cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Port reform in Mexico: 1993–2015

Abstract Mexican port reform was implemented in the 1990s with the objective of improving Mexico's competitiveness in the world trade market. This paper analyzes the process that was followed to implement port reforms in Mexico and the accomplishments through the review of statistical information. Practicing managers involved in freight transportation policy development could learn from the experiences related to the Mexican port reform process, particularly helpful elements such as the legal and institutional framework that allowed private-sector investment security, the port administration organization and its evolution in responding to changes in the environment, and a zero-labor-liability environment. Issues that still require attention include overall system-approach planning to achieve a true multimodal efficient transportation network and coordination among stakeholders to increase competitiveness.
Colloid-colloid hydrodynamic interaction around a bend in a quasi-one-dimensional channel

We report a study of how a bend in a quasi-one-dimensional (q1D) channel containing a colloid suspension at equilibrium that exhibits single-file particle motion affects the hydrodynamic coupling between colloid particles. We observe both structural and dynamical responses as the bend angle becomes more acute. The structural response is an increasing depletion of particles in the vicinity of the bend and an increase in the nearest-neighbor separation in the pair correlation function for particles on opposite sides of the bend. The dynamical response monitored by the change in the self-diffusion $[{D}_{11}(x)]$ and coupling $[{D}_{12}(x)]$ terms of the pair diffusion tensor reveals that the pair separation dependence of ${D}_{12}$ mimics that of the pair correlation function just as in a straight q1D channel. We show that the observed behavior is a consequence of the boundary conditions imposed on the q1D channel: both the single-file motion and the hydrodynamic flow must follow the channel around the bend.
Training population design and resource allocation for genomic selection in plant breeding

Wide-scale adoption of genomic selection in cultivar development programs will dramatically alter the role of phenotyping from a direct source of information for selection to an indirect source of information through the training of genomic prediction models. While some features of phenotyping and field trials in plant breeding programs such as measurement of relevant phenotypes in relevant environments will remain the same, some features of plant breeding field trials will most certainly change. Potential changes include which types of individuals are phenotyped in field trials and how field plot resources are allocated to genotypes in order to maximize the amount and quality of information used for developing genomic prediction models. We provide a brief and intuitive review of the current literature on these two topics. By far, the most important consideration in training population design is the genetic relationship with the target population, making the definition of the target population the first and most important step in genomic selection model development. Several algorithms for training population design that show promise have been published and should be considered by practitioners. When the goal of phenotyping is to train genomic prediction models, plots should be allocated to maximize population size, although much more flexibility exists for genomic selection model training compared to QTL mapping and marker-assisted selection applications. Trials across environments can be connected through markers, making it possible to further maximize population size and allowing extensive capturing of genotype x environment interaction effects in early, preliminary yield trial stages.
Low-Shot Face Recognition with Hybrid Classifiers

In this paper, we present our solution to the MS-Celeb-1M Low-shot Face Recognition Challenge. This challenge aims to recognize 21,000 celebrities, in which 20,000 celebrities (Base Set) come with 50-100 images per person for training. But only one training image is provided for each person in the rest 1,000 celebrities (Novel Set). Given the dispersion in the number of training samples between Base Set and Novel Set, it is hard to build a single classifier that works well for both sets. To solve this problem, we propose a framework with multiple classifiers. This decomposes a single classifier for all data into multiple classifiers that each works well for a part of data. To be more specific, a Deep Convolution Neural Network (CNN) is utilized for Base Set and a Nearest Neighbor (NN) model is applied to Novel Set. The final prediction is based on a fusion of CNN results and NN results. Extensive experiments on MS-Celeb-1M Low-shot face dataset demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method. Our solution achieves 92.64% Coverage @Precision=0.99 in Novel Set while maintaining 99.58% top-1 accuracy in Base Set. This result wins the challenge in the track of without external data. Moreover, it is worth to note our result even surpasses some models using external data and can achieve the third place if compared with all participants.
Complete molecular testing in AML.

e18016 Background: Historically, cytogenetics has been the most significant predictor of outcome in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). In 2008, the WHO revised its classification to recognize molecular ...
Assessment of driver compliance on roadside safety signs with auditory warning sounds generated from pavement surface–a driving simulator study

Abstract A variety of word messages are used in highways in different forms to inform drivers of traffic safety information or to influence positively drivers' behavior. These include direct word messages for a particular event (such as road work) or general safety messages that warn drivers of risky driving behaviors (such as distracted driving and speeding). However, it is often observed that many drivers even do not recognize the safety messages despite being displayed on roadside signs in a fairly good visibility condition. The present study focused on an engineering method, namely auditory warning sound (AWS), which calls driver's attention on driving tasks and helps them comply with roadside safety signs. A driving simulator experiment was conducted to assess effects of AWS on driver compliance to roadside safety signs. AWS was implemented into driving simulator scenarios as a parameter to generate a certain level of growling warning sounds when subject vehicles are entering within a legibility distance of a roadside safety sign. The present study described laboratory setup and data for the driving simulator experiment, and drew conclusions on driver compliance to roadside safety signs with and without presence of AWS. The experiment results show that drivers are more compliant to roadside safety signs when AWS is used. It is expected that AWS will greatly help drivers comply with roadside safety signs where a specific safety concern is raised, such as a work-zone or a drowsy driving advisory zone.
Hyperelastic modeling of the combined effects of tissue swelling and deformation-related collagen renewal in fibrous soft tissue.

A continuum mechanics constitutive model is presented for the interaction between swelling and collagen remodeling in biological soft tissue. The model is inherently two-way: swelling stretches the collagen fibers which affects their rate of degradation—the remodeled fibrous microarchitecture provides selective directional stiffening that causes the swollen tissue to expand more in the unreinforced directions. The constitutive model specifically treats stretch-stabilization wherein the rate of enzymatic-induced degradation of collagen is a decreasing function of fiber stretch. New collagen replacement takes place in a generally swollen environment, and this synthesis is tracked as a function of time by means of a time integration scheme that accounts for the historical sequence of collagen recreation. The model allows for the specification of the collagen pre-stretch at the time of first synthesis, thus allowing for the consideration of either initially limp replacement fiber or initially pre-tensioned replacement fiber. Loading and swelling that occurs on time scales that are commensurate with the natural time scales for fiber degradation and replacement lead to the consideration of time-integral constitutive equations. Loading and swelling that take place on time scales that are very different from that of the remodeling time scales provide a simplified treatment in which there are definite notions of a short-time instantaneous response and also a large-time approach to a steady-state condition of homeostasis.
African Pentecostalism and Modernity: Critical Reflections on Tensions and Social Concerns

In this chapter, Zalanga discusses the tension between Africa’s Pentecostalism and its cultural and institutional consequences, which are antagonistic to modernity in significant respects. Zalanga argues that by emphasizing an approach to understanding the world and social reality primarily through divine and supernatural methods, Africa’s Pentecostalism is a huge obstacle to the continent’s struggle to flourish in a socially pluralistic modern world. Furthermore, the chapter contends, Africa’s Pentecostals have no interest in pursuing the struggle for social justice, in addition to failing to problematize the secularizing effects of material and financial prosperity. In conclusion, Africa’s Pentecostalism is characterized as a coping mechanism that will perpetually lead to the stagnation of the continent, while ignoring its development quagmire.
Racial, Socioeconomic, and Geographic Disparities in the Receipt, Timing to Initiation, and Duration of Adjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Men with Prostate Cancer

This retrospective cohort study aims to examine the receipt, timing to initiation, and duration of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with prostate cancer by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. The study population are patients from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database, who were 66 years or older and newly diagnosed with stage III and IV prostate cancer in 1992–2009 and underwent radiation therapy, where ADT was proven to be highly beneficial and its use was considered as most appropriate (n = 12,170). We use logistic regression to examine the receipt of ADT and linear regression to study factors associated with time to ADT initiation while controlling for baseline characteristics. Overall, 77% of eligible patients received at least one form of ADT in combination with radiation therapy, of which 12% underwent orchiectomy and the rest received ADT, and 77.2% of non-Hispanic white and 80.7% of Hispanic patients received ADT compared to 73.8% of non-Hispanic black. After adjustment for demographic and tumor characteristics, black men and men of other races are less likely to receive ADT compared to white counterparts (OR = 0.64 and 0.74, respectively). The median time from cancer diagnosis to ADT initiation is 2 months. Once initiated, men received a median of seven drug injections. After controlling for covariates, race/ethnicity and geographic location (SEER areas) are associated with early initiation of therapy. White, Hispanic men and men living in the South initiate ADT earlier. Significant racial disparities exist in the receipt and use of this highly beneficial therapy, and there are geographic variations in the utilization of this therapy.
Case 31: Congenital Complete Heart Block

A 10-year-old boy (25 kg) with signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis is admitted to the hospital. The child has a history of congenital complete heart block (CCHB). The heart condition, however, does not interfere with the child’s activity. There is no history of cardiac failure or syncope. The patient has no history of drug allergy or previous general anesthesia, nor any adverse family history of anesthetic complications. On examination, the child is found to be otherwise healthy. Heart rate is 50 beats per minute (bpm). A low-grade systolic murmur is heard at the apex. Blood pressure (BP) is 100/60 mmHg, and the chest is clear. The electrocardiogram (ECG) shows a complete heart block. The chest X-ray is normal. You request a transvenous pacemaker, but none is available. Transferring the patient to another hospital is not an option because it is more than 4 h away.
Was ist immunologische Spezifität? Komplementarität durch zwischenmolekulare Wechselwirkungen

Der Biosyntheseapparat der lebenden Zelle benutzt bei seinen metabolischen Prozessen und zur eigenen Reproduktion in vielfacher Weise stoffliche Wechselbeziehungen, welche auf schwachen Bindungskraften beruhen. Diese — hydrophobe Bindung, Wasserstoffbruckenbindung, van der Waals-Krafte und Ionen-Wechselwirkungen — kommen nur dann wirksam zum Zuge, wenn zwei reagierende Molekule sich sehr dicht aneinander annahern konnen. Diese Annaherung kann in der Tat so dicht sein, das aus dem einen Molekul herausragende Atome oder Atomgruppierungen in komplementar gebildete Hohlen oder Einbuchtungen des anderen Molekuls passen. Dieses Prinzip der Komplementaritat — oft dem Schlussel-Schlos-Verhaltnis 1 verglichen — liegt so verschiedenen Phanomenen zugrunde wie der Kombination eines Enzyms mit seinem Substrat oder der Affinitat bestimmter Proteine, wie z. B. Serumalbumin zu so verschiedenartigen Substanzen wie Farbstoffen oder Fettsauren. Ferner gehorchen diesem Prinzip auch die enzymatische Reduplikation der Doppelspirale von Desoxy-ribonucleinsaure (DNS) durch Kopie der Einzelstrange, die Bildung von Messenger-Ribonucleinsaure (m-RNS) sowie die Bildung von Komplexen aus Messenger RNS oder Oligonucleotiden mit Ribosomen und Aminoacetyl-t-RNS.
MBSAP Methodology Overview

In this chapter, we introduce and summarize the MBSAP methodology that is the core topic of the book. First, we present the basic principles on which the methodology is based, expanding the discussion of MBSE from Chaps. 1 and 2, and we relate our approach to traditional Systems Engineering (SE) constructs such as the “Vee” diagram that is familiar to generations of system engineers. We expand on the key aspects of transitioning from a traditional document-centric approach to one that is model-centric, and we emphasize the fact that MBSE using MBSAP is not a fundamentally different SE process. Next, we give a high-level overview of MBSAP, and we summarize the flow of the methodology from initial requirements analysis and conceptual thinking to a final physical system implementation, following the levels of abstraction defined in the architecture taxonomy in Chap. 1. We address the crucial subject of model structure and present the Viewpoints and Perspectives that together provide the organizing principles of MBSAP. Many such structures are possible, but our experience is that the organization shown here delivers consistently good results across a wide range of system categories. Because of the importance of system stakeholders in determining the success or failure of a system development, we provide a discussion of the essentials of stakeholder interaction, especially using the architecture as a tool for dialog and analysis. We then introduce a hierarchy of modeling and simulation as an integral element of architecture development and refinement. We discuss the reality that architecture development is often constrained by the need to conform to customer policies and mandates, and we lay out a set of preliminary activities that are essential preparation for an effective architecture effort. Finally, we complete this introduction to MBSAP by reviewing a number of alternative methodologies and showing that to a great extent, MBSAP is consistent with them while stressing a rigorous succession of architecting activities with defined artifacts and metrics. Chapter objective: the reader will be able to describe the fundamental motivation for MBSE, its benefits when applied to a general SE process, and the background, goals, scope, products, and overall process of the MBSAP methodology, including stakeholder interactions.
The Effect of Board Meetings on Bid-Ask Spread for Firms with Concentrated Insider Ownership

In the literature there has been an established association between bid-ask spread and insider ownership (Chiang and Venkatesh (1988), Chung and Charenwong (1998)). We use this association to study the possible existence of information asymmetry around board of directors' meetings - an important corporate governance forum and yet poorly disclosed as only the frequency and not the dates of the meetings are reported. Specifically, we explore whether there is information asymmetry (or informed trading) surrounding the board of directors' meetings for a firm with substantial insider ownership and whether the specialists are able to recognize this phenomenon. Using hand-collected data through direct contact with the companies, we find evidence of significant spread changes around the board meeting dates in our sample of firms. We also find an increase in the total risk surrounding the event indicating information asymmetry. Since exact board meeting dates are not public knowledge, we suspect the widening of spread may be due to the presence of trading by insiders. Thus we looked at the insider transactions surrounding the event days. In support of our empirical findings, we find that the actual counts of transactions by insiders go up following the board meeting days.
Dietary Patterns and Incident Heart Failure in U.S. Adults Without Known Coronary Disease

Abstract Background Dietary patterns and associations with incident heart failure (HF) are not well established in the United States. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine associations of 5 dietary patterns with incident HF hospitalizations among U.S. adults. Methods The REGARDS (REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) trial is a prospective cohort of black and white adults followed from 2003 to 2007 through 2014. Inclusion criteria included completion of a food frequency questionnaire and no baseline coronary heart disease or HF. Five dietary patterns (convenience, plant-based, sweets, Southern, and alcohol/salads) were derived from principal component analysis. The primary endpoint was incident HF hospitalization. Results This study included 16,068 participants (mean age 64.0 ± 9.1 years, 58.7% women, 33.6% black participants, 34.0% residents of the stroke belt). After a median of 8.7 years of follow-up, 363 participants had incident HF hospitalizations. Compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of adherence to the plant-based dietary pattern was associated with a 41% lower risk of HF in multivariable-adjusted models (hazard ratio: 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.41 to 0.86; p = 0.004). Highest adherence to the Southern dietary pattern was associated with a 72% higher risk of HF after adjusting for age, sex, and race and for other potential confounders (education, income, region of residence, total energy intake, smoking, physical activity, and sodium intake; hazard ratio: 1.72; 95% confidence interval: 1.20 to 2.46; p = 0.005). However, the association was attenuated and no longer statistically significant after further adjusting for body mass index in kg/m2, waist circumference, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, and chronic kidney disease. No statistically significant associations were observed with incident HF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction hospitalizations and the dietary patterns. No associations were observed with the other 3 dietary patterns. Conclusions Adherence to a plant-based dietary pattern was inversely associated with incident HF risk, whereas the Southern dietary pattern was positively associated with incident HF risk.
Nursery Container Weed Control with Pinebark Mininuggets

Abstract The market for large plants is increasing steadily; however, weed control in large containers present new production problems for growers. Experiments were conducted to evaluate pine bark ...
Super-resolution ultrasound imaging beyond the acoustic diffraction limit

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEU) imaging technologies using microbubbles (MBs) provide superior contrast of vasculatures, effectively suppressing the surrounding tissue signals, but the spatial resolution remains to the acoustic diffraction limit. By localizing the center of each MBs unprecedented high spatial resolution beyond the acoustic diffraction limit can be achieved. However, some methods of localizing each center of the signals from individual MBs that only applies symmetrically distributed signal amplitude require a large number of imaging frames, especially when MBs are densely clumped, therefore result in a long scan time that is not ideal for in vivo scan under physiologic conditions. In this paper, we present an innovative approach using deconvolution technique that will allow for identifying signals from individual MBs from dense population in any forms even grouped together within the full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) of the point spread function (PSF) of the US probe. In this way, no collected frame sets require to be excluded for image reconstruction, therefore scan time can be reduced significantly. In vivo application of this new approach in identifying vasa vasorum in rabbit atherosclerotic plaque model will be presented. Some technical limitations including background noise as well as motion artifact will be discussed.
Emerging Business Models in the OTT Service Sector: A Global Inventory

This paper is an empirical analysis of emerging business models in the Over The Top (OTT) video content distribution sector. From an industrial organization perspective, it identifies six critical attributes of an OTT content distribution platform: ownership, programming source, vertical integration with content producers, platform/multiplatform compatibility, service type, and revenue model. Using SNL Kagan’s global database of 800 OTT distribution networks, it finds that certain combinations of these characteristics are more prevalent than others, and are more competitively sustainable within specific types of media ecosystems. The paper concludes that these ‘archetypes’ are likely to be the survivors within specific ecosystems as the OTT content distribution system continues to converge onto dominant business models.
The Divine Vision of Dante's Paradiso: The Metaphysics of Representation

In Canto XVIII of Paradiso, Dante sees thirty-five letters of Scripture - LOVE JUSTICE, YOU WHO RULE THE EARTH - 'painted' one after the other in the sky. It is an epiphany that encapsulates the Paradiso, staging its ultimate goal - the divine vision. This book offers a fresh, intensive reading of this extraordinary passage at the heart of the third canticle of the Divine Comedy. While adapting in novel ways the methods of the traditional lectura Dantis, William Franke meditates independently on the philosophical, theological, political, ethical, and aesthetic ideas that Dante's text so provocatively projects into a multiplicity of disciplinary contexts. This book demands that we question not only what Dante may have meant by his representations, but also what they mean for us today in the broad horizon of our intellectual traditions and cultural heritage.
High-fidelity estimates of spikes and subthreshold waveforms from 1-photon voltage imaging in vivo.

Summary The ability to probe the membrane potential of multiple genetically defined neurons simultaneously would have a profound impact on neuroscience research. Genetically encoded voltage indicators are a promising tool for this purpose, and recent developments have achieved a high signal-to-noise ratio in vivo with 1-photon fluorescence imaging. However, these recordings exhibit several sources of noise and signal extraction remains a challenge. We present an improved signal extraction pipeline, spike-guided penalized matrix decomposition-nonnegative matrix factorization (SGPMD-NMF), which resolves supra- and subthreshold voltages in vivo. The method incorporates biophysical and optical constraints. We validate the pipeline with simultaneous patch-clamp and optical recordings from mouse layer 1 in vivo and with simulated and composite datasets with realistic noise. We demonstrate applications to mouse hippocampus expressing paQuasAr3-s or SomArchon1, mouse cortex expressing SomArchon1 or Voltron, and zebrafish spines expressing zArchon1.
Hirayama disease: the importance of flexion imaging

Hirayama disease is a rare cervical myelopathy characterised by asymmetrical upper limb weakness and muscle atrophy in the forearm and hand. MRI of the cervical spine plays an essential role in dia...
Preserving the Balance of Power in Muscovy

In the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, the successful reunification of Russia's appanage principalities drained the pool of Orthodox princesses available to marry the grand princes (later tsars) of Muscovy. Foreign rulers often resisted Russian demands that brides convert to Orthodoxy, and the fiscal and cultural costs of finding wives abroad seemed to outweigh the benefits. But choosing a bride from one of the ruling boyar clans threatened to destabilize the balance of power at court. The Muscovite government's solution to the problem of finding suitable wives for its rulers without undermining the existing political order was the bride-show. Martin argues that from 1505, when Grand Prince Vasilii III (1505–33) first sent messengers throughout his realm demanding that the middle service gentry produce its unmarried daughters for inspection, until Peter the Great (1682/89–1725) abandoned the practice in 1698 every Muscovite ruler and most male members of the dynasty in power chose their wives through a bride-show. In this way, the elite avoided having to deal with foreign cultural influences and largely prevented political conflict within the boyar clans, both outcomes considered potentially harmful to the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Rigid Motions and Congruence

A rigid motion of ℝ n +1 is a map ψ: ℝ n +1 → ℝ n +1 such that ∥ψ(p) – ψ(q)∥ = ∥p – q∥ for all p, q ∈ ℝ n +1. Thus a rigid motion is a map which preserves distances between points.
Speech in America: Tracking the Evolution of Speech Pedagogy in Theatre Training

v Introduction 1 Chapter 1: The Evolution of Speechwork 4 Chapter 2: Edith Skinner 16 The Author 16 The Text 17 Chapter 3: Patricia Fletcher 22 The Author 22 The Text 22 Chapter 4: Louis Coliaini 27 The Author 27 The Text 28 Chapter 5: Dudley Knight/Phil Thompson 33 The Author 33 The Text 34 Chapter 6: Conclusion 39 Works Cited 40 Vita 42
The effect of ozone addition on laminar flame speed

Abstract The effect of ozone (O 3 ) addition on laminar flame speeds ( S L ) across a wide pressure range was investigated experimentally and numerically using three fuels, CH 4 , C 2 H 4 and C 3 H 8 . Enhancement of S L due to O 3 addition was consistently observed for CH 4 and C 3 H 8 mixtures over a range of lean to rich equivalence ratios, based on comparisons of S L measured with and without O 3 addition. For both fuels, simulation results agree with experimental results, with the best predictions at near stoichiometric conditions and the largest discrepancies for fuel-rich cases. A significant increase in the S L enhancement was observed at elevated pressures: the enhancement in the measured S L for a stoichiometric CH 4 /air mixture with 6334 parts per million (ppm) O 3 addition increased from 7.7% at atmospheric pressure to 11% at 2.5 atm. Elevated pressure both promotes O 3 decomposition, which provides O atoms, and suppresses diffusion of H, which reduces the influence of the O 3 +H=OH+O 2 reaction. Together, these lead to the increased S L enhancement with pressure. In contrast to the results for the two saturated hydrocarbons, both detrimental and beneficial effects due to O 3 addition were observed for the unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel, C 2 H 4 in this study. With O 3 addition, C 2 H 4 /air S L decreased at room temperature and pressure, owing to the heat loss induced by the exothermic ozonolysis reaction between O 3 and C 2 H 4 in the mixing process, but increased as the ozonolysis reactions were minimized when reactants were cooled to 200 K or pressure was decreased below 0.66 atm. These experimental results were successfully explained by a numerical model that includes a new ozonolysis sub-mechanism.
Impaired catalytic function of activated protein C: a new in vitro manifestation of lupus anticoagulant

Lupus anticoagulant (LA), an antibody against anionic phospholipid with anticoagulant laboratory manifestations, is paradoxically associated with a high incidence of thrombosis. In the present study we analyzed the phospholipid- and platelet-dependent degradation of factor Va following clotting in plasma from 15 consecutive patients with LA to provide evidence for a distinct procoagulant effect of the antibody. After clotting with 25 micrograms phospholipid/mL, all samples containing LA showed markedly decreased rates of factor Va degradation (k = 0.01 to 0.14 min-1 v 0.27 to 0.35 min-1 in controls). Also with higher phospholipid concentrations (up to 100 micrograms/mL), as well as in the presence of platelets (5 to 33 x 10(7)/mL), significantly less of the procoagulant activity disappeared per unit of time in samples with LA than in controls. Plasma with LA was to a variable extent capable of decreasing or abolishing factor Va inhibition in normal plasma. Most importantly, exogenous activated protein C failed to correct the ineffective factor Va destruction despite adequate protein S levels. These data suggest that LA prevents the formation of the complex essential for rapid proteolysis of factor Va both on phospholipid and on the platelet membrane, thereby compromising the catalytic function of activated protein C. Our findings offer a new opportunity for a more comprehensive evaluation of patients with antiphospholipid antibody in defining the pathogenesis of thrombosis in this clinical condition.
Balancing Civil Rights With Safety at Work: Workplace Violence and the ADA

Workplace violence has become an increasingly common occurrence in recent years. During the years 1992–1996, there were over 5,000 job-related homicides in the United States, and in 1996 alone there were 1,364 nonfatal assaults committed by coworkers or former coworkers. Although it would be both inaccurate and inappropriate to suggest that these acts have generally been committed by persons suffering from severe emotional and mental disorders, this is clearly one of the possible explanations. In light of these facts and given the recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act and Psychiatric Disabilities, the obligations and prerogatives of employers in terms of hiring and posthiring actions need to be discussed. This paper examines the legal issues, the EEOC's Guidance, and offers specific suggestions for developing an effective hiring process, as well as methods to use when dealing with current employees who pose a threat of violence because of mental and emotional disorders.
Thyroid cancer & sarcoidosis.

The association of thyroid cancer and SA has been previously described in individual case reports. We are describing 4 patients with co-existence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and SA who presented a diagnostic and management challenge. Patients: One patient (Patient 1) with known history of SA was referred for thyroid nodules and cervical adenopathies; Fine needle aspiration (FNA) showed PTC. At surgery, he was found to have non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation (NNGI) in lymph nodes in addition to PTC. Another patient (Patient 2) with known history of PTC presented with a palpable LN. FNA showed NNGI. She was subsequently found to have diffuse lymphadenopathies from SA. A third patient (Patient 3) who was totally asymptomatic, without history of PTC or SA, presented with a right thyroid nodule and a right lateral neck adenopathy both of which were positive for PTC. Pathology showed extensive NNGI and PTC in 4 LNs. Subsequent work up revealed diffuse lymphadenopahies throughout the body on positron-emitting tomography/computed tomography with elevated serum angiotensin converting enzyme level. The last patient (Patient 4) who did not have any history of SA or PTC presented with systemic symptoms. Work up revealed a large goiter with substernal extension that required a thyroidectomy. At surgery, suspicious adenopathies were resected and were found to contain NNGI. The thyroid specimen contained PTC. Conclusion: Clinicians should be wary of this association/co-existence of SA and PTC to avoid mismanagement of neck lymphadenopathies in patients with current or history of SA. Although 4% of thyroid cancers may induce a sarcoid reaction in the thyroid gland, SA as a disease may coexist with PTC although causality remains uncertain. Being aware of this association is important in the differential diagnosis of a thyroid mass and/or a LN in a patient with SA. Therefore, patients with known SA who are found to have cervical adenopathies or thyroid nodules should have a thorough work up
Analysis of Routing Algorithms for Secure Overlay Service

The routing of packets through an overlay network designed to limit DDoS attacks is analyzed. The overlay network structure includes special purpose nodes which affect the routes taken through the overlay. Two main factors are considered: the routing algorithm utilized for the overlay and the method for selecting the special purpose nodes. The routing algorithms considered are based on methods originally defined for peer-to-peer services. A model was developed for the overlay network which allowed altering the routing algorithm, method for selection of special purpose nodes and the underlying ISP structure. The model was used to assess the impact of specific routing algorithms and selection methods on latency and path length. The implications of utilizing a specific method for node selection on the probability of a successful DDoS attack is briefly discussed.
Hexakis­(aceto­nitrile)­iron(II) hexa­fluoro­antimonate

The title compound, [Fe(C2H3N)6][SbF6]2, (I), synthesized by reaction of AgSbF6 with FeCl2 in CH3CN, is isostructural with the analogous nickel complex [see Leban et al. (1987), Acta Cryst. C43, 1888–1890]. The FeII centre in the cation occupies a crystallographic \overline 3 site and is octahedrally coordinated by six aceto­nitrile ligands, with an Fe—N distance of 2.153 (2) A and an N—Fe—N angle of 88.05 (10)°. The SbF6− anion lies on a crystallographic threefold rotation axis.
Sex in an age of mechanical reproduction.

In a provocative Essay on Science and Society, Carl Djerassi --who launched the sexual revolution of the 1960s when he synthesized the first steroid oral contraceptive--discusses how the start of the new millennium will be the era of conception (at least in the affluent countries of the world). This contrasts with the last 50 years of the 20th century, which, thanks to the Pill, were the decades of contraception. Djerassi discusses the ethical and social implications of the continued improvements to assisted reproductive technologies (ART), which are enabling older women to conceive and bear children even beyond menopause.
From Superhero to National Hero: The Populist Myth of El Santo

This article analyzes several films from Mexican masked wrestler El Santo’s lucha libre series (1958–82) and explains their popularity and social function within mid-twentieth-century Mexican society. The analysis takes into account specific factors such as the role of the production system, the Mexican national film industry, and the social, political, and economic circumstances that contributed to the emergence of the lucha libre genre, as well as to the figure of El Santo as a mass-mediated phenomenon. It ultimately argues that these films created a populist mythological system that functioned to fill the social and political void that emerged as a result of the Mexican government’s transition from an inclusive discourse of agrarian populism after the Revolution (in the 1930s and 1940s) to one of industrial capitalism in the 1950s, which, by foregrounding modern ideals such as science, technology, and progress, was perceived as a threat to the stability and identity of the country’s masses. The existence of this discourse within the realm of the fantastical, I argue, allows for the recasting of the dominant historical narrative within the context of myth itself, thus creating a metaphorical sense of participation in the drama of history, for which the struggle inherent in lucha libre is the perfect metaphorical vehicle.
Ab initio strain engineering of graphene: opening bandgaps up to 1 eV

We employ electronic structure calculations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) to strain engineer graphene's bandgap. Specifically, working in the finite deformation setting, we traverse the three-dimensional in-plane strain space to determine states capable of opening significant bandgaps in graphene. We find that biaxial strains comprising of tension in the zigzag direction and compression in the armchair direction are particularly effective at tuning graphene's electronic properties, with resulting bandgaps of up to 1 eV. Notably, we ascertain that a 11% strain in the zigzag direction in combination with −20% in the armchair direction produces a bandgap of approximately 1 eV. We also establish that uniaxial and isotropic biaxial strains of up to ±20% are incapable of opening bandgaps, while shear strains of ±20% can introduce bandgaps of around 0.4 eV.
Choline Salicylate: Effects on Cochlear Function

The influence of choline salicylate ototoxicity on tone-evoked cochlear microphonics and click-evoked N1potentials as recorded from the round window of anesthetized guinea pigs was studied. An increased threshold for the 1-μv sensitivity curve was found, and more dramatically, a marked reduction in dynamic range of cochlear microphonics was observed. Whereas, no effect was found on the latency of nerve evoked potential response, amplitude was reduced following choline salicylate ingestion. These effects were dose dependent and followed a specific time course. The findings of this study are interpreted to indicate that the functional target site of salicylates in the cochlea is the hair cell. Moreover, the results suggest that clinical tests of suprathreshold hearing function may be a more sensitive indicator of salicylate toxicity than threshold evaluation.
25. Adenosine impairs locomotor activity and food intake via the A2A/PKA/KATP channel-dependent activation of caspase 1

Adenosine is a neuroimmune regulator that is released during times of cellular stress and damage. Extracellular adenosine can activate caspase 1 and subsequently promote behavioral abnormalities. In this study, mice injected with adenosine displayed depressed locomotor activity and anorexia, while IL-1r1 knockout mice were protected against adenosine-induced maladies. Coadministration of adenosine A2A receptor antagonist (8-(3-Chlorostyryl)-caffeine) as well as A2A genetic knockout mice showed no adenosine dependent activation of caspase 1. Mice treated with adenosine displayed an increase in PKA activity, while the irreversible PKA inhibitor (KT 5720) also protected against caspase 1 upregulation. Prevention of potassium efflux by administration of the sulfonylurea, glyburide, or increasing extracellular potassium concentration also prevented adenosine-induced caspase 1 activation. Finally, when compared to ATP, a classically known activator of the inflammasome, we see that adenosine and ATP both activate caspase 1, but in two separate signaling pathways. Taken together, our data suggest that the activation of the A2A receptor stimulates PKA to illicit potassium efflux via the KATP channel and upregulate caspsae 1 activity.
Additional condition for transferability in pseudopotentials.

The chemical property of hardness is extremely important in the correct prediction of electron transfer between reacting chemical systems. Hardness is defined to be one-half the second derivative of the total energy of a chemical system with respect to the number of electrons. The requirement that the total energies of atom and pseudoatom match to second order with arbitrary changes in valence-state occupancy yields major decreases in the errors made when using pseudopotentials. The concept also clarifies the role of core density in pseudopotential application. A practical prescription is presented for generating such pseudopotentials and their corresponding core densities, and several ab initio results are compared with those of high-quality norm-conserving pseudopotentials. Significant improvements are found.
Integral cohomology and detection of w -basic 2-groups

We compute the cohomology H * (G;Z w ) of all w-basic 2-groups (G,w) with integral coefficients twisted by the orientation character w. We also calculate appropriate restiction maps and thus prove that the cohomology of any w-basic group is detected by subgroups isomorphic to one of five types, and we provide a sample application of this main theorem.
Coloring uniform hypergraphs with few colors

Let m(r, k) denote the minimum number of edges in an r-uniform hypergraph that is not k-colorable. We give a new lower bound on m(r, k) for fixed k and large r. Namely, we prove that if k ≥ 2n, then m(r, k) ≥ ∈(k)kr(r/ln r)n/(n+1).
Dosimetric evaluation of a pencil-beam algorithm for electrons employing a two-dimensional heterogeneity correction

The accuracy of a pencil-beam algorithm for electrons employing a two-dimensional heterogeneity correction is demonstrated by comparing calculation with measurement. Ionization measurements have been made in a water phantom for a variety of non-standard geometries. Geometries to demonstrate the effect of an extended treatment distance, a sloping skin surface, and an irregular skin surface have been selected. Additionally, thermoluminescent dosimeters have been used to measure distributions in tissue-substitute phantoms, which were designed from individual patient computerized tomographic scans. Three patient scans have been selected: (1) diffuse hystiocytic lymphoma of the left buccal mucosa and retromolar trigone; (2) squamous cell carcinoma of the nose at the columnella ; and (3) carcinoma of the maxillary antrum. Results demonstrate the algorithm's ability to simultaneously account for the isodose shifting as a result of internal heterogeneities and for sidescatter non-equilibrium caused by lateral discontinuities of the skin surface and internal anatomy. The algorithm is shown to generally be accurate to within +/- 4% in the treatment volume or +/- 4 mm in regions of sharp dose gradients as found in the penumbra and distal edge of the beam. Examples of greater disagreement are shown and their physical interpretation discussed.
Atomic physics: A route to quantum magnetism

The trend towards using ultracold atoms as simulators of condensed-matter and many-body phenomena is gaining momentum. These systems can now be used to simulate quantum magnetism. See Article p.307 Quantum simulation of condensed-matter systems using ultracold atoms provides a way to study problems that are computationally intractable on classical computers. Using an ultracold gas of rubidium atoms confined in an optical lattice, Simon et al. simulate quantum magnetism in a chain of spins and observe a quantum phase transition from a paramagnetic phase into an antiferromagnetic phase. This work provides a tunable platform for studies of magnetic quantum phase transitions, which have been realized in few real materials.
Models of radiative transfer in furnaces

Absolute rigor in the treatment of radiative transfer in furnaces is probably an unattainable goal. The engineer's problem is to choose an idealization — a mathematical model — which is consistent with the accuracy desired and/or the time available for the design. The latitude of choice is in continuous process of being widened, the objectives being the inclusion of more complete allowance for reality and — sometimes only, alas — a simplification of method. To illustrate some of the principles of radiative transfer as well as the range of models becoming available, a single furnace cross section, more or less typical, will be chosen for application of several models.
Aids in the elderly: New York city vital statistics

The HIV infection primarily affects young adults, but older adults are also susceptible. The number of AIDS cases among persons aged 50 or greater is growing and is of major concern. As our awareness of the prevalence of HIV-related illnesses presenting to the emergency department improves in the younger population, we must not ignore the disease in older patients. Early recognition of HIV infection will ensure the greatest opportunity for treatment and prevention of many of the consequences of opportunistic infections. We present a case of HIV in an elderly patient in order to heighten awareness of the possibility of HIV infection in older patients presenting to the emergency department. We also review the epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of AIDS in older adults.
Evaluation and Management of the Premenopausal Woman with Low BMD

Interpretation of bone mineral density (BMD) results in premenopausal women is particularly challenging, since the relationship between BMD and fracture risk is not the same as for postmenopausal women. In most cases, Z scores rather than T scores should be used to define “low BMD” in premenopausal women. The finding of low BMD in a premenopausal woman should prompt thorough evaluation for secondary causes of bone loss. If a secondary cause is found, management should focus on treatment of this condition. In a few cases where the secondary cause cannot be eliminated, treatment with a bone active agent to prevent bone loss should be considered. In women with no fractures and no known secondary cause, low BMD is associated with microarchitectural defects similar to young women with fractures; however, no longitudinal data are available to allow use of BMD to predict fracture risk. BMD is likely to be stable in these women with isolated low BMD, and pharmacologic therapy is rarely necessary. Assessment of markers of bone turnover and follow-up bone density measurements can help to identify those with an ongoing process of bone loss that may indicate a higher risk for fracture, and possible need for pharmacologic intervention.
A syndrome of gonadotropin resistance possibly due to a luteinizing hormone receptor defect.

Abstract An 18-yr-old 46,XY man with primary hypogonadism and a microphallus is described whose Leydig cells appear to be partially insensitive to gonadotropin action. The external genitalia were well differentiated though abnormally small. The mean ± SE baseline plasma testosterone (T) level was 62 ± 3.9 ng/dl, and androstenedione was 34.5 ± 7.3 ng/dl. Plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, and 17/3-estradiol were all normal. After the im administration of hCG, plasma T increased insignificantly from 71 to 78 ng/dl, and androstenedione increased from 22 to 47 ng/dl; there was no significant change in the levels of precursor steroids. The mean ± SE serum FSH level was 17.4 ± 3.6 mlU/ml, and LH was 15.4 ± 1.1 mlU/ml (normal, 5–20); both responded briskly to iv GnRH. Exogenous T therapy resulted in normal virilization, whereas therapy with hCG was ineffectual. Testicular biopsy revealed Ley...
Discrete solitons by the bilinear transformation

A discrete-time sine-Gordon equation is obtained by applying the bilinear transformation to the inverse scattering representation of the sine-Gordon equation. The corresponding discrete soliton solutions and Backlund transformations are presented.