cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conflict, Migration, and the Expression of Ethnicity

Conflict, Migration, and the Expression of Ethnicity. NANCIE L. GONZALEZ and CAROLYN S. McCOMMON, (eds.). Boulder: Westview Press, 1989. vi+250pp.,notes,bibliography, index. $28.50 (paper). ISBN 0-8133-7620-3
The Drosophila Wilms׳ Tumor 1-Associating Protein (WTAP) homolog is required for eye development.

Sine Oculis (So), the founding member of the SIX family of homeobox transcription factors, binds to sequence specific DNA elements and regulates transcription of downstream target genes. It does so, in part, through the formation of distinct biochemical complexes with Eyes Absent (Eya) and Groucho (Gro). While these complexes play significant roles during development, they do not account for all So-dependent activities in Drosophila. It is thought that additional So-containing complexes make important contributions as well. This contention is supported by the identification of nearly two-dozen additional proteins that complex with So. However, very little is known about the roles that these additional complexes play in development. In this report we have used yeast two-hybrid screens and co-immunoprecipitation assays from Kc167 cells to identify a biochemical complex consisting of So and Fl(2)d, the Drosophila homolog of human Wilms׳ Tumor 1-Associating Protein (WTAP). We show that Fl(2)d protein is distributed throughout the entire eye-antennal imaginal disc and that loss-of-function mutations lead to perturbations in retinal development. The eye defects are manifested behind the morphogenetic furrow and result in part from increased levels of the pan-neuronal RNA binding protein Embryonic Lethal Abnormal Vision (Elav) and the RUNX class transcription factor Lozenge (Lz). We also provide evidence that So and Fl(2)d interact genetically in the developing eye. Wilms׳ tumor-1 (WT1), a binding partner of WTAP, is required for normal eye formation in mammals and loss-of-function mutations are associated with some versions of retinoblastoma. In contrast, WTAP and its homologs have not been implicated in eye development. To our knowledge, the results presented in this report are the first description of a role for WTAP in the retina of any seeing animal.
Effects of common anesthetics on eye movement and electroretinogram

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides non-invasive images of retinal anatomy, physiology, and function with depth-resolved laminar resolution. Eye movement and drift, however, could limit high spatial resolution imaging, and anesthetics that minimize eye movement could significantly attenuate retinal function. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal anesthetic preparations to minimize eye movement and maximize visual-evoked retinal response in rats. Eye movements were examined by imaging of the cornea with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera under isoflurane, urethane, ketamine/xylazine, and propofol anesthesia at typical dosages in rats. Combination of the paralytic pancuronium bromide with isoflurane or ketamine/xylazine anesthesia was also examined for the eye movement studies. Visual-evoked retinal responses were evaluated using full-field electroretinography (ERG) under isoflurane, ketamine/xylazine, urethane, and ketamine/xylazine + pancuronium anesthesia in rats. The degree of eye movement, measured as displacement per unit time, was the smallest under 1% isoflurane + pancuronium anesthesia. The ketamine/xylazine groups showed larger dark-adapted ERG a- and b-waves than other anesthetics tested. The isoflurane group showed the shortest b-wave implicit times. Photopic ERGs in the ketamine/xylazine groups showed the largest b-waves with the isoflurane group showing slightly shorter implicit times at the higher flash intensities. Oscillatory potentials revealed an early peak in the isoflurane group compared with ketamine/xylazine and urethane groups. Pancuronium did not affect the a- and b-wave, but did increase oscillatory potential amplitudes. Compared with the other anesthetics tested here, ketamine/xylazine + pancuronium was the best combination to minimize eye movement and maximize retinal function. These findings should set the stage for further development and application of high-resolution functional imaging techniques, such as MRI, to study retinal anatomy, physiology, and function in anesthetized rats.
Public Trust or Mistrust? Perceptions of Media Credibility in the Information Age

This article explores perceptions of news credibility for television, newspapers, and online news. A survey was administered to a randomly selected sample of residents in Austin, Texas, to assess people's attitudes toward these 3 media channels. Contingent factors that might influence news credibility perceptions, such as media use and interpersonal discussion of news, were incorporated into the analysis. Findings suggest that people are generally skeptical of news emanating from all 3 media channels but do rate newspapers with the highest credibility, followed by online news and television news, respectively. Furthermore, opinions about news credibility seem to be correlated across media outlets. The data also show a moderate negative linkage between interpersonal discussion of news and perceptions of media credibility for television news but not for newspapers. When controlling for basic demographics, a positive correlation was found between interpersonal communication and online news credibility. Final...
land, labor, and the child's cognitive performance among the Logoli

Ecological variables begin a chain of relationships that carries into subsistence and socialization and ends with effects on cognition: plot size is positively correlated with the time adult females spend in subsistence task performance; women who most frequently work choose harsh punishment for children on depicted hypothetical sequences involving misbehavior; and children of compliance-stressing mothers perform less well on a cognitive task than children of mothers who place less stress on compliance.
Classification Methodology for Landfill Leachates

AbstractA characterization scheme based on landfill leachate chemical signatures could support studies of leachate evolution over time and liner performance, and help confirm or disprove potential leachate contamination of groundwater. Wide variations in single constituents across time, sites, and site practices, and inconsistencies related to common bivariate measures suggest a robust, multivariate analysis could be useful. A subjective analytical comparison of soluble salts has been developed and supports graphical depictions of multiple samples. The hypothesis is that leachates with similar chemistry form clusters, and this was tested using a data set of 652 samples from 26 distinct liner systems collected from a Long Island landfill over more than 20 years. Most (75%) of diagrams were classified into three general leachate groupings that associated with the kinds of wastes received in the particular landfill module (90% if early leachate results are not considered).
Changes in abdominal muscle strength with respect to aging

It has been generally agreed that muscle strength decreases with advance of age in adulthood. In order to study the effect of aging in abdominal muscle strength, abdominal muscle strength, height, body weight and grip strength were measured in 144 healthy subjects aged from 20 to 88 years old. The abdominal muscle strength was measured using a grip dynamometer. Curve between aging and strength revealed that the abdominal muscle strength gradually decreased with aging during many decades, but rapidly decreased in the fifth decade and over in males and seventh decade and over in females. Among these data, significant correlations were observed between abdominal muscle strength and age (only in males; r = -0.64), abdominal muscle strength and grip strength (in males; r = 0.75, in females; r = 0.47), age and grip strength (in males; -0.72, in females; r = -0.60), and, age and height (in males; r = -0.55, in females; r = -0.46). The results suggest that decrease of abdominal muscle strength is due to aging, although the degree of the decrease is affected by the generation studied. The method to measure abdominal muscle strength originally developed by us is easy and useful to understand changes of age-related muscular strength.
Neural Adaptability: A Biological Determinant of Behavioral Intelligence

Despite a history of attempts, neuroscience has thus far failed to identify a validated biological determinant of behavioral intelligence. Cognitive variables such as selective attention, expectancy and information processing workload modulate the amplitude of evoked cortical potentials (EPs), thereby demonstrating the operation of cognitive neural adaptability. It seems reasonable to postulate that individual differences in this aspect of neural function could relate to individual differences in behavioral intelligence: the electrophysiologically adaptable brain should be the behaviorally bright brain.To test this hypothesis I gathered auditory EPs from 109 normal and 52 mentally retarded adults under three stimulation conditions (periodic, self, and random) designed to manipulate temporal expectancy.The normal adults showed a strong temporal expectancy effect on their EPs, giving smaller than average EPs to expected inputs and larger than average brain responses to unexpected stimuli. In contrast, the r...
Contrasting Growth Patterns of Suspension-Feeding Molluscs (Mercenaria mercenaria, Crassostrea virginica, Argopecten irradians, and Crepidula fornicata) Across a Eutrophication Gradient in the Peconic Estuary, NY, USA

While many coastal ecosystems previously supported dense meadows of seagrass and dense stocks of bivalves, the impacts of overfishing, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and habitat loss have contributed to the decline of these important resources. Anthropogenic nutrient loading and subsequent eutrophication has been identified by some researchers as a primary driver of these losses, but others have described potential positive effects of eutrophication on some estuarine resources. The Peconic Estuary, Long Island, NY, USA, offers a naturally occurring nutrient-loading gradient from eutrophic tidal creeks in its western reaches to mesotrophic bays in the eastern region. Over 2 years, we conducted an experiment across this gradient to examine the effects of eutrophication on the growth of estuarine species, including juvenile bivalves (northern quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria), eastern oysters, (Crassostrea virginica), and bay scallops (Argopecten irradians)) and slipper limpet (Crepidula fornicata). Water quality and phytoplankton community biomass and composition were concurrently monitored at each site, and the effects of these variables on the growth of estuarine species were analyzed with multiple regression model. Eutrophication seemed to impact shellfish through changes in the quality of food and not the quantity since the growth rates of shellfish were more often correlated with densities of specific cell types or quality of seston rather than bulk measures of phytoplankton and organic seston. Northern quahogs and eastern oysters grew maximally within eutrophic locales, and their growth was positively correlated with high densities of autotrophic nanoflagellates and centric diatoms in these regions (p < 0.001). The growth rates of northern quahogs were also positively correlated with relative water motion, suggesting an important role for tidal currents in delivering seston to suspension feeders. Bay scallops and slipper limpets were negatively impacted by eutrophication, growing at the slowest rate at the most eutrophic sites. Furthermore, bay scallop growth was negatively correlated with densities of dinoflagellates, which were more abundant at the most eutrophic site (p < 0.001). These results suggest that nutrient loading can have significant but complex effects on suspension-feeding molluscs with select species (e.g., oysters and clams) benefiting from eutrophication and other species performing poorly (e.g., scallops and slipper limpets). Future management approaches that seek to restore bivalve populations will need to account for the differential effects of nutrient loading as managers target species and regions to be restored.
Fathers: The Invisible Parent.

Viewing the family as a system of interdependent roles has frequently led to the assumption that fathers, in comparison with mothers, play highly restricted roles vis-a-vis their children. Much of the literature on fathers, in point of fact, stresses their absence, their disinterest, and lack of competence in child care. Reported here are findings from a sample of 231 families which suggest that this conception of fatherhood does an injustice to the empirical case. The evidence indicates that when the amount of time available to spend with children is considered, the father's involvement with his children is equal to that of the mother's. Under certain conditions, in fact, father-child involvement exceeds the child-related activities performed by mothers.
What I Learned from Teaching Adult Learners Online

Being asked to teach an online course when you are inexperienced with distance education can be daunting. Denise A. Blake of Shenandoah University reflects on her personal experience with e-learning, which started just in this way. She shares what she learned about online learners, particularly adult students, and what instructors should be doing to meet their needs.
Mapping spatio-temporal changes of Chinese electric power consumption using night-time imagery

China's rapid economic development in the last 20 years has resulted in increased demand for electricity and ensuing shortages in electric power supply. It is necessary to derive accurate and timely information regarding changing spatio-temporal patterns and trends of electric power consumption to inform future electricity allocation. Night-time annual image composites for 1995–2005 were obtained from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Linescan System and were inter-calibrated. The inter-calibrated night-time image composites were used in conjunction with the LandScan 2008 population data to estimate the amounts of electric power consumption in 1995, 2000 and 2005 for China at the province level. The estimated amounts of electric power consumption were then disaggregated to the pixel level. A pixel-based map was produced to show the spatio-temporal changes of electric power consumption from 1995 to 2005, in which 11 regional agglomerations with large increases of electric power consumption had emerged. During the process of producing this spatio-temporal change map, some errors were generated because of the use of single-year LandScan population data, imperfect reference regions for inter-calibration and a single threshold value for delimiting urban areas. However, we believe these errors are limited and acceptable, so we present this method of estimation and disaggregation to show the increases in electric consumption.
Why the pre-Copernican cosmological revolution was not a revolution?

Abstract The ‘scientific component’ of the Copernican cosmological revolution followed a seemingly minor local structural change (consisting of the transposition of the Earth and the Sun), initially not affecting the global Platonic-Aristotelian spherical symmetry of the Universe and the general arrangement of astronomical bodies at sufficiently large distances from its center. Yet this change resulted in a rich ‘ideological component’ of the Copernican revolution in the Popperian sense; the importance of this ideological component is generally regarded as a consequence of the tensions arising from apparent contradictions between the new cosmos and several Scriptural passages (as if the previous Platonic-Aristotelian cosmos were in perfect agreement with the Scriptures, which certainly was not the case). The scientific component of the pre-Copernican cosmological revolution (replacing the plane-parallel scriptural cosmos with the spherically symmetric non-scriptural Universe of Plato and Aristotle), was a major global change in the large-scale structure of the Universe. This change took place at different times in different places in Christendom, and was by no means ideologically revolutionary: the pre-Copernican revolution had a very insignificant ‘ideological component’. In this paper, after examining this transition in more detail, we shall ask the pertinent question: why did the pre-Copernican cosmological revolution not have any significant ‘ideological component’? If the God-created Universe could be depicted in the opinion of the majority of Church Fathers and Schoolmen by the (non-scriptural) spherically symmetric Platonic or Aristotelian model as well as by the (scriptural) tabernacular Babylonian model, then why couldn't it be described just as well in the opinion of 17th century churchmen by the (also non-scriptural) Copernican model? The paper suggests that the tentative answers to these questions are provided by different anthropocentric ramifications of respective cosmologies which determine the difference between the ideological components of the two cosmological revolutions. At the time of the Copernican revolution, there was no conceivable alternative to a geometric conceptualization of mankind's centrality in the Universe. That is why geometric decentralization was fought against with such intensity. It took three centuries and a radically different cosmological paradigm to find another (anthropic) form of understanding this centrality, after it was seemingly lost for such a long time.
Foam Separation of Phenolate, Orthophosphate, and Dichromate; Batch and Continuous, Multicolumn Operation

Abstract Results in terms of residual ratios are compared for the batch foam separation from aqueous solution of phenolate, orthophosphate, and dichromate, using a cationic surface-active agent. Effects of pH and of initial surfactant concentration are considered and dichromate is most readily separated. For the single-column foam separation of dichromate in a continuous flow unit, residual ratios are minimized at a feed dichromate concentration of 60 mg/liter, for feed surfactant/dichromate ratios ranging from 3 to 4 g/g. The performances of series, multicolumn units have been calculated in terms of various parameters for feed dichromate concentrations of 25,50, and 100 mg/liter. Better results for single (and multiple) columns could be achieved by using a greater foam height, with the feeds entering at the midpoint of the column of foam.
Comparative studies of glandular scent marking in Meriones tristrami an Israeli gerbil

Abstract Meriones tristrami a gerbil species from Israel, scent marks low-lying objects in its environment with a ventral sebaceous scent gland. Castration of males was followed by atrophy of the scent gland, and a decrease in marking frequency. Methyltestosterone (5 mg/day), administered in the diet, partially restored both the gland and the marking behavior. Intact males, but not females, showed an attraction to sebum odors from the scent glands of strange conspecific males. This pattern of hormone control and responsiveness to sebum odors in M. tristrami is compared to that previously reported for Meriones unguiculatus , a related species.
Depression in diabetics: A critical appraisal

Abstract Depression can be encountered concurrently with chronic medical illnesses. The low mood and its associated symptoms may comprise a reaction to a protracted malady, an independent primary affective disorder, a consequence of characterological vulnerabilities highlighted by the medical illness, a side effect of drugs employed to treat other conditions, or perhaps a direct result of the illness process. As one of the most frequent chronic medical conditions, diabetes mellitus can be expected to be associated with depression in a considerable number of instances. Previous efforts to characterize psychological factors, accompanying diabetes have been marred by methodological problems, especially inadequate measuring devices and unreliable psychiatric diagnostic criteria. While the literature is suggestive, firm conclusions cannot be drawn. A systematic description of the relationship between depression and diabetes, detailing incidence and prevalence of depression in diabetics, the effect of depression on blood glucose control, the applicability of standard diagnostic criteria for identifying depression in diabetics, and the fit of theoretical models of depression to such a population, is not available. The authors focus on controlled studies which examine psychological variables relevant to depression in diabetics. The use of clearly delineated diagnostic criteria, instruments, and research subjects is advocated. Suggestions are made for designing studies within the framework of theoretical models of depression.
Substance abuse and managed care

Substance abuse by the late 1980s had already become a prominent, out-of-control sector of health care. Some of the reasons for this crisis, as well as more recent changes in this specialty field, are explicated in this chapter.
THE KETOGENIC ACTIVITY OF CORTICOTROPIN, A PRESUMED EXTRA-ADRENAL ACTION

The ketogenic response to protein ACTH, oxyeel-adsorbed ACTH, Corticotropin A, mixtures of purified corticotropin peptides, pepsin and chymotrypsin digestion products of β-corticotropin, β-MSH and commercial vasopressin has been tested in intact rats, according to techniques previously described. It has already been shown that corticotropin induces ketosis in adrenalectomized rats and hence the response studied is presumed to be an extra-adrenal one. Oxycel corticotropin, Corticotropin A and various mixtures of corticotropin peptides (α1 – α2 and γ-pool corticotropin, American Cyanamid Company) exhibited high ketogenic activity whereas a protein ACTH (Armour), three products of pepsin digestion and one of chymotrypsin digestion and fraction δ-1 of the American Cyanamid Company had markedly decreased activity. The ketogenic active corticotropins also were known to have ascorbic acid depleting and MSH activities, as did the peptides from pepsin digestion. The chymotrypsin peptide was devoid of biological ac...
Why is cleistogamy a selected reproductive strategy in Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae)

Cleistogamy (self-fertilization in closed flowers) differs from chasmogamy (open-pollinated fertilization) mainly in sustaining selfing. Why numerous species develop both of the reproductive modes on the same individuals has long puzzled biologists. In a novel hypothesis presented here, I propose that cleistogamy could be a means by which inbred lines are created and maintained in natural populations; these lines would continuously experience self-improvement via natural selection and via crosses among lines at the chasmogamous flowers to benefit the populations. Supporting evidence for the hypothesis was found in Impatiens capensis where cleistogamous ovules were fertilized proportionately less (56%) than chasmogamous ovules (67%) in natural populations, but crosses among cleistogamous progeny in the greenhouse led to a nearly 10% increase of fertilized chasmogamous ovules. I established a novel fitness model specific to the cleistogamous species to further examine how various aspects of the mating system affect plant performance. A low inbreeding depression (0.07) was consequently found for the surveyed natural populations of I. capensis, suggesting that the individual-level percentage of cleistogamy and the population-level selfing rate may have evolved in the direction of reducing the overall inbreeding depression. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 75, 543–553.
Feasibility study on optical heterodyne MSK receiver using synchronous demodulation

The feasibility study of an optical heterodyne MSK (minimum shift keying) synchronous receiver based on a Costas loop circuit is presented. The theoretical performance of the receiver is evaluated in terms of the laser linewidth requirements, loop bandwidth, and quantum noise limited sensitivity for the permissible phase error and bit rate. The optimum loop bandwidth has been found to be 32.7% of the bit rate and the theoretical quantum noise limited receiver sensitivity is evaluated to be 29.63*10/sup -19/ R/sub b/. The signal power required for reliable phase-locking is found to be 12.05*10/sup -16/ Delta nu watts. It is shown that an IF (intermediate frequency) linewidth of less than 0.24% of the bit rate is required to avoid performance degradation of approximately 1.0 dB due to imperfect phase locking. Therefore, the synchronous MSK receiver can be implemented using the presently available semiconductor lasers. The receiver sensitivity has been improved due to the compact spectrum of the MSK signal, giving an advantage over other schemes for high-speed optical systems operating in the multigigabit range. >
Seasonal Changes in Visual Field Sensitivity and Intraocular Pressure in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study

Purpose Longitudinal testing plays a key role in glaucoma management. Variability between visits hampers the ability to monitor progression. It has previously been shown that average intraocular pressure (IOP) exhibits seasonal fluctuations. This study examines whether visual field sensitivity also exhibits seasonal fluctuations and seeks to determine whether such fluctuations are correlated to seasonal IOP effects. Design Comparative case series. Participants A total of 33 873 visits by 1636 participants enrolled in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. Participants were split into 6 geographic zones according to the prevailing climate in their location. Testing At each visit, standard automated perimetry was conducted on each eye, and IOP was measured. Main Outcome Measures Mixed effects regression models were formed to look for sinusoidal periodic effects on the change in perimetric mean deviation since the last visit (ΔMD) and on IOP, both overall and within each zone. Results When all the data were included, a significant seasonal effect on ΔMD was found with magnitude 0.06 dB, peaking in February ( P P = 0.049) to 0.21 dB ( P P ≤ 0.02 in all cases). However, there was no evidence of a significant association between the magnitudes or dates of peaks of the 2 seasonal effects. Conclusions The mean deviation was significantly higher in winter than in summer. There is no evidence of an association with seasonal IOP fluctuations. The cause of the seasonal effect on visual field sensitivity is unknown. These findings may help shed light on the glaucomatous disease process and aid efforts to reduce test–retest variability. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Quantifying Culvert Exit Loss

According to the Federal Highway Administration’s Hydraulic Design of Highway Culverts (HDS-5) Manual and the Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) Reference Manual, the exit loss associated with a culvert discharging into a downstream channel is equal to the change in culvert and channel velocity heads or a loss coefficient multiplied by the culvert velocity head. For a short culvert, the calculated exit loss often represents the largest single system energy loss component. To investigate the apparent dominance of exit loss in outlet control culvert hydraulics, a laboratory culvert exit loss study was conducted using prototype-scale culverts, with projecting end treatments, discharging into a downstream channel where all of the channel discharge was supplied by the culvert. The experimentally determined exit losses were compared with predicted exit loss values using traditional exit loss equations and the Borda–Carnot minor loss expression, which is traditionally used to quantify ...
Exploring Confidence Levels of Pre-Service Teachers in Physical Education Field Experiences

The confidence levels of pre-service teachers have an impact on how effective they will be in a classroom setting. The purpose of this study is to examine the confidence levels of 16 pre-service teachers while teaching physical education and health. The college students were enrolled in a college clinical site field experience course and were placed with cooperating teachers of primary and elementary aged students. An Institutional Review Board-approved pre-test and post-test survey focused on three main confidence based statements: a) I am confident I can handle inappropriate behavior professionally, (b) I am confident with my classroom management skills and (c) I am confident I will make effective use of all class time. Using a repeated measure analysis of variance, results indicated significance on all three items at the .05 level
Performance comparison of hybrid vehicle energy management controllers on real-world drive cycle data

Hybrid Vehicle fuel economy and drivability performance are very sensitive to the “Energy Management” controller that regulates power flow among the various energy sources and sinks. Many methods have been proposed for designing such controllers. Most analytical studies evaluate closed-loop performance on government test cycles. Moreover, there are few results that compare stochastic optimal control algorithms to the controllers employed in today's production hybrids. This paper studies controllers designed using Shortest Path Stochastic Dynamic Programming (SPSDP). The controllers are evaluated on Ford Motor Company's highly accurate proprietary vehicle model over large numbers of real-world drive cycles, and compared to a controller developed by Ford for a prototype vehicle. Results show the SPSDP-based controllers yield 2–3% better performance than the Ford controller on real-world driving data, with even more improvement on a government test cycle. In addition, the SPSDP-based controllers can directly quantify tradeoffs between fuel economy and drivability.
Scalable liveness checking via property-preserving transformations

The ability of logic transformations to enhance safety property checking has been well-established, and many industrial-strength verification solutions accordingly rely upon a variety of synthesis and abstraction techniques for speed and scalability. However, little prior work has addressed the applicability of such transformations in the domain of liveness checking. In this paper, we provide the theoretical foundation to enable the efficient use of a variety of (possibly customized) transformations in a liveness-checking framework. We demonstrate the practical utility of this theory on a variety of complex verification problems.
On detecting linear frequency-modulated waveforms in frequency- and time-dispersive channels: alternatives to segmented replica correlation

In modern active sonars, so-called "high-gain" waveforms are used to obtain processing gain for improved detection performance in reverberation. In time and frequency spread channels, the full processing gain of these waveforms is not achievable and robust detectors are needed. It is common practice to use a segmented replica correlator (SRC) detector for robust detection in such environments. In this paper, we show that an alternative processor formed by integrating the full replica correlator output magnitude squared, denoted RCI for replica correlator integrator, has advantages over the SRC when the waveform is linear frequency modulated (LFM). The RCI is better suited to the case of unknown time spreading through the use of a bank of integrators tuned for a wide range of spreading widths. The SRC, on the other hand, may be designed only for a fixed amount of distortion. Computer simulations are used to show how a multihypothesis RCI processor improves upon the fixed SRC by up to 4 dB over a realistic range of time spreading widths. >
Managing occurrence branching in qualitative simulation

Qualitative simulators can produce common sense abstractions of complex behaviors given only partial knowledge about a system. One of the problems which limits the applicability of qualitative simulators is the intractable branching of successor states encountered with model of even modest size. Some branches may be unavoidable due to the complex nature of a system. Other branches may be accidental results of the model chosen. A common source of intractability is occurrence branching. Occurrence branching occurs when the state transitions of two variables are unordered with respect to each other. This paper extends the QSIM model to distinguish between interesting occurrence branching and uninteresting occurrence branching. A representation, algorithm, and simulator for efficiently handling uninteresting branching is presented.
A Game Theoretic Approach for Simultaneous Compaction and Equipartitioning of Spatial Data Sets

Data and object clustering techniques are used in a wide variety of scientific applications such as biology, pattern recognition, information systems, etc. Traditionally, clustering methods have focused on optimizing a single metric, however, several multidisciplinary applications such as robot team deployment, ad hoc networks, facility location, etc., require the simultaneous examination of multiple metrics during clustering. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for spatial data clustering based on the concepts of microeconomic theory, which can simultaneously optimize both the compaction and the equipartitioning objectives. The algorithm models a multistep, normal form game consisting of randomly initialized clusters as players that compete for the allocation of data objects from resource locations. A Nash-equilibrium-based methodology is used to derive solutions that are socially fair for all the players. After each step, the clusters are updated using the KMeans algorithm, and the process is repeated until the stopping criteria are satisfied. Extensive simulations were performed on several real data sets as well as artificially synthesized data sets to evaluate the efficacy of the algorithm. Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm yields significantly better results as compared to the traditional algorithms. Further, the proposed algorithm yields a high value of fairness, a metric that indicates the quality of the solution in terms of simultaneous optimization of the objectives. Also, the sensitivity of the various design parameters on the performance of our algorithm is analyzed and reported.
Exploring Alternatives in an Automotive Industry Job Shop Using Simulation

The bastion of simulation application has long been the manufacturing industry. In particular, the major corporations within the automotive industry, which is highly complex, multiply tiered, and a significant component of the manufacturing economic sector in both North America and Europe, have repeatedly, aggressively, and profitably applied simulation to the investigation and improvement of production systems. However, many of the smaller companies supplying components to motor vehicle manufacturers have had greater difficulty accessing and applying simulation technology. This difficulty, in the experience of the first author, is typically due to high initial costs, political inertia among managers, or both. In this case study, the authors examine the introduction and use of discrete process simulation into an automotive component supplier for the examination of various plausible scenarios whose effects production engineers and their management wished to anticipate.
PERSPECTIVE: Trends and Drivers of Success in NPD Practices: Results of the 2003 PDMA Best Practices Study*

Since 1990, the Product Development & Management Association (PDMA) has sponsored best practice research projects to identify trends in new product development (NPD) management practices and to discern which practices are associated with higher degrees of success. The objective of this ongoing research is to assist managers in determining how to improve their own product development methods and practices. This paper presents results, recommendations, and implications for NPD practice stemming from PDMA’s third best practices study, which was conducted in 2003. In the eight years since the previous best practices study was conducted, firms have become slightly more conservative in the portfolio of projects, with lower percentages of the total number of projects in the new-to-the-world and new-to-the-firm categories. Although success rates and development efficiencies have remained stable, this more conservative approach to NPD seems to have negatively impacted the sales and profits impact of the new products that have been commercialized. As formal processes for NPD are now the norm, attention is moving to managing the multiple projects across the portfolio in a more orchestrated manner. Finally, firms are implementing a wide variety of software support tools for various aspects of NPD. NPD areas still seriously in need of improved management include idea management, project leadership and training, cross-functional training and team communication support, and innovation support and leadership by management. In terms of aspects of NPD management that differentiate the ‘‘best from the rest,’’ the findings indicate that the best firms emphasize and integrate their innovation strategy across all the levels of the firm, better support their people and team communications, conduct extensive experimentation, and use numerous kinds of new methods and techniques to support NPD. All companies appear to continue to struggle with the recording of ideas and making them readily available to others in the organization, even the best. What remains unclear is whether there is a preferable approach for organizing the NPD endeavor, as no one organizational approach distinguished top NPD performers.
Nonlinear Diffusion Model for Fabric Image Denoising

In this paper, five nonlinear diffusion models for fabric image denoising are introduced. The advantages and drawbacks of these five models are described through describing their implementation methods. Quantitative and perceptual comparison experiments are given to verify the performance of these methods. Finally some valuable conclusions about denoising performance of these five models are present which is helpful for choosing and using these models in fabric image denoising.
The Mediating Influence of Treatment Participation Rate on Post-Treatment Employment:

This study explored treatment participation rate as a mediator between individuals’ baseline alcohol use, drug use, and psychiatric issue levels and post-treatment employment status. The study sample included 106 unemployed or underemployed individuals with substance use disorders who were participants in an intensive drug abuse treatment program. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine relationships between study variables. The results showed that (a) the direct effect of individuals’ baseline alcohol use, drug use, and psychiatric issue severities reduced treatment participation rate; (b) the direct effect of treatment participation rate ameliorated post-treatment employment status; and (c) the indirect effect of individuals’ baseline alcohol use, drug use, and psychiatric issue severities on post-treatment employment status was mediated by treatment participation rate, which reduced the negative influence of baseline issue severity on employment. This significant mediating effect has both p...
Designing a Sunshade Installation for the UT Zero Energy House: An Exploration in Generative Modeling Technology

The subjective quality of architectural design requires all designers to consider an infinite set of possibilities to a project design. Logically, the faster a designer can visualize and communicate possible ideas within a given time frame, the better their opportunity to discover the best design solution. Ultimately, perfection in architectural design can never be achieved, but its pursuit does lead to a more refined solution. Computer-aided drafting and modeling has provided designers more efficient visualization of project designs, increased productivity, and enhanced workflow; however, with the increasing complexity of contemporary designs, new generative modeling technology must be employed to sustain efficient productivity in the design process. Generative modeling is a computer software technology which allows the designer to provide a set of parameters in which a programming script can be written to generate elements within a given domain. This technology allows the designer to model highly customizable and complex elements which can be generated at the speed of a computer calculation. What are some benefits of generative modeling technology, and does it support practicing sustainable design? This paper will discuss the implementation of Grasshopper (revised for version 0.8.0003), a generative modeling plug-in for the NURBS modeling program Rhinoceros (version 4.0 SR8), and its role in creating a sunshade installation by a research design team for the zero energy house project at the University of Tennessee. More importantly, the instructive description of the design and fabrication process will show that the same steps can be adapted to other architectural projects. Then, the paper will conclude with a brief case study, the CBD Media Tower, and its use of Grasshopper to provide enhanced modeling and visualization techniques.
Foreign Currency Derivatives

A foreign currency derivative is a financial derivative whose payoff depends on the foreign exchange rates of two (or more) currencies. These instruments are commonly used for hedging foreign exchange risk or for currency speculation and arbitrage. Specific foreign exchange derivatives include: foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency futures, foreign currency swaps, currency options, and foreign exchange binary options. These instruments are called derivatives because their value is derived from an underlying asset, a foreign currency. The financial managers of MNCs purchase these financial derivatives in order to reduce the risk associated with cash flows denominated in foreign currency, hedging this exchange rate risk or to take positions in the expectation of profit, speculation, or arbitrage. Financial derivatives are powerful tools of hedging (redistributing) foreign exchange risk, but at the same time, they are very risky instruments for inexperienced financial managers. Lately, there were many cases in which financial managers generated enormous losses for their companies (mostly banks) and led them to bankruptcy. Of course, the rule is always moderation and prudence. If we want to go one step further, the rule is the maximization of the social welfare of a nation.
Abstract NS5: Pre-diabetes in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study: A Disregarded Stroke Risk?

Background: Pre-diabetes is a new diagnostic category that is highly associated with a future diagnosis of diabetes. Given the risk for stroke associated with diabetes, we sought to determine bio-behavioral factors associated with pre-diabetes in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort. Methods: Participants who were normoglycemic (15,121) and pre-diabetic (4,768) were included. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of bio-behavioral factors (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity) and prevalence of pre-diabetes. Results: The analysis cohort was 36% African American and 64% White, with more Whites (67%) living within the Stroke Belt. Mean age of subjects was 64.5 + 10 years. The odds of having pre-diabetes as an African American regardless of region was 1.28 (95% CI: 1.19-1.36) compared to Whites, while the odds of having pre-diabetes as an African American living in the Stroke Belt was 1.29 (95% CI: 1.21-1.38) . African Americans with pre-diabetes were less educated (p 4 times/week. A higher perceived health status was reported among Whites and people living outside the Stroke Belt with pre-diabetes (p Conclusion: African American race and living in the Stroke Belt region are associated with increased odds of pre-diabetes. Interventions that aim to prevent pre-diabetes, as well as those that minimize development of a subsequent diabetes diagnosis, may play an important role in reducing future stroke events.
Model-independent inference of neutron star radii from moment of inertia measurements

A precise moment of inertia measurement for PSR J0737-3039A in the double pulsar system is expected within the next five years. We present here a new method of mapping the anticipated measurement of the moment of inertia directly into the neutron star structure. We determine the maximum and minimum values possible for the moment of inertia of a neutron star of a given radius based on physical stability arguments, assuming knowledge of the equation of state only at densities below the nuclear saturation density. If the equation of state is trusted up to the nuclear saturation density, we find that a measurement of the moment of inertia will place absolute bounds on the radius of PSR J0737-3039A to within $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ km. The resulting combination of moment of inertia, mass, and radius measurements for a single source will allow for new, stringent constraints on the dense-matter equation of state.
Pancreatic cyst fluid biomarkers guide clinical recommendation for surgical management

s / Pancreatology 13 (2013) e1–e94 e47 stent group and 61% in the SEMS group (p1⁄4 0.058). In 5 cases the preoperative bilirubin level was higher than the level at the time of ERCP. Plastic stents were used in four of them, giving a “functional stent failure“ percentage of 2.5% in the plastic and 3.6% in the SEMS group (p1⁄40.566). The median bacterial score of the intraoperative bile juice samples or postoperative infection complication rate did not differ between the stent groups. Postoperative pancreatic fistulas were found in 14% giving no difference between the two stent groups. The 30-days postoperative mortality was 0%. Conclusions: Plastic stents did not differ from SEMS when used for PBD. The significantly higher price of SEMS should limit their use in selected cases only.
Daughters of the Drum: Decolonizing health and wellness with Native American women:

In many pre-colonial tribal communities, Native American women held significant positions as keepers and teachers of health and wellness practices. Today, however, Native American women’s status is often relegated to the margins in colonial society, as they are disproportionately affected by health disparities resulting from legacies of historical trauma. This study explores the decolonization of the health and wellness of Native American women in the United States Pacific Northwest. Through a culturally centered qualitative study utilizing photovoice and talking circles, several themes emerge illuminating important and nuanced aspects of resilience related to perceptions of health and wellness. Four Native American women aged 26–46, including myself, participated in the study in the summer of 2014. Utilizing the indigenist stress- coping model, interpretive coding in real time suggests that land, language, and diet are important principles of a decolonized perception of health and wellness centered on the women’s experiences together as members of the drum group Daughters of the Drum.
Study on the Security Issues and Strategies of Power Soft-switching System

The evolution from administrative switching and dispatching exchange to soft-switch system in electricity is an inevitable trend.The soft-switch system is the packet IP-based data communications system essentially.It must meet the overall security requirements of the electric secondary system.This paper analyzes the P2DRR secure model and secure risk of electric soft-switch system.According to the perspective of system secure isolation,it builds private networks by using MPLS VPN technology.And according to secure isolation requirements with different systems,it uses secure isolation device to internet with other power business system network,uses session border control gateway to internet with other soft-switch system network,and uses edge communications agent technology to internet with terminal access network.