cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Syndemic Conditions, HIV Transmission Risk Behavior, and Transactional Sex Among Transgender Women.

This study examined the effect of four syndemic conditions—namely, polydrug use, depression, childhood sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence—on rates of HIV transmission risk behavior (TRB) and separately, transactional sex among transgender women. TRB was defined as the number of condomless penetrative sex events with a casual or main partner of discordant or unknown HIV status. Using data from 212 transgender women in New York City, multivariable analyses revealed that, compared to those with no syndemic conditions, dramatically higher rates of recent HIV TRB events (ARR = 8.84, p < 0.001) and recent transactional sex events (ARR = 8.32, p < 0.001) were reported by participants with all four syndemic conditions. These findings highlight the importance of considering the role of syndemic conditions in HIV risk among transgender women, and the need for comprehensive psychosocial interventions to improve sexual health among this population.
Providing Geo-Elasticity in Geographically Distributed Clouds

Geographically distributed cloud platforms are well suited for serving a geographically diverse user base. However, traditional cloud provisioning mechanisms that make local scaling decisions are not adequate for delivering the best possible performance for modern web applications that observe both temporal and spatial workload fluctuations. We propose GeoScale, a system that provides geo-elasticity by combining model-driven proactive and agile reactive provisioning approaches. GeoScale can dynamically provision server capacity at any location based on workload dynamics. We conduct a detailed evaluation of GeoScale on Amazon’s geo-distributed cloud and show up to 40% improvement in the 95th percentile response time when compared to traditional elasticity techniques.
Health Care Providers' Knowledge About HIV Induced Dementia Among Older Adults

In the present study, forty health care providers (physicians, psychologists, and nurses) responded to a questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge of HIV Associated Dementia Complex (HADC) among older adults. Consistent with expectation, these clinicians did not maintain accurate knowledge of HIV and HADC base rates, modes of transmission, and treatment options. Potential dangers of an inaccurate diagnosis of HADC, typical symptom presentations of HADC, recommendations for making a differential diagnosis with Alzheimer's dementia, case examples and the necessity of gathering sexual histories and avoiding ageist attitudes among older adult patients are discussed.
Production of Coleopteran Predators

Abstract The research literature reveals moderate advances in technology to produce coleopteran predators, especially lady beetles. Several factitious prey/foods and insect-free artificial diets for polyphagous species are available. It might be more time- and cost-effective to develop artificial diet-based production systems for polyphagous rather than oligophagous species. More research is necessary to determine how to manipulate rearing (population) densities—relative to food quality/quantity, cage size, oviposition, and mating—to reduce the negative effects of crowding and cannibalism in colonies. Temperature can be used to regulate the metabolic rate of predators to alter colony size during periods of high or low demand. More research is necessary to establish measures of quality control for more coleopteran predators, such as regular monitoring of products before or after shipment to customers for acceptable fitness and unwanted pathogens.
Experiments and analysis on the melting of a semitransparent material by radiation

The purpose of this study was to obtain an improved understanding of the physical processes which occur during the melting of a semitransparent material for the case where the melting is effected by irradiation of the material. An analytical model was developed for predicting radiative and thermal conditions, as well as the liquid/solid interface displacement, during the radiation induced phase-change process. Parametric calculations were performed to determine the extent of the influence of some fourteen identifiable dimensionless parameters on the temperature distribution and liquid/solid interface motion. Experimental simulations were conducted in the laboratory using a high intensity lamp to melt a phase-change material within a carefully controlled environment. Provisions were made for measurement of the temperature and the liquid-solid interface displacement. Comparison between the model predictions and the experimental data is shown to be in very good agreement.
Mental Health Differences Between Older and Younger Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Veterans: Evidence of Resilience.

ABSTRACTObjective: To examine health and identity differences between older (50+) and younger (< 50) lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) veterans.Methods: Participants (N = 254) completed an internet survey assessing depression, anxiety, alcohol use, identity, minority stress, and outness. T tests and logistic regression were used to analyze results.Results: Older LGBT veterans reported less alcohol use (p < .01) than younger counterparts. No age differences in depression or anxiety were reported. Older participants reported LGBT identity as more central to their overall identity (p < .01) and having less minority stress (p < .05), than younger participants.Conclusions: Compared to younger LGBT veterans, older LGBT veterans appeared more resilient over stressors that can impact mental health. Overall older LGBT veterans experienced less alcohol use and reported less minority stress than younger veterans. LGBT identity was more central to older veterans’ overall identity than younger Veterans.Cl...
The Cloacal Microbiome of Five Wild Duck Species Varies by Species and Influenza A Virus Infection Status

Waterfowl, especially ducks of the genus Anas, are natural reservoir species for influenza A virus (IAV). Duck populations contain nearly all the known diversity of IAVs, and the birds are asymptomatic to infection. Previous work established that IAV infection status is correlated with changes in the cloacal microbiome in juvenile mallards. Here, we analyze five Anas species to determine whether these duck species have similar IAV+ and IAV- cloacal microbiomes, or if the relationships among a host, influenza virus, and the microbiome are species specific. We assessed taxonomic composition of the microbiome, alpha diversity, and beta diversity and found very few patterns related to microbiome and infection status across species, while detecting strong differences within species. A host species-specific signal was stronger in IAV- ducks than IAV+ ducks, and the effect size of host species on the microbiome was three times higher in IAV- birds than IAV+ birds. The mallards and the northern shovelers, the species with highest sample sizes but also with differing feeding ecology, showed especially contrasting patterns in microbiome composition, alpha diversity, and beta diversity. Our results indicate that the microbiome may have a unique relationship with influenza virus infection at the species level.IMPORTANCE Waterfowl are natural reservoir species for influenza A virus (IAV). Thus, they maintain high levels of pathogen diversity, are asymptomatic to the infection, and also contribute to the risk of a global influenza pandemic. An individual's microbiome is a critical part in how a vertebrate manages pathogens and illness. Here, we describe the cloacal microbiome of 300 wild ducks, from five species (four with previously undescribed microbiomes), including both IAV-negative and IAV-positive individuals. We demonstrate that there is not one consistent "flu-like" microbiome or response to flu across species. Individual duck species appear to have unique relationships between their microbiomes and IAV, and IAV-negative birds have a stronger tie to host species than the IAV-positive birds. In a broad context, understanding the role of the microbiome in IAV reservoir species may have future implications for avian disease management.
Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of ovulation suppression with progestins compared with GnRH analogs in assisted reproduction cycles

Abstract Research question Is ovulation suppression with progestins, requiring a freeze-all approach and subsequent frozen embryo transfer resulting from progestenic endometrial changes, cost-effective compared with gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues (GnRH) during assisted reproduction cycles. Design Cost-effectiveness analysis derived from a PubMed literature search of average US costs of GnRH agonist and antagonist IVF cycles. Results In all fresh IVF cycle models, progestin cycles were more expensive owing to the additional costs of increased gonadotropin use, embryo freezing and subsequent frozen embryo transfer (FET). The average cost per live birth with progestins ($32,466–$56,194) was higher than fresh IVF cycles with short (flare) GnRH agonist ($4,447–$12,797 higher) and GnRH antagonist ($1,542–$9,893 higher). When analyzing an initial embryo transfer plus additional FET in patients not initially pregnant, progestin cycles were still more expensive per live birth compared with conventional protocols. When planned freeze only cycles were analyzed, progestins became more cost-effective per live birth compared with antagonist cycles ($2,079 lower) but remained more expensive than short agonist cycles ($823 more expensive). Conclusions Ovulation inhibition in IVF using progestins requires a freeze-only approach of embryos, and thus progestin use was not cost-effective compared with fresh embryo transfer cycles. Progestins, however, may be cost-effective compared with GnRH antagonist in planned freeze only cycles such as in preimplantation genetic testing or fertility preservation.
Energy transfer and passive control of single-degree-of-freedom structures using a one-directional rotational inertia viscous damper

Abstract In this paper, a novel rotational inertia device known as a one-directional rotational inertia viscous damper (ODRIVD) is proposed for the passive control of structures and studied as an attachment to single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems. The ODRIVD allows for energy to be passively transferred from a primary structure to a rotational flywheel in a one-directional fashion. This one-directional transfer allows energy to be transferred to this flywheel, where it can be locally dissipated, but does not allow energy to be transferred back to the primary structure. This behavior is in contrast to traditional rotational inertia dampers, which utilize an inerter that allows for the two-way transfer of energy back and forth between the inerter and the primary structure. The proposed ODRIVD shows the ability for the passive control of SDOF systems without changing its natural frequency significantly, which typically occurs when using inerters. The mechanism of the proposed device and a model of its dynamics are presented in this paper and its behavior and effectiveness are investigated. The results of this study show that the ODRIVD has the potential for superior effectiveness at passive vibration control, in comparison to traditional rotational inertia dampers with the same rotational inertia mass and damping.
“He Resembled the Great Emperor”Charlotte Brontë, Villette, and the Rise of Napoleon III

Matthew Heitzman, “‘He Resembled the Great Emperor’: Charlotte Bronte, Villette, and the Rise of Napoleon III” (pp. 199–223) This essay offers a local historical context for Charlotte Bronte’s Villette (1853), reading it in relation to the rise of Napoleon III as Emperor of France. Napoleon III completed his ascendancy just as Bronte was completing her novel. His rise prompted a mixture of anxiety and optimism in the English press, as English political commentators were uncertain if this new Napoleon’s reign would mark a return to the Anglo-French nationalist strife of the first Napoleonic period or if his rule would mark a detente and productive path forward for Anglo-French relations. I argue that this ambiguity is coded into Bronte’s characterization of Monsieur Paul Emanuel, and that we can read Monsieur Paul’s romance with Lucy Snowe as a political allegory—Bronte’s attempt to decipher what Napoleon III’s rapid rise meant for Anglo-French relations. I suggest in this essay that Bronte’s interest in the contemporary Anglo-French political context was a product of her fascination with Napoleon Bonaparte, specifically his rivalry with the Duke of Wellington, and that understanding her interest in the first Napoleonic period can help us to decipher why her depiction of Anglo-French nationalist interaction in Villette is totally at odds with her other novels, where French nationalism is typically a trait that needs to be effaced.
Understanding Chemoselectivity in Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer: A Kinetic Study of Amide and Thiol Activation

While the mechanistic understanding of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) has advanced significantly, few reports have sought to elucidate the factors that control chemoselectivity in these reactions. Here we present a kinetic study that provides a quantitative basis for understanding the chemoselectivity in competitive PCET activations of amides and thiols relevant to catalytic olefin hydroamidation reactions. These results demonstrate how the interplay between PCET rate constants, hydrogen-bonding equilibria, and rate-driving force relationships jointly determine PCET chemoselectivity under a given set of conditions. In turn, these findings predict reactivity trends in a model hydroamidation reaction, rationalize the selective activation of amide N-H bonds in the presence of much weaker thiol S-H bonds, and deliver strategies to improve the efficiencies of PCET reactions employing thiol co-catalysts.
Hydrophilic trace organic contaminants in urban stormwater: occurrence, toxicological relevance, and the need to enhance green stormwater infrastructure

Hydrophilic trace organic contaminants (hyphil-TrOCs) are polar, often ionizable organic compounds of anthropogenic origin that have various applications in the urban environment e.g., as pesticides, plasticizers, and flame retardants. Hyphil-TrOCs can be washed off in storm events and enter surface waters via untreated urban stormwater discharges or combined sewer overflows. Though trace concentrations of these chemicals may pose a risk to ecosystem and human health, information on their presence in urban stormwater remains elusive. Monitoring and source apportionment of hyphil-TrOCs in urban stormwater is complicated by the vast number and sources of organic contaminants and the high variability in aqueous concentration over time and space. Here, we present the current state of knowledge on the occurrence and toxicological relevance of hyphil-TrOCs in urban stormwater. To mitigate negative impacts of contaminated surface runoff to receiving water bodies and to prevent sanitary or combined sewer overflows, many cities implement sustainable green stormwater infrastructure, also called best management practices (BMPs). Current knowledge suggests that conventional stormwater BMPs such as detention basins, constructed wetlands, and biofilters often fail to remove hyphil-TrOCs. We identify future research needs to enhance green stormwater infrastructure with respect to water quality and safe use of urban stormwater for non-potable applications or groundwater recharge and present potential benefits of geomedia amendments in BMPs (e.g., activated carbon or biochar-amended biofilters). We highlight the need to improve stormwater monitoring strategies by combining chemical and bioanalytical tools to better assess effects of complex chemical mixtures and the treatment performance of BMPs and assure safe stormwater use for water supply.
Examining expanded differences in slot machine pars: an analysis of revenue impacts and player sensitivity to "price".

Abstract This work addressed critical questions related to the optimization of all-important slot revenues, as they are critical to the success of most of the world’s casinos. Using data collected from a live gaming floor, the obfuscated pars of otherwise identical reel slot machines were manipulated to determine whether differences in game-level performance and/or player detection would occur. The results indicated significant and substantial increases in revenue for the high-par games, with no clear signs of play migration toward their paired low-par counterparts. These results were produced in spite of the clear disincentive to play the high-par games. This work extended the extant literature by increasing the time to discover the difference in pars to a full year, and by expanding the difference in the pars of the paired games. Additionally, this was the first study to examine the impacts of par differences on actual casino win.
Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Screening Opportunities at Health Care Encounters.

Background: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that providers screen women for depression at the postpartum checkup. If this checkup is the only screening opportunity, women who do not attend or whose depressive episode occurs at a different time may not be identified. We evaluated women's encounters with postpartum health care to identify screening opportunities for postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS). Materials and Methods: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data for 2012-2015 from eight jurisdictions (n = 23,990, representing 1,939,865 women) were used to calculate percentage of women reporting attendance at postpartum checkups, well-child visits, or postpartum home visitation, by presence of PDS. PDS were assessed using a modified two-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Using Modified Poisson regression, adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to compare health services by PDS, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Almost all women with or without PDS attended a postpartum checkup (85.1% and 91.4%; aPR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93-0.99) and their infants attended a well-child visit (97.3% and 98.9%; aPR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98-1.00); 13.7% and 10.9% received home visitation (aPR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02-1.35). Of women with PDS who missed their postpartum checkup, 13.5% reported infant attendance at well-child visits, and 2.0% received home visitation. Of women with PDS, 98.8%, 86.1%, and 11.2% attended 1, 2, or 3 health services. Conclusion: A large percentage of women with PDS may attend well-child visits or receive home visitation, representing opportunities for depression screening and referral for care.
Stable Ischemic Heart Disease

Over the last two decades, due to improved outcomes from acute coronary syndromes (ACS), aging of the population, the epidemics of diabetes and obesity, and advances in the diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis, the management of patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) has become an increasingly important part of clinical practice. The spectrum of stable ischemic heart disease includes patients who have subclinical atherosclerosis or nonobstructive CAD, asymptomatic myocardial ischemia, stable angina pectoris, or prior ACS with or without residual ischemia. Because patients with ischemic heart disease are at high risk of subsequent cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and death, implementation of secondary prevention measures, including risk factor control, therapeutic lifestyle changes, and appropriate medical therapy is warranted in all patients with evidence of coronary atherosclerosis. New insights into the mechanisms underlying coronary disease and clinical trial data have led to the emergence of new anti-ischemic treatments, further refinement of the role for revascularization, and renewed emphasis on the critical role of aggressive lowering of LDL cholesterol, whether with high intensity statin or newer lipid-lowering agents, in secondary prevention.
Wideband Dipole Array With Balanced Wideband Impedance Transformer (BWIT)

Within the context of modern digital phased array (DPA) radios, differential Radio Frequency (RF) front-ends provide much greater immunity to noise and distortion by suppressing second order harmonics. Recent advancements in differential RF front-ends offer high dynamic range, high linearity, and low noise in the transceiver chain. However, a major roadblock to fully differential systems is the presence of common-mode resonances. In this article, we present a novel wideband differential feed for dipole arrays that overcomes this bottleneck. Our dipole array is developed for the L-S band ( viz. 1.05 GHz to 3.2 GHz) with emphasis on dual-linear polarization and resonance-free scanning to low angles. The novelty of this article is the Balanced Wideband Impedance Transformer (BWIT) feed that mitigates common-mode currents across the entire band while scanning to low angles. Array simulations are verified with measurements of an $8\times 8$ prototype in a volume of 384mm $\times 384$ mm $\times 57$ mm. The array achieves resonance-free scanning across a 3:1 impedance bandwidth with VSWR $\theta = 0^{\circ }$ (Broadside), 45° (D-plane), 60° (E-plane) and across a 2.37:1 impedance bandwidth with VSWR < 3 for the case of 45° (H-plane). Measured gain achieves near-theoretical values across the operating band.
Emission spectroscopy characterization of electrode species in the freestream flow at the NASA Ames miniature Arc Jet II facility

Abstract The second generation miniature Arc Jet (mARC II) is a subscale arc jet at NASA Ames Research Center that is undergoing initial characterization. During its operation, the electrodes used to produce continuous plasma flows deteriorate and the flow purity decreases. The present work reports the use of optical emission spectroscopy as a characterization tool for impurities in the plasma flow. The discussion is focused on the interpretation of spectroscopic measurements and their evolution under different testing conditions. Special emphasis is given to copper, the main atomic element of the anode, and to atomic oxygen and atomic nitrogen, two major components of air plasma. The highest rate of anode deterioration is found to occur during the arc jet ignition. Based on the experimental spectra, a preliminary numerical characterization of the plasma temperature, enthalpy and number density is conducted.
Perspective on morbidity and mortality of cervical surgery performed in outpatient/same day/ambulatory surgicenters versus inpatient facilities.

Background This is an updated analysis of the morbidity and mortality of cervical surgery performed in outpatient/same day (OSD) (Postoperative care unit [PACU] observation 4-6 h), and ambulatory surgicenters (ASC: PACU 23 h) versus inpatient facilities (IF). Methods We analyzed 19 predominantly level III (retrospective) and IV (case series) studies regarding the morbidity/mortality of cervical surgery performed in OSC/ASC versus IF. Results A "selection bias" clearly favored operating on younger/healthier patients to undergo cervical surgery in OSD/ASC centers resulting in better outcomes. Alternatively, those selected for cervical procedures to be performed in IF classically demonstrated multiple major comorbidities (i.e. advanced age, diabetes, high body mass index, severe myelopathy, smoking, 3-4 level disease, and other comorbidities) and had poorer outcomes. Further, within the typical 4-6 h. PACU "observation window," OSD facilities "picked up" most major postoperative complications, and typically showed 0% mortality rates. Nevertheless, the author's review of 2 wrongful death suits (i.e. prior to 2018) arising from OSD ACDF cervical surgery demonstrated that there are probably many more mortalities occurring following discharges from OSD where cervical operations are being performed that are going underreported/unreported. Conclusion "Selection bias" favors choosing younger/healthier patients to undergoing cervical surgery in OSD/ ASC facilities resulting in better outcomes. Atlernatively, choosing older patients with greater comorbidities for IF surgery correlated with poorer results. Although most OSD cervical series report 0% mortality rates, a review of 2 wrongful death suits by just one neurosurgeon prior to 2018 showed there are probably many more mortalities resulting from OSD cervical surgery than have been reported.
Shield Treatment Technology in Extremely Soft Stratum

The extremely soft stratum (often called soft soil stratum in Engineering) is widely distributed in the southeast coastal and inland areas of China, such as Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, and other places. The characteristics of soft soil layer mainly include high water content, high compressibility, high sensitivity, high clay content, low bearing capacity, low water permeability, low shear strength, and long consolidation time, that is, “four high, three low, and one long”. It mainly includes silt, muddy clay, muddy silt, and other strata.
Disentangling Deception: An Empirical Investigation of the Nature of Lying and Cheating

An individual lies if they misreport honestly generated information. They cheat if they create fraudulent information. The field of behavioral ethics has sought to investigate both types of ethical...
Ecophysio-optical traits of semiarid Nebraska grasslands under different Juniperus virginiana and Pinus ponderosa canopy covers

Abstract Despite conservation efforts in the U.S. Great Plains, woody species have continued to expand at an unprecedented rate, threatening key ecosystem services and resilience. Cross-scale monitoring of these grasslands is key to successful integrative management strategies. In this study we measured plant optical traits derived from hyperspectral proximal sensing techniques with a field spectrometer, coupled with field-based measurements, including fluorescence and chlorophyll content, to determine the impacts of Juniperus virginiana and Pinus ponderosa expansion on grasslands health in Nebraska Sandhills, and investigated the use of optical-based approaches as indicators of successful monitoring of grasslands. Our results showed that higher woody species cover in grasslands was associated with lower soil moisture, decline in forbs, shrubs, and grasses cover and productivity, as well as herbaceous chlorophyll content and fluorescence, compared to non-invaded grasslands. We derived 13 vegetation indices (VIs) from optical-based methods and validated them against traditional handheld measurements of plant ecophysiological traits and vegetation biomass and composition. VIs, including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Water Index (WI) and Chlorophyll Index at red edge (CIred edge) performed best when tested against biomass, and chlorophyll content and fluorescence (Fv/Fm), suggesting their potential use for assessing grasslands vegetation health. We demonstrate that optical-based approaches can serve as efficient non-invasive tools that can be part of multi-scale successful integrative management strategies.
Dynamic Shearing Resistance of an Energetic Material Simulant: Sucrose

Abstract Sucrose is a commonly used energetic material simulant for β -HMX. However, its behavior under extreme loading conditions remains poorly understood. Pressure-Shear Plate Impact (PSPI) experiments have been conducted to provide an experimental foundation for developing a suitable constitutive model for sucrose. Experiments have been performed at two different nominal normal stress values, 3 and 9.5 GPa, with nominal shear strain-rates of the order of 10 6 s − 1 . Sucrose exhibits a shear strength of ∼400-500 MPa in this pressure range, with a relatively small pressure sensitivity. However, pronounced strain softening is observed in sucrose at sufficiently large shear strains - even a dramatic drop in shearing resistance in some cases. A thermodynamically-consistent constitutive theory is presented to model the thermoelastic, thermo-viscoplastic response of sucrose. The use of the logarithmic strain and an appropriate set of invariants allows for separation of the Cauchy stress into pressure and deviatoric terms. A complete Mie-Gruneisen equation of state is presented to model the volumetric behavior while the deviatoric response is captured through the Johnson-Cook Model. The material model is able to capture experimental observations and predicts localization in the form of adiabatic shear bands, which explains the catastrophic drop in shearing resistance of sucrose observed in the experiments. Such localization events carry important implications for energetic materials in the context of hot-spot formation and underline the importance of dynamic shearing strength measurements.
Palliative care needs, concerns, and affirmative strategies for the LGBTQ population:

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning population, also known as sexual and gender minorities, are an incredibly marginalized and vulnerable population that have been disproportionately affected by the provision, delivery, and optimal access to high-quality medical care including palliative, hospice, and end-of-life care. The long-standing and unique experiences shaped by positive and negative historical events have led to a better understanding of significant barriers and gaps in equitable healthcare for this population. The intersection of both internal and external stressors as well as minority identities in the context of discriminatory political and societal infrastructures have resulted in variable health outcomes that continues to be plagued by economic barriers, oppressive legislative policies, and undesirable societal practices. It could not be more urgent and timely to call upon the government and healthcare systems at large to execute reforms in policies and regulations, engage in cultural competency training, and promote cultural shifts in beliefs, attitudes, and practices that will ultimately recognize, prioritize, and address the needs of this population. After all, health care access is a universal right regardless of personal, social, political, and economic determinants of comprehensive medical care.
The Hair Cell Analysis Toolbox: A machine learning-based whole cochlea analysis pipeline

Auditory hair cells, the whole length of the cochlea, are routinely visualized using light microscopy techniques. It is common, therefore, for one to collect more data than is practical to analyze manually. There are currently no widely accepted tools for unsupervised, unbiased, and comprehensive analysis of cells in an entire cochlea. This represents a stark gap between image-based data and other tests of cochlear function. To close this gap, we present a machine learning-based hair cell analysis toolbox, for the analysis of whole cochleae, imaged with confocal microscopy. The software presented here allows the automation of common image analysis tasks such as counting hair cells, determining their best frequency, as well as quantifying single cell immunofluorescence intensities along the entire cochlear coil. We hope these automated tools will remove a considerable barrier in cochlear image analysis, allowing for more informative and less selective data analysis practices.
Automotive Safety, Anatomy, Injury, Testing, and Regulation

The increasing importance of safety performance in all aspects of motor vehicle design, development, manufacture and marketing makes it necessary for professionals working in these areas to be more aware of safety considerations. The background material and concepts presented in this book will be useful as a basis to aid in the understanding of future developments in this fascinating area.
Can Public Policy Influence Private Innovation

Private innovation appears to have played a major if not dominant role in the growth of output per capita since the Industrial Revolution. Yet economic theory indicates that the level of investment in private innovation will generally be less than is socially optimal unless public policies such as patents encourage additional investment. Therefore, public innovation policy would seem to be critical to economic growth. Surprisingly, a large body of research fails to find unambiguously positive effects of patents on innovation and economic growth, even though patents have been used for hundreds of years. While some industries in some nations clearly benefit from patents, many other industries do not and patents might actually discourage innovation in some industries. Economic theory has provided valuable insights, yet real-world policy apparently needs to reflect a richer set of behavior and a more complex legal environment. New research is developing a more nuanced understanding including research on alternative means of providing rewards to innovators, research on the costs of litigation and disputes arising from the failure of patents to provide clear boundaries, research on cumulative innovation and strategic uses of large blocks of patents, and research on the extension of patent coverage to new technologies and to developing nations. In addition, major new sources of data permit much more extensive empirical research. Keywords: innovation; invention; technology; patents
Does Requiring a Technology Course in Preservice Teacher Education Affect Student Teacher’s Technology Use in the Classroom?

AbstractIn this article, we discuss findings of a preliminary study of preservice teacher education students taking a technology course in fall 1999 and serving as student teachers in spring 2000. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of this required one-semester technology course on reported attitudes toward, self-efficacy with, and use of technology by elementary preservice educators at a university in the southwestern United States. The study informed us in many ways, some of which were disappointing but enlightening. From this study, we determined that one undergraduate technology course does not necessarily cause student teachers to use technology in their curriculum. Perhaps an investigation of this kind should also look at new teachers in the first year of their careers for demonstration of technology use from their teacher education program.
Optical Properties of Liquids in the Vacuum UV

One of the most rapidly developing fields of physics in the last decade has been the study of solids in the vacuum ultraviolet spectral region, that is, the wavelength region between 400 angstroms and 2,000 angstroms or between 30 eV and 6 eV photon energies. Reflection and transmission studies have revealed the properties of many metals, semi-conductors, and insulators and in some cases rather complete band-structure models have been invoked to explain these properties.
The role of overwash in the evolution of mixing zone morphology within barrier islands

Overwash is a major controlling factor in the morphology of the mixing zone of coastal aquifers. Conceptual models of the mixing zone describe an interface controlled by tidal oscillations, wave run-up, and other factors; however, few describe the influence of large storm events. In August 1993, Hatteras Island, North Carolina, USA, experienced a 3-m storm surge due to Hurricane Emily. Sound-side flooding infiltrated a wellfield, causing a dramatic increase in TDS levels that persisted for more than 3 years. Two-dimensional simulations with SUTRA, the USGS finite-element model, are calibrated to the TDS breakthrough data of this storm to infer model dispersivity values. Simulations using the calibrated dispersivity values, predicted flooding levels, and 54 years of hurricane records to determine the influence of the overwash events suggest that it is rare for the mixing zone to approximate the conceptual morphology. Even during quiescent periods such as between 1965 and 1975, TDS levels do not return to theoretical levels before being elevated by a subsequent storm event. Thus, while tidal oscillations and other factors are important to mixing zone development, basic wind events and more severe storm events may have more influence and lasting effect on the morphology of the mixing zone.
G protein regulation of phospholipase C activity in a membrane-solubilized system occurs through a Mg2(+)- and time-dependent mechanism.

GTP-binding proteins have been implicated to function as key transducing elements in the mechanism underlying receptor activation of a membrane-associated phospholipase C activity. In the present study, the regulation of phospholipase C activity by GTP-binding proteins has been characterized in a detergent-solubilized system derived from bovine brain membranes. Guanosine-5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP-gamma-S) and guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) stimulated a dose-dependent increase in phospholipase C activity with half-maximal activation at 0.6 microM and 10 microM, respectively. The maximal degree of stimulation due to Gpp(NH)p or GTP-gamma-S was comparable. 100 microM GTP had only a slight stimulatory effect on phospholipase C activity. Adenine nucleotides, 100 microM adenylyl-imidodiphosphate and ATP, did not stimulate phospholipase C activity, indicating that specific guanine nucleotide-dependent regulation of phospholipase C activity was preserved in the solubilized state. Gpp(NH)p or GTP-gamma-S stimulation of phospholipase C activity was time-dependent and required Mg2+.Mg2+ regulated the time course for activation of phospholipase C by guanine nucleotides and the ability of guanine nucleotides to promote an increase in the Ca2+ sensitivity of phospholipase C. 200 microM GDP-beta-S or 5 mM EDTA rapidly reversed the activation due to GTP-gamma-S or Gpp(NH)p. These findings demonstrate that G protein regulation of phospholipase C activity in a bovine brain membrane- solubilized system occurs through a Mg2+ and time-dependent mechanism. Activation is readily reversible upon addition of excess GDP-beta-S or removal of Mg2+.
Cognitive Control (Executive Function): Role of Prefrontal Cortex

Cognitive control is the ability to direct mental function and behavior in accord with internally represented intentions or goals. This ability is fundamental to all higher cognitive faculties, such as language, reasoning, problem solving, and social behavior. While this ability no doubt relies on interactions between many areas of the brain, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, neuroimaging, and neural network modeling studies all indicate strongly that the prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in cognitive control. This article reviews these findings briefly, and suggests that the prefrontal cortex executes control by guiding the flow of neural activity along pathways in other parts of the brain responsible for performing an intended task.
On-Chip Memory Management for Embedded MpSoC Architectures Based on Data Compression

One must be very careful in utilizing the available on-chip memory space in embedded MpSoC architectures, which may be very challenging due to data sharing among processors. This paper proposes and evaluates an on-chip memory space management strategy based on data compression. The proposed strategy first uses a compiler analysis that reveals the order in which different data blocks are required by the application. After that, it builds an integer linear programming based representation of the on-chip memory space management problem, and solves it using a publicly-available integer linear programming tool. The solution gives the optimum order in which data blocks should be compressed and decompressed to minimize execution cycles or energy consumption under an on-chip memory capacity limit
Integrating operational specification and performance modeling for digital-system design

While evolving from an abstract concept into a detailed implementation, the design of a complex digital system proceeds through different design stages. Due to lack of effective communication of design intent among these stages, errors are introduced in the product. Early detection of such errors is crucial for increasing robustness and reducing design costs of the final product. To facilitate early detection, a design methodology must support model continuity. Model continuity comprises three subproblems: (1) Complementary modeling: modeling different aspects of the system under design in different modeling domains concurrently, (2) Back annotation: incorporating design details obtained during later stages back into the models developed during earlier stages, and (3) Conformance checking: ensuring conformance of models across various design stages. We address the problem of model continuity in the context of reactive systems through the integration of operational specification and performance models. Complementary modeling is supported through integrated simulation of the two models. Both models execute concurrently, exchanging data and simulation stimuli with each other. Back annotation is supported through a novel technique, called performance annotation. This technique allows the dynamic incorporation of delay-related information in an implementation-independent manner from a concurrently executing performance model. Finally, conformance checking is performed by a simulation-based algorithm. Similar to the comparison-checking technique found in the context of software design diversity, this algorithm checks the operational-specification and performance models by comparing their output sequences against each other. However, we also address situations when the output sequences can be quite different even if the models conform, and prove that the algorithm correctly determines all conformance violations, under certain design assumptions, during a simulation session. Integration of operational specification and performance models gives rise to a novel design methodology. Starting from an operational specification, the designer proposes an implementation in an incremental and iteratively-refined manner. Using this methodology, we demonstrate how one can validate an implementation against its specification, remove ambiguities in the original specification, and obtain very early performance estimates for a system under design.
Open-loop power control error on a frequency selective CDMA channel

In order to combat shadowing and distance losses in a land mobile satellite system, an adaptive power control (APC) scheme is essential. Such a scheme, implemented on the uplink, ensures that all users' signals arrive at the base station with equal average power as they move within the satellite spot beam. Because of the lengthy round-trip delay on a satellite link, closed-loop power control systems are only of marginal benefit. Therefore, an open-loop APC scheme is proposed to counteract the effects of shadowing on a frequency-selective multipath fading channel. The power control scheme has been simulated. It has been found that the power control error can be approximated by a log-normally distributed random variable. To quantify the performance of the APC, the standard deviation of the power control error in decibels is presented as a function of the measurement time and vehicle velocity.
The early ISM and galaxy formation

I review current ideas about galaxy formation, concentrating on when and how it occurred, and what it might look like. As theoretical ideas have been refined, it has become clear that galaxy formation may be both less spectacular and more recent than originally predicted. Nevertheless, all theoretical predictions for the appearance of young galaxies should be treated with caution. There is enormous latitude in predictions of their redshifts, their morphology, their star formation rates, the relevant stellar initial mass functions, and the extent to which their spectra are affected by radiative reprocessing. One might hope to clarify some of these questions by appealing to observations of analogous processes in nearby objects, but the situation is still murky. Current observations of distant objects do seem to have detected the formation of a major component of galaxies. Galaxy formation has become an observational and rapidly developing science. I suggest how these data may be interpreted within the Cold Dark Matter theory for the origin of structure.
Field characterization of hydraulic conductivity in a heterogeneous alpine glacial till

Summary Three different measurement techniques (a mini-disk infiltrometer, a double-ring infiltrometer, and a Guelph permeameter) were used to characterize the saturated hydraulic conductivity of an alpine glacial till in the Rocky Mountains of southern Wyoming, USA. Measurements from 32 locations reveal significant spatial heterogeneity. The hydraulic conductivity varies over two orders of magnitude from approximately 0.05–5 m/d. Along with natural variability throughout the study area, the results also indicate that the estimated hydraulic conductivity is dependent on measurement technique. Compared to the mini-disk infiltrometer, hydraulic conductivities are consistently higher for the double-ring infiltrometer and Guelph permeameter. By considering surface–subsurface hydrologic response during snowmelt, we demonstrate the importance of accurately characterizing the hydraulic conductivity. A model parameterized with a low hydraulic conductivity underestimates the rate of shallow groundwater flow, suggesting that the subsurface saturated zone may not be able to accommodate all of the snowmelt-derived recharge. Saturation-excess overland flow is predicted as a result. These findings have important implications for integrated hydrologic assessments focused on understanding water flows in glaciated alpine watersheds.
The Auction Value of Certain Risky Situations

(1960). The Auction Value of Certain Risky Situations. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 167-179.
Shape analysis based on depth-ordering

In this paper we propose a new method for shape analysis based on the ordering of shapes using band-depth. We use this band-depth to non-parametrically define a global depth for a shape with respect to a reference population, typically consisting of normal control subjects. This allows us to globally quantify differences with respect to “normality”. Using the depth-ordering of shapes also allows the detection of localized shape differences by using α-central values of shapes. We propose permutation tests to statistically assess global and local shape differences. We further determine the directionality of shape differences (local inflation versus deflation). The method is evaluated on a synthetically generated striatum dataset, and applied to detect shape differences in the hippocampus between subjects with first-episode schizophrenia and normal controls.