cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Notes on Type Abstraction (Version 2)

This paper, which was initially prepared to accompany a series of lectures given at the 1978 NATO International Summer School on Program Construction, is primarily tutorial in nature. It begins by discussing in a general setting the role of type abstraction and the need for formal specifications of type abstractions. It then proceeds to examine in some detail two approaches to the construction of such specifications: that proposed by Hoare in his 1972 paper "Proofs of Correctness of Data Representations," and the author's own version of algebraic specifications. The Hoare approach is presented via a discussion of its embodiment in the programming language Euclid. The discussion of the algebraic approach includes material abstracted from earlier papers as well as some new material that has yet to appear. This new material deals with parameterized types and the specification of restrictions. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the relative merits of the two approaches to type abstraction.
Clonal analysis of tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes from human primary and metastatic liver tumors

Phenotypic and functional characteristics of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) obtained from human primary and metastatic liver tumors were studied. Lymphocytes isolated from 18 tumors and autologous (A) peripheral blood (6 cases) were phenotyped by 2-color flow cytometry and cloned in a limiting dilution system, which allows virtually all normal T lymphocytes to proliferate; 70-80% of fresh TIL were T cells (i. e., CD3+), and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells was 1.2 in both primary and metastatic liver tumors. TIL contained significantly more CD56+ (NKHI+) cells, half of which were CD3+ CD56+, CD3+ CD25+ cells and CD3+ HLA-DR+ cells, than A-PBL. The frequencies of proliferating T-cell precursors (PTL-p) and cytolytic T-lymphocyte precursors (CTL-p) reactive with K562, allogeneic tumor cells and autologous tumor cells, were determined. Mean PTL-p frequencies for TIL from hepatocellular carcinomas, cholangiocarcinomas and metastatic liver tumors were 0.52 (0.22-0.83), 0.10 (0.05-0.16) and 0.16 (0.01-0.30), respectively. The frequency of CTL-p with natural-killer-like activity was lower in TIL than in A-PBL. The frequency of CTL-p for autologous tumor cells in fresh TIL isolated from primary liver tumors was 0.02-0.13 and 12/81 clones were reactive against autologous tumor. In contrast, only 1/66 TIL clones obtained from colon carcinomas metastatic to liver showed autotumor reactivity. No clones reactive with autologous tumor were obtained from peripheral blood of patients with liver cancer. These data indicate that substantial differences in anti-tumor functions of TIL between primary and metastatic liver tumors exist, which can be detected at a clonal level.
Characterization of microtopography and its influence on vegetation patterns in created wetlands

Created wetlands are increasingly used to mitigate wetland loss. Thus, identifying wetland creation methods that enhance ecosystem development might increase the likelihood of mitigation success. Noting that the microtopographic variation found in natural wetland settings may not commonly be found in created wetlands, this study explores relationships between induced microtopography, hydrology, and plant species richness/diversity in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, comparing results from two created wetland complexes with those from a mature reference wetland complex in northern Virginia. Elevation, steel rod oxidation depth, and species cover were measured along replicate multiscale (0.5 m-, 1 m-, 2 m-, and 4 m-diameter) tangentially conjoined circular transects in each wetland. Microtopography was surveyed using a total station and results used to derive three roughness indices: tortuosity, limiting slope, and limiting elevation difference. Steel rod oxidation depth was used to estimate water table depth, with data collected four times during the growing season for each study site. Plant species cover was estimated visually in 0.2 m2 plots surveyed at peak growth and used to assess species richness, diversity, and wetland prevalence index. Differences in each attribute were examined among disked and non-disked created wetlands and compared to a natural wetland as a reference. Disked and non-disked created wetlands differed in microtopography, both in terms of limiting elevation difference and tortuosity. However, both were within the range of microtopography encompassed by natural wetlands. Disked wetlands supported higher plant diversity and species richness than either natural or non-disked wetlands, as well as greater within-site species assemblage variability than non-disked wetlands. Irrespective of creation method, plant diversity in created wetlands was correlated with tortuosity and limiting elevation difference, similar to correlations observed for natural wetlands. Vegetation was more hydrophytic at disked sites than at non-disked sites, and of equivalent wetland indicator status to natural sites, even though all sites appeared comparable in terms of hydrology. Results suggest that disking may enhance vegetation community development, thus better supporting the goals of wetland mitigation.
‘SI QUIS MANUS NON HABEAT’: CHARTING NON-HEXACHORDAL MUSICAL PRACTICES IN THE AGE OF SOLMISATION

Our picture of musical training in the Middle Ages and Renaissance is frustratingly generic and fragmentary. The musicians of that era – it is often stated – were well versed in the method of the so-called Guidonian hand, by which the twenty pitches of the gamut (often referred to as claves ) were mapped onto the joints of the left hand along with the six voces ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, dating back to Guido of Arezzo’s Epistola ad Michahelem ( c . 1033). Professional singers learnt how to group the claves into overlapping hexachords in the early stages of musical training and referred to the musical hand as a mnemonic aid while sight-singing. By the early fourteenth century at the latest, a sophisticated set of rules of behaviour was in place that allowed practical musicians and theorists to connect the six syllables to the claves and to perform hexachordal mutations smoothly and effectively.
Katz and Aakhus' Theory of Apparatgeist: Students' Perceptions of Normative and Non-Normative Behaviors for Technology Use.

Course: This activity was used in an upper-level, undergraduate, special topics course entitled “Issues in Mobile Communication.” However, the activity could also be used in undergraduate courses relating to mediated communication, interpersonal communication and communication theory Objectives: The purpose of this activity is to increase students’ awareness of how norms for mobile communication technology use are established
Planetary Magnetic Fields: Achievements and Prospects

The past decade has seen a wealth of new data, mainly from the Galilean satellites and Mars, but also new information on Mercury, the Moon and asteroids (meteorites). In parallel, there have been advances in our understanding of dynamo theory, new ideas on the scaling laws for field amplitudes, and a deeper appreciation on the diversity and complexity of planetary interior properties and evolutions. Most planetary magnetic fields arise from dynamos, past or present, and planetary dynamos generally arise from thermal or compositional convection in fluid regions of large radial extent. The relevant electrical conductivities range from metallic values to values that may be only about one percent or less that of a typical metal, appropriate to ionic fluids and semiconductors. In all planetary liquid cores, the Coriolis force is dynamically important. The maintenance and persistence of convection appears to be easy in gas giants and ice-rich giants, but is not assured in terrestrial planets because the quite high electrical conductivity of an iron-rich core guarantees a high thermal conductivity (through the Wiedemann-Franz law), which allows for a large core heat flow by conduction alone. This has led to an emphasis on the possible role of ongoing differentiation (growth of an inner core or “snow”). Although planetary dynamos mostly appear to operate with an internal field that is not very different from (2ρΩ/σ)1/2 in SI units where ρ is the fluid density, Ω is the planetary rotation rate and σ is the conductivity, theoretical arguments and stellar observations suggest that there may be better justification for a scaling law that emphasizes the buoyancy flux. Earth, Ganymede, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and probably Mercury have dynamos, Mars has large remanent magnetism from an ancient dynamo, and the Moon might also require an ancient dynamo. Venus is devoid of a detectable global field but may have had a dynamo in the past. Even small, differentiated planetesimals (asteroids) may have been capable of dynamo action early in the solar system history. Induced fields observed in Europa and Callisto indicate the strong likelihood of water oceans in these bodies. The presence or absence of a dynamo in a terrestrial body (including Ganymede) appears to depend mainly on the thermal histories and energy sources of these bodies, especially the convective state of the silicate mantle and the existence and history of a growing inner solid core. As a consequence, the understanding of planetary magnetic fields depends as much on our understanding of the history and material properties of planets as it does on our understanding of the dynamo process. Future developments can be expected in our understanding of the criterion for a dynamo and on planetary properties, through a combination of theoretical work, numerical simulations, planetary missions (MESSENGER, Juno, etc.) and laboratory experiments.
Top Executive Background and Financial Reporting Choice

We study the role of executive functional background in explaining management discretion in financial reporting. Taking goodwill impairment as our reporting setting, we focus on top executives (CEOs and CFOs) whose employment history includes experience in investment banking, private equity, venture capital or management consulting, as we expect these executives to have unique human capital and reputation concerns with respect to acquisitions and valuation modeling related to fair-value reporting. On average, we document that CFOs with prior transaction experience impair goodwill more frequently and in smaller amounts than other executives. Further investigation suggests that CFOs with prior transaction experience report goodwill that is more value relevant. This is consistent with CFO valuation expertise helping impair goodwill in a more informative manner. In contrast, CEOs with prior transaction experience appear to be subject to agency conflicts that affect their propensity to impair goodwill. Overall, our results not only suggest that executive functional background is a significant explanatory factor of financial reporting discretion, but also that a better understanding of its effect relies upon analyses of specific settings and predictions grounded in upper echelons theory and agency theory.
House dust (1-3)-β-D-glucan and wheezing in infants

Background— (1–3)-β-D-glucan is a fungal cell wall component, suspected to cause respiratory symptoms in adults. However, very little is known on the possible health effects of (1–3)-β-D-glucan during infancy. We examined the association between (1–3)-β-D-glucan exposure and the prevalence of allergen sensitization and wheezing during the first year of life in a birth cohort of 574 infants born to atopic parents. Endotoxin exposure was included as a possible confounder. Methods—(1–3)-β-D-glucan and endotoxin exposures were measured in settled dust collected from infants’ primary activity rooms. The primary outcomes at approximately age one included parental reports of recurrent wheezing and allergen sensitization evaluated by skin prick testing to a panel of 15 aeroallergens as well as milk and egg white. Results—Exposure to high (1–3)-β-D-glucan concentration (within fourth quartile) was associated with reduced likelihood of both recurrent wheezing [adjusted OR (aOR) = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.16– 0.93] and recurrent wheezing combined with allergen sensitization (aOR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.03– 0.61). Similar trends were found between (1–3)-β-D-glucan concentrations and allergen sensitization (aOR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.30–1.10). In contrast, recurrent wheezing with or without allergen sensitization was positively associated with low (1–3)-β-D-glucan exposure within the first quartile (aOR = 3.04, 95% CI = 1.25–7.38; aOR = 4.89, 95% CI = 1.02–23.57). There were no significant associations between endotoxin exposure and the studied health outcomes. Conclusions—This is the first study to report that indoor exposure to high levels of (1–3)-β-Dglucan (concentration >60 μg/g) is associated with decreased risk for recurrent wheezing among infants born to atopic parents. This effect was more pronounced in the subgroup of allergen-sensitized infants.
Interactions of the bovine placental lactogen and prolactin receptor genes are associated with fertility traits in cattle

Decline in fertility of high-producing dairy cattle has become a global challenge to the dairy industry. Because of low heritability and complexity, it is difficult to find genetic markers for fertility traits in cattle. Here, we report the use of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) system and candidate gene approach to test genetic associations of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in bovine placental lactogen (bPL), and its interactions with SNPs in the prolactin receptor (PRLR) and growth hormone receptor genes with fertility traits in an IVF system. The associations suggest a possible involvement of genetic interactions between bPL and PRLR in the fertilization and embryonic development processes, and the potential for application in a marker-assisted selection program.
Space-time trellis codes with asynchronous full diversity up to fractional symbol delays

A family of space-time trellis codes that are associated with shift-full-rank (SFR) generator matrices and thus achieve asynchronous full cooperative diversity order has been recently proposed, where it is assumed that the delays occurring at the relays must be integer multiples of the symbol duration. In this letter, we consider a cooperative communication system in which the delays can be fractional (rational) symbol durations and, correspondingly, multiple sampling per symbol interval is used at the destination. We show that the previously proposed space-time trellis codes can still achieve asynchronous full diversity in fractional symbol delay scenarios if their generator matrices satisfy a relaxed definition of SFR matrices, namely, q-shift-full-rank (q-SFR) matrices, and therefore, more designs for their generator matrices than the SFR ones become available. Furthermore, compared with the applications in the system with integer symbol delays, the decoding complexity of the optimal Viterbi algorithm for the codes does not increase and some performance gains can be observed in the system with fractional symbol delays.
HUMAN DIGNITY AND 'IMAGE OF GOD'

In this article the relation of the theological concept 'image of God' to the socio-juridical concept 'human dignity' is investigated. The popular equation of these concepts is subjected to academic scrutiny, and it is found that the differentiated use of 'image of God' in both the Old and New Testament permits different ways of interpreting this concept. Three historically interrelated and conceptually overlapping ways of interpreting 'image of God' is suggested and related to the concept of 'human dignity', namely as quality, duty and relation. In conclusion the helpfulness of particularly the relational interpretation is considered.
Case Study: Attitudes of Rural High School Students and Teachers Regarding Inclusion.

This case study was intended to explore the premise that the perceptions of the stakeholders regarding inclusion should enhance the implementation of the process in a k-12 rural setting. Therefore, rural high school students’ and rural general education and special education teachers’ perceptions of inclusion provided the primary focus of this case study. Data analysis identified that while overall general education teachers supported the idea of inclusion they did not believe that they were trained. Additionally, the students supported the concept of inclusion when they were allowed choice in which classroom they were placed and if the teacher allowed choice in classroom activities. Also the classroom size was identified by all stakeholders as an issue by being affected negatively by the addition of more students being placed in inclusive classrooms. Implications for the teacher training, and the allocation of resources in rural settings are significant.
Correction of Caudal Septal Deviation and Deformity Using Nasal Septal Bone Grafts

Objectives To describe our technique of using septal bone grafts for correction and stabilization of caudal septal deviation and to evaluate the effectiveness of this technique in the treatment of the deviated caudal septum. Methods A retrospective review of 81 patients who underwent open septorhinoplasty using septal bone grafts for correction of a caudal septal deviation or deformity and nasal obstruction. We reviewed medical records to determine postoperative outcomes in nasal obstruction and caudal septal position. Results Of the 81 patients, we included 66 with adequate follow-up information in the analysis. Follow-up duration ranged from 1 to 72 (mean, 8) months. Postoperative examination revealed a midline septum in 55 of the 66 patients (83%). Fifty-seven patients (86%) reported resolution of nasal obstruction; 49 (74%) had a midline septum and resolved nasal obstruction at the longest follow-up. Nine patients (14%) reported postoperative nasal obstruction, of whom only 3 required revision surgery. Conclusion Nasal septal bone grafts can be an effective tool in stabilizing severe cartilaginous deformities or deviations and correcting caudal septal deviation.
Teaching an object-oriented CS1 -: with Python

There is an ongoing debate regarding the role of object orientation in the introductory programming sequence. While the pendulum swings to and fro between the "objects first" and "back to basics" extremes, there is general agreement that object-oriented programming is central to modern software development and therefore integral to a computer science curriculum. Developing effective approaches to teach these principles raises challenges that have been exacerbated by the use of Java or C++ as the first instructional language.In this paper, we recommend Python as an excellent choice for teaching an object-oriented CS1. Although often viewed as a "scripting" language, Python is a fully object-oriented language with a consistent object model and a rich set of built-in classes. Based upon our experiences, we describe aspects of the language that help support a balanced introduction to object orientation in CS1. We also discuss the downstream effects on our students' transition to Java and C++ in subsequent courses.
Comparison of several challenge models for studies in avian colibacillosis.

Resumen RESUMEN. Comparacion de varios modelos de desafio para estudios de colibacilosis aviar. En estudios anteriores, la prueba de mortalidad embrionaria fue capaz de discriminar entre aislamientos virulentos y no virulentos de Escherichia coli, mostrando una correlacion elevada con los resultados de mortalidad y morbilidad del modelo de desafio intravenoso. En el presente estudio se emplearon los mismos 20 aislamientos de E. coli que fueron empleados en los modelos de desafio en aves por via subcutanea e intratraqueal con el fin de determinar si los resultados de los desafios anteriores empleando la prueba de mortalidad embrionaria y el modelo de desafio intravenoso se correlacionan con dichos modelos. Se observo un coeficiente de correlacion (r) de 0.792 (P > 0.0001) entre el primer ensayo empleando la prueba de mortalidad embrionaria y los porcentajes combinados de mortalidad y morbilidad del modelo de desafio. En el segundo ensayo empleando la prueba de mortalidad embrionaria se observo un coeficien...
Understanding Entrepreneurial Intention: Integrating Theory of Planned Behavior into Expectation – Confirmation Model

This study develops an integrated model designed to predict a university student’s entrepreneurial intention based on the theory of planned behavior and Expectation-Confirmation Theory. Structural Equation Model (SEM) is used to validate the model and empirical data were collected form 176 university students attending entrepreneurship course. The results show that personal attitude and perceived feasibility are an important part of the formation of entrepreneurial Intention. Furthermore, confirmation have a significant impact on entrepreneurial Intention through perceived feasibility. Overall – even confirmation have not a significant impact on personal attitude – this study provides evidence that an integrated model has a better explanatory power of entrepreneurial Intention compared to either model considered alone.
Infrared reflectivity spectroscopy of optical phonons in short-period AlGaN/GaN superlattices

GaN and AlN compounds have been proven useful in wide bandgap microelectronics and optoelectronics. Also properties of bulk GaN and AlN have been studied extensively. However, many characteristics of AlGaN/GaN superlattices are not well known. In particular, the properties of phonons have not been determined. In order to determine phonon properties, this study measured infrared reflectivity spectra on short period superlattices, which were grown by high quality molecular beam epitaxy. The superlattices consisted of 300 periods of alternating layers of GaN and AlGaN, each containing between 1 and 8 monolayers. Next, the reflectivity of each sample was measured using a Bruker IFS-66V spectrometer. From these experimental spectra the dielectric function, and hence the optical phonon properties (namely phonon frequency and phonon damping), were determined. Mapping the experimental spectra with theoretical calculations determined the longitudinal and transverse optical phonon energies present in the AlGaN/GaN superlattices. Through the examination of different AlGaN/GaN superlattice combinations, plots of phonon energies versus material composition were obtained. Furthermore, new phonons, that were not present in bulk AlN and GaN, were discovered. Finally, phonon characteristics were measured as a function of temperature, confirming that phonon energies decrease with increasing temperature.
Global Stock Markets and Investment Opportunities in the United States

This study is set up to investigate how returns on three groups (developed, emerging and frontier) of global stock markets respond to shock to investment opportunities in the United States using aggregate Tobin’s q as a proxy. The Granger-causality is computed to determine the causal linkage between the investment opportunities in the United States and returns on the global stock market. The generalized impulse response functions and variance decomposition are also estimated.
Decomposition strategies for building envelope design optimization problems

The design of a building's envelope, including exterior walls, glazing and shading elements, has a significant impact on the life-cycle cost and environmental impact of the facility. Computational Design Optimization (CDO) methods have been developed to assist architects and engineers to systematically search through large numbers of design alternatives to identify high-performing building envelope solutions. This paper presents a method to quantitatively compare different CDO approaches in terms of solution quality and computational efficiency. To demonstrate the method we compare four CDO methods: two single-level genetic algorithms, a single-level gradient-based algorithm that maps continuous solutions back to discrete options, and a bi-level decomposition with a gradient-based algorithm operating on continuous variables nested within a genetic algorithm operating on discrete variables. The example chosen for benchmarking purposes is a midrise apartment building in Chicago. The results show that the all-in-one multiple objective genetic algorithm is the most computationally efficient and produced superior solution quality. The limited breadth of the current results does not allow general conclusions about the methods, but does demonstrate a methodology for further evaluation of optimization techniques.
The blunt-edged sword: genetic explanations of misbehavior neither mitigate nor aggravate punishment

Links between genetic variants and negatively valenced behaviors have stimulated intense commentary about the implications for responsibility and punishment. Previous research has suggested that behavioral genetic evidence of a predisposition to negative behaviors has modest to no impact on mitigation of punishment, at least for serious crimes. Data are presented on the effect of such evidence in a representative sample of the general population (n=640) asked to consider 3 vignettes describing lesser offenses, dealt with in less-formal adjudicatory settings and in everyday life. Genetic explanations of behavior had no effect on the severity of the punishment selected in any case, in contrast to the egregiousness of the behavior and respondents' beliefs in free-will. Public views of genetic influences on behavior may be less deterministic and more nuanced than is often thought, or genetic explanations may simply not have the salience for decision makers that is frequently attributed to them.
Strategy behind science policy decisions.

President Obama's announcement of the BRAIN Initiative has caused quite a stir. Many scientists welcome this large new thrust in neuroscience, whereas others question the technological feasibility of the project. Whether or not the project becomes a major scientific success, it is an instructive example of how science policy decisions are made. A relatively small group of scientists and foundation people were able to create a compelling vision and then persuade senior policy-makers to embrace it. In the broadest sense, it is good to see any new investment in basic science. However, is the BRAIN Initiative the very best use of the approximately $100M/year research investment? In terms of overall global good, would the money be better spent on malaria research? On better antibiotics for drug-resistant bacteria? On early detection of tumors? The BRAIN Initiative highlights the fact that we do not have a systematic approach to assessing the nation's need for research and development.
Structure of interleukin-10/interleukin-10R1 complex: a paradigm for class 2 cytokine activation

The class II alpha-helical cytokine family consists of eleven members including the interferons, interleukin-10 (IL-10) and several newly discovered IL-10 homologs. The molecules display a vast array of biologic activities including the ability to induce an antiviral state, modulate inflammatory responses, and inhibit cell growth. Biologic activity is dependent on cytokine-dependent aggregation of two different cell-surface receptors. The detailed protein-protein interactions that initiate these biologic responses are amenable to study using X-ray crystallographic methods. In this article, I summarize my laboratory's contributions to understanding these recognition processes using IL-10 as the prototypic class II cytokine.
Time-resolved molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions: Snapshots of acetylene-vinylidene cationic isomerization

We report the results of ab initio calculations on valence photoionization of the acetylene monocation in its ground ($X$) and electronically excited ($A$) states using the complex Kohn variational method. In contrast to the $K$-shell molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions (MFPADs), which are only sensitive to the molecular geometry, these results show that the valence MFPADs are also sensitive to the electronic state of the target. Hence, the isomerization path from acetylene to vinylidene, which is mediated by a conical intersection responsible for a change in electronic state of the monocation, could, in principle, be traced through valence photoionization.
Water-Driven Cavity–Ligand Binding: Comparison of Thermodynamic Signatures from Coarse-Grained and Atomic-Level Simulations

The role of water (thermo)dynamics is crucial in molecular recognition and self-assembly. Here, we study a prototype cavity–ligand system as a model for hydrophobic noncovalent binding. Two alternative molecular dynamics simulation resolutions are employed and the resulting structural, dynamic, and thermodynamic properties compared: first, a coarse-grained (CG) resolution based on the previously reported and validated methane-like M solute and mW water models; second, an atomic-level (AL) resolution based on the popular OPLS united atom methane and the TIP4P water models. The CG model reproduces, as a function of the cavity–ligand distance, (1) the water occupancy of the cavity, (2) the cavity–ligand potential of mean force (free energy) and its temperature dependence, and (3) some of the major qualitative features of the thermodynamic signatures (free energy, enthalpy, and entropy) for cavity–ligand association of the AL model. The limits of the CG and AL models in this context are also discussed with co...
Application of the Finite Element Method in Residual Strength Study of Corroded Pipeline

Analyst the limitation of existed assessment method and used the Finite Element Method analysis to assess the residual strength of corroded pipeline are build the elastic model under considered of the nonlinear of Geometry and the nonlinear of material. The comparison of building way between Finite Element Analysis and existed criteria shows that the Finite Element Method has clear superiority ,and it needn't simplify model and can simulate accurately pipeline's physical strength. The comparison of result with the test of added powder shows that these curves are very coincide. So the application of the Finite Element Method in residual strength of corroded pipeline is very effective and can provide reference on engineering practice.
Evaluation of the use of electrocardiogram monitoring in patients on psychotropic medications that have a risk of QT prolongation

Abstract Introduction: Many psychotropic medications carry a risk of prolonging the QT interval and increasing the risk of developing Torsade de pointes (TdP). The goal of this study was to evaluate whether patients taking psychotropic agents with a known risk of TdP are being monitored at a community hospital through the use of electrocardiograms (EKGs). Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 100 adult patients—50 from general medicine floors and 50 from psychiatric units—who were taking at least one psychotropic agent with a known risk of TdP during hospitalization. Results: The mean number of medications with QT-prolongation risk administered to the psychiatric and general medicine patients was 4.2 ± 1.7 and 3.9 ± 2.0, respectively (P = .7484). Thirty-two of the psychiatric patients (64%) and 48 of the general medicine patients (96%) received EKGs during their hospitalization (P < 0.0001). Of those newly starting the target medications, 58% (18 of 31) of the psychiatric patients and 71% (5 o...
A decomposition theorem for Χ 1 -convex sets

A set S in R is said to be @g-convex if and only if S does not contain a visually independent subset having cardinality @g. It is natural to ask when an @g-convex set may be expressed as a countable union of convex sets. Here it is proved that if S is a closed @g-convex set in the plane and R has at most finitely many bounded components, then S is a countable union of convex sets. A parallel result holds in R when S is a closed @g-convex set which contains all triangular regions whose relative boundaries are in S. However, the result fails for arbitrary @g-convex sets, even in the plane.
Goodness of Fit: Overview

Assessing the goodness of fit of a statistical model involves comparisons of actual data with those expected under the model. This process of such assessment often involves formal comparisons between models as well, and thus shares a number of features with methods associated with the problem of model selection from a class of parametric models. This entry describes the general philosophy associated with these dual problems of goodness of fit and model choice, and discusses some of the basic approaches to them from both a frequentist and a Bayesian perspective. Trying to find the best model may not prove possible in all circumstances, but the array of methods currently available often allow statistical analysts to identify parsimonious models whose fit to the observed data is sufficient for the purpose at hand.
Cultural Mistrust, Conspiracy Theories and Attitudes towards HIV Testing Among African Americans

Background: With respect to the HIV epidemic, research has shown that health behaviors are affected by a number of attitudinal factors such as cultural mistrust, medical mistrust and conspiracy beliefs. While it is clear that these variables have a deleterious effect on health behaviors, the literature fails to explore how these factors uniquely influence and predict an individual’s attitudes and overall willingness to receive HIV testing. Furthermore, cognitive factors such as the need for cognitive closure have received little attention with regard to HIV testing attitudes. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine inter-correlations between cultural mistrust, medical mistrust, HIV conspiracy theories and the need for cognitive closure and to explore the extent to which these variables predict attitudes towards HIV testing. Methods: This study consisted of 34 Black males and 84 Black females (n=118) between the ages of 16-67 years (μ=26.8 years) recruited from a Historically Black College/University (HBCU), a community college, as well as churches and local health forums in the Washington, D.C. area. Results: Results of the inter-correlations were mixed and regression analyses revealed that cultural mistrust, medical mistrust, HIV conspiracy beliefs and the need for cognitive closure were not significant predictors of attitudes towards HIV testing in these populations. Conclusion: The results are discussed from a psychosocial perspective and implications and future directions for public health, psychotherapy and clinical work are considered.
The Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP): a national scale natural resources and conservation needs assessment and decision support tool

The Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) was initiated to quantify the impacts of agricultural conservation practices at the watershed, regional, and national scales across the United States. Representative cropland acres in all major U.S. watersheds were surveyed in 2003-2006 as part of the seminal CEAP Cropland National Assessment. Two process-based models, the Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender(APEX) and the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), were applied to the survey data to provide a quantitative assessment of current conservation practice impacts, establish a benchmark against which future conservation trends and efforts could be measured, and identify outstanding conservation concerns. The flexibility of these models and the unprecedented amount of data on current conservation practices across the country enabled Cropland CEAP to meet its Congressional mandate of quantifying the value of current conservation practices. It also enabled scientifically grounded exploration of a variety of conservation scenarios, empowering CEAP to not only inform on past successes and additional needs, but to also provide a decision support tool to help guide future policy development and conservation practice decision making. The CEAP effort will repeat the national survey in 2015-2016, enabling CEAP to provide analyses of emergent conservation trends, outstanding needs, and potential costs and benefits of pursuing various treatment scenarios for all agricultural watersheds across the United States.
Deep Residual Network Reveals a Nested Hierarchy of Distributed Cortical Representation for Visual Categorization

What enables humans to readily recognize visual objects is attributed to how the brain extracts, represents, and organizes object information from visual input. To understand this process, we used a deep residual network as a hierarchical computational model of visual categorization to predict cortical representation of natural vision. We trained and tested such a predictive encoding model with functional magnetic resonance imaging data from human subjects watching hours of natural video clips, and verified its ability to predict cortical responses to novel images, objects, and categories. We further used the so trained encoding model to synthesize cortical responses to 64,000 visual objects from 80 categories, revealing hierarchical, distributed, and overlapping cortical representations of categories. Such category representations covered both the ventral and dorsal pathways, reflected multiple levels and domains of visual features, and preserved semantic relationships between categories. In the scale of the entire visual cortex, category representations were modularly organized into three categories: biological objects, non-biological objects, and background scenes. In a smaller scale specific to each module, category representation further revealed sub-modules for finer categorization, e.g. biological objects were categorized into terrestrial animals, aquatic animals, humans, and plants. Such nested spatial and representational hierarchies were attributable to different levels of category information to varying degrees. These findings suggest that increasingly more specific category information is represented by cortical patterns in progressively finer spatial scales - an important principle for the brain to categorize visual objects in various levels of abstraction.
The benchmark problems for the assessment of numerical algorithms on fractional-order differential equations

There are many numerical algorithms for solving the fractional-order differential equations (FODEs). The numerical algorithms are very different, and it is difficult to compare their performances. To solve this problem, some different FODEs with the known analytical solution are designed and proposed, they could be used as the benchmark problems for testing the numerical algorithms. A Simulink block diagram scheme is proposed for solving these benchmark problems, and the computing errors and the running times are reported. These benchmark problems and the solutions are constituted as a framework, and the numerical algorithms for solving the FODEs could be compared in the same framework. The comparing result could assess which algorithm is better to a concrete FODE.
The poetics of argumentation: the relevance of conversational repetition for two theories of emergent mathematical reasoning

Poetic structures emerge in spoken language when speakers repeat grammatical phrases that were spoken before. They create the potential to amend or comment on previous speech, and to convey meaning...
Optogenetic Blockade of Dopamine Transients Prevents Learning Induced by Changes in Reward Features.

Summary Prediction errors are critical for associative learning [1, 2]. Transient changes in dopamine neuron activity correlate with positive and negative reward prediction errors and can mimic their effects [3–15]. However, although causal studies show that dopamine transients of 1–2 s are sufficient to drive learning about reward, these studies do not address whether they are necessary (but see [11]). Further, the precise nature of this signal is not yet fully established. Although it has been equated with the cached-value error signal proposed to support model-free reinforcement learning, cached-value errors are typically confounded with errors in the prediction of reward features [16]. Here, we used optogenetic and transgenic approaches to prevent transient changes in midbrain dopamine neuron activity during the critical error-signaling period of two unblocking tasks. In one, learning was unblocked by increasing the number of rewards, a manipulation that induces errors in predicting both value and reward features. In another, learning was unblocked by switching from one to another equally valued reward, a manipulation that induces errors only in reward feature prediction. Preventing dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area from firing for 5 s beginning before and continuing until after the changes in reward prevented unblocking of learning in both tasks. A similar duration suppression did not induce extinction when delivered during an expected reward, indicating that it did not act independently as a negative prediction error. This result suggests that dopamine transients play a general role in error signaling rather than being restricted to only signaling errors in value.
Comparative study of the mechanical and thermal properties of lightweight cementitious composites

Abstract Lightweight concrete and cementitious composites are increasingly studied by researchers due to their advantageous performance in reducing structural load and building’s operational energy consumption. In this research, a comprehensive and thorough study was carried out to investigate the effects of different lightweight fillers on both the mechanical and thermal properties of lightweight cementitious composites, or LWCCs. Four different types of lightweight fillers (LWFs) including expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads, dry-expanded thermoplastic microspheres (ETM), hollow glass microspheres (HGM), and fly ash cenospheres (FACs) are studied in conjunction with various particle sizes, shell wall thickness, and proportions. Both mechanical and thermophysical properties were tested for these LWCCs after 28-day curing. The results indicated that the thermal property of LWCC is mostly governed by the volume fraction of LWFs and it can be accurately predicted by the Felske equation, whereas the mechanical properties are heavily affected by the type and property of LWF particles included. It was revealed that most fly ash cenospheres (FAC) and hollow glass microspheres (HGM) with higher density are suitable for producing LWCC materials that may be used for structural applications, whereas lower density HGMs and LWFs with soft polymer shell are more suitable for nonstructural thermal insulating components.
Multirate Kalman filter rejects impulse noise in frequency-domain-multiplexed tracker measurements

Frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) is a useful for making multiple measurements simultaneously, such as in optical and electromagnetic position trackers. Much interference is periodic (e.g., AC power harmonics), and is rejected well by FDM, but impulse disturbances are also common. Impulses corrupt the entire spectrum for a short period, and are better rejected in the time domain. Nonlinear blanking is a simple way to suppress impulses, but cannot be easily realized when the required dynamic range is large, and problematic noise may be far smaller than the signal. The described multi-rate Kalman filter upsamples the prediction to the input rate so that impulse departures from the predicted signal are easily detected and blanked out. Also, noise levels in unused adjacent channels are used to estimate measurement noise so that the Kalman filter adapts more slowly when noise is high, keeping output noise roughly constant even in the presence of longer noise bursts.
A 14-bit digitally self-calibrated pipelined ADC with adaptive bias optimization for arbitrary speeds up to 40 MS/s

This paper presents a 14-bit digitally self-calibrated pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC) featuring adaptive bias optimization. Adaptive bias optimization controls the bias currents of the amplifiers in the ADC to the minimum amount required, depending on the sampling speed, environment temperature, and power-supply voltage, as well as the variations in chip fabrication. It utilizes information from the digital calibration process and does not require additional analog circuits. The prototype ADC occupies an area of 0.5/spl times/2.3 mm/sup 2/ in a 0.18-/spl mu/m dual-gate CMOS technology; with a power supply of 2.8 V, it consumes 19.2, 33.7, 50.5, and 72.8 mW when operating at 10, 20, 30, and 40 MS/s, respectively. The peak differential nonlinearity (DNL) is less than 0.5 least significant bit (LSB) for all the sampling speeds with temperature variation up to 80/spl deg/C. When operated at 20 MS/s with 1-MHz input, the ADC achieves 72.1-dB SNR and 71.1-dB SNDR.
Analysis of U.S. theme park selection and international implications

Theme parks face stiff competition in local and international markets. Theme parks tend to create competitive advantages in the market by investing in different factors which influence visitors’ se...
TOWARD CLINICALLY RELEVANT CLINICAL TRIALS

This article grapples with two closely related tensions threatening the credibility and relevance of clinical trials to clinicians as well as patients and their families: (1) the tension between clinical flexibility and scientific standardization of protocol and (2) the tension between the need to ensure scientific integrity through a standard, pre-specified protocol and the need to increase compliance by involving patients and their families in goal setting and treatment planning. We propose four partial solutions: (1) relaxed exclusion criteria to maximize generalizability, using only those exclusion criteria essential to the treatment; (2) extensive use of clinical algorithms to incorporate clinical flexibility in a standardized way; (3) active involvement of therapists in decision-making, including cross-site clinical decision panels; and (4) active involvement of families through a goal-setting and treatment-planning session as the first step of treatment. Although we focus on clinical trials with children and adolescents, the principles and ideas may also apply to clinical trials with patients of any age. This article summarizes and elaborates on presentations made by three of the authors at workshops on psychiatric clinical trials in children and adolescents at the May 1996 New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit (NCDEU) meeting. The focus was on enhancing the clinical relevance of clinical trials-making the results useful and credible to practitioners and patients and their families.
NADiA - Towards Neural Network Driven Virtual Human Conversation Agents

Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning - in particular neural networks - have given rise to a new generation of virtual assistants and chatbots. Within this work, we describe the motivation and architecture of NADiA - Neurally Animated Dialog Agent - which leverages both the user's verbal input and facial expressions for multi-modal conversation. NADiA combines a neural language model that generates conversational responses, a convolutional neural network for facial expression analysis, and virtual human technology that is deployed on a mobile phone.
Epigenetic Modifications Induced by Submillimeter Wave Exposure

Recent reports have shown that exposure to nonionizing electromagnetic waves, including submillimeter waves (sub-MMWs), can influence gene expression in skin tissues and various cell types. However, the mechanism(s) by which exposure to sub-MMWs alters gene expression has not been elucidated. In the present study, we hypothesize that sub-MMW exposure induces epigenetic modifications that result in altered gene expression. Specifically, we explore the effects of sub-MMW exposure on DNA methylation in human primary skin cell lines. Cells were exposed to a frequency of 2.52 THz for different time durations, and changes in global DNA methylation were examined following each exposure. The results presented herein are essential for understanding the role DNA methylation plays in gene regulation in sub-MMW exposed cells.
Imaging findings of patients undergoing SBRT for HCC after prior TACE.

252Background: Our purpose is to assess the treatment response using follow up MRI or CT in lesions treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) after transarterial chemoembolization (TA...