794 research outputs found
An Indirect-Effects Model of Mediated Adjudication: The CSI Myth, the Tech Effect, and Metropolitan Jurors\u27 Expectations for Scientific Evidence
Part I of this article defines the CSI effect, a phrase has come to have many different meanings ascribed to it. It emphasizes the epistemological importance of first describing the effect of the CSI effect as observed in juror behavior documented in a new study conducted in Wayne County (Detroit), Michigan, and then looking at causative factors that may be related to an explanation of those observed effects. Part II describes the methodology of the Wayne County study, provides a descriptive analysis of Wayne County jurors, and compares the jurors demographically to the Washtenaw County jurors who were surveyed in 2006. Part III analyzes the Wayne County study results with respect to jurors\u27 expectations and demands for scientific evidence. The Wayne County study findings reinforce the earlier Washtenaw findings of heightened juror expectations and demands for scientific evidence in almost every respect. This most recent analysis reinforces conclusions from the earlier study that there is no such causative relationship between watching CSI and heightened juror expectations and demands. Part IV explores the nature of the tech effect as one causative factor for those heightened juror expectations and demands as an alternative to the CSI effect. The results of regression analyses of new data provide some support for the 2006 study\u27s suggestion of a tech effect --that the broader changes in popular culture brought about by rapid scientific and technological advances and widespread dissemination of information about them is a more likely explanation for increased juror expectations and demand for scientific evidence. Part V provides an overview of contemporary perspectives of mass-mediated effects on public attitudes, behaviors, and expectations as a prelude to a suggested Indirect-Effects Model of Mediated Adjudication. The authors propose an indirect-effects model of juror influences that triangulates the potential interactive effects of a CSI effect myth with the likelihood of a tech effect in the context of the mass mediated effects of law and order or crime and justice news media
An X-ray Investigation of Three Supernova Remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud
We have investigated three SNRs in the LMC using multi-wavelength data. These
SNRs are generally fainter than the known sample and may represent a previously
missed population. One of our SNRs is the second LMC remnant analyzed which is
larger than any Galactic remnant for which a definite size has been
established. The analysis of such a large remnant contributes to the
understanding of the population of highly evolved SNRs. We have obtained X-ray
images and spectra of three of these recently identified SNRs using the
XMM-Newton observatory. These data, in conjunction with pre-existing optical
emission-line images and spectra, were used to determine the physical
conditions of the optical- and X-ray-emitting gas in the SNRs. We have compared
the morphologies of the SNRs in the different wavebands. The physical
properties of the warm ionized shell were determined from the H-alpha surface
brightness and the SNR expansion velocity. The X-ray spectra were fit with a
thermal plasma model and the physical conditions of the hot gas were derived
from the model fits. Finally, we have compared our observations with
simulations of SNR evolution
Electronic Ladders with SO(5) Symmetry: Phase Diagrams and Correlations at half-filling
We construct a family of electronic ladder models with SO(5) symmetry which
have exact ground states in the form of finitely correlated wave functions.
Extensions for these models preserving this symmetry are studied using these
states in a variational approach. Within this approach, the zero temperature
phase diagram of these electronic ladders at half filling is obtained,
reproducing the known results in the weak coupling (band insulator) and strong
coupling regime, first studied by Scalapino, Zhang and Hanke. Finally, the
compact form of the variational wave functions allows to compute various
correlation functions for these systems.Comment: RevTeX+epsf macros, 23 pp. including figure
Graph products of spheres, associative graded algebras and Hilbert series
Given a finite, simple, vertex-weighted graph, we construct a graded
associative (non-commutative) algebra, whose generators correspond to vertices
and whose ideal of relations has generators that are graded commutators
corresponding to edges. We show that the Hilbert series of this algebra is the
inverse of the clique polynomial of the graph. Using this result it easy to
recognize if the ideal is inert, from which strong results on the algebra
follow. Non-commutative Grobner bases play an important role in our proof.
There is an interesting application to toric topology. This algebra arises
naturally from a partial product of spheres, which is a special case of a
generalized moment-angle complex. We apply our result to the loop-space
homology of this space.Comment: 19 pages, v3: elaborated on connections to related work, added more
citations, to appear in Mathematische Zeitschrif
Manipulating Managed Execution Runtimes to Support Self-Healing Systems
Self-healing systems require that repair mechanisms are available to resolve problems that arise while the system executes. Managed execution environments such as the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and Java Virtual Machine (JVM) provide a number of application services (application isolation, security sandboxing, garbage collection and structured exception handling) which are geared primarily at making managed applications more robust. However, none of these services directly enables applications to perform repairs or consistency checks of their components. From a design and implementation standpoint, the preferred way to enable repair in a self-healing system is to use an externalized repair/adaptation architecture rather than hardwiring adaptation logic inside the system where it is harder to analyze, reuse and extend. We present a framework that allows a repair engine to dynamically attach and detach to/from a managed application while it executes essentially adding repair mechanisms as another application service provided in the execution environment
Matrix theory origins of non-geometric fluxes
We explore the origins of non-geometric fluxes within the context of M theory
described as a matrix model. Building upon compactifications of Matrix theory
on non-commutative tori and twisted tori, we formulate the conditions which
describe compactifications with non-geometric fluxes. These turn out to be
related to certain deformations of tori with non-commutative and
non-associative structures on their phase space. Quantization of flux appears
as a natural consequence of the framework and leads to the resolution of
non-associativity at the level of the unitary operators. The quantum-mechanical
nature of the model bestows an important role on the phase space. In
particular, the geometric and non-geometric fluxes exchange their properties
when going from position space to momentum space thus providing a duality among
the two. Moreover, the operations which connect solutions with different fluxes
are described and their relation to T-duality is discussed. Finally, we provide
some insights on the effective gauge theories obtained from these matrix
compactifications.Comment: 1+31 pages, reference list update
Maximizing sampling efficiency to detect differences in fish community composition using environmental DNA metabarcoding in subarctic fjords
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has gained popularity as a tool for ecosystem biomonitoring and biodiversity assessment. Although much progress has been made regarding laboratory and fieldwork protocols, the issue of sampling efficiency requires further investigation, particularly in three-dimensional marine systems. This study focuses on fish community composition in marine ecosystems and aims to analyze the efficiency of sampling design given the sampling effort for distinguishing between different communities. We sampled three fjords in Northern Norway, taking samples along fjord transects and at three different depths, and amplified a fragment of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene of bony fishes using the MiFish primers. We evaluated the effect of (i) the number of sampling stations, (ii) samples' spatial distribution, and (iii) the data treatment approach (presence/absence versus semiquantitative) for maximizing the efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding sampling when inferring differences of fish community compositions between fjords. We found that the manner of data treatment strongly affected the minimum number of sampling stations required to detect differences among communities; because the semiquantitative approach retained some information about abundance of the underlying reads, it was the most efficient. Furthermore, we found little-to-no difference of fish communities in samples from intermediate depths when comparing vertical fish communities. Lastly, we found that the differences between fish communities at the surface were the highest across the horizontal distance and overall, samples ~30 km apart showed the highest variation in the horizontal distribution. Boosting sampling efficiency (reducing sampling effort without compromising ecological inferences) can significantly contribute to enhanced biodiversity management and efficient biomonitoring plans.publishedVersio
Elucidating glycosaminoglycan–protein–protein interactions using carbohydrate microarray and computational approaches
Glycosaminoglycan polysaccharides play critical roles in many cellular processes, ranging from viral invasion and angiogenesis to spinal cord injury. Their diverse biological activities are derived from an ability to regulate a remarkable number of proteins. However, few methods exist for the rapid identification of glycosaminoglycan–protein interactions and for studying the potential of glycosaminoglycans to assemble multimeric protein complexes. Here, we report a multidisciplinary approach that combines new carbohydrate microarray and computational modeling methodologies to elucidate glycosaminoglycan–protein interactions. The approach was validated through the study of known protein partners for heparan and chondroitin sulfate, including fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and its receptor FGFR1, the malarial protein VAR2CSA, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). We also applied the approach to identify previously undescribed interactions between a specific sulfated epitope on chondroitin sulfate, CS-E, and the neurotrophins, a critical family of growth factors involved in the development, maintenance, and survival of the vertebrate nervous system. Our studies show for the first time that CS is capable of assembling multimeric signaling complexes and modulating neurotrophin signaling pathways. In addition, we identify a contiguous CS-E-binding site by computational modeling that suggests a potential mechanism to explain how CS may promote neurotrophin-tyrosine receptor kinase (Trk) complex formation and neurotrophin signaling. Together, our combined microarray and computational modeling methodologies provide a general, facile means to identify new glycosaminoglycan–protein–protein interactions, as well as a molecular-level understanding of those complexes
Recurrent Variational Approach to the Two-Leg Hubbard Ladder
We applied the Recurrent Variational Approach to the two-leg Hubbard ladder.
At half-filling, our variational Ansatz was a generalization of the resonating
valence bond state. At finite doping, hole pairs were allowed to move in the
resonating valence bond background. The results obtained by the Recurrent
Variational Approach were compared with results from Density Matrix
Renormalization Group.Comment: 10 pages, 14 Postscript figure
Phase Transitions Between Topologically Distinct Gapped Phases in Isotropic Spin Ladders
We consider various two-leg ladder models exhibiting gapped phases. All of
these phases have short-ranged valence bond ground states, and they all exhibit
string order. However, we show that short-ranged valence bond ground states
divide into two topologically distinct classes, and as a consequence, there
exist two topologically distinct types of string order. Therefore, not all
gapped phases belong to the same universality class. We show that phase
transitions occur when we interpolate between models belonging to different
topological classes, and we study the nature of these transitions.Comment: 11 pages, 16 postscript figure
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