cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rationality and the structure of human memory

A tacit and highly idealized model of the agent's memory is presupposed in philosophy. The main features of a more psychologically realistic duplex (orn-plex) model are sketched here. It is argued that an adequate understanding of the rationality of an agent's actions is not possible without a satisfactory theory of the agent's memory and of the trade-offs involved in management of the memory, particularly involving “compartmentalization” of the belief set. The discussion identifies some basic constraints on the organization of knowledge representations in general.
Nanostructures and Functional Materials Fabricated by Interferometric Lithography

Interferometric lithography (IL) is a powerful technique for the definition of large-area, nanometer-scale, periodically patterned structures. Patterns are recorded in a light-sensitive medium, such as a photoresist, that responds nonlinearly to the intensity distribution associated with the interference of two or more coherent beams of light. The photoresist patterns produced with IL are a platform for further fabrication of nanostructures and growth of functional materials and are building blocks for devices. This article provides a brief review of IL technologies and focuses on various applications for nanostructures and functional materials based on IL including directed self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles, nanophotonics, semiconductor materials growth, and nanofluidic devices. Perspectives on future directions for IL and emerging applications in other fields are presented.
Establishing Generative Yes/No Responses in Developmentally Disabled Children.

We evaluated the effects of two procedures for teaching four developmentally disabled children to respond yes/no appropriately. During baseline, tutoring was conducted in which five known items were individually presented with the question, "Is this a ----?", followed either by access to requested items or by remedial prompting contingent on responding. When tutoring did not improve performance, instruction was embedded in the regular classroom activities. In this condition, items requested by students were either presented or withheld on the basis of their response to the question, "Do you want ----?". Increases in correct responding were confirmed by a multiple-baseline design across all four students and were maintained with the introduction of new items. However, generalization to "Is this a ----?" questions did not occur in the tutoring setting until specifically programmed. Subsequently, students also demonstrated appropriate yes/no responding to questions involving actions, possession, and spatial relations.
Early immunologic responses to trauma in the emergency department patients with major injuries

Abstract Background A traumatic insult initiates an inflammatory cascade, which is a contributor to cell damage and could be a marker of injury severity. Objective To compare the initial and 4-h post-injury lymphocyte subsets and cytokine levels between patients with minor and major injury. Methods Prospective, cross-sectional study of trauma patients in an urban level I trauma center. Inclusion criteria: Adult patients with significant mechanism of injury requiring admission. Variables: cell counts (B-cells, Natural Killer cells, monocytes; and CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes) and cytokines (IL-1, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα). We divided subjects into two groups (major and minor injury). We defined major injury as an injury severity score ≥15, or drop in hematocrit ≥10 points or blood transfusion requirement. Statistical Analysis: Univariate analysis was performed using each inflammatory marker, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the inflammatory markers associated with major injury. Results 79 patients were studied (mean age: 35±17, age range: 13–88, 84% male, 38% penetrating trauma, 96% African-American). 25% of patients ( n =20) experienced major injury. Larger base deficit (−3.6±6.2 vs. −0.9±4.2) levels were observed in major trauma patients. We found that major injury is associated with a drop in absolute CD4 cell count (but not in the CD8 cells), a rise in absolute B-cell count (but not in the NK-cells or monocytes), and a rise in IL-6 (but not in the IL-1, IL-5, IL-10, TNF-a). Conclusion We found evidence of a measurable early inflammatory response to trauma, using cytokine levels and lymphocyte subset counts.
Laser Doppler anemometry measurements of laminar flow in helical pipes

Abstract Three-dimensional laser Doppler anemometry measurements are performed on developed laminar flow in three helical pipes. The experimental observations are compared to results of numerical calculations employing the fully elliptic numerical method. Good agreement is found between measured data and numerical results. The three helical pipes, with curvature ratios of 0.0734 and 0.1374 and non-dimensional pitches of 0.0793 and 0.193, are adopted to study the effects of curvature and pitch on laminar flow in the experimental approach. The range of Reynolds numbers is 500–2000 to ensure laminar flow in the entire helical pipe. Both the profile shapes of the normal components of the secondary flow and those of the axial flow along the same centerline present not only similar patterns but also similar change when pitch, curvature ratio, and Reynolds number vary. The results demonstrate comprehensive relationships between the axial flow and the secondary flow.
Exchange anisotropy in alloys of composition (Ni, Fe)3Mn

Abstract Disordered face-centered cubic alloys in which the nickel in the composition Ni 3 Mn is partially replaced by iron have been studied magnetically over a wide temperature range (4.2–750°K). When cooled to 4.2°K in a magnetic field the alloys of less than about 50 atomic per cent iron exhibit hysteresis loops that are displaced from their symmetrical positions about the origin, as previously reported for the Ni 3 Mn. At higher iron concentrations this exchange anisotropy behavior disappears, and the temperature and field dependences of magnetization become those characteristic of a simple antiferromagnet. This information together with paramagnetic susceptibility data suggest that while the Fe-Ni exchange coupling is strongly ferromagnetic both the Fe-Mn and Fe-Fe interactions are antiferromagnetic in this alloy system.
Waves in Dusty Plasmas

Summary form only given. Dusty plasmas are ionized gases containing massive charged dust grains. The presence of charged dust in a plasma can affect the behavior of waves and instabilities and also the interaction of electromagnetic (EM) waves with the plasma. We discuss some recent theoretical work in these areas. Instabilities may play important roles in various applications in both laboratory and space dusty plasmas. First, we consider conditions for exciting dust acoustic or drift instabilities in laboratory dusty plasmas with strong magnetic fields and discuss implications for the stability of plasma crystals. Next we consider instabilities in dusty plasmas in the Earth's ionosphere (associated with meteorites or rocket exhaust), along with implications for backscatter. Finally we consider beam-plasma instabilities in a strongly coupled dusty plasma in the context of suggesting experiments. The interaction of EM waves with a dusty plasma may lead to possible applications. We discuss several, including the use of dust plasma crystals as EM filters, and the applications arising from the use of dust grains that can exhibit surface plasmon resonances
EFFECTIVE TEACHING: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY IN AESTHETIC EDUCATION

"Effective teaching" is one of several deceptively simple appearing labels, if not conceptions, which abound in theoretical and practical discussions in education. My task, as I perceive it, is to begin a discussion based upon qualitative methods of educational inquiry. Since most of my recent work has been in the domain of aesthetic education,' it seems appropriate to begin there and gradually expand the generalizability of the discussion to other curricular areas. In part, the underlying logic in selecting aesthetic education as a research area was that it is complex enough that if solutions could be found there, other areas would be susceptible to analysis. To anticipate the detailed argument and set the direction for its development, let me present the overall conclusion-effective teaching is a complex valuational/ theoretical/empirical judgment. By this I mean that the process of coming to a judgment that a teacher is effective or ineffective requires, unavoidably: (1) taking a stand among several values which may be in conflict, (2) taking a stand on a number of conceptional definitions and theoretical propositions which are only one of several possible ways to construe the domain of teaching and learning, and (3) taking a stand on conflicting empirical evidence both in general and in regard to the particular teacher and learning situation. If all this be true, and I hope to make a case that it is, it has major implications for the conduct of research and practice in teaching. Neglecting any one of these three domains produces judgments less than adequate to the task at hand.
Autophagy SEPArates Germline and Somatic Cells

Cellular determinants of the germline selectively accumulate in germ cell precursors and influence cell fate during early development in many organisms. Zhang et al. (2009) now report that targeted autophagy mediated by the SEPA-1 protein depletes germplasm proteins from somatic cells during early development of the nematode.
The Rise and Fall of Priming: How Visual Exposure Shapes Cortical Representations of Objects

How does the amount of time for which we see an object influence the nature and content of its cortical representation? To address this question, we varied the duration of initial exposure to visual objects and then measured functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal and behavioral performance during a subsequent repeated presentation of these objects. We report a novel 'rise-and-fall' pattern relating exposure duration and the corresponding magnitude of fMRI cortical signal. Compared with novel objects, repeated objects elicited maximal cortical response reduction when initially presented for 250 ms. Counter-intuitively, initially seeing an object for a longer duration significantly reduced the magnitude of this effect. This 'rise-and-fall' pattern was also evident for the corresponding behavioral priming. To account for these findings, we propose that the earlier interval of an exposure to a visual stimulus results in a fine-tuning of the cortical response, while additional exposure promotes selection of a subset of key features for continued representation. These two independent mechanisms complement each other in shaping object representations with experience.
Seizure-like activity and glutamate receptors in hippocampal neurons in culture.

Abstract Hippocampal neurons that were grown for prolonged periods in the continuous presence of agents that interfere with synaptic transmission, especially excitatory synaptic transmission, appeared to become seizureprone. Washout of the synaptic blocking agents, that had been continuously present for several weeks to several months, caused the population of neurons to produce an abnormal and intense electrical activity. This consisted of two major components: spontaneously arising phasic responses that closely resembled paroxysmal depolarization shifts and, less frequently, slowly rising depolarizations similar to the sustained depolarizations observed during ictus-like episodes in intact cortex or cortical slices. We describe here observations on the role of the N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA types of glutamate receptors in the generation of these activities.
Poisson Overdispersion Estimates Based on the Method of Asymmetric Maximum Likelihood

Abstract A common difficulty in regression problems with Poisson (or binomial or other exponential family) response variables is over-dispersion: the scatter around the fitted regression is too large by the standards of Poisson variability. This article concerns the description, estimation, and testing of various patterns of overdispersion, with particular emphasis on the Poisson case. Asymmetric maximum likelihood (AML) is a method of fitting regressions for the conditional percentiles of the response variable as a function of the predictors (e.g., the conditional 90th percentile of y given x). Distances between the various regression percentiles give a direct assessment of overdispersion. The discussion is carried through in terms of an archaeological data set, where we see that the counts are overdispersed by a factor of 1.35 in one part of the covariate space, but not at all in another. Moreover, the overdispersion is about 40% larger in the positive response direction than in the negative. The AML es...
Early outgassing of Mars supported by differential water solubility of iodine and xenon

The Martian atmosphere has a high X-129/Xe-132 ratio compared to the Martian mantle. As Xe-129 is the daughter product of the extinct nuclide I-129, a means of fractionating iodine from xenon early in Martian history appears necessary to account for the X-129/Xe-132 ratios of its known reservoirs. A model is presented here to account for the Marian xenon data which relies on the very different solubilities of xenon and iodine in water to fractionate them after outgassing. Atmospheric xenon is lost by impact erosion during heavy bombardment, followed by release of Xe-129 produced from I-129 decay in the crust.
Optimal path planning and power allocation for a long endurance solar-powered UAV

In this paper the problem of optimal path planning and power allocation for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is explored. The UAV is equipped with photovoltaic cells on top of its wings and its energy sources are solar power and rechargeable batteries. The Sun incidence angle on the photovoltaic cells, which subsequently affects energy harvesting, is determined by the attitude of the UAV and the Sun position. The desired optimal path between two given boundary points, is aimed at increasing the amount of energy storage at the final point. Meanwhile, the charging state of the battery, resulting from the power allocation, needs to be determined along with the path planning procedure. Two approaches, nonlinear programming and model reduction, are proposed and their corresponding simulation results are presented and compared.
Successful Coaches' Views on Motivation and Motivational Strategies

Coaches often use effort, as seen in these basketball players, as a measure, of motivation.
Prospects for the use of double-stranded ribonucleic acid (poly I:C) inducers in man.

In the narrow sense, the word "prospect" denotes the probability of a particular outcome or result. In the broader sense, however, it embraces the element of hope. Application of the interferon mechanism to human medicine, as viewed from the present stage of development, lies clearly in the area of hope. Yet, no matter what the immediate future holds for it, interferon has justifiably received and will continue to command prime attention in research, for here alone is the avenue toward broad-spectrum prophylaxis of at least some of the viral diseases.
Valence Changes of Iron and Manganese in Manganese Ferrite

The gain in weight of manganese ferrite was measured at several oxygen pressures and temperatures above 1200°C with a controlled atmosphere thermobalance. The phase boundaries were determined where necessary and the weight gain was measured within the one-phase field. The lattice constant was also determined from high-angle X-ray reflections (2θ× 160°) on specimens quenched in mercury from the same oxygen pressures and temperatures at which the weight gain was measured. The lattice constant was found to decrease with increasing oxidation. The results show that iron and/or manganese coexist in several valence states within the stability range of the single-phase material.
A phosphorimetric investigation of several sulfonamide drugs: a rapid direct procedure for the determination of drug levels in pooled human serum with specific application to sulfadiazine, sulfamethazine, sulfamerazine and sulfacetamide

Abstract Phosphorescence excitation and emission spectral peaks, lifetimes, and limits of detection of several sulfonamide drugs of pharmacological importance in rigid- (77°K) ethanolic solution are given. A direct method for the determination of trace amounts of 4 of these drugs in serum is presented. The method should be generally applicable to many phosphorescent compounds in biological fluids
Work-related physical exertion and risk of preterm, low birthweight delivery

Summary. Although many women work during pregnancy, the effect of maternal job experience on pregnancy outcome is controversial. We investigated whether work-related physical exertion increases a woman's risk of delivering a preterm, low birthweight infant. We studied 773 employed, pregnant women included in the National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experience, Youth Cohort (NLSY), a nationally representative sample of young adults. Data concerning work status, job title during pregnancy, and other factors affecting the outcome of pregnancy were obtained from the NLSY. Assessment of physical exertion was based on job title, using an established catalogue of occupational characteristics. Women in jobs characterised by high physical exertion experienced a higher rate of preterm, low birthweight delivery, defined as maternal report of delivery more than 3 weeks early and birthweight under 2 500 g (adjusted RR=5.1, 95% CI=1.5, 17.7). These findings support a policy of limiting work-related physical exertion during pregnancy.
Increased cigarette tax is associated with reductions in alcohol consumption in a longitudinal U.S. sample.

Background Cigarette taxation has been recognized as one of the most significant policy instruments to reduce smoking. Smoking and drinking are highly comorbid behaviors, and the public health benefits of cigarette taxation may extend beyond smoking-related outcomes to impact alcohol consumption. The current study is the first to test whether increases in cigarette taxes are associated with reductions in alcohol consumption among smokers using a large, prospective U.S. sample. Methods Our sample included 21,473 alcohol consumers from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate whether increases in cigarette taxes between Waves 1 (2001 to 2002) and 2 (2004 to 2005) were associated with reductions in quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, adjusting for demographics, baseline alcohol consumption, and alcohol price. Stratified analyses were conducted by sex, hazardous drinking status, and age and income group. Results Increases in cigarette taxes were associated with modest reductions in typical quantity of alcohol consumption and frequency of binge drinking among smokers. Cigarette taxation was not associated with changes in alcohol consumption among nonsmokers. In analyses stratified by sex, the inverse associations of cigarette taxes with typical quantity and binge drinking frequency were found only for male smokers. Further, the inverse association of cigarette taxation and alcohol consumption was stronger among hazardous drinkers (translating into approximately 1/2 a drink less alcohol consumption per episode), young adult smokers, and smokers in the lowest income category. Conclusions Findings from this longitudinal, epidemiological study suggest increases in cigarette taxes are associated with modest to moderate reductions in alcohol consumption among vulnerable groups. Additional research is needed to further quantify the public health benefits of cigarette taxation on alcohol consumption and to evaluate the potential broader crossover effects of cigarette taxation on other health behaviors.
Statistical density modification with non-crystallographic symmetry

Statistical density modification is a technique for phase improvement through a calculation of the posterior probability of the phases, given experimental phase information and expectations about features of the electron-density map. The technique can take advantage of both estimates of electron density in the map and uncertainties or probability distributions for those estimates. For crystals with non-crystallographic symmetry (NCS), this allows the use of the expected similarity of electron density at NCS-related points without requiring an implicit assumption that these regions are identical.
Prognostic value of preoperative serum cell-free circulating DNA in men with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy

Purpose: We evaluated the association of preoperative serum cell-free circulating DNA concentration in men with clinically localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence. Experimental Design: One hundred and ninety-two men with clinically localized prostate cancer, who underwent radical prostatectomy at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and had preoperative serum available for analyses constituted our study population. All serum samples were collected before prostate biopsy or at least 4 months after prostate biopsy. The total amount of serum cell-free circulating DNA from each sample was calculated using a standard curve generated via quantitative real-time PCR. PSA recurrence was defined as a single postoperative PSA level of ≥0.2. The natural logarithm (ln) of the DNA concentration was used for statistical analyses. Results: Of the 192 men in our study, 56 (29%) experienced PSA recurrence within the study period (median time to PSA recurrence 2 years). The median follow-up time for men free of disease at last follow-up was 3 years. The median serum cell-free DNA concentration of all men in the study was 5.3 ng/mL (mean 18.05 ng/mL; range 0.2-320 ng/mL). The mean serum DNA concentration for men who recurred and for those who did not was 3.8 ± 34.1 and 13.7 ± 33.6 ng/mL, respectively ( P = 0.001). In a univariate analysis, ln DNA concentration was significantly associated with PSA recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-1.8; P P = 0.003). Using bootstrap analyses, serum cell-free DNA concentrations ≥5.75 ng/mL were associated with an increased risk of PSA recurrence within 2 years of radical prostatectomy. Conclusion: Our study suggests that preoperative serum cell-free DNA concentration may be a useful prognostic biomarker for men with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy.
Studies of the Relationship Between Fertility and the Gene for Rose Comb in the Domestic Fowl 1. The Relationship Between Comb Genotype and Fertility

Abstract IN THE first report of this series (Crawford and Smyth, 1964), data from natural matings and from artificial inseminations were presented which indicated that the subnormal reproductive ability of White Wyandottes was due to the poor performance of homozygous rose comb (RR) males. Heterozygous males, and females of both rose comb genotypes, were found to reproduce normally. It was concluded, from microscopic examination of blastodiscs of unincubated eggs, that the problem was one of infertility. In the present report, comparisons of duration of fertility and of sperm transport among males and females of RR, Rr, and rr comb genotypes will be described. MATERIALS AND METHODS Stocks: The two populations of birds derived from the Ottawa Meat Control strain (O.M.C. strain) used in these studies and the additional stocks against which they were tested have been described earlier (Crawford and Smyth, 1964). During all of the experiments reported here, the males…
Office pediatric urologic procedures from a parental perspective

Abstract Objectives. To determine the parent perception of discomfort (PPD) in children receiving local anesthesia for the lysis of labial adhesions, meatotomy, and newborn circumcision; the parents’ perceived outcome of these procedures; and the overall satisfaction of parents when these procedures are performed in the office. Methods. A confidential phone survey was given to 99 parent participants whose children had received local anesthesia for the lysis of labial adhesions (n = 14), meatotomy (n = 28), or newborn circumcision (n = 57). Parents in the labial adhesion and meatal stenosis groups were asked to rate their child’s level of discomfort (PPD) during the procedure as mild (1), moderate (2), or severe (3), and those in the circumcision group were asked to use the same scale to rate their child’s discomfort after the procedure. Parents were also asked whether they thought the procedure was successful and whether they were satisfied with their decision to have it done in the office using local anesthesia. Results. Among the labial adhesion, meatotomy, and circumcision groups, the mean PPD ± SD was 1.64 ± 0.75, 1.54 ± 0.69, and 1.21 ± 0.53, respectively. The observed procedures, lysis of labial adhesions and meatotomy, had a significantly higher PPD score ( P = 0.005) than the unobserved procedure (circumcision). Parents reported good outcomes in 94 (94.9%) of 99 children, with 4 girls experiencing recurrent labial adhesions and 1 boy experiencing recurrent meatal stenosis. Overall, 95 (96.0%) of 99 parents stated that they were satisfied with their decision to have the procedure done in the office with local anesthesia. Of the remaining 4 parents, 3 parents in the circumcision group stated they would have preferred general anesthesia, and 1 parent in the labial adhesion group was undecided. Conclusions. The PPD is greater if the parent observes their child’s procedure. However, office procedures using local anesthesia for the lysis of labial adhesions, meatotomy, and newborn circumcision are well accepted among the parent population.
Why do dominant personalities attain influence in face-to-face groups? The competence-signaling effects of trait dominance.

Individuals high in the personality trait dominance consistently attain high levels of influence in groups. Why they do is unclear, however, because most group theories assert that people cannot attain influence simply by behaving assertively and forcefully; rather, they need to possess superior task abilities and leadership skills. In the present research, the authors proposed that individuals high in trait dominance attain influence because they behave in ways that make them appear competent—even when they actually lack competence. Two studies examined task groups using a social relations analysis of peer perceptions (D. A. Kenny & L. LaVoie, 1984). The authors found that individuals higher in trait dominance were rated as more competent by fellow group members, outside peer observers, and research staff members, even after controlling for individuals’ actual abilities. Furthermore, frequency counts of discrete behaviors showed that dominance predicts the enactment of competence-signaling behaviors, which in turn predicts peer ratings of competence. These findings extend researchers’ understanding of trait dominance, hierarchies in groups, and perceptions of competence and abilities.
Palytoxin-induced cell death cascade in bovine aortic endothelial cells.

The plasmalemmal Na+-K+-ATPase (NKA) pump is the receptor for the potent marine toxin palytoxin (PTX). PTX binds to the NKA and converts the pump into a monovalent cation channel that exhibits a sl...
Base-calling of automated sequencer traces using Phred. I. accuracy assessment

The availability of massive amounts of DNA sequence information has begun to revolutionize the practice of biology. As a result, current large-scale sequencing output, while impressive, is not adequate to keep pace with growing demand and, in particular, is far short of what will be required to obtain the 3-billion-base human genome sequence by the target date of 2005. To reach this goal, improved automation will be essential, and it is particularly important that human involvement in sequence data processing be significantly reduced or eliminated. Progress in this respect will require both improved accuracy of the data processing software and reliable accuracy measures to reduce the need for human involvement in error correction and make human review more efficient. Here, we describe one step toward that goal: a base-calling program for automated sequencer traces, phred, with improved accuracy. phred appears to be the first base-calling program to achieve a lower error rate than the ABI software, averaging 40%-50% fewer errors in the data sets examined independent of position in read, machine running conditions, or sequencing chemistry.
Impaired micro-RNA pathways diminish osteoclast differentiation and function.

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are important in regulating cell fate determination because many of their target mRNA transcripts are engaged in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. DGCR8, Dicer, and Ago2 are essential factors for miRNA homeostasis. Here we show that these three factors have critical roles in osteoclast differentiation and function. Gene silencing of DGCR8, Dicer, or Ago2 by small interfering RNA revealed global inhibition of osteoclast transcription factor expression and function, decreased osteoclastogenesis, and decreased bone resorption in vitro. In vivo, CD11b+-cre/Dicer-null mice had mild osteopetrosis caused by decreased osteoclast number and bone resorption. These results suggest that miRNAs play important roles in differentiation and function of osteoclasts in vitro and in vivo. We found a novel mechanism mediating these results in which PU.1, miRNA-223, NFI-A, and the macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (M-CSFR) are closely linked through a positive feedback loop. PU.1 stimulates miRNA-223 expression, and this up-regulation is implicated in stimulating differentiation and function of osteoclasts through negative regulation of NFI-A levels. Down-regulation of NFI-A levels is important for expression of the M-CSFR, which is critical for osteoclast differentiation and function. NFI-A overexpression decreased osteoclast formation and function with down-regulation of M-CSFR levels. Forced expression of the M-CSFR in M-CSF-dependent bone marrow macrophages from Dicer-deficient mice rescued osteoclast differentiation with up-regulation of PU.1 levels. Our studies provide new molecular mechanisms controlling osteoclast differentiation and function by the miRNA system and specifically by miRNA-223, which regulates NFI-A and the M-CSFR levels.
Illuminac: simultaneous naming and configuration for workspace lighting control

We explore natural and calm interfaces for configuring ubiquitous computing environments. A natural interface should enable the user to name a desired configuration and have the system enact that configuration. Users should be able to use familiar names for configurations without learning, which implies the mapping from names to configurations is many-to-one. Instead of users learning the environment's command language, the system simultaneously learns common configurations and infers the keywords that are most salient to them. We call this the SNAC problem (Simultaneous Naming and Configuration). As a case study, we design a speech interface for workspace lighting control on a large array of individually-controllable lights. We present an approach to the SNAC problem and demonstrate its applicability through an evaluation of our system, Illuminac.
Complex Band Structures: From Parabolic to Elliptic Approximation

We show that the conventional nonparabolic approximation of real band structures can be modified and generalized to approximate the complex band structures of common semiconductors with a significant improvement of accuracy against the parabolic approximation. The improvement is due to the inherent elliptic nature of the complex band structures in the vicinity of the bandgap, which has a critical impact on the band-to-band tunneling probability. Important parameters are extracted and tabulated for Si, Ge, GaAs, and GaSb, with a maximum error of <; 1.4% compared to the numerical target.
Transient thermal gradients across solder interconnections in electronic systems

The authors provide a thermal analysis for a component mounted on a carrier via solder interconnections, with emphasis on understanding how the thermal gradients across the solder interconnections develop during the power-on transient. A 1D model is sought for its simplicity, while the important features of the problem are kept intact. Closed-form solutions are obtained when the thermal mass of the component is much less than the thermal mass of the carrier. The asymptotic solutions are compared with the numerical solutions of the same set of equations. Finite-element solutions and experimental data are also obtained to assess the validity of the 1D model as a predictor of the thermal gradients across the solder interconnections. Results of the analysis show that the thermal gradients across the solder interconnections reach a maximum at some early time before steady-state conditions are reached and that the thermal induced transient stains can be several times worse than the steady-state strains. >
Kinematic reconstruction of the Bolivian orocline

Orogenic curvature is a common feature in many mountain belts and is strongly linked to the magnitude, direction, and mechanics of crustal shortening. Determining how formation of the Bolivian orocline influenced crustal deformation in the central Andes has direct implications for geodynamics of the high-elevation Altiplano plateau. This study presents new reconstructions of the Bolivian orocline constrained by shortening estimates, thermochronology, regional paleomagnetic data, and strain data from lat 12°S to 22°S. The reconstructions investigate paleomagnetically permissible orocline limb rotations of 0°, 6°, and 13° on the kinematic compatibility of shortening constraints. Deformation was restored in 5 m.y. steps from 50 to 0 Ma, and kinematic compatibility was quantified based on the area of map-view overlap at each step. No limb rotation resulted in 14,000 km 2 of overlap, while 13° limb rotations and 50 km of orogen-parallel displacement on known strike-slip faults reduce overlap to 3000 km 2 . The preferred model builds on these results by imposing additional rotations at the orocline core and displacement on the Cochabamba fault. This model reduces overlap to 1600 km 2 but predicts map-view shortening estimates 70–90 km greater in the northern limb and 20–30 km greater in the southern limb than determined from cross sections. Of the modeled increase, ∼20 km is due to limb rotation, while the remaining 50–70 km is due to transpressional shortening on the Cochabamba and Rio Novillero faults. Total shortening in the preferred model is 370 km in the northern limb, 380 km at the orocline core, and 300–350 in the southern limb.
Work In Progress &#8211; Course Self-Assessments and Performance: How Well Do They Correlate?

A study to see if student self assessments can serve as predictors of student achievement on exams was undertaken for two engineering technology courses: Applied Engineering Statics and Data Analysis and Design of Experiments. Preliminary results indicate that self assessments are not a good predictor, and that students over predict their ability
Radiation degradation of polymethacrylates. Dose rate and medium effects

γ-Irradiations of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) powders confirm observations in literature that air retards the radiation-induced molecular weight lowering of this polymer. The energy absorptions per scission Ed are 91 e.v. in air at 0.117 Mreps/hr., 76 e.v. in air at 0.70 Mrep/hr., and 56 e.v. in vacuum at 0.117 Mrep/hr. γ-Radiation degradation of PMMA solutions (5 gm. PMMA/100 ml. solvent) in butanone and in ethyl acetate gave apparent energies per scission of 63 e.v. and 26–30 e.v., respectively. The latter low value is not understood. Poly-n-butyl methacrylate (PNBMA) displays considerable sensitivity to air and dose-rate effects during γ-irradiation. Apparent energy absorptions per main-chain scission observed for γ-irradiated PNBMA powder are: Ed = 454 e.v. in air at 0.117 Mrep/hr. and Ed = 226 e.v. in vacuum at 0.117 Mrep/hr. The latter value is far above the Ed (146 e.v.) observed for electron-irradiated PNBMA film. To decrease possible chain recombination and/or polymer–polymer crosslinking reactions degrassed solutions of 4.5, 10.0, and 55 wt.-% PNBMA in ethyl acetate were γ-irradiated. Apparent Ed values of 74 e.v., 74 e. v., and 226 e. v., respectively were found. Thus, the more dilute solutions give PNBMA scission energies near that of bulk PMMA. The 55 wt.-% PNBMA solution gives a scission energy indistinguishable from that of bulk PNBMA under the same irradiation conditions. Competitive crosslinking and main-chain scission are postulated for electron-irradiated poly-n-alkyl methacrylates. The energy per main-chain scission is assumed constant for all the homologes. The ratio of crosslinked units to chain scissions, α/β, is then found to increase linearly with (n−1), where n is the number of carbon atoms in n-alkyl groups of the side chain. This scheme yields a consistent explanation of the radiation response of the lower members of the poly-n-alkyl methacrylate homologous series. A comparison of light-scattering Mw and solution viscosity (Mw)v molecular weight changes did not reveal the concurrent crosslinking in PNBMA films undergoing chain scission by 1 m.e.v.-peak electron irradiation. Some inquiry is made into the theoretical sensitivity of this comparison method.
Religion and End-of-Life Treatment Preferences: Assessing the Effects of Religious Denomination and Beliefs

We use Wisconsin Longitudinal Study data (n = 2,678) to assess the effects of religious denomination and ideology on end-of-life treatment preferences in two hypothetical terminal illness scenarios: physical pain and severe cognitive impairment. We found no statistically significant differences when comparing traditionally defined religious denominational groups (i.e., conservative, moderate and liberal Protestants; Catholics; other religions; no religion). However, when we considered the intersection of broad denominational group and adherence to Christian fundamentalist beliefs, we found that fundamentalist Catholics and fundamentalist Protestants were significantly more likely than their nonfundamentalist counterparts to desire life-extending treatments in both scenarios. These effects were fully explained by beliefs about quality of life and religious control over medical decisions. We end with a discussion of the study’s theoretical and policy implications.
The orientation of insulin receptors in the red cell membrane

High-affinity binding of insulin to receptors in human erythrocyte membranes occurred at the external surface, but not at the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane, as assessed by insulin binding to right-side-out and inside-out membrane vesicles. Even after prolonged (3 h) incubation at 22°C, binding at the cytoplasmic membrane aspect remained negligible. The data indicate that the insulin receptor displays its hormone-binding site exclusively toward the extracellular space and that transmembrane mobility (“flip-flop”) of the receptor from one to the other membrane leaflet is severely restricted.
HIGH LEVELS OF GROWTH DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR 11 ARE ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER PREVALENCE OF LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY: DATA FROM THE HEART AND SOUL STUDY

Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF-11) reverses cardiac hypertrophy in mice (Cell 2013; 153:828-839). These data suggest GDF-11 as a potential target for treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), but data on GDF-11 in human subjects are lacking. We investigated whether circulating GDF-11
Accelerated Rates of Intron Gain/Loss and Protein Evolution in Duplicate Genes in Human and Mouse Malaria Parasites

Very little is known about molecular evolution in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Given the potentially important role that introns play in directing transcription and the posttranscriptional control of gene expression, we compare rates of intron/gain loss and intronic substitution in P. falciparum and the rodent malaria P. y. yoelii in both orthologous and duplicate genes. Specifically, we test the hypothesis that intron gain/loss and protein evolution is accelerated in duplicate genes versus orthologous genes in both parasites using the genome sequence of both species. We find that duplicate genes in both P. falciparum and P. y. yoelii exhibit a dramatic acceleration of both intron gain/loss and protein evolution in comparison with orthologs, suggesting increased directional and/or relaxed selection in duplicate genes. Further, we find that rates of intron gain/loss and protein evolution are weakly coupled in orthologs but not paralogs, supporting the hypothesis that selection acts on genes as functionally integrated units after speciation but not necessarily after gene duplication. In contrast, we find that rates of nucleotide substitution do not differ significantly between intronic sites and synonymous sites among duplicate genes, implying that a large fraction of intronic sites in Plasmodium evolve under little or no selective constraint.
Recent trends in urban spatial structure.

Results of an investigation of the existence and significance of employment concentrations outside the central business districts of large metropolitan areas are presented. Trends in the intrametropolitan location of employment during te 1960s and early 1970s are examined by using small-area data for two points in time. The spatial detail of the data is roughly equivalent to that of census tracts. While it is known that cities are becoming multinucleated, studies with sufficient spatial detail to permit observations on alterations in urban subcenters are virtually nonexistent. This study explores those trends. Results are presented as (1) a review of the existing theory of urban subcenters and description of data sources and problems, (2) an examination of patterns of metropolitan deconcentration using traditional density approaches, (3) an application of an index of noncentral concentration derived from Lorenz curves measuring noncentrally focused spatial concentration, (4) a cartographic analysis of absolute changes in employment levels over the period of record for each city to identify employment growth centers outside the city center, and (5) an analysis of employment subcenters - their composition and transition - as a tool in delineating the process by which subcenters develop. 6 figures, 4 tables. (SAC)
MAP2: multiple alignment of syntenic genomic sequences

We describe a multiple alignment program named MAP2 based on a generalized pairwise global alignment algorithm for handling long, different intergenic and intragenic regions in genomic sequences. The MAP2 program produces an ordered list of local multiple alignments of similar regions among sequences, where different regions between local alignments are indicated by reporting only similar regions. We propose two similarity measures for the evaluation of the performance of MAP2 and existing multiple alignment programs. Experimental results produced by MAP2 on four real sets of orthologous genomic sequences show that MAP2 rarely missed a block of transitively similar regions and that MAP2 never produced a block of regions that are not transitively similar. Experimental results by MAP2 on six simulated data sets show that MAP2 found the boundaries between similar and different regions precisely. This feature is useful for finding conserved functional elements in genomic sequences. The MAP2 program is freely available in source code form at http://bioinformatics.iastate.edu/aat/sas.html for academic use.
Short-range correlations in two-nucleon knockout reactions

A theory of short-range correlations in two-nucleon removal due to elastic breakup (diffraction dissociation) on a light target is developed. Fingerprints of these correlations will appear in momentum distributions of back-to-back emission of the nucleon pair. Expressions for the momentum distributions are derived and calculations for reactions involving stable and unstable nuclear species are performed. The signature of short-range correlations in other reaction processes is also studied.
Immunotherapy for choroidal neovascularization in a laser-induced mouse model simulating exudative (wet) macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness after age 55 in the industrialized world. Severe loss of central vision frequently occurs with the exudative (wet) form of AMD, as a result of the formation of a pathological choroidal neovasculature (CNV) that damages the macular region of the retina. We tested the effect of an immunotherapy procedure, which had been shown to destroy the pathological neovasculature in solid tumors, on the formation of laser-induced CNV in a mouse model simulating exudative AMD in humans. The procedure involves administering an Icon molecule that binds with high affinity and specificity to tissue factor (TF), resulting in the activation of a potent cytolytic immune response against cells expressing TF. The Icon binds selectively to TF on the vascular endothelium of a CNV in the mouse and pig models and also on the CNV of patients with exudative AMD. Here we show that the Icon dramatically reduces the frequency of CNV formation in the mouse model. After laser treatment to induce CNV formation, the mice were injected either with an adenoviral vector encoding the Icon, resulting in synthesis of the Icon by vector-infected mouse cells, or with the Icon protein. The route of injection was i.v. or intraocular. The efficacy of the Icon in preventing formation of laser-induced CNV depends on binding selectively to the CNV. Because the Icon binds selectively to the CNV in exudative AMD as well as to laser-induced CNV, the Icon might also be efficacious for treating patients with exudative AMD.
Experience-Based Identification and Control via Higher-Level Learning and Context Discernment

In AI systems so far developed, more knowledge (typically stored as "rules") entails slower processing; in the case of humans, the more knowledge attained (in the form of experience), the speed/efficiency of performing new related tasks is improved. Experience-Based (EB) Identification and Control is explored with the objective of achieving more human-like processes for `intelligent' computing Agents. The notion of experience is being successfully addressed via a novel concept for applying Reinforcement Learning (RL), called HLLA – Higher Level Learning Algorithm. The key idea is to re-purpose the RL method (to a "higher level") such that instead of creating an optimal controller for a given task, an already achieved collection of such solutions for a variety of related contexts is provided (as an experience repository), and HLLA creates a strategy for optimally selecting a solution from the repository. The selection process is triggered by the Agent becoming aware that a change in context has occurred, followed by the Agent seeking information about what changed – a process here called context discernment – and finally, by selection. Typically, context discernment entails a form of system identification (SID); substantial enhancement of SID is also achieved via the EB methods. Examples are given.