cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gaming used as an informal instructional technique: effects on learner knowledge and satisfaction.

Background Jeopardy!, Concentration, quiz bowls, and other gaming formats have been incorporated into health sciences classroom and online education. However, there is limited information about the impact of these strategies on learner engagement and outcomes. To address this gap, we hypothesized that gaming would lead to a significant increase in retained short- and long-term medical knowledge with high learner session satisfaction. Methods Using the Jeopardy! game show model as a primary instructional technique to teach geriatrics, 8 PGY2 General Surgery residents were divided into 2 teams and competed to provide the “question” to each stated “answer” during 5 protected block curriculum units (1-h/U). A surgical faculty facilitator acted as the game host and provided feedback and brief elaboration of quiz answers/questions as necessary. Each quiz session contained two 25-question rounds. Paper-based pretests and posttests contained questions related to all core curriculum unit topics with 5 geriatric gaming questions per test. Residents completed the pretests 3 days before the session and a delayed posttest of geriatric topics on average 9.2 weeks (range, 5-12 weeks) after the instructional session. The cumulative average percent correct was compared between pretests and posttests using the Student t test. The residents completed session evaluation forms using Likert scale ratings after each gaming session and each protected curriculum block to assess educational value. Results A total of 25 identical geriatric preunit and delayed postunit questions were administered across the instructional sessions. The combined pretest average score across all 8 residents was 51.5% for geriatric topics compared with 59.5% (p = 0.12) for all other unit topics. Delayed posttest geriatric scores demonstrated a statistically significant increase in retained medical knowledge with an average of 82.6% (p = 0.02). The difference between delayed posttest geriatric scores and posttest scores of all other unit topics was not significant. Residents reported a high level of satisfaction with the gaming sessions: The average session content rating was 4.9 compared with the overall block content rating of 4.6 (scale, 1-5, 5 = Outstanding). Conclusions The quiz type and competitive gaming sessions can be used as a primary instructional technique leading to significant improvements in delayed posttests of medical knowledge and high resident satisfaction of educational value. Knowledge gains seem to be sustained based on the intervals between the interventions and recorded gains.
Analysis of centrosome overduplication in correlation to cell division errors in high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anal neoplasms

High-risk HPV-associated anal neoplasms are difficult to treat and biomarkers of malignant progression are needed. A hallmark of carcinogenic progression is genomic instability, which is frequently associated with cell division errors and aneuploidy. The HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein has been previously shown to rapidly induce centriole and centrosome overduplication and to cooperate with HPV-16 E6 in the induction of abnormal multipolar mitoses. Based on this function, it has been suggested that HPV-16 E7 may act as a driving force for chromosomal instability. However, a detailed analysis of centrosome overduplication in primary HPV-associated neoplasms has not been performed so far. Here, we determined the frequency of centrosome overduplication in HPV-associated anal lesions using a recently identified marker for mature maternal centrioles, Cep170. We detected centrosome overduplication in a small but significant fraction of cells. Remarkably, centrosome overduplication, but not aberrant centrosome numbers per se or centrosome accumulation, correlated significantly with the presence of cell division errors. In addition, our experiments revealed that in particular pseudo-bipolar mitoses may play a role in the propagation of chromosomal instability in high-risk HPV-associated tumors. These results provide new insights into the role of centrosome aberrations in cell division errors and encourage further studies on centrosome overduplication as a predictive biomarker of malignant progression in HPV-associated anal lesions.
Development of a method to identify keto acids in ozonated fulvic acid solutions

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method, combining an O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine-diazomethane double derivatization, was developed to identify major keto acids in ozonated fulvic acid solutions. Three keto acids, glyoxylic, pyruvic, and ketomalonic acid, four aldehydes and two analytical artifacts were identified. The detailed mass spectra, obtained in both electron impact and positive chemical ionization modes, and their fragment assignments are presented. Owing to the similarity of their electron impact mass spectra, electron impact mass spectra along with positive chemical ionization mass spectra are needed to identify these keto acids reliably. The effects of the formation of keto acids on water quality are also discussed.
A finite element for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures

Formulation of a four-node isoparametric element suitable for modelling cracks in reinforced concrete structures is presented. The standard isoparametric element is known to give spurious shear stresses. The conventional remedy of selective integration breaks down in a ‘cracked’ element. It is shown that the proposed formulation gives superior results as compared to both the standard isoparametric element and the conventional selectively integrated element.
A Modified Frequency Estimation Equating Method for the Common-Item Nonequivalent Groups Design

Frequency estimation, also called poststratification, is an equating method used under the common-item nonequivalent groups design. A modified frequency estimation method is proposed here, based on altering one of the traditional assumptions in frequency estimation in order to correct for equating bias. A simulation study was carried out to compare equating errors for the modified frequency estimation method, the traditional frequency estimation method, and the chained equipercentile method. The results show that the modified frequency estimation method performs better than the traditional frequency estimation method and, under most circumstances, also performs better than the chained equipercentile method.
Sp3 expression in immune cells: a quantitative study.

We previously reported the lack of expression of the bifunctional transcription factor Sp3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) (Grekova et al, 1996). An RT-PCR technique was developed to evaluate Sp3 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cell subsets. Semi-quantitative and quantitative competitive RT-PCR assays were used to compare the level of Sp3 expression among subjects and among immune cell subsets. The competitor DNA fragment contained a deletion from the normal Sp3 cDNA sequence. The wild-type Sp3 cDNA and the competitor DNA fragment amplified with equal efficiency, and the two PCR products were distinguished by size. These studies demonstrated that normal CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, B cells, and macrophages expressed comparable amounts of Sp3 mRNA. No Sp3 expression could be detected in normal natural killer cells nor in any of these cell types from Sp3-negative MS patients. We propose that transcription of the Sp3 gene is blocked in immune cells from most patients with MS and that this contributes to the development of central nervous system inflammation in the disease.
Ramuz et le problème de la narration

Analyse du caractere idiosyncratique du discours narratif de La grande peur dans la montagne: nature et position tres particuliere ce cette instance narrative| procedures narratives.
Disclosure and Monitoring as Predictors of Mother–Adolescent Agreement in Reports of Early Adolescent Rule-Breaking Behavior

The current study tested whether greater monitoring by mothers and greater disclosure by early adolescents was linked to greater agreement in mothers’ and adolescents’ reports of rule-breaking behavior. In doing so, the article demonstrated how polynomial regression analyses can be used to test hypotheses in which informant discrepancies serve as the dependent variable. Data were obtained from 218 mother–adolescent dyads (M adolescent age = 11.5 years, 51% female, 49% European American, 47% African American). Mothers and early adolescents provided reports of their perceptions of maternal monitoring (i.e., solicitation and control through rules), adolescent disclosure, and adolescent rule-breaking behavior. Polynomial regression models tested monitoring and disclosure as moderators of the association between mothers’ and adolescents’ reports of the adolescents’ rule-breaking behavior. Mothers’ reports of rule-breaking behavior were more strongly associated with adolescents’ reports of their own rule-breaki...
Qualifying the Role of Indium in the Multiple-Filled Ce0.1InxYb0.2Co4Sb12 Skutterudite

Literature confirms an improvement in the overall TE properties due to the in situ InSb nano-dispersed phases located along the grain boundaries in several double-filled InxYzCo4Sb12 skutterudites. However, the single-filled InxCo4Sb12 reports contribute enhancement in TE properties solely on the nature of In as a void filler. To qualify the effect of In on the TE properties on multiple-filled skutterudites several multiple-filled Ce0.1InxYb0.2Co4Sb12 skutterudite samples, with nominal composition Ce0.1InyYb0.2Co4Sb12 (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.2), were synthesized. A double-filled base-line sample Ce0.1Yb0.2Co4Sb12 was also synthesized and characterized to create a much fuller depiction of the nature of In and its impact on the TE properties of the filled Co4Sb12-based skutterudite materials. Our results confirm that small amounts of In can be effective at increasing electrical conductivity in the multiple-filled Ce0.1InyYb0.2Co4Sb12 skutterudite. An increased mobility and thus electrical conductivity result in a 15% increase in the dimensionless Figure of Merit, ZT, in the nominal sample composition, Ce0.1In0.05Yb0.2Co4Sb12, which exhibits a state of the art ZT > 1.4 at T = 820 K.
Is Failure Good

Approximately 80-90 percent of new firms ultimately fail. The tendency is to think of this failure as wasteful. We, however, examine whether there are economic benefits to offset the waste. We characterize three potential mechanisms through which excess entry affects market structure, firm behavior, and efficiency, then test them in the banking industry. Results indicate that failed firms generate externalities that significantly and substantially reduce industry cost. On average these benefits exceed the private costs of the entrants. Thus failure appears to be good for the economy.
Impact of polymer conformation on the crystal growth inhibition of a poorly water-soluble drug in aqueous solution.

Poor aqueous solubility is a major hindrance to oral delivery of many emerging drugs. Supersaturated drug solutions can improve passive absorption across the gastrointestinal tract membrane as long as crystallization can be inhibited, enhancing the delivery of such poorly soluble therapeutics. Polymers can inhibit crystallization and prolong supersaturation; therefore, it is desirable to understand the attributes which render a polymer effective. In this study, the conformation of a polymer adsorbed to a crystal surface and its impact on crystal growth inhibition were investigated. The crystal growth rate of a poorly soluble pharmaceutical compound, felodipine, was measured in the presence of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) at two different pH conditions: pH 3 and pH 6.8. HPMCAS was found to be a less effective growth rate inhibitor at pH 3, below its pKa. It was expected that the ionization state of HPMCAS would most likely influence its conformation at the solid–liquid interface...
Data mining for security applications: Mining concept-drifting data streams to detect peer to peer botnet traffic

The presentation first provide an overview for data mining for security applications and then discuss our research to the botnet problem which follows from an important observation that network traffic (as well as botnet traffic) is a continuous flow of data stream. Conventional data mining techniques are not directly applicable to stream data because of two vital problems associated with them: potentially infinite in length, and concept drift. We propose a technique that can efficiently handle both problems. Our main focus is to adapt three major data mining techniques: classification, clustering, and outlier detection to handle stream data. Our preliminary study on the development of new stream classification techniques for P2P bothnet detection has generated encouraging results. In addition to botnet detection, we also discuss our research on data mining for malicious code detection and intrusion detection.
Effects of deformation on hydrogen permeation in austenitic stainless steels

Transient and steady state fluxes of hydrogen were measured for annealed and deformed AISI 301, 304 and 310 austenitic and annealed AL 29-4-2 ferritic stainless steel membranes using a gas phase permeation technique at T = 100–350°C. Permeability and effective diffusivity and solubility constants were calculated from these data. Up to 80% deformation of the stable AISI 310 alloy made only a relatively small change in the transport parameters. Deformation of AISI 301 and 304 resulted in various amounts of stress-induced α′ martensite, which greatly enhanced the effective hydrogen diffusivity and permeability. The relationship between phase changes and hydrogen transport parameters was modeled using various assumptions about the microstructure. Effective solubility and diffusivity values are discussed in terms of dislocation trapping and transport.
Lactogenic hormones stimulate the liver to secrete a factor that acts synergistically with prolactin to promote growth of the pigeon crop-sac mucosal epithelium in vivo.

We have investigated whether the liver is a source of a PRL-synergizing activity (i.e. synlactin) and we have obtained some information on endocrine control of its secretion. Livers were removed from 3-month-old Long-Evans rats (male, virgin, pregnant, or lactating female) or from virgin females that were injected with saline, bovine GH, or ovine PRL for 7 days, and hepatic slices were prepared for in vitro incubation in medium 199. The media were tested for synlactin activity by determining whether they could augment the pigeon crop-sac response to locally injected ovine PRL. Only the media containing factors from the liver of pregnant or lactating females and PRL-injected virgins had significant synlactin activity. They augmented the crop-sac mucosal growth response by 130%, 140%, and 103%, respectively. Medium in which slices of kidney from virgin or pregnant rats were incubated did not have detectable synlactin activity. The medium samples that had synlactin activity were also tested for the presence ...
The synthesis of (±)-mesembrine☆

Abstract The nitrostyrene 4 was condensed with butadiene to the nitrocyclohexene 5 . Ketone 7 , obtained by a Nef reaction on 5 followed by preferential catalytic reduction, was alkylated with allyl bromide to yield olefin 8 . Reduction with LAH, followed by acetylation afforded the olefin acetate 11 . The acid acetate 13 , formed by OsO 4 -NaIO 4 oxidation of 11 to the aldehyde acetate 12 and further oxidation of 12 with silver oxide, was converted to the amide 14 . LAH reduction gave the amino alcohols 15 . The N-formyl amide 15a was oxidized to the ketone 16 . Bromination to 17 , followed by dehydrobromination, produced the eneone 18 . Epoxidation to 19 was carried out with Clorox, and reduction of 19 using chromous acetate gave the β-hydroxyketone 20 . Further reduction with NaBH 4 afforded the desired diol 21 . Preferential oxidation with Pt/air, followed by acid catalyzed dehydration, finally yielded (±)-mesembrine (1).
E-Learning in Business

e-Learning is replacing face-to-face classroom instruction in a growing number of businesses, but what is the prospect for the continued proliferation of e-learning in business? On one hand, the quality of instruction, the cost-effectiveness of new technology, a supportive e-learning educational culture, an expansion of the Internet, an increase in online courses, shorter business cycles, mergers, and increasing competition encourage business use of e-learning. On the other hand, employee reticence in using learning technologies, insufficient corporate investment, lack of business-relevant university courses, narrow bandwidth, and Internet access issues are constricting the business use of these technologies.
Nuclear astrophysics from neutron cross-section measurements on radioactive samples

Abstract Reaction rates for both big-bang and stellar nucleosynthesis calculations can be obtained from the measurement of (n, p) (n, α) and (n, γ) cross sections for radioactive nuclei. In the past, large backgrounds associated with the sample activity limited these types of measurements to radioisotopes with very long half-lives. The advent of the high-intensity neutron source at the Los Alamos Neutron Scattering CEnter (LANSCE) has greatly increased the number of nuclei which can be studied. Results of recent measurements on samples with half-lives as short as 53 days are given. Plans for future measurements are discussed.
Misconception of thermal spreading angle and misapplication to IGBT power modules

This paper analyzes the widely used 45 degrees thermal spreading model in IGBT package design and quantifies error in application to both single and multilayered package structures. The results are compared with finite element analysis (FEA). For single-layer heat transfer problem, the spreading angle model with a 45 degrees assumption provides a less than 20% conservative error of thermal resistance for a certain substrate layer thickness range, but is not applicable to multi-layered structures. For two or more layered structures, as commonly found in direct bonded copper (DBC) substrates and used in multiple-chip power modules (MCPMs), the 45 degrees fixed-angle method cannot capture the behavior of the heat transfer problem nor accurately predict the temperature of critical points for design. The method introduces substantial underestimation of junction temperature dependent on layer thickness ratios. An in-depth literature review was conducted and little, if any, concrete basis for the 45 degree assumption was found. Guidelines for using more accurate spreading-angle calculations are provided for the practice engineer.
Thermal sensitivity in Tourette syndrome: preliminary report.

The effects of heat on tic symptoms were studied in a sample of 78 adults with Tourette syndrome. 62 men and 16 women completed a survey concerning the type, onset, and course of their tics. 10 adult male subjects also participated in a thermal challenge during which ambient temperature was raised from 22 degrees C to 35 degrees C following a control period. Of the 78, 24% or 19 reported increased tics upon exposure to heat. Compared to the remaining 59 subjects, there were no differences in sex distribution, current age, or overall course of illness. In the thermal challenge, there was general increase in tics that was correlated with sweat rate (r = .55, p = .001). This effect was prominent in 5 of 10 subjects (rs = .29 to .63). There were no mean differences in current age, age of onset, or current severity of symptoms between the five subjects of each group. Tic symptoms in a subgroup of patients with Tourette syndrome may be sensitive to heat. Abnormal heat regulation is not a likely explanation for the observed increase in tics. The increase may be due to normal heat-loss mechanisms through dopaminergic pathways.
Strand opening by the UvrA2B complex allows dynamic recognition of DNA damage

Repair proteins alter the local DNA structure during nucleotide excision repair (NER). However, the precise role of DNA melting remains unknown. A series of DNA substrates containing a unique site-specific BPDE-guanine adduct in a region of non-complementary bases were examined for incision by the Escherichia coli UvrBC endonuclease in the presence or absence of UvrA. UvrBC formed a pre-incision intermediate with a DNA substrate containing a 6-base bubble structure with 2 unpaired bases 5' and 3 unpaired bases 3' to the adduct. Formation of this bubble served as a dynamic recognition step in damage processing. UvrB or UvrBC may form one of three stable repair intermediates with DNA substrates, depending upon the state of the DNA surrounding the modified base. The dual incisions were strongly determined by the distance between the adduct and the double-stranded-single-stranded DNA junction of the bubble, and required homologous double-stranded DNA at both incision sites. Remarkably, in the absence of UvrA, UvrBC nuclease can make both 3' and 5' incisions on substrates with bubbles of 3-6 nucleotides, and an uncoupled 5' incision on bubbles of >/=>/=10 nucleotides. These data support the hypothesis that the E.coli and human NER systems recognize and process DNA damage in a highly conserved manner.
Field sweep rate dependence of media dynamic coercivity

The dependence of the media dynamic coercivity dependence on field sweeping rate was obtained for a general case with the media energy barrier /spl Delta/E=K/sub u/V(1-H/H/sub 0/)/sup n/. The effective coercivity measurement time t/sub eff/ for a linearly sweeping field is derived. The general solution was applied to perpendicular media (n=2). The difference in perpendicular media coercivity with a step field and linearly sweeping field is calculated for various H/sub 0/ and K/sub u/V/(k/sub B/T). The dynamic coercivity of perpendicular media samples was measured using a Kerr-effect magnetometer with both field sweep rate and finite time duration schemes. The calculated coercivity is compared to measurement results.
Analysis of 1/f noise in switched MOSFET circuits

Analysis of 1/f noise in MOSFET circuits is typically performed in the frequency domain using the standard stationary 1/f noise model. Recent experimental results, however, have shown that the estimates using this model can be quite inaccurate especially for switched circuits. In the case of a periodically switched transistor, measured 1/f noise power spectral density (psd) was shown to be significantly lower than the estimate using the standard 1/f noise model. For a ring oscillator, measured 1/f-induced phase noise psd was shown to be significantly lower than the estimate using the standard 1/f noise model. For a source follower reset circuit, measured 1/f noise power was also shown to be lower than the estimate using the standard 1/f model. In analyzing noise in the follower reset circuit using frequency-domain analysis, a low cutoff frequency that is inversely proportional to the circuit on-time is assumed. The choice of this low cutoff frequency is quite arbitrary and can cause significant inaccuracy in estimating noise power. Moreover, during reset, the circuit is not in steady state, and thus frequency-domain analysis does not apply. This paper proposes a nonstationary extension of the standard 1/f noise model, which allows us to analyze 1/f noise in switched MOSFET circuits more accurately. Using our model, we analyze noise for the three aforementioned switched circuit examples and obtain results that are consistent with the reported measurements.
Design of energy-efficient channel buffers with router bypassing for network-on-chips (NoCs)

Network-on-chip (NoC) architectures are fast becoming an attractive solution to address the interconnect delay problems in chip multiprocessors (CMPs). However, increased power dissipation and limited performance improvements have hindered the wide-deployment of NoCs. In this paper, we combine two techniques of adaptive channel buffers and router pipeline bypassing to simultaneously reduce power consumption and improve performance. Power consumption can be decreased by reducing the size of the router buffers. However, as reducing router buffers alone will significantly degrade performance, we compensate by utilizing the newly proposed dual-function channel buffers that allow flits to be stored on wires when required. Network bypassing technique, on the other hand, allows flits to bypass the router pipeline and thereby avoid the router buffers altogether. We combine the two techniques and attempt to keep the flits on the wires from source to destination. Our simulation results of the proposed methodology combining the two techniques, yield a overall power reduction of 62% over the baseline and improve performance (throughput and latency) by more than 10%.
Composite microbolometers with tellurium detector elements

A composite microbolometer has been constructed for possible use as a broadband submillimeter radiation detector. Theory, fabrication, and measurement of these devices are discussed, and a finite element thermal model is introduced. The devices utilize nichrome load elements which can be impedance-matched to a planar antenna. The load elements are thermally coupled to tellurium detectors. Room temperature responsivities of 120 V/W and noise equivalent powers (NEPs) as low as 6.7*10/sup -9/ W/ square root Hz were achieved. Performance appears to be limited by 1/f noise in the Te detector. >
Analysis of the NovoTwist Pen Needle in Comparison with Conventional Screw-Thread Needles

Administration of insulin via a pen device may be advantageous over a vial and syringe system. Hofman and colleagues introduce a new insulin pen needle, the NovoTwist, to simplify injections to a small group of children and adolescents. Their overall preferences and evaluation of the handling of the needle are reported in the study. This new needle has the potential to ease administration of insulin via a pen device that may increase both the use of a pen device and adherence to insulin therapy.
Thinking big with whole-ecosystem studies and ecosystem restoration—a legacy of H.T. Odum

Whole-ecosystem studies are in situ ecological studies and experiments of such a spatial and temporal scale as to include most if not all processes of the ecosystem. Principles of self-organization and self-design are key to whole-ecological function and often do not occur as vibrantly or conclusively at smaller scale experiments. Ecological feedback caused by organisms (e.g., beavers, plants that manage hydrology, ecosystem engineers, top-down control), pulses caused by events such as fire and floods, and emergent ecosystem properties caused by human wastes, recycling, and hydrologic modification are difficult if not impossible to be properly studied in small-scale experiments. Large-scale whole-ecosystem studies were pioneered in the 1960s and 1970s by H.T. Odum and colleagues with large drop nets in Texas coastal bays, rain forests enclosures in Puerto Rico, created coastal ponds in North Carolina, and sewage application to cypress swamps in Florida. The study in Florida investigated effects of wastewater additions to wetland function in cypress domes but unexpected fire in the experimental area led to adaptive research and the study of fire in field research and models. More recently we have been engaged in whole-ecosystem experiments, partially inspired by the work of Odum, at created wetlands in northeastern Illinois to investigate effects of water turnover on ecosystem function and in Ohio to provide insight on the long-range large-scale effects of hydrology and macrophyte planting on ecosystem function. We have also carried out major ecosystem-scale studies in coastal Louisiana, investigating the value of these ecological systems in treating wastewater and restoring lost landscape in coastal Louisiana. These studies in the Midwest and Mississippi delta form the basis of determining design standards on creating and restoring wetlands in the Mississippi River Basin to reduce the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia and regain many lost ecosystem functions over a large part of North America.
Roger et al. Respond to “Future of Population Studies”

In 2013, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) assembled a working group from its Advisory Council and Board of External Experts to make recommendations to the NHLBI Council about future directions for the epidemiologic study of heart, lung, blood, and sleep diseases. The working group made 7 recommendations to the NHLBI Council and invited a broad dialogue with the scientific communities and all relevant stakeholders (1). The commentary by Vasan and Folsom (2), which expressed general agreement with the recommendations, provided additional perspectives.
High-performance fully-depleted SOI RF CMOS

A T-gate structure has been implemented in the fabrication of fully depleted silicon-on-insulator MOSFETs. The T-gate process is fully compatible with the standard CMOS and the resulting reduction of gate-resistance significantly improved the RF performance. Measured f/sub max/ is 76 GHz and 63 GHz for n- and p-MOSFET with 0.2-/spl mu/m gate length, respectively. At 2 GHz, a minimum noise figure of 0.4 dB was measured on an n-MOSFET with the T-gate structure.
Fractal random cantor superlattices for the infrared

Electromagnetics simulation has traditionally been tied to Euclidean geometry, where wave interaction with regular structures such as cylinders, spheres, cones, planes, and edges are considered. These Euclidean geometries can be combined to describe many man-made objects or to approximate complex objects that occur in nature. However, objects in nature contain complex structures that typically appear in multiple length-scales and are not well described using Euclidean geometry. These often spiky, wiggly, irregular structures are better represented by fractal geometry, which was introduced by Mandelbrot in the 1970s in order to describe geometries found in nature [1,2]. While fractal geometry is not rigorously defined, there are some typical characteristics in fractals, such as self-similarity across length-scales, an iterative construction of the fractal geometry, and a tendency to fill up space as many iterations of the geometry are constructed at progressively smaller length-scales [1].
On re-scaling in fuzzy control and genetic algorithms

It is known that in many applications of fuzzy control or genetic algorithms, appropriate re-scaling of the control parameters can drastically improve the performance. Successful applications of re-scaling are normally based on fine-tuning experiments or on the good knowledge of the area. These successes tempt justification of the use of re-scaling in situations when we do not have good knowledge and have not experimented much. Surprisingly, in such situations, re-scaling often not only does not improves the performance, but often degrades it. In this paper, we provide a simple mathematical explanation of this phenomenon.
Public Confidence in Cybersystems: Issues and Implications for Sustainability

This article contends that achieving trust and confidence in Internet systems is dependent on enhancing public perceptions that those who develop and manage Internet technologies are honest, capable, competent, and accountable. Drawing upon recent studies of the Internet and on decision-support technologies, first outlined are the principal dimensions of trust and confidence in Cybersystems, including the growing distance between citizens and technology institutions, the credibility of information disseminated by Cybersystems, and the potential risks attendant upon Cybersystem use. It is posited that trust and confidence are dependent on the ability of the Internet and other computer-based communication systems to satisfy salient user needs. Five needs are paramount: real time information availability; accurate and precise data and information; usability and usefulness of information platforms; ease-of-use of communication systems; and access and accountability to users of Internet developers and data pro...
Multihypothesis Prior for Segmentation of Stereo Disparity

An iterative segmentation-estimation framework for segmentation of planar surfaces in the disparity space is proposed. Disparity of a scene is modeled by approximating various surfaces in the scene to be planar. Uncertainty in the stereo disparity of these surfaces is modeled with a hidden Markov random field. Planar surface labels are the hidden variables of the model. Surface labels are estimated during the segmentation phase of the framework with help of underlying plane parameters and the spatial coherency prior. After segmentation, the planar surfaces are separated into spatially continuous regions. Each spatially continuous region is treated as a hypothesis for the underlying plane. Hypotheses for each plane are then combined to form a multihypothesis Gaussian mixture prior. The underlying planar surface parameters are estimated with maximum a posteriori estimation from the multihypothesis prior. The iterative process is continued until the labels converge or satisfactory segmentation is achieved. Experimental results are presented with synthetic as well as real-life scenes to demonstrate the success of the proposed method.
Hazard assessment of chemical air contaminants measured in residences

Identifying air pollutants that pose a potential hazard indoors can facilitate exposure mitigation. In this study, we compiled summary results from 77 published studies reporting measurements of chemical pollutants in residences in the United States and in countries with similar lifestyles. These data were used to calculate representative mid-range and upper bound concentrations relevant to chronic exposures for 267 pollutants and representative peak concentrations relevant to acute exposures for 5 activity-associated pollutants. Representative concentrations are compared to available chronic and acute health standards for 97 pollutants. Fifteen pollutants appear to exceed chronic health standards in a large fraction of homes. Nine other pollutants are identified as potential chronic health hazards in a substantial minority of homes and an additional nine are identified as potential hazards in a very small percentage of homes. Nine pollutants are identified as priority hazards based on the robustness of measured concentration data and the fraction of residences that appear to be impacted: acetaldehyde; acrolein; benzene; 1,3-butadiene; 1,4-dichlorobenzene; formaldehyde; naphthalene; nitrogen dioxide; and PM{sub 2.5}. Activity-based emissions are shown to pose potential acute health hazards for PM{sub 2.5}, formaldehyde, CO, chloroform, and NO{sub 2}.
Characterization of the Relationship Between Intracranial Pressure and Electroencephalographic Monitoring in Burst- Suppressed Patients

The objective of this study is to characterize the relationship between ICP and EEG Simultaneous ICP and EEG data were obtained from burst-suppressed patients and segmented by EEG bursts. Segments were categorized as increasing/decreasing and peak/valley to investigate relationship between ICP changes and EEG burst duration. A generalized ICP response was obtained by averaging all segments time-aligned at burst onsets. A vasodilatation index (VDI) was derived from the ICP pulse waveform and calculated on a sliding interval to investigate cerebrovascular changes post-burst. Data from two patients contained 309 bursts. 246 ICP segments initially increased, of which 154 peaked. 63 ICP segments decreased, and zero reached a valley. The change in ICP (0.54 ± 0.85 mmHg) was significantly correlated with the burst duration (p < 0.001). Characterization of the ICP segments showed a peak at 8.1 s and a return to baseline at 14.7 s. The VDI for increasing segments was significantly elevated (median 0.56, IQR 0.31, p < 0.001) and correlated with burst duration (p < 0.001). Changes in the ICP and pulse waveform shape after EEG burst suggest that these signals can be related within the context of neurovascular coupling. Existence of a physiological relationship between ICP and EEG may allow the study of neurovascular coupling in acute brain injury patients.
Don Zytowski: A Legacy, A Tradition, and “Just Z”

Don Zytowski, known to many as “Z,” is a leading counseling psychologist who has made numerous contributions to both science and practice and in the area of vocational psychology, in particular. In this interview, Don reflects on his life, his work, his many interests, and how he views the profession of counseling psychology.
Nutritional Management of Pediatric Food Hypersensitivity

The diagnosis and management of food allergy requires attention to several important dietary issues. Successful exclusion of identified dietary allergens requires extensive education regarding the interpretation of ingredient labels of commercial products and an appreciation for issues of cross-contact in settings such as restaurants and commercial manufacturing. Once a food or food group is eliminated, attention must be focused on potential dietary insufficiencies resulting from these exclusions. These dietary issues are also central to the successful use of diagnostic elimination diets and physician-supervised oral food challenges. This review provides a framework for the dietary management of food hypersensitivity in infants and children both for short-term diagnostic and long-term therapeutic purposes. In addition, approaches for maternal dietary restriction for breastfed infants with food allergy and the introduction of solid foods to atopic infants are reviewed.
Magnetic Stratigraphy of the Pacific Coast Cenozoic

SEPM Pacific Section No. 91, Donald R. Prothero (Editor), 2001: SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology, Pacific Section), 394 p. ($25 non-members, $22 members) ISBN: I-878861-84-0. If there are any of you reading this review who still believe in the general continuity of sedimentation over long intervals of time and the concomitant accumulation of uninterrupted successions of sedimentary strata (i.e., that time and stratigraphy are interchangeable) as a general, if not inclusive, rule, this volume should come as a sobering wake-up call. The theme that keeps reverberating throughout this volume is Ager's prescient dictum/revelation, uttered now these 30 years ago, that the stratigraphic sequence/record in any given area is “more gaps than record.” This has been demonstrated clearly in the deep-sea record by the integrated magnetobiostratigraphic studies of Aubry (1993, 1995) on the Neogene and Paleogene, respectively. This is not to deny that essentially continuous depositional sequences do not occur in the stratigraphic record (recent advances in astrochronology/cyclostratigraphy would not have been possible were it not for the accumulation of such sequences), but rather to point out that non-depositional or erosional unconformities are a common feature in the stratigraphic record and must be assiduously considered in any attempt to place geologic events in an historical context. The Cenozoic stratigraphic record of the Pacific Coast has resisted attempts to place its constituent components into a neat bio- and chronostratigraphic framework. Being situated in a region of extensive tectonic activity and bathed by southward moving cold-water currents (and concomitant lack of biostratigraphically useful low latitude planktonic microfossils), early paleontologists resorted to using …
Communicating flood risk: Looking back and forward at traditional and social media outlets

The communication of information about natural hazard risks to the public is a difficult task for decision makers. Research suggests that newer forms of technology present useful options for building disaster resilience. However, how effectively these newer forms of media can be used to inform populations of the potential hazard risks in their community remains unclear. This research uses primary data from an in-person survey of 164 residents of Newport Beach, California during the spring of 2014 to ascertain the current and preferred mechanisms through which individuals receive information on flood risks in their community. Factor analysis of survey data identified two predominant routes of dissemination for risk information: older traditional media and newer social media sources. A logistic regression model was specified to identify predictors for choosing a particular communication route. This analysis revealed that age is the central factor in predicting the sources people use to receive risk information. We follow the analysis by discussing this finding and its policy implications.
Simultaneously Waste and Wasted Opportunity: The Inequality of Federal Tax Incentives for Conservation Easement Donations

In 2008, 3,095 taxpayers donated 3,158 conservation easements to non-profit organizations worth an aggregate $1.17 billion. For their generosity, these taxpayers have received and will receive myriad tax benefits, including federal income tax deductions for up to the full value of their easements, estate tax benefits for the amount their donations lowered the taxable values of their estates, and numerous other federal exemptions. Depending on where they reside, donors may also receive state income and property tax benefits. This note examines the relationship between the peculiar financial circumstances of an easement donor (namely her income and wealth) and the ultimate value of her tax benefits. Consistent with deductions and exemptions generally, across two donors of identical easements, the Internal Revenue Code provides a greater aggregate subsidy to the donor with higher taxable income and the higher taxable estate. Unlike other deductions and exemptions, however, the differential far exceeds the difference in federal income tax brackets. For the “wealthiest” of donors, the aggregate subsidy approaches, if not exceeds, the full fair market value of the donated easement. For a donor with relatively little taxable income and no estate tax liability, however, the subsidy amounts to small fraction of the value of her easement. Using studies of subjective preferences for non-use environmental goods (which establish that individuals’ interest in conservation does not decrease with their income or wealth), I argue that it is inefficient to grant larger incentives to wealthier donors of conservation easements than to poorer donors. I propose granting all donors a tax benefit worth a fixed percentage of the value of their donation and outline specific changes to the Internal Revenue Code that would bring about this change. I further argue that such a change is a prerequisite to the reform of the methodology for valuing conservation easements. I conclude with a discussion of the implications of equalizing incentives for the United States’ response to climate change.
Abstract 2254: Very Brief Focal Ischemia Simulating Human TIAs Induces Aβ Aggregate and Activates Prolonged Autophagy in Rats

Objective Very brief periods of focal ischemia in humans called Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) are viewed as being benign. However, our recent animal studies demonstrate that brief periods of focal ischemia can produce microinfarcts associated with neuronal apoptosis and glial Hsp70 positive inclusions. Recent studies of inclusions show they are associated with misfolded proteins that can aggregate and form inclusions, or the proteins can be destroyed via the catabolic process of autophagy. These processes have been shown to occur in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) where evidence of β amyloid (Aβ) aggregates and cellular autophagy are described. Since there is increasing evidence that cerebral ischemia is linked to AD, we postulated that protein aggregates possibly including Aβ and autophagy would occur following cerebral ischemia. The aims of this study were to demonstrate that brief focal cerebral ischemia induces: Aβ aggregation; Aβ cleavage into “non-toxic” and toxic Aβ 1-42 fragments; and autophagy of cells in brain. Methods Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was produced in adult SD rats using the suture method. Rats subjected to 20 minutes of ischemia were sacrificed at 4 or 8 weeks. Antibodies against Rodent Aβ (R Aβ, detects all cleaved fragments of Aβ), Aβ 1-42 (detects only the toxic fragment), and LC3b (Atg8 marker of autophagy) were used. Results All immunoreactive cells were ipsilateral to the MCAO. No immunoreactivity was observed contralateral to the MCAO in the opposite hemisphere. 1. At 4 weeks post ischemia, R Aβ was expressed in focal areas of the caudate-putamen, globus pallidum and cortex. Aβ 1-42 staining was negative at 4 weeks in all structures. At 8 weeks post ischemia, the pattern of the R Aβ expression was similar to 4 weeks except that it appeared in CA1 hippocampal neurons. At 8 weeks Aβ 1-42 was induced in caudate-putamen, globus pallidum, hippocampal CA1 region, and cortex where it partially co-localized with R Aβ. R Aβ and Aβ 1-42 co-localization in hippocampus occurred in few cells, possibly GABAergic interneurons. 2. LC3b, an autophagy marker, was expressed in the penumbra of microinfarcts of the cortex at 8 weeks. Almost all Aβ 1-42 positive aggregates co-localized with LC3b. Conclusions 1. Brief focal ischemia induced Aβ only on the ischemic side of the brain; 2. Brief ischemia produced “non-toxic” and toxic Aβ 1-42 fragments; 3. Most cells expressing Aβ 1-42 are undergoing autophagy.
The Arbitration Fairness Act of 2013: A Well-Intended But Potentially Dangerous Overreaction to a Legitimate Concern

This article analyzes the AFA of 2013 and concludes that, while a well-intended effort to address a legitimate concern – predispute arbitration agreements imposed via an adhesion contract by dominant parties on weaker parties like consumers and employees – it in fact is a potentially dangerous overreaction that could end up harming those it intends to protect. The article closes with the author’s recommendation for a better way to address these concerns.
Nutritional Studies of a Marine Phlyctochytrium Sp.

An estuarine chytrid, Phlyctochytrium sp., requires higher concentrations of Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ than the concentrations in freshwater but lower than those found in ocean water. Good growth is obtai...
A Study of FeAl/AlAs/GaAs Interfaces Using MoirÉ-Fringe Contrast in a Transmission Electron Microscope

This paper describes the transmission electron microscope (TEM) investigations of the defect structure present at various FeAl/AlAs/GaAs interfaces. Although a systematic study has not yet been completed it is shown that by changing the growth temperature from 200°C to 300°C the growth morphology changes significantly. In-situ RHEED studies show the growth mode changes from layer-by-layer to island-like when the growth temperature is increased. TEM in both plan-view and cross-sectional modes is used to confirm these results. It is found that by increasing the growth temperature from 200°C to 300°C the growth mode switches from layer-by-layer (2D) with a continuous FeAl film, to island-like (3D) with significant numbers of 'pin-holes'. A Moire-fringe analysis is applied to determine the Burgers vector of the misfit dislocations. In both cases the interface between the FeAl and AlAs consists of a grid of misfit dislocations with [100] and [010] line directions whose Burgers vectors are [010] and [100] respectively.