cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mediated effect of SAS No. 99 and Sarbanes–Oxley officer certification on jurors’ evaluation of auditor liability

Abstract This study experimentally examines the impact of implementing Statement on Auditing Standard (SAS) No. 99, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit and the financial statement and internal control certification requirement by key corporate officers under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX). The study investigates the prediction that the new regulations affect jurors’ assessment of guilt for failing to discover fraud, and also whether the regulations affect jurors’ perceptions of the appropriateness of auditors’ actions regarding fraud detection and of auditors’ and officers’ responsibility for the fraudulent financial statements. The study tests whether these perceptions mediate the association between the regulations and mock jurors’ guilt assessments. Results show that jurors assess auditors as less guilty under SAS No. 99 and in the presence of the officer certification requirement. SAS No. 99 decreases guilt assessments indirectly through jurors’ perception that auditors acted more appropriately under the new standard. Although jurors did view auditors as more responsible under SAS No. 99, their responsibility perceptions had no effect on guilt assessments. An additional finding is that the officer certification requirement has an indirect effect on guilt assessments via jurors’ perceptions of the officers’ responsibility for the fraudulent financial statements.
Does a Positive Neer Impingement Sign Reflect Rotator Cuff Contact with the Acromion

Background One possible cause of shoulder pain is rotator cuff contact with the superior glenoid (cuff-glenoid contact) with the arm in flexion, as occurs during a Neer impingement sign. It has been assumed that the pain with a Neer impingement sign on physical examination of the shoulder was secondary to the rotator cuff making contact with the anterior and lateral acromion.
Semiparametric inference on the absolute risk reduction and the restricted mean survival difference

For time-to-event data, when the hazards may be non-proportional, in addition to the hazard ratio, the absolute risk reduction and the restricted mean survival difference can be used to describe the time-dependent treatment effect. The absolute risk reduction measures the direct impact of the treatment on event rate or survival, and the restricted mean survival difference provides a way to evaluate the cumulative treatment effect. However, in the literature, available methods are limited for flexibly estimating these measures and making inference on them. In this article, point estimates, pointwise confidence intervals and simultaneous confidence bands of the absolute risk reduction and the restricted mean survival difference are established under a semiparametric model that can be used in a sufficiently wide range of applications. These methods are motivated by and illustrated for data from the Women’s Health Initiative estrogen plus progestin clinical trial.
Pulmonary Embolism Evaluation in the Pregnant Patient: A Review of Current Imaging Approaches

Pregnancy is characterized by a higher incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) than in age-matched nonpregnant women. However, the diagnosis of PE during pregnancy might prove to be more difficult than in the general population. Clinicians strongly rely on imaging studies to establish a prompt diagnosis. On reviewing this article, the reader will learn the pros and cons of the 2 main imaging studies used in the evaluation for PE, computed tomography of the pulmonary arteries and lung scintigraphy. Radiation dose and other important factors to consider during the evaluation for PE in pregnancy are highlighted so that clinicians and radiologists can choose the most appropriate imaging study for diagnosis.
Corrections for screen image distortion in the R7912 transient digitizer

Abstract Corrections for the screen image distortion in the R7912 transient digitizer have been made by calculating the observed error matrix and correcting the observed data points. The programs ASTIG-1 and CORAST-1 are written in FORTRAN for the PDP-9 (9/L) computer.
J2EE Architecture for Database Cluster-Based High Volume E-Commerce Web Applications

High volume database-driven e-commerce applications demand a cluster-based infrastructure to offers high availability, scalability and fault tolerance. The current J2EE architecture and containers restrict the transparent deployment of applications over database clusters without engineering data access logic into the applications. Our work extends the J2EE architecture to allow transparent deployment of J2EE applications on a database cluster. The key challenge is to load balance read and write queries between the master and replica database instance and yet provide the application with the most recent data in the cluster while enabling service class based query routing. We validate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed architecture using IBM WebSphere Trade3 stock trading application.
Detailed Morphology Modeling and Residual Stress Evaluation in Tri-axial Braided Composites

Local strain fields in tri-axial braided composites arising in the vicinity of a saw cut due to the release of thermal processing stresses were experimentally measured by using moire interferometry technique and compared to those obtained by 3D stress analysis. The independent mesh method (IMM) and digital chain methods were used to perform the 3D stress analysis and the composite tow morphology modeling respectively. A significant degree of morphological detail was required to achieve good comparison with experimental data. Three degrees of refinement were produced in direction of matching the actual morphology of the tri-axial braded composite which was tested experimentally. These levels of refinement included (i) correct tow path angle and curvature variation based on braid parameters (ii) addition of the effect of compaction process during the cure stage and (iii) addition of the surface sanding affects during moire test preparation stage. The results obtained by using IMM were able to capture sharp variations of the strain components observed by using the moire interferometric technique both in terms of spatial distribution and magnitude and provide accurate evaluation of the residual strain levels in the triaxial braided composites.
Regionally compartmented groundwater flow on Mars

[1] Groundwater flow on Mars likely contributed to the formation of several types of morphologic and mineralogic features, including chaotic terrains, valley networks, Meridiani Planum geologic units and, potentially, sulfate and phyllosilicate deposits. A central issue for these features is the spatial scale of groundwater flow required for their formation. For groundwater simulation purposes, a global Martian aquifer has frequently been assumed, but the validity of this assumption has not been tested. Chaotic terrains, thought to have formed owing to the disruption of a cryosphere under high aquifer pore pressures, provide the basis for such a test. Specifically, we use groundwater models to predict regions of cryosphere disruption due to recharge-driven pore pressure increases, and we compare these regions to observed Martian chaotic terrains. Our results suggest that a globally connected aquifer cannot give rise to cryosphere disruption at the two locations where large chaotic terrains are observed (the circum-Chryse region and the eastern Hellas Planitia). Conversely, modeled cryosphere disruption occurs in locations such as Amazonis Planitia and west Hellas Planitia where no supporting evidence is present, suggesting again that groundwater flow was likely regionally compartmented. Furthermore, the consistent occurrence of modeled breakouts in the Valles Marineris canyon system suggests that large-scale fractures there likely discharged most of the groundwater required for circum-Chryse outflow channel formation, with only minor contributions from chaotic terrains. The fractures are close to a likely source of recharge over Tharsis, and their low elevations lead to high pore pressures even if groundwater flow is regionally compartmented.
The molecular phylogenetics of endangerment: cryptic variation and historical phylogeography of the California tiger salamander, Ambystoma californiense.

A primary goal of conservation genetics is the discovery, delimitation and protection of phylogenetic lineages within sensitive or endangered taxa. Given the importance of lineage protection, a combination of phylogeography, historical geology and molecular clock analyses can provide an important historical context for overall species conservation. We present the results of a range-wide survey of genetic variation in the California tiger salamander, Ambystoma californiense , as well as a summary of the past several million years of inundation and isolation of the Great Central Valley and surrounding uplands that constitute its limited range. A combination of population genetic and phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA variation among 696 samples from 84 populations revealed six wellsupported genetic units that are geographically discrete and characterized by nonoverlapping haplotype distributions. Populations from Santa Barbara and Sonoma Counties are particularly well differentiated and geographically isolated from all others. The remaining units in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast Range, Central Valley and Bay Area are separated by geological features, ecological zone boundaries, or both. The geological history of the California landscape is consistent with molecular clock evidence suggesting that the Santa Barbara unit has been isolated for at least 0.74–0.92 Myr, and the Sonoma clade is equally ancient. Our work places patterns of genetic differentiation into both temporal- and landscape-level contexts, providing important insights into the conservation genetics of the California tiger salamander.
The hard‐sphere model for linear and regular star polybutadienes

Etude des proprietes en solution diluee dans le cyclohexane et dans la dioxanne de PB lineaire et de PB en etoile a 18 et 270 branches. Comparaison pour chaque polymere des valeurs des rapports R T /R G , R V /R G et R-R H /R T , etant le rayon thermodynamique. R G etant le rayon de giration, R T le rayon thermodynamique, R V le rayon viscosimetrique et R H le rayon hydrodynamique
The Inequities of the Digital Divide: is e-learning a solution?

This article addresses the continuing digital divide in public education, one that defines itself largely along geographic, socioeconomic, and cultural lines. The article refutes the idea that the digital divide is dwindling due to increasing access to technology within the United States, instead focusing on digital literacy and cultural barriers as perpetuating the divide, causing economic, democratic, and social ramifications for those affected. Finally, e-learning is proposed as a potential solution to narrow the divide based on the ability to receive effective instruction without geographic restraints. The Inequities of the Digital Divide: is e-learning a solution? While inequality in American public education has remained constant throughout history, the means by which the system oppresses the underprivileged continually changes. Forced segregation in the early part of the twentieth century has given way to disparity regarding access to relevant resources, particularly those relating to technology. While educators often simplify Brown v Board of Education to purely racial ends, one must remember why the Court voted unanimously in favor of desegregation. Those justices did not make their decision purely on moral grounds; instead, they saw tangible evidence that African-American schools could not perform as well as their white counterparts, thus making them separate and unequal (Morse, 2004). Unfortunately, the current digital divide stratifying the United States appears more transparent than segregation, but its impacts are just as serious. While the era and issue have changed, the sentiment of Brown remains the same; students should have access to equal educational opportunities regardless of external factors such as geography or income. Ironically, a chasm created by technology may require a technological solution. New advancements in technology, specifically e-learning, have the potential to narrow the digital divide in public education, provided states allot sufficient monetary and political support to start such programs.
Macro-level factors impacting geographic disparities in cancer screening

Examine how differences in state regulatory environments predict geographic disparities in the utilization of cancer screening. 100% Medicare fee-for-service population data from 2001-2005 was developed as multi-year breast (BC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening utilization rates in each county in the US. A comprehensive set of supply and demand predictors are used in a multilevel model of county-level cancer screening utilization in the context of state regulatory markets. States dictate insurance mandates/regulations and whether alternative providers (nurse practitioners) can provide preventive care services supplied by MDs. Controlling statistically for the supply of both types of providers, we study the joint effects of two private insurance regulations: one mandating that insureds with serious or chronic health conditions may receive continuity of care from their established physician(s) after changing health insurance plans, and another mandating that external grievance review is an option for all health plan coverage/denial decisions. These private insurance plan regulations are expected to affect the degree of beneficial spillovers from managed care practices, which may have increased area-wide cancer screening rates. The two private insurance regulations under study were significant predictors impacted by local market conditions. Managed care spillovers in local markets were significantly associated with higher BC screening rates, but only in states lacking the two forms of regulation under study. Spillovers were significantly associated with higher CRC cancer screening rates everywhere, but much higher in the unregulated states. Area poverty dampened screening rates, but less so for CRC screening in the states with these regulations. Two state insurance regulations that empowered consumers with more autonomy to make informed utilization decisions varied across states, and exhibited significant associations with screening rates, which varied with the degree of managed care penetration or poverty in the state’s counties. Beneficial spillover effects from managed care practices and negative influences from area poverty are not uniform across the United States. Both variables had stronger associations with CRC than BC screening utilization, as did state regulatory variables. CRC screening by endoscopy was more subject to market and regulatory factors than BC screening.
Recombinant human thyrotropin is a potent stimulator of thyroid function in normal subjects

Recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) is known to stimulate 131I uptake and thyroglobulin (Tg) release from the postoperative remnant and metastases in thyroid cancer patients, but its effects on serum thyroid hormone and Tg concentrations in normal subjects have not been reported. Before using rhTSH in the management of thyroid disorders other than cancer, the thyroid response to rhTSH in normal subjects must be assessed. Six subjects, two men and four women, without evidence of thyroid disease, including normal serum free T4 index and TSH concentrations and negative tests for antithyroid peroxidase and Tg, were studied. Each received 0.1 mg rhTSH, im, 11% of the lowest dose that has been administered to thyroid cancer patients. Blood was obtained before; 2, 4, and 8 h after; and 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and about 3 weeks after rhTSH administration. Serum TSH significantly increased at 2 h (mean ± se, 2.4 ± 0.9 to 40.7 ± 7.4 mU/mL), peaked at 4 h (50.9 ± 9.3), remained significantly elevated for 1 day, and was significant...
Two-step solution to optimal load shedding in a micro-grid

Intentional islanding (referred to a micro-grid) holds promise to improve power system reliability and power quality due to its more flexible control. To operate intentional islanding successfully, more efficient and robust control methods are required. A new concept is developed as an enhancement to the application of optimal load shedding for corrective control to support an islanded power system. The new proposal is comprised of two major stages in which one nonlinear optimization problem and one linear integer optimization problem are formulated. Numerical simulations conducted on a 15-bus system have demonstrated the performance of the new algorithm.
Inpatient and emergency child and adolescent psychiatry units in Sweden do not use restraint and seclusion: what we have learned.

The Swedish Health and Medical Services Act states that health and medical care for all children, youth and adults shall: Be of a high standard and satisfy the patients need for security; Be easily accessible; Be based on respect for the patients right to self-determination and integrity; Promote good communication between the patient and health and medical care personnel. The use of restraint and seclusion in psychiatric care is regulated by the same law on compulsory psychiatric care (the current version was passed in 1991) for all ages. It states that coercive measures should be used only when there were no other alternatives. A court decision is needed and compulsory care includes: Compulsory medication; To be held with force; Isolation; Ban of visitors; Forbidden objects can be taken into custody. A caring attitude at wards based upon the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child together with the paragraphs from above on "on respect for the patients right to self-determination and integrity" and to "promote good communication between the patient and health and medical care personnel" including the child and his/her parents/legal guardians has minimized the use of restraint and seclusion in child and adolescent psychiatric care. "Quiet rooms" do not exist and the needs to use compulsory medication and to hold children with force have been rare occasions. To create a caring attitude of this kind is essentially depending on how the staff is selected and on their awareness and education.
Equalization of non-linear channels using a Volterra-based non-linear adaptive filter

In order to achieve higher data throughput on fixed-bandwidth satellite non-linear channels, using higher-order modulations, we propose the use of a Volterra-model based nonlinear channel equalizer.
Information-theoretic capacity of simple imaging systems

We use information-theory to analyze two simple incoherent imaging systems [1,2]: (1) a conventional single-lens imager and (2) an extended depth-of-field imager employing a cubic phase mask in the aperture stop of the first system [3]. Consider a scene comprising relatively few monochromatic point sources (1 to 5) located in a source volume whose axial and lateral extents are both L as shown in Fig. 1(a). The conventional imager comprises a single lens with aperture D and focal length f. The ideal object plane is located at distance So and the ideal image plane is located at a distance Si. System parameters used in this paper are: L=1cm, f=10cm, So=40cm. A two-dimensional analysis of this volumetric imaging system is used for computational simplicity. The optical power collected by a detector (Irn) serves as measurement of the scene and is assumed to be corrupted by additive white Gaussian noise. Imagers with two detectors are also considered here. Due to the constraints placed on the source space, any scene can be completely described by the axial and lateral position of each point source in the volume. Therefore, if the information content of the measured image data Irn and scene S are quantified in terms of their respective Shannon entropies h(Irn) and h(S), the mutual information (MI) I(Irn;S) between the scene and the image data can be used as a objective measure of the imaging system performance. For the purpose of computing MI the scene volume is quantized into a 128 × 128 square grid of allowed point source positions. Thus the total scene information is given by h(s)=log2 (16384 CM), where M is the number of point sources in the scene (e.g. M=1, h(s)=14bits).
Measurement of cell-mediated cytotoxicity using flow cytometry

18. tibodies. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83:7785-7789, 1986. 12. Arceci RJ, Stieglitz K, Bras J, et al.: Monoclonal antibody to an external epitope of the human mdrl P-glycoprotein. Cancer Res 53:310-317, 1993. 13. Chaudhary PM, Mechetoer EB, Roninson IB: Expression and activity of the muitidmg resistance P-glycoprotein in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Blood 80:2735-2739, 1992. 14. Speth PAI, Linssen PCM, Boezeman JBM, et al.: Quantitation of anthracyclines in human hematopoietic cell sublx~pulations by flow cytometry correlated with high pressure liquid chromatography. Cytometry 6:143-150, 1985. 15. Luk CK, Tannock IF: Flow cytometric analysis of doxombicin accumulation in cells from human and rodent cell lines. J Natl Cancer Inst 81:5559, 1989. 16. Krishan A Sridhar KS, Davila E, et al.: Patterns of anthracycline retention modulation in human tumor cells. Cytometry 8:306-314, 1987. 17. Herwijer H, Sonneveld P, Baas F, et al.: Expression of mdrl and mdr3 multidrug-resistance genes in human acute and chronic leukemias and association with stimulation of drog accumulation by cyclosporine. J Natl Cancer Inst 82:11331140, 1990. Gheuens EE, et al.: Flow cytometric double labeling technique for screening of multidmg resistance. Cytometry 12:636-644, 1991. 19. Ludescher C, Thaler J, Drach D, et al.: Detection of activity of P-glycoprotein in human turnout samples using rhodamine 123. Br J Haematol 82:161-168, 1992. 20. Dordal MS, Winter JN, Atkinson AJ Jr.: Kinetic analysis of P-glycoprotein-mediated doxorubicin efflux. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 263:762-766, 1992. 21. Emaus RK, Grunwald R, Lemasters JJ: Rhodamine-123 as a probe of transmembrane potential in isolated rat-liver mitochondria: Spectral and metabolic properties. Biochim Biophys Acta
Pragmatism and Embodiment as Resources for Feminist Interventions in Science

Feminist theorists have shown that knowledge is embodied in ways that make a difference in science. Intemann properly endorses feminist standpoint theory over Longino’s empiricism, insofar as the former better addresses embodiment. I argue that a pragmatist analysis further improves standpoint theory: Pragmatism avoids the radical subjectivity that otherwise leaves us unable to account for our ability to share scientific knowledge across bodies of different kinds; and it allows us to argue for the inclusion, not just of the knowledge produced from marginalised bodies, but of the marginalised
Digital Image Bandwidth Compression Using Non-Parametric Predictive Filters

A new computational technique for digital image bandwidth compression is presented. This technique is based upon the truncation of an observed image. The original image is predicted using a non-parametric approach. This predictor is a random grain allocation (RGA) algorithm, an algorithm that is similar to a Monte Carlo method. Using the RGA algorithm and with an appropriate block partitioning of the original image, significant image bit reduction can be achieved. Several image bandwidth compression examples are presented.
China and the WTO: International Obligations and Cultural Barriers

China's accession to the WTO represents a goal achieved after nearly fifteen years of exhausting negotiations. A special precautionary instrument, the Transitional Review Mechanism (TRM), was included in the Protocol of China's Accession to the WTO, as requested by the US and supported by the EU. The TRM has the objective of monitoring and enforcement of implementation of WTO commitments, promoting transparency and the exchange of information in trade relations with China. China is lowering the expectations of some of the WTO members for the outcome of the TRM. It follows that the WTO members' participation in the review had declined in favour of bilateral negotiations which result in the best means to overcome many problems in China's WTO compliance. It is necessary to try to understand if there are comprehensive and 'justifiable' reasons for China to delegitimize the multilateral system at the WTO in general and in the TRM context. According to some scholars, the general Chinese behaviour not in favour of the TRM could be explained with reference to the Chinese cultural tradition, where the best way to resolve the disputes was through mediation and conciliation. China is a high-context society, where the central role is played by collective entities and groups and not by individuals. A key element in the Chinese mentality (such as in other Asian, Middle East and South American countries) is the concept of preserving group harmony and maintaining one's public image. The best behaviour is to try to avoid any direct confrontation, such as bringing a lawsuit.
Multiple IQ-Achievement Comparisons: Effects on Severe Discrepancy Determination

Increased Type I error resulting from multiple IQ-achievement comparisons may inflate learning disability identification rates for discrepancy models. The magnitude of such inflation was investigated with 87 referred students given the WISC-R and Woodcock-Johnson (R) Tests of Achievement. Five IQ-achievement comparisons were made for each student. Correction for multiple comparisons significantly decreased the number of students and achievement areas found to demonstrate significant IQ-achievement differences. However, less dramatic decreases were found for students and achievement areas determined to show discrepancies. It was concluded that the magnitude of inflation is a function of number of comparisons, degree of correction for multiple comparisons, and discrepancy model used.
Development and validation of the Peer Interaction Macro-Coding System Scales (PIMS): a new tool for observational measurement of social competence in youth with spina bifida.

Many children with chronic health conditions encounter enduring difficulties in their peer interactions and friendships. This study aimed to create and validate scales derived from an observational coding system (i.e., Peer Interaction Macro-coding System; PIMS) in a sample of children with spina bifida and their peers. 106 target child-peer dyads completed a battery of questionnaires and interviews and were videotaped performing four interaction tasks, which were then coded across multiple domains of social functioning. Five scales (i.e., Control, Prosocial Skills, Positive Affect, Conflict, and Dyadic Cohesion) were rationally derived based on a review of the literature and a panel of experts. Internal consistency and inter-rater reliability at the scale level were good-to-excellent for all five scales. Interscale correlations were in the low-to-moderate range for four of the scales, although the Dyadic Cohesion scale was highly correlated with two other scales and was subsequently dropped. Convergent and discriminant validity were established by examining the four remaining scales in association with comparable questionnaire and interview data. The four PIMS scales appear to be reliable and valid measures of social competence and may enhance future multimethod research efforts aimed at learning more about peer interactions and overall social competence.
Dissociation of cellular K+ accumulation from net Na+ transport by toad urinary bladder

A number of published data suggest a variable stoichiometry between the rates of cellular potassium uptake and net sodium transport (J Na) across the urinary bladder of the toad. This problem was examined by simultaneously studying the intracellular chemical activity of potassium (a K) with open-tip K+-selective microelectrodes and micropipets, and monitoringJ Na by measuring the short-circuit current (SCC). When bathed in the short-circuited state with solutions containing ana K of 2.7mm, the mean ±sem values for intracellulara K were 43±0.6mm. Ouabain, at a concentration of 10−2 m, reduced intracellulara K by 56–67% and SCC by 96–100%. At 5×10−4 m, ouabain reversibly reduced intracellulara K by 40–55%, and SCC by 63–68%; the inhibition of SCC was only partly reversible during the period of observation. Removal of external potassium reduced intracellulara K by 69–80% and SCC by 51–76%. Restoration of external potassium entirely returned intracellulara K to its control value, but only partially reversed the inhibition of SCC during the period of study. Furthermore, recovery ofa K began 19–43 min before that of SCC; recovery ofa K was 90–97% complete before any increase in SCC could be measured. Although other interpretations are possible, the simplest interpretation of the data is that the processes responsible for potassium accumulation and transepithelial sodium transport are not identical. We propose the existence of a separate transfer mechanism at the basolateral cell membrane, responsible for accumulating intracellular potassium, and not directly coupled to active sodium transport.
Population genetics and systematics of marine species of Dendryphiella

The deuteromycetes Dendryphiella arenaria and D. salina occur on macroalgae and plant debris in marine habitats. Strains from 17 locations in Canada, New England, the Southeast, Pacific Northwest and Europe were isolated from beaches and salt marshes or obtained from culture collections. The relationships between the species and the degree of genetic variability among different populations were studied. Starch-gel electrophoresis was used to analyze electromorph variation from 11 enzyme systems encoded by 14 presumptive structural loci. Strains of D. salina from different localities had identical electromorph patterns except for 3 strains isolated from Shelter Cove, California. All strains identified as D. arenaria differed from D. salina for four enzyme systems. Our data demonstrate that consistent genetic differences exist between the taxa and support the retention of two species. Some strains could not be placed with certainty in either species because of overlapping morphological characteristics; however, electrophoretic results indicate that all of these belonged to D. arenaria. The genetic variability observed was very low compared to other organisms including fungi. Our electrophoretic data indicate that both D. arenaria and D. salina are generalists and it is unlikely they have teleomorphs.
Depth-resolved incoherent and coherent wide-field high-content imaging(Conference Presentation)

Recent advances in depth-resolved wide-field imaging technique has enabled many high throughput applications in biology and medicine. Depth resolved imaging of incoherent signals can be readily accomplished with structured light illumination or nonlinear temporal focusing. The integration of these high throughput systems with novel spectroscopic resolving elements further enable high-content information extraction. We will introduce a novel near common-path interferometer and demonstrate its uses in toxicology and cancer biology applications. The extension of incoherent depth-resolved wide-field imaging to coherent modality is non-trivial. Here, we will cover recent advances in wide-field 3D resolved mapping of refractive index, absorbance, and vibronic components in biological specimens.
Control of Salmonella infection in diarrhea patients in urban district of Huizhou

Objective To understand the situation of Salmonella infection and distribution of various Salmonella serotypes in diarrhea patients in Huizhou.Methods Stool specimens of patients with diarrhea from fixed-point hospitals were collected.Traditional methods and fluorescence quantitative PCR were used for detection of Salmonella.Data were analysed using the software of SPSS 17.0.Results Among the 2 472 cases of diarrhea,44 cases were infected by Salmonella,with the positive rate of infection 1.78%.Seven serotypes were identified,in which 26 isolates were Salmonella typhimurium,7 were Salmonella stanley,5 were Salmonella enteritidis,2 were Salmonella regent,2 were Salmonella derby,1 was Salmonella paratyphi B,and 1 was Salmonella agona.Conclusion Diarrhea in Huizhou urban district is mainly caused by Salmonella typhimurium,Salmonella stanley and Salmonella enteritidis.Strengthening the monitoring of Salmonella in diarrhea patients will have telltale effects on the prevention and control of foodborne diseases.
Analysis on Epidemiological Characteristics of Hand-foot-mouth Disease in Fuzhou City in 2010

[Objective]To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and laws of hand-foot-mouth disease in Fuzhou city in 2010,provide the scientific references for making the control and prevention strategies of hand-foot-mouth disease. [Methods]The data of hand-foot-mouth disease in Fuzhou city in 2010 were collected,and the factors influencing epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease were analyzed.[Results]11 849 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease were reported in Fuzhou city in 2010,and the reported incidence was 175.05/lakh.June was peak season.The incidence rate in Cangshan district,Jin'an district and Taijiang district was high,which ranked in the first three places.The ratio of male to female was 1.71∶1.91.16% of patients were children under 5 years old,and most of them were scattered children,nursery children and students. [Conclusion]The incidence rate of hand-foot-mouth disease in Fuzhou city showed an increasing trend.In order to control the spread of hand-foot-mouth disease,it is necessary to carry out the propaganda according to the epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease and implement the scientific prevention and control of hand-foot-mouth disease on the basis of laws.
Bilateral vertical specialization between the U.S. and its trade partners — before and after the free trade agreements

Abstract The focus of this paper is on examining the effect of free trade agreements on bilateral vertical specialization (VS) in manufacturing between the U.S. and its trading partners. A bilateral VS variable is constructed using input–output analysis before being modeled in an augmented gravity equation. Results show that North American countries are by far the most significant trade partners with the U.S., followed by other Asian and Oceanic countries. The average treatment effect of a free trade agreement is 0.94, which shows that bilateral trade increases, on average, by 155% from a free trade agreement.
Effects of induced or delayed parturition and supplemental dietary fat on colostrum and milk composition in sows.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of inducing premature parturition on the composition of colostrum and milk and the effects of dietary fat supplementation on colostrum and milk composition from premature and delayed farrowing sows. In Trial 1, eight sows were allowed to farrow naturally (d 114, NF sows) and eight sows were induced to farrow (IF sows) prematurely by injection of prostaglandin Fzol on d 112 of gestation. Average fat content of sow's milk during the first 12 h postpartum was lower for IF than for NF sows (P < .05), as was overall mean fat percentage (P < .05). In Trial 2,53 sows were randomly assigned in a 2 (diets) x 5 (parturition treatments) factorial experiment. Dietary treatments fed during the last 2 wk of gestation and throughout lactation were control diet and added fat diet (control diet plus 10% corn oil). Parturition treatments included 1 ) natural farrowing (d 114), induction of parturition with prostaglandin Fza on 2) d 110,3) d 111, or 4) d 112 of gestation, and 5) delay of parturition with progesterone followed by injection of prostaglandin on d 115. The added fat diet increased milk fat percentage compared with the control diet (P.01). Colostral fat percentage was reduced by induction of premature farrowing ( d 110 or 11 1) in sows fed the control diet but was unaffected in sows fed added dietary fat (interaction, P < .05). Mean fat content of colostrum was not reduced in groups receiving the added fat diet that were induced to farrow prematurely. In sows with delayed parturi- tion, colostral immunoglobulin G concentrations were lower for the group fed the added fat diet than for the group fed the control diet (P < .05). Addition of fat to sow diets during late gestation and lactation may help maintain high colostral energy for newborn pigs when sows are induced to farrow prematurely.
Multifunctional Fe2O3-Au Nanoparticles with Different Shapes: Enhanced Catalysis, Photothermal Effects, and Magnetic Recyclability

We investigate Au-decorated Fe2O3 nanoparticle catalysts, Fe2O3–Au, where the supporting Fe2O3 nanoparticles are of different shapes: spheres, rings, and tubes. The decoration procedure for the Fe2O3–Au nanoparticles is identical for each shape, and is analogous to the synthesis of pure Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). These similarities allows for direct comparison between the different shapes and the pure AuNPs. The morphological, optical, and magnetic characterizations reveal that the Fe2O3–Au nanoparticles are hybrid structures exhibiting both plasmonic and magnetic properties. The different shape Fe2O3–Au nanoparticles and the AuNPs are evaluated for their ability to catalytically reduce 4-nitrophenol. Remarkably, it is found that Fe2O3–Au nanoparticles are more efficient catalysts than AuNPs because they can achieve the same, or better, catalytic reaction rates using significantly smaller quantities of Au, which is the catalytically active material. Taking into account the Au-loadings, the Fe2O3 rings and ...
Optimal Control of Queueing Systems

Research in the control of queueing systems has been going on at an ever-increasing rate in the last few years. Progress in this field has reached the point where one can make some general statements about “the queueing-control problem”.
Insulated Polyacetylene Chains in an Inclusion Complex by Photopolymerization

The properties of a material often depend on the degree of order of their atomic, molecular, or crystalline domain components. This is expected to be especially true for the case of polyacetylene, whose properties are highly anisotropic. For many applications, it may be necessary to have macroscopic order but not necessarily crystalline order. Having polyacetyelene chains fully extended and aligned parallel to each other may be sufficient for these applications even without order of the chains around their long axis. We report here progress in the use of an inclusion crystal containing a photo-reactive precursor to prepare high molecular weight polyacetylene. Raman spectroscopy was performed to probe the resulting conjugated polyene chains. Ultraviolet irradiation of a 1, 4-diiodo-1, 3-butadiene/urea inclusion complex results in the appearance of new resonance-enhanced Raman modes at 1125 and 1509 cm-1. The Raman spectra of the resulting confined polyene chains are very similar to freestanding isolatedtrans-polyacetylene prepared by solution methods.
Raising Job Quality in Emerging Economies: The Impact of the Voluntary Adoption of Labor Codes

Recent reports on the exploitation and loss of life of factory workers and the persistent global disparities in working conditions bring to the forefront a question of whether labor codes may effectively lend themselves to improving the quality of work in emerging economies. While evidence of their effectiveness is limited, prior studies do not attempt to distinguish between labor codes that manufacturers comply with out of coercion by retailers and labor codes that are adopted voluntarily by manufacturers as a mode of work reform. Using data from 2007 to 2012 on a sample of 122 apparel manufacturing plants in Sri Lanka, the authors examine the extent to which working conditions improve following manufacturers’ voluntary adoption of the Garments without Guilt labor code. Voluntary labor code adoption was found to be associated with higher wages, lower use of underage workers, and less overtime work. These findings illustrate the effectiveness of labor codes in improving the quality of work, specifically w...
Abstract 608: Unilateral Renal Denervation Enhances Baroreflex Function in Conscious Rabbits

Renal nerve denervation (DNx) is currently being assessed as a therapy for drug-resistant hypertension and other disorders characterized by sympatho-excitation, such as chronic heart failure (CHF). We hypothesized that renal DNx enhances arterial baroreflex (BR) control of heart rate (HR) in normal and CHF rabbits. All animals were instrumented with ventricular pacing leads and an arterial pressure (AP) radiotelemetry transducer. After recovery the left kidney was denervated by stripping the renal artery of all visible fibers. Intact animals were subjected to a sham operation. Two weeks later, CHF animals were subjected to rapid ventricular pacing. BR changes in HR and AP were induced by iv sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine (PE) infusions alone and after injection of atropine or metoprolol. BR function was determined by fitting mean AP and HR data to a 4 parameter logistic equation. Renal DNx increased HR range from 156 ± 34 bpm in intact rabbits compared to 298 ± 39 bpm in DNx rabbits (p = 0.022). This was primarily due to a decrease in the minimum HR following PE infusion. During blockage with metoprolol HR range was increased from 140 ± 39.35 bpm in Sham to 262.75 ± 9.97 bpm in DNx rabbits (p = 0.016) suggesting an improvement in the vagal components of BR function. In intact rabbits with CHF, HR range was 110 ± 16 bpm compared to 294 ± 15 bpm in CHF renal DNx animals (p = .002). These data suggest renal DNx enhances the autonomic components of BR control of HR in the normal and CHF states.
Neurogenesis in the Postnatal VZ-SVZ and the Origin of Interneuron Diversity

In order to understand how the brain is assembled into functional circuits, it is essential to understand how the extraordinarily diverse cell types that comprise these circuits are generated. An attractive system for studying this process of neural specification is the adult mammalian ventricular–subventricular zone (VZ–SVZ), which continuously generates different types of neurons throughout an animal's lifetime. Newborn neurons (Type A cells) are generated in the VZ–SVZ by neural stem cells (NSCs) or primary progenitors (astroglial cells known as Type B1 cells) via intermediate progenitor cells (Type C cells). These newborn neurons use chain migration to move from the VZ–SVZ through the rostral migratory stream (RMS) and into the olfactory bulb (OB), where they differentiate into at least six different types of OB interneurons. These new neurons are generated in the VZ–SVZ that covers an extensive area, including regions in the lateral, dorsal, and medial walls of the lateral ventricles, as well as the RMS itself. Recent work has revealed that Type B1 cells in different regions of the VZ–SVZ generate specific subtypes of new neurons, suggesting that there is a spatial code to postnatal OB neurogenesis. This suggests that, in vivo , NSCs form a heterogeneous population of restricted primary progenitors organized into different spatial domains, contradicting the long-held view that they are a homogeneous population of progenitors with a broader potential. Identifying the mechanisms of neuronal specification in different regions of the postnatal VZ–SVZ will likely shed light on conserved mechanisms of cell-type specification and provide insight into how adult neurogenesis affects brain function in health and disease.
The MukB-Topoisomerase IV Interaction Is Required for Proper Chromosome Compaction

The bacterial condensin MukB and the cellular decatenating enzyme topoisomerase IV interact. This interaction stimulates intramolecular reactions catalyzed by topoisomerase IV, supercoiled DNA relaxation, and DNA knotting but not intermolecular reactions such as decatenation of linked DNAs. We have demonstrated previously that MukB condenses DNA by sequestering negative supercoils and stabilizing topologically isolated loops in the DNA. We show here that the MukB–topoisomerase IV interaction stabilizes MukB on DNA, increasing the extent of DNA condensation without increasing the amount of MukB bound to the DNA. This effect does not require the catalytic activity of topoisomerase IV. Cells carrying a mukB mutant allele that encodes a protein that does not interact with topoisomerase IV exhibit severe nucleoid decompaction leading to chromosome segregation defects. These findings suggest that the MukB-topoisomerase IV complex may provide a scaffold for DNA condensation.
Pairwise-interaction extended point-particle model for particle-laden flows

Abstract In this work we consider the pairwise interaction extended point-particle (PIEP) model for Euler–Lagrange simulations of particle-laden flows. By accounting for the precise location of neighbors the PIEP model goes beyond local particle volume fraction, and distinguishes the influence of upstream, downstream and laterally located neighbors. The two main ingredients of the PIEP model are (i) the undisturbed flow at any particle is evaluated as a superposition of the macroscale flow and a microscale flow that is approximated as a pairwise superposition of perturbation fields induced by each of the neighboring particles, and (ii) the forces and torque on the particle are then calculated from the undisturbed flow using the Faxen form of the force relation. The computational efficiency of the standard Euler–Lagrange approach is retained, since the microscale perturbation fields induced by a neighbor are pre-computed and stored as PIEP maps. Here we extend the PIEP force model of Akiki et al. [3] with a corresponding torque model to systematically include the effect of perturbation fields induced by the neighbors in evaluating the net torque. Also, we use DNS results from a uniform flow over two stationary spheres to further improve the PIEP force and torque models. We then test the PIEP model in three different sedimentation problems and compare the results against corresponding DNS to assess the accuracy of the PIEP model and improvement over the standard point-particle approach. In the case of two sedimenting spheres in a quiescent ambient the PIEP model is shown to capture the drafting-kissing-tumbling process. In cases of 5 and 80 sedimenting spheres a good agreement is obtained between the PIEP simulation and the DNS. For all three simulations, the DEM-PIEP was able to recreate, to a good extent, the results from the DNS, while requiring only a negligible fraction of the numerical resources required by the fully-resolved DNS.
The Political Economy of Corruption

One of the major obstacles to postcolonial Africa’s development and nation building is the problem of corruption. Using a political economy perspective, this chapter examines corruption as a social problem in postcolonial Africa. It begins by examining the conceptual debates about what corruption is, and whether it takes place only within the state or also within private corporations. This is followed by an analysis of the social and diverse consequences of corruption. The chapter underscores how corruption undermines the effective functioning of public institutions, which in turn creates other social problems, thereby creating a vicious circle. Using a longue duree perspective, the chapter outlines the constellation of factors that created a conducive environment for corruption in postcolonial Africa. It concludes by stressing the virtues of using the political economy perspective to study corruption as a social problem through an examination of the issue at different levels of analysis.