Children's basic memory processes, stress and maltreatment

Building upon methods and research utilized with normative populations, we examine extant assumptions regarding the effects of child maltreatment on memory. The effects of stress on basic memory processes is examined, and potential neurobiological changes relevant to memory development are examined. The impact of maltreatment-related sequelae (including dissociation and depression) on basic memory processes as well as false memories and suggestibility are also outlined. Although there is a clear need for additional research, the investigations that do exist reveal that maltreated children's basic memory processes are not reliably different from that of other, nonmaltreated children

A Search for Planets Transiting the M Dwarf Debris Disk Host, AU Microscopii

We present high cadence, high precision multi-band photometry of the young, M1Ve, debris disk star, AU Microscopii. The data were obtained in three continuum filters spanning a wavelength range from 4500\AA to 6600\AA, plus H$\alpha$, over 28 nights in 2005. The lightcurves show intrinsic stellar variability due to starspots with an amplitude in the blue band of 0.051 magnitudes and a period of 4.847 days. In addition, three large flares were detected in the data which all occur near the minimum brightness of the star. We remove the intrinsic stellar variability and combine the lightcurves of all the filters in order to search for transits by possible planetary companions orbiting in the plane of the nearly edge-on debris disk. The combined final lightcurve has a sampling of 0.35 minutes and a standard deviation of 6.8 millimags (mmag). We performed Monte Carlo simulations by adding fake transits to the observed lightcurve and find with 95% significance that there are no Jupiter mass planets orbiting in the plane of the debris disk on circular orbits with periods, P $\le 5$ days. In addition, there are no young Neptune-like planets (with radii 2.5$\times$ smaller than the young Jupiter) on circular orbits with periods, P $\le 3$ days.Comment: accepted to MNRA

Temporally Asymmetric Fluctuations are Sufficient for the Operation of a Correlation Ratchet

It has been shown that the combination of a broken spatial symmetry in the potential (or ratchet potential) and time correlations in the driving are crucial, and enough to allow transformation of the fluctuations into work. The required broken spatial symmetry implies a specific molecular arrangement of the proteins involved. Here we show that a broken spatial symmetry is not required, and that temporally asymmetric fluctuations (with mean zero) can be used to do work, even when the ratchet potential is completely symmetric. Temporal asymmetry, defined as a lack of invariance of the statistical properties under the operation to temporal inversion, is a generic property of nonequilibrium fluctuation, and should therefore be expected to be quite common in biological systems.Comment: 17 pages, ps figures on request, LaTeX Article Forma

Community Extension Programs in a Small Suburban Community: Its Impact and Basis for Institutional Sustainability and Support

In order to assess the value and effects of an implemented institutional extension program, it needs to be evaluated after some time. This study aims to investigate the level of program outputs and impacts of programs in an adopted community of a local college. It also attempts to discover the relationship between the level of program outputs and the impacts of the programs economically and socially. The investigators used a descriptive-correlation research design among conveniently selected respondents in a small suburban community for the survey. This study also adapted and modified an instrument and used SPSS 23 for the statistical calculation of the study. The investigation revealed that all of the community extension program outputs by the institution got "very satisfactory" remarks from the respondents. As for the economic and social impact of the programs of the community extension services, it also obtained a "very satisfactory" response. Statistical inferences also revealed a moderate positive correlation between program outputs' level with the program's economic and social impact and the community extension services. The investigators provided relevant recommendations for sustainability and support based on the study results

Parallel Ant Colony Optimization on the University Course-Faculty Timetabling Problem in MSU-IIT Distributed Application in Erlang/OTP

The University Course-Faculty Timetabling Problem (UCFTP) occurs in the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) as the delegation of classrooms for available subjects including time schedule and appropriate faculty personnel, taking into consideration constraints such as classroom capacities, location, and faculty preferences, etc. It is a more difficult variant of the classical University Course Timetabling Problem, which is an assignment problem and known to be NP-hard. This paper presents parallel Ant Colony Optimization Max-Min Ant System (ACO-MMAS) algorithm as an approach in solving the UCFTP instance in the institute. ACO employs virtual ants moving across a search space and using an indirect form of constructive feedback by depositing pheromones on the paths they traverse in order to influence other ants in their searches. We have developed an application to automate the timetabling process using Erlang/OTP, a functional language specializing in concurrent and distributed systems. UCFTP was successfully represented into a mathematical problem instance and solved using the ACO-MMAS algorithm applied on a distributed network setup under Parallel Independent Run and Unidirectional Ring topologies. Extensive testing was performed to properly analyze the search behavior under different parameter settings

Use of the D-R Model to Define Trends in the Emergence of Ceftazidime-Resistant Escherichia coli in China

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of the D-R model for defining trends in the appearance of Ceftazidime-resistant Escherichia coli. METHODS: Actual data related to the manifestation of Ceftazidime-resistant E. coli spanning years 1996-2009 were collected from the China National Knowledge Internet. These data originated from 430 publications encompassing 1004 citations of resistance. The GM(1,1) and the novel D-R models were used to fit current data and from this, predict trends in the appearance of the drug-resistant phenotype. The results were evaluated by Relative Standard Error (RSE), Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). RESULTS: Results from the D-R model showed a rapid increase in the appearance of Ceftazidime-resistant E. coli in this region of the world. These results were considered accurate based upon the minor values calculated for RSE, MAD and MAE, and were equivalent to or better than those generated by the GM(1,1) model. CONCLUSION: The D-R model which was originally created to define trends in the transmission of swine viral diseases can be adapted to evaluating trends in the appearance of Ceftazidime-resistant E. coli. Using only a limited amount of data to initiate the study, our predictions closely mirrored the changes in drug resistance rates which showed a steady increase through 2005, a decrease between 2005 and 2008, and a dramatic inflection point and abrupt increase beginning in 2008. This is consistent with a resistance profile where changes in drug intervention temporarily delayed the upward trend in the appearance of the resistant phenotype; however, resistance quickly resumed its upward momentum in 2008 and this change was better predicted using the D-R model. Additional work is needed to determine if this pattern of "increase-control-increase" is indicative of Ceftazidime-resistant E. coli or can be generally ascribed to bacteria acquiring resistance to drugs in the absence of alternative intervention

Extending gravitational wave extraction using Weyl characteristic fields

We present a detailed methodology for extracting the full set of Newman-Penrose Weyl scalars from numerically generated spacetimes without requiring a tetrad that is completely orthonormal or perfectly aligned to the principal null directions. We also describe how to implement an extrapolation technique for computing the Weyl scalars’ contribution at asymptotic null infinity in postprocessing. These methods have been used to produce Ψ₄ and ℎ waveforms for the Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes (SXS) waveform catalog and now have been expanded to produce the entire set of Weyl scalars. These new waveform quantities are critical for the future of gravitational wave astronomy in order to understand the finite-amplitude gauge differences that can occur in numerical waveforms. We also present a new analysis of the accuracy of waveforms produced by the Spectral Einstein Code. While ultimately we expect Cauchy characteristic extraction to yield more accurate waveforms, the extraction techniques described here are far easier to implement and have already proven to be a viable way to produce production-level waveforms that can meet the demands of current gravitational-wave detectors