Holdings about holdings: modeling contradictions in judicial precedent

This paper attempts to formalize the differences between two methods of analysis used by judicial opinions in common law jurisdictions to contradict holdings posited by earlier opinions: “disagreeing” with the holdings of the earlier opinions and “attributing” holdings to the prior opinions. The paper will demonstrate that it is necessary to model both methods of analysis differently to generate an accurate picture of the state of legal authority in hypothetical examples, as well as in an example based on Barry Friedman’s analysis of the “stealth overruling” of Miranda v. Arizona through subsequent judicial interpretations. Because the question of whether “disagreement” and “attribution” need to be modeled separately relates to contradictions rather than to subtler interactions between holdings such as “distinguishing,” it can be answered using the simple technique of modeling holdings as propositional variables and evaluating the holdings using truth tables.     

The out-of-sample problem for classical multidimensional scaling

Out-of-sample embedding techniques insert additional points into previously constructed configurations. An out-of-sample extension of classical multidimensional scaling is presented. The out-of-sample extension is formulated as an unconstrained nonlinear least-squares problem. The objective function is a fourth-order polynomial, easily minimized by standard gradient-based methods for numerical optimization. Two examples are presented.     

On a class of preconditioned iterative methods on parallel computers

The standard implementations of iterative solvers for finite element and finite difference methods frequently use a diagonal (Jacobi) preconditioner, particularly for element-by-element schemes. However, for such methods the actual order of the condition number with respect to mesh size is not reduced by the preconditioner. In the present paper we describe an iterative method where, in addition, the condition number is reduced by an order of magnitude. Moreover, the scheme may also be implemented as an element-by-element method. The method uses a generalized SSOR preconditioner and a wave front or multi-frontal ordering of the mesh nodes. For a general irregular finite element mesh a striped irregular wave front ordering may be used. The performance of the method as well as various iterative acceleration techniques for a parallel computer are examined in the numerical studies.     

Compte rendu du Bilingualité et bilinguisme.

Reviews the book, Bilingualité et bilinguisme by J. F. Hamers and M. Blanc (1983). This book represents the result of a work of great scale, as much by the range of the subjects which are covered as by its multidisciplinary orientation. Hamers and Blanc are right to support that bilingualism must make use of the theoretical and methodological prospects in several disciplines. However, this multidisciplinary approach is not devoted to obtain responses or conclusions of major importance. It rather makes it possible to better include/understand the complex research which must be followed and the importance of several questions that we find throughout the history of research on bilingualism. Hamers and Blanc subdivide the field of bilingualism in ten different sections. Each one of these various sections consists of an in-depth study, complete and conscientious. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Continuously deforming finite elements

A general class of time-dependent co-ordinate transformations is introduced in a variational formulation for evolution problems. The variational problem is posed with respect to both solution and transformation field variables. An approximate analysis using finite elements is developed from the continuous variational form. Modified forms of the variational functional are considered to ensure the deforming mesh is not top irregular. ODE system integrators are utilized to integrate the resulting semidiscrete systems. In Part I we consider the formulation for problems in one spatial dimension and time, including, in particular, convection-dominated flows described by the convection-diffusion, Burgers' and Buckley–Leverett equations. In Part II the extension of the method to two dimensions and supporting numerical experiments are presented.     

Smoothness-constrained quantization for wavelet image compression

Uniform quantization of wavelet coefficients introduces perceptually disturbing artifacts by decreasing the visual smoothness. In this paper, the local Holder regularity is used to quantify these changes in visual smoothness. A modified uniform quantization scheme that constrains local regularity reduction is proposed. The quantizer modification is applicable to any uniform quantization scheme and requires no additional side information to be transmitted to the decoder, unlike standard deadzone quantizers. The reconstructed images show a noticeable perceptual improvement as well as an increased PSNR relative to uniform quantization.     

Measurement of Calcium Activity in Oral Fluids by Ion Selective Electrode: Method Evaluation and Simplified Calculation of Ion Activity Products

The activity of calcium in plaque fluid is needed to calculate the saturation level of that fluid relative to the tooth mineral. One method to determine the calcium activity in very small plaque fluid samples is by micro ion-selective electrode (ISE). Two commercially available calcium ionophores, a neutral-carrier and a charged-carrier, were evaluated in micro ISEs and compared to a commercially available macro ISE using saliva as a model for plaque fluid. The neutral-carrier containing ISEs gave results consistent with those of the macro ISE. Calcium activity measurements made with micro ISEs that contained the neutral ion-carrier of whole plaque samples and plaque fluid samples obtained by centrifugation of whole plaque showed that the activities did not change due to centrifugation. Estimates of the saturation with respect to hydroxyapatite were made from these measurements. A simplified calculation method is presented to estimate the ion activity product (IAP) of the calcium-phosphate minerals. The method is based on the relative abundance of some of the possible calcium-binding species and a fixed ionic strength for plaque fluid. Calculations show that within a normal pH range for plaque fluid (5.0 to 7.5) the differences in the IAP calculations for hydroxyapatite using the simplified method are less than those estimated from propagation of uncertainty calculations.     

Approximation of Cahn–Hilliard diffuse interface models using parallel adaptive mesh refinement and coarsening with C1 elements

A variational formulation and C¹ finite element scheme with adaptive mesh refinement and coarsening are developed for phase‐separation processes described by the Cahn–Hilliard diffuse interface model of transport in a mixture or alloy. The adaptive scheme is guided by a Laplacian jump indicator based on the corresponding term arising from the weak formulation of the fourth‐order non‐linear problem, and is implemented in a parallel solution framework. It is then applied to resolve complex evolving interfacial solution behavior for 2D and 3D simulations of the classic spinodal decomposition problem from a random initial mixture and to other phase‐transformation applications of interest. Simulation results and adaptive performance are discussed. The scheme permits efficient, robust multiscale resolution and interface characterization. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conditioned aversive responses in cancer chemotherapy patients: Theoretical and developmental analysis.

Reviews the literature on conditioned responses to cancer chemotherapy and examines the etiology, prevalence, and development of such responses. Studies on anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) are considered in relation to the hypothesis that they develop through a respondent learning process, and an extension of this hypothesis is outlined that includes a moderating role of anxiety in the conditioning process. Factors associated with ANV include characteristics of treatment and individual factors such as an inhibitive coping style, taste and odor sensations during treatment, age and marital status, and degree of posttreatment nausea. It is concluded that research in this area of psychosocial oncology is entering a critical phase of development that will require more systematic, integrative, and theory-based approaches for continued advancement. (41 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anxiety as a predictor of behavioral therapy outcome for cancer chemotherapy patients.

Studied whether baseline anxiety levels are predictive of outcome on treatments designed to reduce the negative affect and conditioned nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy. 72 18–79 yr old patients classified as having low, moderate, or high anxiety received progressive muscle relaxation training, electromyograph (EMGH) biofeedback, and/or skin temperature biofeedback. Physiological, multiple affect adjective checklist, and postchemotherapy ratings were obtained during baseline, training, and follow-up sessions. Compared with moderate- and high-anxiety Ss, low-anxiety Ss reported less anxiety and depression before behavioral training but nonetheless exhibited significantly greater reductions in anxiety, depression, and diastolic blood pressure as a result of training. Baseline anxiety levels were not related to reduced nausea. Overall, these data suggest that cancer patients who have higher baseline levels of anxiety and who are perhaps most in need of an effective behavioral treatment may be the least likely to benefit from behavioral treatments aimed at reducing the distress associated with chemotherapy. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)