cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of temperature and pressure on necking of polycarbonate

Abstract The effect of temperature and pressure on necking behaviour of polycarbonate was studied in tension. Following the concepts elucidated by Coates and Ward, neck geometry and neck propagation were related to the materials parameters: strain rate sensitivity and strain hardening parameter. The relationship between neck profile and the true stress-true strain curve was established by combining an analytical expression for the macroscale mechanics of the flow process with a constitutive equation describing the true stress, true strain and true strain rate dependence of the material. Having assumed a constitutive equation, the materials parameters were obtained from the stable neck geometry. The strain hardening parameter was found to be insensitive to changes in pressure and temperature in the range studied and had a value of approximately 3.3. Since the strain hardening parameter affected primarily the draw ratio, the latter was essentially independent of temperature and pressure. The increase in strain rate sensitivity parameter with pressure and decreasing temperature from 0.028 to 0.035 was manifest as a gradual broadening of the neck. The molecular significance of the materials parameters is discussed in terms of the contributions of two separate processes to plastic deformation: thermally activated yielding and the temperature and pressure independent stretching of a molecular network.
Targeted sensory restoration to the upper aerodigestive tract with physiologic implications.

Background. Sensory restoration through sensate flaps placed into critical areas of the upper aerodigestive tract is an attractive reconstructive goal to achieve optimal post-therapy function. The question that has remained unanswered is whether sensory recovery takes place through the newly established neural pathway or through ingrowth of sensory nerves from the periphery of the defect. Methods. Three patients with squamous cell cancer under- went resection and primary reconstruction of the laryngopharynx with a sensate radial forearm flap. The flaps were designed with a smaller, proximal paddle to serve as a monitor. Reneurotization of the flaps was carried out to the superior laryngeal nerve. Results. All three patients were followed for a minimum of 12 months. Each of these patients reported the development of a cough that resulted from stimulation of the external monitor. This phenomenon was easily duplicated by light stimulation of the monitor, which not only produced the cough but was consis- tently perceived by the patient as arising from inside their throat. Conclusions. This series conclusively demonstrates that sensory feedback can be restored in a targeted fashion through neural anastomoses and that a physiologic response that helps in airway protection can be produced through the use of sensate flaps with a strategically selected recipient nerve. A 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 26: 287-293, 2004
ENSEMBLE AVERAGED AND MIXTURE THEORY EQUATIONS FOR INCOMPRESSIBLE FLUID-PARTICLE SUSPENSIONS

Abstract Two-fluid equations for flowing composites of solid particles in a liquid have been given by mixture theory and by ensemble averaging. The mixture theory equations are postulated and the ensemble averaged equations are derived. The ensemble averaged equations give rise to an explicit form for interaction terms. The equations obtained by the two methods are different. The expression for the stress in a Newtonian fluid with rigid particles is the point at issue. Jackson & Saville, in an appendix to this paper, introduce a method of soft spatial averaging which yields the same result as in the case of ensemble averages.
The influence of cognitive dysfunction on benefit from learning and memory rehabilitation in MS: A sub-analysis of the MEMREHAB trial:

Background:This study examined the influence of processing speed (PS) on benefit from treatment with the modified Story Memory Technique© (mSMT), a behavioral intervention shown to improve new learning and memory in multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods:This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial included 85 participants with clinically definite MS, 45 assigned to the treatment group and 40 to the placebo-control group. Participants completed baseline and follow-up neuropsychological assessment. The present study represents a post-hoc analysis to examine the role of PS on treatment efficacy.Findings:The treatment group showed a significantly improved CVLT learning slope relative to the placebo group post-treatment, after co-varying PS performance. SDMT performance was a significant predictor of benefit from mSMT treatment, beyond group assignment. Post-hoc analysis indicated a significant correlation between the SDMT and overall cognition, indicating that the SDMT may be serving as a proxy ...
Cytomechanics of neurite outgrowth from chick brain neurons

Mechanical tension is a direct and immediate stimulus for neurite initiation and elongation from peripheral neurons. We report here that the relationship between tension and neurite outgrowth is equally initimate for embryonic chick forebrain neurons. Culture of forebrain neurons was unusually simple and reliable, and some of these cells undergo early events of axonal-dendritic polarity. Neurite outgrowth can be initiated de novo by experimental application of tension to the cell margin of forebrain neurons placed into culture 8–12 hours earlier, prior to spontaneous neurite outgrowth. Experimentally induced neurite elongation from these neurons shows the same robust linear relationship between elongation rate and magnitude of applied tension as peripheral neurons, i.e. both show a fluid-like growth response to tension. Although forebrain and sensory neurons manifest a similar distribution of growth sensitivity to tension (growth rate/unit tension), chick forebrain neurons initiated and elongated neurites at substantially lower net tensions than peripheral neurons. This is because, unlike peripheral neurons, there is no minimum threshold tension required for elongation in forebrain neurons; all positive tensions stimulate neurite outgrowth. Consistent with this observation, chick forebrain neurons showed weak retractile behavior in response to slackening compared to sensory neurons. Neurites that were slackened showed only transient elastic behavior and never actively produced tension, as do chick sensory neurons after slackening. We conclude that tension is an important regulator of both peripheral and central neuronal growth, but that elastic behavior is much weaker for forebrain neurons than peripheral neurons from the same developing organism. These data have significance for the understanding of the morphogenetic events of brain development.
Characterization of novel sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis in tobacco expressing a fungal sesquiterpene synthase

The gene encoding trichodiene synthase (Tri5), a sesquiterpene synthase from the fungus Fusarium sporotrichioides, was used to transform tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Trichodiene was the sole sesquiterpene synthase product in enzyme reaction mixtures derived from unelicited transformant cell-suspension cultures, and both trichodiene and 5-epi-aristolochene were observed as reaction products following elicitor treatment. Immunoblot analysis of protein extracts revealed the presence of trichodiene synthase only in transformant cell lines producing trichodiene. In vivo labeling with [3H]mevalonate revealed the presence of a novel trichodiene metabolite, 15-hydroxytrichodiene, that accumulated in the transformant cell-suspension cultures. In a trichodiene-producing transformant, the level of 15-hydroxytrichodiene accumulation increased after elicitor treatment. In vivo labeling with [14C]acetate showed that the biosynthetic rate of trichodiene and 15-hydroxytrichodiene also increased after elicitor treatment. Incorporation of radioactivity from [14C]acetate into capsidiol was reduced following elicitor treatment of a trichodiene-producing transformant as compared with wild type. These results demonstrate that sesquiterpenoid accumulation resulting from the constitutive expression of a foreign sesquiterpene synthase is responsive to elicitation and that the farnesyl pyrophosphate present in elicited cells can be utilized by a foreign sesquiterpene synthase to produce high levels of novel sesquiterpenoids.
Numerical Evaluation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Plate-Pin Fin Heat Sinks with Various Pin Cross-Sections

A numerical investigation of the thermal and hydraulic performance of 20 different plate-pin fin heat sinks with various shapes of pin cross-sections (square, circular, elliptic, NACA profile, and dropform) and different ratios of pin widths to plate fin spacing (0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6) was performed. Finite volume method-based CFD software, Ansys CFX, was used as the 3-D Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes Solver. A k-ω based shear-stress-transport model was used to predict the turbulent flow and heat transfer through the heat sink channels. The present study provides original information about the performance of this new type of compound heat sink.
Proper Grounding Can Improve Reliability in Low-Voltage Systems

Safety and reliability of electric distribution systems depend on many factors, including proper grounding. Correct functioning of ground fault relays depends on carefully designed busway housings and conduit connections. Busway housings are recommended as the preferred equipment grounding means because they achieve a low voltage drop value with little danger of electric shock. Eleven specific suggestions are made in an effort to improve the safety and reliability of low-voltage systems.
Band energy structure arrangement for organic solar cells with metalized deoxyribonucleic acid strands on anode electrode

Deoxyribonucleic acids provide exciting opportunities as templates in self assembled architectures and functionality in terms of optical and electronic properties. In this study, we investigate the effects of metalized DNA sequences in organic bulk-heterojunction solar cells. These effects are characterized via optical, quantum efficiency and current-voltage measurements. We demonstrated that by arranging the band energy structure of the devices via placing metalized deoxyribonucleic acid sequences on the hole collection side of the active layer lead to a 20% increase in the power conversion efficiency.
Mobile Diabetes Intervention for Glycemic Control: Impact on Physician Prescribing

Of adults with type 2 diabetes, 84% take antihyperglycemic medication. Successful treatment requires active monitoring and medication dose adjustment by health providers. The objective of this study was to determine how a mobile-phone-based coaching system for diabetes management influences physician prescribing behavior. This secondary data analysis is based on a cluster randomized clinical trial that reported patients provided with mobile self-management had reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 1.9% over 1 year, compared to 0.7% in control patients (P < .001). Participants were primary care patients with type 2 diabetes randomized at physician practice level into a control group (n = 55) and intervention group (n = 62). Main study measures were patients’ medication records (medication, dose, frequency, start and end date) abstracted at baseline and study end. Antihyperglycemic medications, including sulfonylureas or thiazolidinediones, and antihypertensive and antilipemic medications were analyzed. A higher percentage of patients in the intervention group had modification and intensification of incretin mimetics during the 1-year study period (9.7% vs 0.0% and 8.1% vs 0.0%, both P = .008). A higher percentage of patients in the intervention group had modification and intensification of metformin (24.2% vs 7.3%, P = .033). The overall difference in physician prescribing of oral antihyperglycemic medications was not statistically significant. Our results suggest mobile diabetes interventions can encourage physicians to modify and intensify antihyperglycemic medications in patients with type 2 diabetes. Differences in physician prescribing behavior were modest, and do not appear to be large enough to explain a 1.2% decrease in HbA1c.
Correlates of exclusive or combined use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco among male adolescents

Past studies which examined correlates of smokeless tobacco or cigarette use have investigated use of one tobacco product regardless of use of the other product. Thus, the etiology of exclusive use of the two tobacco products is not clear. The present study investigated the relationship of problem-prone-related variables to exclusive versus overlapping use of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes. Two samples of southern California male students (eighth-grade and high school) were divided into groups according to their tobacco use status: neither product, cigarettes only, smokeless tobacco only, or both tobacco products. Generally, triers and monthly users of both tobacco products reported a higher risk-taking preference, greater susceptibility to peer social influence to use tobacco products, and greater likelihood to have tried marijuana and alcohol than did subjects who were not users of either tobacco product. Adolescents who used either product, but not both, reported similar scores on most of the variables examined, which fell in between combined or nonuse categories. These results suggest that the number of tobacco products used, not the specific product, is associated with problem-prone attributes.
Elastic modulus variation due to moisture absorption and permanent changes upon redrying in an epoxy based underfill

In this study, the influence of moisture on the elastic modulus of a no-flow underfill is characterized over a wide range of accelerated testing environments, and the permanent changes are evaluated upon fully redrying. Moisture saturation is reached in all environments prior to testing, thus the inherent wet modulus of the underfill is identified for each respective level of moisture preconditioning. The change in the elastic modulus as a function of moisture concentration is measured, as well as the reversible and irreversible effects from moisture uptake in the underfill upon redrying. Thermal aging from the temperature component of the accelerated testing environment is found to have no effect on the elastic modulus, while the moisture uptake is found to notably decrease the modulus at higher humidity levels. Recovery experiments demonstrate that most of the loss in the elastic modulus from moisture exposure is recoverable, although more irreversible damage did occur at higher humidity levels. Hydrolysis contributed to the irreversible loss in the modulus, while the reversible component is attributed to plasticization of the underfill from moisture uptake.
Switching cation-binding loops paves the way for redesigning allosteric activation

An extensive number of enzymes found in both plants and animals are activated by monovalent cations (1, 2). Pioneering work in the 1940s and 1950s revealed a critical K+ requirement for pyruvate kinase and the existence of Na+-dependent activation of β-galactosidase (3, 4). Enzymes requiring K+ often can be activated by NH4+ and Rb+ but have more difficulties accommodating the larger Cs+, and the smaller Na+ or Li+. Enzymes requiring Na+ typically have a preference for this cation over the smaller Li+ and the larger K+, Rb+, and Cs+ (1, 2). Efforts continue to assess exactly why an enzyme chooses one of these monovalent cations over another. Strategies that successfully change monovalent cation specificity do not automatically lead to preservation of any cation-dependent allosteric events (1, 5). In PNAS, Rana et al. (6) delve into this unresolved issue in their article, “Redesigning allosteric activation in an enzyme.” Their study focuses on the serine protease thrombin, which is a Na+-dependent enzyme.
Measurement of Religiosity/Spirituality in Adolescent Health Outcomes Research: Trends and Recommendations

The relationship between religious/spiritual (R/S) factors and adolescent health outcomes has been studied for decades; however, the R/S measurement tools used may not be developmentally relevant for adolescents. A systematic literature review was conducted to review and evaluate trends in measuring R/S in adolescent health outcomes research. In this review a total of 100 articles met criteria for inclusion. Relatively few (n = 15) included adolescent-specific R/S measures or items accounting for developmentally relevant issues such as parental religiosity or age-appropriate language. Future R/S and health research with adolescents would be strengthened by incorporating developmentally relevant R/S measurement tools, psychometrics, and multidimensional measures.
IgG BEARING COVALENTLY BOUND C3b HAS ENHANCED BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY FOR ESCHERICHIA COLI 0111

The mechanism was sought by which bactericidal IgG for E. coli 0111 (strain 12015) increases the bactericidal efficiency of C5b-9. IgG did not affect the distribution of C3 deposition on the O-Ag capsule and the outer membrane of 12015, suggesting that bactericidal IgG was not directing complement activation to different sites on the bacterial surface. However, one-fifth of the C3 that was deposited in the presence of IgG attached covalently to the antibody molecule. Covalent complexes between purified C3b and IgG were prepared in order to study the role of C3b-IgG in the bactericidal reaction. 8-10-fold less C3b-IgG than IgG was necessary to sensitize 12015 for serum killing. When aggregates were eliminated from the C3b-IgG and IgG preparations by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, C3b-IgG remained three- to fourfold more effective than IgG on a molecule-for-molecule bound basis in mediating the serum bactericidal reaction. These results suggest that formation of C3b-IgG during the serum bactericidal reaction is critical for killing, and have important implications for the development of effective bactericidal vaccines.
What about dad? Fathers of children born to school-age mothers

Information regarding fathers of children born to school-age mothers is minimal. In this study, the authors describe paternal age, relationship and contact wtth the mother of the child, help provided by fathers, and the natural history of paternal drug use and other illegal behaviors of 170 fathers through three and one-half years postpartum. Results indicated that fathers tended to be older than their partners and have intermittent patterns of contact and changing relationships with mothers over time. Many fathers engaged in illegal activities, including selling drugs. Potential predictors of ongoing contact between fathers, their partners, and their children are explored.
Clique minors in claw-free graphs

[email protected]?s conjecture states that every graph with chromatic number @g has a clique minor of size @g. Let G be a graph on n vertices with chromatic number @g and stability number @a. Then since @[email protected]>=n, [email protected]?s conjecture implies that G has a clique minor of size [email protected] In this paper we prove that this is true for connected claw-free graphs with @a>=3. We also show that this result is tight by providing an infinite family of claw-free graphs with @a>=3 that do not have a clique minor of size larger than [email protected]
On stability of stochastic switched systems

In this paper we propose a method for stability analysis of switched systems perturbed by a Wiener process. It utilizes multiple Lyapunov-like functions and is analogous to an existing result for deterministic switched systems.
A computer program for the estimation of protein and nucleic acid sequence diversity in random point mutagenesis libraries

A computer program for the generation and analysis of in silico random point mutagenesis libraries is described. The program operates by mutagenizing an input nucleic acid sequence according to mutation parameters specified by the user for each sequence position and type of point mutation. The program can mimic almost any type of random mutagenesis library, including those produced via error-prone PCR (ep-PCR), mutator Escherichia coli strains, chemical mutagenesis, and doped or random oligonucleotide synthesis. The program analyzes the generated nucleic acid sequences and/or the associated protein library to produce several estimates of library diversity (number of unique sequences, point mutations, and single point mutants) and the rate of saturation of these diversities during experimental screening or selection of clones. This information allows one to select the optimal screen size for a given mutagenesis library, necessary to efficiently obtain a certain coverage of the sequence-space. The program also reports the abundance of each specific protein mutation at each sequence position, which is useful as a measure of the level and type of mutation bias in the library. Alternatively, one can use the program to evaluate the relative merits of preexisting libraries, or to examine various hypothetical mutation schemes to determine the optimal method for creating a library that serves the screen/selection of interest. Simulated libraries of at least 10(9) sequences are accessible by the numerical algorithm with currently available personal computers; an analytical algorithm is also available which can rapidly calculate a subset of the numerical statistics in libraries of arbitrarily large size. A multi-type double-strand stochastic model of ep-PCR is developed in an appendix to demonstrate the applicability of the algorithm to amplifying mutagenesis procedures. Estimators of DNA polymerase mutation-type-specific error rates are derived using the model. Analyses of an alpha-synuclein ep-PCR library and NNS synthetic oligonucleotide libraries are given as examples.
Joint Optimization of Source Power Allocation and Relay Beamforming in Multiuser Cooperative Wireless Networks

Relay beamforming techniques have been shown to significantly enhance the sum capacity of a multiuser cooperative wireless network through the optimization of the relay weights, where concurrent communications of multiple source-destination pairs are achieved via spatial multiplexing. Further optimization of the transmit power allocation over the source nodes is expected to improve the network throughput as well. In this paper, we maximize the sum capacity of a multiuser cooperative wireless network through the joint optimization of power allocation among source nodes and relay beamforming weights across the relay nodes. We consider a two-hop cooperative wireless network, consisting of single-antenna nodes, in which multiple concurrent links are relayed by a number of cooperative nodes. When a large number of relay nodes are available, the channels of different source-destination pairs can be orthogonalized, yielding enhanced sum network capacity. Such cooperative advantage is particularly significant in high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime, in which the capacity follows a logarithm law with the SNR, whereas exploiting spatial multiplexing of multiple links yields capacity increment linear to the number of users. However, the capacity performance is compromised when the input SNR is low and/or when the number of relay nodes is limited. Joint optimization of source power allocation and relay beamforming is important when the input SNR and/or the number of relay nodes are moderate or the wireless channels experience different channel variances. In these cases, joint optimization of source power and distributed beamforming weights achieves significant capacity increment over both source selection and equal source power spatial multiplexing schemes. With consideration of the needs to deliver data from each source node, we further examine the optimization of global sum capacity in the presence of individual capacity requirements by maximizing sum capacity of the network subject to a minimum capacity constraint over each individual user.
Hydrodynamic signal perception by the copepod Oithona plumifera

Spatio-temporal hydrodynamic signal fields were quantified for ambush-feeding Oithona plumifera females sensing motile Strobilidium ciliates. First, videotaped Oithona-ciliate encounters were image-analyzed to retrieve ciliate trajectories, O. plumifera attack kinematics and reaction distances to the ciliates. Second, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), flow distur- bances created by swimming ciliates were examined for 5 common ciliary forcing schemes. Third, using the CFD results and measured ciliate trajectories as inputs, a hydrodynamic model was devel- oped to calculate ciliate-generated hydrodynamic signal patterns for observed encounters. Wide variance was found in measured reaction distances. Good correlations existed between measured predator attack kinematics and measured pre-attack prey locations. Moreover, data analysis showed that O. plumifera preferred small attack angles, presumably to enhance capture success. From hydrodynamic modeling, several distinct spatio-temporal hydrodynamic signal patterns were identi- fied, and estimated hydrodynamic signal strengths immediately prior to attack were all above a minimum required signal level but differed substantially in magnitude. These results support the notion that by monitoring and recognizing the spatio-temporal pattern of ciliate-created flow distur- bances, O. plumifera can perceive and project the ciliate's instantaneous location and velocity, and hence precisely time its attack when the ciliate reaches a location where it can most easily be cap- tured. Instead of reacting to a constant signal strength, O. plumifera females adapt their capture behaviors to perceived signal patterns. CFD simulations also revealed species-specific flow patterns and spatial decays in hydrodynamic disturbances created by swimming protists. The predator may use this species-specific information to distinguish among prey species.
Improved Serrodyne Spur Suppression via Time Division Multiplexing

We have improved the overall spur free dynamic range (SFDR) of a serrodyne shifted signal via time division multiplexing. We have realized a tunable RF signal at 98.5 MHz with 42 dB overall SFDR
Speed Observer and Reduced Nonlinear Model for Sensorless Control of Induction Motors

We consider field-oriented speed control of induction motors without mechanical sensors. We augment the traditional approach with a flux observer and derive a sixth-order nonlinear model that takes into consideration the error in flux estimation. A high-gain speed observer is included to estimate the speed from field-oriented currents and voltages. The observer design is independent of the feedback controller design. By high-gain-observer theory, we define a virtual speed output for the sixth-order nonlinear model, which can now be used to design a feedback controller whose performance is recovered by the speed observer when the observer gain is chosen high enough. We then focus on the traditional field oriented control (FOC) approach where the flux is regulated to a constant reference and high-gain current controllers are used. By designing a flux regulator to maintain the flux at a constant reference, and a current regulator to regulate the q-axis current to its command, we derive a third-order nonlinear model that captures the essence of the speed regulation problem. The model has the speed and two flux estimation errors as the state variables, the q -axis current as the control input, and the virtual speed as the measured output. It enables us to perform rigorous analysis of the closed-loop system under different controllers, and under uncertainties in the rotor and stator resistances and the load torque. In this paper, we emphasize the design of feedback controllers that include integral action. The analysis reveals an important role played by the steady-state product of the flux frequency and the q-axis current in determining the control properties of the system. The conclusions arrived at by using the reduced-order model are collaborated by simulation and experimental results.
Long-term Monitoring of the Ketogenic Diet: Do's and Don'ts

The ketogenic diet (KD) is an effective treatment for epilepsy and like other treatments it is not without side effects. The side effects encountered are related to the diet composition and the radical metabolic changes that results from a high fat, low carbohydrate and protein diet. Short-term side effects are well documented. Long-term side effects are not as well documented but since the last "international symposium on dietary therapies for epilepsy and other neurological disorders", there are now more prospective and longitudinal data. Monitoring practices and treatments will be discussed and compared to the International Ketogenic Diet Consensus Statement (IKDCS) from 2008.
Sex differences and effects of social cues on daily rhythms following phase advances in Octodon degus

Two experiments were designed to determine whether social cues could enhance the rate of resynchronization in body temperature and general activity rhythms in male or female Octodon degus following a 6 h phase advance. The first experiment examined average resynchronization rates for animals in each condition. The second experiment examined resynchronization rates for a smaller group of animals, each treated as its own control. Female phase-shifters resynchronized temperature and activity rhythms significantly faster when housed with an entrained (donor) female than those females housed with another phase-shifting female or housed alone. Females housed with entrained males resynchronized their temperature rhythms significantly slower than females housed with entrained females. No differences in resynchronization rate for phase-shifting males existed between test conditions. However, activity rhythms of male controls (housed alone) reentrained significantly faster than those of female controls. These experiments demonstrate a sex difference in (i) reentrainment rate by photic cues alone; (ii) donors' effect on female phase-shifters' resynchronization; and (iii) phase-shifters' resynchronization response to donor cues. In these studies, resynchronization in the presence of another animal could either have been achieved by entrainment of the pacemaker or by masking of the circadian rhythms.
Singing and dancing in the baser manner : A plea for the democratization of taste

La reflexion esthetique theorique refuse souvent de considerer le gout commun comme un referent acceptable. L'A. entreprend dans cet article d'aller contre cette pratique en demontrant que les reticences a fonder une esthetique sur le populaire doivent etre depassees du fait de l'impossibilite d'effectuer une distinction entre l'art distingue (classes superieures) et l'art populaire (classes populaires). Il s'interroge sur les bases du jugement esthetique, et plaide par la pour une revision des criteres esthetiques generaux dans le contexte d'une culture populaire
Design and control of a spherical air-bearing system for multi-d.o.f. ball-joint-like actuators

Abstract This paper presents an analytical investigation of the design method and modeling of an air-bearing system for ball-joint-like actuators. It addresses the method of regulating the three-d.o.f. translations of the rotor introduced by the air-bearing system, thereby improving the dynamic performance of the orientation motion manipulation. The kinematics, which relates the rotor displacement and the air gaps that are essential for design optimization, dynamic simulation and motion control, are derived in closed-form. With a detailed modeling of the pressure–flow relationship as a function of the rotor position, the forces and dynamics of the system are formulated, and design methods for regulating the rotor displacement have been explored analytically. Simulation results suggest that the fluid forces could be generated to passively stabilize the otherwise open-loop, unstable, electromagnetic system. It is expected that this research will be a basis for designing and evaluating an improved VR spherical motor with enhanced torque capability by eliminating mechanical friction.
Experimental testing of the transport-durability of shale lithics and its implications for interpreting the rock record

Abstract Detailed petrographic studies of shales show that they consist of a wide range of components, including a wide spectrum of composite particles that were contributed to the precursor muds in the form of high-water-content suspended floccules, bedload floccules, rip-up intraclasts, pedogenic aggregates, and fully lithified shale clasts. Experimental studies show that shale clasts of sand to silt size (shale lithics) can survive hundreds to thousands of kilometers of bedload transport. Observations of modern river and shelf muds reveal the common presence of shale lithics in these sediments, and suggest that a significant portion of ancient shale formations could potentially consist of reworked shale lithics and not, as commonly assumed, of primary composite particles such as clay floccules and organo-minerallic aggregates. Identification of shale lithics in the rock record presents challenges, but careful petrographic examination (using SEM and ion-milled samples) and case studies will help to develop robust criteria for recognition. The presented observations have manifold implications for the interpretation of many aspects of shales: mud transport and accumulation, sediment compaction and basin-fill modeling, and geochemical proxies. They emphasize the essential need for petrographic examination of shale samples before more advanced analyses are undertaken.
GeoScope: online detection of geo-correlated information trends in social networks

The First Law of Geography states "Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things". This spatial significance has implications in various applications, trend detection being one of them. In this paper we propose a new algorithmic tool, GeoScope, to detect geo-trends. GeoScope is a data streams solution that detects correlations between topics and locations in a sliding window, in addition to analyzing topics and locations independently. GeoScope offers theoretical guarantees for detecting all trending correlated pairs while requiring only sub-linear space and running time. We perform various human validation tasks to demonstrate the value of GeoScope. The results show that human judges prefer GeoScope to the best performing baseline solution 4:1 in terms of the geographical significance of the presented information. As the Twitter analysis demonstrates, GeoScope successfully filters out topics without geo-intent and detects various local interests such as emergency events, political demonstrations or cultural events. Experiments on Twitter show that GeoScope has perfect recall and near-perfect precision.
Measuring the internet as graph and its evolution

As the Internet has evolved over time, the interconnection patterns of the members of this "network of networks" have changed. Can we characterize those changes? Have those changes been good or bad? What does "good" mean in this context? Has market power been centralizing or decentralizing? How certain can we be of our answer? What are the limitations of our data? These are the questions which motivate this dissertation. In this dissertation, we answer these questions and more by carefully taking a long-term quantitative study of the evolution of the topology of the Internet's AS graph. In order to do this study, we spend most of the dissertation developing methods of data processing and data analysis all informed by ideas from networking, data mining, graph theory, and statistics. The contributions are both theoretical and practical. The theoretical contributions include an in-depth analysis of the complexity of AS graph measurement as well as of the difficulty of reconstructing the AS graph from available data. The practical contributions include the design of graph metrics to capture properties of interest, usable approximation algorithms for several AS graph analysis methods, and an analysis of the evolution of the AS graph over time. It is our hope that these methods may prove useful in other domains, and that the conclusions about the evolution of the Internet topology prove useful for Internet operators, network researchers, policy makers, and others.
The Case Against Plea Bargaining

Plea bargaining has come to dominate the administration of justice in America. Even though plea bargaining pervades the justice system, I argue that the practice should be abolished because it is unconstitutional. There is no doubt that government officials deliberately use their power to pressure people who have been accused of crime, and who are presumed innocent, to confess their guilt and to waive their right to a formal trial.
Non-relativistic Neutron Deuteron Scattering

We discuss the calculation of polarization observables, including Ay , in nd scattering to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order in pionless effective field theory.
Transverse Mixing Enhancement due to Bacterial Random Motility in Porous Microfluidic Devices

Bacterial swimming in groundwater may create flow disturbances in the surrounding microenvironment thereby enhancing contaminant mixing. Porous microfluidic devices (MFDs) were fabricated in three different pore geometry designs: uniform grain size with large pore throats (MFD-I), nonuniform grain size with restricted pore space (MFD-II), and uniform grain size with small pore throats (MFD-III). Escherichia coli HCB33 was used to assess the effect of bacterial random motility on transverse mixing of a tracer, fluorescent labeled dextran, under three experimental conditions in which motile bacteria, nonmotile bacteria, and plain buffer suspensions were flown through the MFDs at four different flow rates. Mixing was quantified in terms of the best-fit effective transverse dispersion coefficient ((Dcy)eff). A mixing enhancement index (MEI) was defined as the ratio of the (Dcy)eff of tracer in experiments with motile bacteria and without bacteria. Motile bacteria caused a maximum 5–6 fold increase in MEI in M...
Technological Innovation and the Theory of the Firm: The Role of Enterprise-Level Knowledge, Complementarities, and (Dynamic) Capabilities

Abstract The firm is the central actor for the effectuation of innovation and technological change. The large industrial laboratories of the previous century have given way to more organizationally and geographically diffuse sources of technology, placing even greater emphasis on the coordination skills of managers. Dynamic capabilities are the skills, procedures, organizational structures, and decision rules that firms utilize to create and capture value. Managers must be able to sense opportunities, craft a business model to capitalize on them, and reconfigure their organizations, and sometimes their industries, as the business environment and technology shift. The key employees in this regard are experts (literati and numerati), whose management requires limited hierarchy, flexible teams, and performance-based incentives. To encompass these realities, the theory of the firm needs to be augmented to account for opportunity as well as opportunism, coordination beyond the boundaries of the firm as well as within it, variations in the level of capability across firms, and the frequent superiority of the firm over markets for the creation, transfer, and protection of intangible assets. Complementarities and cospecialization are advanced as two emerging concepts of particular relevance to a theory of the innovating enterprise earning above-normal returns.
Route Travel Time Reliability Model Based on Lognormal Sum Distribution

Establishing a feasible and practical route travel time reliability evaluation model is very important for accurately assessing the road network performance and providing the comprehensive traveler information.A route travel time reliability model is developed based on the probability distribution characteristics of a sum on lognormal random variables.First,the link travel time distribution model is developed resulting in that a lognormal distribution shows the best fitting performance.Second,the lognormal sum distribution-based route travel time reliability model is developed by utilizing the statistical theory and considering both scenarios of correlated versus independent links.Finally,the proposed model is validated by using the West Third-Ring road of Beijing in the case study.The results provide that the developed model can accurately evaluate the route travel time reliability,and that there is a faint correlative relationship between links,in which the best feasible correlation coefficient of links is in the range of 0.2 and 0.3.
Cryptococcus neoformans survive and replicate in human microglia.

BACKGROUND : Cryptococcus neoformans (CN) is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause fatal meningoencephalitis in patients with immune deficiency. Among the central nervous system (CNS) cells that are infected by CN are perivascular microglia and macrophages. Little is known about the interaction of CN and CNS phagocytes at the cellular level. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN : To better understand the fate of CN in microglia, we followed Ab-opsonized CN in human fetal microglial culture by phase-contrast microscopy, combined light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of plastic-embedded monolayers, and immunocytochemistry for localization of capsular Ag. RESULTS : Phase-contrast microscopy revealed that microglia initially internalized and contained Ab-opsonized yeast cells within phagolysosomes. However, CN escaped from microglia and resumed extracellular growth 16 to 24 hours after being phagocytosed. Transmission electron microscopy/1-μ epoxy sections revealed that intracellular CN were localized in two types of phagosomes in microglia : spacious phagosomes (SP) and close-fitting phagosomes (CP). Three lines of evidence indicate that SP are the primary sites for intracellular CN survival and replication : (a) SP contained multiple, budding yeast cells, whereas CP contained only single yeast cells within a tightly bound phagosomal membrane ; (b) the number of SP and the number of CN within SP increased considerably at 24 hours compared with at 2 hours ; and (c) microglial cultures challenged with heat- or amphotericin B-treated CN had significantly fewer SP than those challenged with live CN. Both SP and CP phagosomes fused with lysosomes, suggesting that CN survival in SP was not due to failure of phagolysosomal fusion. In SP, there was attenuation and diffusion of capsular polysaccharide within the phagosome, whereas in CP the fungal capsules remained compact and homogeneous. Immunocytochemistry with an mAb directed to capsular glucuronoxylomannan supported continued synthesis of polysaccharide within SP. CONCLUSIONS : The results suggest that, in human microglia, CN survive and replicate within SP. Modification of CN capsular polysaccharide within SP may be a contributing factor to this aberrant microglial-CN interaction.
“I’d Know That My Child Was Out There”: Egg Donation, the Institutionalized “Ideal” Family, and Health Care Decision Making

This study investigates how young women of egg-donating age perceive egg donation. Using institutional theory, this study demonstrates how participants frame a health care decision, such as egg donation, utilizing familial ideals. Results revealed that women expressed the importance of ownership over their genetic material and that familial ideals encourage an ideal way to create a family, which egg donation only fits as a last resort. Results show that familial ideals reach past the institution of family into broader decision making, such as that of health care. Further, results show that as more families are constructed through assisted reproductive technologies, attempts should be made to gradually alter the familial ideal to encompass novel medical technologies such as egg donation.
Nonlocal energy-optimized kernel: Recovering second-order exchange in the homogeneous electron gas

In order to remedy some of the shortcomings of the random phase approximation (RPA) within adiabatic connection fluctuation-dissipation (ACFD) density functional theory, we introduce a short-ranged, exchange-like kernel that is one-electron self-correlation free and exact for two-electron systems in the high-density limit. By tuning a free parameter in our model to recover an exact limit of the homogeneous electron gas correlation energy, we obtain a nonlocal, energy-optimized kernel that reduces the errors of RPA for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous solids. Using wave-vector symmetrization for the kernel, we also implement RPA renormalized perturbation theory for extended systems, and demonstrate its capability to describe the dominant correlation effects with a low-order expansion in both metallic and nonmetallic systems. The comparison of ACFD structural properties with experiment is also shown to be limited by the choice of norm-conserving pseudopotential.
Group-sparse subspace clustering with missing data

This paper explores algorithms for subspace clustering with missing data. In many high-dimensional data analysis settings, data points Lie in or near a union of subspaces. Subspace clustering is the process of estimating these subspaces and assigning each data point to one of them. However, in many modern applications the data are severely corrupted by missing values. This paper describes two novel methods for subspace clustering with missing data: (a) group-sparse sub-space clustering (GSSC), which is based on group-sparsity and alternating minimization, and (b) mixture subspace clustering (MSC), which models each data point as a convex combination of its projections onto all subspaces in the union. Both of these algorithms are shown to converge to a local minimum, and experimental results show that they outperform the previous state-of-the-art, with GSSC yielding the highest overall clustering accuracy.
Quality Models for Outsourced Business Services

Outsourcing brings in new challenges to business service management. From the Outsourcer perspective it is important that the outsourced service produces an assured quality of service. From the Outsourcee perspective it is important that the service delivery processes are engineered-in to produce desired quality of service. Towards this end, we introduce the concept of Quality Models for Business Services (QM-BS). A QM-BS provides a comprehensive and rigorous definition of quality for a business service as well as a finegranular quality view of business service components. As such it serves as reference for (i) Outsourcer and Outsourcee to create appropriate service level agreements, (ii) Service designer to engineer a business process for desired Quality of Service (QoS), and (iii) Service agent and quality-assurer to build and control quality in service delivery steps. We use a real life case-study to explain and illustrate the concepts used in construction of QM-BS.
Soft targets are easy terror targets: increased frequency of attacks, practical preparation, and prevention

This article illustrates the vulnerability and the increased frequency of soft targets attacked by terrorists The article includes some of the latest soft target incidents conducted by Islamic extremist terrorists The frequency of attacks on soft targets is expected to continue increasing especially in the United States The article also provides a plan for various soft targets to prepare a defense against such terror incidents Soft targets are easy targets so terrorists are dedicated to continue attacking these vulnerable entities Soft targets include hospitals restaurants nightclubs super markets schools sports venues churches malls and areas where large numbers of people gather Target hardening simply by adding security personnel is a key strategy to reduce vulnerability of soft targets