Equity Crowdfunding under the JOBS Act and SEC Proposed Rules: an Ineffective Compromise

Article published in the Michigan State University School of Law Student Scholarship Collection

Regression and Classification for Direction-of-Arrival Estimation with Convolutional Recurrent Neural Networks

We present a novel learning-based approach to estimate the direction-of-arrival (DOA) of a sound source using a convolutional recurrent neural network (CRNN) trained via regression on synthetic data and Cartesian labels. We also describe an improved method to generate synthetic data to train the neural network using state-of-the-art sound propagation algorithms that model specular as well as diffuse reflections of sound. We compare our model against three other CRNNs trained using different formulations of the same problem: classification on categorical labels, and regression on spherical coordinate labels. In practice, our model achieves up to 43% decrease in angular error over prior methods. The use of diffuse reflection results in 34% and 41% reduction in angular prediction errors on LOCATA and SOFA datasets, respectively, over prior methods based on image-source methods. Our method results in an additional 3% error reduction over prior schemes that use classification based networks, and we use 36% fewer network parameters

Men’s experiences of female-perpetrated intimate partner violence: A qualitative exploration

The subject of female-perpetuated intimate partner violence (IPV) against men has been one of controversy, with well-rehearsed arguments surrounding both the nature and existence of female-perpetrated abuse against men. This experiential research study explored the experiences of 23 men who self-identified as having experienced female-perpetrated IPV. Semi-structured interviews explored the men’s experiences of both physical and emotional abuse, as well as barriers to leaving their abusive relationship(s), and their experiences of seeking help. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that the men’s experience of being in an abusive relationship was traumatic and had a negative impact on both their physical and psychological well-being. The importance of maintaining a sense of masculinity consistently underpinned the men’s narratives. Some participants described feeling shame and embarrassment for not having met dominant cultural expectations surrounding the roles of men in heterosexual relationships. Frequently the participants reported that a fear of being judged or not being believed was a significant barrier to seeking help. The lack of recognition and understanding of male IPV within society was of concern to most of the men. Some participants outlined a desire to use their own experiences in order to help other men in abusive relationships. These findings offer important implications for understanding IPV against men and developing enhanced sources of support

A Heart Artificial: Building the Foundation for the Development and Maintenance of In Vitro Tissue Mimetic Cardiovascular Models

Given the prevalence of cardiovascular disorders and the distinct lack of significant repair mechanisms within cardiovascular systems, effective therapy for long-term treatment of cardiovascular degeneration remains a significant challenge. Further, the fundamental importance of such systems to all mammalian life begs the development of realistic component structures for in vitro assessment. Significant effort was expended to create in vitro models which mimicked a subset of structure and function of coordinate native components within cardiovascular systems. Towards this end, we developed a 3D-Artificial Heart Muscle (AHM) model utilizing fibrin gel and neonatal cardiac myocytes. We extracted functional metrics in order to probe the optimal protocol for generation of the tissue model. Building on the outcome of this experiment, we applied the optimal 3D-AHM model to a decellularized adult rat heart in order to re-append function to a complex acellular scaffold. The resultant bioartifical heart (BAH) model was assessed to identify the efficacy of 3D-AHM as a functional delivery mechanism and to lay a framework for heart model development. An alternative strategy for the generation of 3D heart muscle was explored through magnetic levitation of cardiovascular cells. Magnetic sensitivity was appended to cells through incubation with ferromagnetic nanoparticles. The cells were then levitated and cultured within a magnetic field to form 3D multicellular aggregates. (MCAs) We utilized a magnetized fibrin gel scaffold in order to apply non-contact, magnetic stretch conditioning to our AHM model through a novel bioreactor system. We were able to develop a highly functional 3D-AHM and extracted 4M cells as the optimal concentration for the generation of our artificial heart muscle. Application of a layer of 3D-AHM to an acellular rat heart proved the 3D-AHM an effective mechanism for delivery of a subset of function to a structure. Magnetic levitation generated hundreds of cell-dense, functional and phenotypically relevant heart muscle analogs. We have developed a completely novel system for the application of mechanical stretch conditioning to artificial heart muscle models and are working to implement more complex conditioning systems. The work presented herein surveys the generation of 3 unique cardiovascular model systems and a novel method for model conditioning.Biomedical Engineering, Department o

How Irish Political Parties are Using Social Networking Sites to Reach Generation Z: an Insight into a New Online Social Network in a Small Democracy

This study, using in-depth interviews and focus groups, examines perceptions of social networking sites as a means of communicating with Generation Z, from the perspectives of the major Irish political parties using these online resources and the perspective of their young target audience. There are two research questions: (1) How do political parties perceive social networking sites’ role in communicating with Generation Z? and (2) How do members of Generation Z perceive social networking sites’ role in communicating with political parties

Helmet Use Among Outdoor Recreational Rock Climbers Across Disciplines: Factors of Use and Non-use.

The use of helmets in outdoor recreational rock climbing is a risk management practice meant to offer some protection to climbers in the event of falls and falling objects. Helmets are used inconsistently across many disciplines of rock climbing including top-rope, sport lead, traditional lead and belay. Though climbing accidents involving head injuries are rare, many tend to be severe. The purpose of this study was to assess the rate at which helmets are being used, discover the most significant personal and environmental factors that influence use and non-use and differences between disciplines. The study surveys (N = 1481) climbers across the U.S. regarding their helmet use as well as human and environmental factors in their perceptions of risk. Major findings include helmet use rates (on a 1-5 likert scale [1] never [5] always) for disciplines of top-rope (M = 2.71), sport lead (M = 3.41) and traditional lead (M = 4.16) with corresponding belays means slightly lower in sport and traditional lead. Major factors influencing helmet use includes slope, difficulty, rock quality, attitudes, values and beliefs, peer influence, training, learning venue, age and experience. Significant differences in groups based on discipline are found for every influencing factor. All groups generally report helmet use levels that correspond to the relative hazard and risk levels associated with each discipline of climbing. The results can be used to inform current climbing culture, marketing strategies, education, peer mentoring and above all personal risk management practices of climbers. Recommendations are made against mandatory helmet use policy and in favor of increased education, qualified instruction and situational awareness

How well do high resolution models reproduce tropical convection?

Cascade is a multi-institution project studying the temporal and spatial organization of tropical convective systems. While cloud resolving numerical models can reproduce the observed diurnal cycle of such systems they are sensitive to the chosen resolution. As part of this effort, we are comparing results from the Met. Office Unified Model to data from the Global Earth Radiation Budget satellite instrument over the African Monsoon Interdisciplinary Analyses region of North Africa. We use a variety of mathematical techniques to study the outgoing radiation and the evolution of properties such as the cloud size distribution. The effectiveness of various model resolutions is tested with a view to determining the optimum balance between resolution and the need to reproduce the observations

Laterality differences in memory and attention

A critical review of the auditory selective attention literature is presented, particular reference is made to methodological issues arising from the asymmetrical hemispheric representation of language in the context of the dominant research technique dichotic shadowing. Subsequently the concept of cerebral localization is introduced, and the experimental literature with reference to models of laterality effects in speech and audition discussed. The review indicated the importance of hemispheric asymmetries insofar as they might influence the results of dichotic shadowing tasks. It is suggested that there is a potential overlap between models of selective attention and hemispheric differences. In Experiment I, ~ a key experiment in auditory selective attention is replicated and by exercising control over possible laterality effects some of the conflicting results of earlier studies were reconciled. The three subsequent experiments, II, III and IV, are concerned with the recall of verbally shadowed inputs. A highly significant and consistent effect of ear of arrival upon the serial position of items recalled is reported. Experiment V is directed towards an analysis of the effect that the processing of unattended inputs has upon the serial position of attended items that are recalled. A significant effect of the type of unattended material upon the recall of attended items was found to be influenced by the ear of arrival of inputs. In Experiment VI, differences between the two ears as attended and unattended input channels were clarified. Two main conclusions were drawn from this work. First, that the dichotic shadowing technique cannot control attention. Instead the task aprocessing both channels of dichotic inputs is unevenly shared bet\'reen the hemispheres as a function of the ear shadowed. Consequently, evidence for the processing of unattended information is considered in terms of constraints imposed by asymmetries in the functional organization of language, not in terms of a limited processing capacity model. The second conclusion to be drawn is that laterality differences can be effectively examined using the dichotic shadowing technique, a new model of laterality differences is proposed and discussed

Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms among primary school children in Nigeria: a comparison of teachers and parent reports

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neuro-behavioral disorders of childhood.Though ADHD is the most extensively studied neuro-behavioral disorder in childhood, its prevalence rate has not been documented in our environment. Aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence and subtypes of ADHD among primary school pupils living in Ikot-Ekpene, a semi-urban area in Nigeria’s rainforest.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 1174 primary school pupils aged 6-12 years selected from twelve primary schools in Ikot Ekpene local government area of Akwa Ibom state. The Vanderbilt rating scale for both teachers and parents were administered by teachers and parents of the pupils and the prevalence rate of ADHD was determined.Results:  One hundred and forty-six pupils met the rating scale criteria for probable ADHD using the teacher’s scale with a prevalence of 12.4%, while 8.5% met the criteria using the parent’s scale.  Of the three different subtypes of ADHD, the hyperactive subtype was the most prevalent subtype on both the teacher’s and parent’s scales (52.7% and 46% respectively). The inattentive subtype was 32.9% and 33.0% on the teachers and parents scale respectively. The combined subtype was the least prevalent on both scales.Conclusions: Prevalence rate of ADHD in children is significant in our environment. Policies should be put in place to implement the screening test for ADHD under the school health program for the early identification of pupils with ADHD