cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Communications and information resources in Canada

Abstract The author details Canada's efforts to maintain unity and national economic and cultural identity through its communication and information resources. The country's dependence on the USA is stressed. Computer communications, broadcasting and publishing industries, telephone and satellite communications, and research and development are covered and several Canadian innovations are introduced. It is concluded that, with appropriate action, Canadian communications and information resources could be used to strengthen national sovereignty.
Edge-ray and aplanatic designs as special cases of generalized functional designs

We show that both edge-ray and aplanatic concentrators are special cases of generalized functional designs. The formulas associated with the generalized functional method provide a convenient means of generating the shape profiles of such concentrators.
A design for DNA computation of the OneMax problem

Elements of evolutionary computation and molecular biology are combined to design a DNA evolutionary computation. The traditional test problem for evolutionary computation, OneMax problem is addressed. The key feature is the physical separation of DNA strands consistent with OneMax “fitness.”
Identifying comparative sentences in text documents

This paper studies the problem of identifying comparative sentences in text documents. The problem is related to but quite different from sentiment/opinion sentence identification or classification. Sentiment classification studies the problem of classifying a document or a sentence based on the subjective opinion of the author. An important application area of sentiment/opinion identification is business intelligence as a product manufacturer always wants to know consumers' opinions on its products. Comparisons on the other hand can be subjective or objective. Furthermore, a comparison is not concerned with an object in isolation. Instead, it compares the object with others. An example opinion sentence is "the sound quality of CD player X is poor". An example comparative sentence is "the sound quality of CD player X is not as good as that of CD player Y". Clearly, these two sentences give different information. Their language constructs are quite different too. Identifying comparative sentences is also useful in practice because direct comparisons are perhaps one of the most convincing ways of evaluation, which may even be more important than opinions on each individual object. This paper proposes to study the comparative sentence identification problem. It first categorizes comparative sentences into different types, and then presents a novel integrated pattern discovery and supervised learning approach to identifying comparative sentences from text documents. Experiment results using three types of documents, news articles, consumer reviews of products, and Internet forum postings, show a precision of 79% and recall of 81%. More detailed results are given in the paper.
Relative effectiveness of a blue light–filtering intraocular lens for photoentrainment of the circadian rhythm

Purpose To compare the relative effectiveness of photoentrainment of the circadian rhythm by a blue light–filtering tinted intraocular lens (IOL) (AcrySof Natural SN60), an untinted UV-only filtering IOL (AcrySof SA60), and human lenses in 4 age groups. Setting Scientific consultant and Department of Biological Structure and National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. Methods Three of 8 action spectra for circadian photoentrainment published from 2001 to 2007 were used to compute the relative effectiveness of the cumulative photon flux absorption from 400 to 600 nm reaching the retina from 4 light sources through the cornea, pupil, and 6 lenses. Results The effectiveness of the tinted IOL was 35% to 54% and 69% to 114% greater with the action spectra of 2002 to 2007, with a peak around 484 nm and 492 nm, respectively, compared with the 2001 action spectra, with a peak around 460 nm. The difference in effectiveness between the 2 IOLs ranged from 32% to 12%. With newer action spectra, differences in effectiveness between the tinted IOL and the lenses of a young standard observer and a 30- to 39-year-old were age dependent (+7% to −10% and +6% to −13%, respectively). Conclusions The tinted IOL was significantly more effective for photoentrainment of the circadian rhythm with newer action spectra. The computational results suggest that the effectiveness of the tinted IOL in 60- to 85-year-old patients would be within +6% to −13% of that in 30 to 39 year olds. Both tinted and untinted IOLs are expected to be effective for melatonin suppression under average household illumination.
Palaeoclimate: Hot spells on land

The hothouse climate of the early Eocene epoch was punctuated by a series of transient warming events linked to massive carbon release. Detailed terrestrial records for three of these events indicate that they were caused by similar underlying mechanisms.
Robustness of amorphous silicon during the initial lithiation/delithiation cycle

Abstract Recent research on the electrochemical lithiation of amorphous silicon nanoparticles shows that amorphous silicon is more fracture resistant than crystalline silicon during lithiation. Nanoparticles of amorphous silicon can be lithiated and delithiated without any fracture at all. To fully exploit the potential of using amorphous silicon as electrodes for lithium ion batteries it is important to determine if larger, micron-sized, amorphous silicon structures can be lithiated and delithiated without fracture. Here we study the morphologies of initially amorphous silicon micropillars (∼2.3 μm tall) both before and after electrochemical lithiation and delithiation. No internal or external cohesive cracking is detected in lithiated pillars for any of the pillar sizes studied. Delithiated pillars exhibit some delamination at the interface between the pillar and the underlying nickel substrate. For larger diameter pillars, the initiated interfacial crack is driven upward into the delithiated pillar as the crack propagates radially inward. However, no cohesive fracture unrelated to interfacial cracking is seen in even the largest delithiated pillars. Finite element modeling provides support for the observation that the cohesive fracture resistance of amorphous silicon micropillars is representative of the fracture resistance of amorphous silicon microparticles of comparable dimensions.
Angiocardiographic and Physiologic Correlations in Mitral Stenosis

With the use of the technics of angiocardiography and cardiac catheterization the relation of specific hemodynamic abnormalities to alterations in cardiovascular anatomy in mitral valvular disease was investigated in 56 patients.
A Gel Diffusion Assay for Quantification of Pectin Methylesterase Activity

Increased binding of ruthenium red to pectin as the number of methyl esters attached to the pectin decreases was used as the basis for a gel diffusion assay for pectin methylesterase (PME, EC 3.1.1.11) activity. The stained zone diameters resulting from the hydrolysis of 0.1% (w/v) 90% esterified pectin in an agarose gel by diffused, commercial PME were log-linear over 4 orders of magnitude, with a minimum detection limit of 3.6 pkatals. Pectin deesterification as the cause for a stained zone after PME incubation was confirmed when only 1 N NaOH, which will chemically deesterify the pectin, and not methanol or acid, the two products formed when PME acts on a methyl ester, resulted in the characteristic stained zone. The stained zone diameters decreased with increasing percentage of substrate esterification, were independent of pH, and were insensitive to simultaneous incubation with two forms of pectin lyase (EC 4.2.2.10), polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15), or all combinations. PME extracted from tomato seeds, cotton fibers, and melon fruit showed pH optima of 6, 6, and 8, respectively. Using individual tomato seed parts, the assay was adapted to quantify diffusate activity and to localize activity in tissue prints. The sensitivity, specificity, and simplicity of this PME assay are superior to all others.
BEHAVIORAL RISK INDICATORS OF ATTACHMENT LOSS IN ADULT FLORIDIANS

This study investigated behavioral and sociodemographic risk indicators of attachment loss (AL) at baseline in subjects of the Florida Dental Care Study: 873 subjects with at least 1 tooth, and who were 45+ years or older, participated for an in-person interview and dental examination; 761 subjects were probed for AL. Calibrated examiners used a modified NIDR protocol from the 1985-86 Survey of US Employed Adults and Seniors. Results were weighted to reflect actual population proportions. 92% of subjects had at least 1 site of 4+ mm AL, and 35% had at least 1 severe site (7+ mm AL). In a single multivariate regression, not having a recent dental check-up, not using dental floss, being a current smoker, and being diabetic were significantly associated with a higher probability of having 1 or more severe sites. Blacks were less likely than whites to be regular users of dental care, use dental floss, and be non-smokers. Similar findings were found for low income adults and rural residents. Risk groups (low income, blacks, rural residents) were more likely to present with modifiable risk indicators for AL, suggesting the need for targeted interventions.
Review of Dense Phase CO2 Technology: Microbial and Enzyme Inactivation, and Effects on Food Quality

Dense phase CO2 (DPCD) is a non-thermal technology that can inactivate certain microorganisms and enzymes at temperatures low enough to avoid the thermal effects of traditional pasteurization. This technology has been investigated over the past 50 y, particularly in the past 2 decades, and its effects on vegetative cells and spores of various microorganisms including pathogens, spoilage bacteria, yeasts, and molds, and various enzymes of importance to foods have been demonstrated. Many liquid foods retained freshlike sensory, nutritional, and physical properties after DPCD treatment. This article is a review of mechanisms of microbial reduction, enzyme inactivation, DPCD treatment systems, both experimental and commercial, and examples of applications with effects on quality attributes.
Brief paper: Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional for uniform stability of coupled differential-functional equations

This article discusses the Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional approach for the stability problem of coupled differential-functional equations. Such systems include, as special cases, many types of time-delay systems, including the lossless propagation model, some neutral time-delay systems and singular time-delay systems. After the general stability theory, the special case of coupled differential-difference equations is discussed, and the necessity for the existence of quadratic Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional is established. Discretization is used to render the stability criterion to an LMI form.
Comparison of in vivo and in vitro methods for assessing the effects of carbon tetrachloride on the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme system.

Abstract The effect of a single i.p. injection of 0, 20, 200, and 1000 μ/kg carbon tetrachloride on the activity of the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme system was measured in the rat by a model substrate assay employing lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) and by a battery of in vitro enzyme assays. The data in this study indicated that carbon tetrachloride had a biphasic influence on the phase I reactions with the lowest dose inducing a significant increase in enzyme activity while the highest dose produced significant inhibition. Significant CCl 4 -induced reductions in glucuronyltransferase and sulfotransferase activities were also observed while the effect on glutathione- S -transferase was ambiguous. The in vivo and in vitro assays showed good agreement.
Role of molecular size in cloud droplet activation

[1] We examine the observed relationships between molar volume (the ratio of molar mass and density) and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity for sufficiently soluble organic compounds found in atmospheric particulate matter. Our data compilation includes new CCN data for certain carbohydrates and oligoethylene glycols, as well as published data for organic compounds. We compare predictions of CCN activity using water activities based on Raoult's law and Flory-Huggins theory to observations. The Flory-Huggins water activity expression, with an assumed surface tension of pure water, generally predicts CCN activity within a factor of two over the full range of molar volumes considered. CCN activity is only weakly dependent on molar volume for values exceeding 600 cm3 mol−1, and the diminishing sensitivity to molar volume, combined with the significant scatter in the data, limits the accuracy with which molar volume can be inferred from CCN measurements.
Sensemaking: Bringing theories and tools together

This work is an attempt to reconcile three separate but influential threads in study of sensemaking. The first two of these are theories from different domains, human computer interaction (HCI) and social/organizational psychology. The last thread is that of design, of sensemaking support tools. Integrated, these three threads form a strong foundation for researchers, tool-designers and ultimately sensemakers themselves. Understanding and supporting the special role of people-people interaction can help us tie these separate threads together. This synthesis also suggests further research that can expand our understanding of sensemaking.
On the independence of blocks of generalized inverses of bordered matrices

Abstract Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the blocks in the (1)-, (1,3)-, and (1,4)-inverses of a general bordered matrix to be independent of each other.
The Final Solution in Early Polish Testimonial Fiction: The Impact of the Holocaust on the Witnessing World

While early Jewish literary testimonies of the Holocaust have received a remarkable amount of critical attention, very little has been said about the early literary responses of the Poles, the closest witnesses to the disaster. The location of the Holocaust, which took place mainly on the Polish territory, placed the Poles between the victims and the perpetrators. As the testimonial literature studied here shows, the borderline witnessing situation produced an emotional and ethical crisis, because the reality of the Final Solution put to test the humanistic fortitude of the writers. This paper examines the impact of the Jewish plight in literary testimonies in Jozef Mackiewicz's ‘Ponary – “Baza”’ (1945), which records the liquidation of a transport of Jews in Ponary, Tadeusz Borowski's ‘This Way to the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen’ (1946), which describes a transport of Jews in Auschwitz-Birkenau, and a narrative composed of three 1947 stories,‘The Landscape that Survived Death’, ‘Victory’, and ‘Returned Kin...
Developing a Unique Research Opportunity in Control Room Alarm Sonification

Alarm flooding occurs because of systemic overreliance on alarms and recurrent manpower shortage in control environments due to the relative unpredictability and scarcity of emergency states. As alarm technology has become cheaper, digitized, and more effective, its pervasiveness has increased. Organizations trying to reduce costs, human error, and manpower have taken to using more automated systems, more alarms and fewer operators. Such approaches are logical using a strict cost basis, but can lead to significant problems in cognitive loading and sensemaking when emergency states are triggered and alarm flooding occurs in any quintessential safety-critical system. The result of these trends has been a tendency towards more frequent alarm flooding. In this context, the primary author has a unique opportunity to develop a dissertation research project to address a once-in-a-generation challenge: addressing system design and implementation criteria for improved alarm designs for emerging technologies, including nuclear power plant control environments. This paper addresses technical and student development issues in developing a novel, unprecedented doctoral dissertation with significant application potential. Language: en
Geocoding crime and a first estimate of a minimum acceptable hit rate

Spatial crime analysis relies not only on accurate geocoding but also the achievement of a high level of geocoding success. Geocoding is the task of converting locations, such as the addresses of burglary victims, into grid coordinates and is a task performed regularly by many crime analysts. Data sources include police offence and incident databases where the quality of geographical references can vary. The reality of dealing with this real world data means that achieving a completely successful geocoding process is rare and few crime analysts can get a hit rate (the percentage measure of success) of 100%. This paper seeks the answer to a seemingly simple question: what is an ‘acceptable’ minimum geocoding hit rate for crime data? This paper uses a number of different crime patterns and Monte Carlo simulation to replicate a declining geocoding hit rate to answer this question. Reduced crime rates of mapped points, aggregated to census boundaries, are compared for a statistically significant difference. T...
Immunochemical studies with synthetic peptides related to collagen.

Abstract We have previously reported that the synthetic octapeptide having the amino acid sequence Gly-Pro-Gly-Pro-Pro-Gly-Ala-Lys exhibited immunological properties related to those of collagen and gelatin. The present communication reports on the specificity of rabbit antibodies to the octapeptide, elicited in response to immunization with the octapeptide conjugated to succinylated bovine serum albumin. Investigations on the reactivity of these antibodies with shorter C-terminal peptides, and on the capacity of C-terminal peptides to inhibit the reaction between the antibodies and the octapeptide revealed that the antigenic specificity of the octapeptide resides in its C-terminal pentapeptide having the amino acid sequence Pro-Pro-Gly-Ala-Lys. The capacity of the ordered polymer (Pro-Gly-Pro) n (mol. wt 1910) to inhibit the above reaction suggests that the antigenic specificity of the octapeptide is dependent upon the sequence Pro-Pro-Gly. In addition, the investigations revealed immunological cross reactivity between the octapeptide and collagens and/or gelatins derived from several animal species including humans.
The impact of assisted housing developments on concentrated poverty

Abstract The common wisdom is that assisted housing developments have both a direct and an indirect impact on concentrated poverty. The indirect effects are based on the notion that the negative stereotypes associated with such developments spill over into the surrounding neighborhoods, causing people who can leave to do so or avoid the neighborhood and leaving behind only the more disadvantaged segments of society. An increase in concentrated poverty in the neighborhood surrounding the development results. Prior studies, relying on aggregated data, are consistent with this thesis. The overwhelming majority of the statistical models in my study, however, found these relationships to be spurious. Once individual and macrolevel characteristics were controlled for, the relationships disappeared. These findings imply that assisted housing developments will not typically contribute to concentration of poverty in surrounding neighborhoods and suggest that much of the negative reaction to assisted housing develo...
Numerical simulation of cable shovel resistive forces in oil sands excavation

The cable shovel is an important primary excavator in surface mining operations. The production function of this shovel becomes more critical in the Athabasca oil sands formation with little or no pre-production blasting. The random occurrence of shales, dolomites and limestones in this formation causes a high digging resistance, mechanical wear, tear and failure, resulting in high maintenance costs. Research is currently underway to develop an intelligent navigation technology to provide smart shovel excavation in this formation. This paper contributes to this research by developing a numerical simulation model for determining the resistive force on a shovel dipper during excavation. The spatial dynamics of the dipper geometry and the loaded material weight are modelled using ordinary differential equations and solved using the Runge – Kutta algorithm. Numerical simulation results show that the depth of cut increases with an increase in crowd arm extension speed and a decrease in hoist rope retraction sp...
Preconcentration of Volatile Organics on Self-Assembled, Carbon Nanotubes in a Microtrap

This paper reports the self-assembly of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the inside wall of a steel capillary to fabricate a microtrap for the adsorption/desorption of trace organics. The microtrap functioned as a nanoconcentrator and an injector for gas chromatography (GC). The CNTs were deposited as a thin film by catalytic chemical vapor deposition from either CO or C2H4 as the precursor. The sorbent film synthesized from C2H4−CVD (CVD = chemical vapor deposition) had higher CNT density and thus was a stronger sorbent. In general, the CNT microtraps showed high-capacity adsorption and fast quantitative desorption, and the process showed excellent precision. This study demonstrates that CNT films can be deposited quite easily in a steel capillary for use in different analytical applications, and CNT films can perform as efficiently as packed-bed carbon sorbents.
Kinetic and Mutational Analyses of the Regulation of Phosphoribulokinase by Thioredoxins

Despite little supportive data, differential target protein susceptibility to redox regulation by thioredoxin (Trx) f and Trx m has been invoked to account for two distinct Trxs in chloroplasts. However, this postulate has not been rigorously tested with phosphoribulokinase (PRK), a fulcrum for redox regulation of the Calvin cycle. Prerequisite to Trx studies, the activation of spinach PRK by dithiothreitol, 2-mercaptoethanol, and glutathione was examined. Contrary to prior reports, each activated PRK, but only dithiothreitol supported Trx-dependent activation. Comparative kinetics of activation of PRK showed Trx m to be more efficient than Trx f because of its 40% higher V(max) but similar S(0.5). Activations were insensitive to ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase, which may complex with PRK in vivo. To probe the basis for superiority of Trx m, we characterized site-directed mutants of Trx f, in which unique residues in conserved regions were replaced with Trx m counterparts or deleted. These changes generally resulted in V(max) enhancements, the largest (6-fold) of which occurred with T105I, reflective of substitution in a hydrophobic region that opposes the active site. Inclusive of the present study, activation kinetics of several different Trx-regulated enzymes indicate redundancy in the functions of the chloroplastic Trxs.
Effects of chemical weathering on infrared spectra of Columbia River Basalt and spectral interpretations of martian alteration

Abstract We investigated the mineralogy of basalt weathering rinds and fresh basaltic rocks using visible/near-infrared (VNIR) ( λ = 0.4–2.5 μm) and thermal emission ( λ = 6–30 μm) spectroscopy to 1) constrain the effects of chemical weathering on rock spectra, and 2) further understand the context of infrared spectra of Mars, which may contain evidence for weathered rocks and particulates derived from them. VNIR spectra of weathered rock surfaces are generally redder and brighter than fresh surfaces. Thermal infrared spectra of weathered basalts show evidence for aluminous opal and clay minerals (or clay precursor mineraloids) in natural surfaces. Supporting VNIR observations generally do not show the same evidence for neoformed clays or silica because of their textural occurrence as thin coatings and microfracture-fill, and possibly due to poor crystallinity of the aluminosilicate weathering products in this context. Spectral trends observed at Mars, such as the detection of low to moderate (10–25%) abundances of silica and clay that are observed in the thermal infrared but not in the VNIR, are therefore consistent with trends observed for natural rock surfaces in the laboratory. The combined use of thermal infrared and VNIR suggest that vast areas of martian dark regions contain sandy–rocky basaltic materials with weathering rinds and thin coatings that could have formed in conditions of relatively low water/rock ratios.
Tissue engineering of skin

The engineering of skin substitutes and their application on human patients has become a reality. However, cell biologists, biochemists, technical engineers, and surgeons are still struggling with the generation of complex skin substitutes that can readily be transplanted in large quantities, possibly in only one surgical intervention and without significant scarring. Constructing a dermo-epidermal substitute that rapidly vascularizes, optimally supports a stratifying epidermal graft on a biodegradable matrix, and that can be conveniently handled by the surgeon, is now the ambitious goal. After all, this goal has to be reached coping with strict safety requirements and the harsh rules of the economic market.
Systems of Organization: Management of the Human Resource

This article presents a review of the book “Systems of Organization: Management of the Human Resource,” by David G. Bowers.
Graphical method for analysis of ultrahigh-resolution broadband mass spectra of natural organic matter, the van Krevelen diagram.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is becoming an important tool in the study of natural organic matter (NOM) at the molecular level.1 Ultrahigh-resolution ESI-MS analyses of NOM often produce very complicated spectra; therefore, visual presentation and structural interpretations of the spectra are difficult. To meet this analytical challenge, we herein propose and demonstrate an approach using the van Krevelen diagram. With this approach, complicated mass spectra can be visualized in a way that allows for (1) possible reaction pathways to be identified and presented, and (2) qualitative analyses on major classes of compounds that comprise ultrahigh-resolution spectra. The qualitative analyses are in a good agreement with results obtained from analyses by other analytical techniques. Additionally, the van Krevelen diagram can be expanded to a 3D plot by using peak intensities or relative intensities as the z-axis. The 3D van Krevelen diagram allows for an evaluation of the relative signifi...
Strategy for Passing the Civil P.E. Exam

The Principles and Practice of Engineering examination is the final challenge in earning registration as a licensed professional engineer (P.E.). Many practicing engineers satisfy the education and work experience eligibility requirements, but do not take the exam for fear of failing. This paper presents a no‐nonsense strategy for passing the exam. The paper answers the essential questions: “How do I qualify to take the exam?”; “what is on the exam?”; “how is the exam scored?”; and “what do I need to do to pass?” The goal of the examinee should be to achieve the minimum passing score in the easiest way possible. Many candidates approach their studying and the exam itself with the idea that they should be able to respond to any conceivable problem. The present paper strongly recommends that candidates concentrate on only a few subjects in which they already have some experience or knowledge, and forget the rest.
Molecular Structure of β-Amyloid Fibrils in Alzheimer’s Disease Brain Tissue

In vitro, β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides form polymorphic fibrils, with molecular structures that depend on growth conditions, plus various oligomeric and protofibrillar aggregates. Here, we investigate structures of human brain-derived Aβ fibrils, using seeded fibril growth from brain extract and data from solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and electron microscopy. Experiments on tissue from two Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with distinct clinical histories showed a single predominant 40 residue Aβ (Aβ40) fibril structure in each patient; however, the structures were different from one another. A molecular structural model developed for Aβ40 fibrils from one patient reveals features that distinguish in-vivo- from in-vitro-produced fibrils. The data suggest that fibrils in the brain may spread from a single nucleation site, that structural variations may correlate with variations in AD, and that structure-specific amyloid imaging agents may be an important future goal.
Phorbol ester enhances deoxynucleoside incorporation while inhibiting proliferation of K-562 cells

Recently a new technique has been developed to study bromodeoxyuridine incorporation into DNA as a function of the cell cycle phase distribution. We have made the observation that treatment of the hematopoietic cell line K-562 results in a complete and immediate cessation of cell growth, although tritiated thymidine incorporation is markedly elevated for as long as 5 days. We have made use of that newly described technique to study this phenomenon.
Structural abnormalities in language circuits in genetic high-risk subjects and schizophrenia patients

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with a strong genetic predisposition. Structural and functional brain deficits throughout the cerebral cortex, particularly in the language-processing associated brain regions, are consistently reported. Recently, increasing evidence from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggests that healthy relatives of schizophrenia patients also show structural brain abnormalities in cortical gray matter (GM) volume and thickness, suggesting that this may be associated with an unexpressed genetic liability for the disorder. Unfortunately, the findings are not consistent, which may be caused by different age ranges of the cohorts studied. In the present study, we examined the voxel-based whole brain cortical thickness, area, GM volume densities, and regional cortical thickness-related laterality indices in 14 bilateral regions of interest (ROIs) from known language-processing circuits in 20 schizophrenia patients, 21 young non-psychotic subjects with heightened genetic risk for schizophrenia at the peak ages for development of the disorder, and 48 matched controls. The results showed widespread significant reductions in cortical thickness, cortical GM volume density, and scattered decreases in cortical surface area in the schizophrenia patients compared with those in the high-risk subjects and normal controls. Moreover, the genetic high-risk subjects showed significantly increased regional cortical thickness in 7 of the 14 ROIs in the language-processing pathway when compared with controls. They also had increased GM volume density in scattered regions associated with language-processing when compared with the normal controls. Laterality analyses showed that the spatial distribution of abnormal cortical thickness in the schizophrenia patients, as well as in the high-risk subjects, contributes to a decrease of the normal left-greater-than-right anatomical asymmetry in the inferior orbital frontal area, and a increased left-greater-than-right pattern in the inferior parietal and occipital regions. Together with the existing findings in the literature, the results of the present study suggest that developmental disruption of the anatomical differentiation of the hemispheres provides a basis for understanding the language impairment and symptoms of psychosis, and that these may arise because of abnormal left-right hemispherical communications that interrupt the normal flow of information processing. The early structural deficits in language-processing circuits may precede the appearance of psychotic symptoms and may be an indicator of an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.
Multilevel TV Denoising Methods for Anisotropic Tensor Product Wavelets

In the paper we review an adaptive multilevel total variational (TV) method for image denoising which utilizes TV partial differential equation (PDE) model and exploits the multiresolution properties of wavelets. The adaptive multilevel TV method provides fast adaptive adaptive wavelet-based solvers for the TV model. The algorithm inherently combines the denoising property of wavelet compression algorithms with that of the TV model, and produces results superior to each method when implemented alone. We consider various anisotropic tensor product wavelet families including Daubechies wavelets, symmlets and coiflets.
Organizational Communications Systems and the Decision Process

The emergence and solution of organizational problems are examined from the framework of the communications system. A general model is developed based on the information-processing activities of the individual members of a communications network. The model describes the problem-solving process as a sequence of five stages: problem recognition, identification procedures, information acquisition and integration, definition of constraint set, and comparison and adaptation. The relations among the critical variables of the model are then specified in a series of propositions. The main purpose of the model, as exemplified in the propositions, is to provide a testable framework for the empirical analysis of the decision process in organizations.
Explaining Prolonged Silences in Transitional Justice: The Disappeared in Cyprus and Spain

The article examines why some postconflict societies defer the recovery of those who forcibly disappeared as a result of political violence, even after a fully fledged democratic regime is consolidated. The prolonged silences in Cyprus and Spain contradict the experience of other countries such as Bosnia, Guatemala, and South Africa, where truth recovery for disappeared or missing persons was a central element of the transition to peace and democracy. Exhumations of mass graves containing the victims from the two periods of violence in Cyprus (1963-1974) and the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was delayed up until the early 2000s. Cyprus and Spain are well suited to explain both prolonged silences in transitional justice and the puzzling decision to become belated truth seekers. The article shows that in negotiated transitions, a subtle elite agreement links the noninstrumental use of the past with the imminent needs for political stability and nascent democratization. As time passes, selective silence becomes an entrenched feature of the political discourse and democratic institutions, acquiring a hegemonic status and prolonging the silencing of violence.
Angle-average for the powers of the distance between two separated vectors

Closed analytical formulae are derived for the angle-average of arbitrary powers of the distance between two separated vectors. It is also shown how coefficients of an expansion in spherical harmonics can be obtained in a closed analytical form.
Combining models of pose and dynamics for human motion recognition

We present a novel method for human motion recognition. A video sequence is represented with a sparse set of spatial and spatial-temporal features by extracting static and dynamic interest points. Our model learns a set of poses along with the dynamics of the sequence. Pose models and the model of motion dynamics are represented as a constellation of static and dynamic parts, respectively. On top of the layer of individual models we build a higher level model that can be described as "constellation of constellation models". This model encodes the spatial-temporal relationships between the dynamics of the motion and the appearance of individual poses. We test the model on a publicly available action dataset and demonstrate that our new method performs well on the classification tasks. We also perform additional experiments to show how the classification performance can be improved by increasing the number of pose models in our framework.
Effects of ultraviolet radiation on gametic function during fertilization in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha).

ABSTRACT The gamete-specific effects of UV radiation on fertilization in the invasive freshwater zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) are addressed. Both eggs and sperm of zebra mussels were highly sensitive to UVB. Sperm irradiated with 118 mJ/cm2 UVB showed decreased fertilization rates when inseminating nonirradiated eggs. Sperm binding was unaffected; however, acrosomal integrity and sperm incorporation into the egg cytoplasm were reduced by UVB irradiation. There was a decrease in first zygotic cleavage. The level of UVB needed to inhibit fertilization was lower than that required for inhibition of sperm motility. UVB-irradiated eggs also showed reduced function when inseminated by nonirradiated sperm. UVB-induced damage in eggs most commonly resulted in a stoppage or delay of meiosis. The levels effective in killing zebra mussel larvae should be sufficient to inhibit fertilization.
Implications of local literacy practices for literacy programmes in a multilingual community in northern Cameroon

Research in a rural area of northern Cameroon where most adults describe themselves as illiterate reveals a complex picture in which three languages are used in different ways and in different domains of life. The profile of the literacy practices associated with these languages is correspondingly complex. This paper argues that it is important for the organisers of literacy programmes aiming to improve literacy among adults to be conscious of the varying language and literacy practices in their locality and to design teaching programmes which respond in a contextualised manner to the uses of literacy valued by the learners.
Quantum Inequality Restrictions on Negative Energy Densities in Curved Spacetimes

In quantum field theory, there exist states in which the expectation value of the energy density for a quantized field is negative. These negative energy densities lead to several problems such as the failure of the classical energy conditions, the production of closed timelike curves and faster than light travel, violations of the second law of thermodynamics, and the possible production of naked singularities. Although quantum field theory introduces negative energies, it also provides constraints in the form of quantum inequalities (QI’s). These uncertainty principle-type relations limit the magnitude and duration of any negative energy. We derive a general form of the QI on the energy density for both the quantized scalar and electromagnetic fields in static curved spacetimes. In the case of the scalar field, the QI can be written as the Euclidean wave operator acting on the Euclidean Green’s function. Additionally, a small distance expansion on the Green’s function is used to derive the QI in the short sampling time limit. It is found that the QI in this limit reduces to the flat space form with subdominant correction terms which depend on the spacetime geometry. Several example spacetimes are studied in which exact forms of the QI’s can be found. These include the three- and four-dimensional static Robertson-Walker spacetimes, flat space with perfectly reflecting mirrors, Rindler and static de Sitter space, and the spacetime outside a black hole. In all of the above cases, we find that the quantum inequalities give a lower limit on how much negative energy may be observed relative to the vacuum energy density of the spacetime. For the particular case of the black hole, it is found that the quantum inequality on the energy density is measured relative to the Boulware vacuum. Finally, the application of the quantum inequalities to the Alcubierre warp drive spacetime leads to strict constraints on the thickness of the negative energy region needed to maintain the warp drive. Under these constraints, we discover that the total negative energy required exceeds the total mass of the visible universe by a hundred billion times, making warp drive an impractical form of transportation.
Addressing misconceptions about code with always-on programming visualizations

We present Theseus, an IDE extension that visualizes run-time behavior within a JavaScript code editor. By displaying real-time information about how code actually behaves during execution, Theseus proactively addresses misconceptions by drawing attention to similarities and differences between the programmer's idea of what code does and what it actually does. To understand how programmers would respond to this kind of an always-on visualization, we ran a lab study with graduate students, and interviewed 9 professional programmers who were asked to use Theseus in their day-to-day work. We found that users quickly adopted strategies that are unique to always-on, real-time visualizations, and used the additional information to guide their navigation through their code.
A prospective randomized trial of mycophenolate mofetil in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is the most common indication for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States. Recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection post-LT remains a problem for which there is no completely satisfactory treatment. The aim of the present study is to evaluate mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), which has both immunosuppressive and antiviral properties, to determine whether it is associated with a difference in the rate of HCV recurrence and also examine its impact on patient and graft survival. Between August 1995 and May 1998, a total of 106 patients who were HCV positive before LT were randomized to tacrolimus (TAC) and prednisone versus TAC, prednisone, and MMF therapy. The rate of recurrence of HCV, patient and graft survival, incidences of rejection, and histological findings were examined. Fifty six patients were randomized to TAC and steroid therapy (double [D] drug; group D), and 50 patients were randomized to TAC, steroid, and MMF therapy (triple [T] drug; group T). Liver biopsies were performed when liver function was abnormal; protocol liver biopsies were not performed. Mean follow-up was 4.3 +/- 0.8 years. Actuarial patient survivals at 4 years were 72.6% in group D and 73.8% in group T (P = not significant). Actuarial graft survivals at 4 years were 65.6% in group D and 65.4% in group T. One patient in group D and 2 patients in group T underwent a second LT for recurrent HCV. One patient in each group died of recurrent HCV without re-LT. Twenty-six patients in group D (46.4%) and 23 patients in group T (46.0%) showed signs of recurrent HCV. Mean hepatitis activity index (HAI) scores were 7.4 +/- 2.7 in group D and 7.0 +/- 3.4 in group T, and mean fibrosis scores were 2.9 +/- 1.7 in group D and 2.6 +/- 1.1 in group T. The rate of rejection was 0.57/patient in each group for the entire follow-up period. None of these values reached statistical significance. Rates of HCV recurrence, graft loss or death from recurrent HCV, and 4-year actuarial patient and graft survival were not different between the groups. In liver transplant recipients with HCV, MMF has no impact on patient survival, graft survival, rejection, or rate of HCV recurrence based on biochemical changes and histological findings. In addition, there was no difference in HAI or fibrosis score between the two groups. Either MMF has no anti-HCV effect or its immunosuppressive properties overwhelm its antiviral effect in the clinical setting.
MeV implants boost device design

This high energy technique minimizes soft error rate, latchup, leakage, noise, and ESD in MOSFETs. High energy implant tools reduce process cost and complexity because they eliminate the need for a significant number of process steps and mask levels. Using MeV implant tools for retrograde wells, mask levels and process steps are eliminated. They also reduce metal contamination, thermal stress and wafer warpage. In fact, MeV implanters can substantially reduce the thermal budget from both processing time and temperature. With MeV implanters, there are opportunities to eliminate silicon epitaxy and p+ substrates, 5-to-20 percent cost reduction has been quoted with the migration to low cost wafers and MeV technology.
Scratch & vote: self-contained paper-based cryptographic voting

We present Scratch & Vote (S&V), a cryptographic voting system designed to minimize cost and complexity: (1) ballots are paper-based and can be printed using today’s technology, (2) ballots are universally verifiable without electionofficial intervention, and (3) tallying requires only one trustee decryption per race, thanks to homomorphic aggregation. Scratch & Vote combines the multi-candidate election techniques of Baudron et al. with the ballot-casting simplicity of Chaum and Ryan’s paper-based techniques. In addition, S&V allows each voter to participate directly in the audit process on election day, prior to casting their own ballot.
The advantageous use of hypoxic tumour cells in cancer therapy: Identical chemosensitization by metronidazole and misonidazole at moderately elevated temperatures

Chemosensitization by two nitroimidazoles (NIs), metronidazole (METRO) and misonidazole (MISO), of the anti-tumour effect of alkylating agents was studied at three different temperatures: room temperature (RT), 37 and 41·5°C. Three alkylating agents, cyclophosphamide (CY), 1,3 bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea (BCNU) and melphalan (L-PAM) were tested when the tumours reached an average diameter of 4 mm. Tumours were 4th generation isotransplants of a spontaneous fibrosarcoma, FSa-II. Treatment at 37 or 41·5°C was given by immersing the tumour-bearing foot for 60 min in a water bath set at these temperatures. The test agents were injected ip immediately before immersing the foot in the water bath, whereas METRO or MISO (2·5 mmol/kg) was given ip 30 min before the injection of a test agent. Following treatment the tumour growth (TG) time, i.e. the time required for one-half of treated tumours to reach 1000 mm3 after the treatment day, was studied. For CY, MISO was a better sensitizer than METRO at RT and 37°...
Duty cycle effects on generating unit availability

The author presents and discusses unit reliability models and unit failure rates as functions of unit duty cycle. The duty cycle experienced by a generating unit has an important effect on the unit's failure rate and on the probability that the unit is available when needed. Consequently, unit duty cycles should be considered and properly modeled in studies of system capacity requirements and benefits. Unit failure modes that are associated with stop/start events are discussed. A sample system study is used to illustrate how the effects of generating unit duty cycles on failure rates and availabilities of generating units in a system influence system reliability and capacity requirements. This study shows that ignoring the effects of duty cycle on unit failure rates can seriously degrade the accuracy of the study. >
Beyond collagen: injectable therapies for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence in the new millennium

Previous experience with GAX-collagen has shown that the endoscopic correction of female SUI is both possible and effective. It is clear, however, that durability remains a primary concern when implementing this approach to treatment. The availability of recently developed and newly emerging materials, carefully designed using the tenets and techniques of biotechnology and materials science, may provide solutions to some of the difficulties beleaguering this treatment option. Results with currently available injectables are summarized in Table 1. Careful review and critical analysis of new bulking agents will soon reveal which materials approach the therapeutic ideal. It is likely that the ultimate choice of a particular substance, synthetic or biologic, may best be determined by the clinical circumstances involving the individual patient.