scholarly journals Fuzzy Spreadsheet: Understanding and Exploring Uncertainties in Tabular Calculations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaishali Dhanoa ◽  
Conny Walchshofer ◽  
Andreas Hinterreiter ◽  
Eduard Gröller ◽  
Marc Streit
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Mental Effort ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Budget Planning ◽  
Uncertainty Handling ◽  
Modeling Process ◽  
Distribution Of Values ◽  
A Cell ◽  
The Look ◽  
Almost All

Spreadsheet-based tools provide a simple yet effective way of calculating values, which makes them the number-one choice for building and formalizing simple models for budget planning and many other applications.A cell in a spreadsheet holds one specific value and gives a discrete, overprecise view of the underlying model. Therefore, spreadsheets are of limited use when investigating the immanent uncertainties of such models and answering what-if questions. Existing extensions typically require a complex modeling process that cannot be smoothly embedded in a tabular layout.In Fuzzy Spreadsheet, a cell can hold and display the distribution of values. This integrated uncertainty handling immediately conveys sensitivity and robustness information. The fuzzification of the cells enables calculations not only with precise values but with distributions, and probabilities. We conservatively added and carefully crafted visuals to maintain the look and feel of a traditional spreadsheet while facilitating what-if analyses.Given a user-specified reference cell, Fuzzy Spreadsheet automatically extracts and visualizes contextually relevant information, such as impact, uncertainty, and degree of neighborhood, for the selected and related cells.To evaluate its usability and the perceived mental effort required, we conducted a user study.The results show that our approach outperforms traditional spreadsheets in terms of answer correctness, response time, and perceived mental effort for almost all tasks tested.

scholarly journals The AWA1 Gene Is Required for the Foam-Forming Phenotype and Cell Surface Hydrophobicity of Sake Yeast

2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 2018-2025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitoshi Shimoi ◽  
Kazutoshi Sakamoto ◽  
Masaki Okuda ◽  
Ratchanee Atthi ◽  
Kazuhiro Iwashita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Alcoholic Beverage ◽  
Cell Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Characteristic Sequences ◽  
Foam Forming ◽  
Almost All

ABSTRACT Sake, a traditional alcoholic beverage in Japan, is brewed with sake yeasts, which are classified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Almost all sake yeasts form a thick foam layer on sake mash during the fermentation process because of their cell surface hydrophobicity, which increases the cells' affinity for bubbles. To reduce the amount of foam, nonfoaming mutants were bred from foaming sake yeasts. Nonfoaming mutants have hydrophilic cell surfaces and no affinity for bubbles. We have cloned a gene from a foam-forming sake yeast that confers foaming ability to a nonfoaming mutant. This gene was named AWA1 and structures of the gene and its product were analyzed. The N- and C-terminal regions of Awa1p have the characteristic sequences of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor protein. The entire protein is rich in serine and threonine residues and has a lot of repetitive sequences. These results suggest that Awa1p is localized in the cell wall. This was confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy and Western blotting analysis using hemagglutinin-tagged Awa1p. Moreover, an awa1 disruptant of sake yeast was hydrophilic and showed a nonfoaming phenotype in sake mash. We conclude that Awa1p is a cell wall protein and is required for the foam-forming phenotype and the cell surface hydrophobicity of sake yeast.

Three-Dimensional Microfabrication System for Biodegradable Microdevices With High-Resolution and Bio-Applicability

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Yamada ◽  
Fuminori Niikura ◽  
Koji Ikuta
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Biodegradable Polymers ◽  
Conventional Method ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Batch Process ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
A Cell ◽  
The One ◽  
Almost All

Biodegradable polymers are employed in medicine and its further application is expected with eagerness. But the lack of an appropriate processing method retards the progress. To overcome this problem, we have developped a novel three-dimensional microfabrication system. The system design allows us the processing of the free three-dimensional micro-level forms by stacking up melted polymers from the nozzle. Different from the conventional method, we adopted a batch process to supply materials in order to eliminate the prior process that required toxic solvents. In addition, it is possible to handle almost all biodegradable thermoplastic resins by adopting this system. A single layer from the piled-up layers of extruded lines was observed to evaluate the resolution. The lateral and depth resolutions attained are 40 μm and 45 μm, respectively. Biodegradable polymers enable three-dimensional microstructures such as micro-pipes, micro-bends, and micro-coil springs to be manufactured in less than 15 min. The biocompatibility of the newly fabricated structure was evaluated using a cell line (PC12). For this purpose, a small vessel, with a transparent base, was fabricated using PLA and cells were cultivated in it. The results were then compared with the results obtained using the standard method. The mechanical strength of our microstructures was evaluated using a tensile strength test. The tensile strength of the microstructure was lower than the one obtained from the conventional method, but has enough strength for fabrication of medical devices. Our system renders it possible to produce toxic-free, as well as transparent and leakage-free devices. Our system is expected to have potential applications in optimum design and fabrication of implantable devices, especially in tissue engineering.

scholarly journals Taxing the brain to uncover lying? Meta-analyzing the effect of imposing cognitive load on the reaction-time costs of lying

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Verschuere ◽  
Nils Köbis ◽  
yoella meyer ◽  
David Gertler Rand ◽  
Shaul Shalvi
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Response Time ◽  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Lie Detection ◽  
Mental Effort ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Truth Telling ◽  
Total N ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Brain

Lying typically requires greater mental effort than telling the truth. Imposing cognitive load may improve lie detection by limiting the cognitive resources needed to lie effectively, thereby increasing the difference in speed between truths and lies. We test this hypothesis meta-analytically. Across 21 studies using response-time (RT) paradigms (11 unpublished; total N = 792), we consistently found that truth telling was faster than lying, but found no evidence that imposing cognitive load increased that difference (Control, d = 1.45; Load, d = 1.28). Instead, load significantly decreased the lie-truth RT difference by increasing the RT of truths, g = -.18, p = .027. Our findings therefore suggest that imposing cognitive load does not necessarily improve RT-based lie detection, and may actually worsen it by taxing the mental system and thus impeding people’s ability to easily—and thus quickly—tell the truth

Abstract 14276: A Pediatric Cardiology Handbook for the Digital Age

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis Rochelson ◽  
Bradley C Clark ◽  
Kara Motonaga
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Cardiology ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Total N ◽  
Yield Information ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Almost All

Background: Pediatric cardiology (PC) fellows, tasked with studying a large and dynamic field, may benefit from a quick-access digital resource that reflects contemporary practice. Objective: To design a PC Handbook smartphone app and evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing the accessibility of information such as guidelines and treatment recommendations for PC fellows. Methods: The PC handbook app was designed for iPhone using XCode and Swift programming. A pre-app electronic survey and instructions for download were sent to U.S. PC fellows followed by a post-app survey within 3 months of use. Fellows were asked to rate the ease of rapid access to various types of information, such as guidelines and normal values, with responses given on a 4-point scale (1 = very difficult, 4 = very easy). Responses were compared pre- and post-app using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Two-hundred and thirty PC fellows were contacted; 23% (total n = 53) completed both the pre-app and post-app surveys and were included for analysis. Over half (57%) of fellows used the PC handbook app 1-3 times per month while 17% used it at least 1-3 times per week. After using the app, fellows found it easier to quickly access information in 8 out of 9 domains evaluated (Fig 1). All fellows found the app easy to use (100%), most felt that the app is well-organized (98%), contains reliable information (92%), and is useful for finding quick answers to clinical questions (87%). Almost all (91%) would recommend the app to a colleague. Conclusions: The Peds Cardiology Handbook iPhone app is a useful, reliable tool that provides quick access to high yield information, including various guidelines and references, in one location. Overall, PC fellows found it easier to rapidly access clinically relevant information after using the app, though future studies may be necessary to evaluate long-term use and impact on evidenced-based practice.

scholarly journals Practice Patterns in Urinary Cytopathology Prior to the Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology

2019 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Güliz A. Barkan ◽  
Z. Laura Tabatabai ◽  
Daniel F. I. Kurtycz ◽  
Vijayalakshmi Padmanabhan ◽  
Rhona J. Souers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Practice Patterns ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Urinary Cytology ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Preparation Techniques ◽  
Urine Specimens

Context.— The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology has been disseminated since its inception in 2013; however, the daily practice patterns of urinary tract cytopathology are not well known. Objective.— To assess urinary tract cytopathology practice patterns across a variety of pathology laboratories to aid in the implementation and future update of the Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology. Design.— A questionnaire was designed to gather information about urinary tract cytopathology practices and mailed in July 2014 to 2116 laboratories participating in the College of American Pathologists interlaboratory comparison program. The participating laboratories' answers were summarized. Results.— Of the 879 of 2116 laboratories (41%) that participated, 745 (84.8%) reported processing urinary tract specimens in house. The laboratories reported processing various specimen types: voided urine, 735 of 738 (99.6%); bladder washing/barbotage, 639 of 738 (86.6%); and catheterized urine specimens, 653 of 738 (88.5%). Some laboratories used multiple preparation methods, but the most commonly used preparation techniques for urinary tract specimens were ThinPrep (57.4%) and Cytospin (45.5%). Eighty-eight of 197 laboratories (44.7%) reported preparing a cell block, but with a low frequency. Adequacy criteria were used by 295 of 707 laboratories (41.7%) for voided urine, and 244 of 707 (34.5%) assessed adequacy for bladder washing/barbotage. More than 95% of the laboratories reported the use of general categories: negative, atypical, suspicious, and positive. Polyomavirus was classified as negative in 408 of 642 laboratories (63.6%) and atypical in 189 of 642 (29.4%). One hundred twenty-eight of 708 laboratories (18.1%) performed ancillary testing, and of these, 102 of 122 (83.6%) reported performing UroVysion. Conclusions.— Most laboratories use the ThinPrep method followed by the Cytospin technique; therefore, the criteria published in The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology, based mostly on ThinPrep and SurePath, should be validated for Cytospin, and relevant information should be included in the revised edition of The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology.

scholarly journals Investigation of the Accompaniment of Calcium During Active Calcium Transport from Human Erythrocyte Ghosts

1974 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 590-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik J. Olson ◽  
Ralph J. Cazort
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Calcium Transport ◽  
Inorganic Phosphate ◽  
Adenine Nucleotide ◽  
Erythrocyte Ghosts ◽  
High Dilutions ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Active Calcium ◽  
Phosphate Analysis ◽  
Almost All

To determine whether a cell metabolite was involved in active calcium transport, the cell contents of human erythrocytes were subjected to high dilutions and the resultant ghosts were checked for their ability to actively transport calcium. It was found that the diluted erythrocyte ghosts did retain their capacity to actively transport calcium and that the characteristics of this transport process appeared to be unaltered by the high dilutions. Calcium analysis of the cell membrane and cell supernatant indicated that almost all of the calcium was lost from the cell solution rather than the cell membrane as active calcium transport proceeded. Therefore it appeared that calcium was able to cross the cell membrane without the aid of a cell metabolite. Investigations with layered erythrocytes indicated that the active transport of calcium was not assisted by centrifugation. Neither inorganic phosphate, pyrophosphate, nor an adenine nucleotide appeared to accompany calcium across the membrane as indicated by total phosphate and inorganic phosphate analysis and 260-nm readings of the deproteinized supernatant.

scholarly journals Dynamic Population Coding of Category Information in Inferior Temporal and Prefrontal Cortex

2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 1407-1419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan M. Meyers ◽  
David J. Freedman ◽  
Gabriel Kreiman ◽  
Earl K. Miller ◽  
Tomaso Poggio
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Population Coding ◽  
Inferior Temporal Cortex ◽  
Category Information ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Dynamic Population

Most electrophysiology studies analyze the activity of each neuron separately. While such studies have given much insight into properties of the visual system, they have also potentially overlooked important aspects of information coded in changing patterns of activity that are distributed over larger populations of neurons. In this work, we apply a population decoding method to better estimate what information is available in neuronal ensembles and how this information is coded in dynamic patterns of neural activity in data recorded from inferior temporal cortex (ITC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) as macaque monkeys engaged in a delayed match-to-category task. Analyses of activity patterns in ITC and PFC revealed that both areas contain “abstract” category information (i.e., category information that is not directly correlated with properties of the stimuli); however, in general, PFC has more task-relevant information, and ITC has more detailed visual information. Analyses examining how information coded in these areas show that almost all category information is available in a small fraction of the neurons in the population. Most remarkably, our results also show that category information is coded by a nonstationary pattern of activity that changes over the course of a trial with individual neurons containing information on much shorter time scales than the population as a whole.

scholarly journals Transdifferentiation of Mucus Cells into Ciliated Cells in the Quail Oviducte (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) II- Estroprogestative Treatment, Follow-up of Progestogenic Treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Estradiol Benzoate ◽  
Coturnix Japonica ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Ciliated Cells ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Coturnix Coturnix ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Mucus Cells ◽  
Almost All

Transdifferentiation is the process by which a cell that is not stem cell is differentiated into another cellular type without a dedifferentiation step. Transdifferentiation of secretory cells into ciliated cells was studied in ovariectomized quail oviduct after stimulation with Estroprogestatif and progesterone treatments. Cytological technique was applied. Semi thin sections realized in the blocks were observed and photographed by the Ultraphot II ZEISS. Estroprogestatif treatment (estradiol benzoate: 20ug +progesterone: 1mg/day) during six days induces differentiation of almost all epithelial cells into secretory cells. When this treatment is followed by progesterone alone during six days, about 50% of secretory cells transdifferentiation into ciliated cells. Following these treatments, neither DNA replication nor mitosis seems necessary for transdifferentiation of secretory cells into ciliated cells in quail oviduct.

scholarly journals Visual Information Requirements for Remotely Supervised Autonomous Agricultural Machines

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uduak Edet ◽  
Daniel Mann
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Graphical Display ◽  
Live Video ◽  
Video Footage ◽  
Video Clips ◽  
The Look ◽  
Agricultural Machines

A study to determine the visual requirements for a remote supervisor of an autonomous sprayer was conducted. Observation of a sprayer operator identified 9 distinct “look zones” that occupied his visual attention, with 39% of his time spent viewing the look zone ahead of the sprayer. While observation of the sprayer operator was being completed, additional GoPro cameras were used to record video of the sprayer in operation from 10 distinct perspectives (some look zones were visible from the operator’s seat, but other look zones were selected to display other regions of the sprayer that might be of interest to a sprayer operator). In a subsequent laboratory study, 29 experienced sprayer operators were recruited to view and comment on video clips selected from the video footage collected during the initial ride-along. Only the two views from the perspective of the operator’s seat were rated highly as providing important information even though participants were able to identify relevant information from all ten of the video clips. Generally, participants used the video clips to obtain information about the boom status, the location and movement of the sprayer within the field, the weather conditions (especially the wind), obstacles to be avoided, crop conditions, and field conditions. Sprayer operators with more than 15 years of experience provided more insightful descriptions of the video clips than their less experienced peers. Designers can influence which features the user will perceive by positioning the camera such that those specific features are prominent in the camera’s field of view. Overall, experienced sprayer operators preferred the concept of presenting visual information on an automation interface using live video rather than presenting that same information using some type of graphical display using icons or symbols.

scholarly journals Ferrier Lecture - Fatigue following highly skilled work

1943 ◽  
Vol 181 (986) ◽  
pp. 329-330
Keyword(s):  
Daily Life ◽  
Mental Effort ◽  
Muscular Fatigue ◽  
Highly Skilled ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Work Done

If the character and causation of fatigue following highly skilled work are to be understood, the first need is for the discovery of more relevant and experimentally controlled facts. Unfortunately, almost all the investigators who have attempted to study fatigue of this type have adopted methods taken over with very slight change from those which have proved valuable in the study of simple muscular fatigue. They have chosen elementary operations usually considered to require some ‘mental’ effort—such as easy calculations, word or colour recognition and naming and the like—have repeated these operations over and over again for long periods, and have tried to express the resulting fatigue in terms of the diminution in quantity or quality of the work done. The skill fatigue of daily life is not set up under such conditions. Routine repetition of simple actions is not a characteristic of any highly skilled work, and least of all of work having a strong ‘mental’ component. The operations involved here are marked by complex, co-ordinated and accurately timed activities. The stimuli in response to which these activities are set up are neither simple nor do they usually fall into an order of fixed succession.

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