cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of UHPC as a Repair Material for Corroded Steel Bridge Girders

Corrosion damage of steel girder ends is a prevalent problem throughout the United States. This damage is often caused by leaking expansion joints, which deposit water and chlorides on the girders. Section loss at these critical locations can be detrimental to the bearing capacity of the girder. Current repair methods are costly, time consuming, and disruptive to traffic. A new repair method has been proposed by the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Transportation using ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) to repair these corroded steel girder ends. The repair consists of welding headed shear studs to the undamaged portions of the web and encasing the girder in UHPC. The shear studs provide an alternate load path from the girder to the UHPC panels to bypass the corroded region. A series of full-scale 54-in. (1.37-m) deep plate girder specimens were tested to evaluate the load-carrying performance of the UHPC repair with different panel heights, stud layouts, and UHPC materials. The experimental program included a baseline corroded girder with no repair and three corroded girders repaired with UHPC. Conventional forming and casting techniques were used for each of the repairs in order to establish standard procedures that could be adopted for field implementation. One of the girders was exposed to simulated service-level vibrations during curing to demonstrate the ability to implement the repair without interrupting traffic. The results show that the UHPC repair presents a viable option for restoring the load bearing capacity of damaged girders with reduced plate thicknesses due to corrosion.
Early trauma and psychosocial outcomes among college students

Abstract Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as physical abuse and family dysfunction are associated with long-term health outcomes. Even so, research on the link between ACEs and psychosocial outcomes is relatively underdeveloped. The present study sought to understand the relationship between ACEs, stress, social support, and mental health. 722 college students attending three universities located within the Midwestern and Southern United States completed self-report surveys related to their history of ACEs and current stress, social support, and mental health. Using ordinary least squares regression, we explored the relationship between ACES and psychosocial outcomes. We found an increasing number of ACEs to significantly predict stress, social support, and mental health. We further explored the relationship between each ACE and the outcomes of interest, observing emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and family member mental illness to have the strongest relationship with stress while emotional neglect and emotional abuse were most strongly related to social support. Higher education administrators and staff seeking to improve the mental health of their students should explore opportunities to enhance stress coping mechanisms and available social support.
Report card on school snack food policies among the United States' largest school districts in 2004-2005: room for improvement.

Background Federal nutritional guidelines apply to school foods provided through the national school lunch and breakfast programs, but few federal regulations apply to other foods and drinks sold in schools (labeled "competitive foods"), which are often high in calories, fat and sugar. Competitive food policies among school districts are increasingly viewed as an important modifiable factor in the school nutrition environment, particularly to address rising rates of childhood overweight. Congress passed legislation in 2004 requiring all school districts to develop a Wellness Policy that includes nutrition guidelines for competitive foods starting in 2006–2007. In addition, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently published recommendations for schools to address childhood obesity.
Measuring general managers' performances: Market, accounting and combination‐of‐measures systems

Purpose – This paper discusses how to choose a measure or set of measures for the purposes of evaluating and rewarding general managers' performances.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes a set of criteria that is useful for evaluating any measure or set of measures. Then it applies the criteria to an evaluation of three measurement alternatives in common use at general management organization levels: market measures, accounting measures, and combinations of measures.Findings – The paper shows that all of the measurement alternatives fail to satisfy one or more of the evaluation criteria and, hence, lead to less than optimal outcomes. But it also shows that some alternatives are better than others in specific situations.Originality/value – While comprehensive sets of evaluation criteria have been applied to financial accounting choice issues, this is the first such approach in management accounting. This approach can lead to improved performance measurement system choices. It can also be used ...
Pyocine typing of clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract A total of 954 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were typed by their ability to produce pyocines. The strains of Pseudomonas were isolated from urines, bloods, sputa, stools, and miscellaneous infectious exudates or tissue of patients of the Mayo Clinic and four associated hospitals. About 80% of the typable strains could be grouped into three major pyocine types: A (30.9%), B (34.8%), and D (14.1%). These large groups could be divided into subtypes by using additional indicator strains. There was no significant difference in the distribution of types by either institutional or specimen source, except that urine specimens yielded the highest percentage of one type. By this procedure, 93% of all isolates could be typed. Repeated typing of serially transferred strains indicated that the procedure has a high degree of reliability. Several strains exhibited extreme fluctuation in inhibition pattern. The procedure is a simple and reliable method to monitor the patterns of nosocomial infections due to P. aeruginosa.
From Individual Work and Desktop-Based Collaboration to Ubiquitous Meeting Environments

In this paper, we present a design framework for and the realization of a series of cooperative hypermedia systems serving as examples of next generation information systems which address especially the diverse nature of collaboration within and between groups. This work is motivated by the increasing merge of computer, network and telecommunication technology. But the high expectations on how people will use information in the future and corresponding business opportunities have yet to be met because the progress in networks and basic technology is not paralleled by advances in the development of corresponding value-adding applications. One important area for such applications is the collaboration of geographically distributed people in “Virtual Organisations”. SEPIA — a group-aware cooperative hypermedia authoring system focussing on desk-top conferencing, and DOLPHIN —an electronic meeting room environment employing large interactive electronic whiteboards and local as well as remote networked computers are examples of these applications which provide support for “Ubiquitous Collaboration” in Virtual Organisations.
Electromagnetic vector sensor processing in the wave frame

The authors introduce a wave frame model and define the covariance of vector angular frame model (CVAE) in this frame. A lower bound is derived on the CVAE for source direction and orientation estimation. An explicit expression for the CVAE matrix bound is found to be diagonal, easy to interpret, and having only intrinsic singularities. A relationship is also provided between the CVAE and the mean-square angular error quality measure. >
Exploiting common subqueries for complex query optimization

As database technology is applied to more and more application areas, user queries on a database become more and more complex. Existing query optimization techniques were not developed for dealing with complex queries and may suffer from some serious problem such as intolerably long optimization time and poor optimizing results. To tackle this challenge, we introduce a new technique to improve the quality of complex query optimization in this paper. The key idea is to exploit the common subqueries that often appear in a complex query and reuse the optimization work done for each common subquery. An algorithm to identify common subqueries efficiently and generate a high-quality execution plan for a given complex query is proposed. The complexity of the algorithm is analyzed. Experiments demonstrate that this proposed polynomial-time technique is quite promising in optimizing complex queries for a database management system.
Optimal control problems with switching points

The main idea of this report is to give an overview of the problems and difficulties that arise in solving optimal control problems with switching points. A brief discussion of existing optimality conditions is given and a numerical approach for solving the multipoint boundary value problems associated with the first-order necessary conditions of optimal control is presented. Two real-life aerospace optimization problems are treated explicitly. These are altitude maximization for a sounding rocket (Goddard Problem) in the presence of a dynamic pressure limit, and range maximization for a supersonic aircraft flying in the vertical, also in the presence of a dynamic pressure limit. In the second problem singular control appears along arcs with active dynamic pressure limit, which in the context of optimal control, represents a first-order state inequality constraint. An extension of the Generalized Legendre-Clebsch Condition to the case of singular control along state/control constrained arcs is presented and is applied to the aircraft range maximization problem stated above. A contribution to the field of Jacobi Necessary Conditions is made by giving a new proof for the non-optimality of conjugate paths in the Accessory Minimum Problem. Because of its simple and explicit character, the new proof may provide the basis for an extension of Jacobi's Necessary Condition to the case of the trajectories with interior point constraints. Finally, the result that touch points cannot occur for first-order state inequality constraints is extended to the case of vector valued control functions.
Endocrine Changes Before and After the Menarche

The study was carried out on healthy girls before and after the menarche in order to investigate the behaviour of certain hormones apparently affecting the growth spurt in puberty. It was desired to study the normal variation and to discover at what point of time the adult level is attained. The serum levels of growth hormone and alkaline phosphatase, and the urinary excreation of 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids in a total of 146 healthy pre- and postmenarcheal girls were studied. The blood samples, one per girl, were collected in the afternoon after a moderate fast. The results were calculated for groups based on skeletal age, the so-called gynecological age, and the stage of puberty. A review of the total group showed that alkaline phosphatase had a highly significant negative correlation to the skeletal age, height, weight and stage of puberty (r about -0.4). The 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids were highly significantly positively correlated to the same variables (r about 0....
Emergency Radiology goes international

With this issue of Emergency Radiology, we introduce an important new relationship for our journal. We announce that, in addition to our sponsoring organization, the American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER), Emergency Radiology is now the official journal of the Society for Emergency Radiology-India. This is an exciting affiliation for our journal. As international collaborations have increased, our journal will benefit from a more global exposure and from additional subscribers. The Society for Emergency Radiology-India is a relatively new society with approximately 200 members, with plans to grow to a membership over 1000. This affiliation has come to fruition from the support of the leadership of our journal, ASER, and from Dr. Anjali Agrawal, an organizingmember of the Society for Emergency Radiology-India, an ASER member, and a member of our Editorial Board. This affiliation will increase Emergency Radiology’s influence in India where expertise and research in radiology is burgeoning. This is a geographic area of rapid growth in the subspecialty practice of emergency radiology. This affiliation will lead to increased number and diversity of submissions and thus improve the significance of our journal. This will increase our understanding of medical journalism and emergency radiology issues in this important part of the world. In addition to our new journal cover, there will be some journal enhancements related to this affiliation. With upcoming issues, the following changes will take place:
Physics of protein motility and motor proteins

Motor proteins are enzymatic molecules that transform chemical energy into mechanical motion and work. They are critically important for supporting various cellular activities and functions. In the last 15 years significant progress in understanding the functioning of motor proteins has been achieved due to revolutionary breakthroughs in single-molecule experimental techniques and strong advances in theoretical modelling. However, microscopic mechanisms of protein motility are still not well explained, and the collective efforts of many scientists are needed in order to solve these complex problems. In this special section the reader will find the latest advances on the difficult road to mapping motor proteins dynamics in various systems. Recent experimental developments have allowed researchers to monitor and to influence the activity of single motor proteins with a high spatial and temporal resolution. It has stimulated significant theoretical efforts to understand the non-equilibrium nature of protein motility phenomena. The latest results from all these advances are presented and discussed in this special section. We would like to thank the scientists from all over the world who have reported their latest research results for this special section. We are also grateful to the staff and editors of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter for their invaluable help in handling all the administrative and refereeing activities. The field of motor proteins and protein motility is fast moving, and we hope that this collection of articles will be a useful source of information in this highly interdisciplinary area. Physics of protein motility and motor proteins contents Physics of protein motility and motor proteinsAnatoly B Kolomeisky Identification of unique interactions between the flexible linker and the RecA-like domains of DEAD-box helicase Mss116 Yuan Zhang, Mirko Palla, Andrew Sun and Jung-Chi Liao The load dependence of the physical properties of a molecular motor Xianchao Meng, Min Yu and Yunxin Zhang Microtubule organization by kinesin motors and microtubule crosslinking protein MAP65 Joshua Pringle, Amutha Muthukumar, Amanda Tan, Laura Crankshaw, Leslie Conway and Jennifer L Ross Backtracking dynamics of RNA polymerase: pausing and error correction Mamata Sahoo and Stefan Klumpp First-passage problems in DNA replication: effects of template tension on stepping and exonuclease activities of a DNA polymerase motor Ajeet K Sharma and Debashish Chowdhury
A Comparative Historical Explanation of the Environmental Policies of Two Woodworkers' Unions in Canada:

The Industrial Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA) has cooperated with timber corporations in engaging in an anti-environmentalist campaign in British Columbia. In contrast, the Pulp Paper and Woodworkers of Canada (PPWC) has, on occasion, cooperated with environmental organizations. It is contended here that the IWA's history of purging radicals from its ranks, its longstanding policy of cooperating with management, and its relatively undemocratic political structure are the primary reasons for its anti-environmentalist policies. Conversely, the PPWC has never expelled radicals from leadership positions; it has always maintained an adversarial relationship with management; and its political structure is very democratic. Thus, the specific histories and political structures of the PPWC and the IWA are the primary reasons for their different environmental policies. Therefore, it is argued that there is nothing inherent in woodworkers or woodworkers' unions that would preclude them from cooperating with the environmental movement
Diagnostic error in surgical pathology

Abstract Diagnostic error in surgical pathology can be detrimental to patients. In the past 10–20 years there has been accumulation of knowledge that helps pathologists understand how errors occur and how they can be avoided. While there are multiple types of errors including specimen identification, specimen processing and transcription errors, interpretive diagnostic errors tend to account for the majority of errors that affect the patient's course. As such, this article is focused on diagnostic interpretive errors. Five factors are involved in determining and avoiding errors. These factors include: (1) knowledge, experience and training; (2) standardization of procedures and terminology; (3) clinical history and clinical correlation; (4) ancillary studies; and (5) redundancy or case reviews. These five factors and their contribution to errors and error avoidance is discussed.
Automatic sulcal curve extraction on the human cortical surface

The recognition of sulcal regions on the cortical surface is an important task to shape analysis and landmark detection. However, it is challenging especially in a complex, rough human cortex. In this paper, we focus on the extraction of sulcal curves from the human cortical surface. The previous sulcal extraction methods are time-consuming in practice and often have a difficulty to delineate curves correctly along the sulcal regions in the presence of significant noise. Our pipeline is summarized in two main steps: 1) We extract candidate sulcal points spread over the sulcal regions. We further reduce the size of the candidate points by applying a line simplification method. 2) Since the candidate points are potentially located away from the exact valley regions, we propose a novel approach to connect candidate sulcal points so as to obtain a set of complete curves (line segments). We have shown in experiment that our method achieves high computational efficiency, improved robustness to noise, and high reliability in a test-retest situation as compared to a well-known existing method.
Ecomorphology of the eyes and skull in zooplanktivorous labrid fishes

Zooplanktivory is one of the most distinct trophic niches in coral reef fishes, and a number of skull traits are widely recognized as being adaptations for feeding in midwater on small planktonic prey. Previous studies have concluded that zooplanktivores have larger eyes for sharper visual acuity, reduced mouth structures to match small prey sizes, and longer gill rakers to help retain captured prey. We tested these three traditional hypotheses plus two novel adaptive hypotheses in labrids, a clade of very diverse coral reef fishes that show multiple independent evolutionary origins of zooplanktivory. Using phylogenetic comparative methods with a data set from 21 species, we failed to find larger eyes in three independent transitions to zooplanktivory. Instead, an impression of large eyes may be caused by a size reduction of the anterior facial region. However, two zooplanktivores (Clepticus parrae and Halichoeres pictus) possess several features interpreted as adaptations to zooplankton feeding, namely large lens diameters relative to eye axial length, round pupil shape, and long gill rakers. The third zooplanktivore in our analysis, Cirrhilabrus solorensis, lacks all above features. It remains unclear whether Cirrhilabrus shows optical specializations for capturing planktonic prey. Our results support the prediction that increased visual acuity is adaptive for zooplanktivory, but in labrids increases in eye size are apparently not part of the evolutionary response.
A systems dynamics approach to support prospective planning of interventions to improve chronic kidney disease care

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing health problem in the United States. Patients with CKD have had critical care gaps that have perhaps led to a more rapid progression of CKD toward end stage renal disease. To improve CKD outcomes, an interdisciplinary project has been initiated. This article describes how system dynamics supported the planning of the project. We developed a causal loop diagram through discussions with a panel advisory group and health providers. The model is particularly effective because it can demonstrate the interrelationships among patients, providers, and policies, and predict the effects of the interventions. This preliminary work may overcome the common linear approaches to care and helped design sustainable interventions through an understanding of system complexities. Future work on the project will develop a stock-flow diagram with empirical data to support the effective implementation of proposed interventions.
Day Care Interactions and Teacher Perceptions As a Function of Teacher and Child Ethnic Group

Abstract Teachers' perceptions of children and teacher-child interactions have been studied as a function of ethnic group in older children, but not in preschool children. Furthermore, schools that are predominantly African American and Hispanic (children and teachers) have been largely ignored, or else the studies have grouped children from various minority groups into a single category. The present study examined low-SES preschool classrooms that are predominantly African American and Hispanic. Hispanic teachers described Hispanic boys as having high levels of difficulties, and they engaged in high levels of interactions with these boys. These results suggest that Hispanic teachers may be particularly sensitive to Hispanic boys' difficulties, and point to the need to differentiate concern from bias. Perceptions of girls were more positive and less influenced by ethnicity. These data are consistent with a model of girls as relatively invisible in the classroom.
Culture in the Sanctioned Classroom Practices of Elementary School Teachers Serving Low-Income African American Students

This study examined whether culture mediated teachers' reported classroom behaviors. Teachers were asked to complete a questionnaire with items that depicted a traditional classroom behavior or activity performed under specific cultural orientations. Reports of culture-based classroom behaviors were ascertained as a function of teacher cultural group and classroom cultural practice type. Classroom cultural practice was measured through a scale developed to assess typical classroom activities carried out in fundamental culture-specific manners. After teachers initially responded to how often they endorsed the culture-based classroom practices, an inference was made of the degree to which teachers maintained classroom behaviors specific to either individualistic, competitive, communal, or vervistic cultural orientations. Because teachers' practices are believed to be guided by mainstream European cultural values, it was predicted that they would report higher levels of such classroom practices. Patterns of ...
Holography of Liquid Droplets

Holograms were made of the light scattered by small clouds of water droplets. The far-field radiation patterns of individual droplets can be determined from the reconstructed image of the droplet cloud, and intensity plots of such patterns were recorded with a TV-camera system and a chart recorder with a photomultiplier attachment. Particular attention was paid to radiation patterns in the angular range from 10°–40° from the direction of propagation of the laser pulse illuminating the droplet cloud. According to the Mie theory of scattering by liquid spheres, a significant relation exists between the form of the scattered radiation pattern and the diameter of a droplet. Therefore, given sufficient agreement between Mie theory and the recorded radiation patterns, it is possible to use the recorded patterns to determine the sizes of droplets in a cloud. The feasibility of the idea is demonstrated in the present experiments. Good agreement was obtained with Mie theory and it was possible thereby to determine droplet sizes with an accuracy that appeared better than ±1%.
ENaC Activity and Expression is Decreased in the Lungs of Protein Kinase C-α Knockout Mice

We used a PKC-α knockout model to investigate the regulation of alveolar epithelial Na+ channels (ENaC) by PKC. Primary alveolar type II (ATII) cells were subjected to cell-attached patch clamp. In...
Chemical topography of efferent projections from the median preoptic nucleus to pontine monoaminergic cell groups in the rat.

This study examined efferent output from the median preoptic nucleus (MNPO) to pontine noradrenergic and serotonergic cell groups using an anterograde tracing technique (Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin, PHA-L) combined with glucose oxidase immunocytochemistry to serotonin (5-HT) or to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). Injections of PHA-L into the ventral MNPO resulted in moderate axonal labeling within the region of the B7 and B8 serotonergic groups in the dorsal raphe. PHA-L labeled fibers and punctate processes were observed in close apposition to many of the 5-HT immunoreactive neurons in these regions. In contrast, sparse terminal labeling was found within the B5 group in the raphe pontis nucleus, and only trace fiber labeling observed in the B3 and B6 groups. Efferents from the MNPO also provided moderate innervation to the A6 and A7 noradrenergic groups. PHA-L labeled punctate processes were found most frequently in close apposition to DBH-immunoreactive neurons at mid- to caudal levels of the locus coeruleus. Some labeled axons were also present within the A7 and A5 groups. Additionally, a close apposition between labeled MNPO efferents and 5-HT fibers within the lateral parabrachial nucleus was observed. The results indicate the MNPO provides a topographic innervation of monoaminergic groups in the upper brainstem.
Shear wave velocity profiling and evaluation of liquefaction potential in northeast Arkansas using simplified equipment

Soil liquefaction in Northeast Arkansas (NEA) is expected to result in substantial damage during seismic events. Insitu shear wave velocity (V s ) profile of the subsurface, to a depth of at least 30-meters (according to the International Building Code or IBC), is necessary for determining the "Site Class", which is subsequently used in the structural analysis of buildings, and can be used as a screening tool to evaluate the depth and thickness of potentially liquefiable soil layers. Shear wave velocity profiles at 3 sites in Craighead County, AR were determined utilizing simplified equipment by means of a non-invasive technique. The results indicated good agreement with previous work performed by other researchers. These profiles were used to evaluate the liquefaction resistance at these sites using the simplified procedure by Seed and Idriss (V s approach). The liquefaction resistance was also evaluated using the Standard Penetration Test (SPT approach) results from the geotechnical investigations that were conducted by others. The equipment and procedure should allow governmental agencies and engineering professional to determine the shear wave velocity profiles of the upper soil zones at relatively low cost. These profiles can aid different agencies in mapping areas of interest and assessing seismic hazard potential during planning future development or evaluating current facilities.
Comets in other planetary systems

Comets in our solar system appear to have provided a bridge between the cold, volatile-rich outer solar system, and the warm, but volatile-poor inner solar system. Excluding tidal and possible extinct radionuclide heating sources, only in the inner solar system are temperatures high enough for liquid water, and therefore life as we know it, to exist for times comparable to the age of the solar system. Comets may have been crucial for providing biogenic volatiles and perhaps organic molecules to this warm environment. It is therefore interesting from an exobiological point of view to ask if comets exist in other planetary systems. Most attempts to detect comets around other stars or in interstellar space have failed. However, there is growing spectroscopic evidence for comet-like bodies orbiting the star Beta Pictoris.
FOLDING FREE-GROUP AUTOMORPHISMS

We describe an algorithm that uses Stallings' folding technique to decompose an element of $Aut(F_n)$ as a product of Whitehead automorphisms (and hence as a product of Nielsen transformations.) We use this to give an alternative method of finding a finite generating set for the subgroup of $Aut(F_n)$ that fixes a subset $Y$ of the basis elements, and the subgroup that fixes each element of $Y$ up to conjugacy. We show that the intersection of this latter subgroup with $IA_n$ is also finitely generated.
Coloanal motor coordination in association with high-amplitude colonic contractions after pharmacological stimulation

Coloanal motor coordination in association with high-amplitude colonic contractions after pharmacological stimulation
Resolving opposed judgments in resource allocation decisions

Consider two groups of policymakers each important in determining the assignment of resources to various multiple outcome programs. Suppose each group assigns values to the program outcomes associated with policy goals and objectives, determines the effectiveness parameters relating program options to program outcomes, and strives for optimal allocations consistent with the availability of total resources. Since judgments concerning value and effectiveness assignments are likely to differ, the respective allocations would also differ. Various prescriptions for obtaining a consensus allocation are evaluated. A preferred approach relies on concepts borrowed from the theory of cooperative games.
On Controlling the Kinematics of a Filament Stretching Rheometer Using a Real-Time Active Control Mechanism

Abstract We present two new experimental methods of realizing the desired kinematics in a filament stretching rheometer. Due to the presence of the rigid plates connecting the fluid filament in this device, a homogeneous uniaxial elongational flow cannot be imposed throughout the entire fluid filament. However, if the fluid element at the midpoint of the filament is forced to contract in the same manner as a cylindrical column undergoing ideal uniaxial extension, then the measured rheological response will be virtually identical to that experienced in a homogeneous shearfree flow. We investigate both a real-time active control scheme and a second, original technique based on a one-dimensional slender-filament approximation of the kinematics as possible methods of realizing this form of nearly-ideal filament stretching experiment. We find that the real-time active control scheme induces undesirable oscillations in the imposed plate separation profile, leading to unacceptable fluctuations in the measured force data and limiting the achievable operating range of the device. The second technique, on the other hand, produces very accurate and smooth mid-point diameter profiles in a two-step process. Transient Trouton ratio data obtained by using the second method with both a polystyrene-based Boger fluid and a polyisobutylene-based Boger fluid agree well with data previously reported in the literature. Differences between the transient Trouton ratios at intermediate strains obtained from experiments in which the midpoint diameter decreases either ideally or inhomogeneously are consistent with expectations from recent simulations. The second technique presented here provides a simple method of achieving accurate filament stretching data that can be compared quantitatively with theoretical constitutive models.
Mixed dominating matrices

Abstract We characterize the class of matrices for which the set of supports of nonnegative vectors in the null space can be determined by the signs of the entries of the matrix. This characterization is in terms of mixed dominating matrices, which are defined by the nonexistence of square submatrices that have nonzeros of opposite sign in each row. The class of mixed dominating matrices is contained in the class of L -matrices from the theory of sign-solvability, and generalizes the class of S -matrices. We give a polynomial-time algorithm to decide if a matrix is mixed dominating. We derive combinatorial conditions on the face lattice of a Gale transform of a matrix in this class.
Anterior temporal involvement in semantic word retrieval: voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping evidence from aphasia

Analysis of error types provides useful information about the stages and processes involved in normal and aphasic word production. In picture naming, semantic errors (horse for goat) generally result from something having gone awry in lexical access such that the right concept was mapped to the wrong word. This study used the new lesion analysis technique known as voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping to investigate the locus of lesions that give rise to semantic naming errors. Semantic errors were obtained from 64 individuals with post-stroke aphasia, who also underwent high-resolution structural brain scans. Whole brain voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping was carried out to determine where lesion status predicted semantic error rate. The strongest associations were found in the left anterior to mid middle temporal gyrus. This area also showed strong and significant effects in further analyses that statistically controlled for deficits in pre-lexical, conceptualization processes that might have contributed to semantic error production. This study is the first to demonstrate a specific and necessary role for the left anterior temporal lobe in mapping concepts to words in production. We hypothesize that this role consists in the conveyance of fine-grained semantic distinctions to the lexical system. Our results line up with evidence from semantic dementia, the convergence zone framework and meta-analyses of neuroimaging studies on word production. At the same time, they cast doubt on the classical linkage of semantic error production to lesions in and around Wernicke's area.
Microparticle trapping and sensing with an integrated silicon microdonut

We demonstrate an integrated system for particle trapping and sorting. Particles are pulled by optical forces onto a silicon microdonut, and circulate around it. Particle-induced resonance shifts are used for size sensing and counting.
A several complex variables approach to feedback stabilization of linear neutral delay-differential systems

In this paper we consider the problem of uniform asymptotic stabilization of neutral delay differential systems by a suitable choice of linear feedback law, where the controller is static and at timet 0 has full knowledge ofx(t 0) ∈ ℝ n as well asx(t 0 − d) for finitely many delays present in the system. Using complex analysis in several variables in a Banach algebra context we present a solution to this problem in the form of a sufficient condition for the existence of such a stabilizing feedback gain. This condition is a weak form of (algebraic) reachability together with a condition, which we call resolvability, on the solution of an associated algebraic Riccati equation. In the case of commensurable delays our results apply to neutral systems having aD-operator which is stable in the sense of Cruz and Hale. In the non-commensurate case, our results hold for systems with aD-operator satisfying a stronger condition on the spectrum of the evolution equation, which we call formal stability. A graphical criterion, in the spirit of the multi-dimensional Nyquist theory, is presented for formal stability ofD. We find these results especially interesting in light of recent work [39] which shows that, for a special class of systems, formal stability is necessary for stabilization by a feedback gain of the type considered here. This, in fact, gives a counterexample [39] to the well known condition of Pandolfi [40]. Included among our results is an extension to the neutral case of the result in [11] which states that if the pointwise Kronecker indices are constant then the system is feedback equivalent to a delay-free system. As corollaries to this result we obtain some existing results [33] on canonical forms for time-delay systems, and, in addition, exhibit a large class of systems which are resolvable.
Household costs and public expenditure on primary education in five low income countries: A comparative analysis

Abstract Between 1993 and 1995 UNICEF sponsored the analysis of the cost of primary education in five countries (Burkina Faso, Bhutan, Myanmar, Uganda, and Viet Nam). Some of the results of those studies in terms of the relative importance of private and public costs are presented in this paper. This cost structure is linked to major problem areas in each education system. High total cost countries are found to have low enrolments. High total costs result from high teacher wages relative to per capita income. High private costs induce a large gender gap in outcome indicators, and countries with high-enrolments but low absolute public expenditure on education face serious difficulties maintaining quality and ensuring completion of the primary cycle. Some policies aimed at reducing cost, raising more resources and increasing efficiency are also analyzed.
Securing bulk content almost for free

Content providers often consider the costs of security to be greater than the losses they might incur without it; many view 'casual piracy' as their main concern. Our goal is to provide a low cost defense against such attacks while maintaining rigorous security guarantees. Our defense is integrated with and leverages efficient forward error correcting codes, such as Tornado codes, which are widely used to facilitate reliable delivery of rich content. We tune one such family of codes-while preserving their original desirable properties-to guarantee that none of the original content can be recovered whenever a key subset of encoded packets is missing. Ultimately we encrypt only these key codewords (only 4% of all transmitted packets), making the security overhead minimal.
Schistosomatium douthitti: effects of Lymnaea catascopium age on susceptibility to infection.

Abstract Laboratory-reared Lymnaea catascopium snails (1–269 days old) were exposed individually to different numbers of Schistosomatium douthitti miracidia. Increasing the exposure dosage from 3 to 10 miracidia generally increased infection rates, in some age classes up to 100%. Successful re-exposure of snails not infected after a primary exposure was possible. Neonatal snails were least likely to become infected, primarily because miracidia were not attracted to them. Snails 12–55 days old were most susceptible to infection. Miracidia were readily attracted to these snails, and many were ingested and subsequently penetrated the host esophageal wall. Miracidial penetration of external snail surfaces was rare. Susceptibility of older snails (65–269 days) progressively declined with age. Many miracidia were entangled and immobilized in mucus produced by these snails, and fewer were ingested. No conspicuous host cellular responses to mother sporocysts were observed in any of the snails sectioned. A comparison of susceptibility of deliberately stunted snails and comparably aged controls of normal size indicated that the former were more susceptible.
Integral Equations for the Transition Matrices in the Static Meson Theory

The Chew-Low-Wick integral equation for the scattering matrix in the static meson theory has been generalized so as to make it possible to treat the various pion processes in which arbitrary numbers of pions are involved. Such a generalization is also necessitated if one wants to take into account the contribution of two- or more-meson configurations in pion-nucleon scattering. The outgoing or incoming wave functions corresponding to the many-meson initial states are defined in the same manner as by the above-mentioned authors in the one-meson problem, and are shown to be identical with those introduced by Lippmann and Schwinger. An approximate expression for the two-meson production matrix is obtained and some correction terms due to this production are derived for the Chew-Low one-meson equation.
Electrical and physical characteristics of ultrathin hafnium silicate films with polycrystalline silicon and TaN gates

Metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors of ultrathin hafnium silicate films (equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of 12.5–14 A) with polycrystalline silicon and metal (TaN) gates have been demonstrated. Well-behaved transistor characteristics and EOT stability of Hf silicate with n+ polysilicon indicates good compatibility with polysilicon gate process without use of barrier layer. Transmission electron microscopy analysis indicates that the films have no top interfacial layer with both TaN and polysilicon gates. The films also remain amorphous and show no indication of phase separation even after a 950 °C dopant activation anneal. Hf silicate films also show excellent transistor characteristics with TaN gate. NH3 pretreatment results in degraded transistor characteristics for TaN and poly gate samples. Good capacitance–voltage characteristics and negligible hysteresis (<10 mV) was observed in the capacitors after a 1000 °C activation indicating good electrical stability at high temperatures and minimal charge ...
Foraging and pest potential of Paraguayan grass‐cutting ants (Atta and Acromyrmex) to the cattle industry

The pest potential of grass-cutting ants to the Paraguayan cattle industry is examined by year-long estimates of grass input by foragers, and by grass productivity studies. From these studies, we have estimated that Acromyrmex landolti fracticornis forages, on a dry weight basis, 0.817 kg/colony/ yr, or up to 4770 kg/ha/yr, while estimates extrapolated to the foraging of Atta vollenweideri correspond to 201 to 217 kg/colony/yr, equaling 87 to 911 kg/ha/yr, depending upon colony density. Productivity studies, performed by exclusions, suggest that A. vollenweiderie forages up to 972.5 kg/ha/yr (= 230 · 9 kg/colony/yr), and Atta capiguara 835 kg/ha/yr (= 196 kg/colony/yr). With that the ants graze at least the some quantity of grass as the cattle so that they reduce strongly the feed available for cattle. Foraging of A. 1. fracticornis is shown to have a marked diel pattern, which is seasonnally modifiable by micro-environmental parameters, as demonstrated by partial correlation analysis. Zusammenfassung uber den Graseintrag der Blattschneider-Ameisen (Gattungen Atta und Acromyrmex) und dessen Schaden fur die Viehzucht Der von den Blattschneider-Ameisen angerichtete Schaden wurde aus einer Jahresschatzung des Graseintrages und der Grasproduktion errechnet. Die Studien ergaben, das Acromyrmex landolti fracticornis pro Jahr und Kolonie eine Grasmenge von 0,82 kg, mithin pro Jahr und ha 4770 kg Gras (Trockengewicht) eintrug. Dagegen kam Atta vollenweideri nur auf 87–911 kg/ha/Jahr, je nach Koloniendichte. Eine andere Methodik: die vergleichende Bestimmung der Produktion von Grasparzellen, die von Ameisen oder/und Vieh beweidet wurden, ergab, das A. vollenweideri maximal 973 kg/ha/Jahr sowie A. capiguara 835 kg/ha/Jahr dem Grasland entzogen. Dabei zeigte sich auch, das die Ameisen mindestens soviel Gras wie die Rinder abweideten und damit den Rindern die Nahrung stark schmalern. Bei A. ***l. fracticornis wurde ein ausgepragter Tagesrhythmus des Graseintrags festgestellt, der durch saisonale Parameter modifiziert wurde.
TMPRSS2-ERG Gene Fusion Is Not Associated with Outcome in Patients Treated by Prostatectomy

A significant number of prostate cancers have been shown to have recurrent chromosomal rearrangements resulting in the fusion of the androgen-regulated TMPRSS2 promoter to a member of the ETS transcription factor family, most commonly ERG. This results in ERG overexpression, which may have a direct causal role in prostate tumorigenesis or progression. However, the clinical significance of the rearrangement is unclear, and in particular, relationship to outcome has been inconsistent in recent reports. We analyzed TMPRSS2-ERG gene rearrangement status by fluorescence in situ hybridization in 521 cases of clinically localized surgically treated prostate cancer with 95 months of median follow-up and also in 40 unmatched metastases. Forty-two percent of primary tumors and 40% of metastases had rearrangements. Eleven percent had copy number increase (CNI) of the TMPRRS2-ERG region. Rearrangement alone was associated with lower grade, but not with stage, biochemical recurrence, metastases, or death. CNI with and without rearrangement was associated with high grade and advanced stage. Further, a subgroup of cancers with CNI and rearrangement by deletion, with two or more copies of the deleted locus, tended to be more clinically aggressive. DNA index assessment revealed that the majority of tumors with CNI of TMPRSS2-ERG had generalized aneuploidy/tetraploidy in contrast to tumors without TMPRSS2-ERG CNI, which were predominantly diploid. We therefore conclude that translocation of TMPRSS2-ERG is not associated with outcome, and the aggressive clinical features associated with CNI of chromosome 21 reflect generalized aneuploidy and are not due to CNI specifically of rearranged TMPRSS2-ERG.
Forming high temperature solder joints through liquid phase sintering of solder paste

Eutectic lead-tin has been the solder of choice throughout the history of the electronics industry. Alternatives to this material are now being considered because of environmental concerns, as well as the strength and temperature limitations of eutectic lead-tin. Identifying and using these alternative materials poses significant challenges, many of which we believe can be addressed if one forms solder joints through liquid phase enhanced sintering. First, most alternative solder materials have significantly higher melting temperatures (than eutectic lead-tin), and their use would require the replacement of much of the manufacturing infrastructure. In this work joints with shear stresses approaching that of eutectic lead-tin solder were formed by sintering a eutectic tin-sliver solder paste (Tm=221°C) doped with 3 v/o eutectic Sn-Bi powder at 210°C for 30 min. Second, to date the industry has limited its consideration to eutectic or near-eutectic alloys because of the concern of forming cold solder joints. In this work joints have been prepared by sintering solder pastes with a wide thermal range at temperatures just above the solidus, where a small amount of liquid will form and therefore enhance the rate of sintering, which have shear strengths of 6 MPa or higher. These findings indicate that it may be worthwhile to investigate developing a sinterable solder paste, which can be used to prepare surface mount assemblies.
Association Between Sleep Apnea, Snoring, Incident Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality in an Adult Population. MESA

Background We assessed the association between sleep apnea, snoring, incident cardiovascular (CV) events and all-cause mortality in the Multi Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort.