Color-form preferences and efficiency in problem solving

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityAlthough assumptions regarding form and color on the Rorschach test constitute one of the main bulwarks of Rorschach personality theory, they have not been subjected to close experimental scrutiny. Several investigators have attempted in recent years to relate form and color determinants on the Rorschach test to selected measures of personality and behavior. However, the propriety of using the Rorschach test as the instrument to validate one or more of its own determinants is open to question. The purpose of this study was to provide an experimental examination of performance efficiency in a problem-solving situation as a function of the preference for form or color perception. A review of the literature with respect to color-form perception indicated a general agreement that form preference is closely associated with mental activity whereas preference for color is related to emotional and conative modes of behavior. From the nature of these relationships it was hypothesized that a person's perceptual preferences will indicate his mode of approach in a problem-solving situation. [TRUNCATED

Navigating the MeldC

This manual covers not only MeldC keywords, syntax, and currently, implemented features, but also a simple (and, one hopes, painless) introduction to some areas of computer science research that spurred creation of the language. This approach was taken so that readers who are not familiar with the peculiarities of operating systems theory, the object-oriented programming paradigm, and network communication might gain a quick overview of those subjects and be able to better appreciate MeldC‘s features. For the sake of style, these overviews are knitted into the discussions of keywords and syntax, so more educated readers be forewarned

Book reviews

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44327/1/10597_2005_Article_BF01434735.pd

Advances in the Epidemiological Study of Oral-Facial Diseases

Both demographic patterns and disease distribution are changing rapidly in the United States. These developments have led to the recognition that the epidemiology of many conditions is poorly understood, and that other research has thus been hindered. Four areas of epidemiological study were chosen for detailed analysis of how new technology will affect the conduct of future research. These areas, selected because information about them will be increasingly needed in an aging society, were periodontitis, temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and other orofacial pain, salivary gland disturbances, and health services research. The potential effect of new technology was examined in the short, intermediate, and long term. While the nature of epidemiological study is unlikely to change with the advent of new technology, the scope of potential studies will become broader. Advances in diagnostic techniques from elsewhere will permit far more precise diagnosis than is possible at present. Computer technology will permit an efficient system of epidemiological surveillance to provide current data on trends in tooth loss, caries, and periodontitis—data which will complement the results of national surveys. Analytical studies to produce hypotheses on the etiology of oral conditions, especially in such poorly-understood areas as chronic pain and TMD, will help direct clinical research in those areas.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66664/2/10.1177_08959374890030010301.pd

The immune response of the human brain to abdominal surgery

ObjectiveSurgery launches a systemic inflammatory reaction that reaches the brain and associates with immune activation and cognitive decline. Although preclinical studies have in part described this systemic-to-brain signaling pathway, we lack information on how these changes appear in humans. This study examines the short- and long-term impact of abdominal surgery on the human brain immune system by positron emission tomography (PET) in relation to blood immune reactivity, plasma inflammatory biomarkers, and cognitive function.MethodsEight males undergoing prostatectomy under general anesthesia were included. Prior to surgery (baseline), at postoperative days 3 to 4, and after 3 months, patients were examined using [11 C]PBR28 brain PET imaging to assess brain immune cell activation. Concurrently, systemic inflammatory biomarkers, ex vivo blood tests on immunoreactivity to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, and cognitive function were assessed.ResultsPatients showed a global downregulation of gray matter [11 C]PBR28 binding of 26 ± 26% (mean ± standard deviation) at 3 to 4 days postoperatively compared to baseline (p = 0.023), recovering or even increasing after 3 months. LPS-induced release of the proinflammatory marker tumor necrosis factor-α in blood displayed a reduction (41 ± 39%) on the 3rd to 4th postoperative day, corresponding to changes in [11 C]PBR28 distribution volume. Change in Stroop Color-Word Test performance between postoperative days 3 to 4 and 3 months correlated to change in [11 C]PBR28 binding (p = 0.027).InterpretationThis study translates preclinical data on changes in the brain immune system after surgery to humans, and suggests an interplay between the human brain and the inflammatory response of the peripheral innate immune system. These findings may be related to postsurgical impairments of cognitive function. Ann Neurol 2017;81:572-582

Patient-Reported oral health outcome measurement for children and adolescents

BACKGROUND: Oral health is an important component of daily functioning and well-being. A comprehensive patient-reported oral health measure is needed to gauge the impact of oral health status on children and adolescents. This study aims to develop oral health item banks and associated short-form surveys for children and adolescents 2–17 year olds. METHODS: Using children and adolescents, ages 2–17 years, selected from diverse dental sites in Greater Los Angeles Area, we propose to develop state-of-the-science methods to create oral health item banks to effectively measure oral health outcomes for children and adolescents. Methods include a literature review of existing measures, focus groups, cognitive interviews, drafting and field testing of survey items, and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the measures. RESULTS: Based on the systematic literature search and focus groups, we identified core (physical health, mental health, and social function domains) and peripheral (e.g., need and access) oral health domains. We then drafted survey items and revised them based on 66 cognitive interviews (27 children/adolescents and 39 parents) with 39 families. The revised items will be administered in a field test of 500 children and adolescents ages 2–17, and their parents. CONCLUSIONS: The qualitative methods used in the initial phases of the project (focus group and cognitive interviews) are the initial steps in the development of oral health item banks and associated short-form surveys for children and adolescents. The oral health items can potentially be used to create effective computerized adaptive test and/or create ad hoc short forms targeting specific areas of oral health to survey large populations of children with much less cost compared with traditional clinical oral health examination

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERIZATION OF POOL BOILING ON INNOVATIVE FOAMS AND MICRO STRUCTURED SURFACES - APPLICATION TO DIRECT IMMERSION COOLING OF ELECTRONICS

This thesis is an experimental investigation of the thermal performance during boiling on copper foam and copper-finned microstructures as a thermosyphon evaporator. Copper foam is an open-celled porous media with interconnected copper ligaments of thermal conductivity up to 1.51 W/(cm2K). The high thermal conductivity of this type of copper foam allows heat to rapidly spread through the foam causing widespread boiling. The boiling allows large transfers of energy from the heater (the source) to the working fluid (sink) with a low temperature difference between the heated surface and the working fluid. The thermal performance of the copper foams was investigated as a function of parametric values of foam height, pore density (pores per inch - PPI), and porosity. Data showed the pore density and porosity of the foam significantly affected heat transfer by changing the pore sizes and ligament sizes while thickness in the range of 1 to 5 mm had little effect on thermal performance. Surface tension is shown by dimensionless analysis to be the dominating force within the foam. The data also indicated the heat transfer coefficient for boiling HFE-7100 from copper foam ranged from 2,000 to 9,000 W/(m2K). The copper foams provided significant heat transfer from the source. For example, copper foams provided heat loads up to 70 W/cm2 at 90 oC superheat. The second set of experiments in the present study involved testing of micro-finned structures. For such surfaces the important parameters we paid attention to were fin density (fins per inch) and aspect ratio (ratio of channel height to channel width) of the copper-finned microstructures. The data showed that aspect ratio and fin density substantially affect heat transfer performance through different channel cross-section sizes. The heat transfer provided by the micro-finned structures was substantially enhanced. For example, copper-finned microstructures provided heat loads up to 43 W/cm2 at 20 oC superheat. In this thesis, many chapters will discuss the reasoning behind this study and the results of it. The first chapter will cover the motivation and background information for this work. The next chapter discusses the experimental setup and how the results were obtained. The third chapter will review the results of the copper foams and discuss the cause of the results. The fourth chapter discusses the thermal performance of micro-finned structures. Finally, the conclusions of this study and suggested future work will be presented in the last chapter

Going public for small corporations : a service company examined

"The objective of this report ... is to isolate the major factors that must be considered before a small service organization should venture into the public market. The first three chapters will primarily consist of a survey of the literature in which a summary of the existing theory will appear. This survey will attempt to emphasize the important characteristics of the entrepreneur, his business and the markets that hold the most promise for him. Also, the various methods of public offerings will be examined and their inherent advantages and disadvantages discussed. The fourth and fifth chapters will present a case study in which a real-world application of these principles will take place. First the industry in general will be discussed. Then, the Associated Building Services Company will be examined and evaluated using the criteria derived from the literature. The information sources will therefore be primary ones--interviews with company owners, accountants, lawyers, etc."--From Introduction.Business Administratio