Search

ORAL ABSTRACT Consecutive analytical treatment interruption enhances CD8 T‐cell functionality during virological control G. Duette[sup.1,2], S. Cronin[sup.1,2], K. Fisher[sup.1], S. G. Deeks[sup.3], A. D. Kelleher[sup.4], S. Palmer[sup.1,2] [sup.1]The Westmead Institute [...]

: Introduction: Measuring the coverage of HIV prevention services for key populations (KPs) has consistently been a challenge for national HIV programmes. The current frameworks and measurement methods lack emphasis on effective coverage, occur infrequently, lack timeliness and limit the participation of KPs. The Effective Programme Coverage framework, which utilizes a programme science approach, provides an opportunity to assess gaps in various coverage domains and explore the underlying reasons for these gaps, in order to develop targeted solutions. We have demonstrated the application of this framework in partnership with the KP community in Nairobi, Kenya, using an expanded Polling Booth Survey (ePBS) method. Methods: Data were collected between April and May 2023 among female sex workers (FSWs) and men who have sex with men (MSM) using (a) PBS, (b) bio‐behavioural survey and (c) focus group discussions. Data collection and analysis involved both KP community and non‐community researchers. Descriptive analysis was performed, and proportions were used to assess the programme coverage gaps. The data were weighted to account for the sampling design and unequal selection probabilities. Thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data. Results: The condom programme for FSW and MSM had low availability (60.2% and 50.9%), contact (68.8% and 65.9%) and utilization (52.1% and 43.9%) coverages. The pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme had very low utilization coverage for FSW and MSM (4.4% and 2.8%), while antiretroviral therapy utilization coverage was higher (86.6% and 87.7%). Reasons for coverage gaps included a low peer educator‐to‐peer ratio, longer distance to the clinics, shortage of free condoms supplied by the government, experienced and anticipated side effects related to PrEP, and stigma and discrimination experienced in the facilities. Conclusions: The Effective Programme Coverage framework allows programmes to assess coverage gaps and develop solutions and a research agenda targeted at specific domains of coverage with large gaps. The ePBS method works well in collecting data to understand coverage gaps rapidly and allows for the engagement of the KP community., INTRODUCTION The recently launched UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2023 highlights uneven progress in reducing new HIV acquisitions among key populations (KPs) [1]. It has now been established that scaling up [...]

ORAL ABSTRACT Resident microbiota enhance HIV acquisition, replication and pathogenesis in vivo A. Wahl[sup.1] , W. Yao[sup.1] , B. Liao[sup.1] , M. Chateau[sup.1] , C. Richardson[sup.1] , L. Ling[sup.1] , [...]

One of the central aims of the philosophical analysis of mathematical explanation is to determine how one can distinguish explanatory proofs from non-explanatory proofs. In this paper, I take a closer look at the current status of the debate, and what the challenges for the philosophical analysis of explanatory proofs are. In order to provide an answer to these challenges, I suggest we start from analysing the concept understanding. More precisely, I will defend four claims: (1) understanding is a condition for explanation, (2) unificatory understanding is a type of explanatory understanding, (3) unificatory understanding is valuable in mathematics, and (4) mathematical proofs can contribute to unificatory understanding. As a result, in a context where the epistemic aim is to unify mathematical results, I argue it is fruitful to make a distinction between proofs based on their explanatory value., Author(s): Joachim Frans [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8767.e, 0000 0001 2290 8069, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, , Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium Outline The philosophical analysis of mathematical explanation concerns, among [...]

Purpose: Former studies suggested that music perception can help produce certain accentual features in the first and second language (L2), such as intonational contours. What was missing in many of these studies was the identification of the exact relationship between specific music perception skills and the production of different accentual features in a foreign language. Our aim was to verify whether empirically tested musical hearing skills can be related to the acquisition of English vowels by learners of English as an L2 before and after a formal accent training course. Method: Fifty adult Polish speakers of L2 English were tested before and after a two-semester accent training in order to observe the effect of musical hearing on the acquisition of English vowels. Their L2 English vowel formant contours produced in consonant-vowel-consonant context were compared with the target General British vowels produced by their pronunciation teachers. We juxtaposed these results with their musical hearing test scores and self-reported musical experience to observe a possible relationship between successful L2 vowel acquisition and musical aptitude. Results: Preexisting rhythmic memory was reported as a significant predictor before training, while musical experience was reported as a significant factor in the production of more native-like L2 vowels after training. We also observed that not all vowels were equally acquired or affected by musical hearing or musical experience. The strongest estimate we observed was the closeness to model before training, suggesting that learners who already managed to acquire some features of a native-like accent were also more successful after training. Conclusions: Our results are revealing in two aspects. First, the learners' former proficiency in L2 pronunciation is the most robust predictor in acquiring a native-like accent. Second, there is a potential relationship between rhythmic memory and L2 vowel acquisition before training, as well as years of musical experience after training, suggesting that specific musical skills and music practice can be an asset in learning a foreign language accent., The assumed deep-binding interconnectivity between musical talent and the ease of learning foreign languages has been anecdotally repeated for a long time, yet too often without clear references to the [...]

This paper analyses the impact of informal recruitment channels on university enrolment decisions. A widespread diffusion of personal connections as an entry channel to the labour market may signal that social ties to well-off people are necessary to get a good job, thereby convincing students from poorly connected families that getting a tertiary education degree does not enhance their future socio-economic opportunities. By applying estimation techniques with instrumental variables to Italian microdata, I found that upper-secondary students coming from lower social classes are less likely to participate in tertiary education when they live in provinces where the percentage of newly tertiary graduates who found a job through informal channels is higher. My results are consistent with the hypothesis that the wide diffusion of 'favouritism' in local labour markets engenders a sense of 'economic despair' among poorly connected students, thereby worsening inequality of access to education and local socio-economic development.literature and the hypothesis, Author(s): Emanuela Ghignoni [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.7841.a, Department of Economics and Law, Sapienza University of Rome, , Via Castro Laurenziano, 9, 00161, Rome, Italy Introduction Italy is characterised by [...]

Introduction Drug use during pregnancy can have negative effects on maternal and child health. However, there is a dearth of data regarding drug use among pregnant women in Kenya, where illicit drug use is on the rise. In this paper, we report factors influencing women's decisions to use drugs during pregnancy. Methods In 2015, we conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 45 women who inject drugs and five key stakeholders involved in provision of services to people who use drugs in coastal Kenya. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to draw out themes related to key determinants of drug use during pregnancy. Results Four key themes emerged outlining determinants of drug use during pregnancy: (i) the use of drugs to cope with the stress of unexpected pregnancy, (ii) the continued drug use during pregnancy to manage withdrawal, (iii) the dual effect of pregnancy on drug use either as a facilitator or as a moderator of drug use, and (iv) the role of male intimate partner in influencing women's drug use during pregnancy. Conclusion Our paper reports women's drug use during pregnancy and the factors influencing this phenomenon. To safeguard the health and well-being of pregnant women and their unborn children, there is a need for education and awareness raising, implementing couple-based harm reduction approaches to leverage on positive male influences, improving availability of drug treatment, and provision of family planning interventions for women who use drugs., Author(s): Gitau Mburu [sup.1] , Sylvia Ayon [sup.2] , Samantha Mahinda [sup.2] , Khoshnood Kaveh [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.12082.39, 0000 0004 1936 7590, Centre for Global Health Policy, University [...]

Introduction: Female sex workers (FSWs) experience overlapping burdens of HIV, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly efficacious for HIV prevention. It represents a promising strategy to reduce HIV acquisition risks among FSWs specifically given complex social and structural factors that challenge consistent condom use. However, the potential impact on unintended pregnancy has garnered little attention. We discuss the potentia concerns and opportunities for PrEP to positively or negatively impact the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of FSWs. Discussion: FSWs have high unmet need for effective contraception and unintended pregnancy is common in low- and middle-income countries. Unintended pregnancy can have enduring health and social effects for FSWs, including consequences of unsafe abortion and financial impacts affecting subsequent risk-taking. It is possible that PrEP could negatively impact condom and other contraceptive use among FSWs due to condom substitution, normalization, external pressures or PrEP provision by single-focus services. There are limited empirical data available to assess the impact of PrEP on pregnancy rates in real-life settings. However, pregnancy rates are relatively high in PrEP trials and modelling suggests a potential two-fold increase in condomless sex among FSWs on PrEP, which, given low use of non-barrier contraceptive methods, would increase rates of unintended pregnancy. Opportunities for integrating family planning with PrEP and HIV services may circumvent these concerns and support improved SRHR. Synergies between PrEP and family planning could promote uptake and maintenance for both interventions. Integrating family planning into FSW-focused community-based HIV services is likely to be the most effective model for improving access to non-barrier contraception among FSWs. However, barriers to integration, such as provider skills and training and funding mechanisms, need to be addressed. Conclusions: As PrEP is scaled up among FSWs, there is growing impetus to consider integrating family planning services with PrEP delivery in order to better meet the diverse SRHR needs of FSWs and to prevent unintended consequences. Programme monitoring combined with research can close data gaps and mobilize adequate resources to deliver comprehensive SRHR services respectful of all women's rights. Keywords: sex workers; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP); contraception; unplanned pregnancy; HIV infections, (1) | INTRODUCTION Female sex workers (FSWs) in low- and middle-income countries experience overlapping burdens of high HIV prevalence alongside high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy [...]

Background We compared protection of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and azathioprine (AZA) against acute cellular rejection (ACR) and chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) in kidney transplant recipients on steroid-free, low-dose cyclosporine (CsA) microemulsion maintenance immunosuppression. Methods and findings ATHENA, a pragmatic, prospective, multicenter trial conducted by 6 Italian transplant centers, compared the outcomes of 233 consenting recipients of a first deceased donor kidney transplant induced with low-dose thymoglobulin and basiliximab and randomized to MMF (750 mg twice/day, n = 119) or AZA (75 to 125 mg/day, n = 114) added-on maintenance low-dose CsA microemulsion and 1-week steroid. In patients without acute clinical or subclinical rejections, CsA dose was progressively halved. Primary endpoint was biopsy-proven CAN. Analysis was by intention to treat. Participants were included between June 2007 and July 2012 and followed up to August 2016. Between-group donor and recipient characteristics, donor/recipient mismatches, and follow-up CsA blood levels were similar. During a median (interquartile range (IQR)) follow-up of 47.7 (44.2 to 48.9) months, 29 of 87 biopsied patients on MMF (33.3%) versus 31 of 88 on AZA (35.2%) developed CAN (hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 1.147 (0.691 to 1.904, p = 0.595). Twenty and 21 patients on MMF versus 34 and 14 on AZA had clinical [HR (95% CI): 0.58 (0.34 to 1.02); p = 0.057) or biopsy-proven subclinical [HR (95% CI): 1.49 (0.76 to 2.92); p = 0.249] ACR, respectively. Combined events [HR (95% CI): 0.85 (0.56 to 1.29); p = 0.438], patient and graft survival, delayed graft function (DGF), 3-year glomerular filtration rate (GFR) [53.8 (40.6;65.7) versus 49.8 (36.8;62.5) mL/min/1.73 m.sup.2, p = 0.50], and adverse events (AEs) were not significantly different between groups. Chronicity scores other than CAN predict long-term graft outcome. Study limitations include small sample size and unblinded design. Conclusions In this study, we found that in deceased donor kidney transplant recipients on low-dose CsA and no steroids, MMF had no significant benefits over AZA. This finding suggests that AZA, due to its lower costs, could safely replace MMF in combination with minimized immunosuppression. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00494741; EUDRACT 2006-005604-14., Author(s): Piero Ruggenenti 1,2, Paolo Cravedi 3, Eliana Gotti 2, Annarita Plati 2, Maddalena Marasà 2, Silvio Sandrini 4, Nicola Bossini 4, Franco Citterio 5, Enrico Minetti 6, Domenico Montanaro [...]

The question that is the subject of this article is not intended to be a sociological or statistical question about the practice of today's mathematicians, but a philosophical question about the nature of mathematics, and specifically the method of mathematics. Since antiquity, saying that mathematics is problem solving has been an expression of the view that the method of mathematics is the analytic method, while saying that mathematics is theorem proving has been an expression of the view that the method of mathematics is the axiomatic method. In this article it is argued that these two views of the mathematical method are really opposed. In order to answer the question whether mathematics is problem solving or theorem proving, the article retraces the Greek origins of the question and Hilbert's answer. Then it argues that, by Gödel's incompleteness results and other reasons, only the view that mathematics is problem solving is tenable., Author(s): Carlo Cellucci [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.7841.aSapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy Introduction If you asked a mathematician whether mathematics is problem solving or theorem proving, the mathematician would [...]

Background HIV-positive women suffer a high burden of mental disorders due in part to gender-based violence (GBV). Comorbid depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are typical psychiatric consequences of GBV. Despite attention to the HIV-GBV syndemic, few HIV clinics offer formal mental healthcare. This problem is acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where the world's majority of HIV-positive women live and prevalence of GBV is high. Methods and findings We conducted a randomized controlled trial at an HIV clinic in Kisumu, Kenya. GBV-affected HIV-positive women with both major depressive disorder (MDD) and PTSD were randomized to 12 sessions of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) plus treatment as usual (TAU) or Wait List+TAU. Nonspecialists were trained to deliver IPT inside the clinic. After 3 months, participants were reassessed, and those assigned to Wait List+TAU were given IPT. The primary outcomes were diagnosis of MDD and PTSD (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included symptom measures of depression and PTSD, intimate partner violence (IPV), and disability. A total of 256 participants enrolled between May 2015 and July 2016. At baseline, the mean age of the women in this study was 37 years; 61% reported physical IPV in the past week; 91% reported 2 or more lifetime traumatic events and monthly income was 18USD. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression showed that participants randomized to IPT+TAU had lower odds of MDD (odds ratio [OR] 0.26, 95% CI [0.11 to 0.60], p = 0.002) and lower odds of PTSD (OR 0.35, [0.14 to 0.86], p = 0.02) than controls. IPT+TAU participants had lower odds of MDD-PTSD comorbidity than controls (OR 0.36, 95% CI [0.15 to 0.90], p = 0.03). Linear mixed models were used to assess secondary outcomes: IPT+TAU participants had reduced disability (-6.9 [-12.2, -1.5], p = 0.01), and nonsignificantly reduced work absenteeism (-3.35 [-6.83, 0.14], p = 0.06); partnered IPT+TAU participants had a reduction of IPV (-2.79 [-5.42, -0.16], p = 0.04). Gains were maintained across 6-month follow-up. Treatment group differences were observed only at month 3, the time point at which the groups differed in IPT status (before cross over). Study limitations included 35% attrition inclusive of follow-up assessments, generalizability to populations not in HIV care, and data not collected on TAU resources accessed. Conclusions IPT for MDD and PTSD delivered by nonspecialists in the context of HIV care yielded significant improvements in HIV-positive women's mental health, functioning, and GBV (IPV) exposure, compared to controls. Trial registration Clinical Trials Identifier NCT02320799., Author(s): Susan M. Meffert 1,*, Thomas C. Neylan 1,2, Charles E. McCulloch 3, Kelly Blum 1, Craig R. Cohen 4, Elizabeth A. Bukusi 5,6,7, Helen Verdeli 8, John C. Markowitz [...]

: Introduction: Female sex workers (FSWs) experience overlapping burdens of HIV, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly efficacious for HIV prevention. It represents a promising strategy to reduce HIV acquisition risks among FSWs specifically given complex social and structural factors that challenge consistent condom use. However, the potential impact on unintended pregnancy has garnered little attention. We discuss the potential concerns and opportunities for PrEP to positively or negatively impact the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of FSWs. Discussion: FSWs have high unmet need for effective contraception and unintended pregnancy is common in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Unintended pregnancy can have enduring health and social effects for FSWs, including consequences of unsafe abortion and financial impacts affecting subsequent risk‐taking. It is possible that PrEP could negatively impact condom and other contraceptive use among FSWs due to condom substitution, normalization, external pressures or PrEP provision by single‐focus services. There are limited empirical data available to assess the impact of PrEP on pregnancy rates in real‐life settings. However, pregnancy rates are relatively high in PrEP trials and modelling suggests a potential two‐fold increase in condomless sex among FSWs on PrEP, which, given low use of non‐barrier contraceptive methods, would increase rates of unintended pregnancy. Opportunities for integrating family planning with PrEP and HIV services may circumvent these concerns and support improved SRHR. Synergies between PrEP and family planning could promote uptake and maintenance for both interventions. Integrating family planning into FSW‐focused community‐based HIV services is likely to be the most effective model for improving access to non‐barrier contraception among FSWs. However, barriers to integration, such as provider skills and training and funding mechanisms, need to be addressed. Conclusions: As PrEP is scaled up among FSWs, there is growing impetus to consider integrating family planning services with PrEP delivery in order to better meet the diverse SRHR needs of FSWs and to prevent unintended consequences. Programme monitoring combined with research can close data gaps and mobilize adequate resources to deliver comprehensive SRHR services respectful of all women’s rights., Introduction Female sex workers (FSWs) in low‐ and middle‐income countries experience overlapping burdens of high HIV prevalence alongside high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. Despite these [...]

The objective of this article was to highlight plans versus actual actions of university graduates in Poland aimed at finding employment. The paper also empirically verifies the impact of chosen job-seeking strategies on the success or failure of their transition to employment. The study was Polish-wide and included graduates of geography. It consisted of two stages. The first stage (N = 1120) allowed the researcher to identify the most successful job search methods for university-to-work transition. These included: applying for vacancies advertised on the Internet and direct contact with employers. In the event of failure to find employment, graduates turned to more informal methods. The second stage (N = 375) supplied data which made it possible to learn about the graduates' status on the labour market 6 months after graduation. It also provided information on a structure of methods used by graduates which resulted in acquiring a job and evolution of job search methods in case of failure to perform transition to work. Discriminant function analysis was used to establish that the following job search methods are the best predictors of one's situation on the labour market: applying for vacancies advertised in the press and public employment agencies. Other variables were found not to be statistically significant in discriminating between the group of working and unemployed graduates., Author(s): Danuta Pirog[sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Institute of Geography, Pedagogical University of Cracow, ul. Podchorazych 2, 30-084, Krakow, Poland Introduction Intensifying difficulties in a smooth and satisfactory university-to-work transition in [...]

Background: Cue-induced craving plays an important role in relapse, and the neural correlates of cue-induced craving have been elucidated using fMRI. This study examined the utility of real-time fMRI (rtfMRI) neurofeedback to strengthen self-regulation of craving-related neural activation and cue-reactivity in cigarette smokers. Methods: Nicotine-dependent smokers were randomized to rtfMRI neurofeedback or to a no-feedback control group. Participants completed 3 neuroimaging visits. Within each visit, an initial run during which smoking-related cues were used to provoke craving, an individualized craving-related region of interest (ROI) in the prefrontal cortex or anterior cingulate cortex was identified. In the rtfMRI group, activity from the ROI was fed back via a visual display during 3 subsequent runs while participants were instructed to reduce craving during cue exposure. The control group had an identical experience with no feedback provided. Results: Forty-four nicotine-dependent smokers were recruited to participate in our study; data from the 33 participants who completed a 1-week follow-up visit were included in the analysis. Subjective craving ratings and cue-induced brain activation were lower in the rtfMRI group than in the control group. Limitations: As participants were not seeking treatment, clinical outcomes are lacking. Conclusion: Nicotine-dependent smokers receiving rtfMRI feedback from an individualized ROI attenuated smoking cueelicited neural activation and craving, relative to a control group. Further studies are needed in treatment-seeking smokers to determine if this intervention can translate into a clinically meaningful treatment modality., Introduction Tobacco use is an important public health concern. Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with about 443 000 smoking-related deaths [...]

: Introduction: Oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has been proven to significantly reduce new HIV infections yet scale‐up has been slow. As contexts continue to adjust to make space for PrEP, it is crucial to understand the perspectives and experiences of potential end‐users. In order to inform PrEP and demand creation interventions, this paper examines personal perspectives on adopting and using PrEP among HIV at‐risk populations in sub‐Saharan Africa. Methods: Using the principles of a scoping review in July 2018, we explored the extent, range, and nature of published literature regarding PrEP uptake and use among; men who have sex with men, HIV serodiscordant couples, adolescent girls and young women, pregnant and breastfeeding women, women partners of migrant workers; and people who use drugs. Steps included: identification of the research question; identification of relevant studies; study selection; charting the data; and collation – summarizing and reporting results. PubMed and PsycInfo were searched for papers relating to PrEP uptake and use in sub‐Saharan Africa. Resulting papers were reviewed with data extracted and compiled in Excel for analysis. A broad content analysis was conducted and organized into high‐level themes. Results and discussion: Thirty‐five papers were included in this review. There was little opposition in general to oral PrEP; however, there were significant nuances in its broader acceptability, applicability, and usability. We identified five themes within which these are discussed. These relate to balancing complexities of personal empowerment and stigma; navigating complex risk environments; influences of relationships and partners; efficacy and side effects; and practicalities of use. This body of research suggests that while product attributes and the logistics of PrEP delivery and use are important topics, it is vital to consider stigma, the interactions of PrEP use with relationships, and the need for broader understanding of ARVs for prevention versus treatment. Conclusions: Planning for, programming and promoting the adoption of oral PrEP necessitates a deeper understanding of end‐user priorities in order to ensure successful interventions. This review illustrates the nuances facilitating or deterring PrEP use that may affect the larger effort of PrEP scale‐up., Introduction Oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has been proven to significantly reduce new HIV infections in efficacy trials, yet introduction has been slow. PrEP is being implemented in [...]

In a very influential paper Rota stresses the relevance of mathematical beauty to mathematical research, and claims that a piece of mathematics is beautiful when it is enlightening. He stops short, however, of explaining what he means by 'enlightening'. This paper proposes an alternative approach, according to which a mathematical demonstration or theorem is beautiful when it provides understanding. Mathematical beauty thus considered can have a role in mathematical discovery because it can guide the mathematician in selecting which hypothesis to consider and which to disregard. Thus aesthetic factors can have an epistemic role qua aesthetic factors in mathematical research., Author(s): Carlo Cellucci[sup.1] Author Affiliations: Carlo Cellucci is emeritus professor at the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. His recent publications (2013-2014) include the book Rethinking Logic: Logic in Relation to [...]

The widespread idea that infinitesimals were 'eliminated' by the 'great triumvirate' of Cantor, Dedekind, and Weierstrass is refuted by an uninterrupted chain of work on infinitesimal-enriched number systems. The elimination claim is an oversimplification created by triumvirate followers, who tend to view the history of analysis as a pre-ordained march toward the radiant future of Weierstrassian epsilontics. In the present text, we document distortions of the history of analysis stemming from the triumvirate ideology of ontological minimalism, which identified the continuum with a single number system. Such anachronistic distortions characterize the received interpretation of Stevin, Leibniz, d'Alembert, Cauchy, and others. Keywords Abraham Robinson * Adequality * Archimedean continuum * Bernoullian continuum * Cantor * Cauchy * Cognitive bias * Completeness * Constructivism * Continuity * Continuum * du Bois-Reymond * Epsilontics * Felix Klein * Fermat-Robinson standard part * Infinitesimal * Leibniz-Los transfer principle * Limit * Mathematical rigor * Nominalism * Non-Archimedean * Simon Stevin * Stolz * Sum theorem * Weierstrass, 1 Introduction Here are some common claims. The founders of infinitesimal calculus were working in a vacuum caused by an absence of a satisfactory number system. The incoherence of infinitesimals [...]

6 Computing the Lower Spectral Radius. Algorithm (L) In this section we describe a method for the exact computation of the LSR of a finite family of matrices. We begin [...]

ABSTRACT Lynne Baker's Constitution Theory seems to be the farthest-reaching and yet the most subtly elaborated antireductive metaphysics available today. Its original theoretical contribution is a nonmereological theory of material [...]

Abstract Two experiments investigate the effectiveness of audiovisual (AV) speech cues (cues derived from both seeing and hearing a talker speak) in facilitating perceptual learning of spectrally distorted speech. Speech [...]

Abstract This paper describes the development of the Wildcat Corpus of native- and foreign-accented English, a corpus containing scripted and spontaneous speech recordings from 24 native speakers of American English [...]

Abstract--A new method of finding the optimal group membership and number of groupings to partition population genetic distance data is presented. The software program Partitioning Optimization with Restricted Growth Strings [...]

By recurring to Geometric Probability methods it is shown that the coupling constants, [α.sub.EM], [α.sub.W], [α.sub.C], associated with the electromagnetic, weak and strong (color) force are given by the ratios [...]

By recurring to Geometric Probability methods, it is shown that the coupling constants, [α.sub.EM]; [α.sub.W]; [α.sub.C] associated with Electromagnetism, Weak and the Strong (color) force are given by the ratios [...]

Models for the analysis of correlated binary data have attracted considerable interest in the last few years. Parameter estimation in such models is based on asymptotic theory, and the small-sample properties of estimators must be studied by simulation. In this article we discuss several flexible methods for simulating random binary sequences with fixed marginal distributions and specified degrees of association between the variables. This last phrase is interpreted in two different ways and simulation methods appropriate to both are described. KEY WORDS: Copula; Generalized estimating equation; Linear programming., 1. INTRODUCTION Correlated binary data arise in studies where some dichotomous outcome is measured repeatedly on the same experimental unit. For example, in longitudinal studies, the outcomes are measured serially [...]

Author(s): Robert D. MacPherson (corresponding author) [1]; David J. Srolovitz (corresponding author) [2] We consider physical systems in which space is divided into cells/grains/bubbles, which we refer to here as [...]

Author(s): David Kinderlehrer [1] Most engineered materials, including metals and ceramics, are polycrystalline -- that is, they are composed of myriad, small, crystalline grains, separated by interfaces or boundaries (Fig. [...]

This paper introduces four alternative representations of a set function: the Mobius transformation, the co-Mobius transformation, and the interactions between elements of any subset of a given set as extensions [...]