cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Site-specific optimal energy form generation based on hierarchical geometry relation

Abstract The use of computers in architecture has extended beyond computer-aided design (CAD) systems to include dynamic modeling and animation. The use of this technology moves beyond the rendering and refining of ideas to the generation of form. These programs have become collaborators in the creative process. Building simulation offers the potential to provide an alternative method for generating architectural forms. Currently, building simulation tools are used for analysis only, rather than for synthesis. This paper presents an innovative design method to generate building forms utilizing dynamic outdoor conditions to optimize the forms for reducing thermal load. Integration of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Energy Simulation (ES) has been used as a first step to more effectively analyze and model buildings and their surroundings, and new optimization technique is proposed to facilitate developing models for synthesis and to generate designs based on performance.
Inaction inertia, the sunk cost effect, and handedness: Avoiding the losses of past decisions

Strength of handedness, or the degree to which an individual prefers to use a single hand to perform various tasks, is a neurological marker for brain organization and has been shown to be linked to episodic memory, attribute framing, and anchoring, as well as other domains and tasks. The present work explores the relationship of handedness to both inaction inertia (the inclination to resist an action after previously bypassing a similar action) as well as to the sunk cost effect (the tendency to continue to engage in a behavior after an initial investment of time or money has been made). In Experiment 1, mixed-handers displayed a larger inaction inertia effect than strong-handers. In Experiment 2, they displayed a larger sunk cost effect than strong-handers. Experiments 3 and 4 extended the sunk cost finding into a different domain and explored how mixed- and strong-handers react to additional information designed to increase the comparative advantage of terminating, rather than continuing, a failed project. Overall, we found that mixed-handers were more likely to show inertia effects because of an increased aversion to losses. The results of Experiment 4 suggest that, when provided with additional information that made it clear that continuing a project would be a greater loss than terminating it, mixed-handers no longer showed a larger sunk cost effect than strong-handers, highlighting the importance of carefully considering exactly how sunk cost scenarios are worded and providing additional information on how mixed- and strong-handers differ in belief updating.
A narrowband plasmonic terahertz detector with a monolithic hot electron bolometer

We have fabricated and characterized plasmonic terahertz detectors that integrate a voltage controlled planar barrier with a grating gated GaAs/AlGaAs high electron mobility transistor. These detectors exhibit a narrowband, tunable plasmonic response. Substantially increased responsivity is achieved by introducing an independently biased, narrow gate that produces a lateral potential barrier adjacent to the drain when biased to pinch-off. DC electrical characterization in conjunction with bias-dependent terahertz responsivity and time constant measurements indicate that a hot electron bolometric effect is the dominant response mechanism over a broad range of experimental conditions. The temperature dependence of the bolometric response is consistent with the energy relaxation time and absorption coefficient of a 2DEG. Rectification resulting from non-linear current-voltage characteristics also appears to contribute to the response. Additionally, we have begun investigating the operation of this device with the full grating gate biased to pinch-off to produce many detection elements in series.
UNDER DEVELOPMENTWhile the meter is running: computing in a capped world

This forum looks at how the fields of interaction design and HCI can extend to cover "developing" communities around the world, ones that are gaining access to digital technology for the first time. Gary Marsden, Editor | gaz@acm.org
Computational techniques for using insole pressure sensors to analyse three-dimensional joint kinetics

This study evaluated the feasibility of using insole pressure sensors together with whole body dynamics to analyse joint kinetics while running. Local affine transformations of shoe kinematics were first used to track the position of insole sensors during locomotion. Centre of pressure estimates derived from the insoles were within 10 mm of forceplate measures through much of stance, while vertical force estimates were within 15% of peak forceplate recordings. Insole data were then coupled with a least squares whole body dynamic model to obtain shear force estimates that were comparable to forceplate records during running. We demonstrated that these techniques provide a viable approach for analysing joint kinetics when running on uninstrumented surfaces.
Learning to see

The mind cannot make sense of the visual world out of raw image data alone. In an approach to visual processing known as learning from examples, computational neural networks and physiological studies suggest how neurons and machines adapt to novel images on the basis of past experience.
Establishing a rapid response team (RRT) in an academic hospital: One year's experience

BACKGROUND Rapid response teams and medical emergency teams have been utilized to rapidly manage seriously ill patients at risk of cardiopulmonary arrest and other high-risk conditions but have not been extensively described in the American medical literature. OBJECTIVES To describe a full year's experience of implementing a rapid response team (RRT) in an academic medical center. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of our hospital's RRT database and description of the implementation process from July 2004 to July 2005. SETTING Urban, academic medical center. RESULTS The RRT system was activated for 307 potentially unstable patients. The most common reasons for an RRT activation were cardiac, respiratory, and neurological conditions. At least 37% of RRT calls were for off-unit inpatients and to outpatient/common areas frequented by outpatients and visitors, whereas at least 42% occurred in inpatient units. Most RRT calls, 82.9%, occurred during daytime hours. In the opinion of RRT leaders 98% of the evaluated calls were appropriate and 85% of the RRT responses resulted in the prevention of further clinical deterioration. CONCLUSIONS An RRT was introduced into an academic medical center, and the results suggested it is capable of preventing clinical deterioration in unstable patients and may have the potential to decrease the frequency of cardiac arrests. The RRT also may fill a gap in patient safety by enabling rapid triage and expedited treatment of off-unit inpatients, outpatients, and visitors. The keys to the early success of our implementation of an RRT were multidisciplinary input and improvements made in real time. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2006;1:296–305. © 2006 Society of Hospital Medicine.
‘We were not planning on this, but …’: Adoptive parents' reactions and adaptations to unmet expectations

This study explored adoptive parents' responses to unexpected characteristics of their children with a lens of family stress theory. Ninety individuals in 45 couples, 30 of whom adopted via child welfare and 15 of whom adopted via private domestic adoption, were interviewed 3 months post-adoptive placement regarding unfulfilled expectations about their child's age, gender, race and special needs. Unmet expectations were especially stressful when parents lacked support and when they perceived themselves as having little power to ‘mould’ their children. In contrast, perceptions of adequate support and cognitive flexibility appeared to facilitate positive experiences during parents' transition to adoptive parenthood. Implications for professionals are discussed, including suggestions for pre-adoption training and provision of post-adoption support.
Reply to Noble, Hernandez, Mitchell, and Janssen

### The Pressure-Controlled Intact Airway System as a Powerful Tool in Unraveling the Mystery of Airway Hyperresponsiveness to the editor: We are not at all surprised by the reaction of Noble et al. ([9][1]) to our recent study ([7][2]), and we suspect several others will have similar reactions.
Confinement capability of ITER-EDA design

Confinement capability of the ITER-EDA (R=7.75 m, I=25 MA) operational scenarios is evaluated and compared with the ITER CDA (R=6 m, 22 MA). The ignition capability of ITER EDA is somewhat higher than that of CDA by a factor of 1.1-1.2 with empirical power law scalings and by a factor of 1.5-2 with offset linear scalings. Simulations with the RLW /spl chi/(/spl nabla/T/sub e/)/sub crit/ model show that both the EDA and CDA scenarios operates in L-mode, however CDA ignition margin is much smaller. With empirical scalings, the required L-mode confinement enhancement factor [H=/spl tau//sub E///spl tau//sub E/(scaling)] corresponding to, for example, ITER89-P L-mode scaling would be 1.5-1.6 in ITER EDA relative to 1.8 in CDA for 10% He (plus 1% Be) concentration. At a higher concentration of He of 20-25%, the confinement capability is deteriorated and the required confinement enhancement factor (over empirical L-mode scalings) is /spl ges/2. The Ohmic confinement time is a factor of two higher in the EDA design (as compared to the CDA), yielding a strong reduction in the auxiliary power required to reach ignition. In 1.5-D simulations with L-mode enhancement factors of H/spl ges/1.2 allowed ohmic ignition with 25 MA, ignition was aided by initially peaked density profiles (and low He content) during the start-up.
Patterns and mechanisms of selection on a family-diagnostic trait: evidence from experimental manipulation and lifetime fitness selection gradients.

Plant traits that show little variation across higher taxa are often used as diagnostic traits, but the reason for the stasis of such traits remains unclear. Wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum, exhibits tetradynamous stamens (four long and two short, producing a dimorphism in anther height within each flower), as do the vast majority of the more than 3000 species in the Brassicaceae. Here we examine the hypothesis that selection maintains the stasis of dimorphic anther height by investigating the effects of this trait on pollen removal, seed siring success, and seed set in R. raphanistrum using both experimental and observational methods. Observational selection gradient analysis based on lifetime seed siring success provided evidence for an optimum dimorphism that was greater than zero in one of three years. In both experimentally manipulated and unmanipulated flowers, more pollen was removed in single visits from flowers with less dimorphism. There was no significant effect of anther dimorphism on female fitness (seed set). Therefore, there is some evidence to suggest that selection is maintaining anther dimorphism in wild radish, and that higher male fitness might result from restriction of single-visit pollen removal. We discuss these results in light of pollen presentation theory.
Transforming Milk in a Global Economy

Large-scale milk production and consumption historically have been localized to Europe and countries with large European-derived populations. However, global patterns have now shifted, with dramatic increases in milk consumption in Asian countries and flat or declining consumption in European and European-derived countries. Efforts to market it around the world emphasize milk's positive effects on child growth, and, by extension, the individual and national benefits that derive from that growth. At the same time, milk has newly emerged in milk promotions in the United States as food that facilitates weight loss. Milk has been able to achieve a global presence and continuing relevance in populations in which its consumption has been declining by continually transforming and repositioning itself as a “special” food with properties able to alleviate the health concerns seen as most salient at the time.
Nanoscale ultrathin body PMOSFETs with raised selective germanium source/drain

Nanoscale ultrathin body (UTB) p-channel MOSFETs with body thickness down to 4 nm and raised source and drain (S/D) using selectively deposited Ge are demonstrated for the first time. Devices with gate length down to 30 nm show high drive current, low off current, and excellent short-channel behavior. Mobility enhancement and threshold-voltage shift due to the quantum confinement of inversion charge in the ultrathin body are investigated.
Atmospheric pressure ionization waves propagating through a flexible high aspect ratio capillary channel and impinging upon a target

Atmospheric pressure ionization waves (IWs) propagating in flexible capillary tubes are a unique way of transporting a plasma and its active species to remote sites for applications such as biomedical procedures, particularly in endoscopic procedures. The propagation mechanisms for such IWs in tubes having aspect ratios of hundreds to thousands are not clear. In this paper, results are discussed from a numerical investigation of the fundamental properties of ionization waves generated by nanosecond voltage pulses inside a 15cm long, 600 µm wide (aspect ratio 250), flexible dielectric channel. The channel, filled with a Ne/Xe = 99.9/0.1 gas mixture at 1atm, empties into a small chamber separated from a target substrate by 1cm. The IWs propagate through the entire length of the channel while maintaining similar strength and magnitude. Upon exiting the channel into the chamber, the IW induces a second streamer discharge at the channel-chamber junction. This streamer then propagates across the chamber and impinges upon the target. The average speeds of the capillary-bounded IW are about 5 × 10 7 cms −1 and 1 × 10 8 cms −1 for positive and negative polarities, respectively. The propagation speed is sensitive to the curvature of the channel. In both cases, the peak in ionization tends to be located along the channel walls and alternates from side-to-side depending on the direction of the local instantaneous electric field and curvature of the channel. The ionization region following the IW extends up to several centimeters inside the channel, as opposed to being highly localized at the ionization front in unconstrained, atmospheric pressure IWs. The maximum speed of the IW in the chamber is about twice that in the channel. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)
Youth, university and Canadian society: essays in the social history of higher education

Focusing on the student experience from the last quarter of the nineteenth century through the troubled 1960s, this collection of fourteen essays examines university life as a part of social and intellectual history. It brings to light the work of a new generation of researchers who have moved away from the narrower concern with institutional growth that has typified most historical writing in this field. Contributors include Paul Axelrod, Michael Behiels, Judith Fingard, Chad Gaffield, Yves Gingras, Patricia Jasen, Nancy Kiefer, Susan Laskin, Malcolm MacLeod, Lynne Marks, A.B. McKillop, Barry M. Moody, Diana Pederson, Ruth Roach Pierson, James Pitsula, John G. Reid, and Keith Walden.
EphA5-EphrinA5 Interactions Within the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Influence Counterregulatory Hormone Release and Local Glutamine/Glutamate Balance During Hypoglycemia

Activation of β-cell EphA5 receptors by its ligand ephrinA5 from adjacent β-cells has been reported to decrease insulin secretion during hypoglycemia. Given the similarities between islet and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) glucose sensing, we tested the hypothesis that the EphA5/ephrinA5 system might function within the VMH during hypoglycemia to stimulate counterregulatory hormone release as well. Counterregulatory responses and glutamine/glutamate concentrations in the VMH were assessed during a hyperinsulinemic-hypoglycemic glucose clamp study in chronically catheterized awake male Sprague-Dawley rats that received an acute VMH microinjection of ephrinA5-Fc, chronic VMH knockdown, or overexpression of ephrinA5 using an adenoassociated viral construct. Local stimulation of VMH EphA5 receptors by ephrinA5-Fc or ephrinA5 overexpression increased, whereas knockdown of VMH ephrinA5 reduced counterregulatory responses during hypoglycemia. Overexpression of VMH ephrinA5 transiently increased local glutamate concentrations, whereas ephrinA5 knockdown produced profound suppression of VMH interstitial fluid glutamine concentrations in the basal state and during hypoglycemia. Changes in ephrinA5/EphA5 interactions within the VMH, a key brain glucose-sensing region, act in concert with islets to restore glucose homeostasis during acute hypoglycemia, and its effect on counterregulation may be mediated by changes in glutamate/glutamine cycling.
Direct estimation of musical pitch contour from audio data

The increasing amount of music being stored in digital formats calls for increasingly more creative methods for music information retrieval. One subset of music retrieval methods relies on storing a melody in a pitch contour representation. Most often, this contour information is generated either from symbolic format (MIDI) or from raw audio after a pitch transcription step. We propose a method of extracting pitch contour information from musical audio without an intermediate transcription step by combining a musically-tuned constant Q transform with crosscorrelation. When tested on a database of 520 monophonic music recordings, our method generates pitch contours from raw audio data with up to 98% accuracy.
Hezekiah's Reform and the Deuteronomistic Tradition

The historical reconstruction of biblical events represents a difficult and often speculative task, which is well demonstrated by the various scholarly attempts to understand the reform of Hezekiah and to establish defensible conclusions concerning its historicity. A wide range of scholarly opinion has grown out of fundamental disagreements concerning the accuracy and intent of the two biblical sources which describe Hezekiah's reform. The Deuteronomistic book of 2 Kings and the priestly-oriented later work of 2 Chronicles diverge mightily in their handling of Hezekiah's whole reign and especially the reform. In the early years of critical inquiry, the historicity of pre-Exilic events exclusively reported by the Chronicler was entirely dismissed in most circles. The description of Hezekiah's reform in the Book of Kings was dubbed “a mixture of the general and specific that does not inspire much confidence.” Consequently, it became fashionable to dismiss Hezekiah's religious changes as anachronisms inserted by later writers to parallel the reform of Josiah.
Bayesian network structure learning using quantum annealing

We introduce a method for the problem of learning the structure of a Bayesian network using the quantum adiabatic algorithm. We do so by introducing an efficient reformulation of a standard posterior-probability scoring function on graphs as a pseudo-Boolean function, which is equivalent to a system of 2-body Ising spins, as well as suitable penalty terms for enforcing the constraints necessary for the reformulation; our proposed method requires 𝓞(n2) qubits for n Bayesian network variables. Furthermore, we prove lower bounds on the necessary weighting of these penalty terms. The logical structure resulting from the mapping has the appealing property that it is instance-independent for a given number of Bayesian network variables, as well as being independent of the number of data cases.
Evidence of Positive Selection for a Glycogen Synthase (GYS1) Mutation in Domestic Horse Populations

A dominantly inherited gain-of-function mutation in the glycogen synthase (GYS1) gene, resulting in excess skeletal muscle glycogen, has been identified in more than 30 horse breeds. This mutation is associated with the disease Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy Type 1, yet persists at high frequency in some breeds. Under historical conditions of daily work and limited feed, excess muscle glycogen may have been advantageous, driving the increase in frequency of this allele. Fine-scale DNA sequencing in 80 horses and genotype assays in 279 horses revealed a paucity of haplotypes carrying the mutant allele when compared with the wild-type allele. Additionally, we found increased linkage disequilibrium, measured by relative extended haplotype homozygosity, in haplotypes carrying the mutation compared with haplotypes carrying the wild-type allele. Coalescent simulations of Belgian horse populations demonstrated that the high frequency and extended haplotype associated with the GYS1 mutation were unlikely to have arisen under neutrality or due to population demography. In contrast, in Quarter Horses, elevated relative extended haplotype homozygosity was associated with multiple haplotypes and may be the result of recent population expansion or a popular sire effect. These data suggest that the GYS1 mutation underwent historical selection in the Belgian, but not in the Quarter Horse.
NGFAST: a simulation model for rapid assessment of impacts of natural gas pipeline breaks and flow reductions at U.S. state borders and import points

This paper describes NGfast, the new simulation and impact-analysis tool developed by Argonne National Laboratory for rapid, first-stage assessments of impacts of major pipeline breaks. The methodology, calculation logic, and main assumptions are discussed. The concepts presented are most useful to state and national energy agencies tasked as first responders to such emergencies. Within minutes of the occurrence of a break, NGfast can generate an HTML-formatted report to support briefing materials for state and federal emergency responders. Sample partial results of a simulation of a real system in the United States are presented.
Beyond standard polysomnography: Advantages and indications for use of extended 10–20 EEG montage during laboratory sleep study evaluations

Abstract Purpose Standard polysomnography (PSG) typically utilizes 4–6 channels of electroencephalography (EEG), which is inadequate to evaluate focal epileptiform activity. Though technical capability has long existed for more extensive EEG recording, few sleep laboratories have utilized this technique. The objective of this study was to determine the utility of combining PSG with 18-channel EEG in select patients with paroxysmal nocturnal events or other symptoms concerning for sleep disorders, nocturnal seizures or both. Methods Consecutive combined PSG–EEG studies ( n =237) were performed between 10/1/2005 and 8/1/2009. Demographics, referral source, indications, and results were reviewed and analyzed. Results Of the 237 consecutive combined PSG–EEG studies performed, 93% revealed the presence of a primary sleep disorder, 38% were shown to have abnormal EEGs, and 37% had both. Among the 221 subjects (93%) shown to have sleep disorders, the majority of these cases were obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) 89%, followed by periodic limp movements of sleep (PLMS) 22% and rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD) 6%. Significantly more patients with known epilepsy were diagnosed with OSA then were patients without a seizure history. Conclusions Combined PSG–EEG, utilizing 18-channel EEG, is an under-utilized technique which can assist in diagnosing paroxysmal nocturnal events, and differentiate between the presence of a primary sleep disorder, seizure activity, or both. Our study further illustrates the importance of considering sleep disorders in epilepsy patients.
Associations between brain microstructures, metabolites, and cognitive deficits during chronic HIV-1 infection of humanized mice

Host-species specificity of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) limits pathobiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic research investigations to humans and non-human primates. The emergence of humanized mice as a model for viral infection of the nervous system has overcome such restrictions enabling research for HIV-associated end organ disease including behavioral, cognitive and neuropathologic deficits reflective of neuroAIDS. Chronic HIV-1 infection of NOD/scid-IL-2Rgc null mice transplanted with human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (CD34-NSG) leads to persistent viremia, profound CD4+ T lymphocyte loss and infection of human monocyte-macrophages in the meninges and perivascular spaces. Murine cells are not infected with virus. Changes in mouse behavior were measured, starting at 8 weeks after viral infection. These were recorded coordinate with magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolites including N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine and choline. Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) was recorded against multispectral immunohistochemical staining for neuronal markers that included microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP2), neurofilament (NF) and synaptophysin (SYN); for astrocyte glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); and for microglial ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1). Oligodendrocyte numbers and integrity were measured for myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antigens. Behavioral abnormalities were readily observed in HIV-1 infected mice. Longitudinal open field activity tests demonstrated lack of habituation indicating potential for memory loss and persistent anxiety in HIV-1 infected mice compared to uninfected controls. End-point NAA and creatine in the cerebral cortex increased with decreased MAG. NAA and glutamate decreased with decreased SYN and MAG. Robust inflammation reflected GFAP and Iba-1 staining intensities. DTI metrics were coordinate with deregulation of NF, Iba-1, MOG and MAG levels in the whisker barrel and MAP2, NF, MAG, MOG and SYN in the corpus callosum. The findings are consistent with some of the clinical, biochemical and pathobiologic features of human HIV-1 nervous system infections. This model will prove useful towards investigating the mechanisms of HIV-1 induced neuropathology and in developing novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for disease.
Nuclear Resonance Vibrational Spectroscopy on the FeIVO S=2 Non-Heme Site in TMG3tren: Experimentally Calibrated Insights into Reactivity

Mononuclear non-heme iron (NHFe) enzymes catalyze a number of key biological reactions including hydroxylation, desaturation, ring closure and halogenation.[1-3] The reactive intermediate that carries out many of the C–H bond activations is an S = 2 FeIV=O species that has been observed and characterized in several enzyme systems.[3-5] Synthetic efforts have yielded FeIV=O model complexes that exhibit an S = 1 ground state[6, 7] in all but three cases: (H2O)5FeIV=O[8], (H3buea)FeIV=O[9] and (TMG3tren)FeIV=O (1).[10] 1 has an FeIV=O unit ligated by TMG3tren in a C3ν trigonal bipyramidal geometry (Figure 1A), and an S = 2 ground state replicating that of enzyme intermediates.[10, 11] 1 is reactive in oxo-atom transfer and H-atom abstraction, but in the latter it is only as reactive as the approximately-C4v S = 1 (N4Py)FeIV=O (2, Figure 1B) complex where both have the same reaction rate with 1,4-cyclohexadiene (CHD).[10] Original studies from our group showed that whereas S = 1 reaction coordinates only have a □-attack pathway, involving the β-d□* orbital, available for electrophilic reactivity, S = 2 systems are predicted to possess an additional -attack pathway involving the ⟨-dz2 orbital that is lowered in energy due to spin-polarization.[12, 13] This has recently been referred to as an exchange enhancement.[14] In this study, we utilize Nuclear Resonance Vibrational Spectroscopy (NRVS) to obtain ground-state vibrational data on 1 for comparison to 2[15] and, through correlations to DFT calculations, to understand the observed similar reactivities of 1 (S = 2) and 2 (S = 1). These studies define the steric and intrinsic electronic contributions to the reaction barriers and establish that both the S = 1 and S = 2 surfaces have significant steric contributions due to the different directionalities of substrate approach and thus similar intrinsic reactivities.
Interpreting Art through Metaphors

This article argues that much of the meaning of artworks comes through metaphors, though we do not always recognise them as such. The argument draws on the work of Lakoff & Johnson, who assert a similar claim about metaphors in general (especially in language). It analyses the notion of a visual metaphor, gives a number of illustrations and claims that, contrary to linguistic metaphors, there can usefully be more than one visual metaphor (‘mixed metaphors’) active in a visual image and that visual metaphors can be interpreted in both directions. Verticality is presented as one basic metaphor in visual images.
Cutting Edge: IL-25 Targets Dendritic Cells To Attract IL-9–Producing T Cells in Acute Allergic Lung Inflammation

Asthma is a common inflammatory disease of airways that is often associated with type 2 responses triggered by allergens, such as house dust mites (HDMs). IL-25 is a key mucosal cytokine that may be produced by stressed epithelial cells; it rapidly activates type 2 innate lymphoid cells to produce IL-13 and IL-5. When administered directly into lungs, IL-25 induces acute inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying IL-25-initiated inflammation and the roles of this cytokine in the context of HDM-induced allergic inflammation are not fully understood. We show in this article that lung-resident conventional dendritic cells were direct targets of IL-25. IL-25-stimulated dendritic cells rapidly induced mediators, such as the chemokine CCL17, which, in turn, attracted IL-9-producing T cells. Importantly, these mechanisms also operated during HDM-induced allergic lung inflammation.
The Utility and Need for Incorporating Noncognitive Skills Into Large-Scale Educational Assessments

Most attention in large-scale assessments on educational progress and outcomes addresses cognitive measures of student proficiency. In part, this focus is due to the assumption that “skills” are cognitive in nature and have a high predictive value in terms of productivity. However, the predictive value of cognitive scores on worker productivity and earnings is more modest than commonly assumed. In fact, attempts to relate cognitive test scores from surveys to economic output, although meritorious, require substantial liberties in the interpretation of data. At the same time, there is considerable evidence that noncognitive attributes of individuals related to school experience are as important as—or even more important than—cognitive attributes in predicting both school outcomes and economic productivity. Noncognitive outcome measurement is more challenging to assess than cognitive because of its highly diverse dimensions and difficulties in sampling performance on these dimensions. This chapter addresses the highly incomplete knowledge base on the potential importance of noncognitive aspects of students and schools, issues of measurement and assessment, and their predictive value on adult outcomes.
Ruggedness Study of Dynamic Modulus Testing of Asphalt Concrete in Indirect Tension Mode

The modulus is one of the primary asphalt mixture properties used for the mechanistic performance prediction of asphalt pavements. Dynamic modulus testing is a common method of measuring mixture modulus as a function of loading frequencies and temperatures. This paper presented the results of a ruggedness study of dynamic modulus testing in indirect tension mode to evaluate the factors that were most likely to affect the final results. Specimen thickness, air void content, gauge length, test temperature, and horizontal strain level, which are the critical factors that affect the dynamic modulus of asphalt concrete, were selected for the ruggedness analysis. Two different asphalt mixtures with the participation of two laboratories were used in the study. Based on the selected values for the different variables, air void content was found to be the significant factor that affected dynamic modulus testing and dynamic modulus values. The other factors did not appear to have a major impact on the test results; however, reasonable tolerances were obtained for the other parameters investigated in this paper.
Deploying Guns to Expendable Communities Bloodshed in Mexico, U.S. Imperialism, and Transnational Capital—A Call for Revolutionary Critical Pedagogy

This article argues that the gun industry, as part of the broader military industrial complex, serves a specific function of both producing and securing capital interests, U.S. imperialism, and rac...
Climatology of New Particle Formation and Corresponding Precursors at Storm Peak Laboratory

Thirteen years of measurements of ultrafine (3-10 nm diameter) aerosols are presented from a remote high elevation (3210 m a.s.l.) site in Colorado, Storm Peak Laboratory. Previous work has shown that frequent new particle formation (NPF) occurs regularly at the site (52% of days). This long-term climatology of ultrafine aerosols clearly shows a seasonal dependence on new particle formation at Storm Peak Laboratory, reaching a maximum during the spring season and a minimum in summer. Recent sulfur dioxide data indicates a strong source region west of Storm Peak Laboratory, and this wind direction corresponds to the predominant wind direction observed during NPF events.
Ethical Oversight of Multinational Collaborative Research: Lessons from Africa for Building Capacity and for Policy:

Researchers and others involved in the research enterprise from 12 African countries met with those working in ethics and oversight in the United States as part of an effort to develop research ethics capacity. Drawing on a wealth of experience among participants, discussions at the meeting revealed five categories of issues that warrant careful attention by those engaged in similar efforts as well as international policymakers and those charged with oversight of research. (1) Principal investigators should build ‘true research teams’ where members of the team are meaningfully involved in decisions regarding the protocol and its implementation. (2)There should be explicit discussion about the ‘standard of care’ at the outset of project planning that includes clarification of the terminology that is being used. (3) While internationally collaborative research may involve populations that have inherent vulnerabilities, it is important to recognize the limitations of host country solutions (such as elaborate...
Beam Quality Factor of Gain-Guided Index-Antiguided Fiber Laser with a Finite Cladding Diameter

We show that the finiteness of the cladding diameter is essential in determining the physical properties, especially the beam quality factor of the gain-guided index-antiguided (GG-IAG) fibers.
Analysis and Evaluation of Farmland Utilization Structure in Hunan Province

The output value growth share,structure shift-share and competitiveness shift-share of 10 types of crops cultivated in farmland during 2003-2011 in Hunan were calculated by the shift-share method,and then the structure and competitiveness of farmland utilization were analyzed and evaluated to optimize the farmland utilization structure and improve the whole competitiveness and economic benefit of crop farming in Hunan.The results showed that compared with National level in the corresponding period,the farmland structure is good and its competitiveness has advantages in Hunan.Therefore,farmland utilization structure should be adjusted and optimized further by developing vegetables,horticultural pants,oil crops and traditional Chinese medicinal materials with higher contribution rate and strong competitiveness for growth of total crops' output value based on sufficient utilization and protection of existing farmland resources in Hunan.
Multivariate Dynamic Comprehensive Evaluation Method with Reward and Punishment Function and Its Application

For the multivariate dynamic evaluation problem of reward and punishment, a multivariate dynamic comprehensive correction method was put forward to conduct the horizontal and vertical correction by using modificatory factor and modificatory function. And the evaluation result with disciplinary action was gained. Based on this,corresponding variation coefficient according to the changes of correction value was formulated,so that the evaluated object and its index performance in the entirety were gotten. In addition,the adjustment factors of "proportion of rewards and punishments"and "performance pay"can be set by the variation coefficient size. A final example showed the validity of the proposed method. This method is suitable for practical and complex problems such as talent screening and performance evaluation even more.
Two Liberal Trajectories of Civic Education: The Political and Educational Thought of Hobbes and Winstanley

The moment of the English Civil war marks a historical turning point toward the establishment of modem liberal democratic institutions. The authors argue that at this juncture there were two political and educational alternatives offered by Thomas Hobbes and Gerrard Winstanley respectively, which constitute two liberal trajectories. The Hobbesian trajectory is based upon negative liberty and state sovereignty which renders an educational approach in comparative tension between the demands of liberty and those of conformity. The Winstanley trajectory is premised upon positive liberty and a communitarian and democratic notion of sovereignty which renders an educational approach devoted to the cultivation of independent civic judgement grounded in community life. The authors argue that while both trajectories have flaws Winstanley's thought is pregnant with greater democratic possibility
Modeling a new naval connectors logistical contribution with a system-of-systems discrete event simulation

Introducing a new connector, such as the Transformable Craft (T-Craft), will impact the Navy logistical performance at an operational level. To investigate this impact, it is necessary to develop a system-of-systems level model that can capture the scenario of interest and the capabilities of vessels that would operate in the future Navy fleet. Thus the model must capture scenario, architectural, and vessel performance and interaction information. The goal of the model is to capture enough interactions, details of vessel performance, and types of vessels while maintaining a flexible model architecture and rapid evaluation. A Discrete Event Simulation (DES) construct was selected using matrix mathematics to model interactions. The focus of this work is on creating the math-based, flexible architecture. The processes defined for existing and potential future vessels and other vehicles, including sea connectors, cargo vessels, and air connectors, with the potential for including additional vessels are discussed. Sample results and analysis options demonstrate the visualization and decision support potential using this model.
A Review of Sexual Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behaviors Among South Korean Early Adolescents: Application of the Ecological Framework

This article reviews 35 studies on the sexual attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors among South Korean early adolescents (ages 10–15). A review of peer-reviewed articles between 1990 and 2015 using S...
Comparative study of mezlocillin versus cefotaxime single-dose prophylaxis in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy

Evaluation de l'efficacite de la mezlocilline comparee a l'efficacite de la cefotaxine dans la prevention de l'infection postoperatoire
“THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND”: FRENCH MAINSTREAM PARTY STRATEGIES AND THE SUCCESS OF THE FRENCH FRONT NATIONAL

Rallying to the cry of “France for the French” and “One million unemployed, one million immigrants too many,” the Front National burst into the French political limelight in the 1980s. Despite the fact that there had been a moratorium on immigration to France for almost a decade, this single-issue, anti-immigration party captured almost 10 percent of the vote and thirty-five seats in the 1986 legislative elections. Its support did not flag over the next decade, with the radical right party gaining increasingly larger shares of the vote with every election. By 1997, the Front National had surpassed all expectations of its success; in that election, it earned 14.9 percent of the vote and the title of the third most popular party in the French political system. The electoral success of the Front National was made all the more threatening – especially to the dominant Socialist (PS) and Gaullist (RPR) parties – by its cross-party appeal. A 1981 SOFRES poll reveals that 70 percent of all respondents were opposed to the arrival of further immigrants to France and that between 15 and 22 percent of survey respondents favored the expulsion of all immigrants, policy positions espoused by the Front National. Seven years later, and several years after the start of the Socialists' pro-immigrant campaign, the percentage of survey respondents still preferring the repatriation of immigrants was more than 20 percent.
Calcitonin for Treatment of Osteoporosis

Publisher Summary Calcitonin has been utilized for more than 15 years to inhibit osteoclastic activity in several forms of osteoporosis. The use of an anti-resorptive agent in the treatment of osteoporosis is based on the assumption that the inhibition of the resorptive phase of bone remodeling results in filling of the remodeling space, with consequent increase in bone mass. The same rationale can be applied to most of the currently available anti-resorptive agents used for the treatment of osteoporosis, namely estrogen and bisphosphonates. In clinical studies that demonstrated the potential beneficial effect of calcitonin on age-related osteoporosis subjects treated with calcitonin, calcium balance improved, bone accretion rate increased, and bone resorption decreased. Positive effects on trabecular bone volume were also observed in a small number of patients treated with subcutaneous salmon calcitonin and oral phosphate, suggesting that at least in certain circumstances, calcitonin could improve bone mass in osteoporotic subjects. It also has been reported that intranasal calcitonin (50 IU, five times a week) effectively prevented vertebral bone loss in women who had been menopausal for no more than 36 months and as such most likely to have high turnover bone remodeling. Further, as an anti-resorptive agent, calcitonin could theoretically be used in combination with “activators” of the remodeling cycle, according to the ADFR (activate, depress, free, repeat) concept. Calcitonin emerged as a viable option in select patients, primarily because of its safety and relative ease of use in its nasal spray formulations, as demonstrated by the still substantial market share that calcitonin enjoys in the osteoporosis field.
Chronostratigraphic Correlation of Lacustrine Deposits Using 87SR/86SR Ratios, Eocene Green River Formation, Wyoming, U.S.A.

Abstract: The reconstruction of detailed, basin-scale depositional histories from sedimentary rocks fundamentally depends on the availability of reliable time markers. Unlike marine strata, lacustrine strata typically lack rapidly evolving, cosmopolitan fauna or flora that might serve this purpose. Depending on their geologic context, lacustrine strata may also lack tephras that could provide isochronous markers or radioisotopic age. Variations in 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios could potentially provide an alternative means of chronostratigraphic correlation for carbonate-rich lake deposits, based on the hypothesis that Sr isotopes are well mixed in a lake and do not experience significant fractionation. To test this hypothesis we measured 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in 114 samples from two drill cores of the upper Wilkins Peak Member from the Green River Formation that are located ∼ 23 km apart. These cores can be independently correlated using distinctive tephras and organic-carbon rich mudstone horizons. Measured 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios range from 0.71154 to 0.71504, and vary inversely with lake-water depth, as interpreted by sedimentary lithofacies characteristics. Lower ratios of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr are found in lithofacies deposited during lake highstands, which are marked by laminated dark-gray mudstone and elevated organic-carbon enrichment (as measured by Fischer Assay analysis). Higher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios occur in lithofacies deposited during lake lowstands, which are marked by organic-lean gray-green mudstone. 87 Sr/ 86 Sr in approximately time-equivalent samples from the two cores show a strong positive correlation (r = 0.68), despite the likely presence of small temporal mismatches between approximately correlative samples. We conclude that lake-water was consistently well mixed with respect to Sr across distances of at least 23 km. These results suggest that 87 Sr/ 86 Sr can serve as a powerful tool to aid high-resolution chronostratigraphic correlation of lake deposits.
Distinct characteristics of neonatal platelet reactivity

Platelets undergo a process of developmental maturation, and hence its regulation of vascular integrity and control of hemostasis at various stages of neonatal ages deserves better characterization. Functional assays for platelets require a larger volume of blood than what is feasible to collect in neonates, creating a technical hurdle that has been a challenge to investigate neonatal platelets. For this reason, the current knowledge of neonatal platelet function has been based on studies from cord blood-derived platelets as a surrogate for neonatal peripheral blood. Studies indicate that neonatal platelets are hypofunctional to various agonists, although neonates tend to maintain normal hemostasis. This apparently paradoxical finding may be due to several factors, such as elevated functionally potent von Willebrand factor multimers or hematocrit levels, in the neonatal blood that enhance the platelet and vessel wall interaction, and counteract platelet hyporeactivity. This review describes the functional characteristics of neonatal platelets, differences in platelet reactivity between neonates and adults, and potential biomarkers of platelet activation.
A tactile shirt for teaching human motion tasks

This paper presents a simple prototype of a lightweight sensing and tactile communication system that allows bidirectional communication between two humans, or between a human and a computer. This system tracks the user's actions with simple sensors, and uses tiny vibration motors as feedback devices. Vibration motors provide feedback that is both intuitive and minimally intrusive. The design is simple, flexible, and extensible to large-scale, full-body motion tasks.
Teaching Public, Scientific Controversy: Genetically Modified Mosquitoes in the Technical Writing Classroom:

The release of genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys is part of a public health initiative to limit the spread of infectious disease. The local debate over this proposed action provid...
Factors Influencing Farmers' Adoption of Best Management Practices: A Review and Synthesis.

Best management practices (BMPs) for reducing agricultural non-point source pollution are widely available. However, agriculture remains a major global contributor to degradation of waters because farmers often do not adopt BMPs. To improve water quality, it is necessary to understand the factors that influence BMP adoption by farmers. We review the findings of BMP adoption studies from both developed and developing countries, published after (or otherwise not included in) two major literature reviews from 2007 and 2008. We summarize the study locations, scales, and BMPs studied; the analytical methods used; the factors evaluated; and the directionality of each factor’s influence on BMP adoption. We then present a conceptual framework for BMP adoption decisions that emphasizes the importance of scale, the tailoring or targeting of information and incentives, and the importance of expected farm profits. We suggest that future research directions should focus on study scale, on measuring and modeling of adoption as a continuous process, and on incorporation of social norms and uncertainty into decision-making. More research is needed on uses of social media and market recognition approaches (such as certificate schemes and consumer labeling) to influence BMP adoption.