cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fragmentation in Daily Schedule of Activities using Activity Sequences

A new method of sequence analysis to measure fragmentation in activity participation is presented in this paper. We applied this method to a sample of residents in the Central Coast of California t...
A convolutional neural network algorithm for automatic segmentation of head and neck organs at risk using deep lifelong learning

Purpose This study suggests a lifelong learning-based convolutional neural network (LL-CNN) algorithm as a superior alternative to single-task learning approaches for automatic segmentation of head and neck (OARs) organs at risk. Methods and materials Lifelong learning-based convolutional neural network was trained on twelve head and neck OARs simultaneously using a multitask learning framework. Once the weights of the shared network were established, the final multitask convolutional layer was replaced by a single-task convolutional layer. The single-task transfer learning network was trained on each OAR separately with early stoppage. The accuracy of LL-CNN was assessed based on Dice score and root-mean-square error (RMSE) compared to manually delineated contours set as the gold standard. LL-CNN was compared with 2D-UNet, 3D-UNet, a single-task CNN (ST-CNN), and a pure multitask CNN (MT-CNN). Training, validation, and testing followed Kaggle competition rules, where 160 patients were used for training, 20 were used for internal validation, and 20 in a separate test set were used to report final prediction accuracies. Results On average contours generated with LL-CNN had higher Dice coefficients and lower RMSE than 2D-UNet, 3D-Unet, ST- CNN, and MT-CNN. LL-CNN required ~72 hrs to train using a distributed learning framework on 2 Nvidia 1080Ti graphics processing units. LL-CNN required 20 s to predict all 12 OARs, which was approximately as fast as the fastest alternative methods with the exception of MT-CNN. Conclusions This study demonstrated that for head and neck organs at risk, LL-CNN achieves a prediction accuracy superior to all alternative algorithms.
Missing voices and possible dialogues: problems and possibilities for teacher education

Teacher education exists today in a context of rapid globalization, which affects the systems in which future teachers will work, the governance of teachers’ work, the students teachers will be tea...
Can the Measure of be Computed in Less than O(n log n) Steps

(1977). Can the Measure of be Computed in Less than O(n log n) Steps? The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 84, No. 4, pp. 284-285.
Motivating Undergraduate Computing and Engineering Research via Educational and Scientific Drones

A full technical and theoretical design of a scientific and an educational hexacopter that is used as a framework to increase students’ motivation in computer science and engineering and aimed at supporting interdisciplinary research in colleges is presented. The design and construction of a custom-built drone are described, with all the technical challenges and solutions. The drone is designed to carry a cluster of handheld computers (Raspberry Pis) and multiple programmable modules (e.g., GPS and weather, and pollution evaluation sensors). The drone is used as a framework that allows students to learn how to write applications in a more enjoyable way. Additionally, most of the modules are programmable with various programming languages that are typically taught in computer science introductory courses (e.g., C/C++, Python, and Java). Modules (e.g., sensors) are mounted on to the human-controlled hexacopter drone and designed to automate the collection of readings, requiring a pilot only to fly the drone. Potential results can plot graphically for analysis post-flight to support projects across multiple disciplines as needed. The presented project and the designed Multicopter drone has the potential to be adapted to offer researchers, students, scientists, and engineers a flexible and creative method to collect and analyze relevant and real data to be used for many practical research projects (e.g., atmospheric pollution data).
Seeing through the Isolation: A Study of First-Year Teachers of the Visually Impaired.

This article presents the results of a 1992 study of the education and first-year teaching experience of 103 teachers of the visually impaired in Illinois. The aims of the study were to identify th...
Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Concurrent Immunotherapy: A Multicenter Safety and Toxicity Analysis.

Purpose Radical treatment of metastases with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is commonly implemented in patients receiving concurrent immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), despite limited safety and toxicity data. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of lung SBRT with concurrent ICI. Methods and Materials Records from a single academic institution were reviewed to identify patients treated with lung SBRT and concurrent (within 30 days) ICI; a contemporaneous cohort receiving lung SBRT alone was included for reference. Treatment-related adverse effects occurring within 30 days (acute) and 180 days (subacute) of SBRT were evaluated. Results Our study included 117 patients; 54 received SBRT with concurrent ICI (56 courses, 69 target lesions), and 63 received SBRT alone (68 courses, 79 lesions). Median follow-up was 9.2 months in the SBRT + ICI cohort. Among the patients, 67.9% received ICI monotherapy, 17.9% ICI/chemotherapy, and 14.3% ICI/ICI combinations; 25% received ICI between SBRT fractions, and 42.9% received ICI both before and after SBRT. The risk of grade 3 pneumonitis was higher in the SBRT + ICI versus SBRT alone cohort (10.7% vs 0%, P Conclusions Overall, concurrent lung SBRT + ICI is safe. Given the clinically meaningful risk of pneumonitis, closer monitoring should be considered for SBRT + ICI patients, especially those receiving radiation therapy with ICI/ICI combinations.
Bioinspired Oil-Water Separation and Water Purification Approaches Using Superliquiphobic/philic Porous Surfaces and External Stimuli

In water contaminated with oil, oil and water are not soluble or miscible. Oil-water mixtures present can be divided into immiscible mixtures and emulsions.
Dropping out of college and dropping into crime

Although researchers have examined whether dropping out of high school is related to crime, very few have studied college dropouts. It has been argued that dropping out of high school leads to mini...
Relationship Between Cerebral Oxygenation and Perfusion Pressure in Acute Brain Injury

When we proposed clinical monitoring and management of the arteriojugular oxygen difference [1–4], we coined the term “oligemic cerebral hypoxia” to define hypoxia in the presence of normal arterial oxygenation, but excessively reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) in relation to cerebral oxygen consumption (CMRO2). We have extensively monitored the arterio-jugular bulb difference in oxygen content (AJDO2) in acute severe brain trauma, and managed the AJDO2 in conjunction with intracranial pressure (ICP), as a means of optimizing global CBF in relation to CMRO2 and ICP [2]. We had previously found an excellent inverse relationship between mean regional CBF values and the AJDO2 in acute severe brain trauma [6], and confirmed the interrelationships among CBF, CMRO2, and AJDO2, which can be expressed by the equation: AJDO2 = CMRO2/CBF. It then became clear to us that the AJDO2 represented the proportionality variable which could be monitored and managed, in order to optimize the global CMRO2/CBF ratio. Such optimization could not be accomplished by CBF measurements alone.
Improving Precision of RCS Measurement Based on Spectral Extrapolation Method

This paper proposes a spectral extrapolation method for measuring the RCS at two ends of band more exactly. The measured data are extrapolated to obtain the unknown value out of band with an auto-regressive model (AR model). The parameters in AR model are calculated by using maximum entropy spectral estimation algorithm. Therefore, the span of original band is extended, and the both ends of frequency on original band are inside the range of new band. If a time gating is adding to the new band, the precision at both ends of frequency on original band can be greatly improved. The simulation and experimental results show that about 25% extended data for each ends of original band can be obtained after spectral extrapolation, and even if a time gating reduces the effective frequency domain data, but the maximum error at the ends of band is less than 1dB. Moreover, RCS values near the out of band can be predicted by using spectral extrapolation method. The method can also be applied to broadband RCS measurement.
Italy and the US. Cultural change through language and narrative: edited by Guido Bonsaver, Alessandro Carlucci and Matthew Reza, Oxford, Legenda, 2019, 282 pages, $99 (hard cover), ISBN: 9781781888759

Oxford University confirms its central position in the transatlantic trajectory of Italian studies by publishing Italy and the US. Cultural Change through Language and Narrative. This collection of...
Teachers’ perceptions of middle schoolers’ social concerns: strategies and barriers to supporting students’ social success

Teachers are often at the forefront of efforts to help students struggling socially at school and their support may be particularly critical during the early adolescent developmental period after youth transition to middle school when social concerns become increasingly salient to students. Given their daily interactions with students, teachers have the unique opportunity to observe students’ day-to-day experiences and can provide insight into the social challenges their students face. Our main study aim was to learn teachers’ perspectives about the pressing social issues they see for students, the types of strategies they use to mitigate those struggles, and the barriers teachers face in supporting youth socially. To assess teachers’ perspectives, we employed a qualitative study design and collected data from 39 middle school teachers who participated in 6 focus groups. Results reveal that teachers see students as highly concerned with peer acceptance, often at the cost of their academic engagement. To support students socially, teachers reported strategies such as establishing classroom expectations, having positive teacher-student interactions, and managing peer social dynamics. Barriers to providing support included difficulty keeping track of peer relationship and lack of understanding about how best to manage peer dynamics. Implications for teacher training and students’ overall adjustment at school are discussed.
Imagining Education Tailored to Assessment as, for, and of Learning: Theory, Standards, and Quality Improvement

The demands of a new economic and technological age require leaders in education to awaken to new challenges, and learn to manage new responsibilities. Assessment will play a key role in meeting these challenges and in taking on these responsibilities. Assessment will not, however, be implemented in just the traditional sense of assessing learning for accountability purposes but will itself become a medium embodying and setting the stage for learning. Educators have made distinguished contributions in aligning learning progressions with assessments for use in self-directed individualized instruction. Highly technical principles and mathematical operations have been made accessible to end users who do not have the training or skills needed to directly employ those principles and operations themselves. Accordingly, the time has come to draw out some of the developments likely to follow from or impact the technical advances in assessment as, for, and of learning that are being put in practice. Three areas have the greatest promise for the future. They are theory development, standardized units of measurement, and systematic quality improvement methods. Putting these in place around self-directed learning-oriented assessment practices offers real hope for significant positive changes in education.
Fluorogenic EXO-Probe Aptamers for Imaging and Tracking Exosomal RNAs

Abstract Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), or exosomes, play important roles in physiological and pathological cellular communication. sEVs contain both short and long non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and epigenetic processes. Studying the intricacies of sEV function and RNA-based communication requires tools capable of labeling sEV RNA. Here we developed a novel genetically encodable reporter system for tracking sEV RNAs comprising an sEV-loading RNA sequence, termed the EXO-Code, fused to a fluorogenic RNA Mango aptamer for RNA imaging. This fusion construct allowed the visualization and tracking of RNA puncta and colocalization with markers of multivesicular bodies; imaging RNA puncta within sEVs; and quantification of sEVs. This technology represents a useful and versatile tool to interrogate the role of sEVs in cellular communication via RNA trafficking to sEVs, cellular sorting decisions, and sEV RNA cargo transfer to recipient cells.
Understanding mechanisms of thermal expansion in complex oxide thin-films from first principles: Role of high-order phonon-strain anharmonicity

The thermal properties of materials are critically important to various technologies and are increasingly the target of materials design efforts. However, it is only relatively recent advances in first-principles computational techniques that have enabled researchers to explore the microscopic mechanisms of thermal properties, such as thermal expansion. We use the Gruneisen theory of thermal expansion in combination with density functional calculations and the quasiharmonic approximation to uncover mechanisms of thermal expansion in ferroelectric PbTiO3 thin-films. We show that although there are large changes in the elastic constants and Gruneisen parameters with both misfit strain and temperature, surprisingly the temperature evolution of the structural parameters can be modeled using a simple model of linear elasticity; the only inputs required are the misfit strain and bulk PbTiO3 elastic constants. We show that a near-cancellation between different types of anharmonicity gives rise to this behavior. Our results illustrate how different sources of anharmonicity can affect materials’ properties in different ways, even for the same material. The framework used in our study is general and illustrates how different types of anharmonicity can be systematically identified and explored.
Automated generation of highly accurate, efficient and transferable pseudopotentials

Abstract A multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) was used to automate a search for optimized pseudopotential parameters. Pseudopotentials were generated using the atomPAW program and density functional theory (DFT) simulations were conducted using the pwPAW program. The optimized parameters were the cutoff radius and projector energies for the s and p orbitals. The two objectives were low pseudopotential error and low computational work requirements. The error was determined from (1) the root mean square difference between the all-electron and pseudized-electron log derivative, (2) the calculated lattice constant versus reference data of Holzwarth et al., and (3) the calculated bulk modulus versus reference potentials. The computational work was defined as the number of flops required to perform the DFT simulation. Pseudopotential transferability was encouraged by optimizing each element in different lattices: (1) nitrogen in GaN, AlN, and YN, (2) oxygen in NO, ZnO, and SiO 4 , and (3) fluorine in LiF, NaF, and KF. The optimal solutions were equivalent in error and required significantly less computational work than the reference data. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that the combination of MOGA and ab-initio simulations is a powerful tool that can generate a set of transferable potentials with a trade-off between accuracy (error) and computational efficiency (work).
Planar preprocessing for spring embedders

Spring embedders are conceptually simple and produce straight-line drawings with an undeniable aesthetic appeal, which explains their prevalence when it comes to automated graph drawing. However, when drawing planar graphs, spring embedders often produce non-plane drawings, as edge crossings do not factor into the objective function being minimized. On the other hand, there are fairly straight-forward algorithms for creating plane straight-line drawings for planar graphs, but the resulting layouts generally are not aesthetically pleasing, as vertices are often grouped in small regions and edges lengths can vary dramatically. It is known that the initial layout influences the output of a spring embedder, and yet a random layout is nearly always the default. We study the effect of using various plane initial drawings as an inputs to a spring embedder, measuring the percent improvement in reducing crossings and in increasing node separation, edge length uniformity, and angular resolution.
Lame Duck Logic

This article analyzes the arguments regarding the propriety of a lame-duck Congress. It does so by comparing the concerns that animated the enactment of the twentieth amendment with the claims advanced during the lame-duck session of the 111th Congress. It begins by describing why lame-duck Congresses were as troublesome to the Republican members of the 111th Congress as they were to the overwhelming bipartisan majority of Congress that approved the twentieth amendment. Their objections differed in a crucial respect. While the framers of the twentieth amendment sought to prevent Congress from doing anything during a lame-duck session, most Republicans in 2010 objected only to the priorities that the Democratic leadership pursued during the lame-duck session. The article next analyzes the arguments offered by Democratic representatives and their supporters during the lame-duck session in 2010, comparing those arguments to the ones articulated by the few defenders of lame-ducks in the 1920s and early 1930s. Finally, the article examines the ways in which the Republican opponents of the lame-duck session in 2010 sought to prevent Congress from enacting any laws that they found objectionable. In each instance, the arguments echo a constitutional debate that was thought to be settled in 1933, and they offer insight into the ways in which the uniquely American struggle with lame-ducks could be settled once and for all.
Effect of Different Carbon Sources on Relative Growth Rate, Internal Carbohydrates, and Mannitol 1-Oxidoreductase Activity in Celery Suspension Cultures

Little information exists concerning the biochemical route of mannitol catabolism in higher plant cells. In this study, the role of a recently discovered mannitol 1-oxidoreductase (MDH) in mannitol catabolism was investigated. Suspension cultures of celery (Apium graveolens L. var dulce [Mill.] Pers.) were successfully grown on nutrient media with either mannitol, mannose, or sucrose as the sole carbon source. Cell cultures grown on any of the three carbon sources did not differ in relative growth rate, as measured by packed cell volume, but differed drastically in internal carbohydrate concentration. Mannitol-grown cells contained high concentrations of mannitol and extremely low concentrations of sucrose, fructose, glucose, and mannose. Sucrose-grown cells had high concentrations of sucrose early in the growth cycle and contained a substantial hexose pool. Mannose-grown cells had a high mannose concentration early in the cycle, which decreased during the growth cycle, whereas their internal sucrose concentrations remained relatively constant during the entire growth cycle. Celery suspension cultures on all three carbon substrates contained an NAD-dependent MDH. Throughout the growth cycle, MDH activity was 2- to 4-fold higher in mannitol-grown cells compared with sucrose- or mannose-grown cells, which did not contain detectable levels of mannitol, indicating that MDH functions pre-dominantly in an oxidative capacity in situ. The MDH activity observed in celery cells was 3-fold higher than the minimum amount required to account for the observed rate of mannitol utilization from the media. Cultures transferred from mannitol to mannose underwent a decrease in MDH activity over a period of days, and transfer from mannose to mannitol resulted in an increase in MDH activity. These data provide strong evidence that MDH plays an important role in mannitol utilization in celery suspension cultures.
Paying for Service: What Do Clinical Social Workers Believe?

The social workers who panicipated in this survey strongly believed that: (1) practitioners' involvement in the fee process is of therapeutic value and (2) the payment of fees by clients positively influences the treatment relationship, clients' and workers' use of time, and treatment progress. The principle of clients' fees based upon ability to pay may allow social workers to reconcile beliefs about fees with the profession's commitment to service based upon clients' needs. The response rate testifies to the willingness of social workers to participate in research that addresses aspects of their practice that are of serious concern to them.
Dynamic behavior of ZnO on Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ biomorphs

The deflection of ZnO on Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ biomorphs has a quadratic dependence on the applied voltages. The fundamental resonant frequencies of the 2980- mu m-long bimorphs range from 140 Hz to 180 Hz. Because of the quadratic dependence, resonances are also observed at the subharmonics of the fundamental resonant frequencies. The resonant frequencies vary with the DC biasing voltages. The shifting of the resonant frequency can be explained by the change of the effective length of the curved bimorph, the stiffening of piezoelectric ZnO film by the biasing voltages, and the increase in the elastic compliance of the bimorph as a result of Joule heating. Air damping is observed with a cut-off frequency around 22 Hz. >
Sleep patterns of young men and women enrolled at the United States Military Academy: results from year 1 of a 4-year longitudinal study.

Study objectives Sleep patterns of young adults are different from those of other age groups.. This study examined sleep patterns of cadets during their first year at the United States Military Academy. Design This paper presents initial results of a 4-year longitudinal investigation into sleep patterns of college-age men and women. Setting Data were collected at the United States Military Academy, a 4-year undergraduate institution that develops men and women in 4 areas: intellectual, physical, military, and moral-ethical. Participants Survey data were obtained from all members of the Class of 2007 (N approximately 1300), who ranged in age from 17 to 22 years. A stratified sample (n = 80) was selected to wear wrist-activity monitors. An additional 40 members of the junior and senior classes participated in the summer portion of the study. Measurements and results Sleep patterns prior to entering the United States Military Academy were compared with patterns during cadet basic training and fall and spring semesters. Actigraphy data were recorded on a sample of the class (n = 80) for 50 days during cadet basic training and 30 days during fall and spring semesters. During cadet basic training, incoming cadets received 5 hours 40 minutes of sleep per night. During fall 2003 semester, these same cadets received 4 hours 50 minutes of sleep on school nights and 6 hours 32 minutes on weekends. Sleep received during spring 2004 semester was similar, with 5 hours 06 minutes on school nights and 6 hours 29 minutes on weekends. Conclusions This first year of baseline data collection describes cadet sleep patterns and sets the stage to assess the effectiveness of follow-on interventions.
Funding Marital Trusts: Mistakes and Their Consequences

Mistakes occur in every profession, and attorneys practicing estate administration are not immune from this phenomenon. Funding marital trusts at the death of the first spouse engenders numerous opportunities for mistakes given the complex and technical nature of the tax law and the variety of funding clauses. Mistakes in funding marital trusts remain prevalent and cannot be overstated, as the result is often lengthy litigation and endless estate and gift taxes. Therefore, the practice of estate administration and funding of marital trusts demands an awareness of both the possibility of these errors and the various available remedial options.
The Application of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to Identify and Quantify Chemical Adulterants or Contaminants in Foods

SERS is a rapid and sensitive technique that requires minimum sample preparation for testing. SERS has gained much attention in recent years due to its high sensitivity, which can potentially reach the ppb level. Coupled with novel nanomaterials, SERS provides greatly enhanced Raman signals from analyte molecules that have been adsorbed onto the surface on an appropriate SERS-active substrate. SERS is being increasingly used in detecting chemical adulterants and contaminants in foods, food ingredients, and animal feed. This chapter provides an overview on current efforts to use SERS to detect and measure melamine and its analogues, veterinary drugs, and pesticides in model systems or real food products. Keywords: SERS; food safety; melamine; veterinary drug; pesticide
Fundamental limits in chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy

We present performance analysis of chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy (CLaDS) under shot noise limited conditions. A comparison to direct laser absorption spectroscopy (DLAS) is also provided.
Qué hacen los sindicatos en México

Se utilizan datos de encuestas de los hogares y establecimientos en Mexico para explorar el impacto de los sindicatos en los salarios, la desigualdad salarial, las prestaciones, la rotacion de trabajadores, la capacitacion, la productividad y las ganancias. Los sindicatos mexicanos estan significativamente relacionados con dichas categorias. Asimismo, estan asociados con mayores salarios, menor desigualdad salarial, mayores prestaciones por trabajador, mayor capacitacion y mayor productividad por trabajador. Contrario a la mayoria de la literatura sobre sindicatos, en los establecimientos con sindicatos de Mexico existe una mayor rotacion de trabajadores. La asociacion entre sindicatos y tasas de ganancias es insignificativamente diferente de cero.
Exploring health beliefs and care-seeking behaviors of older USA-dwelling Mexicans and Mexican-Americans

Objective. This study explored health beliefs and healthcare-seeking behaviors of older USA-dwelling Mexicans and Mexican-Americans using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a conceptual guide. Design. A mixed-method cross-sectional design was utilized using semi-structured interviews to obtain detailed descriptions of 31 older (50 + ) participants' behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about health and healthcare utilization. An interview schedule consisting of open-ended and demographic questions and one standardized tool, the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale (BAS) for Hispanics, was used to collect data. Results. Several themes emerged for each belief area. Behavioral belief themes reflect participants' faith in, comfort with, and knowledge of traditional methods of care (e.g., herbs, teas, and use of curanderas) as well as their faith in the effectiveness of conventional care (e.g., medicine, technology, and use of physicians). Normative belief themes indicate that participants perceive that...
Nitric oxide mediates neurologic injury after hypothermic circulatory arrest

Abstract Background . Prolonged hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) causes neurologic injury. However, the mechanism of this injury is unknown. We hypothesized that HCA causes nitric oxide production to result in neuronal necrosis. This study was undertaken to determine whether the neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 17477AR reduces necrosis after HCA. Methods . Thirty-two dogs underwent 2 hours of HCA at 18°C. Nitric oxide synthase catalytic assay and intracerebral microdialysis for nitric oxide production were performed in acute nonsurvival experiments (n = 16). Sixteen animals survived for 72 hours after HCA: Group 1 (n = 9) was treated with 17477AR (Astra Arcus), and group 2 (n = 7) received vehicle only. Animals were scored from 0 (normal) to 500 (coma) for neurologic function and from 0 (normal) to 100 (severe) for neuronal necrosis. Results . Administration of 17477AR reduced nitric oxide production in the striatum by 94% (HCA alone), 3.65 ± 2.42 μmol/L; HCA and 17477AR, 0.20 ± 0.14 μmol/L citrulline). Dogs treated with 17477AR after HCA had superior neurologic function (62.22 ± 29.82 for group 1 versus 141.86 ± 61.53 for group 2, p = 0.019) and significantly reduced neuronal necrosis (9.33 ± 4.67 for group 1 versus 38.14 ± 2.23 for group 2, p Conclusions . Our results provide evidence that neuronal nitric oxide synthase mediates neuronal necrosis after HCA and plays a significant role in HCA-induced neurotoxicity. Pharmacologic strategies to inhibit neuronal nitric oxide synthase after the ischemic period of HCA may be clinically beneficial.
Patterns recognition in the ECoG data of auditory evoked response

We study the evoked potential of the local neuronal circuits of the left temporal lobe surrounding the auditory cortex in response to two types of simple auditory stimuli. We wish to gain deeper insight into the systems-level functional and behavioral consequences of sensation of a tone that includes a cooperative population of neurons in electrocorticogram (ECoG) recordings. Available experimental data does not have the necessary flexibility and the rich variety of parameter adjustments in the single-electrode recordings needed in order to make the data amenable to conventional analysis. These constraints and potential imperfections in data pose new challenges in the mathematical, computational and statistical aspects of data analysis and modeling. We use the experimental setting called the odd-ball paradigm, to collect intracranial electrophysiological recordings using an 8 × 8 grid. The evoked response potentials that are then analyzed using algorithms that utilize methods of information theory. The extracted patterns of auditory response are used to elucidate cortical substrates of "auditory attention and decision-making". While data analysis was performed for the cases of attention as well as inattention, the analysis used the data from inattention for statistical purposes to contrast with data for selective attention. This approach was useful to fine-tune optimization parameters, and to exploit a sharper computational rendering of the Principle of Economy of Resources. The main results presented here are: (1) a computational-mathematical methodology to study auditory cortical response to brief tones in the presence of attention; (2) an application of (1) to neurobiology that provides an algorithm to estimate the transmission time of an auditory stimulus from cochlea until the auditory cortex (approx. 50–60 msec).
CHANGES IN AN ESKIMO HUNTING TECHNOLOGY, AN INTRODUCTION TO IMPLEMENT GEOGRAPHY

(1960). CHANGES IN AN ESKIMO HUNTING TECHNOLOGY, AN INTRODUCTION TO IMPLEMENT GEOGRAPHY. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 172-186.
Galanin immunoreactivity in autonomic innervation of the cat eye.

In an immunohistochemical study, we find that galanin is much more widely distributed in the peripheral innervation of the cat eye than in other animals so far examined. Previous studies of rat and pig eyes have revealed sparse galanin-positive nerves that presumbably originate in the trigeminal ganglion. In contrast, the cat has a rich supply of galanin-containing nerve fibers throughout the uvea. Galanin-positive varicose nerves concentrate densely in iris muscles and distribute more sparsely in the ciliary muscle. The ciliary processes have a plexus of galanin-positive nerve underlying the ciliary epithelium at their base and positive nerve fibers coursing within their stroma. The ciliary artery and its branch vessels in the uvea are invested with a dense plexus of galanin-positive nerves. All autonomic ganglia supplying the eye contain cells that express galanin. It is present in 97% of superior cervical ganglion cells, coexisting with both tyrosine hydroxylase and neuropeptide Y; in 80% of pterygopalatine ganglion cells, most of whiclh also contain vasoactive intestinal peptide; and in approximately 25% of ciliary ganglion celis. After unilateral superior cervical ganglionectoiny, galanin-positive nerves almost totally disappear from the iris muscles, demonstrating that they are predominantly of sympathetic origin. Galanin-positive nerves investing the ciliary artery and choroidal blood vessels are not detectably reduced by sympathectomy, indicating that perivascular parasympathetic nerves from the pterygopalatine ganglion also express galanin. Other galanin-containing nerves in the eye can originate from the trigeminal and ciliary ganglia. The prominence of galanin in the ocular autonomic innervation of the cat provides an opportunity to explore the physiological effects of this neuropeptide in the eye. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Accuracy of Tourism Forecasting and Data Characteristics: A Meta-Analytical Approach

Sound policies and efficient managerial decisions in a wide range of touristic endeavors rely on accurate forecasts, but despite decades of extensive research and hundreds of published studies on the topic, neither a single model nor a category of forecasting models have proven to be superior. This meta-analysis of nearly 2,000 published tourism forecasts provides strong evidence that data characteristics are associated with forecast accuracy, and that this relationship varies across different categories of forecasting methods. The findings indicate that data characteristics might provide reliable indications as to which models are likely to be more accurate for certain tourism forecasting tasks, resulting in a more efficient and less costly process for identifying the best tourism forecasting model for the task.
At the Nano-Bio Interface: Probing Live Cells with Nano Sensors

The rapidly evolving field of nanotechnology creates new frontiers for biological sciences. Recently, we and other groups show that vertical nanopillars protruding from a flat surface support cell survival and can be used as subcellular sensors to probe biological processes in live cells. In particular, we are exploring nanopillars as electric sensor, optical sensors, and structural probes. As an electric sensor, nanopillars electrodes offer several advantages such as high sensitivity, subcellular spatial resolution, and precise control of the sensor geometry. A sensitive measurement of cellular electrical activities requires strong coupling between the cell membrane and the recording electrodes. We found that nanopillars electrodes deform the cell membrane inwards and induce negative curvature when the cell engulfs them, leading to a reduction of the membrane-electrode gap distance and a higher sealing resistance. The 3D topology of the nanopillars electrodes is crucial for its enhanced signal detection. A new approach explores nanoelectrodes of a new 3D geometry, namely nanotubes with hollow centers. The nanotube geometry further enhances membrane-electrode coupling efficiency and also significantly increases the time duration of intracellular access. Interestingly, nanopillars serve as focal adhesion points for cell attachment. The presence of high membrane curvature induced by vertical nanopillars or nanotubes affects the distribution of curvature-sensitive proteins. Those studies show a strong interplay between biological cells and nano-sized sensors, which is an essential consideration for future development of interfacing devices.
Fixed points of jump preserving automorphisms of degrees

It is shown that any jump preserving order automorphismF of the degrees of unsolvability must satisfyF(c) = c for all degreesc≧0(4). The proof uses a result on initial segments of degrees in combination with an iteration of the Friedberg completeness criterion.
ARGET ATRP of Methyl Acrylate with Inexpensive Ligands and ppm Concentrations of Catalyst

A simple and versatile polymerization technique via activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) of methyl acrylate (MA) with inexpensive commercially available ligands, including diethylenetriamine (DETA), N,N,N′,N′′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA), and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), is reported. Catalytic amounts of catalyst were utilized achieving ppm levels of CuIIBr2/L in the presence of a zerovalent copper metal (i.e., copper powder or wire) at 25 °C. High molecular weight poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) could also be obtained with Mn > 1.5 million and Mw/Mn ∼ 1.25. A “map” was generated, illustrating minimal catalyst concentrations (i.e., copper and ligand) required over a range of targeted degrees of polymerization with various ligands. Several conclusions were made: (1) lower catalyst concentrations require higher targeted degrees of polymerization to produce equally controlled polymerizations, (2) higher catalyst concentrations are necessa...
A scientific basis for the biologic regeneration of synovial joints

Temporomandibular joint disorders represent a large group of conditions involving a local or more generalized musculoskeletal disease process. The disorders have many features and many causes and may result in limited or more severe damage of the joint associated tissues including the disks, the articular surface, the underlying bone, and the ligamentous structures. As our understanding of the molecular processes guiding skeletal tissue formation progresses, new opportunities arise in the field of skeletal tissue and joint repair. Reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint by means of scientifically designed approaches will revolutionize surgical treatment modalities.
FALSE POSITIVE PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF GALACTOSEMIA

Amniotic fluid (AF) was obtained at 18 weeks gestation from a woman who had previously given birth to an infant with galactosemia. The AF cells were cultured and examined for activity of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (transferase) by UDPG consumption assay. No activity was detectable as compared to activities of 30.8 and 56.0 μmoles UDPG consumed/hr/109 cells in two AF cell control lines. After term delivery the infant was found to be heterozygous for galactosemia with erythrocyte transferase activities of 11.8 and 10.8 μmoles UDPG consumed/hr/gm Hb (nl 22 ± 3.7). He had normal galactose tolerance to milk ingestion. The AF cells from the proband were recultured and again had no detectable transferase activity by consumption assay. However, activity was detectable (2.4 μmoles UDPGal formed/hr/109 cells; nl 2.0 - 24.8) by a radioactive method. These same cells had normal galactokinase activity (1.32 mU/hr/109 cells; nl 0.61 - 1.30). The AF cell line from the proband most resembled fibroblasts but grew in a lacy pattern and never became confluent. 15 AF control lines had transferase activity of 10.1 - 34.9 by consumption assay. There was no correlation with cell type (epithelioid vs. fibroblast) or with state of confluency. Prenatal diagnosis for galactosemia may be falsely interpreted if the UDPG consumption assay is used and the fetus is heterozygous for galactosemia.
Optical neural networks with unipolar weights

Abstract A problem in the development of optical neural networks is the difficulty in representing bipolar weights, In this letter, we present a neural network structure that achieves the required approximation properties with unipolar weights. Two theorems are cited that define and prove the network approximation capabilities.
"Wandering about" as a topos of depression in Ancient Near Eastern literature and in the Bible.

SEVERAL significant studies have appeared in recent years dealing with grief, mourning, and related phenomena in ancient Israel. M. Gruber's study in particular has addressed the issues of various behaviors and gestiis expressive of the depressed psychological state.' These studies do not mention, however, one particular behavior widely attested in ancient Near Eastern sources that is clearly expressive of this kind of depression2 and which often results from a traumatic experience such as the death of a loved one, the experience of some great tragedy, etc. I refer to the aimless, repetitive locomotion frequently observed in the case of a depressed person. In psychological terminology such behavior is one manifestation of "psychomotor agitation," which is associated with various psychiatric disorders, including serious episodes of depression.3 Not only is the behavior in question well documented as a symptom of depression, but it has become a topos in the literature of many cultures past and present. References to it most commonly appear in contexts that allude to the specific trauma that caused it. Precisely because such references are usually accompanied by terminology designating the emotional state of the subject, this particular topos of depression has heretofore been almost completely overlooked in discussions of the topic.
Digging a little deeper: The stages of invadopodium formation and maturation

Invadopodia are actin-rich protrusions that degrade the extracellular matrix and are required for penetration through the basement membrane, stromal invasion and intravasation. Invadopodia are enriched in actin regulators, such as cortactin, cofilin, N-WASp, Arp2/3 and fascin. Much of the work to date has centered around identifying the proteins involved in regulating actin polymerization and matrix degradation. Recently, there have been significant advances in characterization of the very early stages of invadopodium precursor assembly and the role of adhesion proteins, such as β1 integrin, talin, FAK and Hic-5, in promoting invadopodium maturation. This review summarizes these findings in the context of our current model of invadopodial function and highlights some of the important unanswered questions in the field.
Hemispheric asymmetry for alphabetic identification: scaling analyses.

Abstract In a test of the analytic-holistic theory of hemispheric asymmetry, 20 subjects saw brief presentations of upper-case letters in either the left or right visual half-field. A right half-field advantage was found for both accuracy of identification and vocal latency of erroneous responses. Multidimensional scaling, hierarchical clustering, and correlation analyses of the error patterns indicated similarities of processing between the hemispheres. The results were discussed in terms of loss of information from storage prior to processing.
Scanning transmission electron microscopy

SUMMARY The scanning transmission electron microscope is of quite recent origin, and it is only in the last few years that it has been shown that this instrument is capable of giving the same high resolution as the conventional electron microscope. In this article we examine the conditions necessary for the achievement of high resolution and also the various modes of contrast which can be obtained from this instrument. Finally, we suggest other ways in which the microscope can be used in future investigations.
A Method to Calculate Function and Component Failure Distributions Using a Hierarchical Bayesian Model and Frequency Weighting

This paper presents a method to calculate function and component parameter distributions during the design process. Frequency Weighting, a unique style of weighting proposed in this research, is applied to a Hierarchical Bayesian model to account for the number of times a component has solved a function. During the design process, functions are systematically solved by components to transition from a functional model to a physical design. This research contributes to an ongoing effort toward predicting reliability in early design, specifically during functional modeling and concept generation. In general, reliability prediction methods are applied after concept generation. There currently does not exist a statistical method to calculate functional failure rates to aid reliability prediction during and before concept generation. The method presented in this paper also captures uncertainty in the early stages of design. This is important because uncertainty in this stage of the design process can be significant. A description of the process used to calculate the function and component level failure rate distributions is presented. The level of detail provided is meant for reapplication to other examples. Three examples are worked out and graphical results are presented. These results show an effect of the Frequency Weighting on the function level distribution. Changing the occurrence vector, which is used to show the number of times a set of components has solved a function, from (1, 1, 1, 1) to (1, 1, 2, 5) results in the function level distribution mean value shifting from 5.53E−06 to 4.84E−06. In addition, an example is provided to demonstrate how this method can be applied while components are being selected during the design process. A two part reliability goal is generated for the combined failure rate of the design and the probability a design will meet that goal. Function level distributions are used to show which components should initially be selected to maintain reliability values that meet the reliability goal. Combinations of compatible component level distributions are also used to calculate a combined failure rate distribution for each design. A probability is calculated for each distribution to show which designs meet the probability portion of the reliability goal.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Dimensioning optical WDM backbone networks with mixed line rates

As new Internet applications are emerging, traffic in optical backbone networks is increasing with heterogeneity in bandwidth and QoS requirements. Higher bit-rate wavelength channels of 40 Gbps, 100 Gbps, and beyond are being deployed in WDM backbone networks to meet these growing traffic needs. Mixed-line-rate (MLR) networks that support various line rates on the same fiber are becoming popular to address the heterogeneous traffic growth. We study the important problem of long-term cost-effective dimensioning of WDM backbone networks with MLR. Our study should enable operators to dimension their networks with deployment of MLR transponders and optical cross-connect (OXC) ports over multiple time periods. We study two multi-period dimensioning approaches: all-periods planning and incremental planning. Our approaches predict the network equipment to be deployed at various nodes in the network during each time period while exploiting the cost reduction of network equipment over time to support traffic growth over multiple time periods. We propose mixed-inter-linear-program (MILP) solutions and a computationally-efficient heuristic. Our illustrative examples show that significant cost savings can be achieved by our long-term planning approaches.
Work in progress — A hands-on ability intervention

Hands-on ability is considered an important skill for success in engineering. It also plays a role in attitude toward engineering. Despite its importance, engineering curricula do not necessarily provide all students with experiences that help develop hands-on ability. With the goal of developing educational experiences that better meet students' needs and increase hands-on self-efficacy, this research investigates the effect of solitary practice as an intervention for improving hands-on ability. A reverse engineering lab activity in a low stress environment served as the intervention. The activity was individual to allow students to complete the activity at their own pace. Students in a treatment group and control group completed an engineering attitude survey, a mechanical aptitude test, and a prior experience survey. Comparison of the results for the control and treatment groups did not provide evidence that the intervention had an effect on hands-on ability or self-efficacy. Future work will include pre and post testing of the treatment group as well as an intervention of longer duration.