Deep linking: an ethical and legal analysis

Deep linking, the practice of linking to a subsidiary page rather than the home page of another organization's Web site, is the subject of considerable controversy. In several recent lawsuits, plaintiffs have alleged violations of copyright, trademark, and commercial laws. I review the legal and ethical issues regarding deep linking and comment on how the ethical conflict between rights and utility motivates the controversy. I conclude that protecting site owners' rights to control deep linking to their sites is a stronger value than enhancing the utility of the Web for users by allowing completely unrestricted deep linking. Finally, I recommend a collection of resources for Web developers interested in staying current with the evolving controversy     

Judging personality from voice quality.

The hypothesis that specific impressions are determined by voice qualities was tested. Specific impressions were defined as ratings on the Potency and Activity factors of the semantic differential. 10 schizophrenics and 11 nonschizophrenics were recorded reading the same passage. Es heard the voices in random order and made (a) semantic-differential ratings and (b) judgments of the readers they perceived as being schizophrenic. 3 of 4 predictions concerning the effect of voice qualities were confirmed. The results indicate the validity of the hypothesis that specific impressions of a speaker's physical characteristics and demeanor are determined by that speaker's voice qualities, and that adjective pairs representing the Potency and Activity factors are sensitive to these differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of nonablative laser energy on the ultrastructure of joint capsular collagen

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of laser energy at nonablative levels on the ultrastructure of joint capsular collagen. The femoropatellar joint capsules of six mature New Zealand white rabbits were harvested immediately after death. Specimens were divided into three treatment groups (5, 10, and 15 watts) and one control group. Laser energy was applied using a holmium: YAG laser. Transmission electron microscopy showed significant ultrastructural alterations in collagenous architecture for all laser treatment groups, with increased fibril cross-sectional diameter for each of the treated groups. The fibrils began to lose their distinct edges and their periodical cross-striations at subsequently higher energy densities. A morphometric analysis showed that each subsequently higher laser energy caused a significant increase in collagen fibril diameter. Ultrastructural alteration of collagen fibril architecture caused by the thermal effect of laser energy is probably the dominant mechanism of laser-induced tissue shrinkage.     

Electrospun polyvinyl alcohol-collagen-hydroxyapatite nanofibers: a biomimetic extracellular matrix for osteoblastic cells

The failure of prosthesis after total joint replacement is due to the lack of early implant osseointegration. In this study polyvinyl alcohol-collagen-hydroxyapatite (PVA-Col-HA) electrospun nanofibrous meshes were fabricated as a biomimetic bone-like extracellular matrix for the modification of orthopedic prosthetic surfaces. In order to reinforce the PVA nanofibers, HA nanorods and Type I collagen were incorporated into the nanofibers. We investigated the morphology, biodegradability, mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the prepared nanofibers. Our results showed these inorganic-organic blended nanofibers to be degradable in vitro. The encapsulated nano-HA and collagen interacted with the PVA content, reinforcing the hydrolytic resistance and mechanical properties of nanofibers that provided longer lasting stability. The encapsulated nano-HA and collagen also enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of murine bone cells (MC3T3) in vitro. We propose the PVA-Col-HA nanofibers might be promising modifying materials on implant surfaces for orthopedic applications.     

The effect of radiofrequency energy on the length and temperature properties of the glenohumeral joint capsule

Two isozymes of mammalian methionine adenosyltransferase, MAT I and MAT III, are expressed solely in adult liver. They are, respectively, tetramers and dimers of a single subunit encoded by the gene MAT1A. A third isozyme, MAT II, contains a catalytic subunit encoded by a separate gene, MAT2A, and is expressed in a variety of tissues, including (to a slight extent) adult liver. Based on a recent finding that 2 children with isolated hypermethioninemia and brain demyelination were homozygous for MAT1A mutations predicted to produce severely truncated proteins, and devoid of activity when expressed, it was concluded that complete lack of MAT I/III activity may be associated with neurological symptoms and demyelination. We now report that a 43-year-old man with persistent isolated hypermethioninemia, previously demonstrated to have deficient MAT activity in his liver, has normal brain myelination on MRI and normal neurological function, despite being homozygous for a 539 TG insertion in exon V of MAT1A, so that the gene is predicted to encode a protein of only 184 rather than the normal 395 amino acids. This patient's exon V mutation was demonstrated by SSCP analysis and verified by sequencing. Both parents are heterozygous for the same insertion. This suggests that MAT1A mutations producing severely truncated proteins do not necessarily produce brain demyelination. This finding has relevance to a previously reported 4-year-old girl who was also homozygous for the 539insTG mutation. Finally, our patient's 7% residual hepatic MAT activity, measured at 1 mM methionine, may reflect the hepatic activity of the more ubiquitous enzyme form, MAT II.     

Effects of 0.05% chlorhexidine lavage on the tarsocrural joints of horses

In six horses, a 0.05% solution of chlorhexidine diacetate was used to lavage one tarsocrural joint; the contralateral control joint was lavaged with lactated Ringer's solution. Horses were evaluated daily for lameness. Synovial fluid samples were collected on days 1, 4, and 8 for determination of protein concentration, total and differential leukocyte counts, and mucin clot formation. After death on day 8, synovium and osteochondral samples were collected from the tarsocrural joints for examination of morphology and proteoglycan staining. Lavage with chlorhexidine solution caused lameness that was reduced but still evident at day 8. Synovial protein concentration was significantly increased by chlorhexidine lavage; the greatest increase occurred on day 1. Joint lavage increased synovial leukocyte counts on day 1, primarily by increasing polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell counts. Although total synovial leukocyte counts returned to normal by day 4, PMN cell counts remained elevated through day 8; PMN cell counts for chlorhexidine-lavaged joints were typically twice that of control joints. Chlorhexidine lavage caused synovial ulceration, inflammation, and abundant fibrin accumulation. Consistent differences in proteoglycan staining were not detected between control and chlorhexidine-lavaged joints. Joint lavage with 0.05% chlorhexidine diacetate, the lowest known bactericidal concentration, is not recommended for equine joints.     

Preparation of (Tl,Bi)(Ba0.4,Sr1.6)Ca2Cu3O9 thick films epitaxially grown on LaAlO3 (100) substrates by a sol-gel process

We report on the preparation of 5 m thick (Tl,Bi)(Ba_0.4,Sr_1.6)Ca₂Cu₃O₉ ((Tl,Bi)-1223) high T_c films by a modified sol-gel (Pechini) process. The process was performed by the preparation of a gel containing the metallic atoms, the coating of the substrates with the gel, the pyrolisis of the gel, and a post annealing process, without an additional thallium oxide vapour source. X-ray diffraction patterns ( – 2 scans) showed that the thick films prepared on LaAlO₃(100) substrates consisted mainly of the (Tl,Bi)-1223 phase, with high c axis orientation, and scans revealed epitaxial film growth. EDX measurements showed a composition in good agreement with the (Tl,Bi)-1223 phase. Superconductivity was reached with T_c values up to 102 K.     

Trefftz approximations in complex media: Accuracy and applications

Approximations by Trefftz functions are rapidly gaining popularity in the numerical solution of boundary value problems of mathematical physics. By definition, these functions satisfy locally, in weak form, the underlying differential equations of the problem, which often results in high-order or even exponential accuracy with respect to the size of the basis set. We highlight two separate examples in applied electromagnetics and photonics: (i) homogenization of periodic structures, and (ii) numerical simulation of electromagnetic waves in slab geometries. Extensive numerical evidence and theoretical considerations show that Trefftz approximations can be applied much more broadly than is traditionally done: they are effective not only in physically homogeneous regions but also in complex inhomogeneous ones. Two mechanisms underlying the high accuracy of Trefftz approximations in such complex cases are pointed out. The first one is related to trigonometric interpolation and the second one – somewhat surprisingly – to well-posedness of random matrices.     

Single-pulse dynamics and flow rates of inertial micropumps

Bubble-driven inertial pumps are a novel method of moving liquids through microchannels. We combine high-speed imaging, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and an effective one-dimensional model to study the fundamentals of inertial pumping. For the first time, single-pulse transient flow through U-shaped microchannels is imaged over the entire pump cycle with 4 \(\upmu\)s temporal resolution. Observations confirm the fundamental N-shaped flow profile predicted earlier by theory and simulations. Experimental flow rates are used to calibrate the CFD and one-dimensional models to extract an effective bubble strength. Then, the frequency dependence of inertial pumping is studied both experimentally and numerically. The pump efficiency is found to gradually decrease once the successive pulses start to overlap in time.     

Automatic device-tailored evaluation of mobile web guidelines

Mobile web guidelines aim at providing developers with guidance to develop web content suitable for mobile devices. Automatic guideline review tools help evaluating conformance with respect to these guidelines in a systematic way. Yet, a number of mobile web guidelines refer to specific device features such as screen size, support for particular picture formats or support for pointing device. Since mobile devices are very diverse, in order to address the greater number of devices, guidelines adopt a device profile that may be considered as the common denominator device which is able to provide a satisfactory experience. While this approach is useful to define guidelines and make them more understandable, it introduces critical inaccuracies that make tool effectiveness decrease. This paper presents an application that considers specific device features in the evaluation process to produce device-tailored reports. As a result, higher rates of evaluation tool completeness, correctness and specificity are obtained.