cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Achieving Low-Cost Linearity Test and Diagnosis of \Sigma \Delta ADCs via Frequency-Domain Nonlinear Analysis and Macromodeling

Static linearity test of \Sigma \Delta analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) imposes stringent requirement on the precision of test signals and leads to excessive test time. Consequently, ADC test remains as a bottleneck to the product development and contributes significantly to the devolvement cost. In this paper, a cost-effective linearity test and diagnosis methodology is presented for \Sigma \Delta ADCs with multi-bit internal DACs. Frequency-domain nonlinear circuit analysis is employed to systematically establish the connection between the static linearity measure (INL) and its frequency domain counterpart (harmonic distortions (HDs)), making it possible to predict INL using much simpler HD measurements. Furthermore, it is shown that the same simple HD measurements can be employed to accurately predict capacitor mismatch of internal multi-bit DACs, which is the main source of ADC nonlinearity. The efficacy of the proposed techniques is demonstrated by successful construction of accurate simulation-based INL and capacitor mismatch prediction models which are also compared against with closedform models resulted directly from our circuit analysis.
Correlation of conventional thrombelastography and rapid thrombelastography in trauma.

KEYWORDS: Trauma; Thrombelastography; Rapid thrombelastography; Coagulopathy; Correlation Abstract BACKGROUND: Conventional thrombelastography has been in use for over 6 decades and provides a functional assay of coagulation. Rapid thrombelastography was developed to provide more rapid com- prehensive analysis of coagulation status in an emergency setting. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of rapid thrombelastographic values with conventional thrombelastographic values in trauma patients. METHODS: We performed a prospective study on trauma patients at a university level 1 trauma cen- ter. Conventional thrombelastography and rapid thrombelastography were performed on 190 consecu- tive major trauma patients upon admission between 2010 and 2012. Conventional thrombelastographic and rapid thrombelastographic parameters were analyzed using bivariate analysis with Pearson corre- lation. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Patients were predominantly male (71.6%, P ,.05) with a median Injury Severity Score of 17 (range 10 to 29) and a median age of 43 years (range 29 to 53 years). There were significantly more patients with blunt trauma than penetrating trauma (72% vs 28%, P , .05). There was a strong correlation between the rapid thrombelastographic and conventional thrombelastographic maximal am- plitude value, which represents platelet function (r 5 .80). There was a moderate correlation between the G (overall clot strength, r 5 .70), k (speed of clot formation, r 5 .66), and a-angle (r 5.38), which reflects the degree of fibrin cross-linking. Lysis at 30 minutes correlated poorly (r 5 .19). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is a strong correlation between rapid thrombelastography and conventional thrombelastography in terms of overall clot strength and platelet function. There is a moderate correlation in assessing the degree of fibrin cross-linking and a poor correlation in evaluating thrombolysis. These correlations should be considered when evaluating coagulation status using rapid thrombelastography.
Effects of bull exposure on the cyclic activity of beef cows.

Abstract In Experiment I, 38 crossbred suckled beef cows grazing fescue pastures and 34 crossbred beef cows grazing bluestem pastures were randomly allocated at the time of calving into a group with 4 teaser bulls or no bulls. Two blood samples were collected 7 d apart from the cows to determine cyclic activity 67 and 76 d after calving in the fescue and bluestem pastures, respectively. Progesterone greater than 1.0 ng/ml in one or both samples indicated cyclic activity. There was no difference in the percentage of cows cyclic among the different groups. The number of cyclic cows in the fescue pasture with bulls was 16 19 (84%); in the fescue pasture with no bulls, 14 19 (74%); in the bluestem pasture with bulls, 17 17 (100%); and in the bluestem pasture with no bulls, 16 17 (94%). Overall cyclic activity among all cows for teaser bull-exposed and no bull was similar, 33 36 (91%) and 30 36 (83%). Overall cyclic activity was greater (P 33 34 ), 97% than fescue pastures ( 30 38 ), 80%. Measurements of cyclic activity were initiated too late in the postcalving period to quantify differences in estrous activity between the bull and no bull treatment groups. Another trial was planned for the following year with a modified protocol. In Experiment II, blood samples were collected for progesterone concentrations soon after calving and were repeated at intervals to characterize both the occurrence and duration of estrous cycles. In this experiment, 29 crossbred suckled beef cows grazing fescue pastures were randomly allocated 12 d after calving (Day 0) into 1 of 2 groups with teaser bulls or without bulls. Nineteen crossbred beef cows grazing bluestem pastures were allocated similarly 10 d after calving (Day 0). Bulls were added to the groups with bulls in fescue and bluestem pastures on day 6 after the initial allocations. Blood samples were collected from all cows on Day 0 and every 3 d until Day 46. Means (± SEM) of the cumulative progesterone concentrations (ng/ml) per cow for the 16 samples from cows grazing fescue were 12.5 ± 3.5 for cows exposed to bulls, 2.5 ± 0.16 for cows not exposed to bulls, 27.6 ± 4.42 for cows grazing bluestem pastures and exposed to bulls, and 16.0 ± 2.75 for cows without exposure to bulls. Progesterone concentrations were higher in cows exposed to bulls (P 21 24 and 63%, 15 24 ) when compared with the no bull groups (29%, 7 24 and 21 %, 5 24 ), respectively. Cows exposed to bulls also showed increased cyclic activity.
Evaluating Estimation Techniques of Transportation Price Elasticity

Price elasticity is critical for managed lane planning. To set an effective pricing policy that can achieve a specific objective—whether it is to maximize freeway system performance, to reduce vehicle emission, or to capitalize on revenue—transportation planners and policy makers need to know how users would react to various pricing policies. The issue is even more important when the public has not yet fully embraced transportation pricing. Three techniques have been frequently used for estimating transportation price elasticities: shrinkage ratio, midpoint elasticity, and log arc elasticity. However, little is known about the suitability of the techniques. This paper evaluates these techniques by analyzing their statistical properties and comparing their relative efficiency. The findings suggest that the appropriateness of an estimation technique of price elasticity varies from one circumstance to another. It is important to understand the variations and apply the techniques accordingly.
Biochemistry at mercer

Abstract Our curriculum is a problem-based, self-learning case-oriented approach in which the students raise issues and answer them. The faculty set limits on the depth and breadth of the information via the tutors, resource sessions, one-on-one interactions, and written objectives. Both students and faculty learn in a multidisciplinary fashion consistent with the practice of medicine. The students are evaluated at three levels: by tutor, by interdisciplinary orals and by written multidisciplinary exams. The students excel in their problem-solving ability and in their application of basic science information to patient cases that they encounter not only in the junior and senior years, but also during the first two years as they participate in preceptor rotations in physicians' offices.
Using evolutionary computation methods to support analytical models for the evolution and maintenance of conditional strategies in chthamalus anisopoma

Biologists have developed models to explain why different environmentally induced morphs of the same organism exist over time. Such conditional strategies are a common form of adaptation to variable environments, whereby an environmental cue allows some individuals to respond to the cue and develop into a morph that is different from the morph of individuals that do not receive the cue. Recently, these efforts have resulted in two different analytical models that give somewhat different predictions. Here we apply evolutionary computation methods to test the two analytical models. The results bear a remarkable similarity to the results of one of the two analytical models. The paper that follows presents the details of a biological application involving snails and barnacles (that occur naturally in two different morphs), moving then to an explanation of two competing mathematical models of the application. Finally, the interdisciplinary paper, which coordinates three separate research projects of a biologist, a mathematician and a computer scientist, describes the evolutionary computation methods used to support one of the two competing analytical models.
Taxpayer response to an increased probability of audit: evidence from a controlled experiment in Minnesota

Abstract In 1995 a group of 1724 randomly selected Minnesota taxpayers was informed by letter that the returns they were about to file would be ‘closely examined’. Compared to a control group that did not receive this letter, low and middle-income taxpayers in the treatment group on average increased tax payments compared to the previous year, which we interpret as indicating the presence of noncompliance. The effect was much stronger for those with more opportunity to evade; in fact, the difference in differences is not statistically significant for those who do not have self-employment or farm income, and do not pay estimated tax. Surprisingly, however, the reported tax liability of the high income treatment group fell sharply relative to the control group.
Homotopic Image Pseudo-Invariants for Openset Object Recognition and Image Retrieval

This paper presents novel homotopic image pseudo-invariants for face recognition based on pixelwise analysis. An exemplar face and test images are matched, and the most similar image is determined first. The homotopic image pseudo-invariants are calculated next to judge whether the most similar image is the same person as the exemplar. The proposed method can be applied to openset recognition. Recognition task can be performed with or without face databases, while the recognition rate is higher when a database is available. This fact facilitates the recognition of faces and various other objects on the Internet. We benchmark the method using FERET as well as the images downloaded from the Internet.
Ion beam divergence characteristics of three-grid accelerator systems

The first comprehensive experimental investigation of two-grid accelerator systems is presented. A wide range of geometrical grid parameters and grid set operating conditions were investigated for their effect on ion beam divergence. Ion beam divergence was found to depend most strongly on normalized perveance per hole, grid separation ratio, net-to-total accelerating voltage ratio, and discharge-to-total accelerating voltage ratio variations. The graphical results contained herein provide guidelines for the design of ion accelerator systems. A general ion beam divergence angle correlation was developed to permit approximate beam divergence estimates, at parametric values other than those tested, of present grid set designs. Although argon was the main test gas used in this study, it is shown that the results are applicable to other propellants as well.
Forecasting and Systems Approach: A Frame of Reference

Long range forecasting for social systems deals with complex feedback interactions between all sectors and elements of such systems, and thus inherently implies facing the challenge of the systems approach. The latter may be characterised as an attempt to understand the self-organizing behaviour of social systems and to grasp its potential dynamic implications. It aims at integration at least along four coordinates: horizontal conceptual systems dimensions and different views and attitudes, vertical planning levels, time/causality exploratory and normative directions, and action-orientation forecasting as the “inventive core” of planning and rational change processes. In this process of integration, forecasting finds a variety of tasks which are briefly enumerated.
The clinical diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy

Background Thrombocytopenia is common in critically ill patients who receive continuous renal replacement therapy. Often, these patients receive heparin therapy and the diagnosis of heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is considered as a potential etiology. No data regarding the clinical diagnosis of HIT is available for patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy. Patients and methods We performed a retrospective study of 29 consecutive patients who received CRRT in a medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) and determined trends in platelet counts following CRRT and the frequency of meeting platelet based clinical criteria for consideration of a HIT diagnosis. Results For patient exposures to CRRT concurrent with heparin, 54% met at least one clinical threshold for consideration of the diagnosis of HIT. In 31% of exposures, both a platelet count 50% decrease from baseline were seen. In contrast, the majority (73–85%) of patients receiving CRRT had a low pre-test probability of HIT using the “4T’s” scoring system. Mean platelet counts while on CRRT concurrent with heparin were significantly lower than when patients received heparin alone (P < 0.02). Conclusions The clinical diagnosis of HIT in ICU patients initiating CRRT is challenging given the decrease in platelet counts seen following CRRT initiation in the majority of patients. A prospective study in this population is needed to optimize patient outcomes.
Representations of Women in Subtitled Films: L’Auberge espagnole and La Vie rêvée des anges

Subtitled films are often maligned for providing a false or incomplete representation of the original dialogue. As language use often reinforces an objectified or derogatory vision of women, an analysis and comparison of the original dialogue with the subtitled version can reveal important nuances in this domain that have either been retained, altered or omitted in the target language version. In two popular French films, La Vie revee des anges (Erick Zonca, 1998) and L’Auberge espagnole (Cedrick Klapisch, 2001), the dialogue underscores the attitudes of the characters towards the women in the film as well as towards women generally. Lexical, grammatical and cultural differences between French and English often inform subtitlers’ choices, as do time and space constraints inherent to the subtitling process. The subtitled dialogue in both films will be compared with their original, illustrating the degree to which linguistic reflections of attitudes have been preserved or altered in each subtitled version.
Comparison of Trichlorosilane and Trichlorogermane Decomposition on Silicon Surfaces Using FTIR Spectroscopy

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmission spectroscopy was used to compare the decomposition of trichlorosilane (SiHCl3) and trichlorogermane (GeHCl3) on silicon surfaces. Chlorosilanes, such as SiHCl3 are employed in silicon chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Chlorosilanes and chlorogermanes are also possible molecular precursors for the controlled atomic layer growth of silicon and germanium. GeHCl3 may be useful for the deposition of germanium on silicon surfaces and the growth of Si-xGex heterostructures. The FTIR studies were performed in-situ in an ultra-high vacuum chamber on high surface area, porous silicon samples. The FTIR spectra revealed that SiHCl3 dissociatively adsorbs at 200 K to form SiH, SiClx, ClSiH and Cl2SiH surface species. The presence of ClxSiH species is revealed by ClxSiH stretching (2196 cm-1) and bending (775, 744 cm-1) vibrations. The presence of these modes indicates that there is incomplete decomposition of SiHCl3 upon adsorption at 200 K. GeHCl3 also dissociatively adsorbs at 200 K to form SiH and SiClx species. An infrared absorption feature in the Ge-H stretching region (1970-1995 cm-1) was not detected in the FTIR spectrum. The absence of a Ge-H absorption feature argues that there is a complete transfer of hydrogen from germanium to surface silicon atoms at 200 K. The thermal stabilities of the surface species were studied with annealing experiments. The Clx SiH formed upon initial SiHCl3 exposures at 200 K were observed to decompose between 200 - 590 K and form additional surface SiH and SiCl species. For both GeHCl3 and SiHCl3 dissociative adsorption on porous silicon, the SiCl (x = 2 or 3) surface species were converted to silicon monochloride surface species between 200 - 600 K. In addition, SiH surface species were lost upon annealing between 680 - 780 K as H2 desorbed from the surface. The adsorption kinetics of SiHCl3 and GeHCl3 were also monitored on porous silicon at various isothermal temperatures. These experiments provide insight into the surface chemistry of chlorosilanes and chlorogermanes during CVD and atomic layer controlled growth.
Regulation of the cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel by the actin-binding proteins α-actinin and dystrophin

The actin-binding proteins dystrophin and alpha-actinin are members of a family of actin-binding proteins that may link the cytoskeleton to membrane proteins such as ion channels. Previous work demonstrated that the activity of Ca2+ channels can be regulated by agents that disrupt or stabilize the cytoskeleton. In the present study, we employed immunohistochemical and electrophysiological techniques to investigate the potential regulation of cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel activity by dystrophin and alpha-actinin in cardiac myocytes and in heterologous cells. Both actin-binding proteins were found to colocalize with the Ca2+ channel in mouse cardiac myocytes and to modulate channel function. Inactivation of the Ca2+ channel in cardiac myocytes from mice lacking dystrophin (mdx mice) was reduced compared with that in wild-type myocytes, voltage dependence of activation was shifted by 5 mV to more positive potentials, and stimulation by the beta-adrenergic pathway and the dihydropyridine agonist BAY K 8644 was increased. Furthermore, heterologous coexpression of the Ca2+ channel with muscle, but not nonmuscle, forms of alpha-actinin was also found to reduce inactivation. As might be predicted from a reduction of Ca2+ channel inactivation, a prolonging of the mouse electrocardiogram QT was observed in mdx mice. These results suggest a combined role for dystrophin and alpha-actinin in regulating the activity of the cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel and a potential mechanism for cardiac dysfunction in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies.
New Evidence on Agricultural Commodity Return Performance under Time-Varying Risk

Holding commodity stocks is a major investment that commodity producers, merchants, and processors must continually manage. In this paper we study the conditional risk and return characteristics of commodities. We use a generalized method of moments estimator in a model of conditional expected returns under a single-beta asset pricing theory framework, allowing both the risk premium and the beta to vary with time. We find that expected returns to commodities are lower during times of high interest rates, expected inflation, and economic growth. This suggests that commodities provide a natural hedge against business cycles.
Is risk for alcoholism mediated by individual differences in drinking motivations

: Background: Individual differences in motivations to drink have been proposed as a mechanism that mediates risk for alcoholism. We investigated the genetic and environmental sources of variation in motivations for drinking, as assessed by four scales of the Alcohol Use Inventory (AUI), and then examined the extent to which genetic and environmental variations in risk for alcoholism are mediated by individual differences in drinking motives. Methods: Data on four AUI scales (assessing drinking to manage mood states, to relieve social anxiety, in social situations, and to improve mental functioning) and lifetime DSM-IV alcohol abuse and/or dependence (AAD) were obtained from 2529 female and 3709 male adult twins, including 2229 complete twin pairs, from the population-based Virginia Twin Registry. Results: Logistic regression analyses indicated that higher scores on each of the four AUI variables were significantly associated with AAD, with increases in risk for diagnosis of 40% to 141% per standard deviation increase in AUI score. Structural modeling analyses conducted using Mplus indicated that individual differences in AUI scores were in part due to genetic variation, particularly among women. Among males, genetic factors were substantial for drinking to alter mood but small for other measures. A substantial portion of the genetic variation in AAD overlapped with drinking to manage mood states. Results from bivariate twin models of AAD and the AUI scales were consistent with the mediation hypothesis for the social anxiety and social interaction scales but not drinking to manage mood or to enhance mental functioning. Conclusions: Genetic contributions to variation in risk for alcoholism may be mediated in part by individual differences in motivations related to drinking in social settings. Drinking to manage mood indexes genetic risk for alcoholism but does not appear to act as a direct cause of alcoholism.
PADRE: Physically-Aware Diagnostic Resolution Enhancement

Diagnosis is the first step of IC failure analysis. The conventional objective of identifying the failure locations has been augmented with various physically-aware techniques that are intended to improve both diagnostic resolution and accuracy. Despite these advances, it is often the case however that resolution, i.e., the number of locations or candidates reported by diagnosis, exceeds the number of actual failing locations. Imperfect resolution greatly hinders any follow-on, information-extraction analyses (e.g., physical failure analysis, volume diagnosis, etc.) due to the resulting ambiguity. To address this major challenge, a novel, unsupervised learning methodology that uses ordinarily-available tester and simulation data is described that significantly improves resolution with virtually no negative impact on accuracy. Simulation experiments using a variety of fault types (SSL, MSL, bridges, opens and cell-level input-pattern faults) reveal that the number of failed ICs that have perfect resolution can be more than doubled, and overall resolution is improved by 22%. Application to silicon data also demonstrates significant improvement in resolution (38% overall and the number of chips with ideal resolution is nearly tripled) and verification using PFA demonstrates that accuracy is maintained.
Extenuating Circumstances in Perceptions of Suicide: Disease Diagnosis (Aids, Cancer), Pain Level, and Life Expectancy

If a person is terminally ill, people are more tolerant of the suicide. To see if illness type, pain level, and life expectancy affected reactions toward a terminal illness suicide, 160 undergraduates completed community support, social interaction, and suicide scales about Pat, who had either AIDS or cancer, a lot or a little pain, and six months or two years to live. A 2 (Diagnosis) × 2 (Pain Level) × 2 (Life Expectancy) MANOVA yielded significant main effects for diagnosis and pain level, a trend for life expectancy, and no interactions. Follow-up ANOVAs indicated more social stigma associated with AIDS and a lot of pain, but less social stigma associated with AIDS and a lot of pain suicides. Increased education about AIDS may help alleviate the social stigma associated with the disease and diminish tolerance towards AIDS-related suicides.
Down in the Dumps: Is There a Garbage Crisis in America?

The pariah garbage barge on a two-month odyssey with 3,100 tons of unwanted trash drew throngs of sightseers and reporters Sunday as it anchored just outside New York Harbor while city officials decide its fate.The trek of the Mobro is well known. On 22 March 1987 the fully loaded garbage barge left Islip, New York, looking for a landfill that would take its unwanted cargo. Five states—North Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida—as well as three countries, Mexico, Belize, and the Bahamas, had banned the barge from unloading. Reluctantly, the captain turned the Mobro toward home, where it received an unceremonious, and dispirited, welcome.
Integrated CAD/CAM and numerical simulation based on subdivision methods

CAD, CAM, and Finite/Boundary Element Methods (FEM/BEM) are advanced techniques in geometric design, manufacturing, and numerical simulation. Traditionally, CAD, CAM, and FEM/BEM are often treated as separate modules, which include continuous parametric models and discrete models. Due to the different representations, the post-processing in CAD or the pre-processing in CAM and numerical simulation is essential. The transitions from CAD to CAM and numerical simulation require substantial effort, and errors are inevitably introduced. In this paper, a novel framework of realising the subdivision-based seamless integration of CAD/CAM and numerical simulation was first presented. A unified representation was created with the subdivision method.
Mechanisms of epibolic tissue spreading analyzed in a model morphogenetic system. Roles for cell migration and tissue contractility

The processes responsible for epithelial spreading during wound healing and embryonic morphogenesis were investigated in an organ culture model in which an epithelial tissue (chick embryo pigmented retinal epithelium) spread over the surface of an aggregate of mesenchyme cells (chick embryo cardiac mesenchyme). The heart mesenchyme aggregate is differentiated into a core of stellate cells associated with a fibronectin-poor matrix surrounded by a cortical zone, 2–5 cells in thickness, of flattened cells embedded in a fibronectin-rich extracellular matrix. Envelopment of the mesenchyme aggregate is accompanied by a movement of the cells and the fibronectin-rich extracellular matrix of the cortex over the core tissue in advance of the spreading pigmented retina tissue. Three distinct processes were identified as contributing to epithelial spreading in this system: (1) active migration of the pigmented retinal epithelium; (2) active contraction of the cortical cells of the mesenchyme aggregate to tow the attached epithelial tissue over the mesenchyme aggregate; and (3) ingression of surface-located cells of the mesenchyme aggregate to decrease the exposed surface area by decreasing the number of cells at the surface.
Towards a Taxonomy of Wired and Wireless Anonymous Networks

With the aim to preserve privacy over a communications network, a plethora of anonymous protocols have been proposed along with many empirical investigations into specific adversary attacks over those networks. However, no known taxonomies exist that address anonymity in the diverse set of both wired and wireless anonymous communications networks. This paper proposes such a novel cubic taxonomy which explores the three key components of anonymity property, adversary capability, and network type. This taxonomy expands the definition of anonymity and aids in the advancement of state-of-the-art technological privacy-preserving mechanisms in anonymous networks against any adversary.
Phylogenetic classification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains of human and bovine origin using a novel set of nucleotide polymorphisms

Background: Cattle are a reservoir of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157), and are known to harbor subtypes not typically found in clinically ill humans. Consequently, nucleotide polymorphisms previously discovered via strains originating from human outbreaks may be restricted in their ability to distinguish STEC O157 genetic subtypes present in cattle. The objectives of this study were firstly to identify nucleotide polymorphisms in a diverse sampling of human and bovine STEC O157 strains, secondly to classify strains of either bovine or human origin by polymorphism-derived genotypes, and finally to compare the genotype diversity with pulsedfield gel electrophoresis (PFGE), a method currently used for assessing STEC O157 diversity. Results: High-throughput 454 sequencing of pooled STEC O157 strain DNAs from human clinical cases (n = 91) and cattle (n = 102) identified 16,218 putative polymorphisms. From those, 178 were selected primarily within genomic regions conserved across E. coli serotypes and genotyped in 261 STEC O157 strains. Forty-two unique genotypes were observed that are tagged by a minimal set of 32 polymorphisms. Phylogenetic trees of the genotypes are divided into clades that represent strains of cattle origin, or cattle and human origin. Although PFGE diversity surpassed genotype diversity overall, ten PFGE patterns each occurred with multiple strains having different genotypes. Conclusions: Deep sequencing of pooled STEC O157 DNAs proved highly effective in polymorphism discovery. A polymorphism set has been identified that characterizes genetic diversity within STEC O157 strains of bovine origin, and a subset observed in human strains. The set may complement current techniques used to classify strains implicated in disease outbreaks.
Testing the technology: playing games with video conferencing

Video connections can establish a media space in which games may be played, just as people play games while collocated. Experiments with participants playing the game 'Mafia' indicate that people in a video condition have similar levels of satisfaction, fun, and frustration, to those that play while collocated. This finding holds for both those with prior experience using video systems and those without, suggesting it is not merely a "novelty effect." Results differ about whether there exist differences in focus of attention, suspicion/trust, and pointing for people playing the game while using a video system. Implications for both fun and work uses of video are suggested.
Application of Monkey Search Meta-heuristic to Solving Instances of the Multidimensional Assignment Problem

This study applies a novel metaheuristic approach called Monkey Search for solving instances of the Multidimensional Assignment Problem (MAP). Monkey Search is a global optimization technique inspired by the behavior of a monkey climbing trees. The combinatorial formulation of the MAP in order to incorporate the matrix representation of feasible solutions is considered. The developed software procedure is tested on randomly generated instances of the MAP, and the results of the numerical experiments are presented in this study.
EVOLUTIONARY RESPONSES OF NATIVE PLANTS TO NOVEL COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Both ecological and evolutionary processes can influence community assembly and stability, and native community members may respond both ecologically and evolutionarily as additional species enter established communities. Biological invasions provide a unique opportunity to examine these responses of native community members to novel species additions. Here, I use reciprocal transplant experiments among naturally invaded and uninvaded environments, along with experimental removals of exotic species, to determine whether exotic plant competitors and exotic insect herbivores evoke evolutionary changes in native plants. Specifically, I address whether the common native plant species Lotus wrangelianus has responded evolutionarily to a series of biological invasions by adapting to the presence of the exotic plant Medicago polymorpha and the exotic insect herbivore Hypera brunneipennis. Despite differences in selection regimes between invaded and uninvaded environments and the presence of genetic variation for traits relevant to the novel competitive and plant-herbivore interactions, these experiments failed to reveal evidence that Lotus has responded evolutionarily to the double invasion of Medicago followed by H. brunneipennis. However, when herbivory from H. brunneipennis was experimentally reduced, Lotus plants from source populations invaded by Medicago outperformed plants from uninvaded source populations when transplanted into heavily invaded destination environments. Therefore, Lotus showed evidence of adaptation to Medicago invasion but not to the newer invasion of an exotic shared herbivore. The presence of this exotic insect herbivore alters the outcome of evolutionary responses in this system and counteracts adaptation by the native Lotus to invasion by the exotic plant Medicago. This result has broad implications for the conservation of native communities. While native species may be able to adapt to the presence of one or a few exotics, a multitude of invasions may limit the ability of natives to respond evolutionarily to the novel and frequently changing selection pressures that arise with subsequent invasions.
The Group Mind: The Pervasive Influence of Social Identity on Cognition

Humans evolved in social groups and are adapted for group living. In this chapter, we review recent behavioral, physiological, and neuroscience research that provides the psychological and neural architecture for collectively shared representations of the world – the “group mind.” We describe how collective identities structure a wide range of human cognitive processes, from rapid evaluation and face memory to mental state attribution and representations of physical distance. This research underscores how psychological and neural processes underlying human cognition are context-dependent, dynamic, and flexibly shaped by motivational states, rather than inevitable, reflexive, and fixed.
Coagulase and Efb of Staphylococcus aureus Have a Common Fibrinogen Binding Motif

ABSTRACT Coagulase (Coa) and Efb, secreted Staphylococcus aureus proteins, are important virulence factors in staphylococcal infections. Coa interacts with fibrinogen (Fg) and induces the formation of fibrin(ogen) clots through activation of prothrombin. Efb attracts Fg to the bacterial surface and forms a shield to protect the bacteria from phagocytic clearance. This communication describes the use of an array of synthetic peptides to identify variants of a linear Fg binding motif present in Coa and Efb which are responsible for the Fg binding activities of these proteins. This motif represents the first Fg binding motif identified for any microbial protein. We initially located the Fg binding sites to Coa’s C-terminal disordered segment containing tandem repeats by using recombinant fragments of Coa in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-type binding experiments. Sequence analyses revealed that this Coa region contained shorter segments with sequences similar to the Fg binding segments in Efb. An alanine scanning approach allowed us to identify the residues in Coa and Efb that are critical for Fg binding and to define the Fg binding motifs in the two proteins. In these motifs, the residues required for Fg binding are largely conserved, and they therefore constitute variants of a common Fg binding motif which binds to Fg with high affinity. Defining a specific motif also allowed us to identify a functional Fg binding register for the Coa repeats that is different from the repeat unit previously proposed. IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus infections are a major health problem that affects an estimated 50 million people globally and causes the death of about 20,000 Americans each year. A number of experimental vaccines have been developed during the past years. However, these vaccines have all failed in clinical trials. The ability of S. aureus to form an Fg shield surrounding and protecting bacterial cells from clearance may explain why the vaccines are failing. Furthermore, S. aureus coagulase can induce the formation of a fibrin(ogen) shield in experimental abscess models which surrounds and protects bacteria in the microcolony from clearance. In this study, we identified for the first time a microbial Fg binding motif. Variants of this motif are present in coagulase and Efb. Our results provide a molecular basis for the rational design of inhibitors that could potentially prevent the formation of the obstructing Fg shield.
Proton Transport Mechanism of the E. coli Copper Transport Efflux Pump

Gram Negative Bacteria such as E. Coli use a tripartite complex system to expel toxic chemicals, such as antibiotics, and ions out of the cell. In E.Coli, CusCBA, which is a complex of an inner membrane transporter (CusA), a connecting fusion protein (CusB), and an outer membrane channel (CusC), utilizes the proton motive force to transport copper and silver ions out of the cell. Three charged residues in the transmembrane domain have been suggested to play a crucial role in the proton transport across the membrane. The crystal structures of the complex of CusA and CusB have recently been resolved in the presence and absence of the copper ions, providing the first atomic resolution images of the assembly of the transporter and the fusion proteins in the tripartite family. Using the crystal structure of the Apo-CusBA, we have studied the proton transport mechanism in a series of unbiased molecular dynamics simulations corresponding to different protonation schemes of these three residues. The simulations have revealed two separate water permeation pathways in the transmembrane domain that coincide with the three key residues involved in the proton transport process. The presence, stability, and the number of water molecules in the two canals show a strong correlation with protonation state of the three key residues. For instance, protonation of Asp405 leads to entrance of significantly higher number of water molecules into the protein, and deprotonation of Lys984 leads to a reduction in the number of water molecules. Moreover, protonation of Asp405 in the apo state resulted in conformational changes in the transmembrane region (TM8) and the peripelasmic cleft of the pump, initiating a transition toward the Cu-bound conformation of the protein.
Field and Laboratory Studies of Meliolaceous Fungi in Hawaii

SUMMARYField observations of Metiola argentina, parasitic on the large sedge Machaerina angustifolia, indicate that distribution of this fungus on Oahu is determined primarily by rainfall. The lowest elevation at which the fungus develops coincides closely with the isohyet for 250 cm/yr rainfall. Although the range of the host plant extends well below this, abundant infections occur only in areas where rainfall equals or exceeds this amount. When ascospores of M. argentina and M. palmicola were plated singly on agar media, approximately 4–10% germination was obtained. Growth ceased after emergence of the germ tube. Similar levels of germination were obtained with ascospores incubated in water drops, indicating that exogenous nutrients or contact with the host are not required for germination, but that the parasitic relationship is apparently essential for continued growth of the fungus. The results indicate a low level of germinability in the naturally occurring ascospore population.
Biomechanical and psychosocial exposures are independent risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome: assessment of confounding using causal diagrams.

Background Between 2001 and 2010, six research groups conducted coordinated prospective studies of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) incidence among US workers from various industries to estimate exposure–response relationships. Objective This analysis examined the presence and magnitude of confounding between biomechanical and workplace psychosocial factors and incidence of dominant-hand CTS. Methods 1605 participants, without CTS at enrolment, were followed for up to 3.5 years (2471 person-years). Demographic information, medical history and workplace psychosocial stress measures were collected at baseline. Individual workplace biomechanical exposures were collected for each task and combined across the workweek using time-weighted averaging (TWA). CTS case criteria were based on symptoms and results of electrophysiological testing. HRs were estimated with Cox proportional hazard models. Confounding was assessed using causal diagrams and an empirical criterion of 10% or greater change in effect estimate magnitude. Results There were 109 incident CTS cases (IR=4.41/100 person-years; 6.7% cumulative incidence). The relationships between CTS and forceful repetition rate, % time forceful hand exertion and the Threshold Limit Value for Hand Activity Level (TLV-HAL) were slightly confounded by decision latitude with effect estimates being attenuated towards the null (10–14% change) after adjustment. The risk of CTS among participants reporting high job strain was attenuated towards the null by 14% after adjusting for the HAL Scale or the % time forceful hand exertions. Conclusions Although attenuation of the relationships between CTS and some biomechanical and work psychosocial exposures was observed after adjusting for confounding, the magnitudes were small and confirmed biomechanical and work psychosocial exposures as independent risk factors for incident CTS.
Primary and secondary pest management in agriculture: balancing pesticides and natural enemies in potato production

Natural enemies (NEs) provide an important ecosystem service by preying on variety of pests in agricultural crop production systems. Current management practices of both primary and secondary pests in agricultural production principally rely on the use of pesticides with associated negative social and environmental consequences/externalities. Excessive use of pesticides against primary pets can remove NEs from the agro-ecosystem and amplify susceptibility of the system to outbreaks of secondary pests. The combined effect of NEs on primary and secondary pests has received limited attention. This study uses an intraseasonal bioeconomic model to explicitly take into account biological interactions among primary pests, secondary pests, and NEs assuming decision makers’ profit maximizing behavior. The model explicitly captures the opportunity cost of injury to NE in terms of both primary and secondary pest suppression by NE. The results show that in the context of the green peach aphid (primary pest) and two-spotted spider mite (secondary pest) in potato production, inclusion of NE into pest mitigation strategy can increase returns by 2%.
The Republic of China 1972–1992

Diplomatically isolated but economically thriving, Taiwan in the 1970s and the increasingly confident Taiwan of the 1980s emerged as a vibrant player on the global economic stage. Yet, the period witnessed Washington’s political shift in diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing.
European Supranational Monitoring of Intelligence Agency Collaboration in Counterterrorism in the Balkans and Eastern Europe

Torture is legally banned worldwide but honored in the breach in a majority of countries, liberal democracies included. However, Europe’s commitment to banning torture, as a region, initially through the CoE and more recently through the EU, has arguably been the most successful in the world—at least until 9/11. This chapter considers the efforts by these two international organizations to monitor the conduct of intelligence agencies cooperating with each other and with the CIA.
Ethical Dimensions of Urology: Four Case Studies

In recent years, the progression of medical science has led to what used to be extremely rare ethical problems on the cutting edge of urological management of male infertility to become a more routine part of urological practice. These ethical problems, even though they have become more common in urological practice, still cause significant issues for the physician. In this chapter we discuss four cases that illustrate the ethical problems associated with identification and framing of the ethical problem, analysis of the problem, and the resolution of the problem. The basic purpose of these case discussions is that it is much easier to avoid and/or satisfactorily resolve an ethical problem when it is recognized early before a crisis mode arises or before poor ethical decisions are made and have to be unraveled after the fact. These cases represent four possible scenarios but are by no means exhaustive of the possible ethical issues that may arise from the current urological practice.
Vitamin B-6 and depressive symptomatology, over time, in older Latino adults

Background: Low vitamin B-6 status has been linked to depressive symptomatology. We examined the longitudinal association of vitamin B-6 status with depressive symptomatology across 3-time points o...
Narcissistic concerns in the educational experience of law students.

Elevated levels of depression and anxiety have consistently been found to be prevalent among law students. Various explanations have been offered to account for these findings, with many commentators pointing to specific features of legal education as causative factors. Law students are confronted with an educational environment that poses many threats to their self-esteem. Responses to this situation have taken many forms; some of these adaptations have been identified as obsessive, paranoid, schizoid, hysterical, and acting out.An understanding of the critical role of self-esteem in psychological development has been the focus of the work of Heinz Kohut. Applying his ideas to the experience of law students has highlighted their struggle with narcissistic aspirations as well as their efforts to develop a professional sense of self. His constructs of grandiose self and idealized parental imago are not only helpful in illuminating the experiences of law students, but have broad implications for the policie...
Experimental Study of Flow Characteristics in Wedge and Modified Wedge Transitions

AbstractWater generally leaves a supply reservoir through a narrow rectangular concrete channel and enters a large trapezoidal earthen channel. The two channels are connected by a transition. Among...
Evaluation and Initial Management of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Abstract Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a life-threatening event and most patients do not survive the initial rupture. For those patients fortunate enough to make it to medical attention, the initial management is crucial in preventing secondary injury from hypoxia, hydrocephalus, and aneurysm rebleeding. This chapter details the crucial steps in work-up, management, and critical care of these patients from the time they presented with a ruptured aneurysm until they are taken for aneurysm treatment.
Toward a Global Overview of HbA1c Test Performance.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)2 measurement has been a standard of care for patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes for nearly 4 decades. Studies such as the Diabetes Control and Complications trial in type 1 diabetes and the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study in type 2 diabetes in the 1990s have shown how hyperglycemia, as assessed by HbA1c, is associated with the long-term risk of the micro- and macrovascular complications of the disease and the likelihood of having a severe hypoglycemic episode (1, 2). The analytical performance specification (APS) required of a particular test—defining how accurate and/or precise the measurement should be for clinical purposes—is preferably based on data from outcome studies. However, it is uncommon for this information to exist for many routinely requested tests; therefore, less ideal alternatives, such as using biological variation or state-of-the-art technique for the measurement, are often used to derive the APS instead (3). With studies such as the Diabetes Control and Complications trial and United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes trial, HbA1c is one of the few examples in which trial data can directly inform the APS. The IFCC has developed 2 models of quality (i.e., APS) targets for HbA1c, one based on biological variation and the other on clinical outcomes (4). For the latter, a total allowable …
When attaining the best sample is out of reach: Nonprobability alternatives when engaging in public administration research

ABSTRACTAcross all social science disciplines, but in particular public administration, there is a shared concern about the costs of using traditional random samples to generate data, and its impac...