We present an approach for optimizing the performance of information agents by materializing useful information . A critical problem with information agents, particularly those gathering and integrating information from Web sources is a high query response time. This is because the data needed to answer user queries is present across several diierent Web sources (and in several pages within a s...

OBJECTIVES The "dysregulated parturition" narrative posits that the human stress response includes a cascade of hormones that "dysregulates" and accelerates parturition but provides questionable utility as a guide to understand or prevent preterm birth. We offer and test a "strategic parturition" narrative that not only predicts the excess preterm births that dysregulated parturition predicts b...

A computational study has been carried out to investigate smouldering ignition and propagation in polyurethane foam. The one-dimensional, transient, governing equations for smouldering combustion in a porous fuel are solved accounting for improved solid-phase chemical kinetics. Forward and opposed smouldering modes are examine and the model describes well both propagation modes. Specifically, t...

To investigate the ffiechanism whereby central nervous organs function as adjustors in the control of behavior, there are at least two methods of approach at present very little utilized. Something may be gained by the measurement of suitable phenomena presumed to be direct manifestations of central nervous activity, such as states of tonic immobility (Crozier, 1923-24, a, 1924, a, b, 1924-25; ...

We look at the quadratic forms generated by the Low-order Central Moments UpWrite of pen-opposed stroke pairs.

BACKGROUND Plain packaging (PP) for tobacco products was fully implemented in Australia on 1 December 2012 along with larger graphic health warnings. Using longitudinal data from the Australian arm of the ITC Four Country Survey, we examined attitudes to the new packs before and after implementation, predictors of attitudinal change, and the relationship between support and quitting activity. ...

The focus of the present study is on the ways in which storybooks communicate cultural ideals about achievement orientation, and in particular, the role of effort, perseverance, and hard work in fostering successful outcomes. Sixty preschool children's books from Indonesia, Japan, and the United States (20 from each country) were examined for the presence of achievement-oriented themes. These c...