cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incompressible multiphase flow and encapsulation simulations using the moment-of-fluid method

Summary A moment-of-fluid method is presented for computing solutions to incompressible multiphase flows in which the number of materials can be greater than two. In this work, the multimaterial moment-of-fluid interface representation technique is applied to simulating surface tension effects at points where three materials meet. The advection terms are solved using a directionally split cell integrated semi-Lagrangian algorithm, and the projection method is used to evaluate the pressure gradient force term. The underlying computational grid is a dynamic block-structured adaptive grid. The new method is applied to multiphase problems illustrating contact-line dynamics, triple junctions, and encapsulation in order to demonstrate its capabilities. Examples are given in two-dimensional, three-dimensional axisymmetric (R–Z), and three-dimensional (X–Y–Z) coordinate systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contact manifolds and generalized complex structures

We give simple characterizations of contact 1-forms in terms of Dirac structures. We also relate normal almost contact structures to the theory of Dirac structures.
Hyoid Bone and Laryngeal Movement Dependent Upon Presence of a Tracheotomy Tube

The aim of this prospective, consecutive study was to investigate the biomechanical effects, if any, of the presence of a tracheotomy tube and tube cuff status, tube capping status, and aspiration status on movement of the hyoid bone and larynx during normal swallowing. Seven adult patients (5 male, 2 female) with an age range of 46–82 years (mean = 63 years) participated. Criteria for inclusion were no history of cancer of or surgery to the head and neck (except tracheotomy), normal cognition, normal swallowing, and ability to tolerate decannulation. Digital videofluoroscopic swallowing studies were performed at 30 frames/s and with each patient seated upright in the lateral plane. Variables evaluated included maximum hyoid bone displacement and larynx-to-hyoid bone approximation under three randomized conditions: tracheotomy tube in and open with a 5-cc air-inflated cuff; tracheotomy tube in and capped with deflated cuff; and tracheotomy tube out (decannulated). Differences between maximum hyoid bone displacement and larynx-to-hyoid approximation (cm) based on presence/absence of a tracheotomy tube, tube cuff status, and tube capping status were analyzed with the Student’s t test. Reliability testing with a Pearson product moment correlation was performed on 21% of the data. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found for both maximum hyoid bone displacement and larynx-to-hyoid bone approximation during normal swallowing based on tracheotomy tube presence, tube cuff status, or tube capping status. Intraobserver reliability for combined measurements of maximum hyoid displacement and larynx-to-hyoid approximation was r = 0.97 and interobserver reliability for the absence of aspiration was 100%. For the first time with objective data it was shown that the presence of a tracheotomy tube did not significantly alter two important components of normal pharyngeal swallow biomechanics, i.e., hyoid bone movement and laryngeal excursion. The hypothesis that a tracheotomy tube tethers the larynx thereby preventing hyoid bone and laryngeal movement during normal swallowing is not supported.
Evidence for a strong sulfur–aromatic interaction derived from crystallographic data

We have uncovered new evidence for a significant interaction between divalent sulfur atoms and aromatic rings. Our study involves a statistical analysis of interatomic distances and other geometric descriptors derived from entries in the Cambridge Crystallographic Database (F. H. Allen and O. Kennard, Chem. Design Auto. News, 1993, Vol. 8, pp. 1 and 31-37). A set of descriptors was defined sufficient in number and type so as to elucidate completely the preferred geometry of interaction between six-membered aromatic carbon rings and divalent sulfurs for all crystal structures of nonmetal-bearing organic compounds present in the database. In order to test statistical significance, analogous probability distributions for the interaction of the moiety X-CH(2)-X with aromatic rings were computed, and taken a priori to correspond to the null hypothesis of no significant interaction. Tests of significance were carried our pairwise between probability distributions of sulfur-aromatic interaction descriptors and their CH(2)-aromatic analogues using the Smirnov-Kolmogorov nonparametric test (W. W. Daniel, Applied Nonparametric Statistics, Houghton-Mifflin: Boston, New York, 1978, pp. 276-286), and in all cases significance at the 99% confidence level or better was observed. Local maxima of the probability distributions were used to define a preferred geometry of interaction between the divalent sulfur moiety and the aromatic ring. Molecular mechanics studies were performed in an effort to better understand the physical basis of the interaction. This study confirms observations based on statistics of interaction of amino acids in protein crystal structures (R. S. Morgan, C. E. Tatsch, R. H. Gushard, J. M. McAdon, and P. K. Warme, International Journal of Peptide Protein Research, 1978, Vol. 11, pp. 209-217; R. S. Morgan and J. M. McAdon, International Journal of Peptide Protein Research, 1980, Vol. 15, pp. 177-180; K. S. C. Reid, P. F. Lindley, and J. M. Thornton, FEBS Letters, 1985, Vol. 190, pp. 209-213), as well as studies involving molecular mechanics (G. Nemethy and H. A. Scheraga, Biochemistry and Biophysics Research Communications, 1981, Vol. 98, pp. 482-487) and quantum chemical calculations (B. V. Cheney, M. W. Schulz, and J. Cheney, Biochimica Biophysica Acta, 1989, Vol. 996, pp.116-124; J. Pranata, Bioorganic Chemistry, 1997, Vol. 25, pp. 213-219)-all of which point to the possible importance of the sulfur-aromatic interaction. However, the preferred geometry of the interaction, as determined from our analysis of the small-molecule crystal data, differs significantly from that found by other approaches.
Surface plasmon enhanced intermediate band based quantum dots solar cell

Abstract Surface plasmon enhancement effect is investigated in InAs/GaAs quantum dots solar cell. A nontrivial enhancement was observed in the photocurrent, quantum efficiency, and the spectral response of the solar cell. The surface plasmon was generated in gold or silver nanoparticles synthesized by a chemical reduction method. The coupling of the metallic nanoparticles to the surface of the solar cell was achieved by utilizing dithiol ligands in conjunction with thermal annealing process. The enhancement was observed in the entire spectral range covered by the solar cell (visible and near infrared spectral regions). This enhancement is attributed to photon scattering and trapping by the surface plasmon generated in the metallic nanoparticles.
Who Wants to Be a (Reading) Millionaire

Students' reading achievement is influenced by the amount of reading they actually do. In this column we present a workable and engaging model to increase the volume of student reading at home. A detailed outline of how teachers and schools can work with parents to implement the model is presented.
Electronic heat transport across a molecular wire: Power spectrum of heat fluctuations

With this study we analyze the fluctuations of an electronic heat current across a molecular wire. The wire is composed of a single energy level, which connects two leads that are held at different temperatures. By use of the Green function method we derive an explicit expression for the power spectral density of the emerging heat noise. This result assumes a form that is quite distinct from the power spectral density of the accompanying electric current noise. The complex expression simplifies considerably in the limit of zero frequency, yielding the heat noise intensity. The heat noise spectral density still depends on the frequency in the zero-temperature limit, assuming different asymptotic behaviors in the low- and high-frequency regions. These findings evidence that heat transport across molecular junctions can exhibit a rich structure beyond the common behavior that emerges in the linear response limit.
Some exact solutions of string theory in four and five dimensions

Abstract We find several classes of exact classical solutions of critical bosonic string theory, constructed as twisted products of one euclidean and one minkowskian 2D black hole coset. One class of these solutions leads (after tensoring with free scalars and supersymmetrizing) to a rotating version of the recently discovered exact black fivebrane. Another class represents a one-parameter family of axisymmetric stationary four-dimensional targets with horizons. Global properties and target duality f the solutions are briefly analyzed.
An analysis of edge fault tolerance in recursively decomposable regular networks

Fault tolerance of interconnection networks is one of the major considerations in evaluating the reliability of large scale multiprocessor systems. In the paper, the reliability of a family of regular networks with respect to edge failures is investigated using four different fault tolerance measures. Two probabilistic measures, resilience and restricted resilience, are developed, used to evaluate disconnection likelihoods using two different failure models, and compared with corresponding deterministic measures. The network topologies chosen for the present study all have the recursive decomposition property, where larger networks can be decomposed into copies of smaller networks of the same topology. This family of graphs includes the k-ary n-cube, star and cube connected cycle graphs, which have optimal deterministic connectivities. The probabilistic fault tolerance measures, however, are found to depend on topological properties such as network size and degree. >
The influence of reservoirs, climate, land use and hydrologic conditions on loads and chemical quality of dissolved organic carbon in the Colorado River

[1] Longitudinal patterns in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) loads and chemical quality were identified in the Colorado River from the headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to the United States–Mexico border from 1994 to 2011. Watershed- and reach-scale climate, land use, river discharge and hydrologic modification conditions that contribute to patterns in DOC were also identified. Principal components analysis (PCA) identified site-specific precipitation and reach-scale discharge as being correlated with sites in the upper basin, where there were increases in DOC load from the upstream to downstream direction. In the lower basin, where DOC load decreased from upstream to downstream, sites were correlated with site-specific temperature and reach-scale population, urban land use and hydrologic modification. In the reaches containing Lakes Powell and Mead, the two largest reservoirs in the United States, DOC quantity decreased, terrestrially derived aromatic DOC was degraded and/or autochthonous less aromatic DOC was produced. Taken together, these results suggest that longitudinal patterns in the relatively unregulated upper basin are influenced by watershed inputs of water and DOC, whereas DOC patterns in the lower basin are reflective of a balance between watershed contribution of water and DOC to the river and loss of water and DOC due to hydrologic modification and/or biogeochemical processes. These findings suggest that alteration of constituent fluxes in rivers that are highly regulated may overshadow watershed processes that would control fluxes in comparable unregulated rivers. Further, these results provide a foundation for detailed assessments of factors controlling the transport and chemical quality of DOC in the Colorado River.
The efficacy of behavior modeling: a comparison of face-to-face and online asynchronous software-training methods

In face-to-face software-training settings, the behavior-modeling method has been shown to be more effective than either instruction-based or exploration-based methods. Yet, in online asynchronous software-training settings the behavior-modeling method may not be superior. This study provides evidence as to the relative effectiveness of these three software-training methods for the online asynchronous environment. A field experiment was conducted adapting the three methods to an online asynchronous environment, and including a face-to-face behavior-modeling control condition. Results indicate that when conducting software training, it may be almost as effective to use an online asynchronous behavior-modeling method as it is to use a more costly face-to-face behavior-modeling method. Although somewhat better results sometimes are evident for face-to-face behavior-modeling, observed differences are not significant, nor are their patterns consistent. Within the limits of instrument translation concerns, there seems to be no significant interaction of learning style and training method on training performance or trainee reactions to their training. The study provides evidence as to the relative effectiveness of various methods, particularly those of online asynchronous nature, for software training. Within its limits, this research takes a first step in developing a strategy for online asynchronous software training.
Impact of cancer supportive care pathways compliance on emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor pathway compliance was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of neutropenia-related emergency department visits/hospitalizations and resulting costs.
Presurgical chemotherapy in patients being considered for liver resection.

The liver is a frequent site of metastatic disease for colorectal cancer patients. Approximately 15% of patients have liver metastases at diagnosis and another 50% develop metastatic disease to the liver over the course of their disease. Advances in systemic chemotherapy and surgical techniques for hepatic resection have led to longer survival times for these patients. There is no doubt that unresectable patients benefit from systemic chemotherapy. For patients who have resectable disease, the timing of chemotherapy is still not clear. This review addresses the pros and cons of presurgical chemotherapy. The benefits of preoperative chemotherapy include decreasing tumor size,
Atmospheric Concentrations of Submicron Contact-freezing Nuclei

Atmospheric concentrations of contact-freezing nuclei were measured using a technique primarily sensitive to submicron aerosol particles. Diffusion and phoretic forces were relied on for the capture of nuclei by supercooled drops of distilled water exposed to the sample air. Nucleus concentrations were deduced from the rate at which the drops were observed to freeze, interpreting that rate on the basis of a theoretical prediction of aerosol capture rate for different assumed sizes of the nuclei. Measurements at Laramie, Wyoming, yielded average concentrations of contact-freezing nuclei of 1.7/L at -15 C and 3.1/L at -18 C for an assumed radius of 0.01 micron for the nucleating particles.
Concepts and Representations of Musical Hierarchies

This paper undertakes a comparative study of concepts and visual representations of hierarchical aspects of musical structure. After consideration of the rhythmic components of grouping and meter, the discussion turns to pitch-event hierarchies and the tonal hierarchy (or pitch space). Contrasting notations are evaluated in terms of the efficacy of the concepts they exemplify.
Combined gas and supercritical fluid chromatography for the high resolution separation of volatile and nonvolatile compounds

Separation de melanges de composes organiques volatils et non volatils sur une seule colonne, en une seule etape continue
A Stain for the Simultaneous Demonstration of Collagen, Muscle, and Elastic Elements in Mammalian Tissue

A modified connective-tissue stain that provides visualization of collagen, muscle, and elastic elements in the same section is described. This method allows accurate morphometric measurements of intimal hyperplasia as well as provides more information about the architecture of atherosclerotic plaquesand myocardial infarcts.
Remote Collaborative Pseudo-dynamic Testing of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Retrofitted Reinforcement Concrete Short Columns of Bridge

Since the existing circle crossing reinforcement concrete short columns of bridge can't satisfy new seismic codes,retrofitted by Fiber Reinforced Plastic and loaded with an invariable axial force,the first domestic remote collaborative pseudo-dynamic testing of a whole bridge was carried out with a platform named NetSLab.The damage phenomena,ductility and energy dissipation of two shearing columns retrofitted by Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic were analyzed.The results indicated that Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic not only prevented brittle shearing damage of reinforcement concrete short columns,but also changed the damage mode to ductile bending damage.The stable hysteretic properties,energy dissipation capacities and seismic performances of reinforcement concrete short columns were effectively improved.
Air–sea gas exchange in the North Atlantic: 3He/SF6 experiment during GasEx-98

GasEx-98 was the first open-ocean process study where gas transfer velocity measurements were made with several robust techniques, including airside eddy covariance of CO 2 and deliberate injection of 3 He and SF 6 . While the CO 2 eddy covariance results have been fully analysed and publicised, leading to a boom in the use of this technique in the marine environment, the 3 He/SF 6 results have not received the same level of analysis. Here, based on new approaches that we have developed to analyse 3 He/SF 6 data in the subsequent years, we revisit the 3 He/SF 6 dual tracer results from GasEx-98 and show that they are consistent with the results from other parts of the coastal and open ocean, and that they are in agreement with current parameterisations between wind speed and gas exchange for slightly soluble gases over the ocean at intermediate wind speeds. Keywords: air–sea gas exchange, 3 He/SF 6 dual tracer technique, North Atlantic (Published: 11 May 2016)
Diplomacy in Black and White: John Adams, Toussaint Louverture, and Their Atlantic World Alliance. By Ronald Angelo Johnson. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2014. 216 pp.

Diplomacy in Black and White: John Adams, Toussaint Louverture, and Their Atlantic World Alliance. By Ronald Angelo Johnson. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2014. 216 pp. In Diplomacy in Black and White, Ronald Angelo Johnson offers an in-depth analysis of a fleeting moment of international cooperation between the fledgling American republic and Saint-Domingue. At the time, the United States was a new country that was trying to establish itself in the Atlantic World, and its economy still depended on enslaved laborers. Saint-Domingue was a semi-independent French colony in the midst of a revolution to topple the French slave regime and racial hierarchy. Johnson explores the contradictions in the United States of a political rhetoric that helped sustain Dominguan emancipation while preserving slavery at home. Under the leadership of President John Adams, Johnson tells us, commercial interests and political maneuverings trumped racial barriers in order to facilitate an international alliance that served the immediate needs of both the United States and Saint-Domingue. At the core of Johnson's study are the individuals under President Adams who negotiated the political and commercial terrain of Saint-Domingue during the leadership of French Governor General Toussaint Louverture, an emancipated free man of color who became the revolution's most important leader. Secretary of State Thomas Pickering, together with the U.S. consul general to Saint-Domingue, Edward Stevens, and Commodore Silas Talbot of the U.S. Navy, played key roles in shaping the relationship between the two governments. Johnson connects the actions of these important figures to the broader contexts of the United States and Saint-Domingue, as well as to their own personal trajectories. Specific individuals, Johnson tells us, were at the heart of this moment of possibility that generated considerable collaboration. Through these negotiations, the United States participated in a tripartite commercial agreement with Saint-Domingue and Jamaica. The United States benefited from the agreement, despite the fact that Stevens never signed the document--a fact that highlights the complications of engaging with a French colony of former slaves and reveals the limits of American diplomacy in Saint-Domingue between 1799 and 1801. In addition, Johnson shows the importance of Saint-Domingue as a commercial and diplomatic ally for the United States in its ambition to develop an international reputation in the Atlantic World. This ambition faced considerable obstacles at the end of the eighteenth century, including the overwhelming power of the British Empire and ongoing conflicts between the United States and France--negotiations with Saint-Domingue occurred during the Quasi War. …
56 DRUG TREATMENT PREDICTORS AMONG HOMELESS WOMEN IN LOS ANGELES

Introduction Homeless women are at high risk of substance abuse (SA), leading to excess morbidity and mortality. Yet, few homeless women seek SA treatment programs. Objective To determine correlates of SA treatment initiation and completion among homeless women reporting serious drug and alcohol use. Population 1,342 homeless women were recruited from sober living or residential recovery shelters and street outreach in downtown LA. The 794 women (59%) reporting daily use of drugs or alcohol during the prior year comprise the sample. Measures Demographics, SA, childhood sexual/physical abuse, parental SA, support, coping, distress, and medical service use were assessed. Results 31% (246) underwent drug treatment; of these, 71% completed therapy. Women who did receive treatment were more likely to report support from both drug and non-drug-using friends, prior sexual or physical abuse, suicide attempt(s), parents who abused substances, and to display active coping behaviors. Latina women were less likely to receive treatment. Women completing SA treatment were more likely to report peer influence for initiating drug use, support from non-drug-using friends, less parental SA, and to display active coping behaviors. Conclusions Less than one third of homeless women with serious substance use sought treatment and less than three quarters completed therapy. Greater knowledge of the women who seek and complete treatment is valuable both in triaging limited resources and in tailoring programs to users. Strategies to improve parental modeling, coping skills, positive peer influence, and to increase utilization of SA programs are warranted.
Cellular Interactions and Interdependence during Development of the Nervous System

It will have become clear from the preceding chapters of this book that the manifold and diverse components of the developing nervous system provide each other with a mutual environment and produce reciprocal effects as a result of their competitive and their cooperative interactions. Nothing in the organism is completely autonomous: every part, however free and fundamental it may seem to those with a limited point of view, is dependent on its mutual relations with other parts of the organism. As Claude Bernard, in his Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine, (1865) puts it, “The properties of living bodies are revealed only through reciprocal organic relations. A salivary gland, for instance, exists only because it is in relation with the digestive system, and because its histological units are in certain relations one with another and with the blood. Destroy these relations by isolating the units of the organism, one from another in thought, and the salivary gland ceases to be.” But later in the same work he says, “It is doubtless correct to say that the constituent parts of an organism are physiologically inseparable from one another, and that they all contribute to a common vital result; but we may not conclude from this that the living machine must not be analyzed as we analyze a crude machine whose parts also have their role to play in a whole.
Sofosbuvir-Containing Regimens for Chronic Hepatitis C Are Successful in the Safety-Net Population: A Real-World Experience

Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and experience high rates of health disparity. There are no data on real-world experience with highly efficacious direct-acting anti-HCV treatment in this population. We aimed to evaluate the real-world experience with sofosbuvir-based regimens among a vulnerable HCV-infected population. HCV treatment response was assessed among 204 patients who completed 12–24 weeks of sofosbuvir-based regimens (in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, simeprevir, ledipasvir, or daclatasvir) at the San Francisco safety-net healthcare system liver specialty clinic between January 2014 and December 2015. Virologic response during therapy was assessed at weeks 4 and 8, end of therapy, and 12-week treatment discontinuation (SVR 12). Patient characteristics were median age 58 years, 60 % male, 42 % Caucasian (21 % black, 19 % Hispanic), 72 % had genotype 1 (23 % genotype 2 or 3), and the median baseline log10 HCV viral load was 6.1 IU/ml and alanine transaminase 63 U/l. Cirrhosis was present in 36 % (of whom 40 % were decompensated), and 18 % were HCV treatment-experienced. Overall, SVR 12 was achieved in 97 % (99 % genotype 1, 100 % genotype 2, 84 % genotype 3). Five of six (83 %) patients who relapsed had decompensated cirrhosis, and 67 % were also non-adherent to therapy. On-treatment virologic response did not impact SVR. High rates of sustained virologic response can be achieved in safety-net HCV-infected patients. Access to DAA-based regimens is critical to addressing HCV-related health disparity in this at-risk population.
Sustainable Water Management and Technologies: Sustainable Water Management

While the world’s population continues to grow, the availability of water remains constant. Facing the looming water crisis, society needs to tackle strategic management issues as an integrated part of the solution toward water sustainability. The first volume in the two-volume set Sustainable Water Management and Technologies offers readers a practical and comprehensive look at such key water management topics as water resource planning and governance, water infrastructure planning and adaption, proper regulations, and water scarcity and inequality. It discusses best management practices for water resource allocation, ground water protection, and water quality assurance, especially for rural, arid, and underdeveloped regions of the world. Timely topics such as drought, ecosystem sustainability, climate change, and water management for shale oil and gas development are presented. Discusses best practices for water resource allocation, ground water protection, and water quality assurance. Offers chapters on urban, rural, arid, and underdeveloped regions of the world. Describes timely topics such as drought, ecosystem sustainability, climate change, and water management for shale oil and gas development. Covers water resource planning and governance, water infrastructure planning and adaptation, proper regulations, and water scarcity and inequality Discusses water resource monitoring, efficiency, and quality management.
Ejaculation frequency and prostate cancer: A large, prospective study with 16 years of follow-up.

5078 Background: A prospective study in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) cohort published in 2001 found significantly lower risks of prostate cancer (PCa) among men with more frequen...
Preference for Terminal-Link Key Pecking in Concurrent Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Chains

The response topographies required in the various components of chain schedules may be similar (homogeneous) or dissimilar (heterogeneous). Previous studies have shown initial-link responding to be increased under homogeneous chains compared to otherwise identical heterogeneous chains. Among the factors that have been proposed to account for this are induction, in which the effect of reinforcing a particular response topography generalizes to similar responses earlier in the chain, and the nature (e.g., effort) of the terminal-link topographies themselves. Prior investigations have used single-response procedures which preclude the empirical assessment of preference. The present study employed a concurrent-chains procedure and found increased response rates and time allocation to the alternative correlated with terminal-link pecking. This indicates that terminal-link pecking is preferred over terminal-link treadling and that response topography itself is a critical variable in determining initial-link performance when responses of different topographies are arranged in the terminal links. In addition, these data suggest that certain quantitative formulations of choice may be inadequate in predicting performance under concurrent schedules when topographically dissimilar responses are required.
Comparing Otoliths and Scales as Structures Used to Estimate Ages of Largemouth Bass: Consequences of Biased Age Estimates

AbstractManagement agencies often estimate the ages of Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides based on the examination of scales—a structure that is known to produce biased estimates—without knowing how the associated bias affects management decisions. We sought to understand the effects of this bias by comparing population metrics that were predicted using scale-derived and otolith-derived age data. We collected scales and otoliths from Largemouth Bass that were sampled during standard electrofishing surveys. The age of each fish was estimated independently by three separate readers using both scales and otoliths. We assessed the average coefficient of variation for scale-derived and otolith-derived age estimates, examined the bias of scale-derived age estimates, and estimated von Bertalanffy growth model parameters by using ages estimated from scales and otoliths. These parameter estimates were used in yield-per-recruit simulations that predicted yield and the percentage of individuals in the cohort surv...
Bond dissociation energies of TiSi, ZrSi, HfSi, VSi, NbSi, and TaSi.

Predissociation thresholds have been observed in the resonant two-photon ionization spectra of TiSi, ZrSi, HfSi, VSi, NbSi, and TaSi. It is argued that because of the high density of electronic states at the ground separated atom limit in these molecules, the predissociation threshold in each case corresponds to the thermochemical bond dissociation energy. The resulting bond dissociation energies are D0(TiSi) = 2.201(3) eV, D0(ZrSi) = 2.950(3) eV, D0(HfSi) = 2.871(3) eV, D0(VSi) = 2.234(3) eV, D0(NbSi) = 3.080(3) eV, and D0(TaSi) = 2.999(3) eV. The enthalpies of formation were also calculated as Δf,0KH°(TiSi(g)) = 705(19) kJ mol−1, Δf,0KH°(ZrSi(g)) = 770(12) kJ mol−1, Δf,0KH°(HfSi(g)) = 787(10) kJ mol−1, Δf,0KH°(VSi(g)) = 743(11) kJ mol−1, Δf,0KH°(NbSi(g)) = 879(11) kJ mol−1, and Δf,0KH°(TaSi(g)) = 938(8) kJ mol−1. Using thermochemical cycles, ionization energies of IE(TiSi) = 6.49(17) eV and IE(VSi) = 6.61(15) eV and bond dissociation energies of the ZrSi− and NbSi− anions, D0(Zr–Si−) ≤ 3.149(15) eV, D0(...
Systems Biology and the Seagrass Paradox: Adaptation, Acclimation, and Survival of Marine Angiosperms in a Changing Ocean Climate

Predicting adaptive fitness to any environment requires mechanistic understanding of environmental influence on metabolic networks that control energy assimilation, growth, and reproduction. Although the potential impacts of environment on gene products are myriad, important phenotypic responses are often regulated by a few key points in metabolic networks where externally supplied resources or physiological reaction substrates limit reaction kinetics. Environmental resources commonly limiting seagrass productivity, survival, and growth include light and CO2 availability that control carbon assimilation and sucrose formation. Phosphate availability can also be important in oligotrophic tropical environments, particularly in the presence of carbonate sediments. Temperature and macronutrient oversupply (eutrophication) can act as confounding stressors, particularly in temperate environments. Photoacclimation can be regulated by electron transport pathways residing in the chloroplast stroma, but stress responses are often manifest by the expression of generalized stress response proteins, both of which appear to be affected by temperature and CO2 availability. A systems approach is employed to explore (1) the responses of seagrasses to the combined impacts of environmental limiting factors that control fundamental physiological processes leading to whole-plant performance; (2) sediment diagenetic processes that facilitate nutrient remineralization, carbon sequestration, and toxin neutralization; (3) interactions with other organisms induced by trophic cascades; and (4) impacts of human-induced climate change that affect system dynamics at numerous points in the network.
The Cuban Revolutionary Project

This chapter describes seven stages in the development of the Cuban revolutionary project: national liberation, 1959–1961; Cuban socialism based on industrial development, 1961–1965; Cuban socialism based on sugar exportation, 1966–1970; institutionalization, 1970–1985; rectification of errors, 1986–1989; special period, 1989–2001; and integration into the Latin American revolution, 2001 to the present. It explains the Cuban structures of popular democracy, developed as an alternative to representative democracy. It further develops previous discussion of charismatic authority and leadership, and it describes the role of the Cuban Communist Party in the Cuban political process.
Telehealth electronic monitoring to reduce postdischarge complications and surgical site infections after arterial revascularization with groin incision

It is intuitive that postdischarge surgical complications are associated with increased patient dissatisfaction, and are directly associated with an increase in medical expenditures. It is also easy to make the connection that many post-hospital discharge surgical complications, including surgical site infections (SSIs), could be influenced or exacerbated by patient comorbidities. The authors of a recent study reported that female gender, obesity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery disease, critical limb ischemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dyspnea, and neurologic disease were significant predictors of SSIs after vascular reconstruction was performed. The main concern for optimal patient care, especially in geographically isolated areas of West Virginia, is to have early, expeditious, and prompt diagnosis of complications and SSI. This adjunct to existing approaches could lead to improved outcomes and patient satisfaction, minimizing third-party interventions and decreasing the total cost of care. It seems reasonable to believe that monitoring using telehealth technology and managing the general health care of patients after a hospital vascular intervention will improve overall health and reduce 30-day readmissions and SSIs.
Practicality of and benefits from the applications of optimal control to pressurized water reactor maneuvers

Optimal control techniques can be classified into four categories: heuristic, variational, dynamic programming, and functional analysis. The heuristic method is an intuitive or “common sense” appro...
Physicians' advice to quit smoking. The glass remains half empty.

Background We explored the relationships between advice from a physician to quit smoking and an array of respondents' characteristics, including sociodemographic factors, health status, health insurance status, physician continuity, and intensity of smoking. Methods We examined data from the nationally representative 1996-1997 Community Tracking Study Household Survey. We used multivariate logistic regression to model receipt of cessation advice in a sample of 8229 smokers aged 18 years and older who made at least one visit to a physician in the past year. Results Less than 50% of the subjects reported receiving cessation advice. Advice was less likely for patients who were younger, men, African American, uninsured, healthier, lower health care services users, or lighter smokers, and more likely for those with military health insurance, who attended hospital outpatient clinics, or who belonged to health maintenance organizations. Conclusions Physicians continue to miss opportunities to provide smoking cessation advice, a potentially lifesaving intervention. Given the adverse health consequences of tobacco use and the demonstrated benefit of advice to quit, physicians need to improve their cessation counseling efforts.
Labor patterns in women with previous cesareans.

Little information exists to help determine the presence or significance of labor abnormalities in women attempting vaginal birth after previous cesarean. A case-control study was performed to obtain information on patterns of labor progress and the incidence of dysfunctional labor in patients having a trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery. Sixty-eight such women were matched to nulliparous and multiparous controls. Labor-curve characteristics for the group of women with previous cesarean differed significantly from those of both the nulliparas and multiparas. When stratified by history of previous vaginal birth, however, those with no previous vaginal birth were indistinguishable from nulliparous controls and those with a previous vaginal birth were indistinguishable from multiparous controls. Parity-specific criteria for the diagnosis of dysfunctional labor were thus indicated. Labor disorders were present most frequently in the previous-cesarean group with no previous vaginal birth (41.9%). This incidence did not differ significantly from that in the control nulliparas (27.1%) (P = .15), but did differ from that in the multiparas (15.8%) (P less than .01). Previous-cesarean patients with a previous vaginal birth had a frequency of labor disorders (14.3%) not significantly different from that of multiparous controls. We conclude that trial of labor in women with a previous cesarean should be evaluated by standard criteria for nulliparas if there has been no previous vaginal birth, and by criteria for multiparous women if there has been any previous infant born vaginally.
Ruthenium red staining of rat glomerulus. Perfusion of ruthenium red into normal and nephrotic rat kidney.

The irregularity of ruthenium red (RR) staining for electron microscopy may be partly attributable to its poor diffusion through tissue. In this study, ruthenium red was perfused into kidneys of normal and nephrotic rats. A dense endothelial reaction occurred in both arterioles and glomerular capillaries. Dot-like deposits, most prevalent in the lamina rara externa of the basal lamina of the glomerular capillaries, were also present. The deposits appeared with equal frequency in both normal and nephrotic animals, suggesting a similar distribution of acidic glycoprotein residues. The possible significance of these deposits and other applications for the technique are discussed.
In God we hope, in ads we believe : the influence of religion on hope, perceived ad credibility, and purchase behavior

This research proposes and demonstrates that religiosity positively affects consumers’ hope for advertised benefits, leading to greater perceived advertisement credibility and, consequently, a greater likelihood of purchasing the advertised products. A multiple-step mediation analysis revealed that both hope for advertised benefits and perceived ad credibility play pivotal roles in explicating the effect of religiosity, whether measured (study 1) or manipulated (study 2), on purchase intentions of advertised products. The authors also investigated the interactive effect between religiosity and perceived product materialism on the observed effects (study 3). The effect of religiosity on hope for advertised benefits, perceived ad credibility, and purchase intentions was moderated by perceived product materialism, such that the positive effects of religiosity on hope, perceived ad credibility, and purchase intentions were observed only for non-materialistic (vs. materialistic) products. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
Optimization of uncertain structures subject to stochastic wind loads under system-level first excursion constraints: A data-driven approach

Abstract This work proposes a novel data-driven optimization strategy that can efficiently handle system-level first excursion performance constraints posed on large-scale uncertain structures subject to general stochastic wind excitation. The framework is centered on defining and solving a limited sequence of decoupled optimization sub-problems. In particular, each problem is formulated in terms of information obtained from a single simulation carried out in the solution of the previous sub-problem. Two examples involving the optimal design of uncertain systems subject to stochastic wind loads are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability of the proposed framework.
Evaluation of Gradient Descent Optimization: Using Android Applications in Neural Networks

Artificial neural networks have gained prominence by being used in different aspects such as medical diagnosis and detecting malware applications. However, neural network models could have an error rate that indicates their performance. Thus, optimization algorithms can minimize the error rate by updating the neural network parameters to reach an optimal solution. This paper explores the use of permissions and underlying Linux system information features in Android platform to evaluate gradient descent optimization algorithms in neural networks. Those optimizers are evaluated by running them on a set of Android applications to find the optimum one. Furthermore, each optimizer is assessed based on its default and adjusted parameters values. This evaluation shows that the best accuracy score is 92.21% collected by Adam optimizer.
Making OpenVX Really "Real Time"

OpenVX is a recently ratified standard that was expressly proposed to facilitate the design of computer-vision (CV) applications used in real-time embedded systems. Despite its real-time focus, OpenVX presents several challenges when validating real-time constraints. Many of these challenges are rooted in the fact that OpenVX only implicitly defines any notion of a schedulable entity. Under OpenVX, CV applications are specified in the form of processing graphs that are inherently considered to execute monolithically end-to-end. This monolithic execution hinders parallelism and can lead to significant processing-capacity loss. Prior work partially addressed this problem by treating graph nodes as schedulable entities, but under OpenVX, these nodes represent rather coarse-grained CV functions, so the available parallelism that can be obtained in this way is quite limited. In this paper, a much more fine-grained approach for scheduling OpenVX graphs is proposed. This approach was designed to enable additional parallelism and to eliminate schedulability-related processing-capacity loss that arises when programs execute on both CPUs and graphics processing units (GPUs). Response-time analysis for this new approach is presented and its efficacy is evaluated via a case study involving an actual CV application.
Effects of Specimen Geometry on the Strength of Composite Materials

This paper demonstrates the statistical relationships which exist between test specimens of different designs and how these relationships can be utilized in strength predictions. The specimens selected were the straight-sided tension coupon, uniaxial sandwich beam, and the acceptance-type flexure coupons. Experimental data were obtained for the [0] c , [90] c , [0 2 /′45] c , [′45/90 2 ] c , and [0/′45/90] c laminates fabricated from Narmco 5505 boron-epoxy at various temperatures ranging from --65 to 420 F.
Area-Efficient, 600V 4H-SiC JBS Diode-Integrated MOSFETs (JBSFETs) for Power Converter Applications

This article reports the demonstration of a low-voltage (<600V) monolithically integrated 4H-silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET and JBS diode (JBSFET). A single-metal and thermal treatment process were implemented to form ohmic contacts on the n+ and p+ source regions while forming the Schottky contact on the N− SiC epitaxial layer. Different layout methodologies are discussed for fabricating an energy-efficient low-voltage JBSFET by intermittently placing the JBS diode portion in the orthogonal direction to minimize the device area, hence improving the specific ON-resistance and reducing the overall chip size by 46%. A junction termination extension (JTE)-based edge termination structure (the Hybrid-JTE) was implemented to achieve a high breakdown voltage with a very low leakage current. In addition, it was investigated that the forward characteristic of the JBSFET can be further improved by adopting Ti-based metal as the Schottky contact for the JBS diode. Device design, layout approach, fabrication, electrical characterization, and future prospects of the 4H-SiC JBSFETs are discussed in this article.
Rural-Urban Differences In Severe Maternal Morbidity And Mortality In The US, 2007–15

In the United States, severe maternal morbidity and mortality is climbing—a reality that is especially challenging for rural communities, which face declining access to obstetric services. Severe m...
Asymptotic analysis of the expected utility maximization problem with respect to perturbations of the numéraire

Abstract In an incomplete model, where under an appropriate numeraire, the stock price process is driven by a sigma-bounded semimartingale, we investigate the behavior of the expected utility maximization problem under small perturbations of the numeraire. We establish a quadratic approximation of the value function and a first-order expansion of the terminal wealth. Relying on a description of the base return process in terms of its semimartingale characteristics, we also construct wealth processes and nearly optimal strategies that allow for matching the primal value function up to the second order. We also link perturbations of the numeraire to distortions of the finite-variation part and martingale part of the stock price return and characterize the asymptotic expansions in terms of the risk-tolerance wealth process.