cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chiral topological insulator on Nambu 3-algebraic geometry

Abstract Chiral topological insulator (AIII-class) with Landau levels is constructed based on the Nambu 3-algebraic geometry. We clarify the geometric origin of the chiral symmetry of the AIII-class topological insulator in the context of non-commutative geometry of 4D quantum Hall effect. The many-body groundstate wavefunction is explicitly derived as a ( l , l , l − 1 ) Laughlin–Halperin type wavefunction with unique K -matrix structure. Fundamental excitation is identified with anyonic string-like object with fractional charge 1 / ( 2 ( l − 1 ) 2 + 1 ) . The Hall effect of the chiral topological insulators turns out be a color version of Hall effect, which exhibits a dual property of the Hall and spin-Hall effects.
Intelligent tool for selecting colors and fonts for graphical user interfaces

M odern desktops and application development environments give the user the ability to interactively select colors, fonts and graphical objects, but do not offer the user guidance in making these selections. Consequently, the user is free to produce illegible, unaesthetic, and jarring results. For example, the user can select dark blue text on a black background, fuscia and scarlet windows in the same application, and button text which is truncated because it doesn't fit on the button geometry. With additional iterations through the design process, users can often converge on a reasonable selection of colors, fonts and graphical objects, but this process is often time-consuming and frustrating, and may not result in a particularly good set of selections. Furthermore, the users of these systems may not be particularly sophisticated in issues of legibility, color harmony, or graphical design. Furthermore, when these users have difficulties, they very often interpret these as system failings, resulting in service calls to manufacturers. In a recent example, a user called to complain that his computer was broken because there was no text under his icons. He had inadvertently selected white for both the screen background color and the icon text color. In 1993, we introduced a general architecture for adding guidance to interactive systems (Rogowitz and Treinish, 1993) which we have extended to the domain of user interface design (Rogowitz and Rabenhorst, 1993) in a system called CRAFT (Color Rule and Font Tool). In this approach, the choices for each operation (e.g., selecting background color, selecting text color) are constrained by perceptual and aesthetic "rules". In this architecture, all related operations are linked, which means that every time the user makes a selection, the impact of that choice is reflected in the selections for other operations. For example, if the user selects a color for a window background, that information is fed back to the operation for selecting text color, where legibility rules use this information to constrain the set of text colors to those which provide sufficient luminance contrast for good legibility. This network of linked, intelligent operations help guide the user through the complex design space of colors and fonts. In this paper, we enhance the CRAFT system by developing the relationship between the rules and the information which drives them, with a special focus on fonts and font/color interactions.
Where is Serbia? Traditions of spatial identity and state positioning in Serbian geopolitical culture

This article studies the geopolitical traditions of spatial imagining of Serbia amongst the country’s political elites since the break-up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. It examines some of the socially dominant discourses of spatial positioning of Serbia as a historical-political narrative. The study argues that one can identify five distinct geopolitical traditions that, in variably overlapping or mutually contradicting ways, address two questions: ‘Where is Serbia’ and ‘How is its perceived smallness felt and described’? A first tradition is that which attributes sacred, divine and martyr-like features to the country, its small earthly “Serbian lands” and people. A second tradition conveys spatially maximised and biopolitical visions of “Serbdom”, amounting to variable designs of a “Greater Serbia” anxious about its felt frontiers and smallness. The final three traditions are the mutually exclusive positioning of Serbia around an East-West axis as either Eastern or Western, or a geographically unique...
Distribution of myocardial blood flow during extracorporeal circulation.

Abstract Distribution of myocardial blood flow was studied during extracorporeal circulation in normal dog hearts. Clinical modalities frequently used to facilitate technical maneuvers were evaluated for their effects on distribution of blood flow and compared to ultrastructural changes. Results do not indicate that changes in distribution alone are responsible for subendocardial ischemia. Anoxia and resultant edema are more important. Protection is provided by topical hypothermia.
The use of teacher expertise in decision making during school-conducted needs assessments: a multilevel perspective

Abstract Previous research has shown that teacher participation in making decisions about both the process and outcomes of school-conducted needs assessments has been positively associated with teacher agreement with identified educational needs. However, it remains unknown if teacher expertise about schooling has been significantly used when identifying needs and if the use of expertise is significantly moderated by other teacher variables. Using hierarchical linear modeling, this study examines the extent to which teachers (a) expertise, (b) longevity at the school, (c) educational attainment and (d) leadership propensity affect their participation in decisions made during school-conducted needs assessments. The findings show that expertise, leadership and longevity affect participation, with expertise showing the strongest effect and with 22% of the variation in decision-making participation occurring between schools.
Influence of crystalline defects on transport properties of GaN grown by ammonia-molecular beam epitaxy and magnetron sputter epitaxy

GaN layers have been grown using an MBE/MSE (molecular beam epitaxy/magnetron sputter epitaxy) dual-mode system. The layers grown by the two techniques exhibited a large difference in crystalline quality and presented a broad spectrum of structural, optical, and transport properties that are useful for an analysis of the role of crystalline defects in GaN epilayers. The model of electron scattering by charged threading dislocations was applied in a theoretical fit of the mobility data. The theoretical fit in combination with x-ray diffraction and photoluminescence studies reveal the correlation between dislocation density, electron mobility, doping characteristics and yellow luminescence.
TSGen: a tool for modeling of frame loss in streaming video

Packet loss affects the quality of streaming video. We describe a new Time Series Generator (TSGen) tool to generate a time series that models video packet loss phenomena by capturing both the moment and autocorrelation signatures of frame loss in a video stream.
Spectral signal processing in swept source optical coherence tomography

OCT (optical coherence tomography) is generally regarded as the 6th imaging modality. This light-based system ideally suits for bio-medical diagnostic imaging applications. Outperforming to the time-domain OCT, Swept-Source OCT (SSOCT) is termed as the second generation OCT, in which, usually, thousand of individual wavelengths are sent into the system in a time sequence. The backscattered or back reflected light from the testing sample is collected by a sensor corresponding to each wavelength. The thousand received signals actually represent the Fourier coefficients in the spectrum domain. However, these coefficients only have real positive values as the sensor can only produce intensity signal. This paper describes the signal processing issues related with this intensity spectrum. Various filters, high-pass, low-pass and band-pass; spectrum decomposition; spectrum combination are discussed and demonstrated. A method for spectral synthesis of multiple light sources is presented.
Improving Long-term Psychiatric Care: Bring Back the Asylum

This Viewpoint discusses new models for patient-centered, long-term psychiatric care in the United States.
Interpeduncular arachnoid cysts in infants and children: insight into the entity based on a case series with long-term follow-up

Objective Arachnoid cysts occupying the suprasellar region comprise 10–15% of intracranial distribution. Unlike large suprasellar cysts, pure interpeduncular cysts (IPCs) are rare, and their natural history is unknown. We describe a small series of children diagnosed with IPC and their long-term natural history.
Charge Transfer in Negative Ion Collisions

Electron detachment is an important inelastic process for negative ion collisions. Because of the large number of electrons produced by electron loss, charge transfer to the target atom or molecule becomes a likely event, whereas in positive ion collisions it is virtually nonexistent. This mechanism is manifested in the formation of temporary negative ions of the target, usually in the form of autodetaching excited states. Electron spectroscopy of the ejected electrons produced during the collision allows one to observe lines which can be identified to specific negative ions. The position, width and relative intensity of these lines can be related to the structure of the negative ion. Examples of collisions involving H- with heavy rare gas atoms and molecular nitrogen will be discussed.
An enkephalinergic mechanism for the hypothalamic effect of atrial natriuretic Peptide to inhibit luteinizing hormone secretion.

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated a hypothalamic site of action of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) to inhibit luteinizing hormone and an opioid mechanism has been suggested. We have identified the paraventricular nucleus as at least one locus of action of ANP since site-specific injection of 0.1 nmol, bilaterally into this nucleus, but not the medial preoptic nuclei or arcuate nucleus, resulted in a significant inhibition of plasma levels in conscious, ovariectomized rats 90 and 120 min later. This paraventricular site of action suggested an involvement of endogenous enkephalins. The stable enkephalin analog, [D-Pen(2.5)]enkephalin, when injected into the third ventricle in a dose of 1.0 nmol, produced a significant and transient inhibition of luteinizing hormone secretion similar to that seen following injection of 2.0 nmol ANP. Pretreatment of the rats 15 min before peptide injection with the selective 5 opioid antagonist naltrindole (50 mug/2 mul saline) completely prevented the luteinizing hormone-inhibiting effects of both ANP and the enkephalin analog, delta opioid blockade failed to prevent the prolactin-inhibiting effect of ANP but did reverse the prolactin-stimulating effect of [D-Pen(2.5)]enkephalin. Our results suggest a paraventricular nucleus site of action of ANP in addition to probable effects in the median eminence and indicate the possible enkephalinergic mediation of the peptide's ability to inhibit luteinizing hormone secretion.
Cost-effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Abstract Objectives To determine the costs of treatment and the duration of survival, adjusted for quality of life, for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with immediate radical cystectomy (RC) or with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with intent for subsequent RC. Methods and materials A retrospective review of our institutional review board–approved database identified patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated at our institution from 2004 to 2011. Patients were divided into those receiving RC alone and those receiving NAC before planned RC. Patients who refused RC following NAC were included in an intention-to-treat analysis. Survival duration was converted to quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and costs of treatment per QALY were determined. Results A total of 119 patients (65.4%) received RC alone and 63 (34.6%) received NAC, 38 of whom proceeded to cystectomy as planned. Mean total costs were $42,890 and $52,429 for RC and NAC, respectively (P = 0.005). The 5-year overall survival was 31.7% and 42.5% for the RC-only group and the NAC group, respectively (P = 0.034). The 5-year overall survival measured in QALYs was 21.9% and 42.9% for the RC-only and the NAC groups, respectively (P = 0.021). The increased cost for NAC was $5,840 per additional life year gained (95% CI: $1,772–$9,909) and $6,187 per additional QALY gained (95% CI: $1,877–$10,498). Conclusions The use of NAC is associated with a significant increase in quality-adjusted survival. The additional cost per QALY gained is approximately $6,000. The cost-utility analysis of NAC compares favorably with other cancer-specific therapies.
Antibodies to infliximab and risk of infusion reactions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES Antibodies to infliximab (ATIs) have been associated with a risk of infusion reactions in some studies of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, many factors, such as immunomodulators and dosing schedule, may influence this association. The aim of this article was to provide a pooled estimate of the risk of infusion reactions according to patients' ATI status and analyze the relationship of immunomodulators to this risk. DESIGN Public databases were searched for eligible studies. Quality assessment was undertaken for all studies using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. Raw data from studies meeting inclusion criteria were pooled for meta-analysis of effect estimates. Sensitivity analysis was performed for all outcomes. Funnel plot was performed to assess for publication bias. RESULTS Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, with a pooled total of 1351 subjects. Seven of the 8 studies had a high risk of bias in at least 1 quality domain. The cumulative data indicated that there was a higher risk ratio (RR) of any acute infusion reaction (RR 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-3.8, P < 0.001) and severe infusion reactions (RR 5.8, 95% CI 1.7-19, P = 0.004) in patients with ATIs when compared with patients without ATIs. The RR of delayed hypersensitivity reactions was not significantly different between ATI+ and ATI- patients (RR 2.8, 95% CI 0.2-33, P = 0.4). Patients prescribed immunomodulators during maintenance infliximab therapy had a reduction in their risk for ATI development (RR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9, P = 0.02) and infusion reactions (RR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.8, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The presence of ATIs is associated with a significantly higher risk of acute infusion reactions, but not delayed hypersensitivity reactions, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Concomitant immunomodulators reduce this risk.
Intercomparison of land-surface parameterization schemes: sensitivity of surface energy and water fluxes to model parameters

In this study, sensitivities of 10 land-surface schemes (LSS) to five prescribed model parameters (i.e. the maximum soil moisture content (MSMC), effective available water content (EAWC), Clapp-Hornberger B parameter, leaf area index (LAI), and minimum stomatal resistance) are investigated based on the fractional factorial analysis method. The sensitivities of four model responses (i.e. evapotranspiration, total runoff, sensible heat flux, and soil moisture in the total zone) are evaluated as functions of these five parameters considering both individual and parameter interaction effects. To facilitate these sensitivity analyses, which are conducted for three hydroclimatic scenarios, two indices are introduced along with a criterion for measuring relative parameter effects. The two new indices are single response effect index and multiple response effect index. Results show that for the majority of LSS, the four model responses are generally most sensitive to the MSMC parameter, followed by the Clapp-Hornberger B parameter under the three different hydroclimatic scenarios. The effects of MSMC, the Clapp-Hornberger B parameter, and EAWC on the model responses are generally much larger than those of LAI and minimum stomatal resistance among most of the 10 schemes. This implies that the variations associated with the soil properties possibly due to the measurement uncertainties and/or spatial heterogeneity may play a more significant role in partitioning water and energy budgets than those associated with vegetation properties in the current generation of land-surface model parameterizations. Results also show that large sensitivities of model responses exist in relation to the choice of LSS when using the same parameter values, and in relation to the hydroclimatic scenario when using the same parameter and LSS. The differences can be sometimes quite large. In addition, the effects of parameter interactions are generally weaker than those of single parameters. The preliminary conclusions obtained from this study offer some insight on why large response differences between schemes occurred every time in the Project for Intercomparison of Land-surface Parameterization Schemes (PILPS) phases 1, 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c) intercomparison studies, and perhaps on why each scheme performs better at its own testing site(s) than at the PILPS sites.
Shielding evaluation of a medical linear accelerator vault in preparation for installing a high-dose rate 252Cf remote afterloader.

In support of the effort to begin high-dose rate 2 5 2 Cf brachytherapy treatments at Tufts-New England Medical Center, the shielding capabilities of a clinical accelerator vault against the neutron and photon emissions from a 1.124 mg 2 5 2 Cf source were examined. Outside the clinical accelerator vault, the fast neutron dose equivalent rate was below the lower limit of detection of a CR-39 etched track detector and below 0.14 ′ 0.02 μSv h - 1 with a proportional counter, which is consistent, within the uncertainties, with natural background. The photon dose equivalent rate was also measured to be below background levels (0.1 μSv h - 1 ) using an ionisation chamber and an optically stimulated luminescence dosemeter. A Monte Carlo simulation of neutron transport through the accelerator vault was performed to validate measured values and determine the thermal-energy to low-energy neutron component. Monte Carlo results showed that the dose equivalent rate from fast neutrons was reduced by a factor of 100,000 after attenuation through the vault wall, and the thermal-energy neutron dose equivalent rate would be an additional factor of 1000 below that of the fast neutrons. Based on these findings, the shielding installed in this facility is sufficient for the use of at least 5.0 mg of 2 5 2 Cf.
Changes in the Lake Superior Crustacean Zooplankton Community

We examined crustacean zooplankton densities at five locations in two regions of Lake Superior during a time period that spanned two decades, for three years in the early 1970's and again for three years in the early 1990's. We used coupled multivariate and univariate analyses to find whether the zooplankton community had changed over these decades, and to determine if such changes had occurred consistently across all stations. Seasonal variation was also examined. We found that the structure of the zooplankton community changed in directions predicted by the concurrent increase in the abundance of a major endemic planktivore, the lake herring (Coregonus artedi). The presence and abundance of various species in different habitats also varied within a year, between years, and between decades. The spatiotemporal scale of this study confirms that size-selective planktivory may produce community-wide effects in large lakes.
Dietary Calcium and Blood Pressure in a Native American Population

Objective: To assess the relationship between dietary calcium and blood pressure.Methods: Cross-sectional study of 404 adult Pima Indians of Arizona. Dietary variables were assessed by the 24-hour recall. Hypertension (HTN) was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg or drug treatment.Results: Controlled for age and sex, dietary calcium intake was higher in subjects with HTN than in those without (p<0.01), and higher dietary calcium was associated with a higher prevalence of HTN (odds ratio comparing highest with lowest tertile group of calcium=2.6, 95% CI 1.4–4.8). Age-sex-adjusted mean DBP in low, middle and high tertiles of calcium was 74, 76, and 79 mmHg, respectively (p<0.001). SBP was not significantly different in the three tertiles (p=0.07). Multiple regression analyses that controlled for age, sex, body mass index, sodium, potassium and alcohol also suggested a positive association between DBP and dietary calcium (p<0.01), an association which...
An Exploratory Study Comparing Two Modes of Preparation for Online Teaching.

AbstractFew online high schools report requiring online education for their teachers, and few programs exist to prepare teachers to teach online (Smith, Clark, & Blomeyer, 2005). Professional development for online teachers continues to be a concern, and evaluative research that examines the effectiveness of various types of professional development is needed (Archambault & Crippen, 2009). The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare differences in online teachers’ self-reported frequency and confidence in performing online teaching tasks between teachers who had completed a comprehensive preparation program and teachers who participated in a one-day face-to-face workshop. Results found no differences between the groups and challenge conventions related to the nature and role of teacher preparation in online teaching.
Types of alcoholics: concurrent and predictive validity of some common classification schemes.

This study evaluated the discriminative power and predictive validity of five common typological schemes used to classify alcoholics for theoretical or clinical purposes. A heterogenous sample of 321 alcoholics was classified according to primary vs secondary alcoholism, parental alcoholism, Fellinek's gamma-delta distinction, gender, and subtypes derived from MMPI profiles. A prospective longitudinal cohort design was employed to compare the relative ability of these typologies to differentiate alcoholics according to natural history, alcohol-related consequences, response to treatment, and post-treatment adjustment. The findings indicate that while 'one-dimensional' typologies discriminate subgroups in terms of etiological variables, presenting symptoms, and drinking patterns, none of the classification systems emerges as a strong predictor of outcome status. In addition, these typologies do not discriminate well with respect to the alcoholic's drinking patterns and presenting symptoms, except in areas closely connected with the model (e.g. alcoholics with antisocial personality (ASP) indicate more social problems related to alcohol use than do primary alcoholics). Because there is a great deal of overlap among certain subtypes identified within different typological models (e.g. alcoholics with primary ASP tended to have a positive family history and a gamma pattern of impaired control), we hypothesize that empirical clustering techniques that search for naturally occurring commonalities among alcoholics may be a better way to identify homogeneous subtypes.
Why Did Ümmü Gülsüm Go to Court? Ottoman Legal Practice between History and Anthropology

This article offers a critical assessment of the existing literature on Ottoman courts of law, which characterizes the court's operations as single-mindedly legalistic and socially disinterested. There is a conceptual discrepancy between this literature and recent legal and anthropological studies of modern Islamic courts, which highlight the influence on the court's actions of communal considerations, such as the desire to make peace among disputants. With reference to a specific rape incident in eighteenth-century Anatolia, I propose in this article a characterization of Ottoman legal practice that acknowledges the contextual and socially-bounded nature of the court's actions.
Clinical commentary: Medical ethics and the ramifications of equipoise in clinical research. Is a confirmatory trial using a non-bevacizumab containing arm feasible in patients with recurrent cervical cancer?

controlled trials (RCTs) represent the gold standard of methodology in clinical research and maximize the validity of scientific data through eliminating systematic biases. However, for clinical investigators one of the major ethical weaknesses is the act of randomization itself [1]. Clinical-researchers face the dilemma of reconciling their duty as physicians to provide the best care for their patients with the preeminent scientific process of assigning research participants to competing therapies by chance alone. The concept of ‘clinical equipoise’has been utilized by ethicists and researchers to overcome this crisis of professional responsibility. The reigning definition was described by Freedman as “an ethically necessary condition in all cases of clinical research... [that exists when] there is no consensus within the expert clinical community about the comparative merits of the alternatives to be tested” [2]. Since the 1970s equipoise has been challenged, deconstructed, and reformulated in the ethics literature, and it remains open for interpretation. Contemporary ethicists caution against relying on equi-
Deep inelastic neutron scattering of H 2 in single-walled carbon nanotubes

We report deep inelastic neutron scattering studies of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ adsorbed on single-walled carbon nanotubes. The kinetic energy per molecule $(77\mathrm{K}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8\mathrm{K})$ is consistent with the bulk value, but the observed and calculated rotational spectra differ from those of bulk ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}.$ These findings suggest an orientation-dependent interaction between the ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and the carbon nanotubes and indicate that the hydrogen may be adsorbed in the interstitial channels or in the external grooves of the nanotubes. We present model calculations which indicate that the orientational potential is large.
Quantum spin Hall effect in inverted InAs/GaSb quantum wells

We review the recent experimental progress towards observing quantum spin Hall effect in inverted InAs/GaSb quantum wells (QWs). Low temperature transport measurements in the hybridization gap show bulk conductivity of a non-trivial origin, while the length and width dependence of conductance in this regime show strong evidence for the existence of helical edge modes proposed by Liu et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett., 2008, 100: 236601]. Surprisingly, edge modes persist in spite of comparable bulk conduction and show only weak dependence on magnetic field. We elucidate that seeming independence of edge on bulk transport comes due to the disparity in Fermi-wave vectors between the bulk and the edge, leading to a total internal reflection of the edge modes.
A two-site chemiluminescent assay for activin-free follistatin reveals that most follistatin circulating in men and normal cycling women is in an activin-bound state.

Follistatin (FS) is a monomeric protein that binds and regulates the bioavailability of activin. Previously, we found circulating levels of total FS to be similar in men and cycling women. Because relative amounts of activin-bound and free FS are important considerations in determining activin bioavailability, we asked here whether the relative proportions of these two changed during different physiologic states. For this, we developed a two-site, solid-phase, immunochemiluminescent assay for free FS. The assay recognizes the 288 or 315 amino acid variants of human FS and has a detectable limit of 1 ng/mL. Inhibin, transforming growth factor-β, or α-2-macroglobulin do not cross-react or interfere in this assay. Preincubation of FS with activin results in dose-dependent loss of immunoreactivity, confirming specificity of the assay for free FS. Human follicular fluid, pituitary extract, and serum with added FS dilute parallel with the recombinant human FS-288 standard. Recovery of recombinant human FS-288 f...
Protein-ligand energetics assessed using deoxy and fluorodeoxy sugars in equilibrium binding and high resolution crystallographic studies

Hydrogen bonding interactions are one of the most important single factors in protein-ligand interactions and molecular recognition. To probe the energetics of the interactions, we have analyzed the binding of 1-deoxy-, 2-deoxy- and 6-fluoro-6-deoxy- analogues of d -galactose (Gal) to a primary high-affinity periplasmic receptor for monosaccharide active transport. K d values and atomic structures refined at 1.81 to 1.45Aresolution of the complexes have been determined and compared with those of Gal binding. With binding site residues and the bound modified sugars in nearly identical positions as found in the complex with Gal, the binding of 1-deoxy-Gal or 2-deoxy-Gal reflects the overall contribution of 1.8 kcal mol −1 per hydrogen bond (neutral-charge type) to the affinity of Gal. Neglected in these estimates is the contribution of van der Waals' forces that accompany the formation of hydrogen bonds with each sugar hydroxyl. Contrary to expectations, the 6-fluoro-6-deoxy analogue proved to be an inadequate probe of Gal OH6 as a hydrogen bond donor due to the binding of a new water molecule and structural changes arising from the electronegative fluoro group. This study sheds new light on the energetics of protein-ligand interactions and the use of engineered ligands in assessing these interactions.
A dynamic model of the rolling process. Part II: inhomogeneous model

Mathematical models representing the static rolling process have attracted considerable attention in the past, resulting in analytical, numerical, or graphical solutions obtained under various degrees of simplification and constraints. Most models, however, can only be used under steady conditions, and therefore are not suitable for the study of rolling chatter. An enhanced analytical process model that can handle dynamic variations exerted by roll vibrations in multiple directions is proposed in this paper, and its linearized form established for easy analysis. Finally, experiments are presented that verify the accuracy of the proposed dynamic model of the rolling process.
Diagnostic efficacy of a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay to screen cattle for persistent bovine viral diarrhea virus infection

Objective—To evaluate diagnostic efficacy of a reverse transcriptase–PCR assay performed on pooled supernatant from fresh tissue samples to screen cattle for persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Design—Cross-sectional study. Sample Population—174 pooled supernatant samples representing 12,528 animals between 1 and 12 months old. Procedures—The supernatant was collected from fresh tissue samples suspended in phosphatebuffered saline solution that had been submitted for testing for BVDV infection. Supernatant samples were pooled, with pool size limited to ≤ 100 samples, and assayed with a reverse transcriptase–PCR assay for BVDV. Results of the PCR assay were compared with results of an antigen-capture ELISA performed on individual tissue samples. Results—Results of the PCR assay were positive for 27 of the 174 pooled samples (mean pool size, 72 samples). For 23 of these 27 pooled samples, results of the ELISA were positive for 1 or more of the individual tissue samples represented ...
Fertility, reproduction, and genetic disease: Studies on the mutagenic effects of environmental agents on mammalian germ cells

Because genetically based diseases have a major impact on human health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has conducted a research and testing program for more than a decade to address chemical induction of heritable genetic damage in the germ cells of mammals. Although most genetic disease results from preexisting mutations, a portion is due to the occurrence of new mutations. The supposition that exposure to mutagenic chemicals contributes to the occurrence of new mutations in the human population is strongly supported by the results from animal models. Such studies clearly demonstrate the potential of environmental chemicals to induce mutations in both somatic and reproductive cells of mammals. This NIEHS program has become a leader in the identification of genetic hazards in the environment and in the acquisition of animal model data used by regulatory agencies in assessing genetic risks to human health.
A 3D audio only interactive Web browser: using spatialization to convey hypermedia document structure

Interactive audio browsers provide both sighted and visually impaired users with access to the WWW. In addition to the desktop PC, audio browsing technology can be deployed that enable users to browse the WWW using a telephone or while driving a car. This paper describes a new conceptual model of the HTML document structure and its mapping to a 3D audio space. Novel features are discussed that provide information such as: an audio structural survey of the HTML document; accurate positional audio feedback of the source and destination anchors when traversing both inter-and intra-document links; a linguistic progress indicator; the announcement of destination document meta-information as new links are encountered. These new features can improve both the user's comprehension of the HTML document structure and their orientation within it. These factors, in turn, can improve the effectiveness of the browsing experience.
The placebo as an agent in behavioral manipulation: A review of problems, issues and affected measures

Abstract Need for greater recognition and appreciation of placebo effects was stated, and problems hindering their clear conceptualization are noted. Previous reviews of the history and use of placebos are acknowledged. This review provides a summary of research primarily within the last 20 years, and in particular considers studies reflecting on placebos as agents of psychomotor, physiological, cognitive, affective and clinical manipulations. General conclusions of manipulative efficacy are provided and issues and problems related to clarification of placebo phenomena are identified. Psychological and medical evidence reflects increasing attention to the placebo and of effects on a wide range of behavioral functions. While important ethical and methodological questions remain, recent evidence of a physiologic basis for placebo action suggests exciting new insights into placebo phenomena.
High-speed electro-absorption modulator based on sige HBT

In this paper, we propose a silicon electro-absorption modulator (EAM) that is based on the NPN SiGe Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT). The SiGe HBT EAM is a carrier-injection type device in which electrons are injected from the emitter to the base and the collector region. Compared to other silicon-based injection-type modulators, the HBT optical modulator has the advantages of small footprint, high switching speed, and low driving voltage. Unlike phase modulator, the HBT EAM directly modulates light intensity; therefore, it does not require Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) or resonant cavity structures to convert phase information into the intensity for incoherent detection. As a result, the EAM design is simpler than the Electro-Optic (EO) modulator and consumes less surface area on a chip.
A Comparative study of finite difference and multiquadric schemes for the Euler equations

We present a true scattered-data, grid free spatial approximation scheme called multiquadrics (MQ) first developed by Hardy. We have modified the original MQ scheme and demonstrated that it is exceptionally accurate for not only surface approximations, but also partial derivative estimates. Unlike familiar polynomial ap proximations, MQ is excellent for moderate to steep gradient regions, but rather poor in relatively flat regions. For that reason, we advocate a hybrid scheme which uses MQ in moderate to steep regions, but switches to the familiar polynomial methods in relatively flat regions.In this paper, we compare the accuracy and operation counts of finite differences and MQ schemes for the solution of time depen dent nonlinear set of hyperbolic partial differential equations. We have demonstrated both from an operations count and accuracy that MQ is superior to the familiar finite difference scheme.
A study on decentralized receding horizon control for decoupled systems

We consider a set of decoupled dynamical systems and an optimal control problem where cost function and constraints couple the dynamical behavior of the systems. The coupling is described through a connected graph where each system is a node, and cost and constraints of the optimization problem associated to each node are only function of its state and the states of its neighbors. For such scenario, we propose a framework for designing decentralized receding horizon control (RHC) control schemes. In these decentralized schemes, a centralized RHC controller is broken into distinct RHC controllers of smaller sizes. Each RHC controller is associated to a different node and computes the local control inputs based only on the states of the node and of its neighbors. The proposed decentralized control schemes are formulated in a rigorous mathematical framework. Moreover, we highlight the main issues involved in guaranteeing stability and constraint fulfillment for such schemes and the degree of conservativeness that the decentralized approach introduces.
Uneasy allies: pro-choice physicians, feminist health activists and the struggle for abortion rights.

Abortion represents a particularly interesting subject for a social movements analysis of healthcare issues because of the involvement of both feminist pro-choice activists and a segment of the medical profession. Although both groups have long shared the same general goal of legal abortion, the alliance has over time been an uneasy one, and in many ways a contradictory one. This paper traces points of convergence as well as points of contention between the two groups, specifically: highlighting the tensions between the feminist view of abortion as a women-centred service, with a limited, 'technical' role for the physicians, and the abortion- providing physicians' logic of further medicalization/professional upgrading of abortion services as a response to the longstanding marginality and stigmatisation of abortion providers. Only by noting the evolving relationships between these two crucial sets of actors can one fully understand the contemporary abortion rights movement. We conclude by speculating about similar patterns in medical/lay relationships in other health social movements where 'dissident doctors' and lay activists are similarly seeking recognition for medical services that are controversial.
Collaborative stimulation of memory retrieval in design

Collaboration has often been attributed to encouraging creativity. This assumption is explored here by investigating the influence of interactions between designers on creativity-relevant cognitive processes. It is proposed that design interactions stimulate creativity-relevant cognitive processes through collaborative stimulation. This paper specifically explores how the cognitive process of memory retrieval is stimulated through collaboration by prompting. It is hypothesized that collaboration leads to more stimulation of memory retrieval by design entities than working alone. A study using protocol analysis was conducted to evaluate this claim. It was found that the collaborative stimulation of prompting exists and that the collaborative setting leads to design entities stimulating more cases of memory retrieval. The result is explained through fixation, and recommendations are made for how these findings can be used to improve collaborative methodologies.
Clutter patch identification based on Markov random field models

This paper addresses the problem of clutter patch identification based on Markov random field (MRF) models. MRF has long been recognized by the image processing community to be an accurate model to describe a variety of image characteristics such as texture. Here, we use the MRF to model clutter patch characteristics, captured by a radar receiver or radar imagery equipment, due to the fact that clutter patches usually occur in connected regions. Furthermore, we assume that observations inside each clutter patch are homogenous, i.e., observations follow a single probability distribution. We use the Metropolis-Hasting algorithm and the reversible jump Markov chain algorithm to search for solutions based on the maximum a posteriori (MAP) criterion. Several examples are provided to illustrate the performance of our algorithm.
Effort Attributions Task Novelty, Perceptual Focus and Cue Utilization

This study examined the effects of task novelty and attributional focus on effort cue utilization. It was predicted that attainment value would serve as an effort cue when tasks were novel to the achiever and when perceivers made attributions about their own performances. Outcome information was more likely to be used on familiar tasks and by observers. A second purpose of this study was to examine actor/observer differences in achievement attributions. Self-perceivers, yoked with observers, worked on either familiar or unfamiliar tasks. As expected, self-perceivers were more likely to use attainment value as an effort cue than other-perceivers. Other-perceivers were more likely than self-perceivers to use outcome information but only on familiar tasks. The data also indicated support for actor/observer differences in achievement attributions.
A pilot experience with competency-based clinical skills assessment in a surgical clerkship

Abstract This investigation examines a competencybased clinical skills assessment program for surgical clerks using checklists and rating forms for precise measurement of physical exam (PE) skills, physician-patient interaction (PPI) skills, and patient write-up (PW) skills. Analysis of variance demonstrated improvement in PW skills across the academic year when measured by the rating instrument, but this improvement was not detected on traditional subjective rating forms (SRF). PPI skills improved between first rotations across 2 academic years with the addition of orientation to expectations (mean, 79% versus 92%, P = 0.000). Poor correlation was noted between the National Board of Medical Examiners Surgery Subtest scores and PE skills (r = .19), PW skills (r = .20), and PPI skills (r = .15). While the overall ratings given by faculty on SRF correlated with the SRF ratings of PE skills (r = .77) and PPI skills (r = .58), these same faculty ratings correlated poorly with these skills as assessed by checklist (r = .16 and r = .14, respectively). This pilot experience demonstrates that PE skills, PW skills, and PPI skills (1) improve only with orientation to expectations and feedback, (2) correlate poorly with fund of knowledge assessment, and (3) are best assessed with precise measurement (eg, checklist, direct observation), which avoids the halo effect of overall evaluation that occurs with subjective rating forms.
Infinite dilution diffusion coefficients in liquids

The extension of the Enskog theory by Tham and Gubbins for the calculation of diffusivities is applied to the prediction of infinite dilution diffusion coefficients in binary organic systems. The resulting expression is a function only of the size and mass of the diffusing species. Excellent agreement is obtained for nonassociating n-alkane mixtures as well as for associated systems. Extension of the expression to alcohol and aqueous systems is shown to require Only an empirical correction factor. It is also shown that the quantity Dij∞ ηjMj/ρjT is independent of temperature for all systems.
MULTIPERIPHERAL BOOTSTRAP MODEL.

A crude bootstrap model is constructed, based on forward-direction unitarity and the multi-Regge hypothesis. The Pomeranchuk trajectory is generated by iteration of lower-meson trajectories, whose average residue is correlated with average trajectory height. Iteration of the Pomeranchuk turns out to be a small but nonvanishing perturbation that requires the effective average height of the Pomeranchuk trajectory to be slightly less than 1. The model yields a two-parameter formula for multiple-production cross sections that agrees satisfactorily with nucleon-nucleon data up to 30 GeV.
On Independent Cycles in a Bipartite Graph

Let G=(V 1,V 2;E) be a bipartite graph with 2k≤m=|V 1|≤|V 2|=n, where k is a positive integer. We show that if the number of edges of G is at least (2k−1)(n−1)+m, then G contains k vertex-disjoint cycles, unless e(G)=(2k−1)(n−1)+m and G belongs to a known class of graphs.
Memory strength versus memory variability in visual change detection

Observers made change-detection judgments for colored squares in a paradigm that manipulated the retention interval, the magnitude of change, and objective change probability. The probability of change judgments increased across the retention interval for “same” and “small-change” test items but stayed the same or decreased for “large-change” and “far” test items. A variety of formal models were fitted to the individual-subject data. The modeling results provided evidence that, beyond changes in visual-memory precision, there were decreases in memory strength of individual study items across the retention interval. In addition, the modeling results provided evidence of a zero-information, absence-of-memory state that required guessing. The data were not sufficiently strong to sharply distinguish whether the losses in memory strength across the retention interval were continuous in nature or all-or-none. The authors argue that the construct of memory strength as distinct from memory variability is an important component of the nature of forgetting from visual working memory.
A legal framework for systemic bank restructuring

The purpose of this paper is to set out the legal framework used in systemic bank restructuring with reference to recent examples in developing and industrial countries. As background, the paper first describes government strategies in the early stages of a debt crisis, which, depending on their success, may reduce the need for more comprehensive bank restructuring or be incorporated in a program of systemic bank restructuring.
Propagation time for zero forcing on a graph

Zero forcing (also called graph infection) on a simple, undirected graph G is based on the color-change rule: if each vertex of G is colored either white or black, and vertex v is a black vertex with only one white neighbor w, then change the color of w to black. A minimum zero forcing set is a set of black vertices of minimum cardinality that can color the entire graph black using the color change rule. The propagation time of a zero forcing set B of graph G is the minimum number of steps that it takes to force all the vertices of G black, starting with the vertices in B black and performing independent forces simultaneously. The minimum and maximum propagation times of a graph are taken over all minimum zero forcing sets of the graph. It is shown that a connected graph of order at least two has more than one minimum zero forcing set realizing minimum propagation time. Graphs G having extreme minimum propagation times |G|-1, |G|-2, and 0 are characterized, and results regarding graphs having minimum propagation time 1 are established. It is shown that the diameter is an upper bound for maximum propagation time for a tree, but in general propagation time and diameter of a graph are not comparable.
PI3-kinase, the key for bugs to get in?

![Figure][1] Insight from Gregoire Lauvau Using the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes as a model of pathogen crossing of host epithelial barriers, [Gessain et al.][2] provide a mechanistic explanation for the requirement of two internalins used by L. monocytogenes during