cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Derivative Instruments and Their Use for Hedging by U.S. Non-Financial Firms: A Review of Theories and Empirical Evidence

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the use of financial instruments known as derivatives. Derivatives use is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back to around the 1970s. In the past 15 years a significant theoretical and empirical literature has emerged that examines why non-financial firms use derivatives. This review weaves a common thread through the literature on the use of derivatives that covers economics, accounting, and finance. We present empirical evidence from extant research that shows the use of derivatives by U.S. non-financial firms has increased over time. We review the basic theory of hedging based on costly external finance that provides a basis for organizing and detailing the empirical evidence on derivatives use. The econometric evidence indicates the importance of costly external finance in determining derivatives use and provides support for the view that non-financial firms use derivatives for hedging. Our review also touches on some macroeconomic implications of derivatives use, suggesting that the use of derivative instruments may moderate the impact of monetary policy shocks.
A Parallel Adaptive Treecode Algorithm for Evolution of Elastically Stressed Solids

The evolution of precipitates in stressed solids is modeled by coupling a quasi-steady diffusion equation and a linear elasticity equation with dynamic bound- ary conditions. The governing equations are solved numerically using a boundary integral method (BIM). A critical step in applying BIM is to develop fast algorithms to reduce the arithmetic operation count of matrix-vector multiplications. In this paper, we develop a fast adaptive treecode algorithm for the diffusion and elasticity problems in two dimensions (2D). We present a novel source dividing strategy to parallelize the treecode. Numerical results show that the speedup factor is nearly perfect up to a moderate number of processors. This approach of parallelization can be readily imple- mented in other treecodes using either uniform or non-uniform point distribution. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the treecode by computing the long-time evolution of a complicated microstructure in elastic media, which would be extremely difficult with a direct summation method due to CPU time constraint. The treecode speeds up com- putations dramatically while fulfilling the stringent precision requirement dictated by the spectrally accurate BIM. AMS subject classifications: 65D30, 65N35, 74B05
Distribution of Floodwater Mosquito Eggs and an Analysis of Their Association with Edaphic Parameters of a Floodwater Mosquito Breeding Area in Duplin County, North Carolina

A field investigation was conducted near Kenansville, Duplin County, N.C., to determine the distribution of floodwater mosquito eggs and their association with selected edaphic parameters of a woodland depression. Soil samples were collected, analyzed chemically and densiometrically, and examined for mosquito eggs. Spatial distribution of eggs was found to fit the negative binomial model. Ninety-three percent of eggs were identified as Psorophora ferox (Humboldt). No significant correlations were found between individual edaphic parameters and number of eggs per sample. Values for edaphic parameters were converted into principal components and regressed against egg abundance data using standard linear regression techniques. Generally, principal components tested were not significant and models had low predictability ( R 2 values). Therefore, within the range of variation detected, we found no association between the independent edaphic variables investigated and density of floodwater mosquito eggs.
Precise Control of Shrinking Rate during Sintering

A technique for precise control of shrinking rate up to high densities during sintering has been developed using a specially designed dilatometer. The detected shrinkage was periodically fed into a microcomputer system to calculate heating rate as a control parameter by a function optimized for densification behavior. By improving the accuracy of shrinkage measurement and optimizing the control function, the shrinking rate could be controlled within the accuracy of ±3% up to high densities above 95%. It was possible to reduce the grain size of sintered bodies remarkably by this precise control. This technique also contains the multi-step and functional controls of shrinking rate according to preset profiles as a function of time or shrinkage, where the accuracy was ±5% to the density more than 96%.
Application of grey model in prediction of tuberculosis incidence

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis in Baiyun District of Guagnzhoubetween 2009 and 2013 to predict the incidence of tuberculosis in Baiyun District in 2014. Methods The method ofdescriptive epidemiology was used to analyze epidemiologic characteristics of tuberculosis in Baiyun District between 2009 and2013.The grey model GM(1,1) was employed to predict the incidence of tuberculosis in Baiyun District in 2014. Results There were 12 406 tuberculosis cases reported in Baiyun District between 2009 and 2013. The average annual incidence rateof tuberculosis was 111.96/100 000. Tuberculosis infections mainly concentrated in age group of young adults mainly includingpeasant workers, farmers, etc in areas of townships and remote countryside. According to the Based on the incidence oftuberculosis in Baiyun District between 2009 and 2013, the predicted incidence of tuberculosis in Baiyun Distirct in 2014 was82.43/100 000. Conclusion The incidence of tuberculosis in Baiyun district in 2014 was predicted based on the results ofincidence of tuberculosis in Baiyun district in 2009~2013 to have offered evidence for making tuberculosis control measures.
Regulatory and Legislative Issues in Transfusion Medicine

The blood supply in the United States is safer than ever, following implementation of more restrictive donor screening and additional tests for infectious agents. Because of AIDS, however, there is a heightened awareness that blood transfusion is not an entirely benign therapy. Increased public concern about disease transmission through blood transfusion has led to closer monitoring of blood banks by federal regulatory agencies and more interaction between the agencies and Congress on blood- related issues. Regulatory and legislative issues in transfusion medicine also are described in this article.
Prevalence of the 23S rRNA A2058G point mutation and molecular subtypes in Treponema pallidum in the United States, 2007 to 2009.

BACKGROUND The 23S rRNA A2058G point mutation in Treponema pallidum is associated with macrolide antibiotic treatment failure. Its prevalence and potential association with a molecular subtype within the United States are unknown. METHODS During 2007 to 2009, 11 clinics across the United States sent samples from genital ulcers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Molecular techniques were used to identify T. pallidum DNA sequences, the A2058G mutation, and subtype of T. pallidum. Accompanying epidemiologic information was abstracted from medical records. RESULTS A total of 141 samples with T. pallidum were collected from individuals whose median age was 33 years (range, 13-68 years): 118 were male (69% reported as men having sex with men [MSM]). The A2058G mutation was carried in 75 samples (53%) with T. pallidum, with samples from MSM (versus women and other men) more likely carrying the A2058G mutation (65/82 samples versus 8/57 samples; prevalence ratio, 5.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-10.8). Of 98 strain-typed samples, 61 (62%) were the 14d9 subtype of T. pallidum, which was also associated with samples with T. pallidum from MSM (prevalence ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-6.5). However, among T. pallidum from MSM, the A2058G mutation was not associated with the 14d9 subtype. CONCLUSIONS The A2058G mutation and 14d9 subtype of T. pallidum were present throughout the United States. Both were more commonly found in T. pallidum from MSM compared with women or other men but were not associated with each other. Treating syphilis with azithromycin should be done cautiously and only when treatment with penicillin or doxycycline is not feasible.
Prevention of patient falls in hospitals in the Czech Republic.

Theory The prevention of patient falls is one of the safety goals set forth by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. Goal A sociological survey was carried out to (1) determine to what extent nurses identify the risk of patient falls at admission, (2) if the risk is reassessed and at what intervals, (3) what preventive measures were taken, and (4) in what way are patient falls reported. Methodology A representative sample consisting of general nurses working shifts on inpatient wards at hospitals in the Czech Republic was surveyed. Altogether 772 nurses took part in the study. Results The survey showed that at admission, most nurses assessed the risk of falls (91.6%). Nonetheless, it should stand as a stark warning that nearly one fifth of the respondents (16.2%) did not reassess the risk of falls after admission! On the other hand, it can be perceived as a positive that most nurses (70.1%) use a multifaceted program of preventive measures for at risk patients and immediately reported fall events to the doctor in charge (71.4%). During statistical testing, the predication that a working atmosphere supporting a culture of patient safety would significantly decrease the probability of patient falls and increases the willingness of nurses to use preventive programs in daily practice. Conclusion Results from the survey showed that a system to minimalize fall risks has been successfully introduced into the hospitals of the Czech Republic. The system is based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic.
Predictive-RANSAC: An effective data fitting and tracking method with application in curve tracking in video

In this paper, we propose the Predictive RANSAC algorithm to efficiently fit measurement data in the presence of outliers and track the model with a Kalman filter. We model the measurement data by a mixture of Gaussian-Uniform random processes. We estimate the covariance of the inlier data and the weighting factor of the mixture once the best fitting is found. A Kalman filter predicts the location of the model and generates the confidence interval using the prediction error. Each RANSAC iteration begins with an initial guess using the Kalman filter prediction result and searches for inliers in the confidence interval. The Kalman filter makes updates based on the model produced by RANSAC , and also tunes parameters such as noise covariance using the RANSAC algorithm. In this way, the two components work together to improve overall performance. This algorithm is designed to be computational efficient and can be implemented on embedded systems hardware. We apply the Predictive RANSAC algorithm to detect road boundaries in video. The experimental results on a PC show that it is able to run much faster than real-time. The accuracy of our approach is proved using simulations and manually labeled video clips of lanes under a variety of shapes and road conditions.
Culture and Gender: Effects on Assertive Behavior and Communication Competence

(1986). Culture and Gender: Effects on Assertive Behavior and Communication Competence. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 9, Communication Yearbook 9, pp. 576-592.
Technological Education for the Rural Community (TERC) Project: Technical Mathematics for the Advanced Manufacturing Technician

ABSTRACTHopkinsville Community College’s Technological Education for the Rural Community (TERC) project is funded through the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education (NSF ATE) division. It is advancing innovative educational pathways for technological education promoted at the community college level serving rural communities to fill highly technical positions. Deficiencies in mathematics preparation and access to meaningful math program content were identified as barriers to educational attainment for the technician. Math courses were hybridized to deliver material in class with an online component. Didactic content was employed using portable media that students without Internet could use outside of class. Materials were contextualized using problem-based learning focusing on curriculum requirements relating to industry-specific problem solving with relevant examples that are of use to the technician. Interdepartmental and industrial collaborations were conducted to incorporate hand...
Language and Communication—II: The View from ’74

The study of aggression is a most important facet of modern behavioral interests. Its understanding and control is necessary to ensure our very continuity. It is a part of our existence which has nonetheless eluded deep understanding in spite of its having attracted concern and attention in the political, psychological, and philosophical traditions to which we are heir.
"It doesn't seem to make sense for a company that sells cigarettes to help smokers stop using them": A case study of Philip Morris's involvement in smoking cessation.

Background In the late 1990s, American tobacco companies began offering limited cessation assistance to smokers by posting links on their company websites to government-sponsored smoking cessation resources. Philip Morris USA (PM) went further, funding youth cessation programs and creating its own online cessation program, QuitAssist. We explore why PM entered the cessation arena, and describe the variety of options considered and how PM-supported cessation programs were evaluated and promoted. Methods We retrieved and analyzed archival PM documents from 1998–2005. We supplemented information from the documents with scholarly articles assessing QuitAssist and archived versions of the PM and QuitAssist websites. Results PM’s Youth Smoking Prevention department began funding youth cessation projects and programs soon after its creation in 1998, motivated by the same issue that drove its interest in youth smoking prevention: regulatory threats posed by public and policymaker concern about youth smoking. The department took a similar approach to youth smoking cessation as it did with prevention, rejecting curricula with “anti-industry” themes. In 2002, a “cessation exploration team” examined a variety of rationales for and approaches to company support for adult smoking cessation. Ultimately, PM chose QuitAssist, a limited and less expensive option that nonetheless provided opportunities for engagement with a variety of public health and government officials. Independent research indicates that QuitAssist is not an effective cessation tool. Conclusions While the transformation of ambitious plans into a mundane final product is a recurring theme with PM’s corporate responsibility efforts, it would be inappropriate to dismiss PM’s smoking cessation endeavors as half-hearted attempts to appear responsible. Such endeavors have the potential to inflict real harm by competing with more effective programs and by helping to maintain a tobacco-favorable policy environment. If PM truly wanted to support cessation, it could drop legal and other challenges to public policies that discourage smoking.
Variation in Rising Limb of Colorado River Snowmelt Runoff Hydrograph Controlled by Dust Radiative Forcing in Snow

Author(s): Painter, TH; Skiles, SMK; Deems, JS; Brandt, WT; Dozier, J | Abstract: Common practice and conventional wisdom hold that fluctuations in air temperature control interannual variability in snowmelt and subsequent river runoff. However, recent observations in the Upper Colorado River Basin confirm that net solar radiation and by extension radiative forcing by dust deposited on snow cover exerts the primary forcing on snowmelt. We show that the variation in the shape of the rising limb of the annual hydrograph is controlled by variability in dust radiative forcing and surprisingly is independent of variations in winter and spring air temperatures. These observations suggest that hydroclimatic modeling must be improved to account for aerosol forcings of the water cycle. Anthropogenic climate change will likely reduce total snow accumulations and cause snowmelt runoff to occur earlier. However, dust radiative forcing of snowmelt is likely consuming important adaptive capacity that would allow human and natural systems to be more resilient to changing hydroclimatic conditions.
A Comparison of the Accuracy of Clinician Prediction of Survival Versus the Palliative Prognostic Index

Abstract Context Survival predictions for advanced cancer patients impact many aspects of care, but the accuracy of clinician prediction of survival (CPS) is low. Prognostic tools such as the Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) have been proposed to improve accuracy of predictions. However, it is not known if PPI is better than CPS at discriminating survival. Objective We compared the prognostic accuracy of CPS to PPI in patients with advanced cancer. Methods This was a prospective study in which palliative care physicians at our tertiary care cancer center documented both the PPI and CPS in hospitalized patients with advanced cancer. We compared the discrimination of CPS and PPI using concordance statistics, area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC), net reclassification index, and integrated discrimination improvement for 30-day survival and 100-day survival. Results Two hundred fifteen patients were enrolled with a median survival of 109 days and a median follow-up of 239 days. The AUC for 30-day survival was 0.76 (95% CI 0.66–0.85) for PPI and 0.58 (95% CI 0.47–0.68) for CPS ( P P = 0.0005). CPS and PPI had similar accuracy for 100-day survival (AUC 0.62 vs. 0.64; P = 0.58). Conclusion We found that PPI was more accurate than CPS when used to discriminate survival at 30 days, but not at 100 days. This study highlights the reason and timing for using PPI to facilitate survival predictions.
Graph2Seq: Scalable Learning Dynamics for Graphs

Neural networks have been shown to be an effective tool for learning algorithms over graph-structured data. However, graph representation techniques---that convert graphs to real-valued vectors for use with neural networks---are still in their infancy. Recent works have proposed several approaches (e.g., graph convolutional networks), but these methods have difficulty scaling and generalizing to graphs with different sizes and shapes. We present Graph2Seq, a new technique that represents vertices of graphs as infinite time-series. By not limiting the representation to a fixed dimension, Graph2Seq scales naturally to graphs of arbitrary sizes and shapes. Graph2Seq is also reversible, allowing full recovery of the graph structure from the sequences. By analyzing a formal computational model for graph representation, we show that an unbounded sequence is necessary for scalability. Our experimental results with Graph2Seq show strong generalization and new state-of-the-art performance on a variety of graph combinatorial optimization problems.
Mortality, Length of Stay, and Cost of Weekend Admissions.

BACKGROUND Apparent increase in mortality associated with being admitted to hospital on a weekend compared to weekdays has led to controversial policy changes to weekend staffing in the United Kingdom. Studies in the United States have been inconclusive and diagnosis specific, and whether to implement such changes is subject to ongoing debate. OBJECTIVE To compare mortality, length of stay, and cost between patients admitted on weekdays and weekends. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING National Inpatient Sample, an administrative claims database of a 20% stratified sample of discharges from all hospitals participating in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. PATIENTS Adult patients who were emergently admitted from 2012 to 2014. INTERVENTION The primary predictor was whether the admission was on a weekday or weekend. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcomes were length of stay and cost. RESULTS We included 13,505,396 patients in our study. After adjusting for demographics and disease severity, we found a small difference in inpatient mortality rates on weekends versus weekdays (odds ratio [OR] 1.029; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.020-1.039; P < .001). There was a statistically significant but clinically small decrease in length of stay (2.24%; 95% CI, 2.16-2.33; P < .001) and cost (1.14%; 95% CI, 1.05-1.24; P < .001) of weekend admissions. A subgroup analysis of the most common weekend diagnoses showed substantial heterogeneity between diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS Differences in mortality of weekend admissions may be attributed to underlying differences in patient characteristics and severity of illness and is subject to large between-diagnoses heterogeneity. Increasing weekend services may not result in desired reduction in inpatient mortality rate.
A Blended Fictitious/Real Domain Decomposition Method for Partially Axisymmetric Exterior Helmholtz Problems with Dirichlet Boundary Conditions

We blend a fictitious domain decomposition method and the FETI-H substructuring algorithm to construct a fast finite element based solver for exterior Helmholtz problems characterized by partially axisymmetric and sound-soft scatterers. We highlight the computational merits of this solver, and demonstrate between one and two orders of magnitude reduction of the CPU time associated with the straightforward solution of such exterior Helmholtz problems.
Facial paralysis associated with osteopetrosis (marble bones)

Summary A syndrome of facial paralysis with osteopetrosis is reported in a boy who developed facial paralysis at 11 years of age. He was one of 13 males in 5 generations of the same family, all of whom developed the facial paralysis at about the same age. Roentgenographic evidence of bony encroachment on the seventh nerve in the region of the stylomastoid foramen was shown. It is suggested that when the underlying cause of facial paralysis in a child seems obscure, osteopetrosis be considered and explored as a possible etiologic factor.
NEW RESULTS IN STOCHASTIC EQUATIONS - THE NONLINEAR CASE

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses nonlinear equations in abstract spaces. Although basic laws generally lead to nonlinear differential and integral equations in many areas, linear approximations are usually employed for mathematical tractability and the use of superposition. Where nonlinear systems must be solved, perturbation theory is classically used which can be a severe restriction. A further substantial difficulty is that real systems generally involve uncertainties and fluctuations and are consequently to be considered as stochastic system. The objective then must be to consider nonlinear stochastic systems to allow more realistic modeling. Earlier papers have studied objectives, limitations, and necessary restrictive assumptions for the various methods for solution of linear stochastic differential equations arising in physical problems. An iterative procedure was developed using the concept of stochastic Green's functions and allowing treatment of a wide class of problems without many of the limitations inherent in other methods or restrictive assumptions involving highly special processes.
Patients following their echoes: the effect of telemedicine on institutional referral patterns.

Abstract Increasing market share by attracting patient referrals has long been cited as a justification for implementing telemedicine. METHODS: At the onset of this study, there were two level III NICUs in North Carolina that did not have on-site cardiology support. During the study period, both institutions set up telemedicine links to the University of North Carolina Health Care System for the provision of rapid cardiology support. OBJECTIVE: This paper tests the hypothesis that telemedicine was associated with an increase in the percentage of newborn referrals transferred to UNC instead of the other academic medical centers. RESULTS: Analysis of a total of 201 transfers over a three and a half year period shows that the percentage of acute transfers to UNC increased from 58 % during the pre-intervention phase to 86 % in the post-intervention phase (p = 0.001). An increase in transfers to UNC was observed from both of the level III centers. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine was an effective tool to attract patient referrals in a competitive tertiary care environment.
Visualizing the commonalities between hierarchically structured data queries

In this paper we present an information visualization approach for visualizing the intersection between multiple feature hierarchies. In cases where a dataset has multiple complex features of interest, especially ones that have been hierarchically clustered, it is often very difficult to grasp the commonalities between them. Understanding the overlap between features can help researchers discover correlations or hot spots in their data. Our method steps back from actual data features, simplifying their representation, and presenting them in a fashion which facilitates interpretation of their inter-feature relationships. We call this new representation a knowledge graph, and we show how it can be used to investigate the overlap of multiple features in a photo database and a social network dataset.
Resurrection: Iran’s Non-State Foreign Policy in 1977–79

With the termination of Iran’s support for the Iraqi Kurds and the Lebanese Shia, Iran’s non-state foreign policy apparently came to an end. Nevertheless, Pahlavi Iran unsuccessfully tried to revive its connections with the both Kurdish and Shia non-state actors. Convinced by SAVAK and the Israelis, the Shah planned to contain rising Iraq post-1975 by reallocating supplies to the Iraqi Kurds. At the same time, he tried to revive Iran’s relations with Sadr. Nonetheless, the waves of the Islamic Revolution aborted both plans.
Long-term effects of melatonin after intracerebral hemorrhage in rats.

Free radical scavengers have been shown to improve short-term outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether melatonin (a potent free radical scavenger and an indirect antioxidant) can improve short- and=or long-term neurological function after ICH, which was induced by collagenase injection into the striatum of adult rats. Melatonin (15mg/kg) was administered by intra-peritoneal injection at 1, 24, 48, and 72h. Neurological and behavioral testing was performed at several time points from 1 day to 8 weeks post-ICH. Neurological and behavioral deficits were observed in ICH rats at all time points, but the melatonin treatment regimen did not improve performance or level of brain injury.
Intestinal Absorption of Calcium: Basic Aspects

Intestinal calcium absorption is the resultant of two types of movement: peristaltic movement by the chyme from stomach to colon and movement across the epithelium of solubilized calcium all along the intestine. Transepithelial movement in turn involved two processes: (i) a saturable process that requires metabolic energy and by which calcium is moved across the mucosal cell, and (ii) a concentration-dependent, non-saturable process that does not appear regulated. The saturable process is encountered in the proximal portion of the intestine, mostly the duodenum. The non-saturable process prevails throughout the intestine. Thus, in the duodenum and upper jejunum calcium moves transepithelially by a combination of saturable and non-saturable processes, in the lower jejunum and ileum, calcium moves across the epithelium largely by the nonsaturable, concentration-dependent process1−4.
Metrics for Translation Quality Assessment: A Case for Standardising Error Typologies

Translation quality assessment (TQA) has suffered from a lack of standard methods. Starting in 2012, the Multidimensional Quality Metrics (MQM) and Dynamic Quality Framework (DQF) projects independently began to address the need for such shared methods. In 2014 these approaches were integrated, centring on a shared error typology (the “DQF/MQM Error Typology”) that brought them together. This approach to quality evaluation provides a common vocabulary to describe and categorise translation errors and to create translation quality metrics that tie translation quality to specifications. This approach is currently (as of 2018) in the standardisation process at ASTM International and has seen significant uptake in industry, research, and academia. By bringing together disparate strands of quality assessment into a unified systematic framework, it offers a way to escape the inconsistency and subjectivity that have so far characterised TQA.
Design of InGaN-ZnSnN2 quantum wells for high-efficiency amber light emitting diodes

InGaN-ZnSnN2 based quantum wells (QWs) structure is proposed and studied as an active region for high efficiency amber (λ ∼ 600 nm) light emitting diodes (LEDs), which remains a great challenge in pure InGaN based LEDs. In the proposed InGaN-ZnSnN2 QW heterostructure, the thin ZnSnN2 layer serves as a confinement layer for the hole wavefunction utilizing the large band offset at the InGaN-ZnSnN2 interface in the valence band. The barrier layer is composed of GaN or AlGaN/GaN in which the thin AlGaN layer is used for a better confinement of the electron wavefunction in the conduction band. Utilizing the properties of band offsets between ZnSnN2 and InGaN, the design of InGaN-ZnSnN2 QW allows us to use much lower In-content (∼10%) to reach peak emission wavelength at 600 nm, which is unachievable in conventional InGaN QW LEDs. Furthermore, the electron-hole wavefunction overlap (Γe-h) for the InGaN-ZnSnN2 QW design is significantly increased to 60% vs. 8% from that of the conventional InGaN QW emitting at the same wavelength. The tremendous enhancement in electron-hole wavefunction overlap results in ∼225× increase in the spontaneous emission radiative recombination rate of the proposed QW as compared to that of the conventional one using much higher In-content. The InGaN-ZnSnN2 QW structure design provides a promising route to achieve high efficiency amber LEDs.InGaN-ZnSnN2 based quantum wells (QWs) structure is proposed and studied as an active region for high efficiency amber (λ ∼ 600 nm) light emitting diodes (LEDs), which remains a great challenge in pure InGaN based LEDs. In the proposed InGaN-ZnSnN2 QW heterostructure, the thin ZnSnN2 layer serves as a confinement layer for the hole wavefunction utilizing the large band offset at the InGaN-ZnSnN2 interface in the valence band. The barrier layer is composed of GaN or AlGaN/GaN in which the thin AlGaN layer is used for a better confinement of the electron wavefunction in the conduction band. Utilizing the properties of band offsets between ZnSnN2 and InGaN, the design of InGaN-ZnSnN2 QW allows us to use much lower In-content (∼10%) to reach peak emission wavelength at 600 nm, which is unachievable in conventional InGaN QW LEDs. Furthermore, the electron-hole wavefunction overlap (Γe-h) for the InGaN-ZnSnN2 QW design is significantly increased to 60% vs. 8% from that of the conventional InGaN QW emitting at t...
Primary care provider adherence to an alert for intensification of diabetes blood pressure medications before and after the addition of a “chart closure” hard stop

Author(s): Ramirez, Magaly; Maranon, Richard; Fu, Jeffery; Chon, Janet S; Chen, Kimberly; Mangione, Carol M; Moreno, Gerardo; Bell, Douglas S | Abstract: ObjectiveTo evaluate provider responses to a narrowly targeted "Best Practice Advisory" (BPA) alert for the intensification of blood pressure medications for persons with diabetes before and after implementation of a "chart closure" hard stop, which is non-interruptive but demands an action or dismissal before the chart can be closed.Materials and methodsWe designed a BPA that fired alerts within an electronic health record (EHR) system during outpatient encounters for patients with diabetes when they had elevated blood pressures and were not on angiotensin receptor blocking medications. The BPA alerts were implemented in eight primary care practices within UCLA Health. We compared data on provider responses to the alerts before and after implementing a "chart closure" hard stop, and we conducted chart reviews to adjudicate each alert's appropriateness.ResultsProviders responded to alerts more often after the "chart closure" hard stop was implemented (P l .001). Among 284 alert firings over 16 months, we judged 107 (37.7%) to be clinically unnecessary or inappropriate based on chart review. Among the remainder, which represent clear opportunities for treatment, providers ordered the indicated medication more often (41% vs 75%) after the "chart closure" hard stop was implemented (P = .001).DiscussionThe BPA alerts for diabetes and blood pressure control achieved relatively high specificity. The "chart closure" hard stop improved provider attention to the alerts and was effective at getting patients treated when they needed it.ConclusionTargeting specific omitted medication classes can produce relatively specific alerts that may reduce alert fatigue, and using a "chart closure" hard stop may prompt providers to take action without excessively disrupting their workflow.
Guidance on Drug Substance Particle Size Controls for Solid Oral Dose Forms

Drug substance particle size is a critical property affecting drug product performance. Smaller particles dissolve faster and may improve bioavailability of the drug as a result. Smaller particles are typically dispersed more uniformly, leading to lower inter-tablet potency variation. Unfortunately, smaller particles can also result in poor powder handling characteristics or other processing issues. For example, powders can fail to flow through hoppers or stick to tooling surfaces, leading to poor tablet weight uniformity or tablet appearance issues. During crystallization, smaller particles can also be difficult to filter from the crystallization media. This can lead to higher levels of residual solvents and other impurities. Particle design and size selection are therefore critical to achieving a balance between manufacturability, bioavailability, and content uniformity. In this chapter, the impact of particle size on bioavailability is introduced and the impact on content uniformity is considered in depth. Control of the variability of tablet potency is discussed in relation to the overall particle size distribution. The risk-based selection of a positive control such as a screen to limit the maximum allowable particle size is discussed in relation to the occurrence of rare, but highly super-potent tablets.
P&O Control of a Photovoltaic Pumping System to Efficiency Improvement using PSIM

Solar pump installed along the sun is one of the most economically viable photovoltaic applications in remote areas, because the photovoltaic energy is used directly from photovoltaic panels without conversion or storage. The particularity of the pump system installed, that their characteristics (flow rate, head, power, rotation speed) depends on solar irradiations which varies over the days and seasons of the year. Pumps installed in this system have to be checked and controlled instantly to keep to them working with the best efficiency. In this work, we used the P& O MPPT control, which is one the most MPPT control technics commonly used to track the maximum power point of a photovoltaic (PV) system. The simulation of the whole system has been performed by PSIM software. The obtained results show in real time the behavior of the pumping system under different irradiation and conditions and the amount of water delivered.
Engaging the Public with and Preserving the History of Texas’s First Public Historically Black University

The silences and erasures surrounding the histories of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in many instances are caused by limited technology, lack of financial resources, and, most importantly, institutional priorities. Many aspects of HBCUs’ histories, particularly in the state of Texas, have been relegated to historical voids or are becoming endangered knowledge. These are the issues that jeopardize the long and rich history of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), Texas’s first public supported historically black university, which dates back to the post-Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras of American history. Emancipated blacks in Texas sought all avenues available to them to obtain an education, including establishing churches and schools. Freed people’s efforts culminated in the creation of Alta Vista School for Colored Youth, which subsequently became PVAMU following several name changes. During the Jim Crow era, PVAMU served as the administrative home base for black education in the state of Texas, offered agricultural extension services to black farmers, and served as the central facility for black grade school athletics and extracurricular activities. Due to lack of personnel and resources, all of the archival collections that document this history are unprocessed and unavailable to the public. This article considers the collaborative efforts of the history faculty and the Special Collections and Archives (SCAD) staff at PVAMU to bring light to this important history through preservation projects, public programming and student engagement activities. Additionally, the article uses endangered archival materials from PVAMU’s Special Collections to explore the history of this important institution of higher education.
Parameter Identification of Blimp Dynamics through Swinging Motion

Indoor miniature autonomous blimp (MAB) is a small-sized aerial platform with outstanding safety and flight endurance. A detailed six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) dynamics model is critical for controller design and motion simulation. This paper presents the identification of the rotation-related parameters of the blimp dynamics model through swing motion of the robot. A pendulum-like grey box model is constructed to identify the parameters from physical measurements and system identification experiments. The pendulum-like dynamics model with identified parameters is then linearized for future controller design and validated with experimental data.
Tobacco Control Policy Analysis in China: Economics and Health

Prevalence of Smoking in China (G H Yang) Economic Burden of Smoking in China, 2000 (H Y Sung et al.) Cigarette Taxation in China: Lesson for International Experiences (T W Hu) The Role of Government in Tobacco Leaf Production in China: National and Local Interventions (T W Hu et al.) Effect of Cigarette Tax on Cigarette Consumption in the Chinese Economy (T W Hu & Z Mao) Cigarette Smoking and Poverty in China (Y Liu et al.) Smoking, Standard of Living, and Poverty in China (T W Hu et al.) China at the Crossroads: The Economics of Tobacco and Health (T W Hu et al.) and other papers.
Numerical analysis of periodic laminar and fibrous media undergoing a jamming transition

Abstract Materials capable of dramatically changing their stiffness along specific directions in response to an external stimulus can enable the design of novel robots that can quickly switch between soft/highly–deformable and rigid/load–bearing states. While the jamming transition in discrete media has recently been demonstrated to be a powerful mechanism to achieve such variable stiffness, the lack of numerical tools capable of predicting the mechanical response of jammed media subjected to arbitrary loading conditions has limited the advancement of jamming-based robots. To overcome this limitation, we introduce a 3D finite–element-based numerical tool that predicts the mechanical response of pressurized, infinitely–extending discrete media subjected to arbitrary loading conditions. We demonstrate the capabilities of our numerical tool by investigating the response of periodic laminar and fibrous media subjected to various types of loadings. We expect this work to foster further numerical studies on jamming–based soft robots and structures by facilitating their design, as well as providing a foundation for combining various types of jamming media to create a new generation of tunable composites.
Location-leaking through Network Traffic in Mobile Augmented Reality Applications

Mobile Augmented Reality (AR) applications allow the user to interact with virtual objects positioned within the real world via a smart phone, tablet or smart glasses. As the popularity of these applications grows, recent researchers have identified several security and privacy issues pertaining to the collection and storage of sensitive data from device sensors. Location-based AR applications typically not only collect user location data, but transmit it to a remote server in order to download nearby virtual content. In this paper we show that the pattern of network traffic generated by this process alone can be used to infer the user's location. We demonstrate a side-channel attack against a widely available Mobile AR application inspired by Website Fingerprinting methods. Through the strategic placement of virtual content and prerecording of the network traffic produced by interacting with this content, we are able to identify the location of a user within the target area with an accuracy of 94%. This finding reveals a previously unexplored vulnerability in the implementation of Mobile AR applications and we offer several recommendations to mitigate this threat.
Imaging in Localized Bladder Cancer: Can Current Diagnostic Modalities Provide Accurate Local Tumor Staging?

Local tumor staging is paramount in the evaluation and management of bladder cancer. While neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy and urinary diversion remains the gold standard for management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, bladder-sparing regimens involving systemic chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy remain a viable option for select patients. Moreover, pre-cystectomy identification of patients with a complete response to NAC may obviate the need for radical cystectomy, but accurate post-therapy staging can be difficult to achieve. Contemporary imaging techniques may provide additional benefit in local tumor staging beyond standard imaging and cystoscopic biopsy. Our purpose is to summarize the ability of different imaging modalities to accurately stage bladder cancer patients in the treatment-naive and post-chemotherapy settings. Contemporary investigations have been studying multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) in the evaluation of bladder cancer. Its recent incorporation into bladder cancer staging is mainly being assessed in treatment-naive patients; however, different sequences are being studied to assess their accuracy after the introduction of chemotherapy and possibly radiation. Multiple recent studies incorporating cystoscopy and biopsy are proving to be less accurate than originally predicted. Imaging has generally had a very limited role in guiding therapy in localized bladder cancer, but with the incorporation of newer sequences and techniques, imaging is poised to become vital in decision-making strategies of this cancer. Reliable local tumor staging through improved imaging may help better select patients for bladder-sparing treatments while maintaining optimized oncologic outcomes and allow this paradigm to become more acceptable in the urologic oncology community.
Frequency-Domain Quantum Processing via Four-Wave Mixing

We report quantum frequency translation with near unity efficiency and low noise via Bragg-scattering four-wave mixing. We demonstrate several applications including deterministic generation of single photons via frequency multiplexing and frequency-domain Hong-Ou-Mandel interference.
Ultrasonic signals associated with different types of social behavior of mice

Communication plays an integral role in human social dynamics and is impaired in several neurodevelopmental disorders. Mice are used to study the neurobiology of social behavior; however, the extent to which mouse vocalizations influence social dynamics has remained elusive because it is difficult to identify the vocalizing animal among mice involved in a group interaction. By tracking the ultrasonic vocal behavior of individual mice and using an algorithm developed to group phonically similar signals, we showed that distinct patterns of vocalization emerge as male mice perform specific social actions. Mice dominating other mice were more likely to emit different vocal signals than mice avoiding social interactions. Furthermore, we showed that the patterns of vocal expression influence the behavior of the socially engaged partner but do not influence the behavior of other animals in the cage. These findings clarify the function of mouse communication by revealing a communicative ultrasonic signaling repertoire.
Radar-Absorbent Material and Radar Cross Section

Radiation-absorbent material, usually known as RAM, is a material which has been specially designed and shaped to absorb incident RF radiation, as effectively as possible, from as many incident directions as possible. The more effective the RAM, the lower the resulting level of reflected radio-frequency (RF) radiation. Many measurements in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and antenna radiation patterns require that spurious signals arising from the test setup, including reflections, are negligible to avoid the risk of causing measurement errors and ambiguities. Radar cross section (RCS) of a target is also subject of this chapter, where this phenomenon is the ratio of the radar power scattered by the target in the direction of the radar receive antenna to the power density incident on the target.
Thermodynamic equilibrium and kinetic fundamentals of oxide dissolution in aqueous solution

Dissolution of oxides in aqueous solutions is fundamentally important for a range of applications and a critical process that determines the chemical durability of industrial ceramics, the performance of nuclear waste forms, and the chemical weathering of minerals. The thermodynamic equilibrium and kinetics of dissolution reactions are key to determining the rate at which oxides dissolve. The increase in collaborative research across disciplines in materials research necessitates a common background to tackle shared scientific problems across different fields. This review selectively examines the fundamentals of dissolution theories that have been developed in chemistry, geochemistry, and materials science, and assembles them into a single collective document for the broader materials science community. Applications of the theories are highlighted using examples from specific areas, but can be similarly applied to other areas. Challenges and future research needs for a predictive-level understanding are discussed in light of the current literature.