistance peak in the resistivity versus temperature has been numerically observed in unbiased Monte Carlo simulations using realistic models (namely, including double exchange, phonons, and quenched disorder). It is also conjectured that a phenomenology similar to the one found in manganites could be present in the underdoped regime of the cuprates. It is predicted that a state with superconducting patches exists above the critical temperature in the underdoped regime, in agreement with recent scanning tunneling microscopy experiments.
Archaeological data visualization in VR: analysis of lamp finds at the great temple of petra, a case study

Presents the results of an evaluation of the ARCHAVE (ARCHAeological Virtual Environment) system, an immersive virtual reality (VR) environment for archaeological research. ARCHAVE is implemented in a Cave. The evaluation studied researchers analyzing lamp and coin finds throughout the excavation trenches at the Petra Great Temple site in Jordan. Experienced archaeologists used our system to study excavation data, confirming existing hypotheses and postulating new theories they had not been able to discover without the system. ARCHAVE provided access to the excavation database, and researchers were able to examine the data in the context of a life-size representation of the present-day architectural ruins of the temple. They also had access to a miniature model for site-wide analysis. Because users quickly became comfortable with the interface, they concentrated their efforts on examining the data being retrieved and displayed. The immersive VR visualization of the recovered information gave them the opportunity to explore it in a new and dynamic way and, in several cases, enabled them to make discoveries that opened new lines of investigation about the excavation.
Thirring model with U(n) symmetry: Scale invariant only for fixed values of a coupling constant

Generalizations of the Thirring model to Fermi fields with U(n) symmetry are treated. When interactions quadratic in the SU(n) currents are introduced, scale invariance (with anomalous dimensions) is maintained only for values of the coupling gv=0 or gv = 4φ(n+1).
The isotopic ecology of east african mammals

The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of bone collagen have been used to trace diet and habitat selection of the larger mammals of East Africa. 238 individuals of 43 species from montane forests and grasslands in Kenya and Tanzania have been analyzed. The results show that carbon isotopes discriminate between (1) grazers and browsers in savanna grasslands, (2) forest floor and savanna grassland herbivores and (3) forest floor and forest canopy species. Nitrogen isotopes discriminate between (4) carnivores and herbivores, (5) forest and savanna grassland herbivores, and (6) water-dependent and drought-tolerant herbivores. This technique provides a quantitative approach to assessing long-term habitat and diet selection and the role of resource partitioning in animal community structure.
The Viability of Confucian Transcendence: Grappling with Tu Weiming’s Interpretation of the Zhongyong

This essay assesses Tu Weiming’s notion of transcendence in terms both of its legitimacy as an interpretation of Confucianism and of its viability as an answer to modern challenges. An examination of Tu’s hermeneutical assumptions in his Zhongyong commentary leads to a discussion of his locating transcendence in the subjectivity of the junzi, the profound person. Calling the self-cultivation “self-knowledge,” Tu makes explicit the religious character of the xin, the basis of self-cultivation, and its transcendent character, because it is endowed from heaven. However, because the xin is irreducibly human, this transcendence is also immanentized. From the xin a fiduciary community is formed, hence the “covenantal” nature of Confucian religiousness. The essay ends with the question: Because Tu does not elaborate on cultivating a community’s intersubjectivity, does it make the realization of the transcendent xin a “deferred potentiality,” without mooring in the actual formation of human community?
Use of a Portable Biofeedback Device to Improve Insomnia in a Combat Zone, a Case Report

Insomnia is a common problem in situations of stress. Some forms of stress, however, may contraindicate the use of traditional, pharmacological interventions. Working in a combat zone is such a situation. Alternative means of improving sleep are clearly needed for Service Members. We report a case involving a medical provider who was serving in a military, emergency-services facility in Iraq, and who presented with anxiety, depressed mood, and insomnia. Symptoms were sub-threshold for major depressive disorder or acute stress disorder. Mood and anxiety symptoms responded to traditional therapy techniques, but problems with insomnia remained. The patient was given a portable biofeedback device that employs an infrared sensor photoplethysmograph to measure heart rate variability (HRV) from peripheral finger pulse. One week later, sleep was significantly improved. Symptom improvement lasted to at least 6 weeks while in theater. One year later, a check-in with the patient revealed that after returning home, he had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms had resolved after 6 months of psychopharmacology and cognitive behavioral therapy. These results indicate that biofeedback may be a useful means of improving sleep in a combat zone, but that such improvements may not necessarily prevent the development of more serious symptoms later. No clear causality can be inferred from a single case, and further study is needed to determine if this finding have wider applicability.
Risky Decision-making in Older Adults without Cognitive Deficits: an fMRI study of VMPFC using the Iowa Gambling Task

Some older adults without neurological disease exhibit impaired decision-making in risky, nontransparent situations, like the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). The prefrontal cortices are particularly vulnerable to age-related decline, and numerous studies implicate the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) in successful IGT performance. However, the relationship between IGT performance and VMPFC function in older adults has not yet been tested by fMRI. In the present study, older adults with seemingly no cognitive impairments performed the IGT and a non-gambling control task during fMRI. Group analyses indicate that in these older adults, regardless of IGT performance level, a right VMPFC subregion is activated during the IGT, while successful IGT performance is correlated with left VMPFC activation, suggesting that bilateral VMPFC during risky, nontransparent situations may contribute to successful decision-making in older adults. Individual subject analyses reveal substantial variation regarding the extent an...
Selection of processing algorithms for digital image compression: A rank-order study

Rationale and Objectives. We investigated non-receiver operating characteristic (non-ROC) methods for the selection of processing algorithms for digital image compression. Methods. We performed a multipoint, rank-order study with 20 postero-anterior chest images, each processed using four different algorithms. Seven radiologists reviewed these alongside the digitized noncompressed image. Observers were forced to rank order the similarity and/or difference of the processed images to the nonprocessed image in each case. Results. A two-way analysis of variance of the rankings was statistically significant (p = .025), indicating that one processing scheme yielded images that were clearly perceived as the most similar to the nonprocessed images. The selected processing scheme was not the one that yielded the lowest quantitative difference from the nonprocessed images as measured by root mean square error. Conclusion. Non-ROC study designs that are highly sensitive to small differences among similar images can be used to select processing algorithms.
Bureaucratic Behavior in Strategic Environments: Politicians, Taxpayers, and the IRS

This article extends the empirical literature on bureaucratic behavior by modeling the strategic interactions between an enforcement agency, its clients, and its political principals. Specifically, the study focuses on the joint analysis of IRS enforcement decisions and taxpayer compliance behavior in order to fully explore the extent of political controls over the agency. The results suggest that there is a very strong reciprocal relationship between IRS audit levels and taxpayer compliance levels across states and over time and that taxpayer compliance behavior is also influenced by partisan changes in national politics.
Waveguides in BK7 optical glass fabricated by transverse electromigration of silver ions

Low-loss (0.1 dB/cm at 632.8 nm) waveguides fabricated in BK7 optical glass using the transverse electromigration of Ag/sup +/ ions are discussed. With a migration time of 1.5 h at 320 degrees C, waveguides of depths from 3.0 to 5.0 mu m were obtained with various index changes. The inverse WKB method was used to deduce the index profile. The profile was further confirmed by a comparison of experimental and theoretical mode indices and intensity distributions. >
A multidisciplinary core corriculum

A major research university makes a commitment to give students not majoring in science or engineering a solid foundation in scientific and quantitative thinking through an integrated large-scale, multidisciplinary three-course sequence.
ATPase activities of rabbit and bovine lens epithelial microsomes: a continuous fluorimetric assay study

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.1) catalyzes the irreversible phosphorolysis of 7-methylguanosine (m7Guo), a fluorescent guanosine analogue. Using purine nucleoside phosphorylase and m7Guo, a continuous fluorimetric assay for microsomal ATPases from rabbit and bovine lens is described. The decrease in m7Guo fluorescence intensity at 380 nm, which represents the hydrolysis of ATP, is linear with time up to exhausting all m7Guo. The rate of the fluorescence decrease depends on the sample protein concentration. In the presence of ATPase inhibitors, ion-specific ATPase activities in the lens were determined from the difference of the fluorescence decay rates. Using the fluorimetric assay thapsigargin-sensitive Ca-ATPase in the bovine lens epithelium has been characterized. The fluorimetric assay provides a number of advantages over previous membrane ATPase assays.
Terrorism's cause and cure: the rhetorical regime of democracy in the US and UK

Political actors and commentators in the global ‘West’ have often used two key rhetorical approaches to explain terrorism. On the one hand, they ascribe attacks to terrorists' violent hatred and resentment of democracy. On the other hand, they assert that democracy is the essential panacea for terrorism. These two approaches are linked through a process of discursive ‘articulation’ that inhibits public debate and disagreement. Specifically, the ideological power and unassailable goodness of ‘democracy’ become the simultaneous, self-evident cause of and cure for terrorism. Using five major terrorist events from 1993 to 2005, the article illustrates how political leaders and news outlets advanced a ‘rhetorical regime’ that suppressed oppositional discourse and rationalised innately anti-democratic policies. One result of this rhetorical regime is the hegemonic maintenance of power through new representations of global terrorism.
Nitroglycerin stability: effects on bioavailability, assay and biological distribution.

SUMMARY The solution, absorptive, and adsorptive properties of nitroglycerin are related to problems encountered in the intravenous use of solutions of the drug and in its assay in biological tissues. Solutions of the drug in usual intravenous fluids are quite stable to hydrolysis under neutral conditions. Loss to plastic intravenous delivery set components by rapid adsorption and slower absorption processes present a significant clinical problem. Assay of the drug and its major metabolites is complicated by problems of extraction related to the solubility of nitroglycerin, its metabolites and substances in the plasma. Loss of nitroglycerin incubated with red blood cells is a very rapid process (half-life 4·0 min. at 10 ng/ml). The mechanism appears to be a physical process rather than an enzymatic one. The loss to blood cells and perhaps other biological materials should be considered in an analysis of the distribution of the drug.
Mammographic CADx system using an image library with an intelligent agent: A pattern matching approach

It is conceivable that a comprehensive clinical case library with intelligent agents can sort and render clinically similar cases and present clinically significant features to assist the radiologist in interpreting mammograms. In this study, we used a deformable vector diagram as the primary framework for matching the mammographic masses. The vector diagram provides gradient and shape features of the mass. The deformable algorithm allows flexible matching. The vector diagram was also incorporated with our newly developed delineation method using steepest changes of a probability based cost-function. Thus it allows us to automatically extract the main body and significant part of border region for pattern matching using a weighted mutual information technique. We have collected 86 mammograms. Of these cases, 46 contain a benign mass and the other 40 contain a malignant mass. Using the weighted mutual information technique on the vector diagram of the mass region, we found that the benign masses can be sorted into 6 groups except one case; the malignant masses can be sorted into 8 groups except two cases. For all 86 cases, the masses can be sorted into 13 groups except three cases. In addition, one group of benign masses and one group of malignant mass cases merged into one which contains 10 cases. Hence, the success sorting rate was 85.7% (12/14) in terms of group and was 84.9% (73/86) in terms of case, respectively.
Testing the Weinberg-Salam model in polarized ed and ep deep inelastic scattering☆

Abstract Three independent tests of the Weinberg-Salam model in polarized ed and ep deep inelastic scattering are discussed for which the theoretical predictions depend only weakly on parton-model assumptions.
Age and change in the adult male sex role

The present paper proposes that the adult male sex role cannot be adequately understood without adopting a developmental perspective. The author reviews some of the current literature on the male sex role, summarizes Levinson's model of male adult personality development, and provides a reinterpretation of the mechanism by which men move into transition and stable periods. The paper concludes that men modify their conceptions of masculinity at a number of points throughout their adult years. These modifications result from dissonance created when their current concept of appropriate male behavior becomes too discrepant with age norms.