cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diffraction by a symmetric material junction simulated with generalized sheet transition conditions

When diffraction by a material discontinuity in a thick dielectric/ferrite slab is treated by the dual integral equation approach (a variation of the Weiner-Hopf method), the resulting solution displays unknown constants, characteristic of the incompleteness associated with the generalized transition conditions employed in modeling a thick slab. The constants can be shown to depend on the geometry and properties of the discontinuity. Their explicit determination by enforcing field continuity across the slab junction is treated. The field internal to the slab is determined by first expressing the field as an expansion of discrete and continuous eigenmodes valid in the exterior and interior slab region. The expansion or mode coefficients are then identified by recasting the Weiner-Hopf solution in a suitable form, enabling the solution constants to be numerically computer by matching the field expansions to the left and right of the slab discontinuity at a discrete set of points. >
Sulindac effects on inflammation and tumorigenesis in the intestine of mice with Apc and Mlh1 mutations

We have previously reported that sulindac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, inhibited tumor formation in the small intestine but increased tumors in the colon of Apc(Min/+) mice, a model of human familial adenomatous polyposis. To further explore intestinal regional responses, we studied effects of sulindac on additional gene-targeted mouse models of human intestinal tumorigenesis; these were (i) Apc(1638N/+) mouse (chain termination mutation in exon 15 of the Apc gene); (ii) Mlh1(+/-) mouse (DNA mismatch repair deficiency, a mouse model of human hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer) and (iii) double-heterozygous Mlh1(+/-)Apc(1638N/+) mutant mouse. Mice were fed AIN-76A control diet with or without 0.02% sulindac for 6 months. Intestinal regional tumor incidence, multiplicity, volume and degree of inflammation were used as end points. The results showed the following: (i) sulindac inhibited tumor development in the small intestine of Apc(1638N/+) mice; (ii) in contrast, sulindac increased tumors in the small intestine of Mlh1 mutant mice, a neoplastic effect which persisted in heterozygous compound Mlh1(+/-)Apc(1638N/+) mutant mice; (iii) sulindac increased tumors in the cecum of all mice regardless of genetic background; (iv) sulindac decreased inflammation in the small intestine of Apc(1638N/+) mice, but it increased inflammation in the small intestine of Mlh1(+/-) mice and Mlh1(+/-)Apc(1638N/+) mice and (v) sulindac enhanced inflammation in the cecum of all mutant mice. Findings indicate that the effects of sulindac in the intestine of these mutant mouse models are probably related to genetic background and appear to be associated with its inflammatory-inducing response.
Dimensions of Community Response to the Crime Problem

This paper examines a number of dimensions of public response to the crime problem. A sample from a high crime rate urban area and a sample from a low crime rate suburban area are compared. The urban sample perceives higher local crime rates than the suburban sample, and it also feels less safe, less trustful of others, and less positive affect for the community than the suburban sample. Relationships between perception of crime and the dimensions of response are stronger in the urban sample than in the suburban sample, suggesting a threshold effect may be operating, with perception of crime affecting dimensions of community life only after that perception has passed a certain level.
Resistive bridge fault modeling, simulation and test generation

In this work/sup 1/ we develop models of resistive bridging faults and study the fault coverage on ISCAS85 circuits of different test sets using resistive and zero-ohm bridges at different supply voltages. These results explain several previously observed anomalous behaviors. In order to serve as a reference, we have developed the first resistive bridging fault ATPG, which attempts to detect the maximum possible bridging resistance at each fault site. We compare the results of the ATPG to the coverage obtained from other test sets, and coverage obtained by using the ATPG in a clean-up mode. Results on ISCAS85 circuits show that stuck-at test sets do quite well, but that the ATPG can still improve the coverage. We have also found that the loss of fault coverage is predominantly due to undetected faults, rather than faults in which only a small resistance is detected. This suggests that lower-cost fault models can be used to obtain high resistive bridge fault coverage.
Experimental evaluation of behavior-based failure-detection schemes in real-time communication networks

Effective detection of failures is essential for reliable communication services. Traditionally, non-real-time computer networks have relied on behavior-based techniques for detecting communication failures. That is, each node uses heartbeats to detect the failure of its neighbors and the end-to-end transport protocol (e.g., TCP) achieves reliable communication by acknowledgment/retransmission. Recently, there has been a growing demand for reliable "real-time" communication, but little research has been done on the failure detection problem. In this paper, we present two behavior-based failure-detection schemes-neighbor detection and end-to-end detection-for reliable real-time communication services and experimentally evaluate their effectiveness. Specifically, we measure and analyze the coverage and latency of these detection schemes through fault-injection experiments. The experimental results have shown that nearly all failures can be detected very quickly by the neighbor detection scheme, while the end-to-end detection scheme uncovers the remaining failures with larger detection latencies.
Test-Pattern Ordering for Wafer-Level Test-During-Burn-In

Wafer-level test during burn-in (WLTBI) is a promising technique to reduce test and burn-in costs in semiconductor manufacturing. However, scan-based testing leads to significant power variations in a die during test-pattern application. This variation adversely affects the accuracy of predictions of junction temperatures and the time required for burn-in. We present a test-pattern ordering technique for WLTBI, where the objective is to minimize the variation in power consumption during test application. The test-pattern ordering problem for WLTBI is formulated and it is solved using an efficient heuristic technique. Simulation results are presented for the ISCAS'89 and the IWLS'05 benchmark circuits, and the proposed ordering technique is compared with two baseline methods that carry out pattern-ordering to minimize peak power and average power, respectively. A third baseline method that randomly orders test patterns is also used to evaluate the proposed methods.
The early fetal life of the equine conceptus

This paper will discuss development of the equine conceptus, especially from the perspective of the maternal environment in which it develops and to which it has considerable influence.
Effect of High-Pressure Processing on Vibrio parahaemolyticus Strains in Pure Culture and Pacific Oysters

Different strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) in broth cultures and Vp-inoculated live Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) were subjected to high-pressure processing (HPP) at 241, 276, 310, and 345 MPa. Results showed Vp numbers were reduced by HPP in both pure culture and whole oysters. Vp inactivation was dependent on time and pressure. Optimum conditions for reducing Vp in pure culture and oysters to nondetectable levels were achieved at 345 MPa for 30 and 90 s, respectively. Resistance variations were detected between Vp in pure culture and in oysters. HPP proved to be an efficient means of reducing Vp in oysters.
Music and Language: A Developmental Comparison

The possible links between music and language continue to intrigue scientists interested in the nature of these two types of knowledge, their evolution, and their instantiation in the brain. Here we consider music and language from a developmental perspective, focusing on the degree to which similar mechanisms of learning and memory might subserve the acquisition of knowledge in these two domains. In particular, it seems possible that while adult musical and linguistic processes are modularized to some extent as separate entities, there may be similar developmental underpinnings in both domains, suggesting that modularity is emergent rather than present at the beginning of life. Directions for future research are considered.
Moderate-intensity treadmill exercise training decreases murine cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of moderate-intensity treadmill exercise on the structure and function of the murine heart and its associated impact on Akt–AMPK–mTOR signaling. A secondary aim was to test whether the exercise phenotype was altered following a cardiotoxic bolus dose of doxorubicin (DOX). Two-month-old C57Bl/6J female mice remained sedentary (SED, n = 12) or were progressively trained with treadmill running for 2 months up to 18 m/min; 60 min/day, 5 days/weeks (EX, n = 11) or EX + DOX (15 mg/kg/dose) (EX + DOX, n = 6). Following treadmill training, mice underwent graded exercise tolerance testing and echocardiography. Training improved graded exercise tolerance by 68 ± 5% relative to SED, and this effect was not altered with bolus DOX. There were no changes in relative heart size with EX or EX + DOX versus SED. Regional posterior wall thickening was improved in EX and abrogated in EX + DOX. EX had a reduced cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area (CSA) relative to SED, and CSA was further attenuated with DOX. Following EX, AMPK-associated phosphorylation of ULK1(ser317) tended to be lower relative to SED. Akt-associated phosphorylation of TSC2(thr1462) and mTOR(ser2448) were also decreased relative to SED. We observed an increase in AMPK activity with DOX that was not translated to downstream AMPK phosphorylation sites. We conclude that 2 months of moderate treadmill exercise training improves regional cardiac function and exercise capacity, but does not induce relative physiologic hypertrophy in female mice. Differential responses in Akt–AMPK–mTOR signaling may mediate the observed phenotype.
Demonstrations of the Ease of Detecting Additions over Deletions

People notice the presence of added features in a scene (additions) more readily than the absence of deleted features (deletions). We describe several simple and brief demonstrations of the superiority of noticing additions compared to deletions. The demonstrations are appropriate for any course involving cognitive psychology including large enrolment courses.
Scattering of electromagnetic waves by arbitrarily shaped dielectric bodies

The differential scattering characteristics of closed three-dimensional dielectric objects are theoretically investigated. The scattering problem is solved in a spherical basis by the Extended Boundary Condition Method (EBCM) which results in a system of linear equations for the expansion coefficients of the scattered field in terms of the incident field coefficients. The equations are solved numerically for dielectric spheres, spheroids, and finite cylinders to study the dependence of the differential scattering on the size, shape, and index of refraction of the scattering object. The method developed here appears to be most applicable to objects whose physical size is on the order of the wavelength of the incident radiation.
The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: A Perspective on its Development

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entered currently has 118 States Parties and has been in force for 17 years. Over the past five years, the implementation of the Covenant has come under the supervision of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Unlike its predecessort, the Sessional W orking Group, the Committee has taken its supervisory role seriously such that it has begun to develop both the substance of the Covenant and the implementation procedures. This study, based principally upon the work of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, discusses a number of aspects in which the substance of the Covenant and its supervision procedures may be seen to have been developed. Chapter 1 traces the roots of economic, social and cultural rights and outlines their codification in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and later the Covenant, following the end of the Second World War. Significant aspects of the drafting process are analysed in detail. Chapter 2 discussest he nature and scope of the State obligations under the Covenant as regards the implementation of the rights. Particular emphasis is given to the terms of article 2(1) and how they have been interpreted in the work of the Committee. Chapter 3 analyses, primarily from a theoretical standpoint, the manner and degree to which the terms of the Covenant may be given "direct effect", or in other words, relied upon directly in domestic courts. Chapters 4 to 8 address particular articles within the Covenant and considers the interpretation given to them by the Committee. Chapter 4 deals with article 2(2) (and to a lesser extent article 3) concerning non-discrimination; Chapter 5 deals with article 6 concerning the right to work; Chapter 6 deals with article 7 regarding the right to just and favourable conditions of work; Chapter 7 deals with article 8 concerning rights related to trade unions; and Chapter 8 deals with article 11 concerning the right to an adequate standard of living and, in particular, the rights to food and housing. In each case, an attempt is made to evaluate the Committee's approach to each article and assess the possibilities for future development. Chapter 9 addresses the emergence, role and working methods, of the Committee as a human rights supervisory body. Particular consideration is also given to the problems encountered and the Committee's future prospects. Chapter 10, as the concluding chapter, draws together the observations made in earlier chapters and attempts to make an evaluation of the present and future utility of the Covenant as a mechanism for the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights.
Projection of joints from surface to tunnel level — a Case Study

A joint-study of a granitic batholith recorded orientations and spacings of joint-sets at outcrop and at three separate sections of a water diversion tunnel. A second joint-survey in the tunnel determined the average joint spacing along the spring lines. Joint-set spacing studies show a 40–50% reduction of joint-set spacing underground, compared to those at the surface. Individual equal-area plots of surface joints for the two major facies of the granitic rock showed different maxima. But when the joints in the two facies were combined into one equal-area plot, the predominent facies, which represented 73% of the joints plotted, masked the prominent sets of the second facies. Hence, joint surveys for individual rock facies are warranted. Comparison of equal-area plots of surface and tunnel joints in the same rock facies reveals a striking similarity in joint-set maxima.
Location of large core synaptic vesicles in the dorsal gray matter of the cat and dog spinal cord.

Cross sections of aldehyde-perfused, Epon-embedded cat and dog spinal cord examined with an electron microscope display numerous synaptic vesicles with electron-opaque cores along the medial and lateral margins of the dorsal gray matter (laminae I, II, III). The cored vesicles, 750 – 1500 A in diameter are located in synaptic sacs and in small unmyelinated axons. They occur in small numbers throughout the apical gray matter but are much more numerous in a narrow band immediately adjacent to the white matter. Their numbers and location should be of value in studies on the nature and origin of this type of synaptic vesicle.
Prevalence of fat by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging stratified by age in 940 patients referred for evaluation of arrhythmogenic (rv) dysplasia

37.8 ± 16.3, p < 0.0001, respectively). Patients in T3 tended to have a higher proportion of severe fat in the RV compared to patients in T2 (10.8% vs. 5.9%, p =0.03) and T1 (10.8% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.0001). Also, patients in T3 tended to have higher proportion of moderate fat in the RV compared to patients in T2 (13.2% vs. 8.9%, p =0.09) and T1 (13.2% vs. 3.3%, p<0.001). Finally, T3 patients tended to have the lowest proportion of RV without fat compared to patients in T2 and T1 (42.3% vs. 58.8 % vs. 75.1%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Full fat and age distribution by tertiles are depicted in Fig 1.
Inducible re-expression of HEXIM1 causes physiological cardiac hypertrophy in the adult mouse

Aims The transcription factor hexamethylene-bis-acetamide-inducible protein 1 (HEXIM1) regulates myocardial vascularization and growth during cardiogenesis. Our aim was to determine whether HEXIM1 also has a beneficial role in modulating vascularization, myocardial growth, and function within the adult heart. Methods and results To achieve our objective, we created and investigated a mouse line wherein HEXIM1 was re-expressed in adult cardiomyocytes to levels found in the foetal heart. Our findings support a beneficial role for HEXIM1 through increased vascularization, myocardial growth, and increased ejection fraction within the adult heart. HEXIM1 re-expression induces angiogenesis, that is, essential for physiological hypertrophy and maintenance of cardiac function. The ability of HEXIM1 to co-ordinate processes associated with physiological hypertrophy may be attributed to HEXIM1 regulation of other transcription factors (HIF-1-α, c-Myc, GATA4, and PPAR-α) that, in turn, control many genes involved in myocardial vascularization, growth, and metabolism. Moreover, the mechanism for HEXIM1-induced physiological hypertrophy appears to be distinct from that involving the PI3K/AKT pathway. Conclusion HEXIM1 re-expression results in the induction of angiogenesis that allows for the co-ordination of tissue growth and angiogenesis during physiological hypertrophy.
Measuring Collaborative Consultation Practices in Natural Environments

This article describes the development of the Triadic Intervention and Evaluation Rating Scale (TIERS), a 33-item instrument designed to evaluate patterns of parent, service provider, and child int...
Models of Production Rates in American Black Duck Populations

Understanding the relationship between the annual reproductive success and changes in environment is important for appropriate waterfowl management. We developed predictive models of American black duck (Anas rubripes) production rates as a function of biotic (black duck and mallard [A. platyrhynchos] abundance) and abiotic factors (spring precipitation and temperature) across predefined breeding areas, from 1990 to 2001. We used male age ratios in the fall population, estimated from wing samples of harvested black ducks corrected for differential vulnerability via band-recoveries, as the index to annual reproduction. Information criteria suggested that a model containing predictors for density-dependence, competition with mallards, spring precipitation, and temperature and stratum-specific coefficients was the best model of black duck production rates. However, coefficients of this model were highly imprecise, leading to relatively poor predictive ability, possibly due to multicollinearity among predictors and the relatively short time span of analysis. We fit several models that included only black duck and mallard abundance as predictors; of these, models with constant slopes and stratum-specific intercepts performed best. Model-averaged parameter estimates supported inverse relationships between black duck and mallard abundance and age ratios, with stronger relative effects for black duck density-dependence. Both effects have implications for adaptive harvest management, in that harvest potential for black ducks may differ greatly depending on combinations of number of each species and the relative belief in alternative hypotheses about the impacts of mallards. Much variability in age ratios remained unexplained by our models, some possibly due to the lack of habitat explanatory variables but also apparently due to random factors. Model improvement could be achieved by incorporating recent developments in the modeling of random effects, especially via Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. More research is also needed to incorporate recently acquired habitat predictors into predictive modeling for black ducks and other ducks breeding in eastern North America. These results provide critical input for models of adaptive harvest management, currently under consideration as an approach for developing an international (Canada–U.S.) harvest strategy for black ducks.
Green Talk: Comparing the Discourse on Climate Change and Sustainable Development between Environmental NGOs and the State in Vietnam and Bolivia

Environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) and national governments are key players in the political sphere surrounding issues of climate change and sustainable development. The relationships between the discourse on “climate change” and “sustainable development” and ENGOs and the state in both Vietnam and Bolivia provides a critical look into the ways in which these issues are approached in two highly-vulnerable countries with different political regimes. Live & Learn, the Centre for Marinelife and Conservation, and PanNature were interviewed as ENGO case studies in Vietnam; and Grupo de Trabajo de Cambio Climatico y Justicia and Proinpa were interviewed as ENGO case studies in Bolivia. Comparing the discourse from the ENGO interviews and websites depicting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s Law on the Protection of the Environment and Bolivia’s 2009 Political Constitution of the State elucidates the gaps left by state policies with regards to the needs of civil society in the context of climate change and sustainable development. The analysis also demonstrates the ways in which different regimes shape the culture of ENGOs and how this impacts climate change and sustainable development initiatives and action. Author’s Note I became interested in the relationship between environmental civil society organizations and government regimes while studying abroad through the School of International Training’s International Honors Program on Climate Change. As a self-proclaimed politics geek, I feel that for any significant movement, the relationship between government and civil society is essential to understanding how the different facets of the policy itself are shaped. In areas where the impacts of climate change are immediate and salient, particularly in the developing world where regimes are different from the United States, this relationship will be critical in the coming years for the process of adapting and responding to a changing Earth.
A Kayak Method for Tracking Fish in Very Shallow Habitats

Acoustic telemetry techniques were adapted for use with a kayak to facilitate tracking of species that range into shallow habitats that are inaccessible to even small outboard motor powered vessels. Low cost and portability make the tracking kayak a potentially useful tool for tracking aquatic animals in a wide variety of marine and freshwater environments. In the present study, blue-spined unicomfish (Naso unicornis, Acanthuridae) were successfully tracked for periods of up to 22 days in shallow high-energy fringing reef habitat in a Hawaii marine reserve (Waikiki Marine Life Conservation District-MLCD). To date all unicomfish tracked were highly site-attached to well-defined home ranges and showed similar diel patterns of behaviour; refuging within holes in the reef by night and moving to a separate daytime area. Unicomfish home ranges were completely encompassed by the boundaries of the 0.32 km2 MLCD.
Understanding Family Forest Land Future Ownership and Use: Exploring Conservation Bequest Motivations

Due to an aging landowner population, there will be an unprecedented ownership shift in land-based assets in the USA. Approximately 2.7 million family forest owners (FFOs) in the USA over the age of 55 years old, reflecting 80 % of all FFO-owned land, will be deciding the future ownership and use of their land, having significant implications for the landscapes and public benefits these forests provide. Little is known about how FFOs plan for the future ownership and use of their land. This study draws from life-cycle theory and FFO decision cycle research to propose a future ownership and use decision-making framework and to explore the presence of and motivation for FFOs to make “conservation bequests” designed to maintain land in its current, forested form. Qualitative interviews with professionals working with over 1000 FFOs explore what triggers FFOs to consider their options and influence their decisions. Findings suggest triggers are universally-held (e.g. age, health) and can happen any time in an FFO’s life. FFO decisions are complex and often made in the context of family goals and dynamics. FFOs holding deep attachments to their land may be more likely to make conservation bequests. However, despite conservation preferences, due to the complex nature of the process or external influences, decisions may not always lead to conservation bequests. The framework that this study adopts allows future in-depth research on these critical decisions. In particular, additional research with landowners is required to examine the framework in more detail.
Evaluation of cerebral autoregulation following diffuse brain injury in rats

AbstractThe normal cerebral circulation has the ability to maintain a stable cerebral blood flow over a wide range of cerebral perfusion p(essures and this is known as cerebral autoregulation. This autoregulation may be impaired in the injured brain. Closed head injury was induced in 28 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 400-450 g. Four groups were studied: control group, head injured rat from meter height using 350 g, 400 g and 450 g respectively. CBF, volume velocity was monitored using laser-Doppler flowmetry together with monitoring of ICP and arterial blood pressure. Correlation to assess the relationship between CBF and CPP was done in each animal every hour. If correlation coefficient was> 0.85 and CPP was within normal range, loss of autoregulation was hypothesized. Chi square test, ANOVA test and unpaired Studen(s t-test were done and significant level of p < 0.05 was established. Mean CBF in injured rats was significantly lower than controls (p = 0.028) at the fifth hour. CBV was lower in the group of...
Uniaxial, Pure Bending and Buckling Characterization of Superelastic NiTi Rods and Tubes: An Experimental Study

Although the tensile behavior of shape memory alloys (SMAs) is relatively well understood, the effects of other modes of loading on SMA behavior are still unknown. To examine the influence of loading and specimen geometry on structural behavior and phase transformation morphology, this work presents an experimental characterization of commercially-available superelastic NiTi rods and tubes under tensile, compressive, pure bending and column buckling loading. At room temperature and under isothermal loading conditions, the mechanical response for each loading configuration and structural geometry is measured and stereo digital image correlation is used to capture local displacement and strain phenomena (such as strain localization and propagating phase boundaries).It is found that the length and cross-sectional geometry of NiTi structures affects the nature of stress-induced phase transformation; in particular, transformation induced strain localization. During uniaxial tension, the rod specimens exhibit strain localization and propagating phase transformation fronts along well-defined load plateaus, and phase boundaries manifest as diffuse propagating necks. The tube specimens also exhibit localization/propagation phenomena, but fronts consist of distinct angled finger-like features due to the relatively thin-walled cross-section. During uniaxial compression, both forms exhibit (now well-known) tension-compression asymmetry in their mechanical responses, no propagating fronts are observed, and distinct load plateaus are absent. During pure bending, the moment-curvature responses of both forms exhibit plateaus during localizing forward and reverse transformations. In the case of the rod, high curvature localizes and propagates along the specimen; whereas, finger-like high strain regions develop along the tensile side of the tube. During column buckling, the structures are loaded into the post-buckling regime yet recover their straight forms upon unloading. Localization is observed, but only for high length/diameter aspect ratio tubes and has little affect on the mechanical response. Therefore, due to the varying phase transformation behaviors observed, understanding geometric and material effects on phase transformation, along with the resulting effects on the material response, is necessary to predict SMA beam behavior.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Multinuclear Group 4 Catalysis: Olefin Polymerization Pathways Modified by Strong Metal–Metal Cooperative Effects

ConspectusPolyolefins are produced today catalytically on a vast scale, and the manufactured polymers find use in everything from artificial limbs and food/medical packaging to automotive and electrical components and lubricants. Although polyolefin monomers are typically cheap (e.g., ethylene, propylene, α-olefins), the resulting polymer properties can be dramatically tuned by the particular polymerization catalyst employed, and reflect a rich interplay of macromolecular chemistry, materials science, and physics. For example, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), produced by copolymerization of ethylene with linear α-olefin comonomers such as 1-butene, 1-hexene, or 1-octene, has small but significant levels of short alkyl branches (C2, C4, C6) along the polyethylene backbone, and is an important technology material due to outstanding rheological and mechanical properties. In 2013, the total world polyolefin production was approximately 211 million metric tons, of which about 11% was LLDPE. Historicall...
Use of a Weight-of-Evidence Method in Evaluating Regulatory Programs for Contaminated Sediment Management

National and regional guidance requires biological and chemical testing of marine, estuarine, and freshwater sediment prior to disposal in unconfined, open-water environments. Regulatory guidance varies, however, at both national and regional levels, leading to inconsistencies in environmental evaluations and subsequent management actions. Further, many of the evaluations required in guidance manuals are dated and may have limited environmental relevance, given more recent information relative to the assessment of environmental risk. The purpose of this paper is to systematically explore the utility and relevance of current regulatory guidance involving environmental investigations, and to suggest ideas for the development of a more consistent set of evaluations that are protective of the environment. Selected national and regional guidance documents are evaluated to determine whether species selection and test recommendations are applicable and appropriate to safeguard environmental quality. National guidance manuals include EPA/USACE publications associated with dredged material testing in marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments; regional practices include current guidance for New York (NY Regional Testing Manual) and for Puget Sound, Washington (PSDDA). The evaluative model that is applied to these regulations is a weight-of-evidence approach, a relatively new process developed to integrate the results of multiple measurements in ecological risk assessments. The author describes how a weight-ofevidence approach might be used to assess current environmental testing guidelines and serve as a basis for potential changes in environmental legislation and testing manual guidance relative to the assessment of dredged material
What is Normal

Poorly defined normal values seriously limit the usefulness of clinical laboratory analyses. The conception of the normal state is of ten confused with the “ideal” state. In the future more than one reference standard may be used. Electronic data processing should greatly facilitate the effort to establish normal values and appropriate methods of deriving them.
Tracking Method for Small Infrared Target Based on Particle Filter and Multi-feature Fusion

The problem of detecting and tracking small targets in a sequence of infrared images with very low SNR was studied.The detecting algorithm based on multi-feature fusion is robust and efficient,and the particle filter is an effective method for state estimation in non-linear and non-Gaussian dynamic systems.A method of target tracking in infrared image sequences based on particle filter and multi-feature fusion was presented.Compared with single-feature tracking method,the tracking result shows that the algorithm has strong ability of detecting and tracking under clutter background.
Detecting and tracking vehicles in traffic by unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) as devices for traffic data collection exhibits many advantages in collecting traffic information. This paper introduces a new vehicle detecting and tracking system based on image data collected by UAV. This system uses consecutive frames to generate vehicle's dynamic information, such as positions and velocities. Four major modules have been developed: image registration, image feature extraction, vehicle shape detecting, and vehicle tracking. Some unique features have been introduced into this system to customize the vehicle and traffic flow and to jointly use them in multiple consecutive images to increase the system accuracy of detecting and tracking vehicles. Field tests demonstrate that the present system exhibits high accuracy in traffic information acquisition at different UAV altitudes with different view scopes, which can be used in future traffic monitoring and control in metropolitan areas.
Recurrence and Survival in Patients With Merkel Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Surgery Without Adjuvant Radiation Therapy to the Primary Site

Importance The use of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) to the primary site in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is not uncommon. However, the need for adjuvant RT to the primary site in patients at low risk for local recurrence is questionable. Objectives To examine the occurrence of true local, satellite, in-transit, regional, and distant recurrences in patients undergoing surgery alone without adjuvant RT to the primary site. To establish overall survival (OS), MCC-specific survival (MCCSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) relationships in a cohort of patients with MCC. Design, Setting, and Participants Our University of Michigan Multidisciplinary MCC Program database was used to obtain characteristics and outcome measures for 104 patients (105 primary MCCs) with tumors less than 2 cm in diameter. The majority of patients were treated between July 2006 and November 2012. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcome measures included the occurrence of true local, satellite, in-transit, regional, and distant recurrences. End points included OS, MCCSS, and DFS. Results Overall, information for 55 men and 49 women with 105 primary MCCs was obtained; 19 patients developed recurrent disease, and the mean time to first recurrence was 10.7 months. True local recurrence occurred in 1 patient with concurrent in-transit recurrence. Satellite recurrence occurred in 1 patient with concurrent regional recurrence. Four additional patients developed in-transit metastases. Thirteen patients had a regional recurrence component, 4 patients had distant metastases, and 6 patients developed subsequent regional and/or distant recurrences. Stratified by initial pathologic stage, the OS and MCCSS at 48 months were estimated to be 85.0% (95% CI, 71.8%-92.3%) and 94.4% (95% CI, 83.4%-98.2%) for patients with stage 1A/B disease and 63.2% (95% CI, 36.6%-81.1%) and 78.1% (95% CI, 50.0%-91.5%) for patients with stage 3A disease. The OS and MCCSS at 24 months for patients with stage 3B disease were both 50.0% (95% CI, 5.8%-84.5%). Conclusions and Relevance In selected MCC patients with primary tumors less than 2 cm in diameter treated with surgery alone without adjuvant RT to the primary site, we found a low occurrence of true local recurrences and satellite recurrences. This relatively low rate of local recurrence questions the need for adjuvant RT to the primary tumor site in patients with small low-risk lesions.
Self-regulated learning microanalysis as a tool to inform professional development delivery in real-time

Elementary teachers in the United States are tasked with teaching all core subject matter and have training that involves many topics, which may limit the depth of their subject matter knowledge. Since they have low content knowledge, they often feel less confident about teaching technical subject matter, such as science (Bleicher Journal of Science Teacher Education 17:165–187, 2006). The problem of low confidence of elementary teachers for science instruction is exacerbated when they are expected to teach science using inquiry (Hanuscin et al. Science Education 95:145–167, 2010). Self-regulated learning microanalysis, which supports both instruction and assessment, can help teachers reflect on their learning processes. This technique may provide clues for teachers to improve strategies for learning and give information to professional development instructors to inform teacher professional development experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine self-regulatory learning cycles that fourteen elementary teachers experienced while engaged in learning about inquiry during a professional development. Results of this study showed that before the professional development, teachers reported low self-efficacy but high task value and perceived instrumentality for learning about inquiry. As the professional development progressed, teachers improved their goal setting skills, self-monitoring performance, and learning tactics. The self-regulated learning microanalysis revealed information not communicated in the professional development experience, which led to adaptation of the activities in real-time to meet the needs indicated on the self-regulated learning microanalysis reports. Measuring teacher learning processes allowed the professional development instructors to pinpoint difficulties and successes during the learning tasks, which aided in precise adaptation of experiences for teacher needs.
Improving the Discovery and Characterization of Hidden Variables by Regularizing the LO-net

This paper presents an extension of the regularized neural network architecture, called the LO-net. LO-net is a neural network architecture that can infer both the existence and values of hidden variables in streaming multivariate time series. The core idea is to initially make predictions with one network (the observable or O-net) based on a time delay embedding, following this with a gradual reduction in the temporal scope of the embedding that forces a second network (the latent or L-net) to learn to approximate the value of a single hidden variable, which is then input to the O-net based on the original time delay embedding. The latent network sometimes learns to approximate the predicted target output from the original network in the LO-net architecture. To prevent this situation, a penalty term is introduced that is added to the error for the latent network. The penalty term is formulated to penalize the latent network when it learns the target output of the original network. A distance penalty term has been shown to improve the prediction performance over the unregularized network. This paper introduces a new penalty, called the decor relation penalty, which proves to be better for domains with periodic data.
Enhancing Gifted Education for Underrepresented Students: Promising Recruitment and Programming Strategies

For decades, our educational system has been criticized for the limited recruitment and retention of minority students in gifted education programs. Unfortunately, relatively little progress has been made to alleviate these concerns. An examination of the literature on gifted education for underrepresented students reveals a dearth of information regarding effective programming practices. This article seeks to fill this void by exploring promising best practices for recruitment and retention of underrepresented students in gifted education. Multicultural education, mentoring, and noncognitive skill development are three promising areas that gifted educators can use to enhance programming.
On Virtue, Irony, and Glory: The Pitch and the People

Soccer matches and soccer teams are interpreted as representing something other than players competing to win. In a match, events are displayed, representations are posed, and narratives are developed by interpreters. First, I’ll give some examples of this representative power. I do not have a complete explanation for it but I will offer two reasons—character and glory. In the section “Virtue”, I say more about character, vice, and virtue, and how we refer to it when we explain matches and players. This extends even to discussions of national character. In section “The stage, the canvas, the pitch”, I give some explanation for the evocative power that enables soccer to play this role. To do so, I compare the game to art and to dance. In “A short praise of fan irony”, I argue that the game presents character traits but not the actual character of players or their communities. For this reason, fans should have an ironic relationship with the narratives they use to interpret the game and the world around it. In “Glory”, I try to say something about the glory of the game. I list some different types of glory. Finally, “The creative fan”, calls for creative fans to embrace virtue, irony, and glory and insist the game be organized with these three ideas in mind.
Phase II study of cabozantinib for patients with advanced RET-rearranged lung cancers.

8007 Background: RET rearrangements are found in 1-2% of non-small cell lung cancers and are drivers of growth in vitro and in vivo. Cabozantinib is a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity ...
Fairness overrides group bias in children’s second-party punishment.

Adults and children show ingroup favoritism in their 3rd-party punishment of cooperative norm violations, suggesting that group loyalty importantly shapes enforcement of cooperation. Ingroup favoritism additionally influences punishment of unfairness in the 2-party ultimatum game, in which people are directly affected by unfair behavior. However, the directionality of this relationship is unclear: In some cases, people are more forgiving of ingroup unfairness, whereas in others they are less forgiving. Here we aim to disambiguate this relationship by studying its origins in development, asking whether ingroup favoritism influences children's offers to others and whether it affects their responses to being treated unfairly. Six- to 10-year-olds played a group-based ultimatum game after being assigned to minimal groups and made proposals to-and responded to offers from-members of their in- and outgroups. We tested children's real bargaining behavior in the absence of deception. Results showed that, regardless of group membership, children's primary concern lay with fairness: Participants regularly offered equal splits and were more likely to reject unfair offers than fair offers. Consistent with past work, older children made more generous proposals than did younger children. Although our group manipulation successfully induced ingroup bias in participants, neither children's proposals nor responses were influenced by group membership. This suggests that second-party punishment of fairness norm violations is unbiased early in development and points to the potentially important role of experience with different groups in shaping later emerging bias in norm enforcement. We discuss implications for theories regarding when and to what extent group bias influences cooperation. (PsycINFO Database Record
Should AFP (or any biomarkers) be used for HCC surveillance

The aim of this review is to address the controversy around the use of biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in individuals with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B who are at risk for development of liver cancer. Recent studies suggest that surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma is beneficial, even after adjustment for lead time and other biases. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is complementary to ultrasound (US) in surveillance, particularly in obese patients and patients with infiltrative tumors. US and AFP are both associated with harms to patients from false-positive overdiagnosis, with US appearing to cause greater harms. Including patient demographic characteristics and additional biomarkers into diagnostic models is beneficial. Recent studies emphasize the advantage of time trends in biomarkers over single cross-sectional measurements. AFP and other biomarkers are complementary to US in surveillance for HCC, especially when applied in models including patient variables and incorporating time trends in biomarker levels. With advances in genetic and molecular analysis of tumors, we may be poised at the cusp of a revolution in HCC surveillance.
Designing Skin Cancer Prevention Messages: Should We Emphasize Gains or Losses? Message Framing, Risk Type, and Prior Experience.

Purpose:To test whether message framing (ie, gain vs. loss) and risk type (ie, health vs appearance risk) in skin cancer prevention messages interact with one’s prior experience. Design: Two experiments with a 2 (message framing: gain vs loss) × 2 (risk type: health vs appearance risk) factorial design were conducted.Setting:The participants were given a URL to the experiment website via e-mail. On the first page of the website, the participants were told that they would be asked to evaluate a skin cancer print public service announcement (PSA): Online experiments.Participants:A total of 397 individuals participated (236 for experiment 1 and 161 for experiment 2).Apparatus:Four versions of the skin cancer print PSAs were developed. Four PSAs were identical except for the 2 manipulated components: message framing and risk type.Measures:Measures were adopted from Cho and Boster (message framing), Jones and Leary and Kiene et al. (risk type), De Vries, Mesters, van’t Riet, Willems, and Reubsaet and Knight, K...