Interactive numerals

Although Arabic numerals (like {\textquoteleft}2016{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}3.14{\textquoteright}) are ubiquitous, we show that in interactive computer applications they are often misleading and surprisingly unreliable. We introduce interactive numerals as a new concept and show, like Roman numerals and Arabic numerals, interactive numerals introduce another way of using and thinking about numbers. Properly understanding interactive numerals is essential for all computer applications that involve numerical data entered by users, including finance, medicine, aviation and science

Nonexotic Neutral Gauge Bosons

We study theoretical and experimental constraints on electroweak theories including a new color-singlet and electrically-neutral gauge boson. We first note that the electric charges of the observed fermions imply that any such Z' boson may be described by a gauge theory in which the Abelian gauge groups are the usual hypercharge along with another U(1) component in a kinetic-diagonal basis. Assuming that the observed quarks and leptons have generation-independent U(1) charges, and that no new fermions couple to the standard model gauge bosons, we find that their U(1) charges form a two-parameter family consistent with anomaly cancellation and viable fermion masses, provided there are at least three right-handed neutrinos. We then derive bounds on the Z' mass and couplings imposed by direct production and Z-pole measurements. For generic charge assignments and a gauge coupling of electromagnetic strength, the strongest lower bound on the Z' mass comes from Z-pole measurements, and is of order 1 TeV. If the new U(1) charges are proportional to B-L, however, there is no tree-level mixing between the Z and Z', and the best bounds come from the absence of direct production at LEPII and the Tevatron. If the U(1) gauge coupling is one or two orders of magnitude below the electromagnetic one, these bounds are satisfied for most values of the Z' mass.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures. A comparison with the LEP bounds on sneutrino resonances is include

Cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus and risk of breast cancer before age 40 years: a case–control study

We investigated whether there is an association between cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgG levels and risk of breast cancer before age 40 years. CMV and EBV IgG levels were measured in stored plasma from 208 women with breast cancer and 169 controls who participated in the Australian Breast Cancer Family Study (ABCFS), a population-based case-control study. CMV and EBV IgG values were measured in units of optical density (OD). Cases and controls did not differ in seropositivity for CMV (59 and 57% respectively; P=0.8) or EBV (97 and 96% respectively; P=0.7). In seropositive women, mean IgG values were higher in cases than controls for CMV (1.20 vs 0.98 OD, P=0.005) but not for EBV (2.65 vs 2.57 OD, P=0.5). The adjusted odds ratios per OD unit were 1.46 (95% CI 1.06-2.03) for CMV IgG and 1.11 (0.93-1.33) for EBV IgG. The higher mean CMV IgG levels found in women with breast cancer could be the result of a more recent infection with CMV, and may mean that late exposure to CMV is a risk factor for breast cancer

First Results from the CHARA Array. II. A Description of the Instrument

The CHARA Array is a six 1-m telescope optical/IR interferometric array located on Mount Wilson California, designed and built by the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy of Georgia State University. In this paper we describe the main elements of the Array hardware and software control systems as well as the data reduction methods currently being used. Our plans for upgrades in the near future are also described

Investigating knowledge management factors affecting Chinese ICT firms performance: An integrated KM framework

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in the Journal of Information Systems Management, 28(1), 19 - 29, 2011, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10580530.2011.536107.This article sets out to investigate the critical factors of Knowledge Management (KM) which are considered to have an impact on the performance of Chinese information and communication technology (ICT) firms. This study confirms that the cultural environment of an enterprise is central to its success in the context of China. It shows that a collaborated, trusted, and learning environment within ICT firms will have a positive impact on their KM performance

On the form-function dichotomy in linguistic theory

This paper focuses on an important divide in theoretical linguistics between two broad perspectives on the structural properties of human languages, generative and functionalist. In the former, linguistic structure is explained in terms of discrete categories and highly abstract principles, which may be language-independent or language-specific and purely formal or functional in nature. In the latter, explanation for why languages have the structure that they do is found ‘outside’ language, in the general principles of human cognition and the communicative functions of language. The aim of this paper is to highlight the need for abstractness, explicitness, simplicity and theoretical economy in linguistic description and explanation. The question is not whether principles of grammar are formal or functional. The question is whether the principles that are postulated to explain linguistic structure express true generalizations

TeV Gamma-Ray Sources from a Survey of the Galactic Plane with Milagro

A survey of Galactic gamma-ray sources at a median energy of ~20 TeV has been performed using the Milagro Gamma Ray Observatory. Eight candidate sources of TeV emission are detected with pre-trials significance $>4.5\sigma$ in the region of Galactic longitude $l\in[30^\circ,220^\circ]$ and latitude $b\in[-10^\circ,10^\circ]$. Four of these sources, including the Crab nebula and the recently published MGRO J2019+37, are observed with significances $>4\sigma$ after accounting for the trials involved in searching the 3800 square degree region. All four of these sources are also coincident with EGRET sources. Two of the lower significance sources are coincident with EGRET sources and one of these sources is Geminga. The other two candidates are in the Cygnus region of the Galaxy. Several of the sources appear to be spatially extended. The fluxes of the sources at 20 TeV range from ~25% of the Crab flux to nearly as bright as the Crab.Comment: Submitted to Ap

Clinical evaluation of smartphone-based fluorescence imaging for guidance and monitoring of ALA PDT

India has one of the highest rates of oral cancer incidence in the world, with an estimated 80,000 new cases per year, accounting for 30% of reported cancers. In rural areas, a lack of adequate medical infrastructure contributes to unchecked disease progression and dismal mortality rates. PDT emerges as a potential modality which can be implemented in resource limited settings, while photosensitizer fluorescence can be leveraged for treatment guidance. Here, as part of an ongoing clinical study evaluating low-cost technology for ALA PDT treatment, we evaluated the capability of a simple smartphone-based device for imaging ALA-induced PpIX fluorescence. The imaging device itself consists of an annulus of 405nm LEDs for PpIX excitation with emission filter in the center mounted over the phone camera. 18 subjects having <2 cm diameter (mean size; ~1.38 cm2) lesions with micro-invasive (≤5 mm. depth) moderately/well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma were administered 60 mg/kg ALA in oral solution and imaged before and after delivery of 100 J/cm2 total light dose to the lesion surface. We will present comparative analysis of pre-and post-treatment fluorescence, white light, and ultrasound images. In general, PpIX fluorescence images obtained prior to therapeutic light delivery are able to resolve lesion margins while dramatic photobleaching in post-treatment images confirms the irradiated zone. Overall this approach is able to generate sufficient fluorescence contrast for treatment guidance and monitoring photobleaching while the use of a smartphone-based device provides a low-cost, widely available platform with potential for telemedicine integration