cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-Traditional Teaching Methods for Emergency Care Education: Student Perceptions

Abstract Six non-traditional, behavior oriented, teaching methods were used in a bystander educational unit as an adjunct to a traditional university first aid course. The behavioral objective of the unit was to improve emergency helping behavior by helping students overcome the psychological barriers that inhibit helping. As hypothesized, exposure to the unit resulted in more frequent (53 percent vs. 34 percent) and more appropriate (33 percent vs. 7 percent) emergency helping behavior. Using student perceptions as a basis, this article attempts to evaluate the relative impact of each behavior modification teaching method in relation to emergency helping. After receiving the bystander educational unit, students were asked to rank the teaching methods (from one to six) in order of perceived effectiveness. A “GPA-like” score then was calculated for each method based on student rankings. Teaching methods were scored by students as follows: Mental Imagery (2.41), Goal Setting (2.30), Modeling (1.97), Psychol...
Deep Learning Techniques in Neuroergonomics

There is increasing interest in using deep learning (DL) for neuroergonomics research that investigates the human brain in relation to behavioral performance in natural environments and everyday settings. But a better understanding of how to design and implement DL techniques is still needed for neuroergonomists. Written for novice neuroergonomists as well as experienced investigators, this chapter presents the history of advancements in DL, its concepts, and applications of DL in neuroergonomics research. In addition to artificial neural network (ANN) which is a basic model for DL, this chapter introduces popular DL models such as the multilayer perceptron (MLP), deep belief network (DBN), convolutional neural network (CNN), and recurrent neural networks (RNN). DL-based neuroergonomics research on four main research areas (i.e., mental workload, motor imagery, driving safety, and emotion recognition) will then be reviewed. Insights into how to model and apply DL techniques will be helpful for neuroergonomics researchers, in particular those who are not familiar with DL, but want to predict and classify brain states under various contexts.
Influence of forest disturbance on bobcat resource selection in the central Appalachians

Abstract Similar to trends across the eastern United States, the central Appalachian Mountains were nearly entirely deforested by the early 20th century, then regenerated with a drastically altered disturbance regime. Forests found across much of the region today share little resemblance to the forest communities in which native wildlife evolved, including bobcats (Lynx rufus), a species adapted to stalking and ambushing prey in dense concealment cover. Managers implement efforts to restore historical forest structure and create wildlife habitat using prescribed fire, timber harvest, and maintained clearings. We developed resource selection functions utilizing GPS telemetry data from 9 bobcats (6 male, 3 female) monitored in 2018–2019 to investigate how prescribed fire, timber harvest, and forest edge may influence 3rd order (i.e. within home range) resource selection of bobcats in the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia, USA. We found that bobcats selected for forest-edge, fire-created canopy openings, and recently harvested forest stands, and avoided the forest interior. Bobcats are likely selecting for these areas because of increased prey and cover. The comparatively widespread use of fire in this study area has allowed novel insight into the effects of prescribed fire on bobcat space use and demonstrates the ecological importance of future efforts to restore historical fire cycles in the Appalachians. As one of the largest carnivores in Appalachian ecosystems and the only wild felid remaining in the region, we suggest managers consider bobcat ecology when planning habitat management strategies and communicate those strategies to the public. Our results demonstrate that silvicultural practices that aim to mimic historical forest disturbance likely benefit native wildlife, as evident from selection of these treatments by bobcats in this system.
Comparisons of Auditory Brainstem Responses Between a Laboratory and Simulated Home Environment

Purpose Miniaturization of digital technologies has created new opportunities for remote health care and neuroscientific fieldwork. The current study assesses comparisons between in-home auditory brainstem response (ABR) recordings and recordings obtained in a traditional lab setting. Method Click-evoked and speech-evoked ABRs were recorded in 12 normal-hearing, young adult participants over three test sessions in (a) a shielded sound booth within a research lab, (b) a simulated home environment, and (c) the research lab once more. The same single-family house was used for all home testing. Results Analyses of ABR latencies, a common clinical metric, showed high repeatability between the home and lab environments across both the click-evoked and speech-evoked ABRs. Like ABR latencies, response consistency and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were robust both in the lab and in the home and did not show significant differences between locations, although variability between the home and lab was higher than latencies, with two participants influencing this lower repeatability between locations. Response consistency and SNR also patterned together, with a trend for higher SNRs to pair with more consistent responses in both the home and lab environments. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining high-quality ABR recordings within a simulated home environment that closely approximate those recorded in a more traditional recording environment. This line of work may open doors to greater accessibility to underserved clinical and research populations.
Diurnal evolution of urban tree temperature at a city scale

Despite the importance of urban trees' surface temperature in assessing micro-climate interactions between trees and the surrounding environment, their diurnal evolution has been largely understudied at a city-wide scale due to a lack of effective thermal observations. By downscaling ECOSTRESS land surface temperature imaginary over New York City, we provide the first diurnal analysis of city-scale canopy temperature. Research reveals a remarkable spatial variation of the canopy temperature during daytime up to 5.6 K (standard deviation, STD), while the nighttime STD remains low at 1.7 K. Further, our analysis shows that the greenspace coverage and distance to bluespaces play an important role in cooling the local canopy during daytime, explaining 25.0-41.1% of daytime spatial variation of canopy temperatures while surrounding buildings modulate canopy temperature asymmetrically diurnally: reduced daytime warming and reduced nocturnal cooling. Built on space-borne observations and a flexible yet robust statistical method, our research design can be easily transferable to explore urban trees' response to local climate across cities, highlighting the potentials of advancing the science and technologies for urban forest management.
Predicting Future Care Requirements Using Machine Learning for Pediatric Intensive and Routine Care Inpatients.

Develop and compare separate prediction models for ICU and non-ICU care for hospitalized children in four future time periods (6-12, 12-18, 18-24, and 24-30 hr) and assess these models in an independent cohort and simulated children's hospital. Design Predictive modeling used cohorts from the Health Facts database (Cerner Corporation, Kansas City, MO). Setting Children hospitalized in ICUs. Patients Children with greater than or equal to one ICU admission (n = 20,014) and randomly selected routine care children without ICU admission (n = 20,130) from 2009 to 2016 were used for model development and validation. An independent 2017-2018 cohort consisted of 80,089 children. Interventions None. Measurement and main results Initially, we undersampled non-ICU patients for development and comparison of the models. We randomly assigned 64% of patients for training, 8% for validation, and 28% for testing in both clinical groups. Two additional validation cohorts were tested: a simulated children's hospitals and the 2017-2018 cohort. The main outcome was ICU care or non-ICU care in four future time periods based on physiology, therapy, and care intensity. Four independent, sequential, and fully connected neural networks were calibrated to risk of ICU care at each time period. Performance for all models in the test sample were comparable including sensitivity greater than or equal to 0.727, specificity greater than or equal to 0.885, accuracy greater than 0.850, area under the receiver operating characteristic curves greater than or equal to 0.917, and all had excellent calibration (all R2 s > 0.98). Model performance in the 2017-2018 cohort was sensitivity greater than or equal to 0.545, specificity greater than or equal to 0.972, accuracy greater than or equal to 0.921, area under the receiver operating characteristic curves greater than or equal to 0.946, and R2 s greater than or equal to 0.979. Performance metrics were comparable for the simulated children's hospital and for hospitals stratified by teaching status, bed numbers, and geographic location. Conclusions Machine learning models using physiology, therapy, and care intensity predicting future care needs had promising performance metrics. Notably, performance metrics were similar as the prediction time periods increased from 6-12 hours to 24-30 hours.
5 No Alternative: Resolving Disputes Japanese Style

This article critiques the simple black/white categorisation of mainstream versus alternative dispute resolution, and argues that what is needed is a cartography of dispute resolution institutions that maps the full range of approaches and traces their interaction. It sketches the first lines of such a map by describing two examples of conflict resolution in Japan. Neither can justly be called “alternative”, yet neither fits the mold of what might be called mainstream or classical dispute resolution. One, judicial settlement, focuses on process; the other, compensating victims of the Fukushima disaster, engages a specific event. Together, they help to illustrate why the term ADR is so unhelpful in our effort to classify and analyse conflict domestically and cross-culturally, and provide some insight into the rich array of methods that people use to settle their disputes.
The Service Philosophy of the Academic Library

The Information Revolution has impacted the service philosophy of academic libraries; transformation has offered further opportunities for change in service. As the emphasis of academic librarianship moves away from collecting materials, the service philosophy will become a strong component of librarianship that is committed to access. Not only individual libraries, but all of academic librarianship, must transform. The service philosophy is the foundation of our future.
Anaerobic isolates in chronic recurrent suppurative otitis media. Treatment with carbenicillin alone and in combination with gentamicin.

Tympanocentesis was performed in 32 pediatric patients with chronic recurrent suppurative otitis media. The aspirate was cultured aerobically and anaerobically. Aerobes were isolated from ten patients (31.2%); anaerobes from one patient; and both aerobes and anaerobes from 21 patients (65.6%). There were 46 aerobic isolates. The aerobes commonly recovered werePseudomonas aeruginosa (24 isolates)Proteus sp. (5) andStaphylococcus aureus (3). There were 32 anaerobes isolated including anaerobic gram-positive cocci (19 isolates) andBacteroides sp., the latter of which includedBacteroides fragilis group andBacteroides melaninogenicus (9). The patients were treated by parenteral carbenicillin 300 to 400 mg per kg per day given in four dosages administered for a period of 12 to 21 days (average 17 days). An aminoglycoside (gentamicin) was added in 15 patients. The clinical response was good in 17 patients and poor in 15. There were no side effects or adverse reactions noted during therapy. The above findings demonstrate the polymicrobial etiology of chronic recurrent suppurative otitis media and suggest that treatment directed against the aerobic and anaerobic isolates is efficacious in more than half of the cases.
Survival, growth, and photosynthesis of tree seedlings competing with herbaceous vegetation along a water-light-nitrogen gradient

In herbaceous dominated patches and ecosystems, tree establishment is influenced partly by the ability of woody seedlings to survive and grow in direct competition with herbaceous vegetation. We studied the importance of season long wet and dry spells on the competitive interactions between herbaceous vegetation and oak seedlings along a light and nitrogen gradient in an infertile secondary successional grassland in central North America. We conducted a field experiment in which seedlings of bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and northern pin oak (Q. ellipsoidalis) were exposed to two levels of light (full sun and 80% shade), three levels of nitrogen input (0, 5, 15 g m−1 yr−1), and three levels of water input (low, medium and high). In addition, seedlings were grown with and without the presence of surrounding herbaceous vegetation under both light and all three water levels. Seedling survival, growth, and rate of photosynthesis were significantly affected by competition with herbaceous vegetation and these effects varied along the multiple resource gradient. Overall, seedling survival of both species was significantly greater in wetter and shaded plots and when surrounding herbaceous vegetation was removed and was lower in nitrogen enriched plots. We found that soil water was significantly affected by varying inputs of water, light, and the presence or absence of herbaceous vegetation, and that seedling survival and rate of photosynthesis were highly correlated with available soil water. Our findings show that the impact of season long wet and dry spells on tree seedling success in grasslands can be affected by light and soil nitrogen availability.
Comprehensive Characterization of the Perioperative Morbidity of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy

Abstract Background Although cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) has been associated with perioperative morbidity, data are lacking regarding the risk of prolonged length of stay (pLOS) and delay to receipt of systemic therapy (ST). Objective To evaluate the association of clinicopathologic features with postoperative complications, pLOS, and time to receipt of ST. Design, setting, and participants We evaluated 294 patients with M1 renal cell carcinoma treated between 1990 and 2009. Interventions CN. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Logistic and Cox regressions were used to evaluate associations of clinicopathologic features with 30-d postoperative complications, pLOS (LOS ≥75th percentile), and time to receipt of ST. Results and limitations Fifteen (5%) patients experienced at least one Clavien grade ≥3 early complication. Among patients for whom postsurgical ST was recommended, 61% did not receive ST within 60 d, but the delay was surgery-related in only 11%. In multivariable models limited to preoperative features, liver metastases were associated with complications (odds ratio [OR] 3.73, p =0.004) and pLOS (OR 2.46, p =0.03), while a laparoscopic approach was associated with earlier administration of ST (hazard ratio [HR] 5.05, p p p p =0.049) and delay to ST (HR 0.38, p =0.004). Limitations include the retrospective design and surgical selection bias. Conclusions Overall, 61% of CN patients did not receive timely ST, but only 5% of patients experienced Clavien grade ≥3 complications and the delay to ST was surgery-related in 11%. Liver metastases, intraoperative transfusion, and pN1 disease were independently associated with perioperative morbidity. Patient summary We evaluated the morbidity of cytoreductive nephrectomy and identified predictors of unfavorable perioperative outcomes. Although 61% of patients did not receive timely systemic therapy, the rates of complications and surgery-related delay to systemic therapy were low.
Multilayer ceramic capacitors with base metal electrodes

High quality multilayer ceramic capacitors with BaTiO/sub 3/-based dielectrics and Ni electrodes can be fired in highly reducing atmospheres when doped with certain trivalent cations. The most effective dopants are certain rare earth cations and yttrium that have been found to be capable of partially occupying both types of cation site in the perovskite lattice. The scientific principles that permit firing in reducing atmospheres while retaining a highly insulating dielectric are reviewed.
Projection regression models for multivariate imaging phenotype.

This paper presents a projection regression model (PRM) to assess the relationship between a multivariate phenotype and a set of covariates, such as a genetic marker, age and gender. In the existing literature, a standard statistical approach to this problem is to fit a multivariate linear model to the multivariate phenotype and then use Hotelling’s T2 to test hypotheses of interest. An alternative approach is to fit a simple linear model and test hypotheses for each individual phenotype and then correct for multiplicity. However, even when the dimension of the multivariate phenotype is relatively small, say 5, such standard approaches can suffer from the issue of low statistical power in detecting the association between the multivariate phenotype and the covariates. The PRM generalizes a statistical method based on the principal component of heritability for association analysis in genetic studies of complex multivariate phenotypes. The key components of the PRM include an estimation procedure for extracting several principal directions of multivariate phenotypes relating to covariates and a test procedure based on wild-bootstrap method for testing for the association between the weighted multivariate phenotype and explanatory variables. Simulation studies and an imaging genetic dataset are used to examine the finite sample performance of the PRM.
The dangers of iron overload: bring in the iron police.

Purpose: To increase awareness of nurse practitioners (NPs) about the dangers of iron overload and to review common hematologic conditions where transfusions are essential, iron mechanism and transport within the body, effects of iron overload on the body, and treatment options available. Finally, the process for development of a protocol for monitoring such patients will be introduced. Data sources: Review of existing literature, myelodysplastic syndrome guidelines, sickle cell guidelines, thalassemia guidelines. Conclusions: Transfusions of packed red blood cells save lives. There are many hematologic conditions for which packed red blood cell transfusions are required as a result of bone marrow suppression. However, extended exposure to red blood cell transfusions places the patient at an additional risk of iron overload. Iron overload is a real concern for patients who become transfusion dependent, with increased risks of liver cirrhosis and cardiac arrhythmias. Implications for practice: NPs in all areas of practice can increase awareness of the dangers of transfusional iron overload, and become familiar with the treatment options available. Additionally, NPs can institute a monitoring program based on the protocol suggested here within their own practices to prevent poor outcomes for patients with transfusion-related iron overload.
Intracellular tetanic calcium signals are reduced in fatigue of whole skeletal muscle.

Force and intracellular calcium signals were monitored in whole bullfrog semitendinosus muscles during fatigue produced by intermittent tetanic stimulation. Intracellular calcium signals were monit...
Using App inventor & history as a gateway to engage African American students in computer science

Unlike enrollment in undergraduate computer science degree programs, there are no gender or ethnic imbalances in K-12 enrollment. While such disparities are seen at particular schools, such disparities do not exist in disciplinary courses such as history, math, or science where all students are required to take these courses. This paper discusses an approach to broaden minority participation in computing through the integration of Computer Science (CS) into a history course. This poster proposes an alignment between computational thinking and historical thinking that makes history courses an attractive fit for CS integration. It also presents results from the pilot study of a project-based cross-disciplinary curriculum using MIT App inventor that leverages students' interests in mobile technology to facilitate the creation of historical mobile apps. This curricular approach is built on a theoretical framework rooted in Constructivist and Constructionist learning where students construct and produce knowledge, artifacts, and technology rather than consume them. Our initial results suggest that students were engaged in the material and were enthusiastic about the creation of their mobile app.
The Multidimensionality of Prosocial Behaviors and Evidence of Measurement Equivalence in Mexican American and European American Early Adolescents

There is growing recognition of the need to examine distinct forms of prosocial behaviors and to conduct research on prosocial behaviors among ethnic minorities. Middle school students (mean age=12.67 years; 54% girls; European American, n=290; Mexican American, n=152) completed a multidimensional measure of prosocial behavior and measures of parental monitoring, externalizing behaviors, and religiosity. Results yield supportive evidence that anonymous, dire, emotional, compliant, public, and altruism are different forms of prosocial behaviors. Moreover, the measure of prosocial behaviors shows measurement equivalence properties across ethnicity and gender. The discussion focuses on the multidimensional nature of prosocial behaviors and implications for future research on prosocial behaviors.
Electrostatic Switching of Polysaccharide Conformation Probed at the Single Molecule Level

Polysaccharides play a key mechanical role in maintaining cell integrity and in cell-cell recognition. Single molecule AFM stretching measurements have revealed that upon loading, the backbone of polysaccharide molecules change their conformation and these conformational changes depend on the linkages between the sugar rings. It has been proposed that these force-induced conformational transitions may play an important role in biological systems. However a mechanism to switch on/off these conformational transitions and control the nanomechanical properties of carbohydrates has not yet been shown.Here we demonstrate an electrostatic switch that can be used to toggle the force dependent conformational transition in acidic polysaccharides. Using single molecule AFM force spectroscopy we show that the tension dependent conformation of the polysaccharide molecules can be controlled by varying the backbone charge density and solution electrostatics.
Spin spin correlation functions for the two-dimensional Ising model: Exact theory in the scaling region

We compute exactly the spin-spin correlation functions 〈σ0,0σM,N〉 for the two-dimensional Ising model on a square lattice in zero magnetic field for T>Tc and T<Tc. We then analyze the correlation functions in the scaling limit T→Tc,M2+N2→∞ such that (T−Tc) is fixed. In this scaling limit 〈σ0,0σM,N〉=R−14F±(t)+R−54F1±(t)+o(R−54), where t is the scaling variable Rξ and F±(t) and F1±(t) are the scaling functions (ξ is the correlation length). We derive exact expressions for these scaling functions, in terms of a Painleve function of the third kind and analyze both the small- and large-t behavior. A table of values for F±(t) (good to ten significant digits) is also given. As an application we computer the coefficients C0± and C1± in the expansion kBTχ(T)=C0±|1−TcT|−74+C1±|1−TcT|−34+O(1) of the zero-field susceptibility χ(T) as T→Tc±.
Observations of the ferroelectric deformed helix mode in a large pitch smectic C* sample

Display devices making use of the deformed helix mode normally employ a smectic C* phase whose pitch is smaller than a wavelength of visible light. Here we study the opposite case, where the pitch is large. Our samples are aligned in the usual bookshelf geometry and the electric field is applied perpendicular to the helix. When the sample is viewed between crossed polarizers with the helix parallel to one of the polarization axes, we observe two stages of response to the application of the electric field. Initially, the transmitted intensity decreases quadratically with the field. This is then followed by a discontinuous jump to a high transmission state at some threshold field. We present evidence that the initial decrease in intensity is due to a diffraction phenomenon.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS OF PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE EXTENSION: THE CASE OF THE A‐10 AIRCRAFT

Firms are faced with challenging decisions when capital equipment reaches the end of its designed service life. This research examines the risks of deciding to extend the retirement date of a capital asset in terms of performance and cost and offers recommended actions to mitigate this risk. Through study of the United States Air Force's A-10 aircraft, the authors analyze one example of decreased performance and increased costs experienced when supply chain implications are not explicitly considered when making service life extension decisions. In this case, the Air Force's efforts to save money through life extension of existing aircraft actually exceeded the seemingly enormous initial investment of acquiring new aircraft. Arguments are presented suggesting the Air Force, in particular, may reap benefits from forming supply chain relationships and creating continuity plans to manage problems such as parts shortages and cost increases when extending the use of capital assets beyond its intended service life.
Acid-base parameters in presence of hemodilution and extremes of pCO2 levels.

Abstract The accuracy of monitoring acid-base parameters at extremely low hemoglobin concentrations during hemodilution perfusion was investigated. We found that the Astrup technique for determining this information is most useful at normal hemoglobin levels. However, the technique is less accuracy at higher and lower hemoglobin concentrations, and at high and low PCO2. The pH values were determined at known PCO2 tensions on citrated whole human blood at seven different hemoglobin levels and six to ten different base excess levels. Equations were generated representing PCO2 as a function of pH at varying base excess levels and at varying hemoglobin concentrations. These equations are curve lines in every instance. Equations for the Astrup equilibrium lines were also generated, and the acid-base factors determined by curve lines were compared to the Astrup straight lines by subjecting this experimental data to computer technology. Results obtained indicate the Siggaard-Andersen technique is accurate at normal hemoglobin levels and in the range of PCO2's between 30 and 60 mm. of mercury. However, at extremely high or low PCO2 concentrations and extremely low hemoglobin concentrations, curve lines that are generated mathematically yield more accurate results.
Devitrification hardening of cupola slag glass with CaO and SiO2 additions

Abstract Slag from the cupola melting of pig and scrap iron was melted, air quenched into a glass and then devitrified forming an abrasion resistant fibrous microstructure. This crystallization behavior was further investigated by altering the composition of the major constituents of the slag, namely, CaO and SiO 2 . The resulting structural and microstructural changes were measured with XRD, SEM, optical microscopy and DTA techniques. The first crystalline phase formed at ∼900°C was Mg-wollastonite, with a microstructure of finely interwined fibrous growth. Diopside was detected at ∼950°C, with a comparatively coarse fibrous microstructure. CaO addition enhanced the formation of Mg-wollastonite while SiO 2 addition resulted in enhanced diopside formation. After heat-treating the samples to 1000°C and holding for 60 min, the CaO-rich samples, having formed predominantly dense fibrous Mg-wollastonite, showed a hardness of 903±40 on the Vickers scale, an increase of a factor of 2 over amorphous samples. The maximum hardness in silica-rich samples after a suitable heat treatment was 771±69 kg/mm 2 .
Extension of Constants, Rigidity, and the Chowla-Zassenhaus Conjecture

Let ? ? Qy] be a polynomial of degree n over the rationals. Assume ? is indecomposable and consider the splitting field ?? of ?(y) ? x over Q(x). Denote the constants of ?? by Q??. Then, Q?? ? Q(?n) where ?n is a primitive nth root of 1. When n = p, a prime, and ? = xp (cyclic polynomial), Q?? = Q(?p). When ? = Tp, the pth Chebychev polynomial, Q?? = Q(?p + ??1p). Cohen raised the following question. If Q?? is nontrivial (? has nontrivial extension of constants), is it then true that ? is linearly equivalent over Q to a cyclic or Chebychev polynomial? We show this is false for each non-square odd integer n. This uses elementary group theory and the Branch Cycle Argument. Such ? also give counterexamples to a conjecture of Chowla and Zassenhaus: For all sufficiently large p (dependent on the degree of ?), ?(x) ? b is irreducible for some b ? Fp. That is, we show for these particular ??s, for infinitely many p, there is no b ? Fp so that ?(x) ? b is irreducible over Fp. Also, for these p, there is no b ? Fp so that ?(x) ? b splits completely over Z/p. Further, using Mller?s classification of geometric monodromy groups of polynomials we show n must be odd for such counterexamples. These are (An, Sn) realizations by polynomials over Q. More delicate examples require rigidity applied to non-Galois covers. These contrast the arithmetic of covers with and without using braid operations on branch cycle descriptions. Braid operations describe four families of covers that include the renowned Davenport polynomials of degree 7.Q??
2-Cyano-anilinium iodide.

The solid-state structure of the title salt, C7H7N2+.I−, consists of cation–anion sheets lying parallel to (110), with the components linked by N—H⋯I hydrogen bonds.
Analysis of presence-only data via semi-supervised learning approaches

Presence-only data occur in a classification, which consist of a sample of observations from the presence class and a large number of background observations with unknown presence/absence. Since absence data are generally unavailable, conventional semi-supervised learning approaches are no longer appropriate as they tend to degenerate and assign all observations to the presence class. In this article, we propose a generalized class balance constraint, which can be equipped with semi-supervised learning approaches to prevent them from degeneration. Furthermore, to circumvent the difficulty of model tuning with presence-only data, a selection criterion based on classification stability is developed, which measures the robustness of any given classification algorithm against the sampling randomness. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through a variety of simulated examples, along with an application to gene function prediction.
3D HUMAN LIFTING MOTION PREDICTION WITH DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE MEASURES

This paper presents an optimization-based method for predicting a human dynamic lifting task. The three-dimensional digital human skeletal model has 55 degrees of freedom. Lifting motion is generated by minimizing an objective function (human performance measure) subjected to basic physical and kinematical constraints. Four objective functions are investigated in the formulation: the dynamic effort, the balance criterion, the maximum shear force at spine joint and the maximum pressure force at spine joint. The simulation results show that various human performance measures predict different lifting strategies: the balance and shear force performance measures predict back-lifting motion and the dynamic effort and pressure force performance measures generate squat-lifting motion. In addition, the effects of box locations on the lifting strategies are also studied. All kinematics and kinetic data are successfully predicted for the lifting motion by using the predictive dynamics algorithm and the optimal solution was obtained in about one minute.
Molecular mechanism underlying the inflammatory complication of leptin in macrophages

Leptin, a key adipokine involved in regulating food intake and body weight, has been recently implicated in the exacerbation of inflammation. Elevated leptin levels in blood circulation are correlated with increased inflammation in obese individuals with cardiovascular complications. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is poorly understood. In this report, we demonstrated that leptin alone failed to induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 in murine macrophages and human monocytic cells. Instead, leptin significantly augment the effect of LPS in inducing the expression of IL-6. The key inflammatory signaling molecule, Interleukin-Receptor Associate Kinase 1 (IRAK-1), is partially involved in mediating the effects of both LPS and leptin. IRAK-1 deficient macrophages exhibit significantly lower expression of IL-6 following LPS or LPS plus leptin stimulation. Mechanistically, we observed that leptin increases the expression of IRAK-1 in both human monocytes and murine macrophages. Taken together, our data reveal that leptin primarily serves as a helper, instead of an initiator of inflammation during the pathogenesis of obesity-related inflammation.
Effect of biochar on leaching of organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from compost in bioretention systems

Compost is used in bioretention systems to improve soil quality, water infiltration, and retention of contaminants. However, compost contains dissolved organic matter, nitrate, and phosphorus, all of which can leach out and potentially contaminate ground and surface waters. To reduce the leaching of nutrients and dissolved organic matter from compost, biochar may be mixed into the bioretention systems. Our objective was to test whether biochar and co-composted biochar mixed into mature compost can reduce the leaching of organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. There was no significant difference between the effects of biochar and co-composted biochar amendments on nutrient leaching. Further, biochar amendments did not significantly reduce the leaching of dissolved organic carbon, nitrate, and phosphorus as compared to the compost only treatment. The compost-sand mix was the most effective in reducing nitrate and phosphorus leaching among the media.
Integrating systems development theory and practice in an information systems curriculum

Abstract Information Systems curricula have been criticized for not fully preparing students for effective assimilation into organizations. One of the reasons cited for this shortcoming is the chasm between theory and practice that often exists in many IS curricula. This paper examines this weakness by reviewing traditional methods of teaching IS courses, and by discussing specific course integration efforts by faculty at The American University. The case study described in this paper focuses on the application of the Cleanroom System Development Process (CSDP), a methodology that requires intensive cross-functional group interaction in student projects that span traditional course boundaries.
Polarization Dependence of THz Bandwidth Fast Light in Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

Polarization dependence of fast light in semiconductor optical amplifiers is studied. For a 630 fs pulse propagating through the SOA, an advance of 2.7 pulses is achieved for TE polarisation while TM polarisation gives an advance of 2.3 pulses.
Quantum-well wave guide coupler

Abstract Photonic devices, like spatial light modulators and SEED devices made use of the absorptive component of the quantum confined Stark effect. Associated with the excitonic absorption is a pronounced dispersion of the refractive index. The dependence of an index value in this region upon an applied electric field is about 100 times larger than that of GaAs or other ternary III–V compounds. We modelled the performance of a novel, “vertically” arranged waveguide coupler, in which one guide is composed of multiple quantum wells, the second of an appropriate ternary compound; separating and confining layers are also ternary compounds of different composition. Our model includes the effects of absorption in the quantum well guide. The results show, an implementation of this coupler should lead to an order of magnitude improvement of such figures of merit as device length, required field and switching speed, when compared to wave guide couplers of conventional design and material.
Stabilizing feedback control for dynamical systems with bounded uncertainty

We consider a class of dynamical systems subject to parameter and input uncertainty whose values range in a given compact set. Utilizing the philosophy of "worst case" design, we deduce a feedback control that assures uniform asymptotic (Lyapunov) stability of the origin under all admissible uncertainties.
Kinetic Efficiency Factors for Facilitated Transport Membranes

Abstract A kinetic efficiency factor (η) is defined for facilitated transport membranes. η is defined as the actual facilitated flux divided by the facilitated flux under reaction equilibrium conditions. η is correlated with an inverse Damkohler number ∊. A dimensionless equilibrium constant K and mobility ratio a also affect the value of η. η is shown to be useful in determining the operating regime of the system, comparing actual performance to maximum attainable, and providing a qualitative measure of the time to reach steady-state conditions.
Revision of the foraminiferal genus Globoreticulina Rahaghi, 1978, and of its associated fauna of larger foraminifera from the late Middle Eocene of Iran

The definition of the type species of the genus Globoreticulina Rahaghi, 1978, G. iranica Rahaghi, 1978, is emended and its age discussed in relation to those of 17 associated taxa of larger foraminifera, all from restricted shallow environments. These taxa represent porcelaneous groups of spiroline habit including Rhabdorites malatyaensis, archaiasines (Archaias operculiniformis and A. diyarbakirensis), agglutinated conicals (Coskinolina and Dictyoconus) and some rotaliids (Medocia and others). These taxa were revised where necessary and their biostratigraphic ranges discussed. In addition to the establishment of a new subfamily of the Alveolinidae, the Malatyninae, the following new Linnaean names are introduced in order to conform with the revisions: Austrotrillina eocaenica n. sp., Neotaberina neaniconica n. gen. n. sp., Neorhipidionina spiralis n. gen. n. sp., Penarchaias n. gen. and Rotaliconus persicus n. gen. n. sp. The species Praerhapydionina huberi Henson is transferred to the genus Haymanella Sirel and the genus Praearchaias Sirel is suppressed. The age of the type level of Globoreticulina iranica is interpreted to be SBZ 18 (Late Bartonian) according to the available local data but the possibility that its stratigraphic position is actually level SBZ 17 or SBZ 16 can not be excluded with certainty.
Regulation of proton leakage from broken chloroplasts by CF0.

Abstract Measurements of proton translocation in CF1-depleted, N, N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-resealed broken chloroplasts were made under different light intensities. Kinetic analysis of the data shows that the outward leakage of accumulated protons through CF0 is still dependent on light intensity with a first-order rate constant equal to mR0, where R0 is the initial rate of proton uptake which normally increases with light intensity and m is a characteristic constant which is independent of proton gradient and light intensity. Measurements of proton translocation in these modified chloroplasts cross-linked with glutaraldehyde under illumination and in the dark respectively suggest that the light-dependent proton leakage through CF0 is regulated by conformation change in the membrane. It is proposed that the ovserved regulation of proton leakage through the CF1.CF0 complex in native chloroplasts is for optimizing the steady state synthesis of ATP under different light intensities.
Mass migrations, income inequality and ecosystems health in the second wave of a globalization

Abstract This paper compares conditions for intercontinental migrations during the first and the second globalization waves and proposes a system model describing basic relationships between migrations, income inequality, economic growth and environment. The model suggests that in a situation where a strong asymmetry in economic power and wealth dominates global economic and political relations, further trade and migration liberalization may have predominantly negative impact on Southern natural systems, while solving little or nothing of the poverty problems. In the North, uncontrolled immigration may in the long run produce economic, social, and probably ethnic tensions which costs could by far exceed the medium-term benefits (rejuvenation of active population and reduction in the strain imposed on the pension system).
Explanation of the discrepancy between the measured and atomistically calculated yield stresses in body-centred cubic metals

We propose a mesoscopic model that explains the discrepancy (at a factor of 2–3) between experimentally measured yield stresses of bcc metals at low temperatures and typical Peierls stresses determined by atomistic simulations of isolated screw dislocations. The model involves a Frank–Read-type source emitting dislocations that become pure screws at a certain distance from the source and, owing to their high Peierls stress, control its operation. However, due to the mutual interaction between emitted dislocations, the group consisting of both non-screw and screw dislocations can move at an applied stress that is a factor of 2–3 lower than the stress needed for the glide of individual screw dislocations.
Some remarks on the equivalence of Gaussian processes

Abstract : The norms in a reproducing kernel Hilbert space corresponding to equivalent Gaussian processes are characterized, and some representations are obtained for all Gaussian processes equivalent to a fixed Gaussian process. (Author)
Photoreduction and photophosphorylation with tris-washed chloroplasts.

The artificial electron donor compounds p-phenylenediamine (PD), N, N, N′, N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD), and 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DCPIP) restored the Hill reaction and photophosphorylation in chloroplasts that had been inhibited by washing with 0.8 m tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (tris) buffer, pH 8.0. The tris-wash treatment inhibited the electron transport chain between water and photosystem II and electron donation occurred between the site of inhibition and photosystem II. Photoreduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) supported by 33 μm PD plus 330 μm ascorbate was largely inhibited by 1 μm 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) while that supported by 33 μm TMPD or DCPIP plus ascorbate was relatively insensitive to DCMU. Experiments with the tris-washed chloroplasts indicated that electron donors preferentially donate electrons to photosystem II but in the presence of DCMU the donors (with the exception of PD at low concentrations) could also supply electrons after the DCMU block. The PD-supported photoreduction of NADP showed the relative inefficiency in far-red light characteristic of chloroplast reactions requiring photosystem II. With phosphorylating systems involving electron donors at low concentrations (33 μm donor plus 330 μm ascorbate) photophosphorylation, which occurred with P/e2 ratios approaching unity, was completely inhibited by DCMU but with higher concentrations of the donor systems, photophosphorylation was only partially inhibited.
Fuzzy pre-processing of gold standards as applied to biomedical spectra classification

Fuzzy gold standard adjustment is a novel fuzzy set theoretic pre-processing strategy that compensates for the possible imprecision of a well-established gold standard (reference test) by adjusting, if necessary, the class labels in the design set while maintaining the gold standard's discriminatory power. The adjusted gold standard incorporates robust within-class centroid information. This strategy was applied to biomedical data acquired from a MR spectrometer for the purpose of classifying human brain neoplasms. It is shown that consistent improvement (10-13%) to the discriminatory power of the underlying classifier is obtained when using this pre-processing strategy.
Low Platelet Counts in Cancer Patients: Should Heparin for Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Be Instituted?

and platelet levels of 18,000/mm 3 who developed an acute upper extremity deep vein thrombus. Although in her case, it was clearly related to a peripherally inserted central catheter in the affected limb, we wonder if it demonstrates her being at a considerably high risk for spontaneous thromboembolic events. The treating team could not gather sufficient evidence to institute prophylactic dosage of heparin in view of her high presumed risk of bleeding. Two out of the three majorrandomized,double-blind,placebo-controlledtrialsonthromboembolism prophylaxis in hospitalized patients (the Prophylaxis in Medical Patients with Enoxaparin trial and the Prevention of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism study), have specifically excluded patients with platelet counts less than 100,000/mm 3 . 2,3 As such, evidence for thromboembolism prophylaxis in patients with platelet count less than 100,000/mm 3 is probably not clear.
A new approach to improve cycle performance of rechargeable lithium–sulfur batteries by inserting a free-standing MWCNT interlayer

A conductive multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) interlayer acting as a pseudo-upper current collector not only reduces the charge transfer resistance of sulfur cathodes significantly, but also localizes and retains the dissolved active material during cycling.
Judgments of deceptive communications: A multidimensional analysis

Four dimensions underlying individuals’ perceptions of various types of lies were identified through multidimensional scaling: (1) intentions of liar (benign vs. malign), (2) purposes of lie (instrumental vs. protective), (3) responsibility of liar for lie (freely done vs. constrained by situation), and (4) consequences of lie (severely negative vs. mild). Judgments of morality were most closely related to intentions and consequences, replicating results of past research that indicate that outcome quality plays a major role in determining moral judgments, but that intentionality also plays a role.
Using the divide and conquer strategy to teach Java framework design

All programmers should understand the concept of program families and know the techniques for constructing them. This paper describes a case study that can be used to introduce students in a Java software design course to the construction of program families using software frameworks. The example is the family of programs that use the well-known divide and conquer algorithmic strategy.