cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binge Watching during COVID-19: Associations with Stress and Body Weight

Binge watching is becoming increasingly common and may impact energy balance and body weight. The COVID-19 pandemic has created conditions conducive to binge watching and increased stress. We investigated relationships between COVID-related stress and binge watching behaviors, and potential variation in this relationship by body weight. Adults (n = 466) completed a cross-sectional online survey assessing binge watching behaviors during and before the pandemic, COVID-related stress, and body weight. Participants reported an increase in binge watching frequency from before to during the pandemic (F1,401 = 99.970, p < 0.001), with rates of high binge watching ("3-4 times per week" to "3 or more times per day") increasing from 14.6% to 33.0%. Binge watching episode duration increased from 3.26 ± 1.89 h to 3.92 ± 2.08 h (p < 0.001). The increase in binge watching frequency was greatest in individuals with obesity and high stress (F 4,401 = 4.098, p = 0.003). Participants reporting high stress reported higher frequency of eating while binge watching, as well as higher levels of negative emotional triggers, consequences to binge watching, and lack of control over binge watching (all p < 0.001). Our results show that binge watching increased during the pandemic, with greater increases among individuals reporting higher COVID-related stress, especially those with obesity, and concomitant effects on eating, and highlight a need for interventions to minimize the obesogenic impact of binge watching during the pandemic.
Introduction: Some Concepts and Definitions

Argumentation takes place whenever reasons are offered to support some statement. Thus when Galileo asserted the statement that the earth moves and offered reasons or evidence supporting this statement, he engaged in argumentation. Likewise, when a Delegate to the United Nations presents a proposal to the Assembly and proceeds to present considerations which, he hopes, will make the proposal plausible to his fellow delegates, he is engaged in argumentation. When a college student questions the grade given on work he has submitted and attempts to convince his teacher that it should be raised by giving reasons, he is engaged in argumentation. When the scientist, or the Delegate, or the student engage in argumentation they do so by offering a statement or series of statements which, they believe, support or ground the statement for which they are arguing.
Relationship Marketing and Services Advertising

This study was undertaken to investigate whether, and how, service providers communicate marketing relationships through an analysis of service advertisements. Results show that high contact firms are more likely to emphasize relationships by using customers or both customers and employees in their advertisements. Additionally, services involved in discrete transactions are also more likely to emphasize relationships in their advertisements.
A Survey of Hardware Implementations of RSA

Today, a dozen years after the discovery of the RSA encryption algorithm [12], there are many chips available for performing RSA encryption [1] [3] [4] [5] [8] [9] [13] [15]. The purpose of this paper is to briefly describe some of the different compu- tational algorithms that have been used in the chip designs and to provide a list of all of the currently available chips. In this abstract, we will simply mention some of these computational algorithms and give references. The full paper will contain more details of these algorithms and will appear in a book on survey articles in Cryptology which is being edited by Gus Simmons and will be published by IEEE in 1990.
Just say "no!" to lethal autonomous robotic weapons

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the question of equipping fully autonomous robotic weapons with the capacity to kill. Current ideas concerning the feasibility and advisability of developing and deploying such weapons, including the proposal that they be equipped with a so-called “ethical governor”, are reviewed and critiqued. The perspective adopted for this study includes software engineering practice as well as ethical and legal aspects of the use of lethal autonomous robotic weapons. Design/methodology/approach – In the paper, the author survey and critique the applicable literature. Findings – In the current paper, the author argue that fully autonomous robotic weapons with the capacity to kill should neither be developed nor deployed, that research directed toward equipping such weapons with a so-called “ethical governor” is immoral and serves as an “ethical smoke-screen” to legitimize research and development of these weapons and that, as an ethical duty, engineers and scientists should condemn and refuse to participate in their development. Originality/value – This is a new approach to the argument for banning autonomous lethal robotic weapons based on classical work of Joseph Weizenbaum, Helen Nissenbaum and others.
Delinking International Environmental Law and Climate Change

This Article challenges the existing paradigm in international law that frames global efforts to address climate change as a problem of and for international environmental law. The most recent climate reports tell us that warming is unequivocal and that we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change at the domestic level in the United States. Against this backdrop, much has been written recently in the United States about domestic efforts to address climate change. These efforts are important, but they leave open the question of how the global community can work together to address the greatest collective action problem of our time. Focusing on international efforts to address climate change, this Article pushes back against the dominant framing of global climate change as a problem of and for international environmental law. It argues that the static nature of the existing global paradigm brings about two primary harms. First, the failure to address climate change overshadows the larger field of international environmental law in a way that inhibits efforts to address a suite of persistent environmental problems beyond climate change. Second, framing climate change as a traditional environmental law problem constrains efforts to think more creatively about how to address a problem that defies classification as an environ- mental issue and demands innovative governance approaches. In making the legal case for delinking the debates about international environmental law and global climate change, this Article argues that challenging the existing global paradigm is critical to thinking more constructively about collective action in the climate context.
THE ROLE OF THE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT IN SMALL BUSINESS

ABSTRACT This article examines the role of the consultant to small business. The results of a mail survey to wholesalers and manufacturers were analyzed. It was found that most businessmen had not used the services of an independent management consultant. Businessmen are most likely to turn to accountants for advice. Bankers and lawyers are also used. Recommendations are made for raising the profile of the management consultant.
Detection of image splicing based on hilbert-huang transform and moments of characteristic functions with wavelet decomposition

Image splicing is a commonly used technique in image tampering. This paper presents a novel approach to passive detection of image splicing. In the proposed scheme, the image splicing detection problem is tackled as a twoclass classification problem under the pattern recognition framework. Considering the high non-linearity and non-stationarity nature of image splicing operation, a recently developed Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) is utilized to generate features for classification. Furthermore, a well established statistical natural image model based on moments of characteristic functions with wavelet decomposition is employed to distinguish the spliced images from the authentic images. We use support vector machine (SVM) as the classifier. The initial experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms the prior arts.
Optical Spectroscopy of Red Giants

Accomplishments and problems in the study of mass loss from cool stars in the optical spectrum are reviewed. Accurate mass loss rates remain elusive principally because of inadequate knowledge of density, velocity and ionization structure in the circumstellar shells. Improved rates may be expected from binary star systems. Empirical rates derived for stars in globular clusters are found to be of doubtful validity. It is shown that optical observations can furnish important clues to the understanding of mass loss mechanisms.
IDIOPATHIC HYPOALBUMINEMIAS: CLINICAL STAFF CONFERENCE AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

Excerpt Dr. Robert S. Gordon, Jr.: I should like to begin this discussion on hypoalbuminemia by showing an illustrative case (figure 1). This two year old child was the product of an apparently nor...
S-NETS: Smart Sensor Networks

The utilization of nonmobile, distributed sensor and communication devices by a team of mobile robots offers performance advantages in terms of speed, energy, robustness and communication requirements. Models of mobile robots with on-board sensors, a communication protocol and the S-Net system are established. Algorithms are defined for the S-Net which perform cooperative computation and provide information about the environment. Behaviors include robots going to or surrounding a temperature source. The simulation experiments show that the S-Net performs well, and is particularly robust with respect to noise in the environment. System cost versus performance is studied, and guidelines are formulated for which the S-Net system out-performs the non-S-Net system.
Dynamic design of gas sorption J-T refrigerator

A long-life Joule-Thomson refrigerator which is heat powered, involves no sealing, and has few mechanical parts is desirable for long-term sensor cooling in space. In the gas-sorption J-T refrigerator, cooling is achieved by gas sorption (either adsorption or absorption) processes. Currently, a modular, single-stage refrigerator is being designed and built to be operated at 20 K. The design was analyzed using a dynamic model, which is described here. The model includes the kinetics of the compressors and the heat switches, the heat transfer of the pre-coolers and the heat exchangers, the on/off ratio of the check valves, and the impedance of the J-T valve. The cooling power, the cycle time, and the operating conditions were obtained in terms of the power input, the heat sink temperature, and the J-T impedance.
Geographic analysis of individual and environmental risk factors for hypospadias births

Background Hypospadias is a relatively common birth defect affecting the male urinary tract. We explored the etiology of hypospadias by examining its spatial distribution in North Carolina and the spatial clustering of residuals from individual and environmental risk factors. Methods We used data collected by the North Carolina Birth Defects Monitoring Program from 2003 to 2005 to estimate local Moran's I statistics to identify geographic clustering of overall and severe hypospadias, using 995 overall cases and 16,013 controls. We conducted logistic regression and local Moran's I statistics on standardized residuals to consider the contribution of individual variables (maternal age, maternal race/ethnicity, maternal education, smoking, parity, and diabetes) and environmental variables (block group land cover) to this clustering. Results Local Moran's I statistics indicated significant clustering of overall and severe hypospadias in eastern central North Carolina. Spatial clustering of hypospadias persisted when controlling for individual factors, but diminished somewhat when controlling for environmental factors. In adjusted models, maternal residence in a block group with more than 5% crop cover was associated with overall hypospadias (odds ratio = 1.22; 95% confidence interval = 1.04–1.43); that is living in a block group with greater than 5% crop cover was associated with a 22% increase in the odds of having a baby with hypospadias. Land cover was not associated with severe hypospadias. Conclusion This study illustrates the potential contribution of mapping in generating hypotheses about disease etiology. Results suggest that environmental factors including proximity to agriculture may play some role in the spatial distribution of hypospadias. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:887–894, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A New Approach in Measuring Local Migration and Population

This paper presents a new model for measuring local migration and population and report results of a promising pilot application to Massachusetts. This model operationalizes Ravenstein’s classic “push-pull” paradigm, which posits that local migration is determined by the area’s relative attractiveness or a compound function of distinct factors that push migrants out of the area or pull them in. The attraction factors and changes are measured using varied data sources, including decennial census migration flow data and data on group quarters and school enrollments. This model yields timely population estimates with accuracy superior to the corresponding estimates based on the Census Bureau’s methodology. Such results warrant further applications to test and refine this promising approach.
A Structural Study of Electrodeposited Fe on n-GaAs ( 001 )

The microstructure of Fe films electrodeposited onto n-GaAs(001) from FeCl 2 and FeSO 4 -(NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 electrolytes was examined by X-ray and electron diffraction. Symmetrical θ-2θ X-Ray diffraction from films deposited from chloride solutions indicates a dominant (001) texture with the presence of additional minority orientations. In contrast, deposition from an ammonium sulfate electrolyte yields films that only exhibit (001) scattering in the θ-2θ geometry. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) cross-sectional images of films grown in chloride solutions reveal intermittent cube-on-cube epitaxy that is also evident in plan view TEM dark field images. Interestingly, X-ray pole figure measurements for all specimens examined reveal an additional (221) orientation that is undetectable by symmetric θ-2θ diffraction. The (221) oriented material most likely derives from twinning of (001) oriented grains during growth.
Lime stabilized sludge treatment of acid soils relative to soil acidity minimums for sludge application

Abstract Lime stabilized sludge (LSS) from wastewater treatment plants contains lime, which may neutralize soil acidity, and P, an essential plant nutrient. Guidelines for use of land application of secondary sludges call for the soil pH to be at 6.5 or above prior to application. This greenhouse study was initiated to determine the effects of placement of LSS from two sources on soil and plant parameters of three test species grown on two soils each limed and unlimed. Test crops were radish (Raphanus sativus L), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shred), and red clover (Trifollum pratense L.). An objective was to determine the need for a pH ≥ 6.5 prior to application of LSS. Aliquots of two acid soils were limed and left unlimed. The soils were potted after receiving the equivalent of 57,000 kg ha‐1 of either dairy or municipal LSS placed in the 2,500 g of potted soil. One crop of radish and two cuttings of the forages were taken. Placement did not affect dry matter yields but the municipal sludge treated ...
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) distribution in human tissue with magnetic resonance

This paper estimates the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in various types of human tissue, exposed to electromagnetic field induced by wireless powering system based on strongly coupled magnetic resonance (SCMR). Simulations are carried out in Ansoft HFSS at various distances between the source and embedded resonator, to estimate the amount of electromagnetic EM energy absorbed by these tissue due to operation of an SCMR system.
Commentary from the American Accounting Association's 2011 Annual Meeting Panel on Emerging Issues in Fraud Research

A t one of the forensic and investigative accounting panels at the American Accounting Association’s 2011 Annual meeting, panelists discussed some of the common misconceptions about fraud, the dearth of articles related to fraud examination and forensic accounting published in the mainstream accounting journals, and the many opportunities for future research in these areas. They also discussed the publication process as it relates to articles on fraud examination and forensic accounting topics. This article summarizes their discussion, and also draws upon some of the relevant published literature to highlight some of the fraud topics that are still largely unexplored and thus ripe for academic research. An emerging area of research is in the fraud and forensic accounting area. As a result of increased interest in fraud and forensic topics, journals (both new and old) are interested in manuscripts. The purpose of this paper is to (1) critically evaluate the state of current fraud research and provide guidance for future researchers, and (2) examine the publication process for both practitioner and scholarly journals from both an editorial and topical perspective. For readers who may be unfamiliar with the difference between forensic accounting and fraud examination, forensic accounting is a broader term that involves using accounting for investigative or other legal applications, such as corporate acquisition, divorce proceedings, insurance settlement, or other legal purposes. Joe Wells (2003) defines forensic accounting as work done by accountants
Heat transfer research on gas turbine airfoils at NASA GRC

Abstract The turbine gas path is a very complex flow field due to a variety of flow and heat transfer phenomena encountered in turbine passages. This manuscript provides an overview of the current work in this field at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). Based on the author's preference, however, more emphasis is on the computational work. There is much more experimental work in progress at GRC than that reported here. Specifically, the external flow and heat transfer characteristics are described over smooth and rough turbine blades for a range of parameter values. For smooth blades, the effect of film-cooling holes as well as internal cooling channels with ribs and bleed holes is considered. Studies on the blade tip region, susceptible to burnout and oxidation due to high thermal loading, are also described. Wherever possible, predictions of heat transfer coefficient on the real blade surface, obtained using in-house-developed codes, are compared with the available experimental data. Suggestions for further work are outlined.
Osteoprotegerin production by human osteoblast lineage cells is stimulated by vitamin D, bone morphogenetic protein-2, and cytokines.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a newly discovered member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, is a potent inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis. The overexpression of OPG in transgenic mice leads to osteopetrosis, whereas targeted ablation of OPG in knock-out mice leads to severe osteoporosis. However, the production and regulation of OPG in normal human bone has not been studied. Thus, we assessed OPG mRNA expression and protein secretion in human osteoblastic lineage cells. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3(10-7M) increased OPG mRNA levels by 90 and 50% in a fetal osteoblastic cell line (hFOB) and normal trabecular osteoblastic cells (hOB) cells, respectively, but did not affect OPG mRNA levels in a marrow stromal preosteoblastic (hMS) cell line. Interleukin (IL)-1β (5 x 10-9M), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (9 x 10-9M), and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 (100 ng/ml) also increased OPG mRNA levels in hFOB cells by 4-, 6-, and 4-fold, respectively. Treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, IL-1β, TNF-α, and BMP-2 increased OPG protein production by hFOB cells by 60, 390, 300, and 80%, respectively (P< 0.001). Because it is expressed in various types of human osteoblastic cells, and is stimulated by vitamin D, BMP-2 and cytokines, OPG may be an important paracrine modulator of bone remodeling.
Anti-OxLDL IgG blocks OxLDL interaction with CD36, but promotes FcγR, CD32A-dependent inflammatory cell adhesion

Generation of antibodies against oxidized-low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) during atherosclerosis could result in the formation and deposition of oxLDL immune complexes (oxLDL-IC) on the vascular endothelial cells. Inflammatory cells express scavenger receptor (SR such as CD36) and Fcgamma receptor (FcγR: CD32A and CD64) that can bind to oxLDL and oxLDL-IC, respectively. Hence, depending on anti-oxLDL IgG titer, circulating monocytes could adhere to endothelium to oxLDL-IC-coated vascular bed via either FcγR and/or CD36. In this study, we determined the relative contribution of SR and FcγR in mediating monocyte interaction with oxLDL-IC deposited on vascular bed. At saturating levels of anti-oxLDL IgG concentration, monocytic cells adhered to oxLDL-IC and this adhesion is completely blocked by anti-CD32A mAb. Using CHOK1-CD32A-CD36 cells expressing equal levels of CD32A and CD36, it was observed that at lower concentrations of anti-oxLDL IgG, CD32A and CD36 contribute about 75% and 25% of cell adhesion, respectively, while at higher concentrations of anti-oxLDL IgG the adhesion is completely CD32A-dependent. CD32A-dependent adhesion was further confirmed with peripheral blood monocytes and platelets that express 2- to 5-fold higher levels of CD36 compared to CD32A. Further, PBMC adhesion to oxLDL-IC-deposited endothelial cells induced secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines, MCP-1 and IL-8. Our results demonstrate that anti-oxLDL IgG blocks oxLDL interaction with SR such as CD36, whereas oxLDL-IC formation promotes monocyte adhesion and subsequent chemokine release through FcγR. These findings suggest a role for FcγR-mediated inflammatory cell activation in the progression of atherosclerosis.
Left Ventricular Stress and Compliance in Man With Special Reference to Normalized Ventricular Function Curves

Left ventricular circumferential end-diastolic stress (Sed), peak systolic stress (Sps), and compliance at end-diastole ([dV/VdP]ed) were estimated in 13 subjects with normal left ventricles (N group), nine subjects with inappropriate hypertrophy (IH group), five with aortic valvular stenosis (AS group), and six with congestive cardiomyopathy (CC group). The product of Sed and (dV/dP)ed was employed as an index of "muscle fiber stretch" and related to systolic indices of ventricular performance. Compliance was significantly less than normal in IH (P < 0.001), in AS (P < 0.01), and in CC (P < 0.001), while end-diastolic volumes were smaller than normal (P < 0.05), normal (P = ns), and larger than normal (P < 0.001) in the three groups, respectively. Sed was normal in IH and AS but elevated in CC (P < 0.001), while Sps was decreased in IH and normal in AS and CC. "Muscle fiber stretch," however, was substantially less than normal in IH (P < 0.001), indicating that the low Sps is due at least in part to shor...
Disruption tolerant chat

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a critical application in military networks for maintaining situational awareness and conducting battle management at all echelons. But these networks are often subject to frequent disconnections, limited bandwidth, and long delays, especially when using satellite services and field radios. Such conditions are inhospitable to TCP, and thus the standard IRC protocol, which uses TCP for transport. In this work, we have applied the emerging Delay Tolerant Networking architecture to IRC to assist operations in challenged networks. Using the Delay Tolerant Networking Research Grouppsilas (DTNRG) Reference Implementation of the Bundle Protocol, we have developed a transparent proxy for server-to-server IRC connections that encapsulates IRC messages over Bundles and performs application-specific services useful in disruption-prone conditions.
Numerical Simulation of Mesoscale Circulations in a Region of Contrasting Soil Types

Mesoscale processes that form due to changes in surface characteristics play a dominant role in the development of the planetary boundary layer structure and the formation of convection. In this study, effects of the Sandhills region of North and South Carolina on mesoscale processes are examined. Climatological analyses indicate increased convective precipitation in this location as compared to the surrounding region. This is believed to be due to enhanced convection induced by horizontal heat flux gradients caused by sharp changes in soil type and hence the heat capacity of the soil. Simulations using a non-hydrostatic mesoscale model (MM5 version 3.3) were made for a non-precipitation case with a 5-km resolution domain centered over the Carolinas from August 15, 2000 to August 18, 2000. The results showed the existence of a mesoscale circulation over the Sandhills region. Differential heating induced by contrasting soil types dividing the Coastal Plain from the central Piedmont causes this circulation. Sea-breeze circulation often combines with the Sandhills circulation to initiate convection in this region. Diurnal variations are handled well by the model indicating that the thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere is well simulated.
Occupancy by key transcription factors is a more accurate predictor of enhancer activity than histone modifications or chromatin accessibility

Regulated gene expression controls organismal development, and variation in regulatory patterns has been implicated in complex traits. Thus accurate prediction of enhancers is important for further understanding of these processes. Genome-wide measurement of epigenetic features, such as histone modifications and occupancy by transcription factors, is improving enhancer predictions, but the contribution of these features to prediction accuracy is not known. Given the importance of the hematopoietic transcription factor TAL1 for erythroid gene activation, we predicted candidate enhancers based on genomic occupancy by TAL1 and measured their activity. Contributions of multiple features to enhancer prediction were evaluated based on the results of these and other studies. TAL1-bound DNA segments were active enhancers at a high rate both in transient transfections of cultured cells (39 of 79, or 56%) and transgenic mice (43 of 66, or 65%). The level of binding signal for TAL1 or GATA1 did not help distinguish TAL1-bound DNA segments as active versus inactive enhancers, nor did the density of regulation-related histone modifications. A meta-analysis of results from this and other studies (273 tested predicted enhancers) showed that the presence of TAL1, GATA1, EP300, SMAD1, H3K4 methylation, H3K27ac, and CAGE tags at DNase hypersensitive sites gave the most accurate predictors of enhancer activity, with a success rate over 80% and a median threefold increase in activity. Chromatin accessibility assays and the histone modifications H3K4me1 and H3K27ac were sensitive for finding enhancers, but they have high false positive rates unless transcription factor occupancy is also included. Occupancy by key transcription factors such as TAL1, GATA1, SMAD1, and EP300, along with evidence of transcription, improves the accuracy of enhancer predictions based on epigenetic features.
Developing Mobile Based Instruction

This paper describes an instructional design class’s experience developing instruction for the mobile web. The class was taught at a southeastern university in the United States in a master’s level computer based instruction course. Two example projects are showcased and student reflections on design issues are highlighted. Additionally, challenges and lessons learned from this experience are described. This case study will benefit those who are considering teaching a course on designing mobile learning; also to those who are considering developing mobile instructional websites.
HIV-1 Gag Associates with Specific Uropod-Directed Microdomains in a Manner Dependent on Its MA Highly Basic Region

In polarized T cells, HIV-1 Gag localizes to a rear-end protrusion known as the uropod in a multimerization-dependent manner. Gag-laden uropods participate in formation of virological synapses, intercellular contact structures that play a key role in cell-to-cell HIV-1 transmission. Our previous observations suggest that Gag associates with uropod-directed microdomains (UDMs) that eventually comigrate with Gag to the uropod over the cell surface. However, the nature of Gag multimerization required for this movement, the composition of the UDMs, and the molecular determinants for Gag association with these microdomains remain unknown. In this study, we found that Gag multimerization prior to budding but beyond dimerization is necessary for Gag localization to the uropods, indicating that uropod localization occurs early in the assembly process. We also found that prior to membrane curvature, Gag multimers associate with a specific subset of UDMs containing PSGL-1, CD43, and CD44 but not ICAM-1, ICAM-3, or CD59. Notably, upon association, Gag excludes ICAM-3 from this subset of UDMs, revealing an active and selective reorganization of these microdomains by Gag. This specific association between Gag and UDMs is dependent on the highly basic region (HBR) in the Gag matrix (MA) domain. The overall positive charge of the HBR was needed for the interaction with the specific UDM subset, while the exact HBR sequence was not, unlike that seen for MA binding to the plasma membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2]. Taken together, these findings revealed that HIV-1 Gag associates with specific microdomains present in polarized T cells in an MA-dependent manner, which results in modification of the microdomain constituents.
The all pervading nanosensors

Nanosensors are central to many exciting developments in nanotechnology research. Following more than a decade of research, the applications of nanoscale sensors are progressively becoming a technological issue more than a field of fundamental research. With a sharp rise of attention in the past 15 years on self-organised zero or one dimensional nanostructures based on synthetic 'bottom-up' techniques, researchers have proposed and demonstrated innovative nanosensors that could not have been realised through the transformative 'top-down' techniques. Several recently reported massively parallel 'bottom-up' techniques offer the potential for high-density integration of nanosensors beyond the capability of conventional technologies with a small fraction of the present-day fabrication cost. A tremendous synergy can be attained by integrating nanosensors based on plasmonics, electronics, photonics and conventional sensors on the same chip and exploiting the advantages of each technology. This special issue offers a timely overview of the nanosensor field and covers the latest developments on various self-organised nano-structures, special structural characterisation, physical properties, current trends and future directions in nanoscale sensors, their devices and circuit integration.
Influence of centrifugal pathways on forward masking of ventral cochlear nucleus neurons

When responses to one part of a sequence of auditory signals reduce the responses to a subsequent portion of the signal, “forward masking” results. Although forward masking occurs in the auditory nerve, that observed in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) more closely resembles psychophysical forward masking. In contrast to the auditory nerve in which the amount of forward masking is proportional to the amount of excitation produced by the masker, most VCN neurons show a poor correlation between forward masking and excitation produced by the masker, indicating a more complex interaction between responses to adjacent signals. This study tested the hypothesis that one component of forward masking is produced by inputs from centrifugal neural connections to the VCN. The centrifugal pathways were interrupted with knife-cut lesions medial to the CN. Responses of single units obtained 60 minutes after the lesions were compared to those obtained before the lesions. In primarylike, sustained chopper and on units the lesions resulted in a reduction in forward masking and enhanced recovery. In contrast, lesions resulted in increased masking in primarylike-notch and low-intensity chopper units. The relationship between masker-elicited excitation and forward masking became more monotonic for transient choppers and on units, approaching that observed for auditory nerve fibers. These effects are probably the result of removal of both inhibitory and excitatory inputs, ultimately reflecting a balance of excitation and inhibition to each neural population in the VCN.
The California Verbal Learning Test: Psychometric characteristics and clinical application

The California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) is a popular clinical and research test that claims to measure key constructs in cogntive psychology such as repetition learning, serial position effects, semantic organization, intrusion, and proactive inteference. The psychometric characteristics of the CVLT are reviewed and related to the test's clinical utility. The utility of the CVLT is shown to be limited by its poor standardization and inlated norms. Further, the validity is limited because the CVLT uses multiple trials whereas the constructs it purports to the CVLT and guidelines for its clinical use. It concludes that if the limitations of the CVLT are recognized, it can still make a usefull contribution to the clinical assessment of verbal learning and memory.
From judges to collaborators: Evaluators' roles in science curriculum reform

Radical changes in the ways science is presented and taught in classrooms are transforming how the science curriculum must be evaluated. These new evaluation strategies, responsive to a program's needs, may require that both internal and external evaluators assume roles more consistent with curriculum developers than curriculum judges.
A Regression-Based Linear Classification Procedure

A linear regression function is developed for use in a classification procedure. The regression function is chosen to minimize the number of misclassifications and, secondarily, to minimize the sum of absolute residuals. In situations where the categories of classification correspond to ranges of values of a criterion variable in one dimension, this linear classification function is easier to interpret than classical discriminant functions. The procedure is applied to faculty merit review data, resulting in an interpretable regression function and within-sample classifications as good as a four-function discriminant analysis.
Investor Perceptions of Financial Misconduct: The Heterogeneous Contamination of Bystander Firms

We suggest that, when one firm reveals financial misconduct, others in the industry suffer lower valuations, but do so heterogeneously. To understand this heterogeneity, we conceptualize such contamination as a generalization-instantiation process: investors generalize the culpability to the industry category and perceive the instantiation of generalized culpability within the industry bystander firms. This theoretical separation allows us to hypothesize the factors that affect the degree to which both of these elements of the contamination process occurs. Specifically, we predict that characteristics of the misconduct firm or event--factors that lend to investors' familiarity with the misconduct firms, or that prompt attributions of blame for the misconduct--affect the potency of the generalization of culpability to the industry, while characteristics of the industry bystander firms--investors' familiarity with such firms, or factors that lend to investors' perceptions that they have strong governance--affect the firms' vulnerability to being perceived as instantiating the generalized culpability. We tested our hypotheses on a sample of 725 firms across 84 financial misconduct events, and the results of our event analyses broadly support our predictions. Our study thus has implications for future research on the social view of financial markets, organizational misconduct, and corporate governance
Acoustic trauma triggers upregulation of serotonin receptor genes

Hearing loss induces plasticity in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter systems in auditory brain regions. Excitatory-inhibitory balance is also influenced by a range of neuromodulatory regulatory systems, but less is known about the effects of auditory damage on these networks. In this work, we studied the effects of acoustic trauma on neuromodulatory plasticity in the auditory midbrain of CBA/J mice. Quantitative PCR was used to measure the expression of serotonergic and GABAergic receptor genes in the inferior colliculus (IC) of mice that were unmanipulated, sham controls with no hearing loss, and experimental individuals with hearing loss induced by exposure to a 116 dB, 10 kHz pure tone for 3 h. Acoustic trauma induced substantial hearing loss that was accompanied by selective upregulation of two serotonin receptor genes in the IC. The Htr1B receptor gene was upregulated tenfold following trauma relative to shams, while the Htr1A gene was upregulated threefold. In contrast, no plasticity in serotonin receptor gene expression was found in the hippocampus, a region also innervated by serotonergic projections. Analyses in the IC demonstrated that acoustic trauma also changed the coexpression of genes in relation to each other, leading to an overexpression of Htr1B compared to other genes. These data suggest that acoustic trauma induces serotonergic plasticity in the auditory system, and that this plasticity may involve comodulation of functionally-linked receptor genes.
Insulin secretion is inhibited by subtype five somatostatin receptor in the mouse

Abstract Background: Recently five somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTRs) were cloned, allowing the development of highly specific agonists to these SSTRs. Previous studies have shown a species specificity phenomenon with respect to the inhibition of insulin secretion by these selective agonists. This study was undertaken to determine which SSTR (2 or 5) is responsible for the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on glucose-stimulated mouse insulin secretion. Methods: Intact mouse islets (n = 10) were stimulated with D-glucose in the presence or absence of receptor-specific somatostatin agonists. Results: D-glucose (16.7 mmol/L) augmented insulin secretion by 158% above that seen with 3.9 mmol/L D-glucose. In the presence of DC 32-92 (SSTR5) selective agonist, D-glucose (16.7 mmol/L) augmented insulin secretion by 64% above that seen with 3.9 mmol/L D-glucose. The presence of SSTR 5 selective agonist resulted in a significant (P
The case for structured programming

This report is mainly a response to a paper by Henderson and Snowdon, “An Experiment in Structured Programming”. The notions of structured programming, top-down programming, and stepwise refinement are compared, and some careful guidelines for the proper use of structured programming approaches are suggested.
Perceptions of patient candidacy for kidney transplant in the United States: a qualitative study comparing rural and urban nephrologists.

Objectives To explore different perceptions of urban and rural nephrologists regarding patient suitability for transplant. Materials and methods We conducted 4 focus groups, each consisting of 4 to 6 nephrologists practicing in either a rural (n=9) or an urban setting (n=11). A topic guide was developed and modified according to pilot testing. Broadly stated, open ended queries probed perceptions about the ideal or suboptimal candidates for transplant, perceived barriers to transplant, views regarding providing information to patients, and strategies that could improve transplant rates. At the sessions, all audio was recorded and professionally transcribed. Responses were pooled, de-identified, and analyzed using qualitative thematic content analysis. Results In considering candidacy, urban participants mentioned "age, " "compliance, " and "functional status "; "support " was a more-prevalent theme among rural nephrologists. Urban physicians discussed the expected effect of a transplant on a subject 's quality of life. As barriers to transplant, "evaluation time " was mentioned by urban groups only, and "distance to transplant center " was suggested by rural nephrologists only. To improve transplant rates, urban nephrologists suggested strategies that would increase the donor pool. Rural nephrologists, on the other hand, suggested a collaboration between nephrologists and the transplant center, "limiting listing eligibility " and "financial assistance. " Rural nephrologists suggested providing comparisons of modalities and information about selecting subjects. Conclusions This qualitative study underscores geographic differences in perceptions of nephrologists regarding patient candidacy for kidney transplant, perceived barriers to kidney transplant, and proposed strategies to increase rates of kidney transplant. These differences are potential contributors to geographic variations in referring patients for kidney transplant.
Prognostic Value of Automatically Detected Early Repolarization

Early repolarization associated with sudden cardiac death is based on the presence of >1-mm J-point elevations in inferior and/or lateral leads with horizontal and/or downsloping ST segments. Automated electrocardiographic readings of early repolarization (AER) obtained in clinical practice, in contrast, are defined by ST-segment elevation in addition to J-point elevation. Nonetheless, such automated readings may cause alarm. We therefore assessed the prevalence and prognostic significance of AER in 211,920 patients aged 18 to 75 years. The study was performed at a tertiary medical center serving a racially diverse urban population with a large proportion of Hispanics (43%). The first recorded electrocardiogram of each individual from 2000 to 2012 was included. Patients with ventricular paced rhythm or acute coronary syndrome at the time of acquisition were excluded from the analysis. All automated electrocardiographic interpretations were reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified cardiologist. The primary end point was death during a median follow-up of 8.0 ± 2.6 years. AER was present in 3,450 subjects (1.6%). The prevalence varied significantly with race (African-Americans 2.2%, Hispanics 1.5%, and non-Hispanic whites 0.9%, p <0.01) and gender (male 2.4% vs female 0.6%, p <0.001). In a Cox proportional hazards model controlling for age, smoking status, heart rate, QTc, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, and coronary artery disease, there was no significant difference in mortality regardless of race or gender (relative risk 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.89 to 1.07). This was true even if J waves were present. In conclusion, AER was not associated with an increased risk of death, regardless of race or gender, and should not trigger additional diagnostic testing.
Rapid assembly of synthetic genes encoding protein polymers

A general method is described for the rapid assembly of synthetic genes encoding protein polymers based on the Seamless cloning technique. Genes encoding repeats of the elastin-mimetic polypeptides...
Single-unit recording in the ventral cochlear nucleus of behaving cats.

A method is described for single-unit recording in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) of behaving cats. Five cats were implanted with titanium head-restraint devices and acetal plastic recording chambers. The recording chamber directed microelectrodes through the cerebellum and into the VCN. Electrophysiological recordings were obtained from isolated VCN units while the cats engaged in an auditory discrimination task. The task required the cats to discriminate changes in the temporal pattern of a series of tone or noise bursts. Cats initiated the testing sequence by depressing a lever, and obtained food by releasing the lever when the pattern of stimuli changed from one 200-ms burst/s to four 50-ms bursts/s. Stimulus features (i.e., frequency, level, duration) were manipulated to characterize the physiological responses of VCN units. Preliminary data suggest that peri-stimulus time histograms (PSTHs) and rate-level functions (RALVs) obtained from behaving cats are similar to those previously described in anesthetized and decerebrate cats when units are tested with tones in quiet backgrounds. However, in comparison to anesthetized and decerebrate cats, units obtained in behaving cats demonstrate a more sensitive rate representation of stimulus level when tested in continuous background noise.
Objective assessment of image quality. III. ROC metrics, ideal observers, and likelihood-generating functions

We continue the theme of previous papers [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 7, 1266 (1990); 12, 834 (1995)] on objective (task-based) assessment of image quality. We concentrate on signal-detection tasks and figures of merit related to the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve. Many different expressions for the area under an ROC curve (AUC) are derived for an arbitrary discriminant function, with different assumptions on what information about the discriminant function is available. In particular, it is shown that AUC can be expressed by a principal-value integral that involves the characteristic functions of the discriminant. Then the discussion is specialized to the ideal observer, defined as one who uses the likelihood ratio (or some monotonic transformation of it, such as its logarithm) as the discriminant function. The properties of the ideal observer are examined from first principles. Several strong constraints on the moments of the likelihood ratio or the log likelihood are derived, and it is shown that the probability density functions for these test statistics are intimately related. In particular, some surprising results are presented for the case in which the log likelihood is normally distributed under one hypothesis. To unify these considerations, a new quantity called the likelihood-generating function is defined. It is shown that all moments of both the likelihood and the log likelihood under both hypotheses can be derived from this one function. Moreover, the AUC can be expressed, to an excellent approximation, in terms of the likelihood-generating function evaluated at the origin. This expression is the leading term in an asymptotic expansion of the AUC; it is exact whenever the likelihood-generating function behaves linearly near the origin. It is also shown that the likelihood-generating function at the origin sets a lower bound on the AUC in all cases.
Sexual dimorphism and androgen effects on spinal motoneurons innervating the rat flexor digitorum brevis.

Abstract The foot muscle, flexor digitorum brevis, is innervated by motoneurons in the retrodorsolateral nucleus of the lumbar spinal cord in rats. We found this muscle to be sexually dimorphic, but insensitive to the anabolic or catabolic effects of androgen manipulation in adulthood: the flexor digitorum brevis was larger in adult male rats than in females, with no decrease in mass after castration in males nor any increase in size after androgen treatment of ovariectomized females. The cross-sectional area of motoneurons innervating this muscle was also sexually dimorphic, i.e., the motoneurons were larger in males. In contrast to the absence of an androgen effect on target muscle size, however, cross-sectional area of motoneurons decreased in adult males as a result of castration, and increased in adult females after androgen treatment. The dissociation of androgen effects on muscle mass and motoneuron size suggests possibility of steroid effects upon motoneurons independent of effects upon target musculature.